1 00:00:00,800 --> 00:00:03,199 Speaker 1: And we are back here on the Falcons Audible presented 2 00:00:03,200 --> 00:00:05,600 Speaker 1: by AT and T. I'm Derek Rackley. He's Dave Archer. 3 00:00:05,640 --> 00:00:07,880 Speaker 1: No DJ Shockley this week, but he will be back 4 00:00:07,920 --> 00:00:10,440 Speaker 1: in studio with us next week to break down all 5 00:00:10,480 --> 00:00:12,920 Speaker 1: things Atlanta Falcons. And by the way, thanks for joining 6 00:00:13,000 --> 00:00:16,799 Speaker 1: us on Atlanta Falcons dot com, YouTube, Spotify, iTunes or 7 00:00:16,800 --> 00:00:19,800 Speaker 1: wherever you end up getting your podcasts. We're gonna jump 8 00:00:19,920 --> 00:00:22,400 Speaker 1: right into it. First, let's talk about what we're going 9 00:00:22,440 --> 00:00:26,119 Speaker 1: to be the rundown, the agenda for today. Dave quick 10 00:00:26,160 --> 00:00:28,120 Speaker 1: reactions like we do pretty much every week, to the 11 00:00:28,160 --> 00:00:30,800 Speaker 1: game last weekend against Buffalo. Of course, Atlanta Falcons come 12 00:00:30,880 --> 00:00:35,000 Speaker 1: up short twenty nine to fifteen. One topic that I 13 00:00:35,000 --> 00:00:37,360 Speaker 1: didn't think we'd ever get a chance to discuss in 14 00:00:37,560 --> 00:00:40,880 Speaker 1: Matt Ryan and taunting. Yeah, we'll dive into that a 15 00:00:40,880 --> 00:00:45,280 Speaker 1: little bit more. Falcons defense continues to take the football away. 16 00:00:45,280 --> 00:00:49,159 Speaker 1: Are they becoming an elite defensive turnover unit? We'll discuss 17 00:00:49,240 --> 00:00:52,559 Speaker 1: that current status and lasting impression of this team as 18 00:00:52,600 --> 00:00:56,360 Speaker 1: we do know. Unfortunately, the Falcons were officially eliminated from 19 00:00:56,360 --> 00:00:59,720 Speaker 1: postseason contention, and then we will talk about whether or 20 00:00:59,760 --> 00:01:02,600 Speaker 1: not the Falcons will ruin the new year for the 21 00:01:02,640 --> 00:01:05,800 Speaker 1: New Orleans Saints. If there's one thing that you could 22 00:01:05,800 --> 00:01:08,280 Speaker 1: have at the end of the season, Arch, especially when 23 00:01:08,280 --> 00:01:12,000 Speaker 1: you're eliminated from the playoffs, it's a game against the Saints, right, 24 00:01:12,040 --> 00:01:15,000 Speaker 1: Because it's like, there's no reason to try to give 25 00:01:15,040 --> 00:01:18,240 Speaker 1: the guys motivation to get up. They'll get up for 26 00:01:18,280 --> 00:01:20,720 Speaker 1: the Saints game no matter what's going on. You can 27 00:01:20,800 --> 00:01:22,760 Speaker 1: bet these two fan bases will be jack out too 28 00:01:22,800 --> 00:01:24,760 Speaker 1: as well. If we get an opportunity to leave a 29 00:01:24,840 --> 00:01:28,880 Speaker 1: dead fish in their back seat, is what I'm talking about. Yeah, 30 00:01:28,920 --> 00:01:31,760 Speaker 1: that's really kind of a little stink face dead fish 31 00:01:31,760 --> 00:01:33,440 Speaker 1: in the back seat. All right, Before we get to 32 00:01:33,440 --> 00:01:36,199 Speaker 1: the Saints, let's talk about last weekend Arch. You were there, 33 00:01:36,680 --> 00:01:38,759 Speaker 1: first of all. Before we get into quick reactions, let 34 00:01:38,760 --> 00:01:40,800 Speaker 1: me just ask you this question. Tell me about the 35 00:01:40,840 --> 00:01:43,240 Speaker 1: conditions for the people that were watching it on television. 36 00:01:43,319 --> 00:01:46,080 Speaker 1: How was it like there? Yeah, it was chili. It 37 00:01:46,120 --> 00:01:48,360 Speaker 1: was chilli. I think we saw it from the pass catchers, right, 38 00:01:48,480 --> 00:01:51,120 Speaker 1: especially with some of the balls thrown both sides, right, 39 00:01:51,080 --> 00:01:52,880 Speaker 1: have a tough time squeezing the ball with your fingers. 40 00:01:53,200 --> 00:01:55,080 Speaker 1: That came againd of gave you an idea that if 41 00:01:55,120 --> 00:01:59,600 Speaker 1: you had some of your smaller appendages were affected by 42 00:01:59,600 --> 00:02:02,920 Speaker 1: the weather. The snow on the field was a little 43 00:02:02,960 --> 00:02:05,559 Speaker 1: bit choppy. It was probably about an inch on the field, 44 00:02:05,560 --> 00:02:08,440 Speaker 1: so that wasn't significant. It looked like footing was okay. 45 00:02:08,480 --> 00:02:10,400 Speaker 1: It didn't look like it was it was severe in 46 00:02:10,440 --> 00:02:12,600 Speaker 1: any way. I walked around the field. It didn't seem 47 00:02:12,639 --> 00:02:15,440 Speaker 1: like it was that big a deal. But there was 48 00:02:15,480 --> 00:02:17,880 Speaker 1: a wind that always blows in Buffalo. Know you've been 49 00:02:17,960 --> 00:02:21,000 Speaker 1: up there, That kind of swirls around that stadium, and 50 00:02:21,120 --> 00:02:23,160 Speaker 1: the wind is cold. That wind feels like it's blowing 51 00:02:23,160 --> 00:02:25,680 Speaker 1: off a glacier, so that if there wasn't any wind, 52 00:02:25,720 --> 00:02:28,440 Speaker 1: it kind of was that twenty nine thirty degree day. 53 00:02:28,440 --> 00:02:31,119 Speaker 1: But with the wind blowing, that changed the dynamic. We're 54 00:02:31,120 --> 00:02:33,520 Speaker 1: watching the game, and it's interesting you probably played up there. 55 00:02:33,600 --> 00:02:36,880 Speaker 1: I actually played in Buffalo that I remember one time 56 00:02:37,080 --> 00:02:38,520 Speaker 1: Arch and I can't remember if you were on the 57 00:02:38,560 --> 00:02:40,280 Speaker 1: call at that time, but we played him the first 58 00:02:40,280 --> 00:02:42,799 Speaker 1: game of the year. It was like eighty seven degrees. 59 00:02:43,200 --> 00:02:46,360 Speaker 1: And somehow, in eight years in the NFL, I escaped 60 00:02:46,440 --> 00:02:49,920 Speaker 1: having to go to Buffalo with conditions like last Sunday 61 00:02:50,160 --> 00:02:52,640 Speaker 1: or lake effects snow. I was trying to describe to 62 00:02:52,720 --> 00:02:55,640 Speaker 1: my daughter what lake effects snow is and buffalo and 63 00:02:55,720 --> 00:02:58,480 Speaker 1: how nasty it can be. Was not like that last weekend. 64 00:02:58,760 --> 00:03:01,560 Speaker 1: But let's talk about what are your quick reactions to 65 00:03:01,680 --> 00:03:04,079 Speaker 1: what happened in the game last weekend. Atlanta Falcons looked 66 00:03:04,120 --> 00:03:05,760 Speaker 1: like they were in a driver's seat and then things 67 00:03:05,800 --> 00:03:07,720 Speaker 1: just kind of fell off on the second half. Yeah, 68 00:03:07,840 --> 00:03:09,840 Speaker 1: I thought that there there were It was an ebb 69 00:03:09,840 --> 00:03:12,000 Speaker 1: and flow game, much like a lot of the Falcon 70 00:03:12,040 --> 00:03:14,160 Speaker 1: games have been this year, where there's been a big 71 00:03:14,240 --> 00:03:17,720 Speaker 1: swing in things. Opening kickoff, you've got an opportunity to 72 00:03:17,840 --> 00:03:20,119 Speaker 1: potentially fall in the football at the one yard line. 73 00:03:20,120 --> 00:03:22,200 Speaker 1: I thought we missed an opportunity. Looked like Michael Walker 74 00:03:22,280 --> 00:03:24,320 Speaker 1: might had a chance to recover it there on that 75 00:03:24,880 --> 00:03:29,120 Speaker 1: On that initial opportunity from a special team standpoint, Avery 76 00:03:29,160 --> 00:03:31,239 Speaker 1: Williams gets to hit ball in the end zone, you 77 00:03:31,320 --> 00:03:34,440 Speaker 1: get the safety. So excellent job of providing a little 78 00:03:34,480 --> 00:03:36,960 Speaker 1: bit of Momentimums start the game, and then it kind 79 00:03:36,960 --> 00:03:40,000 Speaker 1: of didn't really go anywhere and they started to get 80 00:03:40,000 --> 00:03:41,880 Speaker 1: a little bit of foothold. By the way Josh Allen 81 00:03:41,920 --> 00:03:44,120 Speaker 1: can spend the football, now, dude could throw it. He 82 00:03:44,160 --> 00:03:46,520 Speaker 1: made some throws in the wind that were mind boggling. 83 00:03:47,920 --> 00:03:51,080 Speaker 1: But what jumped out to me was the defense's resilience 84 00:03:51,120 --> 00:03:54,720 Speaker 1: against a pretty formidable offensive unit, and it had played 85 00:03:54,800 --> 00:03:58,840 Speaker 1: really well coming in. They were able to kind of 86 00:03:58,920 --> 00:04:02,120 Speaker 1: keep that same moment ben ben ben but don't break, 87 00:04:02,160 --> 00:04:04,120 Speaker 1: and they got to turnover down there late in the 88 00:04:04,120 --> 00:04:08,920 Speaker 1: first half with the Duron harm interception. Three consecutive takeaways. 89 00:04:09,120 --> 00:04:10,920 Speaker 1: I know we're going to talk about that. So I 90 00:04:10,960 --> 00:04:13,320 Speaker 1: thought that that that mentality seems to be kind of 91 00:04:13,360 --> 00:04:15,520 Speaker 1: taking shape a little bit, like to be a little 92 00:04:15,560 --> 00:04:17,800 Speaker 1: bit more resistant against the run, which we were not. 93 00:04:19,040 --> 00:04:21,080 Speaker 1: On the offensive side of the ball. It's still kind 94 00:04:21,120 --> 00:04:23,200 Speaker 1: of a mixed bag for me. You'll get moments where 95 00:04:23,200 --> 00:04:25,680 Speaker 1: you run the ball with a lot of effectiveness and 96 00:04:25,720 --> 00:04:27,960 Speaker 1: then you'll play action off of it, but then if 97 00:04:28,000 --> 00:04:29,600 Speaker 1: you're forced to throw it, we don't seem to be 98 00:04:29,640 --> 00:04:32,839 Speaker 1: able to protect consistently, and so the consistency on the 99 00:04:32,920 --> 00:04:36,440 Speaker 1: offense is not there yet. And so those are my takeaway. 100 00:04:36,600 --> 00:04:39,000 Speaker 1: The thing that you do get in Arthur Smith's and 101 00:04:39,040 --> 00:04:44,479 Speaker 1: this is this is resounding. These guys play for sixty minutes. Yeah, 102 00:04:44,680 --> 00:04:46,400 Speaker 1: it's not one of these kind of deals. We're all 103 00:04:46,960 --> 00:04:49,960 Speaker 1: here we go we're done. No, they play you to 104 00:04:50,000 --> 00:04:53,680 Speaker 1: the wall all the way through. And if the thing 105 00:04:53,760 --> 00:04:56,360 Speaker 1: hadn't happened to Ryan and we got the touchdown there, 106 00:04:56,360 --> 00:04:58,360 Speaker 1: which you thought you got a one score game of 107 00:04:58,400 --> 00:05:00,040 Speaker 1: about seven minutes to go in the game, and the 108 00:05:00,040 --> 00:05:02,120 Speaker 1: Buffalo is in a real dog fight down the stretch. Yeah, 109 00:05:02,160 --> 00:05:03,800 Speaker 1: I mean, we'll get into that again as well. And 110 00:05:03,839 --> 00:05:06,880 Speaker 1: it's interesting to me, Dave, because you get three turnovers 111 00:05:06,920 --> 00:05:09,440 Speaker 1: playing on the road in bad conditions, and you're thinking, 112 00:05:09,520 --> 00:05:12,480 Speaker 1: as a visiting team, that sets up pretty well for you, 113 00:05:12,560 --> 00:05:15,400 Speaker 1: then you and I wouldn't say then you, but rewind 114 00:05:15,520 --> 00:05:17,800 Speaker 1: back to the opening play where they're able to get 115 00:05:17,880 --> 00:05:20,240 Speaker 1: the safety and get the football back right away. So 116 00:05:20,279 --> 00:05:22,279 Speaker 1: there's a lot of moments that you can point to 117 00:05:22,680 --> 00:05:25,960 Speaker 1: that sets up perfectly for a visiting team to go 118 00:05:26,040 --> 00:05:28,560 Speaker 1: get a victory. Right. But the things that kind of 119 00:05:28,600 --> 00:05:30,160 Speaker 1: stick out to me, other than some of the missed 120 00:05:30,160 --> 00:05:36,480 Speaker 1: opportunities you talked about third down conversions one, red zone conversions. One. 121 00:05:36,960 --> 00:05:39,120 Speaker 1: It's gonna be hard to win in the National Football 122 00:05:39,160 --> 00:05:41,880 Speaker 1: League when you can't extend drives and you can't punch 123 00:05:41,920 --> 00:05:44,240 Speaker 1: it in in the red zone. And look, I know 124 00:05:44,320 --> 00:05:46,479 Speaker 1: this is Atlanta falcons audible, But you bring up a 125 00:05:46,480 --> 00:05:49,360 Speaker 1: good point, Dave about Josh Allen. Though I didn't get 126 00:05:49,400 --> 00:05:51,919 Speaker 1: a chance to watch him much this year, but after 127 00:05:52,040 --> 00:05:56,599 Speaker 1: watching that game, that kid's compete level is impressive. And 128 00:05:56,680 --> 00:06:00,400 Speaker 1: we talked about the difficulties Atlanta has at time slowing 129 00:06:00,440 --> 00:06:04,000 Speaker 1: down a running quarterback. Well, he's not only a running quarterback, 130 00:06:04,000 --> 00:06:06,200 Speaker 1: but he runs with physicality. I mean, there was the 131 00:06:06,240 --> 00:06:08,600 Speaker 1: stiff arm that he had. I can't remember exactly who 132 00:06:08,600 --> 00:06:12,040 Speaker 1: it was on that was pretty impressed. That's a defensive 133 00:06:12,120 --> 00:06:15,920 Speaker 1: end outside la pass rusher that a quarterback is stiff arming, 134 00:06:15,920 --> 00:06:17,680 Speaker 1: because that's probably a moment that he's not gonna want 135 00:06:17,680 --> 00:06:21,400 Speaker 1: to watch on the tape. But his ability to run 136 00:06:21,440 --> 00:06:23,839 Speaker 1: the ball, But like his compete level, that's just what 137 00:06:23,920 --> 00:06:25,960 Speaker 1: stuck out to me. It wasn't so much that, oh, 138 00:06:26,080 --> 00:06:28,200 Speaker 1: nice job picking up the first down. It's just his 139 00:06:28,360 --> 00:06:31,560 Speaker 1: mentality is like, we're not gonna end this drive like 140 00:06:31,760 --> 00:06:34,160 Speaker 1: we're gonna pick up a first down. Not to say 141 00:06:34,240 --> 00:06:36,120 Speaker 1: that we need to be like that, that Matt Ryan 142 00:06:36,160 --> 00:06:37,960 Speaker 1: needs to be like that, that's not his game. But 143 00:06:38,160 --> 00:06:39,960 Speaker 1: that's one thing that I came away with is at 144 00:06:40,040 --> 00:06:42,600 Speaker 1: his compete level is pretty strong and I have a 145 00:06:42,640 --> 00:06:46,120 Speaker 1: better appreciation for him as a starting quarterback in the NFL. 146 00:06:49,560 --> 00:06:52,320 Speaker 1: This episode in part brought to you by the Home Depot. 147 00:06:52,520 --> 00:06:55,359 Speaker 1: Everything you need for your next home improvement project is 148 00:06:55,400 --> 00:06:57,960 Speaker 1: just a tap away on the home Depot app. The 149 00:06:58,000 --> 00:07:00,920 Speaker 1: home Depot app Digital Toolbox gives you access to how 150 00:07:00,960 --> 00:07:04,560 Speaker 1: to guides, project calculators, and image search so you'll know 151 00:07:04,640 --> 00:07:07,040 Speaker 1: exactly what you need to pick up with the tap 152 00:07:07,040 --> 00:07:09,520 Speaker 1: of the finger. You can rent and reserve the right 153 00:07:09,560 --> 00:07:13,120 Speaker 1: tools for the job. Also browsed through millions of items 154 00:07:13,200 --> 00:07:15,840 Speaker 1: from top brands that you can have delivered right to 155 00:07:15,920 --> 00:07:19,080 Speaker 1: your door. Whatever your project, find exactly what you need 156 00:07:19,200 --> 00:07:23,440 Speaker 1: with the home Depot app. Download the home Depot app today, 157 00:07:24,240 --> 00:07:27,119 Speaker 1: So Dave, you kind of talked about it. Matt Ryan, 158 00:07:27,720 --> 00:07:30,800 Speaker 1: huge turning point in a game. Scrambles looks as if 159 00:07:30,840 --> 00:07:33,040 Speaker 1: he gets into the end zone for a touchdown. The 160 00:07:33,120 --> 00:07:35,920 Speaker 1: play gets reviewed. However, there's a taunting penalty on it, 161 00:07:35,960 --> 00:07:37,680 Speaker 1: which was likely just going to end up being on 162 00:07:37,720 --> 00:07:41,760 Speaker 1: the kick. Play gets reviewed, knee is down short of 163 00:07:41,760 --> 00:07:44,440 Speaker 1: the goal line, so instead of touchdown and we'll just 164 00:07:44,520 --> 00:07:46,560 Speaker 1: mark it off on the extra point, he gets moved 165 00:07:46,640 --> 00:07:50,480 Speaker 1: back and no touchdown and of course, Atlanta does not 166 00:07:50,680 --> 00:07:53,440 Speaker 1: end up taking advantage. Talk us through like what was 167 00:07:53,520 --> 00:07:56,400 Speaker 1: going through your mind and that whole scenario. Well, the 168 00:07:56,400 --> 00:07:58,160 Speaker 1: first part of it is you think Matt makes a play, 169 00:07:58,200 --> 00:08:00,040 Speaker 1: gets in the end zone. Certainly look like it. And 170 00:08:00,480 --> 00:08:03,680 Speaker 1: my thought on the rule was, if he goes forward, 171 00:08:03,760 --> 00:08:06,320 Speaker 1: he's a runner. If he doesn't slide, he's not giving 172 00:08:06,360 --> 00:08:09,680 Speaker 1: himself up. He's just diving that he has to be 173 00:08:09,720 --> 00:08:12,560 Speaker 1: touched down. That's not the rule. It doesn't matter whether 174 00:08:12,560 --> 00:08:15,920 Speaker 1: you're a quarterback or a runner. If you physically give 175 00:08:15,960 --> 00:08:18,640 Speaker 1: yourself up, which he essentially was going to the ground, 176 00:08:18,960 --> 00:08:21,320 Speaker 1: then you mark the ball where his knee touches the ground. 177 00:08:21,440 --> 00:08:24,400 Speaker 1: And so the mark was correct at the one half 178 00:08:24,520 --> 00:08:29,400 Speaker 1: yard line. Okay, Matt thinks he scores. Well, Jordan Poyer 179 00:08:29,480 --> 00:08:32,360 Speaker 1: comes over and spears him is he's in the end zone. 180 00:08:32,760 --> 00:08:35,400 Speaker 1: Ryan gets up, spikes the ball in his face. It's 181 00:08:35,400 --> 00:08:39,240 Speaker 1: a taunting by the definition of the rule. He spiked 182 00:08:39,280 --> 00:08:40,800 Speaker 1: the ball right in his face and yelled at him. 183 00:08:40,800 --> 00:08:44,320 Speaker 1: Official was standing right there. He flagged it. The problem 184 00:08:44,320 --> 00:08:47,080 Speaker 1: with that is is he misses the other call. The 185 00:08:47,160 --> 00:08:50,240 Speaker 1: other call is the illegal hit on a player that 186 00:08:50,320 --> 00:08:52,559 Speaker 1: had given themselves up. I don't care if it's a 187 00:08:52,640 --> 00:08:55,559 Speaker 1: running back, wide receiver. If you give yourself up like that, 188 00:08:55,679 --> 00:08:58,280 Speaker 1: you can't as a defender go to the ground and 189 00:08:58,440 --> 00:09:01,920 Speaker 1: spear them in the back. Say personal foul penalty. So 190 00:09:01,960 --> 00:09:04,920 Speaker 1: what should have happened there is Ryan still gets the penalty, 191 00:09:05,400 --> 00:09:08,600 Speaker 1: but the personal foul penalty they're both dead ball fouls. 192 00:09:08,640 --> 00:09:11,440 Speaker 1: They offset one another. You go with the play, and 193 00:09:11,520 --> 00:09:14,959 Speaker 1: the play is on the one foot line, third and goal. Instead, 194 00:09:15,080 --> 00:09:17,839 Speaker 1: they missed the hit on Ryan. They flag Ryan for 195 00:09:18,440 --> 00:09:22,680 Speaker 1: the the whatever you call it, the tanting or whatever 196 00:09:22,679 --> 00:09:24,560 Speaker 1: it is, and they move him back and then they 197 00:09:24,600 --> 00:09:26,719 Speaker 1: move the back. It's now third and goal from the 198 00:09:26,840 --> 00:09:30,000 Speaker 1: sixteen yard line, and so that changes everything. They tried 199 00:09:30,000 --> 00:09:31,200 Speaker 1: to take a couple of shots at the end zone. 200 00:09:31,400 --> 00:09:34,640 Speaker 1: It didn't work out, so completely blown situation there by 201 00:09:34,640 --> 00:09:37,600 Speaker 1: the official. They got the first and the third part 202 00:09:37,600 --> 00:09:39,280 Speaker 1: of it. They missed the middle part of it, which 203 00:09:39,280 --> 00:09:41,920 Speaker 1: would have been the roughering call on Ryan. As it 204 00:09:41,960 --> 00:09:43,679 Speaker 1: turns out, that was a big point in the game. 205 00:09:43,760 --> 00:09:45,440 Speaker 1: I don't know if I don't think that was the 206 00:09:45,480 --> 00:09:49,079 Speaker 1: turning point in the game. Okay, I mean we're talking 207 00:09:49,160 --> 00:09:51,880 Speaker 1: turning points in games. I thought the takeaway by Foya 208 00:09:51,960 --> 00:09:55,040 Speaker 1: Luikin at the start of the first half or second 209 00:09:55,080 --> 00:09:59,560 Speaker 1: half with the third consecutive turnover by Josh Allen. If 210 00:09:59,600 --> 00:10:02,200 Speaker 1: you turn ntt end to point, you score. Now you've 211 00:10:02,240 --> 00:10:06,880 Speaker 1: scored anywhere from sixteen to twenty points on three consecutive takeaways. 212 00:10:07,480 --> 00:10:09,960 Speaker 1: You have seized control of the game. And now Buffalo's 213 00:10:10,000 --> 00:10:12,480 Speaker 1: reeling a little bit. Now they might come back and score, 214 00:10:12,960 --> 00:10:15,280 Speaker 1: but you're talking about jockeying down to the end and 215 00:10:15,360 --> 00:10:19,320 Speaker 1: a one score maybe a one field goal type football game. 216 00:10:19,520 --> 00:10:21,560 Speaker 1: I thought that was a key moment for me, was 217 00:10:21,640 --> 00:10:24,560 Speaker 1: not cashing in the Foyer Lucan interception to start the 218 00:10:24,559 --> 00:10:27,160 Speaker 1: second half. Yeah, and going back to the taunting penalty 219 00:10:27,200 --> 00:10:29,120 Speaker 1: on Matt, like, I know, there's probably a lot of 220 00:10:29,120 --> 00:10:31,680 Speaker 1: people that were thinking as soon as it happened, Oh, 221 00:10:31,720 --> 00:10:35,240 Speaker 1: that can't happen. Matt can't do That's just a reaction 222 00:10:35,360 --> 00:10:38,240 Speaker 1: from a competitor that got into the end zone that 223 00:10:38,360 --> 00:10:41,080 Speaker 1: was frustrated that somebody hit him and he just got 224 00:10:41,120 --> 00:10:43,400 Speaker 1: up and I'm sure he was like, you know, bam, 225 00:10:43,440 --> 00:10:45,839 Speaker 1: I got into the end zone type thing, and maybe 226 00:10:45,840 --> 00:10:47,720 Speaker 1: he was looking at him. Yeah, you're right, the letter 227 00:10:47,720 --> 00:10:50,559 Speaker 1: of the rule, it was the right call. But to 228 00:10:51,080 --> 00:10:53,520 Speaker 1: kind of how I started the podcast is I never 229 00:10:53,559 --> 00:10:56,880 Speaker 1: thought we'd be thinking about Matt Ryan getting a taunting 230 00:10:56,960 --> 00:11:00,400 Speaker 1: penalty that ends up, like you said, maybe does changed 231 00:11:00,440 --> 00:11:02,400 Speaker 1: the complexion of the game, but surely would have helped 232 00:11:02,400 --> 00:11:04,360 Speaker 1: if they would have got seven points in that situation. 233 00:11:04,480 --> 00:11:07,360 Speaker 1: So to me, that's just a reaction from a competitor, Dave. 234 00:11:07,400 --> 00:11:09,679 Speaker 1: That's not something where it's like, dude, he's got to 235 00:11:09,760 --> 00:11:12,120 Speaker 1: be better in his head or something like that. Well, 236 00:11:12,160 --> 00:11:14,560 Speaker 1: I agree to with you to a certain extent, but 237 00:11:14,840 --> 00:11:17,040 Speaker 1: he can't do that. Yeah, you can't let it happen. 238 00:11:17,120 --> 00:11:19,360 Speaker 1: I get what you're talking about. It completely concur I've 239 00:11:19,400 --> 00:11:21,439 Speaker 1: been in that situation. I've actually been flagged. I was 240 00:11:21,440 --> 00:11:23,600 Speaker 1: actually thrown out of a game because I hit a 241 00:11:23,600 --> 00:11:26,280 Speaker 1: guy because he hit me illegally in a game. So 242 00:11:26,920 --> 00:11:30,520 Speaker 1: I understand the emotional part of it. Um. The problem 243 00:11:30,679 --> 00:11:33,720 Speaker 1: is is you hurt your team. Yeah, okay, And and 244 00:11:33,720 --> 00:11:36,079 Speaker 1: and regardless of whether the officials blew which they did, 245 00:11:36,200 --> 00:11:39,280 Speaker 1: they blew the call, you can't you can't let that happen. Um, 246 00:11:39,320 --> 00:11:42,400 Speaker 1: just like you, we would say it about any other player. 247 00:11:42,640 --> 00:11:45,560 Speaker 1: And so even though Ryan is not the guy you'd 248 00:11:45,559 --> 00:11:48,000 Speaker 1: put on the picture, of a guy that's going to 249 00:11:48,080 --> 00:11:51,520 Speaker 1: do those kind of things that's gonna taunt somebody. He 250 00:11:51,640 --> 00:11:56,559 Speaker 1: apply applies to him, just like it would to Richie Grant, 251 00:11:55,160 --> 00:11:59,040 Speaker 1: or if you hit a guy at a bounds or 252 00:11:59,080 --> 00:12:02,000 Speaker 1: got that somebody and took a shot at somebody. You 253 00:12:02,000 --> 00:12:04,719 Speaker 1: can't let that happen. Yeah, exactly, So you're right, it 254 00:12:05,080 --> 00:12:08,720 Speaker 1: was missed opportunities and kind of moving forward here, Dave, 255 00:12:08,800 --> 00:12:11,360 Speaker 1: we've talked a little bit about these these turnovers, and 256 00:12:11,440 --> 00:12:15,040 Speaker 1: I guess here's the thing as a former player, and Dave, 257 00:12:15,080 --> 00:12:17,680 Speaker 1: I'm sure you're probably this way as well. When you 258 00:12:17,760 --> 00:12:20,840 Speaker 1: come away from a loss, there's only so much that 259 00:12:21,000 --> 00:12:23,679 Speaker 1: you can talk about positives, right, because at the end 260 00:12:23,679 --> 00:12:25,680 Speaker 1: of the day, you get paid to win games, right. 261 00:12:25,840 --> 00:12:28,679 Speaker 1: Coaches get paid to coach games and win. Owners want 262 00:12:28,679 --> 00:12:30,560 Speaker 1: to win, right, that's just the name of the NFL. 263 00:12:31,200 --> 00:12:33,800 Speaker 1: But you do have to kind of find a silver 264 00:12:33,880 --> 00:12:36,480 Speaker 1: lining here and there, and so let's talk about this. 265 00:12:36,520 --> 00:12:40,160 Speaker 1: I mean, yes, the Falcons ended up losing. Maybe they're 266 00:12:40,200 --> 00:12:42,000 Speaker 1: still kind of middle of the row when you talk 267 00:12:42,000 --> 00:12:44,840 Speaker 1: about defense and statistics and takeaways and all that stuff, 268 00:12:44,880 --> 00:12:47,440 Speaker 1: But they've shown a trend at the end of the 269 00:12:47,480 --> 00:12:50,120 Speaker 1: season that when they get the opportunity to get their 270 00:12:50,120 --> 00:12:52,680 Speaker 1: hands on the football, they're taking advantage of it because 271 00:12:52,679 --> 00:12:54,760 Speaker 1: it could be a lot worse. These could be balls 272 00:12:54,760 --> 00:12:56,680 Speaker 1: that are going right to defensive players and how many 273 00:12:56,679 --> 00:12:59,280 Speaker 1: times do we see it Bam touches the hands straight 274 00:12:59,280 --> 00:13:02,560 Speaker 1: to the ground. Opportunity huge. But as far as making 275 00:13:02,600 --> 00:13:06,080 Speaker 1: those takeaways, how are you feeling as far as the 276 00:13:06,160 --> 00:13:09,920 Speaker 1: identity of this defense becoming a takeaway defense? Yeah, the 277 00:13:10,080 --> 00:13:13,479 Speaker 1: ball awareness is huge with this team. What twelve consecutive 278 00:13:13,480 --> 00:13:16,320 Speaker 1: games now they've taken a football away and that goes 279 00:13:16,360 --> 00:13:18,319 Speaker 1: a long way. I mean, what are the some of 280 00:13:18,360 --> 00:13:21,120 Speaker 1: the statistics A couple of statistics that coaches point to. 281 00:13:21,480 --> 00:13:23,800 Speaker 1: They talk about red zone offense defense, they talk about 282 00:13:23,800 --> 00:13:26,319 Speaker 1: third down offense defense, they talk about takeaways, they talk 283 00:13:26,320 --> 00:13:28,760 Speaker 1: about can we get takeaways? Take care of the football. 284 00:13:29,280 --> 00:13:33,280 Speaker 1: Atlanta's taking the football away at a really nice clip 285 00:13:33,520 --> 00:13:36,160 Speaker 1: and what it tells you is the ball awareness they 286 00:13:36,200 --> 00:13:39,360 Speaker 1: have whether they're in zone coverage. The aj Terrell interception 287 00:13:39,400 --> 00:13:41,200 Speaker 1: at the end of the first half where he dives 288 00:13:41,200 --> 00:13:44,680 Speaker 1: intercepts of football, the ability of Foyer Luikin to mirror 289 00:13:44,679 --> 00:13:46,440 Speaker 1: the quarterback as he's trying to get out of the pocket, 290 00:13:46,440 --> 00:13:49,120 Speaker 1: elevate bat the ball in deron harmon to catch the 291 00:13:49,160 --> 00:13:51,040 Speaker 1: tip ball. How many times do we have we seen 292 00:13:51,240 --> 00:13:53,320 Speaker 1: you and are both offensive guys. You look over the 293 00:13:53,320 --> 00:13:55,280 Speaker 1: defensive guys are work coming the tip drill, keeping the 294 00:13:55,320 --> 00:13:58,319 Speaker 1: ball alive, tipping it in the air. The ball awareness 295 00:13:58,320 --> 00:14:01,480 Speaker 1: on this team is uncanny. It's one of those things 296 00:14:01,880 --> 00:14:05,200 Speaker 1: that it's hard to teach teams. It's hard to teach players, 297 00:14:05,559 --> 00:14:08,319 Speaker 1: but when they when turnovers start to come, it becomes 298 00:14:08,360 --> 00:14:10,360 Speaker 1: a bit of infectious where you begin to expect it, 299 00:14:10,400 --> 00:14:12,760 Speaker 1: you'd be looking for it. I think they have that 300 00:14:12,840 --> 00:14:15,840 Speaker 1: kind of awareness that bodes well, that moves forward, that 301 00:14:16,000 --> 00:14:18,760 Speaker 1: carries with you into the offseason and into next year, 302 00:14:18,880 --> 00:14:20,880 Speaker 1: because it is it's one of those it's one of 303 00:14:20,880 --> 00:14:24,320 Speaker 1: those confidence. It's one of those belief mechanisms, if you will, 304 00:14:24,520 --> 00:14:29,479 Speaker 1: that every level of this defense, whether you're a defensive lineman, linebacker, secondary, 305 00:14:29,880 --> 00:14:31,600 Speaker 1: you go into a game and you're like, we're gonna 306 00:14:31,640 --> 00:14:33,640 Speaker 1: get the football because we've shown that we're gonna do. 307 00:14:33,680 --> 00:14:36,720 Speaker 1: And and Foya Luikon and I'll say this about him, 308 00:14:36,960 --> 00:14:40,960 Speaker 1: he's kind of your more typical like middle linebacker, thicker, 309 00:14:41,080 --> 00:14:44,200 Speaker 1: bigger pad guy like you'd think that Dion Jones would 310 00:14:44,200 --> 00:14:47,520 Speaker 1: be the guy that's that's that's much more graceful. But Foyer, 311 00:14:47,760 --> 00:14:51,040 Speaker 1: for a big, thick linebacker, has shown some really good hands. 312 00:14:51,040 --> 00:14:53,760 Speaker 1: Like I've seen so many times in my career, the 313 00:14:53,800 --> 00:14:56,120 Speaker 1: ball goes right to these big middle linebackers that they're 314 00:14:56,120 --> 00:14:58,040 Speaker 1: just not ready for it and it hits their hands 315 00:14:58,040 --> 00:14:59,640 Speaker 1: and drops to the ground. What do they always say? 316 00:14:59,800 --> 00:15:02,680 Speaker 1: That the reason why they play on defense, right, But 317 00:15:02,760 --> 00:15:06,000 Speaker 1: it's impressive to me because you're right, Dave, and we 318 00:15:06,000 --> 00:15:07,720 Speaker 1: don't know what the roster is gonna look like next year. 319 00:15:07,760 --> 00:15:10,080 Speaker 1: We don't know who's gonna be back. But if that's 320 00:15:10,120 --> 00:15:13,400 Speaker 1: the identity, if that's the belief, if that's the confidence 321 00:15:13,440 --> 00:15:16,600 Speaker 1: that this personnel grouping has, that's a good thing to 322 00:15:16,640 --> 00:15:18,840 Speaker 1: come for this unit. They're they're gonna look back and 323 00:15:18,840 --> 00:15:20,720 Speaker 1: they're gonna say, guys, just like we did in twenty 324 00:15:20,760 --> 00:15:22,520 Speaker 1: twenty one, you saw how we took the football away. 325 00:15:22,600 --> 00:15:24,840 Speaker 1: We need to do that again to start twenty twenty two. 326 00:15:24,840 --> 00:15:26,960 Speaker 1: Whatever it may be, those are things that can be 327 00:15:27,000 --> 00:15:29,080 Speaker 1: talked about in the locker room. They can be talked 328 00:15:29,080 --> 00:15:31,120 Speaker 1: about right before you take the field for a game 329 00:15:31,160 --> 00:15:34,120 Speaker 1: next year, because guys, remember it and they have confidence 330 00:15:34,120 --> 00:15:36,920 Speaker 1: that they're gonna make a play. So very encouraging, even 331 00:15:36,960 --> 00:15:39,240 Speaker 1: coming up with a loss that they're coming away with 332 00:15:39,320 --> 00:15:42,720 Speaker 1: interceptions still minus three in a turnover margin that generally 333 00:15:42,760 --> 00:15:44,200 Speaker 1: not gonna get it done for you in a grand 334 00:15:44,200 --> 00:15:46,640 Speaker 1: scheme of things. But the defense doing what they need 335 00:15:46,680 --> 00:15:50,080 Speaker 1: to do to be an elite turnover unit. So, Dave, 336 00:15:50,160 --> 00:15:52,240 Speaker 1: let's kind of take a little step back here and 337 00:15:52,320 --> 00:15:55,480 Speaker 1: let's look at the Atlanta Falcons. They still have one 338 00:15:55,520 --> 00:15:59,120 Speaker 1: game to play, but so now we basically have a resume. 339 00:15:59,240 --> 00:16:03,680 Speaker 1: We've got almost a whole season under our belts to 340 00:16:03,720 --> 00:16:06,240 Speaker 1: this point. What's your lasting impression of this team that 341 00:16:06,280 --> 00:16:08,520 Speaker 1: you've seen in the first year under Terry Fonto and 342 00:16:08,600 --> 00:16:11,080 Speaker 1: Arthur Smith. They compete for sixty minutes. Yeah, I think 343 00:16:11,080 --> 00:16:12,680 Speaker 1: that that's the thing that jumps out at you and 344 00:16:13,360 --> 00:16:16,080 Speaker 1: does that make me warm and fuzzy all over? Know? 345 00:16:16,400 --> 00:16:20,600 Speaker 1: But it wins? Do does it equate to wins? Do 346 00:16:20,640 --> 00:16:23,480 Speaker 1: you hear the adage culture? You hear the adage of 347 00:16:23,680 --> 00:16:26,000 Speaker 1: you know, we got to change who we are and 348 00:16:26,360 --> 00:16:28,560 Speaker 1: what we think of one Another part of that has 349 00:16:28,600 --> 00:16:30,840 Speaker 1: to do with the turnovers. I think that becomes an 350 00:16:30,840 --> 00:16:34,880 Speaker 1: expectation that the defensive players have we expect to get turnovers. 351 00:16:35,080 --> 00:16:38,240 Speaker 1: We're going to create turnovers. That's something that carries over. 352 00:16:38,440 --> 00:16:41,600 Speaker 1: But I think your mentality of playing sixty minutes and 353 00:16:41,720 --> 00:16:43,880 Speaker 1: knowing you and I are told it all the time 354 00:16:43,960 --> 00:16:45,440 Speaker 1: by coaches, and I'm sure fans have heard at a 355 00:16:45,560 --> 00:16:47,920 Speaker 1: ton of times there's four or five plays, maybe six 356 00:16:47,960 --> 00:16:49,760 Speaker 1: plays in a game they're going to dictate how the 357 00:16:49,800 --> 00:16:53,160 Speaker 1: game will play out. Well, if I play for sixty minutes, 358 00:16:53,160 --> 00:16:54,960 Speaker 1: I'm going to be in pretty good position to make 359 00:16:55,160 --> 00:16:57,760 Speaker 1: those plays when they come. If you've got a team 360 00:16:57,800 --> 00:17:00,280 Speaker 1: that's a little bit lackadaisical, that doesn't play necessary third 361 00:17:00,360 --> 00:17:03,600 Speaker 1: quarter very well, or whatever it might be, then they 362 00:17:03,640 --> 00:17:06,119 Speaker 1: miss out on maybe an opportunity to that might sway 363 00:17:06,200 --> 00:17:08,359 Speaker 1: the tide or move the game in your direction. I 364 00:17:08,359 --> 00:17:11,240 Speaker 1: don't think this team will miss that. Now, you know, 365 00:17:11,240 --> 00:17:13,240 Speaker 1: there's a lot of work to do from a talent 366 00:17:13,320 --> 00:17:16,120 Speaker 1: standpoint to build this roster up a little bit more 367 00:17:16,200 --> 00:17:19,200 Speaker 1: talent wise in a lot of different areas. But the 368 00:17:19,240 --> 00:17:21,680 Speaker 1: competitive part of it you mentioned about Josh Allen, this 369 00:17:21,800 --> 00:17:26,080 Speaker 1: team competes, and I think that's not You think, well, 370 00:17:26,119 --> 00:17:28,800 Speaker 1: they're pro football players, they should compete. That's not always 371 00:17:28,800 --> 00:17:31,000 Speaker 1: built into the DNA, it's not always I've played with 372 00:17:31,000 --> 00:17:33,840 Speaker 1: a lot of guys and and so this team competes, 373 00:17:33,880 --> 00:17:36,040 Speaker 1: and I think that's the thing that jumps out at me. Yeah, 374 00:17:36,119 --> 00:17:40,600 Speaker 1: it's it's definitely another positive moving forward, because you're right, 375 00:17:40,600 --> 00:17:42,760 Speaker 1: there's certain times that you can watch a game or 376 00:17:42,800 --> 00:17:44,560 Speaker 1: you can watch it on tape and you can say 377 00:17:45,240 --> 00:17:47,680 Speaker 1: they gave up, like they threw in the towel, they 378 00:17:47,680 --> 00:17:50,879 Speaker 1: were done, they stopped competing. And I think that's a 379 00:17:50,920 --> 00:17:53,399 Speaker 1: really good point. And that's that's something that you know, 380 00:17:53,440 --> 00:17:55,200 Speaker 1: if any of those guys end up listening to this, 381 00:17:55,320 --> 00:17:57,639 Speaker 1: like that might be one of the better compliments that 382 00:17:57,680 --> 00:17:59,760 Speaker 1: you can get. Yeah, there's only certain things that you 383 00:17:59,760 --> 00:18:02,320 Speaker 1: can from an athletic standpoint. You might not be able 384 00:18:02,359 --> 00:18:04,520 Speaker 1: to jump over forty eight inch box jump, you might 385 00:18:04,560 --> 00:18:06,320 Speaker 1: not be able to run a four three five forty, 386 00:18:06,720 --> 00:18:08,439 Speaker 1: but if you can compete, like it's all that the 387 00:18:08,440 --> 00:18:10,800 Speaker 1: coaches always tell you can control one thing. It's your 388 00:18:10,800 --> 00:18:13,400 Speaker 1: effort in your attitude, right, and that's what they're doing 389 00:18:13,480 --> 00:18:16,439 Speaker 1: right now. And I wanted to kind of piggyback and 390 00:18:16,480 --> 00:18:18,640 Speaker 1: go ask you this is kind of off script, Dave. 391 00:18:18,920 --> 00:18:22,439 Speaker 1: There's been so many moving roster things this year with 392 00:18:22,520 --> 00:18:26,760 Speaker 1: COVID right reserve, COVID list guys getting elevated, guys coming 393 00:18:26,760 --> 00:18:29,280 Speaker 1: back down. The one thing that I would say that 394 00:18:29,359 --> 00:18:32,359 Speaker 1: kind of goes back to your compete level is it's 395 00:18:32,400 --> 00:18:36,359 Speaker 1: this season has provided so many opportunities for guys to 396 00:18:36,400 --> 00:18:40,239 Speaker 1: get playing time that normally would not play. And I 397 00:18:40,280 --> 00:18:43,000 Speaker 1: think part of the reason why you're seeing that compete 398 00:18:43,080 --> 00:18:44,960 Speaker 1: level is the guys that are getting a chance to 399 00:18:45,040 --> 00:18:48,320 Speaker 1: play understand that they may not get another game, they 400 00:18:48,359 --> 00:18:51,359 Speaker 1: may not get another season. So they're out there going 401 00:18:51,400 --> 00:18:54,959 Speaker 1: and they're playing their hardest to try to earn space, 402 00:18:55,040 --> 00:18:58,280 Speaker 1: to try to earn time on the field. And so yeah, 403 00:18:58,320 --> 00:18:59,920 Speaker 1: there you can look at the negative side of it. 404 00:19:00,040 --> 00:19:02,600 Speaker 1: Does that the COVID reserve list is taking your stars 405 00:19:02,600 --> 00:19:05,720 Speaker 1: and they can't play, and that's that Obviously that's uncontrollable. 406 00:19:05,960 --> 00:19:08,520 Speaker 1: But you're getting some guys up there that are competing 407 00:19:08,560 --> 00:19:10,639 Speaker 1: their tails off because they don't know when they're going 408 00:19:10,680 --> 00:19:12,359 Speaker 1: to get a chance to play again. I think it 409 00:19:12,560 --> 00:19:14,520 Speaker 1: also a rack, and I couldn't agree with you more. 410 00:19:14,560 --> 00:19:19,399 Speaker 1: I think it also accentuates, excuse me, what Terry Fontno 411 00:19:19,480 --> 00:19:23,240 Speaker 1: has done in acquiring guys in season that's not easy 412 00:19:23,240 --> 00:19:26,359 Speaker 1: to do now, especially with the expanded practice rosters and 413 00:19:26,400 --> 00:19:27,800 Speaker 1: all that kind of stuff. It's not like guy just 414 00:19:27,840 --> 00:19:29,879 Speaker 1: walking around the street and that guy driving a ups 415 00:19:29,960 --> 00:19:32,199 Speaker 1: truck that should be playing a three technique in your 416 00:19:32,200 --> 00:19:35,159 Speaker 1: defensive line. It just doesn't happen. So how do you 417 00:19:35,200 --> 00:19:38,000 Speaker 1: find these guys? Terry has done an amazing job with 418 00:19:38,040 --> 00:19:41,239 Speaker 1: his staff and then Arthur Smith and his staff in 419 00:19:41,280 --> 00:19:44,000 Speaker 1: their development of the players when they've brought them in. 420 00:19:44,600 --> 00:19:46,919 Speaker 1: Anthony Rush was not was a guy was on this 421 00:19:46,960 --> 00:19:50,680 Speaker 1: practice squad near the beginning of the season. Mike Panell 422 00:19:50,800 --> 00:19:54,680 Speaker 1: another guy. Big body dudes that they felt like fit 423 00:19:54,760 --> 00:19:57,840 Speaker 1: the mold of what they were looking for interior defensive lineman. 424 00:19:58,160 --> 00:20:02,199 Speaker 1: Bigger bodies helped put the run game, help spouse some 425 00:20:02,280 --> 00:20:04,159 Speaker 1: guys whatever it might be, but a little bit more 426 00:20:04,160 --> 00:20:06,119 Speaker 1: of an image of what you're so you wanted to 427 00:20:06,200 --> 00:20:10,160 Speaker 1: look like in the future. Um, they've developed those dudes 428 00:20:10,200 --> 00:20:13,240 Speaker 1: so when they plug them in, they know what they're doing. 429 00:20:13,280 --> 00:20:14,920 Speaker 1: It's not some guy just coming in off the street 430 00:20:14,920 --> 00:20:17,000 Speaker 1: on Friday and saying, oh, by the way, we're gonna 431 00:20:17,040 --> 00:20:18,760 Speaker 1: line you up in a three and a one technique 432 00:20:18,800 --> 00:20:21,720 Speaker 1: and just do what Dion tells you. You know, that's 433 00:20:21,760 --> 00:20:24,480 Speaker 1: not that's not the way these guys are. They're developing 434 00:20:24,520 --> 00:20:27,159 Speaker 1: these players. And if if I hang my head on 435 00:20:27,240 --> 00:20:29,120 Speaker 1: anything about this team, and I know, we got another 436 00:20:29,119 --> 00:20:30,600 Speaker 1: play game to play and we'll talk about the same 437 00:20:30,680 --> 00:20:35,640 Speaker 1: turn a few minutes. The coaching's coming back. Yeah. That 438 00:20:35,760 --> 00:20:38,520 Speaker 1: coaching has been happening all year long. And we're seeing 439 00:20:38,560 --> 00:20:41,639 Speaker 1: the development of Richie Grant. We're just seeing the development 440 00:20:41,880 --> 00:20:45,280 Speaker 1: of Adeogan Daiji coming off the edge. We're you're seeing 441 00:20:45,280 --> 00:20:47,280 Speaker 1: the development of those players on the other side, aj 442 00:20:47,480 --> 00:20:49,560 Speaker 1: Terrell taking another sip. Oh, by the way, you got 443 00:20:49,560 --> 00:20:51,600 Speaker 1: two of the best linebackers in the national football get 444 00:20:51,600 --> 00:20:54,800 Speaker 1: Nobody knows about Dion Jones of Boya Lucan tackling machines. 445 00:20:55,560 --> 00:20:57,159 Speaker 1: And then the development of some of the guys on 446 00:20:57,200 --> 00:20:59,720 Speaker 1: the offensive side of the football, whether it's Jalen Mayfield 447 00:20:59,720 --> 00:21:02,639 Speaker 1: and him coming as that left guard or whatever that 448 00:21:02,720 --> 00:21:05,639 Speaker 1: may be. There, the development of the running game to 449 00:21:05,680 --> 00:21:08,439 Speaker 1: a certain extent, guys having to step up with the 450 00:21:08,480 --> 00:21:10,720 Speaker 1: absence of Calvin Ridley, and as it turned out in 451 00:21:10,720 --> 00:21:15,000 Speaker 1: the second half, Kyle Pitts here, the coaching is coming back, people, 452 00:21:15,480 --> 00:21:18,520 Speaker 1: and that's what I'm most excited about because I see 453 00:21:18,520 --> 00:21:20,879 Speaker 1: guys getting coached up and being ready to go. Because 454 00:21:20,920 --> 00:21:23,280 Speaker 1: this is not the most talented roster in the league. 455 00:21:23,520 --> 00:21:26,080 Speaker 1: But when you look up your team's competing fifteen fourteen 456 00:21:26,080 --> 00:21:28,360 Speaker 1: and a halftime Buffalo is going to the playoffs, yeah, 457 00:21:28,720 --> 00:21:31,000 Speaker 1: you're right there with them, you know, And yeah, you 458 00:21:31,080 --> 00:21:33,040 Speaker 1: got to win those games. And there's there is no 459 00:21:33,480 --> 00:21:35,480 Speaker 1: you know, honorary pad on the back here, because this 460 00:21:35,560 --> 00:21:37,879 Speaker 1: is the national football You win, you lose. But I 461 00:21:37,960 --> 00:21:40,720 Speaker 1: like the trend and I love the coaching and the personnel. 462 00:21:40,760 --> 00:21:43,159 Speaker 1: People are coming back to a Justice team. Yeah and 463 00:21:43,200 --> 00:21:46,080 Speaker 1: again next year, you know. Again. I hate to kind 464 00:21:46,080 --> 00:21:48,400 Speaker 1: of transform or move forward to next year, but when 465 00:21:48,400 --> 00:21:50,920 Speaker 1: the team is officially eliminated, you kind of think about, okay, 466 00:21:50,920 --> 00:21:53,239 Speaker 1: what are the prospects for the next season, you know, 467 00:21:53,680 --> 00:21:56,040 Speaker 1: hoping God willing that Calvin Ridley is back on the 468 00:21:56,040 --> 00:21:58,040 Speaker 1: field for Atlanta next year. And we didn't even really 469 00:21:58,080 --> 00:22:00,000 Speaker 1: get a chance to talk too much about Kyle Pitts 470 00:22:00,119 --> 00:22:02,720 Speaker 1: obviously goes down with the injury late in the first half, 471 00:22:02,760 --> 00:22:05,120 Speaker 1: does tries to go in the second half, but they'd 472 00:22:05,200 --> 00:22:08,200 Speaker 1: end up holding him out. But the phenomenal season that 473 00:22:08,320 --> 00:22:11,359 Speaker 1: he has had you get a guy like Calvin Ridley back, 474 00:22:11,680 --> 00:22:14,800 Speaker 1: you get another year with this offensive line improving, maybe 475 00:22:14,840 --> 00:22:17,480 Speaker 1: adding a piece that helps that group out. I mean, 476 00:22:17,520 --> 00:22:20,160 Speaker 1: you might be talking about having a top three tight 477 00:22:20,320 --> 00:22:23,159 Speaker 1: end in the National Football League. And again, I know 478 00:22:23,200 --> 00:22:25,199 Speaker 1: we talked last week, it's not really a tight end. 479 00:22:25,280 --> 00:22:28,680 Speaker 1: He's kind of just a big wide receivers dude. He's 480 00:22:28,720 --> 00:22:31,159 Speaker 1: just a dude. He's a ball player. He's kind of 481 00:22:31,160 --> 00:22:34,160 Speaker 1: like that prototypical he is just an athlete, Like he's 482 00:22:34,160 --> 00:22:36,800 Speaker 1: a playmaker. We don't need to put a te or 483 00:22:36,840 --> 00:22:39,600 Speaker 1: a wr next to him. We just put a ball 484 00:22:39,600 --> 00:22:43,879 Speaker 1: in his hands. Yeah, you're right. Problem. So you know, 485 00:22:43,960 --> 00:22:46,159 Speaker 1: he obviously not being available in the second half of 486 00:22:46,200 --> 00:22:48,280 Speaker 1: the Bills game was was was an issue. And just 487 00:22:48,359 --> 00:22:52,159 Speaker 1: take another just explosive weapon off the field and it's 488 00:22:52,200 --> 00:22:53,760 Speaker 1: gonna be tough to move the ball against a pretty 489 00:22:53,760 --> 00:22:55,920 Speaker 1: good team. So you talked about it, Dave. Let's fast 490 00:22:55,920 --> 00:22:58,480 Speaker 1: forward talk about this week final game on the schedule. 491 00:22:58,520 --> 00:23:00,280 Speaker 1: And this is one of the cool things about the 492 00:23:00,359 --> 00:23:03,320 Speaker 1: NFL scheduling model is that they put these divisional games 493 00:23:03,320 --> 00:23:06,040 Speaker 1: the ones that they anticipate are going to have meeting 494 00:23:06,400 --> 00:23:09,080 Speaker 1: at the last week of the season. This one doesn't 495 00:23:09,080 --> 00:23:12,160 Speaker 1: necessarily have a meaning to get into the postseason for Atlanta, 496 00:23:12,240 --> 00:23:14,800 Speaker 1: but it's got meaning because it's a rivalry game and 497 00:23:14,880 --> 00:23:17,800 Speaker 1: this is a big time spoiler matchup. So it's like, 498 00:23:18,480 --> 00:23:20,880 Speaker 1: you know, we've been a part of these Saints Falcons 499 00:23:20,920 --> 00:23:23,800 Speaker 1: matchups before, and for a team that's not going to 500 00:23:23,800 --> 00:23:27,080 Speaker 1: the postseason, I bet they have no problem getting up 501 00:23:27,119 --> 00:23:29,320 Speaker 1: for this game. Do you agree? Yeah, no question about. 502 00:23:29,400 --> 00:23:32,040 Speaker 1: You want to end the season on your terms, on 503 00:23:32,200 --> 00:23:34,520 Speaker 1: your note. And this has been a pretty good late 504 00:23:34,680 --> 00:23:38,879 Speaker 1: November through December run for Atlanta trying to kind of 505 00:23:38,880 --> 00:23:42,080 Speaker 1: get their foothold for twenty twenty two. Well, nothing gets 506 00:23:42,280 --> 00:23:44,800 Speaker 1: a foothold in twenty twenty two like knocking off the 507 00:23:44,880 --> 00:23:48,560 Speaker 1: Saints and maybe spoiling their opportunity for some postseason. This 508 00:23:48,640 --> 00:23:51,040 Speaker 1: was a game that the NFL was watching very closely. 509 00:23:51,720 --> 00:23:56,720 Speaker 1: Come Sunday, they were talking about maybe moving the Falcon 510 00:23:56,800 --> 00:23:59,879 Speaker 1: Saint game to Saturday head Atlanta beaten Buffalo. This was 511 00:24:00,200 --> 00:24:02,240 Speaker 1: a game that is going to have some implications for 512 00:24:02,280 --> 00:24:05,800 Speaker 1: both teams from a postseason standpoint, and they were looking 513 00:24:05,840 --> 00:24:08,760 Speaker 1: at it very closely. Now they've they've been to four 514 00:24:08,920 --> 00:24:11,919 Speaker 1: twenty five Eastern time, it's still is huge for the Saints, 515 00:24:11,920 --> 00:24:14,680 Speaker 1: which is lovely for us because you're not going, you're 516 00:24:14,680 --> 00:24:17,480 Speaker 1: not just playing you know somebody, you know a five 517 00:24:17,560 --> 00:24:19,880 Speaker 1: and eleven team that Okay, let's just roll it out 518 00:24:19,880 --> 00:24:22,160 Speaker 1: there and let's play our last game. This is the Saints, 519 00:24:22,320 --> 00:24:25,760 Speaker 1: and you've got a chance to really ruin their offseason 520 00:24:25,880 --> 00:24:28,720 Speaker 1: right here. So it's it's you know, and again you 521 00:24:28,800 --> 00:24:32,200 Speaker 1: said Saints. I love playing against these guys. I love competing. 522 00:24:32,240 --> 00:24:34,600 Speaker 1: I love the fans and the fan interaction. So this 523 00:24:34,640 --> 00:24:37,000 Speaker 1: will be fun in Mercedes ben Stadium. Yeah, it's if 524 00:24:37,040 --> 00:24:39,800 Speaker 1: if we're not going to the postseason, they can join 525 00:24:39,920 --> 00:24:43,760 Speaker 1: us as well and watch the playoffs this year. So 526 00:24:43,800 --> 00:24:46,480 Speaker 1: we'll see how motivated the guys are. Dave talked about it, 527 00:24:46,480 --> 00:24:48,200 Speaker 1: and I agree with them. The compete level on his 528 00:24:48,320 --> 00:24:50,480 Speaker 1: team is there. Uh, let's see it for one more 529 00:24:50,520 --> 00:24:52,200 Speaker 1: week and let's see if they can go out there 530 00:24:52,240 --> 00:24:55,240 Speaker 1: and spoil postseason hopes for the New Orleans Saints and 531 00:24:55,240 --> 00:24:57,680 Speaker 1: and this season on a high note. As you mentioned, 532 00:24:57,680 --> 00:24:59,560 Speaker 1: it's always easier to go into the offseason with a 533 00:24:59,640 --> 00:25:02,080 Speaker 1: victory and a smile on your face instead of a 534 00:25:02,280 --> 00:25:04,600 Speaker 1: sour taste in your mouth. Well, if you look at 535 00:25:04,600 --> 00:25:07,639 Speaker 1: this game real quickly, rack and really a couple of 536 00:25:07,680 --> 00:25:10,320 Speaker 1: names come to mind for the Saints. Number one is 537 00:25:10,359 --> 00:25:13,840 Speaker 1: Cam Jordan. Cameron Jordan. We have not blocked him since 538 00:25:13,880 --> 00:25:17,000 Speaker 1: he's been in the league. Okay, he's got twenty two 539 00:25:17,280 --> 00:25:21,159 Speaker 1: sacks I believe in twenty one games or vice versa. 540 00:25:21,640 --> 00:25:23,800 Speaker 1: He has been. In fact, Matt Ryan's the most sack 541 00:25:23,880 --> 00:25:26,200 Speaker 1: quarterback in his career. Now it goes for reason because 542 00:25:26,200 --> 00:25:29,240 Speaker 1: they play twice a year. He's coming off a three 543 00:25:29,280 --> 00:25:32,280 Speaker 1: and a half sack performance against Carolina last weekend. He 544 00:25:32,359 --> 00:25:35,920 Speaker 1: has seven sacks in his last three games. This is 545 00:25:35,920 --> 00:25:38,000 Speaker 1: a guy that now has one hundred and six sacks 546 00:25:38,000 --> 00:25:40,440 Speaker 1: in his career. He's been a great Saint and he's 547 00:25:40,440 --> 00:25:42,400 Speaker 1: been a pain in the rear end for the Falcons 548 00:25:42,640 --> 00:25:45,560 Speaker 1: for a number of years. So Atlanta has got to 549 00:25:45,600 --> 00:25:47,760 Speaker 1: get him blocked and he'll be a problem on the 550 00:25:47,800 --> 00:25:49,640 Speaker 1: other side of it. We just saw Josh Allen run 551 00:25:49,640 --> 00:25:51,640 Speaker 1: for almost one hundred yards and they ran for two 552 00:25:51,760 --> 00:25:54,200 Speaker 1: thirty in the game. Well, here comes Taysom Hill. He's 553 00:25:54,200 --> 00:25:56,560 Speaker 1: gonna play this game at quarterback. It was Trevor simmeon 554 00:25:56,600 --> 00:25:58,720 Speaker 1: the first time when Atlanta won twenty seven twenty five 555 00:25:58,760 --> 00:26:01,359 Speaker 1: down there. It's gonna be Aasom Hill at quarterback. You're 556 00:26:01,400 --> 00:26:04,000 Speaker 1: gonna get quarterback run. And there's a dude that grew 557 00:26:04,080 --> 00:26:06,560 Speaker 1: up in this area named Calvin Kamara that loves to 558 00:26:06,640 --> 00:26:10,199 Speaker 1: come comes back home from what Northcross High School. So 559 00:26:10,400 --> 00:26:12,760 Speaker 1: you've got two guys that are gonna be a problem 560 00:26:12,800 --> 00:26:14,840 Speaker 1: because you just face that problem this weekend. You didn't 561 00:26:14,880 --> 00:26:17,080 Speaker 1: take care of it. So there's three names for you 562 00:26:17,320 --> 00:26:19,360 Speaker 1: that you've got to take care of this weekend. Yeah, 563 00:26:19,359 --> 00:26:22,560 Speaker 1: and Taysom Hill is you know, obviously he's not as 564 00:26:22,560 --> 00:26:25,000 Speaker 1: talented as Josh Allen as far as throwing the football, 565 00:26:25,040 --> 00:26:27,600 Speaker 1: but you're right, like he's gonna watch that tape because 566 00:26:27,640 --> 00:26:30,480 Speaker 1: Taysom Hill has that compete level running the football as well. 567 00:26:30,520 --> 00:26:32,399 Speaker 1: He's not the same type of guy that just wants 568 00:26:32,400 --> 00:26:34,679 Speaker 1: to run and slide or get out of bounds like 569 00:26:34,960 --> 00:26:39,520 Speaker 1: he will initiate some contacts sometimes stuff. Guy, he definitely is. 570 00:26:39,560 --> 00:26:42,119 Speaker 1: And so the stopping the run is going to be 571 00:26:42,160 --> 00:26:44,200 Speaker 1: a challenge. And you're right, Cam Jordan, I was gonna 572 00:26:44,200 --> 00:26:46,600 Speaker 1: ask you and he's still playing, but is he how 573 00:26:46,640 --> 00:26:49,760 Speaker 1: Hall of Famer Cam Jordan, I think he's there now? Yeah, Yeah, 574 00:26:50,040 --> 00:26:53,879 Speaker 1: you go over, you go triple digits on sacks and 575 00:26:54,040 --> 00:26:56,639 Speaker 1: you haunt teams like he has, and boy, he's haunted 576 00:26:56,640 --> 00:26:58,639 Speaker 1: the found well. And it's and it's impressive too that 577 00:26:58,720 --> 00:27:01,399 Speaker 1: he's not as as he's getting deeper into his career. 578 00:27:01,480 --> 00:27:04,560 Speaker 1: It's not like he's finishing a season with two sacks, right, 579 00:27:04,760 --> 00:27:07,400 Speaker 1: He's still getting up there close to double digits. He's 580 00:27:07,400 --> 00:27:09,399 Speaker 1: an eleven and a half now. Yeah, he's he is 581 00:27:09,600 --> 00:27:12,680 Speaker 1: taking care of taking over games on many of occasions, 582 00:27:12,680 --> 00:27:14,960 Speaker 1: so it doesn't look like he's slowing down anytime soon. 583 00:27:15,200 --> 00:27:16,920 Speaker 1: I'm sure a lot of Falcons fans are gonna say, 584 00:27:17,200 --> 00:27:20,200 Speaker 1: you ready for retirement, see if you can get tacked 585 00:27:20,359 --> 00:27:23,240 Speaker 1: cold jacket, because we would like to see somebody else. 586 00:27:23,960 --> 00:27:26,280 Speaker 1: So great, great little preview there, and we'll see if 587 00:27:26,320 --> 00:27:28,960 Speaker 1: Atlanta can slow down Jordan on the defensive side, and 588 00:27:29,000 --> 00:27:31,800 Speaker 1: if they can slow down Taysom Hill and Alvin Kamara, 589 00:27:31,840 --> 00:27:33,919 Speaker 1: because those guys will come out ready to compete. So 590 00:27:34,200 --> 00:27:35,960 Speaker 1: that's gonna wrap it up here in the Falcons. Aibile 591 00:27:36,000 --> 00:27:37,639 Speaker 1: presented by AT and T. I think we did a 592 00:27:37,640 --> 00:27:40,840 Speaker 1: pretty good job without DJ. We're okay. We love having shocked. 593 00:27:41,760 --> 00:27:45,240 Speaker 1: His smile is infectious and he definitely brings some good opinions, 594 00:27:45,240 --> 00:27:48,080 Speaker 1: but you know, we managed, we got through this thing. Well, 595 00:27:48,080 --> 00:27:50,560 Speaker 1: we probably look a little bit without Shock smile right here, 596 00:27:50,600 --> 00:27:53,760 Speaker 1: because he's got that golden voice smile, doesn't he. Hey, 597 00:27:53,880 --> 00:27:55,720 Speaker 1: we love you Shock. We'll see you next week, and 598 00:27:55,760 --> 00:27:58,080 Speaker 1: we'll see all of you guys next week as well. Again. 599 00:27:58,160 --> 00:28:00,439 Speaker 1: Falcons adwill presented by AT and T. Thank you so 600 00:28:00,520 --> 00:28:03,920 Speaker 1: much for joining us on Atlanta falcons dot com, YouTube, Spotify, iTunes, 601 00:28:04,040 --> 00:28:07,040 Speaker 1: or wherever you get your podcast material. See you next week. 602 00:28:07,040 --> 00:28:15,359 Speaker 1: Everybody m