Falcons’ future is bright, but they have to fix this

Raheem Morris brought hope to the Falcons fan base following his introductory press conference.

Atlanta’s new head coach exuded confidence throughout Mercedes-Benz Stadium while still maintaining directness and transparancy with the media. It was a refreshing moment after three years of Arthur Smith.

Heralded for his leadership qualities and ability to connect with players and coaches alike, Morris was expected to be able to leverage those relationships to build out his staff and swing free agents toward Atlanta.

One of those has already come to fruition. Zac Robinson, who was the hottest offensive coordinator candidate of the hiring cycle, followed Morris to the Falcons in one of the biggest acquisitions for the franchise in recent seasons.

The offense didn’t live up to expectations last year, despite spending a third straight top 10 draft pick on a skill position player. Smith’s unit struggled in the red zone but couldn’t find consistency anywhere on the field. The Falcons ran the 7th fewest plays in the league last year, which clearly shows they failed to sustain drives.

Smith deserves a portion of blame. The offensive line and skill group were argubaly top 10 units, yet the former Falcons head coach failed to help Bijan Robinson, Drake London, Kyle Pitts, and the entire offense realize their full potential.

With that being said, the quarterback play was the single biggest factor in the Falcons shortcomings in 2023, and though Raheem Morris is inheriting an enviable situation, nothing matters until Atlanta fixes the position.

All of the club’s success hinges on one thing. The Falcons aren’t going into the 2024 season with Desmond Ridder or Taylor Heinicke as starters. Morris said during his introductory press conference that the Falcons would look in free agency, explore trades and consider the draft for a new signal caller.

The Falcons have a good, not great roster but possess plenty of resources to build a very competitive team. With their full allotment of draft picks and what could be as much as $45 million in cap space, Terry Fontenot and Raheem Morris should be able to acquire a worthwhile quarterback.

Atlanta’s new head coach touched a little bit on what they’re looking for in a quarterback. 

“When you get those guys that are elite processors, when you get those guys that are decision makers,” Morris said during his introductory press conference. “When you get those guys that can just cut it loose and play ball and also play with those great fundamental techniques that we talked about — the base, the balance, the short hitches in the pocket, some of those things.”

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Photographer: Ken Murray/Icon Sportswire