For the third time in as many seasons, the Falcons will have a new starting quarterback. The only difference between 2024 and the past two years is that Kirk Cousins is actually a competent signal caller.
Though Raheem Morris is a first-year head coach, he won’t have the typical benefits of a first-year head coach in Atlanta. There won’t be any grace period because he has Cousins and a more than adequate roster.
The offense, on paper at least, looks like it could be an elite unit. However, hitting the ground running is important. Three of the Falcons’ toughest games are the first three against the Steelers, Eagles, and Chiefs — two of which had excellent defenses a year ago.
It’s incredibly important that not only Kirk Cousins gets familiar with the Falcons pass catchers but also Zac Robinson’s offense and vice versa. It’s an important training camp, but the only real live action the offense will see is against the Dolphins in joint practices because Cousins isn’t expected to play in the preseason.
Had the chance to ask Coach Morris about the possibility of Quarterback Kirk Cousins playing in the preseason and he gave me this explanation about his status heading into those games!! @FOX5Sports pic.twitter.com/JWtaflj6b3
— DjShockley (@DjShockley3) July 26, 2024
The Falcons have a lot of chemistry to work out. Robinson has to figure out what Kirk Cousins, Kyle Pitts, Drake London, Darnell Mooney, and Bijan Robinson do well, and Cousins has to get on the same page with Pitts, London, and Mooney.
But playing in the preseason isn’t necessary. This isn’t Desmond Ridder in 2023 when the third-round pick was gifted the starting job without any competition. Arthur Smith didn’t think Ridder playing in the preseason last year was necessary, but the two situations couldn’t be more different.
Cousins is a 12-year veteran, while Ridder had four games under his belt. Moreover, the Falcons have a guy in Michael Penix that could use every single rep in the preseason that the coaching staff is willing to give him.
This is a non-issue for me.
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Photographer: Nick Wosika/Icon Sportswire
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