Michael Penix Jr. and other Atlanta Falcons speak to media following practice | Press Conference

Hey Mike, how did uh uh you all receive the uh news that uh that coach you going to be inactive and that he was going with the tour to start the first week? >> You said how do we receive it >> or you get the news? >> Oh yeah. Um so yeah, we just we we talked to coach. Coach reached out um had a conversation to both of us and um [clears throat] as of right now like I I feel like it's still things that you know um I want to get better at. I'm sorry. You know, obviously just having that week of practice felt real good. that I felt real com comfortable, confident, but um we we still got a little bit of ways to go. >> What hurdles do you have to clear, do you think? >> Um strengthwise, I I want to be stronger. I want to be stronger. I want to be be able to be out there and give the team 100 100%. And if I if I don't feel like I can do that, I don't want to um that's not fair for this team. That's not fair for this organization. I want to make sure whenever I am uh out there, I'm I'm 100% and there's no doubt in my mind that, you know, I trust my knee and I trust uh trust to go out there and help this team win football games. >> So, was that you budget like that conversation? Was that you that said, "Hey, I'm not ready. Did they come to you just kind of how did that come to be?" >> Yeah, I mean, we we both were having conversations with coach uh just week to week just just quarterback the OC conversation. you know, he I feel like coach Spinsky does a great job just making sure he maintains a relationship with with the quarterbacks and it's awesome to be able to have that in the head coach. But yeah, um I had that conversation. I just told him I'm not where I want to be right now and I and like I want to be able to be 100 100% so I can help this team with football games and um I'm really close like really close. >> So you feel like you're days away from that more than weeks away from that in terms of being >> Yeah, I mean it I don't think it's a it's a um a time stamp on it, you know? I feel like it's more like just a feel a feel of, you know, how I feel each and every day waking up, the the soreness I may get or, you know, how I react to a big day and stuff like that. So, it's it it's all of that. It's not really a timeline to it, but I do know like I'm really close. Like, I'm I'm really close. >> How do you provide support for two and now going into week one and taking off Pittsburgh? >> Yeah, being the same same person I've been, you know, uh he's a starter and um you know, we both play on the same football team. I want to see this team win football games. So, I'm going to support him, you know, make sure uh I let him know any looks that I see, you know, being on the sideline, any things that um that he has questions about, I help him with. And, you know, just being there, you know, for each other, that's that's what's going to help this team win football games, and that's what it's about. >> Mike, is it tough uh not rushing yourself back? Obviously, you've been through this before. Does that kind of give you some help with not being like I just want to be back out there just to that you're there? Um, it it's it's not tough, you know, because I've been in this position before and I've been in a in a position where, you know, I did rush back and I didn't feel confident and I didn't play good and it it didn't look good. So, it's like, all right, um, I I know whenever I do step on that football field, I want to be 100% for this team and and I know it's not always going to be 100%. you know, each and every week people have nicks and bruises and stuff like that, but you know, as far as like just the health standpoint and where I'm at, um, and obviously what I've been through, you know, I definitely want to make sure I get to the point where, you know, I feel fully confident. >> How much of that feeling is you you feeling like this is a critical season for you to prove who you are to this group, to this staff? >> Yeah, man. It's man I'm proving proving a lot of things to myself you know and at the same time it's not about you know oh it's a big year for me you know it's it's mainly about you know I want to be able to give this organization this team 100% and if I feel like I can't do that that's not fair for them and um you know I love this organization and I want to make sure that whenever I do step out on that field I'm I'm I'm ready. >> How's your last week been? >> It's been cool. Yeah it's been crazy but it's been cool. >> How did you find out you got traded? Um, first my agent called and then um Chicago told me obviously. >> What's your excitement level to, you know, hang out here in Atlanta? >> Super excited, man. Obviously to be back in the south. I'm from Florida, so just to get some of that that similar weather. Um, I'm super excited to be here. >> How would you describe the way you play? >> Um, I like to wreck games, man. I like to, you know what I mean? Um, >> create, you know, I mean, negative plays, obviously, sacks, tackle for loss, all of those type of plays. That's I'll describe myself. game recorder. >> What's it been like kind of getting integrated here and kind of figuring out coach Brig's system and, you know, what's your relationship been like with, you know, the rest of the defensive line? >> It's been cool, man. All of those guys can play, you know what I mean? They've been helping me, uh, try to learn the system. The system is, uh, really is just go I don't know if I can cuss, but really go mess stuff up. Uh, [laughter] so that's what I like to do. Obviously, that's why I just say I like to, you know what I mean, break plays and get in the back field and create some of those, uh, tackle loss and sacks. So, it fits me, man. like that's what I love to do. I love, you know what I mean, getting off the ball, getting going, making those plays. So, >> coach Ali has this, uh, you know, this attack front that he's used for many years. It was very effective last year here. It feels like that is a very good fit for what you do as well. >> Yeah. How so? >> Uh, just like you said, um, a guy like me, you know what I mean? Big, fast, strong. Um, if you get going, get going forward, man, you know what I mean? All that stuff going to happen. So, uh, what he teach is something I've been almost praying every night of, man, I wish I could just go, you know what I mean? So now now it being a defense like this where I can actually just go it's it's going to be it's going to be huge. >> How's your relationship with Ian Cunningham and what did it mean to you that he kind of re you know wanted to come back and come back and get you and bring you here. >> Yeah it was huge man. Ian obviously played a big part in like drafting me um and um when he when he got here I text him like you know I mean congrats and stuff like that. So it was cool for him to you know what I mean um still you know what I mean think about me and obviously uh he he thought highly of me just cuz he made that trade. So, it was good, man. That relationship's cool and hopefully keep keep growing. >> Is it okay being only you're limited on Gators here? Just kind of you, Kyle, and Jan. >> That's enough. That's all we need. I was I think I was just It was just me and Chicago, so just two more is enough. That's all we need. [laughter] >> They got a lot of dogs here. You okay with that? >> No, I'm not okay with that. But with all good. >> Hey, you did you get to uh know Grady last year? >> Yeah, I did. What was that like? >> Grady's huge, man. Gray's a great guy. U off the field, a leader, crazy leader. Um I always tell like a lot of the young guys coming in, if you want to know, you know what I mean, what to do, just go ask Grady. Um just cuz he always in the right place, you know what I mean? He's on time. He don't do a lot of stuff wrong. So Ry's a great guy. Um he he helped me a lot last year. >> Did you ask him a lot about the Falcons? Did you call him? >> He already was ready as soon as I Yeah. Yeah. He hit me up and told me I was going to love it here and the people were great and city is great. So he already hit me up. >> Yeah. [music] You all went to the playoffs last year. Two has led his team to the playoffs a couple times. Uh what's the sense of uh you all going out to battle with him at quarterback? >> Yeah, I mean it's great. Obviously, like you said, he he he know what it takes to win. Um he he's he's done it before. Um it's just it's going to take everybody, you know what I mean? Not just the quarterback, it's going to take the whole team. Um later in the year, uh you you got to do all the little things right. Um and so that's what it's going to take. Uh what's it been like just getting back here getting healthy and kind of finally integrating yourself kind of into with the ones in that offensive line? >> Uh it's been a lot of fun, man. It's been a long offseason grind of just like rehabbing and stuff like that. But once I got here, the strength coaches put together a good plan for me as well as the trainers and um it's been great. I've been enjoying it and uh just knocking the rest off each day and getting back used to football. >> You mentioned you're you're from the south. What's it kind of been like being being back here? You're from Florida, but you know, being back on this side of the world. >> Uh it's a lot of fun, man. Being back close to family. I'm very close to my family, so just being close to home and just having my daughter 5 months ago is is it's very helpful having my mom being able to come out here more. So, uh it's it's fun and I'm enjoying the weather, too. >> Congratulations. They obviously named two as a starter this week. Um we're all kind of wondering like what has he been like trying to integrate with them and you know, what is the confidence that that that front seven has uh with with making sure he's ready to go? >> Uh he's been great, man. We have the utmost confidence in him. Uh we know he's going to get the job done at a high level. Um he's been doing a great job since he's been here. He had a great camp as well. So, we're excited to get him out there week one. >> With both two and like, you know, left-handed quarterbacks, you know, whoever it is, like how does that impact your job? >> Um, it really doesn't really impact my job with them both being lefts. Uh, you know, I'm still the blind side regardless. So, uh, uh, it's fun with both of them in there. They're both great players. >> Is it different for you coming to a situation like how how do you maybe, if at all, change mentality, approach with predominantly right-handed quarterbacks throughout your career? >> Um, it definitely changes a little bit the game for me for sure. I got to definitely be more conscious of that. uh especially when you're on the back side of a quarterback now, they kind of set up a little bit uh more closer to you. So, I just got to make sure I'm being uh conscious of that. Make sure I'm keeping the width of the pocket a little more than I'm used to. >> What's been your opinion of uh getting to know this offense? Tommy Reese comes to fancy obviously integrating a new system. It's new for everybody. >> Um but for you in particular to try to get ready to go with this offense, >> uh it's a great scheme, a great offense. I feel like they have great play calling as well. They put us in positions as players to be successful. So, um, you know, we just trust in them and and when they call to play, we just know we got to go out there and make the play as offense. >> I know the O line always goes to dinner on Thursdays. Have you guys picked out where you're going this Thursday? >> Uh, not yet. U, but I'm sure it'll be uh probably the next day or two, we'll know where we're going. Yeah. >> Last year you had a Florida was 2018, right? That's when Kyle got there, right? Do you remember how early on he popped? >> Uh, Kyle popped from the time he got on the campus, man. He always showed a lot of flashes of athleticism and uh he always been a smart guy with high football IQ. He knows the game like the back of his hand. So, it's always fun uh coming back, you know, and being able to play with guys that I had uh you know, I was teammates with in college. >> Has he changed as a guy from 2018 to now? >> Oh, no, not at all. It's still the same KP. Uh great dude overall, great teammate, great locker room guy. >> Going back to what you were talking about with Ta having a great camp. Um, >> we were talking to Tommy Reese, I believe it was last week, and he made the comment that he felt like Tua really took ownership of the offense and the operation of it. >> How have you maybe seen him do that over the last few weeks? >> Oh, he's definitely taken ownership and uh you can see his confidence levels rising each and every day. Um, and you know, he he keeps us going as offense. You know, he stays on top of us. He makes sure we're sharp in the huddle, sharp getting out of the huddle. Uh, he's confident making his calls, etc. So, we love that. >> Any trash talk so far with Janelle? >> No, not yet. [laughter] Not yet, but uh I'm excited to see your week one for sure. I >> I didn't know if that's a you know, Coco Pride on the line, [laughter] something like that. Little trash talk. No, not yet, man. But uh I'm definitely excited to go against him again. Yeah.