• Michael Penix Jr. displayed improved accuracy in his first begin: His 22.9% uncatchable inaccurate cross price in faculty was tied for the best mark within the draft class. In his first NFL begin, he posted an 11.5% clip.
• The Falcons management their future: The NFC South title will come down as to if Michael Penix Jr. can thrive in simply his second and third NFL begins.
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Estimated Studying Time: 5 minutes
Michael Penix Jr. debuted as an NFL starter in Week 16, main the Atlanta Falcons to a dominant victory over the New York Giants. It took some time for Penix to earn his first begin, however he took the chance by the horns and had a particularly profitable begin to his profession.
Highest-Graded Quarterbacks in Week 16
Penix completed the sport with a 75.4 PFF general grade — the best debut mark of any rookie quarterback this season. His 80.8% adjusted completion proportion ranked seventh in Week 16, and he was one among eight quarterbacks with zero turnover-worthy performs. He appeared the a part of an NFL signal-caller in his first begin.
An important signal for Penix’s growth was his accuracy. It was an space of his recreation in faculty that wanted essentially the most enchancment. His 22.9% uncatchable inaccurate cross price was tied for the best mark within the draft class, and that quantity was by no means beneath 21% throughout his faculty profession. In his first NFL begin, he posted an 11.5% clip. It is a small pattern measurement, nevertheless it’s an excellent first step.
Penix got here out firing immediately, and his first completion was a powerful one.
Nice first completion for Penix. Center of the sector, bottom learn, nice ball placement. pic.twitter.com/9o1Hjt1BoE
— Nick Akridge (@PFF_NickAkridge) December 23, 2024
The Giants present a heavy-pressure look with each linebackers mugged up within the A-gaps. The pre-snap movement exhibits the Giants are enjoying man protection, and Penix confirms that post-snap. He is aware of primarily based on the skin leverage from the cornerback and with each linebackers blitzing that the in-breaking route from Drake London will likely be open. The Falcons find yourself doing a great job to select up the strain, which provides Penix the time he must convert on third down.
One in all Penix’s greatest strengths is his arm expertise. He has a cannon of a left arm, permitting him to make tight-window throws look straightforward.
Oh hi there pic.twitter.com/3TNGKpS8Uz
— Nick Akridge (@PFF_NickAkridge) December 23, 2024
After a tough play-action faux, Penix will get his eyes up and acknowledges a Cowl-3 zone. There are two huge keys for him right here to make this throw. First, he understands that on this protection the skin cornerback will bail rapidly and never be in an excellent place to interrupt on the ball. Second, he is aware of that with the play-action and the flat route from the operating again, the beneath defender received’t be on the appropriate depth to assist the skin cornerback. He takes in that info rapidly and fires a rocket with nice anticipation to hit Darnell Mooney on the sideline.
Penix was wonderful on third down. He completed 7-of-11 for 91 yards, and the Falcons transformed on eight of their 14 third downs.
Missile in stride pic.twitter.com/oL7zRbdkl0
— Nick Akridge (@PFF_NickAkridge) December 23, 2024
The pre-snap movement as soon as once more provides Penix a pleasant indicator of what the protection will likely be. When the skin cornerback travels with the movement, he is aware of it would probably be man protection — which means he may have Mooney operating an in-breaking route towards exterior leverage. Then, he solely wants to fret concerning the beneath linebackers, ensuring they aren’t within the throwing window. With one linebacker selecting up the operating again out of the backfield, he simply wants to carry the opposite one together with his eyes. He provides him a slight look off after which fires a missile in stride for one more enormous third-down conversion.
I already touched on Penix’s accuracy being a priority popping out of faculty, however he was capable of come out in his first begin and truly use his accuracy as one among his greatest strengths.
A+ ball placement. Penix had a extremely stable debut pic.twitter.com/aJ1cY4ASAH
— Nick Akridge (@PFF_NickAkridge) December 23, 2024
This throw exhibits off a number of nice points of quarterback play. The pre-snap movement provides Penix an concept of the protection. With the Giants simply shifting their protection with the movement as a substitute of getting one participant observe the motioning receiver, Penix sees they’re probably enjoying zone and, with it being single-high, will probably be Cowl-3. Cowl-3 finally ends up being precisely what the Giants play, and after the play-action faux, Penix has all he must hit a deep crosser to Chris Blair. He is aware of the cornerback received’t have leverage, the beneath defenders will likely be occupied by the play motion and the deep security is just too deep. To make this throw, he nonetheless wants to guard his receiver from the incoming defenders. He does precisely that, permitting Blair to protect himself from a success when the ball is caught.
There was quite a lot of dialogue round what the Falcons ought to do with their huge free-agent signing, Kirk Cousins, underperforming. The transfer to a rookie quarterback with three weeks left within the season whereas chasing a division title is daring, however with how Penix was capable of function this offense in his first begin, possibly it was the precise alternative. The Falcons may have a a lot harder check this Sunday night time towards the Washington Commanders, however they management their future within the NFC South. If Penix can carry out equally to how he did in Week 16, the Falcons can host a playoff recreation.
