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The Falcons quarterback competition between Tua Tagovailoa and Michael Penix Jr. has been the talk of the offseason so far. Dukes and Bell discuss how much they want to see of each of the guys in preseason as a piece of the competition. Plus, hear from new Falcons RB Brian Robinson Jr. about how he feels with his new team in Atlanta.
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00:00Happy Friday, everybody. We are Dukes and Bell. We start off every day and every hour by saying,
00:04Hey, man!
00:06Mike, I know, and you know, and I think most of our listeners know, that a true competition is decided
00:12on the field.
00:13But as we talk about the Falcons wrapping up OTAs, at least this version, they'll be back on the field
00:18in June,
00:19and then a mandatory minicamp in the middle of June before they take their big break.
00:24But here's my thing, and I said I had something for you.
00:28Well, what if Penix doesn't play any of these preseason games?
00:33How can you decide if he's not playing in the preseason?
00:37So I only bring this up to tell you guys, as much as we've discussed it,
00:40and I'm going to let you hear what Kevin Stefanski's saying, and Drake London as well,
00:44and we haven't really talked about Brian Robinson, not Bijan, the other B-Rob,
00:48who's a brick blank house in his own right.
00:50He is.
00:51This guy's a dude.
00:51But we'll let you hear what he had to say, because I think our backfield is going to be really
00:54good.
00:55But the idea is, is camp enough?
00:59And if it's not, and you're telling me, well, you know what, I want to put both guys in position
01:03to have equal time on the field in a game against another team, you may say it doesn't matter,
01:10but can you truly decide who the winner is if Penix doesn't play in the preseason?
01:14Well, that's it.
01:15I mean, we've talked about this at length, as you guys know.
01:18So, if you want to have a competition, it's got to be two guys coming at it equally, ready to
01:22go, right?
01:23Otherwise, it's not a true competition.
01:27If Tua starts the first half, you know, and the next game with the first team,
01:31and then the first quarter, and then Penix starts, then you've got a fair test.
01:35You know, to go up, anything that dilutes it, having second, third string, that's not a fair test.
01:39I don't either.
01:39I don't think so either.
01:40And by the way, I'm not talking about Trevor Simeon either.
01:42I'm not talking about a third or fourth guy on the roster.
01:44Right, and Trevor, you'll see lots of Trevor in the preseason.
01:45I'm just saying, you know, Penix, it is not his fault.
01:48He should have gotten tons of preseason starts his first two years of this team,
01:51but Raheem Morris screwed it all up.
01:52So, coming off of this injury, does Kevin Stefanski risk that as well?
01:57Well, that's just, see, that's another thing.
01:58If he's not 100%, you can't put him out there.
02:01And especially knowing his injury history, guys, I'm sorry if that makes you triggered,
02:05but yes, he's got an injury history.
02:06You're going to put a guy out there on field turf and he's not 100% with his knee injury?
02:11I don't know.
02:11That's why.
02:12That's a great question.
02:13I say, do you prefer for this competition to be decided by the first preseason game
02:19or should they incorporate at least one preseason game into that determination?
02:23The problem I have is one preseason game, and that's probably all they're going to get.
02:28Let's be honest.
02:28I mean, the way that we get three now, it used to be four.
02:31We know that most guys are not playing in the third one, right?
02:35You're not going to risk that.
02:36So, if you're going to play, it's either going to be that first game
02:38or maybe, Mike, a couple of series in the second.
02:41That's it.
02:42If they do that.
02:43But remember, to Mike's point, that hasn't been the philosophy here.
02:47And I don't know if that's Matt's – I'm not talking about Matt.
02:49I'm talking about Matt Ryan, should I say.
02:51I don't know if Matt believes in that.
02:53Because when Matt was the starting quarterback here, Mike, he rarely played in the preseason.
02:57But he was established.
02:58Right.
02:58There was no reason to have Matt out there other than maybe the third week
03:01or the fourth week was always trying to find the guys, making the roster down to 53.
03:05We're traveling to the Indy.
03:06Denver Broncos come here with the first Friday of preseason on the 14th.
03:09The 22nd, it looks like for two days, we're going to do a scrimmage,
03:12a joint scrimmage up at Indianapolis against the Colts.
03:15Now, that's where you will – now, remember a couple of years ago,
03:19D-Lead was down there for us saying,
03:20we're getting some good information on who's what?
03:22You know, because it would play the Dolphins, and it was real physical,
03:24and you kind of – guys got established.
03:26So that's where perhaps we might not see it,
03:29and maybe – I hope Stefanski gives us a chance to see these guys
03:31in the preseason games on TV,
03:33but you may get an idea of what Tua and Panix are doing in this battle
03:38versus the Colts on those – I guess Wednesday and Thursday or Tuesday and Wednesday.
03:41Before their preseason game.
03:43Yeah, and look, that's valid.
03:44Because, again, that's kind of behind closed doors, too.
03:47Right?
03:48Right.
03:48The media's not going to be able –
03:49Some stuff will leak out, but still.
03:50Yeah, but it's not going to be filmed and on television
03:52like you would see a real preseason game.
03:54And if you want to really test your guys, that's where it happens.
03:58Because, you know, you've got their team on the other side.
04:02You're going up against another opponent.
04:03Mike, you're absolutely right.
04:04I just think we cannot see a real competition if he doesn't play in the preseason.
04:09And I don't care what you say.
04:10You can't tell me, well, he's better.
04:12I hadn't seen it.
04:13Well, and this is another thing we've tried to break down.
04:15Because Michael's got a bunch of fans, and I understand it.
04:18I get it.
04:18Because he's a good guy and he's rootable.
04:20But the reality – this is the reality of it.
04:23But if Tua comes – if Tua gets and grasps things quicker
04:26because he's able to do more and take more reps because he's 100%,
04:29that's an advantage.
04:31And once the season starts, unless Tua screws up,
04:33that's why we said a few weeks ago, Tua could win this in camp
04:36and not relinquish the job and maybe establish himself.
04:39Could.
04:40Could.
04:40Let's hear from Kevin Stefanski talking about Tua and where he is,
04:45at least how he feels about his leadership and what he's seen so far.
04:48I think all of our guys are being true and authentic to who they are.
04:54Tua, no different.
04:55You're new to the building.
04:56You're new to the football team.
04:57I think a lot of times you're getting to know your teammates is where we are
05:01in this portion of team building, if you will.
05:04So opportunities for our players to get to know each other happen on the field,
05:11happen outside of this building.
05:12So I've just been impressed with Tua, everything he's doing in the meeting room,
05:18on the practice field, and being true to who he is.
05:22But, you know, it's something where those type of things are organic
05:25and they happen over time.
05:26And Stefanski even invoked the Lord's name.
05:28God-given talent.
05:30I mean, like we talked about it earlier, you know,
05:32the God-given talent about the accuracy.
05:35Something that Josh Kendall guys joined us about 340.
05:37You can rewind on the Odyssey after the Athletic.
05:39Also interesting what Josh had to tell us about James Pierce.
05:41Stay tuned for that.
05:42But getting back to the accuracy, it's one thing that Josh said.
05:46It's well-known.
05:47Mike's got to be more accurate.
05:49That's got to come along, too.
05:50Yeah, look, I brought this up yesterday when I said this is why I think he's
05:53ahead of the curve with getting the job.
05:56But this is who he's been.
05:57This is not a one-year fluke kind of thing.
05:59His entire career has been over 65%.
06:02So, I mean, when you have that on your side versus the other guy who's been a
06:0759% completion guy in the limited game, 12 games, Mike.
06:11I mean, you know, it's not a lot.
06:12But with that said, I just feel like the things we're hearing,
06:17it does matter what teammates and what coaches are seeing and what they believe.
06:21But I also think, like, for everybody who thinks this is going to get resolved,
06:25it doesn't get resolved unless you're playing.
06:27And unless you're playing in preseason and you're getting a sense of what this
06:31could look like, you can tell me practice all you want, Mike.
06:34And maybe that's enough.
06:35Maybe he practices so well.
06:37And I'm talking about Michael Penix, where they go, you know what,
06:39he's shown us everything.
06:40And we've seen coaches do this.
06:41He's shown us everything he needs to show us in practice.
06:43He's our guy.
06:44Maybe that happens.
06:45But I think his fans, you're going to feel a little bit cheated.
06:47I really do.
06:48I mean, we'd love to see the process play out on our TVs or in the stadium at
06:51Mercedes-Benz.
06:51But, yeah, against the Broncos, up at Indy, Miami, the final game.
06:56And just three, as you guys know.
06:57And we'll see how Stefanski approaches it.
07:00One other thing with Penix Jr. is, you know, we talked about under center with
07:03Josh's.
07:03Both guys are handling that.
07:05See, this is why Zach Robinson should have been doing it.
07:07I know we can't cry over spilt milk, but it drives me crazy that you could have done
07:10this from the start last year.
07:11You know, and play action would have made Michael Panik so much more effective because
07:15he would have better synergy with the receivers.
07:16As bad as the receiver core was, whether it's injury or just not making plays, Pitts could
07:20have gotten more involved.
07:21That just makes everything easier for the quarterback.
07:23I got boom, boom, boom.
07:24I freeze those guys for a second.
07:26Ball's out.
07:26You know, and that's one thing.
07:28Another thing Josh talked about, Josh Kendall, the rhythm thing.
07:30And it does play to Stefanski's offense, but he's got to be out there doing it.
07:33No doubt.
07:33And right now, again, for guys who missed it this week, maybe you're on vacay.
07:36He has not been cleared to practice 11 on 11.
07:39Yeah.
07:39Thank you for clarifying.
07:40Hey, man, it's Dukes and Bell because that is important.
07:42That's like he's doing everything Tua's doing.
07:44Not quite yet.
07:45Hey, man, let's hear from Drake London talking about what his impressions are of Tua Tungabailoa.
07:51He's a great dude.
07:51Always got a smile on his face.
07:53Very, very chill.
07:54Thill up the shot a little bit and we get rolling.
07:56So now he's a great dude.
07:58And him and NPR are getting along very, very well.
08:00And both of them are just competing and working really hard together.
08:03And I love it.
08:04I do too, Drake, because all we want to do is win.
08:07And, you know, Drake can be very selfish there and be like, I don't care who wins as long
08:10as they throw the ball to me.
08:12But he is seeing this from afar and up close, and that's his opinion.
08:16Mike, what about Brian Robinson, man?
08:17Look, we hope that Bijan is the MVP.
08:21Seriously.
08:22Because that means we're doing some really special things offensively, and it's going
08:26to open up so many other things.
08:28He's building every year on what he's already done.
08:30But then you get a guy like Brian Robinson, Jr. to come in here.
08:34And remember, we loved our guy, man.
08:37Oh, Tyler Algier was the best.
08:38I mean, talking about a guy, you know, it's funny we talked about the team dynamics and
08:41how quarterbacks are battling in position battles around these mini camps in the NFL.
08:44Tyler Algier always had Bijan's back and vice versa.
08:47Just a great guy.
08:47And I feel so bad for him to go out to Arizona and they go get a running back.
08:50But anyway, Brian Robinson is a guy, when Bijan comes out, now he's not as athletic as far
08:56as the cuts and the ridiculous, you know, defying gravity moves that Bijan can do.
08:59But this guy can run over you and around you and through you as well.
09:02Brian Robinson's a stud.
09:03He is.
09:03I mean, he's always a really good, talented backup.
09:06This is about as good as you can get.
09:07I'm with you.
09:08Let me hear what he had to say in regards to his role on the team.
09:12Involvement.
09:12You know, just being involved, staying engaged in offense.
09:17And, you know, that's the only situation I can really ask for.
09:20You know, just getting an opportunity to, you know, play and stay involved and, you
09:24know, be a part of the plan that we're trying to, you know, move forward and have a great
09:28offense.
09:29Like the guy.
09:30That was a really good, that's a cool pickup for me and Cunningham, you know.
09:33And Jawan Taylor, he's getting reps out there.
09:35Storm Norton is back.
09:36The rotation on the right side of the line, which is the blind side for whoever's going
09:39to be quarterback.
09:40Penix or Tua.
09:41The other thing we spoke with Josh Kendall about from The Athletic today, Carl, and he threw
09:45something out there because we always use Rasheed Rice.
09:47He said, as he said, we said, it's apples to oranges who's trying to figure out what's
09:50going on with Pierce.
09:51He says, we're under the impression the Falcons know what's going to happen.
09:54Josh thinks the Falcons are just like us, in the dark, about how the NFL is going to
09:57react to this.
09:58Will he start the season on the commissioner's exempt list?
10:01Yeah.
10:01Because the probation has to apply.
10:03Would you let him play football while he's under probation in the state of Florida?
10:06Or not?
10:07That's basically what it comes down to.
10:08And when is the NFL going to make this decision?
10:10Because otherwise, you can't have James Pearson here for camp in July and August.
10:14Well, look, I think, again, this is just me, if it comes down to the Falcons having to
10:18make the decision versus the NFL, they're going to have him out there.
10:23Yeah.
10:23I want to be told he can't be.
10:27Then that means you guys need to make the decision.
10:29That needs to come from the league office.
10:30If you're not going to tell me that, I have a player under contract who has not been
10:34suspended, whose case has not been, you know, he's not been convicted, Mike, he's on the
10:40field.
10:40So that's where I see it with the Falcons, if it comes to that.
10:43If it comes from the NFL, then they don't have to worry about making that decision.
10:46Because if you try to put him on the commissioner's exempt list, I think the Players Association
10:48would make a beef.
10:49Look, as bad as it looks, guys, these are two separate discussions.
10:54The optics are terrible, and it's horrible, and a man should never be in that situation.
10:57But hopefully he's getting the treatment and getting his life right.
11:00And the biggest thing that we and I talked about is how Rekia Jackson and her camp has
11:05signed off on everything moving forward.
11:07So I think the Players Association would say, look, man, he's on probation.
11:11He avoided a court.
11:12It's your point, Carl.
11:13He hasn't been convicted of anything.
11:14So let's go.
11:15Yeah.
11:15You know, at the very least for the Falcons, what are we looking at?
11:19We're looking at six games and the appeal process can begin.
11:21Let's get going on this.
11:22It's going to be very interesting, man.
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