Falcons’ Stefanski Eyes Penix Jr., Robinson Impact

Falcons’ Stefanski Ready to Build Around Penix Jr. and Robinson

New Atlanta Falcons head coach Kevin Stefanski is diving headfirst into his new role, embracing the “drinking out of the fire hose” reality of leading an NFL franchise. Speaking on The Rich Eisen Show, Stefanski provided a glimpse into his coaching staff assembly, his philosophy on leveraging past experiences, and his excitement for the young talent poised to shape the Falcons’ future, particularly quarterback Michael Penix Jr. and running back Bijan Robinson.

Staffing Up and Learning from the Past

Stefanski, entering his second stint as a head coach after six seasons with the Cleveland Browns, emphasized his commitment to continuous growth. “I would hope that I’m taking every experience really from year to year and month to month and game to game and trying to become a better version of myself,” he stated. While proud of his accomplishments in Cleveland, he acknowledged the value of introspection. “There’s a ton of stuff I’m proud of and there’s things that I would definitely do differently. Some of them are really small things. Some of them are big things.” He believes a “growth mindset” and the humility to recognize he’s “not a finished product” are crucial for success.

The process of building his coaching staff is nearing completion, with Stefanski expressing strong confidence in the group assembled. “We’re almost done. Got one more hire to make and then can press send and can announce that staff,” he revealed. He also lauded the natural transition of former Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan into his first front-office role. “It’s awesome. And to Matt’s credit, you’d think he’s been doing this for 30 years,” Stefanski said. “Very intelligent, emotional intelligence, off the charts. So I’ve been very impressed obviously.”

The Michael Penix Jr. Equation

While the NFL calendar is still in February, the question of the Falcons’ quarterback of the future looms large. Stefanski didn’t shy away from his enthusiasm for rookie Michael Penix Jr., whom the Falcons drafted with the 8th overall pick. “I’m very excited about Michael Penn, uh, as you can imagine,” he told Eisen. The immediate priority for the young quarterback is his health. “What’s most important to Michael and he knows this and he’s done an amazing job is rehab and he’s getting healthy and he’s attacking his rehab.” Stefanski is proud of Penix’s progress but acknowledges, “He’s definitely still has work to go but he’s just got to keep his head down. That’s what he’s doing.”

Regarding the veteran presence of Kirk Cousins, who is recovering from an Achilles injury, Stefanski confirmed ongoing discussions. “Yeah, I think those are all things that that we’re working through,” he said. “Ian [Cunningham, GM] and Matt [Ryan] myself have had a lot of those discussions.” While expressing high regard for Cousins, “I think the world of Kirk obviously, you know, have a personal relationship with him,” Stefanski reiterated the team’s forward-looking approach. “But we’re we’re excited about what we have moving forward.”

Reflecting on Penix Jr.’s talent, Stefanski noted, “He’s a really talented young man. The highs on tape are quite impressive.” He added, “This is a young man that can make all the throws. Is a good athlete. So excited about him.” The coaching staff’s task will be to build a system that maximizes Penix’s abilities, with health being the paramount concern.

Unlocking Bijan Robinson’s Full Potential

Perhaps even more palpable was Stefanski’s excitement for running back Bijan Robinson. “Man, I can’t wait to coach him,” Stefanski exclaimed. He described Robinson as “wired the right way” and “all ball all the time,” emphasizing his character off the field. “Forget how physically gifted he is, which we all know and we all see, but just getting to know the person. Oh. Oh, man. And I can’t tell you how pumped I am for to coach this young man.”

Stefanski sees a vast, largely untapped potential in Robinson’s game. “It’s not something you have to change. Every terrific job. Uh I’m excited about some of the things we’re going to do that, you know, maybe a little bit differently in the run game, maybe a little bit differently in the pass game, but there’s no shortage to the things you can do with him.” He acknowledged the need for smart usage to ensure Robinson’s longevity throughout a 17-game season. “We have to guard against a little bit, you know, pump the brakes and say, ‘Okay, you know, we I don’t think we can give it to him every play.’ Maybe we can. Maybe we’ll try to break the record,” Stefanski quipped, “but just understanding that we want this player to affect our games on Sundays.” He stressed that Robinson’s impact in both the run and pass game is “really, you know, it’s all untapped.”

Addressing the persistent conversation around Robinson’s usage, particularly in the red zone, Stefanski drew a parallel to his time in Cleveland with Nick Chubb. “As a former fantasy player myself, I understand people’s desires,” he admitted. “However, we’re focused on that W at the end of the day.” The primary goal is maximizing Robinson’s effectiveness over the entire season. “You want Bejan for a 17 game plus season and you want to make sure that you’re being smart about what you ask him to do throughout the season.”

Reflections on Miles Garrett and Future Matchups

The conversation briefly turned to Stefanski’s time in Cleveland and the physical marvel that is Miles Garrett. He recalled Garrett’s dominance in practice, humorously noting that he would often let the first sack go in two-minute drills to allow the offense some work. “He makes it very hard to practice against and he also makes it very hard to play against,” Stefanski said.

Looking ahead, Stefanski acknowledged the unique emotional aspect of facing his former team. “So much of this is the relationships that you build in this day and age,” he stated. “It’s not just with players, it’s with coaches, it’s with the staff, it’s with all the people throughout that building. Those are friends, and those are really family.” He likened the experience to returning to Minnesota, where he spent 15 seasons. “You’re staring across the sideline at so many of your friends, so many people that you know and you love. So that’s just part of this business.”

Source: Falcons HC Kevin Stefanski on Atlanta's outlook with Penix Jr. & Robinson 🏈 | The Rich Eisen Show (YouTube)