1 00:00:07,960 --> 00:00:10,320 Speaker 1: What's up, everybody, and welcome to the latest edition of 2 00:00:10,360 --> 00:00:12,920 Speaker 1: The Falcon's Final Whistle podcast. We are coming to you 3 00:00:13,600 --> 00:00:16,480 Speaker 1: on a bit of an unorthodox schedule because of the 4 00:00:16,560 --> 00:00:20,759 Speaker 1: Christmas holiday. I'm Scott Bear, Tory and Ashton are with 5 00:00:20,800 --> 00:00:25,360 Speaker 1: me via fancy technology. Because we enjoyed the Christmas holiday 6 00:00:25,400 --> 00:00:27,880 Speaker 1: with our families. We hope that you enjoyed it with 7 00:00:27,960 --> 00:00:31,480 Speaker 1: yours and had a pleasant December twenty fifth doing whatever 8 00:00:31,520 --> 00:00:34,440 Speaker 1: you were doing, even if that meant like me, you 9 00:00:34,479 --> 00:00:37,800 Speaker 1: watched three consecutive games of football and eight more than 10 00:00:37,840 --> 00:00:43,400 Speaker 1: his body weight in Carnea Sada, so it's very specific. Yeah, Well, 11 00:00:43,440 --> 00:00:45,919 Speaker 1: we have this tradition because we're from San Diego, so 12 00:00:45,960 --> 00:00:51,040 Speaker 1: we do this San Diego specific meal as homage to 13 00:00:51,159 --> 00:00:54,400 Speaker 1: our kind of past or whatever. So that was fun. Tori, 14 00:00:54,520 --> 00:00:57,120 Speaker 1: did you have a good Christmas? I did spend it 15 00:00:57,160 --> 00:01:00,960 Speaker 1: with my family up in Chickamauga, so I'm I'm feeling good. 16 00:01:01,240 --> 00:01:03,520 Speaker 1: That's actually where I'm recording from right now, in my 17 00:01:03,640 --> 00:01:08,640 Speaker 1: family's kitchen, So there's there's just a lot. Yeah. And Ashton, 18 00:01:08,720 --> 00:01:10,760 Speaker 1: you're still in the still in the h L with 19 00:01:11,040 --> 00:01:14,560 Speaker 1: your fam right. How is your Christmas in Atlanta? Christmas 20 00:01:14,560 --> 00:01:17,840 Speaker 1: is great man. We had a nice watched some NBA 21 00:01:18,000 --> 00:01:20,559 Speaker 1: NFL games, man, So it was it was really chill 22 00:01:20,560 --> 00:01:24,119 Speaker 1: and nice to be with them. Yeah. So normally we 23 00:01:24,360 --> 00:01:27,720 Speaker 1: normally we record this podcast right after the game is over, 24 00:01:27,760 --> 00:01:30,400 Speaker 1: with the emotions and the stats and everything fresh in 25 00:01:30,400 --> 00:01:33,720 Speaker 1: our minds. But given what happened, and given the delay 26 00:01:33,760 --> 00:01:37,240 Speaker 1: in recording the podcast, rehashing a game that was two 27 00:01:37,319 --> 00:01:39,520 Speaker 1: days ago, a game that didn't go well for the 28 00:01:39,520 --> 00:01:44,399 Speaker 1: Falcons and actually formally eliminated them from the playoffs, we figured, one, 29 00:01:44,440 --> 00:01:47,240 Speaker 1: we didn't really want to rehash that game. I don't 30 00:01:47,280 --> 00:01:50,520 Speaker 1: necessarily know that you want to rehash that game. So 31 00:01:50,560 --> 00:01:54,600 Speaker 1: we we put our brains together, our mighty IQ's, and 32 00:01:54,680 --> 00:01:57,320 Speaker 1: came up with a new plant, and it's this, We're 33 00:01:57,320 --> 00:02:00,000 Speaker 1: gonna try to spin this thing forward a little bit. 34 00:02:00,000 --> 00:02:03,280 Speaker 1: It using a question that was asked of head coach 35 00:02:03,400 --> 00:02:06,480 Speaker 1: Arthur Smith at the very end of his postgame press conference, 36 00:02:06,480 --> 00:02:08,640 Speaker 1: and it was this, what do you want now that 37 00:02:08,680 --> 00:02:11,880 Speaker 1: the playoffs are out of the picture, formally and mathematically 38 00:02:12,000 --> 00:02:14,760 Speaker 1: out of the picture. What do you want to see 39 00:02:14,840 --> 00:02:17,560 Speaker 1: from your team over the next two weeks? And I 40 00:02:17,560 --> 00:02:20,280 Speaker 1: think that's a good question worth pondering. His immediate answer 41 00:02:20,480 --> 00:02:23,400 Speaker 1: was he wants two things. He wants to see progress 42 00:02:23,600 --> 00:02:27,320 Speaker 1: and he wants victories. If we only said that and stop, 43 00:02:27,360 --> 00:02:30,080 Speaker 1: the podcast sponsors probably wouldn't be happy. So we're gonna 44 00:02:30,080 --> 00:02:32,640 Speaker 1: go ahead and expand on that a little bit and 45 00:02:32,800 --> 00:02:35,919 Speaker 1: dive deeper into what we want to see from certain positions, 46 00:02:35,960 --> 00:02:40,280 Speaker 1: from certain players. And that idea was not mine. I 47 00:02:40,360 --> 00:02:42,800 Speaker 1: went over to Atlanta Falcons dot com I read Tory 48 00:02:42,880 --> 00:02:51,480 Speaker 1: mclaney's amazing story on on the Record. I told Scott 49 00:02:51,480 --> 00:02:53,360 Speaker 1: when I was writing it, I was like, this is 50 00:02:53,440 --> 00:02:56,760 Speaker 1: like there are some days I think as journalists, you 51 00:02:56,880 --> 00:03:01,079 Speaker 1: write things that you're like, Wow, I am so good 52 00:03:01,120 --> 00:03:04,640 Speaker 1: at my job. This is so good. And then there 53 00:03:04,639 --> 00:03:06,440 Speaker 1: are other things that you write and you're just like, 54 00:03:07,280 --> 00:03:09,359 Speaker 1: this isn't good. Why am I doing this? I feel 55 00:03:09,360 --> 00:03:13,359 Speaker 1: like everybody probably has that feeling in their jobs. Yeah, 56 00:03:13,440 --> 00:03:17,160 Speaker 1: everybody just happens to read ours. So I told Scott, 57 00:03:17,200 --> 00:03:19,320 Speaker 1: I was like, this is so not good. And then 58 00:03:19,360 --> 00:03:23,200 Speaker 1: he goes and makes an entire podcast just about this story. 59 00:03:23,480 --> 00:03:26,520 Speaker 1: Am I doing it just to bother you a little bit? Maybe? 60 00:03:26,840 --> 00:03:30,480 Speaker 1: I'm not sure, but I was, But I wasn't inspired 61 00:03:30,520 --> 00:03:32,639 Speaker 1: by the idea. It wasn't as bad as you think 62 00:03:32,680 --> 00:03:36,480 Speaker 1: it was. It never is and but anyway, so Tory's 63 00:03:36,480 --> 00:03:39,920 Speaker 1: going to kind of guide us through this because as 64 00:03:39,920 --> 00:03:43,119 Speaker 1: Falcons fans, sure like you can dream about a draft pick, right, 65 00:03:43,360 --> 00:03:45,160 Speaker 1: but then they're not going to take that draft pick 66 00:03:45,240 --> 00:03:48,200 Speaker 1: for months and months and months. Right, we're talking about 67 00:03:48,480 --> 00:03:52,080 Speaker 1: immediate analysis. What fans can look for where there are 68 00:03:52,160 --> 00:03:56,880 Speaker 1: problem spots as Terry Fontineau and the fan base and Tory, 69 00:03:56,920 --> 00:04:00,840 Speaker 1: Scott and Nashton continue to compile an off season priority 70 00:04:00,880 --> 00:04:02,920 Speaker 1: list about what they need to get done with more 71 00:04:02,960 --> 00:04:05,560 Speaker 1: than seventy million dollars in cap space, some pretty good 72 00:04:05,640 --> 00:04:07,640 Speaker 1: draft capital. Now there's only one list that matters, and 73 00:04:07,720 --> 00:04:10,600 Speaker 1: that's Terry's right. Ours doesn't as much, but that won't 74 00:04:10,600 --> 00:04:13,400 Speaker 1: stop us from talking about it. So, Tory, what did 75 00:04:13,440 --> 00:04:15,880 Speaker 1: you kind of identify as you were watching that Ravens 76 00:04:15,920 --> 00:04:18,839 Speaker 1: game and you looked at some different positions that may 77 00:04:18,839 --> 00:04:22,120 Speaker 1: have been weaker or may have raised an eyebrower, prompted 78 00:04:22,160 --> 00:04:25,440 Speaker 1: some uncertainty. What did you kind of think that the 79 00:04:25,560 --> 00:04:28,440 Speaker 1: Ravens game showed you about the Falcons and what they 80 00:04:28,520 --> 00:04:34,400 Speaker 1: need to address moving forward. Yeah, so I starting off 81 00:04:34,480 --> 00:04:36,839 Speaker 1: just kind of like where you're talking about setting the 82 00:04:36,920 --> 00:04:40,800 Speaker 1: scene knowing kind of what the Falcons have at their 83 00:04:40,800 --> 00:04:44,120 Speaker 1: disposal come the start of the league year, and how 84 00:04:45,040 --> 00:04:50,400 Speaker 1: realistically they could have between eighty and ninety million dollars 85 00:04:50,400 --> 00:04:53,520 Speaker 1: in cap space, which would be in the top three 86 00:04:53,560 --> 00:04:55,920 Speaker 1: cap spaces in the league. And that's the first time 87 00:04:55,920 --> 00:04:58,840 Speaker 1: that we're saying this about this Falcons organization in a 88 00:04:58,960 --> 00:05:01,880 Speaker 1: very very long time. They took over eighty million dollars 89 00:05:01,880 --> 00:05:04,240 Speaker 1: of deadcap money on the chin in order to be 90 00:05:04,760 --> 00:05:06,800 Speaker 1: in twenty twenty two, in order to be in a 91 00:05:06,800 --> 00:05:11,279 Speaker 1: better financial situation in twenty twenty three. So all of 92 00:05:11,320 --> 00:05:14,240 Speaker 1: that being said, you would think that they would have 93 00:05:14,760 --> 00:05:18,760 Speaker 1: not just the draft capital, but also just the monetary 94 00:05:19,279 --> 00:05:23,919 Speaker 1: value of having more space in the salary cap to 95 00:05:24,640 --> 00:05:29,000 Speaker 1: make significant moves in free agency, probably being conversations within 96 00:05:29,040 --> 00:05:32,839 Speaker 1: the trade market, and then also have a pretty relatively 97 00:05:32,880 --> 00:05:37,000 Speaker 1: you'd hope, good draft class. So all that being said, 98 00:05:37,400 --> 00:05:40,640 Speaker 1: looking at this loss to Baltimore, I kind of was 99 00:05:40,680 --> 00:05:42,560 Speaker 1: just sitting there in the press box and I told Scott, 100 00:05:42,600 --> 00:05:44,520 Speaker 1: even as the game was kind of coming to an end, 101 00:05:44,520 --> 00:05:46,039 Speaker 1: I was like, I don't want to write about this game. 102 00:05:46,120 --> 00:05:48,800 Speaker 1: I have to push it forward, Like that's just what 103 00:05:48,800 --> 00:05:50,839 Speaker 1: we're going to do. And so I kind of broke 104 00:05:50,839 --> 00:05:55,839 Speaker 1: it down into three offensive positions and three defensive positions 105 00:05:55,880 --> 00:05:59,760 Speaker 1: that I feel like the Falcons, you know, should prioritize 106 00:06:00,040 --> 00:06:03,440 Speaker 1: in the off season, whether that be via free agency, 107 00:06:03,680 --> 00:06:09,560 Speaker 1: a trade, the draft, whatever. So y'all wanna which which 108 00:06:09,560 --> 00:06:11,840 Speaker 1: side do you want me to start with? Oh? You know, 109 00:06:11,880 --> 00:06:14,240 Speaker 1: I want to I want to start with the most 110 00:06:14,240 --> 00:06:17,080 Speaker 1: premium position on the planet. How about that for alliteration, 111 00:06:17,360 --> 00:06:21,640 Speaker 1: Let's go straight to inter Yep, Yep, that's it. That's 112 00:06:21,680 --> 00:06:25,120 Speaker 1: the one definitely, not the one with the low numbers 113 00:06:25,120 --> 00:06:27,120 Speaker 1: and the guys who throw the ball around. Yeah, why don't. 114 00:06:27,160 --> 00:06:30,839 Speaker 1: I mean like that's you know, that'll start grow offense. Yeah, 115 00:06:30,920 --> 00:06:32,479 Speaker 1: And I mean like we're going to talk quarterback a 116 00:06:32,480 --> 00:06:34,599 Speaker 1: lot during the off season, but I do think it's 117 00:06:34,600 --> 00:06:37,200 Speaker 1: relevant now and it will continue to be relevant moving forward. 118 00:06:37,240 --> 00:06:40,760 Speaker 1: So let's start with Dez. Let's start with quarterback situation. 119 00:06:40,800 --> 00:06:42,800 Speaker 1: We still have two more games in which we are 120 00:06:42,839 --> 00:06:45,760 Speaker 1: going to get more evaluations of him. I mean, we 121 00:06:45,800 --> 00:06:47,960 Speaker 1: still need to see more of him. I do think 122 00:06:48,000 --> 00:06:50,360 Speaker 1: I believe Arthur Smith and Desmond Ritter when they were 123 00:06:50,360 --> 00:06:53,400 Speaker 1: talking about that, there was progress from Desmond Ritters first 124 00:06:53,400 --> 00:06:55,400 Speaker 1: start to his second start, I think you saw him 125 00:06:55,440 --> 00:06:57,320 Speaker 1: be a little bit more comfortable in the pocket. I 126 00:06:57,360 --> 00:07:00,279 Speaker 1: didn't think that he had as many happy Feemale moments, 127 00:07:00,400 --> 00:07:02,360 Speaker 1: is what I was calling in after that first game. 128 00:07:03,080 --> 00:07:05,840 Speaker 1: But there's still there's still two games that you can 129 00:07:06,040 --> 00:07:10,480 Speaker 1: really have at your disposal to decide what you want 130 00:07:10,520 --> 00:07:13,560 Speaker 1: to do with Desmond Ritter moving forward and if you 131 00:07:13,600 --> 00:07:15,320 Speaker 1: want to give him a shot as a starter in 132 00:07:15,360 --> 00:07:19,680 Speaker 1: twenty twenty three. However, even in saying that quarterback has 133 00:07:19,680 --> 00:07:23,160 Speaker 1: to be a priority for this organization this offseason, I 134 00:07:23,200 --> 00:07:27,080 Speaker 1: think it goes without saying that right now the only 135 00:07:27,120 --> 00:07:30,320 Speaker 1: two people that are in this quarterback room are Desmond 136 00:07:30,400 --> 00:07:33,680 Speaker 1: Ritter and Logan Woodside, who was just picked up what 137 00:07:33,840 --> 00:07:36,080 Speaker 1: a week and a half ago, and Marcus Mariota was 138 00:07:36,080 --> 00:07:40,200 Speaker 1: placed on IR I think the Falcons. This is just 139 00:07:40,280 --> 00:07:44,040 Speaker 1: me saying this, but if you cut Marcus Mariota before 140 00:07:44,120 --> 00:07:47,680 Speaker 1: June first, you have significant cap savings upwards of twelve 141 00:07:47,720 --> 00:07:52,600 Speaker 1: million dollars. So I'm gonna go, I'm gonna you do 142 00:07:52,680 --> 00:07:56,160 Speaker 1: with that information what you will. So what could the 143 00:07:56,160 --> 00:07:58,520 Speaker 1: Falcons do at the quarterback position, Well, they just need 144 00:07:58,560 --> 00:08:02,080 Speaker 1: to build it back up, and I think you need 145 00:08:02,080 --> 00:08:05,160 Speaker 1: to do that regardless of what Desmond Ritter does in 146 00:08:05,160 --> 00:08:06,840 Speaker 1: the next two games, what he shows you in the 147 00:08:06,880 --> 00:08:10,280 Speaker 1: next two games, you need to build up this room with, 148 00:08:10,920 --> 00:08:16,240 Speaker 1: in my opinion, another starting caliber guy. You need someone. 149 00:08:16,320 --> 00:08:19,119 Speaker 1: If it's gonna be Desmond Ritter as your twenty twenty 150 00:08:19,120 --> 00:08:21,480 Speaker 1: three starter, fine go out and get someone who's gonna 151 00:08:21,560 --> 00:08:24,760 Speaker 1: push from behind him. If it's not gonna be Desmond Ritter, 152 00:08:24,960 --> 00:08:29,160 Speaker 1: you need a starter. So either way you slice it 153 00:08:29,200 --> 00:08:32,160 Speaker 1: to me, quarterback has to be a priority this offseason, 154 00:08:32,440 --> 00:08:37,880 Speaker 1: and in whatever capacity that looks like Ashton, Uh yeah, 155 00:08:37,920 --> 00:08:40,920 Speaker 1: And and I don't think that you're wrong. I mean, 156 00:08:40,960 --> 00:08:44,319 Speaker 1: just if we're talking about sure numbers, they need quarterbacks, 157 00:08:45,320 --> 00:08:50,319 Speaker 1: and I think competition never hurts Ashton. Kind of getting 158 00:08:50,360 --> 00:08:53,520 Speaker 1: into what Desmond Ritter said at the end of that 159 00:08:53,640 --> 00:08:55,600 Speaker 1: Ravens game and then try to spin it forward for 160 00:08:55,679 --> 00:08:58,559 Speaker 1: us here that that he talked about the progress that 161 00:08:59,120 --> 00:09:03,040 Speaker 1: he saw between and you wrote about the progress scene 162 00:09:03,120 --> 00:09:05,280 Speaker 1: between weeks one and two. Kind of tell us what 163 00:09:05,320 --> 00:09:07,800 Speaker 1: that was. And then also, what else do you want 164 00:09:07,840 --> 00:09:11,000 Speaker 1: to see from him over the next two weeks that 165 00:09:11,040 --> 00:09:13,200 Speaker 1: would show you that he's headed in the right direction. 166 00:09:13,679 --> 00:09:16,080 Speaker 1: For Shorter, Yeah, Desmond talked a lot about just being 167 00:09:16,080 --> 00:09:20,040 Speaker 1: patient within the pocket, something that he wasn't in Week 168 00:09:20,120 --> 00:09:22,280 Speaker 1: fifteen against the Saints, and he felt like he took 169 00:09:22,320 --> 00:09:26,960 Speaker 1: that next step in Week seventeen against the Ravens. I 170 00:09:27,000 --> 00:09:30,520 Speaker 1: would say his passing percentage he was He was sixteen 171 00:09:30,559 --> 00:09:33,080 Speaker 1: percent higher in his passing percentage against the Ravens and 172 00:09:33,120 --> 00:09:35,720 Speaker 1: he threw one hundred and twenty one more yards than 173 00:09:35,760 --> 00:09:39,240 Speaker 1: he did against the Saints in the Ravens game. So 174 00:09:39,600 --> 00:09:43,760 Speaker 1: I think his passing efficiency was way better against the Ravens. 175 00:09:43,800 --> 00:09:46,040 Speaker 1: But we still haven't seen him throw a touchdown yet. 176 00:09:47,040 --> 00:09:49,400 Speaker 1: He still he doesn't have any turnovers, which is really 177 00:09:49,440 --> 00:09:52,520 Speaker 1: good from Desmond and from a rookie quarterback. He's played 178 00:09:52,679 --> 00:09:55,280 Speaker 1: against some really good defense over the last two weeks, 179 00:09:55,360 --> 00:09:58,000 Speaker 1: the Saints and the Ravens. So I think I says 180 00:09:58,000 --> 00:10:00,559 Speaker 1: a lot about his playing style and his characters a quarterback, 181 00:10:00,640 --> 00:10:02,959 Speaker 1: but um, I think we need to see him score 182 00:10:03,040 --> 00:10:05,679 Speaker 1: and make plays in a ri zone. Um that it 183 00:10:05,840 --> 00:10:08,560 Speaker 1: was a lot of inefficiency in a rizone against the Ravens, 184 00:10:08,679 --> 00:10:11,120 Speaker 1: and you know, I think that's what hurt the Falcons. 185 00:10:11,600 --> 00:10:13,920 Speaker 1: Um they've lost by eight points. You know, they should 186 00:10:13,920 --> 00:10:17,000 Speaker 1: have scored a touchdown and brought the game back, but 187 00:10:17,080 --> 00:10:19,360 Speaker 1: they didn't. So I think what I want to see 188 00:10:19,360 --> 00:10:23,520 Speaker 1: from Desmond moving forward is really just being more efficient 189 00:10:24,040 --> 00:10:27,640 Speaker 1: in zone situations, because I think that's that's what's been 190 00:10:27,840 --> 00:10:31,880 Speaker 1: a big struggle for the Falcons offense. Yeah, and he 191 00:10:32,000 --> 00:10:34,560 Speaker 1: starts slow, We've seen that. I think he was what 192 00:10:34,840 --> 00:10:36,760 Speaker 1: one for four in this game, and then he got 193 00:10:36,800 --> 00:10:39,920 Speaker 1: hot in the second quarter. I thought there were there 194 00:10:39,920 --> 00:10:42,520 Speaker 1: were more upward signs from him in that Ravens game 195 00:10:42,520 --> 00:10:44,720 Speaker 1: than I had seen from Marcus Mariota in ways that 196 00:10:44,760 --> 00:10:50,120 Speaker 1: I could project moving forward. It's encouraging, right, But is 197 00:10:50,120 --> 00:10:54,160 Speaker 1: he gonna do something against Arizona and Tampa Bay that 198 00:10:54,280 --> 00:10:57,800 Speaker 1: says we're just gonna go find the best backup that 199 00:10:57,840 --> 00:11:00,680 Speaker 1: we can find. Is that gonna happen over the next 200 00:11:00,720 --> 00:11:04,240 Speaker 1: two games? I don't think so, I really don't. And 201 00:11:04,280 --> 00:11:07,280 Speaker 1: I think that goes back to the level of competition. 202 00:11:07,600 --> 00:11:10,679 Speaker 1: And it's not Desmon Ritter's fault or he didn't do 203 00:11:10,720 --> 00:11:13,920 Speaker 1: anything wrong. He's a rookie quarterback who has four games 204 00:11:13,960 --> 00:11:17,880 Speaker 1: to show what he can do. And I don't care 205 00:11:17,920 --> 00:11:20,080 Speaker 1: which rookie that you look at. There's tons of Hall 206 00:11:20,120 --> 00:11:23,000 Speaker 1: of famers that struggle when they started and didn't get 207 00:11:23,040 --> 00:11:26,200 Speaker 1: revved up for a little bit, and those things happen. He's, 208 00:11:26,320 --> 00:11:28,240 Speaker 1: you know, kind of thrown into a tough situation. I 209 00:11:28,320 --> 00:11:30,920 Speaker 1: say all that to say this is that if you're 210 00:11:30,960 --> 00:11:34,280 Speaker 1: sitting there at whatever draft spot that you have, and 211 00:11:34,640 --> 00:11:37,080 Speaker 1: quarterbacks the best player available on your board, and you 212 00:11:37,120 --> 00:11:40,760 Speaker 1: fell in love with somebody, take them right and then 213 00:11:40,840 --> 00:11:44,040 Speaker 1: don't worry about it. Or if you feel I mean, 214 00:11:44,200 --> 00:11:48,720 Speaker 1: like desmon Ritter, in my opinion, no matter what he does, 215 00:11:49,040 --> 00:11:53,280 Speaker 1: cannot complicate that equation in your brain right that if 216 00:11:53,320 --> 00:11:57,319 Speaker 1: you get there and you're at I don't know four, 217 00:11:58,000 --> 00:12:00,280 Speaker 1: I'm just using a crazy example. You're at I don't 218 00:12:00,280 --> 00:12:01,400 Speaker 1: even know what if they can get to four, but 219 00:12:01,400 --> 00:12:03,680 Speaker 1: you're at four and somehow, some way, Bryce Young like 220 00:12:03,720 --> 00:12:06,559 Speaker 1: slips to four and you love him, take them. That's it, 221 00:12:07,040 --> 00:12:09,079 Speaker 1: end of story. If you're at eight or ten and 222 00:12:09,120 --> 00:12:12,000 Speaker 1: you have and then there's a quarterback sitting there, take them. 223 00:12:12,040 --> 00:12:15,640 Speaker 1: If it's not, don't stress and don't reach. And I 224 00:12:15,679 --> 00:12:18,120 Speaker 1: think that that's kind of where they are. There's also 225 00:12:19,160 --> 00:12:25,000 Speaker 1: a trend these days right of making big veteran quarterback 226 00:12:25,120 --> 00:12:28,920 Speaker 1: moves that we've seen how much have we seen moving 227 00:12:29,480 --> 00:12:32,959 Speaker 1: so many in the like five years, there have been 228 00:12:33,040 --> 00:12:39,480 Speaker 1: so many trademark, blockbuster veteran quarterback moves, and some of 229 00:12:39,480 --> 00:12:44,040 Speaker 1: them worked and some of them have not. Right, Yeah, right, 230 00:12:44,160 --> 00:12:48,680 Speaker 1: I E. Denver, I E. Washington, I E. We we 231 00:12:48,800 --> 00:12:52,320 Speaker 1: love Matt, but that didn't work out in Indianapolis, Right, 232 00:12:52,440 --> 00:12:56,720 Speaker 1: the Falcons won that trade, let's just say it. So 233 00:12:57,559 --> 00:13:00,320 Speaker 1: you do have to be cautious with what you're getting, 234 00:13:00,679 --> 00:13:04,080 Speaker 1: but there are always possibilities in the trade market in 235 00:13:04,160 --> 00:13:08,400 Speaker 1: moving people around. The Falcons have the space to absorb 236 00:13:08,840 --> 00:13:14,400 Speaker 1: highly paid veteran quarterback while also not sacrificing their future. 237 00:13:14,559 --> 00:13:17,760 Speaker 1: That's the financial spot that they're in. So um. I 238 00:13:17,800 --> 00:13:20,880 Speaker 1: think the major takeaway here from this quarterback conversation is 239 00:13:20,920 --> 00:13:25,400 Speaker 1: all options are on the table, and that's not normally. 240 00:13:25,520 --> 00:13:27,680 Speaker 1: I think when a fan hears that, they think what 241 00:13:27,800 --> 00:13:30,000 Speaker 1: Desmond stinks or he hasn't made good enough. That's not 242 00:13:30,040 --> 00:13:32,600 Speaker 1: what we're saying now. I think Aston brought up some 243 00:13:32,600 --> 00:13:36,200 Speaker 1: some good points about ways that he's made progress and 244 00:13:36,520 --> 00:13:39,000 Speaker 1: areas where he needs to continue to make progress. Oh 245 00:13:39,040 --> 00:13:41,600 Speaker 1: for four in the red zone is a problem, right, 246 00:13:42,200 --> 00:13:49,880 Speaker 1: just wab Yeah, but you know, the the quarterback as 247 00:13:50,720 --> 00:13:53,800 Speaker 1: you know, a figurehead of that unit I think needs 248 00:13:53,840 --> 00:13:56,120 Speaker 1: to be better. And but no matter what he does, 249 00:13:56,160 --> 00:13:57,600 Speaker 1: even if he goes out and he throws for four 250 00:13:57,679 --> 00:14:02,120 Speaker 1: hundred against Arizona and four touchdowns against Tampa, I still 251 00:14:02,320 --> 00:14:05,600 Speaker 1: don't think it changes the math enough for you to 252 00:14:05,720 --> 00:14:10,240 Speaker 1: be wary of going out and making a major quarterback commitment. 253 00:14:10,320 --> 00:14:14,320 Speaker 1: So I think that that's one area you know there's 254 00:14:14,360 --> 00:14:18,000 Speaker 1: gonna be some there's a possibility that they lose Caleb 255 00:14:18,040 --> 00:14:21,200 Speaker 1: McGarry in free agency, but he and Chris Linstom have 256 00:14:21,240 --> 00:14:24,400 Speaker 1: been so stable. Tori, you chose to focus on some 257 00:14:24,400 --> 00:14:27,760 Speaker 1: skill positions. Why don't we just combine this? Yeah, absolutely, 258 00:14:27,760 --> 00:14:30,760 Speaker 1: because I honestly I think when it comes I didn't 259 00:14:30,760 --> 00:14:34,640 Speaker 1: put offensive line on that list because I feel like 260 00:14:34,760 --> 00:14:37,680 Speaker 1: there's a lot of different factors within the offensive line 261 00:14:37,680 --> 00:14:39,720 Speaker 1: that I think the Falcons actually have a really really 262 00:14:39,720 --> 00:14:42,160 Speaker 1: good group right now that if they could keep together, 263 00:14:42,240 --> 00:14:44,520 Speaker 1: I wouldn't hate that. So I didn't actually put offensive 264 00:14:44,560 --> 00:14:47,320 Speaker 1: line on this list for that reason. Now to the 265 00:14:47,360 --> 00:14:49,200 Speaker 1: other side of things, I did put a couple of 266 00:14:49,240 --> 00:14:51,280 Speaker 1: skill spots, and it's not running back, because I think 267 00:14:51,280 --> 00:14:55,080 Speaker 1: you have something really really good and Tyler Tyler Algier 268 00:14:55,160 --> 00:14:58,840 Speaker 1: and Cordiall Patterson. I focus more on wide receiver and 269 00:14:59,000 --> 00:15:02,160 Speaker 1: tighten and I think those or two positions that you 270 00:15:02,160 --> 00:15:05,560 Speaker 1: could go out in free agency and really be players 271 00:15:05,880 --> 00:15:09,480 Speaker 1: in those positions. And I say free agency because you 272 00:15:09,600 --> 00:15:13,600 Speaker 1: spent two of your first round draft picks on Kyle 273 00:15:13,640 --> 00:15:16,760 Speaker 1: Pitts and Drake London over the last two years. You 274 00:15:16,840 --> 00:15:19,800 Speaker 1: really want to go skill for a third year in 275 00:15:19,840 --> 00:15:23,920 Speaker 1: a row while this quarterback position is in flux. That's 276 00:15:24,000 --> 00:15:25,520 Speaker 1: kind of the question that I played with. So but 277 00:15:25,560 --> 00:15:27,040 Speaker 1: I do think you could go out and you could 278 00:15:27,240 --> 00:15:30,160 Speaker 1: in free agency and find some really really good tight 279 00:15:30,240 --> 00:15:33,520 Speaker 1: ends to fill up behind Kyle Pitts. You need, I 280 00:15:33,560 --> 00:15:36,360 Speaker 1: think because of the way that Arthur Smith operates his 281 00:15:36,440 --> 00:15:38,960 Speaker 1: offense with so many multiple tight end sets, that you 282 00:15:38,960 --> 00:15:42,960 Speaker 1: could really use another kind of big play pass catcher 283 00:15:43,040 --> 00:15:45,760 Speaker 1: type tight end. Not that there's anything wrong with what 284 00:15:45,880 --> 00:15:49,720 Speaker 1: Parker Hessey and Anthony Firkser and Michael Pruitt did this year, 285 00:15:49,800 --> 00:15:53,520 Speaker 1: but when Kyle Pitts went down, I mean, you're never 286 00:15:53,600 --> 00:15:56,920 Speaker 1: going to replace Kyle Pitts just with one singular person, 287 00:15:57,000 --> 00:15:59,200 Speaker 1: and so I think finding someone to kind of pair 288 00:15:59,320 --> 00:16:01,720 Speaker 1: well with Kyle Pits at that position is should be 289 00:16:01,760 --> 00:16:05,880 Speaker 1: a priority. I also think looking at this wide receiver group, 290 00:16:06,600 --> 00:16:11,440 Speaker 1: you have Drake London and you have Volumina Zakias, and 291 00:16:11,480 --> 00:16:13,960 Speaker 1: that kind of feels like it and I just feel 292 00:16:14,000 --> 00:16:17,320 Speaker 1: like you could use some guys. I use this example, 293 00:16:17,360 --> 00:16:19,760 Speaker 1: and I want to say this was an example, but 294 00:16:19,920 --> 00:16:23,680 Speaker 1: guys like a T. Higgins or a Tyler Boyd that 295 00:16:23,840 --> 00:16:27,000 Speaker 1: the Falcons faced earlier in the year when we went 296 00:16:27,080 --> 00:16:30,160 Speaker 1: up to Cincinnati, those type of receivers. I'm not saying 297 00:16:30,200 --> 00:16:32,720 Speaker 1: go out and get those two guys. I'm saying that's 298 00:16:32,800 --> 00:16:35,720 Speaker 1: kind of the prototype thought process that I have of 299 00:16:35,720 --> 00:16:39,480 Speaker 1: like what is a good looking receiver that would work 300 00:16:39,520 --> 00:16:44,800 Speaker 1: well in this system? So that's those those two positions 301 00:16:44,920 --> 00:16:47,640 Speaker 1: all I put I wrote quite a bit about and 302 00:16:47,640 --> 00:16:52,920 Speaker 1: that's kind of basically this summary summary of that. Yeah, 303 00:16:52,960 --> 00:16:54,840 Speaker 1: when you look at wide receiver depth one, I'm not 304 00:16:54,880 --> 00:17:00,480 Speaker 1: sure any buddy is under contract outside of Drake London, right, right, 305 00:17:00,760 --> 00:17:03,320 Speaker 1: So they have an opportunity there. And I think what 306 00:17:03,440 --> 00:17:05,800 Speaker 1: we saw against Baltimore and what we've seen since Kyle 307 00:17:05,840 --> 00:17:09,240 Speaker 1: Pitts has gotten hurt, is that there's a lack of 308 00:17:09,280 --> 00:17:15,200 Speaker 1: depth there. And yes, Desmond has a strong chemistry in 309 00:17:15,240 --> 00:17:18,240 Speaker 1: connection with Drake London. But the but the target share 310 00:17:18,320 --> 00:17:21,960 Speaker 1: that he's getting is sky high. And it's appropriate because 311 00:17:22,000 --> 00:17:26,560 Speaker 1: he's the one who can consistently make who can get separation, 312 00:17:26,600 --> 00:17:28,960 Speaker 1: who can make high traffic catches, and we're seeing that. 313 00:17:29,040 --> 00:17:32,160 Speaker 1: And I look. I talked to Drake after the Ravens 314 00:17:32,200 --> 00:17:36,760 Speaker 1: game and I said, can you separate the fumble from 315 00:17:36,800 --> 00:17:39,119 Speaker 1: and he's had two fumbles in two weeks? Can you 316 00:17:39,160 --> 00:17:41,040 Speaker 1: separate the fumble from all the other good things that 317 00:17:41,080 --> 00:17:43,440 Speaker 1: you did? And I kind of liked his answer because 318 00:17:43,440 --> 00:17:46,399 Speaker 1: his answer was no. He said, the fumble ruined everything 319 00:17:46,440 --> 00:17:49,240 Speaker 1: else that and I and I know that it's right 320 00:17:49,280 --> 00:17:51,720 Speaker 1: after the game, right, Like I get that, And he 321 00:17:51,840 --> 00:17:55,000 Speaker 1: had two I'm not rehashing the game here, but he 322 00:17:55,040 --> 00:17:57,320 Speaker 1: did things technically right. And then he cut his sleeves 323 00:17:57,320 --> 00:17:59,359 Speaker 1: off because he thought his sleeves had something to he 324 00:17:59,720 --> 00:18:02,679 Speaker 1: called he called that that fumble the last straw for 325 00:18:02,760 --> 00:18:05,640 Speaker 1: his sleeves. So maybe we don't see him anymore, especially 326 00:18:05,640 --> 00:18:09,000 Speaker 1: may we see the sleeves again. It's it's very great. 327 00:18:09,000 --> 00:18:13,000 Speaker 1: Can go on and have a very like prosperous career 328 00:18:13,440 --> 00:18:16,400 Speaker 1: sand sleeves. Yeah, and I think he will. I don't. 329 00:18:16,440 --> 00:18:19,120 Speaker 1: I'm not worried about Drake London. I'm not. Yeah, it's 330 00:18:19,160 --> 00:18:21,440 Speaker 1: it's filling in around that and they've done it for 331 00:18:21,600 --> 00:18:23,919 Speaker 1: the last couple of years. I remember getting to this 332 00:18:24,000 --> 00:18:27,480 Speaker 1: point after Calvin was unavailable, where you looked around in 333 00:18:27,560 --> 00:18:31,159 Speaker 1: that wide receiver room, no offense detage sharp, right, But 334 00:18:31,359 --> 00:18:34,560 Speaker 1: those guys just couldn't get separation. And Elaminate is a 335 00:18:34,600 --> 00:18:38,280 Speaker 1: good player, he's a good piece. But you definitely need 336 00:18:38,320 --> 00:18:40,639 Speaker 1: more of those. I mean, gosh, you go back to 337 00:18:40,640 --> 00:18:43,360 Speaker 1: the offseason and the Falcons were like building a basketball 338 00:18:43,440 --> 00:18:46,639 Speaker 1: team right now. It's not like none of them worked out, 339 00:18:46,680 --> 00:18:48,840 Speaker 1: and none of them worked out, so you do need 340 00:18:48,880 --> 00:18:52,800 Speaker 1: to take another swing there, Ashton. When you look at 341 00:18:52,840 --> 00:18:56,040 Speaker 1: what Elaminate is, Zakias has done, right, he had a 342 00:18:56,080 --> 00:18:59,480 Speaker 1: strong connection with with Marcus Mariota. I think he's a 343 00:18:59,480 --> 00:19:02,520 Speaker 1: good player. Is that a guy from what you've seen? 344 00:19:02,600 --> 00:19:05,760 Speaker 1: If you're playing GM, do you go ahead and bring 345 00:19:05,840 --> 00:19:07,639 Speaker 1: him back and do you kind of understand what Tory's 346 00:19:07,680 --> 00:19:09,520 Speaker 1: talking about that? Look, they have Kyle Pits, they have 347 00:19:09,880 --> 00:19:13,040 Speaker 1: I flashed out tight end room, but maybe maybe they 348 00:19:13,040 --> 00:19:16,320 Speaker 1: need more there considering how this offense runs. Yeah, I 349 00:19:16,440 --> 00:19:19,520 Speaker 1: definitely agree with what story said. I think you do 350 00:19:19,560 --> 00:19:22,200 Speaker 1: look at a guy like Lamadas the kids he's been 351 00:19:22,520 --> 00:19:24,960 Speaker 1: I would say he's been very consistent and efficient over 352 00:19:25,000 --> 00:19:27,560 Speaker 1: the course of this season. He's a veteran, so he 353 00:19:28,400 --> 00:19:31,280 Speaker 1: has a lot of that veteran leadership and veteran experience 354 00:19:31,320 --> 00:19:34,640 Speaker 1: within the game. But I do think you should look 355 00:19:34,640 --> 00:19:38,760 Speaker 1: at that position specifically because Drake Lennon is the only 356 00:19:38,880 --> 00:19:41,919 Speaker 1: I would say, the only challenge really against defenses that 357 00:19:41,960 --> 00:19:44,919 Speaker 1: the Falcons that played. He's the only player that has 358 00:19:44,920 --> 00:19:47,679 Speaker 1: amassed over seventy plus yards in the last three games. 359 00:19:47,760 --> 00:19:52,359 Speaker 1: Everybody else has probably I think only cut for maybe 360 00:19:52,400 --> 00:19:55,719 Speaker 1: twenty or less the arts, and I think that's a problem, 361 00:19:55,800 --> 00:19:58,480 Speaker 1: like defenses pick up on that. And I think we 362 00:19:58,520 --> 00:20:00,440 Speaker 1: saw it in the Ravens game. It looked like London 363 00:20:00,520 --> 00:20:03,639 Speaker 1: sometimes we're was getting double team and and you know, 364 00:20:03,920 --> 00:20:07,159 Speaker 1: you need other players to step up. The Bengals, like 365 00:20:07,320 --> 00:20:10,439 Speaker 1: Tory said, they have Jamar Chaset Higgins Um and in 366 00:20:10,480 --> 00:20:13,280 Speaker 1: those dynamic where receivers you need somebody opposite of Drake 367 00:20:13,280 --> 00:20:17,040 Speaker 1: london Um to be really electric and efficient um. And 368 00:20:17,080 --> 00:20:19,000 Speaker 1: I think Oz has done like I said, I think 369 00:20:19,000 --> 00:20:22,719 Speaker 1: he's been consistent, but I think because he has that experience, 370 00:20:23,119 --> 00:20:26,760 Speaker 1: he should be a little more um of a challenge 371 00:20:26,760 --> 00:20:30,480 Speaker 1: against defenses. Um. But to answer your question, I do 372 00:20:30,600 --> 00:20:33,240 Speaker 1: think the Falcons should look at bringing Oz back. He's 373 00:20:33,240 --> 00:20:36,240 Speaker 1: a great, great piece to the offense and um, you know, 374 00:20:36,280 --> 00:20:40,600 Speaker 1: I think he'll bring a lot of that next season. Yeah. 375 00:20:40,640 --> 00:20:45,200 Speaker 1: I love Arthur Smith, Loveszzi. Yeah, he does, he does. 376 00:20:45,760 --> 00:20:48,359 Speaker 1: There's one thing I feel like we've learned about Arthur Smith. 377 00:20:48,400 --> 00:20:51,119 Speaker 1: It's like if he gives somebody crap about something, he 378 00:20:51,320 --> 00:20:54,520 Speaker 1: really likes them. And he gives Oz crap about going 379 00:20:54,560 --> 00:20:59,040 Speaker 1: to Virginia all the time. Yeah, And when I look 380 00:20:59,080 --> 00:21:01,560 Speaker 1: at it, I think Ashton brings up a good point 381 00:21:01,600 --> 00:21:05,240 Speaker 1: outside of Drake London, who scares you? Yeah, and it's 382 00:21:05,280 --> 00:21:10,399 Speaker 1: silence right, who who makes an opposing coordinator go all right? 383 00:21:10,400 --> 00:21:12,080 Speaker 1: We gotta do some funky stuff for that guy. We 384 00:21:12,080 --> 00:21:14,240 Speaker 1: got to leave ourselves vulnerable to make sure that that 385 00:21:14,280 --> 00:21:16,560 Speaker 1: guy doesn't beat us. And I think that Allamandad gets 386 00:21:16,600 --> 00:21:19,960 Speaker 1: better when the wide receiver room gets deeper. Right, If 387 00:21:20,000 --> 00:21:25,520 Speaker 1: he's the y when you add Kyle Pits back, that's 388 00:21:25,720 --> 00:21:28,720 Speaker 1: that's another guy that definitely scares you. And I think 389 00:21:28,760 --> 00:21:32,000 Speaker 1: that he and Drake can be a good one too, 390 00:21:32,040 --> 00:21:35,119 Speaker 1: But adding another guy who actually plays wide receiver I 391 00:21:35,119 --> 00:21:38,600 Speaker 1: think is important also, And when and when it comes 392 00:21:38,640 --> 00:21:40,600 Speaker 1: to tight ends, I don't necessarily want to see like 393 00:21:41,040 --> 00:21:44,359 Speaker 1: I mean, Kyle Pits Like there's a few people like him, 394 00:21:44,400 --> 00:21:46,480 Speaker 1: But I don't want to see a guy who's like 395 00:21:46,560 --> 00:21:48,760 Speaker 1: receiver forward. I want to see like a balanced guy 396 00:21:48,800 --> 00:21:51,000 Speaker 1: who can get four hundred and fifty yards or something 397 00:21:51,040 --> 00:21:53,840 Speaker 1: like that. Yeah, and those are the types of things 398 00:21:53,840 --> 00:21:56,840 Speaker 1: that I think that you could really identify and look 399 00:21:57,520 --> 00:22:01,440 Speaker 1: as we. I mean, Tyler Huntley can move around the pocket. 400 00:22:01,520 --> 00:22:04,480 Speaker 1: Pressuring him isn't easy. But for the second straight year, 401 00:22:04,840 --> 00:22:08,679 Speaker 1: the pass rush is ranked among the worst in the league, 402 00:22:09,119 --> 00:22:12,359 Speaker 1: and I think that that has been evident. While the 403 00:22:12,400 --> 00:22:15,720 Speaker 1: Falcons have done a good job on critical downs and 404 00:22:15,800 --> 00:22:18,520 Speaker 1: have stayed in these games, and we're not going to 405 00:22:18,560 --> 00:22:22,080 Speaker 1: sit around and rip his defense. I think Dan P's 406 00:22:22,320 --> 00:22:26,359 Speaker 1: cares about one thing, preventing points from being scored, and 407 00:22:26,400 --> 00:22:29,440 Speaker 1: they've done a good job of that. I m they've 408 00:22:29,480 --> 00:22:32,720 Speaker 1: allowed what less than twenty five and every game of 409 00:22:32,880 --> 00:22:37,040 Speaker 1: the last well at six seven, thank you, and they've 410 00:22:37,040 --> 00:22:40,200 Speaker 1: only won one of those. That's not a positive. They 411 00:22:40,240 --> 00:22:45,239 Speaker 1: lost a game in Baltimore after allowing seventeen and they 412 00:22:45,280 --> 00:22:48,080 Speaker 1: lost in New Orleans after giving up two early scores 413 00:22:48,119 --> 00:22:50,959 Speaker 1: and then clamping down. They've done well on critical downs. 414 00:22:51,200 --> 00:22:54,160 Speaker 1: That doesn't mean that we're just like ready to roll 415 00:22:54,200 --> 00:22:57,080 Speaker 1: with his crew next year, right. There needs to be upgrades, 416 00:22:57,240 --> 00:22:59,480 Speaker 1: in my opinion, especially in the front seven. That's where 417 00:22:59,359 --> 00:23:01,200 Speaker 1: we're going to spend most of the of the time 418 00:23:01,240 --> 00:23:05,359 Speaker 1: focusing as we kind of look to, you know, condense 419 00:23:05,480 --> 00:23:08,560 Speaker 1: this thing here a little bit tory, because look, they 420 00:23:08,640 --> 00:23:12,360 Speaker 1: need help at outside cornerback. They're gonna get Casey Hayward back. 421 00:23:12,640 --> 00:23:15,560 Speaker 1: I would continue to add depth there, but let's really 422 00:23:15,560 --> 00:23:18,600 Speaker 1: focus on that front seven and what you saw against 423 00:23:18,640 --> 00:23:21,600 Speaker 1: Baltimore that kind of said, oh they need more here, 424 00:23:21,640 --> 00:23:25,600 Speaker 1: they need more there. Absolutely, So I let's start with 425 00:23:25,640 --> 00:23:29,359 Speaker 1: the interior defensive line. Grady Jared's not going anywhere. He 426 00:23:29,400 --> 00:23:31,720 Speaker 1: shouldn't go anywhere. Grady Jared has had a really good 427 00:23:31,840 --> 00:23:34,760 Speaker 1: year despite what I think a lot of outside people 428 00:23:34,800 --> 00:23:38,240 Speaker 1: have said or not said about him. Yeah, not said, 429 00:23:38,320 --> 00:23:40,760 Speaker 1: I think like I don't. I am going to stop 430 00:23:40,800 --> 00:23:42,439 Speaker 1: you there because I because I think this is an 431 00:23:42,480 --> 00:23:46,760 Speaker 1: important point. Because Grady Jared has six and a half sacks. 432 00:23:46,800 --> 00:23:50,480 Speaker 1: He's been instrumental in every victory and in keeping these 433 00:23:50,760 --> 00:23:54,040 Speaker 1: guys close. But you know, he's not getting a ton 434 00:23:54,080 --> 00:23:57,880 Speaker 1: of respect. He was very upset with words we can't 435 00:23:57,960 --> 00:24:02,000 Speaker 1: use on this podcast, talking about the disappointment of exiting 436 00:24:02,000 --> 00:24:04,960 Speaker 1: the playoffs. So let's just before we get into everything else. 437 00:24:05,400 --> 00:24:08,840 Speaker 1: I do think that Grady Jarrett should be respected more 438 00:24:08,920 --> 00:24:11,359 Speaker 1: league wide. He's on a team that's not very good. 439 00:24:11,560 --> 00:24:14,080 Speaker 1: But let's talk about a little bit about what he's 440 00:24:14,119 --> 00:24:19,119 Speaker 1: done as a leader this season. You know, I just 441 00:24:19,160 --> 00:24:21,760 Speaker 1: think he's been phenomenal as a leader and an on 442 00:24:21,920 --> 00:24:26,000 Speaker 1: field producer. Yeah, no, no, I completely agree. I mean, 443 00:24:26,200 --> 00:24:28,720 Speaker 1: Grady Jarrett is the type of guy who I don't think. 444 00:24:29,840 --> 00:24:33,040 Speaker 1: Here's the thing is, it's really when you watch Grady 445 00:24:33,080 --> 00:24:36,760 Speaker 1: Jarrett play, when you really watch him play, you see, 446 00:24:37,200 --> 00:24:40,280 Speaker 1: even if he's not getting a sack, even if he's 447 00:24:40,320 --> 00:24:42,720 Speaker 1: not getting at tackle for a loss, he is making 448 00:24:42,840 --> 00:24:47,600 Speaker 1: things happen for this defense because he's getting double triple 449 00:24:47,680 --> 00:24:50,359 Speaker 1: teamed at times. Now, what the Falcons need to do, 450 00:24:50,400 --> 00:24:52,720 Speaker 1: and it's the same conversation as what we had last year. 451 00:24:53,160 --> 00:24:57,280 Speaker 1: We need to see the Falcons go out and build 452 00:24:57,400 --> 00:25:02,960 Speaker 1: up this defensive line around Grady, Jeff and I think 453 00:25:02,960 --> 00:25:05,600 Speaker 1: they did a good job of that by adding I 454 00:25:05,640 --> 00:25:10,040 Speaker 1: think to Quon Graham's development has been something that has 455 00:25:10,040 --> 00:25:13,440 Speaker 1: flown under the radar in this year, and I think 456 00:25:13,480 --> 00:25:15,919 Speaker 1: he's coming back and after you know, now he's on 457 00:25:16,000 --> 00:25:18,320 Speaker 1: ir but should come back after that knee injury and 458 00:25:18,800 --> 00:25:21,879 Speaker 1: hopefully he'll be at the level that he left. And 459 00:25:21,960 --> 00:25:24,920 Speaker 1: I think that's another really good piece. You go out 460 00:25:24,920 --> 00:25:28,520 Speaker 1: and you get Arnold Evicadie, who I think again has 461 00:25:28,560 --> 00:25:32,719 Speaker 1: had really good developmental moments. You've seen glimpses and flashes 462 00:25:32,840 --> 00:25:36,200 Speaker 1: of the guy that the Falcons traded up into the 463 00:25:36,240 --> 00:25:39,120 Speaker 1: second round to get. So all of that being said, 464 00:25:39,119 --> 00:25:41,160 Speaker 1: they've done, They've done their work up until this point, 465 00:25:41,160 --> 00:25:45,400 Speaker 1: but the work's not done. So for me, I need 466 00:25:45,440 --> 00:25:49,520 Speaker 1: to see depth across the defensive interior. And what's really 467 00:25:49,520 --> 00:25:52,000 Speaker 1: interesting is the Falcons tried to do that this year. 468 00:25:52,280 --> 00:25:54,240 Speaker 1: You know, like if you look back on the moves 469 00:25:54,280 --> 00:25:56,679 Speaker 1: that they made an offseason and the group they had 470 00:25:56,680 --> 00:26:00,600 Speaker 1: put together within this defensive interior to help out grade Jarrett, 471 00:26:00,680 --> 00:26:03,639 Speaker 1: it was actually a pretty good group. But the only 472 00:26:03,680 --> 00:26:06,840 Speaker 1: ones that are left is Grady Jarrett. He's the only 473 00:26:06,880 --> 00:26:11,080 Speaker 1: one that's left. Everybody else either retired, got hurt, got cut. 474 00:26:11,320 --> 00:26:16,720 Speaker 1: I mean, this defensive interior position has really gone through 475 00:26:16,800 --> 00:26:19,280 Speaker 1: it in twenty twenty two. So it's going back to 476 00:26:19,320 --> 00:26:22,600 Speaker 1: the drawing board and being like, Okay, we just have 477 00:26:22,680 --> 00:26:25,040 Speaker 1: Grady Jarrett right now. You hope you'll get to Kawan 478 00:26:25,119 --> 00:26:27,680 Speaker 1: Graham off of var and he'll be back to normal. 479 00:26:27,840 --> 00:26:30,520 Speaker 1: But outside of that, you had Abdullah Anderson, Jalen Dawton, 480 00:26:30,520 --> 00:26:33,000 Speaker 1: and Timmy Horn. Nothing against those guys, but those guys 481 00:26:33,000 --> 00:26:35,520 Speaker 1: were fighting for roster spots in August. You don't need 482 00:26:35,560 --> 00:26:37,800 Speaker 1: a guy who's fighting for a roster spot. You need 483 00:26:37,840 --> 00:26:40,240 Speaker 1: a guy who's proven in this league and who can 484 00:26:40,280 --> 00:26:43,160 Speaker 1: come in and make a difference immediately. And same thing 485 00:26:43,200 --> 00:26:46,680 Speaker 1: goes for the ed dresher position as well. I would 486 00:26:46,760 --> 00:26:48,840 Speaker 1: love to see the Falcons go out and get a 487 00:26:48,960 --> 00:26:53,040 Speaker 1: really good veteran ed dresser whose stat line and history 488 00:26:53,080 --> 00:26:56,360 Speaker 1: in the league strikes sphere into opposing offensive linemen every 489 00:26:56,359 --> 00:27:00,840 Speaker 1: single time he's on the field. That's might be all yeah, 490 00:27:00,920 --> 00:27:03,080 Speaker 1: I mean, Ashton, how do you take a look at 491 00:27:03,400 --> 00:27:08,679 Speaker 1: at the younger edge rusher specifically eb Katie and D'Angelo Malone, 492 00:27:09,040 --> 00:27:12,639 Speaker 1: who's kind of been a work in progress, but um, nonetheless, 493 00:27:12,800 --> 00:27:15,240 Speaker 1: you know, kind of evaluate what you see from those guys. 494 00:27:15,520 --> 00:27:18,159 Speaker 1: For those who don't know, Ashton was also an edge rusher, 495 00:27:18,200 --> 00:27:21,159 Speaker 1: so he should know a little bit about this. Um, 496 00:27:21,200 --> 00:27:24,679 Speaker 1: how do you view those guys? Um? And you know, 497 00:27:24,760 --> 00:27:27,720 Speaker 1: also I think as two Tori's point that they still 498 00:27:27,720 --> 00:27:31,879 Speaker 1: need to add there. Yeah, I think um Arnold Ebcati 499 00:27:31,920 --> 00:27:35,560 Speaker 1: and D'Angelo Malone have both like I think they both 500 00:27:35,600 --> 00:27:38,959 Speaker 1: progressed well over the course of this season. UM, but 501 00:27:39,200 --> 00:27:43,480 Speaker 1: I do think that they haven't made enough plays this season. Um. 502 00:27:43,720 --> 00:27:45,880 Speaker 1: You know, I think eb Katie ranks in the top 503 00:27:45,920 --> 00:27:51,320 Speaker 1: ten for rookie outside linebackers and sex. Um. But D'Angelo 504 00:27:51,400 --> 00:27:53,880 Speaker 1: Malone he's only had I think he only has one 505 00:27:54,160 --> 00:27:57,280 Speaker 1: one sect this season. Um. And like Tory said, you 506 00:27:57,280 --> 00:28:00,800 Speaker 1: need somebody on the outside that is going to cause 507 00:28:00,840 --> 00:28:03,000 Speaker 1: pressure and it's going to be a threat on the outside. 508 00:28:03,040 --> 00:28:06,520 Speaker 1: I grew up watching James Harrison and he was every 509 00:28:06,640 --> 00:28:09,199 Speaker 1: I feel like every offensive line was scared of James Harrison. 510 00:28:09,320 --> 00:28:12,119 Speaker 1: Let's you know, let's just be honest, um, And you 511 00:28:12,200 --> 00:28:15,240 Speaker 1: need like their rookies. But again, you still need those 512 00:28:15,280 --> 00:28:18,159 Speaker 1: guys to um come off the edge a little bit faster, 513 00:28:18,200 --> 00:28:21,679 Speaker 1: a little more electric a little bit stronger UM to 514 00:28:21,680 --> 00:28:24,919 Speaker 1: to make quarterbacks nervous and and and that's just what 515 00:28:25,040 --> 00:28:28,600 Speaker 1: it is. UM. Just to go back to Grady Jared's point, 516 00:28:29,040 --> 00:28:32,800 Speaker 1: UM earlier in the season, DMP said, you know, if 517 00:28:33,480 --> 00:28:35,880 Speaker 1: if you saw a pro in addictionary, Grady Jared's name 518 00:28:35,880 --> 00:28:38,960 Speaker 1: would be behind that. UM comes to practice every day, 519 00:28:39,040 --> 00:28:40,960 Speaker 1: he comes to games every day, works his butt off 520 00:28:40,960 --> 00:28:43,880 Speaker 1: and does what he does. And you do need somebody 521 00:28:43,960 --> 00:28:47,120 Speaker 1: on the opposite side of Grady Jared to cause havoc 522 00:28:47,280 --> 00:28:51,760 Speaker 1: and UM. Again, nothing against Timmy horn A, Doula Anderson 523 00:28:51,840 --> 00:28:54,200 Speaker 1: and Jayalen Dalton, but like Tory said that these guys 524 00:28:54,280 --> 00:28:57,240 Speaker 1: were fighting for a roster spot, UM, and you know 525 00:28:57,280 --> 00:28:59,360 Speaker 1: they gave up I think one hundred and fifty plush 526 00:28:59,440 --> 00:29:02,200 Speaker 1: yards and as three games and rushing UM and that's 527 00:29:02,320 --> 00:29:04,680 Speaker 1: that's just something that the Falcons can do because teams 528 00:29:04,680 --> 00:29:07,320 Speaker 1: have been breaking down his defense for a long time 529 00:29:07,520 --> 00:29:11,120 Speaker 1: and I do think you need more solid guys up 530 00:29:11,160 --> 00:29:14,920 Speaker 1: front and that interior defense. It's so interesting that you 531 00:29:15,000 --> 00:29:17,560 Speaker 1: brought up James Harrison. And here's why I was about 532 00:29:17,600 --> 00:29:21,200 Speaker 1: ready to make a point using my time covering the 533 00:29:22,120 --> 00:29:25,080 Speaker 1: San Francisco forty nine ers as an example, right, because 534 00:29:25,120 --> 00:29:30,560 Speaker 1: they've created this harrowing defense, right, um, and it's built 535 00:29:30,600 --> 00:29:33,600 Speaker 1: off of first round draft picks who are defensive lineman. 536 00:29:33,960 --> 00:29:36,160 Speaker 1: And then you look at James Harrison, right and I 537 00:29:36,200 --> 00:29:42,080 Speaker 1: think he was undrafted. But but but nonetheless, I'm not 538 00:29:42,080 --> 00:29:44,200 Speaker 1: going to scour his Wikipedia page to make sure that 539 00:29:44,200 --> 00:29:49,320 Speaker 1: that's correct. But nonetheless, um, when you look at the 540 00:29:49,360 --> 00:29:52,960 Speaker 1: defensive lines that really scare you. And I think defensive 541 00:29:52,960 --> 00:29:56,040 Speaker 1: lines that the Falcons have played just seeing them personally, 542 00:29:56,440 --> 00:29:59,000 Speaker 1: I think of the talent and we didn't even see 543 00:29:59,080 --> 00:30:03,040 Speaker 1: Chase Young, but the collected along Washington's defensive front, it's 544 00:30:03,080 --> 00:30:05,520 Speaker 1: a lot of first round picks right there. The San 545 00:30:05,520 --> 00:30:08,000 Speaker 1: Francisco's defensive front was banged up, but if you look 546 00:30:08,040 --> 00:30:12,040 Speaker 1: at it, what they've drafted Bosa, Kin, Law, Armstead, and 547 00:30:12,120 --> 00:30:15,320 Speaker 1: Buckner who's now with Indianapolis. But nonetheless, that they have 548 00:30:15,400 --> 00:30:18,560 Speaker 1: gotten quality from those top spots. Just because you draft 549 00:30:18,840 --> 00:30:22,200 Speaker 1: and a defensive lineman high doesn't mean that you're going 550 00:30:22,280 --> 00:30:24,600 Speaker 1: to get a quality guy. But I think that this 551 00:30:24,680 --> 00:30:27,560 Speaker 1: is one of those positions where you need to address 552 00:30:27,600 --> 00:30:31,760 Speaker 1: it with every available asset that you have. Young went 553 00:30:31,800 --> 00:30:36,479 Speaker 1: through the draft and veterans, I think a good veteran 554 00:30:36,800 --> 00:30:39,840 Speaker 1: nose tackle. Just a big body dude who can be 555 00:30:40,040 --> 00:30:44,160 Speaker 1: right over the right, over the center sometimes is what 556 00:30:44,560 --> 00:30:47,720 Speaker 1: would be helpful. And that guy who scares you. In 557 00:30:47,840 --> 00:30:49,720 Speaker 1: terms of how you're going to spend your money, you 558 00:30:49,720 --> 00:30:53,959 Speaker 1: look at premium positions and it's cornerback, quarterback, edge rusher, 559 00:30:54,080 --> 00:30:58,280 Speaker 1: and receiver in my opinion, and tackle obviously, but nonetheless, 560 00:30:58,320 --> 00:31:01,240 Speaker 1: you need to go out and get people that scare 561 00:31:01,280 --> 00:31:04,880 Speaker 1: you because, as we've said, and as we've discussed, that 562 00:31:05,040 --> 00:31:09,280 Speaker 1: isn't happening enough, and intimidators are typically focused on defense. 563 00:31:09,320 --> 00:31:11,600 Speaker 1: But I think that as we wrap up this podcast, 564 00:31:11,640 --> 00:31:13,640 Speaker 1: we can all agree because we're talking about Drake, right, 565 00:31:13,680 --> 00:31:17,640 Speaker 1: Drake scares you, Kyle scares you. Who else? That's the 566 00:31:17,760 --> 00:31:20,560 Speaker 1: thing that the Falcons need. They need to go find 567 00:31:20,640 --> 00:31:23,800 Speaker 1: guys who make coordinators shake in their shoes, and there 568 00:31:23,840 --> 00:31:29,880 Speaker 1: aren't enough of those guys around too really keep opposing 569 00:31:29,920 --> 00:31:34,160 Speaker 1: teams off balance. So that's the lesson, right, I just 570 00:31:34,240 --> 00:31:38,160 Speaker 1: came up with it. There we go. There it is 571 00:31:38,160 --> 00:31:39,920 Speaker 1: is that we look at all these positions and I 572 00:31:39,960 --> 00:31:43,240 Speaker 1: think what over the course of the next two weeks, right, 573 00:31:43,360 --> 00:31:48,320 Speaker 1: that we need to see Arthur nailed it victories and progress. 574 00:31:48,800 --> 00:31:51,920 Speaker 1: But I don't think anything that happens in the next 575 00:31:51,920 --> 00:31:54,840 Speaker 1: two weeks is going to change our opinion about whether 576 00:31:55,160 --> 00:31:58,760 Speaker 1: they need another edge rusher or not. Right that the 577 00:31:58,840 --> 00:32:01,200 Speaker 1: sample size of what we've had to this point is 578 00:32:01,200 --> 00:32:04,440 Speaker 1: too big to all of a sudden be like, oh, 579 00:32:04,520 --> 00:32:08,280 Speaker 1: Lorenzo Carter finished with six sacks in the last two games. 580 00:32:08,560 --> 00:32:12,120 Speaker 1: We don't need The Falcons don't need another edge rusher. 581 00:32:12,200 --> 00:32:14,800 Speaker 1: So I think we'd say that about quarterback, and we 582 00:32:14,840 --> 00:32:18,120 Speaker 1: can kind of really try to use our minds here 583 00:32:18,160 --> 00:32:21,280 Speaker 1: in our microscopes and try to identify, okay, which pieces 584 00:32:21,360 --> 00:32:24,760 Speaker 1: are where, which pieces can help you, and how to 585 00:32:24,800 --> 00:32:28,080 Speaker 1: create the offseason priority list. The last Falcons final whistle, 586 00:32:28,280 --> 00:32:31,440 Speaker 1: we'll just create the priority list. My goodness, the inspiration 587 00:32:31,520 --> 00:32:36,040 Speaker 1: is coming from on high. So there we go. Mister 588 00:32:36,160 --> 00:32:38,400 Speaker 1: Zoom is telling us that we need to get the 589 00:32:38,440 --> 00:32:40,040 Speaker 1: heck out of here. We're not going to do what 590 00:32:40,040 --> 00:32:41,800 Speaker 1: we did last time. We're literally we went to like 591 00:32:41,840 --> 00:32:45,120 Speaker 1: the final second. We were like watching it tickdown literally 592 00:32:45,160 --> 00:32:48,400 Speaker 1: ten seconds, new record for us. Yeah, I said that 593 00:32:48,440 --> 00:32:50,960 Speaker 1: we'd be out of here in twenty minutes. We were not. So, 594 00:32:51,400 --> 00:32:53,480 Speaker 1: yes we were, Yes, we were. This has been going 595 00:32:53,560 --> 00:32:56,520 Speaker 1: before we started recording. Yeah, okay, well then well then 596 00:32:56,600 --> 00:33:00,560 Speaker 1: yay good yeah on us. So anyway, let's go ahead 597 00:33:00,560 --> 00:33:03,720 Speaker 1: and wrap this thing right here. Thank you everyone for 598 00:33:03,800 --> 00:33:06,480 Speaker 1: listening to the latest edition of The Falcon's Finals a podcast. 599 00:33:06,680 --> 00:33:09,760 Speaker 1: Please please, please, please pretty please with sugar or a 600 00:33:09,880 --> 00:33:14,400 Speaker 1: Christmas tree star on top rate review. Subscribe to the 601 00:33:14,520 --> 00:33:18,640 Speaker 1: Playing the Falcons podcast network. Why don't you I'm Scott, 602 00:33:19,040 --> 00:33:21,000 Speaker 1: I'm looking at Tory Nashton. Thank you so much for 603 00:33:21,040 --> 00:33:23,000 Speaker 1: sticking with us all year. We have two more episodes 604 00:33:23,040 --> 00:33:37,560 Speaker 1: in this season. Stay tuned, talk to you next week.