<img alt="NFL: Pittsburgh Steelers at Atlanta Falcons" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/fWTu_KPn6qrEgj6GQW-AsbZbAmc=/0x0:6000x4000/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/73577491/usa_today_24188754.0.jpg">
Brett Davis-Imagn Images
Grady Jarrett was a difference maker, while Kaleb McGary was in the wrong way. The Atlanta Falcons started the season with a tough loss, but it’s still early, and there were plenty of things to be happy about on Sunday.
An offensive weapon was utilized as promised, a key veteran left their mark on the game, and a low-budget free agent acquisition looks like a gem. Unfortunately, the bad outweighed the good. Both sides of the ball need to improve, and some key players will have to tighten up as they prepare to take on the Eagles. Atlanta can get on track if these players can clean up their game, and those who thrived continue to thrive.
Three Up
Grady Jarrett
HE. IS. BACK. The defensive captain washed away any concerns about his health with a dominant performance against the Steelers. Jarrett recorded 1.5 sacks, two tackles for loss, and three quarterback hits, becoming the new franchise leader in the last category.
After suffering a knee injury in 2023, many wondered if the defensive tackle could return to his previous form. While it was only one game, it sure looked like he was all the way back. Jarrett took advantage of an injured and inexperienced offensive line yesterday. While the Eagles’ interior should present a more formidable challenge, Jarrett should have the edge against their first-year starting center.
GRADY JARRETT IS BACK pic.twitter.com/qjh3w89yla— Tre’Shon (@tre3shon) September 8, 2024
Ray-Ray McCloud
McCloud was one of the most talked about players in the offseason, and Sunday against the Steelers was no different. McCloud was Kirk Cousins’ favorite target of the day, garnering eight looks for four catches and 52 yards. McCloud accounted for three receptions and 45 yards on Atlanta’s only touchdown drive. Even if it is unlikely the Falcons call his number this many times again, it’s good to know that he can rise to the occasion.
McCloud also got work next to Avery Williams on kickoff returns, proving once again that depth charts are meaningless. McCloud is the early favorite for best offensive free agent acquisition.
Bijan Robinson
The Falcons staff said all offseason that the former Texas running back would be the focus of the offense, and that’s precisely what transpired Sunday. Robinson’s 18 carries for 68 yards (3.8 average) isn’t a generational performance, but the running game was under siege most of the day, and when factoring in his five catches for 43 yards, the 4.8 yards per touch result is an encouraging figure.
The second-year running back turned many should-be losses into no gains and helped keep the offense in the game. He was the lone bright spot in offensive coordinator Zac Robinson’s offensive debut, and Robinson was able to overcome a lot of bad play calling from the first-time coordinator. Bijan showed that the increased usage bodes well for Atlanta’s ability to compete with opponents. After Cousins’ rough debut, Bijan will likely be leaned on even more than anticipated over this tough opening season stretch.
Three Down
Zac Robinson
Kirk Cousins will take a lot of heat this week, and rightfully so; the new quarterback debuted with more turnovers than touchdowns, was highly inefficient (-EPA/play, -CPOE), and looked uncomfortable most of the afternoon. However, Zac Robinson is one of the root causes of Cousins’ discomfort and the overall disappointing offensive performance.
The first-time play-caller deployed an extremely predictable game plan. Per ESPN Stats & Info, the Falcons were in pistol or shotgun 96% of the time. 22 snaps out of the shotgun, zero designed runs; 26 snaps out of the pistol, 81% run rate. That’s a bush league gameplan, and to make matters worse, Kirk Cousins hardly looks like a fit for this pistol-heavy scheme. Cousins went two-of-four for 15 yards and had an interception when throwing out of pistol.
We know little about his ability to run play-action concepts because Robinson didn’t call any. Robinson also took far too long to get McGary help, and when he did, he chose to use Kyle Pitts as the primary helper over Charlie Woerner, which was another head-scratching decision.
Kaleb McGary
Well, that went as well as you’d expect. Everyone seemed to know this was coming except Zac Robinson (excellent gambit using Pitts as blocking help, sire) and Kirk Cousins, who got to hand out thank yous all afternoon. Welcome to McGaryland–where border patrol is surprisingly lenient. I’m not going to say McGary played worse than he ever has because he didn’t, and I’m not going to say he’s changing for the better either, because he’s not.
He is who he is. McGary will likely have five to six more games like this one and be solid for the rest of the season. The Falcons have chosen to live with this, and they will have to see this season through before they can do anything about it.
Take a bow, TJ Watt. @Steelers win! #PITvsATL pic.twitter.com/zZQKyr2fQX— NFL (@NFL) September 8, 2024
AJ Terrell
After recently getting paid top dollar, AJ Terrell did not live up to the price tag in the week one opener. George Pickens’ physicality proved too much for Terrell, and the day looked worse than the stat sheet will show. Terrell benefited from an offensive pass interference call that contained hand-fighting on both sides; the corner was sluggish overall, looking late to his depths in this new zone defense and failing to make a significant impact.
Terrell has had trouble with more physical receivers in the past, and he’ll need to figure something out quickly as he gets ready to face off with AJ Brown, one of the most physical wide receivers in the league.
<img alt="NFL: Pittsburgh Steelers at Atlanta Falcons" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/fWTu_KPn6qrEgj6GQW-AsbZbAmc=/0x0:6000x4000/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/73577491/usa_today_24188754.0.jpg">
Brett Davis-Imagn Images
Grady Jarrett was a difference maker, while Kaleb McGary was in the wrong way. The Atlanta Falcons started the season with a tough loss, but it’s still early, and there were plenty of things to be happy about on Sunday.
An offensive weapon was utilized as promised, a key veteran left their mark on the game, and a low-budget free agent acquisition looks like a gem. Unfortunately, the bad outweighed the good. Both sides of the ball need to improve, and some key players will have to tighten up as they prepare to take on the Eagles. Atlanta can get on track if these players can clean up their game, and those who thrived continue to thrive.
Three Up
Grady Jarrett
HE. IS. BACK. The defensive captain washed away any concerns about his health with a dominant performance against the Steelers. Jarrett recorded 1.5 sacks, two tackles for loss, and three quarterback hits, becoming the new franchise leader in the last category.
After suffering a knee injury in 2023, many wondered if the defensive tackle could return to his previous form. While it was only one game, it sure looked like he was all the way back. Jarrett took advantage of an injured and inexperienced offensive line yesterday. While the Eagles’ interior should present a more formidable challenge, Jarrett should have the edge against their first-year starting center.
GRADY JARRETT IS BACK pic.twitter.com/qjh3w89yla— Tre’Shon (@tre3shon) September 8, 2024
Ray-Ray McCloud
McCloud was one of the most talked about players in the offseason, and Sunday against the Steelers was no different. McCloud was Kirk Cousins’ favorite target of the day, garnering eight looks for four catches and 52 yards. McCloud accounted for three receptions and 45 yards on Atlanta’s only touchdown drive. Even if it is unlikely the Falcons call his number this many times again, it’s good to know that he can rise to the occasion.
McCloud also got work next to Avery Williams on kickoff returns, proving once again that depth charts are meaningless. McCloud is the early favorite for best offensive free agent acquisition.
Bijan Robinson
The Falcons staff said all offseason that the former Texas running back would be the focus of the offense, and that’s precisely what transpired Sunday. Robinson’s 18 carries for 68 yards (3.8 average) isn’t a generational performance, but the running game was under siege most of the day, and when factoring in his five catches for 43 yards, the 4.8 yards per touch result is an encouraging figure.
The second-year running back turned many should-be losses into no gains and helped keep the offense in the game. He was the lone bright spot in offensive coordinator Zac Robinson’s offensive debut, and Robinson was able to overcome a lot of bad play calling from the first-time coordinator. Bijan showed that the increased usage bodes well for Atlanta’s ability to compete with opponents. After Cousins’ rough debut, Bijan will likely be leaned on even more than anticipated over this tough opening season stretch.
Three Down
Zac Robinson
Kirk Cousins will take a lot of heat this week, and rightfully so; the new quarterback debuted with more turnovers than touchdowns, was highly inefficient (-EPA/play, -CPOE), and looked uncomfortable most of the afternoon. However, Zac Robinson is one of the root causes of Cousins’ discomfort and the overall disappointing offensive performance.
The first-time play-caller deployed an extremely predictable game plan. Per ESPN Stats & Info, the Falcons were in pistol or shotgun 96% of the time. 22 snaps out of the shotgun, zero designed runs; 26 snaps out of the pistol, 81% run rate. That’s a bush league gameplan, and to make matters worse, Kirk Cousins hardly looks like a fit for this pistol-heavy scheme. Cousins went two-of-four for 15 yards and had an interception when throwing out of pistol.
We know little about his ability to run play-action concepts because Robinson didn’t call any. Robinson also took far too long to get McGary help, and when he did, he chose to use Kyle Pitts as the primary helper over Charlie Woerner, which was another head-scratching decision.
Kaleb McGary
Well, that went as well as you’d expect. Everyone seemed to know this was coming except Zac Robinson (excellent gambit using Pitts as blocking help, sire) and Kirk Cousins, who got to hand out thank yous all afternoon. Welcome to McGaryland–where border patrol is surprisingly lenient. I’m not going to say McGary played worse than he ever has because he didn’t, and I’m not going to say he’s changing for the better either, because he’s not.
He is who he is. McGary will likely have five to six more games like this one and be solid for the rest of the season. The Falcons have chosen to live with this, and they will have to see this season through before they can do anything about it.
Take a bow, TJ Watt. @Steelers win! #PITvsATL pic.twitter.com/zZQKyr2fQX— NFL (@NFL) September 8, 2024
AJ Terrell
After recently getting paid top dollar, AJ Terrell did not live up to the price tag in the week one opener. George Pickens’ physicality proved too much for Terrell, and the day looked worse than the stat sheet will show. Terrell benefited from an offensive pass interference call that contained hand-fighting on both sides; the corner was sluggish overall, looking late to his depths in this new zone defense and failing to make a significant impact.
Terrell has had trouble with more physical receivers in the past, and he’ll need to figure something out quickly as he gets ready to face off with AJ Brown, one of the most physical wide receivers in the league.
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