Falcons coach jokes about asking Michael Penix for information about Ryan Grubb and the Seahawks' offense

The Seattle Seahawks are on the road this week, visiting the Atlanta Falcons in a matchup that could very well make or break the remainder of their regular season. The oddsmakers are firmly on Atlanta's side and make the Falcons the favorites for tomorrow's game with a field goal.

Although the Seahawks are more talented overall, they are also in the midst of a three-game losing streak and injuries have decimated their defense, which will be missing two starting cornerbacks and their best edge rusher this week. What's worse is that they're particularly vulnerable to the run, which is what Atlanta does best.

The Falcons also have a potential advantage in that their backup quarterback knows offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb's system as well as anyone, as Michael Penix Jr. started for Grubb in Washington the last two seasons. According to Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times, head coach Raheem Morris shared a joke earlier this week about getting as much information out of Penix as possible.

Raheem Morris has jokes

“Man, we have Michael Penix in the room right now. We didn't let him out for three days. We have a light in his face shining on him, man, making him give us his all, man. We got every signal, so make sure you change every single signal.''

Despite numerous offseason promises to rely on the run, Grubb's offense was just as pass-heavy as the Huskies'. Heading into Week 7, Seattle has the highest pass-run rate in the league this year.

Penix also must have made a great QB on the scout team this week as he has many of the same traits as Geno Smith. That made him a tempting target in the 2024 NFL Draft for Seattle, and one report said the team was trying to move up to the top 10 to select Penix, although the Seahawks later denied that.

Penix ended up going eighth overall to the Falcons, which was the biggest surprise of the first round of the draft. However, the Seahawks did well and got the best defensive player in the class of 2024 when they took 16-year-old Texas defensive tackle Byron Murphy II.

After missing the last three weeks with a hamstring injury, Murphy will return to the lineup on Sunday, and he has promised to make the Falcons pass on him in the draft.

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