NFL preview: Atlanta Falcons hoping Penix, Jr. can lead them to playoffs

The Atlanta Braves slide in the Major League Baseball standings means it's quickly become football season in the Peach State

Right on cue, the Falcons arrive full of optimism as training camp hits Week 2 in Flowery Branch, with quarterback Michael Penix Jr. leading the way

You can already see it, you can already feel it within the weight room, you can feel it in the meeting rooms, the excitement, the enthusiasm, you can feel it from the coaching staff

Head coach Raheem Morris knows his team has improved this offseason. Panics is the clear leader of a group hoping to make a big leap in 2025

The talented supporting cast on offense includes running back Bajon Robinson, who ranked third in rushing yards with 1,456 in 2024

as well as receiver Drake London and tight end Kyle Pitts. Panics, however, is the key

They'll go as far as he takes them, And he's beginning to sound like the leader they need

Tuesday, he was asked about a recent fight that broke out at practice

I like it, the energy, but man, we just got to be smart, man. We got to be a disciplined team

You know, obviously, you know, you love the energy. You love the competitiveness, but we know we can't do that stuff in the game

So there ain't no need to come out here and do it in practice and slow practice down

Last year, the Falcons started 6-3 with Kirk Cousins under center. But after a tough 1-4 stretch, Penix took over for the final three games

He finished the season by winning his debut against the New York Giants and losing overtime games against the Commanders and the Panthers

He threw three touchdown passes and three interceptions during that stretch Cousins is now the highest paid backup in the league making million

The Falcons' 23rd-ranked defense was the weak link a year ago. Defensive coordinator Jimmy Lake was fired, and former New York Jets DC

and interim head coach Jeff Ulbrich is now in charge. The front office drafted Georgia linebacker Jalon Walker at No. 15 overall

and then traded back up into the first round to snag James Pierce Jr. at number 26

All of that to try and fix a pass rush that had just 31 sacks last year, second fewest in the league

Those rookies will be tutored by 10-year veteran Leonard Floyd, who signed as a free agent

He believes they'll be much improved. The time we're putting in to learn each other, I believe it's like a brotherhood rushing the pass

It's like playing basketball, you know. you got to be a team up front

So that's basically what we're getting used to doing, playing with each other. Will those changes be enough to turn around an 8-9 team

that had such a roller coaster season into a playoff contender? The head coach is waiting to find out

but says a positive attitude just isn't enough. It's easy for me to get up here and talk tough

and then tell you what we're going to do, right? The reality happens out there

It feels like the NFC South will come down once again to Atlanta and Tampa Bay

The good news for the Falcons is, despite finishing second in 2024

they won both games against the Bucs. For Straight Arrow News, I'm Chris Francis