1 00:00:08,480 --> 00:00:11,640 Speaker 1: What's up, everybody, and welcome to a twenty twenty three 2 00:00:11,960 --> 00:00:15,880 Speaker 1: edition of the Falcons Final Whistle postgame podcast. I have 3 00:00:15,960 --> 00:00:20,200 Speaker 1: to say that Final Whistle is everywhere. It's global, but global, 4 00:00:20,400 --> 00:00:21,040 Speaker 1: it's global. 5 00:00:21,040 --> 00:00:22,720 Speaker 2: It's gotten so much bigger. 6 00:00:22,360 --> 00:00:24,520 Speaker 1: But but we're going back to our roots. This was 7 00:00:24,560 --> 00:00:29,080 Speaker 1: originally an audio only postgame podcast, and that's what we're 8 00:00:29,160 --> 00:00:32,879 Speaker 1: here to talk about today. I'm Scott Bahar alongside Tory mclaney, 9 00:00:32,920 --> 00:00:36,440 Speaker 1: who you've heard many times, Tarren Walk who is making 10 00:00:36,479 --> 00:00:40,000 Speaker 1: her second appearance on Final Whistle, her first of the 11 00:00:40,040 --> 00:00:43,520 Speaker 1: post game variety. We're definitely soaked to have you yeah here, 12 00:00:44,040 --> 00:00:46,760 Speaker 1: and we are here to talk about a twenty four 13 00:00:46,840 --> 00:00:50,560 Speaker 1: to ten VIC Falcons victory over the Panthers on Sunday 14 00:00:50,560 --> 00:00:53,680 Speaker 1: in Week one here at Mercedes Benz Stadium. The last 15 00:00:53,680 --> 00:00:55,640 Speaker 1: time the Falcons won a Week one game, I'm basically 16 00:00:55,640 --> 00:00:59,280 Speaker 1: reading Tory mclaney's amazing podcast outline right now. The last 17 00:00:59,280 --> 00:01:01,040 Speaker 1: time the Falcons won on a Week one game at 18 00:01:01,080 --> 00:01:02,320 Speaker 1: home was twenty fifteen. 19 00:01:02,960 --> 00:01:04,679 Speaker 3: Don't skip over the note that follows. 20 00:01:04,680 --> 00:01:06,959 Speaker 1: Inventory and Arran were just a couple of young college 21 00:01:06,959 --> 00:01:10,520 Speaker 1: students at Georgia and Alabama. We're going to ignore what 22 00:01:10,560 --> 00:01:13,000 Speaker 1: I was doing in my life at twenty fifteen, and. 23 00:01:13,840 --> 00:01:15,440 Speaker 2: Yeah, we're just gonna skip all that stuff. 24 00:01:15,880 --> 00:01:21,920 Speaker 1: But nonetheless, it was a positive start for the Falcons overall, 25 00:01:22,240 --> 00:01:25,479 Speaker 1: and I think that let's just launch right into it. Yeah, 26 00:01:25,480 --> 00:01:28,240 Speaker 1: we used to do this first impressions thing. I'm done 27 00:01:28,280 --> 00:01:31,280 Speaker 1: with it, Vito. Let's get to the game exactly. 28 00:01:30,840 --> 00:01:34,000 Speaker 3: My first impression, Well, just kidding. 29 00:01:34,360 --> 00:01:37,720 Speaker 1: Of it, and we froze. So let's get right to 30 00:01:38,200 --> 00:01:41,360 Speaker 1: probably the MVP of the game, Jesse Bates. I mean 31 00:01:41,440 --> 00:01:45,240 Speaker 1: two interceptions. Yeah, Jesse Bates the third two interceptions, so 32 00:01:45,400 --> 00:01:51,920 Speaker 1: he's the third one for every turnover force two interceptions, 33 00:01:52,200 --> 00:01:57,520 Speaker 1: one force fumble that turned into seventeen points scored. The 34 00:01:57,600 --> 00:02:03,000 Speaker 1: man had yeah, checks notes, ten tackles, yep. Today, pretty 35 00:02:03,040 --> 00:02:07,360 Speaker 1: solid performance by the free agent acquisition who came over 36 00:02:07,400 --> 00:02:08,360 Speaker 1: from Cincinnati. 37 00:02:08,520 --> 00:02:11,040 Speaker 3: I wrote about him, and he's been in the league 38 00:02:11,040 --> 00:02:15,280 Speaker 3: since twenty eighteen, being a primary starter since his rookie season, 39 00:02:15,880 --> 00:02:18,960 Speaker 3: and he hasn't had a single game since then where 40 00:02:18,960 --> 00:02:21,760 Speaker 3: he's had more than one interception. And then not only that, 41 00:02:22,000 --> 00:02:24,200 Speaker 3: he hasn't had a game where he had had three turnovers, 42 00:02:24,200 --> 00:02:26,120 Speaker 3: like there was one in twenty twenty two where he 43 00:02:26,160 --> 00:02:29,360 Speaker 3: had a forced fumble and an interception, But this is 44 00:02:29,400 --> 00:02:32,480 Speaker 3: the three in his name is now coming to life. 45 00:02:33,000 --> 00:02:34,720 Speaker 2: I love it. It's I think two. 46 00:02:34,919 --> 00:02:38,120 Speaker 4: It goes to kind of this whole idea of the 47 00:02:38,160 --> 00:02:42,040 Speaker 4: Falcons putting money and resources into this defense and it 48 00:02:42,160 --> 00:02:44,480 Speaker 4: paying off. I think I was joking that the headline 49 00:02:44,480 --> 00:02:48,360 Speaker 4: of Terran's story should have been like, Jesse Bates earns 50 00:02:48,360 --> 00:02:51,360 Speaker 4: his money, because we know how much the Falcons are 51 00:02:51,360 --> 00:02:53,640 Speaker 4: paying him. They're paying him quite a bit, as they should. 52 00:02:53,680 --> 00:02:57,839 Speaker 4: This is a guy who went and he went out 53 00:02:57,880 --> 00:03:00,760 Speaker 4: with the Bengals in his first year in the league 54 00:03:00,880 --> 00:03:04,120 Speaker 4: and performed well. He earned this contract, the second contract 55 00:03:04,160 --> 00:03:07,280 Speaker 4: that he's been working really hard towards. And this moment 56 00:03:07,360 --> 00:03:10,760 Speaker 4: I think showed us exactly why. And I say this moment, 57 00:03:10,800 --> 00:03:13,600 Speaker 4: this game showed us exactly why the Falcons valued him 58 00:03:13,639 --> 00:03:16,600 Speaker 4: so highly. And it really goes back to even something 59 00:03:16,600 --> 00:03:18,760 Speaker 4: that I was talking to I can't even remember, may 60 00:03:18,800 --> 00:03:21,880 Speaker 4: have been Terry Fonteau in the free agency show that 61 00:03:21,960 --> 00:03:25,200 Speaker 4: we did after all of these acquisitions were made, and 62 00:03:25,240 --> 00:03:27,200 Speaker 4: he made the comment then he was like, Jesse Bates 63 00:03:27,240 --> 00:03:30,520 Speaker 4: is someone who on the field, he makes people around 64 00:03:30,600 --> 00:03:34,320 Speaker 4: him better. He made this team better on Sunday against 65 00:03:34,320 --> 00:03:34,840 Speaker 4: the Panthers. 66 00:03:35,200 --> 00:03:37,960 Speaker 1: Yeah, and in typical Jesse Bates fashion, I heard a 67 00:03:38,040 --> 00:03:42,680 Speaker 1: very small portion of his postgame media scrum where he 68 00:03:42,720 --> 00:03:44,800 Speaker 1: was standing on a stool. There were so many cameras 69 00:03:45,120 --> 00:03:49,320 Speaker 1: on top of him, but he kept deflecting praise. He said, 70 00:03:49,400 --> 00:03:51,920 Speaker 1: it was about that I wouldn't have the chance if 71 00:03:51,960 --> 00:03:54,960 Speaker 1: there wasn't pressure. I wouldn't have had that opportunity if 72 00:03:55,120 --> 00:03:58,840 Speaker 1: the other guys didn't cover. Well, he kept deflecting praise, 73 00:03:58,960 --> 00:04:01,520 Speaker 1: and that's what a good leader does, and that fits 74 00:04:01,600 --> 00:04:04,600 Speaker 1: in with his personality, I think, which is kind of cool. 75 00:04:04,920 --> 00:04:07,280 Speaker 1: Another thing I think during the moment, especially on that 76 00:04:07,320 --> 00:04:10,480 Speaker 1: first interception, I said that he baited Bryce Young into 77 00:04:10,520 --> 00:04:14,200 Speaker 1: a throw. Whether that's correct or he just read and 78 00:04:14,240 --> 00:04:17,960 Speaker 1: reacted and broke on the ball perfectly. His ability to 79 00:04:18,160 --> 00:04:23,600 Speaker 1: make those decisions while playing extremely fast, it's just it 80 00:04:24,040 --> 00:04:28,000 Speaker 1: levels up everything that the Falcons can do defensively. 81 00:04:28,240 --> 00:04:30,640 Speaker 3: Baits baited, And I guessed earlier because I was thinking, 82 00:04:30,680 --> 00:04:32,400 Speaker 3: oh my gosh, what if we made the headline Baits 83 00:04:32,480 --> 00:04:36,880 Speaker 3: takes it to the bank, banking on Baits. Okay, I'm done. 84 00:04:37,400 --> 00:04:37,880 Speaker 2: I love it. 85 00:04:38,160 --> 00:04:39,120 Speaker 3: All the alliterations. 86 00:04:39,200 --> 00:04:40,680 Speaker 4: Well, he just needs to make more play so we 87 00:04:40,720 --> 00:04:41,800 Speaker 4: can have more of these headlines. 88 00:04:42,000 --> 00:04:42,680 Speaker 3: Then he'll make bank. 89 00:04:43,720 --> 00:04:46,240 Speaker 2: Now Yeah, yeah, I mean, there you go. 90 00:04:46,400 --> 00:04:47,400 Speaker 3: He's got two contracts. 91 00:04:47,440 --> 00:04:49,799 Speaker 1: There's always a third. But since we're in the middle 92 00:04:49,839 --> 00:04:53,560 Speaker 1: of a defensive discussion, let's also mention some great news 93 00:04:53,560 --> 00:04:56,960 Speaker 1: that Falcons Find a Whistle is now sponsored and brought 94 00:04:56,960 --> 00:04:59,640 Speaker 1: to you by Zaxby's, and oh man, do we have 95 00:04:59,680 --> 00:05:02,240 Speaker 1: some new for you. Since the Falcons defense sacked the 96 00:05:02,240 --> 00:05:06,280 Speaker 1: opposing quarterback at home, shout out to Troy Anderson, Grady Jarrett, 97 00:05:06,320 --> 00:05:09,400 Speaker 1: and Lorenzo Carter. You can go to any Atlanta area 98 00:05:09,520 --> 00:05:14,080 Speaker 1: Zaxby's for a buy one get Big Zach's snack meal 99 00:05:15,080 --> 00:05:17,400 Speaker 1: the day after the game, so Monday for those of 100 00:05:17,440 --> 00:05:22,279 Speaker 1: you listening right now, use the code atl Sack twenty three. Man, 101 00:05:22,320 --> 00:05:23,480 Speaker 1: that was a good script. 102 00:05:23,160 --> 00:05:25,520 Speaker 4: By buy one, get one Big Zack Snack. 103 00:05:25,640 --> 00:05:26,440 Speaker 2: That's what you need. 104 00:05:26,560 --> 00:05:27,919 Speaker 3: Bo go, bo go. 105 00:05:28,200 --> 00:05:30,839 Speaker 1: I feel like next time we need like maybe like 106 00:05:30,839 --> 00:05:33,680 Speaker 1: like four tender meal with some tongue torch or something 107 00:05:33,720 --> 00:05:34,479 Speaker 1: like that. 108 00:05:34,080 --> 00:05:35,920 Speaker 2: That'd be so good with Sorry. 109 00:05:35,800 --> 00:05:40,839 Speaker 1: What Yeah, tongue torch sauces. It's amazing. See, we need 110 00:05:40,880 --> 00:05:43,200 Speaker 1: like a full platter. Yeah, definitely, zax piece is where 111 00:05:43,200 --> 00:05:47,359 Speaker 1: it's at. So again, it was a solid defensive performance. 112 00:05:47,520 --> 00:05:49,280 Speaker 1: I think defense. 113 00:05:49,600 --> 00:05:50,960 Speaker 2: Desmonds said the best. 114 00:05:51,240 --> 00:05:54,640 Speaker 4: He said He was like this, we relied on our 115 00:05:54,640 --> 00:05:58,120 Speaker 4: defense today to not just I think, keep them in 116 00:05:58,240 --> 00:05:58,880 Speaker 4: the game, but. 117 00:05:58,960 --> 00:06:00,880 Speaker 2: To stimally win the game. 118 00:06:01,440 --> 00:06:04,359 Speaker 1: Yeah, and I think that that carried them. And then 119 00:06:04,839 --> 00:06:09,040 Speaker 1: who else carried them while taking carries? See what I'm 120 00:06:09,120 --> 00:06:09,480 Speaker 1: doing here? 121 00:06:11,240 --> 00:06:11,720 Speaker 2: Hate us? 122 00:06:11,839 --> 00:06:15,240 Speaker 1: They really are Jean Robinson and Tyler Algier. 123 00:06:15,760 --> 00:06:17,520 Speaker 3: I couldn't decide which one you wanted us to say, 124 00:06:17,520 --> 00:06:18,640 Speaker 3: so I just didn't say anything. 125 00:06:18,800 --> 00:06:21,840 Speaker 1: I mean, not only were they super efficient to the 126 00:06:21,880 --> 00:06:25,600 Speaker 1: tune of five point two yards per touch for Tyler 127 00:06:25,760 --> 00:06:28,800 Speaker 1: five point one to eight for Jeon, So Tyler won 128 00:06:28,839 --> 00:06:33,280 Speaker 1: that one, but they had a massive amount of production 129 00:06:33,440 --> 00:06:37,040 Speaker 1: here what I don't have the numbers right in front 130 00:06:37,040 --> 00:06:39,840 Speaker 1: of me, but like we're talking over seven free only 131 00:06:39,839 --> 00:06:41,840 Speaker 1: two hundred yards a little bit less than that and 132 00:06:41,920 --> 00:06:45,480 Speaker 1: three touchdowns and Tory you crunch some numbers. 133 00:06:45,600 --> 00:06:49,960 Speaker 4: Yeah, cool stat quick quick math that I did postgame 134 00:06:50,160 --> 00:06:53,160 Speaker 4: was kind of breaking down Jon Robinson and Tyler. 135 00:06:52,920 --> 00:06:55,160 Speaker 2: Algier the workload that they had together. 136 00:06:55,960 --> 00:07:01,520 Speaker 4: Seventy point eight percent of all Falcons forty eight offensive 137 00:07:01,640 --> 00:07:07,159 Speaker 4: plays went to Tyler Algier or Bajon Robinson seventy point 138 00:07:07,200 --> 00:07:11,239 Speaker 4: eight percent. Not only that they made up eighty percent 139 00:07:11,360 --> 00:07:15,960 Speaker 4: of the Falcon's total offensive yardage and total offensive production 140 00:07:16,400 --> 00:07:17,200 Speaker 4: on Sunday night. 141 00:07:17,520 --> 00:07:18,640 Speaker 2: That is wild to me. 142 00:07:18,680 --> 00:07:21,080 Speaker 4: I asked Arthur Smith after the game, was that by 143 00:07:21,120 --> 00:07:23,080 Speaker 4: design or was that because of how the game ended 144 00:07:23,120 --> 00:07:25,360 Speaker 4: up like going? And he was like, he kind of 145 00:07:25,440 --> 00:07:28,240 Speaker 4: laughed a little bit, and there was a I saw it. 146 00:07:28,280 --> 00:07:31,640 Speaker 4: There was a slight smile when I asked that. It 147 00:07:31,680 --> 00:07:35,320 Speaker 4: was slight. I don't know if Arthur Smith does anything softly, 148 00:07:37,360 --> 00:07:40,560 Speaker 4: so it was it was a slight smile. And he 149 00:07:40,640 --> 00:07:43,560 Speaker 4: kind of said, No, we didn't go into the game 150 00:07:44,120 --> 00:07:47,040 Speaker 4: like wanting to be that like heavy handed with the 151 00:07:47,120 --> 00:07:47,680 Speaker 4: running backs. 152 00:07:47,680 --> 00:07:48,920 Speaker 2: But when it's working, it's working. 153 00:07:48,960 --> 00:07:51,560 Speaker 4: And this at one point was the only thing that 154 00:07:51,680 --> 00:07:54,600 Speaker 4: was working for this offense. And that was coming from 155 00:07:54,640 --> 00:07:57,160 Speaker 4: Desmond Ritter and Arthur Smith. They said that we understand 156 00:07:57,200 --> 00:07:59,560 Speaker 4: and we know that the past game was not there early. 157 00:08:00,040 --> 00:08:01,960 Speaker 2: We're well aware of that. We need to clean that up, 158 00:08:01,960 --> 00:08:04,040 Speaker 2: we need to fix it. So what do you do? 159 00:08:04,320 --> 00:08:06,600 Speaker 2: You go to what was working and what was working? 160 00:08:06,680 --> 00:08:09,800 Speaker 1: Wason and Tyler, Yeah, And I think if we go 161 00:08:09,920 --> 00:08:12,880 Speaker 1: back to right after the NFL Draft when the Falcons 162 00:08:12,920 --> 00:08:16,400 Speaker 1: took Jon Robinson number eight overall, a pretty lazy narrative, 163 00:08:16,680 --> 00:08:20,560 Speaker 1: not not put out there by us, but a lazy 164 00:08:20,600 --> 00:08:23,080 Speaker 1: narrative was, now that they have Robinson, what are they 165 00:08:23,120 --> 00:08:27,720 Speaker 1: gonna do with Tyler? Tyler, how can they coexist? Well, 166 00:08:28,240 --> 00:08:30,640 Speaker 1: someone look at the stat sheet and I think that 167 00:08:30,640 --> 00:08:33,240 Speaker 1: that that's how they can coexist. And you can say 168 00:08:33,240 --> 00:08:36,520 Speaker 1: that they have contrasting styles, and maybe they do some 169 00:08:36,600 --> 00:08:39,520 Speaker 1: things different, but they're both pretty powerful dudes, and they 170 00:08:39,520 --> 00:08:43,640 Speaker 1: can both make people miss their elusive in a different ways. 171 00:08:43,720 --> 00:08:46,800 Speaker 3: Yeah, they look completely different when they run. Tyler's like 172 00:08:46,840 --> 00:08:50,360 Speaker 3: the bowling ball that just rolls, not runs, rolls through 173 00:08:50,400 --> 00:08:54,880 Speaker 3: the field and then makes people know he's just like 174 00:08:54,960 --> 00:08:57,640 Speaker 3: elegant out there like Twinkle Toes somehow some way. 175 00:08:58,120 --> 00:09:01,080 Speaker 1: But then if he has to split to tacklers and 176 00:09:01,080 --> 00:09:03,280 Speaker 1: go right through you, he's two hundred and twenty pounds. 177 00:09:03,600 --> 00:09:05,400 Speaker 1: I had to stare at the roster to make sure 178 00:09:05,440 --> 00:09:08,640 Speaker 1: that number was right, and he's a big dude. Tyler 179 00:09:09,160 --> 00:09:12,720 Speaker 1: really impressed me on his first touchdown there was supposed 180 00:09:12,760 --> 00:09:14,720 Speaker 1: to be a hole where there wasn't. Yeah, and he 181 00:09:14,760 --> 00:09:17,840 Speaker 1: didn't panic and he didn't try to just bull rush 182 00:09:17,920 --> 00:09:21,040 Speaker 1: his way in for a yard or two. He waited, weighed, 183 00:09:21,240 --> 00:09:24,360 Speaker 1: found the corner, and got the ball across the pylon 184 00:09:24,400 --> 00:09:26,720 Speaker 1: and in time to score the first of his two touchdowns. 185 00:09:26,840 --> 00:09:29,040 Speaker 1: I just think that's really smart for a We're talking 186 00:09:29,040 --> 00:09:31,400 Speaker 1: about a first and second year guy. These are guys 187 00:09:31,440 --> 00:09:35,400 Speaker 1: that are under contract together for a long time. So yeah, 188 00:09:35,480 --> 00:09:39,120 Speaker 1: I don't back to Tory's point, I don't think that a 189 00:09:39,160 --> 00:09:43,720 Speaker 1: recipe for success over seventeen weeks is having that type 190 00:09:43,720 --> 00:09:48,840 Speaker 1: of skewed offense production or touch count. Drake Lindon didn't 191 00:09:48,880 --> 00:09:51,280 Speaker 1: have a catch in this game. Kyle Pitts only had 192 00:09:51,320 --> 00:09:54,160 Speaker 1: two for forty four, and he was the leading receiver. 193 00:09:54,480 --> 00:09:56,679 Speaker 1: They want to spread the ball around more, and they will, 194 00:09:56,960 --> 00:09:59,640 Speaker 1: but it was a recipe that worked when combined with 195 00:09:59,720 --> 00:10:02,200 Speaker 1: def fence over the course of this one. 196 00:10:03,360 --> 00:10:05,240 Speaker 3: We have to keep in mind that Pitts was the 197 00:10:05,320 --> 00:10:08,920 Speaker 3: leader because you had that one big pass. You can 198 00:10:09,040 --> 00:10:13,199 Speaker 3: get a touch of reception until the second half. 199 00:10:13,280 --> 00:10:15,640 Speaker 4: Right, it was like a minute and twenty some odd 200 00:10:15,720 --> 00:10:17,880 Speaker 4: seconds to go in the third quarter was when he 201 00:10:17,920 --> 00:10:20,920 Speaker 4: finally had his first catch. That wasn't called back because 202 00:10:20,960 --> 00:10:22,240 Speaker 4: he did have a catch earlier in the game, but 203 00:10:22,280 --> 00:10:24,679 Speaker 4: it was called back for a hold I believe, or. 204 00:10:24,679 --> 00:10:26,120 Speaker 2: An illegal shift, one of those. 205 00:10:26,440 --> 00:10:29,160 Speaker 3: But regardless, it wasn't a reception. 206 00:10:29,360 --> 00:10:30,440 Speaker 2: Right, it didn't count. 207 00:10:30,760 --> 00:10:33,959 Speaker 4: So I think that gets us to the next point 208 00:10:34,040 --> 00:10:35,480 Speaker 4: of where can this team get better? 209 00:10:36,120 --> 00:10:38,520 Speaker 2: And it is the pass game. 210 00:10:38,559 --> 00:10:41,280 Speaker 4: And that was something that I wrote about after the game. 211 00:10:41,320 --> 00:10:42,959 Speaker 4: And people can say, like, oh, like, you were a 212 00:10:42,960 --> 00:10:47,199 Speaker 4: little too harsh on them, potentially because I know because like, oh, 213 00:10:47,280 --> 00:10:48,959 Speaker 4: like Jesse Bates had a great game, and but Jean 214 00:10:49,040 --> 00:10:50,880 Speaker 4: and Tyler had a great game, and it's like, yes, 215 00:10:50,960 --> 00:10:53,840 Speaker 4: all of that is well and true. However, I don't 216 00:10:53,880 --> 00:10:56,760 Speaker 4: think this team, this offense operated at the clip that 217 00:10:56,800 --> 00:10:58,720 Speaker 4: they want to be at. And I know that for 218 00:10:58,800 --> 00:10:59,600 Speaker 4: a fact. 219 00:10:59,520 --> 00:11:01,040 Speaker 2: Because they said that. 220 00:11:01,200 --> 00:11:04,200 Speaker 4: They said that because desn't and Ritter literally said postgame, 221 00:11:04,240 --> 00:11:07,840 Speaker 4: we were playing well beneath where we should be, where 222 00:11:07,840 --> 00:11:08,840 Speaker 4: we know we can be. 223 00:11:09,000 --> 00:11:09,800 Speaker 2: And I agree with that. 224 00:11:09,840 --> 00:11:12,080 Speaker 4: So I'm going to push them to be better in 225 00:11:12,120 --> 00:11:15,120 Speaker 4: the past game when I'm looking at at this game overall, 226 00:11:16,160 --> 00:11:17,920 Speaker 4: something that I thought was really interesting and it was 227 00:11:18,000 --> 00:11:19,560 Speaker 4: kind of what I wrote about a little bit, was 228 00:11:19,600 --> 00:11:21,600 Speaker 4: just the fact that it didn't ever feel like this 229 00:11:21,640 --> 00:11:24,440 Speaker 4: offense got in a rhythm until well into. 230 00:11:24,240 --> 00:11:25,760 Speaker 2: The third fourth quarter. 231 00:11:25,840 --> 00:11:28,000 Speaker 4: You're talking about some of the last drives that the 232 00:11:28,000 --> 00:11:31,839 Speaker 4: Falcons actually put together, a drive that I think aligns 233 00:11:31,840 --> 00:11:33,679 Speaker 4: with what they want to do, where they are spreading 234 00:11:33,679 --> 00:11:36,040 Speaker 4: the ball out to different people. You have some explosive 235 00:11:36,040 --> 00:11:38,920 Speaker 4: plays from Kyle Pitts and Bejon Robinson in there. You 236 00:11:39,040 --> 00:11:42,880 Speaker 4: have the run game kind of supplementing some of these passes. 237 00:11:43,080 --> 00:11:46,920 Speaker 4: So all of that to say, it needs to happen sooner. 238 00:11:47,080 --> 00:11:51,120 Speaker 4: They need to get to that point quicker. And I 239 00:11:51,160 --> 00:11:54,679 Speaker 4: think Arthur Smith knows that, Desnion Ridder knows that. I 240 00:11:54,679 --> 00:11:58,679 Speaker 4: think this entire offense understands that. And so for this 241 00:11:58,800 --> 00:12:01,360 Speaker 4: team to be what they want to be and what 242 00:12:01,440 --> 00:12:03,880 Speaker 4: I do believe they can be, you have to get 243 00:12:03,920 --> 00:12:05,760 Speaker 4: more people involved. There has to be more of a 244 00:12:05,840 --> 00:12:09,440 Speaker 4: balance offensively. And again, they all know, I'm not saying 245 00:12:09,480 --> 00:12:11,440 Speaker 4: anything that they don't know. I'm not saying I'm not 246 00:12:11,480 --> 00:12:14,360 Speaker 4: setting an expectation that they don't want to reach themselves. 247 00:12:14,440 --> 00:12:15,480 Speaker 2: I'm just pointing it out. 248 00:12:15,360 --> 00:12:18,400 Speaker 4: That this is a specific area that in order for 249 00:12:18,440 --> 00:12:20,800 Speaker 4: them to win as many games as they possibly can, 250 00:12:21,000 --> 00:12:22,199 Speaker 4: they need to rectify. 251 00:12:22,600 --> 00:12:25,240 Speaker 3: Right. It'd be more concerning if they didn't agree with 252 00:12:25,280 --> 00:12:27,800 Speaker 3: what you're saying, so that's why they said it in 253 00:12:27,840 --> 00:12:31,679 Speaker 3: the postgame press conferences. Yeah, that was not an ideal 254 00:12:32,160 --> 00:12:33,439 Speaker 3: passing situation. 255 00:12:33,120 --> 00:12:34,199 Speaker 2: Especially that first half. 256 00:12:34,280 --> 00:12:36,120 Speaker 4: And even even Desmond Ritter was like, you know, I 257 00:12:36,160 --> 00:12:38,360 Speaker 4: put some of that on me too, Like that last 258 00:12:38,400 --> 00:12:40,320 Speaker 4: he was like the last like eight minutes of the 259 00:12:40,360 --> 00:12:42,880 Speaker 4: first half, he was like, I was kind of pushing 260 00:12:42,920 --> 00:12:45,320 Speaker 4: too much. I was pressing too much. I was getting 261 00:12:45,320 --> 00:12:48,080 Speaker 4: away from what our offense is. And he was like, 262 00:12:48,160 --> 00:12:50,760 Speaker 4: and that's the difference between the first and second half 263 00:12:50,800 --> 00:12:52,360 Speaker 4: for him. He was like, I was just kind of 264 00:12:52,400 --> 00:12:55,240 Speaker 4: staying within my reads and kind of slowing things down 265 00:12:55,280 --> 00:12:57,160 Speaker 4: a little bit for myself. And so I think that 266 00:12:57,240 --> 00:13:00,480 Speaker 4: all goes back to the point of this offense is 267 00:13:00,520 --> 00:13:04,360 Speaker 4: still learning how to fine tune itself as a cohesive unit. 268 00:13:04,559 --> 00:13:06,720 Speaker 3: Well, I mean, Desmond was here last year, but people 269 00:13:06,720 --> 00:13:08,920 Speaker 3: are forgetting that he was only playing for the past 270 00:13:09,440 --> 00:13:12,480 Speaker 3: last not past four games, right, So like, yes, this 271 00:13:12,559 --> 00:13:14,560 Speaker 3: is year two, and the jump from year one to 272 00:13:14,640 --> 00:13:17,200 Speaker 3: year two is normally the biggest, but it's like a 273 00:13:17,280 --> 00:13:19,360 Speaker 3: half jump since you didn't play the whole season. 274 00:13:19,400 --> 00:13:21,920 Speaker 4: Also, think about how many people he has on the 275 00:13:21,920 --> 00:13:24,680 Speaker 4: field now. That weren't here for those four games, Kyle Pits, 276 00:13:24,679 --> 00:13:27,320 Speaker 4: but John Robinson, Matt Collins, John hu Smith, I could 277 00:13:27,360 --> 00:13:28,240 Speaker 4: go on and on, you know. 278 00:13:28,760 --> 00:13:31,160 Speaker 3: Yeah, so hopefully the jump from week one to week 279 00:13:31,200 --> 00:13:33,160 Speaker 3: two is as big as the year one to year 280 00:13:33,200 --> 00:13:34,480 Speaker 3: two normally is. 281 00:13:35,240 --> 00:13:40,200 Speaker 1: I generally hate just just like criticizing the offensive line 282 00:13:40,240 --> 00:13:42,640 Speaker 1: for the you know, like that's always the easiest thing. Well, 283 00:13:42,679 --> 00:13:45,040 Speaker 1: they gave up a lot of pressure, it's all the 284 00:13:45,080 --> 00:13:48,840 Speaker 1: line's fault. But I think this line is pretty good, 285 00:13:49,080 --> 00:13:50,920 Speaker 1: was pretty good last year and full of a lot 286 00:13:50,920 --> 00:13:53,800 Speaker 1: of talents and dudes. And I don't think they're going 287 00:13:53,840 --> 00:13:55,319 Speaker 1: to watch the game tape and be real proud of 288 00:13:55,360 --> 00:13:58,200 Speaker 1: four sacks and six quarterback hits, no matter. 289 00:13:58,040 --> 00:13:59,640 Speaker 2: A lot of them coming in that first half. 290 00:13:59,720 --> 00:14:02,800 Speaker 1: Yeah, and look, Brian Burns is very very good. Yep. 291 00:14:02,880 --> 00:14:05,760 Speaker 1: Pretty soon he's probably gonna get paid very very well. 292 00:14:06,080 --> 00:14:09,520 Speaker 1: And sometimes you come up against talent, like when other 293 00:14:09,559 --> 00:14:13,160 Speaker 1: teams play Grady Jarrett. Sometimes you come up against talent 294 00:14:13,280 --> 00:14:16,960 Speaker 1: that's gonna win even in good on good situations. But 295 00:14:17,440 --> 00:14:20,400 Speaker 1: and this offensive line, as we know, still protected or 296 00:14:20,640 --> 00:14:25,040 Speaker 1: blocked really well in the run game, created opportunities and ultimately, 297 00:14:25,800 --> 00:14:27,760 Speaker 1: you know, to just say they need to be better, 298 00:14:27,800 --> 00:14:31,560 Speaker 1: but ultimately buying a little bit more time for a 299 00:14:31,600 --> 00:14:34,040 Speaker 1: young quarterback who may go through those moments where he's 300 00:14:34,080 --> 00:14:36,960 Speaker 1: a little slower getting used to things that they can 301 00:14:37,040 --> 00:14:39,480 Speaker 1: support him in that way. And I think there's enough 302 00:14:39,520 --> 00:14:42,400 Speaker 1: talent for me to ask for that without sounding like 303 00:14:42,400 --> 00:14:45,160 Speaker 1: a jerk, and I think that that's within them. We 304 00:14:45,200 --> 00:14:46,800 Speaker 1: all know that they are a better run blocking line 305 00:14:46,840 --> 00:14:49,200 Speaker 1: than a pass blocking line, but I think that the 306 00:14:49,240 --> 00:14:53,400 Speaker 1: pass blocking can and should be elevated because the ball 307 00:14:53,440 --> 00:14:56,080 Speaker 1: does need to get work downfield, whether it's through play action. 308 00:14:57,360 --> 00:15:01,080 Speaker 1: Drake London can't have zero catches. We saw I was 309 00:15:01,080 --> 00:15:03,920 Speaker 1: gonna bring this up during the Kyle Pitts think discussion. 310 00:15:04,360 --> 00:15:06,880 Speaker 1: We saw in the play that was called back and 311 00:15:06,920 --> 00:15:09,840 Speaker 1: then the one that wasn't at the end that looked 312 00:15:09,880 --> 00:15:12,640 Speaker 1: like real Kyle Pitts, Like, that's what Kyle Pitts can 313 00:15:12,680 --> 00:15:17,000 Speaker 1: do if you give him the opportunities to do those 314 00:15:17,040 --> 00:15:19,080 Speaker 1: types of things. I think Tory and I were talking 315 00:15:19,160 --> 00:15:21,360 Speaker 1: during the game that at some point just go back 316 00:15:21,360 --> 00:15:23,240 Speaker 1: to his rookie season when they played the Dolphins and 317 00:15:23,280 --> 00:15:25,880 Speaker 1: then when they played the Jets. I think haven't gonna 318 00:15:25,920 --> 00:15:28,440 Speaker 1: go around and toss it, see what happens. And I 319 00:15:28,480 --> 00:15:31,760 Speaker 1: think that those types of things can be a part 320 00:15:31,800 --> 00:15:34,800 Speaker 1: of this game plan while still being able to run well. 321 00:15:35,360 --> 00:15:38,440 Speaker 4: And I'll add this too that I think the Falcons 322 00:15:38,440 --> 00:15:40,640 Speaker 4: were well aware of the issues that they. 323 00:15:40,480 --> 00:15:42,120 Speaker 2: Were having to in that first half. 324 00:15:42,240 --> 00:15:44,920 Speaker 4: Arthur Smith said there were some spacing issues with in 325 00:15:45,000 --> 00:15:48,200 Speaker 4: terms of the receivers, the tight ends and what they 326 00:15:48,200 --> 00:15:50,000 Speaker 4: were doing, I think specially in their routes. 327 00:15:50,240 --> 00:15:52,640 Speaker 2: I believe that's what he meant when he said spacing. 328 00:15:52,960 --> 00:15:54,920 Speaker 4: And then of course he was like and obviously our 329 00:15:54,960 --> 00:15:57,840 Speaker 4: protection needed to be better. And I think those two 330 00:15:57,880 --> 00:16:00,240 Speaker 4: things were things that we saw as the game on. 331 00:16:00,680 --> 00:16:03,000 Speaker 4: Desmond Ritter was better protected, he had a little bit 332 00:16:03,000 --> 00:16:04,800 Speaker 4: more time in the pocket, the spacing was a little 333 00:16:04,840 --> 00:16:08,880 Speaker 4: better in the routes. Those things evolved and they actually 334 00:16:09,160 --> 00:16:11,600 Speaker 4: did get better as the game went on. And doing 335 00:16:11,640 --> 00:16:14,880 Speaker 4: those things, it's just making sure that again it's fine tuned, 336 00:16:15,000 --> 00:16:17,800 Speaker 4: that it's not something that it takes an entire half 337 00:16:18,160 --> 00:16:20,280 Speaker 4: to get on the same page about and. 338 00:16:20,160 --> 00:16:25,800 Speaker 1: To be talking about this, to be critical, Yeah, to 339 00:16:26,360 --> 00:16:29,840 Speaker 1: be openly critical and fairly critical of a team that 340 00:16:29,920 --> 00:16:33,240 Speaker 1: won by two scores. Right, also right that those are 341 00:16:33,320 --> 00:16:36,480 Speaker 1: positives for this Falcons unit. Now, look, yeah, no. 342 00:16:36,480 --> 00:16:39,040 Speaker 4: And I think too, like I think back to maybe 343 00:16:39,040 --> 00:16:41,880 Speaker 4: where we were a year ago or even two years 344 00:16:41,880 --> 00:16:44,400 Speaker 4: ago in conversations that we've had these things that we're 345 00:16:44,400 --> 00:16:50,280 Speaker 4: talking about, spacing issues, timing issues, sometimes even past protection. 346 00:16:50,800 --> 00:16:53,440 Speaker 2: All these things are fixable issues. 347 00:16:53,800 --> 00:16:57,280 Speaker 4: All of these things can get better for the Falcons. 348 00:16:57,280 --> 00:17:00,000 Speaker 4: There were times last year and the year before last 349 00:17:00,160 --> 00:17:03,360 Speaker 4: covering this team where I felt like there were just 350 00:17:03,360 --> 00:17:05,720 Speaker 4: some things that couldn't be fixed. 351 00:17:05,960 --> 00:17:06,959 Speaker 1: There was a talent dispair. 352 00:17:07,040 --> 00:17:10,800 Speaker 4: There was a very very obvious talent disparity with this 353 00:17:10,880 --> 00:17:12,879 Speaker 4: fifty three man roster because it had to be you 354 00:17:12,920 --> 00:17:15,600 Speaker 4: had a bunch of guys on these one year deals. 355 00:17:15,960 --> 00:17:18,560 Speaker 4: That's not the case anymore with this team. You have 356 00:17:18,600 --> 00:17:20,240 Speaker 4: a lot of guys on long term deals. You have 357 00:17:20,280 --> 00:17:22,720 Speaker 4: a lot of guys you've invested heavily in, whether it 358 00:17:22,760 --> 00:17:27,440 Speaker 4: be top draft capital or monetarily with free agents. 359 00:17:27,680 --> 00:17:30,280 Speaker 2: So all of that to say that I'm. 360 00:17:30,160 --> 00:17:32,520 Speaker 4: Even though we're being critical in these moments, and I 361 00:17:32,560 --> 00:17:35,280 Speaker 4: think we should because again, I think the expectation raises 362 00:17:35,400 --> 00:17:37,880 Speaker 4: when you have a better talent on a fifty three 363 00:17:37,880 --> 00:17:38,399 Speaker 4: man roster. 364 00:17:39,680 --> 00:17:42,720 Speaker 2: All of that to say, it's like it just. 365 00:17:42,640 --> 00:17:46,959 Speaker 4: Needs to continue going upwards in an upward trajectory and 366 00:17:46,960 --> 00:17:50,640 Speaker 4: that these are all fixable areas that I think this 367 00:17:50,720 --> 00:17:52,240 Speaker 4: team can go back. 368 00:17:52,000 --> 00:17:54,720 Speaker 2: On Monday and go back this week and be like, these. 369 00:17:54,560 --> 00:17:57,320 Speaker 4: Are five things that we want to improve upon, and 370 00:17:57,359 --> 00:18:00,840 Speaker 4: if you can see improvement in three the five things 371 00:18:00,840 --> 00:18:03,320 Speaker 4: next time, I think you're that's the right direction. 372 00:18:03,920 --> 00:18:05,680 Speaker 1: Yeah, and I go ahead. 373 00:18:07,359 --> 00:18:09,160 Speaker 3: I didn't have anything addition that in that moment. 374 00:18:09,520 --> 00:18:11,879 Speaker 1: Sorry about that, but yeah, So I think that if 375 00:18:11,920 --> 00:18:14,720 Speaker 1: you can win while continuing to fix that's a positive. 376 00:18:14,840 --> 00:18:19,200 Speaker 1: And that they finished in the fourth quarter. I think 377 00:18:19,200 --> 00:18:21,959 Speaker 1: that's another important thing for a team that lost a 378 00:18:22,040 --> 00:18:25,480 Speaker 1: ton of one score games last year, that they finished 379 00:18:25,480 --> 00:18:27,879 Speaker 1: well and they stuck to their bread and butter and 380 00:18:27,920 --> 00:18:31,800 Speaker 1: they were able to be super efficient in the red zone. 381 00:18:32,119 --> 00:18:36,080 Speaker 4: Arthur Smith said that they the Falcons wore the Panthers down. 382 00:18:36,040 --> 00:18:37,119 Speaker 1: And fact, that's a good thing. 383 00:18:37,320 --> 00:18:37,800 Speaker 3: That's fair. 384 00:18:37,880 --> 00:18:40,240 Speaker 2: That is absolutely what it felt. 385 00:18:39,960 --> 00:18:43,879 Speaker 1: Like because you saw that defensive line start to assert 386 00:18:43,920 --> 00:18:47,520 Speaker 1: itself late, you saw Troy Anderson kind of his speed 387 00:18:47,640 --> 00:18:50,880 Speaker 1: really started to show up, and the offensive line really 388 00:18:50,920 --> 00:18:53,720 Speaker 1: did start to wear that Panthers defense down. I thought 389 00:18:53,720 --> 00:18:55,440 Speaker 1: it was interesting, and then we can kind of wrap 390 00:18:55,480 --> 00:19:00,159 Speaker 1: this thing up that John Robinson said that despite a 391 00:19:00,160 --> 00:19:04,880 Speaker 1: a fairly ineffective offensive performance in the first half, nobody 392 00:19:05,040 --> 00:19:08,000 Speaker 1: was pissed or wide eyed. They were like, we got this, yeah, 393 00:19:08,160 --> 00:19:10,679 Speaker 1: And there seemed to be a sense of confidence that 394 00:19:11,040 --> 00:19:13,200 Speaker 1: there was plenty of time. It was a tie ball 395 00:19:13,240 --> 00:19:15,560 Speaker 1: game that you could just kind of continue to work 396 00:19:15,560 --> 00:19:18,440 Speaker 1: on things like we're talking about between games, but also 397 00:19:18,720 --> 00:19:21,800 Speaker 1: within games and try to improve on those mistakes. I 398 00:19:21,840 --> 00:19:26,080 Speaker 1: think that's how you can start to generate some positive 399 00:19:26,080 --> 00:19:28,200 Speaker 1: results within games and then between games. 400 00:19:28,280 --> 00:19:31,680 Speaker 4: I said before this game even started that the biggest 401 00:19:31,680 --> 00:19:33,160 Speaker 4: thing that I was going to take from this week 402 00:19:33,200 --> 00:19:35,080 Speaker 4: one game was not necessarily who had the best game 403 00:19:35,119 --> 00:19:37,760 Speaker 4: plan going in, but which game plan evolved as the 404 00:19:37,760 --> 00:19:39,320 Speaker 4: game went on. I said that this was going to 405 00:19:39,320 --> 00:19:42,360 Speaker 4: be a coach's chess match more than any other game, 406 00:19:42,440 --> 00:19:45,000 Speaker 4: just because of how many unscattered looks you're getting, because 407 00:19:45,000 --> 00:19:49,320 Speaker 4: of how much turnover has happened within these two organizations. 408 00:19:49,640 --> 00:19:52,400 Speaker 4: So the fact that the Falcons were able to evolve 409 00:19:52,480 --> 00:19:54,720 Speaker 4: as the game went on, and evolve in a way 410 00:19:54,800 --> 00:19:57,560 Speaker 4: that made it really difficult for the Panthers to do 411 00:19:57,640 --> 00:20:01,840 Speaker 4: anything offensively or defensive. I think it just goes back 412 00:20:01,880 --> 00:20:05,600 Speaker 4: to kind of their own preparation and in game adjustments 413 00:20:05,600 --> 00:20:06,560 Speaker 4: that they were able to make. 414 00:20:06,720 --> 00:20:10,399 Speaker 3: When simply put, you'd rather a team finish in the 415 00:20:10,480 --> 00:20:13,560 Speaker 3: fourth then fall apart in the fourth, like you can 416 00:20:13,600 --> 00:20:16,000 Speaker 3: come back from a slow start. If you have a 417 00:20:16,040 --> 00:20:19,080 Speaker 3: strong start and then fall apart, you're gonna lose. You'd 418 00:20:19,200 --> 00:20:21,240 Speaker 3: rather win it in the fourth than lose it in 419 00:20:21,280 --> 00:20:21,679 Speaker 3: the fourth. 420 00:20:21,880 --> 00:20:25,480 Speaker 1: Yeah, and the cool I'm relatively new. This is only 421 00:20:25,480 --> 00:20:27,960 Speaker 1: my third season covering the Falcons, coming from the West Coast. 422 00:20:28,000 --> 00:20:30,560 Speaker 1: I haven't had a lot of experience outside the last 423 00:20:30,560 --> 00:20:33,240 Speaker 1: couple of years at Mercedes Benz Stadium. It was freaking 424 00:20:33,320 --> 00:20:36,200 Speaker 1: loud here. It was so loud, it was you could 425 00:20:36,240 --> 00:20:40,080 Speaker 1: feel the anticipation and the excitement for these new players 426 00:20:40,119 --> 00:20:41,640 Speaker 1: like it was it was every. 427 00:20:41,840 --> 00:20:45,280 Speaker 4: Thing but John Robinson touched the ball, it felt like 428 00:20:45,320 --> 00:20:48,760 Speaker 4: there was like a like feeling within the crowd. It 429 00:20:48,760 --> 00:20:51,320 Speaker 4: got a little louder when he got to his second 430 00:20:51,400 --> 00:20:53,760 Speaker 4: and third and fourth step. That's what it felt like 431 00:20:53,760 --> 00:20:55,880 Speaker 4: to me. And then even I don't know, like I've 432 00:20:55,880 --> 00:20:58,320 Speaker 4: been covering this team for four years now, and now 433 00:20:58,359 --> 00:21:01,760 Speaker 4: I know that COVID protocol and the pandemic and all 434 00:21:01,800 --> 00:21:04,639 Speaker 4: that effects attendance, But this was as crowd as as 435 00:21:04,720 --> 00:21:07,600 Speaker 4: I feel like I've seen this stadium b in a 436 00:21:07,640 --> 00:21:10,840 Speaker 4: long time in terms of just Falcons fans showing up 437 00:21:10,840 --> 00:21:15,200 Speaker 4: and showing out. That to me was a big notable difference. 438 00:21:15,280 --> 00:21:18,520 Speaker 4: And I think just talking to people on our way 439 00:21:18,560 --> 00:21:20,800 Speaker 4: in or even just kind of out and about down 440 00:21:20,880 --> 00:21:23,080 Speaker 4: on the field, it's like there there is just a 441 00:21:23,480 --> 00:21:26,160 Speaker 4: different feeling about this team and the team that has 442 00:21:26,200 --> 00:21:27,840 Speaker 4: been put together in twenty twenty. 443 00:21:27,560 --> 00:21:30,719 Speaker 1: Three, and I think all those things are positives, and 444 00:21:31,080 --> 00:21:34,000 Speaker 1: the Falcons will now try to build and continue on 445 00:21:34,040 --> 00:21:37,200 Speaker 1: those positives as they head towards a Week two contest 446 00:21:37,359 --> 00:21:40,159 Speaker 1: against the Green Bay Packers. After that game will be 447 00:21:40,200 --> 00:21:42,959 Speaker 1: the next time you hear from us on Falcons Final Whistle. 448 00:21:43,400 --> 00:21:47,080 Speaker 1: But before you listen to that one, please rate review 449 00:21:47,160 --> 00:21:52,080 Speaker 1: subscribe to the Atlanta Falcons podcast network on Spotify and 450 00:21:52,560 --> 00:21:56,280 Speaker 1: Apple Podcasts. Also, please subscribe to our YouTube channel where 451 00:21:56,280 --> 00:21:58,840 Speaker 1: you can see this as well. So thank you guys 452 00:21:58,840 --> 00:22:02,760 Speaker 1: so much for downloading, listening giving us a five star review. 453 00:22:02,800 --> 00:22:06,639 Speaker 1: Why don't you greatly appreciated? For Tory and Tarren, I'm Scott, 454 00:22:07,080 --> 00:22:11,640 Speaker 1: go get your zaxby and for Falcons. Fine whistle that's 455 00:22:11,760 --> 00:22:13,959 Speaker 1: presented by Zaxby. Okay, see ya 456 00:22:27,200 --> 00:22:27,720 Speaker 4: Mm hmmm