Without knowing for certain how much of a difference it would make in the grand scheme of things, Atlanta Falcons head coach Raheem Morris made the decision to bring offensive coordinator Zac Robinson down from the coaches’ box to the sidelines.
Morris said it’s a move Robinson was upset he didn’t make earlier.
With Robinson able to communicate more efficiently to quarterback Michael Penix Jr., Atlanta responded after a 30-0 setback against the Carolina Panthers with a 34-27 victory over the Washington Commanders in Week 4.
“Zac felt great being on the field,” Morris said Monday. “Being closer to Mike, being able to go around and be a part of everybody on the offense and really be in the action. He said he liked everything about it. He’s a little pissed that he didn’t start down there at the beginning of the season. I think if he had his druthers, he would’ve started down there at the beginning of the season.”
After Penix completed just 50 percent of his passes and tossed two interceptions in the shutout at Carolina, he was 20-for-26 passing for 313 yards, two touchdowns and a pick against Washington.
Helping engineer Atlanta’s 435-yard output wasn’t the only reason Robinson was in the news. NFL Network reported early Sunday that the coordinator was on the “very short list” to fill Oklahoma State’s head coach opening.
Robinson, who turned 39 Monday, was a standout quarterback for the Cowboys from 2006-09 under Mike Gundy, who was fired last week after 20-plus seasons at the program’s helm.
“I want my guys to go be head coaches,” Morris said. “We want to have the ability to make people want our guys. I think that’s something that is awesome for him, awesome for his family. But we live in that world and we embrace distractions instead of trying to duck those things. I don’t know if he’s been contacted by anybody from Oklahoma State, but we heard the rumors and that’s great for him.”
With 14 days until the Falcons suit up again on “Monday Night Football” against the Buffalo Bills, Atlanta will try to get healthy during its bye week, while assessing the needs of the team four games in.
“It’s definitely a chance to go back and look at everything that you’ve done from all three phases of the ball,” Morris said. “Find what you can do better, what you can add or what you can take out. It’s been a nice four-week sample of things you can do better.”
Morris didn’t have an update on injured wide receiver Darnell Mooney, offensive lineman Storm Norton or linebacker Troy Andersen, but did say the team is hoping to get cornerback A.J. Terrell Jr. back after missing the last two games with a hamstring injury.
