FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — After joining the Atlanta Falcons as the No. 8 pick in the 2024 Draft, Michael Penix Jr. is poised to enter his first season as an NFL starting quarterback.

Accompanying that title is a new level of pressure, even for a player as accomplished in college as Penix. Few understand the specific circumstances Penix faces as Atlanta's starting quarterback more than Michael Vick, who the Falcons selected No. 1 overall in 2000.

Vick sat down with Penix for a conversation ahead of training camp, and the two covered several topics of interest for Falcons fans. Among them is Penix's expectations for the team in 2025.

"Postseason. Got to get into the postseason," Penix said. "Seeing the Dirty Bird Nest and all the little highlights and fans. Man, they get rocking whenever we winning. So, I definitely want to get back to that. Winning football games so we can have the city turnt."

Penix went 1-2 as a starter for Atlanta last season, but the Falcons ranked sixth with 32 points per game while he was behind center. The key areas for Penix to improve upon this offseason is developing chemistry with his teammates and command of the offense.

Coaches and teammates have been asked about Penix’s leadership style, but Vick posed the question directly to the second-year pro. In the video of their conversation, it is apparent Vick could relate to Penix's approach.

"I'm not always that big vocal guy," Penix said. "I'm going to understand my players. I want to get to know my teammates because then, once you get to know them, now you know how to lead those guys. I'm trying to get an understanding of my players and building relationships."

"To learn how to operate around them," Vick agreed.

Penix will be operating around some highly talented individuals. Bijan Robinson and Tyler Allgeier form one of the league's top 1-2 punches at running back. Drake London and Darnell Mooney were one of the NFL's most productive receiver tandems in their first season together. And Kyle Pitts should be as motivated as ever heading into the final year of his rookie contract.

The quicker Penix can learn about his teammates the better off Atlanta's offense should be. It can take years for a player to fully develop the trust that, say, Vick had in his favorite target, tight end Alge Crumpler, but Penix is well-liked within the locker room and isn't going to over-complicate things.

"Once you get on the field, it's still just football," Penix said. "Throw it to your team, don't throw it to the other team."

Penix threw it to the other team three times last season, but it should be noted that two of those interceptions were in the hands of Falcons receivers first. Otherwise, the early returns for Penix are worth buying into. From Weeks 16-18, Penix had the eight-most passing yards (737) and ranked third in yards per completion (12.7) among all NFL quarterbacks.

One true new element for Atlanta's offense with Penix behind center is the same quirk it faced when Vick was the signal caller: The quarterback is left-handed.

"Being a left-handed quarterback, I always felt like sometimes my coaches would hold back a little bit," Vick told Penix before posing his question. "Being a lefty, do you find the game being a little bit difficult or does your offensive coordinator give you free range to just be you?"

Perhaps more than any Vick asked, that question revealed the true competitor that is Penix.

"Man, I get what you're saying," He responded. "The holding back, he be trying. I'm like, 'Coach, call it.' He's like, 'Oh, we've got to roll you out to the left.' And I'm like, 'Man, roll me out to the right.' Do this, do that, it don't matter, man, I can do it.

"I feel like I throw better rolling to the right."

The Falcons have been searching for the franchise quarterback of the next decade since moving on from Matt Ryan during the 2022 offseason. There are many reasons to believe Penix can pick up the torch that Ryan inherited in 2008 as a top draft pick. It's the same torch Vick once carried to the NFC Championship game in 2005.

Now, it's on Penix to prove the optimists right.

"Being the guy, it's something that you dream about," Penix said. "You've got dreams of playing in the NFL. You've got dreams of being drafted. Actually being on the field out there, knowing that you're the guy now, it's different."