Now that the Falcons have named Raheem Morris head coach, his job begins immediately.
The biggest task ahead this offseason is finding a quarterback, not a half-measure fix either like Atlanta has done the past two seasons. Regardless of who was hired, finding a signal caller would be the priority of the offseason.
The Falcons have had poor play from the position since 2020, which includes Matt Ryan‘s final season in Atlanta. For all of his faults, Arthur Smith never had above average quarterback play during his tenure as head coach. Raheem Morris, or God himself, couldn’t have willed a Desmond Ridder-led football team to a successful season.
Still, Smith was the one who paraded Ridder around as the next franchise quarterback. He deserves blame for that. It doesn’t change the reality of the Falcons right now. Raheem Morris will not be successful with the current rostered quarterbacks.
Beyond that, the offensive coordinator hire is the second most important decision Raheem Morris will make this offseason. One of his most desirable attributes as a head coach candidate is Morris’ connections and relationships with players and coaches. That will immediately be put to the test.
The NFL’s top offensive coordinator candidate, Zac Robinson, spent a few seasons with Morris in Los Angeles under Sean McVay, so the Falcons seemingly have a leg-up on other interested teams, but the competition will be stiff.
The Falcons haven’t made an official request to interview the Rams quarterback coach and pass game coordinator, but they may want to act quickly because the Buccaneers, Saints, Steelers, Patriots, and Raiders all have active interest in Robinson.
#Rams QBs coach and pass game coordinator Zac Robinson is being requested to interview for the vacant #Bucs OC job, source said. A potential reunion with Baker Mayfield.
Robinson is one of the busiest coordinator candidates with active interest from the #Saints, #Steelers,…
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) January 26, 2024
Robinson, like every subordinate under McVay and Kyle Shanahan, has never called plays in the regular season but has done so for preseason contests. Moreover, he’s been instrumental in the Rams’ passing game over the last two seasons.
The Colorado native entered the NFL, after spending 2005-2009 at Oklahoma State, as a seventh-round pick and joined the Patriots before spending time with the Seahawks, Lions, and Bengals, amounting to four total seasons.
The Rams’ success, Matthew Stafford‘s return and Puka Nacua‘s emergence, through the air this season should be attributed, at least mostly, to Robinson. If he joins Morris in Atlanta, the Falcons offense will feature a dynamic shotgun passing game, tons of motion, and a diverse play-action game from under center that is built off an outside zone run game.
The Falcons aren’t alone in the pursuit of Zac Robinson, and without a quarterback to sell him on, Raheem Morris’ relationship will have to be the selling point along with a formidable offensive line, Kyle Pitts, Drake London, and Bijan Robinson.
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Photographer: Michael Allio/Icon Sportswire
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