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The Atlanta Falcons are bringing over more than just their new head coach from the Los Angeles Rams.

In one of the first hires for new Falcons coach Raheem Morris, he is tabbing Zac Robinson to be the team's offensive coordinator, a source told ESPN's Adam Schefter. Robinson, 37, had been the quarterbacks coach and passing game coordinator for the Rams for the past two seasons as he worked his way up the coaching ranks there.

The former NFL and Oklahoma State quarterback had spent his entire coaching career with the Rams, starting as the assistant quarterbacks coach in 2019, becoming the assistant receivers coach in 2020 and again working as the assistant quarterbacks coach in 2021 before his promotion to passing game coordinator and quarterbacks coach in 2022.

Among the skill position players Robinson will have to work with are running backs Bijan Robinson and Tyler Allgeier, wide receiver Drake London and tight ends Kyle Pitts and Jonnu Smith, who are all under contract for 2024. All five of the team's starting offensive linemen from last season also are under contract, including Pro Bowl right guard Chris Lindstrom.

The question for Robinson will be at quarterback. Atlanta has both of last season's starters, Desmond Ridder and Taylor Heinicke, under contract for 2024. However, one of the reasons the Falcons fired Arthur Smith after three seasons was the play of the quarterbacks, which team owner Arthur Blank called "deficient."

Robinson has worked with Matthew Stafford the past three seasons and with Jared Goff during Robinson's first season with the Rams in 2019. Now, he might be developing a younger quarterback, depending how the Falcons decide to handle their quarterback room.

Robinson was a seventh-round pick in 2010 by the New England Patriots. He spent time with the Patriots, Seattle Seahawks, Detroit Lions and Cincinnati Bengals but never threw a pass in a regular-season NFL game.

He then became a quarterback development coach in Texas and worked for the analytics website Pro Football Focus before turning to coaching and being hired by the Rams.

Atlanta also retained special teams coordinator Marquice Williams on Saturday, a league source told ESPN, allowing the Falcons to keep one of the top special teams coordinators in the league and offering continuity on the staff while the club transitions from Smith to Morris.

Spencer Strider took another significant step forward while turning in his first full season in the majors in 2023. He ascended to the top of the Atlanta Braves’ rotation, broke John Smoltz’s record for strikeouts in a season, and tossed a career-high 186 ²⁄₃ innings. However, it’s proven difficult to get Strider to focus on individual accomplishments, especially when his team fell far short of expectations. Strider spoke Saturday at BravesFest and discussed his preparation for the season and the adjustments he wants to see from himself and his teammates in order to find success again in the postseason.

“Yeah, it’s the best. It makes it feel like the offseason never happened and then it’s been three years at the same time,” Strider answered when asked about how good it is to see everyone again. “I’ve been here working out. A couple guys have. It’s been nice to kind of stay in the routine, but yeah, great to see everybody.”

Going into last season’s Division Series against the Philadelphia Phillies, no one could have predicted that Atlanta would struggle offensively the way they did. Strider pitched well in Game 1 and Game 4, allowing a combined four earned runs to go along with 15 strikeouts in 12 ²⁄₃ innings. He received one run of support, losing 3-0 and 3-1.

“That’s all I’ve thought about. That’s the conversation that we’ve had as a team,” Strider said. “Whether it’s in groups or one on one throughout the offseason, it’s just ‘How do we put ourselves in a position to have a better outcome in the postseason?’ Not to say we have the regular season down, I’m certainly not insinuating that. Never know what’s gonna happen. But we gotta make the most of everything that happens throughout the regular season so that we’re in the best position possible in the postseason. I think that last year was a big learning experience, like you said, for me and just for everybody.”

Saying that is one thing, but actually executing changes is another. For Strider, he believes that the Braves have to set the bar as high as possible and that anything less than a World Series win should be viewed as a disappointment.

“Absolutely, I think rhetoric is one, especially when we clinched so early in September,” Strider said about specific ideas he and his teammates have discussed. “I think just changing the way we talk and the goals we set, what we verbalize into existence. That’s gonna be important for us. I think that there should be no acceptance of anything less than winning a World Series in this organization. I said it a little bit ago. I believe it. I’m biased, but this is the most talented team in baseball. We need to set our bar as high as possible, anything less than that is an underachievement for us.

“I think there’s obviously a lot of noise and a lot going on in the postseason that’s not essential to performing on the field,” Strider added. “We dealt with that a little bit last year, and it was a learning experience. The best thing about failure is at least it gives you the opportunity to improve. There’s no guarantee of anything happening this year, we only have the opportunity. But like I said, we’ve got everything we need to achieve what we want to.”

Alex Anthopoulos made some meaningful moves this offseason. He restocked the bullpen with power arms, brought in former top prospect Jarred Kelenic to play left field, and acquired veteran left-hander Chris Sale from the Red Sox to help bolster the rotation. Strider said that he thought all of the new additions could have a big impact and wonders why some people continue to question Anthopoulos.

“I think that anybody that questions his rationale behind things is at this point is not paying great attention and I have full trust in everything he does,” Strider said of Anthopoulos. “When I saw Chris Sale pop up on my phone and we acquired him, I jumped up. That’s a guy I greatly admired, to say the least, growing up. The little bit of communication I’ve had with him and meeting him this weekend has been just confirmation of everything I thought he was. At the very least, that guy wants to win more than he wants to do anything and that’s what matters most to me.”

Strider makes it clear. While he may continue to wreak havoc on franchise record books, winning a championship is the ultimate goal. In that vein, it feels like he is cut from the same cloth as Sale. Strider thinks that all of the pieces are in place, they just need to go out and execute.

“That’s something that’s difficult to achieve, and I have nothing to do with it. I give that credit to Alex and to Snit and the coaching staff that have built that, player development, the ownership,” Strider said of the Braves’ championship energy. “Everybody that’s had a hand in creating this environment, and it’s all the more reason why I think that a World Series trophy is the ultimate goal for us, and that’s the bar.”

“The sky is truly the limit for us,” Strider added. “All the things we were able to do in the regular season last year are pretty special. I think we’d gladly trade some of it for a World Series, but the pieces are there, one hundred percent, to maximize what we can do in that short sample size of the postseason. Starting day one of Spring Training, that’s gonna be the goal. Putting ourselves in a position every single day to be successful in that arena.”

Raheem Morris figured to try to fill out his staff in Atlanta as quickly as possible after the Atlanta Falcons hired him earlier this week, and so far, so good on that front.

After reportedly securing Marquice Williams as his special teams coordinator for 2024 after Williams agreed to stay on, Morris made perhaps his biggest hire on Saturday night when he landed Rams pass game coordinator and quarterbacks coach Zac Robinson as his new offensive coordinator. Robinson will replace Dave Ragone, who is not yet officially out but could land elsewhere as a coordinator or with Arthur Smith at his next stop.

Sources: The #Falcons are hiring #Rams pass-game coordinator Zac Robinson as their new OC under Raheem Morris. One of the most popular interviews on the OC circuit, Robinson was Morris’ top choice. pic.twitter.com/Pv5JI85i94

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) January 28, 2024

The Buccaneers had requested an interview with Robinson and the Bears, Saints, and Patriots had already interviewed him virtually; had the Falcons not hired him, the Saints, Raiders, and Steelers were hoping to host him in-person. Instead, Morris was able to lure a coach he’s familiar with to the Falcons to be his new offensive coordinator, and that’s a big plus given that Robinson had helped put together a terrific passing game in Los Angeles last year and keeping the offense on the rails in 2022 despite injuries.

A former NFL quarterback who had spent his entire coaching career on Sean McVay’s staff with the Rams, Robinson joined up as an assistant quarterbacks coach in 2019 and reprised that role in 2021, with a one-year stint as an assistant wide receivers coach in 2020. He’s not the most experienced candidate out there, as he has yet to serve as an offensive coordinator, but the quarterbacks coach work and his strong work with the Rams passing attack this past year in particular will matter a lot with the Falcons seeking to add their new franchise quarterback this offseason and rebuild a moribund passing attack that was gravely disappointing in 2023.

I’d expect Robinson to consider bringing Jake Peetz with him from the Rams, as the pass game specialist the past two years would’ve worked closely with Robinson and has multiple years of experience as a quarterbacks coach in the NFL, making that a role he could easily reprise in Atlanta. Regardless of how he builds out his staff, Robinson’s integral role in Los Angeles, his working relationship with Morris, and the fact that he was a hot offensive coordinator candidate around the league have me excited about what he might be able to do for the Falcons. It’s a strong first (second, if you count keeping Williams) hire for Morris.

With any luck, Robinson will get the Falcons offense to the heights we expected them to reach in 2023 while Morris coaxes improvement and more wins out of the entire roster. Expect more hires to be announced in short order with the Senior Bowl fast approaching and the Falcons looking to hit the ground running on a critical 2024 offseason.

The 2023 NFL season is over for most NFL teams—our Atlanta Falcons included—and that means it’s time to turn our attention to 2024. With free agency fast approaching and the 2024 NFL Draft close behind, we’ve got a lot of ground to cover over the coming months. The first big event on the offseason calendar is the Senior Bowl: a massive scouting event collecting some of the top prospects from college football in Mobile, AL for a week of practice and interviews. This year’s event takes place from Tuesday, January 30 through Saturday, February 3.

I’ll once again be on-site in Mobile to cover the event for The Falcoholic and the Dirty Birds & Brews podcast, and will be providing daily updates here on the site. Before we get down to Mobile, I’ll be previewing some of the most critical positions for the Falcons and giving you a breakdown of some players to watch heading into the week.

Today we take a look at Atlanta’s second-biggest need on offense: wide receiver.

Devontez Walker, North Carolina

The Falcons offense is in desperate need of a vertical threat opposite Drake London, and North Carolina’s Devontez “Tez” Walker could be a top target on Day 2. Walker has a good frame (6’2, 200) and thrives on the outside, where he uses his high-end speed and hands to make explosive downfield plays. He’s an explosive straight-line athlete and is a strong contested catch player.

Walker runs a limited route tree at this stage and lacks overall polish as a receiver. He’ll need time to grow into a feature role, but projects as a field-stretching specialist early in his career. Long-term, Walker could be an ideal long-term WR2 complement to London in Atlanta.

Xavier Legette, South Carolina

Outside of the top prospects, South Carolina’s Xavier Legette is the prospect who looks the most like a prototypical NFL WR1. At 6’3, 220+ and with outstanding athleticism and long speed—he’s reportedly been timed at over 22 MPH—Legette has the physical ability to become a high-end NFL starter. Pop on the tape and you can see all the traits: terrific hands, deep speed, contested-catch ability, physicality and run-after-catch acumen. The whole package is there.

The reason he’s currently projected outside of the first round is that he’s largely a one-year wonder, and as a result isn’t particularly advanced from a technical standpoint. He struggles to get off press coverage and runs a very limited route tree—though what he does run, he excels at. As a converted former QB, Legette has a lot of learning still to do to reach his ceiling. But that ceiling is exceptional, and Legette has some incredible upside. I’m really excited to see how he performs in Mobile.

Ladd McConkey, Georgia

One of the other end of the spectrum from Xavier Legette is Georgia’s Ladd McConkey. McConkey isn’t the biggest, strongest, or fastest, but he’s incredibly technical and polished and a lot more agile due to his stature (6’0, 185). McConkey is a Week 1 starter who can play inside or outside, and has the entire route tree at his disposal. While he’s not an elite speedster, he’s got more than enough to stretch the field vertically. He’s quick and fluid in the open field and is dangerous after the catch due to his elusiveness. McConkey also brings high-end punt return ability to the table.

While he’s unlikely to ever be the focal point of an offense, McConkey can help a team immediately and at multiple spots. With the Falcons potentially switching to a more 11-personnel heavy offense, McConkey could bring an immediate boost in the slot as a dangerous separator and run-after-catch threat. I expect McConkey’s skillset to translate very well to the Senior Bowl.

Brenden Rice, USC

One of the most hyped players entering this week of practice is USC’s Brenden Rice. The son of NFL legend Jerry Rice, Brenden has already begun to make a name for himself thanks to his athleticism and prototypical frame (6’3, 205). Rice is a very polished receiver who plays with a lot of savvy. He’s got excellent hands and contested-catch ability along with the speed to separate vertically, and he’s dangerous after the catch thanks to his instincts with the ball.

Rice isn’t particularly agile and doesn’t create much separation with his routes, instead winning with subtle movements and savviness. He’s a fun receiver to watch and doesn’t have problems at the catch point, but I feel like he should be a bit more physical given his stature. This week in Mobile could be big for his draft stock, which is currently in the Day 2 range.

Roman Wilson, Michigan

One of the fastest receivers in college football, Michigan’s Roman Wilson is an enticing deep threat who also handles the “dirty work” in the middle of the field much better than typical receivers with his size profile. At 6’0, 192, Wilson is a little on the smaller side but brings terrific speed, acceleration, and explosiveness to create separation with his routes. He does a lot of the little things well and knows how to get open at all levels of the field.

Wilson does seem to be a little bit limited in terms of lateral agility. While he’s undoubtedly physical enough to handle contested catches, he’s not a tackle-breaker and doesn’t offer a ton of production after the catch. He has played extensively both outside and in the slot, but may be more of a slot specialist at the NFL level.

Malachi Corley, Western Kentucky

One of the more unique receivers in college football and a player who has often drawn comparisons to Deebo Samuel, Western Kentucky’s Malachi Corley is a stout (5’11, 210), versatile weapon. A cornerback convert, Corley physicality from his days on defense is immediately apparent. He’s a physical runner and doesn’t shy away from contact, and has no issue dealing with press at the line of scrimmage. Corley is also explosive, with terrific short-area movement skills and agility to evade tacklers. His deep speed is very good and he’s shown an ability to win on the outside and in the slot.

Corley has all the traits of a high-end route runner and executes his current tree well, but he needs to add more to his repertoire. He also has a limited catch radius due to his smaller frame and is a bit of a body-catcher. While he’s not a finished product yet, Corley is a dynamic playmaker who could add another wrinkle to Atlanta’s skill position group.

Jamari Thrash, LouisvilleJavon Baker, UCFJacob Cowing, ArizonaRicky Pearsall, Florida

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If brunches with mimosas and good music are your thing, there’s a new option coming to Dallas.

Atlanta-based Nouveau Bar & Grill is opening its first Texas location, called Nouveau Noir, in April 2024.

The concept from owner, chef, restaurateur, philanthropist, and real-estate entrepreneur Ebony Austin will be located in the Village on the Parkway in Addison and will be an elevated twist on the original Atlanta concept with a Chicago-themed style.

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“I’m so thankful to be able to bring an elevated Nouveau concept to North Dallas,” said Austin in a press release. “With Nouveau Noir, of course, you are going to get many of the items that Nouveau is famous for, but we are adding more tasty menu items, creative drinks and over-the-top events.”

One of these concepts is the restaurant’s Mimosa Jam Brunch, a full-out day party consisting of live DJs, bands, food, prizes and shows.

These brunches have been hosted or attended by the likes of Shaquille O’Neal, Kandi Burruss, 2 Chainz, Trina, Rick Ross, Keri Hilson, Lil Mo, Keke Wyatt and more, according to the release.

In addition, the restaurant will offer other events such as Karaoke Night or Tequila Tuesdays, which are popular at their other two locations in Atlanta and Jonesboro, Georgia.

The restaurant’s signature dish is the Ultimate Cajun Seafood and Grits, combining chargrilled shrimp, salmon, and crab meat over stone-ground grits, topped with peppers and onion and paired with a savory Cajun cream sauce.

The eatery’s current menu includes comfort foods such as deviled eggs, chicken and waffles, jerk wings, turkey burger sliders, sticky fried ribs, four cheese spinach dip, Buffalo shrimp, fried shrimp po’ boys and more.

The new location, at about 4,000 square feet, will be the newest addition to Village on the Parkway, an open-air shopping center that has recently welcomed other new restaurants like Nando’s Peri Peri and Cookie Society.

“Not only are we looking forward to helping boost the city’s economy by opening our third location there, but we are eager to pour into the community, which continues to be a huge passion of mine,” said Austin in the release.

Noveau Noir will open in April 2024 in the Village on the Parkway, at 5100 Belt Line Road, #704 in Dallas.