1 00:00:00,200 --> 00:00:02,600 Speaker 1: We are back here on the Falcons Audible. We've got 2 00:00:02,720 --> 00:00:05,520 Speaker 1: DJ Shockley, We've got Dave Archer. I'm Derek Racley, going 3 00:00:05,559 --> 00:00:08,240 Speaker 1: to talk about all things Atlanta. We will recap the 4 00:00:08,320 --> 00:00:11,280 Speaker 1: lost last week in Nashville. Falcons fall twenty eight to 5 00:00:11,320 --> 00:00:14,120 Speaker 1: twenty three to the Tennessee Titans, or you can call 6 00:00:14,160 --> 00:00:17,120 Speaker 1: them the Houston Tennessee Oilers from last weekend because they 7 00:00:17,120 --> 00:00:18,480 Speaker 1: were given a shout out to their past. 8 00:00:18,480 --> 00:00:18,720 Speaker 2: There. 9 00:00:19,800 --> 00:00:22,160 Speaker 1: Here's what we've got on the slate for the podcast today. 10 00:00:22,160 --> 00:00:25,320 Speaker 1: We will discuss the impact of the Grady Jarrett injury, 11 00:00:25,400 --> 00:00:28,639 Speaker 1: tough one for the Falcons to swallow, talk about some 12 00:00:28,760 --> 00:00:31,760 Speaker 1: players that did step up last week, and then others 13 00:00:31,760 --> 00:00:34,120 Speaker 1: that need to step up in light of some injuries 14 00:00:34,159 --> 00:00:36,959 Speaker 1: that have gone down. Atlanta actually been very healthy over 15 00:00:37,000 --> 00:00:38,880 Speaker 1: the past few weeks. And then we will talk about 16 00:00:39,159 --> 00:00:42,080 Speaker 1: what Atlanta will be facing as they return home to 17 00:00:42,159 --> 00:00:43,720 Speaker 1: face the Minnesota Vikings. 18 00:00:44,280 --> 00:00:46,000 Speaker 2: So, fella's let's go get into it. 19 00:00:46,600 --> 00:00:48,240 Speaker 1: We're going to talk about the game, but I think 20 00:00:48,240 --> 00:00:50,000 Speaker 1: one of the bigger stories coming out of it here 21 00:00:50,120 --> 00:00:54,080 Speaker 1: Arch is the impact of Grady Jarrett going down. Been 22 00:00:54,200 --> 00:00:57,240 Speaker 1: kind of mister Falcon here since he came in twenty fifteen. 23 00:00:57,600 --> 00:01:00,680 Speaker 1: If my numbers are correct, he's missed three regular season 24 00:01:00,720 --> 00:01:03,160 Speaker 1: games one hundred and thirty five out one hundred and 25 00:01:03,200 --> 00:01:06,080 Speaker 1: thirty eight since he joined the team in twenty fifteen, 26 00:01:06,520 --> 00:01:09,160 Speaker 1: and with the ACL injury, he will be out for 27 00:01:09,240 --> 00:01:12,520 Speaker 1: the remainder of the season. So I guess I'll start 28 00:01:12,640 --> 00:01:14,440 Speaker 1: kind of generic here to an arch and let you 29 00:01:14,520 --> 00:01:17,960 Speaker 1: go where you want with this one. But what kind 30 00:01:18,000 --> 00:01:20,319 Speaker 1: of loss is this to the Atlanta Falcons team and 31 00:01:20,360 --> 00:01:20,959 Speaker 1: the defense? 32 00:01:21,080 --> 00:01:23,840 Speaker 3: Well, I mean it's immense loss. I mean, obviously we're 33 00:01:23,880 --> 00:01:27,200 Speaker 3: all as fans will look to game day and how 34 00:01:27,319 --> 00:01:30,520 Speaker 3: Grady affects the game, his ability to eat up a 35 00:01:30,520 --> 00:01:33,080 Speaker 3: couple blogs normally one of the most double team players. 36 00:01:33,120 --> 00:01:35,200 Speaker 3: I think if you go look at the numbers, the 37 00:01:35,280 --> 00:01:37,800 Speaker 3: Aaron Donalds and Grady Jarretts of the world out there, 38 00:01:37,800 --> 00:01:39,920 Speaker 3: he's one of the most double team players in the 39 00:01:40,000 --> 00:01:41,920 Speaker 3: National Football League. And so that's what he's had to 40 00:01:41,959 --> 00:01:44,440 Speaker 3: fight his entire career on game day, and we see 41 00:01:44,440 --> 00:01:47,880 Speaker 3: his ability to still affect the game. But I think 42 00:01:48,840 --> 00:01:51,240 Speaker 3: I think we're going to feel it, maybe even more 43 00:01:51,520 --> 00:01:54,800 Speaker 3: in what he does from Monday through Saturday. From a 44 00:01:54,920 --> 00:01:59,080 Speaker 3: leadership standpoint on his team, This guy's relentless work ethic 45 00:01:59,200 --> 00:02:02,800 Speaker 3: is phenomenon. I mean, the guy every day is a 46 00:02:02,840 --> 00:02:04,840 Speaker 3: new day. Every day is a new day for him 47 00:02:04,840 --> 00:02:07,480 Speaker 3: to prove that he is who he is. And maybe 48 00:02:07,480 --> 00:02:09,400 Speaker 3: it's because he was a fifth round draft pick and 49 00:02:09,440 --> 00:02:11,600 Speaker 3: nobody thought he was big enough to play the defensive 50 00:02:11,600 --> 00:02:14,560 Speaker 3: tackle position in this league and he just had to 51 00:02:14,600 --> 00:02:17,120 Speaker 3: prove himself every day. And so he takes that mantra 52 00:02:17,160 --> 00:02:21,840 Speaker 3: and carries that out every day here. And he's gracious 53 00:02:21,840 --> 00:02:23,880 Speaker 3: to everybody that works in the building and then works 54 00:02:23,880 --> 00:02:26,840 Speaker 3: his rear end off in practice. And that translates to 55 00:02:26,880 --> 00:02:28,920 Speaker 3: other guys. And if you've got young players, which his 56 00:02:28,919 --> 00:02:30,840 Speaker 3: team's got a ton of young dudes on the offensive 57 00:02:30,880 --> 00:02:32,679 Speaker 3: side of the ball, there are some on the defensive 58 00:02:32,720 --> 00:02:37,160 Speaker 3: side too. That's the example you want to set. Do 59 00:02:37,240 --> 00:02:40,000 Speaker 3: what that dude's doing. Yeah, And so now you don't 60 00:02:40,000 --> 00:02:41,639 Speaker 3: have him out there, and and there are some other 61 00:02:41,680 --> 00:02:45,360 Speaker 3: guys that work at a high level, But you said it, 62 00:02:45,400 --> 00:02:48,880 Speaker 3: Grady is the face of this franchise. You shall not pass. 63 00:02:49,000 --> 00:02:52,440 Speaker 3: We'll be back, but we're going to miss him obviously 64 00:02:52,480 --> 00:02:54,320 Speaker 3: on game day, but I think you're going to miss 65 00:02:54,360 --> 00:02:55,760 Speaker 3: him as much during the week as well. 66 00:02:56,000 --> 00:02:58,480 Speaker 1: And DJ it's not one of those deals and never 67 00:02:58,600 --> 00:03:00,760 Speaker 1: really I wouldn't say this just with Grady Jarrett or 68 00:03:00,800 --> 00:03:03,440 Speaker 1: in the National Football League. I mean basically any level 69 00:03:03,440 --> 00:03:05,240 Speaker 1: you're at when you have a star player, it's not 70 00:03:05,360 --> 00:03:07,360 Speaker 1: like you just point at somebody and say that's the 71 00:03:07,400 --> 00:03:10,600 Speaker 1: guy that has to step up. To Arch's point as 72 00:03:10,639 --> 00:03:13,120 Speaker 1: far as leadership, maybe somebody not going to be able 73 00:03:13,200 --> 00:03:15,880 Speaker 1: to fill the true void of Grady Jarrett, but they 74 00:03:15,880 --> 00:03:17,679 Speaker 1: do have a guy in Kalais Campbell that I think 75 00:03:17,840 --> 00:03:22,079 Speaker 1: immediately demanded respect in leadership when he joined this organization. 76 00:03:22,160 --> 00:03:24,120 Speaker 1: David an Yamada has been around the league for a 77 00:03:24,120 --> 00:03:26,560 Speaker 1: long time, has been respected for what he has done 78 00:03:26,600 --> 00:03:29,000 Speaker 1: on the defensive line. And of course Atlanta makes a 79 00:03:29,080 --> 00:03:32,359 Speaker 1: trade on Monday to bring over Contavia Street to kind 80 00:03:32,360 --> 00:03:35,040 Speaker 1: of bulk up the defensive line rotation. What do you 81 00:03:35,120 --> 00:03:37,600 Speaker 1: think this means when Jarrett goes out for the rest 82 00:03:37,600 --> 00:03:38,120 Speaker 1: of the season. 83 00:03:38,640 --> 00:03:42,640 Speaker 4: I think you mentioned a good point of Kalais as 84 00:03:43,640 --> 00:03:46,960 Speaker 4: I was sitting outside before podcast, and you know, I 85 00:03:47,000 --> 00:03:50,040 Speaker 4: text our producer Sam and he actually left me all 86 00:03:50,080 --> 00:03:52,720 Speaker 4: red and milled me in. I text my man Derrick 87 00:03:52,760 --> 00:03:54,920 Speaker 4: Rackley over here. He left me all red, obviously, So. 88 00:03:55,320 --> 00:03:58,480 Speaker 5: I mean you did then I called arms. I mean 89 00:03:58,800 --> 00:04:00,960 Speaker 5: while I was waiting outside, you. 90 00:04:00,920 --> 00:04:01,840 Speaker 2: Had time to reflect. 91 00:04:01,880 --> 00:04:02,840 Speaker 5: I had time to reflecting. 92 00:04:02,920 --> 00:04:08,120 Speaker 4: Kalais walks by, and you know, I don't think we met, 93 00:04:08,200 --> 00:04:10,320 Speaker 4: you know, like that, and you know, I just introduced 94 00:04:10,320 --> 00:04:11,000 Speaker 4: myself to him. 95 00:04:11,000 --> 00:04:13,000 Speaker 5: He stopped. You know, that's how I was. 96 00:04:12,960 --> 00:04:15,040 Speaker 4: Doing, you know what was going on, and you know 97 00:04:15,080 --> 00:04:17,880 Speaker 4: it's just him passing on a random Tuesday, and it 98 00:04:18,040 --> 00:04:19,719 Speaker 4: just talked about the kind of guy he is. You know, 99 00:04:19,760 --> 00:04:21,280 Speaker 4: he could have just kept walking, or he could have, 100 00:04:21,480 --> 00:04:23,200 Speaker 4: you know, say hey, I gotta get in, get some treatment, 101 00:04:23,240 --> 00:04:26,800 Speaker 4: whatever it is. But I think it allows him to 102 00:04:27,160 --> 00:04:30,640 Speaker 4: fully take over. I think that role as the captain 103 00:04:31,160 --> 00:04:34,080 Speaker 4: of now this defensive team as well as his offensive team. 104 00:04:34,120 --> 00:04:36,240 Speaker 4: And I think the great thing about it was, even 105 00:04:36,279 --> 00:04:38,920 Speaker 4: though Khalais has come in and he's been that guy 106 00:04:39,040 --> 00:04:41,400 Speaker 4: been around the league for you know, fifteen plus years, 107 00:04:42,360 --> 00:04:44,640 Speaker 4: he came in and said this was Grady Jared's team, 108 00:04:44,880 --> 00:04:46,440 Speaker 4: and he didn't try to come over and try to, 109 00:04:46,520 --> 00:04:49,360 Speaker 4: you know, take over for a guy who's been here 110 00:04:49,480 --> 00:04:52,000 Speaker 4: and now with the loss of Grady not having him 111 00:04:52,040 --> 00:04:56,080 Speaker 4: on the field, obviously, I think it kind of boosts 112 00:04:56,120 --> 00:04:59,800 Speaker 4: his value for this team going forward because of where 113 00:04:59,800 --> 00:05:01,880 Speaker 4: he's and what he's done. So I think Kalays is 114 00:05:01,880 --> 00:05:04,599 Speaker 4: one of those guys who absolutely will kind of help 115 00:05:04,680 --> 00:05:06,960 Speaker 4: that role at having a guy like a Vis caliber 116 00:05:07,000 --> 00:05:09,400 Speaker 4: to come in when you lose a guy like Grady. 117 00:05:09,400 --> 00:05:12,120 Speaker 4: I think he's gonna speak volumes for this team going forward. 118 00:05:12,120 --> 00:05:15,479 Speaker 1: They've developed depth on the defensive line, and Arthur Smith 119 00:05:15,480 --> 00:05:17,799 Speaker 1: said it yesterday, it's like we're not looking at one person. 120 00:05:17,839 --> 00:05:19,960 Speaker 1: This is gonna be a collective effort, like everybody's gonna 121 00:05:19,960 --> 00:05:20,800 Speaker 1: have to step up. 122 00:05:20,839 --> 00:05:21,679 Speaker 2: Their level of play. 123 00:05:21,720 --> 00:05:23,599 Speaker 1: And I would even add that it's not just on 124 00:05:23,640 --> 00:05:26,360 Speaker 1: the defensive line, Like you could be a linebacker. You 125 00:05:26,400 --> 00:05:28,719 Speaker 1: could be Bud Depre, Lorenzo Carter coming off the edge, 126 00:05:28,720 --> 00:05:30,200 Speaker 1: you could be Katen Ellis in the middle, you could 127 00:05:30,200 --> 00:05:32,600 Speaker 1: be Jesse Bates and chie Richie Grant and the secondary, 128 00:05:32,920 --> 00:05:35,720 Speaker 1: and everybody just needs to step their level of play 129 00:05:35,800 --> 00:05:38,560 Speaker 1: up a little bit more because maybe the trickle down 130 00:05:38,560 --> 00:05:41,320 Speaker 1: effect of not having somebody like Grady swallowing up an 131 00:05:41,360 --> 00:05:44,320 Speaker 1: extra double team at the line means one extra offensive 132 00:05:44,320 --> 00:05:47,120 Speaker 1: lineman to work up to the next level, and all 133 00:05:47,160 --> 00:05:49,560 Speaker 1: those things kind of pile on top of themselves. So 134 00:05:49,680 --> 00:05:52,159 Speaker 1: everybody just needs to play a little bit better. But 135 00:05:52,480 --> 00:05:55,640 Speaker 1: I'm sure the vocal leader that Grady is, he'll still 136 00:05:55,680 --> 00:05:58,280 Speaker 1: talk to the team, and you got Kalais Campbell. When 137 00:05:58,320 --> 00:06:01,200 Speaker 1: he speaks, the team listens, And everybody's just gonna have 138 00:06:01,240 --> 00:06:03,800 Speaker 1: to do a little bit more to replace the production, 139 00:06:03,880 --> 00:06:06,000 Speaker 1: and maybe not even so much in the stat column, 140 00:06:06,000 --> 00:06:09,200 Speaker 1: because Grady doesn't necessarily get the credit that he deserves 141 00:06:09,440 --> 00:06:11,960 Speaker 1: in a stat column for the amount of havoc that 142 00:06:12,040 --> 00:06:14,960 Speaker 1: he provides on the defensive line. So who is it 143 00:06:15,000 --> 00:06:16,920 Speaker 1: going to be? Only time will tell on that one. 144 00:06:16,960 --> 00:06:19,560 Speaker 1: But they have developed some depth on that defensive line. 145 00:06:19,600 --> 00:06:22,160 Speaker 1: So guys, let's talk about the matchup this past week 146 00:06:22,200 --> 00:06:24,640 Speaker 1: and Atlanta falls by five points in Nashville twenty eight, 147 00:06:24,720 --> 00:06:27,840 Speaker 1: twenty three, Arch will come back to you. Obviously, one 148 00:06:27,839 --> 00:06:30,880 Speaker 1: of the biggest stories of this game was starting quarterback 149 00:06:30,920 --> 00:06:33,560 Speaker 1: Desmond Ritter came out of the game, was evaluated for 150 00:06:33,560 --> 00:06:37,560 Speaker 1: concussion symptoms, and then they brought in Taylor Heineke. The 151 00:06:37,600 --> 00:06:40,480 Speaker 1: news was that Desmond Ridder was cleared, but Arthur Smith 152 00:06:40,600 --> 00:06:43,520 Speaker 1: made the decision as a as a head coach to say, 153 00:06:43,560 --> 00:06:45,400 Speaker 1: we're just gonna go ahead and stick with Taylor. The 154 00:06:45,400 --> 00:06:48,000 Speaker 1: way that things were going. So there's been a lot 155 00:06:48,040 --> 00:06:50,120 Speaker 1: of discussion about that. One thing I will say, as 156 00:06:50,160 --> 00:06:52,880 Speaker 1: of the taping of this podcast, we're still waiting on 157 00:06:52,960 --> 00:06:56,800 Speaker 1: Arthur Smith's official designation for the Minnesota game as to 158 00:06:56,839 --> 00:06:59,480 Speaker 1: who will be the starting quarterback. That will come on Wednesday, 159 00:06:59,600 --> 00:07:02,159 Speaker 1: whenever it is that you end up viewing your podcast. 160 00:07:02,279 --> 00:07:03,440 Speaker 2: So Dave, let's just. 161 00:07:03,400 --> 00:07:05,279 Speaker 1: Talk about the game a little bit, Maybe not so 162 00:07:05,400 --> 00:07:07,560 Speaker 1: much the quarterback. If you want to start with the quarterback, 163 00:07:07,760 --> 00:07:10,680 Speaker 1: you can. But where do you feel like Atlanta went 164 00:07:10,760 --> 00:07:11,480 Speaker 1: wrong in this game? 165 00:07:11,560 --> 00:07:13,080 Speaker 3: Well, I think there's a number of things they're going 166 00:07:13,160 --> 00:07:14,960 Speaker 3: to have to look at. First thing, I'd point to 167 00:07:15,000 --> 00:07:19,080 Speaker 3: his special teams, their inability to field kicks and or 168 00:07:19,120 --> 00:07:21,400 Speaker 3: field them where they're supposed to field them. And it 169 00:07:21,520 --> 00:07:26,000 Speaker 3: wasn't just one player, so whoever was in there, whether 170 00:07:26,040 --> 00:07:29,040 Speaker 3: you catch the ball because they changed out kick return guys, 171 00:07:29,440 --> 00:07:31,560 Speaker 3: it was decision making and where the ball was caught, 172 00:07:31,600 --> 00:07:34,840 Speaker 3: Atlanta's average start position in the first half. This is 173 00:07:34,840 --> 00:07:36,240 Speaker 3: what Desmond Ritter had to deal with. 174 00:07:36,640 --> 00:07:37,880 Speaker 5: Twelve yard old headline. 175 00:07:37,960 --> 00:07:42,480 Speaker 3: Yeah, so you're backed up right away. That changes play call. 176 00:07:42,560 --> 00:07:44,720 Speaker 3: That changes a whole bunch of things for the quarterback. 177 00:07:44,760 --> 00:07:47,080 Speaker 3: I thought that Dez completed eight to twelve in the 178 00:07:47,120 --> 00:07:49,800 Speaker 3: game in the first half. There he had the longest 179 00:07:49,880 --> 00:07:51,880 Speaker 3: run of the game on a zone read play where 180 00:07:51,920 --> 00:07:54,640 Speaker 3: he escaped the outside. He did make the one mistake 181 00:07:54,640 --> 00:07:56,520 Speaker 3: where he laid the ball on the ground that was 182 00:07:56,520 --> 00:08:01,200 Speaker 3: stripped out that netted a touchdown ultimately Tennessee. But I 183 00:08:01,240 --> 00:08:04,040 Speaker 3: thought he played pretty solidly in the first half, considering 184 00:08:04,080 --> 00:08:07,680 Speaker 3: he was sacked five times and we had no idea 185 00:08:07,720 --> 00:08:10,400 Speaker 3: how to pick anybody up in the first half. So 186 00:08:10,720 --> 00:08:12,720 Speaker 3: you made some changes in the second half. From an 187 00:08:12,760 --> 00:08:16,240 Speaker 3: adjustment standpoint, not only did the quarterback change, but you 188 00:08:16,440 --> 00:08:18,960 Speaker 3: changed some of the things up front to start getting 189 00:08:18,960 --> 00:08:21,120 Speaker 3: some guys blocked. Just one sack in the second half, 190 00:08:21,400 --> 00:08:23,520 Speaker 3: and you started to roll a little bit. So make 191 00:08:23,520 --> 00:08:26,240 Speaker 3: sure we take that into consideration. The first half and 192 00:08:26,280 --> 00:08:28,320 Speaker 3: the inability to move the football and put points on 193 00:08:28,360 --> 00:08:30,840 Speaker 3: the board is not all on the quarterback. In fact, 194 00:08:31,040 --> 00:08:34,200 Speaker 3: you might even put a very minimal amount on the quarterback. 195 00:08:34,240 --> 00:08:37,559 Speaker 3: It was a team concept, special teams and fielding kicks 196 00:08:37,559 --> 00:08:40,280 Speaker 3: and where we were located, being able to get people 197 00:08:40,320 --> 00:08:43,000 Speaker 3: blocked in the past game, and then making some plays 198 00:08:43,000 --> 00:08:45,960 Speaker 3: when the ball was put in your area, then you 199 00:08:46,080 --> 00:08:48,440 Speaker 3: kind of add all that together. But that wasn't very 200 00:08:48,440 --> 00:08:50,360 Speaker 3: good in the first half. In the second half they 201 00:08:50,360 --> 00:08:51,720 Speaker 3: got a little bit of momentum going. 202 00:08:52,040 --> 00:08:55,440 Speaker 1: So we always talk about offense and defense primarily, right, 203 00:08:55,480 --> 00:08:57,560 Speaker 1: But that's why everybody that's played the game or coaches 204 00:08:57,559 --> 00:08:59,760 Speaker 1: in the game talks about it being a three phase 205 00:08:59,760 --> 00:09:02,880 Speaker 1: game in special teams, and it's like it never really 206 00:09:02,920 --> 00:09:06,160 Speaker 1: truly gets discussed and let it be unless it becomes 207 00:09:06,160 --> 00:09:09,080 Speaker 1: an issue. Right, you think about average starting field position 208 00:09:09,120 --> 00:09:12,440 Speaker 1: a twelve yard line, that's one plus first downs just 209 00:09:12,480 --> 00:09:14,680 Speaker 1: to get back to the twenty five. I'm not saying 210 00:09:14,679 --> 00:09:16,720 Speaker 1: that every drive on a special team should start at 211 00:09:16,720 --> 00:09:18,360 Speaker 1: the twenty five yard line, but a lot of times 212 00:09:18,400 --> 00:09:20,960 Speaker 1: after a kickoff or a touchback, you're going to be 213 00:09:21,000 --> 00:09:24,040 Speaker 1: around the twenty twenty five yard line. So offense having 214 00:09:24,040 --> 00:09:26,200 Speaker 1: to do extra effort just to get to where they 215 00:09:26,240 --> 00:09:28,880 Speaker 1: would normally be starting. So those were some of the 216 00:09:28,960 --> 00:09:29,840 Speaker 1: offensive issues. 217 00:09:30,200 --> 00:09:30,480 Speaker 2: DJ. 218 00:09:30,600 --> 00:09:32,839 Speaker 1: I'd go to the defense and comment on this if 219 00:09:32,880 --> 00:09:36,760 Speaker 1: you might, but giving up explosive plays hasn't really been 220 00:09:36,800 --> 00:09:39,080 Speaker 1: that big of an issue for the defense this year. 221 00:09:39,400 --> 00:09:43,040 Speaker 1: One of the best defenses in the league statistically, DeAndre Hopkins, 222 00:09:43,240 --> 00:09:47,480 Speaker 1: Nick Westbrook Akine, both with big time plays Hopkins actually 223 00:09:47,520 --> 00:09:49,320 Speaker 1: with a few of them in this game. And to me, 224 00:09:49,400 --> 00:09:51,959 Speaker 1: that was a big difference as well on that side. 225 00:09:51,760 --> 00:09:53,120 Speaker 5: Of the ball, huge difference. 226 00:09:53,320 --> 00:09:56,480 Speaker 4: And I think obviously the first one we have to 227 00:09:56,760 --> 00:09:58,840 Speaker 4: I mean, that was the most ridiculous thing I've ever 228 00:09:58,880 --> 00:10:01,760 Speaker 4: seen in my life. I mean, he literally almost ripped 229 00:10:01,760 --> 00:10:05,160 Speaker 4: AJ Terrell's Nate name tag off the back of his 230 00:10:05,240 --> 00:10:08,080 Speaker 4: jersey trying to pull him around. So that one, you know, 231 00:10:08,160 --> 00:10:10,200 Speaker 4: you gotta live and die with it. And you know 232 00:10:10,200 --> 00:10:12,000 Speaker 4: what I thought after that, I thought A J. Terrell 233 00:10:12,080 --> 00:10:13,920 Speaker 4: did a good job of trying to be physical with him. 234 00:10:14,000 --> 00:10:15,960 Speaker 4: I thought he was like, Okay, you gotta play this 235 00:10:16,080 --> 00:10:17,880 Speaker 4: kind of game with me. Guess what, I'm gonna give 236 00:10:17,880 --> 00:10:19,960 Speaker 4: it back to you. So I like that that he 237 00:10:20,040 --> 00:10:23,079 Speaker 4: wasn't able to have that. But I think first part, 238 00:10:23,240 --> 00:10:25,280 Speaker 4: you got to give Tennessee a look credit because they 239 00:10:25,360 --> 00:10:27,520 Speaker 4: they they schemed up the Falcons pretty well. On a 240 00:10:27,520 --> 00:10:30,800 Speaker 4: couple of those deep shot throws. You catch Richie Grant 241 00:10:30,840 --> 00:10:32,960 Speaker 4: on a double move, you know in Cover two with 242 00:10:33,040 --> 00:10:35,280 Speaker 4: you know, d Hot running down the middle. Uh, maybe 243 00:10:35,320 --> 00:10:37,320 Speaker 4: plays it better, maybe, you know, it was just a 244 00:10:37,320 --> 00:10:38,360 Speaker 4: good job of him. 245 00:10:38,520 --> 00:10:42,199 Speaker 5: Uh, you catch Jesse Bates. Uh, they run a you. 246 00:10:42,160 --> 00:10:45,520 Speaker 4: Know, corner post, and nobody's on the backside because you've 247 00:10:45,559 --> 00:10:48,120 Speaker 4: already brought the safety down, so there's so much grass 248 00:10:48,120 --> 00:10:49,960 Speaker 4: they can play with. And then you know, Levis throws 249 00:10:49,960 --> 00:10:51,240 Speaker 4: it up and he goes and get it. I mean, 250 00:10:51,640 --> 00:10:54,000 Speaker 4: the big players you can't have, but I think you'll 251 00:10:54,040 --> 00:10:56,200 Speaker 4: give them some credit because they actually made some some 252 00:10:56,280 --> 00:10:58,600 Speaker 4: really some really big time play calls in those moments 253 00:10:58,600 --> 00:11:00,520 Speaker 4: and callers in spots where it's hard to cover a 254 00:11:00,520 --> 00:11:04,199 Speaker 4: guy with that much space around you. But at the 255 00:11:04,280 --> 00:11:05,920 Speaker 4: end of the day, that's what it comes down to. 256 00:11:06,040 --> 00:11:07,280 Speaker 4: But the end of the day and end of the 257 00:11:07,360 --> 00:11:09,960 Speaker 4: day too, your defense gave you a chance. At end 258 00:11:09,960 --> 00:11:12,480 Speaker 4: the ball game, your defense gotta stop where you needed 259 00:11:12,520 --> 00:11:14,480 Speaker 4: to get your offense a chance go back down. Obviously 260 00:11:14,480 --> 00:11:18,200 Speaker 4: we didn't convert, but even with the pull and pushing 261 00:11:18,240 --> 00:11:21,440 Speaker 4: pull of that ballgame, your defense at the end still 262 00:11:21,440 --> 00:11:22,360 Speaker 4: gave you a chance to win. 263 00:11:23,000 --> 00:11:26,120 Speaker 3: So well, and I would couple this shock and I 264 00:11:26,160 --> 00:11:28,320 Speaker 3: hear that a lot. The defense gave you an opportunity 265 00:11:28,320 --> 00:11:30,160 Speaker 3: to win. The defense has been the future part of this. 266 00:11:30,280 --> 00:11:33,480 Speaker 3: And not trying to disagree with you here, but your 267 00:11:33,520 --> 00:11:36,200 Speaker 3: offense gave you an opportunity to be in the game too, 268 00:11:36,720 --> 00:11:40,280 Speaker 3: because two fourth quarter drives, two touchdowns in the fourth quarter, 269 00:11:40,840 --> 00:11:43,040 Speaker 3: the offense put those points on the board. Okay, the 270 00:11:43,080 --> 00:11:44,839 Speaker 3: defense didn't put those on the board. Now they gave 271 00:11:44,880 --> 00:11:47,000 Speaker 3: you They got you the ball back and maybe kept 272 00:11:47,040 --> 00:11:50,160 Speaker 3: the score in perspective, maybe not. They gave up big plays. 273 00:11:50,240 --> 00:11:54,000 Speaker 3: How about the answer score that Atlanta had after the 274 00:11:54,080 --> 00:11:57,160 Speaker 3: long touchdown pass Here comes in Atlanta right back down 275 00:11:57,200 --> 00:11:58,120 Speaker 3: to field offensively. 276 00:11:58,520 --> 00:11:59,440 Speaker 5: So yeah, I agree with you. 277 00:11:59,480 --> 00:12:01,000 Speaker 3: The defense get to stop at the end of the 278 00:12:01,040 --> 00:12:04,480 Speaker 3: game to provide you the play the two minutes or whatever, 279 00:12:04,480 --> 00:12:05,960 Speaker 3: a minute and a half you have left in the game, 280 00:12:06,200 --> 00:12:08,920 Speaker 3: and you didn't execute enough to go win the game. 281 00:12:09,640 --> 00:12:12,280 Speaker 3: But ither it was complimentary football in the second half. Yeah, 282 00:12:12,280 --> 00:12:15,800 Speaker 3: I mean defense service, the offense offense service. The defense 283 00:12:16,000 --> 00:12:19,120 Speaker 3: offense picked up the defense after big plays that they 284 00:12:19,160 --> 00:12:21,160 Speaker 3: gave up big plays in the second half. So I 285 00:12:21,160 --> 00:12:23,520 Speaker 3: thought it was the kind of complimentary football you're looking for, 286 00:12:23,840 --> 00:12:25,319 Speaker 3: and they gave you an opportunity to win a game. 287 00:12:25,440 --> 00:12:28,400 Speaker 1: So let's kind of dive into the quarterback situation a 288 00:12:28,400 --> 00:12:30,560 Speaker 1: little bit. We're not going to get into the semantics 289 00:12:30,559 --> 00:12:32,120 Speaker 1: as far as who's going to be the starter, we'll 290 00:12:32,120 --> 00:12:35,320 Speaker 1: just talk about what happened in the game. Obviously, you 291 00:12:35,360 --> 00:12:37,520 Speaker 1: mentioned the sacks in the first half made it difficult 292 00:12:37,559 --> 00:12:40,040 Speaker 1: for Desmond Ritter, the field position made it difficult, so 293 00:12:40,120 --> 00:12:42,280 Speaker 1: not necessarily having to battle some of that stuff in 294 00:12:42,320 --> 00:12:44,760 Speaker 1: the second half. But when Taylor Heineke came in the game, 295 00:12:45,200 --> 00:12:47,719 Speaker 1: it looked like they found some rhythm DJ He was 296 00:12:47,760 --> 00:12:49,520 Speaker 1: getting the ball out of his hand for the most 297 00:12:49,520 --> 00:12:54,679 Speaker 1: part pretty quickly, showing some of his experience with the anticipation. 298 00:12:55,120 --> 00:12:57,080 Speaker 1: And then also you had some guys that were making 299 00:12:57,080 --> 00:12:58,800 Speaker 1: some pretty good plays. I mean, Drake London made a 300 00:12:58,800 --> 00:13:00,679 Speaker 1: great catch, Kyle Pitts made a really good catch in 301 00:13:00,720 --> 00:13:03,920 Speaker 1: the game, Scotty Miller obviously with the touchdown reception. Yet 302 00:13:03,960 --> 00:13:06,080 Speaker 1: some guys make some really good catches and that's part 303 00:13:06,080 --> 00:13:08,880 Speaker 1: of the reason why the offense caught some momentum there 304 00:13:08,880 --> 00:13:09,640 Speaker 1: in the second half. 305 00:13:09,679 --> 00:13:11,800 Speaker 4: And I think the two guys that come to mind 306 00:13:11,800 --> 00:13:14,080 Speaker 4: are guys that he probably has had the most rapport 307 00:13:14,160 --> 00:13:17,600 Speaker 4: with being the guy that's the backup, and that's Scotty Miller. 308 00:13:17,679 --> 00:13:20,640 Speaker 4: We saw Cadaryl Hodge have a big play on the 309 00:13:20,800 --> 00:13:22,440 Speaker 4: on the big posts, and you know, break a couple 310 00:13:22,440 --> 00:13:25,360 Speaker 4: of tackles. Scotty Miller and I heard him talking with you, 311 00:13:25,440 --> 00:13:27,440 Speaker 4: Archie about you know, that's a play that they didn't 312 00:13:27,480 --> 00:13:30,559 Speaker 4: even really do well in practice. I think Taylor he 313 00:13:30,559 --> 00:13:33,040 Speaker 4: Honieken said they missed it like five times, cap like. 314 00:13:33,400 --> 00:13:35,920 Speaker 4: So it just it just tells you in those moments, 315 00:13:35,960 --> 00:13:37,480 Speaker 4: those guys still stepped up to the play. 316 00:13:37,480 --> 00:13:39,720 Speaker 5: They made those you know, you know, those pretty good plays. 317 00:13:39,760 --> 00:13:40,120 Speaker 5: You're right. 318 00:13:40,160 --> 00:13:41,720 Speaker 4: I thought the ball did come out fast. I thought 319 00:13:41,720 --> 00:13:43,400 Speaker 4: the ball was concise, I thought it was on time. 320 00:13:43,600 --> 00:13:45,480 Speaker 4: I thought he gave his guys an opportunity to make 321 00:13:45,520 --> 00:13:47,520 Speaker 4: plays with it. And I think ultimately that's what it 322 00:13:47,559 --> 00:13:49,720 Speaker 4: all came down to. And you know, and then in 323 00:13:49,760 --> 00:13:51,480 Speaker 4: the second half, you were able to get back to 324 00:13:51,559 --> 00:13:53,360 Speaker 4: the run game and get back to some of the 325 00:13:53,360 --> 00:13:56,560 Speaker 4: things that you were very successful at throughout the year, 326 00:13:56,800 --> 00:13:59,120 Speaker 4: and it helped you, I think, kind of cultivate that 327 00:13:59,160 --> 00:14:01,439 Speaker 4: offense to play a little better. So give Heinekey a 328 00:14:01,480 --> 00:14:03,079 Speaker 4: lot of credit, yes, for coming in, because that's tough 329 00:14:03,120 --> 00:14:05,840 Speaker 4: to come in. And you know, the one thing I 330 00:14:05,840 --> 00:14:09,040 Speaker 4: think Falcons fans have to realize is for a backup, 331 00:14:10,440 --> 00:14:12,800 Speaker 4: say you have a ten play script in practice, the 332 00:14:12,880 --> 00:14:15,880 Speaker 4: backup may get the last two or three plays, and 333 00:14:15,920 --> 00:14:18,160 Speaker 4: those are the two or three plays that you get 334 00:14:18,200 --> 00:14:18,880 Speaker 4: to work on in. 335 00:14:18,840 --> 00:14:21,320 Speaker 5: Practice, and you don't get the full game and the plays. 336 00:14:21,320 --> 00:14:25,280 Speaker 4: And then in this scenario, Taylor Heineken might not even 337 00:14:25,280 --> 00:14:27,160 Speaker 4: got that many because you got a young quarterback in 338 00:14:27,200 --> 00:14:29,440 Speaker 4: des Murder who they want to get all the looks 339 00:14:29,440 --> 00:14:31,080 Speaker 4: and all the checks and all audible. So they want 340 00:14:31,120 --> 00:14:33,520 Speaker 4: them to get as many reps as possible. So for 341 00:14:33,640 --> 00:14:35,920 Speaker 4: him to come in and operate it within this offense, 342 00:14:35,960 --> 00:14:38,040 Speaker 4: I thought was really good. And that's what they brought 343 00:14:38,080 --> 00:14:39,880 Speaker 4: him in here for. And you know, author stated as 344 00:14:39,920 --> 00:14:41,760 Speaker 4: much as of the game. This is why you know, 345 00:14:41,760 --> 00:14:43,920 Speaker 4: we paid him to come here for opportunities like this, 346 00:14:44,080 --> 00:14:46,400 Speaker 4: for situations like this where, hey, if our quarterback does 347 00:14:46,440 --> 00:14:48,920 Speaker 4: go down, we got a capable guy who can move 348 00:14:48,960 --> 00:14:50,400 Speaker 4: this offense and give us a chance. 349 00:14:50,440 --> 00:14:52,800 Speaker 1: Because by and large, he has been a backup throughout 350 00:14:52,800 --> 00:14:55,120 Speaker 1: his career. So everything that he has done since he 351 00:14:55,160 --> 00:14:57,600 Speaker 1: came into the NFL, aside from some time in Washington 352 00:14:57,640 --> 00:14:59,560 Speaker 1: when he was the starter, is he has had to 353 00:14:59,560 --> 00:15:02,160 Speaker 1: prepare himself as a backup. And to your point, DJ, 354 00:15:02,520 --> 00:15:04,200 Speaker 1: they don't get a ton of reps and when they 355 00:15:04,240 --> 00:15:06,880 Speaker 1: go live in practice two or three plays and nine 356 00:15:06,920 --> 00:15:09,880 Speaker 1: on seven, seven on seven, the team periods even towards 357 00:15:09,920 --> 00:15:13,120 Speaker 1: the end of the week. Everything else has to come mentally. Dave, 358 00:15:13,200 --> 00:15:15,720 Speaker 1: I thought that he did a pretty good job of 359 00:15:15,800 --> 00:15:20,040 Speaker 1: taking all those mental reps. He doesn't know what that is, 360 00:15:20,080 --> 00:15:21,920 Speaker 1: so Dave, can you can you try to put your 361 00:15:21,920 --> 00:15:23,240 Speaker 1: backup quarterback hat on. 362 00:15:24,160 --> 00:15:26,040 Speaker 5: Backup quarterback on. I had a little taste of that. 363 00:15:26,080 --> 00:15:28,120 Speaker 3: I actually came in off the bench for Steve Bartkowski 364 00:15:28,200 --> 00:15:31,400 Speaker 3: when bart went down back in his last year with 365 00:15:31,400 --> 00:15:33,560 Speaker 3: the falcon So yeah, come in and off the bench. 366 00:15:34,080 --> 00:15:37,480 Speaker 3: There is a there is a clearness to what's going on, 367 00:15:37,520 --> 00:15:38,880 Speaker 3: and you come off that you've been standing over on 368 00:15:38,920 --> 00:15:41,800 Speaker 3: the sidelines. You're kind of seeing what's going on. You're 369 00:15:41,800 --> 00:15:44,960 Speaker 3: hearing the coaches because you can hear the plays being called, 370 00:15:45,200 --> 00:15:47,320 Speaker 3: so you're hearing some of the crosstalk as to what's 371 00:15:47,360 --> 00:15:50,520 Speaker 3: going on. So you're probably going into the game now 372 00:15:50,560 --> 00:15:52,640 Speaker 3: you didn't get the reps in practice, but you're probably 373 00:15:52,640 --> 00:15:54,880 Speaker 3: going to the game a little bit more information than 374 00:15:54,920 --> 00:15:57,920 Speaker 3: maybe the starter's got based on what's happening in that 375 00:15:58,000 --> 00:16:01,480 Speaker 3: current game. Now, obviously from a preparation standpoint and a 376 00:16:01,520 --> 00:16:03,600 Speaker 3: game plan during the week. He didn't get all those reps, 377 00:16:04,240 --> 00:16:07,080 Speaker 3: but you're probably getting up to speed pretty quickly standing 378 00:16:07,080 --> 00:16:09,240 Speaker 3: on the sidelines in this in this day and and 379 00:16:09,440 --> 00:16:12,000 Speaker 3: era of the game. But Heineke has been in that 380 00:16:12,000 --> 00:16:14,000 Speaker 3: position before you guys mentioned it. And I thought he 381 00:16:14,040 --> 00:16:15,960 Speaker 3: came in. He did a nice job. I thought he 382 00:16:16,000 --> 00:16:17,800 Speaker 3: got he got in a good rhythm. The throw he 383 00:16:17,840 --> 00:16:20,840 Speaker 3: makes the Scotty Miller is a is a blind throw, 384 00:16:20,880 --> 00:16:23,560 Speaker 3: a trust throw. He throws the little the little uh, 385 00:16:24,360 --> 00:16:26,520 Speaker 3: the kind of outside fade route. There was a bunch 386 00:16:26,560 --> 00:16:28,280 Speaker 3: look they did. Really it was a nice little wrinkle 387 00:16:28,280 --> 00:16:30,880 Speaker 3: there as they had Kyle lined up inside and motioned 388 00:16:30,960 --> 00:16:35,480 Speaker 3: Kyle outside of Scotty, which kind of discombobulated to a 389 00:16:35,480 --> 00:16:38,960 Speaker 3: certain extent or made the defenders hesitate. And when they 390 00:16:39,000 --> 00:16:41,120 Speaker 3: came off the ball, Scotty came right off the rear 391 00:16:41,240 --> 00:16:44,640 Speaker 3: end of Kyle and got in the corner and a 392 00:16:44,680 --> 00:16:46,600 Speaker 3: really good throw by Taylor. So that was a cool 393 00:16:46,600 --> 00:16:49,120 Speaker 3: little wrinkle that they sprinkled in. But he played well. 394 00:16:49,440 --> 00:16:50,080 Speaker 2: Kickstarted team. 395 00:16:50,120 --> 00:16:51,360 Speaker 3: You're looking for spark right. 396 00:16:51,320 --> 00:16:53,760 Speaker 1: Yep, absolutely, and he provided that twelve to twenty one, 397 00:16:53,760 --> 00:16:55,920 Speaker 1: passing one hundred and seventy five yards in a touchdown. 398 00:16:55,920 --> 00:16:58,360 Speaker 1: That was his thirty fifth career touchdown pass. And I 399 00:16:58,400 --> 00:17:00,000 Speaker 1: don't know if this is exact, that was kind of 400 00:17:00,160 --> 00:17:02,120 Speaker 1: going off a TV copy, but it looked like there 401 00:17:02,160 --> 00:17:04,080 Speaker 1: was two hundred and fifty yards of offense in the 402 00:17:04,119 --> 00:17:07,880 Speaker 1: second half when Heinike came in and obviously twenty points 403 00:17:07,960 --> 00:17:10,120 Speaker 1: put on the board with Taylor Heinekee as a quarterback. 404 00:17:10,520 --> 00:17:12,320 Speaker 1: The one thing I would say, you guys kind of 405 00:17:12,359 --> 00:17:15,200 Speaker 1: briefly touched about it Will Levis two hundred and thirty 406 00:17:15,200 --> 00:17:18,320 Speaker 1: eight yards and four touchdown passes for a rookie making 407 00:17:18,359 --> 00:17:21,840 Speaker 1: his first start. He dropped some dimes in that game, right. 408 00:17:22,240 --> 00:17:24,119 Speaker 1: There was a couple of passes that he threw that 409 00:17:24,160 --> 00:17:26,399 Speaker 1: were right on the money and some that were not. 410 00:17:26,600 --> 00:17:28,399 Speaker 1: But like, there was a couple of throws that I 411 00:17:28,520 --> 00:17:31,000 Speaker 1: was like, Wow, that's pretty impressive for the kid to 412 00:17:31,040 --> 00:17:33,399 Speaker 1: be in there in his first start, going up against 413 00:17:33,400 --> 00:17:36,159 Speaker 1: a defense statistically that's been good all year, and he 414 00:17:36,200 --> 00:17:37,919 Speaker 1: made some really good throws. 415 00:17:37,760 --> 00:17:38,280 Speaker 2: In the game. 416 00:17:38,440 --> 00:17:41,639 Speaker 1: And as a defense or as guys that cover Atlanta Falcons, 417 00:17:41,680 --> 00:17:43,840 Speaker 1: you're hoping that a rookie doesn't have that type of 418 00:17:43,840 --> 00:17:46,600 Speaker 1: performance in his first start. But you got to give 419 00:17:46,680 --> 00:17:48,800 Speaker 1: him a little credit for some of the plays. 420 00:17:48,720 --> 00:17:51,480 Speaker 3: That his two best throws of the game were incomplete. 421 00:17:51,640 --> 00:17:51,880 Speaker 5: Yeah. 422 00:17:52,119 --> 00:17:53,800 Speaker 2: Yeah, he threw a deep a deep. 423 00:17:53,640 --> 00:17:55,920 Speaker 3: Route on the right side of the sideline. Richie Grant 424 00:17:56,000 --> 00:17:59,840 Speaker 3: makes an unbelievable play at the safety spot. Otherwise it 425 00:17:59,920 --> 00:18:03,600 Speaker 3: was in the bucket, falling backward and it looked like 426 00:18:05,240 --> 00:18:07,280 Speaker 3: and then he throws a fade route to Burks down 427 00:18:07,320 --> 00:18:10,600 Speaker 3: the same sideline, going the other direction. Acudas all over him. 428 00:18:10,600 --> 00:18:12,560 Speaker 3: He drops it right in on Burks, but Burks is 429 00:18:12,560 --> 00:18:13,440 Speaker 3: out of bound. 430 00:18:13,480 --> 00:18:14,040 Speaker 5: On the play. 431 00:18:14,640 --> 00:18:16,199 Speaker 3: Those are the two best throws I thought he made 432 00:18:16,280 --> 00:18:18,280 Speaker 3: the game. They were both incomplete and they were just 433 00:18:18,440 --> 00:18:20,800 Speaker 3: dying throw. So to just a backup what you're saying, 434 00:18:20,800 --> 00:18:22,239 Speaker 3: the young quarterback played extremely well. 435 00:18:22,440 --> 00:18:22,680 Speaker 5: Yeah. 436 00:18:22,680 --> 00:18:25,879 Speaker 1: We did talk about the Falcons. The offense was going 437 00:18:25,960 --> 00:18:28,560 Speaker 1: to face a defense and a defensive line that was 438 00:18:28,600 --> 00:18:30,920 Speaker 1: pretty good, and that proved to be true. Jeffrey Simmons 439 00:18:30,920 --> 00:18:32,919 Speaker 1: with two sacks, an Eco Autrey with a sack on 440 00:18:32,960 --> 00:18:35,119 Speaker 1: that d line, and then of course Harold Landry had 441 00:18:35,160 --> 00:18:37,960 Speaker 1: a couple of sacks coming from that outside linebacker position. 442 00:18:38,359 --> 00:18:40,320 Speaker 1: That team can get after the quarterback. They've got some 443 00:18:40,400 --> 00:18:42,399 Speaker 1: dudes that that can rush the quarterback, and there were 444 00:18:42,400 --> 00:18:45,159 Speaker 1: some breakdowns neck off. 445 00:18:45,680 --> 00:18:48,160 Speaker 3: And don't don't forget they came off they were coming 446 00:18:48,160 --> 00:18:50,680 Speaker 3: off a Bie Rabel now six and Ozer coming off by. 447 00:18:50,800 --> 00:18:53,359 Speaker 3: So give him and his staff credit at Tennessee for 448 00:18:53,760 --> 00:18:56,960 Speaker 3: doing really good stuff during the bye week. But this 449 00:18:57,119 --> 00:18:59,440 Speaker 3: was a team that had fifteen sacks on the year 450 00:18:59,520 --> 00:19:01,760 Speaker 3: coming in and they had six in this game. And 451 00:19:01,840 --> 00:19:04,840 Speaker 3: I would argue that there was some stuff potentially that 452 00:19:04,960 --> 00:19:08,119 Speaker 3: maybe caught Atlanta's offensive line a little bit off guard 453 00:19:08,200 --> 00:19:10,280 Speaker 3: early on with some of the sex because only one 454 00:19:10,320 --> 00:19:12,800 Speaker 3: sack in the second half. So this staff, who I 455 00:19:12,840 --> 00:19:14,560 Speaker 3: think is one of the best staffs I've been around. 456 00:19:14,560 --> 00:19:17,359 Speaker 3: I've been doing these games twenty years. This is the 457 00:19:17,400 --> 00:19:21,040 Speaker 3: best staff for halftime adjustments I've ever seen. They come 458 00:19:21,080 --> 00:19:24,080 Speaker 3: out every time and there's something they get going and 459 00:19:24,119 --> 00:19:26,080 Speaker 3: all of a sudden it starts clicking. They do a 460 00:19:26,080 --> 00:19:28,560 Speaker 3: really good job in coming out of halftime, and they 461 00:19:28,560 --> 00:19:30,639 Speaker 3: did a really good job of making some adjustment to 462 00:19:30,680 --> 00:19:34,320 Speaker 3: get Heinekee protected to get to give him some opportunities 463 00:19:34,320 --> 00:19:35,760 Speaker 3: to get the ball out. So I thought that, you know, 464 00:19:35,760 --> 00:19:38,440 Speaker 3: a little kudo's there. I know it didn't turn out 465 00:19:38,480 --> 00:19:40,080 Speaker 3: the way we wanted to or anything like that. But 466 00:19:40,200 --> 00:19:41,600 Speaker 3: I thought they did a good job of trying to 467 00:19:41,640 --> 00:19:44,120 Speaker 3: fix some things up front to give Heineke an opportunity. 468 00:19:44,200 --> 00:19:46,320 Speaker 1: Yeah, and they'll have to continue to fix Falcons giving 469 00:19:46,440 --> 00:19:49,639 Speaker 1: up twenty six sacs this year. That's the fourth most 470 00:19:49,640 --> 00:19:51,560 Speaker 1: in the NFL, so that will need to be fixed 471 00:19:51,600 --> 00:19:54,040 Speaker 1: as they move forward the rest of the season. So guys, 472 00:19:54,080 --> 00:19:56,720 Speaker 1: let's move forward. Let's talk about Minnesota this week. You 473 00:19:56,800 --> 00:19:59,560 Speaker 1: got a team that started zero to three. Since then 474 00:19:59,600 --> 00:20:02,520 Speaker 1: they are and one. They're only loss in that stretch 475 00:20:02,560 --> 00:20:04,399 Speaker 1: over the last five games has been twenty seven to 476 00:20:04,440 --> 00:20:09,880 Speaker 1: twenty against the Chiefs. However, however, they had a quarterback 477 00:20:09,920 --> 00:20:13,280 Speaker 1: that was playing extremely high level, second in the league 478 00:20:13,320 --> 00:20:16,040 Speaker 1: in passing yards behind Tua Tongue Bailoa, and tied for 479 00:20:16,080 --> 00:20:20,879 Speaker 1: the lead in touchdown passes. Kirk Cousins Achilles tendon tear 480 00:20:21,119 --> 00:20:25,240 Speaker 1: out for the season. So we don't know yet because 481 00:20:25,280 --> 00:20:27,359 Speaker 1: the word coming out of Minnesota is that they're still 482 00:20:27,400 --> 00:20:30,119 Speaker 1: figuring things out. Jaren Hall came in and played the 483 00:20:30,119 --> 00:20:32,600 Speaker 1: remainder of the game. They've got a couple other guys 484 00:20:32,640 --> 00:20:34,879 Speaker 1: that are on the roster. Who knows whether or not 485 00:20:34,960 --> 00:20:37,000 Speaker 1: Minnesota tries to make some kind of trade or last 486 00:20:37,000 --> 00:20:40,680 Speaker 1: minute pickup. So you don't know really what team you're 487 00:20:40,720 --> 00:20:43,520 Speaker 1: gonna get because it's not a Kirk Cousins led team. 488 00:20:43,600 --> 00:20:46,760 Speaker 1: There's no Kirk Cousins. There's no Justin Jefferson right now. 489 00:20:46,800 --> 00:20:49,080 Speaker 1: But there's also no Grady jareded So Dave kind of 490 00:20:49,080 --> 00:20:51,720 Speaker 1: break down this matchup of what Atlanta is gonna face 491 00:20:51,760 --> 00:20:52,960 Speaker 1: when Minnesota comes to town. 492 00:20:53,040 --> 00:20:55,440 Speaker 3: Well, they'll try to run it. They've got Alex Alexander 493 00:20:55,480 --> 00:20:57,800 Speaker 3: Madison running the football, Cam Akers, two guys that can 494 00:20:57,880 --> 00:20:59,440 Speaker 3: run the football, and now they haven't got a lot 495 00:20:59,440 --> 00:21:01,679 Speaker 3: of yard and that's not really where their bread has been. 496 00:21:01,720 --> 00:21:04,879 Speaker 3: Buttered has been with Cousins throwing the football to a 497 00:21:04,920 --> 00:21:07,080 Speaker 3: really good corps of guys. I mean, Jefferson's been out. 498 00:21:07,160 --> 00:21:09,680 Speaker 3: You mentioned Jordan Adison's their first round draftics big time 499 00:21:09,720 --> 00:21:12,639 Speaker 3: player played at Pitt was the Blitannikoff Award winner, went 500 00:21:12,640 --> 00:21:15,200 Speaker 3: to USC had a big year last year for the Trojans. 501 00:21:15,240 --> 00:21:15,480 Speaker 5: TJ. 502 00:21:15,600 --> 00:21:17,680 Speaker 3: Hockinson is a good as tight end pass catching tight 503 00:21:17,760 --> 00:21:20,360 Speaker 3: end as you're gonna ask for. And on the defensive side, 504 00:21:20,359 --> 00:21:23,080 Speaker 3: they got the leading soacker in the league and danel Hunter, 505 00:21:23,359 --> 00:21:25,400 Speaker 3: who there was rumor that he was gonna get dealt 506 00:21:25,400 --> 00:21:27,560 Speaker 3: and I guess that at this time when we're recording this, 507 00:21:27,640 --> 00:21:31,040 Speaker 3: we're still under the window of the trade scenario. He could, 508 00:21:31,080 --> 00:21:33,440 Speaker 3: I guess, ultimately end up someplace else. We'll have to 509 00:21:33,440 --> 00:21:36,040 Speaker 3: wait and see. Harrison Smith one of the best safeties 510 00:21:36,840 --> 00:21:39,320 Speaker 3: over the last several years. So it's a group of 511 00:21:39,400 --> 00:21:42,480 Speaker 3: players that are pretty good. And I know everybody wants 512 00:21:42,520 --> 00:21:44,800 Speaker 3: to kind of throw certain teams on the trash heap 513 00:21:44,840 --> 00:21:48,520 Speaker 3: and certain teams that I don't know why this team 514 00:21:48,600 --> 00:21:51,560 Speaker 3: is being disrespected so much. They beat the forty nine 515 00:21:51,640 --> 00:21:54,719 Speaker 3: ers two weeks ago. They got another win this weekend, 516 00:21:54,720 --> 00:21:58,000 Speaker 3: and really convincing style against Green Bay. Really harassed the 517 00:21:58,040 --> 00:22:00,240 Speaker 3: young quarterback in Green Bay. And that was in green Bay, 518 00:22:00,359 --> 00:22:02,639 Speaker 3: by the way. So I think this is a pretty 519 00:22:02,680 --> 00:22:05,840 Speaker 3: solid football team. Can they figure out their quarterback situation. 520 00:22:05,960 --> 00:22:09,439 Speaker 3: Some play action certainly. Cousins love to go throw off 521 00:22:09,480 --> 00:22:12,399 Speaker 3: play action, drop and throw certainly, but play action was 522 00:22:12,440 --> 00:22:14,080 Speaker 3: a big part of what they do to take shots 523 00:22:14,119 --> 00:22:17,439 Speaker 3: down the field. And defensively, you know, they're pretty stout 524 00:22:17,920 --> 00:22:20,360 Speaker 3: against the run game, which they always have been. Yeah, 525 00:22:20,400 --> 00:22:22,600 Speaker 3: So that's kind of a thumbnail from what I. 526 00:22:22,560 --> 00:22:25,280 Speaker 1: See, well, you know, Jefferson goes down kind of so 527 00:22:25,400 --> 00:22:27,920 Speaker 1: we just talked about Grady Jarrett him going down. Jefferson 528 00:22:28,000 --> 00:22:30,560 Speaker 1: goes down, and they're probably thinking the same thing in Minnesota, 529 00:22:30,600 --> 00:22:32,800 Speaker 1: where does our passing game go now? And the two 530 00:22:32,840 --> 00:22:36,240 Speaker 1: guys that you mentioned, Jordan Addison TJ Hawkinson, not since 531 00:22:36,320 --> 00:22:38,439 Speaker 1: Jefferson has gone down, but on the season, those two 532 00:22:38,480 --> 00:22:43,360 Speaker 1: guys have combined for eighty nine receptions and ten receiving touchdowns, 533 00:22:43,400 --> 00:22:46,360 Speaker 1: seven of those ten coming from Jordan Addison. So they 534 00:22:46,400 --> 00:22:50,160 Speaker 1: have figured out how to live past life right now 535 00:22:50,240 --> 00:22:51,960 Speaker 1: with one of the best wide receivers in the National 536 00:22:51,960 --> 00:22:53,960 Speaker 1: Football League not being able to help them. 537 00:22:54,440 --> 00:22:54,720 Speaker 5: DJ. 538 00:22:54,880 --> 00:22:55,840 Speaker 2: I'm not going to lead you. 539 00:22:55,800 --> 00:22:57,639 Speaker 1: Into what you want to talk about here with Minnesota, 540 00:22:57,680 --> 00:22:59,760 Speaker 1: but just this just seems to me, and it's so 541 00:23:00,520 --> 00:23:02,960 Speaker 1: when you talk about coaching and playing in the league, 542 00:23:03,080 --> 00:23:05,720 Speaker 1: but this game seems to me like Atlanta needs to 543 00:23:05,760 --> 00:23:08,880 Speaker 1: worry about themselves more about what they need to worry 544 00:23:08,880 --> 00:23:12,200 Speaker 1: about from Minnesota, because what we talked about, the pass protection, 545 00:23:12,680 --> 00:23:16,000 Speaker 1: the special teams, the exposive plays on defense, those are 546 00:23:16,080 --> 00:23:19,520 Speaker 1: all things that Atlanta can fix that doesn't really relate 547 00:23:19,560 --> 00:23:21,960 Speaker 1: to the opponent that will give them the best chance 548 00:23:22,000 --> 00:23:22,600 Speaker 1: to win this game. 549 00:23:22,680 --> 00:23:23,600 Speaker 5: Yeah, no doubt about it. 550 00:23:23,600 --> 00:23:25,480 Speaker 4: And I think that's what came to mind me the 551 00:23:25,480 --> 00:23:27,159 Speaker 4: first when I started thinking about it, and you know, 552 00:23:27,280 --> 00:23:29,560 Speaker 4: start going through you know, things we're going to talk 553 00:23:29,560 --> 00:23:31,480 Speaker 4: about today, and I started looking up. Okay, how the 554 00:23:31,480 --> 00:23:33,919 Speaker 4: Falcons paying early in ball games. You're talking about starting 555 00:23:34,000 --> 00:23:36,119 Speaker 4: fast and ball games. I think that's a big deal, 556 00:23:36,240 --> 00:23:38,720 Speaker 4: especially gonna be at home if you're playing against a 557 00:23:38,840 --> 00:23:41,000 Speaker 4: you know, rookie quarterback, starting fast puts a lot of 558 00:23:41,040 --> 00:23:43,800 Speaker 4: pressure on their offense to start the game. And three 559 00:23:43,840 --> 00:23:46,320 Speaker 4: out of our eight games, who scored zero points in 560 00:23:46,320 --> 00:23:49,240 Speaker 4: the first quarter. In two games you scored three points, 561 00:23:49,280 --> 00:23:52,240 Speaker 4: and then in the other three games you scored seven points. 562 00:23:52,240 --> 00:23:55,400 Speaker 4: So you haven't really started fast in any ball game 563 00:23:55,720 --> 00:23:58,520 Speaker 4: this season. So you're talking about being able to put 564 00:23:58,560 --> 00:24:01,359 Speaker 4: more pressure on the opposing teams all by scoring points. 565 00:24:01,440 --> 00:24:03,720 Speaker 4: I think that's a big deal. And obviously protecting the 566 00:24:03,800 --> 00:24:06,200 Speaker 4: quarterback what you just mentioned for our the eight games 567 00:24:06,200 --> 00:24:08,600 Speaker 4: this year, we had four or more sacks in half 568 00:24:08,600 --> 00:24:10,960 Speaker 4: of the games this season. That's that's something that's going 569 00:24:11,040 --> 00:24:13,040 Speaker 4: to make any quarterback kind of skittish in the pocket, 570 00:24:13,040 --> 00:24:15,040 Speaker 4: to make him think a little bit more than he 571 00:24:15,080 --> 00:24:17,080 Speaker 4: probably wants to that he has to get the football out. 572 00:24:17,080 --> 00:24:19,960 Speaker 4: So I think just the thing that you just mentioned about, 573 00:24:20,080 --> 00:24:22,640 Speaker 4: these are internal things that you have to take care 574 00:24:22,680 --> 00:24:25,920 Speaker 4: of before you worry about an opposing team. Now, obviously 575 00:24:26,440 --> 00:24:28,399 Speaker 4: they are a factor you talked about Nail Hunter a 576 00:24:28,400 --> 00:24:30,920 Speaker 4: guy who obviously can recap it and change the ball game. 577 00:24:31,240 --> 00:24:33,840 Speaker 4: There's so many other factors that go on into a 578 00:24:33,880 --> 00:24:36,080 Speaker 4: ballgame that the Falcons have to worry about. But I 579 00:24:36,119 --> 00:24:38,320 Speaker 4: think first and foremost it has to be how you 580 00:24:38,359 --> 00:24:40,960 Speaker 4: start the ball game, how you protect your quarterback, and 581 00:24:41,000 --> 00:24:43,119 Speaker 4: the obvious things of what are you doing on the 582 00:24:43,119 --> 00:24:45,600 Speaker 4: back end not giving up those big plays, And we 583 00:24:45,640 --> 00:24:47,760 Speaker 4: saw last week when you give up those exposed plays, 584 00:24:47,760 --> 00:24:50,840 Speaker 4: it gives a quick quarterback tons of confidence. I mean 585 00:24:51,400 --> 00:24:54,160 Speaker 4: the throw ours talked about, he doesn't make that throw 586 00:24:54,200 --> 00:24:56,119 Speaker 4: if he's not confident. He's not going to be backing 587 00:24:56,119 --> 00:24:58,119 Speaker 4: off on his back leg thinking he can get that 588 00:24:58,160 --> 00:25:00,720 Speaker 4: football in there if he already had to confidence throwing 589 00:25:00,720 --> 00:25:02,919 Speaker 4: the football. So I think that's a big part of 590 00:25:02,960 --> 00:25:05,560 Speaker 4: you find a way for other guys to kind of 591 00:25:05,560 --> 00:25:08,520 Speaker 4: get to the quarterback and find ways to kind of 592 00:25:08,960 --> 00:25:11,840 Speaker 4: give him the lack of confidence within the inside of 593 00:25:11,840 --> 00:25:13,160 Speaker 4: the pacas I think is crucial. 594 00:25:13,520 --> 00:25:16,520 Speaker 1: Well, and we didn't even talk about like turnover margin 595 00:25:16,560 --> 00:25:18,600 Speaker 1: and how that's going to affect it. I've been harping 596 00:25:18,640 --> 00:25:21,280 Speaker 1: on this and we did lose the fumble. We got 597 00:25:21,320 --> 00:25:23,159 Speaker 1: a fumble last week on the defensive side of the ball. 598 00:25:23,200 --> 00:25:26,040 Speaker 1: Atlanta's still sitting tied for thirtieth in the NFL at 599 00:25:26,119 --> 00:25:29,320 Speaker 1: minus seven. Minnesota's not a whole lot better. They're minus 600 00:25:29,480 --> 00:25:32,080 Speaker 1: five on the season, just a couple of spots ahead 601 00:25:32,080 --> 00:25:34,000 Speaker 1: of Atlanta. So they've had some issues as far as 602 00:25:34,040 --> 00:25:37,960 Speaker 1: security and taking it away on defense. But again I 603 00:25:38,080 --> 00:25:39,479 Speaker 1: just kind of go back to that, like that's one 604 00:25:39,520 --> 00:25:42,280 Speaker 1: of the biggest areas that has to be fixed, and yeah, 605 00:25:42,480 --> 00:25:44,879 Speaker 1: ball security number one arch but finding a way to 606 00:25:44,920 --> 00:25:47,720 Speaker 1: take more possessions away on the defensive side of the ball, 607 00:25:47,760 --> 00:25:50,440 Speaker 1: like it would be great for Atlanta and their confidence 608 00:25:50,440 --> 00:25:52,719 Speaker 1: and moving forward, because as they sit at four and four, 609 00:25:52,800 --> 00:25:55,040 Speaker 1: it's like you're kind of at midway point third of 610 00:25:55,040 --> 00:25:57,480 Speaker 1: the season. Ever since they went to seventeen games, it's 611 00:25:57,480 --> 00:26:01,760 Speaker 1: not truly midway, but that like three to zero turnover 612 00:26:01,800 --> 00:26:04,359 Speaker 1: margin game where they steal three, they don't turn it over, 613 00:26:04,600 --> 00:26:06,760 Speaker 1: they put points on the board, they score early, Like, 614 00:26:06,800 --> 00:26:08,640 Speaker 1: these are all things that I feel like could give 615 00:26:08,640 --> 00:26:11,159 Speaker 1: them confidence moving forward for the rest of the season. 616 00:26:11,240 --> 00:26:13,000 Speaker 2: If they can get that to happen against. 617 00:26:12,800 --> 00:26:15,680 Speaker 3: Minnesota, well, it's like finding that pot of gold, right, 618 00:26:15,720 --> 00:26:17,320 Speaker 3: you don't expect it and then then all of a 619 00:26:17,320 --> 00:26:20,159 Speaker 3: sudden it comes in bunches, right. And so we've had 620 00:26:20,160 --> 00:26:22,840 Speaker 3: a couple of games where we've got multiple turnovers. We've 621 00:26:22,880 --> 00:26:25,439 Speaker 3: had games many games where we haven't gotten anything. So 622 00:26:25,880 --> 00:26:28,600 Speaker 3: it's certainly something defense works on each and every week. 623 00:26:28,640 --> 00:26:31,680 Speaker 3: You guys, we've all been in practices where there's turnover 624 00:26:31,800 --> 00:26:33,440 Speaker 3: drills and all the kind of things they're trying to 625 00:26:33,440 --> 00:26:35,800 Speaker 3: get done, and certainly the team on the other side 626 00:26:35,840 --> 00:26:37,280 Speaker 3: is trying to make sure that they don't turn the 627 00:26:37,320 --> 00:26:40,000 Speaker 3: football over, and so far the other side has kind 628 00:26:40,040 --> 00:26:42,359 Speaker 3: of won out. I kind of I want to You 629 00:26:42,359 --> 00:26:45,400 Speaker 3: guys have made a really good point in worrying about yourselves. 630 00:26:46,359 --> 00:26:50,240 Speaker 3: I do think that you do that, but I think 631 00:26:50,280 --> 00:26:52,879 Speaker 3: that you're gonna get copycat scenarios when you give up 632 00:26:52,920 --> 00:26:55,359 Speaker 3: as many sacks as you've given up. And thirteen of 633 00:26:55,359 --> 00:26:56,680 Speaker 3: those sacks came in two games. 634 00:26:56,680 --> 00:26:56,800 Speaker 5: Now. 635 00:26:56,840 --> 00:26:58,600 Speaker 3: You had six this last weekend, and seven came in 636 00:26:58,640 --> 00:27:01,160 Speaker 3: the Detroit game. So there have been some games where 637 00:27:01,160 --> 00:27:03,760 Speaker 3: it's been a little bit cleaner for the quarterback. But 638 00:27:03,840 --> 00:27:06,600 Speaker 3: you can bet now that Minnesota is looking at the 639 00:27:06,640 --> 00:27:09,560 Speaker 3: tape right now that you know we're talking, and they're 640 00:27:09,600 --> 00:27:11,720 Speaker 3: looking at some of the looks Tennessee used, and they 641 00:27:11,720 --> 00:27:14,320 Speaker 3: feel like they're group up front, especially with Danel Hunter. 642 00:27:14,600 --> 00:27:16,520 Speaker 3: And if you look at the tape, Hunter's lined up 643 00:27:16,520 --> 00:27:18,760 Speaker 3: over the center, he's lined up over the right tackle, 644 00:27:18,800 --> 00:27:20,720 Speaker 3: he's lined up over the left tackle. They're moving him 645 00:27:20,760 --> 00:27:23,560 Speaker 3: all over the place. So as much as you're worrying 646 00:27:23,560 --> 00:27:26,760 Speaker 3: about him, you better find that team. You better find 647 00:27:26,840 --> 00:27:29,919 Speaker 3: him and make sure you account for him. And but 648 00:27:30,119 --> 00:27:31,840 Speaker 3: the counts and who's coming and all that kind of 649 00:27:31,840 --> 00:27:34,359 Speaker 3: stuff certainly something you can worry about, regardless of the 650 00:27:34,720 --> 00:27:37,720 Speaker 3: faceless nameless guys. But at some point you're gonna have 651 00:27:37,720 --> 00:27:39,560 Speaker 3: to gear into some of the things that have caused 652 00:27:39,560 --> 00:27:42,280 Speaker 3: you problems from a schematic standpoint, And a couple of 653 00:27:42,280 --> 00:27:44,800 Speaker 3: teams have found some key things, and one of them 654 00:27:44,800 --> 00:27:46,919 Speaker 3: found it this weekend, so you better get ready for that. 655 00:27:47,000 --> 00:27:50,080 Speaker 1: Yeah, and maybe they'll get a dose of some double 656 00:27:50,119 --> 00:27:51,879 Speaker 1: moves on the defensive side of the ball too, to 657 00:27:51,880 --> 00:27:55,280 Speaker 1: see if Atlanta still, you know, gets gets their feet 658 00:27:55,320 --> 00:27:57,600 Speaker 1: set and they're biting on the short game, or are 659 00:27:57,600 --> 00:28:00,000 Speaker 1: they gonna are they gonna start respecting the deep game 660 00:28:00,119 --> 00:28:01,359 Speaker 1: because DeAndre Hopkins. 661 00:28:01,440 --> 00:28:03,280 Speaker 2: Uh and the perfect Storm on that one too. 662 00:28:03,560 --> 00:28:05,560 Speaker 3: Yeah, right, Okay, so we go to a three man 663 00:28:05,680 --> 00:28:09,680 Speaker 3: pass rush. They went three, so not as much pressure 664 00:28:09,920 --> 00:28:11,440 Speaker 3: and so now they can run the double movement. 665 00:28:11,440 --> 00:28:14,000 Speaker 2: And double move's not on a corner. Double move is 666 00:28:14,040 --> 00:28:14,760 Speaker 2: on a safety. 667 00:28:14,920 --> 00:28:17,320 Speaker 3: It was eighteen yards down the field and it was 668 00:28:17,440 --> 00:28:20,840 Speaker 3: in dip in over the top, and that's when you 669 00:28:20,840 --> 00:28:22,479 Speaker 3: don't ever expect to give up a touchdown. 670 00:28:22,680 --> 00:28:24,560 Speaker 5: Yeah, and it just so happened, perfect Storm. 671 00:28:24,600 --> 00:28:26,760 Speaker 3: We weren't rushing enough people to pressure him, so he 672 00:28:26,800 --> 00:28:29,760 Speaker 3: could he could wait on it, pump, fake it, jump 673 00:28:29,840 --> 00:28:32,119 Speaker 3: up and down, you know, laugh at people. Didn't let 674 00:28:32,160 --> 00:28:33,600 Speaker 3: it go so crazy. 675 00:28:34,160 --> 00:28:34,280 Speaker 4: Uh. 676 00:28:34,600 --> 00:28:38,280 Speaker 1: So that's the challenge that Atlanta faces this week with Minnesota. However, 677 00:28:38,280 --> 00:28:40,600 Speaker 1: they are back at home. Arthur Smith talked about it 678 00:28:40,640 --> 00:28:44,080 Speaker 1: this You're always worried about this game, right, this game 679 00:28:44,120 --> 00:28:47,080 Speaker 1: is the most important. But this two game stretch going 680 00:28:47,120 --> 00:28:49,320 Speaker 1: into the bye is going to tell a lot about 681 00:28:49,320 --> 00:28:52,600 Speaker 1: this team. Two games that are very winnable. Give them 682 00:28:52,600 --> 00:28:54,440 Speaker 1: a chance to rest and recover a little bit in 683 00:28:54,440 --> 00:28:56,360 Speaker 1: the bye week and then kind of pour it on 684 00:28:56,440 --> 00:28:57,920 Speaker 1: for the rest of the season to make a push 685 00:28:58,160 --> 00:29:00,760 Speaker 1: to get in the postseason. We can talk about that. 686 00:29:00,800 --> 00:29:03,000 Speaker 1: They talk about one week at a time, and the 687 00:29:03,080 --> 00:29:04,760 Speaker 1: job is to get a victory over Minnesota. 688 00:29:05,000 --> 00:29:06,280 Speaker 2: So let me let me ask you a question. 689 00:29:06,440 --> 00:29:06,600 Speaker 5: Rack. 690 00:29:06,920 --> 00:29:08,920 Speaker 3: No one would know more about this from a special 691 00:29:08,960 --> 00:29:12,120 Speaker 3: team's perspective than you. This was not the best special 692 00:29:12,160 --> 00:29:15,760 Speaker 3: team performance the Falcons have had. Give the fan out 693 00:29:15,760 --> 00:29:19,880 Speaker 3: there an idea of that conversation that goes on with 694 00:29:19,880 --> 00:29:22,520 Speaker 3: with the coordinators. Where's Marquise Williams or some of his 695 00:29:22,600 --> 00:29:25,200 Speaker 3: coaches that helped coach that, and what you're talking to 696 00:29:25,320 --> 00:29:28,600 Speaker 3: returners about. What's the general rule there. There's some things 697 00:29:28,640 --> 00:29:30,080 Speaker 3: that maybe the fan can learn from. 698 00:29:30,160 --> 00:29:31,920 Speaker 1: And it's a great question you asked, because when I 699 00:29:32,000 --> 00:29:34,200 Speaker 1: was playing, we had a guy on a roster he 700 00:29:34,200 --> 00:29:36,040 Speaker 1: could do other things, but he was there because he 701 00:29:36,080 --> 00:29:39,360 Speaker 1: was a great returner, Alan Rossum, because the coaching staff 702 00:29:39,400 --> 00:29:42,680 Speaker 1: had trust that he was going to catch the ball. 703 00:29:42,800 --> 00:29:46,240 Speaker 2: Number one. Okay, now Rossi was great. I'm making things happen. 704 00:29:46,280 --> 00:29:47,760 Speaker 1: I mean, he's one of the best returners in the 705 00:29:47,760 --> 00:29:51,080 Speaker 1: game as far as turning getting returns and turning him 706 00:29:51,120 --> 00:29:53,480 Speaker 1: into points the other way, whether it's kickoff returner on punt, 707 00:29:53,640 --> 00:29:55,800 Speaker 1: But he was back there because he made great decisions 708 00:29:56,160 --> 00:29:59,200 Speaker 1: catching the ball first and foremost right. That's how you 709 00:29:59,240 --> 00:30:01,480 Speaker 1: can say, and I I see this on the college circuit, 710 00:30:01,480 --> 00:30:04,840 Speaker 1: and it frustrates me so bad when when returners won't 711 00:30:04,840 --> 00:30:06,840 Speaker 1: catch the ball and they let it hit the ground 712 00:30:06,920 --> 00:30:08,320 Speaker 1: and all of a sudden, you got an extra twenty 713 00:30:08,400 --> 00:30:11,560 Speaker 1: yards given up, Like do you realize how much twenty 714 00:30:11,640 --> 00:30:14,360 Speaker 1: yards is to recover for an offense or especially in 715 00:30:14,400 --> 00:30:17,400 Speaker 1: the National Football League. So, first and foremost, I got 716 00:30:17,400 --> 00:30:19,880 Speaker 1: a punt return. You're generally tall, you put your heels 717 00:30:19,920 --> 00:30:21,560 Speaker 1: in the ten yard line, if you got to take 718 00:30:21,560 --> 00:30:23,960 Speaker 1: a step back, let the ball drop right for the 719 00:30:24,000 --> 00:30:27,520 Speaker 1: most part, because if you field it inside the ten 720 00:30:27,600 --> 00:30:29,760 Speaker 1: yard line, you're probably gonna get tackled inside the ten 721 00:30:29,800 --> 00:30:32,360 Speaker 1: yard line. But if you let it drop inside the 722 00:30:32,360 --> 00:30:34,520 Speaker 1: ten yard line, there's a chance that ball kicks into 723 00:30:34,560 --> 00:30:37,160 Speaker 1: the end zone. And if it doesn't, let's play the 724 00:30:37,200 --> 00:30:39,480 Speaker 1: odds that they make a mistake trying to field the 725 00:30:39,480 --> 00:30:44,840 Speaker 1: ball right. But very few times, unless we're talking about 726 00:30:44,880 --> 00:30:47,960 Speaker 1: like a Devin Hester or a Dante Hall. Are you 727 00:30:47,960 --> 00:30:50,120 Speaker 1: going to field the ball inside the ten to five 728 00:30:50,120 --> 00:30:51,960 Speaker 1: and ten yard line and make something. 729 00:30:51,720 --> 00:30:52,760 Speaker 2: Miraculous out of it? 730 00:30:52,960 --> 00:30:53,160 Speaker 5: Right? 731 00:30:53,640 --> 00:30:58,080 Speaker 2: So it's about saving field position sometimes. Right, if you're. 732 00:30:57,880 --> 00:30:59,720 Speaker 1: Sitting at the ten yard line and you see a 733 00:30:59,760 --> 00:31:02,880 Speaker 1: ball diving down at the nineteen, if you can run 734 00:31:02,960 --> 00:31:05,320 Speaker 1: up there and catch it, go catch it because that 735 00:31:05,480 --> 00:31:07,880 Speaker 1: nineteen yard line might be a whole lot better than 736 00:31:07,920 --> 00:31:10,600 Speaker 1: the three. Sure, right, So those are the like you 737 00:31:10,640 --> 00:31:13,640 Speaker 1: talk about starting field position that it's a huge difference. 738 00:31:13,920 --> 00:31:16,280 Speaker 2: So those are the things that are being discussed. Fellas. 739 00:31:16,320 --> 00:31:19,280 Speaker 1: We got to make a lot better decisions catching the football. 740 00:31:19,440 --> 00:31:21,800 Speaker 1: Don't think about what you're gonna do after you catch it. 741 00:31:22,040 --> 00:31:24,560 Speaker 1: Let's think about where we're out on the field. Is 742 00:31:24,600 --> 00:31:27,080 Speaker 1: the ball going over my head? If it is, let's 743 00:31:27,080 --> 00:31:29,120 Speaker 1: play the odds that they can't make a play and 744 00:31:29,200 --> 00:31:31,440 Speaker 1: let's get a touchback. So let's start with much favor 745 00:31:31,560 --> 00:31:32,840 Speaker 1: better favorable field position. 746 00:31:32,960 --> 00:31:35,560 Speaker 3: What's the general rule on a kickoff? And we saw 747 00:31:35,840 --> 00:31:39,360 Speaker 3: Keith Smith retreat with his back to the coverage unit 748 00:31:39,720 --> 00:31:41,720 Speaker 3: and caught a ball at about the six yard line 749 00:31:41,720 --> 00:31:47,160 Speaker 3: that's coming down. He's going towards his goal line. Yeah, 750 00:31:47,240 --> 00:31:48,640 Speaker 3: what's the general So. 751 00:31:48,600 --> 00:31:50,920 Speaker 1: That one, First of all, you as a full back, right, 752 00:31:50,960 --> 00:31:53,760 Speaker 1: so it's an up back considered on kickoff return, he's 753 00:31:53,800 --> 00:31:57,880 Speaker 1: not your primary returner, right. Sometimes CP can get away 754 00:31:57,920 --> 00:31:59,800 Speaker 1: with that, yeah, because he's one of the best returners 755 00:31:59,800 --> 00:32:02,080 Speaker 1: in the game. But Keith Smith is not supposed to 756 00:32:02,080 --> 00:32:05,160 Speaker 1: field that ball for two reasons. Number one, he's going backwards. 757 00:32:05,480 --> 00:32:08,240 Speaker 1: Everybody else is running full speed toward him. Number Two, 758 00:32:08,280 --> 00:32:10,680 Speaker 1: that ball might have went out of bounds. So again, 759 00:32:10,840 --> 00:32:13,360 Speaker 1: let's play the odds that that ball either goes out 760 00:32:13,360 --> 00:32:16,480 Speaker 1: of bounds or you continue to track it as it 761 00:32:16,520 --> 00:32:18,360 Speaker 1: goes in the end zone, and let's take a touch back. 762 00:32:18,720 --> 00:32:21,560 Speaker 1: But we don't want somebody, no disrespect to Keith Smith 763 00:32:21,840 --> 00:32:25,880 Speaker 1: that doesn't have tremendous top end speed running backwards fielding 764 00:32:25,880 --> 00:32:27,480 Speaker 1: a ball that might go out of bounds or in 765 00:32:27,480 --> 00:32:29,360 Speaker 1: the end zone and then trying to get back upfield. 766 00:32:29,760 --> 00:32:32,280 Speaker 1: Probably just a lapse in judgment on his behalf. Maybe 767 00:32:32,280 --> 00:32:34,320 Speaker 1: wanting to make a play. Maybe he thought that the 768 00:32:34,360 --> 00:32:36,200 Speaker 1: ball was going to end up staying in the field 769 00:32:36,200 --> 00:32:38,200 Speaker 1: of play and he didn't want to turn over. These 770 00:32:38,200 --> 00:32:40,239 Speaker 1: are all the things that go through and athlete your 771 00:32:40,280 --> 00:32:44,360 Speaker 1: mind this fast think about how fast that decision has 772 00:32:44,400 --> 00:32:47,440 Speaker 1: to be made. Unfortunately it was the wrong decision, right. 773 00:32:47,880 --> 00:32:50,120 Speaker 1: That's why they have guys back there that are returners 774 00:32:50,120 --> 00:32:52,680 Speaker 1: that have seen things over and over and over and 775 00:32:52,720 --> 00:32:55,800 Speaker 1: they make better decisions in split seconds because they can 776 00:32:55,840 --> 00:32:57,440 Speaker 1: tell the balls going out of bounds or going. 777 00:32:57,320 --> 00:32:59,040 Speaker 5: Through the end. Here's my last question about it. 778 00:32:59,160 --> 00:33:01,640 Speaker 4: Obviously, I know we're you know, obviously this is a 779 00:33:01,680 --> 00:33:05,800 Speaker 4: big part of the ball game. And my question is when, okay, 780 00:33:05,800 --> 00:33:07,760 Speaker 4: you say you put your foot on the ten and 781 00:33:07,840 --> 00:33:11,600 Speaker 4: there are capable guys sometimes who back up and they 782 00:33:11,640 --> 00:33:13,920 Speaker 4: catch it on maybe the seven to six or the five, 783 00:33:14,000 --> 00:33:17,800 Speaker 4: you know, because are they thinking maybe these guys are 784 00:33:17,800 --> 00:33:19,520 Speaker 4: gonna catch it, they're gonna make it worse on us, 785 00:33:19,560 --> 00:33:21,720 Speaker 4: and I just say, hey, we're gonna get it the 786 00:33:21,720 --> 00:33:25,080 Speaker 4: six or seven, as opposed to letting it go and saying, okay, 787 00:33:25,120 --> 00:33:27,560 Speaker 4: these guys will possibly catch the football where. 788 00:33:27,400 --> 00:33:28,600 Speaker 5: They're on the one or two yard line. 789 00:33:28,600 --> 00:33:32,120 Speaker 1: Are you talking about return Yeah, yeah, so a punt 790 00:33:32,120 --> 00:33:34,360 Speaker 1: it's gonna be downed. So then here's my question back 791 00:33:34,400 --> 00:33:36,440 Speaker 1: to you, how much worse is it if it's the 792 00:33:36,480 --> 00:33:40,959 Speaker 1: seven or the three. You're still a bad field position, right, 793 00:33:41,600 --> 00:33:45,320 Speaker 1: So why not give the chance of that ball hitting 794 00:33:45,320 --> 00:33:48,960 Speaker 1: the ground and carrying off to the opposite direction into 795 00:33:48,960 --> 00:33:50,360 Speaker 1: the end zone and they don't have a chance. 796 00:33:50,480 --> 00:33:51,880 Speaker 4: I just feel like we see that so much more 797 00:33:51,920 --> 00:33:53,840 Speaker 4: often now, like you catch it inside the tent. 798 00:33:53,920 --> 00:33:57,440 Speaker 3: Well, I think there's a degree, And I don't know, 799 00:33:57,560 --> 00:33:59,479 Speaker 3: rack you tell me, but there's a degree. If I'm 800 00:33:59,520 --> 00:34:04,080 Speaker 3: a return whoever I am doesn't matter, and I have 801 00:34:04,160 --> 00:34:06,440 Speaker 3: a sense of because they have an idea of the 802 00:34:06,560 --> 00:34:07,280 Speaker 3: range of the guy. 803 00:34:07,360 --> 00:34:08,480 Speaker 2: This guy was a really good. 804 00:34:08,400 --> 00:34:09,959 Speaker 5: Kicker, very good punter, one of the best. 805 00:34:09,960 --> 00:34:12,799 Speaker 3: I think he had the number one gross punting in 806 00:34:12,840 --> 00:34:14,239 Speaker 3: the league, and I think he was in the top 807 00:34:14,280 --> 00:34:17,360 Speaker 3: five and got cam net right, so averaging like fifty 808 00:34:17,400 --> 00:34:18,960 Speaker 3: one yards of kick. So you know he's going to 809 00:34:19,040 --> 00:34:22,719 Speaker 3: hammer some There is that old adage he's outkicked his coverage, right, 810 00:34:22,760 --> 00:34:26,080 Speaker 3: So there's the moment where if I'm on the fifteen 811 00:34:26,239 --> 00:34:29,040 Speaker 3: or seventeen yard line, I'm retreating to go get one. 812 00:34:29,719 --> 00:34:31,560 Speaker 3: In my mind, this dude's hammered one. 813 00:34:31,960 --> 00:34:33,240 Speaker 5: But he's out kicking his guys. 814 00:34:33,800 --> 00:34:36,200 Speaker 3: And if I've got playmaking abillity, which our guy does, 815 00:34:36,640 --> 00:34:38,799 Speaker 3: whoever it is, Hughes or Scotty Miller, whoever, it is 816 00:34:38,800 --> 00:34:41,239 Speaker 3: back there. That kind of enters your mind. And I 817 00:34:41,239 --> 00:34:43,280 Speaker 3: think when you're tracking the ball, much like what happened 818 00:34:43,320 --> 00:34:46,000 Speaker 3: to Keith Smith, is you kind of lose where you're 819 00:34:46,040 --> 00:34:48,160 Speaker 3: on the field a little bit because you haven't established 820 00:34:48,160 --> 00:34:50,640 Speaker 3: that threshold right where your heels are on the ten. 821 00:34:51,200 --> 00:34:52,400 Speaker 3: I wonder if some of that went in. 822 00:34:52,520 --> 00:34:54,640 Speaker 1: Well, here's what I'll say too. You make a good 823 00:34:54,640 --> 00:34:56,759 Speaker 1: point about out kicking your coverage. But the problem is, 824 00:34:56,880 --> 00:34:59,440 Speaker 1: and we'll wrap it up here after this, but you 825 00:34:59,520 --> 00:35:01,840 Speaker 1: got a guy that hammers it, but he kicks it 826 00:35:01,960 --> 00:35:04,799 Speaker 1: fifty plus yards. If the ball is hanging in the 827 00:35:04,840 --> 00:35:07,600 Speaker 1: air like this, dude has done his job where he's 828 00:35:07,640 --> 00:35:09,759 Speaker 1: not only kicked it deep, but he's kicked it up 829 00:35:09,760 --> 00:35:11,880 Speaker 1: in the air. It's like it's an internal clock as 830 00:35:11,920 --> 00:35:13,960 Speaker 1: a returner, just like it is as a quarterback. Right, 831 00:35:14,160 --> 00:35:16,520 Speaker 1: you got an internal clock. You can tell how it 832 00:35:16,560 --> 00:35:18,560 Speaker 1: comes off of his foot. If he out kicks his 833 00:35:18,600 --> 00:35:20,759 Speaker 1: coverage and the ball is going this way, you got 834 00:35:20,760 --> 00:35:23,760 Speaker 1: a chance. If he kicks a cannon and the ball 835 00:35:23,880 --> 00:35:26,920 Speaker 1: is going like this, you don't have a chance. Because 836 00:35:26,920 --> 00:35:29,279 Speaker 1: the longer it stays in the air, the more time 837 00:35:29,440 --> 00:35:31,680 Speaker 1: These guys that are the fastest in the National Football 838 00:35:31,719 --> 00:35:32,920 Speaker 1: League have to catch up to it. 839 00:35:33,040 --> 00:35:34,839 Speaker 3: So if you catch it and it's wet, you need 840 00:35:34,880 --> 00:35:36,880 Speaker 3: to just stay there, don't go anywhere, don't try to 841 00:35:36,880 --> 00:35:37,680 Speaker 3: catch it because it's. 842 00:35:37,600 --> 00:35:38,799 Speaker 2: Re entered the atmosphere. 843 00:35:39,400 --> 00:35:43,040 Speaker 1: If it's gone into the person, what is it, perspiration, 844 00:35:43,200 --> 00:35:48,920 Speaker 1: no condensation, condensation level. There might be some sweat on 845 00:35:48,960 --> 00:35:51,960 Speaker 1: it as well. All right, so maybe more special teams 846 00:35:52,400 --> 00:35:53,080 Speaker 1: x'es and o's than you. 847 00:35:53,120 --> 00:35:54,239 Speaker 5: Barry that. 848 00:35:55,239 --> 00:35:57,239 Speaker 3: This guy's the guru on the special teams I needed 849 00:35:57,239 --> 00:35:58,439 Speaker 3: to get. I needed the nuts and bolts. 850 00:35:58,480 --> 00:36:00,000 Speaker 5: Every once in a while we will give it to you. 851 00:36:00,480 --> 00:36:02,600 Speaker 1: We'll wrap things up here on the Falcons Audible presented 852 00:36:02,600 --> 00:36:04,319 Speaker 1: by AT and T. Thanks so much for watching us. 853 00:36:04,360 --> 00:36:04,560 Speaker 2: Again. 854 00:36:04,600 --> 00:36:06,279 Speaker 1: We might have some things play out the rest of 855 00:36:06,280 --> 00:36:09,160 Speaker 1: the week on some roster decisions. We will see as 856 00:36:09,200 --> 00:36:12,080 Speaker 1: that stuff unfolds. Thanks a lot for joining us. However, 857 00:36:12,080 --> 00:36:14,319 Speaker 1: you get your podcast material. We'll be back next week. 858 00:36:14,320 --> 00:36:17,760 Speaker 1: That's DJ Sockley, Dave Archer. I'm Derek Rackley. Take care everybody, 859 00:36:17,800 --> 00:36:25,120 Speaker 1: We'll see you