1 00:00:08,400 --> 00:00:11,080 Speaker 1: What's up, everybody, and welcome to another edition of the 2 00:00:11,119 --> 00:00:15,400 Speaker 1: Falcons Final Whistle Podcast. I'm Scott Bear alongside Tory maclaney. 3 00:00:15,480 --> 00:00:18,720 Speaker 1: Say hi, tor Hi, and Ashton Edmunds say Hi, Ashton, 4 00:00:19,440 --> 00:00:21,880 Speaker 1: and Falcons fans should be get a pretty good mood. 5 00:00:22,280 --> 00:00:27,280 Speaker 1: We are because Atlanta Falcons put together and I'm quoting 6 00:00:27,360 --> 00:00:31,960 Speaker 1: Rashaun Evans here, our most complete game thus far, twenty 7 00:00:32,000 --> 00:00:37,879 Speaker 1: eight to fourteen. They established firm control, they weathered a 8 00:00:37,960 --> 00:00:41,720 Speaker 1: mid game momentum shift, and won by multiple scores. I've 9 00:00:41,720 --> 00:00:44,200 Speaker 1: mentioned this before as someone who turns in a story 10 00:00:44,280 --> 00:00:47,279 Speaker 1: right at the buzzer, all of these cardiac, dramatic finishes 11 00:00:47,600 --> 00:00:51,440 Speaker 1: make my life very difficult. Today it was pretty easy, Yeah, 12 00:00:51,479 --> 00:00:53,760 Speaker 1: pretty buttoned up. And yet we still have so much 13 00:00:53,800 --> 00:00:55,520 Speaker 1: to talk about. Yeah, we still have so much to 14 00:00:55,680 --> 00:00:59,280 Speaker 1: talk about in what was I think a really good win. 15 00:00:59,720 --> 00:01:02,760 Speaker 1: They won in all phases, offense, defense, special teams, and 16 00:01:02,800 --> 00:01:06,959 Speaker 1: we're going to get into all that stuff, most notably 17 00:01:07,000 --> 00:01:11,160 Speaker 1: quarterback Marcus Mariota, who was awesome on the field and 18 00:01:11,360 --> 00:01:14,080 Speaker 1: in the press conference room. We're going to talk about 19 00:01:14,080 --> 00:01:16,680 Speaker 1: how close to complete this game was, the run game, 20 00:01:16,720 --> 00:01:21,040 Speaker 1: efficiency and takeaways. Takeaways Takeaways on defense. They have ten 21 00:01:21,080 --> 00:01:24,800 Speaker 1: through six games. My goodness, all positive things. This is 22 00:01:24,840 --> 00:01:28,479 Speaker 1: going to be a positivity podcast. Wow at this point. 23 00:01:28,800 --> 00:01:33,840 Speaker 1: To your overall thoughts and impressions after this one, Yeah, 24 00:01:33,920 --> 00:01:36,880 Speaker 1: I think this in terms of games that I feel 25 00:01:36,880 --> 00:01:40,360 Speaker 1: like I've seen the Falcons play in the last three 26 00:01:40,440 --> 00:01:44,800 Speaker 1: years that I've been covering this team, this has started 27 00:01:44,840 --> 00:01:47,080 Speaker 1: to feel like this team has started to feel like 28 00:01:47,880 --> 00:01:51,200 Speaker 1: weekend and week out that they are fun to watch. 29 00:01:51,440 --> 00:01:55,200 Speaker 1: I've thoroughly enjoyed covering this team in a way that 30 00:01:55,280 --> 00:01:59,000 Speaker 1: I haven't the last two years. And I feel as though, 31 00:01:59,120 --> 00:02:03,160 Speaker 1: like I'm sure people are like, oh, oh, like, let's 32 00:02:03,200 --> 00:02:06,240 Speaker 1: be all dramatic from the reporter girl, Like I'm sure 33 00:02:06,320 --> 00:02:08,960 Speaker 1: that's what you think. But truly, I've had more fun 34 00:02:09,240 --> 00:02:11,920 Speaker 1: covering this team in the games of which we've seen, 35 00:02:12,000 --> 00:02:15,240 Speaker 1: even when they lose, than I have in the last 36 00:02:15,280 --> 00:02:16,960 Speaker 1: two years. And that's just the truth. That's just how 37 00:02:16,960 --> 00:02:20,399 Speaker 1: I feel, Ashton. They're the Falcons are three and three 38 00:02:20,560 --> 00:02:25,400 Speaker 1: after this one. Having watched this team play the forty 39 00:02:25,440 --> 00:02:28,360 Speaker 1: nine ers but also progress throughout the course of the 40 00:02:28,360 --> 00:02:32,040 Speaker 1: first six weeks, what are your takeaways about where the 41 00:02:32,080 --> 00:02:36,560 Speaker 1: Falcons stand after this victory? Man, I the Falcons. I 42 00:02:36,600 --> 00:02:39,520 Speaker 1: would say lay first, they played a really great game. 43 00:02:39,560 --> 00:02:42,080 Speaker 1: But I think you see, you really see the belief 44 00:02:42,440 --> 00:02:46,799 Speaker 1: in the Falcons players. Grady Jared mentioned that after the game. But, um, 45 00:02:46,960 --> 00:02:49,959 Speaker 1: I think you're starting to see that belief amongst each other, 46 00:02:50,080 --> 00:02:54,720 Speaker 1: that chemistry and that camaraderie amongst each other. And I think, man, 47 00:02:54,919 --> 00:02:57,399 Speaker 1: like today against the forty nine ers, man like you said, 48 00:02:57,400 --> 00:03:01,200 Speaker 1: they played great in all three phases on offense, special teams, 49 00:03:01,240 --> 00:03:04,520 Speaker 1: and defense. And um, just going into this game, you know, 50 00:03:04,960 --> 00:03:06,280 Speaker 1: they knew it was going to be a tough match 51 00:03:06,320 --> 00:03:08,880 Speaker 1: up against the forty niners, but the defense stepped up 52 00:03:08,919 --> 00:03:14,040 Speaker 1: Majorum only Lemington limited Yeah, yeah, that's the tongue twister, 53 00:03:16,400 --> 00:03:20,639 Speaker 1: limiting them to just fourteen points. Um. And and man, 54 00:03:20,760 --> 00:03:23,680 Speaker 1: I mean I think everybody played a great game. Um. Definitely, 55 00:03:23,760 --> 00:03:26,160 Speaker 1: Marcus played a great game. And they had two key 56 00:03:26,160 --> 00:03:29,480 Speaker 1: players that were you know, um and Michael Walker and 57 00:03:29,560 --> 00:03:33,640 Speaker 1: audi Ogandaiji. So um, everybody stepped up and did what 58 00:03:33,639 --> 00:03:35,800 Speaker 1: they needed to do. And I think, man, going into 59 00:03:35,840 --> 00:03:37,720 Speaker 1: this next game in week seven, it's going going to 60 00:03:37,760 --> 00:03:40,120 Speaker 1: be great for the Falcons. Here's the thing. I feel 61 00:03:40,120 --> 00:03:43,160 Speaker 1: as though we're bearing the lead here. Red Helmets came 62 00:03:43,200 --> 00:03:47,280 Speaker 1: back today. Oh yes, um, and as they are. Bill say, 63 00:03:47,360 --> 00:03:50,720 Speaker 1: I will go on the record to say and challenge 64 00:03:50,760 --> 00:03:53,760 Speaker 1: the Falcons to just stay wearing them, just keep wearing. 65 00:03:53,760 --> 00:03:57,760 Speaker 1: I mean they won't, but I wish they would because 66 00:03:57,800 --> 00:04:01,320 Speaker 1: they looked so good. I really, I mean that's the 67 00:04:01,320 --> 00:04:03,520 Speaker 1: best that I think the Falcons have looked in a while. 68 00:04:03,920 --> 00:04:08,760 Speaker 1: I said what I said, Yeah, it do better and 69 00:04:08,760 --> 00:04:12,040 Speaker 1: and and really that's that's what this team has been doing. 70 00:04:12,040 --> 00:04:16,159 Speaker 1: And they've been getting contributions. Ashton was talking about some 71 00:04:16,160 --> 00:04:19,600 Speaker 1: some some guys being out, uh Cordill, Patterson, Dami Williams 72 00:04:19,640 --> 00:04:23,080 Speaker 1: still on injured reserve, and they're they're getting contributions from 73 00:04:23,120 --> 00:04:27,520 Speaker 1: like Abdullah Anderson. Yeah, it was funny because that want. Yeah, 74 00:04:27,600 --> 00:04:30,799 Speaker 1: at one point I looked over to Scott and I said, 75 00:04:31,520 --> 00:04:33,960 Speaker 1: look at who's in in terms of like this defense 76 00:04:34,040 --> 00:04:37,080 Speaker 1: right now. They didn't have Casey Hayward. They didn't have 77 00:04:37,120 --> 00:04:39,520 Speaker 1: a j Terrell. Grady Jarrett was not on the field. 78 00:04:39,839 --> 00:04:44,120 Speaker 1: Neither neither was Lorenzo Carter. It was literally like Arnold Ebachetti, 79 00:04:44,200 --> 00:04:51,520 Speaker 1: D'Angelo Malone, Timmy Horne, Abdullah Anderson, Darren Hall, h d Alford. 80 00:04:51,720 --> 00:04:54,760 Speaker 1: Like it was guys who I swear ninety well, I 81 00:04:54,839 --> 00:04:57,239 Speaker 1: say I'll give I'll give the fan base more credit. 82 00:04:57,760 --> 00:05:02,279 Speaker 1: Seventy percent of probably the casual Falcons watchers could not 83 00:05:02,480 --> 00:05:06,039 Speaker 1: name those guys just by looking out there. They are 84 00:05:06,160 --> 00:05:09,720 Speaker 1: getting help from a lot of different guys and a 85 00:05:09,720 --> 00:05:12,280 Speaker 1: lot of different spots in their own careers. Yeah, and 86 00:05:12,560 --> 00:05:15,440 Speaker 1: I think a guy who is it's fair to say 87 00:05:15,520 --> 00:05:20,760 Speaker 1: a household name, Marcus Mariota was a major, major contributor 88 00:05:20,800 --> 00:05:24,680 Speaker 1: here to the tune of six rushes for fifty yards. 89 00:05:24,680 --> 00:05:28,200 Speaker 1: That's eight point three a clip a rushing touchdown. Oh 90 00:05:28,279 --> 00:05:30,400 Speaker 1: and by the way, he threw his first incomplete pass 91 00:05:30,440 --> 00:05:32,960 Speaker 1: with ten minutes and fifty two seconds left in the 92 00:05:33,200 --> 00:05:37,680 Speaker 1: fourth quarter. The man was thirteen to fourteen for one 93 00:05:37,760 --> 00:05:41,480 Speaker 1: hundred and twenty nine yards, two passing touchdowns, a paltry 94 00:05:41,520 --> 00:05:45,320 Speaker 1: passer rating of one hundred and forty four point six. Tory, 95 00:05:45,440 --> 00:05:50,200 Speaker 1: you wrote extensively about Marcus after the game and what 96 00:05:50,480 --> 00:05:53,200 Speaker 1: is a must watch press content? Yeah, by the way, 97 00:05:53,839 --> 00:05:56,599 Speaker 1: he was really good there. He was great on the field. Yeah. 98 00:05:56,880 --> 00:05:59,640 Speaker 1: I would definitely recommend to everybody to go back and 99 00:05:59,680 --> 00:06:02,760 Speaker 1: watch Marcus Mariot's press conference after the game, because it 100 00:06:02,839 --> 00:06:06,080 Speaker 1: was truly fascinating and all summed up kind of here, 101 00:06:06,240 --> 00:06:08,400 Speaker 1: but I also summed it up in writing for him, 102 00:06:08,440 --> 00:06:12,000 Speaker 1: so definitely go and read that too. But essentially it 103 00:06:12,080 --> 00:06:14,440 Speaker 1: was really interesting because we were talking to Marcus actually 104 00:06:14,520 --> 00:06:16,520 Speaker 1: during the middle of the week and he was talking 105 00:06:16,560 --> 00:06:19,120 Speaker 1: about feeling more confident because when he knows this offense, 106 00:06:19,160 --> 00:06:21,880 Speaker 1: he feels confident in the scheme, but also feeling confident 107 00:06:21,920 --> 00:06:24,440 Speaker 1: as a veteran player in this league, and how a 108 00:06:24,520 --> 00:06:27,680 Speaker 1: lot of times early on when he was at Tennessee, 109 00:06:27,680 --> 00:06:29,120 Speaker 1: he didn't feel like he had a voice. He didn't 110 00:06:29,120 --> 00:06:31,280 Speaker 1: feel comfortable or confident in speaking up, and it was 111 00:06:31,320 --> 00:06:33,400 Speaker 1: something that he learned from Derek Carr and being his 112 00:06:33,520 --> 00:06:36,240 Speaker 1: backup with the Raiders the last two years that he said, 113 00:06:36,320 --> 00:06:39,440 Speaker 1: now he feels comfortable and confident speaking up in meetings 114 00:06:39,480 --> 00:06:42,799 Speaker 1: two coaches, etc. Etc. He said it's helped his relationship 115 00:06:42,800 --> 00:06:46,320 Speaker 1: with Arthur Smith as offensive play caller. But I say 116 00:06:46,320 --> 00:06:49,359 Speaker 1: all of that to say that this conversation of Marcus 117 00:06:49,400 --> 00:06:53,240 Speaker 1: feeling confident and comfortable continued into this game and then 118 00:06:53,320 --> 00:06:56,680 Speaker 1: into his postgame press conference, because as we were talking 119 00:06:57,120 --> 00:06:59,839 Speaker 1: to him postgame and he brought this up, he was like, 120 00:07:00,080 --> 00:07:03,320 Speaker 1: you know, three years ago to the week. It was 121 00:07:03,400 --> 00:07:06,160 Speaker 1: week six that I got benched when I was with 122 00:07:06,200 --> 00:07:11,800 Speaker 1: Tennessee for Ryan Tannehill. And talk about a poetic, almost 123 00:07:11,800 --> 00:07:15,480 Speaker 1: like full circle moment. Not many guys get the opportunity 124 00:07:15,520 --> 00:07:18,440 Speaker 1: to do what Marcus Mariota is doing and trying to 125 00:07:18,560 --> 00:07:22,360 Speaker 1: prove that he is good enough to be a starting 126 00:07:22,520 --> 00:07:25,320 Speaker 1: caliber quarterback in this league. It's a second chance for 127 00:07:25,400 --> 00:07:28,400 Speaker 1: him with this organization after being benched and being a 128 00:07:28,400 --> 00:07:32,040 Speaker 1: backup for the last two years. For Marcus to have 129 00:07:32,120 --> 00:07:35,880 Speaker 1: that cognizant understanding of three years ago, this is the 130 00:07:35,880 --> 00:07:37,640 Speaker 1: position that I was in, and this is now the 131 00:07:37,680 --> 00:07:40,400 Speaker 1: position that I'm in now and making the most of 132 00:07:40,400 --> 00:07:43,600 Speaker 1: that opportunity. I mean stats alone, but Arthur Smith even 133 00:07:43,640 --> 00:07:45,520 Speaker 1: said after the game, He's like, this is a locker 134 00:07:45,600 --> 00:07:48,040 Speaker 1: room that believes in Marcus Mariota, and that's not something 135 00:07:48,080 --> 00:07:51,040 Speaker 1: that's gonna pop up on any stat sheet. All of 136 00:07:51,080 --> 00:07:53,160 Speaker 1: this happened kind of in post game, and I'm sitting 137 00:07:53,200 --> 00:07:55,800 Speaker 1: there kind of just thinking about the story that this is. 138 00:07:55,880 --> 00:07:59,200 Speaker 1: Of course, this is just one game, and of course, 139 00:07:59,240 --> 00:08:00,720 Speaker 1: like people are going to like, well, what about the 140 00:08:00,760 --> 00:08:03,600 Speaker 1: four other games and the issues that you saw there. 141 00:08:04,040 --> 00:08:08,680 Speaker 1: I understand that but for this moment, for this specific player, 142 00:08:08,840 --> 00:08:11,600 Speaker 1: I think this game meant a lot to him because 143 00:08:11,640 --> 00:08:15,120 Speaker 1: of the overall context of what he was talking about. 144 00:08:15,160 --> 00:08:17,920 Speaker 1: I think it's very fascinating, and I think it's something 145 00:08:17,960 --> 00:08:21,360 Speaker 1: that should be noted because it's to me in terms 146 00:08:21,440 --> 00:08:25,440 Speaker 1: of like being a storyteller, that story that almost like 147 00:08:25,560 --> 00:08:29,280 Speaker 1: redemption arc of which he's working towards. It's fascinating, and 148 00:08:29,320 --> 00:08:32,280 Speaker 1: that's something that he brought up unprompted in his press 149 00:08:32,280 --> 00:08:36,000 Speaker 1: conference talking about the time that he got benched. And 150 00:08:36,120 --> 00:08:38,240 Speaker 1: look at anybody who reads Bear Bale knows I've been 151 00:08:38,679 --> 00:08:42,360 Speaker 1: pretty critical of his critical mistakes. Yeah, putting the ball 152 00:08:42,360 --> 00:08:45,400 Speaker 1: on the ground too much, finding the other team too often. 153 00:08:45,840 --> 00:08:48,360 Speaker 1: But I think one thing that was brought up by 154 00:08:48,400 --> 00:08:51,960 Speaker 1: Marcus and Arthur Smith as well, and it sounds like 155 00:08:52,000 --> 00:08:55,440 Speaker 1: an excuse, but it's really not, is that he's getting 156 00:08:55,480 --> 00:08:59,880 Speaker 1: back into the flow after two plus seasons not playing 157 00:09:00,160 --> 00:09:03,839 Speaker 1: very much at all, making cameo appearances and doing little 158 00:09:03,840 --> 00:09:06,280 Speaker 1: things like knowing when to tuck and when to run, 159 00:09:06,320 --> 00:09:09,520 Speaker 1: and getting more comfortable in the flow of being an 160 00:09:09,600 --> 00:09:12,200 Speaker 1: offensive field general. And I think that we're starting to 161 00:09:12,200 --> 00:09:16,840 Speaker 1: see those improvements. Obviously, he was near perfect yeah, today, 162 00:09:16,960 --> 00:09:19,640 Speaker 1: and I thought he was really impressive. It was interesting too. 163 00:09:19,640 --> 00:09:22,640 Speaker 1: I looked this up. So over the last two and 164 00:09:22,640 --> 00:09:26,600 Speaker 1: a half years he has since being benched at Tennessee, 165 00:09:26,640 --> 00:09:30,839 Speaker 1: he's made thirty attempts passing attempts. Thirty. Wow, that's how 166 00:09:31,880 --> 00:09:34,720 Speaker 1: That's how much you've seen Marcus Mariota in the last 167 00:09:34,760 --> 00:09:37,360 Speaker 1: two and a half years. For him to come out 168 00:09:37,480 --> 00:09:40,400 Speaker 1: and play in these first six games, I think it 169 00:09:40,440 --> 00:09:42,800 Speaker 1: goes without saying that there was going to be moments 170 00:09:42,800 --> 00:09:45,560 Speaker 1: where rust is being knocked off, and there was going 171 00:09:45,600 --> 00:09:49,079 Speaker 1: to be moments of almost essentially like growing pains again. 172 00:09:49,240 --> 00:09:51,640 Speaker 1: You know, you talk about growing pains, that young players have, 173 00:09:52,080 --> 00:09:55,560 Speaker 1: growing pains, getting back into the shape that you need 174 00:09:55,600 --> 00:09:58,520 Speaker 1: to be in mentally, physically, all that stuff to be 175 00:09:58,640 --> 00:10:01,720 Speaker 1: a starting quarterback in the NFL. All of that we're 176 00:10:01,720 --> 00:10:05,840 Speaker 1: actively seeing kind of transpire transpire over the course of 177 00:10:05,880 --> 00:10:08,600 Speaker 1: these first six games. And I think it does from 178 00:10:08,920 --> 00:10:11,720 Speaker 1: Arthur Smith to say what he did about Look, this 179 00:10:11,760 --> 00:10:14,480 Speaker 1: is a guy who hasn't played in two years. What 180 00:10:14,520 --> 00:10:19,320 Speaker 1: he's doing is really important to our offensive operation. I 181 00:10:19,360 --> 00:10:22,720 Speaker 1: think you now see the Falcon's offense as a whole 182 00:10:23,240 --> 00:10:26,360 Speaker 1: looking more like how Arthur Smith wants them to look 183 00:10:26,640 --> 00:10:28,760 Speaker 1: and a lot of that, I do think is because 184 00:10:28,840 --> 00:10:32,880 Speaker 1: you have Marcus Mariota in the pocket. Yeah, and he's 185 00:10:32,960 --> 00:10:38,480 Speaker 1: so explosive running the football. Yes, that dynamic I think 186 00:10:38,600 --> 00:10:41,559 Speaker 1: kind of really adds a level to what they're trying 187 00:10:41,600 --> 00:10:44,679 Speaker 1: to do with their running game as a whole. So 188 00:10:44,880 --> 00:10:49,199 Speaker 1: we've talked about Marcus Mariota his effectiveness. I don't think 189 00:10:49,200 --> 00:10:52,760 Speaker 1: there's any argument even the most diehard forty nine Ers 190 00:10:52,760 --> 00:10:55,559 Speaker 1: fan can admit that San Francisco got beat in all 191 00:10:55,600 --> 00:11:00,280 Speaker 1: three phases today, full stop, period. We have been talking 192 00:11:00,280 --> 00:11:05,920 Speaker 1: on this podcast for multiple seasons about about the Falcons 193 00:11:06,000 --> 00:11:10,360 Speaker 1: playing a complete game, the elusive complete game that I 194 00:11:10,400 --> 00:11:12,520 Speaker 1: remember arthurs Hath said at one point like, it's not 195 00:11:12,600 --> 00:11:15,120 Speaker 1: as an elusive of a concept as you may think 196 00:11:15,160 --> 00:11:19,040 Speaker 1: it is, but the Falcons I felt like the Falcons 197 00:11:19,120 --> 00:11:21,959 Speaker 1: never really got there. All right, Well, Ashton, was this 198 00:11:22,200 --> 00:11:27,600 Speaker 1: a truly complete game? That no game is perfect? Right? Yeah, 199 00:11:27,600 --> 00:11:30,040 Speaker 1: there's a difference, And I've written this, if you go 200 00:11:30,120 --> 00:11:32,520 Speaker 1: back to last year, I wrote a whole story about 201 00:11:32,559 --> 00:11:36,200 Speaker 1: there is a difference between being complete and perfect. Those 202 00:11:36,200 --> 00:11:38,920 Speaker 1: two things are not synonymous with each other. They are 203 00:11:38,960 --> 00:11:41,960 Speaker 1: different things. You can be complete and not be perfect 204 00:11:42,200 --> 00:11:46,199 Speaker 1: like that's I feel like I should say that on 205 00:11:46,240 --> 00:11:49,280 Speaker 1: the record here everybody listened to me. Complete, it's not 206 00:11:49,360 --> 00:11:51,880 Speaker 1: equal perfect. Yeah, I mean I would agree with that. 207 00:11:52,080 --> 00:11:55,960 Speaker 1: Rashaan Evans even said there's room for improvement with this 208 00:11:56,040 --> 00:11:58,640 Speaker 1: Falcons team. Grady Jared said the same thing. But I 209 00:11:58,720 --> 00:12:00,760 Speaker 1: do think they played This is the first game of 210 00:12:00,800 --> 00:12:03,160 Speaker 1: the season where they played a complete game. I would 211 00:12:03,160 --> 00:12:06,800 Speaker 1: say on offense, defense, and special teams, everybody stepped up 212 00:12:06,840 --> 00:12:09,240 Speaker 1: and did their job today. You know, it was really 213 00:12:09,280 --> 00:12:12,679 Speaker 1: minimal mistakes made throughout the game, but you know, they 214 00:12:12,720 --> 00:12:16,040 Speaker 1: played an effective and efficient game throughout the whole, throughout 215 00:12:16,040 --> 00:12:19,679 Speaker 1: all four quarters. In just finishing throughout all four quarters 216 00:12:19,880 --> 00:12:22,960 Speaker 1: is something that the defense has been preaching, you know, 217 00:12:23,040 --> 00:12:25,880 Speaker 1: all season, and I think we've seen that from the 218 00:12:25,960 --> 00:12:28,840 Speaker 1: first quarters to the fourth quarter the defense. You know, 219 00:12:29,080 --> 00:12:32,280 Speaker 1: they played with the same intensity through all four quarters. 220 00:12:32,480 --> 00:12:34,720 Speaker 1: I think a word that you brought up is efficient. 221 00:12:34,800 --> 00:12:36,800 Speaker 1: That was something that Arthur Smith brought up. It's something 222 00:12:36,840 --> 00:12:40,040 Speaker 1: that Marcus Mariotta brought up. Jalen Hawkins when I was 223 00:12:40,040 --> 00:12:41,760 Speaker 1: talking to him in the locker room. He brought it up, 224 00:12:42,040 --> 00:12:45,360 Speaker 1: the word efficient, like being efficient and making sure that 225 00:12:45,400 --> 00:12:47,160 Speaker 1: they are doing what they need to do when they 226 00:12:47,160 --> 00:12:50,520 Speaker 1: need to do it. Executing at a level consistently through 227 00:12:50,559 --> 00:12:53,240 Speaker 1: four quarters like that is being efficient. And I think 228 00:12:53,240 --> 00:12:56,720 Speaker 1: we did see efficiency with this team at a clip 229 00:12:56,840 --> 00:13:00,200 Speaker 1: that maybe we haven't seen up until this point. And 230 00:13:00,240 --> 00:13:02,880 Speaker 1: I think it's a reason why you saw them be 231 00:13:03,080 --> 00:13:05,360 Speaker 1: as productive as they were. And in the moments where 232 00:13:05,440 --> 00:13:08,480 Speaker 1: they obviously weren't as efficient and they were getting penalized 233 00:13:08,520 --> 00:13:10,800 Speaker 1: and they were going backwards on offense or we're making 234 00:13:10,840 --> 00:13:14,679 Speaker 1: mistakes on assignments on defense, you saw what happens when 235 00:13:14,720 --> 00:13:18,480 Speaker 1: they don't play clean. When this team plays clean, I 236 00:13:18,559 --> 00:13:20,880 Speaker 1: think we have seen in those moments that they are 237 00:13:21,920 --> 00:13:25,560 Speaker 1: fairly competitive with whoever that they're playing. It's when they 238 00:13:25,640 --> 00:13:28,280 Speaker 1: kind of are getting in their own way that we 239 00:13:28,400 --> 00:13:32,360 Speaker 1: see things kind of stumble or falter a little bit. 240 00:13:32,400 --> 00:13:35,800 Speaker 1: So that efficiency word efficiency is I think very important 241 00:13:36,160 --> 00:13:40,200 Speaker 1: for this operation, both defensively and offensively. And since we're 242 00:13:40,240 --> 00:13:44,320 Speaker 1: talking about efficiency, the run game efficient again, this is 243 00:13:44,360 --> 00:13:47,280 Speaker 1: now the fourth time and six attempts that the Falcons 244 00:13:47,280 --> 00:13:50,199 Speaker 1: have been above one hundred and fifty yards. Amazing good. 245 00:13:50,320 --> 00:13:52,960 Speaker 1: I would have never thought that as someone who's been 246 00:13:53,679 --> 00:13:58,240 Speaker 1: adjacent to like the Atlanta area and Falcons football for years. 247 00:13:58,760 --> 00:14:00,960 Speaker 1: I don't. I think I week for a lot of 248 00:14:01,080 --> 00:14:03,880 Speaker 1: Falcons fans and saying that, I don't think anybody thought 249 00:14:03,920 --> 00:14:05,480 Speaker 1: that the Falcons were ever going to have a run 250 00:14:05,520 --> 00:14:09,040 Speaker 1: game that looked like this. Wow, Like and I agree, right, 251 00:14:09,120 --> 00:14:11,320 Speaker 1: Like you're from Atlanta too, Like you know, you know 252 00:14:12,360 --> 00:14:16,600 Speaker 1: you've been around like that. I truly can't. It's been decade, 253 00:14:16,920 --> 00:14:19,960 Speaker 1: a decade since I feel like the Falcons have established 254 00:14:19,960 --> 00:14:22,040 Speaker 1: the run in the way that Arthur Smith wants this 255 00:14:22,080 --> 00:14:24,480 Speaker 1: team to establish the run in the way they have 256 00:14:24,840 --> 00:14:27,480 Speaker 1: through the first six games of the season. Yeah, I 257 00:14:27,560 --> 00:14:30,720 Speaker 1: mean five or four point nine yards a clip. They 258 00:14:30,840 --> 00:14:35,120 Speaker 1: entered this game third in rushing offense. Yeah, and they're 259 00:14:35,360 --> 00:14:38,280 Speaker 1: they're and they're going to maintain that. I like how 260 00:14:38,720 --> 00:14:40,720 Speaker 1: they run even when the whole world knows that they're 261 00:14:40,720 --> 00:14:46,640 Speaker 1: gonna run, and seeing Kyle Shanahan, who is widely respected 262 00:14:46,720 --> 00:14:50,720 Speaker 1: and known for having an innovative creative doesn't matter who 263 00:14:50,760 --> 00:14:55,040 Speaker 1: the running back is effective run game. Arthur Smith's run 264 00:14:55,120 --> 00:14:59,000 Speaker 1: game run scheming is on par with anybody. It's so 265 00:14:59,080 --> 00:15:02,160 Speaker 1: well choreographed, you got no idea where the ball is going. 266 00:15:02,360 --> 00:15:05,280 Speaker 1: They're selling one thing they're doing something else and then 267 00:15:05,280 --> 00:15:08,640 Speaker 1: they find ways to get tough yards after contact. Plus 268 00:15:09,040 --> 00:15:11,640 Speaker 1: you have to defend the quarterback running two. I like 269 00:15:11,760 --> 00:15:13,800 Speaker 1: how Arthur Smith said, I don't think he was talking 270 00:15:13,800 --> 00:15:15,680 Speaker 1: about the run game specifically. I think he was talking 271 00:15:15,680 --> 00:15:18,880 Speaker 1: about Marcus. But there's a lot to defend on every 272 00:15:18,880 --> 00:15:22,640 Speaker 1: play and that makes them more difficult to deal with. 273 00:15:23,720 --> 00:15:27,320 Speaker 1: But you know, you look at this, sixteen rushes for 274 00:15:27,400 --> 00:15:30,840 Speaker 1: Caleb Puntly for fifty nine, fifteen rushes for Tyler for 275 00:15:30,880 --> 00:15:34,320 Speaker 1: Tyler Algier with fifty one. Both of their top two 276 00:15:34,400 --> 00:15:37,280 Speaker 1: running backs have been out for a while. How are 277 00:15:37,280 --> 00:15:40,920 Speaker 1: these what are these young backs showing you Ashton? That 278 00:15:41,040 --> 00:15:44,880 Speaker 1: kind of really has has allowed them to stay efficient, 279 00:15:45,000 --> 00:15:47,880 Speaker 1: stay effective even without their top two guys. Yeah, I 280 00:15:47,960 --> 00:15:50,880 Speaker 1: think first off, I think nobody had no idea that 281 00:15:51,160 --> 00:15:53,760 Speaker 1: Cordea Betterson or Damian Williams was going to be out 282 00:15:54,440 --> 00:15:57,520 Speaker 1: and tell a, Tyler Algier and Caleb Puntly was going 283 00:15:57,560 --> 00:16:00,920 Speaker 1: to be leading the charge. But these guys, I feel 284 00:16:00,920 --> 00:16:03,080 Speaker 1: like these guys are just hungry. You know, they are 285 00:16:03,120 --> 00:16:06,800 Speaker 1: ready for the moment, They're ready to lead, and you know, 286 00:16:06,840 --> 00:16:09,520 Speaker 1: I think they just believe in themselves and we see 287 00:16:09,520 --> 00:16:12,040 Speaker 1: that we've been seeing that through the last four games. 288 00:16:12,480 --> 00:16:15,520 Speaker 1: Um Caleb Huntley man who was elevated from the practice squad, 289 00:16:15,520 --> 00:16:18,320 Speaker 1: he talked about that belief in itself and just working 290 00:16:18,360 --> 00:16:21,240 Speaker 1: in an offseason, and I think we're starting to see, 291 00:16:21,280 --> 00:16:23,040 Speaker 1: I mean, we're starting to see the work that he's 292 00:16:23,080 --> 00:16:25,920 Speaker 1: put in, you know, in these games. So it was 293 00:16:26,000 --> 00:16:31,800 Speaker 1: interesting because Marcus was asked postgame about like replacing Cordill 294 00:16:31,840 --> 00:16:34,720 Speaker 1: Patterson's production, and he made the comment that I thought 295 00:16:34,760 --> 00:16:37,360 Speaker 1: was really well said. He was like, you know, because 296 00:16:37,360 --> 00:16:39,200 Speaker 1: of the player that CP is and because of the 297 00:16:39,200 --> 00:16:42,160 Speaker 1: ways that we use him as a receiver, as a 298 00:16:42,280 --> 00:16:46,480 Speaker 1: running back, just all over the field, that production was 299 00:16:46,560 --> 00:16:49,600 Speaker 1: not going to be replicated by one singular person. It 300 00:16:49,680 --> 00:16:52,720 Speaker 1: was going to be replicated by receivers and running backs. 301 00:16:52,720 --> 00:16:55,240 Speaker 1: And I think the Falcons, for the most part, have 302 00:16:55,360 --> 00:16:58,440 Speaker 1: done a really good job of kind of spreading out 303 00:16:58,480 --> 00:17:03,800 Speaker 1: that idea of like spreading Cordirel Patterson's production out. And 304 00:17:03,840 --> 00:17:07,000 Speaker 1: I think that it really is You're seeing Tyler Algier 305 00:17:07,080 --> 00:17:09,280 Speaker 1: and Caleb Huntley kind of go at this at as 306 00:17:09,280 --> 00:17:12,359 Speaker 1: a tandem, and let's be honest, like they run with 307 00:17:12,400 --> 00:17:16,120 Speaker 1: the physicality that CP does, Like they are getting hit 308 00:17:16,520 --> 00:17:19,000 Speaker 1: sometimes at the line of scrimmage, sometimes behind the line 309 00:17:19,000 --> 00:17:22,200 Speaker 1: of scrimmage, and they're still getting two or three yards. 310 00:17:22,240 --> 00:17:26,280 Speaker 1: Like these are really important physical runs, and it's you 311 00:17:26,359 --> 00:17:28,760 Speaker 1: go back to the word hunger, and I think they 312 00:17:28,840 --> 00:17:31,320 Speaker 1: are just kind of like, I don't know, just like 313 00:17:31,400 --> 00:17:34,439 Speaker 1: beating the run game, hungry for those yards over and 314 00:17:34,520 --> 00:17:36,720 Speaker 1: over again. And I think that's something that you know, 315 00:17:36,880 --> 00:17:40,680 Speaker 1: sometimes goes overlooked. It's like when they are breaking these 316 00:17:40,720 --> 00:17:44,439 Speaker 1: tackles and getting two or three yards on first or 317 00:17:44,440 --> 00:17:47,360 Speaker 1: second down, that was something that I wrote about during 318 00:17:47,400 --> 00:17:49,600 Speaker 1: the week. It's like they needed more of those. They 319 00:17:49,640 --> 00:17:53,400 Speaker 1: needed more of against Tampa Bay. They were really struggling 320 00:17:53,480 --> 00:17:56,440 Speaker 1: on first and second down to run the ball at 321 00:17:56,480 --> 00:17:59,040 Speaker 1: that clip, which is not a huge clip, it's two 322 00:17:59,119 --> 00:18:01,640 Speaker 1: or three yards, but it means a lot to your 323 00:18:01,680 --> 00:18:05,600 Speaker 1: overall offensive production. And Arthur Smith said, it's something that 324 00:18:05,680 --> 00:18:09,320 Speaker 1: keeps this offense on track. And so being able to 325 00:18:09,320 --> 00:18:13,239 Speaker 1: have two very physical runners that can go out and 326 00:18:13,320 --> 00:18:17,200 Speaker 1: get those two or three garbage yards like that is very, 327 00:18:17,359 --> 00:18:20,320 Speaker 1: very important. It's something that it's been They're fun. They're 328 00:18:20,320 --> 00:18:24,119 Speaker 1: too fun young guys to watch run. As someone who 329 00:18:24,240 --> 00:18:28,280 Speaker 1: I love, I love defense and I love when someone 330 00:18:28,359 --> 00:18:32,040 Speaker 1: runs over somebody else. Seeing them kind of carry some 331 00:18:32,080 --> 00:18:34,760 Speaker 1: guys on their back is really fun to watch. They 332 00:18:35,320 --> 00:18:39,920 Speaker 1: the Falcons had fifty six offensive plays, forty of them 333 00:18:40,200 --> 00:18:46,400 Speaker 1: were runs. This is this is the identity of this team. Though, 334 00:18:46,560 --> 00:18:51,320 Speaker 1: Like we came into this season questioning what this offense 335 00:18:51,400 --> 00:18:54,560 Speaker 1: was going to look like. Without Matt Ryan and without 336 00:18:54,640 --> 00:18:57,600 Speaker 1: Julio Jones, and without Calvin Ridley and all of these 337 00:18:57,640 --> 00:19:00,919 Speaker 1: playmakers that we have kind of a stated with Atlanta 338 00:19:00,920 --> 00:19:03,960 Speaker 1: Falcons for the last few years. None of them are here, 339 00:19:04,040 --> 00:19:05,639 Speaker 1: none of them are out there playing. So what was 340 00:19:05,680 --> 00:19:08,639 Speaker 1: this offense going to look like? Well? Physical, I think 341 00:19:08,680 --> 00:19:11,280 Speaker 1: I said the other day, like physicality is their calling card, 342 00:19:11,320 --> 00:19:15,320 Speaker 1: and physicality is their identity. What's more physical than running 343 00:19:15,320 --> 00:19:17,720 Speaker 1: the ball up the gut, like you know, And that's 344 00:19:17,760 --> 00:19:20,240 Speaker 1: what we're seeing. That's what we're seeing them do. Yeah, 345 00:19:20,280 --> 00:19:23,760 Speaker 1: And I think for their defensive identity, we've heard a 346 00:19:23,760 --> 00:19:25,800 Speaker 1: lot of ben but don't break if you if you 347 00:19:25,840 --> 00:19:29,280 Speaker 1: look at their total defense, which is a yardage metric, 348 00:19:30,080 --> 00:19:34,000 Speaker 1: they're pretty They're towards the bottom of the league. As 349 00:19:34,000 --> 00:19:36,719 Speaker 1: we've said time and time again. Dnp's cares not about that. 350 00:19:37,960 --> 00:19:40,800 Speaker 1: The thing that I think they're good at and tore. 351 00:19:40,840 --> 00:19:44,000 Speaker 1: You've mentioned this as well, but they're they're pretty tough 352 00:19:44,080 --> 00:19:46,320 Speaker 1: in the red zone. Yeah, tougher than average in the 353 00:19:46,359 --> 00:19:48,760 Speaker 1: red zone. And as I mentioned at the top of 354 00:19:48,800 --> 00:19:51,840 Speaker 1: the podcast, they're taking the ball away ten times in 355 00:19:51,920 --> 00:19:54,919 Speaker 1: six games. This is this is a team that that 356 00:19:55,080 --> 00:19:59,119 Speaker 1: didn't have that luxury or advantage. Arthur Smith talked about 357 00:19:59,119 --> 00:20:02,000 Speaker 1: it being a mindset and coaches don't mind if you 358 00:20:02,080 --> 00:20:06,080 Speaker 1: make a mistake being aggressive, and they are aggressive to 359 00:20:06,119 --> 00:20:09,080 Speaker 1: the ball. They are aggressive trying to strip it. And 360 00:20:09,160 --> 00:20:14,520 Speaker 1: Ashton they hit. They scored a touchdown today, scored a touchdown, 361 00:20:14,680 --> 00:20:17,639 Speaker 1: had a couple of picks. They're getting contributions from it 362 00:20:17,800 --> 00:20:22,400 Speaker 1: from everybody. But you're but you're cutting three drives short right, 363 00:20:22,880 --> 00:20:26,000 Speaker 1: um and turning it around scoring in one. I mean 364 00:20:26,040 --> 00:20:30,760 Speaker 1: obviously so impactful when you're taking the ball away that often. Yep, yep. 365 00:20:30,880 --> 00:20:32,920 Speaker 1: And they hit. They held the forty nine ers to 366 00:20:33,119 --> 00:20:35,919 Speaker 1: just fifty yards rushing UM and I think you know 367 00:20:35,960 --> 00:20:38,480 Speaker 1: if you go back like well, like I said, um, 368 00:20:38,600 --> 00:20:44,800 Speaker 1: two key players Audio Gundaiji and Um Michael Michael Walker. Yes, Um, 369 00:20:45,080 --> 00:20:47,359 Speaker 1: you know they were out and Troy Anderson stepped up big. 370 00:20:47,440 --> 00:20:50,879 Speaker 1: He led the team with twelve cycles, tying with Rashaun Evans. Um, 371 00:20:50,920 --> 00:20:53,280 Speaker 1: you know they needed him to step up big in 372 00:20:53,280 --> 00:20:55,719 Speaker 1: this game because Michael Walker, of course, has been the 373 00:20:55,760 --> 00:20:59,000 Speaker 1: most efficient defensive player this year. And um, what we 374 00:20:59,040 --> 00:21:02,320 Speaker 1: saw from Troy Anderson and today, man, it brings more 375 00:21:02,400 --> 00:21:05,000 Speaker 1: depth to the linebacker record. And I think you know 376 00:21:05,080 --> 00:21:07,960 Speaker 1: it just it shows how how you know, how much 377 00:21:08,040 --> 00:21:11,120 Speaker 1: chemistry they have amongst each other. M Arnold Ebkatye Man, 378 00:21:11,119 --> 00:21:13,679 Speaker 1: he's been playing his tail off these last two games, 379 00:21:13,680 --> 00:21:15,840 Speaker 1: and um, I think we're starting to see him grow 380 00:21:15,880 --> 00:21:19,600 Speaker 1: in his consistency in the game. But um, I think 381 00:21:19,640 --> 00:21:23,040 Speaker 1: the Falcons defenseman, they're they're like they're super tight, They're 382 00:21:23,080 --> 00:21:25,359 Speaker 1: like a brotherhood, and I think everybody's just on one accord. 383 00:21:25,440 --> 00:21:28,119 Speaker 1: Like you see it from the defensive line all the 384 00:21:28,160 --> 00:21:31,440 Speaker 1: way back to the secondary. Something that Scott you were 385 00:21:31,480 --> 00:21:35,399 Speaker 1: saying about, they're gonna make mistakes, but they're gonna do 386 00:21:35,440 --> 00:21:38,280 Speaker 1: so aggressively. That was actually a quote from Dean P's 387 00:21:38,359 --> 00:21:41,560 Speaker 1: this past week during his midweek availability where he was 388 00:21:41,560 --> 00:21:44,320 Speaker 1: talking about Troy Anderson, and that's right. He was like, 389 00:21:44,680 --> 00:21:47,560 Speaker 1: this is a guy who is going to make mistakes, 390 00:21:47,800 --> 00:21:50,040 Speaker 1: but he's gonna make it going like one hundred miles 391 00:21:50,040 --> 00:21:52,719 Speaker 1: an hour. He's gonna be aggressive, and as a coach, 392 00:21:52,800 --> 00:21:55,960 Speaker 1: you would rather that happen. You would rather someone Arthur 393 00:21:55,960 --> 00:21:57,440 Speaker 1: Smith has said it all the time. I would rather 394 00:21:57,480 --> 00:21:59,800 Speaker 1: pull someone back than have to push them forward. And 395 00:21:59,840 --> 00:22:03,360 Speaker 1: I think that's kind of what you're seeing with this defense. 396 00:22:03,400 --> 00:22:07,600 Speaker 1: They're really young, especially when you have guys that are 397 00:22:07,680 --> 00:22:10,240 Speaker 1: going down like A J. Terrell and Casey Hayward like 398 00:22:10,240 --> 00:22:13,120 Speaker 1: what we saw in that game, and then to Kwan 399 00:22:13,240 --> 00:22:16,919 Speaker 1: Graham he was out for a few series with a 400 00:22:17,080 --> 00:22:20,359 Speaker 1: knee injury but came back in. You see some guys 401 00:22:20,400 --> 00:22:24,280 Speaker 1: going down. Michael Walker, Audio, candaij and all of those 402 00:22:24,280 --> 00:22:26,680 Speaker 1: guys are even young. You know, we're talking about guys 403 00:22:26,720 --> 00:22:29,320 Speaker 1: who are still on their rookie deals. All of those 404 00:22:29,359 --> 00:22:32,080 Speaker 1: guys that I just mentioned outside of Casey Hayward are 405 00:22:32,119 --> 00:22:34,240 Speaker 1: all still on their rookie deal. This is a very 406 00:22:34,320 --> 00:22:37,840 Speaker 1: young defense. They are going to have moments where they miss, 407 00:22:37,920 --> 00:22:40,400 Speaker 1: they have miscues, and they misstep and all those kinds 408 00:22:40,400 --> 00:22:43,280 Speaker 1: of things. But if they're doing so aggressively, it's like 409 00:22:43,359 --> 00:22:47,600 Speaker 1: at one point the knowledge will catch up to the physicality, 410 00:22:47,800 --> 00:22:50,720 Speaker 1: if that makes sense. Yeah, and if you look at 411 00:22:50,760 --> 00:22:53,760 Speaker 1: the forty nine ers drive chart in the second half 412 00:22:53,760 --> 00:22:57,040 Speaker 1: when it matters most punt, punt, interception, turnover on down's 413 00:22:57,160 --> 00:23:00,520 Speaker 1: end of game zero points in the second half. They've 414 00:23:00,520 --> 00:23:04,080 Speaker 1: been good. Later we've seen even against Tampa Bay, they 415 00:23:04,359 --> 00:23:07,800 Speaker 1: should have had the opportunity to give their offense a 416 00:23:07,880 --> 00:23:09,800 Speaker 1: chance to come back. They've won three of the last 417 00:23:09,840 --> 00:23:13,119 Speaker 1: four games. Now we're starting to see the type of 418 00:23:13,160 --> 00:23:16,680 Speaker 1: progress here, and just one lesson as we're kind of 419 00:23:16,720 --> 00:23:20,119 Speaker 1: like wrapping this up. I thought the win was impressive. 420 00:23:20,480 --> 00:23:25,720 Speaker 1: I thought the Falcon's reaction to it was equal to that, 421 00:23:26,000 --> 00:23:29,800 Speaker 1: meaning that nobody was like, this is a statement win. 422 00:23:30,119 --> 00:23:33,400 Speaker 1: Oh of course, like people were celebrating. Someone go watch 423 00:23:33,520 --> 00:23:39,080 Speaker 1: the video line having bud lights with Arthur Smith. But 424 00:23:39,200 --> 00:23:43,119 Speaker 1: I think it was important because so many guys said, look, yeah, 425 00:23:43,160 --> 00:23:45,120 Speaker 1: it's a bit of a confidence builder, but we didn't 426 00:23:45,119 --> 00:23:48,000 Speaker 1: come here to win three games, and how can you 427 00:23:48,040 --> 00:23:50,879 Speaker 1: be happy at three and three? And I think that 428 00:23:50,920 --> 00:23:53,359 Speaker 1: that type of perspective, which is a word that Arthur 429 00:23:53,359 --> 00:23:55,879 Speaker 1: Smith used, is that they're taking a proper perspective to 430 00:23:55,920 --> 00:23:59,800 Speaker 1: these results, win or loss, and kind of applying it 431 00:24:00,080 --> 00:24:01,919 Speaker 1: the Jake Matthew said that they try to take a 432 00:24:02,040 --> 00:24:05,280 Speaker 1: lesson from every game and then apply it to the future. Well, 433 00:24:05,640 --> 00:24:10,520 Speaker 1: I think that those lessons are being learned, they're being absorbed, 434 00:24:10,560 --> 00:24:13,000 Speaker 1: and they're being applied. Now, are they going to play 435 00:24:13,000 --> 00:24:17,240 Speaker 1: as well as they did here in the future. Maybe not. 436 00:24:17,320 --> 00:24:19,200 Speaker 1: It's a week to week league. We have no idea 437 00:24:19,359 --> 00:24:22,119 Speaker 1: how they're gonna play against Cincinnati. But I just liked it. 438 00:24:22,119 --> 00:24:25,000 Speaker 1: They seem to have their heads on straight despite playing 439 00:24:25,040 --> 00:24:26,800 Speaker 1: so well here. Yeah, I mean, and I think that's 440 00:24:26,800 --> 00:24:29,359 Speaker 1: something that Arthur Smith has talked about, Like even he 441 00:24:29,520 --> 00:24:31,520 Speaker 1: was like, sometimes the hardest things that you can do 442 00:24:31,640 --> 00:24:33,520 Speaker 1: is like after a win to still be like critical 443 00:24:33,560 --> 00:24:35,879 Speaker 1: of yourself because you feel good about the win, but 444 00:24:35,920 --> 00:24:38,040 Speaker 1: you also have to be real and be like, yeah, 445 00:24:38,040 --> 00:24:40,320 Speaker 1: we made mistakes. And I will say this, like I 446 00:24:40,359 --> 00:24:44,119 Speaker 1: know this podcast has been fairly positive, but like even 447 00:24:44,200 --> 00:24:47,400 Speaker 1: sitting here now, it's like the Falcons can get better. Yeah, 448 00:24:47,440 --> 00:24:49,440 Speaker 1: you know, it's not like we're sitting here like same 449 00:24:49,480 --> 00:24:52,040 Speaker 1: exact thing, like, oh, they did so many great things hey, 450 00:24:52,240 --> 00:24:55,000 Speaker 1: but like at the exact same time, it's like there 451 00:24:55,040 --> 00:24:57,440 Speaker 1: are things that need to be cleaned up, and there 452 00:24:57,480 --> 00:25:01,159 Speaker 1: are moments that penalties are still biting this team in 453 00:25:01,200 --> 00:25:03,960 Speaker 1: the butt. So for all of that. It's it's like 454 00:25:04,200 --> 00:25:07,359 Speaker 1: this team is you have to take what is it 455 00:25:07,400 --> 00:25:10,840 Speaker 1: that Arthur Smith. Smith always says, it's like critical, you 456 00:25:10,840 --> 00:25:13,919 Speaker 1: have to be critical of yourself. Objective. He uses the 457 00:25:13,960 --> 00:25:16,440 Speaker 1: word objective all the time. You have to be objective 458 00:25:16,880 --> 00:25:18,719 Speaker 1: when you're looking at what you did. And I think 459 00:25:18,800 --> 00:25:21,680 Speaker 1: that is something that the Falcons so far this year 460 00:25:21,800 --> 00:25:25,200 Speaker 1: have been relatively good at. I think they've gone from 461 00:25:25,320 --> 00:25:30,880 Speaker 1: week to week and in their preparation reset fairly well. Yeah, 462 00:25:30,960 --> 00:25:35,800 Speaker 1: and it's all about finding consistency, consistency with the outcome. 463 00:25:35,880 --> 00:25:38,320 Speaker 1: It's no longer good enough to fight till the end 464 00:25:38,640 --> 00:25:42,600 Speaker 1: right now, And that was kind of ditched after week two, like, great, 465 00:25:42,640 --> 00:25:45,200 Speaker 1: we fight, of course we do, but let's turn over 466 00:25:45,280 --> 00:25:48,679 Speaker 1: these results that's happening more often. Can't it continue? They 467 00:25:48,720 --> 00:25:51,240 Speaker 1: have a tough game against Cincinnati and then in theory 468 00:25:51,280 --> 00:25:54,200 Speaker 1: things get a little bit easier after that. But in 469 00:25:54,359 --> 00:25:57,360 Speaker 1: theory theory, but I think this is an opportunity here 470 00:25:57,640 --> 00:26:01,359 Speaker 1: for them to gain some some moment momentum. And I 471 00:26:01,440 --> 00:26:03,359 Speaker 1: know it's week to weekly, there's no such thing as 472 00:26:03,400 --> 00:26:07,600 Speaker 1: momentum between weeks. But if they can continue to gain confidence, 473 00:26:07,640 --> 00:26:10,040 Speaker 1: continue to progress, I think all that would be a 474 00:26:10,119 --> 00:26:13,639 Speaker 1: positive for this unit as they move forward. I'm done talking, 475 00:26:13,760 --> 00:26:17,879 Speaker 1: so as Tory and Ashton and thanks to everyone for downloading, 476 00:26:18,080 --> 00:26:22,240 Speaker 1: listening on the Atlanta Falcons podcast network. Please subscribe to that. 477 00:26:22,600 --> 00:26:26,960 Speaker 1: The Falcons Final Whistle channel has been closed. We're merging 478 00:26:27,000 --> 00:26:30,639 Speaker 1: everything together so you can get Falcons and Focus, Falcons Audible, 479 00:26:31,040 --> 00:26:35,240 Speaker 1: and Falcons Final Whistle all in one convenient location. Also, 480 00:26:35,320 --> 00:26:38,119 Speaker 1: go watch Falcons and Focus with Kayla McGary. You'll learn 481 00:26:38,160 --> 00:26:43,000 Speaker 1: a lot about bears and we have a good one 482 00:26:43,040 --> 00:26:46,280 Speaker 1: coming up. It's Arnold Eba Katie who is fascinating. Please 483 00:26:46,359 --> 00:26:48,120 Speaker 1: keep an eye out for that and we will talk 484 00:26:48,119 --> 00:26:51,680 Speaker 1: to you next week after the Falcons play The Bankers.