FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — When prompted, pretty much every player you ask will tell you the same thing: The biggest jump they make in their game happens from Year 1 to Year 2.
For some players, it's an obvious jump in their production and stat line. For others, it's a bit more nuanced in their technique and own comfortability within the game's speed. Regardless of how it shows up, that jump does tend to appear. But what of coaches? Can they make a jump from their first to second year?
When it comes to Raheem Morris — who embarks on his second year as the Falcons' head coach — there's one specific area he wants his own leadership to see growth in this year.
"The number one thing is being able to identify problems faster," Morris explained. "So, when we can identify those problems faster, not waiting so long to fix them, I think that's something that I could do better personally."
Morris' decision-making, particularly the timing of it, was challenged throughout the 2024 season. Media and fans alike will point to and question clock management decisions, like the one against Washington late in the season. They're often quick to note the amount of time it took the defense to get going, too, or even what some assume to be too much time passing before making a call on Michael Penix Jr. taking over for Kirk Cousins at quarterback.
Morris is not living with his head in the clouds when it comes to those criticisms. He's aware of what was perceived as shortcomings, and now, in Year 2, he is hoping to rectify them. To grow as he's asking his players to.
"I think that's something that we all can really do," Morris said. "But when you're the head coach and you're overseeing all these different things, you've got to be able to see those things a little bit faster to be able to make some of those corrections. We were able to fix a lot of things on offense quickly. We were able to fix a lot of things on defense – didn't do it as quickly as you want to do them. You're able to fix a bunch of things across the board and how you want to do things."
Atlanta's head coach said his own development is twofold: It's not just about identifying problems quickly, but finding solutions and implementing them just as fast, too. That doesn't mean he alone has to have all the answers, but he needs to empower the collective group to find them and find them fast within the scope of his leadership.
"If you don't have the answers, being able to go find ways you can find those answers within the organization, within your building, outside the building, whatever it takes, to be able to get those things done," Morris said. "I'm always fired up for that learning curve of everything. That always interests me. That's something I always love."
This game is constantly evolving. So, its players — and coaches, too — have to evolve with it. Morris understands and welcomes that challenge as he heads into the 2025 season.
"You definitely have a process," Morris concluded, "but it's steadily growing and learning every time you go out there and do anything that you do within this game."
