1 00:00:00,160 --> 00:00:03,680 Speaker 1: What's up, everybody, and welcome to a summer school edition 2 00:00:03,720 --> 00:00:07,120 Speaker 1: of The Falcon's Final Whistle podcast. I'm Scott Beyer alongside 3 00:00:07,520 --> 00:00:11,160 Speaker 1: my partner in crime, Tory mclaney. How's it going. It's good. 4 00:00:11,200 --> 00:00:13,440 Speaker 1: How's your summer? You know, it's nice that we're keeping 5 00:00:13,480 --> 00:00:16,239 Speaker 1: in touch. This is the first time that we've seen 6 00:00:16,280 --> 00:00:19,200 Speaker 1: each other in US solid ten days, which maybe a 7 00:00:19,280 --> 00:00:24,400 Speaker 1: record probably joined forces last camp. But yeah, and this 8 00:00:24,440 --> 00:00:31,320 Speaker 1: isn't like our thirty four thousandth podcasts is thirty four thousand? Yeah, Yeah, 9 00:00:31,360 --> 00:00:35,240 Speaker 1: it's congratulations everyone, if you've been listening, congrats on thirty 10 00:00:35,240 --> 00:00:37,919 Speaker 1: four thousand to all of those. And as we're kind 11 00:00:37,920 --> 00:00:40,680 Speaker 1: of moving through the summer heading towards training camp, we 12 00:00:40,840 --> 00:00:44,080 Speaker 1: learned a lot over the course of the offseason program 13 00:00:44,120 --> 00:00:46,479 Speaker 1: and the and the mandatory mini camp. We know because 14 00:00:46,560 --> 00:00:50,920 Speaker 1: Tory mclaney wrote twenty five hundred or so words about 15 00:00:50,960 --> 00:00:56,360 Speaker 1: it at my request. Here's the thing. If anyone read 16 00:00:56,920 --> 00:01:00,720 Speaker 1: the Scott and I like switched up and did like 17 00:01:00,920 --> 00:01:06,680 Speaker 1: five like storylines observations from camp, and I wrote in that, 18 00:01:06,760 --> 00:01:09,280 Speaker 1: I was like, I don't think Scott wrote or read 19 00:01:09,400 --> 00:01:12,640 Speaker 1: the other twenty five hundred words that I've already previously 20 00:01:12,680 --> 00:01:16,720 Speaker 1: written on this, and then Scott text me was like, um, 21 00:01:17,680 --> 00:01:21,319 Speaker 1: just so we're clear, we're desperate for stores, were desperate 22 00:01:21,480 --> 00:01:25,360 Speaker 1: stories right now and we're just trying to make it 23 00:01:25,400 --> 00:01:30,880 Speaker 1: through the summer and everything's fine. And yeah, everything's fine. 24 00:01:30,880 --> 00:01:35,400 Speaker 1: We're good. And so after what is now probably more 25 00:01:35,480 --> 00:01:40,600 Speaker 1: like four thousand words between your Mini Camp notebooks and 26 00:01:40,720 --> 00:01:46,759 Speaker 1: our top five OTA observations, yes, what's time to move 27 00:01:46,760 --> 00:01:49,760 Speaker 1: forward Because we've taken a look at all those notes 28 00:01:49,760 --> 00:01:53,440 Speaker 1: and we've decided that there are some lingering questions beyond 29 00:01:54,080 --> 00:01:57,080 Speaker 1: all those words that we've written down on Atlanta Falcons 30 00:01:57,080 --> 00:01:59,840 Speaker 1: dot com. And there are some lingering questions because there's 31 00:01:59,880 --> 00:02:03,040 Speaker 1: a lot of things that just can't be accomplished with 32 00:02:03,080 --> 00:02:05,320 Speaker 1: the practice rules of Mini Camp, and there's a lot 33 00:02:05,360 --> 00:02:09,799 Speaker 1: of roster movement that may happen between now and training camp. 34 00:02:09,960 --> 00:02:13,799 Speaker 1: So as everyone across the Atlanta Falcons fan base is 35 00:02:13,840 --> 00:02:16,120 Speaker 1: wondering what are they going to do with this, and 36 00:02:16,160 --> 00:02:18,520 Speaker 1: they submit mail bag questions and I'm sure you get 37 00:02:18,600 --> 00:02:21,840 Speaker 1: questions on social media, what about this? What's going to 38 00:02:21,919 --> 00:02:25,160 Speaker 1: happen here? Well, let's go through four or five of them, 39 00:02:25,240 --> 00:02:28,320 Speaker 1: shall we. And of course we're gonna talk about quarterbacks 40 00:02:28,320 --> 00:02:30,200 Speaker 1: because that's what we do around here. When you have 41 00:02:30,240 --> 00:02:34,720 Speaker 1: an uncertain quarterback situation. There's gonna be some roster movement 42 00:02:34,960 --> 00:02:38,160 Speaker 1: as we head into training camp. There's some questions about 43 00:02:38,320 --> 00:02:41,000 Speaker 1: inside linebacker Dion Jones. We're going to address all that. 44 00:02:41,000 --> 00:02:43,760 Speaker 1: We're going to talk about rookies that may make an 45 00:02:43,880 --> 00:02:48,720 Speaker 1: instant impact. And also nobody's worn pads yet. Nobody's more 46 00:02:48,720 --> 00:02:51,560 Speaker 1: excited about wearing pads than Tyler Algier. By the way, 47 00:02:51,800 --> 00:02:53,600 Speaker 1: every time he has a press conference, he says how 48 00:02:53,600 --> 00:02:58,959 Speaker 1: geeked he is to hit someone. Probably that sounds like 49 00:02:59,040 --> 00:03:02,760 Speaker 1: a Scott term. Definitely Scott. Yeah, but I love it. Nonetheless, 50 00:03:02,800 --> 00:03:05,640 Speaker 1: thank you about Tyler saying geeked. Yeah, I feel like 51 00:03:05,680 --> 00:03:07,600 Speaker 1: that would be good for him. Um, you would be 52 00:03:07,680 --> 00:03:10,359 Speaker 1: like my brother. I know, he's always so like, relaxed 53 00:03:10,360 --> 00:03:13,480 Speaker 1: and calm, but clearly ready to hit someone. What did 54 00:03:13,520 --> 00:03:15,919 Speaker 1: you call him? A bowling ball with spikes? Bowling ball 55 00:03:15,919 --> 00:03:18,960 Speaker 1: covered in but your knives yet? Um? Anyway, So we're 56 00:03:18,960 --> 00:03:21,520 Speaker 1: gonna talk about all that, and there's a couple of 57 00:03:21,560 --> 00:03:23,520 Speaker 1: position groups that haven't been able to do what they 58 00:03:23,720 --> 00:03:27,119 Speaker 1: really do well, and that's the lineman. Because you can't 59 00:03:27,120 --> 00:03:29,160 Speaker 1: put pads on, and you really can't have that full 60 00:03:29,160 --> 00:03:31,880 Speaker 1: physical contact. So we can identify what we saw in 61 00:03:32,040 --> 00:03:34,520 Speaker 1: seven on sevens and then talk about when they start 62 00:03:34,560 --> 00:03:36,560 Speaker 1: playing rough and tumble football. So we're gonna get to 63 00:03:36,600 --> 00:03:40,800 Speaker 1: all that stuff, right, Um, let's go back to a 64 00:03:40,920 --> 00:03:45,240 Speaker 1: story tory. Hey, I can't. We haven't never done that before. 65 00:03:45,840 --> 00:03:49,160 Speaker 1: Surely it'll be a segment on something that we write 66 00:03:49,240 --> 00:03:52,040 Speaker 1: at some point. We gotta get sponsored now, I mean 67 00:03:52,600 --> 00:03:57,760 Speaker 1: tories stories, Tories takeaways, Tories notebook. It's all right there 68 00:03:57,840 --> 00:04:01,680 Speaker 1: for the taking. Um, you wrote an interesting story that 69 00:04:01,760 --> 00:04:04,600 Speaker 1: was well received, Thank you everyone for reading it. About 70 00:04:04,680 --> 00:04:12,000 Speaker 1: the Falcons roster. Ah, yes, it's how it's disproportioned. Yeah, right, 71 00:04:12,080 --> 00:04:15,880 Speaker 1: there's I think now there's twelve wide receivers, seven tight ends. 72 00:04:16,000 --> 00:04:18,440 Speaker 1: That's a lot even on a ninety man roster. And 73 00:04:18,600 --> 00:04:21,760 Speaker 1: Arthur Smith and you talked about a why do that 74 00:04:21,839 --> 00:04:25,160 Speaker 1: now and then transition to make things more even now 75 00:04:25,560 --> 00:04:28,039 Speaker 1: I guess give us kind of an explanation of that. 76 00:04:28,080 --> 00:04:31,640 Speaker 1: And would you expect to see more big boys join 77 00:04:31,720 --> 00:04:35,880 Speaker 1: the team? Yes and yes. Um, so essentially this was 78 00:04:35,920 --> 00:04:38,640 Speaker 1: something that Arthur Smith talked about within one of the 79 00:04:38,760 --> 00:04:42,800 Speaker 1: very first like open OTAs that we had. He made 80 00:04:42,800 --> 00:04:44,880 Speaker 1: the common heres like you see a lot of receivers. 81 00:04:44,920 --> 00:04:47,560 Speaker 1: You see that we've signed a lot of receivers, but 82 00:04:48,279 --> 00:04:50,720 Speaker 1: just know that that's going to change. This roster is 83 00:04:50,760 --> 00:04:53,040 Speaker 1: going to turn over and we're going to add more 84 00:04:53,120 --> 00:04:57,120 Speaker 1: to the line, both offensively and defensively as you get 85 00:04:57,120 --> 00:04:59,039 Speaker 1: closer to training camp. Because it goes back to what 86 00:04:59,080 --> 00:05:01,000 Speaker 1: you're talking about, they get to put the pads on, 87 00:05:01,040 --> 00:05:03,760 Speaker 1: they actually get to hit each other. There's actual preseason 88 00:05:03,839 --> 00:05:08,640 Speaker 1: games in which they're going against competition right now or 89 00:05:08,680 --> 00:05:11,680 Speaker 1: I guess the last month or so, you haven't been 90 00:05:11,720 --> 00:05:13,840 Speaker 1: able to do that. So a lot of seven on seven, 91 00:05:13,920 --> 00:05:16,160 Speaker 1: a lot of seven on sevens, a lot of kind 92 00:05:16,200 --> 00:05:19,960 Speaker 1: of just walk throughs. And when you do that, it's 93 00:05:20,000 --> 00:05:22,760 Speaker 1: more of an opportunity to see your skill guys. And 94 00:05:22,960 --> 00:05:25,400 Speaker 1: that was kind of what Arthur Smith was saying, is 95 00:05:25,440 --> 00:05:27,800 Speaker 1: that this is a chance for us to really get 96 00:05:27,839 --> 00:05:31,679 Speaker 1: in the work with your receivers, your tight ends, quote 97 00:05:31,720 --> 00:05:34,680 Speaker 1: unquote running backs, even though even running backs you don't 98 00:05:34,680 --> 00:05:36,760 Speaker 1: get to see all that much at this point in 99 00:05:36,800 --> 00:05:39,880 Speaker 1: time in the off season. In the connection that they 100 00:05:39,960 --> 00:05:43,800 Speaker 1: have with Desmond Rider and Marcus Mariota and So now 101 00:05:44,120 --> 00:05:45,920 Speaker 1: what I think we're going to see over the next 102 00:05:45,960 --> 00:05:48,400 Speaker 1: six weeks is we're going to see those wide receiver 103 00:05:48,480 --> 00:05:52,560 Speaker 1: and tight end numbers dwindling down. While they're dwindling down, 104 00:05:52,720 --> 00:05:55,640 Speaker 1: I imagine that the offensive and defensive lines are going 105 00:05:55,720 --> 00:05:59,320 Speaker 1: to start trending upwards. You're going to get more linemen 106 00:05:59,440 --> 00:06:03,080 Speaker 1: in here for training camps, specifically in the preseason. So 107 00:06:03,560 --> 00:06:06,920 Speaker 1: to answer your question, that's kind of the overall gist 108 00:06:06,960 --> 00:06:08,880 Speaker 1: of what they're doing in terms of the idea of 109 00:06:09,000 --> 00:06:14,000 Speaker 1: roster construction. And also, yes, there will be more more 110 00:06:14,000 --> 00:06:18,479 Speaker 1: alignment come the end of July on this roster. So 111 00:06:18,839 --> 00:06:22,320 Speaker 1: for everybody who's freaking out about it, don't it's fine. Yeah, 112 00:06:22,680 --> 00:06:26,000 Speaker 1: we already started to see that happen that they signed 113 00:06:26,200 --> 00:06:30,560 Speaker 1: a veteran center Jonathan Harrison, and a defensive linement from 114 00:06:30,560 --> 00:06:34,360 Speaker 1: the Saints and Embars. What a shock as well in 115 00:06:34,440 --> 00:06:37,440 Speaker 1: exchange for a wide receiver and a running back. So 116 00:06:37,520 --> 00:06:41,679 Speaker 1: we were starting to see that flip. One player that 117 00:06:42,080 --> 00:06:45,960 Speaker 1: there are question marks surrounding is Deon Jones. Yes, if 118 00:06:45,960 --> 00:06:50,359 Speaker 1: you go back to Terry Fontine's Combine press conference, I 119 00:06:50,360 --> 00:06:52,800 Speaker 1: believe which they all kind of run together, they really do. 120 00:06:52,880 --> 00:06:54,960 Speaker 1: I have no idea when I was going to say 121 00:06:55,040 --> 00:06:59,080 Speaker 1: pre draft. At some point during this long, eventful offseason, 122 00:06:59,400 --> 00:07:04,520 Speaker 1: Terry was talking about the big contracts. Right, Matt Ryan's 123 00:07:04,560 --> 00:07:07,920 Speaker 1: contract has been moved. That's going to help them salary 124 00:07:07,920 --> 00:07:10,640 Speaker 1: cap wise in a major way next year. They have 125 00:07:10,640 --> 00:07:13,640 Speaker 1: sixty two million dollars in dead money right now, So 126 00:07:13,920 --> 00:07:18,080 Speaker 1: they dealt with that contract. Grady Jarrett and Jake Matthews, 127 00:07:18,120 --> 00:07:23,720 Speaker 1: they dealt with those contracts. Calvin Ridley obviously is unavailable 128 00:07:23,800 --> 00:07:27,000 Speaker 1: all seasons, so that contract is kind of let's put 129 00:07:27,040 --> 00:07:30,040 Speaker 1: that off to the side, right. The other one is 130 00:07:30,120 --> 00:07:33,760 Speaker 1: Dion Jones. Right, That one hasn't been touched yet, so 131 00:07:33,840 --> 00:07:37,320 Speaker 1: there are a lot of questions about are they going 132 00:07:37,440 --> 00:07:40,560 Speaker 1: to move him? My mail bag is full of these questions. 133 00:07:40,600 --> 00:07:42,160 Speaker 1: Are they going to move with him? What are they 134 00:07:42,160 --> 00:07:44,600 Speaker 1: going to do with Dion Jones? Going into it, he 135 00:07:44,680 --> 00:07:46,960 Speaker 1: makes a ton of money, He has a cap hit 136 00:07:47,360 --> 00:07:49,760 Speaker 1: over twenty million. There isn't a ton of savings. But 137 00:07:49,840 --> 00:07:52,880 Speaker 1: now that we're after June first, you get the designation 138 00:07:52,880 --> 00:07:55,480 Speaker 1: where you split that cap hit in half, right, so 139 00:07:55,520 --> 00:07:57,640 Speaker 1: there is an opportunity to say some cash. There's also 140 00:07:57,680 --> 00:08:00,760 Speaker 1: an opportunity to gain even more caps based next year. 141 00:08:02,080 --> 00:08:04,120 Speaker 1: As we know, Arthur Smith said that he missed the 142 00:08:04,160 --> 00:08:07,800 Speaker 1: offseason program, the on field portions of the off season program, 143 00:08:08,440 --> 00:08:11,320 Speaker 1: while recovering from a procedure I think was the term 144 00:08:11,360 --> 00:08:13,280 Speaker 1: that he used. So he's not healthy. Can't trade a 145 00:08:13,320 --> 00:08:16,680 Speaker 1: guy who's not healthy. But as you evaluate, how do 146 00:08:16,680 --> 00:08:20,920 Speaker 1: you evaluate the prospect of moving don or not movingdon? 147 00:08:21,120 --> 00:08:24,280 Speaker 1: You know? Kind of pros and conslist this thing for us? Yeah, goodness, 148 00:08:24,280 --> 00:08:26,160 Speaker 1: I could write a whole story about it, which I'm 149 00:08:26,200 --> 00:08:29,480 Speaker 1: sure I will at some point this off season. I 150 00:08:29,520 --> 00:08:33,080 Speaker 1: think when I look at it, it's you kind of 151 00:08:33,080 --> 00:08:34,960 Speaker 1: go both ways. You can look at it in terms 152 00:08:35,040 --> 00:08:36,840 Speaker 1: of the money, in terms of the cap, in terms 153 00:08:36,840 --> 00:08:39,079 Speaker 1: of the dead money, all of those things. You can 154 00:08:39,080 --> 00:08:42,000 Speaker 1: look at it as a financial business decision, and then 155 00:08:42,120 --> 00:08:44,880 Speaker 1: also look at it as to what you need on 156 00:08:44,960 --> 00:08:50,400 Speaker 1: the field. My question in this is how much do 157 00:08:50,440 --> 00:08:53,400 Speaker 1: you need? How do you weigh how much you need 158 00:08:53,480 --> 00:08:56,480 Speaker 1: D on the field versus how much you need that 159 00:08:56,600 --> 00:09:01,360 Speaker 1: relief and or opportunity that moved him provides in twenty 160 00:09:01,400 --> 00:09:04,280 Speaker 1: twenty three, Right, those are what I weigh when I'm 161 00:09:04,280 --> 00:09:09,640 Speaker 1: looking at this, I guess scenario and when I think 162 00:09:09,679 --> 00:09:15,400 Speaker 1: about where the inside linebacker room is right. Now, Yeah, 163 00:09:15,440 --> 00:09:18,840 Speaker 1: that's a good point. I don't know if I can 164 00:09:19,080 --> 00:09:22,760 Speaker 1: weigh that they have to have Dion out there. And 165 00:09:22,800 --> 00:09:25,840 Speaker 1: I know that's crazy to say because Dion Jones has 166 00:09:25,840 --> 00:09:29,640 Speaker 1: been such an intricral part of this defense since he's 167 00:09:29,679 --> 00:09:32,800 Speaker 1: been here, But I do think, you know, there can 168 00:09:32,920 --> 00:09:36,679 Speaker 1: come a time where that's not necessarily like one person 169 00:09:36,840 --> 00:09:39,360 Speaker 1: isn't is no longer. I don't want to say needed, 170 00:09:39,880 --> 00:09:43,520 Speaker 1: but I just see that you do have Rashaun Evans, 171 00:09:43,720 --> 00:09:47,679 Speaker 1: you do have Michael Walker that I think those two specifically, 172 00:09:47,760 --> 00:09:49,640 Speaker 1: and then you go out and get Troy Anderson and 173 00:09:49,800 --> 00:09:52,439 Speaker 1: you sign some free agents and all those kind of things. 174 00:09:53,160 --> 00:09:56,160 Speaker 1: But those two specifically, I feel like can do what 175 00:09:56,320 --> 00:09:59,160 Speaker 1: needs to be done to get you through twenty twenty two. 176 00:09:59,600 --> 00:10:04,679 Speaker 1: And if Dion's not healthy, fully healthy, and I know 177 00:10:05,160 --> 00:10:08,040 Speaker 1: that also plays into Okay, what does a trade market 178 00:10:08,120 --> 00:10:11,600 Speaker 1: look like for him? These are all like moving pieces, right, 179 00:10:11,760 --> 00:10:14,760 Speaker 1: But I do think like the main the main things 180 00:10:14,760 --> 00:10:19,920 Speaker 1: that I wah is financial business decision versus how much 181 00:10:19,960 --> 00:10:23,040 Speaker 1: do you really need him physically on this defense? Right? 182 00:10:23,080 --> 00:10:25,040 Speaker 1: And that's a crazy thing to say, because he is 183 00:10:25,880 --> 00:10:30,800 Speaker 1: a modern NFL linebacker with elite talents, and we've seen 184 00:10:30,840 --> 00:10:34,000 Speaker 1: that for with him representing this franchise. You go back 185 00:10:34,040 --> 00:10:38,720 Speaker 1: to twenty twenty, his stat line was unbelievable. Yeah, but 186 00:10:38,800 --> 00:10:42,120 Speaker 1: ultimately you're right, it's about weighing all these pros and 187 00:10:42,160 --> 00:10:44,760 Speaker 1: cons and the fact that draft capital for a team 188 00:10:44,800 --> 00:10:48,080 Speaker 1: that is building trying to build a young foundation. Even 189 00:10:48,120 --> 00:10:52,040 Speaker 1: if it's a Day three picky, that's a kind of 190 00:10:52,040 --> 00:10:54,839 Speaker 1: a big deal. Maybe you could go out. I mean, 191 00:10:55,040 --> 00:10:57,640 Speaker 1: you saw what they were able to do on day three. Yeah. 192 00:10:57,720 --> 00:10:59,080 Speaker 1: That's what I was going to say, is like, even 193 00:10:59,120 --> 00:11:00,800 Speaker 1: if it is a day three pick, you look at 194 00:11:00,840 --> 00:11:02,760 Speaker 1: the guys that they were able to get. I think 195 00:11:02,760 --> 00:11:07,080 Speaker 1: that someone like Tyler Algier is an important Day three pick. 196 00:11:08,160 --> 00:11:11,800 Speaker 1: He's actually going to be an important part of this 197 00:11:11,880 --> 00:11:13,959 Speaker 1: running back rotation. I'm not saying that he's going to 198 00:11:14,000 --> 00:11:15,800 Speaker 1: go out and be starter day one. That's not at 199 00:11:15,800 --> 00:11:17,599 Speaker 1: all what I'm saying. But what I am saying is 200 00:11:17,640 --> 00:11:22,800 Speaker 1: I think that they saw this guy slide to that 201 00:11:22,880 --> 00:11:26,640 Speaker 1: third day and they really valued that pick because you 202 00:11:26,679 --> 00:11:28,640 Speaker 1: have to bring someone in who is going to be 203 00:11:28,679 --> 00:11:32,280 Speaker 1: able to help Corderol lighten the load of what Corderoll 204 00:11:32,320 --> 00:11:36,560 Speaker 1: Patterson does for the offense in the backfield mainly Cordarrell 205 00:11:36,600 --> 00:11:38,520 Speaker 1: Patterson does a lot of other things for this offense, 206 00:11:38,520 --> 00:11:40,679 Speaker 1: but let's just talk about that. You know, and I 207 00:11:40,720 --> 00:11:43,040 Speaker 1: think when you're thinking about Dion Jones and it's like 208 00:11:43,800 --> 00:11:46,640 Speaker 1: how much do you value that Day three value pick 209 00:11:47,240 --> 00:11:50,840 Speaker 1: and what that pick could potentially be later on? I 210 00:11:50,840 --> 00:11:53,080 Speaker 1: mean you even think about I don't know, Grady Jarrett 211 00:11:53,120 --> 00:11:55,880 Speaker 1: was a fifth round pick, finth round pick. He was 212 00:11:55,920 --> 00:11:58,560 Speaker 1: a Day three pick. I mean even going back to 213 00:11:59,640 --> 00:12:03,400 Speaker 1: foy Aluiken who is now with the Jags, he was 214 00:12:03,600 --> 00:12:06,240 Speaker 1: a third day pick. Yeah, Russ Gage was a Day 215 00:12:06,240 --> 00:12:08,200 Speaker 1: three pick. Yes, a lot of it. There's a lot 216 00:12:08,240 --> 00:12:11,679 Speaker 1: of good play from that, exactly, And so I know 217 00:12:11,720 --> 00:12:13,679 Speaker 1: there's a lot of not good players probably that have 218 00:12:13,760 --> 00:12:15,200 Speaker 1: come from that. But don't you want to roll the 219 00:12:15,240 --> 00:12:17,680 Speaker 1: dice right exactly? And if you get draft capital and 220 00:12:17,720 --> 00:12:20,240 Speaker 1: you want to bring in guys into your system that 221 00:12:20,360 --> 00:12:23,679 Speaker 1: you want to mold, and you really believe in ada 222 00:12:23,760 --> 00:12:26,840 Speaker 1: Ogan Daig, a guy who is probably going to be 223 00:12:26,880 --> 00:12:30,160 Speaker 1: a starter at outside linebacker this year in his second year, 224 00:12:31,000 --> 00:12:34,120 Speaker 1: fifth round pick. Yeah, these are all guys that, at 225 00:12:34,160 --> 00:12:36,240 Speaker 1: this point in time in this organization are going to 226 00:12:36,280 --> 00:12:39,360 Speaker 1: make an impact. How much do we weigh that in 227 00:12:39,440 --> 00:12:42,680 Speaker 1: terms of how much you value Dion Jones and his 228 00:12:42,760 --> 00:12:46,880 Speaker 1: future within the organization, right, And those are all difficult 229 00:12:47,000 --> 00:12:49,240 Speaker 1: questions that Terry fon No in the front office have 230 00:12:49,320 --> 00:12:51,440 Speaker 1: to evaluate, and we do not, and we do not. 231 00:12:51,520 --> 00:12:53,680 Speaker 1: We can just to talk about it, and that is 232 00:12:54,520 --> 00:12:58,079 Speaker 1: there's a lot less pressure, right, I would say, But nonetheless, 233 00:12:58,480 --> 00:13:00,200 Speaker 1: I do think that there's going to be some pre 234 00:13:02,200 --> 00:13:05,800 Speaker 1: training camp movement. Dion Jones is obviously one that everybody 235 00:13:05,880 --> 00:13:09,000 Speaker 1: is keeping an eye on. If he's still on the team. 236 00:13:09,120 --> 00:13:12,480 Speaker 1: You just have a really, really, really good linebacker the team. 237 00:13:12,880 --> 00:13:16,840 Speaker 1: That's not the world's worst thing either, so they've got options. 238 00:13:16,880 --> 00:13:18,840 Speaker 1: I think that's a good place for Terry Fontno to 239 00:13:18,880 --> 00:13:24,119 Speaker 1: operate from, especially when you look at the depth at linebacker. 240 00:13:24,160 --> 00:13:26,200 Speaker 1: There's a lot of different ways that you can move 241 00:13:26,240 --> 00:13:28,840 Speaker 1: pieces around to try to be as competitive as possible, 242 00:13:29,000 --> 00:13:32,520 Speaker 1: again while setting up your cap situation in the best 243 00:13:32,559 --> 00:13:35,359 Speaker 1: possible way, which would be to touch all those contracts, 244 00:13:35,440 --> 00:13:39,040 Speaker 1: make them a little bit more palatable, or ship them 245 00:13:39,080 --> 00:13:44,199 Speaker 1: as we move through it. Right. You mentioned Tyler Algier 246 00:13:44,440 --> 00:13:48,920 Speaker 1: right as a guy who could come in and make 247 00:13:49,200 --> 00:13:53,160 Speaker 1: that quote unquote instant impact that fans desperately want and 248 00:13:53,240 --> 00:13:58,079 Speaker 1: coaches want to say, hey, let's chill right. So obviously 249 00:13:58,160 --> 00:14:01,160 Speaker 1: Kyle Pitts had a massive one. Richie Grant was on 250 00:14:01,200 --> 00:14:05,880 Speaker 1: a different track, a different development plan. Jalen Mayfield was 251 00:14:05,960 --> 00:14:10,440 Speaker 1: forced into one. So ultimately, you look at this rookie 252 00:14:10,520 --> 00:14:14,200 Speaker 1: class and the state of the Falcons roster suggests that 253 00:14:14,360 --> 00:14:17,360 Speaker 1: some of these higher picks are going to play a 254 00:14:17,400 --> 00:14:21,120 Speaker 1: lot that not everybody will have the luxury of coming 255 00:14:21,160 --> 00:14:24,680 Speaker 1: along slowly. I would put Drake London in that class 256 00:14:25,200 --> 00:14:28,800 Speaker 1: almost as much as anybody. I would put Arnold Ebacadie 257 00:14:28,880 --> 00:14:31,480 Speaker 1: in that class. I think he could play a lot 258 00:14:31,560 --> 00:14:34,400 Speaker 1: right away. And sometimes it's unfair. Here's a guy who 259 00:14:34,920 --> 00:14:37,760 Speaker 1: spent six months in a job at Interview and the 260 00:14:37,840 --> 00:14:41,080 Speaker 1: previous four months in a football season, and now he's gone, 261 00:14:41,160 --> 00:14:43,400 Speaker 1: he's going pro. And then he'll be like, okay, just 262 00:14:43,400 --> 00:14:46,440 Speaker 1: just play three downs. You're the thirty eighth pick, but 263 00:14:46,640 --> 00:14:48,720 Speaker 1: play three downs, or you're the one hundred and eighty 264 00:14:48,800 --> 00:14:52,640 Speaker 1: second pick, play all three downs. That's a tough expectation. 265 00:14:53,000 --> 00:14:55,120 Speaker 1: Puts a lot of pressure on these guys, and I 266 00:14:55,160 --> 00:14:59,080 Speaker 1: think Arthur Smith does a good job of alleviating that pressure. 267 00:14:59,240 --> 00:15:01,880 Speaker 1: That's important to him, and I think that it should 268 00:15:01,880 --> 00:15:03,880 Speaker 1: be important to put these guys in the best position 269 00:15:03,920 --> 00:15:06,560 Speaker 1: to succeed at the track where they can do it, 270 00:15:06,560 --> 00:15:09,000 Speaker 1: because how many times, and I'll get off my soapbox here, 271 00:15:09,200 --> 00:15:12,200 Speaker 1: how many times do we see young players in bad 272 00:15:12,240 --> 00:15:15,960 Speaker 1: situations or young players who buckle under the pressure of 273 00:15:16,000 --> 00:15:20,000 Speaker 1: trying to be a franchise savior in week one? You 274 00:15:20,040 --> 00:15:22,080 Speaker 1: don't want that, But you have to look at this 275 00:15:22,200 --> 00:15:24,920 Speaker 1: draft class and wonder who could be the guys And 276 00:15:24,920 --> 00:15:27,320 Speaker 1: we're going to find out during training camp. This is 277 00:15:27,400 --> 00:15:31,360 Speaker 1: lingering questions. This is not bold predictions time. But you 278 00:15:31,360 --> 00:15:34,360 Speaker 1: look at this draft class and you think, Okay, there 279 00:15:34,360 --> 00:15:36,440 Speaker 1: could be quite a few guys here who are going 280 00:15:36,520 --> 00:15:38,520 Speaker 1: to play lots of snaps. Yeah, And I think we 281 00:15:38,680 --> 00:15:42,200 Speaker 1: almost knew that when we were going into the draft. 282 00:15:42,280 --> 00:15:46,360 Speaker 1: I think I remember saying maybe on this podcast, but saying, 283 00:15:47,000 --> 00:15:50,760 Speaker 1: this group, whoever it is that they bring in, has 284 00:15:50,800 --> 00:15:53,280 Speaker 1: an opportunity to do something that a lot of Rickie 285 00:15:53,360 --> 00:15:56,000 Speaker 1: classes across the league won't be able to do simply 286 00:15:56,040 --> 00:16:00,960 Speaker 1: because of how many needs the Falcons had on the roster. 287 00:16:01,200 --> 00:16:02,840 Speaker 1: I mean, I know, we don't want to say, like, oh, 288 00:16:02,960 --> 00:16:07,120 Speaker 1: drafting for need et cetera, et cetera. I think that 289 00:16:08,120 --> 00:16:11,640 Speaker 1: you're always drafting for need That's a that's a secret 290 00:16:12,840 --> 00:16:15,760 Speaker 1: secret sauces that you're always drafting for need Um, whether 291 00:16:15,800 --> 00:16:18,120 Speaker 1: it's this year, next year, the year after that. And 292 00:16:18,200 --> 00:16:25,000 Speaker 1: so with that, considering that, I think this Ricky class 293 00:16:25,080 --> 00:16:28,160 Speaker 1: has an opportunity to make their rookie year what they 294 00:16:28,200 --> 00:16:30,240 Speaker 1: want it to be. I think that they are going. 295 00:16:30,400 --> 00:16:32,960 Speaker 1: I think every single one of them is going to 296 00:16:33,000 --> 00:16:38,200 Speaker 1: have an opportunity to play some type of role on 297 00:16:38,240 --> 00:16:41,320 Speaker 1: this fifty three man roster. And when we get to 298 00:16:41,400 --> 00:16:44,960 Speaker 1: that cutdown, I think that even I even think about, 299 00:16:45,000 --> 00:16:47,920 Speaker 1: like the two Georgia guys, Justin and Schaeffer and John Fitzpatting, 300 00:16:48,040 --> 00:16:50,480 Speaker 1: bring them up. Yeah, I know that they're I don't 301 00:16:50,480 --> 00:16:51,880 Speaker 1: first see them. They're not going to come out and 302 00:16:51,920 --> 00:16:54,720 Speaker 1: be day one starters, absolutely not. But they're going to 303 00:16:54,800 --> 00:16:58,160 Speaker 1: push the guys who are. And I think that is 304 00:16:58,240 --> 00:17:02,160 Speaker 1: just as important when Arthur Smith talks about competition, competition, competition, 305 00:17:02,800 --> 00:17:05,919 Speaker 1: bringing guys who can push guys and play a different 306 00:17:05,920 --> 00:17:10,439 Speaker 1: type of role. I think those two, specifically Justin Schaeffer 307 00:17:10,520 --> 00:17:15,159 Speaker 1: can push Jaylen Mayfield at that interior guard position. I 308 00:17:15,200 --> 00:17:19,560 Speaker 1: think John Fitzpatrick provides a different type of tied end. 309 00:17:19,640 --> 00:17:22,760 Speaker 1: He's not Kyle Pitts, He's never gonna be Kyle Pitts, 310 00:17:23,040 --> 00:17:24,960 Speaker 1: but he could be Lee Smith. He could be Lee 311 00:17:24,960 --> 00:17:28,359 Speaker 1: Smith exactly. And that's why I think we have to 312 00:17:28,359 --> 00:17:30,760 Speaker 1: think about this overall scope of these rookies and how 313 00:17:30,840 --> 00:17:34,720 Speaker 1: many opportunities that they have at their disposal. You could 314 00:17:34,760 --> 00:17:38,600 Speaker 1: see guys be you talk about Drake Glendon, Arnold mckettie, 315 00:17:38,680 --> 00:17:42,960 Speaker 1: Troy Anderson, Tyler Algier, and then we're not even getting 316 00:17:42,960 --> 00:17:46,560 Speaker 1: into Desmond Ritter yet. I mean, these guys have the 317 00:17:46,640 --> 00:17:52,359 Speaker 1: opportunity to play starting roles and heavy rotational roles. Yeah. Absolutely, 318 00:17:52,400 --> 00:17:55,040 Speaker 1: And we're kind of getting towards the end of this podcast, 319 00:17:55,080 --> 00:17:58,120 Speaker 1: so I was going to dive into a lot of 320 00:17:58,160 --> 00:18:01,000 Speaker 1: the position battles coming up, got all summer to do that. 321 00:18:01,080 --> 00:18:03,280 Speaker 1: So let's just get right to the quarterbacks here and 322 00:18:03,359 --> 00:18:05,800 Speaker 1: wrap it on that note because we and we're gonna 323 00:18:05,800 --> 00:18:09,159 Speaker 1: talk about quarterbacks every time too. But nonetheless, this is 324 00:18:09,200 --> 00:18:10,720 Speaker 1: another one of those things that I go back to. 325 00:18:10,720 --> 00:18:12,320 Speaker 1: The mail bag is kind of like a pulse of 326 00:18:12,359 --> 00:18:14,360 Speaker 1: where the fan base is, and I get so much 327 00:18:14,400 --> 00:18:17,960 Speaker 1: of that, Scott, you keep saying it's Marcus Mariota. He's 328 00:18:18,000 --> 00:18:20,320 Speaker 1: going to start. He's leader in the clubhouse, He's the 329 00:18:20,320 --> 00:18:22,920 Speaker 1: clear number one. At this point, I think that they 330 00:18:23,000 --> 00:18:25,080 Speaker 1: want me to say something else. You want you to 331 00:18:25,160 --> 00:18:27,800 Speaker 1: say it's Desmond Rider or this is going to be 332 00:18:27,840 --> 00:18:31,439 Speaker 1: a showdown and it Flowery brand. I'm not ready to 333 00:18:31,560 --> 00:18:35,800 Speaker 1: say that now that we get hurt our movie trailer 334 00:18:35,920 --> 00:18:40,280 Speaker 1: voice going yeah. But nonetheless, I think that they want 335 00:18:40,320 --> 00:18:43,639 Speaker 1: some big showdown. Yeah, maybe that will develop over the 336 00:18:43,680 --> 00:18:46,320 Speaker 1: course of the preseason. Maybe Desmond Ridder will generate some 337 00:18:46,359 --> 00:18:50,359 Speaker 1: buzz and some enthusiasm with a preseason performance or two. 338 00:18:51,200 --> 00:18:54,399 Speaker 1: But nonetheless, I still think it's Marcus Mariota early. And 339 00:18:54,440 --> 00:18:57,359 Speaker 1: I don't think that's bad for Desmond Ritter either. No, 340 00:18:57,640 --> 00:18:59,400 Speaker 1: I don't think that's bad for him. No. I mean, 341 00:18:59,480 --> 00:19:03,320 Speaker 1: I think the reason why you bring Marcus Mariota in 342 00:19:03,400 --> 00:19:07,760 Speaker 1: here is to be to have this other chance at starting. 343 00:19:08,000 --> 00:19:11,080 Speaker 1: Arthur Smith wouldn't have brought in just anyone off the street. 344 00:19:11,119 --> 00:19:15,439 Speaker 1: He wanted Marcus Mariota because of the history that they have, 345 00:19:15,600 --> 00:19:18,359 Speaker 1: because of the chance that they have to kind of 346 00:19:18,520 --> 00:19:23,000 Speaker 1: resurrect his career. So in saying all of that, I 347 00:19:23,040 --> 00:19:26,360 Speaker 1: think it's really good to have Marcus Mariota in here 348 00:19:26,400 --> 00:19:30,040 Speaker 1: for you know, two years, maybe more, maybe less. We 349 00:19:30,119 --> 00:19:33,359 Speaker 1: don't know, because I don't think if Desnon Ritter was 350 00:19:33,400 --> 00:19:35,399 Speaker 1: the number eight pick, I think this is a completely 351 00:19:35,440 --> 00:19:39,159 Speaker 1: different conversation. He was not. He was the seventy fourth 352 00:19:39,200 --> 00:19:43,000 Speaker 1: overall pick. That changes, I think the vision that you 353 00:19:43,080 --> 00:19:46,800 Speaker 1: have for someone at that position. So I think this 354 00:19:46,920 --> 00:19:49,760 Speaker 1: is all good. I think they work really well together 355 00:19:49,800 --> 00:19:52,239 Speaker 1: in that quarterback room. I think they're learning alongside each other. 356 00:19:52,240 --> 00:19:56,000 Speaker 1: I think they're gonna push each other. I don't mind 357 00:19:56,240 --> 00:19:59,440 Speaker 1: that that it's gonna be I don't I don't mind 358 00:19:59,480 --> 00:20:01,720 Speaker 1: that it's not going to be desmon or it is 359 00:20:01,760 --> 00:20:05,800 Speaker 1: going to be Marcus. I mean, I think this is okay. Overall, 360 00:20:05,840 --> 00:20:08,720 Speaker 1: you don't have Matt Ryan anymore. Like I know you're 361 00:20:08,760 --> 00:20:11,160 Speaker 1: looking for a franchise quarterback, but I just don't know 362 00:20:11,359 --> 00:20:13,600 Speaker 1: at this point in time, you don't have a Matt 363 00:20:13,680 --> 00:20:16,480 Speaker 1: Ryan on the roster. Matt Ryan was drafted third right, 364 00:20:16,720 --> 00:20:19,720 Speaker 1: third right. Desn'ts drafted seventy four. And I think there's 365 00:20:19,720 --> 00:20:22,639 Speaker 1: some confusion because Desmond was the second quarterback taken that 366 00:20:22,720 --> 00:20:25,880 Speaker 1: maybe that that he's giving some some kind of falsely 367 00:20:25,880 --> 00:20:28,560 Speaker 1: elevated status. But nonetheless, I think we need to go 368 00:20:28,640 --> 00:20:32,040 Speaker 1: into it with this lingering, with the understanding that we're 369 00:20:32,080 --> 00:20:34,080 Speaker 1: not going to know who the long term solution is 370 00:20:34,080 --> 00:20:37,439 Speaker 1: at quarterback in camp or in week one nope, or 371 00:20:37,600 --> 00:20:40,440 Speaker 1: heading into the twenty twenty three drafts exactly, maybe not 372 00:20:40,520 --> 00:20:43,120 Speaker 1: even then, Like this is such a long process, it's 373 00:20:43,280 --> 00:20:46,000 Speaker 1: slow burn. I want people to get that through their heads. Yeah, 374 00:20:46,040 --> 00:20:49,280 Speaker 1: and then and I think that that's okay. You want 375 00:20:49,320 --> 00:20:52,760 Speaker 1: if you're Arthur Smith, you want options. If Marcus Mariota, 376 00:20:53,000 --> 00:20:59,240 Speaker 1: sorry Marcus Mariota takes this job stranglehold style and runs 377 00:20:59,240 --> 00:21:01,560 Speaker 1: with it, he's twenty years old. You have a good quarterback. 378 00:21:01,760 --> 00:21:04,920 Speaker 1: Your offense is fun and entertaining, which is what Falcons 379 00:21:04,920 --> 00:21:09,760 Speaker 1: fans like, entertaining and winning together. Right, And yeah, that's true. 380 00:21:10,200 --> 00:21:13,240 Speaker 1: That's why we all go see top Gun more than once. Nonetheless, 381 00:21:13,400 --> 00:21:17,280 Speaker 1: you look at that and that's a good thing. And 382 00:21:17,320 --> 00:21:19,840 Speaker 1: if Desmond Ritter develops on a slower path or a 383 00:21:19,960 --> 00:21:23,080 Speaker 1: quick one and he earns the job or steals it, 384 00:21:23,480 --> 00:21:25,960 Speaker 1: that's not a bad thing either. If you come out 385 00:21:25,960 --> 00:21:29,040 Speaker 1: of this you say we don't have any after twelve 386 00:21:29,080 --> 00:21:30,920 Speaker 1: months or a couple of years, you say we don't 387 00:21:30,960 --> 00:21:33,800 Speaker 1: have any long term solution, go back into the draft. 388 00:21:34,160 --> 00:21:37,520 Speaker 1: You're not committed to anything long term because the investment 389 00:21:37,600 --> 00:21:40,160 Speaker 1: is not great. So we're probably going to talk about 390 00:21:40,200 --> 00:21:43,320 Speaker 1: quarterbacks again. I would assume on a future installment and 391 00:21:43,480 --> 00:21:46,560 Speaker 1: you can make sure it goes straight to your phone 392 00:21:46,600 --> 00:21:50,800 Speaker 1: by subscribing on iTunes, Let's Spotify. How about just the 393 00:21:50,840 --> 00:21:53,320 Speaker 1: Falcons channel on YouTube? Have you seen what they're pumping 394 00:21:53,320 --> 00:21:56,880 Speaker 1: out these days? That's good stuff. Nonetheless, do all those 395 00:21:56,880 --> 00:22:01,399 Speaker 1: types of things I think we're gonna do, like mailbag podcast. 396 00:22:01,440 --> 00:22:03,880 Speaker 1: I just came up with that right now, So we'll 397 00:22:03,880 --> 00:22:06,000 Speaker 1: ask for questions on social media at that time. But 398 00:22:06,040 --> 00:22:08,600 Speaker 1: get them ready. Even if they're quarterbacks, that's fine. We 399 00:22:08,680 --> 00:22:10,480 Speaker 1: like talking about them too. Even if you're wondering what 400 00:22:10,560 --> 00:22:14,040 Speaker 1: Starbucks drink I'm drinking right now? Yeah, it's uh. I'm 401 00:22:14,040 --> 00:22:16,440 Speaker 1: reading it and there are so many instructions. I can't 402 00:22:16,480 --> 00:22:19,000 Speaker 1: possibly something about light ice and twenty eight pumps of 403 00:22:19,080 --> 00:22:22,199 Speaker 1: vanilla twenty eight seem excessive. Yeah, well that's when I 404 00:22:22,200 --> 00:22:25,560 Speaker 1: said what I ordered you one one time. Anyway, we 405 00:22:25,640 --> 00:22:27,919 Speaker 1: got to get out of here. Thank you guys so 406 00:22:28,000 --> 00:22:29,720 Speaker 1: much for joining us. We're gonna talk to you again, 407 00:22:30,119 --> 00:22:32,880 Speaker 1: real real soon. I promise you go find a white 408 00:22:32,920 --> 00:22:34,960 Speaker 1: sand beach. That's what all the Falcons players are doing. 409 00:22:35,040 --> 00:22:36,720 Speaker 1: They're running and staying in shape on the like on 410 00:22:36,760 --> 00:22:38,840 Speaker 1: the white sand beach, and then they're laying on a 411 00:22:38,920 --> 00:22:42,479 Speaker 1: chaise lounge under the sun. Yeah, I'm we all need 412 00:22:42,520 --> 00:22:44,119 Speaker 1: to do that from time to time because we've got 413 00:22:44,160 --> 00:22:47,720 Speaker 1: training camp coming up. Wait, it's pretty soon, so nonetheless, 414 00:22:47,840 --> 00:22:50,040 Speaker 1: enjoy your time off. Thank you so much for listening, 415 00:22:50,080 --> 00:22:52,320 Speaker 1: and we'll talk to you again, real real soon.