Rejoice! Atlanta Falcons football is back. The franchise has officially opened training camp, with players reporting to Flowery Branch on Wednesday to begin the marathon that is the 2024 NFL season. There are many questions about this football team with a new head coach and a new quarterback. Who will emerge as starters? Who will play what position? How will they be used? Thursday's walkthrough gave only a small glimpse of the team's plans and Friday was only a slight ramp-up, according to head coach Raheem Morris. With so much unknown during these early camp periods, I've decided to share the five storylines I’m most interested in following throughout the preseason.
1. Kirk Cousin’s Achilles
All eyes will be on the 180 million-dollar man and how he and the team handle his return from injury. The 13th-year quarterback suffered a torn Achilles last October, putting an end to what was shaping up to be a stellar season. Unfortunately, there’s no clear timetable for a return from an Achilles heel injury. Kirk underwent surgery last November, performed by Dr. Chris Coatzee In Minnesota. Professional athletes' recovery can range from nine months to a full calendar year.
Kirk passed a physical with the team before signing his 4-year deal in March and was officially cleared for camp on Thursday. He was labeled a "full go", but the team has said they'll be making modifications to his workload. By all accounts, it appears Kirk's ahead of schedule. Still, this is uncharted territory for all involved. Cousins has been blessed with a relatively healthy career. This is the first time he's had to go under the knife. How his body responds to the stress of acclimating back to the daily grind of football will be closely monitored by all. Raheem Morris has already made it known that Cousins will not be touching the field during the preseason. "I want to play, but I think that fell on deaf ears. Raheem's motto is 'You're not playing.'" Cousins said to reporters on Thursday. An under-discussed factor is that the ruptured tendon is on his plant foot. Could that have some sort of effect on his ability to generate throwing power from his lower half? Cousin’s practice performance and how the team manages his reps is undoubtedly the biggest and most important storyline coming out of Falcons camp.
2. The CB2 Battle
Training camp is a time for competition, and the most important one the Falcons have is who starts opposite of A.J. Terrell. There are plenty of names to keep tabs on during practices, but the room is littered with question marks. Second-year pro Clark Phillips III had an inconsistent rookie year but showed flashes of being a capable starter. Can he overcome concerns about his athletic profile?
Kevin King hasn't played football in two years, but he has a level of familiarity with defensive coordinator Jimmy Lake that others do not. Antonio Hamilton played well in limited snaps for the Arizona Cardinals but has been a journeyman for most of his career. Dee Alford has also played well at times and has already surpassed expectations since coming over from the Canadian Football League. However, his size may limit him to the nickel (where he's better suited).
Veteran Mike Hughes received opening reps with the starters on day one of practice but didn't make an impact with the team last year. Hughes may have emerged as an early favorite during Thursday's light practice, but make no mistake. This job is up for grabs. May the best man win.
3. Offensive Line Depth
One story flying under the radar is depth among the offensive line. Atlanta is fortunate to return all five starters from last year's team. That continuity will be essential to the offense. But, if one or more of those players go down, who will step up to fill the void?
Storm Norton filled in admirably late last season when Kaleb McGary missed time due to a knee injury. He's the clear backup at right tackle, and figures to be in the mix for swing tackle as well. Ryan Neuzil was re-signed by the team in March. He made four starts for starting center Drew Dalman last year due to an ankle injury. Results were mixed. Kyle Hinton, a former seventh-round draft pick of the Minnesota Vikings, rotated in with the ones on Thursday. He appears to be the primary backup at guard but has yet to prove he can be reliably called upon.
Kirk likes that pic.twitter.com/WXrrruXVER https://t.co/y6iYYjxO1U
— Tre’Shon (@tre3shon) July 25, 2024
Other names include seventh-round pick Jovaughn Gwyn, former Arthur Smith favorite Tyler Vrabel, and former UFL standouts Barry Wesley and Julien Davenport. All young, inexperienced players who find themselves in a battle just to make the roster. Offensive line coach Dwayne Ledford needs to get the most out of this group. Their development into competent pros could be important down the line. One injury, and what's considered league-wide to be a strong offensive line could regress.
4. The Kick Return Game
The single most significant change to the sport of professional football this offseason comes in the return game. During league meetings in March, the Competition Committee agreed on a one-year trial for new "hybrid" kickoff rules, inspired by the XFL. These new rules are designed to encourage more kickoff returns while keeping the game safer for players. The changes are drastic, to say the least.
Here's a look at the official kickoff-change rule proposal. Teams could have a maximum of 2 returners. Kicking team can't move until the ball hits in the landing zone or is fielded there. No more fair catches. pic.twitter.com/LaquOHnh3d
— Jonathan Jones (@jjones9) March 20, 2024
It'll be fascinating to see how coaches leaguewide adjust to the new look kickoffs. Special teams coordinators will have their work cut out for them. As for the Falcons, the questions extend to who will be the primary kick returner. Record holder Cordarelle Patterson left via free agency, leaving a hole at the position. Avery Williams returns from a torn ACL and figures to be in the equation, as he showed flashes of being a successful special teamer in the past. Free agent signee Ray-Ray McCloud led the league in punt return yards in 2021, and newly acquired receiver Rondale Moore has the game-breaking speed that could help him thrive in such a role. Expect the Falcons to assess all options. We'll have a better idea of who's in the lead for the job when preseason exhibitions begin.
5. Michael Penix Jr.
The Falcons shocked the football world by selecting Michael Penix Jr. with the 8th overall selection in the NFL draft. It's been a hot topic of controversy throughout the summer. Pundits leaguewide have evaluated (and criticized) the draft pick. Thankfully, now that practices have begun we no longer need to try and analyze Terry Fontenot's draft day decision. We can sit back and enjoy watching the young man at work. Penix's aesthetically pleasing style will spark excitement across socials. He's bringing the best arm talent Flowery Branch has seen in years, and his deep ball will captivate fans in attendance.
As long as Cousins stays healthy, Penix won't see the field during the regular season for some time. He will begin the season competing with Taylor Heinicke for the backup quarterback position. It's best to reserve judgment early, as rookie signal callers often struggle at times while adjusting to the pro game. This is the first time since Matt Ryan's rookie year that the Falcons will have a rookie first-round quarterback on their roster. Penix will get plenty of reps early since Cousins is expected to sit out preseason games. It'll be hard not to get overexcited if he shines. But let me tell you something, these fans need excitement. If he balls out early, let everyone know! He's next up! Terry hit a home run! Embrace the rookie! The future of the Falcons (and Terry Fontenot's job) rests on his shoulders.
