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The Atlanta Falcons hope to have a newfound identity heading into the 2024 season. With multiple new additions to their offense, what are the expectations for that side of the ball?
Between the last two seasons, former head coach Arthur Smith shuffled between Marcus Mariota, Desmond Ridder and Taylor Heinicke at the quarterback position. With inconsistent quarterback play, the team relied upon the run game, Arthur Smith’s specialty since becoming Atlanta’s head coach. Last season alone, the team averaged no more than 22 points per game, finishing 26th in offensive scoring. Across Smith’s three-year tenure with the team, they never had a superb passing attack, as Atlanta never even reached the top ten in scoring.
By now, everyone knows of the moves Atlanta made this offseason to try and retool their offense, hiring a brand new offensive coordinator in Zac Robinson and finding their new quarterbacks for the present in Kirk Cousins and the future in Michael Penix Jr.
The team’s new offensive coordinator, Zac Robinson, comes over from the Los Angeles Rams, having served as the team’s quarterback coach and passing game coordinator. While in Los Angeles, Robinson and the team saw one of the league’s best offenses last season. Last year, the Rams led the NFL in using 11-personnel (one running back, one tight end, three wide receivers). In comparison, the Falcons were nearly the last team ranked in 11-personnel usage. Just on that information alone, Atlanta should see a shift, essentially going from worst to first in terms of 11-personnel. Robinson is widely expected to install that style of play into this Atlanta offense, giving the team’s big three – Bijan Robinson, Drake London and Kyle Pitts – the opportunity to become the main focal points of the offense, which fans have clamored for.
Atlanta Falcons 11-Personnel lineup / Courtesy of Pro Football Focus
Veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins played in this system in his final years with the Minnesota Vikings under head coach Kevin O’Connell. Like offensive coordinator Zac Robinson, O’Connell comes from Sean McVay’s coaching tree in Los Angeles. When O’Connell was hired by the Vikings in 2022, he brought the innovative offense from the Rams to Minnesota. Now, Cousins teams up with another McVay disciple in Atlanta. While we have mentioned the likelihood that Robinson uses 11-personnel—which Cousins is familiar with—there are still some elements to the offense that the veteran is learning this offseason. In a recent interview, Robinson spoke about the comfort of having a veteran like Cousins, who already knows a good portion of this system. “He’s incredibly cerebral. He’s seen so many different looks, he’s got great recall.” Robinson said. “He can kind of take some of those things that he’s had with Kevin [O’Connell] the last couple years, apply it to what we’re doing here. There’s still some new stuff, so he’s learning a few new things.” Overall, having Cousins at the quarterback position should make Robinson’s life much easier in his first year as an offensive coordinator.
So, with Zac Robinson and Kirk Cousins now involved on this side of the ball, the offensive studs of Bijan Robinson, Drake London and Kyle Pitts, along with new additions of Darnell Mooney and Rondale Moore, this offense should undoubtedly see a massive upgrade compared to the 2023 season. The team should see more of an explosive passing attack and more touchdowns scored. Don’t be surprised if this offense finishes firmly in the top ten in total scoring.