The weekly state of the Falcons with Coach Morris, Penix Jr., OC Robinson
- No practice today for Jamal Agnew (WR) and Jack Nelson (OL).
- Drake London practiced today (“Drake is Drake. He’s ultimately tough,” says Coach Raheem Morris), along with Darnell Mooney (WR) and DeMarcco Hellams (S). Morris expects London to play this Sunday.
- Ahead of Sunday Night Football with the Vikings, Morris says, “You’ve got to go out there and have high execution” against their defense. He says Vikings WR Justin Jefferson is one of the best in the league.
- Morris says the Falcons’ running game is not where it needs to be, but they are working on improving it. “We have to go out there and give [the players] better opportunities, better looks,” adds Bucs offense deserves credit for stopping the Falcons’ run.
- Morris talks about Falcons rookies in action: LB Deablo played an exceptional game, safety Watts is capable of making plays, and tackle Elijah Wilkinson looks like a strong addition on the RT position, despite the defense as a whole not playing well up front. It wasn’t all Wilkinson’s fault.
- Kickers Parker Romo (rookie) and Younghoe Koo (incumbent) will be in competition ahead of the Vikings game. Koo’s rusty kicking against the Bucs last Sunday necessitated this move. “That’s another cut-and-dry position,” he said. “You either make it [those kicks] or you don’t,” Morris suggested who does best in competition is likely to start Sunday.
- QB Michael Penix Jr. says he feels as though his WR crew is ready despite returning from injuries.
- Penix Jr. says he doesn’t mind playing in the pistol formation. “I like everything,” he said. “It doesn’t matter if I’m in pistol or underneath.”
- Penix Jr. had positive things to say about his Sunday opponents: J.J. McCarthy is a “cool person…a genuine guy and a guy who can make football plays.”
- Penix Jr. acknowledges the pressure on him to perform. “It’s still on me,” he said. “I’m not going to lie. I want to be, but I know I’m not.”
- Falcons OC Zac Robinson says Penix “played really well” against the Bucs. Added he had “competitive greatness.” The team as a whole has to play better around him.
- Former Falcon Nate Landman (now with the LA Rams) was named the NFC Defensive Player of the Week.
- Robinson acknowledged that the much-maligned Falcons’ run game needs work. He added that the pistol formation “keeps you balanced from a run-pass standpoint.”
