1 00:00:00,320 --> 00:00:02,680 Speaker 1: You are listening to the End a Round podcast. I 2 00:00:02,720 --> 00:00:06,000 Speaker 1: am Matt to be joined with Atlanta Falcons dot com 3 00:00:06,000 --> 00:00:09,319 Speaker 1: writers Kelsey Knaway, Lille McBeth. Guys, good to see it? 4 00:00:10,680 --> 00:00:14,360 Speaker 1: Who would step Matt? Are you good to see you? Guys? 5 00:00:14,920 --> 00:00:18,000 Speaker 1: What's up today? We are talking about the Atlanta Falcons 6 00:00:18,079 --> 00:00:23,960 Speaker 1: twenty twenty nineteen All Decade Team presented by American Family Insurance, 7 00:00:24,880 --> 00:00:27,440 Speaker 1: and we're just gonna jump right in. We covered the 8 00:00:27,480 --> 00:00:30,440 Speaker 1: defense and special team guys last time, and let's talk 9 00:00:30,520 --> 00:00:34,680 Speaker 1: some offense and just jump right into this. This group. Um, 10 00:00:36,120 --> 00:00:39,240 Speaker 1: you know, the Falcons you know, have been all about 11 00:00:39,400 --> 00:00:43,400 Speaker 1: offense this decade. It's been their most successful decade in 12 00:00:43,760 --> 00:00:48,080 Speaker 1: their fifty three year existence. In my opinion, begins and 13 00:00:48,159 --> 00:00:51,720 Speaker 1: ends with number two, Matt Ryan. But they have collected 14 00:00:51,760 --> 00:00:56,280 Speaker 1: what eighty nine regular season wins, five postseason berths, three 15 00:00:56,320 --> 00:01:01,880 Speaker 1: division titles, a champion, NFC Champampionship title, and as we 16 00:01:01,920 --> 00:01:07,040 Speaker 1: all know, a trip to Super Bowl l I. So 17 00:01:07,120 --> 00:01:08,760 Speaker 1: let's go right through the list, guys, and then I 18 00:01:08,800 --> 00:01:12,120 Speaker 1: want to get your thoughts. So on offense. Quarterback Matt Ryan, 19 00:01:12,360 --> 00:01:17,560 Speaker 1: running back is Michael Turner, pullback Pat DeMarco, The receivers, 20 00:01:17,560 --> 00:01:21,680 Speaker 1: are Julio Jones and Roddy White, tight end Tony Gonzalez. 21 00:01:22,160 --> 00:01:25,280 Speaker 1: Alex mack is your center, the tackles Jake Matthews and 22 00:01:25,319 --> 00:01:29,440 Speaker 1: Tyson Claibo, and then you've got Justin Blaylock and Andy 23 00:01:29,520 --> 00:01:34,319 Speaker 1: Levitre at guards and then interesting lee enough a flex 24 00:01:34,400 --> 00:01:40,559 Speaker 1: position where DeVante Freeman's name appears. So we'll get into 25 00:01:40,560 --> 00:01:45,400 Speaker 1: that running back situation in a minute. But the four 26 00:01:45,520 --> 00:01:49,800 Speaker 1: unanimous picks guys Matt Ryan, Julio Jones, Roddy White, Tony Gonzales. 27 00:01:49,840 --> 00:01:58,240 Speaker 1: Any surprise there, Kelsey, not at all? Yeah, what says 28 00:01:58,440 --> 00:02:02,800 Speaker 1: what says you will? No? I mean you could argue 29 00:02:02,880 --> 00:02:06,480 Speaker 1: that that those are three Hall of famers and one 30 00:02:06,920 --> 00:02:11,359 Speaker 1: Hall of very good player. Um, I mean it, it's 31 00:02:11,400 --> 00:02:13,720 Speaker 1: really fun to think back to the offense is where 32 00:02:13,760 --> 00:02:18,240 Speaker 1: they were all playing at the same time. Yeah. Um, 33 00:02:19,200 --> 00:02:21,320 Speaker 1: you bring up the Hall of Fame thing, and you 34 00:02:21,360 --> 00:02:24,440 Speaker 1: know what, there'll be plenty of time to debate, you 35 00:02:24,480 --> 00:02:30,959 Speaker 1: know those guys. But one other name that maybe tossed 36 00:02:31,000 --> 00:02:34,760 Speaker 1: around when it's all said and done is Alex Mack. Um. 37 00:02:34,919 --> 00:02:37,440 Speaker 1: He's had a heck of a career. Do you think 38 00:02:37,520 --> 00:02:42,040 Speaker 1: he if he can play another year? Two? Three, four years. 39 00:02:42,080 --> 00:02:44,680 Speaker 1: I mean, I know he's kind of winding down, but 40 00:02:44,960 --> 00:02:50,480 Speaker 1: should he be in that conversation? I think he should 41 00:02:50,720 --> 00:02:53,639 Speaker 1: come see you good. I was gonna say, I don't 42 00:02:53,680 --> 00:02:56,720 Speaker 1: even think he needs to play that much longer for 43 00:02:56,919 --> 00:03:01,200 Speaker 1: it to be a no brainer in my opinion. What 44 00:03:01,280 --> 00:03:05,880 Speaker 1: about you, will, I don't know if it's a no brainer. 45 00:03:06,040 --> 00:03:09,320 Speaker 1: I think I would vote him in one hundred percent. 46 00:03:09,600 --> 00:03:12,919 Speaker 1: I think the nature of Hall of Fame voting centers 47 00:03:12,960 --> 00:03:16,800 Speaker 1: not a sexy position. So I don't know how many 48 00:03:16,919 --> 00:03:20,720 Speaker 1: people national media wise are aware of just how good 49 00:03:20,760 --> 00:03:24,000 Speaker 1: Alex mac is. I mean, he's only missed eleven games 50 00:03:24,160 --> 00:03:26,000 Speaker 1: in his career, and that came in one season in 51 00:03:26,040 --> 00:03:30,000 Speaker 1: twenty fifteen where he got injured. So I mean, at 52 00:03:30,080 --> 00:03:34,720 Speaker 1: offensive line, durability is a very very important factor, and 53 00:03:34,760 --> 00:03:37,800 Speaker 1: he's been as durable as anybody, and he's one of 54 00:03:37,840 --> 00:03:40,480 Speaker 1: the leaders of this offense for sure. Well, I bring 55 00:03:40,520 --> 00:03:43,360 Speaker 1: it up just because I just want to ask you guys. 56 00:03:43,480 --> 00:03:45,440 Speaker 1: You know, when it comes to as unanimous picks, do 57 00:03:45,480 --> 00:03:47,360 Speaker 1: you think that he should have been a unanimous pick? 58 00:03:50,400 --> 00:03:55,360 Speaker 1: I think Todd McClure probably got some votes and took 59 00:03:55,360 --> 00:03:58,520 Speaker 1: those away, and he was another very very good Falcon 60 00:03:58,560 --> 00:04:01,440 Speaker 1: Center throughout his career. He didn't really play for much 61 00:04:01,440 --> 00:04:04,800 Speaker 1: of the decade. So if I mean it's not James Stone, 62 00:04:06,640 --> 00:04:09,600 Speaker 1: if we're talking about if we're talking about Falcon Centers, 63 00:04:09,640 --> 00:04:12,040 Speaker 1: I mean, when I think about the twenty tens, I'm 64 00:04:12,080 --> 00:04:14,080 Speaker 1: gonna think about Alex mac first and foremost. So I'm 65 00:04:14,080 --> 00:04:16,800 Speaker 1: a little surprised he didn't. But it was probably because 66 00:04:16,800 --> 00:04:20,560 Speaker 1: of some people who voted who remembered the Todd mcclaura 67 00:04:20,640 --> 00:04:24,440 Speaker 1: era a little bit more. Okay, I was surprised that 68 00:04:24,520 --> 00:04:28,680 Speaker 1: he wasn't. But Kelsey any final thoughts on Alex Mack, No, 69 00:04:28,800 --> 00:04:31,799 Speaker 1: I agree with you. I was surprised that he wasn't. 70 00:04:31,839 --> 00:04:35,599 Speaker 1: I mean, when you talk about the success this team 71 00:04:35,640 --> 00:04:38,360 Speaker 1: has had, you know over the last couple of years, 72 00:04:38,400 --> 00:04:42,080 Speaker 1: it's been a large part of because Alex Mack in 73 00:04:42,240 --> 00:04:44,720 Speaker 1: Phil when you were saying, you know, it's not the 74 00:04:44,720 --> 00:04:47,840 Speaker 1: most texy position. I wrote an article a couple of 75 00:04:47,839 --> 00:04:51,080 Speaker 1: weeks ago a CBS sports reporter, I forget who his 76 00:04:51,200 --> 00:04:54,440 Speaker 1: name was, but he put up his top ten rankings 77 00:04:54,480 --> 00:04:57,599 Speaker 1: for interior offensive lineman and he didn't have Alex Mack. 78 00:04:58,160 --> 00:05:00,240 Speaker 1: So I wrote an article saying, you know, x MA 79 00:05:00,400 --> 00:05:02,520 Speaker 1: got snubbed. And then when I went and looked through 80 00:05:02,560 --> 00:05:05,679 Speaker 1: Alex's statistics, I mean, he's a six time pro bowler 81 00:05:05,800 --> 00:05:09,880 Speaker 1: and I think that he definitely has the respect of 82 00:05:10,279 --> 00:05:12,200 Speaker 1: his peers. But you know, those aren't the people that 83 00:05:12,279 --> 00:05:14,280 Speaker 1: vote on the Hall of Fame. So I'm assuming if 84 00:05:14,279 --> 00:05:17,320 Speaker 1: he has that much respect with his peers, the people 85 00:05:17,320 --> 00:05:19,360 Speaker 1: that vote in the Hall of Fame would give him 86 00:05:19,360 --> 00:05:22,960 Speaker 1: the same type of respect. Well, there's no question that 87 00:05:23,000 --> 00:05:26,680 Speaker 1: we respect him, and you know, I'm surprised he wasn't 88 00:05:26,760 --> 00:05:30,760 Speaker 1: Unani's pick. But moving on, Well, let's let's talk about 89 00:05:30,760 --> 00:05:32,960 Speaker 1: a position where there is no debate, and that is 90 00:05:33,040 --> 00:05:37,359 Speaker 1: wide receiver. When you talk about Julio Jones and Roddy White, guys, 91 00:05:38,040 --> 00:05:42,360 Speaker 1: it's those two and then there's for me, it's everybody else, 92 00:05:42,400 --> 00:05:45,360 Speaker 1: and there's a wide margin. You know, I don't I 93 00:05:45,400 --> 00:05:49,080 Speaker 1: don't even think it's close. When you talk about where 94 00:05:49,120 --> 00:05:51,600 Speaker 1: those two are and the rest of the pack, especially 95 00:05:51,640 --> 00:05:55,040 Speaker 1: in this decade, what are your thoughts on Julio Jones 96 00:05:55,040 --> 00:06:01,480 Speaker 1: and Roddy White, Zach, is that the strongest position group? 97 00:06:01,520 --> 00:06:05,560 Speaker 1: I mean, it's kind of a no brainer, but yeah, 98 00:06:06,120 --> 00:06:08,359 Speaker 1: it's a it's a no brainer in those two like 99 00:06:08,440 --> 00:06:11,880 Speaker 1: you said, there's been some really good players. Mohammed's new 100 00:06:12,080 --> 00:06:16,800 Speaker 1: Harry Douglas, Calvin Ridley is really good. But I mean 101 00:06:16,880 --> 00:06:19,320 Speaker 1: when you look at the length of time Roddy did 102 00:06:19,680 --> 00:06:22,000 Speaker 1: what he did for and you just look at what 103 00:06:22,080 --> 00:06:25,039 Speaker 1: Julio Jones does on a daily basis, it's a no brainer. 104 00:06:25,560 --> 00:06:28,640 Speaker 1: And for a position that I think a lot of 105 00:06:28,640 --> 00:06:30,839 Speaker 1: people think, I don't really know if I want to 106 00:06:30,880 --> 00:06:33,160 Speaker 1: invest in that wide receiver, I think it can just 107 00:06:33,240 --> 00:06:37,360 Speaker 1: get by with you know, a third or fourth round pick. 108 00:06:37,640 --> 00:06:39,360 Speaker 1: I don't know. I think there's something to be sent 109 00:06:39,560 --> 00:06:43,360 Speaker 1: for Sometimes you know, it's worth, you know, really going 110 00:06:43,400 --> 00:06:45,280 Speaker 1: after the guy you really want in the first round, 111 00:06:45,279 --> 00:06:47,600 Speaker 1: and that was certainly the case with when the Falcons 112 00:06:47,600 --> 00:06:52,320 Speaker 1: did that for Julio. Well, any thoughts on receivers especially, 113 00:06:52,560 --> 00:06:56,520 Speaker 1: I mean, yeah, like I honestly the more interesting debate 114 00:06:56,600 --> 00:06:58,640 Speaker 1: is who would be on third on that list. Yeah, 115 00:06:58,839 --> 00:07:01,000 Speaker 1: that's how good those two got are. Like, it's it's 116 00:07:01,040 --> 00:07:07,320 Speaker 1: just indisputable. And it's almost a shame that Roddy White's 117 00:07:07,360 --> 00:07:11,520 Speaker 1: career has now been overlooked a little bit because he 118 00:07:11,960 --> 00:07:16,160 Speaker 1: coincided with Julio Jones and the mantle was just immediately passed, 119 00:07:16,240 --> 00:07:21,720 Speaker 1: But Roddy was a top seven receiver while he was 120 00:07:21,760 --> 00:07:23,600 Speaker 1: at the peak during his career. And this was an 121 00:07:23,600 --> 00:07:26,400 Speaker 1: era when Steve Smith was really playing really well, and 122 00:07:26,800 --> 00:07:29,440 Speaker 1: you had Calvin Johnson and you had some other really 123 00:07:29,440 --> 00:07:32,760 Speaker 1: good receivers. So we all know what Julio can do. 124 00:07:32,800 --> 00:07:36,000 Speaker 1: But I think this is a good reminder of you know, 125 00:07:36,080 --> 00:07:39,000 Speaker 1: the fact that he was also unanimous speaks to just 126 00:07:39,160 --> 00:07:42,400 Speaker 1: how good Roddy White was at the beginning of this run, 127 00:07:42,800 --> 00:07:45,920 Speaker 1: this decade. I just want to clarify something too. You know, 128 00:07:45,920 --> 00:07:49,760 Speaker 1: when we're talking about position groups, obviously there's no debate 129 00:07:50,360 --> 00:07:53,520 Speaker 1: you know, the quarterback position either, So it's not really 130 00:07:53,560 --> 00:07:56,440 Speaker 1: a position group. It's a position. And to me, that's 131 00:07:56,240 --> 00:07:59,240 Speaker 1: the best player on this team, this entire team. But 132 00:07:59,240 --> 00:08:02,520 Speaker 1: we'll get to him a minute. Just one last thought, Yeah, 133 00:08:02,560 --> 00:08:04,560 Speaker 1: on Roddy. I mean in twenty I talked about that 134 00:08:04,600 --> 00:08:07,080 Speaker 1: twenty ten team all the time. You know, when Julio 135 00:08:07,240 --> 00:08:10,520 Speaker 1: was still a junior in Alabama. You know, Roddy was 136 00:08:10,760 --> 00:08:14,360 Speaker 1: leading the league in touchdowns and receptions and that offense 137 00:08:14,480 --> 00:08:16,720 Speaker 1: was was cranking. You know, they I think they won 138 00:08:16,800 --> 00:08:21,880 Speaker 1: thirteen thirteen games, So excuse me, Yeah, I think it's 139 00:08:21,880 --> 00:08:23,680 Speaker 1: head and shoulders with that group, and same with the 140 00:08:23,680 --> 00:08:28,160 Speaker 1: tight end Tony Gonzalez Hall of Famer. You know, Kelsey all, 141 00:08:28,200 --> 00:08:30,080 Speaker 1: let you kick it off, but to me, the guy 142 00:08:30,200 --> 00:08:33,320 Speaker 1: just redefined the entire position and how it was played. 143 00:08:35,040 --> 00:08:38,120 Speaker 1: He's probably the best tight end to ever play in 144 00:08:38,160 --> 00:08:40,400 Speaker 1: the game. Um. So they were, you know, we were 145 00:08:40,440 --> 00:08:44,120 Speaker 1: fortunate to have him in Atlanta for a few years thoughts. Yeah, 146 00:08:44,160 --> 00:08:48,160 Speaker 1: and I started covering the team in twenty fifteen, so 147 00:08:48,440 --> 00:08:51,800 Speaker 1: I had missed when Tony Gonzalez was, you know, playing 148 00:08:51,800 --> 00:08:53,520 Speaker 1: for the Falcons. But it was so much fun this 149 00:08:53,600 --> 00:08:56,040 Speaker 1: past year kind of delving into his history with him 150 00:08:56,120 --> 00:08:57,760 Speaker 1: going into the Hall of Fame and all of the 151 00:08:57,760 --> 00:09:01,600 Speaker 1: content we did, because I really didn't grasp just how 152 00:09:01,640 --> 00:09:03,800 Speaker 1: good he was until I started, you know, watching some 153 00:09:03,880 --> 00:09:08,120 Speaker 1: of his games, talking to his teammates, the owner Rich 154 00:09:08,200 --> 00:09:11,000 Speaker 1: McKay about, you know, the impact Tony had. And I 155 00:09:11,040 --> 00:09:13,640 Speaker 1: think when you look back on those seasons when he 156 00:09:13,760 --> 00:09:17,400 Speaker 1: was with the Falcons, when I talked to him before 157 00:09:17,480 --> 00:09:21,800 Speaker 1: the Ring of Honor ceremony, he was like, we were unstoppable. 158 00:09:21,840 --> 00:09:25,520 Speaker 1: You had a young Julio Jones, Roddy White, me and 159 00:09:25,559 --> 00:09:28,400 Speaker 1: Matt Ryan. He was like I don't know if there 160 00:09:28,440 --> 00:09:30,800 Speaker 1: was a better skill group, and it's hard to argue 161 00:09:30,840 --> 00:09:33,800 Speaker 1: with him. Yeah, that team is really good. I mean 162 00:09:33,840 --> 00:09:38,160 Speaker 1: they were in overtime loss in Pittsburgh to win fourteen games. 163 00:09:38,240 --> 00:09:41,720 Speaker 1: But well, thoughts on Tony g and then I'm going 164 00:09:41,760 --> 00:09:44,959 Speaker 1: to stick with you with the next question, So okay, Yeah, 165 00:09:45,000 --> 00:09:48,040 Speaker 1: I mean it's interesting. It's always interesting to me when 166 00:09:49,200 --> 00:09:52,800 Speaker 1: Tony kind of with all the Hall of Fame stuff, 167 00:09:52,920 --> 00:09:55,920 Speaker 1: was splitting everything between the Falcons and the Chiefs, because 168 00:09:56,440 --> 00:09:59,720 Speaker 1: I always think of him as a Chief first and foremost. 169 00:10:00,000 --> 00:10:03,679 Speaker 1: And though he ended his career in Atlanta, but one 170 00:10:03,720 --> 00:10:06,080 Speaker 1: of my favorite memories of Tony Gonzalez as a player 171 00:10:06,080 --> 00:10:08,160 Speaker 1: actually involved the Falcons, and I think it was during 172 00:10:08,160 --> 00:10:10,200 Speaker 1: the two thousand and four season and maybe in two 173 00:10:10,200 --> 00:10:12,880 Speaker 1: thousand and five. The Falcons went on the road to 174 00:10:12,920 --> 00:10:16,720 Speaker 1: Kansas City and just got their buttwooked and Tony Gonzalez 175 00:10:16,960 --> 00:10:19,120 Speaker 1: was the best player on the field by a mile, 176 00:10:19,520 --> 00:10:22,600 Speaker 1: and so when we fast forward to him joining the Falcons, 177 00:10:23,040 --> 00:10:25,599 Speaker 1: I was incredibly excited. Yeah, they already had brought it 178 00:10:25,720 --> 00:10:28,959 Speaker 1: Michael Turner to really boost the run game, and now 179 00:10:28,960 --> 00:10:31,680 Speaker 1: they gave Matt Ryan, a player who I think really 180 00:10:31,760 --> 00:10:36,280 Speaker 1: advanced his learning curve. I think having the ability to 181 00:10:36,360 --> 00:10:38,200 Speaker 1: have somebody who's so reliable in the middle of the 182 00:10:38,240 --> 00:10:41,720 Speaker 1: field helped him go off of his first read a 183 00:10:41,760 --> 00:10:43,640 Speaker 1: little bit more quickly and learned to look at the 184 00:10:43,679 --> 00:10:46,480 Speaker 1: whole field because he knew Tony Gonzalez was open somewhere 185 00:10:46,640 --> 00:10:48,800 Speaker 1: even if he was in the first read, even if 186 00:10:48,840 --> 00:10:50,640 Speaker 1: he won the second read, he had a go to 187 00:10:50,800 --> 00:10:52,320 Speaker 1: guy in the middle of the field pretty much on 188 00:10:52,360 --> 00:10:57,000 Speaker 1: every play. I mean, Tony Gonzalez was incredible well for Atlanta, yeah, 189 00:10:57,040 --> 00:10:58,959 Speaker 1: he was. And the thing that he brought to this 190 00:10:59,040 --> 00:11:04,640 Speaker 1: team was his work ethic, his expectations, his leadership. Things 191 00:11:04,640 --> 00:11:09,080 Speaker 1: you can't really you know, quantify on a statuet um, 192 00:11:09,320 --> 00:11:12,280 Speaker 1: you know. And when we had our roundtable discussion, which 193 00:11:12,280 --> 00:11:15,839 Speaker 1: should be out by the time this podcast slash video 194 00:11:15,920 --> 00:11:17,960 Speaker 1: is out, that's one of the things that I noted 195 00:11:17,960 --> 00:11:20,959 Speaker 1: about Tony Gonzalez. When you talk to his former teammates, 196 00:11:21,440 --> 00:11:25,400 Speaker 1: the one thing they talk about is just his ridiculous 197 00:11:25,440 --> 00:11:28,160 Speaker 1: work ethic and the amount of balls he caught at 198 00:11:28,200 --> 00:11:31,040 Speaker 1: practice and how he would get on guys. And he 199 00:11:31,120 --> 00:11:34,000 Speaker 1: was already a Hall of Famer and you know, guys 200 00:11:34,080 --> 00:11:36,200 Speaker 1: looked at him going whoa. We need to step it 201 00:11:36,320 --> 00:11:39,360 Speaker 1: off because if the Hall of Famer is out here 202 00:11:39,360 --> 00:11:42,960 Speaker 1: doing it, we better. So that said, is there any 203 00:11:43,080 --> 00:11:49,520 Speaker 1: names on this list will that surprises you? Um No, 204 00:11:49,600 --> 00:11:53,959 Speaker 1: I wouldn't say there's any that surprised me. Maybe maybe 205 00:11:54,000 --> 00:11:56,960 Speaker 1: Tyson Claibo. You could argue Ryan Schrader could be there 206 00:11:57,200 --> 00:12:01,160 Speaker 1: instead of Tyson Claibo, But that's really nippicky at this 207 00:12:01,200 --> 00:12:05,480 Speaker 1: point because when you talk about the Falcons twenty ten decade, 208 00:12:05,720 --> 00:12:09,439 Speaker 1: it's offense first period. There's no argument to be made 209 00:12:09,880 --> 00:12:13,400 Speaker 1: that really, on any given year, some of the defenses 210 00:12:13,440 --> 00:12:15,600 Speaker 1: were as good as the offense. But I don't know 211 00:12:15,640 --> 00:12:17,960 Speaker 1: if there was a team this decade that you could 212 00:12:18,000 --> 00:12:20,599 Speaker 1: say was defense led. So that is a testament to 213 00:12:20,640 --> 00:12:23,160 Speaker 1: the offensive talent. And in a lot of cases it 214 00:12:23,200 --> 00:12:26,359 Speaker 1: was clearcut talent. It was the starter was the best 215 00:12:26,400 --> 00:12:28,959 Speaker 1: at that position for a while. So I think that's 216 00:12:29,000 --> 00:12:32,200 Speaker 1: why you're seeing four unanimous guys, you know, at a 217 00:12:32,320 --> 00:12:35,600 Speaker 1: third of the offensive roster or unanimous. They just had 218 00:12:35,600 --> 00:12:39,599 Speaker 1: some crazy amount of talent on offense. I don't know. 219 00:12:39,640 --> 00:12:42,240 Speaker 1: I'll go back that twenty team. That defense is pretty good. Kelsey, 220 00:12:42,320 --> 00:12:47,880 Speaker 1: what about you? I agree with Will? I wasn't really 221 00:12:48,000 --> 00:12:51,640 Speaker 1: shocked by any of these players, and it was really 222 00:12:52,080 --> 00:12:53,880 Speaker 1: fun to kind of go back and look and you're, like, 223 00:12:54,000 --> 00:12:57,200 Speaker 1: I forgot about like how good Patrick DeMarco was. You know, 224 00:12:57,240 --> 00:13:00,280 Speaker 1: some of these guys that they've moved on, but when 225 00:13:00,320 --> 00:13:04,000 Speaker 1: they were in Atlanta they were They were really really good, 226 00:13:04,040 --> 00:13:06,560 Speaker 1: and they were really big help to the offensive success. 227 00:13:06,600 --> 00:13:08,920 Speaker 1: You guys both talked about. It's funny you bring up 228 00:13:08,960 --> 00:13:15,480 Speaker 1: Patrick DeMarco get questions about that guy every week from 229 00:13:15,559 --> 00:13:18,400 Speaker 1: our fans. They just love him. They don't want to 230 00:13:18,480 --> 00:13:20,160 Speaker 1: let go, and they want to bring him back here. 231 00:13:20,640 --> 00:13:22,480 Speaker 1: He can retire and come back here and our fans 232 00:13:22,480 --> 00:13:25,160 Speaker 1: would be happy. I got one for you. How about 233 00:13:25,559 --> 00:13:29,440 Speaker 1: imagine if Patrick DeMarco didn't play in Atlanta, who would 234 00:13:29,440 --> 00:13:34,160 Speaker 1: you have picked to be your fullback on this roster? Wolf? 235 00:13:35,760 --> 00:13:40,120 Speaker 1: I don't know, it's a hard, hard question. It is 236 00:13:40,679 --> 00:13:45,679 Speaker 1: they have not been fullback rich here outside of DeMarco. Um. 237 00:13:45,720 --> 00:13:49,000 Speaker 1: All right, So any name's missing from this list, Kelsey, 238 00:13:49,160 --> 00:13:52,040 Speaker 1: I know we've kind of beaten this up pretty good 239 00:13:52,040 --> 00:13:54,679 Speaker 1: as far as surprise is not surprise, but anybody on 240 00:13:54,720 --> 00:13:57,599 Speaker 1: this list that should be on it, No, But I 241 00:13:58,000 --> 00:14:00,520 Speaker 1: wish that there could be a third receiver because, like 242 00:14:00,679 --> 00:14:02,720 Speaker 1: Will mentioned earlier, I think that would be a really 243 00:14:02,760 --> 00:14:08,280 Speaker 1: fun debate. And I think that in time, depending on 244 00:14:08,320 --> 00:14:12,280 Speaker 1: how long Calvin Ridley plays here, he'd he'd be right 245 00:14:12,360 --> 00:14:14,720 Speaker 1: up there. Not saying he would be before Ronnie White 246 00:14:14,760 --> 00:14:17,160 Speaker 1: or Julio Jones, Don't get me wrong. I'm definitely giving 247 00:14:17,200 --> 00:14:19,840 Speaker 1: respect to those two, but I think he would definitely 248 00:14:19,880 --> 00:14:22,520 Speaker 1: if there was an extra spot. I think he could 249 00:14:22,680 --> 00:14:25,600 Speaker 1: be on the list in a couple of years. Yeah, 250 00:14:25,640 --> 00:14:28,000 Speaker 1: I think he'll be. If he keeps it up, he'll 251 00:14:28,000 --> 00:14:31,720 Speaker 1: be a prominent name on that next All Decade team. 252 00:14:31,760 --> 00:14:35,280 Speaker 1: I think that's where his future is. He still needs 253 00:14:35,280 --> 00:14:37,920 Speaker 1: to break a thousand yards receiving in a season. First 254 00:14:37,920 --> 00:14:41,280 Speaker 1: two for me, But what about you, Will? No, I 255 00:14:41,320 --> 00:14:44,080 Speaker 1: mean I agree, I think Calvin's the leader in the 256 00:14:44,080 --> 00:14:48,680 Speaker 1: clubhouse for for next season. I think Austin Hooper got 257 00:14:48,720 --> 00:14:50,640 Speaker 1: a really tough draw. If we're looking at it like 258 00:14:50,640 --> 00:14:53,200 Speaker 1: a March Madness bracket, He's one of those like you know, 259 00:14:53,320 --> 00:14:57,520 Speaker 1: fourteen Steed three seed matchups, and I think we just 260 00:14:58,080 --> 00:15:01,040 Speaker 1: should recognize that he was a good player during his career. 261 00:15:01,080 --> 00:15:02,920 Speaker 1: He got better every single year. He's still a young 262 00:15:02,920 --> 00:15:04,640 Speaker 1: tight end. I think he's gonna have a good career 263 00:15:04,680 --> 00:15:07,680 Speaker 1: in the league. Obviously at a career year last year. 264 00:15:08,320 --> 00:15:11,280 Speaker 1: So if Tony gets if you just had an average 265 00:15:11,280 --> 00:15:14,560 Speaker 1: replacement level tight end, probably in Atlanta for Tony's years. 266 00:15:14,840 --> 00:15:17,680 Speaker 1: I think Austin Hooper is on this list. So but 267 00:15:17,800 --> 00:15:19,760 Speaker 1: you know you're going up against the Hall of Famer, 268 00:15:20,320 --> 00:15:23,920 Speaker 1: you're gonna lose that match up. The guy to read 269 00:15:23,960 --> 00:15:27,160 Speaker 1: to find the position. Tough, tough drive for sure. Yeah, 270 00:15:27,240 --> 00:15:29,880 Speaker 1: a little bit good like I mean nothing. I don't 271 00:15:29,920 --> 00:15:31,520 Speaker 1: want to take anything from Cooper either. I mean he 272 00:15:31,560 --> 00:15:33,200 Speaker 1: was good. He got better every single year. He was 273 00:15:33,240 --> 00:15:35,840 Speaker 1: really young when he came into the league. Every year 274 00:15:35,920 --> 00:15:41,320 Speaker 1: he improved. But he's not Tony of his dolls. Um, yeah, 275 00:15:41,560 --> 00:15:46,960 Speaker 1: all right, moving on, moving on. Um, let's let's just 276 00:15:47,000 --> 00:15:52,720 Speaker 1: get into this the big question everyone's talking about. Why 277 00:15:52,800 --> 00:15:57,480 Speaker 1: is a match hup on the list, But we are 278 00:15:57,520 --> 00:16:02,960 Speaker 1: going to talk about quarterbacks. Who is the most important 279 00:16:02,960 --> 00:16:09,720 Speaker 1: player on the entire all decade team? Who was the 280 00:16:09,760 --> 00:16:12,320 Speaker 1: most important player of this decade? Because we talk offense, 281 00:16:12,320 --> 00:16:16,560 Speaker 1: it's got to be an offensive player. Who's that guy? 282 00:16:17,240 --> 00:16:22,640 Speaker 1: Kelsey Matt Ryan. I think that, I mean, you've said 283 00:16:22,680 --> 00:16:25,200 Speaker 1: it a lot so far. Just in this episode, but 284 00:16:25,680 --> 00:16:28,040 Speaker 1: especially when you look on offense, like I go back 285 00:16:28,040 --> 00:16:30,280 Speaker 1: and forth between and I think we talked about it 286 00:16:30,320 --> 00:16:32,080 Speaker 1: in our round table because I think one of the 287 00:16:32,160 --> 00:16:35,920 Speaker 1: questions was who is the best player and who is 288 00:16:35,960 --> 00:16:39,200 Speaker 1: like the most impactful player. I think we separated the two, 289 00:16:39,240 --> 00:16:41,440 Speaker 1: and you can make a really good case for why 290 00:16:41,760 --> 00:16:46,560 Speaker 1: that question is interesting because obviously, you know, Matt Ryan's 291 00:16:46,680 --> 00:16:49,880 Speaker 1: in my opinion, the most important player because when he 292 00:16:50,040 --> 00:16:52,600 Speaker 1: what's he took over, you know, after the Michael Vick era, 293 00:16:52,760 --> 00:16:57,840 Speaker 1: and just the consistency and the way he changed the franchise. 294 00:16:58,280 --> 00:17:01,040 Speaker 1: I mean, if you look the last decade, it's, like 295 00:17:01,080 --> 00:17:03,040 Speaker 1: you said, it starts and ends with Matt Ryan. But 296 00:17:03,560 --> 00:17:08,040 Speaker 1: Julio in my opinion, is the best player. And I 297 00:17:08,119 --> 00:17:10,560 Speaker 1: know that's not the question, and we'll get to that 298 00:17:10,600 --> 00:17:14,720 Speaker 1: in the round table later, but it's interesting to bring up, well, 299 00:17:14,760 --> 00:17:16,480 Speaker 1: real quick, what are your thoughts on that? Who was 300 00:17:16,520 --> 00:17:20,240 Speaker 1: who was the most important player on this team? I mean, yeah, 301 00:17:20,240 --> 00:17:22,440 Speaker 1: if if we're using the word important, it's it's Matt 302 00:17:22,520 --> 00:17:25,440 Speaker 1: Ryan solely because of the importance of the position. He's 303 00:17:25,480 --> 00:17:28,520 Speaker 1: the only MVP in franchise history, a well deserved he 304 00:17:29,000 --> 00:17:31,280 Speaker 1: that was a very good race with Tom Brady and 305 00:17:31,400 --> 00:17:36,919 Speaker 1: surprisingly Derek Carr. That season still blows my mind. But 306 00:17:36,960 --> 00:17:39,320 Speaker 1: I was having a conversation with somebody earlier today about 307 00:17:39,320 --> 00:17:41,359 Speaker 1: the number of times that Matt Ryan has had to 308 00:17:41,400 --> 00:17:44,280 Speaker 1: throw the ball while not being able to set his feet. 309 00:17:44,560 --> 00:17:46,160 Speaker 1: I mean, there was a play, there was a clip 310 00:17:46,440 --> 00:17:48,600 Speaker 1: that was going around Twitter from two thousand and eight, 311 00:17:48,640 --> 00:17:51,040 Speaker 1: his rookie year. That player's game when he makes that 312 00:17:51,080 --> 00:17:53,399 Speaker 1: throw to Michael Jenkins on the left side line to 313 00:17:53,480 --> 00:17:55,760 Speaker 1: put them in position to win that game. He's getting 314 00:17:56,359 --> 00:17:59,359 Speaker 1: rocked as he's letting that ball go. That's a rookie 315 00:17:59,440 --> 00:18:02,760 Speaker 1: and probably a fourth game making a fifty yard throw 316 00:18:02,880 --> 00:18:06,440 Speaker 1: to the sideline while dude is tackling him him. I mean, 317 00:18:06,480 --> 00:18:08,639 Speaker 1: that's all you really, Matt Ryan. And he's been that 318 00:18:08,640 --> 00:18:12,320 Speaker 1: way ever since. Michael Jenkins Matt Ryan at his first 319 00:18:12,359 --> 00:18:17,200 Speaker 1: touchdown pass Detroit. Yeah. You think Calkins football in twenty ten, 320 00:18:17,320 --> 00:18:20,880 Speaker 1: you think Matt Ryan and Michael Jenkins. That's the that's 321 00:18:20,920 --> 00:18:25,159 Speaker 1: the quarterback receiver connection right there. Ratty to me, you 322 00:18:25,200 --> 00:18:27,840 Speaker 1: know what, though, guys, to be fair, the best player 323 00:18:28,680 --> 00:18:33,080 Speaker 1: and the most important player is Matt Ryan. Why Julio 324 00:18:33,160 --> 00:18:35,920 Speaker 1: Jones to me, is the best wide receiver in the league. 325 00:18:36,359 --> 00:18:39,000 Speaker 1: I wrote that, But to me, the best player on 326 00:18:39,040 --> 00:18:42,080 Speaker 1: this team is the guy who Blake plays the best 327 00:18:42,600 --> 00:18:46,480 Speaker 1: or plays the hardest, most demanding position on the team. 328 00:18:47,119 --> 00:18:50,600 Speaker 1: And without Matt Ryan, because they've won without Julio. Without 329 00:18:50,640 --> 00:18:53,760 Speaker 1: Matt Ryan, they don't win eighty nine games in in 330 00:18:54,160 --> 00:18:58,760 Speaker 1: get to the playoffs five times, no question about it. Um, 331 00:19:00,040 --> 00:19:02,240 Speaker 1: real quick, we skipped all this, but I want to 332 00:19:02,280 --> 00:19:05,520 Speaker 1: I think it's a really important DeVante Freeman Michael Turner. 333 00:19:06,440 --> 00:19:09,240 Speaker 1: When you look at their stats, it's just just this decade, 334 00:19:09,560 --> 00:19:14,200 Speaker 1: not Turners nine seasons, not the seasons before the decade, 335 00:19:15,160 --> 00:19:16,960 Speaker 1: because then it's not close. But when you look at 336 00:19:16,960 --> 00:19:22,400 Speaker 1: just this decade, they're pretty comparable those two running wise. 337 00:19:23,840 --> 00:19:28,840 Speaker 1: Where they separated themselves to me is in the passing game. 338 00:19:28,960 --> 00:19:31,520 Speaker 1: And you can make a really strong argument for DeVante 339 00:19:31,520 --> 00:19:35,040 Speaker 1: Freeman now as they all around running back. I went 340 00:19:35,119 --> 00:19:39,080 Speaker 1: with Turner and he got my vote. But you can 341 00:19:39,119 --> 00:19:41,920 Speaker 1: make a strong case for DeVante Freeman to be on 342 00:19:41,960 --> 00:19:45,000 Speaker 1: this team. I think who wants to wants to just 343 00:19:45,080 --> 00:19:51,520 Speaker 1: to agree to disagree, Well, thank you're you can make 344 00:19:51,560 --> 00:19:52,879 Speaker 1: the case that he should be on the team. But 345 00:19:52,920 --> 00:19:54,680 Speaker 1: he's in the right spot of the flex. Michael Turner 346 00:19:54,720 --> 00:19:57,160 Speaker 1: is the running back and he's rightfully so, and it's 347 00:19:57,200 --> 00:20:00,600 Speaker 1: for one reason only. DeVante Freeman was never the focal 348 00:20:00,640 --> 00:20:03,240 Speaker 1: point of an offense this decade. He wasn't. It was 349 00:20:03,280 --> 00:20:05,399 Speaker 1: either Mount Ryan orus Julio. Now, you could make the 350 00:20:05,520 --> 00:20:07,639 Speaker 1: argument that that's solely because of when he came in 351 00:20:07,680 --> 00:20:10,600 Speaker 1: the league, but in twenty ten, the Falcons were a 352 00:20:10,640 --> 00:20:13,520 Speaker 1: run first team. Michael Turner was the most important player 353 00:20:13,520 --> 00:20:16,680 Speaker 1: on that offense because the offense ran through him. And 354 00:20:16,760 --> 00:20:18,639 Speaker 1: to me, when I was making that decision and I 355 00:20:18,640 --> 00:20:21,439 Speaker 1: made Michael Turner my running back, that was it for me, 356 00:20:21,480 --> 00:20:25,000 Speaker 1: because they're comparable. DeVante Freeman was a more past happy era, 357 00:20:25,119 --> 00:20:27,800 Speaker 1: so he was kind of got more options as a receiver, 358 00:20:27,960 --> 00:20:30,879 Speaker 1: but he was never the focal point of the offense 359 00:20:30,920 --> 00:20:32,720 Speaker 1: the way that Michael Turner was towards the beginning of 360 00:20:32,720 --> 00:20:34,919 Speaker 1: the decade. And that's what made the case for me 361 00:20:35,400 --> 00:20:38,119 Speaker 1: huge discrepancy. Though DeVante Freeman had a two hundred and 362 00:20:38,119 --> 00:20:41,160 Speaker 1: fifty seven catches this decade for two over two thousand 363 00:20:41,240 --> 00:20:45,760 Speaker 1: yards two fifteen yards, Turner had forty eight catches for 364 00:20:45,840 --> 00:20:48,520 Speaker 1: just three eighty one. Also, I got it up on 365 00:20:48,560 --> 00:20:53,320 Speaker 1: the screen here, Freeman had eleven touchdowns through touchdown catches 366 00:20:53,600 --> 00:20:58,360 Speaker 1: versus Turners one, So that to me that often gets overlooked. 367 00:20:58,480 --> 00:21:02,560 Speaker 1: Had DeVante free Man. It's unfortunate that he got hit 368 00:21:02,640 --> 00:21:06,000 Speaker 1: with the injuries at the end, but to me, if 369 00:21:06,040 --> 00:21:08,879 Speaker 1: he had stayed healthy, there was a reason why he 370 00:21:09,000 --> 00:21:11,040 Speaker 1: got that big contract at the time, one of the 371 00:21:11,119 --> 00:21:15,320 Speaker 1: highest paid running backs in history, right. So to me, 372 00:21:15,359 --> 00:21:20,000 Speaker 1: if he stays healthy, he very well could have been 373 00:21:20,000 --> 00:21:22,159 Speaker 1: the running back on this team. I voted for Turner, 374 00:21:22,359 --> 00:21:24,879 Speaker 1: but it was taught for me. Matt. Do you remember 375 00:21:24,880 --> 00:21:27,000 Speaker 1: the conversation that we had where you looked at me 376 00:21:27,080 --> 00:21:29,840 Speaker 1: like I was crazy? But it was twenty seventeen, and 377 00:21:29,880 --> 00:21:31,159 Speaker 1: I turned to you and I said, is there a 378 00:21:31,240 --> 00:21:34,000 Speaker 1: chance that we're watching the best running back in Falcon's history, 379 00:21:34,080 --> 00:21:36,280 Speaker 1: the best receiver in Falcon's history, and the best quarterback 380 00:21:36,280 --> 00:21:39,560 Speaker 1: in Falcon's history all play on the same team. And 381 00:21:39,560 --> 00:21:42,200 Speaker 1: it was, And it was because DeVante Freeman was coming 382 00:21:42,200 --> 00:21:44,280 Speaker 1: off such a great year. And so you're right, how 383 00:21:44,320 --> 00:21:46,560 Speaker 1: did he continued at the pace that he started his 384 00:21:46,600 --> 00:21:49,080 Speaker 1: career with Falcons? At no question, I think you'd be 385 00:21:49,080 --> 00:21:51,159 Speaker 1: the running back on this list. And it's unfortunate that 386 00:21:51,160 --> 00:21:53,600 Speaker 1: it didn't turn out that way. I looked at you funny, 387 00:21:53,680 --> 00:21:55,280 Speaker 1: by the way, because I thought you said the best 388 00:21:55,320 --> 00:21:57,640 Speaker 1: running back in history, and I'm gone because I love 389 00:21:57,760 --> 00:22:00,360 Speaker 1: Oh yeah, you made the case about very like, well, 390 00:22:00,400 --> 00:22:02,960 Speaker 1: I don't know, man, Barry, Standers and Smith they're pretty good. 391 00:22:03,640 --> 00:22:06,520 Speaker 1: I'm like, what are you thinking? But you know you're right, 392 00:22:06,680 --> 00:22:09,919 Speaker 1: Kelsey final thought and then take it home. I voted 393 00:22:10,000 --> 00:22:13,399 Speaker 1: for Michael Turner as well. I know this might not 394 00:22:14,520 --> 00:22:18,120 Speaker 1: be something a lot of people agree with, but I 395 00:22:18,160 --> 00:22:23,000 Speaker 1: mean running backs for me, I are all about what 396 00:22:23,040 --> 00:22:25,480 Speaker 1: they do running the ball. It's nice that they can 397 00:22:25,520 --> 00:22:29,840 Speaker 1: be pass casters, but what you do when you're running 398 00:22:29,880 --> 00:22:33,080 Speaker 1: the ball, to me makes my definition of you know 399 00:22:33,840 --> 00:22:38,040 Speaker 1: what I was deciding between here and yeah, Devonte Freeman 400 00:22:38,119 --> 00:22:41,920 Speaker 1: was a really good player, but he wasn't durable and 401 00:22:42,040 --> 00:22:45,560 Speaker 1: Michael Turner, like Will said, the offense started with him 402 00:22:45,600 --> 00:22:48,200 Speaker 1: like you knew exactly what you were getting every time 403 00:22:48,240 --> 00:22:50,640 Speaker 1: he was handed the rocks. So for me, it wasn't 404 00:22:50,680 --> 00:22:55,040 Speaker 1: really a hard decision. Fair enough, I will say when 405 00:22:55,080 --> 00:22:57,760 Speaker 1: we talk about game changers and guys are read define 406 00:22:57,800 --> 00:23:01,320 Speaker 1: the position you look at like a Marshal Falk and 407 00:23:01,440 --> 00:23:03,040 Speaker 1: he was a guy who was like one of the 408 00:23:03,080 --> 00:23:06,600 Speaker 1: first receiving backs who kind of change the way we 409 00:23:06,640 --> 00:23:10,320 Speaker 1: look at running backs. But great point, guys, thanks for 410 00:23:11,200 --> 00:23:15,000 Speaker 1: thanks for joining me here, and it was fun talk 411 00:23:15,040 --> 00:23:18,240 Speaker 1: about this all Decade team presented by American Family Insurance. 412 00:23:18,920 --> 00:23:23,119 Speaker 1: And yeah, it would be interesting to see you know 413 00:23:23,160 --> 00:23:27,800 Speaker 1: who headlines that next decade. Looks like Calvin Ridley is 414 00:23:27,800 --> 00:23:30,000 Speaker 1: is a leader in the clubhouse. And who knows how 415 00:23:30,040 --> 00:23:32,040 Speaker 1: long Matt Ryan's gonna play. Hey, he might be the 416 00:23:32,080 --> 00:23:37,680 Speaker 1: quarterback next decade too, So right now, Falkins fans fans 417 00:23:37,760 --> 00:23:42,440 Speaker 1: need to appreciate number two anyway. All right, guys, check 418 00:23:42,480 --> 00:23:45,000 Speaker 1: out our round table. The question We didn't get to 419 00:23:45,080 --> 00:23:47,360 Speaker 1: some of the questions, but there's a question in there 420 00:23:47,560 --> 00:23:49,880 Speaker 1: that's really interesting. Who would you want to bring out 421 00:23:49,880 --> 00:23:50,600 Speaker 1: a retirement