1 00:00:03,880 --> 00:00:05,160 Speaker 1: Thirty birds. What's up? 2 00:00:05,240 --> 00:00:08,639 Speaker 2: And welcome to a special edition of Falcons Final Whistle 3 00:00:08,720 --> 00:00:12,399 Speaker 2: presented by Zaxby's. What makes it so special? You ask, Well, 4 00:00:12,520 --> 00:00:16,079 Speaker 2: we're here to discuss roster cutdowns. No, the Falcons have 5 00:00:16,160 --> 00:00:18,479 Speaker 2: not actually cut anybody. That's not going to happen until 6 00:00:18,480 --> 00:00:22,720 Speaker 2: August twenty seventh. But Tory mclaney has her very first 7 00:00:22,920 --> 00:00:26,200 Speaker 2: edition of the fifty three man Roster Prediction on the 8 00:00:26,239 --> 00:00:29,520 Speaker 2: website currently Atlanta Falcons dot com. Go check it out. 9 00:00:29,600 --> 00:00:32,280 Speaker 2: And so she is here to join me and walk 10 00:00:32,360 --> 00:00:35,280 Speaker 2: through the fifty three men that she has making the 11 00:00:35,280 --> 00:00:38,040 Speaker 2: Atlanta Falcons roster. Tory, thank you so much for joining me. 12 00:00:38,080 --> 00:00:38,560 Speaker 2: How you doing. 13 00:00:39,120 --> 00:00:40,000 Speaker 3: I'm doing good. 14 00:00:40,040 --> 00:00:42,720 Speaker 4: You know, player off day, but not an off day 15 00:00:42,720 --> 00:00:45,200 Speaker 4: for us. So we're here to work. 16 00:00:45,640 --> 00:00:50,960 Speaker 2: We stay grinding, We stay grinding. I guess the best 17 00:00:50,960 --> 00:00:52,920 Speaker 2: way to start maybe is big picture, like walk me 18 00:00:53,000 --> 00:00:56,040 Speaker 2: through what this exercise was like for you and maybe 19 00:00:56,080 --> 00:00:58,720 Speaker 2: what you learned kind of coming away from it. 20 00:00:59,280 --> 00:00:59,520 Speaker 3: Yeah. 21 00:00:59,560 --> 00:01:02,600 Speaker 4: So what I'll say, just kind of blanket statement, is 22 00:01:02,640 --> 00:01:05,720 Speaker 4: that this was the easiest fifty three man roster that 23 00:01:05,800 --> 00:01:11,800 Speaker 4: I feel like I've had the ability to project wow 24 00:01:11,880 --> 00:01:15,679 Speaker 4: since I've been covering this team. And I pre I 25 00:01:15,760 --> 00:01:19,800 Speaker 4: say this because my first year on covering the Falcons 26 00:01:19,800 --> 00:01:22,000 Speaker 4: for the Athletic I was brand new to the Beat. 27 00:01:22,080 --> 00:01:22,880 Speaker 3: I was still trying to. 28 00:01:22,880 --> 00:01:25,520 Speaker 4: Figure things out that fifty three man roster, even though 29 00:01:25,520 --> 00:01:29,080 Speaker 4: Matt Ryan, Julio, Todd Gurley at the time, like you 30 00:01:29,480 --> 00:01:31,240 Speaker 4: kind of knew what the fifty three man roster was, 31 00:01:31,280 --> 00:01:32,800 Speaker 4: but I was still trying to get to know this team. 32 00:01:32,840 --> 00:01:34,600 Speaker 4: I had no clue what the heck was going on 33 00:01:34,680 --> 00:01:38,440 Speaker 4: with the left guard situation, so no one did at 34 00:01:38,440 --> 00:01:38,960 Speaker 4: the time either. 35 00:01:39,040 --> 00:01:41,920 Speaker 3: Yeah, so that was really difficult. 36 00:01:41,959 --> 00:01:43,800 Speaker 4: And then for the first two years of like the 37 00:01:43,880 --> 00:01:47,720 Speaker 4: Terry Fontineau Arthur Smith regime, because of the nature of 38 00:01:47,760 --> 00:01:51,240 Speaker 4: the salary cap situation and how this roster essentially had 39 00:01:51,280 --> 00:01:55,280 Speaker 4: to be pieced together with veteran guys on like a. 40 00:01:55,840 --> 00:02:00,440 Speaker 3: Small one year team cap friendly deal. 41 00:02:01,120 --> 00:02:03,560 Speaker 4: It made it to where that was really difficult too, 42 00:02:03,560 --> 00:02:05,080 Speaker 4: because you kind of had a bunch of guys who 43 00:02:05,080 --> 00:02:08,000 Speaker 4: are on the same exact level. But now with this 44 00:02:08,040 --> 00:02:11,079 Speaker 4: specific roster, I was going through it and I think 45 00:02:11,120 --> 00:02:15,000 Speaker 4: I did this fifty three man roster projection in maybe 46 00:02:15,120 --> 00:02:19,320 Speaker 4: forty five minutes, and the forty minutes of it, like 47 00:02:19,360 --> 00:02:21,360 Speaker 4: forty of the forty five minutes of it was spent 48 00:02:22,000 --> 00:02:24,359 Speaker 4: just writing out my reasoning for why I chose who 49 00:02:24,400 --> 00:02:27,240 Speaker 4: I chose. So I think that's indicative of the work 50 00:02:27,360 --> 00:02:29,560 Speaker 4: the front office has put in, I think in the 51 00:02:29,639 --> 00:02:32,880 Speaker 4: last two years, but especially just the overall scope of 52 00:02:32,919 --> 00:02:35,920 Speaker 4: the team itself and where all of the cap money's 53 00:02:36,000 --> 00:02:36,400 Speaker 4: going to. 54 00:02:37,680 --> 00:02:41,200 Speaker 2: That's so interesting that you say that this was maybe 55 00:02:41,240 --> 00:02:44,840 Speaker 2: the easiest year for you, and I get why that was, 56 00:02:44,960 --> 00:02:46,760 Speaker 2: as you just kind of explained, So I kind of 57 00:02:46,760 --> 00:02:48,720 Speaker 2: get where your head's at there. But as I was 58 00:02:48,760 --> 00:02:53,079 Speaker 2: reading through it, I was like, this feels more difficult 59 00:02:53,160 --> 00:02:54,920 Speaker 2: maybe than you just made it out to be, because 60 00:02:54,960 --> 00:02:57,480 Speaker 2: there's a lot of players that I really like, you know, 61 00:02:57,280 --> 00:03:00,839 Speaker 2: you mentioned we'll call them like the deronm and Eric 62 00:03:00,880 --> 00:03:04,840 Speaker 2: Harris years, right like those because those two players, I 63 00:03:04,840 --> 00:03:07,800 Speaker 2: think are very indicative of the level of like free 64 00:03:07,800 --> 00:03:10,639 Speaker 2: agent that the Falcons were acquiring. And I give Terry 65 00:03:10,680 --> 00:03:13,240 Speaker 2: Fundo a lot of credit for and he's been really 66 00:03:13,240 --> 00:03:15,680 Speaker 2: good at this throughout his career, is kind of finding 67 00:03:15,720 --> 00:03:19,400 Speaker 2: these guys that maybe the overall market is undervaluing a 68 00:03:19,400 --> 00:03:23,560 Speaker 2: little bit and getting kind of the best years out 69 00:03:23,560 --> 00:03:25,720 Speaker 2: of those players, or at least having them on his 70 00:03:25,919 --> 00:03:29,560 Speaker 2: roster for their best seasons, maybe I should say. And 71 00:03:30,480 --> 00:03:33,399 Speaker 2: that came with its own challenges, as you just outlined. 72 00:03:33,440 --> 00:03:35,640 Speaker 2: But this year, when you're looking at maybe some of 73 00:03:35,640 --> 00:03:38,280 Speaker 2: the potential cuts, there are a lot of names that 74 00:03:38,320 --> 00:03:40,400 Speaker 2: you're like, Oh, I don't want to let this guy go. 75 00:03:40,480 --> 00:03:42,840 Speaker 2: I don't want to see him in a different uniform 76 00:03:42,920 --> 00:03:47,120 Speaker 2: or on another practice squad. Right, So let's maybe start 77 00:03:47,200 --> 00:03:50,000 Speaker 2: with the offense, because I think the defense is going 78 00:03:50,080 --> 00:03:52,080 Speaker 2: to be a little bit more exciting to talk about, 79 00:03:52,120 --> 00:03:54,480 Speaker 2: So we'll we'll kind of start there, and then at 80 00:03:54,480 --> 00:03:56,640 Speaker 2: the very end, I want to maybe wrap it up 81 00:03:56,680 --> 00:03:59,680 Speaker 2: with a name or two that you so be thinking 82 00:03:59,720 --> 00:04:03,320 Speaker 2: about this just really wanted to try to get onto 83 00:04:03,360 --> 00:04:05,880 Speaker 2: this roster, but just couldn't kind of find a spot for. 84 00:04:06,440 --> 00:04:08,480 Speaker 4: Three right off the top of my head that I 85 00:04:08,600 --> 00:04:11,160 Speaker 4: literally wrote down, and I was trying to find any way, 86 00:04:11,200 --> 00:04:13,120 Speaker 4: shape or form that I could get them on the roster. 87 00:04:13,520 --> 00:04:15,520 Speaker 3: So yeah, well we'll save that for the end though. 88 00:04:15,840 --> 00:04:17,159 Speaker 1: I love that. Cool. 89 00:04:17,160 --> 00:04:20,400 Speaker 2: So let's let's start with quarterback. I think it's pretty straightforward. 90 00:04:21,480 --> 00:04:25,320 Speaker 2: You've got Kirk Cousins, Michael Pennix, and Taylor Heineke. Walk 91 00:04:25,440 --> 00:04:26,760 Speaker 2: me through the Taylor Heineke. 92 00:04:27,520 --> 00:04:32,280 Speaker 4: Yeah, So my biggest thing with Taylor Heineke is looking 93 00:04:32,320 --> 00:04:34,640 Speaker 4: at him as a business. 94 00:04:34,160 --> 00:04:35,480 Speaker 3: Asset, through and through. 95 00:04:35,960 --> 00:04:38,480 Speaker 4: I know that, you know, looking at over the cap, 96 00:04:39,760 --> 00:04:42,320 Speaker 4: his dead money hit if he were to be traded 97 00:04:42,480 --> 00:04:45,359 Speaker 4: or cut or let go, is three point three two million, 98 00:04:45,680 --> 00:04:49,000 Speaker 4: while his cap savings is one point two one million. 99 00:04:49,120 --> 00:04:50,480 Speaker 3: So it's a little bit lopsided. 100 00:04:50,560 --> 00:04:53,039 Speaker 4: Not by much, you know, you're talking about in the 101 00:04:53,080 --> 00:04:55,039 Speaker 4: grand scheme of the salary cap. You're talking about a 102 00:04:55,080 --> 00:04:56,960 Speaker 4: million dollars here and there, which you can make up 103 00:04:56,960 --> 00:04:57,839 Speaker 4: for in different ways. 104 00:04:57,839 --> 00:04:59,360 Speaker 3: So it's not that big of a deal. 105 00:04:59,680 --> 00:05:02,240 Speaker 4: But I do think that there is something to be 106 00:05:02,320 --> 00:05:07,040 Speaker 4: said about what value Taylor Heineke could have in the 107 00:05:07,080 --> 00:05:09,800 Speaker 4: middle part of a season because you look at the 108 00:05:09,880 --> 00:05:12,320 Speaker 4: league in the last year. Let's just literally look at 109 00:05:12,320 --> 00:05:15,320 Speaker 4: the last year twenty twenty three, and how many starting 110 00:05:15,360 --> 00:05:19,560 Speaker 4: caliber quarterbacks got hurt, how many backups got hurt, and 111 00:05:19,600 --> 00:05:23,440 Speaker 4: how many times over the last even three years, a 112 00:05:23,640 --> 00:05:26,880 Speaker 4: quarterback off the street has had to come into a 113 00:05:26,960 --> 00:05:30,559 Speaker 4: team and play within a week of being on that team. 114 00:05:31,160 --> 00:05:34,080 Speaker 4: And I say this because Taylor Heineke is someone who 115 00:05:34,160 --> 00:05:36,359 Speaker 4: has been in a multitude of systems. 116 00:05:36,640 --> 00:05:39,000 Speaker 3: He has seen some really really big moments. 117 00:05:39,040 --> 00:05:41,279 Speaker 4: He started a ton of games over the course of 118 00:05:41,360 --> 00:05:44,120 Speaker 4: his very long journey man career. 119 00:05:44,680 --> 00:05:46,320 Speaker 3: So for me, if I'm. 120 00:05:46,160 --> 00:05:49,440 Speaker 4: Sitting here thinking about it as a business asset and 121 00:05:49,640 --> 00:05:53,640 Speaker 4: as a potential opportunity down the road, I'm going to 122 00:05:53,720 --> 00:05:56,080 Speaker 4: hold on to Taylor Heineke. I know you're set with 123 00:05:56,600 --> 00:05:59,880 Speaker 4: Kirk Cousins and Michael Pennix Junior, and I did kind 124 00:05:59,880 --> 00:06:02,240 Speaker 4: of way the idea of only carrying those two on 125 00:06:02,320 --> 00:06:05,800 Speaker 4: the roster and having a not having an emergency third quarterback, 126 00:06:05,839 --> 00:06:07,880 Speaker 4: if you will. But then the more I thought about it, 127 00:06:07,880 --> 00:06:10,040 Speaker 4: the more I was trying to think like long term 128 00:06:10,080 --> 00:06:14,480 Speaker 4: and trying to think two three steps ahead to what 129 00:06:14,600 --> 00:06:18,359 Speaker 4: Taylor Heineke's journey could look like in the middle of 130 00:06:18,400 --> 00:06:21,320 Speaker 4: the season, when you know, for lack of a better term, 131 00:06:21,520 --> 00:06:23,000 Speaker 4: like prap hits the fan. 132 00:06:24,720 --> 00:06:27,839 Speaker 2: Yeah, and no, I liked the way that you approached 133 00:06:27,880 --> 00:06:32,120 Speaker 2: it specifically because of that mindset, right And it's easy 134 00:06:32,240 --> 00:06:35,800 Speaker 2: right now to say coming off of like maybe one 135 00:06:35,880 --> 00:06:39,279 Speaker 2: of the worst pre season performances. And I feel okay 136 00:06:39,279 --> 00:06:42,120 Speaker 2: saying this because I talked to Taylor Henike literally yesterday 137 00:06:42,120 --> 00:06:45,920 Speaker 2: and he basically said it himself that I've that I've seen, right, 138 00:06:46,320 --> 00:06:50,040 Speaker 2: But your point is that that's not the Taylor Heineke 139 00:06:50,240 --> 00:06:52,960 Speaker 2: that we truly believe he is, because we have so 140 00:06:53,080 --> 00:06:56,359 Speaker 2: much evidence to the contrary, and frankly more important evidence 141 00:06:56,600 --> 00:06:59,240 Speaker 2: to the contrary. And so if we're saying right now 142 00:06:59,279 --> 00:07:02,320 Speaker 2: his stock is at like an all time low, well, 143 00:07:02,520 --> 00:07:05,800 Speaker 2: where is his stock going to be when you need 144 00:07:05,920 --> 00:07:08,440 Speaker 2: him in? Let's say, as you do in your piece 145 00:07:08,440 --> 00:07:10,960 Speaker 2: week ten against New Orleans Saints. Right, let's say that 146 00:07:11,080 --> 00:07:15,720 Speaker 2: you have had some unfortunate injuries situations unfold at quarterback. 147 00:07:16,440 --> 00:07:18,320 Speaker 2: You know what you're going to really place a lot 148 00:07:18,360 --> 00:07:21,880 Speaker 2: of stock in. Then is somebody who you can call 149 00:07:21,960 --> 00:07:24,400 Speaker 2: off the bench or in that emergency situation, who has 150 00:07:24,440 --> 00:07:26,560 Speaker 2: at least been in that spot before and is not 151 00:07:26,680 --> 00:07:30,280 Speaker 2: totally brand new, and more importantly, is familiar with Atlanta. 152 00:07:30,640 --> 00:07:33,920 Speaker 2: So for one point two million dollars, as you say, like, 153 00:07:34,160 --> 00:07:37,080 Speaker 2: that is a bargain if you're in that spot and 154 00:07:37,120 --> 00:07:40,080 Speaker 2: if not, hey, then it's not really going to. 155 00:07:40,080 --> 00:07:43,280 Speaker 1: Cost you a lot either way, right, exactly? Cool? 156 00:07:43,680 --> 00:07:47,480 Speaker 2: Running back, you have four players here. I don't think 157 00:07:47,480 --> 00:07:50,320 Speaker 2: it's a surprise who the first two are. Was there 158 00:07:50,360 --> 00:07:55,080 Speaker 2: any thought here about either Jas McClellan or Avery Williams 159 00:07:55,520 --> 00:07:56,640 Speaker 2: not making this roster. 160 00:07:57,080 --> 00:07:59,000 Speaker 4: Yeah, it was really hard for me to keep Carlos 161 00:07:59,080 --> 00:08:02,320 Speaker 4: Washington off of the roster. I think that he is 162 00:08:02,360 --> 00:08:07,120 Speaker 4: somebody who the locker room and coaches truly love in 163 00:08:07,200 --> 00:08:10,120 Speaker 4: a door. He is somebody who I think when you 164 00:08:10,200 --> 00:08:13,160 Speaker 4: talk about when you hear guys talking about the running 165 00:08:13,160 --> 00:08:16,440 Speaker 4: back room, Carlos Washington is someone they always bring up, 166 00:08:16,440 --> 00:08:20,080 Speaker 4: and I think he I really wanted to make it work. 167 00:08:20,240 --> 00:08:23,119 Speaker 4: I wanted to, but in you know, maybe there still 168 00:08:23,200 --> 00:08:24,800 Speaker 4: is a way, but I couldn't. 169 00:08:25,520 --> 00:08:26,400 Speaker 3: The thing about it is. 170 00:08:26,440 --> 00:08:29,880 Speaker 4: Is like Avery Williams is a kind of a He's 171 00:08:29,920 --> 00:08:35,079 Speaker 4: a singular case because he's not necessarily the value of 172 00:08:35,120 --> 00:08:39,120 Speaker 4: Avery Williams is in special teams, in his ability to 173 00:08:39,160 --> 00:08:42,439 Speaker 4: be a return man, and you have to keep him 174 00:08:42,480 --> 00:08:46,880 Speaker 4: on the roster for that reason. And so he's technically 175 00:08:47,240 --> 00:08:50,160 Speaker 4: a running back as well, like he's been taking running 176 00:08:50,200 --> 00:08:53,640 Speaker 4: back reps and I don't know, it was just really 177 00:08:53,679 --> 00:08:58,720 Speaker 4: difficult for me. This was one of those moments where 178 00:08:58,720 --> 00:09:03,280 Speaker 4: you're like, you just hope that Carlos Washington is someone 179 00:09:03,280 --> 00:09:05,440 Speaker 4: you're able to sign on the practice squad and then 180 00:09:05,480 --> 00:09:11,040 Speaker 4: potentially maybe elevate him later because I don't want him 181 00:09:11,080 --> 00:09:14,240 Speaker 4: to get away, But you also have to in the 182 00:09:14,240 --> 00:09:16,400 Speaker 4: back of your head be like, Okay, well you used 183 00:09:16,640 --> 00:09:17,600 Speaker 4: a draft pick. 184 00:09:17,440 --> 00:09:18,360 Speaker 3: On jas McClellan. 185 00:09:18,840 --> 00:09:22,160 Speaker 4: You know, Avery Williams is going to be a major, 186 00:09:22,200 --> 00:09:24,160 Speaker 4: major part of your special teams. 187 00:09:24,960 --> 00:09:27,240 Speaker 3: It's that was a difficult cut, It really was. 188 00:09:28,200 --> 00:09:28,440 Speaker 1: Yeah. 189 00:09:28,760 --> 00:09:32,319 Speaker 2: I could kind of feel that I am wondering if 190 00:09:32,640 --> 00:09:35,560 Speaker 2: the Avery of it all because I totally agree with you, right, Like, 191 00:09:35,920 --> 00:09:38,240 Speaker 2: he's a great special teams player. You know, led the 192 00:09:38,320 --> 00:09:40,920 Speaker 2: league in average yards per punk return a couple of 193 00:09:40,960 --> 00:09:42,880 Speaker 2: years ago before his injury, but. 194 00:09:42,920 --> 00:09:45,240 Speaker 3: At a large margin too, right by. 195 00:09:45,160 --> 00:09:48,240 Speaker 1: Like three or four yards, right right? Yeah. 196 00:09:48,800 --> 00:09:52,240 Speaker 2: I do wonder though, in the aftermath of like the 197 00:09:52,320 --> 00:09:55,120 Speaker 2: Jaquem Grant signing and just what they were even doing 198 00:09:55,160 --> 00:09:58,600 Speaker 2: with like Ronda, like either do they have a different 199 00:09:58,679 --> 00:10:01,000 Speaker 2: role in mind for Avery and have they evolved him 200 00:10:01,000 --> 00:10:03,000 Speaker 2: a little bit more to that offensive side of the 201 00:10:03,000 --> 00:10:07,400 Speaker 2: ball or like or is this staff doing something a 202 00:10:07,400 --> 00:10:09,960 Speaker 2: little bit different? Right like and is that special team 203 00:10:10,040 --> 00:10:13,080 Speaker 2: spot coming from a different area? I don't know, Like, 204 00:10:13,120 --> 00:10:14,800 Speaker 2: I don't know the answer to that, but it's something 205 00:10:14,880 --> 00:10:17,200 Speaker 2: just rattling around in the back of my mind. So 206 00:10:17,400 --> 00:10:20,959 Speaker 2: I agree with you that Avery like is around because 207 00:10:20,960 --> 00:10:23,040 Speaker 2: of that special team spot. I just wonder if that's 208 00:10:23,160 --> 00:10:26,640 Speaker 2: as cemented as maybe it has been the last couple 209 00:10:26,640 --> 00:10:27,360 Speaker 2: of years. 210 00:10:28,200 --> 00:10:31,000 Speaker 3: I think it is personally, I really do. I don't 211 00:10:31,040 --> 00:10:32,400 Speaker 3: see it, I hope so right. 212 00:10:32,480 --> 00:10:34,840 Speaker 4: I don't see there's any way that Avery Williams is 213 00:10:34,840 --> 00:10:36,920 Speaker 4: off of this fifty three man roster. Like, there's not 214 00:10:37,240 --> 00:10:40,360 Speaker 4: a chance I would put like half of my paycheck. 215 00:10:39,920 --> 00:10:40,400 Speaker 3: Down on that. 216 00:10:42,080 --> 00:10:44,640 Speaker 1: Okay, I love that. Part of me wants to take 217 00:10:44,640 --> 00:10:46,000 Speaker 1: you up on. 218 00:10:48,160 --> 00:10:48,720 Speaker 3: Back to me. 219 00:10:49,280 --> 00:10:49,800 Speaker 1: I love it. 220 00:10:50,400 --> 00:10:53,360 Speaker 2: Okay, Well, let's move on to wide receiver. You only 221 00:10:53,360 --> 00:10:57,600 Speaker 2: have the Falcons keeping five. You've got Drake London, Darnell Mooney, 222 00:10:57,640 --> 00:11:00,000 Speaker 2: Ray Ray McLeod, we know, and then you've got Daryl Hodge, 223 00:11:00,240 --> 00:11:01,080 Speaker 2: Casey Washington. 224 00:11:01,920 --> 00:11:03,360 Speaker 1: So walk us through that. 225 00:11:03,840 --> 00:11:04,080 Speaker 3: Yeah. 226 00:11:04,120 --> 00:11:06,960 Speaker 4: So this was one of those things where I was 227 00:11:06,960 --> 00:11:10,360 Speaker 4: playing around with the numbers a little bit, and I 228 00:11:10,520 --> 00:11:12,079 Speaker 4: know that there are a lot of people out here 229 00:11:12,120 --> 00:11:14,040 Speaker 4: being like, you only carried five receivers. 230 00:11:14,120 --> 00:11:18,520 Speaker 3: That's crazy behavior. And my response to that is twofold. 231 00:11:18,600 --> 00:11:22,960 Speaker 3: So one, you have to understand how this offense is working. 232 00:11:23,240 --> 00:11:26,920 Speaker 4: Kyle Pitts is a receiver, but Jean Robinson, Tyler Algier. 233 00:11:27,120 --> 00:11:28,800 Speaker 3: They will be receivers like that. 234 00:11:29,160 --> 00:11:32,160 Speaker 4: You aren't like without options to throw the ball to, 235 00:11:32,600 --> 00:11:36,480 Speaker 4: only carrying five true wide receivers on the roster. The 236 00:11:36,520 --> 00:11:39,160 Speaker 4: second point that I wanted to make is that to 237 00:11:39,240 --> 00:11:42,480 Speaker 4: this point, because of where I am right now in 238 00:11:42,520 --> 00:11:46,240 Speaker 4: the aftermath of the Rondel Moore injury, I am not 239 00:11:46,400 --> 00:11:50,439 Speaker 4: one hundred percent sold on any of the other receivers 240 00:11:50,480 --> 00:11:54,240 Speaker 4: that we have to choose from being a sixth option 241 00:11:54,400 --> 00:11:58,640 Speaker 4: when I could use a six another spot elsewhere, say 242 00:11:59,120 --> 00:12:01,720 Speaker 4: offensive or defense line, say secondary. 243 00:12:02,040 --> 00:12:04,400 Speaker 3: So that was my reasoning for it. 244 00:12:04,440 --> 00:12:08,000 Speaker 4: And granted, give me another week, give me another preseason game, 245 00:12:08,040 --> 00:12:11,680 Speaker 4: and maybe I bring up some another receiver into this mix, 246 00:12:11,720 --> 00:12:15,120 Speaker 4: and I carry six receivers, But at this current moment 247 00:12:15,200 --> 00:12:18,240 Speaker 4: in time, these are the five that I felt good 248 00:12:18,320 --> 00:12:22,160 Speaker 4: enough about to be like, Okay, I'm not these are 249 00:12:22,200 --> 00:12:23,480 Speaker 4: the five that I'm going with. 250 00:12:24,000 --> 00:12:27,560 Speaker 2: That makes total sense, And I really appreciate the kind 251 00:12:27,600 --> 00:12:30,400 Speaker 2: of honesty. I guess right there, that'd be like, look, 252 00:12:30,840 --> 00:12:33,480 Speaker 2: I need I need more time, right, we just got 253 00:12:33,480 --> 00:12:36,319 Speaker 2: to see a little bit more like if Chris Blair 254 00:12:36,440 --> 00:12:40,240 Speaker 2: has another forty one yard catch in in the preseason, 255 00:12:40,400 --> 00:12:42,880 Speaker 2: like who knows. Maybe he starts it, but I totally 256 00:12:42,880 --> 00:12:45,400 Speaker 2: agree with you it is a little bit early. But 257 00:12:45,440 --> 00:12:47,040 Speaker 2: that that's kind of why I wanted to bring up 258 00:12:47,040 --> 00:12:49,800 Speaker 2: the Avery Williams point because Jaquem Grant is here in 259 00:12:49,880 --> 00:12:52,120 Speaker 2: camp and he has that return ability, but he's a 260 00:12:52,120 --> 00:12:55,679 Speaker 2: wide receiver. So it's you could see where the numbers 261 00:12:56,840 --> 00:12:59,560 Speaker 2: kind of could come from these skill positions based on 262 00:12:59,600 --> 00:13:04,040 Speaker 2: how this offense really wants to kind of operate and 263 00:13:04,120 --> 00:13:07,240 Speaker 2: their overall assessment of who can fill these different roles. 264 00:13:07,040 --> 00:13:08,800 Speaker 4: Right, And it is to say that I don't put 265 00:13:08,880 --> 00:13:12,360 Speaker 4: Jackim Grant in this fifty three men roster the last 266 00:13:12,360 --> 00:13:16,280 Speaker 4: time I do it before you know the actual cut down. 267 00:13:16,600 --> 00:13:19,800 Speaker 3: But he's been here for right now, yeah, forty eight hours. 268 00:13:20,160 --> 00:13:23,080 Speaker 4: I saw him have like one one on one rep 269 00:13:23,120 --> 00:13:25,360 Speaker 4: and then maybe running a couple of routes on air 270 00:13:25,520 --> 00:13:26,080 Speaker 4: like that's it. 271 00:13:26,280 --> 00:13:29,800 Speaker 2: So hey, people have staked their claim on less in 272 00:13:30,160 --> 00:13:32,320 Speaker 2: this crazy world we live, and people are like, you 273 00:13:32,360 --> 00:13:34,120 Speaker 2: know what I've seen all I can see. I'm bet 274 00:13:34,120 --> 00:13:34,880 Speaker 2: in the house. 275 00:13:35,440 --> 00:13:37,520 Speaker 3: And I'm just like, ye'ah, Like, let's let's give it 276 00:13:37,559 --> 00:13:37,960 Speaker 3: a minute. 277 00:13:37,960 --> 00:13:41,400 Speaker 4: So let's put a little asterisk beside wide receivers for 278 00:13:41,520 --> 00:13:41,920 Speaker 4: right now. 279 00:13:42,440 --> 00:13:44,640 Speaker 1: Okay, I like that tight end. 280 00:13:44,679 --> 00:13:47,760 Speaker 2: We've got four Kyle Pitts, of course, and then the 281 00:13:48,080 --> 00:13:51,440 Speaker 2: terrific trio that our own Ono Saban wrote about, and 282 00:13:51,440 --> 00:13:53,920 Speaker 2: I encourage everybody to go check that out. But Charlie 283 00:13:53,920 --> 00:13:57,600 Speaker 2: Warner Ross, welly, John Fitzpatrick, this seems pretty chalky. 284 00:13:57,960 --> 00:14:00,120 Speaker 4: Yeah, yeah, I think so, I and I know so 285 00:14:00,160 --> 00:14:02,160 Speaker 4: that I actually had what was interesting. I had some 286 00:14:02,200 --> 00:14:04,520 Speaker 4: comments of people being like, I can't believe John Fitzpatrick 287 00:14:04,559 --> 00:14:05,760 Speaker 4: made this fifty three mans roster. 288 00:14:06,040 --> 00:14:09,200 Speaker 3: But I'm like, I guess people are. 289 00:14:09,040 --> 00:14:11,320 Speaker 4: Going off of maybe what they saw in years past 290 00:14:11,760 --> 00:14:14,240 Speaker 4: and not necessarily what we've seen it practice over the 291 00:14:14,280 --> 00:14:18,440 Speaker 4: course of the last probably month, because I think that 292 00:14:18,679 --> 00:14:22,440 Speaker 4: John Fitzpatrick has for me at least, and I just 293 00:14:22,480 --> 00:14:26,840 Speaker 4: from the way that we've seen the lineups work recently, 294 00:14:26,880 --> 00:14:29,480 Speaker 4: I think he's actually moved his way up the depth 295 00:14:29,560 --> 00:14:34,720 Speaker 4: chart and he's now working more with Michael Penix Junior. 296 00:14:35,280 --> 00:14:38,480 Speaker 4: I can't remember if he's been in there a couple 297 00:14:38,520 --> 00:14:40,640 Speaker 4: of times with Kirk Cousins, maybe in joint practices. 298 00:14:40,680 --> 00:14:42,560 Speaker 3: I can't really remember off the top of my head. 299 00:14:42,880 --> 00:14:47,360 Speaker 4: But all of that to say that this foursome, if 300 00:14:47,360 --> 00:14:53,000 Speaker 4: you will seems pretty locked to me, and I didn't really. 301 00:14:52,800 --> 00:14:55,560 Speaker 3: Have there was like no doubt in my mind that 302 00:14:55,640 --> 00:14:56,240 Speaker 3: this was before. 303 00:14:57,400 --> 00:14:59,720 Speaker 2: Yeah, I think it was pretty eye opening in the 304 00:14:59,840 --> 00:15:01,600 Speaker 2: on the first step chart when you saw two tight 305 00:15:01,680 --> 00:15:05,080 Speaker 2: end spots right, and to me, it was like, Okay, 306 00:15:05,120 --> 00:15:07,120 Speaker 2: then this is going to be a key part of 307 00:15:07,160 --> 00:15:10,520 Speaker 2: their offense, which indicates I think they want to free 308 00:15:10,560 --> 00:15:12,600 Speaker 2: up Kyle Pitts to be that pseudo wide receiver that 309 00:15:12,640 --> 00:15:15,520 Speaker 2: you're talking about. To do that, you're gonna need a 310 00:15:15,560 --> 00:15:18,040 Speaker 2: few guys behind him who are capable of kind of 311 00:15:18,040 --> 00:15:20,640 Speaker 2: occupying the other part of that tight end duality. And 312 00:15:21,040 --> 00:15:24,600 Speaker 2: that is where you've seen Ross Twelly and John Fitzpatrick 313 00:15:24,640 --> 00:15:26,840 Speaker 2: and Charlie Warner, And it's really a beauty is in 314 00:15:26,880 --> 00:15:29,360 Speaker 2: the eye of the beholder situation with all three of 315 00:15:29,400 --> 00:15:32,120 Speaker 2: those guys there, because they're similar, but there's small differences 316 00:15:32,480 --> 00:15:33,240 Speaker 2: between the three. 317 00:15:33,680 --> 00:15:33,880 Speaker 1: Yeah. 318 00:15:33,960 --> 00:15:36,360 Speaker 3: Yeah, And I mean we can't overlook to the role 319 00:15:36,400 --> 00:15:39,120 Speaker 3: that Charlie Warner or Ross dwell A John Fitzpatrick would 320 00:15:39,120 --> 00:15:44,320 Speaker 3: play in run blocking and special teams and special teams. 321 00:15:44,000 --> 00:15:46,640 Speaker 4: Which speaking of run blocking, should we talk about the offensive. 322 00:15:46,320 --> 00:15:47,840 Speaker 1: Line, Let's do it. 323 00:15:47,920 --> 00:15:51,360 Speaker 2: God, That is called a segue in the business, folks. 324 00:15:52,120 --> 00:15:56,320 Speaker 2: So you've got eight offensive linemen. This is not abnormal, right, 325 00:15:56,400 --> 00:15:59,640 Speaker 2: Like teams can vary on how they want to stack this, 326 00:15:59,680 --> 00:16:02,680 Speaker 2: some as many as ten. I believe Thomas de Mitrov. 327 00:16:02,840 --> 00:16:05,360 Speaker 2: In years past that I've been here, Falcons have had 328 00:16:05,400 --> 00:16:06,760 Speaker 2: ten deep at the offensive line. 329 00:16:06,800 --> 00:16:09,280 Speaker 3: But I think Arthur Smith did too. But I okay, 330 00:16:09,640 --> 00:16:10,920 Speaker 3: I thank you my head. 331 00:16:11,000 --> 00:16:12,560 Speaker 1: Yeah, it's a lighter group. 332 00:16:12,880 --> 00:16:16,000 Speaker 4: Yeah, I think that doesn't necessarily mean that there aren't 333 00:16:16,000 --> 00:16:16,720 Speaker 4: moves made. 334 00:16:16,840 --> 00:16:19,080 Speaker 3: You know, later on and you sign. 335 00:16:19,320 --> 00:16:21,760 Speaker 4: Four or five to the practice squad, which I realized 336 00:16:21,840 --> 00:16:23,960 Speaker 4: is probably pretty heavy, but just to have them in 337 00:16:24,000 --> 00:16:26,240 Speaker 4: this reservoal But you look at the group that I 338 00:16:26,360 --> 00:16:31,160 Speaker 4: have and I feel pretty good about it because of 339 00:16:31,240 --> 00:16:34,120 Speaker 4: the nature of this group and the fact that I 340 00:16:34,200 --> 00:16:38,920 Speaker 4: literally brought back. There is no level of continuity of 341 00:16:39,280 --> 00:16:42,600 Speaker 4: I would argue any offensive line in the league like 342 00:16:42,600 --> 00:16:45,040 Speaker 4: there is with the Falcons in twenty from twenty twenty 343 00:16:45,040 --> 00:16:46,720 Speaker 4: three to twenty twenty four, you. 344 00:16:46,680 --> 00:16:49,880 Speaker 3: Are bringing back your entire starting five. 345 00:16:50,200 --> 00:16:56,120 Speaker 4: And potentially the backups that played the most when those 346 00:16:56,360 --> 00:16:59,640 Speaker 4: starters went out last year. I'm talking Storm Morton, Kyle Hinton, 347 00:16:59,720 --> 00:17:03,080 Speaker 4: Ryan Nowsle, all of these guys are guys that have 348 00:17:03,720 --> 00:17:07,520 Speaker 4: playing time within this group, and I find that to 349 00:17:07,600 --> 00:17:11,159 Speaker 4: be very very important when you're talking about continuity and 350 00:17:11,200 --> 00:17:13,880 Speaker 4: if you're having to plug and play, if someone gets hurt, 351 00:17:14,440 --> 00:17:15,439 Speaker 4: et cetera, et cetera. 352 00:17:15,720 --> 00:17:17,280 Speaker 3: You know, you knock on wood on all of that. 353 00:17:17,520 --> 00:17:21,000 Speaker 4: But that was kind of why I only carried eight 354 00:17:21,040 --> 00:17:24,239 Speaker 4: of them, and just right off the bat, was just 355 00:17:24,280 --> 00:17:26,639 Speaker 4: because this is the group that you know the most about. 356 00:17:26,880 --> 00:17:28,440 Speaker 4: This is the group that you trust the most. 357 00:17:31,280 --> 00:17:33,959 Speaker 2: Today's episode of Falcons Final Whistle is brought to you 358 00:17:34,040 --> 00:17:37,800 Speaker 2: by Zaxby's. And after a long game, when I'm tired 359 00:17:37,800 --> 00:17:42,000 Speaker 2: and I need to refuel, I turned to Zaxbies. They're marinated, handbreaded, 360 00:17:42,359 --> 00:17:45,800 Speaker 2: fried to perfection chicken fingers. They get the spot every time. 361 00:17:45,960 --> 00:17:50,320 Speaker 2: Get yours with seasoned crinkle fries, a nice drink in 362 00:17:50,400 --> 00:17:54,000 Speaker 2: whichever of their twelve signature sauces you're feeling at the moment. 363 00:17:54,160 --> 00:17:57,040 Speaker 2: But it always hits just right. So next time you 364 00:17:57,080 --> 00:18:02,879 Speaker 2: need to refuel, go get yourself some Zaxbies. And this 365 00:18:03,000 --> 00:18:05,600 Speaker 2: offensive line, I mean, has been one of the healthiest 366 00:18:05,640 --> 00:18:06,840 Speaker 2: over the last few seasons. 367 00:18:06,880 --> 00:18:07,639 Speaker 1: Knock on wood. 368 00:18:07,720 --> 00:18:10,240 Speaker 2: But yeah, when you look at the kind of I 369 00:18:10,280 --> 00:18:14,280 Speaker 2: think percentage of returning snaps across the league. This unit, 370 00:18:14,320 --> 00:18:16,680 Speaker 2: to your point, is right up there at the top. 371 00:18:16,880 --> 00:18:19,240 Speaker 2: I think I actually wanted to go fact check you 372 00:18:19,240 --> 00:18:21,320 Speaker 2: a little bit because I saw that, like i'd argue thing, 373 00:18:21,320 --> 00:18:24,200 Speaker 2: and I was like, well, well, let's let's go. Challenge accepted. 374 00:18:24,280 --> 00:18:28,280 Speaker 2: And it's really like it's the Colts return there five starters. 375 00:18:28,400 --> 00:18:30,879 Speaker 2: But that's where the argument comes in. And I mean 376 00:18:30,920 --> 00:18:33,520 Speaker 2: Atlanta's run blocking if it is to the level that 377 00:18:33,560 --> 00:18:36,359 Speaker 2: it was last year and their pass blocking increases a 378 00:18:36,359 --> 00:18:38,520 Speaker 2: little bit, which I think it will, just because again 379 00:18:38,560 --> 00:18:41,359 Speaker 2: of the change at quarterback and quarterbacks affect that as well, 380 00:18:41,760 --> 00:18:43,439 Speaker 2: then yeah, this group is going to be solid. 381 00:18:43,520 --> 00:18:46,359 Speaker 1: So you maybe you can get away with eight. There. 382 00:18:46,600 --> 00:18:49,840 Speaker 2: Another group that you have eight players sticking around is 383 00:18:49,920 --> 00:18:52,000 Speaker 2: right on the other side of the ball, the defensive line. 384 00:18:52,000 --> 00:18:55,720 Speaker 2: Now this feels like a lot. This number eight feels 385 00:18:55,760 --> 00:18:56,240 Speaker 2: big to me. 386 00:18:56,440 --> 00:18:59,480 Speaker 4: So well, that's funny, like eight with offensive line and 387 00:18:59,520 --> 00:19:00,280 Speaker 4: felt small. 388 00:19:00,359 --> 00:19:02,480 Speaker 3: Eight with defensive line felt too big. 389 00:19:02,440 --> 00:19:05,920 Speaker 1: Right, Well, yeah, three of them out there at a time, tory, 390 00:19:05,960 --> 00:19:06,640 Speaker 1: they don't have five. 391 00:19:07,359 --> 00:19:10,040 Speaker 3: Here's the thing though, the way they're rotating them, it 392 00:19:10,080 --> 00:19:11,560 Speaker 3: was I couldn't cut these guys. 393 00:19:11,920 --> 00:19:14,440 Speaker 4: We've seen them all Grady Jared David on Your Wanted 394 00:19:14,440 --> 00:19:18,000 Speaker 4: to kwand Graham, Zach Harrison, Rucuerroro, Brandon Dorles, Eddie Goldman, 395 00:19:18,080 --> 00:19:22,320 Speaker 4: Kentavia Street. We have seen all of these guys rotated 396 00:19:22,359 --> 00:19:25,040 Speaker 4: in with the quote unquote ones. 397 00:19:26,320 --> 00:19:29,200 Speaker 3: Every single day, every single day. 398 00:19:29,440 --> 00:19:32,560 Speaker 4: And so for that reason, I was just kind of like, 399 00:19:32,600 --> 00:19:35,120 Speaker 4: I can't cut these guys. The only one that I did, 400 00:19:35,160 --> 00:19:38,080 Speaker 4: I will say I went back on forth on Brandon 401 00:19:38,119 --> 00:19:40,880 Speaker 4: Dorriless a couple of times. I think that he has 402 00:19:40,960 --> 00:19:44,520 Speaker 4: some more maturing to do, and I don't personally feel 403 00:19:44,520 --> 00:19:46,560 Speaker 4: like he's maybe to the level of some of these 404 00:19:46,560 --> 00:19:48,680 Speaker 4: other guys on this list, but I think that's okay. 405 00:19:49,040 --> 00:19:51,320 Speaker 2: And yeah, I don't think you're getting him through to 406 00:19:51,359 --> 00:19:53,439 Speaker 2: the practice squad, No, definitely not. 407 00:19:53,520 --> 00:19:55,960 Speaker 3: So that's another thing that people have to remember, is like, 408 00:19:56,200 --> 00:19:58,720 Speaker 3: who do you think you could leave off of this 409 00:19:58,840 --> 00:20:03,119 Speaker 3: roster and signed to the practice squad without another team 410 00:20:04,000 --> 00:20:06,240 Speaker 3: coaching them before that can happen. 411 00:20:06,680 --> 00:20:09,280 Speaker 2: That Eddie Eddie Goldman would probably be the but I 412 00:20:09,280 --> 00:20:12,080 Speaker 2: don't even know if he's practice quad eligible or like, 413 00:20:12,520 --> 00:20:13,920 Speaker 2: and I think he's filling a big role. 414 00:20:14,320 --> 00:20:17,199 Speaker 3: I do too, Like when Grady Jarrett has his like 415 00:20:17,280 --> 00:20:19,640 Speaker 3: rest days, Eddie Goldman's the one in there for him, 416 00:20:19,920 --> 00:20:21,120 Speaker 3: and then you. 417 00:20:21,119 --> 00:20:23,800 Speaker 4: Have like Kntavious Street, which I know we were actually 418 00:20:23,840 --> 00:20:25,520 Speaker 4: before we even started recording, we were going back and 419 00:20:25,520 --> 00:20:29,000 Speaker 4: forth about Contavia's But like Kntavius Street showed me in 420 00:20:29,040 --> 00:20:32,879 Speaker 4: that in joint practices and in the preseason game that 421 00:20:33,000 --> 00:20:35,840 Speaker 4: he's he's here to play, he's here to get some reps, 422 00:20:35,840 --> 00:20:39,480 Speaker 4: and I wasn't gonna leave him off like in hopes 423 00:20:39,480 --> 00:20:41,760 Speaker 4: that maybe signing him to the practice squad. I just wasn't, 424 00:20:41,880 --> 00:20:44,240 Speaker 4: especially not with the way they're rotating these guys. 425 00:20:44,560 --> 00:20:47,840 Speaker 2: He's also been kind of that pseudo stand in, like 426 00:20:48,480 --> 00:20:50,080 Speaker 2: Eddie Goleman has been in there in kind of that 427 00:20:50,240 --> 00:20:53,200 Speaker 2: zero technique role in their big packages. But when they've 428 00:20:53,240 --> 00:20:56,920 Speaker 2: gone almost what I would assume there their starting look 429 00:20:56,920 --> 00:20:58,639 Speaker 2: would be when David on Yamada is in there and 430 00:20:58,720 --> 00:21:00,760 Speaker 2: Zach Harrison is in there, or it's Kwon Graham is 431 00:21:00,760 --> 00:21:03,199 Speaker 2: in there, kentaviias Street is in that Grady Jarrett role. 432 00:21:03,240 --> 00:21:04,879 Speaker 2: Because we know that Grady is having a little bit 433 00:21:04,880 --> 00:21:07,000 Speaker 2: of a modified training camp as he works his way 434 00:21:07,000 --> 00:21:09,960 Speaker 2: back from injury. So when you see number ninety three 435 00:21:09,960 --> 00:21:12,720 Speaker 2: out there. In my mind, I'm like, that's number ninety seven, 436 00:21:13,280 --> 00:21:16,679 Speaker 2: But that is probably doing wonders for Kentavious, like he 437 00:21:16,800 --> 00:21:19,000 Speaker 2: is getting all these reps he is in that role, 438 00:21:19,040 --> 00:21:21,040 Speaker 2: and I think we saw that play out on Friday 439 00:21:21,119 --> 00:21:22,880 Speaker 2: night against Miami when he was one of my standout, 440 00:21:23,119 --> 00:21:28,560 Speaker 2: standout guys. So yeah, it's a lot, and that's maybe 441 00:21:28,600 --> 00:21:31,840 Speaker 2: the position that I'm most curious about. But it's hard 442 00:21:31,840 --> 00:21:34,840 Speaker 2: to quibble with any of those cuts. So that's it's tough. 443 00:21:35,600 --> 00:21:39,119 Speaker 2: Let's look at outside linebacker one player. Unfortunately Braillen Trice 444 00:21:39,720 --> 00:21:43,240 Speaker 2: no longer on this list. You've got Lorenzo Carter, Arnold 445 00:21:43,240 --> 00:21:46,399 Speaker 2: a Wakati, James Smith, Williams, and Demone Harris as the 446 00:21:46,440 --> 00:21:47,160 Speaker 2: four guys. 447 00:21:47,400 --> 00:21:53,560 Speaker 4: Yeah, that was This was tough, this this grouping, this foursome, 448 00:21:53,600 --> 00:21:56,640 Speaker 4: and I thought about keeping a fifth D'Angelo on loan. 449 00:21:56,920 --> 00:22:02,359 Speaker 4: I it's so hard to place him because we saw 450 00:22:02,720 --> 00:22:06,600 Speaker 4: in the preseason game against Miami he was making almost 451 00:22:06,680 --> 00:22:12,080 Speaker 4: every single special team's play and that matters. That matters 452 00:22:12,080 --> 00:22:15,480 Speaker 4: to me, and I know that like his role in 453 00:22:15,560 --> 00:22:18,919 Speaker 4: this defense. I kind of go back and forth on 454 00:22:18,960 --> 00:22:20,920 Speaker 4: it a little bit. And now that Braylen Trice is 455 00:22:21,480 --> 00:22:24,080 Speaker 4: no longer available to you. It makes me wonder, like, Okay, 456 00:22:24,080 --> 00:22:26,359 Speaker 4: what does that mean for somebody like a D'Angelo Malone, 457 00:22:26,560 --> 00:22:30,840 Speaker 4: Because I feel like Lorenzo Arnold Abukattie and James Smith Williams, 458 00:22:30,840 --> 00:22:36,000 Speaker 4: those are the locks. Damone Harris D'Angelo Malone are kind of. 459 00:22:35,840 --> 00:22:39,120 Speaker 3: The two that I toss up a little bit. 460 00:22:39,720 --> 00:22:43,360 Speaker 4: But I've liked what I've seen recently from Damone Harris 461 00:22:43,400 --> 00:22:45,600 Speaker 4: and how much he's getting in there with that first 462 00:22:45,600 --> 00:22:49,720 Speaker 4: team rotation. I don't know this This is also a 463 00:22:49,760 --> 00:22:54,280 Speaker 4: group that, let's be honest, when you're thinking about edge rushers, 464 00:22:54,280 --> 00:22:58,040 Speaker 4: when you're thinking about outside linebackers, is there a possibility 465 00:22:58,119 --> 00:23:01,520 Speaker 4: to bring someone else in and be that fourth person 466 00:23:01,600 --> 00:23:02,679 Speaker 4: or be that fifth person? 467 00:23:02,760 --> 00:23:03,600 Speaker 3: I don't. I don't know. 468 00:23:03,680 --> 00:23:05,879 Speaker 4: This one is one that I feel like is a 469 00:23:05,920 --> 00:23:08,359 Speaker 4: little bit. I know I put an asterisk beside wide receivers. 470 00:23:08,359 --> 00:23:11,320 Speaker 4: I'd also maybe put an asterisk beside outside linebackers too. 471 00:23:12,200 --> 00:23:15,760 Speaker 2: This feels like the position that if if I were 472 00:23:15,800 --> 00:23:20,600 Speaker 2: maybe scouting around the league after roster cutdowns, I would 473 00:23:20,680 --> 00:23:23,320 Speaker 2: maybe have outside linebacker at the top of my list 474 00:23:23,400 --> 00:23:27,359 Speaker 2: of like positions I'm looking at at who is available 475 00:23:28,160 --> 00:23:29,920 Speaker 2: because I think you kind of hit the nail on 476 00:23:29,920 --> 00:23:34,200 Speaker 2: the head there with yeah it pass rush outside linebacker. 477 00:23:34,359 --> 00:23:36,359 Speaker 2: It's a little bit of again, beauty is in the 478 00:23:36,400 --> 00:23:38,600 Speaker 2: eye of the beholder. What are certain teams looking for 479 00:23:38,640 --> 00:23:42,439 Speaker 2: and sometimes another team's, for lack of a better word, trash, 480 00:23:42,440 --> 00:23:45,919 Speaker 2: maybe your team's treasure. So like that, that's absolutely I 481 00:23:45,920 --> 00:23:51,880 Speaker 2: think in play inside linebacker, this one easy, probably easy, 482 00:23:51,920 --> 00:23:52,800 Speaker 2: psy Limb and Squeeze. 483 00:23:52,800 --> 00:23:53,760 Speaker 1: You want to name the four. 484 00:23:54,040 --> 00:23:56,919 Speaker 4: Kaden Ellis, Troy Anderson, Nate Limb and j D. Bertrand 485 00:23:57,400 --> 00:23:59,959 Speaker 4: Ain't no way, I'm changing this up. 486 00:24:00,640 --> 00:24:05,119 Speaker 1: Moving right along your corner back, We've got a J. 487 00:24:05,280 --> 00:24:08,400 Speaker 2: Trel Mike cues d of, Alfred Clark, Phillips, Kevin King, 488 00:24:08,560 --> 00:24:12,480 Speaker 2: and Antonio Hamilton. So I think the big one that 489 00:24:12,560 --> 00:24:16,200 Speaker 2: you were debating between was Anthony Johnson. Trying to get 490 00:24:16,280 --> 00:24:17,000 Speaker 2: him on here. 491 00:24:17,720 --> 00:24:20,919 Speaker 4: Why I want Anthony Johnson on this fifty three man 492 00:24:21,080 --> 00:24:23,119 Speaker 4: roster so badly because I love watching him play. 493 00:24:23,359 --> 00:24:24,879 Speaker 3: I've said this on podcasts before. 494 00:24:24,960 --> 00:24:29,040 Speaker 4: He's an incredibly physical defensive back, has the build of 495 00:24:29,119 --> 00:24:31,560 Speaker 4: almost an inside linebacker to a certain extent. 496 00:24:32,200 --> 00:24:32,960 Speaker 3: He shows up. 497 00:24:33,000 --> 00:24:36,119 Speaker 4: He's shown up for me time and time again. The 498 00:24:36,280 --> 00:24:38,879 Speaker 4: problem with him, though, is that I didn't think that 499 00:24:38,920 --> 00:24:43,240 Speaker 4: he had the position flexibility that Antonio Hamilton does. And 500 00:24:43,480 --> 00:24:46,440 Speaker 4: that was where I kind of was going back and 501 00:24:46,480 --> 00:24:50,639 Speaker 4: forth a bit where it's like, Okay, you kind of 502 00:24:50,640 --> 00:24:52,560 Speaker 4: play this game in your head's like, if you don't 503 00:24:52,560 --> 00:24:54,920 Speaker 4: have d Offferd, you have Clark Phillips, If you don't 504 00:24:54,960 --> 00:24:57,120 Speaker 4: have Mike Cues, you have Clark Phillips. If you don't 505 00:24:57,119 --> 00:24:59,840 Speaker 4: have if Clark Phillips moves over outside, you have Antonia 506 00:24:59,880 --> 00:25:02,520 Speaker 4: Hi Hamilton, who can slot in at nickel. Like you 507 00:25:02,560 --> 00:25:06,880 Speaker 4: play this game with these cornerbacks. And this was the one. 508 00:25:07,280 --> 00:25:09,639 Speaker 4: This was the lineup. This was the sixth that I 509 00:25:09,680 --> 00:25:14,280 Speaker 4: felt like I had safety in like that I had 510 00:25:14,480 --> 00:25:17,399 Speaker 4: an ability to move guys in and out as needed 511 00:25:17,680 --> 00:25:21,320 Speaker 4: as I was thinking about possible scenarios, impossible groupings. 512 00:25:22,119 --> 00:25:23,800 Speaker 3: So that's that's why. 513 00:25:23,600 --> 00:25:28,080 Speaker 4: Anthony Johnson didn't make the cut and Antonio Hamilton did. 514 00:25:28,400 --> 00:25:31,359 Speaker 3: And it hurt me, It really did. This one. This 515 00:25:31,440 --> 00:25:32,760 Speaker 3: one hurt probably the most. 516 00:25:33,680 --> 00:25:34,320 Speaker 1: Yeah, I could. 517 00:25:34,400 --> 00:25:37,000 Speaker 2: I could feel that because and frankly, it's like a 518 00:25:37,080 --> 00:25:39,520 Speaker 2: testament to the guys that are lower down on those 519 00:25:39,560 --> 00:25:42,080 Speaker 2: lists because the way Kevin King played in that first 520 00:25:42,080 --> 00:25:44,760 Speaker 2: preseason game, the way Antonio Hamilton played and and the 521 00:25:44,760 --> 00:25:47,400 Speaker 2: way Anthony Johnson played, Like all three of these guys 522 00:25:47,440 --> 00:25:49,720 Speaker 2: are making it a true camp and it's something that 523 00:25:49,760 --> 00:25:52,199 Speaker 2: I've I've told you a few times now. It's like 524 00:25:53,480 --> 00:25:57,000 Speaker 2: to me, this shouldn't be as big a surprise as 525 00:25:57,080 --> 00:26:01,200 Speaker 2: I think collectively it is, given the amount of coaching 526 00:26:01,320 --> 00:26:05,800 Speaker 2: ability that is specifically working with the cornerbacks in the safeties. 527 00:26:06,280 --> 00:26:09,320 Speaker 2: And I mean if you look at as Raheem a 528 00:26:09,359 --> 00:26:14,359 Speaker 2: position coach, the positions that he's worked with, they really 529 00:26:14,400 --> 00:26:16,560 Speaker 2: really play well, whether it was wide receivers here in 530 00:26:16,600 --> 00:26:19,000 Speaker 2: Atlanta when he switched over and kind of started working 531 00:26:19,000 --> 00:26:22,080 Speaker 2: again with secondary in twenty twenty, that group like had 532 00:26:22,080 --> 00:26:24,479 Speaker 2: a pretty decent start to the year, even though that 533 00:26:24,560 --> 00:26:29,359 Speaker 2: year didn't go solid overall. But it's not shocking to 534 00:26:29,400 --> 00:26:32,639 Speaker 2: see Kevin King, Antonio Hamilton, those guys in the upside. 535 00:26:32,640 --> 00:26:35,960 Speaker 2: Frankly for somebody like it Kevin King. You know, there's 536 00:26:36,680 --> 00:26:39,960 Speaker 2: there's a lot of I think quiet optimism based on 537 00:26:40,080 --> 00:26:43,000 Speaker 2: just that one one showing. Now he's got to continue 538 00:26:43,040 --> 00:26:45,760 Speaker 2: to prove it, and I think Jerry Grace said it best. 539 00:26:46,040 --> 00:26:48,159 Speaker 2: They have to feel they can trust him after a 540 00:26:48,320 --> 00:26:51,320 Speaker 2: few a couple of years away from the field that 541 00:26:51,400 --> 00:26:52,800 Speaker 2: when they put him out there in a game time 542 00:26:52,840 --> 00:26:55,520 Speaker 2: situation like he's he's going to be able to perform. 543 00:26:55,560 --> 00:26:58,439 Speaker 2: But so far, so good. So yeah, this will be 544 00:26:58,480 --> 00:27:00,000 Speaker 2: one that I think watch kind of coming down the 545 00:27:00,080 --> 00:27:03,639 Speaker 2: stretch is how these corners play out. So let's go 546 00:27:03,680 --> 00:27:06,800 Speaker 2: ahead and get to safety and then we'll we don't 547 00:27:06,840 --> 00:27:09,040 Speaker 2: even need to wrap up with the specialist. I'll spoil 548 00:27:09,080 --> 00:27:11,399 Speaker 2: it and just say that everybody's sticking around here. You 549 00:27:11,440 --> 00:27:13,200 Speaker 2: could think of it especially, Yeah, it's. 550 00:27:13,000 --> 00:27:15,400 Speaker 4: The three you think would be here, young by Bradley 551 00:27:15,400 --> 00:27:15,919 Speaker 4: and Liam. 552 00:27:16,280 --> 00:27:18,159 Speaker 2: Yeah, so we'll we'll go ahead and wrap it up 553 00:27:18,320 --> 00:27:20,280 Speaker 2: with the safeties and then we'll get to the few 554 00:27:20,320 --> 00:27:22,480 Speaker 2: honorable mentions that you had. 555 00:27:23,320 --> 00:27:26,840 Speaker 4: Okay, safeties, this one was there's a lot of moving 556 00:27:26,880 --> 00:27:29,840 Speaker 4: pieces with the safeties and the four that I kept 557 00:27:29,960 --> 00:27:33,520 Speaker 4: where Jesse Bates, Richie Grant, DeMarco Helms with an actual 558 00:27:33,560 --> 00:27:37,680 Speaker 4: asterisk that I put on there in Micah Abernathy, let's 559 00:27:37,720 --> 00:27:40,080 Speaker 4: talk about the DeMarco Helms of it all. Raheem Morris 560 00:27:40,119 --> 00:27:42,760 Speaker 4: talked to us on Monday morning and said that DeMarco 561 00:27:42,800 --> 00:27:44,920 Speaker 4: Hellams does have an ankle injury and he is going 562 00:27:44,920 --> 00:27:49,040 Speaker 4: to miss a significant amount of time. They did not, however, 563 00:27:49,600 --> 00:27:53,439 Speaker 4: immediately put him on IR, which to me is a 564 00:27:53,440 --> 00:27:56,240 Speaker 4: little bit telling to where perhaps and this is me 565 00:27:56,320 --> 00:27:59,440 Speaker 4: just speculating, perhaps you keep him on the initial fifty 566 00:27:59,440 --> 00:28:02,720 Speaker 4: three men row and then you put him on IR, 567 00:28:03,040 --> 00:28:08,200 Speaker 4: and then you sign another safety to make that fourth 568 00:28:08,320 --> 00:28:09,800 Speaker 4: spot within the group. 569 00:28:11,080 --> 00:28:13,280 Speaker 3: I don't know who that would be. 570 00:28:13,680 --> 00:28:18,040 Speaker 4: As has been reported significantly, the Falcons have brought in 571 00:28:18,320 --> 00:28:21,920 Speaker 4: Justin Simmons to work out over Monday and Tuesday. 572 00:28:22,240 --> 00:28:24,400 Speaker 3: I don't have any information about that. I can't even 573 00:28:24,480 --> 00:28:26,239 Speaker 3: confirm the report. I can just tell you that there 574 00:28:26,280 --> 00:28:27,320 Speaker 3: is a report out there. 575 00:28:27,640 --> 00:28:32,600 Speaker 4: So there has to be this there has to be 576 00:28:32,640 --> 00:28:36,040 Speaker 4: this level of like dot dot dot almost with this 577 00:28:36,280 --> 00:28:39,400 Speaker 4: position at this current point in time, who's to say 578 00:28:39,480 --> 00:28:43,880 Speaker 4: again in another week the Falcons have their for safeties solidified. 579 00:28:44,280 --> 00:28:46,880 Speaker 4: We understand kind of what the nature of DeMarco Helm's, 580 00:28:47,080 --> 00:28:49,080 Speaker 4: you know, recovery time is going to be, if he's 581 00:28:49,080 --> 00:28:50,800 Speaker 4: going to be able to come back, like all of 582 00:28:50,800 --> 00:28:52,479 Speaker 4: those kind of things with safety. 583 00:28:52,600 --> 00:28:54,080 Speaker 3: Right now, things are just like up in the air. 584 00:28:54,120 --> 00:28:55,240 Speaker 3: So I did just. 585 00:28:55,800 --> 00:28:59,320 Speaker 4: Blank I'll blanket statement that I do think DeMarco Helms 586 00:29:00,080 --> 00:29:02,360 Speaker 4: will make the fifty three man roster, but not be 587 00:29:02,480 --> 00:29:05,400 Speaker 4: on it for longer than maybe an hour as as 588 00:29:05,520 --> 00:29:06,360 Speaker 4: movements are made. 589 00:29:07,720 --> 00:29:11,600 Speaker 2: Yeah, I think that's smart because it was revealing to 590 00:29:11,640 --> 00:29:15,040 Speaker 2: me when DeMarco Hellams and so far has not gone 591 00:29:15,360 --> 00:29:18,080 Speaker 2: on IR. And that is because if you put him 592 00:29:18,120 --> 00:29:20,920 Speaker 2: on IR before cutdowns, he's done for the year, and 593 00:29:22,120 --> 00:29:25,000 Speaker 2: it's possible that this is not a season ending injury. 594 00:29:25,080 --> 00:29:27,960 Speaker 2: So therefore you're keeping him around. And then once the 595 00:29:28,000 --> 00:29:30,320 Speaker 2: season starts and you are able to place a player 596 00:29:30,360 --> 00:29:34,360 Speaker 2: on IR with the eligibility for that player to return 597 00:29:34,480 --> 00:29:36,560 Speaker 2: later in the year, then that's what you would do, 598 00:29:36,720 --> 00:29:38,840 Speaker 2: and you could immediately make another move. 599 00:29:38,920 --> 00:29:41,200 Speaker 1: So this could be a situation for. 600 00:29:41,240 --> 00:29:43,680 Speaker 4: People who are like kind of thinking about this too. 601 00:29:43,720 --> 00:29:46,080 Speaker 4: This is exactly what the Falcons did with Jeffakuda last year. 602 00:29:46,120 --> 00:29:46,440 Speaker 3: JEFFA. 603 00:29:46,480 --> 00:29:51,160 Speaker 4: Cuda hurts his ankle in training camp. They hold him, 604 00:29:51,160 --> 00:29:53,440 Speaker 4: hold and hold him. He makes a fifty three man roster, 605 00:29:53,520 --> 00:29:53,960 Speaker 4: they put. 606 00:29:53,880 --> 00:29:56,400 Speaker 3: Him on IR. He comes back five weeks later. 607 00:29:57,600 --> 00:29:58,440 Speaker 1: Yep, yep. 608 00:29:58,600 --> 00:30:01,360 Speaker 2: And that could be a case where as we're looking 609 00:30:01,440 --> 00:30:04,080 Speaker 2: at the numbers and kind of balancing things out, we 610 00:30:04,160 --> 00:30:06,920 Speaker 2: could have four safeties here and then it may ultimately 611 00:30:06,960 --> 00:30:09,560 Speaker 2: be three safeties for the first little bit of the season, 612 00:30:09,600 --> 00:30:10,960 Speaker 2: and they moved that extra. 613 00:30:10,760 --> 00:30:12,080 Speaker 1: Guy to a wide receiver. 614 00:30:12,280 --> 00:30:14,360 Speaker 2: Like you could play with the numbers a little bit, 615 00:30:14,400 --> 00:30:17,560 Speaker 2: but for right now, for the purposes that I just outlined, 616 00:30:17,680 --> 00:30:20,040 Speaker 2: you got to have DeMarco Hulmes kind of on this 617 00:30:20,080 --> 00:30:23,880 Speaker 2: group and counted as one of these four. So awesome. 618 00:30:24,120 --> 00:30:26,080 Speaker 2: That is everybody that you've got on the fifty three 619 00:30:26,160 --> 00:30:29,720 Speaker 2: man roster. Now, who were numbers fifty four, fifty five, 620 00:30:29,760 --> 00:30:30,840 Speaker 2: and fifty six for you. 621 00:30:31,320 --> 00:30:36,959 Speaker 4: Anthony Johnson, As we've previously spoken about, D'Angelo Malone and 622 00:30:37,000 --> 00:30:42,520 Speaker 4: Bradley and I those were the three that I struggled 623 00:30:42,800 --> 00:30:45,840 Speaker 4: to leave off. I would also put Carlos Washington maybe 624 00:30:45,840 --> 00:30:48,400 Speaker 4: in that group as well. Those are the ones that 625 00:30:48,520 --> 00:30:51,680 Speaker 4: I was looking at the roster and trying to figure 626 00:30:51,720 --> 00:30:54,880 Speaker 4: out the best ways to keep them on the roster 627 00:30:55,000 --> 00:30:56,520 Speaker 4: because I really like those four guys. 628 00:30:56,560 --> 00:30:57,920 Speaker 3: I really like what they bring to the team. 629 00:30:57,960 --> 00:31:00,680 Speaker 4: I really like what I've seen from them in camp, 630 00:31:00,800 --> 00:31:03,400 Speaker 4: joint practices, in the first preseason game. 631 00:31:03,960 --> 00:31:07,640 Speaker 3: But I couldn't make the numbers work for them. And 632 00:31:07,680 --> 00:31:09,560 Speaker 3: I know there are people sitting there being like, well what. 633 00:31:09,480 --> 00:31:12,040 Speaker 4: About all the receivers, what about all the receivers again, 634 00:31:12,160 --> 00:31:14,000 Speaker 4: I will go back. I feel like I have not 635 00:31:14,160 --> 00:31:17,000 Speaker 4: seen enough of them to feel strongly about putting them 636 00:31:17,040 --> 00:31:19,160 Speaker 4: on the fifty three man roster just yet. 637 00:31:19,920 --> 00:31:22,720 Speaker 2: Of those four that you just named, is there one 638 00:31:22,800 --> 00:31:25,280 Speaker 2: that you think maybe you feel a little bit better 639 00:31:25,320 --> 00:31:27,720 Speaker 2: about having an inside track than the others, or is 640 00:31:27,760 --> 00:31:30,760 Speaker 2: it honestly like, hey, all four of these guys, you 641 00:31:30,760 --> 00:31:32,520 Speaker 2: can make the case four, you can make the case against. 642 00:31:33,040 --> 00:31:34,680 Speaker 3: I think you can make the case four and against 643 00:31:34,680 --> 00:31:35,120 Speaker 3: all of them. 644 00:31:35,640 --> 00:31:38,840 Speaker 4: I think that maybe the strongest case is D'Angelo mlone 645 00:31:39,560 --> 00:31:42,880 Speaker 4: because of what we saw him do on special teams 646 00:31:43,280 --> 00:31:46,240 Speaker 4: and because of the nature of the outside linebacker position 647 00:31:46,320 --> 00:31:48,960 Speaker 4: now that you don't have Braylyn Trice, He's probably the 648 00:31:48,960 --> 00:31:51,080 Speaker 4: one that I would put it like one. 649 00:31:50,960 --> 00:31:56,040 Speaker 2: A Okay, yeah, I'm a little surprised he didn't have 650 00:31:56,040 --> 00:31:59,600 Speaker 2: somebody like Dane Crookshank or is somebody like that who 651 00:31:59,640 --> 00:32:02,000 Speaker 2: we've heard a lot about over the last little bit. 652 00:32:03,040 --> 00:32:06,160 Speaker 2: You know, I'm gonna totally butcher the last name here, 653 00:32:06,160 --> 00:32:10,000 Speaker 2: but Tommy Togui, right, Yeah, he kind of popped in 654 00:32:10,040 --> 00:32:14,280 Speaker 2: that last game. So yeah, there's a long way to 655 00:32:14,320 --> 00:32:16,720 Speaker 2: go yet, But that is why this is just the 656 00:32:16,760 --> 00:32:20,040 Speaker 2: initial fifty three man roster prediction that we will have 657 00:32:20,440 --> 00:32:22,920 Speaker 2: coming for y'all, and we will have two more at 658 00:32:23,000 --> 00:32:29,000 Speaker 2: least before the actual cutdown date again on August twenty seven. So, Toy, 659 00:32:29,040 --> 00:32:31,000 Speaker 2: before I wrap us up, is there anything you wanted 660 00:32:31,040 --> 00:32:32,680 Speaker 2: to add about this exercise? 661 00:32:33,080 --> 00:32:35,240 Speaker 3: Yeah, no, it was a fun one. I used to 662 00:32:35,280 --> 00:32:37,320 Speaker 3: hate fifty three man roster projections and. 663 00:32:37,280 --> 00:32:40,640 Speaker 4: Now I don't hate them. So there's that. And next 664 00:32:40,640 --> 00:32:42,440 Speaker 4: time that we do this, will and I will be 665 00:32:42,520 --> 00:32:45,120 Speaker 4: kind of switching seats. I'll be at He'll be doing 666 00:32:45,600 --> 00:32:48,880 Speaker 4: the projecting, and I'll be asking the questions, So y'all 667 00:32:48,960 --> 00:32:50,560 Speaker 4: be on the lookout for that when we get back 668 00:32:50,600 --> 00:32:51,280 Speaker 4: from Baltimore. 669 00:32:51,800 --> 00:32:54,640 Speaker 2: Yeah, I've never done one of these either, So I 670 00:32:54,720 --> 00:32:56,480 Speaker 2: may have a couple of questions for you, Tori, And 671 00:32:56,520 --> 00:32:57,920 Speaker 2: they need you to hold my hand a little bit 672 00:32:57,960 --> 00:33:00,240 Speaker 2: because I'm sure I'm gonna get a gonna get some 673 00:33:00,680 --> 00:33:03,240 Speaker 2: cold feet when it comes to kicking somebody off the 674 00:33:03,240 --> 00:33:06,000 Speaker 2: fifty three man rosters, so you may need to hype 675 00:33:06,000 --> 00:33:06,680 Speaker 2: me up a little bit. 676 00:33:07,000 --> 00:33:08,040 Speaker 1: Just remember, we. 677 00:33:08,000 --> 00:33:11,160 Speaker 3: Don't get paid to make these decisions. Somebody else does. 678 00:33:11,960 --> 00:33:13,920 Speaker 1: Yeah, no, we definitely don't. 679 00:33:14,240 --> 00:33:17,160 Speaker 2: So this is all an exercise in you know, just 680 00:33:17,600 --> 00:33:19,640 Speaker 2: thinking it all through, which is what we love to 681 00:33:19,680 --> 00:33:22,600 Speaker 2: do here. But thank you guys for listening all the 682 00:33:22,600 --> 00:33:24,800 Speaker 2: way through. If you would like to hear more from 683 00:33:24,960 --> 00:33:27,520 Speaker 2: the Atlanta Falcons podcast Network, you can go check out 684 00:33:27,520 --> 00:33:30,120 Speaker 2: the channel on Spotify, Apple, wherever you gear your podcasts. 685 00:33:30,200 --> 00:33:31,480 Speaker 1: Check it out on YouTube too. 686 00:33:31,520 --> 00:33:36,840 Speaker 2: Amazing videos, highlights, press conferences, this podcast itself if you 687 00:33:36,880 --> 00:33:39,360 Speaker 2: want to see what we all look like when we're 688 00:33:39,480 --> 00:33:40,200 Speaker 2: hashing it out. 689 00:33:40,600 --> 00:33:43,720 Speaker 1: So yeah, thank you guys so much again for listening. 690 00:33:44,480 --> 00:33:47,400 Speaker 2: Training camp, preseason practice, whatever we want to call it 691 00:33:47,440 --> 00:33:49,760 Speaker 2: this time of year, is going to resume on Wednesday, 692 00:33:49,840 --> 00:33:52,360 Speaker 2: so we will be back with another Falcons Final Whistle 693 00:33:52,600 --> 00:33:55,600 Speaker 2: for you all tomorrow. Camp Champ, all of that good stuff. 694 00:33:55,720 --> 00:33:58,720 Speaker 2: It's right around the corner. But for Tory mclaney, I'm 695 00:33:58,720 --> 00:34:01,800 Speaker 2: Will McFadden. Thank you for listening to Falcons Final Whistle 696 00:34:01,840 --> 00:34:04,120 Speaker 2: presented by Zaxby's and we will see y'all later