1 00:00:00,560 --> 00:00:03,560 Speaker 1: Dirty Birds. What's up? And welcome to another edition of 2 00:00:03,880 --> 00:00:08,000 Speaker 1: Falcons Final Whistle presented by Zaxby's. A special edition of 3 00:00:08,080 --> 00:00:12,160 Speaker 1: Falcons Final Whistle because Tory last night the news broke. 4 00:00:12,360 --> 00:00:15,560 Speaker 1: You broke the news that Michael Pennix will be the 5 00:00:15,600 --> 00:00:17,599 Speaker 1: falcons starting quarterback moving forward. Yeah. 6 00:00:17,720 --> 00:00:21,079 Speaker 2: Yeah, so this has kind of been a little bit 7 00:00:21,079 --> 00:00:23,040 Speaker 2: in the making. I think we can be honest in 8 00:00:23,079 --> 00:00:29,120 Speaker 2: saying that the Falcons have not performed offensively to the 9 00:00:29,200 --> 00:00:32,040 Speaker 2: level they need to in order to win games consistently, 10 00:00:32,120 --> 00:00:35,239 Speaker 2: in order to score points consistently. And you have to 11 00:00:35,240 --> 00:00:41,159 Speaker 2: talk about Kirk Cousins in that same conversation, and the 12 00:00:41,200 --> 00:00:43,839 Speaker 2: facts are what they are. Kirk Cousins has led the 13 00:00:43,920 --> 00:00:47,959 Speaker 2: league in interceptions this year. He has thrown one touchdown 14 00:00:48,000 --> 00:00:50,520 Speaker 2: pass in five games. The Falcons are one and four 15 00:00:50,640 --> 00:00:54,240 Speaker 2: in those games. Quarterback rating hasn't been good in the 16 00:00:54,280 --> 00:00:57,920 Speaker 2: last month, month and a half. This was to me, 17 00:00:58,160 --> 00:01:03,520 Speaker 2: the only decision they could make. You know, the nothing 18 00:01:03,640 --> 00:01:07,400 Speaker 2: was getting better, nothing was progressing. And to a certain extent, 19 00:01:07,600 --> 00:01:10,440 Speaker 2: if you go back and look at that Raiders game 20 00:01:10,800 --> 00:01:15,600 Speaker 2: and you only have Kirk Cousins, who you're paying ninety 21 00:01:15,640 --> 00:01:18,360 Speaker 2: million dollars one hundred million dollars fully guaranteed, and you're 22 00:01:18,400 --> 00:01:23,080 Speaker 2: only having him throw the ball seventeen times against one 23 00:01:23,120 --> 00:01:27,319 Speaker 2: of the league's let's be honest, worst defenses in the Raiders. 24 00:01:27,319 --> 00:01:29,720 Speaker 2: Going into that game, they were twenty fifth in red 25 00:01:29,800 --> 00:01:33,920 Speaker 2: zone defense. They were thirtieth in points allowed. To not 26 00:01:34,040 --> 00:01:39,160 Speaker 2: score points against that team because of inefficiencies at the 27 00:01:39,240 --> 00:01:42,399 Speaker 2: quarterback position. It kind of it tied the hands. I 28 00:01:42,440 --> 00:01:45,760 Speaker 2: think of the decision makers at the top and it's 29 00:01:45,840 --> 00:01:48,120 Speaker 2: I don't it's not the We'll get into this. I'm 30 00:01:48,120 --> 00:01:51,720 Speaker 2: sure this wasn't supposed to be the plan. Like, this 31 00:01:51,920 --> 00:01:53,920 Speaker 2: wasn't the plan, and you had to pivot and you 32 00:01:53,960 --> 00:01:56,920 Speaker 2: had to accelerate plans in order to account for what 33 00:01:56,960 --> 00:01:58,480 Speaker 2: we've seen the last five weeks. 34 00:01:58,640 --> 00:02:00,840 Speaker 1: I mean, I think you can take it a step further. 35 00:02:01,000 --> 00:02:03,800 Speaker 1: The Falcons should have won that game by double digits. Ye, 36 00:02:03,880 --> 00:02:05,880 Speaker 1: they should have blown the Raiders out. They played well 37 00:02:05,960 --> 00:02:08,160 Speaker 1: enough on defense, they played well enough on special teams 38 00:02:08,200 --> 00:02:11,320 Speaker 1: to win that game running away, and it was tight 39 00:02:11,400 --> 00:02:15,760 Speaker 1: and got tighter in the fourth quarter. Partially probably a 40 00:02:15,800 --> 00:02:18,520 Speaker 1: lot because of the way that the quarterback position has 41 00:02:18,560 --> 00:02:21,200 Speaker 1: played recently and the way that honestly the offense felt 42 00:02:21,240 --> 00:02:24,000 Speaker 1: like it had to manage the quarterback position. And when 43 00:02:24,160 --> 00:02:27,320 Speaker 1: your big ticket free agent item is quarterback and you 44 00:02:27,400 --> 00:02:29,840 Speaker 1: brought him in here because that was the clear thing 45 00:02:29,880 --> 00:02:33,080 Speaker 1: you had to address. Raheem Morris said it in his 46 00:02:33,160 --> 00:02:36,440 Speaker 1: introductory press conference quarterback play had been better. He's probably 47 00:02:36,440 --> 00:02:36,920 Speaker 1: not here. 48 00:02:37,280 --> 00:02:37,440 Speaker 2: Well. 49 00:02:37,440 --> 00:02:39,840 Speaker 1: The quarterback play over the last month and a half 50 00:02:40,080 --> 00:02:43,640 Speaker 1: is very similar to what we saw last year the 51 00:02:43,720 --> 00:02:46,720 Speaker 1: year before that. It has been a repeating story for 52 00:02:46,800 --> 00:02:49,240 Speaker 1: the Atlanta Falcons, and so in a statement in the 53 00:02:49,240 --> 00:02:52,400 Speaker 1: story that you released, Raheem said, after review, we have 54 00:02:52,520 --> 00:02:55,280 Speaker 1: made the decision. Michael Pennix will be the Atlanta Falcons 55 00:02:55,280 --> 00:02:58,680 Speaker 1: starting quarterback moving forward. This was a football decision and 56 00:02:58,720 --> 00:03:01,120 Speaker 1: we are fully focused on per pairing the team for 57 00:03:01,200 --> 00:03:04,320 Speaker 1: Sunday's game against the New York Giants. So the first 58 00:03:04,400 --> 00:03:06,200 Speaker 1: question I want to ask you, Toy, is did you 59 00:03:06,280 --> 00:03:10,400 Speaker 1: actually expect the Falcons to make this change? Because it's 60 00:03:10,480 --> 00:03:14,560 Speaker 1: easy to say yes, we are continuing to look at everything. 61 00:03:14,919 --> 00:03:16,919 Speaker 1: We know that this has been a problem, but it's 62 00:03:17,000 --> 00:03:19,560 Speaker 1: kind of another thing to actually make that move. 63 00:03:19,760 --> 00:03:22,440 Speaker 2: Yeah, I didn't think so, if I'm being completely honest, 64 00:03:22,919 --> 00:03:26,000 Speaker 2: I was kind of like, I think they're just going 65 00:03:26,080 --> 00:03:28,120 Speaker 2: to take it to the end of the year with Kirk, 66 00:03:28,760 --> 00:03:32,959 Speaker 2: and I thought that really and truly maybe to a 67 00:03:33,000 --> 00:03:35,520 Speaker 2: certain extent, only because of how much money you're paying him. 68 00:03:36,160 --> 00:03:39,040 Speaker 2: And they kept saying, you know, we have a plan 69 00:03:39,120 --> 00:03:41,160 Speaker 2: for Michael Panics. We're not going to accelerate that plan. 70 00:03:41,160 --> 00:03:42,640 Speaker 2: We don't want to, you know, bring him in too 71 00:03:42,680 --> 00:03:45,520 Speaker 2: soon and hurt his development, etc. Etc. Like the plan 72 00:03:45,560 --> 00:03:48,480 Speaker 2: and the play and the plan, and then you get 73 00:03:48,520 --> 00:03:52,240 Speaker 2: to the point where the only plan if you want 74 00:03:52,280 --> 00:03:56,680 Speaker 2: to win games is to make a change. And I 75 00:03:56,720 --> 00:04:00,720 Speaker 2: think too that something that Raheem Morris talked about on 76 00:04:01,040 --> 00:04:03,200 Speaker 2: you know, Monday after the game, and even was questioned 77 00:04:03,200 --> 00:04:07,120 Speaker 2: a bit about it on Tuesday about Kirk cousins confidence 78 00:04:07,920 --> 00:04:11,600 Speaker 2: and not just Kirk cousins confidence, but I think like 79 00:04:11,840 --> 00:04:13,600 Speaker 2: the Falcon's confidence. 80 00:04:13,160 --> 00:04:15,400 Speaker 1: In Kirk Cousins, that's that's the key, that's the. 81 00:04:15,360 --> 00:04:17,720 Speaker 2: Key, because I think you look at the play calling, 82 00:04:17,720 --> 00:04:19,560 Speaker 2: you look at what Zach Robinson was wanting to do 83 00:04:19,640 --> 00:04:21,680 Speaker 2: against the Raiders, and I know that they said, you know, 84 00:04:21,680 --> 00:04:22,960 Speaker 2: we were giving it to the hot hand in the 85 00:04:23,040 --> 00:04:27,279 Speaker 2: run game and everything like that. Yeah, yeah, okay, But 86 00:04:27,600 --> 00:04:29,680 Speaker 2: I'm not saying I don't believe them I do think 87 00:04:29,720 --> 00:04:32,279 Speaker 2: you used Jon Robinson. Heck. I even said when we 88 00:04:32,320 --> 00:04:34,279 Speaker 2: were going our last final whistle, I was like, run 89 00:04:34,320 --> 00:04:35,960 Speaker 2: the dang ball as much as you can, Like I 90 00:04:36,040 --> 00:04:40,120 Speaker 2: said that, But even in saying that, you're kind of 91 00:04:40,160 --> 00:04:43,719 Speaker 2: sitting back, and when you get to that point, like 92 00:04:43,760 --> 00:04:46,839 Speaker 2: when it becomes that obvious, I think is where it's like, 93 00:04:48,200 --> 00:04:50,120 Speaker 2: you gotta do what you gotta do. This is a business. 94 00:04:50,279 --> 00:04:55,160 Speaker 2: And as much as you kind of put money towards 95 00:04:55,760 --> 00:04:58,320 Speaker 2: Kirk Cousins in the hope that he provides a certain 96 00:04:58,360 --> 00:05:00,320 Speaker 2: sense of stability that you have not had at the 97 00:05:00,360 --> 00:05:04,360 Speaker 2: quarterback position in the last two years, two seasons since 98 00:05:05,120 --> 00:05:09,359 Speaker 2: trading Matt Ryan to the Indianapolis Colts. Like I'm just 99 00:05:09,400 --> 00:05:14,000 Speaker 2: kind of sitting here like there wasn't stability. Yeah, if anything, 100 00:05:14,200 --> 00:05:17,280 Speaker 2: it was very very high highs and very very low lows. 101 00:05:17,520 --> 00:05:20,560 Speaker 2: And to a certain extent, you just needed to trust 102 00:05:21,160 --> 00:05:23,320 Speaker 2: that he could go out there and help you win 103 00:05:23,360 --> 00:05:26,360 Speaker 2: a game. And I don't know if that trust was there, 104 00:05:26,520 --> 00:05:30,599 Speaker 2: maybe even within himself either because because Raheem Morris even 105 00:05:30,640 --> 00:05:32,599 Speaker 2: said was asked about his confidence and he even said, 106 00:05:32,640 --> 00:05:35,719 Speaker 2: like confidence took a hit, and when your confidence takes 107 00:05:35,760 --> 00:05:39,000 Speaker 2: a hit, I don't know in anybody's job, in any 108 00:05:39,040 --> 00:05:40,839 Speaker 2: part of life, it's gonna affect you. 109 00:05:41,279 --> 00:05:44,240 Speaker 1: Well. The reason why you see a lot of quarterbacks 110 00:05:44,320 --> 00:05:47,039 Speaker 1: kind of hit that second peak in their mid thirties, 111 00:05:47,120 --> 00:05:49,400 Speaker 1: late thirties and can carry it along is is because 112 00:05:49,440 --> 00:05:52,240 Speaker 1: of I think that self confidence that comes with I 113 00:05:52,279 --> 00:05:54,080 Speaker 1: know everything a defense is gonna throw at me. I've 114 00:05:54,080 --> 00:05:56,200 Speaker 1: seen it all before. Here's what I'm gonna do. All right, 115 00:05:56,240 --> 00:05:58,000 Speaker 1: you're bringing this guy. I'm gonna check over here, and 116 00:05:58,000 --> 00:06:01,120 Speaker 1: we're gonna make this adjustment. And when you started to 117 00:06:01,160 --> 00:06:04,080 Speaker 1: see that confidence take a little bit of a hit 118 00:06:04,200 --> 00:06:08,040 Speaker 1: and it ultimately affects his play on the field, that 119 00:06:08,160 --> 00:06:10,240 Speaker 1: is where it becomes very difficult. And it's a quarterback 120 00:06:10,320 --> 00:06:13,960 Speaker 1: driven league. Saturday, after coming up here, covering the team 121 00:06:14,040 --> 00:06:16,560 Speaker 1: is almost like a Friday practice. I went back home 122 00:06:16,560 --> 00:06:20,039 Speaker 1: and I watched Army Navy. The Falcons don't need to 123 00:06:20,040 --> 00:06:22,400 Speaker 1: be playing the style of football that I watched in 124 00:06:22,400 --> 00:06:24,640 Speaker 1: that Army Navy game. As much as I would love 125 00:06:24,680 --> 00:06:27,320 Speaker 1: for them to run the ball forty times. 126 00:06:27,080 --> 00:06:29,320 Speaker 2: You know how much I love Yeah, like the old school, 127 00:06:29,400 --> 00:06:30,600 Speaker 2: let's just beat up on each other. 128 00:06:32,279 --> 00:06:35,359 Speaker 1: Led sit there, talk about the wishbone all day. Long 129 00:06:35,560 --> 00:06:38,240 Speaker 1: until the cows come home. But it's that is not 130 00:06:38,640 --> 00:06:40,840 Speaker 1: what the NFL is about. That's not the modern league, 131 00:06:40,920 --> 00:06:45,000 Speaker 1: right exactly. And so I think that with your point 132 00:06:45,040 --> 00:06:48,320 Speaker 1: about kind of the offense, and it's felt like the 133 00:06:48,400 --> 00:06:51,800 Speaker 1: last few weeks we have not seen a full NFL 134 00:06:51,880 --> 00:06:54,880 Speaker 1: offense with Kirk Cousins at the helm. Which has been 135 00:06:54,960 --> 00:06:57,600 Speaker 1: maybe the most surprising thing about all of this is 136 00:06:57,640 --> 00:06:59,920 Speaker 1: the way that the team has kind of again had 137 00:06:59,920 --> 00:07:05,120 Speaker 1: to find ways to win almost while mitigating the quarterback 138 00:07:05,200 --> 00:07:05,960 Speaker 1: to some degree. 139 00:07:06,080 --> 00:07:09,239 Speaker 2: Yeah, well it goes to me it all hinges from 140 00:07:09,680 --> 00:07:12,600 Speaker 2: not taking care of the ball, and right, you cannot 141 00:07:13,240 --> 00:07:15,000 Speaker 2: and I wrote this a couple of weeks ago, but 142 00:07:15,080 --> 00:07:18,920 Speaker 2: like when you know that points are at a premium 143 00:07:18,920 --> 00:07:21,320 Speaker 2: in this league because you know that a lot of 144 00:07:21,320 --> 00:07:23,320 Speaker 2: these games are going to come down to one score, 145 00:07:23,440 --> 00:07:26,840 Speaker 2: because that's what the league values. And that's how it's 146 00:07:26,880 --> 00:07:31,080 Speaker 2: the reason that the modern landscape is what it is. 147 00:07:31,120 --> 00:07:33,480 Speaker 2: It's why there's a salary cap, it's why draft order 148 00:07:33,600 --> 00:07:34,239 Speaker 2: is a tame. 149 00:07:34,160 --> 00:07:37,080 Speaker 1: Why this is the most popular sport in professional. 150 00:07:36,680 --> 00:07:39,240 Speaker 2: Sporce exactly, it's all about parody, you know. And so 151 00:07:39,400 --> 00:07:44,920 Speaker 2: I think that because of knowing that, and if points 152 00:07:44,960 --> 00:07:46,760 Speaker 2: are at a premium. Then that means possessions are at 153 00:07:46,800 --> 00:07:51,200 Speaker 2: a premium, and when you are actively giving the ball 154 00:07:51,360 --> 00:07:55,280 Speaker 2: away and taking those opportunities away from the team at 155 00:07:55,360 --> 00:07:58,960 Speaker 2: large and having to really rely heavily on the defense, 156 00:07:59,000 --> 00:08:02,120 Speaker 2: which to the defense, this credit has picked up in 157 00:08:02,160 --> 00:08:03,200 Speaker 2: the last three weeks. 158 00:08:03,280 --> 00:08:03,920 Speaker 1: Yeah, and. 159 00:08:05,280 --> 00:08:08,280 Speaker 2: I think that you saw a complete shift in what 160 00:08:08,400 --> 00:08:11,400 Speaker 2: this defense, even to an unexpected shift. I didn't think 161 00:08:11,440 --> 00:08:12,840 Speaker 2: they could do it in. 162 00:08:13,000 --> 00:08:15,120 Speaker 1: Style in the way that they went into that game 163 00:08:15,120 --> 00:08:17,840 Speaker 1: on Monday night saying we can win. We're okay winning 164 00:08:17,880 --> 00:08:20,480 Speaker 1: this fifteen to nine, even if it's going to be ugly, 165 00:08:20,520 --> 00:08:22,800 Speaker 1: because maybe that is the best way to win. And 166 00:08:23,360 --> 00:08:25,480 Speaker 1: it's just so interesting to me that you started out 167 00:08:25,520 --> 00:08:28,760 Speaker 1: this year what five and two, six and three with 168 00:08:28,760 --> 00:08:32,240 Speaker 1: with your defense not getting sacked, right, but your quarterback 169 00:08:32,320 --> 00:08:34,720 Speaker 1: was playing very well. And again that is just the 170 00:08:34,920 --> 00:08:38,040 Speaker 1: contrast in the dichotomy of what ultimately matters in this 171 00:08:38,160 --> 00:08:40,800 Speaker 1: league if you're able to score points. You look at 172 00:08:40,880 --> 00:08:44,360 Speaker 1: the Lions, right, they have been decimated by injuries to 173 00:08:44,360 --> 00:08:46,040 Speaker 1: the defensive side of the ball, and so they have said, 174 00:08:46,040 --> 00:08:47,400 Speaker 1: all right, you know what we have to do is 175 00:08:47,440 --> 00:08:51,679 Speaker 1: win shootouts. You have to outscore exactly, and it's you know, 176 00:08:52,040 --> 00:08:55,240 Speaker 1: that game against Buffalo is so entertaining and crazy. They 177 00:08:55,280 --> 00:08:57,680 Speaker 1: ultimately didn't win, but you can see the thinking and 178 00:08:57,679 --> 00:08:59,840 Speaker 1: how it adjusts. Yeah, and when you just kind of 179 00:09:00,080 --> 00:09:03,320 Speaker 1: don't have that main gear to fall back on with 180 00:09:03,440 --> 00:09:06,280 Speaker 1: your offense, an offense that has been invested in heavily, 181 00:09:06,960 --> 00:09:09,000 Speaker 1: it's so hard to do and it ultimately leads to 182 00:09:09,000 --> 00:09:11,840 Speaker 1: this decision. So let's talk about kind of how this 183 00:09:11,920 --> 00:09:13,880 Speaker 1: could resonate. Do you think this is going to be 184 00:09:13,920 --> 00:09:16,520 Speaker 1: the right message to send to the locker room with 185 00:09:16,559 --> 00:09:19,600 Speaker 1: three games remaining and kind of what do you think 186 00:09:19,679 --> 00:09:20,920 Speaker 1: it does send to the locker room. 187 00:09:21,000 --> 00:09:23,440 Speaker 2: Yeah, I go back to something that Grady Jarrett said 188 00:09:23,480 --> 00:09:26,600 Speaker 2: a couple of weeks ago about the sense of urgency, 189 00:09:26,800 --> 00:09:29,120 Speaker 2: and they're needing to be a sense of urgency, not 190 00:09:29,240 --> 00:09:31,600 Speaker 2: that there wasn't before or not that there isn't, right, 191 00:09:31,640 --> 00:09:35,120 Speaker 2: but like really stating that. And I think this is 192 00:09:35,160 --> 00:09:39,400 Speaker 2: a message that the coaching staff, the front office sends 193 00:09:39,400 --> 00:09:41,520 Speaker 2: to the locker room and that like, there are three 194 00:09:41,559 --> 00:09:44,160 Speaker 2: games left in this thing, we got to go. We've 195 00:09:44,200 --> 00:09:46,560 Speaker 2: got to go. You got to put the pedal to 196 00:09:46,600 --> 00:09:50,680 Speaker 2: the floorboard, and you've got to if you do what 197 00:09:50,720 --> 00:09:52,680 Speaker 2: you say you wanted to do from the onset of 198 00:09:52,679 --> 00:09:55,120 Speaker 2: the season was the outrun the South. Right now you're 199 00:09:55,160 --> 00:09:58,120 Speaker 2: behind Tampa Bay, you're trying to catch up and you're 200 00:09:58,160 --> 00:10:01,040 Speaker 2: kind of hoping that they trip a little bit, and 201 00:10:01,360 --> 00:10:06,320 Speaker 2: the only way that you can keep running, essentially is 202 00:10:06,679 --> 00:10:11,280 Speaker 2: to win these next three games, and you're gonna face 203 00:10:11,640 --> 00:10:16,120 Speaker 2: the Giants, the Commanders, and the Panthers. And I think 204 00:10:16,200 --> 00:10:19,080 Speaker 2: if you want to put yourself in the best, absolute 205 00:10:19,120 --> 00:10:22,400 Speaker 2: best position against the Commanders in two weeks, you had 206 00:10:22,440 --> 00:10:25,160 Speaker 2: to give Michael Pennix the reps even on a short 207 00:10:25,160 --> 00:10:30,439 Speaker 2: week against this Giants team, against this Giants defense specifically. 208 00:10:30,720 --> 00:10:33,439 Speaker 2: So I think that it's it's very much like they 209 00:10:33,480 --> 00:10:35,719 Speaker 2: said it in the offseason, right when Raheem first got here, 210 00:10:35,840 --> 00:10:40,120 Speaker 2: Like the Falcons are in win now mode. That's been 211 00:10:40,520 --> 00:10:43,800 Speaker 2: a calling card since the moment that they released Arthur Smith. 212 00:10:44,040 --> 00:10:46,440 Speaker 2: That was something that Rich McKay and Arthur Blank said 213 00:10:46,559 --> 00:10:51,720 Speaker 2: in that Price coming the Falcons are in win now mode. Well, 214 00:10:51,920 --> 00:10:55,120 Speaker 2: you were winning and now you're not. You've lost four 215 00:10:55,160 --> 00:10:57,559 Speaker 2: of the last five and the divisional lead has kind 216 00:10:57,559 --> 00:11:01,920 Speaker 2: of slipped from you. So this is the mo that honestly, 217 00:11:02,000 --> 00:11:04,080 Speaker 2: it's like it's the only move that was left to 218 00:11:04,120 --> 00:11:08,560 Speaker 2: be made. You know that they helped. They've drafted so 219 00:11:08,679 --> 00:11:13,240 Speaker 2: many offensive weapons. They have brought in some really key defenders. 220 00:11:13,280 --> 00:11:16,640 Speaker 2: The defense is starting to pick up. Outside of the 221 00:11:16,679 --> 00:11:20,800 Speaker 2: struggles that Yunggwaiku has had this season. Special teams, what 222 00:11:20,840 --> 00:11:24,040 Speaker 2: we saw against the Raiders, Katarill Hodge like, there are 223 00:11:24,160 --> 00:11:27,719 Speaker 2: good solid pieces, consistent pieces of what we've seen from 224 00:11:27,720 --> 00:11:30,280 Speaker 2: this team in the last few weeks outside of the 225 00:11:30,320 --> 00:11:32,720 Speaker 2: quarterback position. And to your point, this is a quarterback 226 00:11:32,840 --> 00:11:34,680 Speaker 2: driven league. And I said at the beginning of the season, 227 00:11:34,679 --> 00:11:38,160 Speaker 2: where Kirk Cousins goes is where the team goes, and 228 00:11:38,280 --> 00:11:41,600 Speaker 2: right now, Kirk Cousins wasn't going, so you needed to 229 00:11:41,679 --> 00:11:43,920 Speaker 2: insert something to kind of push you along. 230 00:11:44,080 --> 00:11:45,920 Speaker 1: Yeah, you're hoping to use the hour on the South 231 00:11:45,960 --> 00:11:48,240 Speaker 1: metaphor again, is like this is the second wind that 232 00:11:48,280 --> 00:11:50,560 Speaker 1: you're getting late in the race. And there's one word 233 00:11:50,600 --> 00:11:52,640 Speaker 1: though that I didn't hear you say, and I think 234 00:11:52,640 --> 00:11:57,120 Speaker 1: it's accountability. And as a first year head coach in 235 00:11:57,160 --> 00:11:59,880 Speaker 1: this in a veteran locker room, right, that has expectation. 236 00:12:01,040 --> 00:12:02,839 Speaker 1: You and I were there at the end of Dan 237 00:12:02,880 --> 00:12:06,840 Speaker 1: Quinn's tenure, right and one thing that I think ultimately 238 00:12:06,920 --> 00:12:10,040 Speaker 1: kind of played a role in him no longer being 239 00:12:10,080 --> 00:12:13,199 Speaker 1: here was that accountability piece and sticking to some of 240 00:12:13,240 --> 00:12:16,240 Speaker 1: the guys who may have had a sense of entitlement, right, 241 00:12:16,280 --> 00:12:19,360 Speaker 1: And I think that if you say to the locker room, hey, 242 00:12:19,920 --> 00:12:22,200 Speaker 1: if you're not performing, it doesn't matter if you are 243 00:12:22,240 --> 00:12:25,040 Speaker 1: a quarterback with one hundred million dollars guaranteed on your contract. 244 00:12:25,800 --> 00:12:27,960 Speaker 1: We got to figure out a different solution. And so 245 00:12:28,200 --> 00:12:31,120 Speaker 1: for every other player in that locker room, hey, I 246 00:12:31,120 --> 00:12:32,880 Speaker 1: got to pick up my game a little bit. Yeah, right, 247 00:12:32,920 --> 00:12:34,960 Speaker 1: Because if it can happen to him, it can happen 248 00:12:35,000 --> 00:12:37,240 Speaker 1: to me. And I think that that's a very important 249 00:12:37,280 --> 00:12:40,600 Speaker 1: message for him Morris to send to the other players 250 00:12:40,640 --> 00:12:44,080 Speaker 1: in this locker room. And also, we're not blind to 251 00:12:44,160 --> 00:12:46,440 Speaker 1: what everybody else is seeing as well, and we know 252 00:12:46,520 --> 00:12:48,280 Speaker 1: that a move needs to be made, and we're not 253 00:12:48,320 --> 00:12:50,679 Speaker 1: going to make that move too late. I'm sure a 254 00:12:50,720 --> 00:12:53,920 Speaker 1: lot of fans could argue that maybe this move is 255 00:12:53,960 --> 00:12:56,600 Speaker 1: coming too late. That's besides the point, right, We're not 256 00:12:56,679 --> 00:12:59,520 Speaker 1: seeing everything that they're seeing. So they did want to 257 00:12:59,520 --> 00:13:01,560 Speaker 1: stick to that plan. But it's a little bit like 258 00:13:01,559 --> 00:13:03,319 Speaker 1: the Joker in the Dark Knight right, Like as soon 259 00:13:03,360 --> 00:13:05,800 Speaker 1: as things go cour or like outside of the plan, 260 00:13:05,840 --> 00:13:09,800 Speaker 1: everybody loses their minds. Yeah, we'll see ultimately whether they 261 00:13:09,840 --> 00:13:11,880 Speaker 1: are able to stick with that plan. But how do 262 00:13:11,920 --> 00:13:14,560 Speaker 1: you expect the offense to change under Michael. 263 00:13:14,360 --> 00:13:16,559 Speaker 2: PENNOCKX So, I think it's something that I go back 264 00:13:16,600 --> 00:13:21,920 Speaker 2: to what I talked to area scouts, front office guys, 265 00:13:22,640 --> 00:13:25,599 Speaker 2: coaches about when they first drafted Michael Pennocks with the 266 00:13:25,679 --> 00:13:28,040 Speaker 2: number eight overall picks, Like why do you like this guy? 267 00:13:28,080 --> 00:13:30,439 Speaker 2: Why do you feel such conviction in this guy? When 268 00:13:30,480 --> 00:13:32,760 Speaker 2: you had Kirk Cousins on the roster, You're giving him 269 00:13:32,760 --> 00:13:33,720 Speaker 2: one hundred million dollars? 270 00:13:33,760 --> 00:13:36,080 Speaker 1: Like why not go get another piece to help Kirk? 271 00:13:36,160 --> 00:13:39,240 Speaker 1: Add another piece to this playoff? For Yeah, what what was? 272 00:13:39,440 --> 00:13:41,839 Speaker 2: What sold you on this guy? And of course do 273 00:13:41,920 --> 00:13:45,800 Speaker 2: they talk you know arm talent? He's the only what 274 00:13:45,880 --> 00:13:48,440 Speaker 2: is it? He's the only quarterback at the FBS level 275 00:13:48,679 --> 00:13:51,439 Speaker 2: to throw for over forty five hundred yards and back 276 00:13:51,440 --> 00:13:53,880 Speaker 2: to back seasons since Patrick Mahomes did it. 277 00:13:54,760 --> 00:13:57,920 Speaker 1: He Yeah, led college football in twenty twenty three, was 278 00:13:57,960 --> 00:14:00,360 Speaker 1: second in twenty twenty two by like a little bit right. 279 00:14:01,240 --> 00:14:05,800 Speaker 2: What he did at Washington was impressive and how he 280 00:14:05,880 --> 00:14:09,080 Speaker 2: was able to use that arm talent. But here's the 281 00:14:09,120 --> 00:14:11,840 Speaker 2: thing is, I think that they talked a lot about 282 00:14:11,840 --> 00:14:14,040 Speaker 2: the arm talent, talked a lot about poison the pocket, 283 00:14:14,480 --> 00:14:17,559 Speaker 2: talked a lot about just the athleticism. And the reason 284 00:14:17,600 --> 00:14:20,160 Speaker 2: I bring up the athleticism piece is because I think 285 00:14:20,200 --> 00:14:24,840 Speaker 2: that is that was Kirk Cousin's kind of achilles Heel. 286 00:14:25,840 --> 00:14:30,040 Speaker 2: Not to use that specific, not to use that specific 287 00:14:30,080 --> 00:14:32,640 Speaker 2: analogy unfortunately. 288 00:14:32,120 --> 00:14:34,880 Speaker 1: But unfortunate analogy, but an unfortunate analogy. 289 00:14:34,960 --> 00:14:37,080 Speaker 2: But it was what it is. I say it, I 290 00:14:37,120 --> 00:14:39,440 Speaker 2: stand by it. It was what it was. But the 291 00:14:39,480 --> 00:14:42,440 Speaker 2: athleticism piece, the being able to shift out of the pocket, 292 00:14:42,440 --> 00:14:43,480 Speaker 2: to move out of the pocket when they. 293 00:14:43,400 --> 00:14:46,560 Speaker 1: Did something I asked for him actually on Saturday, was 294 00:14:46,920 --> 00:14:49,440 Speaker 1: especially in the red zone, right, because that is another 295 00:14:49,560 --> 00:14:53,280 Speaker 1: area where the Falcons of struggle recently, that spontaneous mobility. Yeah, 296 00:14:53,320 --> 00:14:55,680 Speaker 1: And what kind of led me to that question was 297 00:14:55,720 --> 00:14:58,680 Speaker 1: watching Baker Mayfield against Las Vegas in the preparation for 298 00:14:58,960 --> 00:15:01,920 Speaker 1: Monday night's game, and just the way that you can 299 00:15:02,280 --> 00:15:04,760 Speaker 1: get a defense on its heels in a condensed area 300 00:15:05,160 --> 00:15:08,040 Speaker 1: just solely by moving around in the pocket and extending places. 301 00:15:08,120 --> 00:15:10,880 Speaker 2: Yeah, and I want to say this too, like Michael 302 00:15:10,880 --> 00:15:14,320 Speaker 2: Penis Junior is not a dual threat quarterback, like he's 303 00:15:14,360 --> 00:15:17,920 Speaker 2: an athletic quarterback. He can move outside the pocket. I 304 00:15:17,960 --> 00:15:19,600 Speaker 2: feel like a lot of people get kind of like 305 00:15:19,680 --> 00:15:22,720 Speaker 2: this one track mind on like what is a pocket passer? 306 00:15:22,920 --> 00:15:25,400 Speaker 2: What is a dual threat quarterback? And it's like it's 307 00:15:25,440 --> 00:15:29,360 Speaker 2: a bit more fluid than that. Like Michael Pinnox, his 308 00:15:30,320 --> 00:15:32,800 Speaker 2: biggest strength is what I said before, is the arm talent. 309 00:15:32,960 --> 00:15:33,400 Speaker 1: It's this. 310 00:15:33,840 --> 00:15:38,040 Speaker 2: It's the fact that he's throwing bullets at these receivers 311 00:15:38,240 --> 00:15:40,920 Speaker 2: and he's incredibly accurate. I was talking to t J. 312 00:15:41,120 --> 00:15:44,600 Speaker 2: Yeats after the Falcons drafted Michael PENNOCKX, and this is 313 00:15:44,640 --> 00:15:47,400 Speaker 2: the quote that I think just aligns with everything we're saying. 314 00:15:47,440 --> 00:15:49,960 Speaker 2: He said he can make every throw in the field, 315 00:15:50,040 --> 00:15:52,080 Speaker 2: can touch every part of the field with his arms, 316 00:15:52,080 --> 00:15:54,640 Speaker 2: and he did it all by not taking any sacks. 317 00:15:55,120 --> 00:15:58,760 Speaker 2: It's not like he's scrambling. No, he's just not taking sacks. 318 00:15:58,800 --> 00:16:01,880 Speaker 1: He's Matthew Stafford. There you go, he's That's exactly when 319 00:16:01,960 --> 00:16:04,680 Speaker 1: when he was drafted, I had Joe Patrick joined me 320 00:16:04,680 --> 00:16:07,480 Speaker 1: on the podcast, and that was my immediate takeaway, was 321 00:16:07,640 --> 00:16:10,520 Speaker 1: you just drafted a player that looks exactly like Matthew Stafford. 322 00:16:10,600 --> 00:16:13,120 Speaker 1: Arm talent is the number one, Like, yeah, Matthew Stafford 323 00:16:13,160 --> 00:16:16,520 Speaker 1: is your favorite quarterback's favorite quarterback. And Michael Pennix has 324 00:16:16,560 --> 00:16:19,800 Speaker 1: that kind of ability. And yeah, Matthew Stafford's not running 325 00:16:19,840 --> 00:16:22,600 Speaker 1: around in the backfield, but he does enough to move 326 00:16:22,640 --> 00:16:24,480 Speaker 1: to create space to get an arm angle to then 327 00:16:24,600 --> 00:16:26,920 Speaker 1: rip the ball down the field. And when we've seen 328 00:16:27,000 --> 00:16:29,760 Speaker 1: some of these interceptions, you think back to the Chargers 329 00:16:29,760 --> 00:16:32,080 Speaker 1: game right, kind of that one down to Drake Lennon 330 00:16:32,120 --> 00:16:34,600 Speaker 1: on the left hand side. I just wonder if the 331 00:16:34,720 --> 00:16:37,360 Speaker 1: zip is there and we will see that zip with 332 00:16:37,360 --> 00:16:38,920 Speaker 1: Michael Pennix to fit it in these tight. 333 00:16:38,840 --> 00:16:41,600 Speaker 2: Windows immediately and it'll come, you know, at a cost. 334 00:16:41,680 --> 00:16:44,200 Speaker 2: As he's figuring it out, there's gonna be growing pains. 335 00:16:43,880 --> 00:16:45,040 Speaker 1: And he's gonna be turnovers. 336 00:16:45,080 --> 00:16:48,040 Speaker 2: He's gonna be turnovers. Yeah, but you owe it to 337 00:16:48,120 --> 00:16:50,680 Speaker 2: yourself to make this move. 338 00:16:50,840 --> 00:16:53,000 Speaker 1: Imagine if there's not any turnovers though, I mean. 339 00:16:52,840 --> 00:16:55,200 Speaker 3: That would be kind of crazy great, but it would 340 00:16:55,240 --> 00:16:58,120 Speaker 3: be Yeah, but it's it's really just I don't know, 341 00:16:58,200 --> 00:17:00,000 Speaker 3: I think this was the only I keep saying that, 342 00:17:00,120 --> 00:17:01,800 Speaker 3: but this was the only move that they had to make, 343 00:17:02,280 --> 00:17:03,600 Speaker 3: like you had to make this move. 344 00:17:03,760 --> 00:17:05,240 Speaker 2: So let's go ahead, Let's. 345 00:17:05,119 --> 00:17:08,160 Speaker 1: Let's wrap up with this final question. Does it change 346 00:17:08,200 --> 00:17:09,639 Speaker 1: your outlook for the remainder of the season. 347 00:17:13,440 --> 00:17:18,520 Speaker 2: Yes, I do feel a bit better about facing the 348 00:17:18,600 --> 00:17:22,520 Speaker 2: Giants and the Panthers. I don't know how I feel 349 00:17:22,600 --> 00:17:23,480 Speaker 2: about the Commanders. 350 00:17:23,760 --> 00:17:26,959 Speaker 1: That's gonna be a Sunday night to watch that. Jane Daniels, 351 00:17:27,000 --> 00:17:29,119 Speaker 1: Michael Pennox, who Morris. 352 00:17:29,480 --> 00:17:31,720 Speaker 2: Here's the thing is, like, when that was announced that 353 00:17:31,800 --> 00:17:34,320 Speaker 2: the Falcons were being the Falcons and Commanders were being 354 00:17:34,359 --> 00:17:38,920 Speaker 2: flexed to that Sunday night game against the Commanders, everybody 355 00:17:38,920 --> 00:17:43,120 Speaker 2: on Twitter was like why, like why again? Like after 356 00:17:43,240 --> 00:17:46,000 Speaker 2: what they just saw the Falcons do against the Raiders 357 00:17:46,080 --> 00:17:47,440 Speaker 2: and the fan basers just. 358 00:17:47,400 --> 00:17:48,359 Speaker 1: Like lord like. 359 00:17:49,920 --> 00:17:54,800 Speaker 2: They But now now that's a primetime matchup that a 360 00:17:54,840 --> 00:17:56,359 Speaker 2: lot of people are going to be tuning in to 361 00:17:56,440 --> 00:18:00,520 Speaker 2: see because it's Michael Pennix versus Jaden Daniels. And honestly, 362 00:18:00,600 --> 00:18:04,280 Speaker 2: I think this was such an important move that the 363 00:18:04,320 --> 00:18:08,440 Speaker 2: Falcons gave to get a game, a live game under 364 00:18:08,440 --> 00:18:12,440 Speaker 2: his belt before going up to the Commander's two face Washington, 365 00:18:12,920 --> 00:18:16,520 Speaker 2: especially knowing that that DQ defense and what they present, 366 00:18:16,600 --> 00:18:18,600 Speaker 2: and also just kind of what Jaden Daniels has done 367 00:18:18,640 --> 00:18:21,960 Speaker 2: in terms of putting a spark within that offensive unit. 368 00:18:22,280 --> 00:18:25,040 Speaker 2: You hope Michael Penix does the exact same thing. And 369 00:18:25,160 --> 00:18:29,000 Speaker 2: I'm personally really excited to see what Michael Penix does 370 00:18:29,320 --> 00:18:33,760 Speaker 2: with Jehan Robinson, Tyler Algier, Drake Lyndon, Kyle Pits, Darnell Mooney. 371 00:18:33,880 --> 00:18:36,440 Speaker 1: That's gonna be interesting because we saw so clearly the 372 00:18:36,520 --> 00:18:39,760 Speaker 1: Kirk Cousins Darnell connection. Right, It's like those guys established 373 00:18:40,040 --> 00:18:42,800 Speaker 1: a unique chemistry early on. Who is gonna be Michael 374 00:18:42,800 --> 00:18:45,640 Speaker 1: Penix's guy, right, because I don't think Casey Washington, who 375 00:18:45,680 --> 00:18:48,479 Speaker 1: is still in the concussion protocol, it's gonna be out there, right, 376 00:18:48,520 --> 00:18:50,720 Speaker 1: and that has been kind of ye Fenix's go to 377 00:18:50,840 --> 00:18:53,159 Speaker 1: guys since he's been here. So who's it gonna be? 378 00:18:53,320 --> 00:18:56,120 Speaker 2: That's I think to me, it's Drake Okay, I think 379 00:18:56,240 --> 00:18:58,920 Speaker 2: Drake has shown over and it can be it can 380 00:18:58,920 --> 00:18:59,680 Speaker 2: be Darnell. 381 00:18:59,760 --> 00:19:01,560 Speaker 1: Who Couldaryl Hodge. 382 00:19:01,640 --> 00:19:04,480 Speaker 2: Yeah, But if I'm a rookie quarterback, just like trying 383 00:19:04,520 --> 00:19:06,600 Speaker 2: to get the ball in somebody's hands, it's going to 384 00:19:06,640 --> 00:19:09,160 Speaker 2: the guy who has the best opportunity in nifty. 385 00:19:08,920 --> 00:19:11,840 Speaker 1: To fifty ball the most like tight window catches in 386 00:19:11,880 --> 00:19:12,800 Speaker 1: the NFL this season. 387 00:19:12,920 --> 00:19:17,240 Speaker 2: Yeah, really, Drake does well. My point, my point exactly 388 00:19:17,359 --> 00:19:19,439 Speaker 2: like that, that to me is like that has to 389 00:19:19,440 --> 00:19:22,840 Speaker 2: be your guy. You have to trust him, and I 390 00:19:22,840 --> 00:19:24,919 Speaker 2: I'm excited to see how it goes in. You know, 391 00:19:25,359 --> 00:19:26,920 Speaker 2: coming out of the bye week, they were talking about 392 00:19:26,920 --> 00:19:30,400 Speaker 2: and starting more like needing to insert more play action. Yep, 393 00:19:30,480 --> 00:19:32,439 Speaker 2: I think you can. You have more opportunities to be 394 00:19:32,480 --> 00:19:34,520 Speaker 2: able to do that with Michael Penis and have some 395 00:19:34,560 --> 00:19:35,760 Speaker 2: success in the flow of the game. 396 00:19:36,000 --> 00:19:38,840 Speaker 1: Absolutely, well, we will see you know who emerges as 397 00:19:38,920 --> 00:19:42,800 Speaker 1: Michael Penix's guy on Sunday. But right now, Michael Penis 398 00:19:42,880 --> 00:19:45,560 Speaker 1: is the Falcons guy at quarterback. So we're gonna wrap 399 00:19:45,560 --> 00:19:48,280 Speaker 1: it up there. But we're gonna have so much more coverage, 400 00:19:48,320 --> 00:19:51,479 Speaker 1: so much on Atlanta Falcons dot com. We're gonna have videos, 401 00:19:51,520 --> 00:19:54,119 Speaker 1: We're gonna have articles, We're gonna have more podcasts throughout 402 00:19:54,119 --> 00:19:56,679 Speaker 1: the week, So everybody please stay tuned, check out the 403 00:19:56,680 --> 00:19:59,720 Speaker 1: social channels, check out the website. It's gonna be amazing. 404 00:19:59,760 --> 00:20:03,200 Speaker 1: Con Tory, thank you so much for joining me. Man. 405 00:20:03,240 --> 00:20:06,200 Speaker 1: Michael Pennix. He is in at quarterback for the Atlanta Falcons. 406 00:20:06,320 --> 00:20:07,879 Speaker 1: That'll wrap it up for us. We will see you 407 00:20:07,880 --> 00:20:10,560 Speaker 1: guys again on Friday for Falcons Final Whistle, previewing the 408 00:20:10,600 --> 00:20:13,760 Speaker 1: game and breaking down more of what we've heard the players, coaches, 409 00:20:14,040 --> 00:20:17,720 Speaker 1: everybody say about this decision. But until then, everybody take care. 410 00:20:18,640 --> 00:20:21,320 Speaker 1: Today's episode of Falcons Final Whistle is brought to you 411 00:20:21,359 --> 00:20:25,120 Speaker 1: by Zaxby's. And after a long game, when I'm tired 412 00:20:25,160 --> 00:20:28,560 Speaker 1: and I need to refuel, I turned to Zaxbies. They're marinated, 413 00:20:28,640 --> 00:20:32,680 Speaker 1: handbreaded fry to perfection chicken fingers. They hit the spot 414 00:20:32,720 --> 00:20:36,600 Speaker 1: every time. 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