1 00:00:12,760 --> 00:00:15,880 Speaker 1: What's up, everybody, and welcome to the latest edition of 2 00:00:15,920 --> 00:00:19,200 Speaker 1: the Falcons Final Whistle Podcast. I'm Scott Bear and we're 3 00:00:19,239 --> 00:00:22,400 Speaker 1: doing this in person, this time with Tory mclaney and 4 00:00:22,480 --> 00:00:26,440 Speaker 1: Ashton Edmonds. What's up, y'all? So yeah, man, we are 5 00:00:26,480 --> 00:00:30,240 Speaker 1: coming to you after a twenty to nineteen victory over 6 00:00:30,360 --> 00:00:34,360 Speaker 1: the Falcons twenty nineteen victory over the Arizona Cardinals here 7 00:00:34,400 --> 00:00:36,920 Speaker 1: at Mercedes beIN Stadium, where they have been playing a 8 00:00:36,920 --> 00:00:39,200 Speaker 1: lot better than they play on the road. It took 9 00:00:39,280 --> 00:00:42,880 Speaker 1: a fourth quarter comeback drive from Desmond Ritter. We're gonna 10 00:00:42,920 --> 00:00:46,480 Speaker 1: get into that, and Young Waku sealed the deal with 11 00:00:46,560 --> 00:00:48,760 Speaker 1: a twenty one yard field goal or something like that. 12 00:00:48,840 --> 00:00:53,920 Speaker 1: As time expired. The Cardinals had no opportunity to go 13 00:00:54,000 --> 00:00:56,600 Speaker 1: down and do that. It was a good ending to 14 00:00:56,680 --> 00:01:00,000 Speaker 1: a game that was we don't have to sugarcoat it right, 15 00:01:00,160 --> 00:01:04,760 Speaker 1: that was essentially meaningless between two teams eliminated from playoff contention. 16 00:01:06,000 --> 00:01:09,240 Speaker 1: But there's still plenty to observe and to take note 17 00:01:09,280 --> 00:01:12,560 Speaker 1: of and to dissect and decipher as we move forward 18 00:01:13,560 --> 00:01:16,200 Speaker 1: throughout the rest of the season and obviously into the offseason. 19 00:01:16,240 --> 00:01:18,800 Speaker 1: We I talked so much about this about an offseason 20 00:01:18,840 --> 00:01:21,759 Speaker 1: priority list that we're going to compile, and every piece 21 00:01:21,800 --> 00:01:26,119 Speaker 1: of evidence that we get makes brings that into clearer view. 22 00:01:26,280 --> 00:01:29,080 Speaker 1: So anyway, we're gonna get into all that fun stuff. 23 00:01:29,120 --> 00:01:31,600 Speaker 1: I'm taking a look at Tory McLane. She writes the 24 00:01:31,640 --> 00:01:36,279 Speaker 1: topic lists here, and we're gonna get into Desmon, Ritter, Tyler, 25 00:01:36,400 --> 00:01:40,199 Speaker 1: l Gear, Cordirell, Patterson, Young Foundation, all that fun stuff. 26 00:01:40,880 --> 00:01:44,240 Speaker 1: But the first topic that I'm just gonna skip the 27 00:01:44,280 --> 00:01:46,920 Speaker 1: general takeaways because I just think it's so well written 28 00:01:47,080 --> 00:01:52,480 Speaker 1: here all caps they won period wow, period four game 29 00:01:52,560 --> 00:01:59,720 Speaker 1: losing streak snapped and thoughts So yeah, so, um, I 30 00:01:59,760 --> 00:02:02,720 Speaker 1: guess us all just borrow from my good friend Tory 31 00:02:02,800 --> 00:02:08,480 Speaker 1: here thoughts, yeah, thoughts, question mark. So just for me personally, 32 00:02:08,800 --> 00:02:12,160 Speaker 1: it was interesting because I thought that this game played 33 00:02:12,200 --> 00:02:15,240 Speaker 1: out exactly how the last few games have played out 34 00:02:15,280 --> 00:02:18,880 Speaker 1: for the Falcons, but instead they won this game like 35 00:02:18,919 --> 00:02:21,080 Speaker 1: they just found a way to win, which is something 36 00:02:21,080 --> 00:02:22,880 Speaker 1: that they haven't been able to do in the last 37 00:02:22,919 --> 00:02:26,560 Speaker 1: probably month and a half, give or take one game. Yea, 38 00:02:26,840 --> 00:02:30,200 Speaker 1: And I mean, you're still looking at this team and 39 00:02:30,520 --> 00:02:32,959 Speaker 1: at this point in the season, you know exactly who 40 00:02:33,000 --> 00:02:35,720 Speaker 1: this team is, even as you're kind of finding more 41 00:02:35,919 --> 00:02:40,440 Speaker 1: about finding more out about Desmond Ritter in his progression. 42 00:02:40,639 --> 00:02:42,400 Speaker 1: You know exactly what this team is. You know that 43 00:02:42,440 --> 00:02:44,280 Speaker 1: this defense is going to give up some yards, but 44 00:02:44,320 --> 00:02:47,560 Speaker 1: they're going to hunker down inside the twenty. I use 45 00:02:47,639 --> 00:02:50,440 Speaker 1: hunker down because the Dogs are moving on to the 46 00:02:50,480 --> 00:02:55,240 Speaker 1: national championship. Congratulations, thank you, thank you as wild, but 47 00:02:55,280 --> 00:02:57,359 Speaker 1: we're not talking about that game. We're talking about this one. 48 00:02:57,919 --> 00:03:00,080 Speaker 1: So for me, it's like, you know what that you 49 00:03:00,120 --> 00:03:03,360 Speaker 1: know what the defense is. They have now not given 50 00:03:03,400 --> 00:03:06,280 Speaker 1: up more than twenty points in the last four games, 51 00:03:06,400 --> 00:03:08,880 Speaker 1: or twenty one points in the last four games. That's 52 00:03:09,480 --> 00:03:12,840 Speaker 1: big for this defense that's pieced together with a lot 53 00:03:12,880 --> 00:03:15,359 Speaker 1: of different guys and duct tape and duct tape, yeah, 54 00:03:15,400 --> 00:03:18,240 Speaker 1: for sure. And then for this offense, it's about seeing 55 00:03:18,240 --> 00:03:20,760 Speaker 1: progress at Desmond Ritter and you still rely on the 56 00:03:20,840 --> 00:03:24,640 Speaker 1: run game, which was evident with what Tyler Algier was 57 00:03:24,639 --> 00:03:26,680 Speaker 1: able to do. And then you've seen Desmond Ritter's growth 58 00:03:26,720 --> 00:03:28,200 Speaker 1: and I know we're going to get into that more. 59 00:03:28,240 --> 00:03:31,640 Speaker 1: But to see his passer rating increase, to see his 60 00:03:31,800 --> 00:03:36,680 Speaker 1: completion percentage increase, to see him be more comfortable in 61 00:03:36,720 --> 00:03:39,760 Speaker 1: the pocket, I felt was very very evident. So this 62 00:03:39,800 --> 00:03:43,280 Speaker 1: team is exactly what it's been the last few weeks. 63 00:03:43,680 --> 00:03:46,560 Speaker 1: The Cardinals just aren't very good. They're in a very 64 00:03:46,600 --> 00:03:50,440 Speaker 1: similar situation. They're they're playing a quarterback that it's what 65 00:03:50,520 --> 00:03:54,680 Speaker 1: their fourth quarterback in this season. Yeah, that's crazy. And 66 00:03:54,720 --> 00:03:56,960 Speaker 1: then I mean, they just found a way to win. 67 00:03:57,360 --> 00:04:00,480 Speaker 1: And that's kind of my general thought. Yeah, they found 68 00:04:00,480 --> 00:04:02,520 Speaker 1: a way to win when they haven't been able to 69 00:04:02,560 --> 00:04:05,440 Speaker 1: do that recently. I mean, they went played three games 70 00:04:05,440 --> 00:04:08,720 Speaker 1: in a row, three games in a row, they played 71 00:04:08,720 --> 00:04:10,600 Speaker 1: two games in a row where they lost by three, 72 00:04:11,240 --> 00:04:14,800 Speaker 1: and then we all know what happened in Washington. But nonetheless, 73 00:04:14,840 --> 00:04:20,320 Speaker 1: they snapped this four game losing streak. And I'll ask thoughts. Yeah, 74 00:04:20,320 --> 00:04:22,839 Speaker 1: I thought it was Um, I thought it was a 75 00:04:22,839 --> 00:04:25,640 Speaker 1: great game. Um. I thought the defense played really well. 76 00:04:25,640 --> 00:04:28,359 Speaker 1: I think they had four or five red zone stops, 77 00:04:28,640 --> 00:04:31,280 Speaker 1: which was which was big. Like Tory said, um, and 78 00:04:31,440 --> 00:04:34,440 Speaker 1: I just thought they all just played. Um they were 79 00:04:34,440 --> 00:04:36,960 Speaker 1: all consistent and you could tell that, you know, they 80 00:04:36,960 --> 00:04:39,240 Speaker 1: wanted to win this game. They want you know, when 81 00:04:39,279 --> 00:04:41,839 Speaker 1: I talked to players after the game, they talked about 82 00:04:41,839 --> 00:04:43,880 Speaker 1: the needs to just finish strong, finish out these last 83 00:04:43,880 --> 00:04:45,680 Speaker 1: two games strong, and and you could tell that they 84 00:04:45,680 --> 00:04:49,760 Speaker 1: put their their best foot forward against the Cardinals, regardless, um, 85 00:04:49,800 --> 00:04:52,480 Speaker 1: if they're eliminated from playoff contention or not. I mean, 86 00:04:52,560 --> 00:04:54,880 Speaker 1: Arthur Smith also talked about, you know, just the need 87 00:04:54,960 --> 00:04:57,400 Speaker 1: to finish this season. I was strong and um, we 88 00:04:57,480 --> 00:05:01,000 Speaker 1: saw the Falcons play fishing on both side and that's 89 00:05:01,000 --> 00:05:03,240 Speaker 1: why they came out with the dog. Yeah. I mean 90 00:05:03,279 --> 00:05:08,240 Speaker 1: it's interesting after the Ravens lost, that win, combined with 91 00:05:08,400 --> 00:05:12,000 Speaker 1: other positives for other NFC self teams, eliminated the Falcons 92 00:05:12,000 --> 00:05:14,719 Speaker 1: from the playoffs. He was asked what, like, what are 93 00:05:14,720 --> 00:05:17,599 Speaker 1: you looking for out of the last two and he said, 94 00:05:17,720 --> 00:05:20,600 Speaker 1: victories and progress. I think we saw a little bit 95 00:05:20,640 --> 00:05:23,360 Speaker 1: of both if we're using his guidelines, and why not, 96 00:05:23,560 --> 00:05:26,800 Speaker 1: because he's the one making decisions about he and Terry 97 00:05:26,839 --> 00:05:29,760 Speaker 1: Fano about what happens next. And let's be honest. This 98 00:05:29,839 --> 00:05:34,000 Speaker 1: was a game against two teams with nothing to lose, right. 99 00:05:34,279 --> 00:05:36,800 Speaker 1: It had its moments where you're watching it and you're 100 00:05:36,800 --> 00:05:40,560 Speaker 1: just like, gosh, these teams are a ways away from 101 00:05:40,600 --> 00:05:43,120 Speaker 1: being what they ultimately want to be. So let's go 102 00:05:43,120 --> 00:05:45,560 Speaker 1: ahead and put that out there too. We're not saying 103 00:05:45,640 --> 00:05:48,720 Speaker 1: that this was a fantastic win by the Falcons by 104 00:05:48,720 --> 00:05:53,160 Speaker 1: any means, this was a win, right, Yea, it was 105 00:05:53,200 --> 00:05:56,279 Speaker 1: a period, yeah. And the thing that I liked most 106 00:05:56,360 --> 00:06:02,320 Speaker 1: about it is what happened at the end Arizona's defense, right, 107 00:06:02,440 --> 00:06:06,680 Speaker 1: not necessarily top caliber, right, but when it mattered most, 108 00:06:06,720 --> 00:06:09,560 Speaker 1: when they were down with five minutes to go, Desmond 109 00:06:09,600 --> 00:06:12,280 Speaker 1: Ritter led them sixty seven yards. They got a big 110 00:06:12,360 --> 00:06:14,960 Speaker 1: run from Cordio Patterson. It was nice to see him 111 00:06:16,160 --> 00:06:19,520 Speaker 1: doing some things. Desmond Ritter though, three for three on 112 00:06:19,560 --> 00:06:22,000 Speaker 1: a third and seven where you absolutely have to have it. Yeah, 113 00:06:22,240 --> 00:06:24,120 Speaker 1: otherwise you just kicked the field goal and then the 114 00:06:24,240 --> 00:06:26,600 Speaker 1: Cardinals have a chance to come back, have to have it. 115 00:06:26,640 --> 00:06:30,440 Speaker 1: Throws an absolute rocket to Michael Pruett, who led the 116 00:06:30,440 --> 00:06:35,640 Speaker 1: team in receiving yards. Fascinating examplot. But nonetheless, um, I think, 117 00:06:35,680 --> 00:06:39,240 Speaker 1: and we're gonna talk a lot about in ways that 118 00:06:39,360 --> 00:06:44,160 Speaker 1: Desmond Ritter is improving, right, I think you can look 119 00:06:44,200 --> 00:06:46,880 Speaker 1: at all these small things and you can dissect the operation. 120 00:06:47,360 --> 00:06:50,320 Speaker 1: At some point, you're just gonna have to go win 121 00:06:50,400 --> 00:06:53,080 Speaker 1: the game, right, At some point all those small things 122 00:06:53,400 --> 00:06:55,599 Speaker 1: that we can talk about and you see signs of 123 00:06:55,600 --> 00:06:58,000 Speaker 1: progress at some point. I don't care about that. I 124 00:06:58,080 --> 00:07:01,320 Speaker 1: care about how do you do when the game was 125 00:07:01,320 --> 00:07:03,839 Speaker 1: on the line, And we know Desmond is a gamer 126 00:07:03,920 --> 00:07:07,040 Speaker 1: like that, his reputation precedes him. You're not forty four 127 00:07:07,040 --> 00:07:09,440 Speaker 1: and six in college if you haven't done some good 128 00:07:09,480 --> 00:07:12,200 Speaker 1: things in the fourth quarter. The guy's a gamer. The 129 00:07:12,280 --> 00:07:15,040 Speaker 1: guy gets it. Heck, he threw up a perfect pass 130 00:07:15,120 --> 00:07:18,720 Speaker 1: to Drake London in New Orleans that could have set 131 00:07:18,760 --> 00:07:20,680 Speaker 1: them up to at least tie the game. He didn't 132 00:07:20,720 --> 00:07:23,840 Speaker 1: drop the ball, but I think it was encouraging to 133 00:07:23,880 --> 00:07:26,960 Speaker 1: see him go out there with the game on the 134 00:07:27,000 --> 00:07:30,120 Speaker 1: line and find a way to get it done. Yeah. Yeah, 135 00:07:30,200 --> 00:07:32,920 Speaker 1: and I think too the part of that goes along 136 00:07:32,960 --> 00:07:34,480 Speaker 1: with us. And this is something Scott and I were 137 00:07:34,480 --> 00:07:37,280 Speaker 1: talking about after the game, is like, the more Desmond 138 00:07:37,320 --> 00:07:41,720 Speaker 1: Ridder gets comfortable in this offense in the league, Let's 139 00:07:41,760 --> 00:07:45,559 Speaker 1: just be honest. He hasn't played but two games prior 140 00:07:45,600 --> 00:07:49,280 Speaker 1: to this, so there is a there are growing pains 141 00:07:49,320 --> 00:07:51,840 Speaker 1: that you go through, and there is an adjustment to 142 00:07:52,440 --> 00:07:54,840 Speaker 1: when catching up to the speed of the game, understanding 143 00:07:55,240 --> 00:07:57,240 Speaker 1: that this is different than college. Is this first time 144 00:07:57,280 --> 00:08:00,960 Speaker 1: playing in the league, and because of going through those 145 00:08:01,000 --> 00:08:04,040 Speaker 1: growing pains and really just taking those reps that he 146 00:08:04,080 --> 00:08:07,000 Speaker 1: didn't have before this. It allows you to kind of 147 00:08:07,040 --> 00:08:10,080 Speaker 1: get into that gamer mode, you know, like when you 148 00:08:10,120 --> 00:08:13,400 Speaker 1: are doing the foundational fundamental things and you can kind 149 00:08:13,400 --> 00:08:15,880 Speaker 1: of get those going a little bit. It allows you 150 00:08:15,920 --> 00:08:18,480 Speaker 1: to be a gamer like how we saw and to 151 00:08:18,560 --> 00:08:21,679 Speaker 1: go three for three in a drive that really really 152 00:08:21,720 --> 00:08:25,000 Speaker 1: mattered to this game and not just that. And something 153 00:08:25,040 --> 00:08:28,160 Speaker 1: else we're talking about too, was that those three going 154 00:08:28,280 --> 00:08:31,520 Speaker 1: three for three in that drive even though like people 155 00:08:31,600 --> 00:08:34,839 Speaker 1: be oh, only three times, but when you really break 156 00:08:34,840 --> 00:08:37,440 Speaker 1: it down, especially in the scope of Arthur Smith's offense, 157 00:08:37,640 --> 00:08:40,360 Speaker 1: that's really all he's asking his quarterbacks to do, right, 158 00:08:40,679 --> 00:08:42,760 Speaker 1: He's not asking them to go out and throw the 159 00:08:42,760 --> 00:08:47,800 Speaker 1: ball seven eight times in a drive. The run game 160 00:08:47,960 --> 00:08:52,080 Speaker 1: has its strengths and you should be able to lean 161 00:08:52,280 --> 00:08:55,960 Speaker 1: on that. And I think that that's something that that 162 00:08:56,120 --> 00:09:01,440 Speaker 1: drive encompassed. I think what won this offense can look like. 163 00:09:01,720 --> 00:09:05,280 Speaker 1: And two, how Desmond Ritter operates in it. And I 164 00:09:05,320 --> 00:09:07,360 Speaker 1: go back to what I said earlier where it does. 165 00:09:07,720 --> 00:09:12,080 Speaker 1: I think it's very evident that Desmond Ritter is comfortable, 166 00:09:12,720 --> 00:09:16,000 Speaker 1: more comfortable almost night and day comfortable than what he 167 00:09:16,160 --> 00:09:18,760 Speaker 1: was the first time that we saw him in New Orleans. 168 00:09:19,000 --> 00:09:22,760 Speaker 1: And this is only a very small sample size, and 169 00:09:22,840 --> 00:09:26,240 Speaker 1: we have seen growth, growth, and we have seen him 170 00:09:26,240 --> 00:09:30,200 Speaker 1: take steps in the right direction. And I do think 171 00:09:30,240 --> 00:09:33,920 Speaker 1: that that should be something that we're talking about because 172 00:09:34,720 --> 00:09:39,199 Speaker 1: it's gonna matter in twenty twenty three, right regardless of 173 00:09:39,240 --> 00:09:42,599 Speaker 1: what the Falcons do, what they decide to do with 174 00:09:42,760 --> 00:09:45,000 Speaker 1: Desmond Ritter is going to matter, and it's gonna come. 175 00:09:45,160 --> 00:09:49,920 Speaker 1: It's gonna stem from the foundation that he sets right now. Yeah, No, 176 00:09:50,240 --> 00:09:52,839 Speaker 1: I definitely agree with that, and I think the poise 177 00:09:52,920 --> 00:09:55,360 Speaker 1: that we saw from Desmond Ritter in that late fourth 178 00:09:55,400 --> 00:09:58,319 Speaker 1: quarter jobs, like you said, it's gonna mean the most 179 00:09:58,360 --> 00:10:01,640 Speaker 1: in the future and the his team in the future. Um. 180 00:10:01,679 --> 00:10:05,040 Speaker 1: But he does continue to progress every game. UM. Statistically, 181 00:10:05,080 --> 00:10:08,160 Speaker 1: you know, he went, he completed seventy three percent of 182 00:10:08,240 --> 00:10:11,640 Speaker 1: his bestes today and he still didn't throw any interceptions, 183 00:10:11,640 --> 00:10:14,920 Speaker 1: which is amazing, uh for a rookie quarterback. Um. And 184 00:10:15,120 --> 00:10:18,160 Speaker 1: he just continues to grow. Um. You know, he exudes 185 00:10:18,200 --> 00:10:21,320 Speaker 1: so much confidence on the field and in press conferences, 186 00:10:21,360 --> 00:10:25,000 Speaker 1: and I think that, um, you know, that definitely provides 187 00:10:25,040 --> 00:10:28,120 Speaker 1: a lot of hope for the Falcon's offense moving forward 188 00:10:28,160 --> 00:10:30,520 Speaker 1: in the future. Yeah, he didn't single handedly make this 189 00:10:30,640 --> 00:10:35,160 Speaker 1: an explosive passing now and he was never supposed to, right. Yeah, 190 00:10:35,440 --> 00:10:38,880 Speaker 1: But I think as you continue to evaluate him, I 191 00:10:38,920 --> 00:10:41,440 Speaker 1: think there's a lot to like. And when it comes 192 00:10:41,520 --> 00:10:45,960 Speaker 1: down to it, the thing that the poise, the moxie, 193 00:10:45,960 --> 00:10:50,040 Speaker 1: the confidence that he projects. I asked him about that. 194 00:10:50,040 --> 00:10:54,360 Speaker 1: That that about projecting confidence, the understanding. He does all 195 00:10:54,400 --> 00:10:57,480 Speaker 1: these little things to let everyone know that he that 196 00:10:57,480 --> 00:10:59,960 Speaker 1: that he supports them, that he's confident that that they're 197 00:11:00,040 --> 00:11:03,040 Speaker 1: gonna win. I asked Dave for going this a couple 198 00:11:03,080 --> 00:11:06,320 Speaker 1: of weeks ago, and Arthur last week as well. I 199 00:11:06,360 --> 00:11:08,680 Speaker 1: hate when people say I asked, so, I'm sorry, I 200 00:11:08,720 --> 00:11:15,319 Speaker 1: just broke my own rule. Those guys were asked by somebody. 201 00:11:16,679 --> 00:11:19,800 Speaker 1: But just about is he self aware? Is he critical 202 00:11:19,880 --> 00:11:22,840 Speaker 1: in meeting rooms? Can he say, oh, yep, I made 203 00:11:22,840 --> 00:11:24,839 Speaker 1: a mistake right there or is he blind to it? 204 00:11:25,160 --> 00:11:28,120 Speaker 1: And both guys who work with the quarterbacks a lot 205 00:11:28,400 --> 00:11:32,280 Speaker 1: say he can identify problems and his ego isn't too 206 00:11:32,320 --> 00:11:34,640 Speaker 1: big to be like, yeah, I screwed that up. Here's 207 00:11:34,640 --> 00:11:36,520 Speaker 1: why I can do that better. Sometimes you guys have 208 00:11:36,600 --> 00:11:40,199 Speaker 1: guys with supreme confidence who like can't see their own shadow. Right. 209 00:11:40,360 --> 00:11:42,600 Speaker 1: I don't think that's the case here, and that's another 210 00:11:42,640 --> 00:11:46,199 Speaker 1: one of those encouraging signs. Look, he's got the arm talent. 211 00:11:46,800 --> 00:11:50,920 Speaker 1: That's seven completion right. I mean he's not always totally 212 00:11:50,960 --> 00:11:55,079 Speaker 1: perfectly accurate, but I think that he even talked in 213 00:11:55,160 --> 00:11:57,560 Speaker 1: the I'm getting off on a tangent now. He even 214 00:11:57,559 --> 00:12:00,360 Speaker 1: talked in the press conference about early on he let 215 00:12:00,360 --> 00:12:03,640 Speaker 1: the pressure affect his footwork. Who says that in a 216 00:12:03,640 --> 00:12:07,000 Speaker 1: press conference and that's why he was inaccurate, which means 217 00:12:07,120 --> 00:12:10,600 Speaker 1: he understands the process. Yeah, and I think those are 218 00:12:10,679 --> 00:12:14,080 Speaker 1: the things that I like. Yeah, it's funny too because 219 00:12:14,160 --> 00:12:17,480 Speaker 1: I talked about this on a couple of different occasions. 220 00:12:17,520 --> 00:12:19,440 Speaker 1: I can't remember if it was podcast or written or 221 00:12:19,440 --> 00:12:23,160 Speaker 1: TV or what, but yeah, you're everywhere and I'm doing 222 00:12:23,200 --> 00:12:26,959 Speaker 1: a lot of things. But I remember saying in that 223 00:12:27,040 --> 00:12:29,280 Speaker 1: first and when we were in New Orleans and we 224 00:12:29,280 --> 00:12:32,199 Speaker 1: were watching Desmond Ritter operate in the pocket, he had 225 00:12:32,240 --> 00:12:35,800 Speaker 1: happy feet and I could feel it was almost you 226 00:12:35,920 --> 00:12:39,080 Speaker 1: felt that jitter, and I think that's normal for a 227 00:12:39,120 --> 00:12:42,440 Speaker 1: guy in that situation. I didn't see happy feet in 228 00:12:42,480 --> 00:12:46,160 Speaker 1: this game, and I think that alone is a sign 229 00:12:46,320 --> 00:12:48,680 Speaker 1: of progress. And he I mean he even started the game. 230 00:12:49,360 --> 00:12:51,800 Speaker 1: Arthur Smith talked about like starting the game aggressively, and 231 00:12:52,280 --> 00:12:57,440 Speaker 1: he completed twelve of his first fourteen passes, right, I mean, 232 00:12:57,480 --> 00:13:00,600 Speaker 1: that's pretty good for a guy, I think in Desmond 233 00:13:00,640 --> 00:13:04,880 Speaker 1: Ritter's position right now. Yeah, and we're going to hop 234 00:13:04,920 --> 00:13:07,800 Speaker 1: back in and talk about Tyler and CP in just 235 00:13:07,840 --> 00:13:10,000 Speaker 1: a second. I just want to clear something up for 236 00:13:10,160 --> 00:13:14,199 Speaker 1: Falcon's final whistle listeners. I read the YouTube comments. Not 237 00:13:14,200 --> 00:13:17,920 Speaker 1: always a great idea, but I did, and all three 238 00:13:18,000 --> 00:13:22,199 Speaker 1: of us were getting killed in the comments because I 239 00:13:22,240 --> 00:13:25,040 Speaker 1: think maybe it was misconstrued or we didn't I thought 240 00:13:25,040 --> 00:13:27,360 Speaker 1: we explained it well enough. But nonetheless, everybody was saying, 241 00:13:27,920 --> 00:13:31,640 Speaker 1: because you're considering other quarterbacks of the future, drafted or 242 00:13:31,679 --> 00:13:34,280 Speaker 1: free agent or veteran or otherwise, you've already given up 243 00:13:34,280 --> 00:13:38,439 Speaker 1: on Desmond Ritter as the starter is. And that's not 244 00:13:38,520 --> 00:13:40,600 Speaker 1: what we That's not what we were trying to say. Yeah, 245 00:13:41,280 --> 00:13:44,079 Speaker 1: I want to make it clear that we were talking about. 246 00:13:44,840 --> 00:13:48,760 Speaker 1: I mean, you only have Desmond Ritter moving forward. Logan 247 00:13:48,800 --> 00:13:52,679 Speaker 1: Woodside was brought in just to be out there in 248 00:13:52,720 --> 00:13:56,559 Speaker 1: case the only person who you can feel like is 249 00:13:56,559 --> 00:13:58,480 Speaker 1: going to be there next year is Desmond Rider. You 250 00:13:58,480 --> 00:14:01,080 Speaker 1: can't go into a twenty twenty three season, would just 251 00:14:01,280 --> 00:14:03,440 Speaker 1: Desmond Ridder in the quarterback room and why not get 252 00:14:03,440 --> 00:14:06,520 Speaker 1: a talented right, Yeah, you want Desmond Ritter to be pushed. 253 00:14:06,520 --> 00:14:08,640 Speaker 1: Desmond Ritter is the type of guy who wants to 254 00:14:08,679 --> 00:14:11,640 Speaker 1: be pushed. Like I think that was all we were 255 00:14:11,679 --> 00:14:15,120 Speaker 1: trying to say, is that regardless of what Desmond Ritter 256 00:14:15,280 --> 00:14:18,360 Speaker 1: does or doesn't do, you have to go fill the 257 00:14:18,440 --> 00:14:25,520 Speaker 1: quarterback room. You absolutely do, and you does very contemplate 258 00:14:25,720 --> 00:14:29,520 Speaker 1: the Ritter Ruckus, right, is going to be frustrated during 259 00:14:29,560 --> 00:14:32,320 Speaker 1: the spring when Arthur and Terry are at Ohio States 260 00:14:32,320 --> 00:14:34,920 Speaker 1: Pro Day and at Alabama's Pro day and they're and 261 00:14:34,960 --> 00:14:38,480 Speaker 1: they're checking out Young and Stroud and Levis and all 262 00:14:38,520 --> 00:14:41,320 Speaker 1: the peeps and all those guys, because that's what they 263 00:14:41,360 --> 00:14:43,520 Speaker 1: have to do. And I keep going back to say it, 264 00:14:43,560 --> 00:14:47,880 Speaker 1: and then the tangent will be over. But I feel like, 265 00:14:48,520 --> 00:14:51,400 Speaker 1: if you're out on the road and you find a 266 00:14:51,480 --> 00:14:55,600 Speaker 1: guy who you think is a generational perfect from my offense, 267 00:14:55,680 --> 00:14:58,600 Speaker 1: fall in love with this individual, you take them no 268 00:14:58,640 --> 00:15:02,400 Speaker 1: matter what the situation is. And that's not anything that's 269 00:15:02,400 --> 00:15:05,120 Speaker 1: not anything negative about Ridder. That's just a fact of 270 00:15:05,160 --> 00:15:07,040 Speaker 1: the matter. Is that if you feel like you have 271 00:15:07,280 --> 00:15:10,280 Speaker 1: a somebody might put on a gold jacket one day 272 00:15:10,400 --> 00:15:12,160 Speaker 1: type of talent in front of you, and you're sitting 273 00:15:12,200 --> 00:15:15,120 Speaker 1: there at whatever draft pick that like that you have. 274 00:15:15,320 --> 00:15:17,040 Speaker 1: I don't care if Matt Ryan's still on the roster. 275 00:15:17,560 --> 00:15:20,040 Speaker 1: I'm probably taking a hard look at that until you 276 00:15:20,120 --> 00:15:22,240 Speaker 1: have that, true, Frank, I wouldn't have looked at it 277 00:15:22,640 --> 00:15:25,000 Speaker 1: Matt Ryan's third year, but I look at it in 278 00:15:25,040 --> 00:15:27,320 Speaker 1: twelve or thirteen, and that's all that I think that 279 00:15:27,320 --> 00:15:29,560 Speaker 1: we were trying to say. But yeah, just numbers got 280 00:15:29,560 --> 00:15:31,320 Speaker 1: to add a quarterback, right, so ye might as well 281 00:15:31,320 --> 00:15:33,560 Speaker 1: make it a good one, right, might as well have 282 00:15:33,640 --> 00:15:36,640 Speaker 1: someone to push Desmond Ridder and Desmond Ridder to push 283 00:15:36,640 --> 00:15:40,680 Speaker 1: someone else. I mean, I know it's so stupid cliche 284 00:15:40,760 --> 00:15:43,240 Speaker 1: and I hate that I'm about to say this anyway, 285 00:15:43,720 --> 00:15:46,560 Speaker 1: the whole iron sharpening iron thing is true. Yeah, I 286 00:15:46,600 --> 00:15:49,840 Speaker 1: think Arthur Smith did even used the example of Drew 287 00:15:49,880 --> 00:15:52,640 Speaker 1: Damon and Matt Hennessey to day. We saw Matt Hennessy 288 00:15:52,640 --> 00:15:55,320 Speaker 1: get the start at left guard. Yeah, Matt Hennessey and 289 00:15:55,400 --> 00:16:01,120 Speaker 1: Drew Damon had the most significant position battle that I've 290 00:16:01,160 --> 00:16:04,960 Speaker 1: seen since the since I started covering this team. And 291 00:16:05,000 --> 00:16:06,880 Speaker 1: I think Matt Hennessy is going to be better for it. 292 00:16:07,280 --> 00:16:08,720 Speaker 1: I don't know what's going to happen in the off 293 00:16:08,760 --> 00:16:12,080 Speaker 1: season with that left guard position, but I do think 294 00:16:12,120 --> 00:16:16,840 Speaker 1: that Matt Hennessy could potentially be a guy who either 295 00:16:16,920 --> 00:16:20,120 Speaker 1: one steps into that role or fights for that role. Yeah, 296 00:16:20,120 --> 00:16:24,880 Speaker 1: and I think that's all you're asking these players to do, 297 00:16:25,200 --> 00:16:27,680 Speaker 1: is to compete with one another, because at this point 298 00:16:27,720 --> 00:16:32,160 Speaker 1: with this team, no position is safe unless you are 299 00:16:32,720 --> 00:16:38,560 Speaker 1: maybe Chris Lundstrom, aj Treill, Grady Jarrett, Jake Matthews, Jake Lyndon. 300 00:16:39,840 --> 00:16:42,000 Speaker 1: If you're one of those guys, okay, sure whatever, you 301 00:16:42,080 --> 00:16:44,120 Speaker 1: have the money to prove that you're out there for 302 00:16:44,160 --> 00:16:47,680 Speaker 1: a reason. Everybody else. How much how much turnover are 303 00:16:47,680 --> 00:16:51,720 Speaker 1: we going to see? Exactly exactly my point? So and 304 00:16:51,760 --> 00:16:54,120 Speaker 1: then after in years after that, I think we will 305 00:16:54,160 --> 00:16:56,440 Speaker 1: see less and less because they can spend on these 306 00:16:56,760 --> 00:17:00,400 Speaker 1: bigger deals. Yeah, we need to move on, right area, 307 00:17:00,520 --> 00:17:03,560 Speaker 1: how's this for a transition. One area where where the 308 00:17:04,359 --> 00:17:09,480 Speaker 1: need is very low is that running back? Because right 309 00:17:09,720 --> 00:17:13,879 Speaker 1: because Tyler Algier, that dude. The second half of the season, 310 00:17:14,080 --> 00:17:16,600 Speaker 1: he looks so comfortable, he looks like his b y 311 00:17:16,680 --> 00:17:20,280 Speaker 1: U highlights against Novadorino. You know, I mean he looks 312 00:17:20,320 --> 00:17:23,480 Speaker 1: like he's he's he gets it, he's confident, he's patient, 313 00:17:23,520 --> 00:17:26,440 Speaker 1: he's all these things. And then today we have Corderol 314 00:17:26,480 --> 00:17:29,359 Speaker 1: who maybe hasn't had the best statistical season. His receiving 315 00:17:29,440 --> 00:17:31,479 Speaker 1: yards are way way down, I guess rushing yards are 316 00:17:31,480 --> 00:17:34,400 Speaker 1: way up. But we saw him used in a way 317 00:17:34,400 --> 00:17:37,800 Speaker 1: that I think everybody expected him to be used because 318 00:17:37,880 --> 00:17:41,240 Speaker 1: Tyler can be that three down type of running back, 319 00:17:41,359 --> 00:17:43,360 Speaker 1: so you can put Cordarrell in the slot. He had 320 00:17:43,359 --> 00:17:45,800 Speaker 1: what six catches today. He was all over the place, 321 00:17:45,880 --> 00:17:49,639 Speaker 1: And I think that the combination of those two guys 322 00:17:49,960 --> 00:17:52,840 Speaker 1: is super encouraging. I spent. I mean Tyler's averaging five 323 00:17:52,920 --> 00:17:56,840 Speaker 1: yards are carrying out UM that that was really encouraging. UM. 324 00:17:57,040 --> 00:18:00,560 Speaker 1: Ashton and Arthur Smith and Desmon Ritter talked about that. 325 00:18:00,720 --> 00:18:02,800 Speaker 1: Yeah for sure. Yeah. I mean al Jerry he moved 326 00:18:02,800 --> 00:18:05,680 Speaker 1: into the record books today. He eclipsed over one thousand 327 00:18:06,480 --> 00:18:09,399 Speaker 1: yards in scrimmage. So you know, I think that's just 328 00:18:09,440 --> 00:18:12,160 Speaker 1: a lot about Algier. He didn't play the first game 329 00:18:12,800 --> 00:18:15,120 Speaker 1: against the Saints. He's a healthy scratch. He was, Yeah, 330 00:18:15,119 --> 00:18:16,960 Speaker 1: he was a healthy scratch, and like he came alive 331 00:18:17,160 --> 00:18:19,760 Speaker 1: in the second half of the season and he merged 332 00:18:19,800 --> 00:18:22,520 Speaker 1: as as a young quality running back. But um, what 333 00:18:22,680 --> 00:18:24,439 Speaker 1: Arthur Smith said after the game is that you know, 334 00:18:24,480 --> 00:18:26,520 Speaker 1: CP is such a versatile player and you can use 335 00:18:26,600 --> 00:18:28,760 Speaker 1: them together. There are a lot of plays where you 336 00:18:28,800 --> 00:18:31,000 Speaker 1: see CP as a wideout, which you saw against the 337 00:18:31,000 --> 00:18:33,679 Speaker 1: Cardinals today, and you saw the one down in the 338 00:18:33,720 --> 00:18:35,679 Speaker 1: red zone some other plays, and it's nice when you 339 00:18:35,720 --> 00:18:38,880 Speaker 1: can mix and match. And you know, I think that's 340 00:18:39,000 --> 00:18:40,600 Speaker 1: very true, and I think that provides a lot of 341 00:18:40,640 --> 00:18:43,720 Speaker 1: hope for the Falcon's offense in the future because CP 342 00:18:43,920 --> 00:18:47,400 Speaker 1: is such an amazing and versatile player, Like he's great 343 00:18:47,400 --> 00:18:49,440 Speaker 1: in the backfield, he's great at wide out and the 344 00:18:49,520 --> 00:18:52,560 Speaker 1: Sala Algier he's just a forest in the backfield, Like 345 00:18:53,160 --> 00:18:56,800 Speaker 1: nobody can really tackle Algier. And we saw CP. He 346 00:18:56,840 --> 00:18:59,359 Speaker 1: had forty two yards receiving, forty two yards rushing and 347 00:18:59,400 --> 00:19:03,520 Speaker 1: a touchdown. And I think that just you know, again 348 00:19:03,720 --> 00:19:05,560 Speaker 1: that that provides a lot of hope for the Falcons 349 00:19:05,600 --> 00:19:08,800 Speaker 1: offense moving forward in the future. And I just think 350 00:19:08,800 --> 00:19:12,360 Speaker 1: that's that's going to make this offense versatile in every week. 351 00:19:12,800 --> 00:19:14,879 Speaker 1: Here's the thing that I think people need to think 352 00:19:14,880 --> 00:19:18,000 Speaker 1: about when it comes to this idea of what we 353 00:19:18,040 --> 00:19:21,399 Speaker 1: saw today with Tyler Algier and Cordill Patterson was that 354 00:19:21,880 --> 00:19:24,240 Speaker 1: they didn't I don't think they necessarily even knew what 355 00:19:24,280 --> 00:19:26,639 Speaker 1: they had and Tyler Algier until you get to the 356 00:19:26,680 --> 00:19:29,560 Speaker 1: midpoint of the season when both CP and Damian Williams 357 00:19:29,600 --> 00:19:32,960 Speaker 1: are on IR and I think back to kind of 358 00:19:33,080 --> 00:19:35,760 Speaker 1: something that Arthur Smith has talked about recently where he 359 00:19:35,840 --> 00:19:38,880 Speaker 1: was talking about how CP was your featured back and 360 00:19:38,920 --> 00:19:42,119 Speaker 1: so he had because he had to be, so you 361 00:19:42,240 --> 00:19:46,360 Speaker 1: use him as a traditional running back. And CP goes 362 00:19:46,400 --> 00:19:49,359 Speaker 1: out and has a two hundred some odd rushing guard 363 00:19:49,400 --> 00:19:54,880 Speaker 1: game in Seattle. But as Tyler Algier has emerged, you 364 00:19:54,920 --> 00:19:59,359 Speaker 1: see the like mystery of CP and the I hate 365 00:19:59,359 --> 00:20:01,080 Speaker 1: saying this word because I know CP doesn't like it, 366 00:20:01,080 --> 00:20:04,280 Speaker 1: but the gadgetty type of guy of being able to 367 00:20:04,320 --> 00:20:08,520 Speaker 1: have a versatile like look about what CP can provide 368 00:20:08,560 --> 00:20:12,359 Speaker 1: your offense and the different packages definitely like two back 369 00:20:12,640 --> 00:20:17,879 Speaker 1: packages like that. That is something that Tyler Algiers emergence 370 00:20:17,960 --> 00:20:21,400 Speaker 1: provides this offense, and that's something that Arthur Smith talked 371 00:20:21,440 --> 00:20:24,199 Speaker 1: a lot about. And I think it's because they have 372 00:20:24,359 --> 00:20:27,760 Speaker 1: started to trust Tyler Algier and he's really proven himself 373 00:20:27,800 --> 00:20:30,120 Speaker 1: that he can go out and get those dirty yards. 374 00:20:30,720 --> 00:20:35,119 Speaker 1: That is so I think that that just goes to 375 00:20:35,280 --> 00:20:40,600 Speaker 1: show kind of what the trajectory of the again, the 376 00:20:40,920 --> 00:20:45,960 Speaker 1: emergence of Tyler Ali Algier's role in this offense is 377 00:20:46,000 --> 00:20:48,960 Speaker 1: and how it can help Corderill Patterson because I know 378 00:20:49,240 --> 00:20:51,240 Speaker 1: we have talked so many times this year it's like, 379 00:20:51,840 --> 00:20:54,960 Speaker 1: why isn't CP getting out wide like he was last year? 380 00:20:55,040 --> 00:20:56,600 Speaker 1: I think that, I mean, he this was a guy 381 00:20:56,640 --> 00:20:59,040 Speaker 1: who had a lot of receiving yards last year and 382 00:20:59,080 --> 00:21:01,160 Speaker 1: you're kind of wondering why, Well, that's why he had 383 00:21:01,160 --> 00:21:03,040 Speaker 1: to be the feature back for a while. Now it's 384 00:21:03,080 --> 00:21:06,200 Speaker 1: kind of morphing into Tyler Algier because he's been productive 385 00:21:06,359 --> 00:21:09,080 Speaker 1: and it allows you to move CP out and do 386 00:21:09,119 --> 00:21:11,920 Speaker 1: different things with him. Yeah, and that was always the plan. 387 00:21:12,400 --> 00:21:14,480 Speaker 1: It was just a matter of that. It wasn't You 388 00:21:14,480 --> 00:21:17,000 Speaker 1: couldn't execute it because Damie Williams got hurt in a 389 00:21:17,080 --> 00:21:21,480 Speaker 1: flash and it just never and then Cordero gets hurt 390 00:21:21,520 --> 00:21:24,639 Speaker 1: and then Tyler emerges. You know, it takes so anyway, 391 00:21:24,720 --> 00:21:26,359 Speaker 1: this was all the plan, and that's why it's like, 392 00:21:26,600 --> 00:21:28,560 Speaker 1: I think it's easy to be like, well, you know, 393 00:21:28,720 --> 00:21:31,400 Speaker 1: Arthur Smith is an idiot because he's not using CP 394 00:21:31,520 --> 00:21:32,919 Speaker 1: the way he did last year. Well, I'm sure he 395 00:21:33,000 --> 00:21:35,760 Speaker 1: really wanted to, right, and that's what we saw here, 396 00:21:35,840 --> 00:21:39,400 Speaker 1: and he identified some matchups that worked well for Patterson 397 00:21:39,440 --> 00:21:41,800 Speaker 1: on like on the outside. Yeah, so it's not just 398 00:21:41,840 --> 00:21:43,440 Speaker 1: a matter of oh well he's not calling this play. 399 00:21:43,480 --> 00:21:45,280 Speaker 1: It's like you you have to think about these things. 400 00:21:45,480 --> 00:21:47,560 Speaker 1: Football so interesting to talk about, right, because there's so 401 00:21:47,560 --> 00:21:51,040 Speaker 1: many like dimensions, and if you're not seeing the full picture, 402 00:21:51,640 --> 00:21:54,119 Speaker 1: then you're not doing it. Yeah, you know, And nothing 403 00:21:54,119 --> 00:21:56,080 Speaker 1: that we're talking about here is not something that Arthur 404 00:21:56,080 --> 00:21:59,080 Speaker 1: Smith hasn't already talked about three times over in press conferences. True, 405 00:21:59,200 --> 00:22:02,040 Speaker 1: he's the one that brought up all that stuff about 406 00:22:02,240 --> 00:22:05,560 Speaker 1: you know, Cep goes on IR and then Tyler emerges 407 00:22:05,640 --> 00:22:07,520 Speaker 1: and then you gotta and then Cep he's working back 408 00:22:07,520 --> 00:22:09,879 Speaker 1: to full health. And he's the one that brought that 409 00:22:09,960 --> 00:22:12,000 Speaker 1: up what a month ago, right, Yeah, he even said 410 00:22:12,160 --> 00:22:17,280 Speaker 1: that Tyler, he even he's basically said that Tyler impressed him, 411 00:22:17,320 --> 00:22:19,800 Speaker 1: like as far as like how fast he adjusted to 412 00:22:19,840 --> 00:22:23,080 Speaker 1: the NFL like earlier in the season, just paraphrasing what 413 00:22:23,119 --> 00:22:26,080 Speaker 1: he said. But um, I think the biggest thing that 414 00:22:26,119 --> 00:22:29,280 Speaker 1: I like about Tyler's just like his awareness. Even Arthur 415 00:22:29,320 --> 00:22:31,760 Speaker 1: Smith said after the game, like when they was third 416 00:22:31,800 --> 00:22:34,080 Speaker 1: and two with the minute in three seconds left, you 417 00:22:34,119 --> 00:22:37,280 Speaker 1: know Tyler needed three or two He really needed two 418 00:22:37,359 --> 00:22:39,200 Speaker 1: yards to get the first down, but he got three 419 00:22:39,359 --> 00:22:42,199 Speaker 1: and he went down and that's what basically ran the 420 00:22:42,200 --> 00:22:45,320 Speaker 1: clock out and helped sell the Falcon's victory. And um, 421 00:22:45,560 --> 00:22:48,240 Speaker 1: I just think he's playing very maturely, and I think 422 00:22:48,320 --> 00:22:51,080 Speaker 1: he's he's definitely adjusted to the game very quickly. It's 423 00:22:51,119 --> 00:22:55,280 Speaker 1: it's weird that I think at times Arthur Smith can 424 00:22:55,320 --> 00:22:57,479 Speaker 1: be He's really good in press conferences and that if 425 00:22:57,480 --> 00:22:59,280 Speaker 1: he doesn't want to answer your question, like he's just 426 00:22:59,280 --> 00:23:01,439 Speaker 1: not going to answer it. And I think sometimes he 427 00:23:01,600 --> 00:23:03,480 Speaker 1: may have a reputation of coming off as kind of 428 00:23:03,520 --> 00:23:07,400 Speaker 1: like flippant sometimes, which I don't think he is, right, 429 00:23:07,640 --> 00:23:09,679 Speaker 1: But if you listen close enough, he's going to tell 430 00:23:09,720 --> 00:23:12,679 Speaker 1: you the truth. Right, you just have to be aware 431 00:23:12,680 --> 00:23:15,560 Speaker 1: of it, and you have to really understand kind of 432 00:23:15,600 --> 00:23:18,640 Speaker 1: what exactly what he's saying and how he's saying it. 433 00:23:18,960 --> 00:23:21,240 Speaker 1: I think over a couple of years, I feel like 434 00:23:21,280 --> 00:23:25,280 Speaker 1: I'm fluent in Arthur Smith at least getting better at it. Nonetheless, 435 00:23:25,320 --> 00:23:29,960 Speaker 1: But nonetheless I think he's a very smart, engaging individual. 436 00:23:30,080 --> 00:23:32,520 Speaker 1: And I do think that to your point, Tori, that 437 00:23:32,560 --> 00:23:35,159 Speaker 1: there are some nuggets in there. You just got to 438 00:23:35,200 --> 00:23:38,000 Speaker 1: pay attention to it. And as we kind of move forward, 439 00:23:38,320 --> 00:23:42,000 Speaker 1: we've been talking about Desmond, Ridder, Tyler al Geer, right, 440 00:23:42,080 --> 00:23:45,040 Speaker 1: and you look at how many members of this draft class, 441 00:23:45,040 --> 00:23:48,680 Speaker 1: in this rookie class are seeing significant time, Troy Anderson 442 00:23:48,800 --> 00:23:51,320 Speaker 1: and Arnold Eba, Katie and so on and so forth. 443 00:23:52,080 --> 00:23:55,520 Speaker 1: And it's not because they're in evaluation mode. It's because 444 00:23:55,560 --> 00:23:58,840 Speaker 1: those rookies have earned the roles that they've gotten. They're 445 00:23:58,880 --> 00:24:01,000 Speaker 1: not just taking a look at Troy Anderson. Try Anderson 446 00:24:01,160 --> 00:24:05,160 Speaker 1: is playing better than Michael Walker right now. So when 447 00:24:05,200 --> 00:24:07,480 Speaker 1: you have these young guys and the end of the year, 448 00:24:07,520 --> 00:24:11,840 Speaker 1: they've earned it merit based promotions and you see them produce. 449 00:24:13,040 --> 00:24:16,639 Speaker 1: If you're trying to look at this thing beyond you know, 450 00:24:16,720 --> 00:24:18,639 Speaker 1: the last two games where they're not going to make 451 00:24:18,640 --> 00:24:24,240 Speaker 1: the playoffs, is that this young foundation is expanding? Yeah, 452 00:24:24,240 --> 00:24:29,960 Speaker 1: don't you think? Yes? No, something I wrote about postgame 453 00:24:30,400 --> 00:24:33,680 Speaker 1: was just this idea that I do think what we're 454 00:24:33,680 --> 00:24:38,399 Speaker 1: seeing from this young foundation is that there is a 455 00:24:38,440 --> 00:24:42,160 Speaker 1: foundation to build upon. The Falcons are going to have 456 00:24:42,920 --> 00:24:46,360 Speaker 1: significant money this offseason. They're gonna be able to make 457 00:24:46,400 --> 00:24:48,840 Speaker 1: moves that we haven't seen them be able to make 458 00:24:49,160 --> 00:24:51,480 Speaker 1: in a couple of years, if not longer than that. 459 00:24:51,920 --> 00:24:56,480 Speaker 1: So even in that, I feel like there are pieces 460 00:24:56,600 --> 00:25:00,480 Speaker 1: in place that you can build around. And I say 461 00:25:00,520 --> 00:25:05,240 Speaker 1: that kind of just really looking at this twenty twenty 462 00:25:05,240 --> 00:25:09,680 Speaker 1: two draft class and the way that I think that 463 00:25:09,720 --> 00:25:15,520 Speaker 1: they have emerged in their own individual roles is something that, yes, 464 00:25:15,760 --> 00:25:19,199 Speaker 1: gives me hope for what the Falcons can do in 465 00:25:19,240 --> 00:25:22,919 Speaker 1: twenty twenty three and twenty twenty four and beyond. I 466 00:25:22,960 --> 00:25:26,280 Speaker 1: don't think that just because they are out of playoff contention, 467 00:25:26,680 --> 00:25:29,000 Speaker 1: that we can sit here and be like, oh, this 468 00:25:29,119 --> 00:25:33,439 Speaker 1: is like fire everyone like this is just the beginning 469 00:25:34,400 --> 00:25:38,479 Speaker 1: of my evaluation of this front office and of this 470 00:25:38,640 --> 00:25:41,960 Speaker 1: coaching staff, because for the last two years that they've 471 00:25:41,960 --> 00:25:44,760 Speaker 1: been here, the salary cap has kept them in jail. 472 00:25:45,080 --> 00:25:48,920 Speaker 1: They've been unable to really create the team in my opinion, 473 00:25:49,280 --> 00:25:52,040 Speaker 1: that they want to hear. And that's nothing against the 474 00:25:52,080 --> 00:25:54,320 Speaker 1: guys on this current team, but we know this is 475 00:25:54,320 --> 00:25:56,720 Speaker 1: a team that's pieced together with a ton of guys 476 00:25:56,800 --> 00:25:59,720 Speaker 1: on their rook On the early days of their rookie 477 00:25:59,760 --> 00:26:02,000 Speaker 1: can tracks and then a lot of free agents that 478 00:26:02,040 --> 00:26:06,160 Speaker 1: are signing one year deals, and so to be able 479 00:26:06,520 --> 00:26:09,080 Speaker 1: to say that even in all of that, and even 480 00:26:09,119 --> 00:26:11,000 Speaker 1: in the growing pains and even in the losses and 481 00:26:11,640 --> 00:26:14,480 Speaker 1: everything that we've seen, that there is a foundation there 482 00:26:14,920 --> 00:26:20,800 Speaker 1: that is reliant on Tyler Algier and Drake London and 483 00:26:20,840 --> 00:26:25,520 Speaker 1: Troy Anderson and AK and DeAngelo D'Angelo and Kyle Pitts 484 00:26:25,600 --> 00:26:28,600 Speaker 1: and I mean AJ Terrell, Chris Lynchham, all of those 485 00:26:28,600 --> 00:26:31,040 Speaker 1: guys I just named all in their rookie deals, right, 486 00:26:31,160 --> 00:26:34,280 Speaker 1: all of them. So these are pieces that you're gonna 487 00:26:34,320 --> 00:26:36,000 Speaker 1: have for a while and you're gonna be able to 488 00:26:36,040 --> 00:26:40,600 Speaker 1: build around them. And here's I mean. So I have 489 00:26:40,640 --> 00:26:43,120 Speaker 1: to give a shout out to Matt Haley and John 490 00:26:43,200 --> 00:26:46,359 Speaker 1: Dayton who they write our Nerdy Birds Report which runs 491 00:26:46,359 --> 00:26:49,440 Speaker 1: on Friday mornings. And read it. It's fun. Yeah. I 492 00:26:49,560 --> 00:26:53,040 Speaker 1: learned something new every every day because I sometimes don't 493 00:26:53,080 --> 00:26:55,640 Speaker 1: get like two stat heavy. I try not to because 494 00:26:55,680 --> 00:26:58,200 Speaker 1: sometimes I do think stats can be misleading. I feel 495 00:26:58,240 --> 00:27:01,160 Speaker 1: like DMPs just like boke through me at that point. 496 00:27:02,359 --> 00:27:06,640 Speaker 1: But they really did break this down that only eleven 497 00:27:06,680 --> 00:27:09,479 Speaker 1: players on this active fifty three man roster were on 498 00:27:09,520 --> 00:27:14,200 Speaker 1: the team prior to last year eleven. On the fifty 499 00:27:14,240 --> 00:27:16,760 Speaker 1: three min active roster, ninety percent of the players are 500 00:27:16,840 --> 00:27:19,639 Speaker 1: under thirty and fifty percent are under the age of 501 00:27:19,720 --> 00:27:22,960 Speaker 1: twenty seven. That's the fifth highest mark in the NFL 502 00:27:23,000 --> 00:27:25,200 Speaker 1: in terms of young players, and Atlanta leads the NFL 503 00:27:25,240 --> 00:27:29,440 Speaker 1: and rostered players under the age of twenty six at thirteen. Wow. 504 00:27:30,040 --> 00:27:32,600 Speaker 1: That is. And then the Falcons also have the fifth 505 00:27:32,680 --> 00:27:35,639 Speaker 1: highest percentage of players on rookie contracts with three or 506 00:27:35,760 --> 00:27:38,240 Speaker 1: fewer years of experience. That's eighty five percent of this 507 00:27:38,280 --> 00:27:41,840 Speaker 1: fifty three man roster. I know I just threw out 508 00:27:41,880 --> 00:27:44,879 Speaker 1: a ton of numbers and stats and everything, but that's 509 00:27:45,320 --> 00:27:48,199 Speaker 1: important when you're looking at this team and where it 510 00:27:48,280 --> 00:27:50,680 Speaker 1: wants to go. And I do think that there is 511 00:27:51,160 --> 00:27:55,720 Speaker 1: something that with this foundation that they've laid, that there 512 00:27:55,800 --> 00:27:58,280 Speaker 1: is something for the future to be built upon. This 513 00:27:58,280 --> 00:28:01,080 Speaker 1: team has had its issues, this team has had his problems, 514 00:28:01,119 --> 00:28:04,639 Speaker 1: This rookie class has had their growing pains. But even 515 00:28:04,760 --> 00:28:08,159 Speaker 1: in saying all of that, they are still showing that 516 00:28:08,200 --> 00:28:11,919 Speaker 1: they have a foundation worth building upon. Yeah, every off season, 517 00:28:12,200 --> 00:28:13,760 Speaker 1: or at least the off seasons that we've been here, 518 00:28:13,840 --> 00:28:18,760 Speaker 1: of which there aren't too many but three. But during 519 00:28:18,800 --> 00:28:22,840 Speaker 1: the off season, we do this series called Building Blocks Right, 520 00:28:22,960 --> 00:28:27,080 Speaker 1: and it's and you have to select guys who are 521 00:28:27,119 --> 00:28:29,720 Speaker 1: on their rookie deal who you would consider part of 522 00:28:29,760 --> 00:28:32,560 Speaker 1: the Falcons Young Foundation. Tory and I did this last year. 523 00:28:32,600 --> 00:28:34,840 Speaker 1: This is before Ashton came on, and we had to 524 00:28:34,840 --> 00:28:37,840 Speaker 1: come up with five or six and five and by 525 00:28:37,880 --> 00:28:39,400 Speaker 1: the time we got to the fourth one, we're like, 526 00:28:40,640 --> 00:28:44,120 Speaker 1: who are we gonna pick right? And now this off 527 00:28:44,120 --> 00:28:47,400 Speaker 1: season it's almost going to be the opposite. There's there's 528 00:28:47,440 --> 00:28:50,040 Speaker 1: gonna be too many. We're gonna have to expand the series, 529 00:28:50,440 --> 00:28:53,479 Speaker 1: which I think is a sign. It's a way of 530 00:28:53,520 --> 00:28:57,000 Speaker 1: saying that I do think the Young Foundation is expanding. 531 00:28:57,520 --> 00:29:00,320 Speaker 1: And we all talk about the growth that you see 532 00:29:00,360 --> 00:29:02,800 Speaker 1: between years one and two and the guy has an 533 00:29:02,840 --> 00:29:05,320 Speaker 1: off season. Arthur Smith has brought this up a couple 534 00:29:05,320 --> 00:29:09,000 Speaker 1: of times where he says the growth between years three 535 00:29:09,040 --> 00:29:12,960 Speaker 1: and four, like what we're seeing with Chris Lindstrom, who 536 00:29:13,040 --> 00:29:16,719 Speaker 1: was already pretty good and now elite, that there's an 537 00:29:16,720 --> 00:29:20,280 Speaker 1: opportunity there. So when they're Kayleb mcghary in there too. Yes, 538 00:29:21,360 --> 00:29:25,120 Speaker 1: the Kayleb McGary that we are watching play this year 539 00:29:25,840 --> 00:29:29,640 Speaker 1: is head and shoulders above what he's been since he's 540 00:29:29,640 --> 00:29:32,920 Speaker 1: gotten to Atlanta. Yeah, and those types of things are 541 00:29:33,040 --> 00:29:38,520 Speaker 1: encouraging because he's he's not all that old anyway, right. So, 542 00:29:38,600 --> 00:29:41,360 Speaker 1: but so you you're looking across this roster and it 543 00:29:41,520 --> 00:29:43,960 Speaker 1: looked there's a lot of work to do. Yeah. And 544 00:29:44,680 --> 00:29:47,080 Speaker 1: this is not an excuse. I want to say that too, 545 00:29:47,400 --> 00:29:49,440 Speaker 1: just because I'm sitting here being like that there is 546 00:29:49,800 --> 00:29:52,240 Speaker 1: potential and hope for the future. That doesn't excuse the 547 00:29:52,240 --> 00:29:54,600 Speaker 1: fact that the Falcons are out of playoff contention and 548 00:29:54,600 --> 00:29:56,360 Speaker 1: they've lost as many games as they have this year. 549 00:29:56,480 --> 00:29:59,080 Speaker 1: This is not an excuse. No, But if we are 550 00:29:59,120 --> 00:30:02,400 Speaker 1: in evaluation mode now because there's nothing because we know 551 00:30:02,400 --> 00:30:06,040 Speaker 1: when the season's gonna end. Yeah, And I think that 552 00:30:06,640 --> 00:30:08,959 Speaker 1: those are some encouraging signs as you can as all 553 00:30:09,000 --> 00:30:10,920 Speaker 1: of a sudden you get the money and then you 554 00:30:11,000 --> 00:30:13,800 Speaker 1: have some more draft capital, and you look at what 555 00:30:13,880 --> 00:30:17,160 Speaker 1: you have and maybe your needs are lesser, or your 556 00:30:17,400 --> 00:30:20,320 Speaker 1: you can draft for depth. You know, all those types 557 00:30:20,320 --> 00:30:23,760 Speaker 1: of things I think are encouraging. We just hit the 558 00:30:23,760 --> 00:30:25,960 Speaker 1: thirty minute mark. We generally have a heart out at thirty. 559 00:30:26,000 --> 00:30:29,720 Speaker 1: We tried to anyway, So thank you, so much for 560 00:30:29,840 --> 00:30:32,560 Speaker 1: joining us on this episode of Falcons Finals, so please 561 00:30:32,600 --> 00:30:35,240 Speaker 1: do us a solid rate review, subscribe to the Falcons 562 00:30:35,280 --> 00:30:38,160 Speaker 1: podcast network. Hopefully, if you're listening to this on your 563 00:30:38,160 --> 00:30:41,760 Speaker 1: commute or your run, you've reached your final destination and 564 00:30:42,480 --> 00:30:48,040 Speaker 1: have a pleasant day. What a way to go. That's nice, 565 00:30:48,240 --> 00:30:51,560 Speaker 1: isn't it though? But you know I'm Scott for Tory 566 00:30:51,600 --> 00:30:55,320 Speaker 1: and Ashton. Thank you so much. The season finale, Falcons 567 00:30:55,320 --> 00:30:59,040 Speaker 1: Final Whistle is next week. Next week after the Falcons 568 00:30:59,040 --> 00:31:02,400 Speaker 1: play the Bucks here at Stadi's Ben's Stadium, we will 569 00:31:02,440 --> 00:31:06,360 Speaker 1: talk to you then. Thanks see you. What can I 570 00:31:06,480 --> 00:31:06,520 Speaker 1: do