FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — The Atlanta Falcons have two quarterbacks on the roster for subsequent season, a brand new teaching workers and a whole lot of questions on the place, however new offensive coordinator Zac Robinson made one factor clear: The staff is beginning the method to determine what the plan is at quarterback.
“Whether or not it is a pocket man, whether or not it is a man that may transfer round a little bit bit, we’re simply in search of the most effective man that we will do,” Robinson stated throughout his introductory information convention Wednesday. “Definitely know the fellows which are right here, we’re evaluating everyone, so Taylor [Heinicke] and Desmond [Ridder], we’re these guys.
“All choices are on the desk.”
It is a part of the adjustment for 37-year-old Robinson, a first-time NFL offensive coordinator who has been across the league for some time. After a university profession at Oklahoma State, he frolicked as a participant with 4 NFL groups earlier than going into non-public quarterback teaching, then working with analytics service Professional Soccer Focus earlier than becoming a member of the Los Angeles Rams teaching workers in 2019.
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He labored in Los Angeles with Jared Goff, Matthew Stafford and Baker Mayfield – studying the right way to coach the place he as soon as performed. So on the subject of what sort of quarterback he desires, Robinson has an open thoughts.
The Falcons are deciding whether or not to stay with Heinicke and Ridder or to discover a new quarterback through the draft, in free company or by way of a commerce. At his introductory information convention earlier this month, new head coach Raheem Morris stated the staff would take a look at all three avenues.
Crew proprietor Arthur Clean has criticized the staff’s quarterback play from 2023, calling it “poor.”
So, what would possibly Robinson search for in a quarterback?
“That man’s obtained to be probably the most aggressive man within the room,” Robinson stated, referencing the necessity for accuracy and the way they course of issues mentally. “They obtained to have the stock of throws.”
Morris stated he needed quarterbacks who “are elite processors” with good decision-making.
Ridder accomplished 64.2% of his passes for two,836 yards, 12 touchdowns and 12 interceptions together with 12 fumbles. Heinicke accomplished 54.4% of his passes for 890 yards, 5 touchdowns and 4 interceptions in 2023. Each are underneath contract for 2024 — Ridder is within the third 12 months of his rookie deal; Heinicke has a $9 million cap hit, however with $7 million in cap financial savings ought to Atlanta transfer on from him.
The staff’s third quarterback from final season, Logan Woodside, is a restricted free agent.
Robinson would not say a lot about his conversations with Ridder to date, however he talked about that he is “excited to observe a little bit bit extra of Des” whereas saying he hasn’t seen a whole lot of him but. He was noncommittal about what sort of offense the Falcons would possibly run subsequent season, saying his workers would work by way of that over the following couple of months. As a professional coach, he is solely been in Sean McVay’s offense, and Robinson stated McVay had been open with him all through his time there as he realized the right way to package deal performs, management, and the right way to mesh run and move collectively in an offense.
Robinson did say the plan is to ensure gamers had readability throughout the offense. He praised the talent place gamers and made clear how he seen operating again Bijan Robinson and tight finish Kyle Pitts, each of whom had been utilized in a number of locations within the staff’s offense underneath former head coach Arthur Smith.
“Definitely, I believe Kyle’s a decent finish and Bijan’s a again and people guys are going to get their touches how they’ll get their touches, and in order that’s a part of the method we’re placing collectively proper now. …” Robinson stated. “Shoot, they’re versatile, however these guys can play simply tight finish; these guys can play simply again.
“We’ll have formation versatility to maneuver them throughout and positively attempt to get probably the most out of what they do, however these guys are very particular gamers, and simply excited to get going with them.”