Atlanta, GA
Raheem Morris: A respected leader ready to transform Atlanta Falcons' fortunes
Raheem Morris is one of the longest-serving coaches in the NFL. The new head coach of the Atlanta Falcons is a genius of strategy and human relations. The question is: Will that be enough to lift the team out of mediocrity and take it back to the postseason?
It may be too early to give an accurate answer. Despite this, everyone who has worked with or for Morris seems willing to put their hands in the fire for him, especially on a personal level.
Players like running back Cadillac Williams, receiver Mohamed Sanu, and cornerback Jalen Ramsey say one of Morris’ greatest skills is the way he connects with people.
At all levels of an organization-players, coaches, administrators-Morris’s hand can be felt interconnecting pieces.
The opinion of the players
Sanu arrived in Atlanta in 2016 when Morris was just joining the offensive staff after a long stint on defense. “I knew he was a defensive coach, but you couldn’t tell being in the (wide receivers) room,” the player remembers.
He explained that Morris’ integration “was seamless. He was able to break down information for us from a defensive perspective. He was able to help us attack the defensive backs better.”
Williams, for his part, remembers that when he joined the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2005, “I can just remember guys in the locker room, including myself, gravitating toward him whether you were on defense or offense or a guy just trying to make the team.”
Ramsey is more expressive: “Rah is fire, for real. The fact that he’s not a head coach is a blessing to us in that defensive room. Rah is the real f*cking deal; I am not even lying to you. I am passionate about that sh*t.”
Coaches think the same
In his 25-year career, Morris has worked under the direction of the likes of Kyle Shanahan, Dan Quinn, Sean McVay, Mike Tomlin, and Jon Gruden.
Quinn, who brought him to Atlanta upon his arrival in 2015, said that Raheem “is a rare, rare, rare connector and very rare scheme-wise. Very few people were born to be a captain or a leader, but he is.”
Shanahan, Atlanta’s offensive coordinator under Quinn and today HC of the San Francisco 49ers, assured that “I always tried to get him (to San Francisco) every single year. Raheem is one of the best coaches I’ve ever worked with.”
This will be Morris’ second opportunity as a head coach. In 2020, he filled the interim role that Quinn vacated in Atlanta in week five, and while his record was 4-11, we’ll have to see what he can do with a team he can build from his foundations.
Atlanta, GA
Philadelphia Phillies lose fifth straight game to end homestand, swept by Atlanta Braves
Michael Harris II homered and had three hits as the streaking Atlanta Braves defeated the slumping Philadelphia Phillies 4-2 on Sunday night to complete a three-game sweep of their NL East rivals.
Ozzie Albies hit an RBI double and Austin Riley also drove in a run for the Braves, who have won five in a row and nine of 11. It was Atlanta’s first series sweep of at least three games at Philadelphia in 10 years.
Kyle Schwarber went deep for the Phillies, who have lost five straight and 10 of 13. They were outscored 56-33 on a 2-7 homestand against the Diamondbacks, Cubs and Braves, leaving Philadelphia 6 1/2 games behind first-place Atlanta in the division standings.
Raisel Iglesias escaped trouble in the ninth inning for his fifth save. Philadelphia put runners on first and second with one out, but Trea Turner struck out and Schwarber lined out to right field on an excellent running catch by Ronald Acuña Jr.
Tyler Kinley (3-0) pitched a scoreless sixth for the win.
Schwarber’s two-run shot in the first gave Philadelphia a 2-0 lead.
Harris homered leading off the third before the Braves went ahead in the fifth with three runs against rookie starter Andrew Painter (1-1) and lefty reliever Tim Mayza.
Painter was lifted after he opened the inning by allowing singles to Harris and Acuña. Mayza loaded the bases with a walk, and the Braves tied the game on Matt Olson’s groundout. Riley’s dribbler to third went for an RBI infield single, and Albies’ double to the left-field wall made it 4-2.
Riley saved at least one run while ending a Philadelphia threat in the bottom of the fifth with a stellar defensive play at third base.
Braves starter Grant Holmes allowed two runs in 4 2/3 innings.
On a chilly night, Phillies catcher J.T. Realmuto sat out after leaving Saturday’s game with lower back tightness.
Up next
Braves: Begin a four-game series Monday night at Washington. RHP Bryce Elder (2-1, 0.77 ERA) opposes Nationals RHP Jake Irvin (1-2, 6.16).
Phillies: Open seven-game trip Monday night with the first of four games against the Cubs. RHP Aaron Nola (1-4, 4.03 ERA) faces Chicago RHP Colin Rea (2-0, 3.63).
Atlanta Hawks (46-36, sixth in the Eastern Conference) vs. New York Knicks (53-29, third in the Eastern Conference)
New York; Monday, 8 p.m. EDT
LINE: Knicks -5.5; over/under is 216.5
EASTERN CONFERENCE FIRST ROUND: Knicks lead series 1-0
BOTTOM LINE: The New York Knicks host the Atlanta Hawks in the Eastern Conference first round with a 1-0 lead in the series. The Knicks won the last matchup 113-102 on Saturday, led by 28 points from Jalen Brunson. CJ McCollum led the Hawks with 26.
The Knicks are 35-17 in Eastern Conference games. New York has a 9-4 record in one-possession games.
The Hawks are 27-25 in Eastern Conference play. Atlanta is third in the league scoring 18.1 fast break points per game. McCollum leads the Hawks averaging 5.0.
The Knicks are shooting 47.8% from the field this season, 0.4 percentage points higher than the 47.4% the Hawks allow to opponents. The Hawks are shooting 47.4% from the field, 1.4% higher than the 46.0% the Knicks’ opponents have shot this season.
TOP PERFORMERS: Karl-Anthony Towns is averaging 20.1 points and 11.9 rebounds for the Knicks. Brunson is averaging 19.9 points over the last 10 games.
Dyson Daniels is scoring 11.9 points per game and averaging 6.8 rebounds for the Hawks. Nickeil Alexander-Walker is averaging 21.3 points and 2.9 rebounds over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Knicks: 6-4, averaging 110.4 points, 40.7 rebounds, 26.2 assists, 8.4 steals and 3.3 blocks per game while shooting 49.4% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 106.9 points per game.
Hawks: 5-5, averaging 117.2 points, 43.5 rebounds, 27.7 assists, 8.4 steals and 4.7 blocks per game while shooting 47.2% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 112.0 points.
INJURIES: Knicks: Tyler Kolek: day to day (oblique), Mitchell Robinson: day to day (ankle), Karl-Anthony Towns: day to day (elbow).
Hawks: Jock Landale: out (ankle).
___
The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
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