Michael Penix Jr. is “doing excellent” working from under center, first-year Falcons head coach Kevin Stefanski said this morning. That may not seem very noteworthy for an NFL quarterback, but boy has it been a topic in Atlanta.
Penix has only dropped back to pass six times from under center in the last two seasons, the fewest of any quarterback with more than 100 pass attempts in that time. He has only lined up under center on 3.8 percent of all of his snaps.
Penix has insisted throughout his NFL career that he was comfortable under center, but as the Falcons’ offense struggled last season, it was a constant frustration among the fan base that Atlanta didn’t even try a change of strategy. It sounds like Stefanski will this year.
“I’m very pleased with the work he has put into it,” Stefanski said. “It sounds simple. In some ways it is, but … it is different. There are things we believe in, schemes that we believe are best under center.”
Penix still hasn’t been cleared for 11-on-11 drills in practice but is participating in around 80 percent of each practice.
“It’s hard to watch him and say there’s a limitation,” Stefanski said. “He’s doing a very, very good job of doing what he is asked to do. He looks explosive. I’m pleased with the progress he has made understanding this system. I’m pleased with the progress he has made in commanding this system.”
