Change Is Good For Atlanta Falcons’ Offense
By John Buhler
Much of the Atlanta Falcons offensive coaching staff met with the media during this week’s OTA’s to discuss how Coach Kyle Shanahan’s new offense will work in Atlanta. Besides OC Kyle Shanahan, WRs Coach Terry Robiskie, new QB Coach Matt LaFleur, and new OL Coach Chris Morgan all offered insight to the Falcons’ new look offense.
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While Robiskie is the longest tenured Falcons coach, going on 8 seasons now, he fully embraces trying something new, “Now here comes something new, here comes something fresh. Let’s go with it…everybody is fired up to see it work.” I feel that a major reason Dan Quinn retained Robiskie on his staff was because even given his outstanding track record as a receivers coach, Robiskie was willing to work on bringing balance to this formerly pass-heavy Atlanta offense.
QB Coach Matt LaFleur talked about how effectively running the ball will open up the pass through play actions and bootlegs. Matt Ryan is a more mobile quarterback than we give him credit for. He’s never going to change games with his legs, but to see him thrive on play action and on bootlegs might take his play to an even higher level. I’m talking about developing a Tony Romo-level play action fake or a Russell Wilson, Aaron Rodgers-type of bootleg. Part of why Ben Roethlisberger so incredible for the Steelers is his ability to make plays out of the pocket. I’m looking forward to seeing Ryan extend plays with his footwork in this zone blocking scheme.
“Every single day, championship day. One day at a time.” – Atlanta Falcons OL Coach Chris Morgan
Shanahan likes having two young running backs to work with in establishing his running game. He enjoyed watching both Devonta Freeman and Tevin Coleman in college and looks forward to both backs competing in the Falcons backfield. “I expect good competition. We believe in both of them.”
Perhaps OL Coach Chris Morgan best encapsulated the feelings among the offensive staff. “Every single day, championship day. One day at a time.” It’s the approach the team needs as it tries to get back into relevancy in the first year of the Dan Quinn Era. Change feels welcomed at Flowery Branch so far and that’s a good thing for our Atlanta Falcons.