1 00:00:06,200 --> 00:00:09,200 Speaker 1: What's up, everybody, and welcome to yet another edition of 2 00:00:09,240 --> 00:00:13,520 Speaker 1: the Falcons Final Whistle Podcast. I'm Scott Bear looking into 3 00:00:13,520 --> 00:00:16,919 Speaker 1: a zoom with Tory mclandy and Ashton Edmonds on the 4 00:00:16,960 --> 00:00:19,160 Speaker 1: other side, which normally doesn't happen for home games, but 5 00:00:19,200 --> 00:00:23,079 Speaker 1: I left the podcast gear in my car because I 6 00:00:23,120 --> 00:00:25,400 Speaker 1: have him the memory of the Goldfish, and it was 7 00:00:25,440 --> 00:00:27,160 Speaker 1: too lazy to go back and get it. So here 8 00:00:27,200 --> 00:00:29,760 Speaker 1: we are. Thank you technology for bringing us all together. 9 00:00:30,080 --> 00:00:32,920 Speaker 1: We're literally in different press boxes, like I can see 10 00:00:32,960 --> 00:00:35,239 Speaker 1: Tory and I can't see Ashton, but he's down there 11 00:00:35,240 --> 00:00:40,320 Speaker 1: so much. Nonetheless, we are coming to you after another 12 00:00:40,400 --> 00:00:44,760 Speaker 1: tough loss Man. This one was Pittsburgh nineteen Falcon sixteen. 13 00:00:44,840 --> 00:00:47,440 Speaker 1: It was a loss at home. There was yet another 14 00:00:47,560 --> 00:00:51,479 Speaker 1: golden opportunity for the Falcons to get a win. They 15 00:00:51,600 --> 00:00:55,080 Speaker 1: ended up for the second straight week, ending their comeback 16 00:00:55,120 --> 00:00:59,440 Speaker 1: attempt with an interception by Marcus Mariota. Last week against Washington, 17 00:00:59,600 --> 00:01:01,640 Speaker 1: it was on I believe the two or four yard 18 00:01:01,680 --> 00:01:06,440 Speaker 1: line picked in the end who then the four batted pass. 19 00:01:06,480 --> 00:01:09,880 Speaker 1: On this one, it was that the Falcons too, and 20 00:01:10,080 --> 00:01:14,920 Speaker 1: Marcus throw a pick that ultimately ended a comeback attempt. 21 00:01:15,040 --> 00:01:19,280 Speaker 1: The Falcons lose another one. They're now five and eight, 22 00:01:19,440 --> 00:01:22,399 Speaker 1: five and eight, there's still somehow within striking distance of 23 00:01:22,400 --> 00:01:24,080 Speaker 1: the NFC South. I know when no one wants to 24 00:01:24,080 --> 00:01:27,400 Speaker 1: hear playoffs, and we'll explain why. I think, as Ashton 25 00:01:27,440 --> 00:01:30,120 Speaker 1: pointed out last weekend kind of sparked a column, idea 26 00:01:30,200 --> 00:01:32,360 Speaker 1: for me is that they're not playing like a playoff 27 00:01:32,400 --> 00:01:35,319 Speaker 1: team or a playoff contender. So we're gonna get to 28 00:01:35,360 --> 00:01:38,640 Speaker 1: all that, and we're obviously going to talk quarterback. How 29 00:01:38,680 --> 00:01:40,920 Speaker 1: can we not talk quarterback. It's what all of you 30 00:01:40,959 --> 00:01:43,000 Speaker 1: want to hear about. It's what all you, all of 31 00:01:43,000 --> 00:01:46,720 Speaker 1: you want to discuss, and we are podcasters for the people. 32 00:01:48,040 --> 00:01:50,400 Speaker 1: We're gonna talk lots of quarterback. Giving up before we 33 00:01:50,440 --> 00:01:53,360 Speaker 1: do that, though we're gonna do I don't know. I 34 00:01:53,400 --> 00:01:56,720 Speaker 1: always like to say general takeaways, but Tory, your thoughts 35 00:01:56,800 --> 00:02:01,720 Speaker 1: on this Steeler's loss in particular, did it get funky? 36 00:02:03,040 --> 00:02:05,400 Speaker 1: I mean I think it started out funky. I mean 37 00:02:06,480 --> 00:02:10,160 Speaker 1: when I look at what this offensive production was, I 38 00:02:10,200 --> 00:02:12,919 Speaker 1: think I could argue that this is one of the 39 00:02:13,040 --> 00:02:17,280 Speaker 1: least productive games offensively the Falcons have had. And it's 40 00:02:17,360 --> 00:02:20,440 Speaker 1: not even necessarily yards because I do think they had 41 00:02:20,480 --> 00:02:24,000 Speaker 1: some good explosives. It was absolutely getting in the red 42 00:02:24,080 --> 00:02:26,920 Speaker 1: zone and scoring touchdowns. That was something that was so 43 00:02:27,040 --> 00:02:31,040 Speaker 1: fascinating to me when we're watching this game is one 44 00:02:31,120 --> 00:02:35,160 Speaker 1: how poorly the Falcons did on third down. That's I mean, 45 00:02:35,280 --> 00:02:38,440 Speaker 1: stats can tell you that story, but also just the 46 00:02:38,480 --> 00:02:41,720 Speaker 1: fact that the Falcons did not get into the red 47 00:02:41,800 --> 00:02:45,760 Speaker 1: zone until late in the third quarter. I'm talking really 48 00:02:45,880 --> 00:02:49,320 Speaker 1: late in the third quarter. And that to me, if 49 00:02:49,400 --> 00:02:53,040 Speaker 1: you're it doesn't matter, well, I say that it does 50 00:02:53,160 --> 00:02:56,240 Speaker 1: matter what your defense is doing. But when you, as 51 00:02:56,280 --> 00:02:59,040 Speaker 1: an offense are unable to move the ball into the 52 00:02:59,080 --> 00:03:02,040 Speaker 1: red zone to at least give yourself an opportunity to 53 00:03:02,080 --> 00:03:05,200 Speaker 1: put points on the board, that is setting up your 54 00:03:05,400 --> 00:03:08,960 Speaker 1: entire team to kind of just it makes it things 55 00:03:09,000 --> 00:03:11,880 Speaker 1: so much harder on your defensive unit and your special 56 00:03:11,880 --> 00:03:16,959 Speaker 1: team's unit when your offensive unit is not producing points. 57 00:03:17,240 --> 00:03:18,840 Speaker 1: And I think that was kind of one of the 58 00:03:18,880 --> 00:03:21,800 Speaker 1: major takeaways that I took. I thought the Falcons did 59 00:03:21,880 --> 00:03:25,480 Speaker 1: have opportunities. I just didn't think that they I mean, 60 00:03:25,520 --> 00:03:30,560 Speaker 1: there were two, maybe even three drives within the course 61 00:03:30,600 --> 00:03:32,560 Speaker 1: of the first half and even the first part of 62 00:03:32,560 --> 00:03:35,280 Speaker 1: the first quarter where the Falcons started the drive off 63 00:03:35,320 --> 00:03:39,520 Speaker 1: with a huge explosive play and then nothing came from that. 64 00:03:39,680 --> 00:03:42,520 Speaker 1: They couldn't get into the red zone after that, and 65 00:03:42,560 --> 00:03:45,240 Speaker 1: so after flipping the field on the first play from scrimmage. 66 00:03:45,280 --> 00:03:49,320 Speaker 1: So that is kind of what my major takeaway was 67 00:03:49,360 --> 00:03:51,680 Speaker 1: when I look back at this game. It's just how 68 00:03:51,840 --> 00:03:55,960 Speaker 1: this offense it never felt like it ever got going 69 00:03:56,000 --> 00:03:59,360 Speaker 1: in the way that it needed to. Ashton, you were 70 00:03:59,400 --> 00:04:02,520 Speaker 1: in the postgame locker room, and you kind of in 71 00:04:02,560 --> 00:04:04,480 Speaker 1: the in the story that you wrote on Atlanta Falcons 72 00:04:04,520 --> 00:04:06,520 Speaker 1: dot com, you kind of described the mood in there 73 00:04:06,960 --> 00:04:09,880 Speaker 1: and uh, and the reaction to that loss, kind of 74 00:04:10,760 --> 00:04:13,840 Speaker 1: paying a word picture for us about what that locker 75 00:04:13,920 --> 00:04:17,280 Speaker 1: room was like. Well, first, when I walked in, it 76 00:04:17,360 --> 00:04:20,400 Speaker 1: was around eight players, eight non players. Most of the 77 00:04:20,400 --> 00:04:23,479 Speaker 1: players had already left. Um, but you know when I 78 00:04:23,520 --> 00:04:25,960 Speaker 1: walked in, everybody was just it was just quiet in 79 00:04:26,000 --> 00:04:27,760 Speaker 1: the whole locker room. It was quiet and nobody was 80 00:04:27,760 --> 00:04:31,480 Speaker 1: really talking um and you know players. You know, when 81 00:04:31,480 --> 00:04:33,360 Speaker 1: I did walk up to Rashaun Evans and we were 82 00:04:33,400 --> 00:04:36,919 Speaker 1: talking um, you know, he you could tell that the 83 00:04:37,080 --> 00:04:40,200 Speaker 1: motions were, you know, they were heavy on him and um, 84 00:04:40,200 --> 00:04:44,279 Speaker 1: he spoke confidently, but it's like he also spoke optimistically, 85 00:04:44,400 --> 00:04:47,320 Speaker 1: but he also you could tell that, you know, these 86 00:04:47,320 --> 00:04:50,679 Speaker 1: past two weeks, the Washington game and today's game against 87 00:04:50,680 --> 00:04:54,520 Speaker 1: the Stillers, you know, it was tough for the whole team. Um. 88 00:04:54,760 --> 00:04:56,720 Speaker 1: And you know that's that was the gist of what 89 00:04:56,800 --> 00:05:00,680 Speaker 1: Rashwan was basically saying, saying with tal out years, you 90 00:05:00,680 --> 00:05:03,680 Speaker 1: know he was he was saying that this loss was tough. Um. 91 00:05:04,040 --> 00:05:06,480 Speaker 1: Nineteen to sixteen. It was a three point game that 92 00:05:06,839 --> 00:05:09,440 Speaker 1: could have went the other way. Um, you know, but 93 00:05:09,560 --> 00:05:13,120 Speaker 1: things just didn't pan out that way. So you know, 94 00:05:13,320 --> 00:05:17,000 Speaker 1: just to paint that picture, it was, Yeah, it was quiet, um. 95 00:05:17,240 --> 00:05:19,839 Speaker 1: You know players where you could tell players were down 96 00:05:19,880 --> 00:05:23,440 Speaker 1: about this loss. Um. And you know that was That's 97 00:05:23,440 --> 00:05:27,840 Speaker 1: really it for the most part, Tory. Let's all move 98 00:05:27,880 --> 00:05:32,039 Speaker 1: on here to the quarterback. I don't know what the 99 00:05:32,080 --> 00:05:36,640 Speaker 1: proper word is A situation probably isn't it. But nonetheless, um, 100 00:05:37,520 --> 00:05:41,560 Speaker 1: we have to talk about the quarterback because there Arthur 101 00:05:41,640 --> 00:05:44,359 Speaker 1: Smith and Marcus Mariota were asked about the possibility of 102 00:05:44,400 --> 00:05:47,080 Speaker 1: a quarterback change coming up. The Falcons have a bye 103 00:05:47,080 --> 00:05:50,239 Speaker 1: week next week and then they played the New Orleans 104 00:05:50,240 --> 00:05:53,400 Speaker 1: Saints in the Big Easy, so um, they were asked 105 00:05:53,400 --> 00:05:56,120 Speaker 1: about it before we get into and that's why this 106 00:05:56,200 --> 00:05:59,920 Speaker 1: is such a big topic of this podcast. So why 107 00:06:00,080 --> 00:06:02,559 Speaker 1: don't you kind of set the stage for us about 108 00:06:02,600 --> 00:06:06,119 Speaker 1: what Arthur and what Marcus said after a game where 109 00:06:06,720 --> 00:06:11,960 Speaker 1: Mariota miss some throws, miss some opportunities and open targets 110 00:06:12,080 --> 00:06:17,000 Speaker 1: and ultimately got picked off on that final comeback attempt. Yeah, 111 00:06:17,040 --> 00:06:22,760 Speaker 1: I think from being there and listening to what Arthur 112 00:06:22,800 --> 00:06:27,520 Speaker 1: Smith and Marcus Mariota said after the game, Arthur Smith specifically, 113 00:06:28,080 --> 00:06:30,640 Speaker 1: I think we kind of have made it to a 114 00:06:30,720 --> 00:06:35,600 Speaker 1: fork in the road in terms of this quarterback situation. 115 00:06:35,680 --> 00:06:38,760 Speaker 1: And I will say situation. I know, if this is 116 00:06:38,800 --> 00:06:42,440 Speaker 1: three weeks ago, Arthur Smith says, there's no quarterback situation, 117 00:06:43,360 --> 00:06:45,559 Speaker 1: but we're not three weeks ago. And that was something 118 00:06:45,600 --> 00:06:49,120 Speaker 1: that I spent a lot of time in my postgame 119 00:06:49,480 --> 00:06:55,159 Speaker 1: article kind of almost like comparing and contrasting Arthur Smith's 120 00:06:55,160 --> 00:07:01,039 Speaker 1: responses two quarterback related questions after the Carolina law versus 121 00:07:01,080 --> 00:07:05,360 Speaker 1: the same similar type of questions asked of him after 122 00:07:05,440 --> 00:07:08,640 Speaker 1: this loss against the Steelers, and how they differ. If 123 00:07:08,640 --> 00:07:10,760 Speaker 1: you go back and you listen to and read the 124 00:07:10,760 --> 00:07:15,680 Speaker 1: transcript of what Arthur Smith said after the loss to Carolina, 125 00:07:15,800 --> 00:07:18,560 Speaker 1: there was a lot of deflection. There was a lot 126 00:07:18,560 --> 00:07:23,600 Speaker 1: of deflection away from Marcus and even at one point 127 00:07:23,880 --> 00:07:26,360 Speaker 1: it was like the third question about the quarterback and 128 00:07:26,800 --> 00:07:30,600 Speaker 1: all that kind of stuff, and Arthur Smith even point blake, said, 129 00:07:30,680 --> 00:07:32,560 Speaker 1: you know, guys, you're making this about the quarterback, but 130 00:07:32,680 --> 00:07:34,840 Speaker 1: what about the team. We should have protected better, we 131 00:07:34,840 --> 00:07:37,360 Speaker 1: should have run the ball better, we should have done X, 132 00:07:37,520 --> 00:07:40,160 Speaker 1: Y and Z better. He listed all of these things 133 00:07:40,160 --> 00:07:43,840 Speaker 1: that the Falcons should have done better in that loss 134 00:07:43,920 --> 00:07:48,200 Speaker 1: to Carolina. Now fast forward to where we are in 135 00:07:48,480 --> 00:07:51,280 Speaker 1: week thirteen, about to go into a bye week, and 136 00:07:51,400 --> 00:07:55,600 Speaker 1: those responses are different. When Arthur Smith is point blank 137 00:07:55,840 --> 00:08:00,200 Speaker 1: asked are you going to make a change at quarterback 138 00:08:00,440 --> 00:08:04,600 Speaker 1: or are you planning on potentially doing something different at quarterback, 139 00:08:05,120 --> 00:08:08,680 Speaker 1: he essentially doesn't deflect at all, and he says, there 140 00:08:08,800 --> 00:08:12,160 Speaker 1: is a lot to evaluate. Every option is on the table, 141 00:08:12,760 --> 00:08:14,720 Speaker 1: and it's a good thing that the bye week is 142 00:08:14,920 --> 00:08:17,040 Speaker 1: coming up. It's a good thing for us as a 143 00:08:17,080 --> 00:08:19,000 Speaker 1: team that the bye week is coming up. And I 144 00:08:19,040 --> 00:08:24,600 Speaker 1: think that response, even in its vagueness, the fact that 145 00:08:24,640 --> 00:08:27,680 Speaker 1: it differs so heavily from what it was against the 146 00:08:28,080 --> 00:08:31,760 Speaker 1: against Carolina or after that game, and even after that game, 147 00:08:31,800 --> 00:08:35,800 Speaker 1: and into the next week, where again Arthur Smith is 148 00:08:35,800 --> 00:08:40,320 Speaker 1: point point blank asked about the quarterback situation and he says, quote, 149 00:08:40,600 --> 00:08:44,520 Speaker 1: there is no situation. I don't think the same could 150 00:08:44,600 --> 00:08:47,640 Speaker 1: be said about where they are now. I do think 151 00:08:47,679 --> 00:08:50,640 Speaker 1: that they are going into the bye week to evaluate 152 00:08:50,720 --> 00:08:53,080 Speaker 1: this position. I think I believe Arthur Smith when he 153 00:08:53,080 --> 00:08:56,240 Speaker 1: says that there are changes coming, and he said that 154 00:08:56,360 --> 00:08:59,880 Speaker 1: not in the way of the specific quarterback position. He 155 00:09:00,080 --> 00:09:01,880 Speaker 1: said that as a team as a whole, but you 156 00:09:01,920 --> 00:09:05,800 Speaker 1: have to think that this quarterback position is going to 157 00:09:05,840 --> 00:09:10,120 Speaker 1: be heavily evaluated over the course of the bye week. 158 00:09:10,200 --> 00:09:12,640 Speaker 1: And I think that what I would like to see, 159 00:09:12,640 --> 00:09:14,880 Speaker 1: and this is just me my opinion, what I would 160 00:09:14,920 --> 00:09:20,400 Speaker 1: like to see is regardless of what happens, whether you 161 00:09:20,480 --> 00:09:23,079 Speaker 1: decide to stick with Marcus or you decide to give 162 00:09:23,160 --> 00:09:26,840 Speaker 1: Desmond a shot, I think Arthursmon should come in on 163 00:09:26,880 --> 00:09:29,960 Speaker 1: the Monday before they play the Saints and say one 164 00:09:30,000 --> 00:09:33,240 Speaker 1: way or another, because I feel like, if you are 165 00:09:33,280 --> 00:09:36,240 Speaker 1: going to make a move to Desmond Ritter to see 166 00:09:36,280 --> 00:09:39,720 Speaker 1: what you have in him, my opinion is that you 167 00:09:39,800 --> 00:09:43,560 Speaker 1: either do it now or you potentially don't have another 168 00:09:43,559 --> 00:09:46,680 Speaker 1: opportunity to do it. You have two weeks of prep 169 00:09:46,760 --> 00:09:49,160 Speaker 1: coming up. You have an entire bye week and then 170 00:09:49,160 --> 00:09:52,080 Speaker 1: an entire week of practice before heading down to New 171 00:09:52,160 --> 00:09:55,199 Speaker 1: Orleans to face the Saints. My opinion is, if you 172 00:09:55,240 --> 00:09:57,960 Speaker 1: are going to make the move, now is the time 173 00:09:58,000 --> 00:10:01,240 Speaker 1: to make that move now. Again, that is my opinion. 174 00:10:01,400 --> 00:10:04,200 Speaker 1: We don't know what they're gonna do. We don't know 175 00:10:04,240 --> 00:10:06,600 Speaker 1: what these evaluations over the course of the next week 176 00:10:06,600 --> 00:10:11,680 Speaker 1: are going to entail for this coaching staff. But whatever 177 00:10:11,760 --> 00:10:15,040 Speaker 1: comes of it, I think Arthur Smith should say one 178 00:10:15,080 --> 00:10:18,040 Speaker 1: way or another that they're either sticking with Marcus or 179 00:10:18,080 --> 00:10:20,120 Speaker 1: they're going to give Desmon a shot, and hear the 180 00:10:20,240 --> 00:10:24,160 Speaker 1: reasons why that is. Ultimately, regardless of what decision they make, 181 00:10:24,280 --> 00:10:27,800 Speaker 1: that is what I would like to see happen, not Monday, 182 00:10:27,880 --> 00:10:31,280 Speaker 1: when you're probably listening to this podcast, but after the 183 00:10:31,320 --> 00:10:33,520 Speaker 1: bye week is done, in the lead up to the 184 00:10:33,559 --> 00:10:37,560 Speaker 1: same game. I gotta say, that was like a fascinating breakdown. 185 00:10:38,360 --> 00:10:41,600 Speaker 1: Thank you. I hope that's fascinating in a good way. No, yeah, 186 00:10:41,679 --> 00:10:44,439 Speaker 1: I think that the biggest thing that I liked about 187 00:10:44,480 --> 00:10:48,760 Speaker 1: it is that you can say kind of you can 188 00:10:48,800 --> 00:10:50,880 Speaker 1: just make a blanket statement say well. When he was 189 00:10:50,920 --> 00:10:53,240 Speaker 1: asked about this before he slammed the door on it, 190 00:10:53,559 --> 00:10:55,880 Speaker 1: but it's different this time. Okay, Well that's a thing 191 00:10:55,920 --> 00:10:57,960 Speaker 1: for you to say, but then to tangibly go back 192 00:10:58,000 --> 00:11:00,480 Speaker 1: and look at the evidence and see that the evidence 193 00:11:00,559 --> 00:11:02,560 Speaker 1: is different. Another thing that I would like to say 194 00:11:02,559 --> 00:11:06,120 Speaker 1: about Arthur Smith, Well, he's a very smart individual. He's 195 00:11:06,240 --> 00:11:08,559 Speaker 1: very good at press conferences, and if he doesn't want 196 00:11:08,559 --> 00:11:10,600 Speaker 1: to tell you something, he's not going to tell you. 197 00:11:10,760 --> 00:11:13,360 Speaker 1: But he also tells you the truth in all of it. 198 00:11:13,440 --> 00:11:15,200 Speaker 1: You got to learn how to like read the matrix 199 00:11:15,240 --> 00:11:17,760 Speaker 1: with him, so to compare and contrast what was said 200 00:11:17,800 --> 00:11:20,200 Speaker 1: before and what was said again to question. I'm sure 201 00:11:20,240 --> 00:11:23,240 Speaker 1: he knew he was going to get right, and you 202 00:11:23,280 --> 00:11:27,880 Speaker 1: see these differences in the answers, I think shines a 203 00:11:27,960 --> 00:11:31,320 Speaker 1: light on it. I also agree with you that there's 204 00:11:31,360 --> 00:11:34,360 Speaker 1: gonna be a lot of people. The national guys are 205 00:11:34,360 --> 00:11:35,800 Speaker 1: gonna make a lot of phone calls, a lot of 206 00:11:35,800 --> 00:11:38,480 Speaker 1: people are going to be trying to read into things. 207 00:11:38,640 --> 00:11:41,520 Speaker 1: I think ultimately you've got to make a move. I 208 00:11:41,640 --> 00:11:47,160 Speaker 1: don't believe that making Dennis Allen prepare for two guys 209 00:11:47,600 --> 00:11:50,440 Speaker 1: makes that big of a difference. You know, to try 210 00:11:50,440 --> 00:11:54,439 Speaker 1: to like do it like college way, where they they 211 00:11:54,559 --> 00:11:57,320 Speaker 1: lead right into like the opening kick, and Sell made 212 00:11:57,320 --> 00:12:01,719 Speaker 1: a choice. And I do think if you're gonna I've 213 00:12:01,720 --> 00:12:03,920 Speaker 1: always said, if you're gonna put Desmond Ritter in, you 214 00:12:03,920 --> 00:12:06,959 Speaker 1: put him in with the best possibility and chance to succeed. 215 00:12:07,040 --> 00:12:09,520 Speaker 1: That doesn't mean after the halftime break, when the guys 216 00:12:09,559 --> 00:12:11,720 Speaker 1: have been running the scout team all week. It doesn't 217 00:12:11,760 --> 00:12:15,040 Speaker 1: mean that. It doesn't mean even after a Thursday. It 218 00:12:15,040 --> 00:12:18,000 Speaker 1: means giving him the opportunity to take enough first team 219 00:12:18,040 --> 00:12:20,960 Speaker 1: reps to see what he see what he can do 220 00:12:21,000 --> 00:12:25,800 Speaker 1: with it. Arthur Smith was also asked by Josh Kendall 221 00:12:25,800 --> 00:12:29,800 Speaker 1: of The Athletic. He said, sometimes is making a change 222 00:12:29,800 --> 00:12:32,319 Speaker 1: for change's sake when you're heading in the wrong direction. 223 00:12:32,559 --> 00:12:35,040 Speaker 1: Is that an option or is that something that you 224 00:12:35,040 --> 00:12:39,240 Speaker 1: would consider? He said, absolutely right. The thing that I so, 225 00:12:40,040 --> 00:12:44,080 Speaker 1: while I think it's possible that putting Desmond Ritter, in 226 00:12:44,280 --> 00:12:49,240 Speaker 1: considering his arm strength, his athleticism, his a bill, at 227 00:12:49,280 --> 00:12:51,680 Speaker 1: his track record of performing well in the clutch, I 228 00:12:51,679 --> 00:12:54,040 Speaker 1: think it could give this team a spark. I would 229 00:12:54,080 --> 00:12:56,560 Speaker 1: caution against, even members of the Ritter Rockets, I would 230 00:12:56,559 --> 00:12:59,840 Speaker 1: caution against making the absolute assumption or making the ass 231 00:13:00,320 --> 00:13:03,880 Speaker 1: that it absolutely will he could play like a rookie, 232 00:13:04,240 --> 00:13:07,600 Speaker 1: and rookie make mistakes. They often make mistakes and key 233 00:13:07,679 --> 00:13:10,240 Speaker 1: pressure pack situations. Oh, by the way, New Orleans is 234 00:13:10,280 --> 00:13:12,960 Speaker 1: super loud and hates the Falcons, and it's gonna be 235 00:13:13,120 --> 00:13:15,880 Speaker 1: And if they somehow are in a tithe or are 236 00:13:15,960 --> 00:13:19,600 Speaker 1: in it in the division, that crowd's gonna be nuts. Right. 237 00:13:19,720 --> 00:13:23,000 Speaker 1: So for all these reasons, I don't think that you 238 00:13:23,040 --> 00:13:25,480 Speaker 1: can just automatically assume, well, if they put Ritter in, 239 00:13:25,679 --> 00:13:28,240 Speaker 1: they will be better. And I think even if he 240 00:13:28,440 --> 00:13:31,600 Speaker 1: gives them a spark, he will make mistakes. And are 241 00:13:31,640 --> 00:13:36,760 Speaker 1: you willing to make that move when you're still in it? 242 00:13:37,160 --> 00:13:40,439 Speaker 1: Right and my rant is almost over, Ashton's almost returning, 243 00:13:40,440 --> 00:13:45,200 Speaker 1: I'm really sorry. Nonetheless, when I look at it, and 244 00:13:45,320 --> 00:13:48,640 Speaker 1: I've always kind of had the opinion of one. We 245 00:13:48,640 --> 00:13:50,120 Speaker 1: don't know if desert Riter is good or not. We 246 00:13:50,160 --> 00:13:52,199 Speaker 1: haven't seen him practice since the summer. He doesn't get 247 00:13:52,280 --> 00:13:55,160 Speaker 1: a lot of stame reps. We don't Maybe he's great, 248 00:13:55,320 --> 00:13:58,320 Speaker 1: maybe he hasn't been good. We don't know. But I 249 00:13:58,360 --> 00:14:02,040 Speaker 1: always kind of said that they wouldn't make a move, 250 00:14:02,640 --> 00:14:05,440 Speaker 1: or I didn't think they would make a move until 251 00:14:05,960 --> 00:14:10,000 Speaker 1: they were mathematically eliminated from playoff contention, I don't know 252 00:14:10,040 --> 00:14:12,959 Speaker 1: if I hold that feeling anymore. Just like Arthur answers 253 00:14:12,960 --> 00:14:15,760 Speaker 1: it different three weeks ago from now, I'm answering it 254 00:14:15,800 --> 00:14:19,360 Speaker 1: a little bit differently from now because the hours getting late, 255 00:14:20,160 --> 00:14:24,680 Speaker 1: the desperation maybe is setting in, and after losing four 256 00:14:24,800 --> 00:14:29,240 Speaker 1: or five, the need to lip things around or have 257 00:14:29,400 --> 00:14:33,600 Speaker 1: the season fall by the wayside is now right. So 258 00:14:33,640 --> 00:14:35,360 Speaker 1: I'm not saying do I think they should do it 259 00:14:35,440 --> 00:14:38,800 Speaker 1: or not. I'm just saying that my opinion about it 260 00:14:38,840 --> 00:14:42,600 Speaker 1: has changed since the Panthers game. Okay, so real quick 261 00:14:42,680 --> 00:14:46,400 Speaker 1: as one's been very very patient, I know I think too. 262 00:14:46,440 --> 00:14:48,400 Speaker 1: And this was something that I wrote about as well 263 00:14:48,680 --> 00:14:51,440 Speaker 1: you talk about I was thinking about this whole thing 264 00:14:51,480 --> 00:14:55,840 Speaker 1: about like time and how you are essentially and this 265 00:14:55,920 --> 00:14:57,960 Speaker 1: is I mean, I do believe this to be true. 266 00:14:58,360 --> 00:15:00,640 Speaker 1: You are running out of time time if you are 267 00:15:00,680 --> 00:15:06,440 Speaker 1: the Falcons, to get an evaluation of Desmond Ridder before 268 00:15:06,520 --> 00:15:10,080 Speaker 1: you head into this coming off season where you essentially 269 00:15:10,080 --> 00:15:13,080 Speaker 1: do have to make decisions as to where you want 270 00:15:13,120 --> 00:15:16,400 Speaker 1: to go in a lot of positions, but especially at 271 00:15:16,400 --> 00:15:20,120 Speaker 1: the quarterback position. And do you curR and asking the 272 00:15:20,200 --> 00:15:23,360 Speaker 1: question and having an answer to do you believe that 273 00:15:23,440 --> 00:15:27,680 Speaker 1: the future franchise quarterback is on this roster in twenty 274 00:15:27,720 --> 00:15:30,720 Speaker 1: twenty two, And I do think that you are running 275 00:15:30,760 --> 00:15:33,920 Speaker 1: out of time to be able to answer that question. 276 00:15:34,240 --> 00:15:37,400 Speaker 1: Now Again, I'm with you that it's just because like, 277 00:15:37,480 --> 00:15:39,720 Speaker 1: let's say they run Desmond Ridder out there against the 278 00:15:39,760 --> 00:15:42,880 Speaker 1: Saints that he's going to be Lord and savior. That's 279 00:15:42,920 --> 00:15:45,480 Speaker 1: not at all what we're saying here. What we're saying 280 00:15:45,560 --> 00:15:49,520 Speaker 1: is can you get good evaluations to decide what you 281 00:15:49,560 --> 00:15:51,600 Speaker 1: want to do in the future, Because even though you 282 00:15:51,640 --> 00:15:54,560 Speaker 1: are playing to win each and every game, there's a 283 00:15:54,600 --> 00:15:58,680 Speaker 1: whole side of the building that's job is to look 284 00:15:58,720 --> 00:16:01,160 Speaker 1: ahead and figure out what the team looks like in 285 00:16:01,280 --> 00:16:05,360 Speaker 1: twenty twenty four, twenty twenty five, So big picture, I 286 00:16:05,440 --> 00:16:08,960 Speaker 1: also think that has to go into this thought process 287 00:16:09,040 --> 00:16:11,920 Speaker 1: as well. And I mean, that's kind of just where 288 00:16:12,560 --> 00:16:15,320 Speaker 1: my head's at too, And I'm sure that is you 289 00:16:15,360 --> 00:16:17,760 Speaker 1: know where a lot of people's heads are. Um, I 290 00:16:17,760 --> 00:16:19,600 Speaker 1: think that's where a lot of people's heads have been 291 00:16:20,080 --> 00:16:22,840 Speaker 1: even before the season started, because I feel like we 292 00:16:22,880 --> 00:16:28,560 Speaker 1: were we've we've been having this conversation since Marcus Mariota 293 00:16:28,600 --> 00:16:32,240 Speaker 1: signed here and Desmond Ritter was drafted yep, And I 294 00:16:32,240 --> 00:16:34,680 Speaker 1: would in just a piggyback. I mean, I feel like 295 00:16:34,720 --> 00:16:39,840 Speaker 1: both of you all hit everything like accurately. I would say, 296 00:16:40,080 --> 00:16:43,160 Speaker 1: just in my opinion, I think we have seen um, 297 00:16:43,440 --> 00:16:45,960 Speaker 1: you know, it's been it's week thirteen, we have seen 298 00:16:46,000 --> 00:16:49,440 Speaker 1: Marcus Mariot to play. And like you said, like you 299 00:16:49,520 --> 00:16:52,680 Speaker 1: both said, if you're going to make a decision, like 300 00:16:52,920 --> 00:16:55,880 Speaker 1: make it now. We have four more games left, four 301 00:16:56,000 --> 00:17:00,840 Speaker 1: critical games, two division games, and two games against Baltimore 302 00:17:00,960 --> 00:17:04,800 Speaker 1: in Arizona. But I do think it's important to in 303 00:17:04,880 --> 00:17:08,320 Speaker 1: my opinion too, if we're going to see Desmond Ritter, Yeah, 304 00:17:08,400 --> 00:17:10,920 Speaker 1: he definitely has to play in these last four games. 305 00:17:10,920 --> 00:17:13,600 Speaker 1: And like Tory mentioned, like you want to see if 306 00:17:13,640 --> 00:17:16,560 Speaker 1: this is a quarterback that you can have for the 307 00:17:16,600 --> 00:17:19,600 Speaker 1: long term. And like Scott mentioned, you know, we know 308 00:17:19,760 --> 00:17:23,840 Speaker 1: Desmond ridters track record from college and you just never know. 309 00:17:23,920 --> 00:17:27,320 Speaker 1: But I do think in my opinion, if if a 310 00:17:27,400 --> 00:17:30,240 Speaker 1: quarterback change is going to happen, it has to be now. 311 00:17:31,040 --> 00:17:34,000 Speaker 1: With four more games left in the season. I look 312 00:17:34,040 --> 00:17:37,000 Speaker 1: at it, especially these last few results, right, And I 313 00:17:37,080 --> 00:17:41,520 Speaker 1: understand it's a team game, and also that sometimes random 314 00:17:41,560 --> 00:17:45,560 Speaker 1: things happen, like like durn Payne shoving his hand up 315 00:17:45,560 --> 00:17:48,680 Speaker 1: at the last second an interception in the end time. 316 00:17:49,000 --> 00:17:52,119 Speaker 1: There's some randomness, there's it's not all the quarterbacks fault. 317 00:17:52,160 --> 00:17:56,200 Speaker 1: There is also some give and take with Marcus Mariota 318 00:17:56,320 --> 00:18:00,760 Speaker 1: that he does things that nobody else can do. Just 319 00:18:00,840 --> 00:18:05,159 Speaker 1: the truth. Sometimes that happen. He's a trophy winner. Like 320 00:18:05,200 --> 00:18:07,200 Speaker 1: I think people forget that this guy knows how to 321 00:18:07,240 --> 00:18:10,120 Speaker 1: win games. He's a good he's he's shown that he 322 00:18:10,160 --> 00:18:13,520 Speaker 1: can be a gamer. Right. The one thing about it 323 00:18:13,600 --> 00:18:17,880 Speaker 1: that I think this team needs is the clutch gene, right, Yeah, 324 00:18:17,960 --> 00:18:20,800 Speaker 1: somebody to just kind of make it happen. And that 325 00:18:20,840 --> 00:18:22,600 Speaker 1: doesn't you know, they were seven and two and one 326 00:18:22,640 --> 00:18:25,399 Speaker 1: score games. That doesn't necessarily mean Matt Ryan absolutely had it, 327 00:18:25,480 --> 00:18:29,000 Speaker 1: although I think he kind of does. But they need 328 00:18:29,040 --> 00:18:32,200 Speaker 1: the clutch gene and from his I'm not saying everything 329 00:18:32,200 --> 00:18:35,000 Speaker 1: that happens in college applies to the pros, but Desmond 330 00:18:35,040 --> 00:18:37,760 Speaker 1: Rider has proven to have the clutch gene. Everyone will 331 00:18:37,840 --> 00:18:39,760 Speaker 1: laugh at me because I'm gonna bring up a preseason game, 332 00:18:39,800 --> 00:18:42,480 Speaker 1: and preseason games don't matter, and it's against the fourth string, 333 00:18:42,840 --> 00:18:46,639 Speaker 1: but against the Lions, he somehow wiggled and ran around 334 00:18:46,680 --> 00:18:48,800 Speaker 1: on fourth down and nearly got his head chopped off 335 00:18:48,800 --> 00:18:50,760 Speaker 1: and found a way to heave it to Jared Bernhardt 336 00:18:50,760 --> 00:18:52,520 Speaker 1: for a win. Okay, we don't care about the results. 337 00:18:52,520 --> 00:18:55,160 Speaker 1: We understand that the competition is bad. But he can 338 00:18:55,200 --> 00:18:58,360 Speaker 1: do that stuff and he's good at that stuff, so 339 00:18:58,920 --> 00:19:03,000 Speaker 1: that makes him an attractive option. I also look at 340 00:19:03,000 --> 00:19:06,560 Speaker 1: it right like we're trying to build this case and 341 00:19:06,600 --> 00:19:09,359 Speaker 1: we're trying to debate things again without having all the 342 00:19:09,400 --> 00:19:13,040 Speaker 1: puzzle pieces in front of us, because maybe although Arthur 343 00:19:13,160 --> 00:19:16,400 Speaker 1: complimented him about his kind of mental football acumen back 344 00:19:16,400 --> 00:19:18,520 Speaker 1: in the summer, but how's he doing in meetings, how's 345 00:19:18,560 --> 00:19:20,960 Speaker 1: he doing in game plan? How can he do with 346 00:19:21,000 --> 00:19:25,399 Speaker 1: the so many pre snap motions, so much misdirection and 347 00:19:25,520 --> 00:19:28,880 Speaker 1: selling things that needs to happen, And is he good 348 00:19:28,960 --> 00:19:31,320 Speaker 1: at some of the things that this offense already is. 349 00:19:31,320 --> 00:19:33,360 Speaker 1: You're not going to reinvent the wheel in week fourteen. 350 00:19:33,640 --> 00:19:35,680 Speaker 1: I think all of these things need to go into 351 00:19:35,720 --> 00:19:38,800 Speaker 1: your head as you're trying to evaluate what is going 352 00:19:38,840 --> 00:19:41,800 Speaker 1: to be a major decision. It could be the thing, 353 00:19:42,000 --> 00:19:44,200 Speaker 1: and you have a bunch of different outcomes. And that's 354 00:19:44,240 --> 00:19:46,239 Speaker 1: why Arthur Smith and Terry font will make a lot 355 00:19:46,240 --> 00:19:48,520 Speaker 1: of money to make some very difficult choices. I think 356 00:19:48,520 --> 00:19:50,840 Speaker 1: they do it unbiased, and I think that's a positive. 357 00:19:51,160 --> 00:19:55,360 Speaker 1: Marcus could come out of the buy and playlike playlike crazy, 358 00:19:55,440 --> 00:19:57,639 Speaker 1: knowing that if he be a starter in the future, 359 00:19:57,800 --> 00:20:00,439 Speaker 1: the next four games will determine that. Maybe the Falcons 360 00:20:00,440 --> 00:20:02,840 Speaker 1: went off for with Marcus and everything's great. Maybe they 361 00:20:02,880 --> 00:20:05,600 Speaker 1: going forward Marcus, Maybe they going forward Rider. There's a 362 00:20:05,680 --> 00:20:08,320 Speaker 1: there's a bunch of different possibilities here. There are zero 363 00:20:08,400 --> 00:20:10,840 Speaker 1: guarantees with any of it. You're just at a point 364 00:20:10,840 --> 00:20:14,280 Speaker 1: of desperation where you really have to evaluate what's the 365 00:20:14,280 --> 00:20:17,359 Speaker 1: best for us. We're kind of getting knocked around a 366 00:20:17,359 --> 00:20:20,439 Speaker 1: little bit. What's our best shot at taking advantage of 367 00:20:20,480 --> 00:20:26,560 Speaker 1: this unique opportunity? Can we just there's some things in 368 00:20:26,600 --> 00:20:30,320 Speaker 1: the script about talking about this game. Let's forego them, Okay, 369 00:20:30,920 --> 00:20:33,000 Speaker 1: Does anybody else have anything to say about the quarterback 370 00:20:33,000 --> 00:20:36,159 Speaker 1: before we go big picture NFC self. One thing that 371 00:20:36,240 --> 00:20:39,240 Speaker 1: I will add, and this is something that actually came 372 00:20:39,440 --> 00:20:42,480 Speaker 1: up in the middle of the week this past week, 373 00:20:42,480 --> 00:20:46,280 Speaker 1: where Arthur Smith was talking about the part of the 374 00:20:46,400 --> 00:20:50,679 Speaker 1: game that is the most difficult free players to like 375 00:20:51,000 --> 00:20:55,160 Speaker 1: untruly understand unless they're in it. He was talking about 376 00:20:55,240 --> 00:20:59,280 Speaker 1: from college to the pros, the biggest difference is in 377 00:20:59,320 --> 00:21:04,480 Speaker 1: the pocket and how everything is maneuvered, how you see defenses, 378 00:21:04,560 --> 00:21:09,280 Speaker 1: how quickly defenders get into the pocket and into the backfield. 379 00:21:09,720 --> 00:21:12,720 Speaker 1: I think it's very interesting that that point came up 380 00:21:12,920 --> 00:21:15,399 Speaker 1: this past week. And I'm not saying that, oh, that 381 00:21:15,440 --> 00:21:19,120 Speaker 1: was Arthur Smith like sprinkling a little foreshadowing. Then That's 382 00:21:19,119 --> 00:21:20,760 Speaker 1: not what I'm saying at all, because it was just 383 00:21:20,800 --> 00:21:22,840 Speaker 1: the way the conversation went. But I do think it's 384 00:21:22,880 --> 00:21:27,840 Speaker 1: fascinating that as we're talking about potentially seeing Desmond Ritter, 385 00:21:28,240 --> 00:21:31,480 Speaker 1: just knowing that Arthur Smith says one of the hardest 386 00:21:31,520 --> 00:21:34,840 Speaker 1: adjustments for any young player to make is actually being 387 00:21:35,000 --> 00:21:38,520 Speaker 1: in a live NFL pocket and how different it is 388 00:21:38,880 --> 00:21:41,199 Speaker 1: from the college game. And so I just wanted to 389 00:21:41,280 --> 00:21:43,480 Speaker 1: leave that note in there too, because I found it 390 00:21:43,560 --> 00:21:46,680 Speaker 1: kind of interesting that that came up this week. Yeah, 391 00:21:46,760 --> 00:21:49,520 Speaker 1: and I think the reason why the quarterback thing is 392 00:21:49,560 --> 00:21:52,040 Speaker 1: such a hot button issue is because the Falcons are 393 00:21:52,080 --> 00:21:55,040 Speaker 1: still sort of kind of totally realistically in it for 394 00:21:55,080 --> 00:21:57,800 Speaker 1: the Division Crown. If they were playing any other division 395 00:21:57,800 --> 00:22:00,000 Speaker 1: except for the NFC South, they would be at least 396 00:22:00,040 --> 00:22:03,280 Speaker 1: East three games back with four games to play, that's 397 00:22:03,400 --> 00:22:08,399 Speaker 1: essentially elimination right at least three back in the every 398 00:22:08,480 --> 00:22:11,960 Speaker 1: other division that there is, they are not in contention 399 00:22:12,040 --> 00:22:15,679 Speaker 1: for the wild card at this point. They are the 400 00:22:15,720 --> 00:22:18,959 Speaker 1: eleven seed in the NFC, that's way farther down and 401 00:22:19,040 --> 00:22:23,959 Speaker 1: with seven total positions three wild cards, so that's not 402 00:22:24,320 --> 00:22:27,239 Speaker 1: a possibility. Arthur Smith, I think, on Wednesday, called it 403 00:22:27,359 --> 00:22:31,720 Speaker 1: a quote unquote unique end quote opportunity that they haven't 404 00:22:31,800 --> 00:22:34,399 Speaker 1: in front of them. It's something that has more to 405 00:22:34,440 --> 00:22:36,320 Speaker 1: do with what Tampa Bay has done than what the 406 00:22:36,359 --> 00:22:40,320 Speaker 1: Falcons have done lately. The box just kind of keep 407 00:22:40,359 --> 00:22:43,200 Speaker 1: them in it. And I brought this upper Tory brought 408 00:22:43,200 --> 00:22:44,800 Speaker 1: it up when I was writing my column, when we 409 00:22:44,800 --> 00:22:46,640 Speaker 1: brought up in this podcast that all of a sudden, 410 00:22:46,640 --> 00:22:48,960 Speaker 1: the Saints are sort of feeling like they were completely 411 00:22:49,040 --> 00:22:50,919 Speaker 1: down and out, and if they beat Tampa and then 412 00:22:50,960 --> 00:22:52,920 Speaker 1: they go rest up and then they beat the Falcons, 413 00:22:53,080 --> 00:22:57,000 Speaker 1: they feel good about themselves too. So anyway, they're still 414 00:22:57,040 --> 00:22:59,480 Speaker 1: in it. Now. We have a bye week for the 415 00:22:59,480 --> 00:23:02,840 Speaker 1: Falcons to try to figure out where they're going. If 416 00:23:02,880 --> 00:23:07,760 Speaker 1: I am correct, Arthur Smith was quoted as saying changes 417 00:23:07,800 --> 00:23:11,480 Speaker 1: will be made. Does that sound correct? Yes, and yeah, no, 418 00:23:11,800 --> 00:23:14,240 Speaker 1: he did say that, and I will say that I 419 00:23:14,440 --> 00:23:18,240 Speaker 1: know that in Twitter verse that that quote will be 420 00:23:18,320 --> 00:23:21,080 Speaker 1: taken out of context and it will be focused mainly 421 00:23:21,119 --> 00:23:23,840 Speaker 1: on the quarterback situation that we've previously talked about. But 422 00:23:23,920 --> 00:23:26,560 Speaker 1: the context of that quote was Arthur Smiths saying that 423 00:23:26,600 --> 00:23:29,520 Speaker 1: there will be changes made to the team, not to 424 00:23:29,800 --> 00:23:32,359 Speaker 1: just the quarterback, to the team as a whole. So 425 00:23:32,400 --> 00:23:36,080 Speaker 1: I want to make sure that the context is there. Yeah, Ashton, 426 00:23:36,160 --> 00:23:39,400 Speaker 1: as you head into this by week and you absorb 427 00:23:39,480 --> 00:23:42,639 Speaker 1: everything you've seen over the last thirteen, right, where do 428 00:23:42,680 --> 00:23:45,479 Speaker 1: you think and if the answers quarterbacks, the answer somewhere else, 429 00:23:45,520 --> 00:23:47,200 Speaker 1: it doesn't matter. But where do you think that that 430 00:23:48,040 --> 00:23:51,159 Speaker 1: a change could help the Falcons in? What areas do 431 00:23:51,160 --> 00:23:55,400 Speaker 1: you think that they're deficient with personnel to get better? Yeah? Um, 432 00:23:56,000 --> 00:23:58,520 Speaker 1: first off, you know they have the latest of all weeks, 433 00:23:58,520 --> 00:24:01,520 Speaker 1: so I know they're being the already know that, But 434 00:24:01,600 --> 00:24:04,280 Speaker 1: I do think on both sides of the ball, you 435 00:24:04,280 --> 00:24:07,520 Speaker 1: know there's major changes that can be made. We saw 436 00:24:07,520 --> 00:24:10,800 Speaker 1: today against the Stillers, the Falcons defense gave up too 437 00:24:10,840 --> 00:24:14,000 Speaker 1: many first downs and I think the Stiller's first job 438 00:24:14,119 --> 00:24:16,640 Speaker 1: was like seven minutes and twenty seven seconds. They had 439 00:24:16,640 --> 00:24:19,719 Speaker 1: it for sixteen plays. That wore down the defense, and 440 00:24:19,760 --> 00:24:23,240 Speaker 1: I think that's something the defense can't allow teams to do. 441 00:24:23,760 --> 00:24:25,800 Speaker 1: As we get later in the season, and especially as 442 00:24:25,840 --> 00:24:29,119 Speaker 1: we get into the playoffs, that's extremely important. You know, 443 00:24:29,480 --> 00:24:31,760 Speaker 1: that eats away at the clock and that limits the 444 00:24:31,880 --> 00:24:34,280 Speaker 1: time that the offense has on the field. So I 445 00:24:34,359 --> 00:24:37,480 Speaker 1: do think the defense has to be more efficient when 446 00:24:37,760 --> 00:24:41,760 Speaker 1: stopping teams like Distillers were. You know, they would run 447 00:24:41,960 --> 00:24:44,720 Speaker 1: for nine yards, it'll be a third on one and 448 00:24:44,720 --> 00:24:47,399 Speaker 1: then they would get that extra one yard to continue 449 00:24:47,440 --> 00:24:49,720 Speaker 1: to move the change and I think, you know, those 450 00:24:49,840 --> 00:24:53,480 Speaker 1: little things is something that the Falcons defense really has 451 00:24:53,520 --> 00:24:56,360 Speaker 1: to hone in on this really limiting that chunk yardage. 452 00:24:56,880 --> 00:24:59,440 Speaker 1: I think on the offensive end, what we saw today 453 00:24:59,480 --> 00:25:01,760 Speaker 1: from the rush and good tech, you know, we saw 454 00:25:01,840 --> 00:25:05,720 Speaker 1: them come alive really late in the third quarter. But 455 00:25:05,800 --> 00:25:08,600 Speaker 1: the offense, they were too slow in the first two quarters. 456 00:25:08,640 --> 00:25:12,000 Speaker 1: And that's something you know, when the offense starts out slow, 457 00:25:12,280 --> 00:25:16,080 Speaker 1: usually the game doesn't go well. And I think, like 458 00:25:16,400 --> 00:25:19,719 Speaker 1: players have mentioned all season, you have to start fast 459 00:25:19,880 --> 00:25:23,320 Speaker 1: early in the first quarter to have any efficient game. 460 00:25:23,400 --> 00:25:27,520 Speaker 1: And I think, you know, with some players potentially coming 461 00:25:27,520 --> 00:25:31,480 Speaker 1: back from injured reserve. I think that could help, But again, 462 00:25:31,600 --> 00:25:34,120 Speaker 1: I think the Falcons have to start fast, and especially 463 00:25:34,119 --> 00:25:36,280 Speaker 1: going into these last four games, you know, they just 464 00:25:36,320 --> 00:25:38,440 Speaker 1: have to be more efficient on both sides, on both 465 00:25:38,480 --> 00:25:42,600 Speaker 1: sides of the ball. Yeah, I mean, it's one of 466 00:25:42,600 --> 00:25:45,679 Speaker 1: those things where I think you can look at that 467 00:25:45,680 --> 00:25:49,239 Speaker 1: outside cornerback spot and wonder, could we put somebody in 468 00:25:49,320 --> 00:25:51,600 Speaker 1: other than Darren Hall that might give you better Is 469 00:25:51,680 --> 00:25:54,919 Speaker 1: more of Troy Anderson and maybe less of Michael Walker? 470 00:25:55,000 --> 00:25:58,639 Speaker 1: Could that help you out? Could they redefine some roles 471 00:25:58,680 --> 00:26:03,080 Speaker 1: within the sub packages. Is Lorenzo Carter doing enough? Does 472 00:26:03,440 --> 00:26:08,440 Speaker 1: D'Angelo Malone need more? I think more opportunities. I don't 473 00:26:08,480 --> 00:26:10,879 Speaker 1: think again, whether we're talking about the quarterback or any 474 00:26:10,920 --> 00:26:13,120 Speaker 1: of these changes that I just kind of like haphazardly 475 00:26:13,160 --> 00:26:14,960 Speaker 1: through out there. I'm not suggesting that any of those 476 00:26:15,000 --> 00:26:17,760 Speaker 1: be made. But again, none of these changes with this 477 00:26:17,840 --> 00:26:20,520 Speaker 1: roster as it's currently constructed, with its injury issues. As 478 00:26:20,560 --> 00:26:24,040 Speaker 1: Ashton pointed out, there's no guarantee that, uh, you swap 479 00:26:24,720 --> 00:26:27,280 Speaker 1: Rashad Fenton, who was inactive today, I'm just using his 480 00:26:27,359 --> 00:26:30,760 Speaker 1: name for Darren Hall, or you know, or you give 481 00:26:30,840 --> 00:26:32,800 Speaker 1: d Alfred a shot on the outside. I don't know 482 00:26:32,840 --> 00:26:34,679 Speaker 1: something like that that it's that it's going to be 483 00:26:34,720 --> 00:26:37,600 Speaker 1: like a miracle cure. I don't think there is one 484 00:26:38,200 --> 00:26:41,320 Speaker 1: necessarily With the options that they have. They just need 485 00:26:41,359 --> 00:26:46,280 Speaker 1: to get discernibly better in several different areas. And why 486 00:26:46,320 --> 00:26:48,840 Speaker 1: not try something because when you lose four or five, 487 00:26:50,040 --> 00:26:54,600 Speaker 1: that really kind of sends you into an issue, right 488 00:26:54,760 --> 00:26:56,919 Speaker 1: four or five and you're still in it? What do 489 00:26:56,960 --> 00:27:01,400 Speaker 1: you do? What can you do to make a change there? Yeah, 490 00:27:01,440 --> 00:27:05,720 Speaker 1: And I also think it is important too that some 491 00:27:05,760 --> 00:27:08,919 Speaker 1: of the pieces that I think Atlanta will have available 492 00:27:08,920 --> 00:27:12,800 Speaker 1: to them in two weeks time could potentially, you know, 493 00:27:12,920 --> 00:27:15,040 Speaker 1: Arthur Smith is talking about the changes and stuff, but 494 00:27:15,080 --> 00:27:18,880 Speaker 1: I think potentially getting Elijah Wilkinson back would be really 495 00:27:18,920 --> 00:27:21,480 Speaker 1: a really, really good thing for this offensive line. Not 496 00:27:21,560 --> 00:27:23,560 Speaker 1: that I'm saying that I think the offensive line is 497 00:27:23,560 --> 00:27:26,520 Speaker 1: playing poorly. I don't really think that at all. Sin 498 00:27:26,680 --> 00:27:29,080 Speaker 1: in his absence. I think they've had moments where they 499 00:27:29,080 --> 00:27:33,080 Speaker 1: haven't played well, but not full games where this offensive 500 00:27:33,160 --> 00:27:36,479 Speaker 1: line has not played well. The only time I can 501 00:27:36,560 --> 00:27:40,480 Speaker 1: really think of is Carolina at Carolina, and I think 502 00:27:40,520 --> 00:27:43,119 Speaker 1: they did a good job of evaluating that and moving forward. 503 00:27:43,720 --> 00:27:45,560 Speaker 1: I think there's a potential that you could get Arnold 504 00:27:45,560 --> 00:27:51,760 Speaker 1: Abacadie back. Ak was has been this forearm injury of 505 00:27:51,840 --> 00:27:54,480 Speaker 1: his has been lingering for a couple of weeks now. 506 00:27:54,600 --> 00:27:57,040 Speaker 1: I think it was actually a very conservative approach that 507 00:27:57,080 --> 00:28:02,439 Speaker 1: the Falcons took against this dealers to rest Ak in 508 00:28:02,520 --> 00:28:06,480 Speaker 1: hopes of maybe resting him this week, resting him again 509 00:28:06,520 --> 00:28:09,760 Speaker 1: for a bye week, having a full week of prep 510 00:28:09,800 --> 00:28:11,359 Speaker 1: for the Saints. I think it'd be good to have 511 00:28:11,440 --> 00:28:14,639 Speaker 1: Ak back because I really do think that Ak was 512 00:28:14,680 --> 00:28:18,440 Speaker 1: on an upward trend before he got hurt. Now you 513 00:28:18,520 --> 00:28:21,000 Speaker 1: get some of these guys back, but what do you 514 00:28:21,080 --> 00:28:24,440 Speaker 1: do in other spots and what moves do you make. 515 00:28:24,520 --> 00:28:27,399 Speaker 1: The fact that Arthur Smith has said changes are coming, 516 00:28:27,440 --> 00:28:30,800 Speaker 1: we are going to change things, what does that realistically 517 00:28:30,840 --> 00:28:33,560 Speaker 1: look like. You know, you do not have Kyle Pitts 518 00:28:33,560 --> 00:28:36,280 Speaker 1: for the remainder of the season. How does that change 519 00:28:36,359 --> 00:28:39,640 Speaker 1: continue to change what this offense does with its weapons. 520 00:28:40,080 --> 00:28:44,280 Speaker 1: I think all of these things are just all offshoots 521 00:28:44,320 --> 00:28:48,160 Speaker 1: of the same question in that how do the Falcons 522 00:28:49,320 --> 00:28:53,320 Speaker 1: win games? They have to start winning games. They I 523 00:28:53,360 --> 00:28:56,400 Speaker 1: feel like the slide they have been on since probably 524 00:28:56,480 --> 00:29:01,080 Speaker 1: even before the Carolina loss, has been really really significant 525 00:29:01,120 --> 00:29:03,680 Speaker 1: for this team, and it's why they are in the 526 00:29:03,720 --> 00:29:06,240 Speaker 1: spot they're in right now. So how do you right 527 00:29:06,360 --> 00:29:09,720 Speaker 1: the ship knowing how important these next light of games 528 00:29:09,720 --> 00:29:14,440 Speaker 1: are to any potential future that you have after the 529 00:29:14,480 --> 00:29:17,800 Speaker 1: regular season ends. Yeah, and we've talked a lot about 530 00:29:17,800 --> 00:29:20,480 Speaker 1: the possibility of you know, maybe the Saints and Falcons 531 00:29:20,520 --> 00:29:23,600 Speaker 1: being even with Tampa Bay after their bye weeks. They 532 00:29:23,600 --> 00:29:26,120 Speaker 1: could also the Falcons could also be two back with 533 00:29:26,240 --> 00:29:29,400 Speaker 1: four to play and less Tampa could win too. They 534 00:29:29,440 --> 00:29:32,120 Speaker 1: still love Tom Brady and Mike Evans and bit of 535 00:29:32,160 --> 00:29:35,600 Speaker 1: Vea and a thousand other amazing players, will they turn 536 00:29:35,640 --> 00:29:37,920 Speaker 1: on the switch. So it is one of those moments 537 00:29:37,920 --> 00:29:40,800 Speaker 1: where you need to objectively look at it and see 538 00:29:41,000 --> 00:29:43,240 Speaker 1: where can we get one percent better? Right? Because these 539 00:29:43,280 --> 00:29:48,920 Speaker 1: games are so close? Yeah, that one percent, that that 540 00:29:49,080 --> 00:29:52,560 Speaker 1: extra play, that extra yard or first down or third 541 00:29:52,600 --> 00:29:56,120 Speaker 1: down prevention or third down conversion can turn a tide here. 542 00:29:56,680 --> 00:29:59,200 Speaker 1: And I think that all those things are important. I mean, 543 00:29:59,200 --> 00:30:02,200 Speaker 1: other Falcons reeling and panicking, I don't think so. Arthur 544 00:30:02,200 --> 00:30:06,560 Speaker 1: Smith is very good at being objective. He's also very 545 00:30:06,600 --> 00:30:09,920 Speaker 1: willing to say this isn't going well for us, this 546 00:30:09,960 --> 00:30:12,240 Speaker 1: isn't going well for us as play callers or as 547 00:30:13,200 --> 00:30:16,840 Speaker 1: executors of plays, how they emerge from this bye week, 548 00:30:16,920 --> 00:30:20,560 Speaker 1: the decisions that they make without again any guarantees of 549 00:30:20,600 --> 00:30:23,360 Speaker 1: success with any of them, is going to be important. 550 00:30:24,640 --> 00:30:27,800 Speaker 1: This bye week is about rests and trying to relax 551 00:30:27,840 --> 00:30:31,239 Speaker 1: and trying to recenter and refocus. But I think the 552 00:30:31,320 --> 00:30:34,959 Speaker 1: news and decisions that come out of it will be 553 00:30:35,000 --> 00:30:37,800 Speaker 1: pivotal as the Falcons try to make that push, try 554 00:30:37,800 --> 00:30:40,200 Speaker 1: to turn the chide, try to do something maybe that 555 00:30:40,240 --> 00:30:43,720 Speaker 1: they don't deserve, and that is go out and win 556 00:30:43,760 --> 00:30:46,360 Speaker 1: a division title because it's there for you and they're 557 00:30:46,400 --> 00:30:49,680 Speaker 1: not giving it back, right, So how they look at 558 00:30:49,720 --> 00:30:52,720 Speaker 1: that is going to be important. We love to hear, 559 00:30:52,720 --> 00:30:55,160 Speaker 1: of course, what you guys think about this whole thing. 560 00:30:55,160 --> 00:30:58,800 Speaker 1: You've got a mailback and you've gotta know YouTube comments 561 00:30:58,840 --> 00:31:01,600 Speaker 1: on like on this thing. What changes would you make? 562 00:31:01,640 --> 00:31:05,280 Speaker 1: Of course we all know what we want. Great review. 563 00:31:05,320 --> 00:31:08,680 Speaker 1: Subscribe to the Atlanta Falcons podcast network. You get one 564 00:31:08,720 --> 00:31:11,920 Speaker 1: stop shopping for Falcons, Focus, Falcons, Audible, and of course 565 00:31:11,960 --> 00:31:14,240 Speaker 1: the Falcon's Final Whistle. Thank you all so much for 566 00:31:14,360 --> 00:31:18,200 Speaker 1: downloading and listening. Yeah, I mean maybe they get outside 567 00:31:18,240 --> 00:31:21,480 Speaker 1: on Sunday. I don't know, just a thought next week 568 00:31:21,520 --> 00:31:24,320 Speaker 1: and enjoy it all right, guys, We will come to 569 00:31:24,360 --> 00:31:28,040 Speaker 1: you after the bye, after a game in New Orleans 570 00:31:28,120 --> 00:31:31,600 Speaker 1: against the Saints that no matter what happens over Monday 571 00:31:31,680 --> 00:31:33,720 Speaker 1: and then the next week is going to be pretty 572 00:31:33,720 --> 00:31:33,920 Speaker 1: big