Falcons not only have QB problems, they have a kicker problem too

Raheem Morris’ lack of trust in Kirk Cousins became painfully evident during the second half of the Falcons’ win over the Raiders.

Zac Robinson called an ultra-conservative game, relying heavily on the run despite facing a dreadful Raiders defense and an even worse offense. The Falcons’ defense was dominant, and yet Atlanta refused to open things up offensively. Kirk Cousins’ noodle arm and bizarre decision-making were clear factors behind this cautious approach, with Morris and Robinson taking the ball out of their quarterback’s hands entirely.

But it’s not just Cousins who has lost Raheem Morris’ trust—Younghoe Koo is also on shaky ground.

Koo missed another field goal last night. He did make two, but the bigger story is Morris’ unwillingness to let him attempt a couple of long-range kicks. Twice, Morris passed on 50+ yard field goal opportunities, opting instead to play the field position game. This is the same Younghoe Koo who nailed a career-long 58-yard, game-winning field goal against the Saints earlier this season. Now, just months later, the Falcons won’t even trust him to try a 50-yarder.

To put this into context: Atlanta’s defense had completely smothered Desmond Ridder and the Raiders’ offense. The Falcons’ special teams had been consistently setting up excellent field position, yet instead of giving Koo a chance to rebuild his confidence in a game that Atlanta was never going to lose, Morris chose the safe route.

Morris doesn’t trust Younghoe Koo right now, and that lack of faith could further shake the kicker’s confidence. The Falcons now find themselves in a precarious position: with crucial games against the Giants, Commanders, and Panthers ahead, they may very well need a 50+ yard field goal to save their season.

Either Younghoe Koo is hurt, and the Falcons need a replacement, or Younghoe Koo has the yips, and the Falcons need a replacement. It’s late in the season, so it’s not exactly easy to find a suitable kicker off the street. However, at the very least, competition needs to be brought into the building. Morris cannot afford to let Koo’s struggles dictate his in-game decisions without at least attempting to fix the problem with an external candidate.