Close Companions Raheem Morris and Mike Tomlin Begin Week 1 with Strategic Tactics
Atlanta Falcons coach Raheem Morris displayed a grin reminiscent of a Cheshire cat on Wednesday when questioned about his readiness for Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin to unveil a set of plays for Justin Fields on Sunday.
Morris and Tomlin were both young assistant coaches in Tampa Bay from 2002-05, and their competitive gamesmanship and mutual respect for each other is still in full force.
\"Mike Tomlin told me to prepare for Justin Fields,\" Morris revealed on Wednesday regarding their Week 1 matchup with Pittsburgh. \"So we did. That was a clever way to make me waste my time. He's a master at it. And he's either conducting a masterclass, or he's not. And Fields will definitely make an appearance.\"
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Tomlin announced that Russell Wilson would be the starting quarterback for Week 1 after a preseason competition with Fields, but warned Morris to be prepared for Fields to play a role.
Morris stated that \"whoever is playing quarterback presents a challenge.\"
The intriguing strategic battle between two experienced quarterbacks will take place on Sunday, showcasing a wave of changes within each organization for the first time in a meaningful game.
\"There's always an element of the unknown when it comes to Week 1 competition,\" Tomlin stated in regards to facing the Falcons, who also have their own talented quarterback in No. 8 overall pick Michael Penix Jr., who may make an appearance behind Kirk Cousins.
You can be sure that the Steelers' talented linebackers, including J.J. Watt and offseason acquisition Patrick Queen from the Ravens, are well aware of Penix as well.
Tomlin and his coaching staff spent extra time studying Morris and offensive coordinator Zac Robinson's former team, the Los Angeles Rams, in order to familiarize their players with their tendencies and play-calling patterns. Tomlin now has Atlanta's former head coach, Arthur Smith, as his offensive coordinator. Morris retained several of Smith's assistants, and with many returning players, it is not as difficult to predict what type of plays Smith may call.
In 2022, Tomlin made it clear during an interview on the \"Pivot Podcast\" with former Steelers safety Ryan Clark that he holds Morris in high regard. When asked about diversity in coaching, Tomlin pointed to Morris as an example of an assistant coach who deserved to be a head coach.
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\"I know that some of the guys being denied are in the top 32,\" Tomlin stated. \"Raheem Morris is the best coach that I know and have been around that doesn't have a head job.\"
At least for this week, Morris is downplaying the past, including the legends that helped shape the defense that Cousins will face in the opener.
\"The history of the group is phenomenal and that's just the nature of the beast when you're talking about the Pittsburgh Steelers' Steel Curtain,\" Morris said. \"But we don't have to play ghosts. We just play the guys that are on their team now and they certainly have a lot of good players that we need to be concerned about.\"
