FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — The Atlanta Falcons' offense underwent perhaps the biggest makeover of any unit this offseason.
And yet, there are many familiar faces back in Atlanta, such as running back Bijan Robinson, wide receiver Drake London, tight end Kyle Pitts and the entire offensive line. The new ones, however, are in the highest positions of impact.
The Falcons not only have a new head coach in Raheem Morris but also a new offensive coordinator in Zac Robinson and starting quarterback in Kirk Cousins. Those three are important for the new-look style of play that will grace the field come September.
With training camp just around the corner, here is a full preview of the offense – newcomers and returners alike – broken down by unit.
COACHING STAFF
Notable new faces: Zac Robinson (OC), Ike Hilliard (WR), Kevin Koger (TE)
Returning: Dwayne Ledford (OL), Michael Pitre (RB), T.J. Yates (QB)
Preview: The offensive coaching staff is split between old and new. The edge goes to new, though, because of the change at coordinator. That'll produce the biggest trickle-down effect.
Zac Robinson came to Atlanta from the Los Angeles Rams, so elements of that offense will likely be seen in the Falcons. There will be an uptick in urgency, explosiveness and any other word that can be used to describe an up-tempo scheme. Robinson has the weapons in place to be able to execute a game plan as such, too.
What will be interesting to see, though, is how Robinson adapts to being a first-time play-caller early on in the season. He has only ever called plays in practice or preseason. But Robinson comes from a successful coaching tree, and having a veteran quarterback will surely help ease that transition.
Speaking of quarterback, there's a new-ish assistant in charge there. T.J. Yates transitioned from coaching the wide receivers to the quarterbacks in the offseason. That should be beneficial to the group, especially since there's a first-round draft pick looking to learn and grow. Yates' move is notable, and it makes sense to have him oversee the position he played for sevens seasons in the NFL.
Because of that shift, the Falcons brought in Ike Hilliard to oversee the wide receivers. Hilliard has been well-received by his players. It helps that he also played in the NFL for 12 years and has a decade of coaching experience. Hilliard has fully embraced Robinson's vision for the offense and is making sure his wide receivers are a fast bunch. Speed is definitely the emphasis in their room.
Then, there's Kevin Koger, who takes over the tight ends. He'll have a variety of options with which to work.
Meanwhile, Dwayne Ledford and Michael Pitre are no strangers to the Falcons' offensive linemen and running backs, respectively, and the continuity there should benefit Atlanta's run game.
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QUARTERBACK
Notable new faces: Kirk Cousins, Michael Penix Jr.
Returning: Taylor Heinicke
Projected starter: Kirk Cousins
Preview: The Falcons believe they have gotten off the quarterback rollercoaster thanks to the arrival of veteran Kirk Cousins and the addition of rookie Michael Penix Jr.
Cousins signed a four-year, $180 million contract as soon as free agency began. He enters training camp after ending the 2023 season on injured reserve due to a torn Achilles, which he suffered in Week 8. Cousins participated in Atlanta's offseason activities and has worked hard to develop a strong connection with his teammates. Prior to this injury, Cousins has a history of durability and strong production behind center. Through Week 8 last season, Cousins led the NFL with 18 touchdown passes and ranked second with 2,331 passing yards. The Falcons haven't had that kind of reliability since Matt Ryan.
Speaking of Ryan, Atlanta's inability to find his true successor played a role in the team's decisions this offseason. Cousins is undoubtedly the starter heading into the season, but Atlanta believes Penix is the right player to step into the role at some point down the road. In the immediate future, Penix is a new and intriguing option behind Cousins if needed for any duration. Zac Robinson has a good reputation for working with young quarterbacks, and Penix offers an excellent foundation to develop. That's why the Falcons used the No. 8 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft to bring him in, despite already having Cousins on the roster.
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RUNNING BACK
Notable new faces: Jase McClellan
Returning: Bijan Robinson, Tyler Allgeier, Carlos Washington Jr.
Projected starter(s): Bijan Robinson, Tyler Allgeier
Preview: For the first time since 2005-06, the Falcons had back-to-back seasons with at least 2,000 yards rushing. They hit 2,718 in 2022 and 2,159 in 2023. It wouldn't be surprising to see a three-peat in 2024.
Bijan Robinson powered last season’s endeavor with 976 rushing yards as a rookie. The first-round pick's usage was questioned at times, but with an additional 487 receiving yards Robinson had 1,463 yards from scrimmage and set the Falcons' all-time record by a rookie. His eight touchdowns were split evenly between the run and pass game, too. Whether he could've produced more on the ground if that were prioritized is a moot point now, but Robinson has clarified he will be a runner first moving forward. The goal is for Robinson to be the Falcons' own version of San Francisco's Christian McCaffrey, who had a league-high 1,459 yards rushing last year.
Allgeier should once again be among the most capable No. 2 running backs in the league. After setting the Falcons' rookie rushing record in 2022, Allgeier took on a complementary role to Robinson but was trusted in high-pressure and goal-line situations. He could handle full-time duties if needed and will continue to have an important role for this offense. Jase McClellan is the newcomer to the unit. The sixth-round draft pick spent four seasons at the University of Alabama and was the Tide's starting running back as a senior in 2023. He has been dealing with a lingering foot injury from before the draft process, but if that is cleared up McClellan could see a lot of action in camp and the preseason.
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WIDE RECEIVER
Notable new faces: Darnell Mooney, Ray-Ray McCloud, Rondale Moore, Casey Washington
Returning: Drake London, KhaDarel Hodge
Projected starter(s): Drake London, Darnell Mooney, Ray-Ray McCloud/Rondale Moore
Preview: Drake London was the only Falcons wide receiver rostered when the new league year commenced. Obviously, that was never going to remain the case, so one domino fell into another, leaving London with a room full of new position mates. They look a lot different from last season's crop, too.
An emphasis this year for the group is speed. Overall, members are leaner, younger and faster. For example, in 2023, Mack Hollins was the Falcons' No. 2 wide receiver. He's 30 years old, 6-foot-4 and 221 pounds. He ran a 4.53-second 40-yard dash at the 2017 NFL Combine. Now, Darnell Mooney is slated to be the Falcons' No. 2 wide receiver in 2024. He's 26 years old, 5-foot-11 and 173 pounds. He ran a 4.38-second 40-yard dash at the 2020 NFL Combine. Atlanta should be more explosive this season.
That's by design as the Falcons welcome in a new offense that has roots in the system Sean McVay deploys with the Los Angeles Rams. Joining London and Mooney are Rondale Moore and Ray-Ray McCloud, who have the quickness and separation skills to attack defenses at various levels. Rookie Casey Washington, who the team selected in the sixth round, is another slick separator who could carve out a role for himself with a good camp.
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TIGHT END
Notable new faces: Charlie Woerner, Ross Dwelley, Austin Stogner
Returning: Kyle Pitts, John FitzPatrick
Projected starter(s): Kyle Pitts, Charlie Woerner
Preview: Let there be no mistake, Kyle Pitts is healthy. Last season, that was never 100% certain. Now, it is. He wasn't limited in the offseason program, and he shouldn't be limited in training camp. Which means Pitts can potentially be a major asset to the Falcons once again this season. Prior to his injury in 2022, he totaled 1,026 yards receiving as a rookie in 2021. That's what a full-go Pitts can look like, especially with consistent quarterback play. How Pitts factors into this offense for Atlanta is a key question heading into camp. There's no doubt he should be a focal point for this unit, and the 2024 season will be an important one for Pitts.
Then, there's the addition of Charlie Woerner and Ross Dwelley, both former San Francisco 49ers. Neither have put up receiving numbers even close to that of Pitts, but what they lack in statistical production, they make up for off the stat sheet. Woerner and Dwelley bring their blocking expertise to Atlanta that can be beneficial in either the pass or run game.
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OFFENSIVE LINE
Notable new faces: N/A
Returning: Jake Matthews, Matthew Bergeron, Drew Dalman, Chris Lindstrom, Kaleb McGary, Barry Wesley, Tyler Vrabel, Storm Norton, Ryan Neuzil, Kyle Hinton, Jovaughn Gwyn, John Leglue
Projected starter(s): Jake Matthews, Matthew Bergeron, Drew Dalman, Chris Lindstrom, Kaleb McGary
Preview: Don't fix what isn't broken. The Falcons offensive line was more than fine in 2023. In fact, Pro Football Focus ranked it the fourth-best unit in the NFL. And the best part for the Falcons, all five of their starters from last season are back.
That's right. The line will look like this from left to right: Jake Matthews, Matthew Bergeron, Drew Dalman, Chris Lindstom and Kaleb McGary. The best part keeps getting better, too, because all of them have at least one year of experience under their belts now. Bergeron was the sole rookie last season, so he should have a better footing this time around, especially with familiar faces around him. So, theoretically, this group should be able to pick up where they left off. The only adjustment they'll face is coordinating with the new quarterback.
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