Steelers Scouting Report: Atlanta Falcons, Week One
Steel City Underground scouts the Pittsburgh Steelers’ opponents each week of the 2024 NFL regular season ahead of the games to inform fans of the latest news, roster moves, important players, and latest social media chatter.
On September 8, the Atlanta Falcons will host the Pittsburgh Steelers as both teams open the 2024 NFL regular season.
The 2024 Steelers team has a lot of potential, but the team enters Atlanta as a three-point underdog. The website https://gitpa.org/ provides information about which sites offer the best odds for betting on the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Falcons storylines
Cousins ready?
Atlanta signed former Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins despite selecting Michael Penix, Jr. during the 2024 NFL Draft, and then named Cousins as one of their team captains. Hiring a veteran to prepare a rookie isn’t an unusual practice. What was a bit of a surprise was that, when the Falcons released their depth chart for the game, only those two players were listed at the position.
Nathan Peterman could have been allowed to dress as the game-day ’emergency quarterback’ – going by the rules the NFLPA and NFL agreed to again for 2024 – but he’s stuck on the practice squad. It’s unlikely they’ll elevate him to the active roster before the game because they can only do so with a practice squad player three times before they must assign them to the active roster or release them.
Cousins, who’s 36 and coming off of an Achilles injury, will be working under a new offensive coordinator, in a new offense. Is he 100 percent and was preseason enough preparation for the regular season? Falcons fans are cautiously optimistic.
https://twitter.com/austinsprops/status/1831188086623265104?t=5cLt3183b9SW6H2Hl-QUSw&s=19
Offensive depth chart
The top targets for Cousins in the passing game are Kyle Pitts at tight end with Drake London, Darnell Mooney, and Ray-Ray McCloud (who Steelers fans will recognize) as the starting receivers. Atlanta employs a two-tight end scheme, so Charlie Woerner is an option as well.
“When you’re talking about Pitts — who (according to PFF, so take it with a grain of salt) had the worst catchable target rate of any tight end with at least 200 routes (59%) in 2022 — Cousins’ accuracy is bound to matter.” – Tori McElhaney, AtlantaFalcons.com
Their starting offensive line will be Jake Matthews (LT), Matthew Bergeron (LG), Drew Dalman (C), Chris Lindstrom (RG), and Kaleb McGary (RT).
Bijan Robinson is listed as the starting running back with Tyler Allgeier behind him. Robinson can catch out of the offensive backfield and is a dangerous weapon for the Falcons to unleash against the Steelers.
I simply have not seen anything quite like Bijan Robinson. pic.twitter.com/JjOng84fRs
— Jacob Gibbs (@jagibbs_23) September 2, 2024
Defensive depth chart
Week 1 will be the first start for Justin Simmons, at safety, since acquired by Atlanta. Simmons spent nearly all of the off-season, training camp, and the preseason without a team. He’ll start alongside Jessie Bates III.
Troy Andersen will start at inside linebacker alongside Kaden Elliss. Elliss (groin) and Nate Landman (quad) missed time in practices leading up to this game, so it will be worth keeping an eye on the injury report released after practice on September 4.
The Falcons’ defensive line is led by Grady Jarrett, Zach Harrison, and David Onyemata. Ta’Quon Graham, who Atlanta has high hopes in should factor in in a backup role. How soon is the question.
Lorenzo Carter and Matthew Judon at outside linebacker will start, as will A.J. Terrell and Mike Hughes at corner, with Dee Alford at nickelback.
What’s being said
Building the New Atlanta pic.twitter.com/LPrBzc57l2
— Atlanta Falcons (@AtlantaFalcons) September 3, 2024
“I look around here…and I think we have a chance is basically the language I would use. We have a chance, we have the pieces that give us a chance to do something, and now we gotta go see if we can do it.” – Kirk Cousins
https://twitter.com/FirstTake/status/1826649635219538178?t=IhPusbWdtyskTIdWnM-uRw&s=19
“I [have] felt what it’s like to be with a QB of (Cousin’s) caliber and being able to go out there and kind of do what I, what I know I can do… I’ve seen it. I’ve felt it. So now, it’s a consistency thing.” – Drake London
We play football this week ‼️ pic.twitter.com/RfBBKyFwdd
— Atlanta Falcons (@AtlantaFalcons) September 2, 2024
