Falcons Watch (6 Days): Todd Bowles Helping Michael Penix
September 1st, 2025
Joe loves occasionally listening to Falcons head coach Raheem Morris being interviewed.
It’s often a mind-twister, as Raheem says about triple the words Todd Bowles would utter in the same time frame, and the longer Raheem talks the more words he crams in.
No, Joe is not saying Raheem makes more sense than Bowles. That would be inaccurate.
Today, Raheem was on SiriusXM NFL Radio, where he was asked about his second-year starting quarterback’s preparation. That’s Michael Penix, the very annoying pride of Dade City.
“It really helps when you’re playing a guy like Todd Bowles [in Week 1],” said the former Buccaneers head coach. “You know, Todd Bowles is going to make you prepare for almost anything. And Penix is one of those guys that can compartmentalize pretty good. And he has a way of really finding his voice. And I think him finding his voice and him having his opinions right now is really his new growth, his new maturity, his new level of leadership.”
Raheem went on to ramble about Penix loving being named captain and more about leadership, which had really nothing to do with the question thrown at him. But the intial message was clear: facing a Bowles defense in Week 1 accelarated the growth of the Falcons’ young QB.
Earlier in the broadcast, Raheem said having division foe in Week 1 really helped the Falcons almost unknowingly prepare early for that matchup.
He said great familiarity of the opening-day opponent, with so little change on the Bucs roster and schemes, let the Falcons work on things in training camp that had a great chance of being productive and successful on opening day.
September 1st, 2025 at 4:02 pm
Expect his speedy ramblings to slow to a crawl by the end of Sunday’s game. If all goes well he may be speechless!
September 1st, 2025 at 4:07 pm
I hope Bowles can help Penix learn how to lose with grace and dignity.
September 1st, 2025 at 4:14 pm
The Falcons had Bijan Robinson, that will take a lot of pressure off Penix. And they have good backups RB. I think Penix is a solid passer. He did big things at UW.
September 1st, 2025 at 4:20 pm
If its the same defense as last season expect penix to put up monster numbers
September 1st, 2025 at 4:50 pm
Has”””
Tohe Falcons are paying Kirk Cousins $40 million this season. To be Michael Penix Jr insurance policy. If Penix struggles early against the Bucs, expect Cousins take over…
September 1st, 2025 at 5:00 pm
Jr Penix(s) doesn’t stand a chance against our DL
September 1st, 2025 at 5:34 pm
Penix knows Todd will show blitz on 3rd, and long, then drop everyone into a soft zone that he can pick apart. Todd will help their backup tackles by having YaYa, and Reddick cover receivers. It’s a complicated system only a defensive guru, genius, mastermind could devise. Maybe Vea gets into the fun dropping back too.
September 1st, 2025 at 5:49 pm
It will take a lot of Penix looking bad for Cousins to come back. If he does then that is Raheem saying he was wrong and he won’t want to do that.
September 1st, 2025 at 6:15 pm
Today, every qb in the league knows that. Our defense rarely gives up first downs on first and second because the opposing qb and oc knows 3rd down is easy pickings. Bowles said he made changes…we soon shall see!!!
September 1st, 2025 at 6:19 pm
Ole shuck and jive will not be saying much after the game besides ‘we got a lot of work to do’
3rd string offensive tackle will need help from a RB so that will take one of Penix’s options away. I predict 4 sacks by the Bucs and 2 turnovers by the Falcons. Those birds are going down
September 1st, 2025 at 6:41 pm
Raheem the drinking machine Morris is parrying with his safety too much. Dude cant even articulate that his q.b. has to study hard without sounding like a moron.
September 1st, 2025 at 6:44 pm
kind of telling when Raheem says that nothing has changed with the Bucs scheme. Unfortunately I believe him.
The key will be to stop the run, keep Penix from running, and tighter coverage on third downs. Bucs have to make Atl punt.
September 1st, 2025 at 7:12 pm
He’ll be talking about “stats” by 430 pm Sunday.
September 1st, 2025 at 7:21 pm
If I had the choice, I would definitely pick Raheem as our HC over Bowles. Dude is sharp and seems like a better coach schematically and in the heat of the moment than Bowles.
Just being honest.
Bowles is aiight, though. Just not as good as Rah, in my opinion.
September 1st, 2025 at 7:50 pm
Did soome really just say that Rah is “sharp”?? Are yoilu fing kidding me?? Yeah Rah is about as sharp as a butter knife.
September 1st, 2025 at 9:59 pm
Rah has been a successful OC in the NFL and a successful DC, so yeah he’s pretty sharp. And it’s obvious listening to him speak that he’s intelligent and very driven.
I’m not saying Bowles isn’t intelligent and driven. It’s just more obvious with Rah
September 1st, 2025 at 10:22 pm
buc4ever
Bucky on go routes is different, no?
September 1st, 2025 at 10:27 pm
BUCS 27
atl 13
September 1st, 2025 at 10:38 pm
Very annoying pride of dade city ? @joe I don’t get it. lol what you mean ? What’s annoying ? Also I’m from dade city but knew nothing about penix till the draft
September 2nd, 2025 at 12:55 am
And Penix is one of those guys that can compartmentalize pretty good. And he has a way of really finding his voice. And I think him finding his voice and him having his opinions right now is really his new growth, his new maturity, his new level of leadership.”
Seems like double talk
September 2nd, 2025 at 5:45 am
Raheem said “new” a lot when talking about Penix. Just a gut feeling; it still sounds like muddle in the huddle at Atlanta. No word about Kirk. He’s the veteran guiding and rooting on the new QB. And Kirk will be put back in, if Penix doesn’t do well. Crickets.
September 2nd, 2025 at 8:11 am
Sounds like they will use the same successful game plans as last year. Will Bowles change his losing scheme against the Falcons?
September 2nd, 2025 at 8:20 am
Young QBs usually panic on the blitz.
September 2nd, 2025 at 8:45 am
We went with Rah as our hc before. Look how that turned out.