How the Atlanta Falcons’ offensive staff is changing under new coordinator Zac Robinson

FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — The Atlanta Falcons’ offense has no shortage of new faces, and how they’ll be used this fall might take some getting used to, too.

Naturally, most of the attention is on quarterback Kirk Cousins, who signed a four-year, $180 million contract this spring, and a revamped receivers room that included acquisitions Darnell Mooney, Ray-Ray McCloud and Rondale Moore, among others.

The Falcons also have several top players back, including running back Bijan Robinson, wide receiver Drake London, tight end Kyle Pitts and their entire starting offensive line.

But among the players on the field, the coaches off it aren’t forgotten – starting with new offensive coordinator Zac Robinson, who took over for Los Angeles Rams head coach Raheem Morris.

Robinson’s offense, which he and other assistants have said is a blend of the Rams’ scheme and some of the concepts the Falcons have done well in recent years, has turned heads during OTAs and minicamp for the dizzying changes and frequent movements incorporated into it.

Moving players around the lineup isn’t new. Nor is the fast pace Robinson wants his offense to play. But the Falcons will look different this fall — more like the rest of the NFL.

Robinson comes from an offense that led the league in 11-man personnel — one running back, one tight end, three receivers — last season at 93.1 percent. The Falcons, conversely, ranked last in the league in 11-man personnel at a minuscule 15.5 percent.

However, Atlanta led the league with 12 players – a running back, two tight ends, two receivers – with a 41.8 percent success rate. The Rams, meanwhile, were last with 12 players, with such formations in just 4.9 percent of cases.

Part of the stark difference between the Falcons is the versatility of Pitts, who has always played a lot from the slot. Last season, Pitts played 728 snaps, including 352 from the slot, according to ESPN.

When Pitts lines up in the slot and the Falcons have another tight end attached to the line of scrimmage, the personnel group is technically labeled as 12, but it’s displayed in an 11 personnel look.

Such an option excites Robinson, who predicted Atlanta could use backup tight end Charlie Woerner to pair with Pitts and put defenses in mismatch scenarios.

And so the Falcons won’t get rid of those looks — they’ll continue to use plenty of 12-personnel packages with Pitts in the slot, serving as an 11-personnel look — but Robinson thinks the number of snaps off the true 11-personnel will increase.

“Obviously, over the last five years, I’ve evolved with the personnel in the 11,” Robinson told FalconsSI. “It’s really going to be a game-by-game basis in terms of our presence in the 11 and the 12 and we’re always evolving with those things.

“But we would certainly expect a slight increase of 11 people.”

Beyond Robinson’s influence as a playmaker, Atlanta’s receiver room is also well-suited for more than three wideouts. Adding Moore and McCloud gives you a pair of players with professional slot experience who can produce when opportunities present themselves.

And in Robinson’s offense, slot snaps to traditional receivers seem much more likely than before.