1 00:00:00,200 --> 00:00:03,239 Speaker 1: We are back on the Falcons Audible presented by AT 2 00:00:03,400 --> 00:00:05,880 Speaker 1: and T. The three of us back in the house, 3 00:00:06,280 --> 00:00:09,719 Speaker 1: Shock Arch Rack. Have we got a long enough to 4 00:00:10,200 --> 00:00:12,159 Speaker 1: where we can use nicknames? And you guys know who 5 00:00:12,200 --> 00:00:14,400 Speaker 1: we're talking about, hope. So if not, if it's your 6 00:00:14,400 --> 00:00:17,800 Speaker 1: first time watching Derrick Brackley, Dave Archer, DJ Shockley, it's 7 00:00:17,840 --> 00:00:20,360 Speaker 1: a thing in football, right, everybody ends up with a nickname. 8 00:00:20,600 --> 00:00:22,520 Speaker 1: Our producer was in here telling us a story from 9 00:00:22,560 --> 00:00:24,480 Speaker 1: the locker room and he was talking about Zoe. Right, 10 00:00:24,560 --> 00:00:27,640 Speaker 1: so if you just if you're around the game long enough, 11 00:00:27,880 --> 00:00:29,800 Speaker 1: we find ways to shorten your name. 12 00:00:29,920 --> 00:00:32,040 Speaker 2: Well, and let me put a caveat in on that. 13 00:00:32,200 --> 00:00:34,800 Speaker 2: You don't get to pick your own nickname. Okay, if 14 00:00:34,840 --> 00:00:37,000 Speaker 2: you do that never really works out very well for you. 15 00:00:37,080 --> 00:00:40,440 Speaker 2: I mean your proclaim your teammates will pick your teammate 16 00:00:40,640 --> 00:00:42,839 Speaker 2: your nickname out and sometimes it's something you don't like. 17 00:00:43,360 --> 00:00:43,599 Speaker 3: You know. 18 00:00:43,840 --> 00:00:46,320 Speaker 4: We we lively were at the game on Sunday and 19 00:00:46,680 --> 00:00:48,440 Speaker 4: Rack and are about to do a halftime hit and 20 00:00:48,479 --> 00:00:51,239 Speaker 4: this guy comes up and says, rag Dog, Hey, I 21 00:00:51,320 --> 00:00:53,680 Speaker 4: love you guys. You guys do a great job talking 22 00:00:53,720 --> 00:00:54,360 Speaker 4: about the podcast. 23 00:00:54,400 --> 00:00:58,280 Speaker 1: So there you goanksgiving to your point. The one the 24 00:00:58,360 --> 00:01:00,240 Speaker 1: nickname that you may not like. When I I was 25 00:01:00,240 --> 00:01:03,160 Speaker 1: playing for the Falcons, there was a gentleman in the building. 26 00:01:03,200 --> 00:01:06,039 Speaker 1: I will leave him nameless, but he ended up getting 27 00:01:06,080 --> 00:01:10,720 Speaker 1: a nickname of chunky but funky, so probably not one 28 00:01:10,720 --> 00:01:14,039 Speaker 1: of those nicknames that you necessarily pick for yourself. May 29 00:01:14,080 --> 00:01:17,279 Speaker 1: not like it, but that's what happens in an NFL 30 00:01:17,400 --> 00:01:20,240 Speaker 1: locker room sometimes. All right, So let's get through what 31 00:01:20,280 --> 00:01:23,080 Speaker 1: we are going to talk about today our game MVPs 32 00:01:23,160 --> 00:01:25,560 Speaker 1: the Falcons victory over the Texans. Will break down the 33 00:01:25,560 --> 00:01:28,959 Speaker 1: matchup all that we can in this matter of a 34 00:01:29,000 --> 00:01:31,839 Speaker 1: short time. In the podcast, we'll talk about Desmond Ritter 35 00:01:31,920 --> 00:01:34,559 Speaker 1: came under fire for his performance early on in the season, 36 00:01:34,640 --> 00:01:37,840 Speaker 1: but he was able to flip the script last weekend, 37 00:01:37,880 --> 00:01:39,960 Speaker 1: and then we will move forward talk a little bit 38 00:01:39,959 --> 00:01:44,839 Speaker 1: about the commander's matchup this weekend. So, guys, it's easy 39 00:01:44,880 --> 00:01:47,319 Speaker 1: to talk about player of the game, MVP of the game, 40 00:01:47,440 --> 00:01:49,360 Speaker 1: So let's go ahead and talk about it. But I'm 41 00:01:49,360 --> 00:01:52,240 Speaker 1: gonna give you a little leeway here, fellas. Okay, it 42 00:01:52,920 --> 00:01:55,680 Speaker 1: could just be one player, it could be two players, 43 00:01:55,760 --> 00:01:57,360 Speaker 1: it could be a position group. 44 00:01:57,720 --> 00:02:00,320 Speaker 2: Because you know anything about this podcast, you need a 45 00:02:00,360 --> 00:02:01,640 Speaker 2: lot of these categories. 46 00:02:02,560 --> 00:02:05,720 Speaker 1: There's this thing called leeway that gets stretched up in here, 47 00:02:06,160 --> 00:02:07,840 Speaker 1: all right, shock, So let's start with you. Who you 48 00:02:07,840 --> 00:02:10,720 Speaker 1: got is an MVP position player group whatever. 49 00:02:10,880 --> 00:02:13,040 Speaker 3: Maybe I like that we have leeway. And you said 50 00:02:13,080 --> 00:02:13,919 Speaker 3: we have a group. 51 00:02:13,960 --> 00:02:16,880 Speaker 4: Obviously, the low hanging fruit that I know urs probably 52 00:02:16,919 --> 00:02:19,160 Speaker 4: was gonna go in and take Rider, But uh, we 53 00:02:19,280 --> 00:02:21,600 Speaker 4: go stay away from ridder because that's the most obvious. 54 00:02:21,840 --> 00:02:23,360 Speaker 4: And I think for me, I'm gonna go with the 55 00:02:23,400 --> 00:02:26,280 Speaker 4: offensive line. And you're talking about giving up zero sacks. 56 00:02:26,520 --> 00:02:28,480 Speaker 4: You're talking about giving Rider time to get rid of 57 00:02:28,520 --> 00:02:30,720 Speaker 4: the football run game. Was there when you needed to be, 58 00:02:31,360 --> 00:02:34,080 Speaker 4: and in a game where the physicality was a big 59 00:02:34,160 --> 00:02:35,400 Speaker 4: part of the ball game, I thought he did a 60 00:02:35,440 --> 00:02:38,600 Speaker 4: good job of using that up front. So anytime you 61 00:02:38,639 --> 00:02:41,560 Speaker 4: protect your quarterback and you have a really good game 62 00:02:41,600 --> 00:02:43,680 Speaker 4: like that, you get old lines some love, man, because 63 00:02:43,680 --> 00:02:46,000 Speaker 4: obviously the quarterback plays well. You got a bunch of 64 00:02:46,000 --> 00:02:49,280 Speaker 4: guys on the outside, receivers, tight ends, they all do well. 65 00:02:49,919 --> 00:02:52,320 Speaker 4: Only one group really matters when it comes to that. 66 00:02:52,360 --> 00:02:54,080 Speaker 4: So I think the old line played the blackball game. 67 00:02:54,160 --> 00:02:56,360 Speaker 1: You leave it up to the quarterbacks, right. The quarterbacks 68 00:02:56,360 --> 00:03:00,239 Speaker 1: are the ones to give the offensive line some In 69 00:03:00,320 --> 00:03:03,160 Speaker 1: all honesty, though, when an offense is not playing well, 70 00:03:03,200 --> 00:03:05,680 Speaker 1: that's a position group that's easy to criticize as well. 71 00:03:05,720 --> 00:03:07,560 Speaker 1: That's where a lot of people want, especially when there's 72 00:03:07,560 --> 00:03:10,120 Speaker 1: been pressure on the quarterback. Everybody wants to point fingers 73 00:03:10,520 --> 00:03:13,320 Speaker 1: on the offensive line. But most players, most coaches will 74 00:03:13,320 --> 00:03:15,760 Speaker 1: tell you that offense is not going to be successful 75 00:03:16,080 --> 00:03:18,400 Speaker 1: if your offensive line is not working together. And they 76 00:03:18,400 --> 00:03:21,359 Speaker 1: had one of their best games of the season. Offensive 77 00:03:21,360 --> 00:03:23,920 Speaker 1: line plays well, quarterback plays well as you talked about, 78 00:03:23,960 --> 00:03:25,320 Speaker 1: because he was able to get the ball in the 79 00:03:25,320 --> 00:03:28,840 Speaker 1: hands of the tight ends. And my MVP of this 80 00:03:28,880 --> 00:03:32,160 Speaker 1: one is the tight end group because I think a 81 00:03:32,160 --> 00:03:34,560 Speaker 1: lot of us, you know, maybe in private conversations, maybe 82 00:03:34,560 --> 00:03:37,320 Speaker 1: a little bit on this podcast, we're saying, where's Kyle 83 00:03:37,360 --> 00:03:40,400 Speaker 1: Pitts been lately? And yes, he's been coming back from injury. 84 00:03:40,840 --> 00:03:43,440 Speaker 1: And Kyle Pitts had a kind of a breakout performance. 85 00:03:43,520 --> 00:03:46,200 Speaker 1: It's interesting, guys. I talked about it on our pregame 86 00:03:46,240 --> 00:03:49,160 Speaker 1: show with Taylor about maybe this is the game that 87 00:03:49,280 --> 00:03:52,440 Speaker 1: Kyle does end up having his breakout performance of the season. 88 00:03:52,800 --> 00:03:55,240 Speaker 1: Kyle ends up with seven catches eighty seven yards with 89 00:03:55,320 --> 00:03:57,920 Speaker 1: that group John hu Smith six for sixty seven and 90 00:03:58,000 --> 00:04:01,360 Speaker 1: then Mike Cole Pruitt won for twenty two fourteen catches, 91 00:04:01,640 --> 00:04:04,680 Speaker 1: one hundred and seventy six yards. Over half of Desmond 92 00:04:04,720 --> 00:04:07,600 Speaker 1: Ridvers passing yards ended up going to the tight end group, 93 00:04:07,840 --> 00:04:09,720 Speaker 1: and oddly enough, John new Smith has been one of 94 00:04:09,800 --> 00:04:13,040 Speaker 1: the primary targets throughout the entire season. But when you 95 00:04:13,080 --> 00:04:16,279 Speaker 1: get a guy like Kyle Pitts involved in the in 96 00:04:16,320 --> 00:04:18,200 Speaker 1: the passing game, you get the football in his hands, 97 00:04:18,240 --> 00:04:21,520 Speaker 1: the catch radius that he has, the ability just throw 98 00:04:21,560 --> 00:04:24,040 Speaker 1: it up in his vicinity, chances are he's going to 99 00:04:24,080 --> 00:04:25,280 Speaker 1: be able to make a catch. And he met a 100 00:04:25,320 --> 00:04:28,440 Speaker 1: couple of tough catches in that game, ones in traffic, 101 00:04:28,640 --> 00:04:30,400 Speaker 1: ones that he knew he was going to take a hit, 102 00:04:30,600 --> 00:04:32,080 Speaker 1: he was able to secure him. I thought it was 103 00:04:32,120 --> 00:04:33,400 Speaker 1: a big point in that game. 104 00:04:33,440 --> 00:04:37,120 Speaker 3: That's and that's John as opposed to Janu. What you 105 00:04:37,200 --> 00:04:40,280 Speaker 3: heard on I heard broadcast. I heard, oh yeah, it happened. 106 00:04:40,320 --> 00:04:42,320 Speaker 1: Well, I heard a new a week before too, and 107 00:04:42,400 --> 00:04:46,400 Speaker 1: I was a little cringe worthy because because I've been 108 00:04:46,440 --> 00:04:49,120 Speaker 1: around the building for you know, in this offseason, ever 109 00:04:49,160 --> 00:04:51,280 Speaker 1: since he was acquired, and I was like, I never 110 00:04:51,320 --> 00:04:57,360 Speaker 1: heard anybody him as before reporting the arch MVP player 111 00:04:57,440 --> 00:04:58,479 Speaker 1: performance group. 112 00:04:58,880 --> 00:05:01,280 Speaker 2: Yeah, okay, you guys can't out on the offensive side, 113 00:05:01,279 --> 00:05:03,600 Speaker 2: and rightly so. It was fun to watch the quarterback 114 00:05:03,640 --> 00:05:06,600 Speaker 2: play and all the weapons make plays, offensive ride, provide 115 00:05:06,600 --> 00:05:08,120 Speaker 2: that up till a nothing. 116 00:05:07,920 --> 00:05:08,640 Speaker 3: Wrong with that. 117 00:05:09,640 --> 00:05:11,920 Speaker 2: I'm gonna jump to the other side of the ball. 118 00:05:12,040 --> 00:05:14,359 Speaker 2: Team that gave up. The group that gave up was 119 00:05:14,440 --> 00:05:17,000 Speaker 2: one touchdown and four field goals in the game and 120 00:05:17,080 --> 00:05:20,960 Speaker 2: really came up big. Remember the Jean Robinson fumble deep 121 00:05:21,000 --> 00:05:23,839 Speaker 2: in your own territory gets the stop, force the field goal. 122 00:05:24,000 --> 00:05:26,920 Speaker 2: They get the opening drive, move it down third, second, 123 00:05:27,000 --> 00:05:29,760 Speaker 2: one third, one stone them force a field goal. So 124 00:05:29,839 --> 00:05:32,320 Speaker 2: the defensive group and namely the defensive backs, I want 125 00:05:32,320 --> 00:05:34,560 Speaker 2: to give Jeff a coup to some love here. Jeffakuda 126 00:05:34,600 --> 00:05:37,280 Speaker 2: finally on the field, got me a ton of play 127 00:05:37,320 --> 00:05:39,520 Speaker 2: time in this game. Started at the corner spot. A 128 00:05:39,520 --> 00:05:40,840 Speaker 2: guy that we thought was going to be the guy 129 00:05:41,040 --> 00:05:44,200 Speaker 2: from the beginning had the ankle sprain was unable to 130 00:05:44,200 --> 00:05:46,400 Speaker 2: play most of training camp, missed the first couple of 131 00:05:46,440 --> 00:05:50,400 Speaker 2: games back on the field, and Nico Collins came into 132 00:05:50,400 --> 00:05:53,000 Speaker 2: this game with seven catches, sixty one hundred and sixty 133 00:05:53,040 --> 00:05:55,520 Speaker 2: eight yards and two touchdowns the previous week and had 134 00:05:55,520 --> 00:05:58,000 Speaker 2: been lighting it up. This quarterback had been averaging about 135 00:05:58,000 --> 00:06:00,960 Speaker 2: three hundred yards a game. Didn't see that, and they 136 00:06:01,160 --> 00:06:03,960 Speaker 2: limited the opportunities Tank Dell did was not a factor. 137 00:06:04,000 --> 00:06:05,400 Speaker 2: In fact, the ended up getting knocked out of the game. 138 00:06:05,440 --> 00:06:07,720 Speaker 2: Let's hope he's going to be okay. But this passing 139 00:06:07,760 --> 00:06:09,920 Speaker 2: game that we'd heard so much about, the plays down 140 00:06:09,960 --> 00:06:12,560 Speaker 2: the field, and they still made I think five or 141 00:06:12,600 --> 00:06:15,920 Speaker 2: six plays that were fifteen yards plus. They came in 142 00:06:16,240 --> 00:06:18,799 Speaker 2: with a game against Pittsburgh the previous week ten plays 143 00:06:18,800 --> 00:06:22,000 Speaker 2: of fifteen yards or more. This defense limited what they 144 00:06:22,000 --> 00:06:23,960 Speaker 2: were able to do. And I would credit maybe the 145 00:06:23,960 --> 00:06:26,960 Speaker 2: secondary in particular, and go ahead and give Jeff Akudah, 146 00:06:27,320 --> 00:06:29,599 Speaker 2: Aj Turrell and Mike Cues who came in because Aj 147 00:06:29,680 --> 00:06:31,560 Speaker 2: got a little banged up and really locked down the 148 00:06:31,600 --> 00:06:34,320 Speaker 2: corner too. So three former number ones played not number 149 00:06:34,360 --> 00:06:34,919 Speaker 2: ones this weekend. 150 00:06:34,960 --> 00:06:36,800 Speaker 1: How about all for two. A couple of nice pass 151 00:06:36,880 --> 00:06:40,359 Speaker 1: breakups in the game were very, very timely, and you 152 00:06:40,440 --> 00:06:43,159 Speaker 1: mentioned Akudah. There was a couple. I know one in particular, 153 00:06:43,200 --> 00:06:46,120 Speaker 1: he brought the thunder on somebody caught the ball in 154 00:06:46,120 --> 00:06:47,680 Speaker 1: the flat. And a lot of times when you see 155 00:06:47,680 --> 00:06:50,520 Speaker 1: corners make tackles like they just make tackles. They don't 156 00:06:50,520 --> 00:06:53,440 Speaker 1: necessarily make their presence felt, if you know what I mean. 157 00:06:53,640 --> 00:06:56,360 Speaker 1: But Olkudah came up and stuck somebody on one play, 158 00:06:56,360 --> 00:06:58,919 Speaker 1: and I was pretty impressed by the physicality that he 159 00:06:58,960 --> 00:07:00,720 Speaker 1: played with at that position. And so it's good to 160 00:07:00,720 --> 00:07:03,839 Speaker 1: see a guy like him getting healthier and becoming a 161 00:07:03,839 --> 00:07:06,240 Speaker 1: difference maker on this defense, which many thought that he 162 00:07:06,400 --> 00:07:08,560 Speaker 1: was going to be when he was signed in the offseason. 163 00:07:08,800 --> 00:07:10,320 Speaker 1: Real quick, before we move on to the next one, 164 00:07:10,360 --> 00:07:13,440 Speaker 1: can we all agree about the MVP moment of the 165 00:07:13,520 --> 00:07:15,800 Speaker 1: game was Bijon Robinson. I mean, I don't want to 166 00:07:15,880 --> 00:07:19,960 Speaker 1: lead you guys into a specific play, but the play 167 00:07:20,000 --> 00:07:23,200 Speaker 1: that we've seen all over social media, the shovel pass 168 00:07:23,400 --> 00:07:26,960 Speaker 1: that he catches sandwiches next to his hip, his back, 169 00:07:27,040 --> 00:07:31,840 Speaker 1: his stomach, whatever ends up being. Meanwhile, shake somebody right 170 00:07:31,960 --> 00:07:34,360 Speaker 1: with it, just held right next to him, and then 171 00:07:34,400 --> 00:07:36,640 Speaker 1: finds his way into the end zone. Is it like 172 00:07:36,760 --> 00:07:39,440 Speaker 1: a week after week Fellas that we find that moment? 173 00:07:39,640 --> 00:07:39,880 Speaker 3: Was like? 174 00:07:39,960 --> 00:07:41,320 Speaker 1: What can he not do? 175 00:07:41,640 --> 00:07:41,800 Speaker 3: Well? 176 00:07:41,840 --> 00:07:43,720 Speaker 4: First off, I don't think the game is hard enough 177 00:07:43,720 --> 00:07:46,280 Speaker 4: for Bjon. Obviously, that's why he's trying these different things 178 00:07:46,520 --> 00:07:48,640 Speaker 4: in every single ball game, and you know, it seems 179 00:07:48,640 --> 00:07:50,640 Speaker 4: like he had to catch with one hand because the 180 00:07:50,680 --> 00:07:52,320 Speaker 4: game is just not that hard to him. 181 00:07:52,440 --> 00:07:54,679 Speaker 3: No, but it's fun to watch him every single week. 182 00:07:54,880 --> 00:07:58,760 Speaker 4: And I just we get to do a fouc show 183 00:07:58,760 --> 00:08:00,360 Speaker 4: after the game and I get a check is to 184 00:08:00,400 --> 00:08:03,280 Speaker 4: hear some of the calls from from from uh from 185 00:08:03,360 --> 00:08:07,400 Speaker 4: Archer West. And when this happens before he even gets 186 00:08:07,400 --> 00:08:10,880 Speaker 4: into the end zone, as Wes is still kind of 187 00:08:10,960 --> 00:08:14,520 Speaker 4: diagramming the play, you can hear Arch in the background 188 00:08:14,600 --> 00:08:18,280 Speaker 4: laughing because it's just almost like comical to watch it happen. 189 00:08:18,320 --> 00:08:21,120 Speaker 4: And then the seat every week, so it's it's fun 190 00:08:21,160 --> 00:08:23,160 Speaker 4: to watch this guy every single week. And every time 191 00:08:23,160 --> 00:08:25,400 Speaker 4: he touches it, you're like, Okay, this guy, this dude 192 00:08:25,440 --> 00:08:26,360 Speaker 4: got a chance to do it. 193 00:08:26,400 --> 00:08:28,480 Speaker 3: But then when he does stuff like this, all you 194 00:08:28,520 --> 00:08:29,160 Speaker 3: can do is laugh. 195 00:08:29,320 --> 00:08:32,800 Speaker 2: Yeah, I have seen no look passes. I've never seen 196 00:08:32,920 --> 00:08:36,520 Speaker 2: no look because his eyes aren't even on the ball. 197 00:08:36,600 --> 00:08:38,920 Speaker 2: If you watch it in slow moh, he cradles the 198 00:08:38,960 --> 00:08:42,160 Speaker 2: ball and pins it against his left cheeks and shaking 199 00:08:42,200 --> 00:08:44,000 Speaker 2: a guy at the same time as he goes in 200 00:08:44,040 --> 00:08:44,280 Speaker 2: the end. 201 00:08:44,280 --> 00:08:49,360 Speaker 3: So shake one with you. I imagine if I threw. 202 00:08:49,200 --> 00:08:51,640 Speaker 2: That full speed, I might just look at my shoulder. 203 00:08:51,679 --> 00:08:57,120 Speaker 2: But now it was a fun moment. Hey, a secondary 204 00:08:57,200 --> 00:09:01,079 Speaker 2: to that, Let's give the new bird geting passer in 205 00:09:01,280 --> 00:09:04,480 Speaker 2: in our organization some credit. Drake London on the reverse. 206 00:09:04,880 --> 00:09:07,079 Speaker 2: Not only does he have the presidence to throw a 207 00:09:07,160 --> 00:09:10,000 Speaker 2: nice tight spiral to Johnny Smith for a big game 208 00:09:10,920 --> 00:09:14,560 Speaker 2: pocket presence he made it, got missed Henry toe towas said, 209 00:09:14,559 --> 00:09:16,760 Speaker 2: got him dead the rights up the field. He shakes 210 00:09:16,840 --> 00:09:18,560 Speaker 2: him and gets out of the pocket and makes a throw. 211 00:09:18,679 --> 00:09:20,319 Speaker 2: So we got to give Drake his due too. 212 00:09:20,360 --> 00:09:22,800 Speaker 4: I got one to add to And since you guys 213 00:09:22,800 --> 00:09:24,800 Speaker 4: are just gonna, you know, lay on the offensive side, 214 00:09:24,800 --> 00:09:26,880 Speaker 4: I'm gonna talk about the defensive side for man because 215 00:09:26,920 --> 00:09:29,840 Speaker 4: you know, if you guys all that, but uh, there 216 00:09:29,880 --> 00:09:33,400 Speaker 4: was a play right before halftime and it is a 217 00:09:33,520 --> 00:09:36,840 Speaker 4: batted pass by Grady Jared and if he does not 218 00:09:36,960 --> 00:09:39,240 Speaker 4: bat this pass, he does not get the penetration and 219 00:09:39,240 --> 00:09:40,160 Speaker 4: push his guy back. 220 00:09:40,000 --> 00:09:40,800 Speaker 3: And back that ball down. 221 00:09:40,800 --> 00:09:41,800 Speaker 1: You and I were talking about. 222 00:09:41,880 --> 00:09:44,920 Speaker 4: Dale is sitting in the middle of that falcons even 223 00:09:44,960 --> 00:09:47,240 Speaker 4: and he's going to score a touchdown open and instead 224 00:09:47,360 --> 00:09:48,480 Speaker 4: you hold him to a field goal. 225 00:09:48,800 --> 00:09:49,440 Speaker 3: They come back out. 226 00:09:49,480 --> 00:09:50,760 Speaker 4: Obviously they could have got the two for one with 227 00:09:50,800 --> 00:09:52,600 Speaker 4: a big touchdown coming out, they could have felt really 228 00:09:52,640 --> 00:09:55,280 Speaker 4: different about themselves after being right there on what is 229 00:09:55,280 --> 00:09:58,760 Speaker 4: a three four yard line, but an outstanding individual effort 230 00:09:58,800 --> 00:10:01,520 Speaker 4: played by Grady Jared to push the pocket nag get 231 00:10:01,559 --> 00:10:03,839 Speaker 4: his hands up because if not, Tank Bale walks into 232 00:10:03,880 --> 00:10:04,280 Speaker 4: the ensils. 233 00:10:04,280 --> 00:10:06,960 Speaker 2: It was the one moment in the broadcast I used 234 00:10:07,160 --> 00:10:10,920 Speaker 2: you shall not pass and it literally applied. 235 00:10:11,160 --> 00:10:13,040 Speaker 1: It was great. You know, one of the things I 236 00:10:13,080 --> 00:10:15,240 Speaker 1: felt like coming into the game the defense had to 237 00:10:15,280 --> 00:10:19,600 Speaker 1: do is somehow affects CJ. Stroud, and sometimes affecting him 238 00:10:19,640 --> 00:10:22,120 Speaker 1: isn't always getting sacks, And that, to me was a 239 00:10:22,160 --> 00:10:24,880 Speaker 1: premiere example of that happening with a wide open receiver 240 00:10:25,320 --> 00:10:28,120 Speaker 1: just walks an offensive lineman back into the backfield, gets 241 00:10:28,120 --> 00:10:30,720 Speaker 1: the pass deflection, and ends up with a huge stop. 242 00:10:30,800 --> 00:10:32,599 Speaker 1: So all right, so we talked about a number of 243 00:10:32,640 --> 00:10:35,040 Speaker 1: different moments. Let's kind of dive into this matchup a 244 00:10:35,040 --> 00:10:37,280 Speaker 1: little bit more. Arch I want to come back to you. 245 00:10:37,640 --> 00:10:39,920 Speaker 1: I mean, we always talk about keys to the game, 246 00:10:39,920 --> 00:10:42,400 Speaker 1: We always talk about areas that need to improve from 247 00:10:42,400 --> 00:10:45,360 Speaker 1: the previous week, but highlight a couple of the things 248 00:10:45,360 --> 00:10:48,000 Speaker 1: that you felt like Atlanta did well in this matchup 249 00:10:48,040 --> 00:10:50,680 Speaker 1: that ended up allowing them to kind of weather the 250 00:10:50,679 --> 00:10:52,360 Speaker 1: storm a little bit. They got off to a good 251 00:10:52,360 --> 00:10:54,520 Speaker 1: start and then the field goals kind of started to 252 00:10:54,520 --> 00:10:57,000 Speaker 1: eat into their lead, ended up overtaking their lead right 253 00:10:57,000 --> 00:10:59,360 Speaker 1: before the halftime break. But then to make the run 254 00:10:59,400 --> 00:11:00,600 Speaker 1: to come back and get the victory. 255 00:11:00,600 --> 00:11:02,760 Speaker 2: Well, I think that the number one thing is something 256 00:11:02,800 --> 00:11:05,120 Speaker 2: Shock and I've been talking about for several weeks now, 257 00:11:05,280 --> 00:11:07,400 Speaker 2: is your slow starts. Now, you still got off to 258 00:11:07,679 --> 00:11:10,079 Speaker 2: a three and out, but then very next series you 259 00:11:10,120 --> 00:11:11,840 Speaker 2: got it going. And why did you get it going? 260 00:11:12,400 --> 00:11:15,240 Speaker 2: We talked about a shock success on first down you 261 00:11:15,280 --> 00:11:18,400 Speaker 2: started having some success. What was throw the football, get 262 00:11:18,480 --> 00:11:20,000 Speaker 2: some run game, and he got enough out of the 263 00:11:20,080 --> 00:11:23,120 Speaker 2: run game. We didn't see as many no yard games 264 00:11:23,200 --> 00:11:24,880 Speaker 2: or tackle behind the line of strings. Now we still 265 00:11:24,880 --> 00:11:27,280 Speaker 2: saw someone We're gonna have to eliminate that, but there 266 00:11:27,360 --> 00:11:30,280 Speaker 2: was more three yard plays four yard plays. Now, as 267 00:11:30,320 --> 00:11:33,319 Speaker 2: a play caller, if I'm Arthur Smith, I've got a 268 00:11:33,360 --> 00:11:35,200 Speaker 2: lot more stuff I can get to. I can get 269 00:11:35,240 --> 00:11:37,240 Speaker 2: to the play. We're going to give Drake the ball 270 00:11:37,280 --> 00:11:39,360 Speaker 2: and he throws the football or some of some of 271 00:11:39,360 --> 00:11:42,120 Speaker 2: the screenplays or some of the variants plays. They ran 272 00:11:42,240 --> 00:11:44,480 Speaker 2: seventy four plays in this game, but which I think 273 00:11:44,559 --> 00:11:46,439 Speaker 2: is the high for the year. That gives you a 274 00:11:46,520 --> 00:11:49,800 Speaker 2: lot more variety. I thought that the ability that in 275 00:11:49,840 --> 00:11:52,880 Speaker 2: itself being able to run more plays allowed you to 276 00:11:52,960 --> 00:11:55,400 Speaker 2: have the tight ends, have all the grabs ahead. Drake 277 00:11:55,440 --> 00:11:57,960 Speaker 2: gets six grabs himself and climbs the ladder and makes 278 00:11:57,960 --> 00:12:01,240 Speaker 2: a circus catch, makes the throw talked about. So this 279 00:12:01,360 --> 00:12:03,959 Speaker 2: the ability to be good on first down or better 280 00:12:04,080 --> 00:12:07,360 Speaker 2: I shouldn't say good. Better on first down translated to 281 00:12:07,480 --> 00:12:10,560 Speaker 2: your third down conversion scenario where at fifty percent on 282 00:12:10,640 --> 00:12:13,200 Speaker 2: third downs, And I think that that's something that I 283 00:12:13,240 --> 00:12:15,400 Speaker 2: thought you need to accentuate. And I think that's the 284 00:12:15,520 --> 00:12:20,240 Speaker 2: reason why Ridder got into a rhythm. He had more opportunities. 285 00:12:20,400 --> 00:12:22,520 Speaker 2: I don't think you want to live on thirty seven 286 00:12:22,559 --> 00:12:24,200 Speaker 2: attempts every week for the quarterback. 287 00:12:24,240 --> 00:12:24,880 Speaker 3: I think you. 288 00:12:24,920 --> 00:12:29,319 Speaker 2: But thirty seven pass plays, thirty six run plays pretty 289 00:12:29,320 --> 00:12:30,120 Speaker 2: good balance. 290 00:12:29,920 --> 00:12:30,680 Speaker 1: Very good balance. 291 00:12:31,080 --> 00:12:31,320 Speaker 3: DJ. 292 00:12:31,400 --> 00:12:33,080 Speaker 1: I want to come to you because you know we've 293 00:12:33,080 --> 00:12:36,640 Speaker 1: been talking so much about Ridder and his development. Did 294 00:12:36,640 --> 00:12:37,199 Speaker 1: he take all you? 295 00:12:37,360 --> 00:12:37,480 Speaker 4: Oh? 296 00:12:38,360 --> 00:12:40,680 Speaker 3: I mean the balance is okay. 297 00:12:40,800 --> 00:12:41,800 Speaker 1: So here's the good thing. 298 00:12:41,760 --> 00:12:42,480 Speaker 2: We share a brain. 299 00:12:42,640 --> 00:12:45,000 Speaker 1: I'm going to set you up with a scenario and 300 00:12:45,040 --> 00:12:46,680 Speaker 1: allow you to gather your thoughts. 301 00:12:46,440 --> 00:12:48,839 Speaker 3: Since i'm you take all that. 302 00:12:49,320 --> 00:12:51,960 Speaker 1: Yeah, we've talked so much about about Desmond Ridder and 303 00:12:51,960 --> 00:12:54,679 Speaker 1: his development, Right, Okay, you guys have been here before. 304 00:12:54,720 --> 00:12:56,320 Speaker 1: You've been there at Georgia, You've been there as a 305 00:12:56,320 --> 00:12:59,760 Speaker 1: backup in the NFL. As far as learning and taking 306 00:12:59,840 --> 00:13:04,400 Speaker 1: lessons from previous weeks, put yourself in Desmond Ridder's shoes 307 00:13:04,559 --> 00:13:08,880 Speaker 1: and think about his development as a quarterback, success at home, 308 00:13:09,120 --> 00:13:11,920 Speaker 1: struggled on the road, still a young quarterback in the 309 00:13:11,960 --> 00:13:14,640 Speaker 1: grand scheme of things, and how you saw some of 310 00:13:14,679 --> 00:13:18,319 Speaker 1: those things play out on Sunday against Houston that attributed 311 00:13:18,320 --> 00:13:19,200 Speaker 1: to his success. 312 00:13:19,440 --> 00:13:22,760 Speaker 4: I think, first off, where he has already I'm not 313 00:13:22,800 --> 00:13:24,440 Speaker 4: even say grown, but I think the first thing that 314 00:13:24,480 --> 00:13:27,320 Speaker 4: he understood was I have to go back and I 315 00:13:27,400 --> 00:13:30,280 Speaker 4: have to watch this tape and realize where I wasn't 316 00:13:30,320 --> 00:13:33,840 Speaker 4: as efficient. And I heard before they got back here 317 00:13:33,840 --> 00:13:35,880 Speaker 4: to Atlanta, he had already watched the game twice on 318 00:13:35,920 --> 00:13:38,560 Speaker 4: the plane. And that tells you right there that as 319 00:13:38,559 --> 00:13:40,280 Speaker 4: bad as it was, he didn't want to put that 320 00:13:40,320 --> 00:13:41,520 Speaker 4: to the side and say, all right, I don't even 321 00:13:41,559 --> 00:13:43,560 Speaker 4: want to watch that fim. He watched it two times 322 00:13:43,559 --> 00:13:45,520 Speaker 4: to understand, Okay, this is how I can get better. 323 00:13:45,720 --> 00:13:48,240 Speaker 4: And I thought he was very concise. I thought the 324 00:13:48,240 --> 00:13:49,800 Speaker 4: ball was out of his hands. I thought he knew 325 00:13:49,800 --> 00:13:52,000 Speaker 4: exactly where he wanted to go to football. But more 326 00:13:52,040 --> 00:13:55,400 Speaker 4: than I thought, he trusted his receivers for I think 327 00:13:55,440 --> 00:13:57,920 Speaker 4: the last couple of weeks, you know, we've talked about, Okay, 328 00:13:57,920 --> 00:14:01,200 Speaker 4: there's times where he's eyed people down. There's times where 329 00:14:02,640 --> 00:14:04,760 Speaker 4: he didn't trust his guy to come out of it, 330 00:14:04,800 --> 00:14:06,360 Speaker 4: and he waited a little bit longer than he probably 331 00:14:06,400 --> 00:14:09,360 Speaker 4: needed to. There was one particular play that sticks out 332 00:14:09,360 --> 00:14:12,480 Speaker 4: of my mind so clearly. I mean, there was a 333 00:14:12,480 --> 00:14:14,480 Speaker 4: couple of throws to Kyle where you know, he lays 334 00:14:14,480 --> 00:14:17,079 Speaker 4: it into the hole on these corner routes he anticipated. 335 00:14:17,920 --> 00:14:20,400 Speaker 4: You got Matt Collins run a deep over route and 336 00:14:20,440 --> 00:14:22,360 Speaker 4: the guy has his back to him and he throws 337 00:14:22,400 --> 00:14:25,320 Speaker 4: it anyway and gives it on his back shoulder. But 338 00:14:25,480 --> 00:14:27,800 Speaker 4: the one that really sticks out the most is they 339 00:14:27,800 --> 00:14:30,040 Speaker 4: go two by two and you got Kyle and Drake 340 00:14:30,120 --> 00:14:33,000 Speaker 4: in a like a little stack formation, and he's got 341 00:14:33,000 --> 00:14:35,440 Speaker 4: a linebacker right in the middle, and the first thing 342 00:14:35,560 --> 00:14:38,080 Speaker 4: he does is takes his eyes left and it keeps 343 00:14:38,120 --> 00:14:40,600 Speaker 4: that linebacker right in the middle and even moves him 344 00:14:40,640 --> 00:14:43,720 Speaker 4: just slightly, and he comes back and hits Kyle. 345 00:14:43,880 --> 00:14:45,120 Speaker 3: On this slant. 346 00:14:45,440 --> 00:14:48,720 Speaker 4: That tells you exactly what you need to know about 347 00:14:48,800 --> 00:14:51,800 Speaker 4: Drake from one week to another is he understands how 348 00:14:51,800 --> 00:14:54,200 Speaker 4: to use his eyes better. But then he also knows 349 00:14:54,200 --> 00:14:55,880 Speaker 4: where his guys are gonna be. And I thought that 350 00:14:55,920 --> 00:14:57,920 Speaker 4: was paramount for him in his ballgame, being able to 351 00:14:57,960 --> 00:14:59,960 Speaker 4: get that football out of his hands. But also you 352 00:15:00,000 --> 00:15:02,720 Speaker 4: he was his eyes and trust his guys around him 353 00:15:02,760 --> 00:15:05,520 Speaker 4: to be where they're supposed to be on the particular routes. 354 00:15:05,560 --> 00:15:08,360 Speaker 2: You know, there's so much that goes into play in 355 00:15:08,360 --> 00:15:12,040 Speaker 2: the quarterback position that I don't think that the average 356 00:15:12,040 --> 00:15:14,600 Speaker 2: fan or normal fan or even has an understanding. I'm 357 00:15:14,600 --> 00:15:16,960 Speaker 2: not saying that fans are stupid or anything like that, 358 00:15:17,000 --> 00:15:19,200 Speaker 2: but to think the things that he has to learn. 359 00:15:19,600 --> 00:15:22,040 Speaker 2: This is ninth day on the job, okay, and everybody 360 00:15:22,040 --> 00:15:23,720 Speaker 2: wants to talk about, well, he's been practicing all kind 361 00:15:23,760 --> 00:15:26,400 Speaker 2: of stuff. The job is when you go play the games. 362 00:15:26,600 --> 00:15:28,880 Speaker 2: The practice is where you're trying to hone your skills 363 00:15:28,920 --> 00:15:31,080 Speaker 2: as best you can, but you can't assimulate a game, 364 00:15:31,440 --> 00:15:34,720 Speaker 2: so your test is game day. This was his ninth test. 365 00:15:34,920 --> 00:15:36,880 Speaker 2: So to think this kid isn't going to continue to 366 00:15:36,880 --> 00:15:39,680 Speaker 2: grow with all the success he had in college is 367 00:15:39,760 --> 00:15:43,640 Speaker 2: being a little bit naive. Now he's done that, he's 368 00:15:43,680 --> 00:15:46,760 Speaker 2: taken each step. A couple of things. For instance, his 369 00:15:46,840 --> 00:15:50,760 Speaker 2: ability to use hard count in the game pulled. He 370 00:15:50,800 --> 00:15:54,480 Speaker 2: pulled him off three four times. The one that sticks 371 00:15:54,520 --> 00:15:57,040 Speaker 2: out to me is he hard counts and holds the 372 00:15:57,120 --> 00:16:00,560 Speaker 2: count because Houston's coming with pressure off his left side. 373 00:16:00,600 --> 00:16:02,000 Speaker 2: But they didn't declare it. They did a really good 374 00:16:02,080 --> 00:16:04,720 Speaker 2: job of muddy in the water. Safety had not moved 375 00:16:04,720 --> 00:16:06,960 Speaker 2: over to take the slot, or at least mirror the slot, 376 00:16:07,240 --> 00:16:09,680 Speaker 2: and you're gonna bring slot pressure right here. So he 377 00:16:09,840 --> 00:16:12,360 Speaker 2: hard counts and he delays and he holds the count. 378 00:16:12,600 --> 00:16:14,480 Speaker 2: Now that's hard on the offensive line, and give the 379 00:16:14,480 --> 00:16:17,200 Speaker 2: line credit for sitting in there and waiting. But all 380 00:16:17,240 --> 00:16:19,880 Speaker 2: of a sudden, Houston got antsy. He say, wait a minute, 381 00:16:19,880 --> 00:16:21,200 Speaker 2: he's gonna snap the ball and I'm gonna be out 382 00:16:21,200 --> 00:16:23,920 Speaker 2: of position. So they declared because they wanted to bring 383 00:16:24,000 --> 00:16:26,800 Speaker 2: the slot defender through the B gap. They wanted to 384 00:16:26,840 --> 00:16:29,800 Speaker 2: split those two offensive linemen. He held it long enough 385 00:16:29,800 --> 00:16:32,440 Speaker 2: for his team to recognize it, and Kyle Pitts, who's 386 00:16:32,440 --> 00:16:35,280 Speaker 2: in the slot, is running the route right there. Kyle 387 00:16:35,360 --> 00:16:37,480 Speaker 2: knew to idle down in the hole because it was 388 00:16:38,520 --> 00:16:40,720 Speaker 2: that's the kind of stuff the growth you're looking for. 389 00:16:40,800 --> 00:16:43,000 Speaker 2: Don't just look for the throws and where they go. 390 00:16:43,720 --> 00:16:46,160 Speaker 2: It's the growth of him at the line of scrimmage, 391 00:16:46,240 --> 00:16:49,800 Speaker 2: Dummy calls, changing the play, flipping formation, you know, all 392 00:16:49,840 --> 00:16:51,760 Speaker 2: the kind of things that going to a quarterback play. 393 00:16:52,000 --> 00:16:54,640 Speaker 2: You're continuing to see this dude grow. And I thought 394 00:16:54,680 --> 00:16:57,160 Speaker 2: this was a major step for him from some of 395 00:16:57,200 --> 00:16:59,920 Speaker 2: the little ancillary pieces that people might might not give him. 396 00:17:00,480 --> 00:17:02,800 Speaker 1: You know, it's interesting, you guys can probably back this up, 397 00:17:02,880 --> 00:17:04,399 Speaker 1: but you know, Matt Schaub was a good buddy of 398 00:17:04,480 --> 00:17:07,000 Speaker 1: mine and had some conversation with him over the years. 399 00:17:07,040 --> 00:17:10,480 Speaker 1: And I think again, the average fan might say, especially 400 00:17:10,480 --> 00:17:13,119 Speaker 1: with an offense that's given up, some sacks say, when 401 00:17:13,119 --> 00:17:15,600 Speaker 1: you say pressure all of a sudden, they're like, oh goodness, 402 00:17:15,680 --> 00:17:19,320 Speaker 1: here we go again. But the quarterbacks that are feeling 403 00:17:19,320 --> 00:17:22,560 Speaker 1: it the most and that are ready to attack, they 404 00:17:22,600 --> 00:17:25,280 Speaker 1: want the pressure because they know they've got one on 405 00:17:25,280 --> 00:17:27,600 Speaker 1: one matchups and they've got a lot of open field, 406 00:17:28,200 --> 00:17:31,000 Speaker 1: So those are the areas too. You talk about evolution, 407 00:17:31,080 --> 00:17:33,680 Speaker 1: it has been ridder As he starts to get more 408 00:17:33,680 --> 00:17:37,399 Speaker 1: comfortable and he uses snap count to his advantage to 409 00:17:37,440 --> 00:17:39,880 Speaker 1: help the defense declare what they're gonna do, and then 410 00:17:39,920 --> 00:17:43,359 Speaker 1: he gets them kind of he understands where they're gonna go. 411 00:17:43,640 --> 00:17:46,320 Speaker 1: And now it's like, bring the pressure, because now I 412 00:17:46,359 --> 00:17:48,640 Speaker 1: know I got big plays coming. I've got a Manda 413 00:17:48,680 --> 00:17:51,000 Speaker 1: Man matchup on a slant router, I got a Manda 414 00:17:51,040 --> 00:17:52,520 Speaker 1: Man on the outside. I can throw it up to 415 00:17:52,520 --> 00:17:54,960 Speaker 1: one of my big receivers. A lot of quarterbacks will 416 00:17:55,000 --> 00:17:58,720 Speaker 1: tell you bring it, bring the cover one, the cover zero, 417 00:17:58,760 --> 00:18:01,600 Speaker 1: and the pressure, because now is our opportunity to get 418 00:18:01,600 --> 00:18:03,840 Speaker 1: some explosive plays. One thing I wanted to ask you 419 00:18:03,840 --> 00:18:07,520 Speaker 1: guys about time of possession. Atlanta ended up having the 420 00:18:07,560 --> 00:18:10,320 Speaker 1: ball for thirty five minutes thirty two seconds Houston twenty 421 00:18:10,359 --> 00:18:13,200 Speaker 1: four to twenty eight. I call a lot of college games, 422 00:18:13,240 --> 00:18:15,280 Speaker 1: and I always tell people that time with possession might 423 00:18:15,280 --> 00:18:18,600 Speaker 1: be one of the most overrated statistics, especially in the 424 00:18:18,600 --> 00:18:21,320 Speaker 1: age of hurry up offenses where teams just go boombo 425 00:18:21,320 --> 00:18:24,679 Speaker 1: boom down the field. Arch do you think it's important 426 00:18:25,000 --> 00:18:28,240 Speaker 1: for Atlanta to possess the football with their style of offense, 427 00:18:28,520 --> 00:18:32,000 Speaker 1: and then facing a Houston team that basically showed that 428 00:18:32,080 --> 00:18:35,840 Speaker 1: their best chance successful for successful offense was through the air. 429 00:18:36,720 --> 00:18:39,199 Speaker 2: Yeah, I think there's some validity to the stat I 430 00:18:39,240 --> 00:18:41,199 Speaker 2: think that how do you get to the stat I 431 00:18:41,200 --> 00:18:43,400 Speaker 2: think when you begin to look and you break down 432 00:18:43,440 --> 00:18:45,440 Speaker 2: the other numbers and how they correlate to the time 433 00:18:45,440 --> 00:18:48,400 Speaker 2: of possession, that's where you realize it's a winning formula. 434 00:18:49,040 --> 00:18:53,399 Speaker 2: You limited Houston to three for thirteen in conversion situation, 435 00:18:53,560 --> 00:18:58,520 Speaker 2: four for thirteen in conversion situations, that's losing football. Now, 436 00:18:58,600 --> 00:19:01,040 Speaker 2: as long as you're not given up ex explosives, which 437 00:19:01,080 --> 00:19:01,520 Speaker 2: they didn't. 438 00:19:01,560 --> 00:19:01,919 Speaker 3: I said that. 439 00:19:01,920 --> 00:19:04,280 Speaker 2: I think they gave up six or seven plays of 440 00:19:04,320 --> 00:19:07,720 Speaker 2: fifteen yards or more that was well under what Houston 441 00:19:07,760 --> 00:19:10,320 Speaker 2: had done in their last two wins. Then all of 442 00:19:10,359 --> 00:19:12,960 Speaker 2: a sudden, that equates to, Okay, we've got the ball more. 443 00:19:13,160 --> 00:19:15,639 Speaker 2: I think we ran seventy four plays of their fifty 444 00:19:15,640 --> 00:19:18,359 Speaker 2: five plays. If you're not giving up explosives and they're 445 00:19:18,359 --> 00:19:20,960 Speaker 2: not converting on third down, now, all of a sudden, 446 00:19:21,480 --> 00:19:24,280 Speaker 2: that formula possessing the football means you're shortening the game 447 00:19:24,320 --> 00:19:25,880 Speaker 2: and they just don't have enough opportunities. 448 00:19:25,880 --> 00:19:27,600 Speaker 4: And here's the other part to it, and we saw 449 00:19:27,600 --> 00:19:30,120 Speaker 4: it in the ballgame. They're not giving up as many 450 00:19:30,680 --> 00:19:33,720 Speaker 4: explosives and they ran for sixty four yards in a 451 00:19:33,760 --> 00:19:35,280 Speaker 4: year lot that came at the end of the ball 452 00:19:35,280 --> 00:19:37,040 Speaker 4: game average two point eight yards of rush. So you 453 00:19:37,080 --> 00:19:39,320 Speaker 4: look up and you're not getting the explosives you're used 454 00:19:39,359 --> 00:19:41,719 Speaker 4: to get. You're not running the football like you used to. 455 00:19:42,119 --> 00:19:43,720 Speaker 4: So now there was two or three chances in the 456 00:19:43,760 --> 00:19:46,920 Speaker 4: ballgame where you can see CJ. Strouds starting to feel like, okay, 457 00:19:47,320 --> 00:19:48,920 Speaker 4: I need to make a play, and he forced the 458 00:19:48,960 --> 00:19:49,800 Speaker 4: ball a couple times. 459 00:19:49,880 --> 00:19:51,680 Speaker 3: And that's what a good defense does. 460 00:19:51,720 --> 00:19:54,919 Speaker 4: That's what when the offense possesses the football and you 461 00:19:54,960 --> 00:19:56,879 Speaker 4: look up and you're down, like, okay, we got to 462 00:19:56,880 --> 00:19:58,800 Speaker 4: find a way to move the football and push it 463 00:19:58,800 --> 00:20:01,000 Speaker 4: down the field. And when those those two components are 464 00:20:01,000 --> 00:20:03,520 Speaker 4: not coming together, time possession is a really good thing. 465 00:20:03,640 --> 00:20:06,080 Speaker 2: It's interesting too, when you look at the young quarterback, 466 00:20:06,119 --> 00:20:08,840 Speaker 2: how do you attack young quarterbacks? And we've seen a couple, right, 467 00:20:09,200 --> 00:20:12,560 Speaker 2: We saw some different philosophy potentially against Bryce Young than 468 00:20:12,560 --> 00:20:15,800 Speaker 2: we saw this weekend against CJ. Stroud, But Atlanta played 469 00:20:15,840 --> 00:20:18,480 Speaker 2: a lot more coverage in this game than they'd played 470 00:20:18,520 --> 00:20:22,560 Speaker 2: in the four previous games, not as much pressure package situations. 471 00:20:22,720 --> 00:20:24,840 Speaker 2: It was more forman rush. In fact, you even saw 472 00:20:25,080 --> 00:20:27,680 Speaker 2: a bunch of three man pass rush drop eight into 473 00:20:27,720 --> 00:20:31,480 Speaker 2: coverage to make the young kid find guys open, and 474 00:20:31,600 --> 00:20:34,760 Speaker 2: ultimately he got frustrated and started dumping the ball off underneath, 475 00:20:35,000 --> 00:20:37,200 Speaker 2: and that was what he equated to a lot of 476 00:20:36,760 --> 00:20:40,120 Speaker 2: the lack of third down conversion. So I thought Ryan 477 00:20:40,200 --> 00:20:42,119 Speaker 2: Nielsen did a really good job of his game plan 478 00:20:42,560 --> 00:20:44,919 Speaker 2: to kind of frustrate a quarterback who had seen something 479 00:20:44,960 --> 00:20:47,159 Speaker 2: on tape, then all of a sudden this week and 480 00:20:47,280 --> 00:20:48,560 Speaker 2: he saw something completely different. 481 00:20:48,600 --> 00:20:49,080 Speaker 3: Yep, yep. 482 00:20:49,240 --> 00:20:51,920 Speaker 1: So defensively, we've talked a lot of offense. Just wanted 483 00:20:51,960 --> 00:20:54,480 Speaker 1: to make sure Shock just talked about it. Twenty three 484 00:20:54,520 --> 00:20:58,000 Speaker 1: carries for just sixty four yards rushing against the Atlanta defense. 485 00:20:58,520 --> 00:21:00,919 Speaker 1: Arch you mentioned that Nico Collins, he was averaging one 486 00:21:01,000 --> 00:21:04,200 Speaker 1: hundred and seven receiving yards a game coming into this one, 487 00:21:04,400 --> 00:21:08,119 Speaker 1: held for three for thirty nine. So Atlanta obviously knowing 488 00:21:08,440 --> 00:21:11,560 Speaker 1: where the biggest threat was for the Texans wide receiver 489 00:21:11,600 --> 00:21:14,080 Speaker 1: group and limited him. Then of course c J. Stroud 490 00:21:14,080 --> 00:21:16,800 Speaker 1: he was averaging over three hundred yards passing through the 491 00:21:16,880 --> 00:21:19,680 Speaker 1: first four games, held the two hundred and forty nine 492 00:21:19,760 --> 00:21:22,359 Speaker 1: yards passing in this one real quick. I want to 493 00:21:22,359 --> 00:21:25,119 Speaker 1: finish up the conversation on Desmond Ritter DJ. Let me 494 00:21:25,160 --> 00:21:28,040 Speaker 1: come to you here. It's there was a lot of 495 00:21:28,080 --> 00:21:32,080 Speaker 1: discussion I saw on social media about Desmond Ridders quiets 496 00:21:32,119 --> 00:21:35,280 Speaker 1: the critics. Okay, and one thing that we all know 497 00:21:35,600 --> 00:21:37,920 Speaker 1: he knows, Arthur Smith knows I saw him even talk 498 00:21:37,960 --> 00:21:41,399 Speaker 1: about in his postgame press conference, was the NFL is 499 00:21:41,480 --> 00:21:43,320 Speaker 1: about what do you do for me lately? 500 00:21:43,880 --> 00:21:44,080 Speaker 3: Right? 501 00:21:44,480 --> 00:21:47,200 Speaker 1: So, yes, he quieted his critics. He got that fourth 502 00:21:47,240 --> 00:21:49,359 Speaker 1: quarter drive to win a football game, which kind of 503 00:21:49,359 --> 00:21:52,800 Speaker 1: makes everybody. It's a little sigh of relief. Right, It's 504 00:21:52,840 --> 00:21:54,600 Speaker 1: something that he can kind of check off his list. 505 00:21:55,040 --> 00:21:57,760 Speaker 1: But but the job is not done right. It's like 506 00:21:57,920 --> 00:21:59,800 Speaker 1: you can enjoy it for one night and then you 507 00:21:59,840 --> 00:22:02,439 Speaker 1: got go back to work. Because now the standard has 508 00:22:02,480 --> 00:22:04,440 Speaker 1: been set. What does he need to do to be 509 00:22:04,520 --> 00:22:06,560 Speaker 1: able to build on top of this performance. 510 00:22:06,800 --> 00:22:08,560 Speaker 4: I think the greatest thing is he has a guy 511 00:22:08,600 --> 00:22:10,400 Speaker 4: that believes in him and author Smith, I go back 512 00:22:10,400 --> 00:22:13,160 Speaker 4: two weeks ago after the game versus Jaguars. The first 513 00:22:13,200 --> 00:22:14,920 Speaker 4: thing he said was we believe in this guy. Yeah, 514 00:22:14,920 --> 00:22:16,960 Speaker 4: he's a young guy, and guess what you're gonna have 515 00:22:17,000 --> 00:22:19,439 Speaker 4: these days. You're gonna have these nights. But it's how 516 00:22:19,480 --> 00:22:22,080 Speaker 4: you're gonna respond. And he responded this week. And I 517 00:22:22,080 --> 00:22:25,119 Speaker 4: think the biggest thing he can do is consistently do 518 00:22:25,240 --> 00:22:27,200 Speaker 4: the things that he did in this past ball game, 519 00:22:27,240 --> 00:22:29,240 Speaker 4: which is, get the ball out of his hands, don't 520 00:22:29,240 --> 00:22:31,400 Speaker 4: turn it over, make good decisions like ours talked about 521 00:22:31,440 --> 00:22:35,000 Speaker 4: at the line of screamers, getting this team into winnable situations. 522 00:22:35,080 --> 00:22:38,080 Speaker 4: I think is what will make him become a better 523 00:22:38,119 --> 00:22:41,879 Speaker 4: player and more consistent player. Let's just think about I 524 00:22:41,920 --> 00:22:43,879 Speaker 4: think the two biggest moments in the ball game, the 525 00:22:43,920 --> 00:22:46,359 Speaker 4: last two drives where he goes down and he goes 526 00:22:46,359 --> 00:22:49,359 Speaker 4: eleven four to eleven on those last two drives eighteen 527 00:22:49,359 --> 00:22:52,119 Speaker 4: to twenty one in the second half to help his 528 00:22:52,160 --> 00:22:54,560 Speaker 4: team win the ball game. And you're talking about getting 529 00:22:54,560 --> 00:22:57,240 Speaker 4: the ball with you know, a minute plus and three timeouts, 530 00:22:57,680 --> 00:23:01,040 Speaker 4: and he never flinched. That's the thing you like about 531 00:23:01,080 --> 00:23:04,000 Speaker 4: your quarterback in those moments. He played his biggest football 532 00:23:04,160 --> 00:23:06,199 Speaker 4: in those moments. He didn't try to force the issue 533 00:23:06,240 --> 00:23:10,199 Speaker 4: knowing we need to go score. In both situations, the 534 00:23:10,240 --> 00:23:13,120 Speaker 4: Falcons were down and he had to go make plays, 535 00:23:13,160 --> 00:23:15,640 Speaker 4: and I thought, you know, ten to eleven guys called 536 00:23:15,640 --> 00:23:19,840 Speaker 4: a pass, the distribution. He's seeing the field, he's seeing guys, 537 00:23:19,880 --> 00:23:23,879 Speaker 4: he's seeing defenders, and I think ultimately that will be 538 00:23:23,960 --> 00:23:26,199 Speaker 4: winning football and we As a quarterback, anytime you have 539 00:23:26,280 --> 00:23:28,639 Speaker 4: confidence like that, it feels good. I think that's we 540 00:23:28,720 --> 00:23:31,159 Speaker 4: talked about last week. Coming in was CJ. Strauss, a 541 00:23:31,160 --> 00:23:33,919 Speaker 4: guy who coming in had just won his last two 542 00:23:33,960 --> 00:23:37,320 Speaker 4: ball games, hadn't thrown a interception. He's confident, he feels 543 00:23:37,359 --> 00:23:39,760 Speaker 4: good about the way he plays. I think this is 544 00:23:39,800 --> 00:23:43,760 Speaker 4: a similar situation for Desnel Rutter walking into next week, 545 00:23:43,800 --> 00:23:45,840 Speaker 4: as Hey, I know what it looks like when I 546 00:23:45,880 --> 00:23:47,679 Speaker 4: put it all together. I know what it looks like 547 00:23:47,920 --> 00:23:50,400 Speaker 4: when I stayed within this offense and I can make 548 00:23:50,400 --> 00:23:52,160 Speaker 4: plays and win ball games for my team as well. 549 00:23:52,200 --> 00:23:56,200 Speaker 1: We talked about moments, and we talked about Jon Robinson. 550 00:23:56,280 --> 00:23:58,960 Speaker 1: We talked a little bit about Drake and the reverse pass. 551 00:23:59,080 --> 00:24:02,720 Speaker 1: I wanted to arch at your thoughts on because I 552 00:24:02,840 --> 00:24:05,479 Speaker 1: mentioned it in the pregame show. We talked about this 553 00:24:05,560 --> 00:24:07,960 Speaker 1: off air, how's the offense doing with there any issues, 554 00:24:08,240 --> 00:24:12,160 Speaker 1: And I mentioned sometimes it's not about scheme, mechanics, technique, 555 00:24:12,200 --> 00:24:14,600 Speaker 1: it's about a guy going out and making a play. 556 00:24:14,920 --> 00:24:17,639 Speaker 1: You just need players to go make some plays. And 557 00:24:17,760 --> 00:24:20,760 Speaker 1: Drake London on the final drive went and made a play. 558 00:24:21,040 --> 00:24:23,560 Speaker 1: How big did you think that one was for them 559 00:24:23,600 --> 00:24:25,320 Speaker 1: to come away with the victory, Not just the fact 560 00:24:25,359 --> 00:24:27,040 Speaker 1: that it made a play for them to get in 561 00:24:27,080 --> 00:24:30,359 Speaker 1: scoring territory, but for one of the best players that 562 00:24:30,400 --> 00:24:32,520 Speaker 1: we have on this team to go up over the 563 00:24:32,520 --> 00:24:35,720 Speaker 1: defense make a play, and it just got everybody energized. 564 00:24:35,720 --> 00:24:37,400 Speaker 1: The entire stadium went crazy. 565 00:24:37,520 --> 00:24:40,080 Speaker 2: I think it was the emotion Drake shows as he 566 00:24:40,119 --> 00:24:42,240 Speaker 2: goes up the ladder and makes that catch. By the way, 567 00:24:42,280 --> 00:24:44,600 Speaker 2: perfect placement of the football. You've got a guy that's 568 00:24:44,920 --> 00:24:47,199 Speaker 2: it's a fifty to fifty monster. When he came in 569 00:24:47,240 --> 00:24:50,080 Speaker 2: the league, they talked about Drake not running by people. 570 00:24:50,119 --> 00:24:52,119 Speaker 2: They said, hey, you throw this ball in the area 571 00:24:52,200 --> 00:24:54,120 Speaker 2: and he's going to go get it, and that's kind 572 00:24:54,119 --> 00:24:56,680 Speaker 2: of all he's done. And this was the epitome of that, 573 00:24:57,040 --> 00:24:58,879 Speaker 2: him climbing the ladder and making that grab. Then his 574 00:24:58,960 --> 00:25:01,560 Speaker 2: helmet gets ripped off, and then the emotion you saw 575 00:25:01,600 --> 00:25:04,000 Speaker 2: from him I thought there was a lot of reasons 576 00:25:04,040 --> 00:25:06,520 Speaker 2: why the emotion. Obviously, big moment in the game gave 577 00:25:06,560 --> 00:25:08,240 Speaker 2: you to the team an opportunity to put points on 578 00:25:08,240 --> 00:25:11,200 Speaker 2: the board. But there I'm sure there was some frustration 579 00:25:11,320 --> 00:25:13,439 Speaker 2: that had built over the last two weeks about their 580 00:25:13,480 --> 00:25:15,600 Speaker 2: inability to move the football and put points on the 581 00:25:15,600 --> 00:25:19,320 Speaker 2: board and just be explosive and do things. And you 582 00:25:19,400 --> 00:25:22,479 Speaker 2: mentioned eleven different guys caught passes. You got guys, you know, 583 00:25:22,600 --> 00:25:25,600 Speaker 2: six seven grabs from three or four different guys, And 584 00:25:25,640 --> 00:25:28,040 Speaker 2: so Drake is supposed to be a focal point of that, 585 00:25:28,400 --> 00:25:32,520 Speaker 2: and so I thought his emotion probably encapsulated everybody on 586 00:25:32,560 --> 00:25:36,119 Speaker 2: the team on the offensive side of the football. But ah, 587 00:25:36,400 --> 00:25:38,919 Speaker 2: you know, we are We're here, We've burst on the scene. 588 00:25:39,680 --> 00:25:41,119 Speaker 2: It meant a big It was a great deal. It 589 00:25:41,160 --> 00:25:43,760 Speaker 2: was a great deal. And just to double down on 590 00:25:43,880 --> 00:25:47,000 Speaker 2: Ritter and and and what that moment means. I think 591 00:25:47,040 --> 00:25:50,680 Speaker 2: it means a lot to his teammates because they see 592 00:25:50,680 --> 00:25:53,000 Speaker 2: what it can look like. I think Dez always kind 593 00:25:53,040 --> 00:25:54,919 Speaker 2: of knew inside himself that he could make some of 594 00:25:54,920 --> 00:25:56,840 Speaker 2: his plays, and I thought he carried over the second 595 00:25:56,840 --> 00:25:59,680 Speaker 2: half of the Jacksonville game into this game. He threw 596 00:25:59,720 --> 00:26:02,560 Speaker 2: the ball accurately, was making shot taking shots down the field. 597 00:26:02,720 --> 00:26:05,280 Speaker 2: The ball was coming out on time, but it made 598 00:26:05,280 --> 00:26:08,200 Speaker 2: the guys around him say, this is what it's supposed 599 00:26:08,240 --> 00:26:09,960 Speaker 2: to look like. I know, and I know what I 600 00:26:09,960 --> 00:26:12,359 Speaker 2: can do, but I need to help you guys. And 601 00:26:12,480 --> 00:26:14,280 Speaker 2: you and I both know as a quarterback one of 602 00:26:14,280 --> 00:26:16,879 Speaker 2: our number one jobs is to make the guys around 603 00:26:16,960 --> 00:26:18,840 Speaker 2: you feel pretty comfortable with It's the old line of 604 00:26:18,880 --> 00:26:21,040 Speaker 2: the receivers, and I thought he did a great job 605 00:26:21,040 --> 00:26:22,000 Speaker 2: of doing that this weekend. 606 00:26:22,240 --> 00:26:26,000 Speaker 1: So Commanders at two and three are next on the docket. 607 00:26:26,119 --> 00:26:28,680 Speaker 1: Arch I come right back to you. How does Atlanta 608 00:26:28,840 --> 00:26:32,320 Speaker 1: use this confidence the success that they had against Houston 609 00:26:32,640 --> 00:26:35,919 Speaker 1: and what type of challenges do the Commanders present for 610 00:26:36,040 --> 00:26:36,920 Speaker 1: that to continue. 611 00:26:37,000 --> 00:26:38,800 Speaker 2: Yeah, this is a different animal you're going to play 612 00:26:38,800 --> 00:26:39,320 Speaker 2: this weekend. 613 00:26:39,359 --> 00:26:39,560 Speaker 3: Now. 614 00:26:39,600 --> 00:26:41,520 Speaker 2: This is a team that can get after the passer, 615 00:26:41,600 --> 00:26:44,000 Speaker 2: and they also haven't protected the passer very well. If 616 00:26:44,000 --> 00:26:46,720 Speaker 2: you go look at the numbers, Sam Hall's been dropped 617 00:26:46,760 --> 00:26:49,320 Speaker 2: I think twenty nine times in the first five games 618 00:26:49,320 --> 00:26:51,600 Speaker 2: of the season. Well, guess what the dudes on the 619 00:26:51,640 --> 00:26:55,359 Speaker 2: other side, whether it's sweat or pain or Allen or 620 00:26:55,600 --> 00:26:59,120 Speaker 2: Chase Young, that's the front four. Those guys can come 621 00:26:59,200 --> 00:27:02,040 Speaker 2: get you. Now. This is a much better defense. I 622 00:27:02,040 --> 00:27:04,960 Speaker 2: would say, man, demand a better defense done. The numbers 623 00:27:05,040 --> 00:27:07,920 Speaker 2: might not reflect that, but from a personnel standpoint, this 624 00:27:07,960 --> 00:27:10,600 Speaker 2: is going to be a very difficult challenge to protect 625 00:27:10,600 --> 00:27:13,200 Speaker 2: against the front four. And this is an offensive line 626 00:27:13,240 --> 00:27:14,880 Speaker 2: that's been challenged a little bit in the first five 627 00:27:14,920 --> 00:27:17,040 Speaker 2: games in the season. So that's where to me, the 628 00:27:17,119 --> 00:27:20,639 Speaker 2: challenge stands. And if you think this is a fourth 629 00:27:20,720 --> 00:27:22,520 Speaker 2: round draft pick coming in, we've got a third round 630 00:27:22,600 --> 00:27:24,879 Speaker 2: draft pick. These are two guys that are starting to 631 00:27:24,880 --> 00:27:26,919 Speaker 2: come into their own. We saw what Ritter can do. 632 00:27:27,520 --> 00:27:30,240 Speaker 2: Anybody watch the Bear game and watch how I'll throw 633 00:27:30,280 --> 00:27:33,240 Speaker 2: the football. This dude can throw it everywhere. He had 634 00:27:33,280 --> 00:27:35,760 Speaker 2: thirty seven completions in the game. They lost the game, 635 00:27:36,160 --> 00:27:38,400 Speaker 2: but the dude can throw it now, so you better 636 00:27:38,400 --> 00:27:39,080 Speaker 2: get after him. 637 00:27:39,119 --> 00:27:41,080 Speaker 1: It's a lot of scrimmage. DJ going to be big 638 00:27:41,119 --> 00:27:44,760 Speaker 1: in this one, protecting against some really good as Arch mentioned, 639 00:27:44,800 --> 00:27:49,160 Speaker 1: individual players for the Commanders, but also maybe it's a 640 00:27:49,440 --> 00:27:52,160 Speaker 1: lick your lick if you play on the defensive line 641 00:27:52,200 --> 00:27:55,040 Speaker 1: for Atlanta, say we don't get after the quarterback. 642 00:27:54,560 --> 00:27:57,240 Speaker 3: This week, hope, So I mean you definitely hope somebody. 643 00:27:57,240 --> 00:27:59,639 Speaker 4: That's one of the things that obviously everybody wants to 644 00:27:59,640 --> 00:28:01,399 Speaker 4: see is get sacks, want to get the quarterback on 645 00:28:01,400 --> 00:28:04,439 Speaker 4: the ground and how coming to this game. Obviously with 646 00:28:04,600 --> 00:28:06,920 Speaker 4: the sacks, he's got six interceptions too, so that tells 647 00:28:06,960 --> 00:28:08,920 Speaker 4: you he's been under the rest. But you also would 648 00:28:08,920 --> 00:28:10,800 Speaker 4: throw it to you a little bit. But a very 649 00:28:10,800 --> 00:28:12,919 Speaker 4: confident kid, like Archiers talked about. You go back to 650 00:28:13,119 --> 00:28:14,760 Speaker 4: a couple of weeks ago when they played Philly, had 651 00:28:14,760 --> 00:28:17,359 Speaker 4: Philly on the rope, should have probably won that ball game. 652 00:28:17,680 --> 00:28:19,639 Speaker 4: He has to go down and get his team in 653 00:28:19,680 --> 00:28:22,080 Speaker 4: position to go win the ball game. He goes down 654 00:28:22,080 --> 00:28:24,280 Speaker 4: and gets to touchdown and also gets a two point conversion. 655 00:28:24,880 --> 00:28:27,240 Speaker 4: The kids got some moxie coming in here. So I 656 00:28:27,280 --> 00:28:29,600 Speaker 4: don't think, well, he's been sacked twenty nine times, he 657 00:28:29,640 --> 00:28:31,160 Speaker 4: won't stand in there and fire the rock. So it's 658 00:28:31,160 --> 00:28:33,359 Speaker 4: gonna be a great challenge. But I think this is 659 00:28:33,400 --> 00:28:35,439 Speaker 4: what you want. This is why you want to, you know, 660 00:28:35,440 --> 00:28:37,400 Speaker 4: play against a team like this, because they're gonna bring 661 00:28:37,440 --> 00:28:38,840 Speaker 4: their best as well as you will. 662 00:28:38,960 --> 00:28:40,520 Speaker 1: You've heard a couple of the words that we've talked 663 00:28:40,520 --> 00:28:44,960 Speaker 1: about a lot in this podcast. Confidence, moxie. Sometimes it 664 00:28:45,040 --> 00:28:46,960 Speaker 1: all ain't all about the x's and o's. It's how 665 00:28:47,000 --> 00:28:49,960 Speaker 1: you feel and how confident you are coming into the game. 666 00:28:50,200 --> 00:28:52,600 Speaker 1: All right, So Atlanta with the victory over the Houston Texans, 667 00:28:52,600 --> 00:28:55,040 Speaker 1: they will try to parlay that into two or row 668 00:28:55,320 --> 00:28:58,440 Speaker 1: against the Washington Commanders. This Sunday that has been the 669 00:28:58,480 --> 00:29:02,400 Speaker 1: Falcons Audible eight, T and T. You know, we couldn't 670 00:29:02,440 --> 00:29:04,320 Speaker 1: get through a podcast some type of. 671 00:29:06,640 --> 00:29:09,880 Speaker 2: I didn't win the brig back. 672 00:29:10,440 --> 00:29:11,320 Speaker 3: Sent you out on that. 673 00:29:11,920 --> 00:29:13,520 Speaker 1: Thanks so much for joining us here on the Falcons 674 00:29:13,520 --> 00:29:15,800 Speaker 1: automn presented by A, T and T. C you next time. 675 00:29:17,480 --> 00:29:19,920 Speaker 3: Yeah h