How the quarterback battle between Tua Tagovailoa and Michael Penix Jr. shakes out will impact the Atlanta Falcons massively. It has been almost a decade since the Dirty Birds last reached the NFC playoffs. While Penix has been with the team longer, Tagovailoa comes over from Miami with far more in-game experience. Above all else, the former Alabama star is healthier than the Atlanta incumbent.
When talking to ESPN's Marc Raimondi, quarterbacks coach Alex Van Pelt shared his honest opinion.
"It's tough to have a competition when both guys aren't competing at the same level right now. So, it's hard, and it'll come. It'll happen at some point. Mike's done a great job of getting himself to where he is right now. Really impressive to take 7-on-7 reps and go out and compete. That's been great. But really, there's no competition until we can actually evaluate him equally."
Van Pelt is struggling to call this a competition when Penix is still not fully healthy from his torn ACL.
"We split the reps as evenly as we can without Mike taking team reps. It gets a little lopsided towards Tua."
Right now, Tagovailoa is the healthier and more polished player over Penix. Whoever the new Falcons head coach Kevin Stefanski decides will be QB1 out of the gate will inevitably set the tone for his Atlanta tenure. While he had some success at his previous post, Stefanski's run leading Cleveland was largely defined by the good, bad, and ugly play he got out of his many starting quarterbacks.
With this being a prove-it year for Tagovailoa, he has to make the most of his time with the Falcons.
Tua Tagovailoa vs. Michael Penix Jr. for Falcons QB1 is so far from over
Although Tagovailoa may lead Penix in the Falcons' race for QB1, he must overcome three things working in Penix's favor that he does not have working in his. Those would be continuity with his Falcons teammates, having more equity invested into him, and the fact that Penix can really spin it. Tagovailoa has more NFL experience and throws a tight spiral, but Penix is the homegrown talent.
Should logic prevail, these are the three reasonable outcomes Stefanski, Van Pelt, and the rest of the offensive staff could easily come to. If Tagovailoa is healthy and Penix is not, Tagovailoa should start. Otherwise, Atlanta would be feeding Penix to the wolves far sooner than the Falcons would need to after his torn ACL. Atlanta has to be cautious before thrusting Penix back into battle after this injury.
The second outcome would be if Tagovailoa and Penix are both healthy, and Tagovailoa is markedly better than Penix, then Tagovailoa should start. Atlanta may have used a first-round pick on Penix a few years ago, but there is a new regime in town. Stefanski, general manager Ian Cunningham, and president of football Matt Ryan are in the business of winning games. This would be in line with that.
Read more: Dabo Swinney conveniently uses weak Nick Saban comparison to justify his Clemson run
As for the third outcome, in the event that both Penix and Tagovailoa are healthy, but Tagovailoa does not separate from Penix throughout fall camp and the preseason, Penix should be the starter. Again, the Falcons have more equity invested in Penix than it does into Tagovailoa. If Penix plays well, he will be extended a fifth-year option. Tagovailoa is having the bulk of his salary paid by the Dolphins.
Most importantly, it may come down to two things in this battle, beyond that of even just health. They would be accuracy and chemistry. Tagovailoa has the first one in spades. Stefanski has said this is his greatest attribute as a football player. Penix throws it so hard, but the ball will occasionally sail on him. As far as chemistry is concerned, that is where Penix could have the edge. His teammates love him...
Penix's health aside, Tagovailoa must prove to Altanta why he was a top-five pick by Miami in 2020.
Add us as a preferred source on Google