Schultz Report: Some Falcons players say Penix best QB in the room

MaroonBells wrote:


If the Falcons decide to move on from Cousins this year, or even in the offseason, they'll be able to trade Cousins and they'll likely get some very nice draft capital. We have a better, younger, more valuable QB to trade....if'n we only had him under contract. 

It's a shame we didn't foresee this and sign Sam for two years. One year as bridge starter, one as backup to the QB they expected to draft. 

Don't agree. Not sure who's going to give up significant draft comp. for a QB that will be 37 years old before next season and had a subpar year. Kirko is a declining stock with diminishing returns. I saw some stat that says Kirko throws 99.4% out of the pocket, lol.....less mobile than ever before. Buyer beware. And who's going to pick up that salary?

MaroonBells wrote:


You're going to be surprised.

I'd be very surprised to be surprised about this. 

Zanary wrote:

I think when Penix inevitably gets a start or two this season, he may benefit from "new energy" in the offense for a bit...but, that team is not really a unit, yet, and I don't think he'll bring the success some people expect.

He's younger and more athletic (with a worrisome injury history, despite his youth), but is he a leader at the NFL level? Is that what the offense really lacks?

I think the new head coach, the QB returning from injury, and some underwhelming performances overall in that offense have been a rough combination...and that throwing a rookie into it could expose those other problems pretty brutally.

Cousins is having a rough stretch, no argument, but that team doesn't look "together" to me in general.

Well, they got to 6-3 and everyone is like, 'Kirk is back! Finally healed up and looking good'......then they've gone 0-4 since then and Cousins hasn't thrown a TD in that stretch, but thrown 8 INTs. So the trend is not good. Its probably too early and harsh to say he's washed, but now is the time for him to turn it on and get the Falcons in the playoffs: its a big boy contract, time for some big boy wins.

https://www.thefalcoholic.com/2024/12/15/24317639/an-in-depth-look-at-the-worst-four-game-stretch-of-kirk-cousins-career-zac-robinson-darnell-mooney

MAD GAINZ wrote:

Kirk looked like ass again tonight.  The Penix chants might get even louder.

Horrible. Not sure how there can be any more excuses for what looks like a suddenly washed Cousins. He's making poor decisions. Morris is like a broken record post-game each week, 'We need better play from the QB.....we need better play from the QB'....lol, ok. Wanting it is one thing, doing something about it is another. It should be Penix time in Hotlanta.

Knucklehead wrote:


I don't think the decision is as easy as it looks. Atlanta still is contending to win the South. If they were out of it then sure, go ahead & start the rooks development. But, to hand the reigns to a rookie who's never thrown a pass in the NFL when the division is still in play, that's a tough decision.

Valid point. But also: the way Cousins is playing, 1 TD and 9 INTs the last 5 games? Penix couldn't do better than that? The team is in it DESPITE Cousins, not because of him. But I do agree that Morris won't have the balls to switch it up because of their situation, but it doesn't mean he shouldn't.

#Falcons HC Raheem Morris on Kirk Cousins: "He’s got to play better. We have to find a way to get him to play better. We have to play better at the quarterback position."

"I had conversations with Kirk Cousins and he couldn't answer why he's struggling..

The takeaway from watching that game last night was that he doesn't trust his eyes..

He looks nothing like the player that he used to be right now" ~
@danorlovsky7
#PMSLive

medaille wrote:

Does anyone realistically think that Penix is going to take the Falcons anywhere this year?  Are they going to beat 1 playoff caliber team much less 4 playoff teams in a row?  Who really cares if they limp into the playoffs and then get smoked by one of the massively superior teams.

You don’t put Penix in to save your season.  They just aren’t good enough.  There’s nothing to save.  You put Penix in if it aligns with your long term QB plans.  If you’re reworking his mechanics and it’s still a work in progress, then don’t put him in.  If he’s not seeing the field well enough in practice, then don’t put him in.  If he only looks better than Cousins because he’s mobile, I’m not sure that’s a reason to put him in.  If he’s doing well in practice and you’re done with Cousins, sure put him in, but it should be under the guise of getting him experience, not saving the season.

You were saying?

https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/43031456/atlanta-falcons-say-michael-penix-replace-kirk-cousins-starting-qb-moving-forward