The Los Angeles Rams aim to take out their anger from last week’s loss against the Atlanta Falcons on Monday Night Football. Atlanta is riding a two-game winning streak, yet has mostly experienced a rocky
tenure under former Rams defensive coordinator Raheem Morris.
Ahead of the primetime showdown, I spoke with Saivion Mixson from The Falcoholic to get the inside scoop on Morris, Kyle Pitts’ recent surge that is AT LAST paying off for fantasy owners and more.
Q – Raheem Morris is someone L.A. is very familiar with, following his time as the Rams’ defensive coordinator. His time with the Falcons has been disappointing, so could you talk more about why Morris hasn’t gotten the job done in Atlanta?
A – There have been a multitude of reasons, but the biggest has been his choice of coordinators. The offensive coordinator hire initially looked like a hit in 2024 with Zac Robinson, but hiring Jimmy Lake for his first stint as an NFL defensive coordinator was disastrous. Now, with Robinson and his borderline refusal to play Michael Penix Jr. under center, it’s fair to say Morris went 0-for-2 on his initial coordinator hires. When you factor in his poor in-game judgment, a necessity for a CEO-style head coach, it has been a nightmare during Morris’ second stint as a head coach.
Q – Second-year quarterback Michael Penix Jr. was lost for the year during the Week 11 loss to the Panthers. How confident are you in him long-term leading the Falcons back to the playoffs after eight straight losing seasons for the franchise?
A – Next season, the Falcons will likely need a bridge quarterback until Penix is healthy, assuming that’s still the plan. With Penix not expected back until late August at the earliest, Atlanta will go through an entire training camp without their young quarterback, one who still needs development. That said, the flashes he showed earlier in the season against Washington and Carolina before the injury suggest there is something to work with. Still, there is no guarantee he’s the long-term answer. On a scale of 1–10, my confidence sits around 5.3.
Q – Tight end Kyle Pitts is having the best season since his rookie year, with 4 receiving touchdowns in his last two games. What has gone better for Pitts this season, and what is his NFL future, if not in a Falcons jersey?
A – Interestingly enough, this has been Pitts’ best situation since his rookie year. With the emergence of Drake London, it’s been difficult to feature both consistently — especially given the lack of quarterback play. Last season, Pitts wasn’t featured heavily, largely because Zac Robinson’s offense doesn’t prioritize tight ends in the passing game. However, once London went down late this season, Pitts had the opportunity to become a focal point, and he delivered.
Now playing on his fifth-year option, Pitts will be a free agent next year. Atlanta could free up as much as $22.5 million by moving on from Kirk Cousins, which may make a franchise tag (estimated at $15.88 million for tight ends) a viable option. I hope he remains a Falcon, but teams like the Cowboys, Jaguars and Giants showed interest last offseason and could circle back again.
Q – Who is one under-the-radar offensive player that Rams fans should know? What about on defense?
A – On offense, if the Falcons are going to have a chance on Monday night, they’ll need to run the football. A key piece of that is tight end Charlie Woerner, whose blocking is central to Atlanta’s run game. The potential battles between Woerner and former Falcon Nate Landman on the front side of run plays are something to watch closely.
On defense, one of the Falcons’ best defensive players lives on the interior defensive line: Brandon Dorlus, who ranks second among interior defensive linemen with 7.5 sacks. If you’re looking for someone even more under the radar, nickel corner Dee Alford has quietly begun to shine in coverage under defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich.
Q – What is one question that you have for Rams fans?
A – The Falcons may be in the market for a new general manager, and there’s already buzz around Rams assistant GM John McKay, the son of Atlanta Falcons CEO Rich McKay. If Atlanta moves on from Terry Fontenot, should they continue tapping into the Rams’ brain trust and bring McKay into the fold?
