1 00:00:00,360 --> 00:00:03,080 Speaker 1: And we are back on the Falcons Audible presented by 2 00:00:03,120 --> 00:00:05,440 Speaker 1: AT and T. I'm Derek Rackley with my guys a 3 00:00:05,480 --> 00:00:08,240 Speaker 1: little bit different formation. You know, we do talk about 4 00:00:08,280 --> 00:00:11,360 Speaker 1: formations a lot in football. Dave Archer right here to 5 00:00:11,520 --> 00:00:14,680 Speaker 1: my left, and DJ Shockley is to my left as well, 6 00:00:14,680 --> 00:00:17,360 Speaker 1: but he's like way left, like way down the road 7 00:00:17,440 --> 00:00:20,880 Speaker 1: left because he's got some other job responsibilities. But nothing's 8 00:00:20,920 --> 00:00:23,880 Speaker 1: too important to miss the Falcons Audible. DJ, thanks for 9 00:00:24,000 --> 00:00:28,400 Speaker 1: joining us here via your device. I mean you used 10 00:00:28,400 --> 00:00:30,640 Speaker 1: to always say like computer or laptop, but now it's 11 00:00:30,680 --> 00:00:33,640 Speaker 1: not like that anymore. And the shotguns, it seems to 12 00:00:33,640 --> 00:00:38,040 Speaker 1: be traffic from the shotgun. So we are ready to 13 00:00:38,080 --> 00:00:40,920 Speaker 1: shoot some snaps back to Shock as we talk about 14 00:00:41,040 --> 00:00:44,440 Speaker 1: the initial fifty three man roster as it is hot 15 00:00:44,520 --> 00:00:47,559 Speaker 1: off the press. Arthur Smith and Terry Fontinou have just 16 00:00:47,720 --> 00:00:50,879 Speaker 1: released their initial fifty three man roster. So here's what 17 00:00:50,880 --> 00:00:52,720 Speaker 1: we're gonna cover today. It's gonna be a lot about 18 00:00:52,800 --> 00:00:57,360 Speaker 1: roster construction. We're gonna talk about first reactions, any surprises 19 00:00:57,360 --> 00:00:59,760 Speaker 1: that the guys see from this first roster, why we 20 00:00:59,800 --> 00:01:04,200 Speaker 1: call and initial roster, and any potential additions that end 21 00:01:04,240 --> 00:01:05,920 Speaker 1: up going on top of this and then of course 22 00:01:06,160 --> 00:01:09,679 Speaker 1: strengthened weaknesses as we get ready next weekend to start 23 00:01:09,680 --> 00:01:12,720 Speaker 1: off Week one against the New Orleans Saints. So let's 24 00:01:12,720 --> 00:01:15,400 Speaker 1: get some initial reactions here. Shock. I'm going to start 25 00:01:15,400 --> 00:01:17,080 Speaker 1: with you because you're the furthest way, and I want 26 00:01:17,120 --> 00:01:19,959 Speaker 1: you to feel involved. I want you to feel right 27 00:01:20,000 --> 00:01:22,399 Speaker 1: in the middle of this thing. Give us your first 28 00:01:22,440 --> 00:01:24,640 Speaker 1: reactions of what you thought when you got to look 29 00:01:24,680 --> 00:01:27,880 Speaker 1: at the first fifty three man roster. You know you 30 00:01:27,959 --> 00:01:30,160 Speaker 1: first look at it, man, Obviously, there are a lot 31 00:01:30,200 --> 00:01:32,600 Speaker 1: of things that you know, you go to first, and 32 00:01:32,720 --> 00:01:35,360 Speaker 1: I think for me the number one thing I wouldn't 33 00:01:35,360 --> 00:01:37,600 Speaker 1: too actually was a receiver group. And there was a 34 00:01:37,640 --> 00:01:39,600 Speaker 1: lot of talk we had to talk last week about 35 00:01:39,640 --> 00:01:42,160 Speaker 1: who would be that last receiver. Would it, you know, 36 00:01:42,280 --> 00:01:45,720 Speaker 1: be Frank Darby, would it be the guy that everybody's 37 00:01:45,720 --> 00:01:48,240 Speaker 1: been talked about in Jared Bernhardt? And soon as I 38 00:01:48,280 --> 00:01:50,840 Speaker 1: saw his name, you know, it was a sense of Wow. 39 00:01:51,000 --> 00:01:53,440 Speaker 1: I mean, that's a pretty cool accomplishment to baby go 40 00:01:53,800 --> 00:01:55,960 Speaker 1: out and make a roster, being an undread free agent, 41 00:01:56,000 --> 00:01:58,320 Speaker 1: a guy who's done a lot of winning in his time, 42 00:01:58,560 --> 00:02:01,240 Speaker 1: but end up coming in and winning a job on 43 00:02:01,280 --> 00:02:03,480 Speaker 1: this team. Where you know, it was a you know, 44 00:02:03,720 --> 00:02:05,880 Speaker 1: a total where we're going to go out and see 45 00:02:05,880 --> 00:02:08,280 Speaker 1: what these re receivers are about. And I thought him 46 00:02:08,360 --> 00:02:11,000 Speaker 1: going out and winning a job I thought was was 47 00:02:11,040 --> 00:02:14,680 Speaker 1: really cool. Um, a great story obviously, uh, and he 48 00:02:14,720 --> 00:02:16,359 Speaker 1: can help you in a lot of different ways. He's 49 00:02:16,360 --> 00:02:17,880 Speaker 1: a guy that you know, there'd a lot of good 50 00:02:17,919 --> 00:02:21,079 Speaker 1: things in preseason, and thought he was well deserved of 51 00:02:21,120 --> 00:02:24,520 Speaker 1: that particular uh, you know spot on the on the 52 00:02:24,600 --> 00:02:27,799 Speaker 1: roster on the defensive side of the ball. Obviously the 53 00:02:27,960 --> 00:02:29,880 Speaker 1: offer played well. Guy that we thought would be a 54 00:02:29,880 --> 00:02:32,679 Speaker 1: part of this team. We saw him do some first 55 00:02:32,680 --> 00:02:34,480 Speaker 1: team nickel be a part of that first team group 56 00:02:35,400 --> 00:02:38,320 Speaker 1: ladder in the part of this preseason. But I thought 57 00:02:38,320 --> 00:02:40,720 Speaker 1: a guy like a Doula Anderson, who you know kind 58 00:02:40,720 --> 00:02:42,440 Speaker 1: of stuck out a little bit in the last couple 59 00:02:42,440 --> 00:02:45,240 Speaker 1: of preseason games, really made a strong push to be 60 00:02:45,280 --> 00:02:46,920 Speaker 1: a part of this ball club. So to see him 61 00:02:47,000 --> 00:02:49,440 Speaker 1: not on the team or now in the initial fifty 62 00:02:49,480 --> 00:02:52,200 Speaker 1: three man roster was a little bit surprising. But this 63 00:02:52,360 --> 00:02:55,440 Speaker 1: was a team that I thought throughout the year, I 64 00:02:55,440 --> 00:02:58,200 Speaker 1: mean throughout the preseason we thought was you know, could 65 00:02:58,280 --> 00:03:00,679 Speaker 1: be a lot of surprises here. But those were the 66 00:03:00,720 --> 00:03:02,800 Speaker 1: two that really stuck out from me. Dave, how about you, 67 00:03:02,840 --> 00:03:05,120 Speaker 1: what was some of your first reactions when you looked 68 00:03:05,120 --> 00:03:07,399 Speaker 1: at all the names that were here or that were 69 00:03:07,520 --> 00:03:11,040 Speaker 1: left off. Well, really, not to repeat what Shock said, 70 00:03:11,120 --> 00:03:12,880 Speaker 1: I think Shock touched on a lot of the guys 71 00:03:12,880 --> 00:03:15,360 Speaker 1: that we were following. I thought Abdullah Anderson was a 72 00:03:15,360 --> 00:03:17,880 Speaker 1: bit of a surprise for me. Shock mentioned that, So 73 00:03:17,960 --> 00:03:20,600 Speaker 1: I don't need to revisit that. I thought Nathan Landman 74 00:03:20,760 --> 00:03:23,280 Speaker 1: landing a job at the linebacker spot was a big deal. 75 00:03:23,960 --> 00:03:27,359 Speaker 1: M Dorian Ethletes got hurt a little bit. Uh, did 76 00:03:27,400 --> 00:03:30,000 Speaker 1: that have some effect on how that Landman was outstanding? 77 00:03:30,240 --> 00:03:31,840 Speaker 1: I thought he had pressure and he put pressure on 78 00:03:31,840 --> 00:03:33,399 Speaker 1: the quarterback a number of times. He was into where 79 00:03:33,400 --> 00:03:36,920 Speaker 1: he was supposed to be in tackling the football sideline 80 00:03:36,960 --> 00:03:40,280 Speaker 1: to sideline guy. So um, we had we had mentioned, 81 00:03:40,360 --> 00:03:43,119 Speaker 1: you know, there could Nick Quickkowski was a guy they'd 82 00:03:43,120 --> 00:03:45,120 Speaker 1: brought in, a veteran player that had come in. Did 83 00:03:45,160 --> 00:03:47,360 Speaker 1: he have a chance to make the team. Well, Nathan 84 00:03:47,440 --> 00:03:51,280 Speaker 1: Landman as a kid, as a free agent rookie out 85 00:03:51,280 --> 00:03:54,120 Speaker 1: of Colorado, and I remember talking to Terry Fontneau and 86 00:03:54,160 --> 00:03:56,880 Speaker 1: I said, Terry, you know, after watching that first game 87 00:03:56,920 --> 00:03:59,120 Speaker 1: against the Lions. They said, Wow, this Landman kid, he 88 00:03:59,160 --> 00:04:02,000 Speaker 1: goas hey, he just stopped me, says you go put 89 00:04:02,040 --> 00:04:04,520 Speaker 1: his tape on at Colorado. It is a fun tape 90 00:04:04,520 --> 00:04:06,560 Speaker 1: to watch. So this was a guy that kind of 91 00:04:06,600 --> 00:04:09,600 Speaker 1: caught there are coming in and he proved it. That's 92 00:04:09,600 --> 00:04:12,680 Speaker 1: always fun and Shock and I you can all we 93 00:04:12,720 --> 00:04:14,440 Speaker 1: can tell the fan out there, this is a big 94 00:04:14,480 --> 00:04:17,320 Speaker 1: deal to make. Now this is the initial fifty three. 95 00:04:17,480 --> 00:04:19,640 Speaker 1: Let's not get too caught up and hey, these are 96 00:04:19,640 --> 00:04:22,120 Speaker 1: the guys are gonna line up a week from Sunday 97 00:04:22,120 --> 00:04:24,800 Speaker 1: and play the Saints because it could change because we 98 00:04:24,839 --> 00:04:26,920 Speaker 1: know there's thirty one other teams that are releasing players 99 00:04:26,920 --> 00:04:31,720 Speaker 1: that potentially could fit here. But certainly coming out of Tuesday, 100 00:04:31,800 --> 00:04:35,320 Speaker 1: all the cuts being done for now, it's pretty cool deal. 101 00:04:35,320 --> 00:04:37,760 Speaker 1: And Nathan, Nathan Lanman, is that probably that guy that 102 00:04:37,839 --> 00:04:40,840 Speaker 1: Shock didn't mention that would fit in that category of 103 00:04:40,880 --> 00:04:42,560 Speaker 1: the guys he talked about. David, let me come back 104 00:04:42,600 --> 00:04:44,040 Speaker 1: to you and ask you a little bit about your 105 00:04:44,040 --> 00:04:45,839 Speaker 1: thoughts on the running backs because there was a couple 106 00:04:45,839 --> 00:04:48,960 Speaker 1: of names obviously, Caleb hunt Huntley and Cadre Allison did 107 00:04:49,000 --> 00:04:52,160 Speaker 1: not make the initial fifty three. Man roster. Did you 108 00:04:52,200 --> 00:04:53,600 Speaker 1: think that that was gonna happen? I mean, you got 109 00:04:53,640 --> 00:04:56,000 Speaker 1: a running back group now that you know, there's generally 110 00:04:56,040 --> 00:04:58,800 Speaker 1: what four or five maybe six spots if you hold 111 00:04:58,800 --> 00:05:01,279 Speaker 1: a fullback like the Falcon, due for special teams or 112 00:05:01,320 --> 00:05:04,640 Speaker 1: some different sub packages. But and he's surprised that either 113 00:05:04,720 --> 00:05:06,360 Speaker 1: those two didn't make it or did you kind of 114 00:05:06,400 --> 00:05:08,839 Speaker 1: see that with Algier being drafted, those guys are going 115 00:05:08,880 --> 00:05:10,760 Speaker 1: to be the odd man out those a tall order 116 00:05:10,800 --> 00:05:14,000 Speaker 1: to try to make that was probably the most crowded room, right, guys, 117 00:05:14,000 --> 00:05:16,559 Speaker 1: probably if you looked at the rooms. But when Camp 118 00:05:16,640 --> 00:05:20,640 Speaker 1: began the running back room having drafted Algier, you knew 119 00:05:20,640 --> 00:05:21,880 Speaker 1: he was going to be a guy that was going 120 00:05:21,960 --> 00:05:24,360 Speaker 1: to be here, and he showed he deserves maybe to 121 00:05:24,440 --> 00:05:28,400 Speaker 1: be your starter CP his multidimensional And then Damian Williams 122 00:05:28,400 --> 00:05:30,120 Speaker 1: the guy that they brought in. They really liked him. 123 00:05:30,120 --> 00:05:32,279 Speaker 1: We didn't see a lot of him, but he has 124 00:05:32,360 --> 00:05:34,919 Speaker 1: some sweat equity already in the league. Right He's the 125 00:05:34,920 --> 00:05:36,880 Speaker 1: guy that's proven himself that he can make plays in 126 00:05:36,880 --> 00:05:38,760 Speaker 1: the league. So now all of a sudden, you're three 127 00:05:38,800 --> 00:05:41,320 Speaker 1: deep already, So now where else do you go with 128 00:05:41,360 --> 00:05:44,120 Speaker 1: the running back room? And now I'm looking for versatility, 129 00:05:44,600 --> 00:05:47,760 Speaker 1: and there's no questions the versatility is going to come 130 00:05:47,800 --> 00:05:51,359 Speaker 1: from Damian from Avery. Williams. Avery is a guy that 131 00:05:51,400 --> 00:05:54,680 Speaker 1: returns kicks, He can play corner. He actually took snaps, guys. 132 00:05:54,720 --> 00:05:56,640 Speaker 1: I don't know if you show this Shock at practiced 133 00:05:56,720 --> 00:05:59,360 Speaker 1: last week. He took corners in the he took corner 134 00:05:59,400 --> 00:06:03,599 Speaker 1: snaps in the combined practice against Jacksonville. That's the versatility 135 00:06:03,680 --> 00:06:07,160 Speaker 1: you're getting with him. Return punch, play, running back, that 136 00:06:07,320 --> 00:06:09,240 Speaker 1: third down stuff. And oh, by the way, we get 137 00:06:09,240 --> 00:06:11,719 Speaker 1: banged that we plug him at a corner more you 138 00:06:11,720 --> 00:06:15,040 Speaker 1: could do, right, Shock, Oh, no doubt about it. Hey, Shock, 139 00:06:15,160 --> 00:06:17,040 Speaker 1: let me ask you this question. It's interesting that Dave 140 00:06:17,120 --> 00:06:21,080 Speaker 1: mentions versatility because when you look at how Atlanta sends 141 00:06:21,120 --> 00:06:24,479 Speaker 1: out their initial fifty three man roster, it starts with quarterbacks, right, 142 00:06:24,800 --> 00:06:27,440 Speaker 1: and it says Marcus Mariota and Desmond Ritter, and then 143 00:06:27,520 --> 00:06:30,560 Speaker 1: under tight ends it says Felipe A. Franks. So you 144 00:06:30,600 --> 00:06:34,000 Speaker 1: mentioned versatility. I feel like it's kind of a two 145 00:06:34,040 --> 00:06:37,000 Speaker 1: for one shock with Felipe Franks obviously working a lot 146 00:06:37,040 --> 00:06:39,360 Speaker 1: at tight end during training camp, but also playing a 147 00:06:39,400 --> 00:06:42,479 Speaker 1: little bit at quarterbacks. So they got basically a guy 148 00:06:42,520 --> 00:06:45,320 Speaker 1: that they can use on special teams, maybe if they 149 00:06:45,320 --> 00:06:47,480 Speaker 1: get into a pinch with an injury or something like that, 150 00:06:47,600 --> 00:06:50,320 Speaker 1: and they've got a third string quarterback on their roster 151 00:06:50,440 --> 00:06:53,280 Speaker 1: suited up every week, right, guess spot on. I mean, 152 00:06:53,800 --> 00:06:56,839 Speaker 1: you gotta just mentioned the more you can do is 153 00:06:56,880 --> 00:06:59,800 Speaker 1: always better. We talk about on every position on his 154 00:07:00,000 --> 00:07:02,560 Speaker 1: football team. If you're urtling enough to play not just 155 00:07:02,640 --> 00:07:04,520 Speaker 1: one position, but you could have to play two or 156 00:07:04,560 --> 00:07:07,960 Speaker 1: three positions. That makes you so valuable to this team. 157 00:07:08,040 --> 00:07:11,400 Speaker 1: And we saw Phelipe Frakes throughout preseason though from tight end. 158 00:07:11,560 --> 00:07:13,320 Speaker 1: Then he'll go back and he'll run the two minute 159 00:07:13,400 --> 00:07:16,280 Speaker 1: drill at quarterback. Just having that versatility and a guy 160 00:07:16,280 --> 00:07:19,480 Speaker 1: that can actually help you is a big thing. Phelipe 161 00:07:19,640 --> 00:07:22,040 Speaker 1: did a good job. I think this preseason will be 162 00:07:22,120 --> 00:07:24,480 Speaker 1: able to catching football in space. He's a big body guy. 163 00:07:24,720 --> 00:07:27,680 Speaker 1: And then we forget about that third phase of the game. 164 00:07:27,760 --> 00:07:31,080 Speaker 1: We see Phelipe a few number of times last year. 165 00:07:31,080 --> 00:07:34,080 Speaker 1: He actually was the pump protector. There's so things that 166 00:07:34,120 --> 00:07:37,160 Speaker 1: he can do in both those two phases of the 167 00:07:37,200 --> 00:07:39,280 Speaker 1: game that can help you. So having a guy like 168 00:07:39,320 --> 00:07:41,680 Speaker 1: that who can help you on Sundays. But Also, if 169 00:07:41,720 --> 00:07:44,080 Speaker 1: something happens to one of your quarterbacks, can stepping there 170 00:07:44,120 --> 00:07:46,600 Speaker 1: and be a vialable guy for you is huge. So 171 00:07:46,720 --> 00:07:49,360 Speaker 1: I think Phelipe did a great job of, you know, 172 00:07:49,440 --> 00:07:51,720 Speaker 1: coming into this camp saying, Okay, well maybe you don't 173 00:07:51,720 --> 00:07:54,000 Speaker 1: see me as the prototypical quarterback, but what else can 174 00:07:54,040 --> 00:07:56,080 Speaker 1: I do to help this ball club? And he put 175 00:07:56,160 --> 00:07:58,120 Speaker 1: him up in tight end. He worked his craft, and 176 00:07:58,240 --> 00:08:01,480 Speaker 1: I had a chance to talk to t J doing preseason. 177 00:08:01,560 --> 00:08:05,320 Speaker 1: He said, Felipe absolutely show what he's about. As you know, 178 00:08:05,720 --> 00:08:08,280 Speaker 1: maybe some of the best hands on the team shows 179 00:08:08,320 --> 00:08:11,160 Speaker 1: some of the physicalities. Sometimes he says, maybe not right now. 180 00:08:11,480 --> 00:08:13,280 Speaker 1: The guy you want to put in the three points 181 00:08:13,320 --> 00:08:15,840 Speaker 1: stands and says, hey, let's go block his deepensive in. 182 00:08:16,080 --> 00:08:18,240 Speaker 1: But he gives you something in that tight end position. 183 00:08:18,800 --> 00:08:21,440 Speaker 1: And I love that Phelipe is willing to do this 184 00:08:21,600 --> 00:08:24,080 Speaker 1: to help his ball club and to be their force team. 185 00:08:24,360 --> 00:08:27,440 Speaker 1: Think about the trickeration that you could come up with 186 00:08:27,640 --> 00:08:29,880 Speaker 1: with some of these guys, and you're gonna win consistently 187 00:08:29,960 --> 00:08:33,959 Speaker 1: in this league with gadget plays. But you got Felipe 188 00:08:34,120 --> 00:08:36,520 Speaker 1: Franks on the field, you got Jared Bernhardt on the field, 189 00:08:36,559 --> 00:08:38,559 Speaker 1: and you get your starting quarterback on the four of 190 00:08:38,600 --> 00:08:40,360 Speaker 1: those all three of those guys can throw it. Yeah, 191 00:08:40,440 --> 00:08:42,599 Speaker 1: we know they can all run it. Think about some 192 00:08:42,679 --> 00:08:44,679 Speaker 1: of the little things you can beaver around now just 193 00:08:44,800 --> 00:08:47,920 Speaker 1: occasionally exactly'd be kind of fun to make a play 194 00:08:48,320 --> 00:08:50,559 Speaker 1: with one of those three guys potentially throwing it to 195 00:08:50,640 --> 00:08:52,600 Speaker 1: the other guy, or maybe you throw it a couple 196 00:08:52,600 --> 00:08:56,000 Speaker 1: of times. Who knows. And it's Dave about Arch. Don't 197 00:08:56,000 --> 00:08:58,400 Speaker 1: forget about it. You got CPE out there as well, 198 00:08:58,480 --> 00:09:03,280 Speaker 1: so CP can hitch into deep. It's a great point 199 00:09:03,360 --> 00:09:05,880 Speaker 1: because they've it's one of those deals where if you 200 00:09:06,040 --> 00:09:08,160 Speaker 1: just call one or two of them early on in 201 00:09:08,240 --> 00:09:10,920 Speaker 1: the season. Now you've got everybody around the league. All 202 00:09:10,960 --> 00:09:12,960 Speaker 1: the defensive coordinator are saying, all right, guys when they 203 00:09:13,000 --> 00:09:15,080 Speaker 1: have their team meeting or talking to their defense, they've 204 00:09:15,120 --> 00:09:18,040 Speaker 1: got three, maybe four guys that can throw the football. 205 00:09:18,120 --> 00:09:21,000 Speaker 1: So what do you do. You spend practice time, you 206 00:09:21,160 --> 00:09:24,120 Speaker 1: spend film session on it, and that's time that they're 207 00:09:24,160 --> 00:09:28,840 Speaker 1: not spending on something else that's potentially more important. So versatility, 208 00:09:29,040 --> 00:09:31,800 Speaker 1: the more of it you can do. As Shock talked about, now, Dave, 209 00:09:31,880 --> 00:09:33,240 Speaker 1: you mentioned this, I want to move on and talk 210 00:09:33,240 --> 00:09:35,880 Speaker 1: a little bit about so I think our viewers, anyone 211 00:09:35,960 --> 00:09:38,600 Speaker 1: that's listening or watching, need to understand this. And it's 212 00:09:38,760 --> 00:09:41,400 Speaker 1: very I say interesting. I talked to the guys before 213 00:09:41,440 --> 00:09:43,560 Speaker 1: he came on the air that Arthur Smith has been 214 00:09:43,760 --> 00:09:46,679 Speaker 1: very adamant the last week or so saying that this 215 00:09:46,880 --> 00:09:49,920 Speaker 1: is going to be our initial fifty three man roster. 216 00:09:50,280 --> 00:09:53,839 Speaker 1: He wants everybody to know inside, outside the building roster, 217 00:09:54,080 --> 00:09:57,319 Speaker 1: not on the roster, that your competition is not over 218 00:09:57,440 --> 00:09:59,880 Speaker 1: with because, like you said, Dave, as all the other 219 00:10:00,240 --> 00:10:04,719 Speaker 1: thirty one teams release their players, they have already been 220 00:10:04,840 --> 00:10:08,320 Speaker 1: scouring other rosters and saying, if this guy ends up 221 00:10:08,360 --> 00:10:11,439 Speaker 1: getting released, could he help us? Is he a better option. 222 00:10:11,840 --> 00:10:15,160 Speaker 1: Now to the casual fan, you might say, gosh, that's 223 00:10:15,240 --> 00:10:18,720 Speaker 1: really cutthroat, and on the outside, yeah, it is all right, 224 00:10:19,000 --> 00:10:23,120 Speaker 1: but the NFL can be sometimes. But Terry Fonteno and 225 00:10:23,240 --> 00:10:26,720 Speaker 1: Arthur Smith their number one job, why they are getting paid, 226 00:10:27,200 --> 00:10:29,680 Speaker 1: is to win football games. And so they are going 227 00:10:29,720 --> 00:10:32,360 Speaker 1: to construct this roster with the guys that they feel 228 00:10:32,440 --> 00:10:34,320 Speaker 1: like are going to give them the best chance to win, 229 00:10:34,400 --> 00:10:37,959 Speaker 1: whether they're in the building now or not. So when 230 00:10:38,000 --> 00:10:39,959 Speaker 1: I was playing, when DJ was playing, I feel like 231 00:10:40,360 --> 00:10:44,040 Speaker 1: this day when you survived this day was a little 232 00:10:44,040 --> 00:10:46,120 Speaker 1: bit more special because it was like, gosh, I made 233 00:10:46,160 --> 00:10:48,839 Speaker 1: the roster, and maybe not so much now. Art So 234 00:10:49,000 --> 00:10:52,600 Speaker 1: talk through some of the situations that might be happening 235 00:10:52,720 --> 00:10:56,360 Speaker 1: right now. As as Terry Fonteno and Arthur Smith have 236 00:10:56,559 --> 00:10:59,240 Speaker 1: released these players, but they're also looking at thirty one 237 00:10:59,360 --> 00:11:01,560 Speaker 1: other teams and all the players that they've released. Yeah, 238 00:11:01,679 --> 00:11:04,960 Speaker 1: Terry Fontineau and his staff have been watching and gaging 239 00:11:05,120 --> 00:11:07,160 Speaker 1: all the other thirty one teams. You guys both, you 240 00:11:07,280 --> 00:11:09,760 Speaker 1: guys both know that. And so what he's done is 241 00:11:09,840 --> 00:11:14,160 Speaker 1: he's built a table on the board of guys that 242 00:11:14,400 --> 00:11:17,079 Speaker 1: potentially going to be available that would fit what they do. 243 00:11:17,800 --> 00:11:20,360 Speaker 1: That might be an upgrade of one of the five 244 00:11:20,440 --> 00:11:22,800 Speaker 1: six players that are kept at each position. And if 245 00:11:22,840 --> 00:11:26,079 Speaker 1: one of those guys becomes available, then you take a shot. Now, 246 00:11:26,240 --> 00:11:29,079 Speaker 1: it's not that everybody else is not looking at him too, 247 00:11:29,280 --> 00:11:32,520 Speaker 1: So there is that part of it. So, yeah, you're 248 00:11:33,080 --> 00:11:35,520 Speaker 1: you're constantly gaging because is this the guy an upgrade 249 00:11:35,800 --> 00:11:39,160 Speaker 1: as to what we kept. Don't forget too the sixteen 250 00:11:39,240 --> 00:11:43,079 Speaker 1: man practice roster, which I think is significant here. Some 251 00:11:43,320 --> 00:11:47,280 Speaker 1: of the decisions made by Terry and Arthur here might 252 00:11:47,440 --> 00:11:50,040 Speaker 1: be their strategy he's involved in this now, where you 253 00:11:50,120 --> 00:11:53,160 Speaker 1: release a guy that maybe didn't flash, or you liked 254 00:11:53,280 --> 00:11:55,719 Speaker 1: in practice and maybe liked in the game to a 255 00:11:55,800 --> 00:11:58,079 Speaker 1: certain extent, but maybe didn't necessarily show up on the 256 00:11:58,200 --> 00:12:00,520 Speaker 1: radar the other thirty one teams. That might be a 257 00:12:00,600 --> 00:12:02,920 Speaker 1: guy you can get back on your practice squad and 258 00:12:02,960 --> 00:12:05,760 Speaker 1: all of a sudden, he's part of your depth moving forward. Remember, 259 00:12:05,920 --> 00:12:08,120 Speaker 1: there's a lot more flexibility and being able to get 260 00:12:08,240 --> 00:12:10,760 Speaker 1: guys bring guys up off the practice squad. I think 261 00:12:10,760 --> 00:12:12,440 Speaker 1: you can bring guys as many as three times up 262 00:12:12,480 --> 00:12:15,040 Speaker 1: off the practice squard without losing them or without having 263 00:12:15,080 --> 00:12:17,319 Speaker 1: to sign him to your regular roster full time. So 264 00:12:17,360 --> 00:12:19,880 Speaker 1: there's a lot of flexibility there. So that's part of 265 00:12:19,920 --> 00:12:23,080 Speaker 1: the strategy here too. That's why the fifty three may 266 00:12:23,160 --> 00:12:25,560 Speaker 1: look completely different a week from today as we get 267 00:12:25,640 --> 00:12:27,960 Speaker 1: ready to go into the same week. Yeah, and then 268 00:12:28,040 --> 00:12:29,959 Speaker 1: the other thing, I think people need to understand and 269 00:12:30,120 --> 00:12:33,440 Speaker 1: realize that the guys that were released today that potentially 270 00:12:33,800 --> 00:12:37,000 Speaker 1: could come back onto the practice squad, they're available to 271 00:12:37,160 --> 00:12:39,839 Speaker 1: all the other thirty one teams. So if some of 272 00:12:39,960 --> 00:12:43,439 Speaker 1: those personnel departments, if some of those coaches did their 273 00:12:43,480 --> 00:12:45,840 Speaker 1: homework of this guy coming out of college and all 274 00:12:45,880 --> 00:12:47,839 Speaker 1: of a sudden, they're like, oh, X, Y and Z 275 00:12:48,080 --> 00:12:52,000 Speaker 1: has now become available as the Atlanta Falcons. That's somewhat 276 00:12:52,080 --> 00:12:54,160 Speaker 1: risky because this is a guy you're thinking, we're going 277 00:12:54,200 --> 00:12:56,080 Speaker 1: to sign him to our practice squad. He could get 278 00:12:56,160 --> 00:12:59,079 Speaker 1: signed dj to somebody else's active roster before they have 279 00:12:59,200 --> 00:13:03,079 Speaker 1: that opportunity. Yeah, and that's kind of the big gamble 280 00:13:03,160 --> 00:13:05,120 Speaker 1: I should say, is when you let a guy go, 281 00:13:05,320 --> 00:13:07,760 Speaker 1: especially if he's one guy that you really liked him. 282 00:13:07,800 --> 00:13:10,360 Speaker 1: You said, Okay, he's right on the edge of being 283 00:13:10,400 --> 00:13:12,560 Speaker 1: the guy that maybe he could make our fifty three. 284 00:13:13,040 --> 00:13:15,640 Speaker 1: But maybe this guy did something just to stab it 285 00:13:15,760 --> 00:13:18,199 Speaker 1: better that gave him the nod. And that's the that's 286 00:13:18,200 --> 00:13:20,720 Speaker 1: the tricky part about it. And you think about there 287 00:13:20,720 --> 00:13:22,240 Speaker 1: are a couple of guys who made the fifty three 288 00:13:22,320 --> 00:13:24,920 Speaker 1: that she said. Maybe those were guys that they felt 289 00:13:25,000 --> 00:13:27,280 Speaker 1: they put on the practice squad would make another ball 290 00:13:27,320 --> 00:13:29,920 Speaker 1: club or somebody would just quickly grab them up. And 291 00:13:30,000 --> 00:13:32,720 Speaker 1: I think we gotta remember the Falcons had two joint practices, 292 00:13:32,920 --> 00:13:35,560 Speaker 1: So just like Terry Farnel and Office Smith were looking 293 00:13:35,600 --> 00:13:38,360 Speaker 1: at the Jets and Jaguar, some of their guys maybe 294 00:13:38,360 --> 00:13:40,000 Speaker 1: who were on the edge of maybe they don't make 295 00:13:40,040 --> 00:13:42,200 Speaker 1: the team if they, you know, join our club, are 296 00:13:42,240 --> 00:13:45,520 Speaker 1: they guys that could fit us? Guarantee you. The Jets 297 00:13:45,600 --> 00:13:47,760 Speaker 1: and Jags are doing the same thing with the Falcons Rosher. 298 00:13:47,880 --> 00:13:51,079 Speaker 1: So there's so many other entities that are looking at 299 00:13:51,640 --> 00:13:54,320 Speaker 1: this particular team and looking at who was released and said, Okay, 300 00:13:54,400 --> 00:13:56,880 Speaker 1: maybe they fit what we do better than maybe what 301 00:13:57,000 --> 00:13:58,920 Speaker 1: they did at the Thaland so this is an interesting 302 00:13:58,960 --> 00:14:01,040 Speaker 1: time as well to see I'm of those guys that 303 00:14:01,080 --> 00:14:04,319 Speaker 1: the Falcons did release end up going somewhere else or 304 00:14:04,440 --> 00:14:06,400 Speaker 1: they say, Okay, I'm gonna stay here because I think 305 00:14:06,440 --> 00:14:08,720 Speaker 1: I have a better opportunity to play for these Fires. 306 00:14:08,720 --> 00:14:11,040 Speaker 1: You gotta remember, these guys have been here, you know, 307 00:14:11,240 --> 00:14:14,480 Speaker 1: since you know, draft time, they build equity, They you know, 308 00:14:14,600 --> 00:14:17,760 Speaker 1: learn a system, they learn the guys, and it's tough 309 00:14:17,840 --> 00:14:20,200 Speaker 1: to leave a situation like that, especially when you feel 310 00:14:20,200 --> 00:14:21,800 Speaker 1: like you had a chance to make the team. So 311 00:14:21,840 --> 00:14:24,200 Speaker 1: a lot of guys they're wearing their options as well, 312 00:14:24,320 --> 00:14:26,760 Speaker 1: because just as much as another team may want them, 313 00:14:26,800 --> 00:14:29,120 Speaker 1: they can decide that maybe I want to be here 314 00:14:29,160 --> 00:14:32,240 Speaker 1: Atlanta Falcon on a practice squad better than going somewhere 315 00:14:32,280 --> 00:14:34,360 Speaker 1: else because I got a better chance of playing. You know, 316 00:14:34,480 --> 00:14:37,320 Speaker 1: one of the sayings that I think was very common 317 00:14:37,400 --> 00:14:39,520 Speaker 1: when I was playing, I'm sure it was you, Dave 318 00:14:39,680 --> 00:14:43,400 Speaker 1: and DJ, and it's it goes to right now as 319 00:14:43,440 --> 00:14:45,320 Speaker 1: well as you got to do your best to be 320 00:14:45,440 --> 00:14:48,400 Speaker 1: out of that forty nine to fifty three man positioning 321 00:14:48,480 --> 00:14:50,800 Speaker 1: on the roster, right, because the last three or four 322 00:14:51,160 --> 00:14:53,280 Speaker 1: are the ones that are always all right, Well, this 323 00:14:53,400 --> 00:14:55,800 Speaker 1: guy we can we can potentially cut him and add 324 00:14:55,880 --> 00:14:58,760 Speaker 1: this person. Right, You're generally safe if you're the kicker, 325 00:14:58,840 --> 00:15:00,840 Speaker 1: you're the punter of the long snap. Right, You're generally 326 00:15:00,880 --> 00:15:03,040 Speaker 1: the safe if you're the quarterback or the backup starting 327 00:15:03,080 --> 00:15:06,400 Speaker 1: offensive line, starting position. But then anywhere after that, it's 328 00:15:06,440 --> 00:15:08,400 Speaker 1: still kind of fair game. So that's why I think 329 00:15:08,680 --> 00:15:12,360 Speaker 1: it's important that all the players know. The coaches have 330 00:15:12,480 --> 00:15:16,360 Speaker 1: made it evident that competition does not stop. Competition does 331 00:15:16,400 --> 00:15:19,640 Speaker 1: not stop from this point moving forward, because again, we 332 00:15:19,720 --> 00:15:22,360 Speaker 1: are still looking for the fifty three best players that 333 00:15:22,400 --> 00:15:24,240 Speaker 1: are going to help us win football games and get 334 00:15:24,280 --> 00:15:26,760 Speaker 1: to one and zero when we start off against the 335 00:15:26,800 --> 00:15:30,600 Speaker 1: New Orleans Saints. This episode in part brought to you 336 00:15:30,720 --> 00:15:33,320 Speaker 1: by the Home Depot. 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Whatever your project, find 345 00:15:57,520 --> 00:16:00,640 Speaker 1: exactly what you need with the home Depot app. Download 346 00:16:00,760 --> 00:16:05,640 Speaker 1: the home Depot app today. All right, fellas, let's talk 347 00:16:05,640 --> 00:16:07,920 Speaker 1: a little strengths and weaknesses as we see on this 348 00:16:08,120 --> 00:16:10,720 Speaker 1: initial fifty three man roster arch. I'm gonna start with you. 349 00:16:11,120 --> 00:16:13,160 Speaker 1: Where do you feel like the Falcons are strong and 350 00:16:13,200 --> 00:16:15,040 Speaker 1: where do you feel like maybe they could add a 351 00:16:15,120 --> 00:16:17,200 Speaker 1: player or two to become a little stronger. Yeah, I 352 00:16:17,240 --> 00:16:18,960 Speaker 1: think it jumps off the page. I talked a little 353 00:16:18,960 --> 00:16:20,760 Speaker 1: bit about the running back room earlier. I thought that 354 00:16:20,840 --> 00:16:22,880 Speaker 1: was the deepest room coming into camp, especially with the 355 00:16:22,920 --> 00:16:25,880 Speaker 1: addition of Tyler Algier at a BYU. They've been nothing 356 00:16:26,000 --> 00:16:28,880 Speaker 1: but convinced me that that's exactly what it is. The 357 00:16:29,360 --> 00:16:33,880 Speaker 1: way they ran the football with conviction downhill make punishing people. 358 00:16:33,880 --> 00:16:36,000 Speaker 1: How about the Algier run where he shoves it in 359 00:16:36,040 --> 00:16:38,160 Speaker 1: the end zone this last weekend. I think they're in 360 00:16:38,240 --> 00:16:40,120 Speaker 1: a good spot and I think they've got They've got 361 00:16:40,280 --> 00:16:42,560 Speaker 1: three guys that can definitely go downhill and tow it, 362 00:16:42,680 --> 00:16:44,160 Speaker 1: and then you got that little guy that can make 363 00:16:44,200 --> 00:16:47,640 Speaker 1: you miss in Avery Williams from a concern standpoint, and 364 00:16:47,640 --> 00:16:49,480 Speaker 1: I think it continues to be one that they'll look 365 00:16:49,520 --> 00:16:52,200 Speaker 1: at is the corner spot. I think the d offered 366 00:16:52,280 --> 00:16:54,880 Speaker 1: came on love that. I loved what Isaiah Oliver was 367 00:16:54,960 --> 00:16:58,080 Speaker 1: able to do late in camp, came on during the 368 00:16:58,120 --> 00:17:01,360 Speaker 1: practices against Jacksonville and A took the knee brace off 369 00:17:01,440 --> 00:17:04,760 Speaker 1: and played against Jacksonville. In the game, he almost had interception. 370 00:17:05,160 --> 00:17:06,920 Speaker 1: That's a guy that I'm expecting to get back on 371 00:17:07,000 --> 00:17:09,560 Speaker 1: the field, and anyky makes you deeper. Isaiah Oliver says, 372 00:17:09,680 --> 00:17:11,720 Speaker 1: Number One, I'm not one hundred percent yet. Number Two, 373 00:17:11,760 --> 00:17:13,520 Speaker 1: the knee brace is gone. I'm done with it. It's 374 00:17:13,600 --> 00:17:16,160 Speaker 1: retired and he's ready to move on past that. Dave, 375 00:17:16,240 --> 00:17:19,639 Speaker 1: you talked about the depth of the corner position and 376 00:17:19,720 --> 00:17:21,719 Speaker 1: dj I wanted to tee you up because this might 377 00:17:21,800 --> 00:17:24,560 Speaker 1: be an area they've already added Casey Hayward as we 378 00:17:24,680 --> 00:17:27,520 Speaker 1: know on the roster, but this could be dj an 379 00:17:27,560 --> 00:17:30,520 Speaker 1: area where if there's a veteran that's released that Terry 380 00:17:30,560 --> 00:17:33,480 Speaker 1: Fonto and Arthur Smith feel I can add depth to 381 00:17:33,640 --> 00:17:36,480 Speaker 1: their cornerback room. Do you feel like that's an area 382 00:17:36,520 --> 00:17:40,560 Speaker 1: where they address I think so. I mean, you just 383 00:17:40,640 --> 00:17:43,000 Speaker 1: look around NFC South just to be you know, just 384 00:17:43,080 --> 00:17:46,679 Speaker 1: starting own your own division. Their receivers go lower at 385 00:17:46,720 --> 00:17:49,840 Speaker 1: all three teams. And when you have, you know, good 386 00:17:50,280 --> 00:17:52,919 Speaker 1: positional guys at that position that can play ball, then 387 00:17:53,000 --> 00:17:55,560 Speaker 1: obviously that fits you better. But when you have you know, 388 00:17:55,640 --> 00:17:58,000 Speaker 1: three or four different receivers on the team, you gotta 389 00:17:58,000 --> 00:18:00,560 Speaker 1: have three or four different defensive back How many teams 390 00:18:00,640 --> 00:18:03,560 Speaker 1: have that many cover guys who have done it and 391 00:18:03,680 --> 00:18:05,680 Speaker 1: been there and been able to do You just talking 392 00:18:05,680 --> 00:18:07,960 Speaker 1: about Isaiah Oliver Beeny guy to come up at knee, Well, 393 00:18:08,440 --> 00:18:11,280 Speaker 1: you know, how quickly can he become the guy that 394 00:18:11,440 --> 00:18:12,800 Speaker 1: we saw at the end of the year before he 395 00:18:12,840 --> 00:18:16,440 Speaker 1: got hurt. That's a big, big part of this secondary. 396 00:18:16,800 --> 00:18:19,440 Speaker 1: But I think you're you're good enough in the safety 397 00:18:19,480 --> 00:18:21,840 Speaker 1: spot where you look at Okay, here's some guys that 398 00:18:22,359 --> 00:18:25,080 Speaker 1: have played some ball. Here's some guys who have done 399 00:18:25,119 --> 00:18:27,080 Speaker 1: it before. Richie Gurrant is a guy who I thought 400 00:18:27,119 --> 00:18:30,440 Speaker 1: made great strides this preseason, but you know he's still 401 00:18:30,520 --> 00:18:32,840 Speaker 1: in the area where he has to grow, becoming a 402 00:18:32,880 --> 00:18:35,160 Speaker 1: better player and when it comes to game time action. 403 00:18:35,200 --> 00:18:36,960 Speaker 1: But you gotta Eric Carrias back there, who's played a 404 00:18:37,000 --> 00:18:38,960 Speaker 1: lot of ball. He can kind of mentor those guys. 405 00:18:39,080 --> 00:18:42,280 Speaker 1: But you guys mentioned that corner spot in a league, 406 00:18:42,400 --> 00:18:44,479 Speaker 1: or you have so many receivers, I think you can 407 00:18:44,680 --> 00:18:48,399 Speaker 1: never have enough really good corners that can help you 408 00:18:48,720 --> 00:18:51,239 Speaker 1: win ball games. Yeah, especially as we see a lot 409 00:18:51,280 --> 00:18:53,720 Speaker 1: of teams going to the three four wide receiver sets, 410 00:18:53,760 --> 00:18:55,680 Speaker 1: You've got to find a way to have guys out 411 00:18:55,760 --> 00:18:58,359 Speaker 1: there that have the ability to shut people down, to 412 00:18:58,560 --> 00:19:01,000 Speaker 1: keep everything in front of him, a knock passes away 413 00:19:01,359 --> 00:19:04,520 Speaker 1: and having forbid get interceptions. You got to turn a 414 00:19:04,560 --> 00:19:06,919 Speaker 1: football over. I would agree with you, guys. I think 415 00:19:06,960 --> 00:19:09,280 Speaker 1: when you look at the running back room, Dave, it's 416 00:19:09,320 --> 00:19:12,560 Speaker 1: in a much better position. And wide receiver. I know 417 00:19:12,680 --> 00:19:15,000 Speaker 1: we talked a little bit about is there still some 418 00:19:15,200 --> 00:19:17,840 Speaker 1: development that needs to happen, But I would also say 419 00:19:18,160 --> 00:19:20,640 Speaker 1: you got to remember that Corderoll Patterson ends up playing 420 00:19:20,680 --> 00:19:23,960 Speaker 1: wide receiver and You've also got Kyle Pitts playing wide receiver, 421 00:19:24,040 --> 00:19:26,520 Speaker 1: and those are two guys that have experience and playmaking 422 00:19:26,560 --> 00:19:30,000 Speaker 1: ability that even though on this roster as it's broken down, 423 00:19:30,200 --> 00:19:32,520 Speaker 1: their name is not listed as wide receiver, but we're 424 00:19:32,560 --> 00:19:34,360 Speaker 1: probably going to see them out there and it does 425 00:19:34,480 --> 00:19:38,399 Speaker 1: give you a playmaking option outside at the wide receiver position. 426 00:19:38,440 --> 00:19:40,880 Speaker 1: And obviously, once Drake Lennon gets back to one hundred percent, 427 00:19:40,920 --> 00:19:43,440 Speaker 1: hopefully he goes out and he ends up realizing the 428 00:19:43,480 --> 00:19:45,480 Speaker 1: potential that everybody has seen in him because he is 429 00:19:45,480 --> 00:19:48,120 Speaker 1: a next level wide receiver. Sorry, well, let me ask 430 00:19:48,160 --> 00:19:52,239 Speaker 1: you two guys question. Yes, okay, are we comfortable at 431 00:19:52,320 --> 00:19:54,719 Speaker 1: where the offensive line is right now? Because I can 432 00:19:54,760 --> 00:19:58,720 Speaker 1: guarantee you the fans think an offensive and defensive lines 433 00:19:58,800 --> 00:20:01,760 Speaker 1: right that's what we thought about coming. Are you comfortable 434 00:20:01,800 --> 00:20:04,320 Speaker 1: with where they are a line wise? Certainly? Terry feels 435 00:20:04,359 --> 00:20:06,760 Speaker 1: like some guys flashed for him, some guys improved, like 436 00:20:06,880 --> 00:20:09,200 Speaker 1: Caleb Bacgarry. Tell me what you guys say. Yeah, you know, 437 00:20:09,240 --> 00:20:11,080 Speaker 1: I think I'll start with that arch because I know 438 00:20:11,160 --> 00:20:13,239 Speaker 1: I've been the guy that throughout the offseason has been 439 00:20:13,280 --> 00:20:15,760 Speaker 1: saying that that's in an area that needs to be addressed, 440 00:20:15,800 --> 00:20:18,960 Speaker 1: and I don't know if it's been completely addressed. Do 441 00:20:19,119 --> 00:20:21,480 Speaker 1: I think it could be completely addressed in one year? 442 00:20:21,600 --> 00:20:25,240 Speaker 1: Probably not, But you know, we're all kind of in 443 00:20:25,320 --> 00:20:27,600 Speaker 1: this same mold. You guys were quarterbacks played behind an 444 00:20:27,640 --> 00:20:31,520 Speaker 1: offensive line. Your guys's success was directly dependent on an 445 00:20:31,560 --> 00:20:33,959 Speaker 1: offensive line, and I kind of I was a quarterback 446 00:20:34,000 --> 00:20:36,040 Speaker 1: growing up my whole life, went to college as a quarterback, 447 00:20:36,119 --> 00:20:40,240 Speaker 1: so I'm always about offensive line. You can't get anything 448 00:20:40,400 --> 00:20:43,520 Speaker 1: started unless you can run the football on offense. And 449 00:20:43,600 --> 00:20:46,280 Speaker 1: I was a part of the offenses with Atlanta when 450 00:20:46,320 --> 00:20:49,200 Speaker 1: we were able to be a dominant running football and 451 00:20:49,320 --> 00:20:52,800 Speaker 1: I saw how everything took off from there. Everything feeds 452 00:20:52,840 --> 00:20:56,399 Speaker 1: off from being a dominant running football team. Did they 453 00:20:56,440 --> 00:20:58,600 Speaker 1: do what they needed to as far as bringing some 454 00:20:58,840 --> 00:21:01,919 Speaker 1: youth and some speed in quickness and shift ability at 455 00:21:01,960 --> 00:21:04,720 Speaker 1: the running back room. Absolutely, But you still got to 456 00:21:04,720 --> 00:21:06,639 Speaker 1: be able to open the holes. So am I one 457 00:21:06,720 --> 00:21:09,480 Speaker 1: hundred percent comfortable that that has been addressed. And not 458 00:21:09,560 --> 00:21:10,880 Speaker 1: only are they going to be able to open holes, 459 00:21:10,920 --> 00:21:13,480 Speaker 1: but are they going to protect for these quarterbacks? I'm 460 00:21:13,560 --> 00:21:15,600 Speaker 1: not yet. So maybe that's an area where if they 461 00:21:15,720 --> 00:21:18,360 Speaker 1: see a guy that was released, maybe a veteran that's 462 00:21:18,440 --> 00:21:21,360 Speaker 1: making too much money to another team, but to Atlanta 463 00:21:21,440 --> 00:21:23,560 Speaker 1: might be one of the diamonds in the rough, if 464 00:21:23,640 --> 00:21:25,719 Speaker 1: you will. That could be an area DJ where they 465 00:21:25,720 --> 00:21:29,360 Speaker 1: address and bring in another able, experienced body to help 466 00:21:29,440 --> 00:21:32,120 Speaker 1: them out up front. Yeah right, I don't think we're 467 00:21:32,119 --> 00:21:35,320 Speaker 1: going to be one hundred percent all in until we 468 00:21:35,600 --> 00:21:38,440 Speaker 1: see the progress on the field. And let's be honest. 469 00:21:38,480 --> 00:21:40,760 Speaker 1: I mean the last few years the Falcons have not 470 00:21:41,200 --> 00:21:43,560 Speaker 1: been up to the standard that you want to protect 471 00:21:43,840 --> 00:21:47,080 Speaker 1: a franchise guy, and Matt Ryan's been that. Marcus Mariota 472 00:21:47,119 --> 00:21:48,760 Speaker 1: is coming into this fold, you want to be able 473 00:21:48,800 --> 00:21:51,639 Speaker 1: to protect him, and that's a big part of this offense, 474 00:21:51,760 --> 00:21:54,000 Speaker 1: being able to, like you mentioned, creat your run lanes, 475 00:21:54,160 --> 00:21:56,440 Speaker 1: but also be able to protect your quarterback and not 476 00:21:56,560 --> 00:21:58,920 Speaker 1: being able to hit. You bring in Jermin Unfitting, you 477 00:21:59,000 --> 00:22:01,480 Speaker 1: bring in Elijah Wilks, two guys who you think have 478 00:22:01,640 --> 00:22:03,879 Speaker 1: added a little nasty to the group. Two guys who 479 00:22:04,160 --> 00:22:06,560 Speaker 1: were different than last year. So let's see if these 480 00:22:06,640 --> 00:22:09,399 Speaker 1: guys can help the guys around them and they become 481 00:22:09,400 --> 00:22:11,840 Speaker 1: a more cohesive unity. Because this is really what it 482 00:22:11,920 --> 00:22:14,520 Speaker 1: comes down to. Obviously, we've talked about the skill on 483 00:22:14,560 --> 00:22:16,520 Speaker 1: the outside of the skill the running back and receiver. 484 00:22:17,200 --> 00:22:20,159 Speaker 1: But can these guys be the catalyst to helping this 485 00:22:20,400 --> 00:22:24,679 Speaker 1: offense become what everybody wanted to be. So I think 486 00:22:24,720 --> 00:22:27,720 Speaker 1: the only time would tell, and truly game day, is 487 00:22:27,720 --> 00:22:30,119 Speaker 1: when Will Better say, Okay, we can see a difference. 488 00:22:30,160 --> 00:22:33,440 Speaker 1: We can see this team becoming better offensively because of 489 00:22:33,480 --> 00:22:35,800 Speaker 1: those guys up front. And I will say this, I 490 00:22:35,880 --> 00:22:38,159 Speaker 1: will I will come back and add on And I 491 00:22:38,240 --> 00:22:41,040 Speaker 1: mentioned this couple weeks ago. I feel like the change 492 00:22:41,040 --> 00:22:43,600 Speaker 1: that the quarterback position is going to help the offense. 493 00:22:43,760 --> 00:22:46,640 Speaker 1: Because this is nothing against Matt Ryan. I was probably 494 00:22:46,680 --> 00:22:48,399 Speaker 1: one of the biggest Matt Ryan fans that we had. 495 00:22:48,480 --> 00:22:50,960 Speaker 1: I felt like he can still help an NFL franchise, 496 00:22:51,400 --> 00:22:53,439 Speaker 1: but as of right now, it's just not the right 497 00:22:53,600 --> 00:22:56,960 Speaker 1: fit for his skill set, his strengths and weaknesses, and 498 00:22:57,040 --> 00:22:59,119 Speaker 1: where they're at as an offensive line. But now you 499 00:22:59,200 --> 00:23:01,600 Speaker 1: have Mariota and even Desmond Ritter, guys that have a 500 00:23:01,680 --> 00:23:04,520 Speaker 1: little bit more mobility. Now they've got the ability to 501 00:23:04,600 --> 00:23:06,639 Speaker 1: make that first man miss if you do have a 502 00:23:07,080 --> 00:23:10,080 Speaker 1: breakdown in communication up front, if there's a breakdown and 503 00:23:10,119 --> 00:23:12,639 Speaker 1: technique up front, and you get somebody through, Now you 504 00:23:12,800 --> 00:23:15,560 Speaker 1: have a little bit more escapability with the two quarterbacks 505 00:23:15,600 --> 00:23:17,880 Speaker 1: on the roster that now you still have a chance 506 00:23:17,960 --> 00:23:20,840 Speaker 1: to make something positive, whereas with Matt back there it 507 00:23:20,960 --> 00:23:22,560 Speaker 1: might have been an eight to ten yard loss just 508 00:23:22,640 --> 00:23:25,280 Speaker 1: because the mobility wasn't there to get away from some 509 00:23:25,400 --> 00:23:28,000 Speaker 1: of the pass rush. Would you agree, Dave with this switch? 510 00:23:28,320 --> 00:23:31,280 Speaker 1: No question, None of us are trying to bad mouth 511 00:23:31,359 --> 00:23:33,879 Speaker 1: the guy that was the best quarterback in this franchise history. 512 00:23:34,000 --> 00:23:36,000 Speaker 1: The guys in my opinion, he's a Hall of Fame 513 00:23:36,040 --> 00:23:37,800 Speaker 1: football players. So let's leave that where it is. We 514 00:23:37,840 --> 00:23:40,560 Speaker 1: don't need to apologize for saying we've moved on from that. 515 00:23:41,640 --> 00:23:45,280 Speaker 1: What it does it also you mentioned the off schedule stuff. 516 00:23:45,320 --> 00:23:47,160 Speaker 1: Both these guys are gonna be able to do. Think 517 00:23:47,160 --> 00:23:49,760 Speaker 1: about the on schedule stuff from a play call standpoint 518 00:23:49,800 --> 00:23:52,000 Speaker 1: that Arthur Smith has available to him. Now they'd be 519 00:23:52,000 --> 00:23:54,200 Speaker 1: able to move the launch point for the quarterback to 520 00:23:54,240 --> 00:23:56,240 Speaker 1: be able to get him outside and dual threat things 521 00:23:56,280 --> 00:23:58,560 Speaker 1: with run and pass. Those are all going to be 522 00:23:58,640 --> 00:24:01,600 Speaker 1: things that slow a defense down, slow a pass rushdown. 523 00:24:01,800 --> 00:24:04,800 Speaker 1: And you know we all played against defenses. If you 524 00:24:04,840 --> 00:24:07,440 Speaker 1: can get them to hesitate account, all of a sudden, 525 00:24:07,480 --> 00:24:09,480 Speaker 1: I'm ahead of him. I got a step right, whether 526 00:24:09,480 --> 00:24:12,399 Speaker 1: it's a receiver or run a block, if I can 527 00:24:12,440 --> 00:24:14,680 Speaker 1: get him to hesitate, and I think the quarterback's gonna 528 00:24:14,680 --> 00:24:16,800 Speaker 1: help him do that, all right, folks, So that's that's Oh, 529 00:24:16,800 --> 00:24:19,440 Speaker 1: go ahead, DJ, go ahead. One one quick point. I 530 00:24:19,520 --> 00:24:22,080 Speaker 1: think arts brings up something that's really critical. And one 531 00:24:22,119 --> 00:24:24,280 Speaker 1: thing that's I think a lot of defenses are going 532 00:24:24,359 --> 00:24:25,960 Speaker 1: to keep in the back of their mind when they 533 00:24:26,040 --> 00:24:29,520 Speaker 1: played his team, is we gotta rush the right way 534 00:24:29,760 --> 00:24:32,719 Speaker 1: because this guy's shown already in preseason he can make 535 00:24:32,760 --> 00:24:35,680 Speaker 1: it pay. So now you're talking about hesitating just a 536 00:24:35,760 --> 00:24:37,879 Speaker 1: little bit. If you're come into a ball game and 537 00:24:38,080 --> 00:24:40,480 Speaker 1: a defensive line knows of I get too far afield 538 00:24:40,600 --> 00:24:43,000 Speaker 1: or I don't rush the right way, this guy's gonna 539 00:24:43,080 --> 00:24:45,560 Speaker 1: hurt me. So guess what. That's gonna help your offensive line. 540 00:24:45,760 --> 00:24:47,840 Speaker 1: That's gonna help you have a little bit more time 541 00:24:47,840 --> 00:24:51,000 Speaker 1: because this guy's gonna be more conscious of all. This 542 00:24:51,160 --> 00:24:54,040 Speaker 1: quarterback can be anywhere on the field and any given time. 543 00:24:54,280 --> 00:24:56,399 Speaker 1: So now I have to know how to rush the passer. 544 00:24:56,480 --> 00:24:58,920 Speaker 1: So now there is gonna be a slight hesitant to 545 00:24:59,280 --> 00:25:01,280 Speaker 1: how you rush his past or how you go and 546 00:25:01,359 --> 00:25:04,520 Speaker 1: attack his Fager's offense because you know that guy back 547 00:25:04,560 --> 00:25:07,119 Speaker 1: there can make some guys miss in space. Yeah, and 548 00:25:07,160 --> 00:25:10,240 Speaker 1: I'll say this too. Let's let's be real now. The 549 00:25:10,359 --> 00:25:13,719 Speaker 1: double edged sword of that is that whether it's Marcus 550 00:25:13,840 --> 00:25:16,359 Speaker 1: or Desmond in the game, at some point during the season, 551 00:25:16,760 --> 00:25:18,800 Speaker 1: you've got to squeeze the trigger when it when it's 552 00:25:18,800 --> 00:25:21,399 Speaker 1: supposed to come out. You can't be someone that's holding it. 553 00:25:21,480 --> 00:25:24,119 Speaker 1: Now I'm looking to create because now that's not the 554 00:25:24,160 --> 00:25:26,920 Speaker 1: way most of these offenses are timing offenses where the 555 00:25:26,960 --> 00:25:28,840 Speaker 1: ball comes. He loved that he can do stuff off 556 00:25:28,920 --> 00:25:31,720 Speaker 1: schedule and love that we can. We can call things 557 00:25:31,840 --> 00:25:34,080 Speaker 1: for them to do stuff like that. But when it 558 00:25:34,200 --> 00:25:35,879 Speaker 1: calls for a slant route to come out, or a 559 00:25:35,920 --> 00:25:37,959 Speaker 1: bangt post to come out, or you got to get 560 00:25:38,000 --> 00:25:39,879 Speaker 1: to your top step and hit that corner in between 561 00:25:39,920 --> 00:25:42,680 Speaker 1: the intween the corner and the safety and that little 562 00:25:42,720 --> 00:25:44,560 Speaker 1: dead hole when you're trying to get that little bend out, 563 00:25:44,800 --> 00:25:46,960 Speaker 1: that ball's got to come out on time. So those 564 00:25:47,000 --> 00:25:49,560 Speaker 1: guys have to understand we're not trying to create every play. 565 00:25:50,000 --> 00:25:51,800 Speaker 1: There's a lot of timing involved. It's got to get 566 00:25:51,840 --> 00:25:54,960 Speaker 1: the ball out. That athleticism on those certain routes. DJ 567 00:25:55,240 --> 00:25:58,960 Speaker 1: has to be secondary, right, Yeah, I mean just one 568 00:25:59,040 --> 00:26:01,120 Speaker 1: last thing, and I think that's we were so excited 569 00:26:01,320 --> 00:26:04,720 Speaker 1: and me and Arts was so pumped about the touchdown 570 00:26:04,840 --> 00:26:07,440 Speaker 1: Oz because we know he can make our schedule plays. 571 00:26:07,440 --> 00:26:09,879 Speaker 1: We've seen that. But the play to Oz was a 572 00:26:10,000 --> 00:26:12,159 Speaker 1: timing play. He had that ball had to come out, 573 00:26:12,200 --> 00:26:13,800 Speaker 1: he had to lead in the zone and lay in 574 00:26:13,800 --> 00:26:16,159 Speaker 1: the area. Oz win and got it. That's the kind 575 00:26:16,200 --> 00:26:18,280 Speaker 1: of stuff that excites us because we know he can 576 00:26:18,320 --> 00:26:21,080 Speaker 1: do those stuff. But seeing that just gives you proof 577 00:26:21,160 --> 00:26:24,159 Speaker 1: that this office can be that league as well. I 578 00:26:24,280 --> 00:26:27,400 Speaker 1: can feel it, guys. The excitement is starting to come 579 00:26:27,400 --> 00:26:31,000 Speaker 1: out because they know real football. No offense to preseason, 580 00:26:31,560 --> 00:26:34,520 Speaker 1: but real football is on the horizon because you know 581 00:26:34,600 --> 00:26:37,720 Speaker 1: what it was vanilla in the preseason. We only saw 582 00:26:37,840 --> 00:26:41,080 Speaker 1: starters for like half a minute. Okay, now we're gonna 583 00:26:41,080 --> 00:26:43,880 Speaker 1: get a chance to see Kyle Pitts, Marcus Mariota, Drake London, 584 00:26:44,000 --> 00:26:46,840 Speaker 1: the rest of all these playmakers not only going the 585 00:26:47,080 --> 00:26:49,639 Speaker 1: entire sixty minutes, but with the full playbook, with the 586 00:26:49,760 --> 00:26:52,560 Speaker 1: full creativity. And I'm looking forward to that. I can 587 00:26:52,640 --> 00:26:56,480 Speaker 1: see it right, Start it off, Let's get it going, 588 00:26:56,600 --> 00:27:00,399 Speaker 1: let's go. Okay, all right. So that's gonna put up 589 00:27:00,480 --> 00:27:03,200 Speaker 1: for our initial fifty three man roster. By the time 590 00:27:03,320 --> 00:27:05,640 Speaker 1: we end up coming back next week, this thing could 591 00:27:05,680 --> 00:27:08,000 Speaker 1: look a whole lot different. We could have two different people, 592 00:27:08,080 --> 00:27:10,320 Speaker 1: We could have ten or fifteen different people on this roster. 593 00:27:10,600 --> 00:27:12,440 Speaker 1: I don't know yet, But what I am excited about 594 00:27:12,880 --> 00:27:15,399 Speaker 1: is regular season football is on the horizon. Are you 595 00:27:15,520 --> 00:27:17,520 Speaker 1: excited as well? We appreciate you joining us here on 596 00:27:17,560 --> 00:27:20,200 Speaker 1: the Falcons Audible presented by AT and T. This is 597 00:27:20,240 --> 00:27:22,840 Speaker 1: the initial fifty three man roster edition, and we are 598 00:27:22,960 --> 00:27:25,560 Speaker 1: ready to play some football. DJ, I appreciate you joining 599 00:27:25,640 --> 00:27:27,399 Speaker 1: us from from down the interstate a little bit. I 600 00:27:27,480 --> 00:27:29,000 Speaker 1: know you've got some work to do a little bit later, 601 00:27:29,240 --> 00:27:31,960 Speaker 1: but we appreciate you joining us. Dave is always good 602 00:27:32,000 --> 00:27:34,439 Speaker 1: to see you, and we appreciate you guys joining us 603 00:27:34,680 --> 00:27:37,320 Speaker 1: on the Falcons Audible presented by AT AT. Don't forget 604 00:27:37,400 --> 00:27:40,439 Speaker 1: like subscribe, review on Spotify, iTunes, at Lanta Falcons dot 605 00:27:40,520 --> 00:27:44,080 Speaker 1: com or YouTube or however you end up getting your 606 00:27:44,119 --> 00:27:47,040 Speaker 1: podcast material. Thanks everyone, We'll be back very soon with 607 00:27:47,160 --> 00:27:49,360 Speaker 1: a whole lot more at Lanta Falcons coverage. Take care