New Atlanta Falcons head coach Raheem Morris dazzled in his opening press conference because of his energy, transparency, and ability to connect with the media like they were his own colleagues. Whether you liked the hire initially or not, it’s impossible not to root for him. Morris is our guy now, and we all have the same goal, breaking a six-year postseason drought, something Morris isn’t shying away from.Â
“The clear-cut goal for us to obviously win the (NFC) South,” Morris said at his Monday press conference. He also alluded to the ultimate goal, which is eventually holding up a Lombardi Trophy in front of the entire city next to Arthur Blank and the rest of the Falcons brass.
Raheem Morris said all the right things on Monday, winning over the majority of the fan base, just like he did with Arthur Blank during his interviews. The cloud that was hanging over the head of the organization throughout the entire interview process has been lifted temporarily, but it won’t take long for the mood to change around Flowery Branch.
Unlike his predecessor, Raheem Morris is inheriting an envious situation. The roster is in much better shape than it was three years ago. Additions are needed, but the Falcons have all the resources to contend quickly. Terry Fontenot has enough cap space to target any free agent he desires, along with his full allotment of draft selections, including the eighth overall pick. Winning a weak NFC South next season should be viewed as the bare minimum, but that won’t be an easy task to accomplish if the quarterback situation isn’t addressed correctly.
Contrary to popular belief, Arthur Smith was not the biggest problem in Atlanta. It was Desmond Ridder, who held the Falcons back at every turn with his costly turnovers. No coach — not even the greats like Andy Reid, Kyle Shanahan, and Sean McVay — can overcome that level of quarterback play. It ultimately cost Arthur Smith his job, and Raheem Morris’ fate could be the same if it doesn’t improve.
Arthur Blank and the Falcons fan base may not agree on much, but they both share the same desire to win right now. A six-year postseason drought will do that. There is no time for lost seasons like there was when Arthur Smith took over three years ago. It’s win or bust for Raheem Morris.
On the latest episode of SportsTalkATL, we discuss how much patience the Falcons will have with Raheem Morris, and when it might be fair to start questioning his job security if things go south. You can watch full episodes of SportsTalkATL by downloading the Fox Local App, available on RoKu, Amazon Fire TV, and Apple TV.
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Photographer: Jevone Moore/Icon Sportswire
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