Though the Falcons have improved week to week offensively, it’s been inconsistent and is the driving factor in Atlanta’s 1-2 start.
The offense has put up 10, 22, and 17 points in its three games thus far, averaging 16.3 points per contest. They are averaging over 316 yards per game but are only converting on 22.22% of their third downs.
However, early-season struggles were to be expected with a brand new quarterback, coming off an Achilles injury without any preseason reps, in a new system with a first-time play caller.
The fact is Zac Robinson and Kirk Cousins have made progress in each outing, and that’s the most important thing in all of this. The Falcons offense will look much different a month from now than it does today. If you don’t want to hear it from an idiot like me, maybe your favorite quarterback can convince you.
“I’m bullish on the Falcons. I think they’re facing the gauntlet of the schedule early in the season. I believe the offense/OC are only going to get better as the year goes on. No reason to panic. NFC South is wide open,” Matt Ryan said via Twitter/X.
If anyone knows the meshing period between a new quarterback and offensive coordinator, it’s Ryan. Think back to the 2015 season when Kyle Shanahan was Atlanta’s OC. The Falcons offense struggled, and everyone knows what happened the following season.
The Falcons set records in 2016, Matt Ryan won an MVP en route to a Super Bowl berth, and Kyle Shanahan parlayed the impressive job into a head coaching gig with the 49ers.
Not only is Kirk Cousins shaking the rust off from missing half a year and not playing in the preseason, but he’s also trying to learn a new system with new weapons. Zac Robinson is also trying to learn his personnel and is calling plays for the first time in his career.
That’s on top of playing two of the best defenses in the Steelers and Chiefs, so that has to be taken into account as well. The Falcons offense, Kirk Cousins, and Zac Robinson will be fine.
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Photographer: David J. Griffin/Icon Sportswire
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