The Atlanta Falcons hired Kevin Stefanski thinking he would be the antithesis of everything Raheem Morris stood for. They were looking to see actual change from the man in charge, and Arthur Blank thought another experienced NFL coach was the head honcho to lead this team into the new era.
And on paper it made sense. Stefanski got a really bad shake in Cleveland and inherited some real ugly rosters, so he deserved a second chance to prove himself. Meanwhile, the Falcons watched Morris continue to sink their playoff hopes with awful clock management and a lack of accountability.
They thought Kevin Stefanski would be the coach to lead them back to the playoffs, and he very well still could be, but things aren't off to a great start. Atlanta is sitting at 3-6, has lost four of their last five, and has the NFL's hardest schedule across the last month, so there are real questions--yet it's the same story every week.
Just take this quote from after the Falcons' 34-17 loss to the Bengals in Week 9. Does he sound like anybody?
"We have to be better," Stefanski said. "And I'm talking all of us."
I sure hope I'm not the only one who sees the connection here. The "we've just gotta find a way" from Raheem will haunt my nightmares for a good while, and given "we have to be better" is being said practically every week goes to show you things aren't getting better. In fact, they're largely the same.
Raheem Morris and Kevin Stefanski's stints with the Falcons are being bogged down by the same mistakes
Here's the thing: all of the ideals we were expecting to go away under Raheem Morris haven't yet, and that falls on coaching. Stefanski has been looking to preach physical, disciplined football in this team, and frankly, that identity hasn't shown up consistently enough to be optimistic about the process.
Just like with Raheem, bad special teams play, sloppy football, turnovers, and a lack of accountability have been prevalent, and there have been too many instances of the Falcons diverting fromthe identity he wants to forge. Games are supposed to be won in the trenches, yet the trench play on both sides has been rough.
Even in Sunday's loss, operations were just incredibly sloppy. The Dirty Birds were called for a season-high 12 penalties for 88 yards, many of which negated some quality gains--mainly out of Kyle Pitts. But it made it that no matter what the Cincinnati offense did, the Falcons could never won that game because they beat themselves before the Bengals could.
What's more frustrating than anything is knowing that the same things are being said between Morris and Stefanski, yet nothing is changing. This franchise already hasn't made the playoffs in almost a decade, the roster is plenty talented, the division is winnable, yet this team looks lifeless at times.
I can't imagine the two-time Coach of the Year is already on the hot seat, especially after the Jessie Bates trade signaled Atlanta is looking to be patient in this process, But it's hard not to be frustrated when his first season in Cleveland saw him lead them to their first playoff win in over 25 years.
Kevin Stefanski can still be a quality head coach with the Atlanta Falcons, largely because he is so different from Raheem Morris, but right now things don't appear all that different. So rather than doubling down in the process, actual changes need to follow.
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