FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins, coach Raheem Morris and most of his employees, together with offensive coordinator Zac Robinson, are new to the Falcons, however that does not imply there’s not a stage of familiarity.
Cousins comes from the Minnesota Vikings, with whom he performed underneath coach Kevin O’Connell. Each O’Connell and Robinson (and Morris, for that matter) are a part of the teaching tree of Los Angeles Rams coach Sean McVay. O’Connell was the Rams offensive coordinator in 2020 and 2021 with Robinson the assistant extensive receivers coach and assistant quarterbacks coach on the identical employees. Robinson was a McVay assistant in L.A. from 2019 to 2023 earlier than Morris introduced him to Atlanta to run his offense.
So whereas issues will not be precisely the identical, Robinson plans to run an offense “very comparable” to the one McVay had in L.A., which O’Connell had beforehand delivered to Minnesota.
“Having the consolation of a veteran quarterback like Kirk that is coming from this technique — could not ask for something higher,” Robinson stated Wednesday.
Cousins spoke lots final week through the first week of OTAs about growing a “shared historical past” along with his new teammates and coaches. That is certainly one of his high priorities, he stated — to speed up the chemistry and camaraderie, so it does not look like this group has been solely practising collectively for a couple of months when the season begins. So far as the offense goes, although, he has seen some similarities.
“There’s lots of issues the place you say, ‘Nice, I had considerations that possibly I’d be beginning over, however I can spit that play out no downside,'” Cousins stated. “‘I do know that learn — been there, carried out that.’
“So, there’s somewhat little bit of either side of it, and that is why the time on job collectively is so useful.”
McVay’s offense options many three-wide receiver units (11 personnel) and loads of shotgun formations. Robinson’s offense won’t be precisely the identical, however there will likely be comparable parts, he stated. The Rams gained Tremendous Bowl LVI with Morris, O’Connell and Robinson all on employees and quarterback Matthew Stafford underneath middle.
“Kevin O’Connell took from the Rams, clearly, and did lots of the identical issues,” Robinson stated. “We’re sort of in a mixture between what they’ve carried out [in Atlanta] and the run sport, some various things and what we have carried out with the Rams. And so, it has been mixture to the place Kirk’s having to remain up with it, and there’s some new info with it.
“He is aware of every thing, as a result of we have put in it, however there was undoubtedly nonetheless some studying with some new issues.”
Robinson, who performed quarterback himself, stated sign callers really feel higher about offenses going into their second 12 months with them. He believes rookie QB Michael Penix Jr., who the Falcons took at No. 8 general within the draft, will really feel that method subsequent 12 months.
“For those who’re speaking about Mike like going into 12 months 2 subsequent 12 months, that is gonna be method totally different than how he feels proper now, the place Kirk has already mastered the system,” Robinson stated.
Cousins, who’s coming off a torn proper Achilles that ended his 2023 season in Week 8, stated Robinson has a “nice soccer thoughts.”
“I feel he is a tough employee, and I feel he is bought a good way about him,” Cousins stated of Robinson. “The fellows will reply to him. And so, we’re checking lots of bins from that standpoint, and it is about us as gamers. I hold saying sort of the identical factor, is we have gotta put the work in to construct that shared historical past in order that we will play in such a method this fall that it appears to be like like we have been collectively for 5 years.”
