The Atlanta Falcons look like a completely different team with Michael Penix Jr. as the starting quarterback, as they have reeled off two primetime wins before a narrow overtime loss against the Baltimore Ravens in Week 5. Penix has shown the arm talent needed to lead this team, but he has one major area of weakness.
Penix is just 1/16 on passes attempted when under pressure, good for a 6% completion percentage that makes him the only quarterback in the league below 30% in those situations. Penix's EPA per play when kept clean is the second-best mark in the NFL, while his EPA when pressured is the worst.
When Penix has time to throw and guys get open, he has been tremendous at getting the ball where it needs to be. However, when he feels the slightest temperature change in the pocket, he implodes. Rather than fixing him wholesale over the next 12 months, Matt Ryan needs to make moves around him to mitigate this flaw.
Atlanta Falcons must work around Michael Penix Jr's struggles with pressure
Penix, who only has 15 NFL starts under his belt despite being 26 years old, was never the most mobile quarterback in the world. With yet another major knee injury adding to the attrition he already had under his belt, what elusiveness he did have has been sapped. His game is almost exclusively based on being sedentary in the pocket and throwing darts all over the field.
On one hand, this could make him a great addition for a Kevin Stefanski offense. If the mighty Bijan Robinson-led running game is cooking, Penix can be trusted to read the play and hit Stefanski's primary read. With Drake London and Kyle Pitts at the top of his menagerie of pass-catchers, the Falcons can operate this way.
On the other hand, there will come a time when Penix will be asked to elevate those around him and make plays when everything is far from ideal. While he certainly has the arm and brain needed to accomplish that task, he hasn't always been able to put all of the necessary pieces together and get Atlanta back to the postseason. Ryan needs to help him out here.
Atlanta Falcons executive Matt Ryan needs to support Michael Penix Jr.
The Falcons' offensive line is by no means bad, but it could stand to undergo a bit of a facelift when protecting someone who is not very good at evading pressure or throwing under duress. A long-term successor to Jake Matthews is needed, and the interior is missing one more big name.
London is the lone wide receiver who has proven to consistently get open against man coverage. Zachariah Branch could do that, but he's just a rookie who was picked in the third round. Perhaps Penix wouldn't hold the ball with one more outside playmaker getting open.
Struggling under pressure isn't the end of the world, but Atlanta's bubble will eventually burst if Penix is this poor when every play isn't ideal.
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