Raheem Morris on Zac Robinson being connected to the Oklahoma State job

On Monday, Falcons head coach Raheem Morris was asked about Oklahoma State’s reported interest in Zac Robinson for its head coaching vacancy.

“I don’t know if he’s been contacted by anybody from Oklahoma State, but we’ve heard the rumors and that’s great for him,” Morris said, via Josh Kendall of The Athletic. “You want people to want our people. That’s something that is awesome for him and his family. We embrace those distractions.”

A week ago, Falcons fans would have offered to drive Zac Robinson to the airport, but the tone has changed after the Falcons offense exploded for a season-high 435 yards and 34 points in their win over the Commanders.

It was everything the Falcons envisioned: a young quarterback surrounded by elite playmakers, and everyone got involved. Bijan Robinson and Drake London each topped 100 yards receiving, Kyle Pitts chipped in 70 yards and a touchdown, while the running back tandem of Robinson and Tyler Allgeier combined for 126 yards and two more scores on the ground.

Michael Penix Jr. finished with a career-high 90.6 QBR, silencing doubters — at least for now. The NFL is a “what have you done for me lately” league, and Sunday’s version of the Falcons was spectacular, taking some of the heat off Robinson, whose play-calling had been under heavy fire in recent weeks.

There’s no denying Zac Robinson hasn’t fully lived up to the hype that followed him from Los Angeles, where he worked under Sean McVay and alongside Morris. But pinning Atlanta’s offensive struggles entirely on the coordinator is foolish. The unit was rolling early last season before Kirk Cousins suffered an injury that limited his abilities, and it still finished middle of the pack despite constant quarterback turmoil. This year, much of the inconsistency can be traced to Penix’s expected growing pains as a first-year starter.

If Robinson and Penix continue to develop chemistry, Falcons fans may come to appreciate the pairing. By that time, however, it may not last long. Productive offensive coordinators are the most coveted coaches in the sport, and Oklahoma State will be the first of many to come calling.

—