Falcons fully trusting process for Michael Penix Jr.'s return

0:00So Cooper rush is the starter. We're live between peaks in Buckhead for week one. One o'clock kickoff 11 o'clock pregame here on sports radio 92 9 the game. That announcement coming from Kevin's to fanski today. I want to read you a quote before we let you hear what's the fanski had to say. And also Cooper rush because he spoke to the media yesterday right after practice. And it was really the first time we've had a chance to hear from him because there's been no reason. I mean, he was literally the third string guy. You know, it was perceived to be that with pinnocks and two of. But Kevin's to fanski today, Mike, when asked about Michael pinnocks. Mike will be ready when he's ready. I trust in this process. I'm not going to get into next week. And the reason he said that is because people said, hey, well, you know, I'm open. I guess Caroline, how about that one?

1:01Our situation right now, coach, I'm not going to get into next week. Like Mike told you he's getting very, very close. Okay. Cooper rush to Jack Strand with the quarterback's president for the main drill. Equated our buddy Mark Ramondi from ESPN.com. When the media got to see practice, Cooper was throwing primarily Michael Pentech's junior was across the field with the reserves. Okay. I'm not surprised. No, I mean, look, I'm not going to, it is, it is what it is. I'm not arguing about this anymore. I think it's, I think to some fans, if it comes sort of, maybe you didn't agree with me at first, but you're coming around. Because the situation now has changed. And the circumstances have changed. And sometimes requires a little, you know, deeper dive into where you're at. But that's, that's his thought. And hopefully someday we'll get a chance to catch up with him. Yeah. After he's established himself as keeping him, we'll talk about what happened these last few weeks. Let me say this though, Mike. And look, I'm with you as the fan in me wants to see the urgency of him wanting to come back as soon as possible.

2:02The other side of this is, and I had a friend say this to me and I said, okay, you're right. If you were advising him and we're not, we are cheering for this football team and want them to do as well as possible. The advice you would give him is do not get out there until you give yourself a real chance to get a bag. And his next bag, not this rookie bag, the next bag is what he's, he's trying to get to already got his, by the way, to a guy he's in Miami, right. We're talking about 200 plus million dollars, 150, 180 million guaranteed, whatever it's going to be. Don't know what the contract look like, but those are the numbers when you start talking about these quarterback contracts. And he said, if you were advising him, you would say that, right. And I said, probably, but that's not where I'm at. I'm on the other side of that where I go, this is probably the best option for us to win. And I need him and he's been medically cleared. So look, there are two sides to that, right. And I get it, but I'm as frustrated as Mike is and certainly as many of you are with the whole idea that now we're in this quarterback.

3:06And he's not predicting me quarterback chaos. And his, his mindset is not changing. I said to Mike yesterday, because Mike said maybe he comes to the rescue. Mentally, he's checked out right now. He is, he's already told you I'm not playing this right. So there's no way that that was going to play out work. All of a sudden yesterday that goes down with two and he comes to coach and says, hey, by the way, I'm ready to go. This is where we thought it would be. He's inactive for week one. I'm just curious to know who the hell the emergency quarterback is. I don't think it's like we're writing a script for a Disney movie, you know, that like, you know, we joked around about this earlier this summer. Like all Tom Cruise movies. I'm the man. I doubt myself. I get my confidence back. I win the day. Thought that might happen. Not happening yet. And look, I'm a different generation than some of our younger audience. And I don't, I just think it's most guys who've competed in their lives. Understand what I'm talking about. Some guys don't. Some guys say look, it's about self preservation and the Falcons, you know, because they didn't draft. And they don't owe anything and he doesn't owe anything to the Falcons. He doesn't. I don't think that necessarily though that helps you around the National Football League.

4:07Yeah. Look, that's what I'm saying. Because I mean, there'll be personal guys around the league that look at this and go, what the blank is he doing? That conversation is valid. If you're advising him, if that is your son, you're telling him you didn't get on the field until you can give yourself a chance to secure this back. And that is the problem. And we want him out there. And so Mike, it'll happen. But I thought that was interesting. That's Kevin's to Fansky. And again, I read that in a way where he didn't deliver it that way, but that's what it sounds like. He's not ready. He told you. He's not ready. Like that's what it feels like. Hey, I'm reinforcing what you guys already know. Let me hear Cooper rush because this is the first time again. We hadn't really, you know, camp we talked about him. But Cooper rush was asked if he's getting ready to be the starter. This was before the announcement was made literally about an hour or so ago. Yeah, not sure what happened. But you know, it's Thursday practice practice. You know, has to go on and so you're up next. And that was a good day. It's good to get out there and get some real wraps of that group. And it will see happens. And what's going to happen is he's under center on Sunday.

5:08Rush also said he feels ready to be the quarterback if he got the call. And now that's the case. Yeah, I feel that camp was camp was good. Got caught up to speed pretty quickly. I think to test me to the staff. How well it's coached that you can fall along. And pick it up pretty quickly in terms of how it's organized. The systematic systematic stuff of it. And so that's been that's been really helpful. And I think kind of everyone being the first year together definitely helps it too. The interesting thing is Andy and Randy asked coach Defansky yesterday. Is there too much be John? Is there such a thing? And I don't care who the starter was going to be this year. I already felt like they were going to try to run him into the ground. That's just me. I may be wrong about this, but I think at the end of the season when we look at carries attempts. That he's going to be right up there as either the league leader or second depending on how things shake out. And it's putting a lot of pressure on Bejon. Not that he doesn't want it. But Mike, that's part of the thing that I think most teams are going to play us.

6:10Understand. Right. Take him out. Take him away. And now how does this offense look? But Kevin's Defansky was asked that question. Here was his response about is there such thing as too much be John? Yeah, listen, he's a great player. He's a great player for us. I love the person and the player. And then we'll have a plan as each game rolls around. Can he get every rep? No. But we feel really good about the plan for Bejon. If we're really good about the plan for Brian Robinson, we'll mix and match as the game calls for it. I do think you have to get into games and there's a little bit of riding the hot hand at times. So I feel really confident in coach Reese, coach Petri, we'll go into it with a plan ready to adjust. But I think it's important for us to have a plan for our guys in week one recognizing that it could be an 80 play game. Right. Right. And it could be a X number game season. So you have to always take that into account as you're putting these plans in. Okay. Bejon with Brian Robinson. Remember we were kind of eyebrow raised by the two running bags.

7:12Not a third. But two and Brian Robinson dealt with a lot of nagging little injuries, but he stayed out there. You know, he's tough. So B and B. But B. John, as we said, can't give enough touches. And it's going to be interesting to see how Zachariah Branch gets involved in this. We just talked about that with Brian Smith, Fed from the Steelers. By the way, full participation today from Zachariah Branch, dealing with a hamstring. Okay. Kendall Daniels got a little nervous when I saw he had a kill ease. Don't mess with that. Doerless with the garoing, as you say in Texas. Yes, sir. I'm going to have to go back to the end with a knee, but these guys all participated. As did Michael Penix with his knee. Cedaria Smith with a shoulder, Joanne Taylor, the knee, but he got the day off yesterday as a veteran. And Jake Matthews got the older guy day off today. All right. And of course, two of did not participate with the oblique. Yeah, of course. Well, again, it's affecting his throwing. I don't know. That's the other part about. We're never getting guys. News flash. That's another thing. We're never going to see two of us talking about. I started a game for the Falcons this year. I mean, realistically, because it takes a few weeks for this to heal. So, I'm going to be Michael Penix, you will eventually look at the man in the mirror and say, are we ready?

8:15And then he'll go, but I don't think we see two. Yeah. The oblique thing is it's a throwing motion. Doesn't matter right left side. And if you're feeling discomfort there, it's what it is. Did you try to drink ball to have that at some point? He did. He did. Yeah. Let's hear Jeff Olbrick, Mike, because as much as we're talking about the quarterback. And yes, it's a big deal. I've been saying to you guys, if we let Aaron Rogers pat the ball all day, we'll be along the Sunday afternoon. And Jeff is the defensive coordinator for our Falcons. He is tasked with, how do you face this dude who's seen every coverage in the book? You're not going to do anything sunny to he ends thing. Okay. 20 years in the league, guys, he's seen it all. So, our DC talked about the challenge of facing Rogers in this offense. Yeah, he is obviously one of the best quarterbacks that has ever played this game. I'm still playing at a very high level. And on top of all of that, like I think he's got an arsenal of weapons at his disposal as well. So, receiving core, the tight end group, the two running backs.

9:19So, and then the way that historically Coach McCarthy has featured guys with very specific roles and skill sets, it's going to be a great challenge. And from a defensive perspective, these are the games, you know, I'd like to say every game is the same. And it is, but at the same time to go up against a player of Aaron's magnitude. And the players around him from an offensive perspective, it's a great challenge. It's one that they're all super excited about. I'm excited about as well. He has a lot more respect, I think, than most, because he was there when Aaron went to the Jets. He was their defensive coordinator and saw Aaron Rogers every day leading up to him running out on the field with that damn flag and injuring his Achilles. I think he knows. He's seen him at practice way more than most. And he understands what they're up against. And you know, the respect thing is that's just NFL conversation there. But Mike, Jeff Olberg's got to be thinking, I don't have my two big guns on the outside.

10:19I don't have all the things I need to slow this dude down. No, and as we said, I mean, you've just got guys that you're hoping will bring some heat, but it's just, it's kind of old timers day. You know, I mean, and guys coming off of injuries. I mean, we talked about, you know, Samson Ebbacom. Yeah. He is three years removed from nine and a half sacks, mysticism in between. Love's a daireous Smith. He brought some great energy. Look, maybe he brings him that Kalea's camel type juice, right? We know the story. It's a personal story. Losing his mom stepping away from football, but that's a 34 year old guy. You know, that you're hoping can bring some heat. That's why you got to blitz a little bit more. Now, if you're starting to bring some of the corners or safes, then that's high risk, high ultimate. I'd love to see him do some of the things he did with Kate Nellis, but in the form of Kendall Daniels, because I love his game. You know, but again, underneath step will go for a big play if Aaron Rogers gets the ball out. If you don't get home, it's going to be interesting. It really is. We'd love to hear from you. You can text us 404-726-0929. Follow Mike ATL Bell 929 and follow me and put them up.

11:22See, Duke's and of course this radio station in 929 the game follow us at Duke's and Bell 929. You agree, though, if we see Cooper Rush, things are going horribly wrong. Cooper, I mean, check that Jack Strand Cooper Rush will start Jack Strand will be the backup. I mean, for those that want to see Jack Strand in a real environment, at a Bell environment. Yes, that could be, well, I don't want to wish ill will that would either be an injury or the game is out of hand. I was going to say Mike Cooper Rush is one TJ watt off the edge play from being out of this game. Like, that's the reality of this. So yeah, man, look, I hope that's not the case, but we'll see what happens. Right. We'll continue to talk about it with you. When we come back, Bravestarter Big Series. This news with the quarterback thing is front and center, but big series at Truist. Also, the SEC is not issuing punishment to LSU. We'll dive into that. Georgia hosting Western Kentucky tomorrow and Georgia Tech gets Tennessee. Scary. Yeah, we'll get into all of this stuff, man. Stay there. We're Duke's and Bell. We're live between Peaks and Buckhead.