It is all about timing, rhythm, and accuracy in the NFL. Those wide throwing lanes that used to be there in college football are no longer present. Quarterbacks are no longer throwing to an open receiver, but rather throwing him open. This is why Tua Tagovailoa might have a much better chance of beating out Michael Penix Jr. for the Atlanta Falcons' starting job. Just ask Kevin Stefanski about it.
Stefanski shared accuracy is "the most important trait at the position" when it comes to quarterback.
Stefanski says accuracy is "the most important trait at the position" of quarterback. #Falcons
— Marc Raimondi (@marcraimondi) May 27, 2026
He then was highly complimentary of Tagovailoa's accuracy, calling it an "innate, God-given ability."
Stefanski said Tua's accuracy is an "innate, God-given ability." #Falcons
— Marc Raimondi (@marcraimondi) May 27, 2026
Stefanski may have tipped his hand here a bit when it comes to where he is leaning in the Falcons' onging quarterback battle between Penix and Tagovailoa. No doubt about it, Tagovailoa's accuracy is why the Miami Dolphins paid him a boatload of money. There are also other reasons why the former Alabama superstar no longer plays in South Florida. As for Penix, he is still green, but so injury-prone.
Tagovailoa may have the the clearest shot of winning the starting job, but he has to overcome this...
Tua Tagovailoa's 'God-given ability' has him early leader for Falcons' QB1
There is a very interesting Alabama/Kalen DeBoer crossover here with the two quarterbacks in question on the Falcons. Tagovailoa is a few years older than Penix, but not by much... He played for Nick Saban at Alabama before going top-five to the Dolphins during the COVID draft after his junior year in Tuscaloosa. Penix starred for DeBoer at Washington and Indiana before that. There is also this.
Stefanski may be an NFL guy through and through, but do you remember who is the Falcons' new offensive coordinator? That would be former Alabama offensive coordinator Tommy Rees. He went on to work for Stefanski in Cleveland after the Saban era ended, with DeBoer making the trek from Seattle. Penix may be DeBoer's guy, Tagovailoa is one of the best quarterbacks in Alabama history.
As stated above, if it comes down to purely accuracy, Tagovailoa should win this starting job in a landslide. Since the Falcons do not have the deepest receiving corps, Tagovailoa will have to get the ball out quickly to Kyle Pitts at tight end and Bijan Robinson in the backfield. He has already tabbed Zachariah Branch akin to what he had in Miami with former Alabama speedy receiver Jaylen Waddle.
What Tagovailoa has working against him is inconsistent, injury-riddled play from his time in Miami, as well as Penix already having built up a rapport with most of his teammates in Atlanta over the last two years. Falcons stars such as Pitts, Robinson, wide receiver Drake London, and offensive tackle Jake Matthews all attended his wedding this spring, as well as the guy who drafted him in Terry Fontenot...
Read more: Kalen DeBoer must avoid another early road loss vs. a foe he is all too familiar with
See, Atlanta is more financially invested in Penix than it is in Tagovailoa. Miami is paying the bulk of Tagovailoa's salary for this season, as the Falcons are only on the books for something close to the veteran minimum for him. Penix has not made big money in Atlanta yet, but this will be year three for him out of Washington. After the end of this season, he will be given, or denied, the fifth-year option.
Overall, Tagovailoa might be the favorite to win the starting job now because he is a veteran, a more accurate passer, and is not working his way back from a torn ACL suffered mid-season like Penix is. However, Atlanta does need to find out fast if Penix can really play in this new system. DeBoer did describe him as the greatest leader he has ever coached. Tagovailoa's leadership comes and goes...
Ultimately, Tagovailoa should be a good bit ahead of Penix at this stage of the game. The question now is how soon will Penix close the gap on him, if at all... Expect for the Falcons to learn one way or another if Penix will be the future of their franchise. It may only be a stop-gap year for Tagovailoa, but we all saw a former first-round pick save his career with one in Super Bowl champion Sam Darnold.
Tagovailoa might have the physical traits to win this starting job, but he has to be a leader to keep it.
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