1 00:00:08,480 --> 00:00:11,039 Speaker 1: What's up, everybody, and welcome to the latest edition of 2 00:00:11,080 --> 00:00:15,200 Speaker 1: the Falcons Final Whistle podcast, presented by Zaxby's for the 3 00:00:15,240 --> 00:00:18,599 Speaker 1: first time during the twenty twenty three regular season, we 4 00:00:18,680 --> 00:00:21,480 Speaker 1: come to you bearing bad news if you're a Falcons fan. 5 00:00:22,000 --> 00:00:26,040 Speaker 1: Atlanta lost a tough one up in Detroit. Twenty to 6 00:00:26,120 --> 00:00:29,720 Speaker 1: six was the final score. It was a pretty dominant performance, 7 00:00:29,840 --> 00:00:34,440 Speaker 1: especially from the Lions defense, and it of course brings 8 00:00:34,520 --> 00:00:37,159 Speaker 1: up some issues that the Falcons need to fix as 9 00:00:37,200 --> 00:00:39,400 Speaker 1: they move towards a week for a matchup with the 10 00:00:39,479 --> 00:00:43,200 Speaker 1: Jacksonville Jaguars in London and on throughout the regular season. 11 00:00:43,240 --> 00:00:45,640 Speaker 1: We're going to dive into all that. We're going to 12 00:00:45,680 --> 00:00:50,640 Speaker 1: break down this game and really nailed down exactly what 13 00:00:50,760 --> 00:00:54,520 Speaker 1: went wrong against the Lions and what kind of needs 14 00:00:54,560 --> 00:00:58,240 Speaker 1: to get fixed as the Falcons move forward, in addition 15 00:00:58,360 --> 00:01:01,760 Speaker 1: to identifying some that are both right and wrong with 16 00:01:01,800 --> 00:01:06,479 Speaker 1: this unit as it currently stands. The Jacksonville Jaguars lost 17 00:01:06,480 --> 00:01:09,040 Speaker 1: by twenty points to the Texans today. Believe it or not, 18 00:01:09,400 --> 00:01:13,000 Speaker 1: but they are no slouch. They will pose a tough opponent, 19 00:01:13,319 --> 00:01:16,000 Speaker 1: especially playing in London where they have a pretty large 20 00:01:16,000 --> 00:01:18,600 Speaker 1: fan base. Considering they play there at least once a year. 21 00:01:18,880 --> 00:01:21,480 Speaker 1: They're actually going to be there for two consecutive games, 22 00:01:22,000 --> 00:01:26,000 Speaker 1: starting with the Falcons clash in Week four. I feel 23 00:01:26,000 --> 00:01:29,679 Speaker 1: like I've been talking for a really long time now, Tory, 24 00:01:29,680 --> 00:01:33,000 Speaker 1: give me some takeaways. What went wrong and why? 25 00:01:33,520 --> 00:01:36,920 Speaker 2: Oh gosh, Well, first off, if we just want to 26 00:01:36,920 --> 00:01:39,160 Speaker 2: talk about Taylor Swift and Travis Kelcey for this. 27 00:01:39,240 --> 00:01:39,800 Speaker 1: Entire oh. 28 00:01:42,000 --> 00:01:44,760 Speaker 2: No, we just won't even talk about what happened in Detroit. 29 00:01:44,840 --> 00:01:45,440 Speaker 3: No, I'm kidding. 30 00:01:46,480 --> 00:01:51,200 Speaker 2: So I essentially Postgame wrote about this whole idea of 31 00:01:51,320 --> 00:01:55,200 Speaker 2: complimentary football, and this is something that has come up 32 00:01:55,240 --> 00:01:58,240 Speaker 2: with the Falcons, not just this year, but over the 33 00:01:58,280 --> 00:02:00,520 Speaker 2: course of I would say even the last couple leaders 34 00:02:00,560 --> 00:02:04,920 Speaker 2: of trying to find ways to play complimentary football where 35 00:02:05,000 --> 00:02:09,320 Speaker 2: every single unit is playing at optimal level. 36 00:02:09,520 --> 00:02:10,440 Speaker 1: Well, on. 37 00:02:11,840 --> 00:02:16,600 Speaker 2: Sunday, I didn't ever feel like there was any type 38 00:02:16,639 --> 00:02:19,800 Speaker 2: of complimentary football happening over the course of four quarters. 39 00:02:19,840 --> 00:02:24,480 Speaker 2: I mean, I think back to the third quarter in particular, 40 00:02:25,120 --> 00:02:29,400 Speaker 2: when the defense had four really key stops and at 41 00:02:29,440 --> 00:02:32,919 Speaker 2: the time it was thirteen to three, and I felt 42 00:02:32,919 --> 00:02:36,360 Speaker 2: like the defense kept coming up with stops and kept 43 00:02:36,360 --> 00:02:39,240 Speaker 2: giving the ball back to the offense to do something 44 00:02:39,320 --> 00:02:42,600 Speaker 2: to do anything, and every single time they did. I mean, 45 00:02:42,600 --> 00:02:46,320 Speaker 2: they never even got into the red zone until I 46 00:02:46,320 --> 00:02:48,560 Speaker 2: think five minutes and thirty seconds left to go in 47 00:02:48,600 --> 00:02:49,320 Speaker 2: the fourth quarter. 48 00:02:49,600 --> 00:02:52,000 Speaker 3: And that's just really hard to do. 49 00:02:52,960 --> 00:02:56,120 Speaker 2: And to keep up with once you're playing through all 50 00:02:56,160 --> 00:02:59,200 Speaker 2: four quarters if your offense is not moving the ball, 51 00:02:59,240 --> 00:03:00,680 Speaker 2: and you have to I mean, you do have to 52 00:03:00,680 --> 00:03:03,600 Speaker 2: give credit where credit is due with Detroit. But at 53 00:03:03,600 --> 00:03:05,840 Speaker 2: the exact same time, I wonder what it would have 54 00:03:05,880 --> 00:03:09,160 Speaker 2: looked like if all of Detroit's defensive starters were there, 55 00:03:09,520 --> 00:03:13,919 Speaker 2: because this was a depleted defense for Detroit that really 56 00:03:14,000 --> 00:03:17,560 Speaker 2: kind of enacted its will against this Falcon's offense and 57 00:03:17,760 --> 00:03:19,720 Speaker 2: kind of did what it wanted to. I mean, there 58 00:03:19,760 --> 00:03:23,480 Speaker 2: was hardly anything that was working for the Falcons offensively, 59 00:03:23,560 --> 00:03:26,639 Speaker 2: and I think that it was a really, really frustrating 60 00:03:26,720 --> 00:03:30,040 Speaker 2: game to watch. And I think it was also just 61 00:03:30,080 --> 00:03:31,880 Speaker 2: from talking to guys in the locker room, there were 62 00:03:31,880 --> 00:03:35,760 Speaker 2: obvious frustrations with the fact that they weren't able to 63 00:03:35,840 --> 00:03:37,840 Speaker 2: do what they have been able to do now for 64 00:03:37,880 --> 00:03:40,040 Speaker 2: almost a year and a half, which is run the ball. 65 00:03:40,400 --> 00:03:42,600 Speaker 3: The Lions took that away. 66 00:03:43,360 --> 00:03:47,560 Speaker 2: And it's just it was I think disheartening and frustrating. 67 00:03:47,600 --> 00:03:50,080 Speaker 2: Those are the words that I think kept coming up 68 00:03:50,080 --> 00:03:50,640 Speaker 2: when you're kind. 69 00:03:50,560 --> 00:03:51,120 Speaker 3: Of talking about this. 70 00:03:51,200 --> 00:03:55,520 Speaker 2: But it's like to go from a twenty to six 71 00:03:56,760 --> 00:03:59,480 Speaker 2: loss to now you're turning around and going to London. 72 00:03:59,520 --> 00:04:02,520 Speaker 3: I mean, this is a big swing for the Falcons. 73 00:04:02,560 --> 00:04:04,000 Speaker 2: I know we're going to talk about that later, but 74 00:04:04,200 --> 00:04:06,520 Speaker 2: just thinking about what the next two weeks could look like, 75 00:04:06,520 --> 00:04:10,120 Speaker 2: like this could this game if it if they don't 76 00:04:10,200 --> 00:04:13,360 Speaker 2: bide it in the bud right now this week, it 77 00:04:13,360 --> 00:04:16,200 Speaker 2: could carry over into next week and even the week 78 00:04:16,240 --> 00:04:18,280 Speaker 2: after next. 79 00:04:17,839 --> 00:04:20,280 Speaker 1: Par And let's uh, let's let's dive a little bit 80 00:04:20,320 --> 00:04:24,680 Speaker 1: deeper into the Falcons offensive struggles. We talked to h 81 00:04:25,440 --> 00:04:28,960 Speaker 1: right guard Chris Linstrom after the game quarterback Desmond Ridder 82 00:04:29,680 --> 00:04:32,600 Speaker 1: about kind of why they couldn't find a rhythm in 83 00:04:32,640 --> 00:04:35,840 Speaker 1: the in the offensive part of the game, especially in 84 00:04:35,920 --> 00:04:39,040 Speaker 1: the passing game. What did they tell you, Well, when. 85 00:04:38,960 --> 00:04:41,479 Speaker 4: It came to the why behind why they couldn't find 86 00:04:41,560 --> 00:04:43,680 Speaker 4: a rhythm, they kept saying they haven't seen the film yet. 87 00:04:43,680 --> 00:04:44,480 Speaker 1: Loco back to that. 88 00:04:44,920 --> 00:04:49,080 Speaker 4: But what was interesting was when bringing up the seven sacks, 89 00:04:49,600 --> 00:04:54,560 Speaker 4: everyone kind of took the blame themselves. Desmond Ridder blamed 90 00:04:54,640 --> 00:05:00,440 Speaker 4: himself the offensive line blamed itself, even like the wide 91 00:05:00,440 --> 00:05:03,480 Speaker 4: receiver of Drake London was over here saying, it's not 92 00:05:03,600 --> 00:05:06,039 Speaker 4: anyone's fault, like everyone's got to do their own job. 93 00:05:06,160 --> 00:05:09,240 Speaker 4: So it's kind of everyone taking responsibility, which I think 94 00:05:09,279 --> 00:05:11,960 Speaker 4: is a good thing. But at the same time, that 95 00:05:12,000 --> 00:05:14,240 Speaker 4: means the entire offense needs to fix a little bit. 96 00:05:14,560 --> 00:05:16,440 Speaker 4: And going off of like what Toy was saying, how 97 00:05:16,440 --> 00:05:19,720 Speaker 4: the offense never really found its rhythm or identity in general. 98 00:05:20,080 --> 00:05:23,000 Speaker 4: I was looking at the Lion's transcript. Obviously we weren't 99 00:05:23,000 --> 00:05:26,560 Speaker 4: in their locker room, but defensive lineman Aiden Hutchinson, who 100 00:05:26,680 --> 00:05:30,320 Speaker 4: had two sacks of his own, was quoted saying about 101 00:05:30,360 --> 00:05:32,520 Speaker 4: the Falcons, I thought they were going to get back 102 00:05:32,560 --> 00:05:34,599 Speaker 4: to it as in the run game, and they didn't, 103 00:05:34,640 --> 00:05:35,760 Speaker 4: So I don't know. I thought we did a good 104 00:05:35,839 --> 00:05:37,359 Speaker 4: job of stopping the runs that we got, but it 105 00:05:37,400 --> 00:05:38,600 Speaker 4: was not the game I. 106 00:05:38,560 --> 00:05:39,320 Speaker 3: Expected it to be. 107 00:05:39,640 --> 00:05:42,880 Speaker 4: And I think that can be said by all of us, 108 00:05:43,160 --> 00:05:45,960 Speaker 4: not just mister Hutchinson over here in the other locker room. 109 00:05:46,200 --> 00:05:48,359 Speaker 3: But they didn't run it. 110 00:05:48,360 --> 00:05:52,520 Speaker 4: They had forty four yards rushing. That is, it's back 111 00:05:52,560 --> 00:05:55,120 Speaker 4: to being skewed rather than a balance offensive attack. 112 00:05:56,160 --> 00:06:00,000 Speaker 1: Yeah, and when you look at their rushing production especially, 113 00:06:00,720 --> 00:06:03,039 Speaker 1: I can think back to so many games. I know 114 00:06:03,080 --> 00:06:06,520 Speaker 1: each year is different, but there have been instances even 115 00:06:06,600 --> 00:06:09,560 Speaker 1: in the first two weeks where passing games not clicking. 116 00:06:09,839 --> 00:06:11,800 Speaker 1: What's art they gonna do. He's gonna run like seven 117 00:06:11,960 --> 00:06:14,920 Speaker 1: straight times with Algier and Robinson and get the offense 118 00:06:15,000 --> 00:06:18,000 Speaker 1: back on track, or if the passing game isn't really working, 119 00:06:18,320 --> 00:06:21,520 Speaker 1: they can rely on the run to get going. The 120 00:06:21,560 --> 00:06:25,760 Speaker 1: one thing that I did notice was that rushing to 121 00:06:25,839 --> 00:06:29,919 Speaker 1: the outside was tough sledding. I'm gonna give Brian Branch 122 00:06:29,960 --> 00:06:32,880 Speaker 1: a lot of kudos. He was everywhere today. I thought 123 00:06:32,920 --> 00:06:37,000 Speaker 1: the defensive interior was good, but with Robinson getting to 124 00:06:37,040 --> 00:06:39,680 Speaker 1: the edge or Tyler Algier being able to work his 125 00:06:39,760 --> 00:06:42,440 Speaker 1: way into the second level, we just didn't see that 126 00:06:42,640 --> 00:06:45,320 Speaker 1: very much. When when you look at a Falcons offense, 127 00:06:45,360 --> 00:06:48,520 Speaker 1: which say what you want about the pass protection, especially 128 00:06:48,760 --> 00:06:51,880 Speaker 1: against the Lions, but they are a consistently good run 129 00:06:51,920 --> 00:06:55,160 Speaker 1: blocking line and they have two very talented backs, and 130 00:06:55,200 --> 00:06:58,640 Speaker 1: you look at it in two point two yards per carry, 131 00:06:59,360 --> 00:07:02,720 Speaker 1: it does put you behind. I just saw consistently when 132 00:07:02,760 --> 00:07:06,400 Speaker 1: they were trying to work the ball horizontally, either by 133 00:07:06,480 --> 00:07:10,600 Speaker 1: passing or by getting to the edge first and turning 134 00:07:10,600 --> 00:07:14,040 Speaker 1: the ball upfield. That was denied time and time again. 135 00:07:14,160 --> 00:07:17,880 Speaker 1: And it really put pressure on the passing game. And 136 00:07:18,040 --> 00:07:21,040 Speaker 1: maybe I don't exposed as a bad term, but it 137 00:07:21,200 --> 00:07:25,320 Speaker 1: really kind of forced the passing game to beat you 138 00:07:25,600 --> 00:07:28,960 Speaker 1: and that didn't happen, and that wasn't I mean, if 139 00:07:28,960 --> 00:07:31,880 Speaker 1: you look at the completion percentage at fifty five percent 140 00:07:32,600 --> 00:07:36,160 Speaker 1: yards per attempt five point three, Jared Goffitt seven point four, 141 00:07:36,280 --> 00:07:39,960 Speaker 1: it was as much as ten in the second quarter 142 00:07:40,720 --> 00:07:44,040 Speaker 1: before the Falcons pass rush really got going. So yeah, 143 00:07:44,120 --> 00:07:46,480 Speaker 1: there was there wasn't much that was going right. But 144 00:07:46,560 --> 00:07:48,920 Speaker 1: normally when things don't go right, you can fall back 145 00:07:48,920 --> 00:07:52,960 Speaker 1: on the ground game. That wasn't the case today. 146 00:07:53,960 --> 00:07:57,160 Speaker 4: I was doing some research for my sidebar, well more 147 00:07:57,160 --> 00:07:59,520 Speaker 4: so for Falcons takeoff because in the moment, the sidebar 148 00:07:59,560 --> 00:08:02,760 Speaker 4: was just sc I'm blanked to get done, but per 149 00:08:02,840 --> 00:08:08,000 Speaker 4: usual post game, but seven sacks was a single game 150 00:08:08,160 --> 00:08:10,680 Speaker 4: high through week two. I don't know if this is 151 00:08:10,760 --> 00:08:14,720 Speaker 4: a silver lining, but Sam Howell of the Commanders today 152 00:08:14,800 --> 00:08:17,840 Speaker 4: was sacked nine times by the Buffalo Bills. 153 00:08:18,800 --> 00:08:23,080 Speaker 1: That seems like a lot, and that's a high. Yeah, 154 00:08:23,080 --> 00:08:27,120 Speaker 1: And I still think seven is a ton what two 155 00:08:27,200 --> 00:08:33,360 Speaker 1: came back to back? Overall, though, when you have a 156 00:08:33,400 --> 00:08:37,280 Speaker 1: performance like this, there's a natural question from the media, like, 157 00:08:37,679 --> 00:08:39,840 Speaker 1: you know, do you still have confidence in Desmond Ritter? 158 00:08:40,559 --> 00:08:43,960 Speaker 1: Arthur Smith said, yeah, it's still very high. He still 159 00:08:44,080 --> 00:08:48,480 Speaker 1: keeps us in games, is it? I don't know, this 160 00:08:48,520 --> 00:08:51,480 Speaker 1: may be a weird question, but how do we evaluate Desmond? 161 00:08:51,480 --> 00:08:53,160 Speaker 1: Obviously we need to see the tape, and all three 162 00:08:53,200 --> 00:08:55,320 Speaker 1: of us just got done traveling or getting back to 163 00:08:55,360 --> 00:08:59,520 Speaker 1: a hotel, so we haven't gone over any tape either. 164 00:08:59,600 --> 00:09:03,720 Speaker 1: But an impressions of how you evaluate Desmond Ridder with 165 00:09:04,280 --> 00:09:07,760 Speaker 1: the having to add in that pass protection wasn't always great, 166 00:09:08,080 --> 00:09:10,360 Speaker 1: adding in that he didn't have a run game or 167 00:09:10,400 --> 00:09:13,480 Speaker 1: maybe a good play action passing game to fall back on, 168 00:09:13,640 --> 00:09:15,319 Speaker 1: how do you look at this in terms of how 169 00:09:15,400 --> 00:09:18,920 Speaker 1: number four operated over the course of this one. 170 00:09:19,240 --> 00:09:23,200 Speaker 2: I think that you can't just put this on Desmond 171 00:09:23,280 --> 00:09:24,160 Speaker 2: Ridder's shoulders. 172 00:09:24,480 --> 00:09:25,240 Speaker 3: I don't think that. 173 00:09:25,440 --> 00:09:29,640 Speaker 2: I think this was a failure of the entire offense 174 00:09:31,040 --> 00:09:33,760 Speaker 2: and I don't think this is just on Dez And 175 00:09:34,520 --> 00:09:37,480 Speaker 2: you know, did are there plays that Desmond Ridder would 176 00:09:37,559 --> 00:09:41,240 Speaker 2: want back? Absolutely, he missed a wide open coalpits. That 177 00:09:41,800 --> 00:09:45,480 Speaker 2: was if it wasn't gonna score a touchdown, it'll we 178 00:09:45,559 --> 00:09:46,640 Speaker 2: definitely know it would. 179 00:09:46,400 --> 00:09:47,200 Speaker 3: Have flipped the field. 180 00:09:47,920 --> 00:09:49,760 Speaker 2: There are a couple of misses that he had, But 181 00:09:50,520 --> 00:09:52,880 Speaker 2: I think I even go back to what Arthur Smith 182 00:09:53,000 --> 00:09:55,600 Speaker 2: was saying after the game when he was asked about 183 00:09:55,600 --> 00:09:58,520 Speaker 2: the seven sacks, and he even made a comment where 184 00:09:58,520 --> 00:10:02,040 Speaker 2: he was like, you know, there were times where we 185 00:10:02,080 --> 00:10:05,120 Speaker 2: couldn't even get the play set up because Desmond was 186 00:10:05,160 --> 00:10:10,200 Speaker 2: already under pressure. That's a problem in past protection not 187 00:10:10,320 --> 00:10:12,880 Speaker 2: being able to run the ball, Like, there's a lot 188 00:10:12,920 --> 00:10:15,080 Speaker 2: of factors that go into not being able to run 189 00:10:15,120 --> 00:10:18,439 Speaker 2: the ball and not having that to supplement what Desmond 190 00:10:18,480 --> 00:10:20,920 Speaker 2: Ridder could do in the past game. When you can't 191 00:10:21,000 --> 00:10:23,760 Speaker 2: run the ball, it just makes everything so much harder 192 00:10:24,280 --> 00:10:28,520 Speaker 2: on your quarterback because those rushing lanes are just bogged up. 193 00:10:28,559 --> 00:10:30,200 Speaker 2: So now you're having to go to the past and 194 00:10:30,240 --> 00:10:33,280 Speaker 2: it's just not It wasn't working for them, and he 195 00:10:33,400 --> 00:10:36,200 Speaker 2: was under a lot of pressure. And so I in 196 00:10:36,280 --> 00:10:38,880 Speaker 2: terms of to answer your question in terms of like 197 00:10:39,320 --> 00:10:42,240 Speaker 2: evaluating Desmond Ridder, I think it would be unfair to 198 00:10:42,280 --> 00:10:45,640 Speaker 2: put this entire loss on him and to completely rethink 199 00:10:46,080 --> 00:10:49,160 Speaker 2: what the Falcons have in him. I think that this 200 00:10:49,320 --> 00:10:52,400 Speaker 2: is still I'll give him the benefit of the doubt 201 00:10:52,400 --> 00:10:54,079 Speaker 2: because I do think he is still. 202 00:10:53,840 --> 00:10:55,920 Speaker 3: Young and I do think that he is still learning. 203 00:10:56,280 --> 00:10:57,640 Speaker 2: Even when we were in the locker room, I was 204 00:10:57,640 --> 00:10:59,760 Speaker 2: talking to Jean Robinson and he even made the comment 205 00:10:59,800 --> 00:11:02,319 Speaker 2: that you know, we're still all learning how to play 206 00:11:02,360 --> 00:11:05,040 Speaker 2: with each other. And I think that goes to Desmond 207 00:11:05,080 --> 00:11:08,240 Speaker 2: Ridder too, and so I think, like, you have to 208 00:11:08,400 --> 00:11:11,360 Speaker 2: take this and this is also something that Vajon was 209 00:11:11,360 --> 00:11:13,640 Speaker 2: talking about, who's like, you know, you take this for 210 00:11:13,720 --> 00:11:15,280 Speaker 2: what it was and you make sure that it's not 211 00:11:15,360 --> 00:11:19,000 Speaker 2: a setback. And I think like that's how Desmond Ridder 212 00:11:19,080 --> 00:11:22,400 Speaker 2: has to look at this, and also the people evaluating 213 00:11:22,440 --> 00:11:24,640 Speaker 2: Desmond Ridder, It's like, where does he go from here? 214 00:11:24,880 --> 00:11:27,120 Speaker 2: Is this a moment that becomes a setback for him? 215 00:11:27,200 --> 00:11:29,719 Speaker 2: Or is this or is this something that he can 216 00:11:29,720 --> 00:11:32,719 Speaker 2: turn a page and this offense can click better than 217 00:11:32,720 --> 00:11:34,720 Speaker 2: they have in the first three games, because, like what 218 00:11:34,800 --> 00:11:38,000 Speaker 2: he said postgame, the Falcons have not put four full 219 00:11:38,080 --> 00:11:42,800 Speaker 2: quarters of team play together, and that's offensively, defensively and 220 00:11:42,920 --> 00:11:45,520 Speaker 2: special teams. We have not seen I think a quote 221 00:11:45,600 --> 00:11:47,120 Speaker 2: unquote complete. 222 00:11:46,640 --> 00:11:50,199 Speaker 3: Game where the mistakes of. 223 00:11:50,200 --> 00:11:53,559 Speaker 2: One unit are not just completely outweighing the other, if 224 00:11:53,559 --> 00:11:54,240 Speaker 2: that makes sense. 225 00:11:55,280 --> 00:11:57,760 Speaker 4: I think a big thing too, is you didn't see 226 00:11:57,960 --> 00:12:01,640 Speaker 4: Desmond Ridder get all that fluster, which was something everyone 227 00:12:01,720 --> 00:12:03,400 Speaker 4: I talked to in the locker room. And I'm sure, 228 00:12:03,480 --> 00:12:07,280 Speaker 4: but Jean Robinson said to you, Tory at least noted 229 00:12:07,720 --> 00:12:11,280 Speaker 4: like Drake London said when he got up. We should 230 00:12:11,280 --> 00:12:14,200 Speaker 4: be getting up. It shouldn't be just Desmond putting the 231 00:12:14,240 --> 00:12:17,559 Speaker 4: team on his back like it's a full team effort. 232 00:12:17,640 --> 00:12:21,440 Speaker 4: And like you said, it wasn't all clicking together. So 233 00:12:22,320 --> 00:12:24,120 Speaker 4: that's really what needs to be figured out. But I 234 00:12:24,160 --> 00:12:29,200 Speaker 4: don't think it can. It's too soon to decide whether 235 00:12:29,280 --> 00:12:33,280 Speaker 4: or not Desmond is in the wrong or right. In general, 236 00:12:33,559 --> 00:12:35,520 Speaker 4: I mean, people forget that this is only what game 237 00:12:35,640 --> 00:12:37,840 Speaker 4: seven for him in his career. I don't know why 238 00:12:37,880 --> 00:12:40,079 Speaker 4: he seems so much older, so much more experienced. 239 00:12:40,440 --> 00:12:44,199 Speaker 1: But maybe I'm just getting old. Sorry Scott, but. 240 00:12:45,720 --> 00:12:48,559 Speaker 4: I don't know. Desmond Riders seems older than just seven 241 00:12:48,559 --> 00:12:49,560 Speaker 4: games into his career. 242 00:12:50,280 --> 00:12:53,520 Speaker 1: Yeah, I mean, and there's some The NFL is a 243 00:12:53,559 --> 00:12:56,480 Speaker 1: weird you know, the whole week to week to week 244 00:12:56,600 --> 00:13:00,000 Speaker 1: matchups league. That's true. I mean I'm just standing here 245 00:13:00,080 --> 00:13:04,160 Speaker 1: looking at the standing I'm just looking at the NFO scoreboard. 246 00:13:05,280 --> 00:13:10,239 Speaker 1: The Jags lost to the Textans by twenty. The Cowboys, 247 00:13:10,280 --> 00:13:12,679 Speaker 1: which are on top of the world, lost to Arizona 248 00:13:12,760 --> 00:13:15,760 Speaker 1: by twelve. Chicago, I'm not sure if they were ever 249 00:13:15,800 --> 00:13:18,360 Speaker 1: in Kansas City today, even though the score line says 250 00:13:18,360 --> 00:13:22,400 Speaker 1: that there was. And the Dolphins scored seventy seven zero 251 00:13:23,080 --> 00:13:26,440 Speaker 1: seven zero. So strange things happen, and I and so 252 00:13:26,880 --> 00:13:29,000 Speaker 1: you have to look at it right as kind of 253 00:13:29,040 --> 00:13:32,040 Speaker 1: like a week two week situation. And look, the score 254 00:13:32,200 --> 00:13:36,680 Speaker 1: wasn't good. We're not trying to you know, you know, 255 00:13:36,960 --> 00:13:38,960 Speaker 1: mine gold in a sewer here. 256 00:13:39,160 --> 00:13:41,280 Speaker 3: Yeah, we're not trying to make excuses either. 257 00:13:41,400 --> 00:13:44,440 Speaker 1: No. No. And the reason why I say that is 258 00:13:44,480 --> 00:13:46,560 Speaker 1: that when you look at what this defense was able 259 00:13:46,600 --> 00:13:49,199 Speaker 1: to do, right, they allowed twenty nine percent of their 260 00:13:50,400 --> 00:13:54,160 Speaker 1: third down conversions or I phrased that weird. The Lions 261 00:13:54,200 --> 00:13:58,520 Speaker 1: converted four of fourteen times on third down. They were 262 00:13:58,559 --> 00:14:01,600 Speaker 1: one for four in the red zone. They got to 263 00:14:01,679 --> 00:14:05,760 Speaker 1: take away They average four less than four yards per 264 00:14:05,840 --> 00:14:07,680 Speaker 1: rushing attempt. 265 00:14:07,120 --> 00:14:09,560 Speaker 3: Which is better than what it's been the first two games. 266 00:14:09,760 --> 00:14:15,960 Speaker 1: Right, And it was a defensive performance that set up 267 00:14:16,000 --> 00:14:18,920 Speaker 1: the possibility of victory. I think that's fair to say. 268 00:14:19,040 --> 00:14:22,320 Speaker 1: There was an explosive early in the game, I believe, 269 00:14:22,360 --> 00:14:26,400 Speaker 1: a forty five yard touchdown which looked like I mean, 270 00:14:26,400 --> 00:14:28,600 Speaker 1: I'm not a football expert, but that looked like a 271 00:14:28,640 --> 00:14:30,960 Speaker 1: bust of coverage to me. No one should be that open. 272 00:14:31,240 --> 00:14:33,600 Speaker 1: But outside of that that, I thought that they were 273 00:14:33,600 --> 00:14:36,320 Speaker 1: pretty solid. Now this isn't saying that they were perfect. 274 00:14:36,320 --> 00:14:38,400 Speaker 1: This isn't saying it's all on the offense. But I 275 00:14:38,400 --> 00:14:41,440 Speaker 1: think that when you look at those numbers and what 276 00:14:41,480 --> 00:14:45,080 Speaker 1: the Falcons were able to do, I think those things 277 00:14:45,120 --> 00:14:49,000 Speaker 1: are positives, right. But I think you saw that when 278 00:14:49,120 --> 00:14:54,360 Speaker 1: Jared Goff was flustered, things didn't go all that well 279 00:14:54,400 --> 00:14:54,760 Speaker 1: for him. 280 00:14:55,040 --> 00:14:58,840 Speaker 2: Yeah, you look at what he was able to do 281 00:14:58,920 --> 00:15:01,200 Speaker 2: in the first half. I believe he had one hundred 282 00:15:01,200 --> 00:15:06,520 Speaker 2: and eighty eight passing yards and was averaging I think 283 00:15:06,600 --> 00:15:10,800 Speaker 2: at halftime was averaging nine yards of completion, which is 284 00:15:11,240 --> 00:15:15,400 Speaker 2: pretty significant, especially when you put that with one hundred 285 00:15:15,400 --> 00:15:19,600 Speaker 2: and eighty eight passing yards. But you did see this 286 00:15:19,840 --> 00:15:24,760 Speaker 2: defense come out of halftime and have a better game 287 00:15:24,800 --> 00:15:27,440 Speaker 2: plan that was working, and I think it just goes 288 00:15:27,480 --> 00:15:30,440 Speaker 2: to show how much this defense I feel like week 289 00:15:30,480 --> 00:15:33,360 Speaker 2: in and week out, we have seen them kind of 290 00:15:33,520 --> 00:15:36,400 Speaker 2: have a misstep early, but then they turn it on 291 00:15:36,600 --> 00:15:38,880 Speaker 2: in the second half. He saw it against Carolina. I 292 00:15:38,880 --> 00:15:41,360 Speaker 2: think you also saw it against Green Bay. And they 293 00:15:41,440 --> 00:15:44,280 Speaker 2: show up in the moments when it matters most. They 294 00:15:44,280 --> 00:15:46,520 Speaker 2: may have a mess up here or there, like what 295 00:15:46,520 --> 00:15:49,840 Speaker 2: we're talking about the potential busted coverage with that forty 296 00:15:49,840 --> 00:15:54,240 Speaker 2: five touchdown pass, but they rectified it and I think 297 00:15:54,240 --> 00:15:55,160 Speaker 2: by the end of the game. 298 00:15:55,280 --> 00:15:56,560 Speaker 3: No, they didn't sack. 299 00:15:56,720 --> 00:15:59,480 Speaker 2: Jared Goff, which you would love for them to have, 300 00:15:59,640 --> 00:16:02,000 Speaker 2: you know, four sacks or something like close to. 301 00:16:02,000 --> 00:16:04,560 Speaker 3: That, but they at least one. At least one. 302 00:16:04,680 --> 00:16:07,560 Speaker 2: They didn't have any, but they did and that was 303 00:16:07,560 --> 00:16:08,520 Speaker 2: something that Arthur Since said. 304 00:16:08,560 --> 00:16:09,680 Speaker 3: He was like, we were. 305 00:16:09,640 --> 00:16:13,200 Speaker 2: Getting to him, we were applying more pressure, and I 306 00:16:13,200 --> 00:16:15,440 Speaker 2: think by the end of the game they actually ended 307 00:16:15,520 --> 00:16:18,440 Speaker 2: up having nine or ten quarterback hits, and I do 308 00:16:18,520 --> 00:16:19,960 Speaker 2: think a majority of them came in. 309 00:16:19,920 --> 00:16:22,040 Speaker 3: The second half. So you saw them make adjustments. 310 00:16:22,080 --> 00:16:25,240 Speaker 2: You saw them be better coming out of halftime, and 311 00:16:25,280 --> 00:16:28,200 Speaker 2: they did. I mean, they gave this offense chance after 312 00:16:28,320 --> 00:16:29,760 Speaker 2: chance to go put. 313 00:16:29,640 --> 00:16:30,680 Speaker 3: Points on the board. 314 00:16:30,760 --> 00:16:33,880 Speaker 2: And I'm not saying that that's it's Again, we're not 315 00:16:33,920 --> 00:16:36,000 Speaker 2: saying that this is so this loss is solely on 316 00:16:36,040 --> 00:16:38,720 Speaker 2: the offense or anything like that, but you just got 317 00:16:38,760 --> 00:16:39,760 Speaker 2: to take it for what it was. 318 00:16:39,880 --> 00:16:42,520 Speaker 3: And I do think that the defense gave them a chance. 319 00:16:43,120 --> 00:16:46,080 Speaker 4: Hello Jesse Bates again, he said, hold my water bottle, 320 00:16:46,160 --> 00:16:47,120 Speaker 4: I'm going to handle this. 321 00:16:47,800 --> 00:16:48,280 Speaker 3: Yeah. 322 00:16:48,320 --> 00:16:51,160 Speaker 4: With another interception, his third in as many games. 323 00:16:52,160 --> 00:16:53,920 Speaker 1: It kind of blows my mind. As I'm looking at 324 00:16:53,960 --> 00:16:58,520 Speaker 1: the final individual stats, the Lions completed passes to only 325 00:16:58,640 --> 00:17:01,840 Speaker 1: four guys and jam Gibbs only had one catch, So 326 00:17:01,920 --> 00:17:05,040 Speaker 1: a lot of this was done by Saint Brown and 327 00:17:06,400 --> 00:17:10,480 Speaker 1: Iowa rookie tight end Sam Laporta, who was big in 328 00:17:10,520 --> 00:17:14,800 Speaker 1: the first half, especially with just a bunch of receptions. 329 00:17:15,880 --> 00:17:18,320 Speaker 4: So had that big forty five yarder. So that's where 330 00:17:18,320 --> 00:17:19,800 Speaker 4: most of his yards come from. Anyways. 331 00:17:20,000 --> 00:17:22,560 Speaker 1: Yeah, right, Yeah, So I think when you're like, when 332 00:17:22,560 --> 00:17:24,520 Speaker 1: you're looking at this defense, look, they're going to tell 333 00:17:24,520 --> 00:17:26,200 Speaker 1: you that they need to take the ball away more 334 00:17:26,200 --> 00:17:29,040 Speaker 1: than once and that they need to be more consistent. 335 00:17:29,200 --> 00:17:33,760 Speaker 1: And I agree with that. But overall, when you look 336 00:17:33,800 --> 00:17:37,240 Speaker 1: at what the issues kind of are, and I was 337 00:17:37,280 --> 00:17:41,679 Speaker 1: trying to look at from a three week perspective, the 338 00:17:41,720 --> 00:17:44,840 Speaker 1: inconsistency kind of on both sides of the ball. Tory 339 00:17:45,280 --> 00:17:49,000 Speaker 1: I believe, had mentioned that they have kind of like 340 00:17:49,040 --> 00:17:52,520 Speaker 1: a gaff or a slip up early, and that seems 341 00:17:52,520 --> 00:17:54,480 Speaker 1: to be the case, and they do seem to lock down. 342 00:17:54,560 --> 00:17:57,760 Speaker 1: I think the Falcons have generally been pretty good towards 343 00:17:57,800 --> 00:18:02,000 Speaker 1: the end of half and obviously at the end of games, 344 00:18:01,600 --> 00:18:06,720 Speaker 1: even offensively, and I think that those things are are good. 345 00:18:06,760 --> 00:18:08,880 Speaker 1: But it goes back to that trying to put four 346 00:18:08,960 --> 00:18:10,760 Speaker 1: quarters together. Now, that doesn't mean that you're not going 347 00:18:10,840 --> 00:18:12,560 Speaker 1: to give up a touchdown. It doesn't mean that you're 348 00:18:12,600 --> 00:18:14,879 Speaker 1: not going to go three and out on offense. It 349 00:18:15,000 --> 00:18:17,640 Speaker 1: just means that you can't have these prolonged lulls where 350 00:18:17,680 --> 00:18:22,600 Speaker 1: you're going three and out a significant amount of time. 351 00:18:22,680 --> 00:18:24,480 Speaker 1: And of course you can say, all right, well the 352 00:18:24,560 --> 00:18:27,680 Speaker 1: Jags just lost to Houston, but I still got Trevor 353 00:18:27,720 --> 00:18:31,440 Speaker 1: Lawrence and old friend Calvin Ridley and a bunch of 354 00:18:31,440 --> 00:18:33,919 Speaker 1: offensive weapons and they can play well on defense. And 355 00:18:33,960 --> 00:18:37,240 Speaker 1: this is and this is another team that doesn't want 356 00:18:37,240 --> 00:18:39,199 Speaker 1: to lose two in a row, just like the like 357 00:18:39,240 --> 00:18:42,280 Speaker 1: the like Falcons don't. So I think when like when 358 00:18:42,320 --> 00:18:45,840 Speaker 1: you look at what kind of needs to get fixed. 359 00:18:45,880 --> 00:18:48,720 Speaker 1: And that's maybe too general of a term, but I 360 00:18:48,760 --> 00:18:52,679 Speaker 1: think that they need to make accelerated progress in the 361 00:18:52,720 --> 00:18:54,199 Speaker 1: passing game. They don't have a lot of time to 362 00:18:54,240 --> 00:18:57,000 Speaker 1: do it. They get back on an airplane Thursday night 363 00:18:57,080 --> 00:19:01,080 Speaker 1: to go to London. So anybody I think too. 364 00:19:02,480 --> 00:19:04,840 Speaker 2: What I was gonna say too, just to add to that, 365 00:19:05,040 --> 00:19:07,480 Speaker 2: is that, like I've said this I think on the 366 00:19:07,520 --> 00:19:12,840 Speaker 2: podcast before, but a complete game does not equal a 367 00:19:12,880 --> 00:19:15,720 Speaker 2: perfect game. There is no such thing as a perfect game, 368 00:19:15,760 --> 00:19:17,760 Speaker 2: but there is such thing as a complete game, in 369 00:19:17,800 --> 00:19:21,160 Speaker 2: my opinion, and the Falcons need to be more complete, 370 00:19:21,480 --> 00:19:24,359 Speaker 2: and I think if they are, I think something that 371 00:19:24,400 --> 00:19:27,440 Speaker 2: we've talked about. It's something that's been a theme over 372 00:19:27,480 --> 00:19:31,119 Speaker 2: the first three weeks of the season, and having slip 373 00:19:31,160 --> 00:19:34,520 Speaker 2: ups and having moments where things kind of are off kilter. 374 00:19:34,960 --> 00:19:37,600 Speaker 2: Your offense isn't in a rhythm, your defense is giving 375 00:19:37,720 --> 00:19:41,440 Speaker 2: up maybe some more explosive plays or some defensive past 376 00:19:41,520 --> 00:19:46,000 Speaker 2: interferences like what we saw against green Bay. Even when 377 00:19:46,040 --> 00:19:50,040 Speaker 2: those things were happening against Carolina and against green Bay, 378 00:19:50,680 --> 00:19:53,880 Speaker 2: they were able to counteract that when they did start 379 00:19:53,920 --> 00:19:58,480 Speaker 2: chugging along and playing better against Detroit, Detroit kind of 380 00:19:58,520 --> 00:20:01,720 Speaker 2: took advantage of of the Falcons in the moments where 381 00:20:01,720 --> 00:20:05,720 Speaker 2: they were not firing on all cylinders and weren't. 382 00:20:05,480 --> 00:20:06,680 Speaker 3: Able to get things going. 383 00:20:06,720 --> 00:20:09,040 Speaker 2: They never got to the point where they turned a 384 00:20:09,119 --> 00:20:13,280 Speaker 2: corner like what we saw against Carolina and Green Bay. 385 00:20:13,400 --> 00:20:15,840 Speaker 2: And so I think, like you want to if the 386 00:20:15,880 --> 00:20:19,879 Speaker 2: Falcons are gonna have a slow start in London, it 387 00:20:19,960 --> 00:20:22,640 Speaker 2: needs to look more like Carolina and Green Bay, where 388 00:20:22,640 --> 00:20:26,040 Speaker 2: there was an obvious shift in a corner turn where 389 00:20:26,040 --> 00:20:29,439 Speaker 2: things started clicking. There was never a point on Sunday 390 00:20:29,480 --> 00:20:32,600 Speaker 2: against Detroit where I felt like things were clicking, especially 391 00:20:32,680 --> 00:20:33,440 Speaker 2: for this offense. 392 00:20:34,320 --> 00:20:38,679 Speaker 1: I'm just looking at this possession chart, and the Falcons 393 00:20:38,720 --> 00:20:43,600 Speaker 1: started beyond their own twenty five twice. Once they started 394 00:20:43,600 --> 00:20:45,920 Speaker 1: at their own thirty five, which isn't a whole lot better. 395 00:20:46,000 --> 00:20:50,520 Speaker 1: And then on the next drive, Jesse Bates interception set 396 00:20:50,560 --> 00:20:54,760 Speaker 1: them up in Lion's territory. That's it. The Alliance started 397 00:20:55,040 --> 00:20:59,080 Speaker 1: beyond the twenty five five times. So when your offense 398 00:20:59,160 --> 00:21:01,720 Speaker 1: is kind of struggling and you think about the weapons 399 00:21:01,760 --> 00:21:05,119 Speaker 1: that the Falcons have and look like Bradley Pinion can't 400 00:21:05,480 --> 00:21:09,280 Speaker 1: punt it seventy five yards, but special teams never the 401 00:21:09,359 --> 00:21:12,639 Speaker 1: offense didn't get in a rhythm to give Pinion a 402 00:21:12,720 --> 00:21:15,440 Speaker 1: chance to truly flip the field. We saw Young Waykup 403 00:21:16,160 --> 00:21:19,159 Speaker 1: miss a field goal, which is odd. Now we're not 404 00:21:19,240 --> 00:21:21,439 Speaker 1: blaming that on losses. The reason why I bring up 405 00:21:21,480 --> 00:21:23,560 Speaker 1: special teams here, and I'm sure that Markus Williams would 406 00:21:23,560 --> 00:21:25,600 Speaker 1: say the same thing, is that this is a three 407 00:21:25,760 --> 00:21:30,960 Speaker 1: phase issue and all three phases definitely have to be 408 00:21:31,040 --> 00:21:34,679 Speaker 1: better moving forward. But just being able to sustain drives 409 00:21:34,720 --> 00:21:37,880 Speaker 1: and things like that basics, which goes back to run 410 00:21:37,960 --> 00:21:41,800 Speaker 1: in the football. And if there's one thing I'm certain 411 00:21:41,840 --> 00:21:45,560 Speaker 1: of after watching the Falcons for three weeks is that 412 00:21:45,600 --> 00:21:50,000 Speaker 1: their lack of rushing production. I'm willing to go ahead 413 00:21:50,040 --> 00:21:52,080 Speaker 1: and reach out on a not so bold prediction and 414 00:21:52,080 --> 00:21:55,119 Speaker 1: say that the rushing production against the Lions was an 415 00:21:55,160 --> 00:21:57,280 Speaker 1: aberration compared to what they're going to be able to 416 00:21:57,320 --> 00:22:00,040 Speaker 1: do over a longer term. But that does need to 417 00:22:00,080 --> 00:22:03,320 Speaker 1: get right, uh pretty quickly. 418 00:22:04,400 --> 00:22:06,359 Speaker 4: I feel like we just went full circle with the 419 00:22:06,400 --> 00:22:09,159 Speaker 4: special teams and offense after talking about defense, back to 420 00:22:09,240 --> 00:22:10,320 Speaker 4: complimentary football. 421 00:22:11,359 --> 00:22:15,880 Speaker 1: Yeah yeah, I mean like that's really going back to 422 00:22:15,880 --> 00:22:19,480 Speaker 1: Torri's headline. I mean, like that's what was missing today, 423 00:22:20,080 --> 00:22:23,320 Speaker 1: is that and It's proof that you can't live and 424 00:22:23,359 --> 00:22:26,120 Speaker 1: die by one unit by just running the ball well, 425 00:22:26,240 --> 00:22:28,800 Speaker 1: or just stopping the run, or just playing great defense. 426 00:22:28,800 --> 00:22:30,879 Speaker 1: And it's going to take more than that, especially when 427 00:22:30,920 --> 00:22:33,159 Speaker 1: you start leveling up and playing a team like the Lions. 428 00:22:33,200 --> 00:22:36,000 Speaker 1: I was banged up, as Tory pointed out, but it's 429 00:22:36,040 --> 00:22:40,040 Speaker 1: still pretty good and was really pissed that they lost 430 00:22:40,080 --> 00:22:42,920 Speaker 1: to the Seahawks last week. And I think Falcons aren't 431 00:22:42,920 --> 00:22:44,639 Speaker 1: going to be happy. I think the Jags aren't going 432 00:22:44,720 --> 00:22:47,959 Speaker 1: to be happy with their result before they head across 433 00:22:48,040 --> 00:22:49,719 Speaker 1: the pond, and I think that's going to set up 434 00:22:50,040 --> 00:22:53,679 Speaker 1: what should be a pretty interesting matchup in London in 435 00:22:53,720 --> 00:22:56,560 Speaker 1: Week four and a key one. I'm sure both of 436 00:22:56,600 --> 00:22:59,720 Speaker 1: those teams want to end up with a coming home. 437 00:23:00,040 --> 00:23:02,920 Speaker 1: I guess the Jags don't come home, but the Falcons 438 00:23:02,920 --> 00:23:05,920 Speaker 1: definitely want a victory to push themselves up to three 439 00:23:05,920 --> 00:23:07,600 Speaker 1: and one, And frankly, if you get to three and 440 00:23:07,640 --> 00:23:12,240 Speaker 1: one after the first four games, I think you're having 441 00:23:12,280 --> 00:23:17,040 Speaker 1: some extra ice cream for dessert, no doubt. And I 442 00:23:17,080 --> 00:23:19,399 Speaker 1: think that's pretty much gonna wrap it up for this 443 00:23:19,560 --> 00:23:22,600 Speaker 1: edition of The Falcons Finals, a podcast presented by zaxby 444 00:23:22,680 --> 00:23:27,040 Speaker 1: Thank You guys so much for joining in, for rating, reviewing, 445 00:23:27,119 --> 00:23:31,560 Speaker 1: and subscribing to the Atlanta Falcons podcast network. For Tory 446 00:23:31,600 --> 00:23:33,240 Speaker 1: and Tara and I'm Scott. We will talk to you 447 00:23:33,400 --> 00:23:36,760 Speaker 1: again on video, not directly after the London game because 448 00:23:36,760 --> 00:23:41,200 Speaker 1: that would be insane, but actually in the coming days afterward, 449 00:23:41,280 --> 00:23:44,880 Speaker 1: where we're going to take a more bigger picture look 450 00:23:44,920 --> 00:23:47,000 Speaker 1: at how the Falcons have done over the course of 451 00:23:47,040 --> 00:24:03,359 Speaker 1: four games. We will see you then, Bet