1 00:00:16,800 --> 00:00:19,360 Speaker 1: What's up, everybody, And welcome to to the latest edition 2 00:00:19,400 --> 00:00:22,880 Speaker 1: of the Falcons Final Whistle Podcast. I'm Scott Bayer alongside 3 00:00:22,920 --> 00:00:26,240 Speaker 1: Aston Edmonds and Tory mcelhaney, and we're coming to you 4 00:00:26,320 --> 00:00:29,639 Speaker 1: a couple of days after the formal end of the 5 00:00:29,720 --> 00:00:33,800 Speaker 1: twenty twenty two NFL season. That, I mean, let's be honest, 6 00:00:33,960 --> 00:00:37,199 Speaker 1: end over the bang. What a super Bowl high drama, 7 00:00:37,680 --> 00:00:42,519 Speaker 1: good play, fun, entertaining as heck, you made a Rihanna's 8 00:00:42,560 --> 00:00:47,040 Speaker 1: concert because yes, yeah, right, that was the highlight of 9 00:00:47,120 --> 00:00:51,960 Speaker 1: the whole game. So yeah, all yeah, I actually I'm 10 00:00:51,960 --> 00:00:55,400 Speaker 1: not a big halftime show person, but I was glued. Um, 11 00:00:55,560 --> 00:00:57,920 Speaker 1: I'm not a big Rihanna person, but I was glued. 12 00:00:58,200 --> 00:01:03,680 Speaker 1: She was awesome. So was Jalen Hurts. So was Patrick Mahomes, 13 00:01:03,800 --> 00:01:06,880 Speaker 1: so was Travis Kelsey, and on and on and on. 14 00:01:07,680 --> 00:01:11,039 Speaker 1: That was a fun one. And how we're gonna falconize 15 00:01:11,120 --> 00:01:13,039 Speaker 1: this thing. That's a term that I just made up. 16 00:01:13,600 --> 00:01:17,200 Speaker 1: We're gonna falconize the concept of the Super Bowl. And 17 00:01:17,240 --> 00:01:21,360 Speaker 1: how the Kansas City Chiefs have built a model for 18 00:01:21,560 --> 00:01:26,240 Speaker 1: sustained success both with a fantastic quarterback on a rookie 19 00:01:26,319 --> 00:01:28,960 Speaker 1: deal and now a fantastic quarterback on a four hundred 20 00:01:29,560 --> 00:01:33,520 Speaker 1: fifty billion dollar deal. And then we're going to take 21 00:01:33,520 --> 00:01:36,800 Speaker 1: a look at how the Philadelphia Eagles have risen to 22 00:01:36,880 --> 00:01:41,680 Speaker 1: prominence with a young, smart, innovative, offensive minded coach. Guys 23 00:01:41,680 --> 00:01:45,760 Speaker 1: are another smart, young, innovative, offensive minded coach that we 24 00:01:45,840 --> 00:01:50,000 Speaker 1: know of, and how they kind of built it. And look, 25 00:01:50,280 --> 00:01:52,640 Speaker 1: this is a copycat league. We all say it, right, 26 00:01:53,360 --> 00:01:56,080 Speaker 1: but how can the Falcons, who really in the NFC 27 00:01:56,160 --> 00:01:59,480 Speaker 1: South where nobody's got a quarterback at this point, there's 28 00:01:59,480 --> 00:02:01,960 Speaker 1: an opportunity to go from worse to first here and 29 00:02:02,160 --> 00:02:06,080 Speaker 1: build this thing fast and accelerate their rise to prominence. 30 00:02:06,720 --> 00:02:09,079 Speaker 1: What can we take from the Eagles and the Chiefs? 31 00:02:09,080 --> 00:02:12,280 Speaker 1: Where are the Falcons as we head into a fascinating offseason. 32 00:02:12,560 --> 00:02:17,079 Speaker 1: That's where what we're going to be discussing on this offseason. 33 00:02:17,240 --> 00:02:19,520 Speaker 1: Falcon's final whistle, which is coming to you, guys, what 34 00:02:19,800 --> 00:02:22,079 Speaker 1: every other week? Something like that? Every other week? Yeah, 35 00:02:22,080 --> 00:02:25,280 Speaker 1: that sounds like a thing that we could do. So anyway, 36 00:02:25,320 --> 00:02:27,600 Speaker 1: I'm gonna stop talking now. I feel like I've been 37 00:02:27,600 --> 00:02:30,000 Speaker 1: listening to the sound of my own voice way too long. Ashton, 38 00:02:30,040 --> 00:02:35,000 Speaker 1: please interrupt me. What were your takeaways from the Super 39 00:02:35,000 --> 00:02:38,480 Speaker 1: Bowl and in specific, like, what do you think that 40 00:02:38,560 --> 00:02:41,239 Speaker 1: the Falcons can kind of glean from how these teams 41 00:02:41,240 --> 00:02:44,359 Speaker 1: are constructed? Yeah, for sure, I think the biggest takeaway 42 00:02:44,360 --> 00:02:47,680 Speaker 1: for me was how the Chiefs offensive line plate. You 43 00:02:47,720 --> 00:02:50,360 Speaker 1: look back two years ago when the Chiefs played the 44 00:02:50,360 --> 00:02:53,519 Speaker 1: Buccaneers in Super Bowl fifty five, Patrick Mahomes who was 45 00:02:53,520 --> 00:02:56,480 Speaker 1: sacked three tims, tackle four tims for loss, and hit 46 00:02:56,600 --> 00:02:59,960 Speaker 1: nonsoms and he threw tweet interceptions. But against the Eagle, 47 00:03:00,639 --> 00:03:03,040 Speaker 1: he wasn't sacked a single time, nor did he throw 48 00:03:03,320 --> 00:03:07,480 Speaker 1: a single interception, And that credit goes to the offensive line. 49 00:03:08,040 --> 00:03:10,720 Speaker 1: Four of the five starting offensive line players were acquired 50 00:03:10,720 --> 00:03:15,000 Speaker 1: in twenty twenty one, so these offensive lineman had two 51 00:03:15,080 --> 00:03:17,400 Speaker 1: years developed. And then when you look at the centers, 52 00:03:18,000 --> 00:03:19,840 Speaker 1: where you look at the center, Creed Humphrey, he's a 53 00:03:19,919 --> 00:03:22,480 Speaker 1: he was drafted in twenty twenty one, just like Drew Dohmand. 54 00:03:22,560 --> 00:03:26,080 Speaker 1: So there's there's similar parallels with the Falcons offensive line 55 00:03:26,480 --> 00:03:29,880 Speaker 1: and with the Chiefs offensive line, and neither unit has 56 00:03:29,919 --> 00:03:33,120 Speaker 1: played more than a year or two together. So I think, 57 00:03:33,440 --> 00:03:36,480 Speaker 1: you know, seeing how the Chiefs offensive line developed over 58 00:03:36,920 --> 00:03:39,200 Speaker 1: you know, twenty twenty one, in twenty twenty two, and 59 00:03:39,240 --> 00:03:42,000 Speaker 1: how they established one of the best offensive lines in 60 00:03:42,080 --> 00:03:46,320 Speaker 1: the league. Because the Eagles they had the most sex 61 00:03:46,360 --> 00:03:49,040 Speaker 1: and the fifth most interceptions in twenty twenty two, but 62 00:03:49,120 --> 00:03:54,880 Speaker 1: the offensive line they eliminated that number and basically they 63 00:03:54,920 --> 00:03:58,920 Speaker 1: didn't allow a single sex in the game. So, you know, 64 00:03:58,960 --> 00:04:01,160 Speaker 1: I do think there's a lot of parallels, and I 65 00:04:01,200 --> 00:04:04,360 Speaker 1: think that the Falcons should look at this blueprint that 66 00:04:04,440 --> 00:04:07,040 Speaker 1: the Chiefs laid out. As far as the offensive line. 67 00:04:07,160 --> 00:04:10,360 Speaker 1: You can resign Caleb McGarry, you can resign Elijah Wilkinson, 68 00:04:10,840 --> 00:04:13,280 Speaker 1: Um Chris Lynstrom. He played the best football of his 69 00:04:13,400 --> 00:04:16,479 Speaker 1: life or of his career thus far. And Drew Dahman 70 00:04:16,560 --> 00:04:19,680 Speaker 1: has made consistent improvement from year one to year two 71 00:04:19,720 --> 00:04:22,080 Speaker 1: and obviously in his first year as a starting center. 72 00:04:22,120 --> 00:04:24,840 Speaker 1: So I think if you if the Falcons can retain 73 00:04:25,000 --> 00:04:28,080 Speaker 1: this offensive corder going into the twenty twenty three how 74 00:04:28,320 --> 00:04:30,440 Speaker 1: the Chiefs were saying their core from twenty twenty one 75 00:04:30,440 --> 00:04:32,840 Speaker 1: to twenty twenty two, I think you can. They can 76 00:04:32,880 --> 00:04:35,039 Speaker 1: continue to build upon the successes that they had, and 77 00:04:35,200 --> 00:04:38,640 Speaker 1: both units were ranked in the top five pr PFF. 78 00:04:39,000 --> 00:04:41,640 Speaker 1: So I think there's a lot of similarities and parallels 79 00:04:41,680 --> 00:04:45,719 Speaker 1: when you look at the offensive lineman's hold on. Did 80 00:04:45,760 --> 00:04:48,520 Speaker 1: Ashton just mic drop us in the first five minutes 81 00:04:48,560 --> 00:04:53,080 Speaker 1: of this podcast? Is that what just happened? Well, I 82 00:04:53,080 --> 00:04:56,640 Speaker 1: don't need to say thanks for coming the fastest podcast 83 00:04:56,720 --> 00:04:59,680 Speaker 1: in human history. Um, I love every single one of 84 00:04:59,720 --> 00:05:03,800 Speaker 1: those points. I can't argue against them. Yeah, that was 85 00:05:03,839 --> 00:05:06,160 Speaker 1: really good and I think that that's something that the 86 00:05:06,160 --> 00:05:09,080 Speaker 1: Falcons do have. I mean, but there's a lot of 87 00:05:09,080 --> 00:05:12,160 Speaker 1: different ways to build a castle, right, I mean Tory, 88 00:05:12,279 --> 00:05:14,360 Speaker 1: like what I mean when you look at either one 89 00:05:14,440 --> 00:05:16,280 Speaker 1: of these teams, like, what do you see that can 90 00:05:16,360 --> 00:05:20,720 Speaker 1: be taken away there? Yeah? So I first off want 91 00:05:20,720 --> 00:05:22,680 Speaker 1: to go off of what Ashton said about the offensive line. 92 00:05:22,720 --> 00:05:25,000 Speaker 1: I mean, I think when you talk about the winners 93 00:05:25,000 --> 00:05:28,400 Speaker 1: and losers of the Super Bowl, like the Chief's offensive 94 00:05:28,440 --> 00:05:31,440 Speaker 1: line was a winner period. I mean, you think about 95 00:05:31,480 --> 00:05:33,800 Speaker 1: what Patrick Mahomes did, and we've been talking about his 96 00:05:33,839 --> 00:05:35,640 Speaker 1: heart ankle for what it feels like a year and 97 00:05:35,680 --> 00:05:37,240 Speaker 1: a half at this point, even though I know it's 98 00:05:37,240 --> 00:05:40,280 Speaker 1: only been probably like four weeks. But still what they 99 00:05:40,320 --> 00:05:42,680 Speaker 1: did and how they were able to protect him and 100 00:05:42,720 --> 00:05:45,120 Speaker 1: give him time in the pocket was really something special 101 00:05:45,120 --> 00:05:47,760 Speaker 1: that I hope people don't overlook. But for me. I'm 102 00:05:47,800 --> 00:05:52,320 Speaker 1: actually something that I took from this Super Bowl, which 103 00:05:52,880 --> 00:05:54,920 Speaker 1: is actually something that I think I took more from 104 00:05:54,960 --> 00:05:58,960 Speaker 1: like the twenty twenty two season, and it was the 105 00:05:59,600 --> 00:06:04,320 Speaker 1: ever Lucian and the redemption almost of Jalen Hurts. And 106 00:06:04,640 --> 00:06:09,000 Speaker 1: before I say anything, I want to make it abundantly 107 00:06:09,080 --> 00:06:12,159 Speaker 1: clear that me saying whatever what I'm about to say 108 00:06:12,440 --> 00:06:16,360 Speaker 1: is not me saying that Desmond Ritter is Jalen Hurts 109 00:06:16,360 --> 00:06:18,640 Speaker 1: and he's gonna play like Jalen Hurts. So don't get 110 00:06:18,640 --> 00:06:22,680 Speaker 1: it twisted. I am not comparing Jalen Hurts to Desmond 111 00:06:22,760 --> 00:06:24,960 Speaker 1: Ritter in the next two and a half minutes of 112 00:06:24,960 --> 00:06:28,000 Speaker 1: which I'm going to speak, yes you are, No, I'm 113 00:06:28,040 --> 00:06:31,839 Speaker 1: not make up a YouTube comment right now. Anyway. Continue. 114 00:06:32,680 --> 00:06:35,240 Speaker 1: So what I was gonna say is, and this is 115 00:06:35,279 --> 00:06:37,360 Speaker 1: kind of what I took is that when we went 116 00:06:37,400 --> 00:06:40,400 Speaker 1: into the twenty twenty two season, I feel like everything 117 00:06:40,400 --> 00:06:44,240 Speaker 1: that we heard about Jalen Hurts was about how this 118 00:06:44,400 --> 00:06:47,359 Speaker 1: was kind of it for him, and how the Eagles 119 00:06:47,400 --> 00:06:49,760 Speaker 1: didn't know if he was the long term future at 120 00:06:49,839 --> 00:06:53,880 Speaker 1: quarterback in Philadelphia and what did Jalen hurts future in 121 00:06:53,920 --> 00:06:56,800 Speaker 1: the league really look like? Was he starting quarterback? Caliber, 122 00:06:56,960 --> 00:07:00,320 Speaker 1: Like there were so many questions around Jalen Hurt and 123 00:07:01,000 --> 00:07:03,720 Speaker 1: what he was going to be in twenty twenty two, 124 00:07:04,120 --> 00:07:07,720 Speaker 1: and then he goes out this season and leads the 125 00:07:07,760 --> 00:07:11,320 Speaker 1: Eagles in a way that is one of the best 126 00:07:11,480 --> 00:07:15,880 Speaker 1: like full seasons that I think I can really draw 127 00:07:16,000 --> 00:07:19,920 Speaker 1: upon in recent history of a quarterback, especially a young quarterback. 128 00:07:20,120 --> 00:07:24,840 Speaker 1: I just I feel really strongly about what Jalen Hurts 129 00:07:24,920 --> 00:07:27,120 Speaker 1: was able to do in twenty twenty two, knowing kind 130 00:07:27,160 --> 00:07:30,720 Speaker 1: of the target on his back per se of what 131 00:07:31,680 --> 00:07:34,320 Speaker 1: going into the twenty twenty two season was for him, 132 00:07:34,320 --> 00:07:36,800 Speaker 1: and kind of all the outside noise of is Jalen 133 00:07:36,920 --> 00:07:39,840 Speaker 1: Hurts the guy? He proved in twenty twenty two that 134 00:07:39,920 --> 00:07:42,600 Speaker 1: he is the guy. And he proved it after a 135 00:07:42,640 --> 00:07:45,920 Speaker 1: couple of years of just learning and growing and getting 136 00:07:45,960 --> 00:07:49,120 Speaker 1: to know his head coach and his system. And I 137 00:07:49,280 --> 00:07:52,200 Speaker 1: say all that to say that the longer that we 138 00:07:52,280 --> 00:07:55,040 Speaker 1: get into this off season, the more and more and 139 00:07:55,080 --> 00:07:57,600 Speaker 1: I'll say this and I probably will maybe change my 140 00:07:57,600 --> 00:08:00,200 Speaker 1: mind in another point in time, who knows. But I 141 00:08:00,640 --> 00:08:02,800 Speaker 1: think when it comes to the Falcons, when it comes 142 00:08:02,840 --> 00:08:05,720 Speaker 1: to Desmond Ritter, when it comes to the decision at quarterback, 143 00:08:05,880 --> 00:08:07,880 Speaker 1: I kind of look at what Jalen Hurts was able 144 00:08:07,920 --> 00:08:10,000 Speaker 1: to do and how his first couple of years in 145 00:08:10,040 --> 00:08:13,760 Speaker 1: the league it wasn't great by any means or stretch 146 00:08:13,800 --> 00:08:17,160 Speaker 1: of the imagination. Even Jalen Hurts himself said at the 147 00:08:17,240 --> 00:08:19,640 Speaker 1: end of January, like, I don't think anyone even wanted 148 00:08:19,720 --> 00:08:22,120 Speaker 1: me drafted to Philadelphia, Like I don't know if they 149 00:08:22,200 --> 00:08:24,400 Speaker 1: I don't know if they liked that I was drafted 150 00:08:24,440 --> 00:08:28,520 Speaker 1: here and now here he is in twenty twenty three, 151 00:08:28,880 --> 00:08:30,760 Speaker 1: leading the team to a Super Bowl and having one 152 00:08:30,760 --> 00:08:33,680 Speaker 1: of the best performances in a Super Bowl of a 153 00:08:33,800 --> 00:08:37,680 Speaker 1: quarterback not named Patrick Mahomes. You know, so I really, 154 00:08:38,679 --> 00:08:41,480 Speaker 1: I really think like the comparison to me is not 155 00:08:41,520 --> 00:08:43,840 Speaker 1: necessarily like Jalen Hurts to Desmond Ritter, But it's like 156 00:08:44,679 --> 00:08:49,120 Speaker 1: the thought process of Philadelphia allowing Jalen Hurts to grow 157 00:08:49,360 --> 00:08:53,360 Speaker 1: and develop and cook for the gen Z people out there, 158 00:08:53,640 --> 00:08:55,720 Speaker 1: like let the man cook, like let him simmer a 159 00:08:55,720 --> 00:08:58,040 Speaker 1: little bit, let him understand kind of what is out 160 00:08:58,080 --> 00:09:00,520 Speaker 1: in front of him and build around him. We saw 161 00:09:00,679 --> 00:09:04,240 Speaker 1: what the connection between Jalen Hurts and A. J. Brown 162 00:09:04,400 --> 00:09:06,800 Speaker 1: was in the Super Bowl. I mean, what kind of 163 00:09:06,800 --> 00:09:09,360 Speaker 1: connection can Desmond Ritter have with somebody, and I think 164 00:09:09,400 --> 00:09:11,520 Speaker 1: that's where I'm at as I'm sitting here looking at 165 00:09:11,520 --> 00:09:13,640 Speaker 1: what the Philadelphia did with Jalen Hurts and the year 166 00:09:13,679 --> 00:09:15,640 Speaker 1: that he had, and it's like, can Desmond Ridder go 167 00:09:15,679 --> 00:09:18,600 Speaker 1: out and do that if given the reins of the 168 00:09:18,640 --> 00:09:20,520 Speaker 1: offense And I'm not talking about doing that in the 169 00:09:20,520 --> 00:09:22,360 Speaker 1: same way that Jalen Hurts did, do it in a 170 00:09:22,400 --> 00:09:25,400 Speaker 1: way that's good for Atlanta and good for Desmond Ritter 171 00:09:25,559 --> 00:09:27,920 Speaker 1: play his game if he can be a fraction of 172 00:09:27,960 --> 00:09:30,720 Speaker 1: the production that Jalen Hurts had, and then by all means, 173 00:09:30,800 --> 00:09:34,320 Speaker 1: do that. But that's a long winded way of saying, 174 00:09:34,360 --> 00:09:37,440 Speaker 1: like the more and more we get into this offseason, 175 00:09:37,480 --> 00:09:39,080 Speaker 1: the more and more that I'm kind of just leaning 176 00:09:39,080 --> 00:09:41,800 Speaker 1: towards like I want to see what this offense looks 177 00:09:41,840 --> 00:09:44,439 Speaker 1: like with Desmond Ritter having the reins of it from 178 00:09:44,880 --> 00:09:50,040 Speaker 1: the start. I'm gonna let everybody behind the scenes of 179 00:09:50,040 --> 00:09:53,240 Speaker 1: this podcast a little bit. We don't script things. We 180 00:09:53,360 --> 00:09:55,800 Speaker 1: have kind of topic bullet points and then we just 181 00:09:55,840 --> 00:09:58,680 Speaker 1: sort of riff and I love it when a plan 182 00:09:58,800 --> 00:10:01,920 Speaker 1: comes together when we didn't script this thing, and then 183 00:10:01,960 --> 00:10:05,920 Speaker 1: we all have different takes on the same subject because 184 00:10:06,280 --> 00:10:09,120 Speaker 1: I did not think the way Ashton thought. I did 185 00:10:09,160 --> 00:10:11,959 Speaker 1: not think the way you thought. My thought And maybe 186 00:10:12,080 --> 00:10:14,319 Speaker 1: this is because I covered the San Francisco forty nine 187 00:10:14,360 --> 00:10:16,400 Speaker 1: ers for a while. Who they are not in the 188 00:10:16,440 --> 00:10:19,560 Speaker 1: super Bowl. But here's the comparison, right, is that the 189 00:10:19,600 --> 00:10:23,440 Speaker 1: Philadelphia Eagles defensive line comes at you with talent and 190 00:10:23,600 --> 00:10:27,960 Speaker 1: depth in waves and waves of chaos. That's what they do. 191 00:10:28,160 --> 00:10:31,280 Speaker 1: Fletcher Cox, Brandon Graham, who's like a hundred and five, 192 00:10:31,600 --> 00:10:38,240 Speaker 1: and Dominican Sue Jordan Davis, Jeron Hargrave. I screw up 193 00:10:38,280 --> 00:10:42,199 Speaker 1: his first name, just one after the other after the other. Right, 194 00:10:42,440 --> 00:10:45,360 Speaker 1: that they create havoc. I saw a stat it is 195 00:10:45,400 --> 00:10:47,719 Speaker 1: not flattering for the Falcons. But I think Ashton and 196 00:10:47,800 --> 00:10:51,560 Speaker 1: I were talking about this the other day. The Eagles 197 00:10:51,600 --> 00:10:54,720 Speaker 1: had seventy sacks in this season. The Falcons have not 198 00:10:54,840 --> 00:10:58,240 Speaker 1: had seventy sacks in the last three seasons. True story, 199 00:10:58,640 --> 00:11:02,880 Speaker 1: combine combine. Yeah. So what I'm saying, and the reason 200 00:11:02,920 --> 00:11:05,360 Speaker 1: why I bring up the San Francisco forty nine ers 201 00:11:05,559 --> 00:11:08,440 Speaker 1: was for a while there they were only drafting defensive 202 00:11:08,480 --> 00:11:13,400 Speaker 1: linemen in the first round. Eric Armstead, Nick Bosa, DeForest Buckner, 203 00:11:14,600 --> 00:11:19,000 Speaker 1: over and over and over, again to create waves of chaos. 204 00:11:19,360 --> 00:11:23,160 Speaker 1: Guess what the New Orleans Saints do. They create pressure 205 00:11:23,440 --> 00:11:28,120 Speaker 1: with waves and waves of chaos. Who's the cash I'm blanking. 206 00:11:28,280 --> 00:11:31,400 Speaker 1: Who's the name of the Falcons defensive coordinator? Now? So 207 00:11:31,679 --> 00:11:33,840 Speaker 1: what I'm trying to say is this is I have 208 00:11:33,880 --> 00:11:36,840 Speaker 1: a sneaking suspicion, even though he won't open his playbook 209 00:11:36,880 --> 00:11:42,920 Speaker 1: for us, which is like totally lame, Ryan you're listening, 210 00:11:43,480 --> 00:11:47,920 Speaker 1: is that they should go ahead and draft and build 211 00:11:49,160 --> 00:11:52,520 Speaker 1: depth and quality and use premium assets to create a 212 00:11:52,600 --> 00:11:56,559 Speaker 1: defensive line that creates the ultimate battle. And I think 213 00:11:56,800 --> 00:11:59,480 Speaker 1: if I think all of us touched on like a 214 00:11:59,520 --> 00:12:02,959 Speaker 1: different hiller, right We've seen and Arthur Smith has said 215 00:12:03,400 --> 00:12:06,480 Speaker 1: the offensive line and the way they play is a 216 00:12:06,600 --> 00:12:10,840 Speaker 1: foundational part of our identity. That's Ashon's point. Okay. My 217 00:12:10,960 --> 00:12:13,880 Speaker 1: point is the Falcons are not a good pass rush 218 00:12:14,200 --> 00:12:18,760 Speaker 1: right now. They seem to be committed to changing that attitude. 219 00:12:18,840 --> 00:12:21,440 Speaker 1: Even going back to Dean Pas, Dean Peas was adamant 220 00:12:21,520 --> 00:12:23,880 Speaker 1: about that we need guys who can win one on 221 00:12:23,960 --> 00:12:27,120 Speaker 1: one battles. Okay, And then to Toori's point is you 222 00:12:27,240 --> 00:12:32,559 Speaker 1: need a quarterback who is dynamic, who is feared if 223 00:12:32,600 --> 00:12:34,960 Speaker 1: you can get all three of those things, you're going 224 00:12:35,000 --> 00:12:37,800 Speaker 1: to be a pretty good football team. And I think 225 00:12:37,880 --> 00:12:41,079 Speaker 1: that again, it's fascinating how we all brought up one 226 00:12:41,120 --> 00:12:44,960 Speaker 1: thing and we've kind of like formed Vultron sort of 227 00:12:44,960 --> 00:12:47,880 Speaker 1: a thing and then come up with the idea for 228 00:12:48,040 --> 00:12:51,439 Speaker 1: how to for how the Falcons can get better fast. 229 00:12:51,600 --> 00:12:53,920 Speaker 1: We are talking about a lot of additions outside of 230 00:12:54,160 --> 00:12:57,800 Speaker 1: Ashton's offensive line point. I agree that keeping that together 231 00:12:58,440 --> 00:13:02,040 Speaker 1: is the right move. If you listen to Arthur Blank 232 00:13:03,000 --> 00:13:06,240 Speaker 1: talking about Desmond Ritter, I mean, Arthur Blank doesn't like 233 00:13:06,400 --> 00:13:09,920 Speaker 1: say things that he doesn't mean, and I mean there's 234 00:13:12,840 --> 00:13:15,960 Speaker 1: that was a ringing endorsement in my yeah, right, it was. 235 00:13:16,080 --> 00:13:19,080 Speaker 1: I mean when he kind of said from training camp 236 00:13:19,160 --> 00:13:22,600 Speaker 1: until the end of the season that Esmond Desmond Ritter's 237 00:13:22,640 --> 00:13:25,720 Speaker 1: like leadership was like evident from the time he got 238 00:13:25,760 --> 00:13:28,320 Speaker 1: into the building until the very end of twenty twenty two. 239 00:13:28,360 --> 00:13:32,079 Speaker 1: And I think that was something that drew this coaching 240 00:13:32,120 --> 00:13:34,439 Speaker 1: staff to Desmond Ritter in the first place. But when 241 00:13:34,480 --> 00:13:36,640 Speaker 1: you have the owner sitting there and being like, I 242 00:13:36,720 --> 00:13:40,240 Speaker 1: like our young quarterback, I mean that's what he said, 243 00:13:40,240 --> 00:13:42,079 Speaker 1: That was his quote, is I like our young quarterback. 244 00:13:42,120 --> 00:13:45,000 Speaker 1: And when I was talking to him. Gosh, this is 245 00:13:45,000 --> 00:13:48,319 Speaker 1: probably a week ago before the Super Bowl. I mean, 246 00:13:48,320 --> 00:13:50,000 Speaker 1: that's one of the main questions that you asked the 247 00:13:50,000 --> 00:13:53,439 Speaker 1: owner because of where this organization is. It's like, what 248 00:13:53,480 --> 00:13:56,160 Speaker 1: do you think about the quarterback position and where it goes? 249 00:13:56,240 --> 00:13:58,120 Speaker 1: And for him to say, you know, I thought that 250 00:13:58,160 --> 00:14:03,080 Speaker 1: there was actual like steps and progress made through the 251 00:14:03,320 --> 00:14:06,240 Speaker 1: four games that we did get to see him, I 252 00:14:06,320 --> 00:14:08,880 Speaker 1: think that bodes well for how he would grow later on. 253 00:14:09,000 --> 00:14:13,360 Speaker 1: And so um, that was essentially what he was talking about. 254 00:14:13,440 --> 00:14:18,080 Speaker 1: And I really enjoyed that conversation because it helped me 255 00:14:18,120 --> 00:14:21,080 Speaker 1: to see too, kind of as the guy who's making 256 00:14:21,120 --> 00:14:25,200 Speaker 1: the like top decisions, like how he views some of 257 00:14:25,240 --> 00:14:29,160 Speaker 1: these like minute decisions I say, my nudes, but like 258 00:14:29,640 --> 00:14:34,280 Speaker 1: you know what I mean, like these smaller organizational decisions. Yeah, no, 259 00:14:34,520 --> 00:14:37,000 Speaker 1: I agree. I mean, look, Arthur Blink has seen many 260 00:14:37,080 --> 00:14:40,480 Speaker 1: quarterbacks through his time as an owner, m and for 261 00:14:40,560 --> 00:14:43,880 Speaker 1: him to say that Desmond Rider's chin line, you know, 262 00:14:44,000 --> 00:14:48,640 Speaker 1: from was that week fifteen to week eighteen was continually 263 00:14:48,680 --> 00:14:51,200 Speaker 1: going go. Obviously, that says a lot about Desmond Rider 264 00:14:51,240 --> 00:14:54,280 Speaker 1: and his leadership and just who he is as a person. 265 00:14:55,440 --> 00:14:57,600 Speaker 1: And I do think that we should take that into 266 00:14:57,640 --> 00:15:01,560 Speaker 1: account potentially, And I think that that just says a 267 00:15:01,560 --> 00:15:04,280 Speaker 1: lot about who he is and what that made me 268 00:15:04,440 --> 00:15:08,200 Speaker 1: moving forward. Yeah, I always look back at Look, we 269 00:15:08,280 --> 00:15:11,000 Speaker 1: don't know if Desmond Ritter is going to be the guy. 270 00:15:11,080 --> 00:15:15,360 Speaker 1: Tory was very calculated saying that. And the missing link 271 00:15:15,440 --> 00:15:19,680 Speaker 1: here and is um, these teams have greatness all over 272 00:15:19,720 --> 00:15:23,640 Speaker 1: the place. Andy Reid hall of famer, right, Pat Mahomes 273 00:15:24,680 --> 00:15:28,800 Speaker 1: his trend line is going up, right, Jalen Hurts, dynamic individual, 274 00:15:28,920 --> 00:15:34,040 Speaker 1: Fletcher Cox probably a Hall of Famer. That there's greatness everywhere. Well, 275 00:15:34,160 --> 00:15:38,440 Speaker 1: you gotta go make the right choice, right. So right now, 276 00:15:38,800 --> 00:15:43,000 Speaker 1: there's so much intrigue and optimism about this offseason because 277 00:15:43,040 --> 00:15:47,440 Speaker 1: the Falcons have a blank canvas and Terry Fontineau finally 278 00:15:47,480 --> 00:15:49,920 Speaker 1: gets to paint. Right, is it going to be a 279 00:15:49,960 --> 00:15:53,240 Speaker 1: masterpiece or is it going to be something you chuck? Right? 280 00:15:53,480 --> 00:15:56,880 Speaker 1: That that that's why this part is so interesting, And 281 00:15:56,920 --> 00:15:59,840 Speaker 1: it sounds so easy to say, go find some greatness, man, 282 00:16:00,200 --> 00:16:03,600 Speaker 1: well and then and then be patient, right like yeah, 283 00:16:03,840 --> 00:16:08,440 Speaker 1: Like like the Chiefs were smart enough and to sit 284 00:16:08,680 --> 00:16:12,480 Speaker 1: Aftrick Mahomes for a year. Imagine any other team doing that. 285 00:16:12,720 --> 00:16:16,400 Speaker 1: And then they loaded up on. This isn't my idea. 286 00:16:16,440 --> 00:16:19,520 Speaker 1: This is Albert Breer's column from two weeks ago, so 287 00:16:19,560 --> 00:16:23,480 Speaker 1: I don't want to take intellectual property of it. But 288 00:16:23,640 --> 00:16:28,320 Speaker 1: he talked a lot about what the Chiefs did when 289 00:16:28,640 --> 00:16:31,960 Speaker 1: Pat Mahomes was on a rookie contract and they loaded 290 00:16:32,080 --> 00:16:35,960 Speaker 1: up on expensive veteran talent to help him, and then 291 00:16:36,000 --> 00:16:38,120 Speaker 1: when they realized they had to pay him half a 292 00:16:38,240 --> 00:16:42,000 Speaker 1: billion dollars, then they had to Then they started acquiring 293 00:16:42,440 --> 00:16:47,280 Speaker 1: massive amounts of draft capital to build depth, understanding that 294 00:16:47,360 --> 00:16:50,000 Speaker 1: nobody's going to bat a thousand, but you want as 295 00:16:50,000 --> 00:16:53,160 Speaker 1: many swings as you can get. So right now, I 296 00:16:53,200 --> 00:16:57,080 Speaker 1: think it's a It's a fascinating place to be because 297 00:16:57,720 --> 00:17:01,120 Speaker 1: is desn't ridder Your guy a guy on a rookie 298 00:17:01,160 --> 00:17:03,480 Speaker 1: contract for the next three years, and what can you 299 00:17:03,560 --> 00:17:07,240 Speaker 1: spend around him? Or do you forego the rookie contracts, 300 00:17:07,280 --> 00:17:11,080 Speaker 1: hang on together and then you go buy a quarterback 301 00:17:11,240 --> 00:17:13,400 Speaker 1: and then you try to draft around it. These are 302 00:17:13,480 --> 00:17:15,840 Speaker 1: things that we don't know. These are the things that 303 00:17:15,880 --> 00:17:19,639 Speaker 1: are intriguing. So it's like what comes first, the chicken 304 00:17:19,760 --> 00:17:22,080 Speaker 1: or the egg? You know. Yeah, And I think there 305 00:17:22,119 --> 00:17:25,480 Speaker 1: have been examples of a team going out and getting 306 00:17:25,520 --> 00:17:28,160 Speaker 1: the quarterback that they want and then building around him afterwards, 307 00:17:28,480 --> 00:17:32,480 Speaker 1: or the other way around, building like not necessarily building 308 00:17:32,520 --> 00:17:35,679 Speaker 1: around the quarterback and then having a guy come along. 309 00:17:37,040 --> 00:17:39,280 Speaker 1: I think it was interesting, I think someone and I 310 00:17:40,320 --> 00:17:42,919 Speaker 1: feel bad because I'm not attributing this accordingly because i 311 00:17:42,920 --> 00:17:44,399 Speaker 1: don't know where it came from because this is so 312 00:17:44,440 --> 00:17:47,920 Speaker 1: long ago. But when someone was talking about Justin Herbert 313 00:17:48,119 --> 00:17:53,399 Speaker 1: and how he is a good quarterback, let's be like, 314 00:17:53,440 --> 00:17:56,000 Speaker 1: he's a good quarterback, but the reason why he was 315 00:17:56,040 --> 00:17:58,879 Speaker 1: so good, like in his first couple of years, was 316 00:17:58,920 --> 00:18:01,280 Speaker 1: because I think the Hargers did a really good job 317 00:18:01,280 --> 00:18:06,840 Speaker 1: of already having in place important key positions around him. 318 00:18:07,000 --> 00:18:09,040 Speaker 1: It helps him. And then I think you look at 319 00:18:09,040 --> 00:18:13,120 Speaker 1: the example of like the Bengals and how you have 320 00:18:13,359 --> 00:18:15,760 Speaker 1: Joe Burrow who gets hurt for a year, and then 321 00:18:15,800 --> 00:18:18,399 Speaker 1: while he's hurt, they go out and acquire some really 322 00:18:18,480 --> 00:18:22,679 Speaker 1: dog on good receivers and you know, through the draft. 323 00:18:22,720 --> 00:18:25,680 Speaker 1: And so it's like all of these there are so 324 00:18:25,720 --> 00:18:29,199 Speaker 1: many different ways to build this thing, and I'm really 325 00:18:29,280 --> 00:18:32,720 Speaker 1: curious to see what way Terry Fontneau and Arthur Smith 326 00:18:32,720 --> 00:18:37,680 Speaker 1: and this staff decide to go about it. Yeah, and look, 327 00:18:37,720 --> 00:18:40,520 Speaker 1: we still don't know what they're going to do at 328 00:18:40,520 --> 00:18:45,879 Speaker 1: the quarterback position. I sort of feel like maybe just 329 00:18:45,920 --> 00:18:48,280 Speaker 1: because the owner was so effusive with his praise that 330 00:18:48,320 --> 00:18:49,960 Speaker 1: I was like, Okay, maybe they are going to roll 331 00:18:49,960 --> 00:18:53,320 Speaker 1: with Desmond here and then build around him. But they 332 00:18:53,359 --> 00:18:55,840 Speaker 1: could easily flip the scripts and do the opposite, right, 333 00:18:56,080 --> 00:18:59,800 Speaker 1: But I think that that will tell us so much 334 00:19:00,080 --> 00:19:02,760 Speaker 1: like things are going to hinge based upon that. But 335 00:19:03,080 --> 00:19:07,000 Speaker 1: everything that we're talking about, offensive line, defensive line, quarterback, 336 00:19:07,560 --> 00:19:11,640 Speaker 1: those are premium expensive as heck positions, right, so even 337 00:19:11,640 --> 00:19:14,320 Speaker 1: if you want to get Caleb back, that's not going 338 00:19:14,359 --> 00:19:20,679 Speaker 1: to be cheap. We're talking about dron Payne or Hargrave 339 00:19:20,840 --> 00:19:23,560 Speaker 1: from the Eagles or I don't know, Brandon Graham, the 340 00:19:23,680 --> 00:19:27,560 Speaker 1: Ageless Wonder or whomever. Right, these guys are going to 341 00:19:27,600 --> 00:19:31,399 Speaker 1: be expensive. So how do you allocate the funds? I 342 00:19:31,440 --> 00:19:33,720 Speaker 1: think that's gonna be fascinating. But when you look at 343 00:19:33,720 --> 00:19:36,560 Speaker 1: the NFC south right. I was asked a question in 344 00:19:36,640 --> 00:19:39,399 Speaker 1: bar Mail the other day, PS submit your questions for 345 00:19:39,400 --> 00:19:43,880 Speaker 1: Ashton Edmonds, who is making his bear mail debut, fair 346 00:19:43,920 --> 00:19:49,880 Speaker 1: mail debut, Yeah, his beare mail debut. And I just 347 00:19:49,960 --> 00:19:52,320 Speaker 1: think that they were asking me that the state of 348 00:19:52,320 --> 00:19:54,639 Speaker 1: the NFC South. I have no idea what the NFC 349 00:19:54,680 --> 00:19:58,720 Speaker 1: South looks like. Nobody does, not like, not a single clue. 350 00:19:58,760 --> 00:20:02,240 Speaker 1: There's no established quarterback in the division, and you we've 351 00:20:02,240 --> 00:20:06,119 Speaker 1: got new coaches, and I just think it's going to 352 00:20:06,240 --> 00:20:09,160 Speaker 1: be intriguing to see how this whole thing plays out, 353 00:20:10,000 --> 00:20:12,639 Speaker 1: because that's one thing Arthur Smith always talks about the 354 00:20:12,680 --> 00:20:15,080 Speaker 1: reason why he thinks the NFL is the greatest league 355 00:20:15,080 --> 00:20:19,160 Speaker 1: in the world is because of this salary cap, right, 356 00:20:19,320 --> 00:20:22,000 Speaker 1: and that you've got a collection of assets and then 357 00:20:22,000 --> 00:20:25,160 Speaker 1: you're competing with everyone to use them the best, right. 358 00:20:25,440 --> 00:20:27,280 Speaker 1: And I just think that when you look at the 359 00:20:27,359 --> 00:20:30,440 Speaker 1: NFC South, sure there's talent in there, and there's some 360 00:20:30,520 --> 00:20:33,520 Speaker 1: foundational players, but there's a lot to be done and 361 00:20:33,600 --> 00:20:38,640 Speaker 1: said about how everything plays out, you know. So it's 362 00:20:38,960 --> 00:20:41,280 Speaker 1: I just think it's going to be fascinating. I think 363 00:20:41,600 --> 00:20:43,920 Speaker 1: we're talking a lot about the Chiefs and the Eagles, right, 364 00:20:43,920 --> 00:20:46,199 Speaker 1: but toy I brought up the Bengals, I brought up 365 00:20:46,200 --> 00:20:49,359 Speaker 1: the forty nine Ers. We could easily bring up Buffalo. 366 00:20:49,560 --> 00:20:54,680 Speaker 1: That there's that there are a lot of elite contenders. 367 00:20:55,000 --> 00:20:58,800 Speaker 1: The AFC is like loaded with them. Yeah, So you know, 368 00:20:58,960 --> 00:21:00,480 Speaker 1: just really what you have to do is you have 369 00:21:00,520 --> 00:21:03,359 Speaker 1: to get in that class and then go hope for 370 00:21:03,359 --> 00:21:07,239 Speaker 1: the best in the postseason. Right. But yeah, I mean 371 00:21:07,320 --> 00:21:11,639 Speaker 1: any other kind of thoughts or discussion points for the 372 00:21:11,680 --> 00:21:13,360 Speaker 1: good of the order here on. I mean, if we 373 00:21:13,400 --> 00:21:16,240 Speaker 1: wanted to, we could talk for five more minutes about Rihanna, 374 00:21:16,320 --> 00:21:19,040 Speaker 1: But I don't know how many people actually want to 375 00:21:19,080 --> 00:21:23,760 Speaker 1: hear me dissect that halftime performance. But that can maybe 376 00:21:23,760 --> 00:21:27,440 Speaker 1: be another podcast. Okay, I'm I'm a I'm a man 377 00:21:27,520 --> 00:21:30,720 Speaker 1: of a certain age. So when you put Dre and 378 00:21:30,840 --> 00:21:35,800 Speaker 1: Eminem and Kendrick and Snoop on the same stage, I'm in. 379 00:21:36,280 --> 00:21:39,919 Speaker 1: So that's my new bar, right, Yeah, so I can appreciate. 380 00:21:40,160 --> 00:21:43,080 Speaker 1: I watched and was fascinated by Rihanna. I thought she 381 00:21:43,200 --> 00:21:46,800 Speaker 1: absolutely nailed it. But it's not the next episode. Let 382 00:21:46,840 --> 00:21:49,080 Speaker 1: me come home, man, I mean what I think what 383 00:21:49,200 --> 00:21:52,320 Speaker 1: was so impressive was that she was She literally sung 384 00:21:52,359 --> 00:21:55,840 Speaker 1: the whole performance by herself, like nobody came out right. 385 00:21:56,080 --> 00:21:59,640 Speaker 1: Of course she had background dancers, but and she announced 386 00:21:59,680 --> 00:22:03,040 Speaker 1: her preg to see through the yeah he's pregnant. Yeah. 387 00:22:06,000 --> 00:22:07,720 Speaker 1: It was so funny when we were watching it because 388 00:22:07,720 --> 00:22:10,760 Speaker 1: we're all like, oh, like we're because I was watching 389 00:22:10,800 --> 00:22:13,520 Speaker 1: it with like a group of men and women, and 390 00:22:13,560 --> 00:22:16,640 Speaker 1: it was very funny because we're all like, oh my god, 391 00:22:16,800 --> 00:22:19,399 Speaker 1: Like no one wanted to say she was pregnant because 392 00:22:19,400 --> 00:22:22,800 Speaker 1: that was like don't say Like if anybody someone said like, oh, 393 00:22:22,920 --> 00:22:25,240 Speaker 1: is she pregnant, it's like, don't say that. You don't 394 00:22:25,280 --> 00:22:27,119 Speaker 1: know if she's pregnant or not. She looks great, she 395 00:22:27,160 --> 00:22:29,240 Speaker 1: looks fantastic, and then it comes out that she's pregnant, 396 00:22:29,280 --> 00:22:32,879 Speaker 1: and it's like, yeah, she is pregnant. Good eye, good eye. 397 00:22:32,760 --> 00:22:36,760 Speaker 1: Yeah that's awesome, man. Yeah, it was. It was a 398 00:22:36,800 --> 00:22:40,760 Speaker 1: fun event all the way around. And I think that 399 00:22:40,800 --> 00:22:42,760 Speaker 1: there are things that you can look at and look. 400 00:22:42,920 --> 00:22:44,800 Speaker 1: We're not saying that the Falcons are going to be 401 00:22:44,800 --> 00:22:47,960 Speaker 1: the AF the NFC representative next year. We don't know, 402 00:22:48,040 --> 00:22:50,720 Speaker 1: but there's I think the fascinating part is you can 403 00:22:50,800 --> 00:22:53,159 Speaker 1: look at all these teams and how they're constructed, and 404 00:22:53,240 --> 00:22:54,960 Speaker 1: you can take a little bit from all of them. 405 00:22:55,200 --> 00:22:57,720 Speaker 1: And the Falcons. While I said that they have a 406 00:22:57,760 --> 00:23:00,440 Speaker 1: blank canvas, they have an ability to go spend. They 407 00:23:00,440 --> 00:23:03,080 Speaker 1: do have like a young foundation of talent there that 408 00:23:03,119 --> 00:23:05,200 Speaker 1: if they can do the right things and build around them, 409 00:23:05,240 --> 00:23:09,840 Speaker 1: it could be an intriguing season. So that's the moral 410 00:23:09,880 --> 00:23:12,360 Speaker 1: of our story. Okay, we're not saying the Falcons are 411 00:23:12,359 --> 00:23:14,240 Speaker 1: going to the super Bowl. We're just saying what can 412 00:23:14,280 --> 00:23:17,080 Speaker 1: be learned in a copycat league from all these different teams. 413 00:23:17,280 --> 00:23:19,600 Speaker 1: I think we had three good areas. Build a bully 414 00:23:19,720 --> 00:23:22,640 Speaker 1: up front on both sides of the football, and go 415 00:23:22,640 --> 00:23:26,439 Speaker 1: go get us some greatness, Terry. That's the that's the 416 00:23:26,480 --> 00:23:27,960 Speaker 1: moral of the story. I feel like I'm just gonna 417 00:23:28,000 --> 00:23:30,600 Speaker 1: talk forever and never end this thing, so maybe I'll 418 00:23:30,680 --> 00:23:34,199 Speaker 1: just silence myself anyway. Thank you guys so much for 419 00:23:34,680 --> 00:23:37,919 Speaker 1: downloading and listening. Please rate, review, subscribe to the Atlanta 420 00:23:37,960 --> 00:23:40,880 Speaker 1: Falcons podcast Network, and we will be back with you 421 00:23:41,440 --> 00:23:47,320 Speaker 1: real real soon with another pod cast see him, I 422 00:23:47,320 --> 00:24:08,640 Speaker 1: don't know what. Another pod cast The Pet, The Pet, 423 00:24:11,640 --> 00:24:12,080 Speaker 1: Pet