Dave Canales on not knowing Falcons QB: Have to study history of Kevin Stefanski's offenses

The Falcons have not named a quarterback for Sunday’s game against the Panthers and preparing the team’s defense under those circumstances was a topic of conversation for Panthers head coach Dave Canales on Wednesday.

Cooper Rush started for Atlanta last week with Tua Tagovailoa and Michael Penix inactive, but Falcons head coach Kevin Stefanski has not committed to giving him a second start. Tagovailoa did not practice Wednesday and Penix said he still has milestones he wants to reach in his recovery from last season’s torn ACL, but Penix did not rule out getting there by Sunday.

Canales said the team will focus on Stefanski’s own history because there isn’t a major difference in playing styles between the quarterbacks.

“We just have to look at the history of Kevin Stefanski’s offenses and what he values and what he’s trying to get done. . . . The good part is no singular quarterback that they have is kind of a standout in terms of being a runner,” Canales said, via the team’s website. “Where when you have pocket passers, and these are all quarterbacks that I think are good quarterbacks, and, certainly, Tua, we’ve seen Michael Penix play at his best, and Cooper Rush, who’s been around a long time. So these are guys that can really operate. As a former quarterbacks coach, I value what they can do. There isn’t a dynamic of the zone-read type of element, a guy that kind of creates that extra special element. So we can really treat the system and the offense true to the integrity of what Coach Stefanski is trying to get done.”

Whatever choice the Falcons make, the Panthers defense will need to be a lot stronger than they were while being strafed by the Bears in a 59-37 loss in Week 1.