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Atlanta Falcons: Raheem Morris decision making is not head coach material

By Jeff Benedict

Dec 6, 2020; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; New Orleans Saints safety D.J. Swearinger (36) knocks the ball away from Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Julio Jones (11) on the last play of the game during the second half at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 6, 2020; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; New Orleans Saints safety D.J. Swearinger (36) knocks the ball away from Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Julio Jones (11) on the last play of the game during the second half at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports /
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The roller-coaster season that is the 2020 Atlanta Falcons continues.

Just a week ago, the Atlanta Falcons defense forced a potential AFC playoff team into five turnovers and came away with their biggest win in more than 20 years.

Today, the same Falcons that got Dan Quinn fired, showed up at Mercedes Benz Stadium again. A defense that has played at an elite level over the last six weeks, gave up more than 400 yards of offense to an NFL player making just his third start as a pro quarterback.

It mirrors the game just two weeks ago when Taysom Hill was making his first NFL start and the Saints put up almost 400 yards in a 24-9 loss in New Orleans.

While it will be very easy to bag on Dirk Koetter for being atrocious once again, this goes on guys like Calvin Ridley and Russell Gage, who both dropped big-time throws Sunday afternoon.

This also goes on interim head coach Raheem Morris.

A decision like the ones he made today is what makes and breaks NFL head coaches.

With under two minutes remaining and facing fourth and nine, he opted to allow the offense to run a play instead of kicking the field goal. Had they settled for the automatic three, they could have cut it to a two-point lead.

Morris knew if they didn’t convert, they had two timeouts and would have had a chance to force the Saints to punt. With that in mind, why not kick the FG, kick the ball off, forcing the Saints to punt like you did and then you are driving for a game-winning field goal from the NFC Special Teams Player of the month instead of throwing a hail mary to win.

Yes, it is really easy to play Monday morning quarterback now, but that decision in real-time seemed like the smartest move – if you are truly trying to win football games, especially if you are hoping to become the Atlanta Falcons, next head coach.

Staff hires and tough in-game decisions are what separate the good from the bad head coaches in sports. This unfortunately is another reason not to keep Morris at the end of the season.

Falcons need to value draft position over wins. dark. Next

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