Falcons have clear change of confidence in Michael Penix Jr.

Three years ago, when the Atlanta Falcons first drafted Michael Penix Jr., there was a clear lack of confidence in the signal caller. Not only was the quarterback called out as unable to run an offense under center, but he was a fallback option, with Kirk Cousins signed as the primary starter and Penix looked at as the possible heir of the future. A front office and coaching change later, and all of a sudden the direction is completely different.

Penix has inspired a sense of belief and confidence we haven't seen over the previous two seasons. This is displayed in both his own play and the positions the quarterback is being put into, as well as the comments and direction of the coaching staff. Evidence of this was offered when Rees commented on the quarterback.

"Mike’s able to do a lot of things on the football field. So, we're going to continue to build around him, what he does well, and try to unlock the things that he can do really well."

Tommy Rees

Atlanta's offensive coordinator speaking with confidence on Penix signals a completely different outlook and level of belief. There is no hint of worrying about what the signal caller doesn't do at a high level, but rather trust in the system and quarterback to be able to continue to develop and carry an offense that has been incredibly explosive since his return.

For Penix, it has to be refreshing to have a staff fully putting their arms around you and not hesitating to build up what you do well while presenting a challenge. There has been a completely different attitude around the quarterback, and the results speak for themselves.

Falcons Pushing Michael Penix Jr. in Right Direction as 2026 Turnaround Continues

Through two games, Penix has 479 passing yards with a pair of touchdowns and an impressive completion percentage of 73.3%. The numbers aren't eye-popping, but what Penix is doing is just enough to fully unlock Bijan Robinson and force the defense to play the run, resulting in big plays for Drake London and the Atlanta passing attack.

Much of this is due to the Falcons removing any limitations when it comes to plays they are willing to call or having Penix under center. There simply is no way around how impressive things have been; as fans once again have a reason to buy in, they have found a quarterback of the future. One perhaps capable of being the driving force in a winning season that the team hasn't enjoyed since 2017.

No question, as long as Penix is able to stay healthy, it is clear there is an incredible level of belief in the quarterback's ceiling and the heights the roster can reach.

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