FLOWERY BRANCH — An obviously dejected Falcons coach Raheem Morris addressed how the once-promising 2024 regular season went off the rails.
The Falcons were the fashionable offseason pick to win the NFC South after signing quarterback Kirk Cousins in free agency and hiring Morris, who was the defensive coordinator of the Rams.
The Falcons looked like a great pick as they started the season 6-3. But in New Orleans for their 10th game of the season, things started to unravel as normally dependable kicker Younghoe Koo missed three field-goal attempts, and Cousins whiffed on four fourth-quarter drives. The Falcons would go on to win only two of their final eight games (against Desmond Ridder and the Raiders and Drew Lock and the Giants.)
The slide into the middle of the NFL left the Falcons with an 8-9 record and in the No. 9 spot in the NFC standings, short of the seven-team NFC playoffs and out of the postseason for the seventh consecutive season.
The Falcons and Panthers have the second longest playoff drought in the NFL behind the New York Jets, who missed the playoffs for the 14th consecutive season.
“Disappointed for our organization, for us, for our fan base, for all of us,” Morris said Monday. “The work has to start today. 2025 starts for us today. The process has already begun.”
The Falcons will take their collaborative approach to fixing the coaching staff and roster with the hopes of one day competing for the Vince Lombardi Trophy that goes to the Super Bowl champion.
“Obviously, the things we have to do myself, (general manager) Terry (Fontenot), (president) Greg Beadles, all of us involved,” Morris said. “Getting together and figuring how to be where we want to be. Find a way to get there.”
The Falcons finished in second place in the NFC South. They moved past the Saints, who finished tied for last with the Panthers (5-12).
“We have to go out and find ways to get better,” Morris said. “We have to continue that growth mindset that we started this year, and weren’t able to finish. We came up short, and it’s disappointing for all of us.”
The Falcons lost four games in row and then couldn’t finish strong with the division title and the playoff berth on the line.
“We have to find ways to mitigate that lull that we had in the middle of the season,” Morris said. “We have to continue to get better throughout the season. So, that we can maintain excellent play across the board for all of our guys, in order for us to go out there and finish and find ways to get into this tournament (the playoffs).”
Morris who had some late-season clock-management issues took his share of the blame.
“We didn’t do a good enough job and it starts with me,” Morris said. “We have to find ways to win games. Find ways to be more consistent. We have to find ways to win those very winnable games that we had on our schedule, that we had a chance to win. ... It starts with me.”
Offensive coordinator Zac Robinson, who was in his first season of calling plays, had a strong season.
Defensive coordinator Jimmy Lake, who was in his first season of calling plays in the NFL, will be heavily scrutinized after the defense gave up 44 points to the Panthers and two long overtime-touchdown drives in the final two games.
“We have to evaluate all of our coaches,” Morris said. “We have to evaluate all of our players. We have to evaluate everything that we do from a whole program standpoint.”
There will be change on the coaching staff and on the team, which has 26 players set to become free agents and 11 on injured reserve.
“There will never been anything that’s the same in the National Football League, whether it’s players, whether it’s coaches, whatever the case may be,” Morris said. That’s just how it is.”
The Falcons are set to move forward with Michael Penix Jr. as the starting quarterback.
“It’s definitely what we talked about when we first got here,” Morris said. “We talked about getting a quarterback in that (group) was what we wanted to do (over) the long-term. Michael Penix in these last three games has definitely shown us that. That’s definitely a positive.”
The Falcons have some weapons for Penix.
“Pairing him up with Drake London,” Morris said. “Pairing him up with Bijan Robinson and watching (that trio) get a chance to start fresh and do some things will really be positive.”
Outside linebacker Matthew Judon was acquired in a trade and safety Justin Simmons in free agency, but neither made a major impact on the defense. Both are set to become free agents.
“Watching a young guy like A.J. Terrell get a contract this year and really assert himself into a leadership spot,” Morris said. “Jessie Bates having the ability to play at a very high level.”
A major overhaul on defense likely is forthcoming.
“There (will) always … be changes,” Morris said.
The Falcons must settle their field-goal kicker situation.
“We missed entirely too many kicks this year,” Morris said. “(That’s) the brutal, honest truth. We have to find ways to make those kicks. That certainly plays into not winning the amount of games you want to win.”
Morris is hoping that Koo, who suffered a right hip injury, can return to good health. He also would like to spruce up the kickoff and punt returns.
Cousins may want to go to a team where he can be a starter. He could elect to stay and back up Penix. He has a no-trade clause in his contract.
“Kirk left today and gave me a hug,” Morris said. “He said he’ll talk to me soon, and we’ll make some of those decisions with him because obviously because of his contract status and all of the things he’s talking about, right? So, you just never know, and I think that’s the part of the process that we’ll go through right now with him.”
Credit: AP
Credit: AP
Credit: AP
Credit: AP
Credit: AP
Credit: AP
Credit: Miguel Martinez-Jimenez
Credit: Miguel Martinez-Jimenez
Credit: Miguel Martinez-Jimenez
Credit: Miguel Martinez-Jimenez
Credit: Miguel Martinez-Jimenez
Credit: Miguel Martinez-Jimenez
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