By Michael A. Lough
The Sports Report
***centralgasports@gmail.com***

For a couple years, I offered optimism and context and lucidity and objectivity regarding the Atlanta Falcons going into the season.

This year, I’ll finally get it right. Well, actually, they will.

Probably.

While there are a few concerns about some administrative issues – OK, the infatuation with Michael Penix Jr. and the nonexistent preseason snaps for so many newcomers, especially on offense, are concerns – the football should live of up the 12-5 season I’ve called for the last season or two.

Before, they had the physical talent to do it, but Arthur Smith’s headphones squeezed his head way too often, and he came up with some baffling plans and comments and decisions.

Note that Smith is still a good coach. That’s the reality. He made the mistake of arrogance in being a coordinator in his first head coaching job. He’ll have learned from it. And don’t give me any “Where was that when he was in Atlanta?” simpleton stuff during the Steelers-Falcons game. Nothing in common.

He’ll clench a little bit when he sees what’s on the other sideline, and what he perhaps could’ve done.

There are answers with Atlanta, and there are questions.

It was very questionable to cease playing starters in the preseason, especially with the major transition at quarterback and with a new offensive coordinator.

Timing is huge with a new quarterback, who has new receivers and a new OC, and with an offensive line adjusting to all that.

If Kirk Cousins is going to get hurt, he gets hurt. But you have to be more aggressive in getting an idea. Get your QB on the field with the offensive line, develop a little something. Get the QB and receivers – and the Falcons have new faces wide - together.

Maybe only 10 or 15 snaps total in preseason games, but that matters. Don’t let Cousins’ first hit since the middle of last year be in the opener. And let him get over tentativeness by getting hit and by moving before the opener.

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It’s remarkable, and annoying, this incompetence regarding preseason games. I do not want to hear one whine or bellyache from teams who botch it by not playing starters, especially when there are transitions, like at quarterback, and then dance around early-season mistakes.

That’s what three damn preseason games are for, you pinheads, getting out some kinks, or finding some unexpected kinks and addressing them. Starters don’t have to play a lot, but every starter should work up at least two sweats in the preseason unless a health issue is keeping them out.

There should be more optimism, but you look at a 31-0 loss to Jacksonville, and there are questions. Shouldn’t Atlanta’s backups be better than that? Sure, dangle Taylor Heinicke out there, but you have to get something done for this year’s team in those games.

So some precision on offense early on is something to watch. On the other hand, Cousins may be able to eliminate that fairly early, too, once he gets past any tentativeness with his Achilles.

Atlanta will be well advised to continue the run-oriented scheme of the past few years, with Bijan Robinson and Tyler Allgeier. Man, I like that duo.

The offensive line will have to take another step with improved pass blocking, more important than in years with an older quarterback coming off a leg injury. And the line needs some depth.

The defense has been mostly above average the past few years, though last year, it grew inconsistent down the stretch, in execution and in strategy.

Just keep it simple. There’s enough talent there to not overcoach, an affliction deep in the blood of all football coaches.

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Atlanta can be a little more aggressive, and having Grady Jarrett back inspires a huge sigh of relief. No need to overwork him early, though.

Having a tough early schedule is good, because a 1-2 start can easily be 6-2 before you know it.

There’ll be at least one loss that’ll inspire the same bellyaching from Atlanta watchers – hard to call a lot of ‘em actual fans – because, well, just because, but there’ll be a game that feels a little too familiar.

As long as there’s no familiar Falcony hangover, and one loss turning into another one, they’ll be fine.

But how strong and smart can Raheem Morris be with his quarterback situation? Which is now a quarterback situation because of him, and shouldn’t be.

Can he be smart and rest Cousins when the Falcons go up three touchdowns in the final quarter, and play Penix? And then say that there is no quarterback situation, that it’s wiser to keep a veteran quarterback fresh?

No, don’t give the doubters ammo by even hardly mentioning Penix for a few months. “He did a nice job in his role today.”

That’s the “strong” part. Don’t play the game. Cousins is the man until he’s not, and if that means starting the third year, it does. Playing Penix a little more than the usual backup – a scenario offered here a few months ago – can help raise his stock as potential trade bait if Cousins is still rolling after two years.

Morris and his staff and the front office have to do something that football operations people are pathologically unable to do: don’t overthink it.

And don’t look ahead. Next year is always this year. Maybe the salary watchers can peek ahead a little, but coaches must just deal with who’s here now.

Atlanta is in good shape with who’s here now. Still, let’s wait a month before confidently proclaiming that it appears safe to consider returning to the bandwagon and visualize a division title. But both are coming.