1 00:00:00,520 --> 00:00:03,040 Speaker 1: Welcome back to the Falcons Audible presented by AT and T. 2 00:00:03,240 --> 00:00:05,920 Speaker 1: We are back once again. I'm Derek Rackley, joined by 3 00:00:05,920 --> 00:00:09,119 Speaker 1: my guys DJ Shockley and Dave Archer to recap a 4 00:00:09,240 --> 00:00:12,320 Speaker 1: Falcons lost a defeat thirty to seventeen to the Tampa 5 00:00:12,320 --> 00:00:14,880 Speaker 1: Bay Buccaneers at home. Before we get into that, let's 6 00:00:14,920 --> 00:00:16,680 Speaker 1: give you the quick rundown of what we got going 7 00:00:16,760 --> 00:00:18,560 Speaker 1: on today. I'll have the guys give us their quick 8 00:00:18,600 --> 00:00:21,640 Speaker 1: reactions on what they thought about the game last weekend. 9 00:00:21,680 --> 00:00:24,000 Speaker 1: We'll talk about some of the missed opportunities, probably the 10 00:00:24,000 --> 00:00:26,840 Speaker 1: biggest storyline in that game. We talked all along. You've 11 00:00:26,840 --> 00:00:29,080 Speaker 1: got to be so sharp. The margin for error is 12 00:00:29,120 --> 00:00:31,440 Speaker 1: so slim, especially when you're playing up against the Tom 13 00:00:31,440 --> 00:00:34,479 Speaker 1: Brady led offense, and they made a couple too many mistakes. 14 00:00:34,520 --> 00:00:37,480 Speaker 1: What's ahead for Atlanta Falcons as they faced this week 15 00:00:37,560 --> 00:00:40,360 Speaker 1: and for the final five games of the season, as 16 00:00:40,400 --> 00:00:43,200 Speaker 1: they are still oddly enough in a playoff mix Here, guys, 17 00:00:43,479 --> 00:00:47,120 Speaker 1: well on the heels of a big man Falcons touchdown 18 00:00:47,200 --> 00:00:48,720 Speaker 1: right before the end of the first half. We'll talk 19 00:00:48,720 --> 00:00:53,159 Speaker 1: a little story time about some maybe familiar big man touchdowns, 20 00:00:53,200 --> 00:00:55,960 Speaker 1: big man moments across the NFL or maybe it's across 21 00:00:56,000 --> 00:00:58,240 Speaker 1: other sports. I don't quite know. And then we will 22 00:00:58,240 --> 00:01:00,680 Speaker 1: talk about the opponent this week. Who are the Panthers 23 00:01:00,840 --> 00:01:04,360 Speaker 1: right now as Atlanta faces them this weekend? So guys, 24 00:01:04,400 --> 00:01:06,760 Speaker 1: let's talk about this game. I talked about it. Atlanta 25 00:01:06,800 --> 00:01:09,279 Speaker 1: Falcons come up short, thirty to seventeen to Tom Brady 26 00:01:09,280 --> 00:01:11,160 Speaker 1: and company. I say Tom Brady because he had an 27 00:01:11,200 --> 00:01:14,360 Speaker 1: absolute of a delight game. Really no surprise from the 28 00:01:14,400 --> 00:01:18,520 Speaker 1: goat Dave quick reactions on what your synopsis was on 29 00:01:18,560 --> 00:01:21,080 Speaker 1: the game? A sentence or two. I'll give you two. 30 00:01:21,760 --> 00:01:24,319 Speaker 1: I think just the anally his ability to adjust to 31 00:01:24,360 --> 00:01:26,680 Speaker 1: what Atlanta wanted to do. Defensively. Atlanta knew that they 32 00:01:26,680 --> 00:01:30,119 Speaker 1: couldn't match up personnel wise against that really good receiver 33 00:01:30,240 --> 00:01:32,680 Speaker 1: corpsing back, so they decided to play his zone and 34 00:01:33,000 --> 00:01:35,680 Speaker 1: tried to kind of Ben Ben Ben don't break and 35 00:01:35,760 --> 00:01:39,080 Speaker 1: try to win on third down, and Brady adjusted. They 36 00:01:39,480 --> 00:01:42,640 Speaker 1: like explosives. They had eighty seven explosives coming in. He 37 00:01:42,680 --> 00:01:45,840 Speaker 1: went head through the ball underneath three hundred or whatever 38 00:01:45,920 --> 00:01:48,240 Speaker 1: yards on fifty one attempts and they came out to 39 00:01:48,240 --> 00:01:53,840 Speaker 1: seven yards an attempt. He adjusted, did you recounting sentences yeah, yeah, 40 00:01:53,880 --> 00:01:59,240 Speaker 1: I don't like it's okay. See I gave him two 41 00:01:59,440 --> 00:02:01,240 Speaker 1: run on sense, and it's kind of like I knew 42 00:02:01,320 --> 00:02:03,160 Speaker 1: Dave was gonna stretch it a little bit more. But 43 00:02:03,240 --> 00:02:11,760 Speaker 1: it's it's okay, mister Grammar, right all right, because earlier 44 00:02:11,760 --> 00:02:14,120 Speaker 1: in the year when we did this, he crushed me 45 00:02:14,240 --> 00:02:20,040 Speaker 1: for join you talked for four or five minutes. All right, DJ, 46 00:02:20,480 --> 00:02:23,359 Speaker 1: you're turn, you're on the clock. Babe is paying attention 47 00:02:23,400 --> 00:02:27,359 Speaker 1: for periods. Go, he's looking nay, let me get my time. 48 00:02:28,880 --> 00:02:32,320 Speaker 1: I'll say. The inability to sustain that run game, and 49 00:02:32,360 --> 00:02:33,760 Speaker 1: we talked about it in the first half where you 50 00:02:33,880 --> 00:02:36,160 Speaker 1: rushed for one hundred and one yards and you were 51 00:02:36,240 --> 00:02:38,360 Speaker 1: avging over nine and a half yards to carry in 52 00:02:38,400 --> 00:02:41,840 Speaker 1: the first half, and you rushed for twenty more yards 53 00:02:41,960 --> 00:02:44,200 Speaker 1: in the entire ball game. And obviously that was a 54 00:02:44,240 --> 00:02:47,040 Speaker 1: big issue in the second half. But uh, I think 55 00:02:47,080 --> 00:02:49,440 Speaker 1: that I know this was a good front. Yeah, we 56 00:02:49,520 --> 00:02:51,920 Speaker 1: admit that, but you did it fine in the first half. 57 00:02:51,919 --> 00:02:53,239 Speaker 1: You just weren't able to doing the second. Can I 58 00:02:53,360 --> 00:02:55,519 Speaker 1: kind of piggyback back on that because there was the 59 00:02:55,560 --> 00:02:59,360 Speaker 1: bulletin board material this week about Bruce Arian saying nobody 60 00:02:59,560 --> 00:03:02,280 Speaker 1: runs on us. I don't care who we are. Do 61 00:03:02,320 --> 00:03:05,360 Speaker 1: you feel like the Falcons kind of flex themselves, like 62 00:03:05,360 --> 00:03:07,840 Speaker 1: the shoulders came out, Chess came out a little bit 63 00:03:07,880 --> 00:03:10,840 Speaker 1: and saying, wait a minute, we've been running the ball okay, 64 00:03:11,280 --> 00:03:13,160 Speaker 1: And they kind of wanted to put it to him 65 00:03:13,200 --> 00:03:15,880 Speaker 1: in the first half, and then maybe Tampa got back 66 00:03:15,919 --> 00:03:20,239 Speaker 1: to their style of stifling run defense in the second half. Dave, 67 00:03:20,320 --> 00:03:22,519 Speaker 1: do you think it was a challenge for Atlanta? Well, 68 00:03:22,560 --> 00:03:25,280 Speaker 1: I think anytime you hear something like that, if in 69 00:03:25,320 --> 00:03:28,000 Speaker 1: fact you digested that information and said, wait a minute, 70 00:03:28,160 --> 00:03:29,440 Speaker 1: you know we're gonna run, you ran it for one 71 00:03:29,520 --> 00:03:31,640 Speaker 1: hundred and fifty yards a weekend before. Yeah, that was 72 00:03:31,720 --> 00:03:34,280 Speaker 1: not the Tampa Bay defense, the number one rush defense 73 00:03:34,320 --> 00:03:37,800 Speaker 1: in the conference or in the league really, but this 74 00:03:37,840 --> 00:03:39,760 Speaker 1: is a defense that had gotten touched up their last 75 00:03:39,760 --> 00:03:41,720 Speaker 1: five games anyway. So I think that was a message 76 00:03:41,720 --> 00:03:43,760 Speaker 1: to his guys. I don't think he was talking about Founders. 77 00:03:43,880 --> 00:03:46,120 Speaker 1: He was talking we don't let anybody run us. He 78 00:03:46,160 --> 00:03:48,080 Speaker 1: was talking to his own people. Yeah, one of those 79 00:03:48,440 --> 00:03:51,680 Speaker 1: subliminal messages, if you will, saying the defense that we've 80 00:03:51,720 --> 00:03:54,320 Speaker 1: been showing has not been good enough, so let's move on. 81 00:03:54,400 --> 00:03:57,720 Speaker 1: Talk about some of the missed opportunities. Guys, There's plenty 82 00:03:57,760 --> 00:04:00,960 Speaker 1: of options to choose from. Unfortunately, in this type of game, 83 00:04:01,840 --> 00:04:03,840 Speaker 1: there was a fumble by Russell Gage. There was a 84 00:04:03,840 --> 00:04:07,040 Speaker 1: missed opportunity deep in Tampa Bay territory. I believe at 85 00:04:07,040 --> 00:04:10,160 Speaker 1: the one yard line. There was a little bit of 86 00:04:10,160 --> 00:04:13,320 Speaker 1: a fumble that Cordarrell Patterson was actually very upset about, 87 00:04:13,320 --> 00:04:15,120 Speaker 1: and the ball right bounce right back up into his 88 00:04:15,160 --> 00:04:17,159 Speaker 1: hands and he still picks up eight or nine yards. 89 00:04:17,400 --> 00:04:19,400 Speaker 1: I think that's a good thing when when a guy 90 00:04:19,440 --> 00:04:21,440 Speaker 1: like that in the season that he's having was upset 91 00:04:21,440 --> 00:04:24,479 Speaker 1: about that play. I'm doubt that one's gonna come to 92 00:04:24,520 --> 00:04:26,520 Speaker 1: your mind. But DJ, let me start with you. What 93 00:04:26,600 --> 00:04:31,520 Speaker 1: was the most the biggest play or biggest missed opportunity 94 00:04:31,520 --> 00:04:33,480 Speaker 1: in that game where the Falcons could have taken advantage. 95 00:04:33,520 --> 00:04:35,800 Speaker 1: For me, it goes to the situation inside the one 96 00:04:35,839 --> 00:04:38,279 Speaker 1: yard line. And I say that because this is a 97 00:04:38,320 --> 00:04:41,400 Speaker 1: ball game where we came into came on this show 98 00:04:41,440 --> 00:04:43,560 Speaker 1: talking about playing against Tell him, Brady, you know they're 99 00:04:43,600 --> 00:04:46,160 Speaker 1: gonna score touchdowns and you need to score touchdowns. You 100 00:04:46,240 --> 00:04:49,760 Speaker 1: got three plays inside to one yard line, and because 101 00:04:49,760 --> 00:04:51,600 Speaker 1: of your own snaff foods. You don't end up getting 102 00:04:51,640 --> 00:04:54,040 Speaker 1: football in the end zone and you end up having 103 00:04:54,080 --> 00:04:55,279 Speaker 1: to kick in a field goal. At that time, it 104 00:04:55,320 --> 00:04:57,480 Speaker 1: was thirteen to seven. You kicked the field goal, and 105 00:04:57,560 --> 00:04:59,520 Speaker 1: that was thirteen to ten. Well, you know what happens 106 00:04:59,520 --> 00:05:01,919 Speaker 1: to the next they throw it the grunk, they go 107 00:05:01,960 --> 00:05:04,240 Speaker 1: down to score. Now it's twenty to ten. So you 108 00:05:04,320 --> 00:05:07,560 Speaker 1: look at we kick field goals, they score a touchdown. 109 00:05:07,560 --> 00:05:09,440 Speaker 1: That's that's a big part of the ball game where 110 00:05:09,440 --> 00:05:12,000 Speaker 1: you miss an opportunity to change the scope of it. 111 00:05:12,040 --> 00:05:14,600 Speaker 1: If you score a touchdown there, you go up fourteen thirteen, 112 00:05:14,960 --> 00:05:17,000 Speaker 1: and the field is a little bit different that you're 113 00:05:17,000 --> 00:05:19,679 Speaker 1: in the ball game. It's a win for them inside 114 00:05:19,680 --> 00:05:21,719 Speaker 1: the one yard line that you only give up three points. 115 00:05:21,920 --> 00:05:23,920 Speaker 1: They feel good about that. Now they drive right back 116 00:05:23,960 --> 00:05:27,520 Speaker 1: down and get seven. Now you're down ten instead of 117 00:05:27,560 --> 00:05:29,400 Speaker 1: being up yea one hundred percent. And I think the 118 00:05:29,640 --> 00:05:32,520 Speaker 1: biggest thing that you mentioned there, DJ is we got 119 00:05:32,720 --> 00:05:36,840 Speaker 1: three opportunities. Well it actually ended up being two right 120 00:05:37,160 --> 00:05:40,360 Speaker 1: because of their own snaff foo a center quarterback exchange, 121 00:05:40,400 --> 00:05:43,440 Speaker 1: which is like the last thing that you're thinking could 122 00:05:43,480 --> 00:05:46,600 Speaker 1: happen to you in that situation. If Arthur Smith is 123 00:05:46,640 --> 00:05:48,640 Speaker 1: looking at it. Yeah, the first play that he dials up, 124 00:05:48,640 --> 00:05:50,960 Speaker 1: he's hoping that they score, but if he doesn't, he's saying, 125 00:05:51,000 --> 00:05:53,280 Speaker 1: I've got two more chances. And then all of a 126 00:05:53,279 --> 00:05:55,360 Speaker 1: sudden he sees this fumble on the ground, Dave, and 127 00:05:55,400 --> 00:05:58,240 Speaker 1: he's saying, are you kidding me? All right? I mean 128 00:05:58,279 --> 00:06:00,640 Speaker 1: that's kind of what coaches are saying, whether it's audibly 129 00:06:00,720 --> 00:06:04,400 Speaker 1: said or in between their ears. Yes, it's absolute wasted place. 130 00:06:04,440 --> 00:06:06,320 Speaker 1: So I'm sure you would agree that was a big 131 00:06:06,320 --> 00:06:08,560 Speaker 1: missed opportunity, but it was there another one that you 132 00:06:08,680 --> 00:06:11,400 Speaker 1: felt like was something that they needed to capitalize on. Well, 133 00:06:11,400 --> 00:06:14,159 Speaker 1: it's probably the one you pointed out. You found a 134 00:06:14,200 --> 00:06:15,640 Speaker 1: way to get the score at the end of a a 135 00:06:15,640 --> 00:06:17,960 Speaker 1: half because Marlon Davidson makes the play to make it 136 00:06:18,040 --> 00:06:21,080 Speaker 1: twenty to seventeen. So you think, okay, we kind of 137 00:06:21,120 --> 00:06:23,359 Speaker 1: got one back right there, because you guys, the thing 138 00:06:23,400 --> 00:06:25,159 Speaker 1: you were talking about was happening in the first half, 139 00:06:25,240 --> 00:06:27,320 Speaker 1: the kind of the snaff who there. So now you're 140 00:06:27,360 --> 00:06:29,320 Speaker 1: going to get your opening possession a third quarter and 141 00:06:29,360 --> 00:06:31,520 Speaker 1: you're moving. Ryan scrambles up in the pocket, finds Gage 142 00:06:31,520 --> 00:06:33,880 Speaker 1: over the middle, and Dozier comes in and strips the 143 00:06:33,880 --> 00:06:36,640 Speaker 1: ball out you're inside the Tampa thirty five yard line 144 00:06:36,640 --> 00:06:39,839 Speaker 1: with a score twenty to seventeen, you're at the very worst. 145 00:06:39,839 --> 00:06:42,160 Speaker 1: Are you going to get a young Way coup field goal? 146 00:06:42,200 --> 00:06:43,960 Speaker 1: Up tamped and you like the chances of him banging 147 00:06:43,960 --> 00:06:45,520 Speaker 1: that three? You may go down to score a touchdown 148 00:06:45,760 --> 00:06:47,800 Speaker 1: and do what Chock's talking about, putting the onus back 149 00:06:47,839 --> 00:06:51,680 Speaker 1: on Tampa's offense up twenty four to twenty. But the 150 00:06:51,720 --> 00:06:54,160 Speaker 1: fumble took that opportunity away from me. Now, Tampa did 151 00:06:54,200 --> 00:06:57,320 Speaker 1: not score after getting the ball, but still it took 152 00:06:57,320 --> 00:06:59,159 Speaker 1: an opportunity away from you. And we talked about it 153 00:06:59,200 --> 00:07:01,160 Speaker 1: all last week. You were gonna have to play your 154 00:07:01,160 --> 00:07:03,640 Speaker 1: cleanest football game to win this game. Yeah, especially like 155 00:07:03,720 --> 00:07:06,560 Speaker 1: you mentioned, Dave, they did not score off of that turnover, 156 00:07:06,640 --> 00:07:09,320 Speaker 1: but if they continue to drive, they put seven points 157 00:07:09,320 --> 00:07:11,360 Speaker 1: on the board. Again, it's it's all about a momentum, 158 00:07:11,360 --> 00:07:14,320 Speaker 1: which is something that's hard to quantify at any stage 159 00:07:14,360 --> 00:07:17,320 Speaker 1: of the game. But they punch it in for a touchdown. 160 00:07:17,760 --> 00:07:20,480 Speaker 1: Where's the defense at when they come back on the field. 161 00:07:20,640 --> 00:07:22,400 Speaker 1: Do they end up getting a stop giving it back 162 00:07:22,440 --> 00:07:25,120 Speaker 1: to Atlanta? Then where does Atlanta feel after they had 163 00:07:25,160 --> 00:07:28,080 Speaker 1: just driven down and scored a touchdown. Interesting too, about 164 00:07:28,080 --> 00:07:30,920 Speaker 1: that play, Dave Pierre de Seer had just come into 165 00:07:30,960 --> 00:07:33,720 Speaker 1: the game Jamal Dean went down with an injury and 166 00:07:34,040 --> 00:07:36,520 Speaker 1: that was his very first play. So give him credit 167 00:07:36,840 --> 00:07:38,920 Speaker 1: because it was almost like he knew exactly what to do. 168 00:07:38,960 --> 00:07:41,640 Speaker 1: When they showed the replay. He came around and his 169 00:07:41,680 --> 00:07:44,240 Speaker 1: hand went right up underneath Gauge and he knew that 170 00:07:44,280 --> 00:07:46,880 Speaker 1: he was trying to knock that football out. You'd think 171 00:07:46,880 --> 00:07:48,680 Speaker 1: a guy, granted, Pierre to Seer has been in the 172 00:07:48,760 --> 00:07:50,400 Speaker 1: league for a little while, so he's a veteran. He 173 00:07:50,400 --> 00:07:52,520 Speaker 1: knows what he's doing. But maybe he's just trying to 174 00:07:52,520 --> 00:07:55,200 Speaker 1: play catchup. Maybe he just tries to make the tackle 175 00:07:55,480 --> 00:07:57,680 Speaker 1: instead he ends up going for the punch out and 176 00:07:57,720 --> 00:08:01,280 Speaker 1: he's successful with it. So definitely a missed opportunity right there. 177 00:08:01,320 --> 00:08:04,040 Speaker 1: We're talking about two drives there, the goal line drive 178 00:08:04,320 --> 00:08:07,320 Speaker 1: and driving down on a third down conversion with gauge 179 00:08:07,640 --> 00:08:10,680 Speaker 1: that likely end up in points, maybe even fourteen. That's 180 00:08:10,680 --> 00:08:13,640 Speaker 1: missed from the Atlanta Falcons. So guys, let's just talk 181 00:08:13,680 --> 00:08:17,640 Speaker 1: about this because again we've mentioned on many of occasions, 182 00:08:17,840 --> 00:08:20,760 Speaker 1: unfortunately after losses, that the coaches and the players in 183 00:08:20,760 --> 00:08:23,600 Speaker 1: that building are making adjustments right now on how they 184 00:08:23,600 --> 00:08:26,040 Speaker 1: can learn from some of those missed opportunities and imply 185 00:08:26,160 --> 00:08:29,720 Speaker 1: that moving forward. So let's talk about what the remainder 186 00:08:29,760 --> 00:08:32,920 Speaker 1: of this season looked like. As you look at it, 187 00:08:32,960 --> 00:08:35,439 Speaker 1: you're looking at a team that has five wins right now, 188 00:08:35,520 --> 00:08:39,840 Speaker 1: and it's almost like, should we talk about playoffs the 189 00:08:39,880 --> 00:08:42,160 Speaker 1: way that they're playing right now? But the nature of 190 00:08:42,200 --> 00:08:45,480 Speaker 1: the Beast is they are still legitimately in the hunt. 191 00:08:46,200 --> 00:08:48,800 Speaker 1: The only problem is three of the teams that are 192 00:08:48,800 --> 00:08:52,600 Speaker 1: ahead of them right now have the head to head 193 00:08:52,640 --> 00:08:55,960 Speaker 1: advantage against him right now. So obviously you have to 194 00:08:56,000 --> 00:08:59,640 Speaker 1: put a run together no matter what the situation looks like. 195 00:09:00,200 --> 00:09:03,240 Speaker 1: But I think if you look at the combined record 196 00:09:03,240 --> 00:09:06,760 Speaker 1: of the five teams remaining on the Falcon schedule, it's 197 00:09:06,840 --> 00:09:10,040 Speaker 1: twenty four thirty four and one, and only one of 198 00:09:10,040 --> 00:09:12,880 Speaker 1: those teams has a winning record above five hundred right now, 199 00:09:12,920 --> 00:09:16,360 Speaker 1: which is the Buffalo Bills. So Dave put a prediction 200 00:09:16,400 --> 00:09:19,360 Speaker 1: out or what needs to happen throughout the rest of 201 00:09:19,360 --> 00:09:22,600 Speaker 1: this season these last five games to put Atlanta into 202 00:09:22,679 --> 00:09:25,320 Speaker 1: position to maybe the last two weeks of the season 203 00:09:25,360 --> 00:09:27,000 Speaker 1: they can get into the postseason. Yeah, I think you 204 00:09:27,040 --> 00:09:28,680 Speaker 1: have to win the next three rac I think you 205 00:09:28,720 --> 00:09:30,240 Speaker 1: have to go out and this has been a good 206 00:09:30,320 --> 00:09:31,920 Speaker 1: road team. You get two in a row on the road, 207 00:09:31,960 --> 00:09:34,319 Speaker 1: you gotta go to Carolina, You're gonna go to San Francisco. 208 00:09:34,480 --> 00:09:36,760 Speaker 1: Then you get the Lions here in Atlanta the day 209 00:09:36,800 --> 00:09:40,040 Speaker 1: after Christmas. They just won their first game, ironically against 210 00:09:40,040 --> 00:09:42,200 Speaker 1: one of those teams that at a tiebreaker of Atlanta 211 00:09:42,520 --> 00:09:46,080 Speaker 1: is the Minnesota Vikings. So it can happen. Do you 212 00:09:46,120 --> 00:09:49,160 Speaker 1: talk about playoffs with the way these team's going. Absolutely, 213 00:09:49,200 --> 00:09:51,760 Speaker 1: because why do we play the game? Yeah, you're playing 214 00:09:51,760 --> 00:09:53,679 Speaker 1: the game to get in the postseason dance. And if 215 00:09:53,679 --> 00:09:55,200 Speaker 1: you can find a way to win three of the 216 00:09:55,240 --> 00:09:57,720 Speaker 1: next five or four of the next five, which is 217 00:09:57,880 --> 00:10:02,360 Speaker 1: very doable, I get it loss very doable. You look 218 00:10:02,440 --> 00:10:04,440 Speaker 1: up in your nine and eight, eight and nine, whatever 219 00:10:04,520 --> 00:10:08,280 Speaker 1: gets you into that seven spot, sixth spot of the playoffs. Absolutely, 220 00:10:08,320 --> 00:10:10,480 Speaker 1: it's it's manageable. I think that has to be the goal. 221 00:10:10,520 --> 00:10:13,040 Speaker 1: You want to play meaningful games in December. Atlanta is 222 00:10:13,080 --> 00:10:16,120 Speaker 1: doing that or is it pretty? No? But there's been 223 00:10:16,520 --> 00:10:19,120 Speaker 1: You have a chance because you've done some things early 224 00:10:19,160 --> 00:10:21,240 Speaker 1: in the year that have built the resume up to 225 00:10:21,280 --> 00:10:24,160 Speaker 1: where you have an opportunity to play something, play for 226 00:10:24,240 --> 00:10:26,360 Speaker 1: something in December and January. All they can do is 227 00:10:26,400 --> 00:10:29,160 Speaker 1: play their schedule and they can You know, this could 228 00:10:29,200 --> 00:10:31,120 Speaker 1: be a year that they take advantage of the fact 229 00:10:31,200 --> 00:10:33,320 Speaker 1: that the NFC is a little bit down as far 230 00:10:33,400 --> 00:10:35,840 Speaker 1: as the middle to the bottom half of the conference. So, DJ, 231 00:10:36,320 --> 00:10:38,880 Speaker 1: is it as simple as winning the first three games. 232 00:10:38,880 --> 00:10:41,200 Speaker 1: I like what you're saying, Dave, because this is a 233 00:10:41,240 --> 00:10:44,040 Speaker 1: time in the season where guys try to figure out 234 00:10:44,240 --> 00:10:46,520 Speaker 1: what am I playing for. Yes, you want everybody to 235 00:10:46,559 --> 00:10:49,040 Speaker 1: be a pro. Yes, you want everybody to understand their 236 00:10:49,120 --> 00:10:50,600 Speaker 1: job is to go out and compete and give one 237 00:10:50,640 --> 00:10:53,319 Speaker 1: hundred and ten percent each day. But if you can 238 00:10:53,400 --> 00:10:58,040 Speaker 1: phrase it that, guys, we still have playoffs in the future. 239 00:10:58,400 --> 00:11:00,600 Speaker 1: If we take care of our business, it can happen. 240 00:11:01,160 --> 00:11:03,400 Speaker 1: Is that the right way to approach it. Absolutely? And 241 00:11:03,440 --> 00:11:06,319 Speaker 1: I think the reality of where the Falcons are right now. 242 00:11:06,320 --> 00:11:08,040 Speaker 1: You look at the way they played this season. They 243 00:11:08,080 --> 00:11:10,160 Speaker 1: played pretty good football on the road. You got three 244 00:11:10,200 --> 00:11:11,960 Speaker 1: of those games on the road, and you're talking about 245 00:11:12,200 --> 00:11:14,000 Speaker 1: you got the two games at home for Detroit and 246 00:11:14,080 --> 00:11:16,360 Speaker 1: New Orleans. New Orleans is a team you've already beat. 247 00:11:16,440 --> 00:11:18,280 Speaker 1: You went into their place and beat them. So there's 248 00:11:18,320 --> 00:11:20,040 Speaker 1: confidence when you played New Orleans at the end of 249 00:11:20,040 --> 00:11:22,240 Speaker 1: the season in your own building. But three games you 250 00:11:22,280 --> 00:11:24,840 Speaker 1: have played, three games you have to play on the road. 251 00:11:24,920 --> 00:11:27,400 Speaker 1: You should feel really good about. Hey, this is a 252 00:11:27,440 --> 00:11:30,240 Speaker 1: squad that understands how we need to win. But we've 253 00:11:30,240 --> 00:11:32,200 Speaker 1: done it on the road. When sometimes you think about 254 00:11:32,240 --> 00:11:34,520 Speaker 1: all it's easy to do it at home. Well, it's 255 00:11:34,520 --> 00:11:38,000 Speaker 1: been easy for that say easy, but it's been something 256 00:11:38,040 --> 00:11:40,080 Speaker 1: that's been a value for the Falcons when they've gone 257 00:11:40,120 --> 00:11:42,280 Speaker 1: on the road to win these ball games that you know, 258 00:11:42,280 --> 00:11:43,920 Speaker 1: you gotta go to Carolina, got to go to San 259 00:11:43,960 --> 00:11:46,240 Speaker 1: franc a team that you know a lot of these 260 00:11:46,240 --> 00:11:49,280 Speaker 1: guys have seen before, know that style of play in 261 00:11:49,400 --> 00:11:51,400 Speaker 1: San Franco. It's gonna be in rest of the Sea. 262 00:11:51,440 --> 00:11:53,280 Speaker 1: But I think this team has what it takes to 263 00:11:53,360 --> 00:11:55,520 Speaker 1: go on the road and win. Like Arch mentioned, at 264 00:11:55,559 --> 00:11:57,240 Speaker 1: least those three ball games when you go out and 265 00:11:57,240 --> 00:12:00,280 Speaker 1: Buffalo hasn't been you know, world beaters. They've had their 266 00:12:00,320 --> 00:12:02,960 Speaker 1: time where they struggled. I mean we talk about they 267 00:12:03,000 --> 00:12:05,640 Speaker 1: lost to Jacksonville, a team that everybody gave them no 268 00:12:05,760 --> 00:12:07,920 Speaker 1: chance to. So as we know, at any given day, 269 00:12:08,200 --> 00:12:09,719 Speaker 1: any team you can go out to win three of 270 00:12:09,800 --> 00:12:12,000 Speaker 1: those teams that I mentioned that currently have the head 271 00:12:12,040 --> 00:12:15,200 Speaker 1: to head. Of course, Philadelphia lost earlier the season, Washington 272 00:12:15,280 --> 00:12:18,719 Speaker 1: as well earlier this season, and Carolina. Right, So if 273 00:12:18,720 --> 00:12:21,880 Speaker 1: you want to take the coach's perspective and say, we 274 00:12:21,920 --> 00:12:24,720 Speaker 1: worry about the next game on our schedule, Yeah, you 275 00:12:24,760 --> 00:12:27,720 Speaker 1: worry about the Carolina Panthers. You beat them this weekend, 276 00:12:27,720 --> 00:12:29,880 Speaker 1: you kind of head to head, You even that up, 277 00:12:30,080 --> 00:12:32,480 Speaker 1: You get yourself in a better position with the playoffs, 278 00:12:32,480 --> 00:12:35,600 Speaker 1: and you can't worry about what happened to Washington in Philadelphia, 279 00:12:35,679 --> 00:12:39,160 Speaker 1: but you can do something about what happened against Carolina. 280 00:12:39,280 --> 00:12:41,280 Speaker 1: So that's kind of how things shake out for the 281 00:12:41,360 --> 00:12:43,559 Speaker 1: last five weeks of the season. But you're right, you 282 00:12:43,640 --> 00:12:46,000 Speaker 1: got to win one first, and then, like Dave says, 283 00:12:46,040 --> 00:12:48,040 Speaker 1: if they can win the next three and continue to 284 00:12:48,040 --> 00:12:50,320 Speaker 1: play well on the road like they've done all season, 285 00:12:50,360 --> 00:12:52,760 Speaker 1: they'll be in position when it comes down to the 286 00:12:52,840 --> 00:12:55,200 Speaker 1: end of the season. So we did see in the 287 00:12:55,240 --> 00:12:59,520 Speaker 1: game last weekend. It's not always the fast, the lean 288 00:13:00,080 --> 00:13:02,040 Speaker 1: or even the big tight ends that get into the 289 00:13:02,120 --> 00:13:05,360 Speaker 1: end zone. Sometimes the big fellas meaning real big, like 290 00:13:05,720 --> 00:13:08,839 Speaker 1: Marlon Davin said, big end up at the right place, 291 00:13:08,920 --> 00:13:11,760 Speaker 1: the right time, and they've got just enough athleticism to 292 00:13:11,800 --> 00:13:13,560 Speaker 1: get their hands on the ball and get into the 293 00:13:13,640 --> 00:13:15,720 Speaker 1: end zone. So we're not gonna break down that play. 294 00:13:15,880 --> 00:13:17,760 Speaker 1: We're gonna have a little story time and have the 295 00:13:17,800 --> 00:13:20,520 Speaker 1: guys tell us a moment in their career or a 296 00:13:20,600 --> 00:13:23,959 Speaker 1: memory that they have where they were Like. Big man 297 00:13:24,120 --> 00:13:27,760 Speaker 1: touchdowns are so fun to watch, whether it's the catch, 298 00:13:28,080 --> 00:13:30,520 Speaker 1: it's the run, it's the stumble into the end zone, 299 00:13:30,600 --> 00:13:32,720 Speaker 1: or all the above. Dave, you got an example for 300 00:13:32,840 --> 00:13:35,360 Speaker 1: us of a great big man TD. Yeah, we were 301 00:13:35,360 --> 00:13:39,199 Speaker 1: playing Dallas in Dallas had never beaten the Cowboys in Dallas, 302 00:13:39,240 --> 00:13:41,880 Speaker 1: a close football game. Danny White drops the throw, gets hit, 303 00:13:42,000 --> 00:13:43,880 Speaker 1: The ball kind of pops in the air and Mike 304 00:13:44,080 --> 00:13:47,160 Speaker 1: Gan catches it. The Falcon's defensive end at another name, 305 00:13:47,320 --> 00:13:49,240 Speaker 1: and he's running down the field that he's carrying it. 306 00:13:49,480 --> 00:13:51,040 Speaker 1: He doesn't even know how to tuck it away. So 307 00:13:51,080 --> 00:13:53,640 Speaker 1: he's carrying it like this and he's running and there's 308 00:13:53,679 --> 00:13:55,880 Speaker 1: guy kind of feels off em and he's able to 309 00:13:55,880 --> 00:13:58,400 Speaker 1: get that guy off EM's and he gets into the 310 00:13:58,480 --> 00:14:01,000 Speaker 1: end zone and he's so excited he wants to spike it. 311 00:14:01,040 --> 00:14:02,640 Speaker 1: And when he gets to the spike and it shoots 312 00:14:02,679 --> 00:14:04,600 Speaker 1: that way, just kind of spirts out of his hand 313 00:14:04,640 --> 00:14:06,080 Speaker 1: and he didn't even get us. So then he did 314 00:14:06,120 --> 00:14:07,920 Speaker 1: a pseudo spike he didn't have the ball, you know, 315 00:14:07,960 --> 00:14:10,439 Speaker 1: a fake spike. He was so excited to get in 316 00:14:10,480 --> 00:14:12,800 Speaker 1: the end zone. Ended up being a huge play for us. 317 00:14:12,800 --> 00:14:14,959 Speaker 1: We ended up beating Dallas thirty seven thirty five in 318 00:14:15,040 --> 00:14:17,439 Speaker 1: the game, and it was a huge play by Mike Gann. 319 00:14:17,520 --> 00:14:19,960 Speaker 1: But he was so excited to have the football in 320 00:14:20,040 --> 00:14:21,360 Speaker 1: his hands, he didn't know what to do with it 321 00:14:21,480 --> 00:14:23,680 Speaker 1: and it ended up over there someplace because he couldn't 322 00:14:23,720 --> 00:14:25,440 Speaker 1: hold under it to spike it. But it's a lot 323 00:14:25,480 --> 00:14:27,840 Speaker 1: of fun to watch. DJ, you got a good example 324 00:14:27,880 --> 00:14:30,120 Speaker 1: for us. Yeah, I'm gonna go back to the college 325 00:14:30,200 --> 00:14:32,640 Speaker 1: days and I'm gonna go back to uh obviously I 326 00:14:32,720 --> 00:14:35,360 Speaker 1: was thinking about like a refrigerator perry or something. Everybody's 327 00:14:35,360 --> 00:14:39,640 Speaker 1: seen that before, you know, the almost touchdown by Leona 328 00:14:39,720 --> 00:14:43,000 Speaker 1: Limp rolling in, rumbling, stumbling down in his eye. But 329 00:14:43,040 --> 00:14:45,560 Speaker 1: I'm gonna go to this year. My Georgia Bulldogs. They 330 00:14:45,600 --> 00:14:49,760 Speaker 1: gave Big Jordan Davis a chance to run with the football. 331 00:14:49,800 --> 00:14:51,840 Speaker 1: They gave it to him twice, and the Great thing 332 00:14:51,840 --> 00:14:54,320 Speaker 1: about it was he's come on the field all year 333 00:14:54,360 --> 00:14:56,480 Speaker 1: long and he's been in that role where he's, you know, 334 00:14:56,720 --> 00:14:58,840 Speaker 1: trying to roll great a guy, he's the lead black. 335 00:14:59,240 --> 00:15:02,360 Speaker 1: So with Georgia does is they go into this this 336 00:15:02,360 --> 00:15:05,880 Speaker 1: this odd, little little switch of the formation and they 337 00:15:05,880 --> 00:15:08,120 Speaker 1: get a shift and all of a sudden, he is 338 00:15:08,720 --> 00:15:10,920 Speaker 1: died in the eye back there in the middle, and 339 00:15:11,040 --> 00:15:13,960 Speaker 1: the entire fan base is going crazy. But the crazy 340 00:15:13,960 --> 00:15:16,520 Speaker 1: think about it. He got stuffed on the first play, 341 00:15:17,200 --> 00:15:20,320 Speaker 1: we're inside the one yard line. He gets stuffed. Next play, 342 00:15:20,560 --> 00:15:22,960 Speaker 1: you hear the crowd going forward again, going forward again. 343 00:15:23,000 --> 00:15:25,880 Speaker 1: So it's fourth down, they go forward again. The first 344 00:15:25,880 --> 00:15:28,160 Speaker 1: time he actually tried to dive over all three hundred 345 00:15:28,160 --> 00:15:30,480 Speaker 1: and sixty pounds was going and tried to dive over him. 346 00:15:30,800 --> 00:15:32,720 Speaker 1: And then the second play he ends up getting into 347 00:15:32,720 --> 00:15:35,040 Speaker 1: the zone and you just see half the team running 348 00:15:35,040 --> 00:15:36,760 Speaker 1: on the field, and it was it was pretty cool 349 00:15:36,800 --> 00:15:38,720 Speaker 1: to see it, especially in his senior year. Head an 350 00:15:38,720 --> 00:15:41,400 Speaker 1: opportunity to get a touchdown something you can remember forever. 351 00:15:41,440 --> 00:15:44,480 Speaker 1: I've always wondered if a linebacker, when they see that 352 00:15:44,560 --> 00:15:46,880 Speaker 1: situation and they see that guy going back there, if 353 00:15:46,880 --> 00:15:49,720 Speaker 1: for like a defensive line please help me out, Like, 354 00:15:49,760 --> 00:15:51,240 Speaker 1: I don't want to go one on one with this 355 00:15:51,360 --> 00:15:53,960 Speaker 1: guy with a full head of steam. I mean, it's 356 00:15:54,040 --> 00:15:56,760 Speaker 1: it's hard enough going up against a linebacker maybe, or 357 00:15:56,800 --> 00:15:59,040 Speaker 1: excuse me, a running back, somebody like Leonard Fournette. But 358 00:15:59,080 --> 00:16:02,280 Speaker 1: like you said, going up get somebody three sixty. Yet 359 00:16:02,760 --> 00:16:05,480 Speaker 1: that's like George Comfy middle linebacker. The Green Bay Packers 360 00:16:05,680 --> 00:16:07,800 Speaker 1: hit the fridge. The fridge hit him on a Monday 361 00:16:07,880 --> 00:16:09,600 Speaker 1: night football and they drove him into the back of 362 00:16:09,640 --> 00:16:12,800 Speaker 1: the end zone. So you're exact. Linebackers do not want 363 00:16:12,800 --> 00:16:14,880 Speaker 1: that up. You know. It's so funny because that's like 364 00:16:14,920 --> 00:16:16,840 Speaker 1: the first thing that came to my mind is the 365 00:16:16,880 --> 00:16:19,200 Speaker 1: refrigerator Perry, because I grew up in Minnesota, So I 366 00:16:19,200 --> 00:16:22,400 Speaker 1: grew up in the NFC North days watching Minnesota. And 367 00:16:22,440 --> 00:16:24,240 Speaker 1: I wouldn't say that I was a die hard fan 368 00:16:24,360 --> 00:16:26,520 Speaker 1: or anything, but if you were born and raised in Minnesota, 369 00:16:26,560 --> 00:16:28,760 Speaker 1: you're generally a Vikings and a Twins fan. That's just 370 00:16:28,760 --> 00:16:32,240 Speaker 1: what happens, right, And I used to always see those 371 00:16:32,280 --> 00:16:34,440 Speaker 1: games when the fridge would come in and it was 372 00:16:34,480 --> 00:16:37,640 Speaker 1: like you knew on a goal line situation and it 373 00:16:37,680 --> 00:16:40,680 Speaker 1: was just like you could tell the defense the fridge 374 00:16:40,720 --> 00:16:44,400 Speaker 1: is getting the ball, make the play? Can you get 375 00:16:44,440 --> 00:16:46,480 Speaker 1: him down on the ground? And so I had to 376 00:16:46,520 --> 00:16:48,760 Speaker 1: pull it up. And it's interesting because there was a 377 00:16:48,840 --> 00:16:53,080 Speaker 1: day that the fridge was considered huge. Right, Wikipedia take 378 00:16:53,120 --> 00:16:55,280 Speaker 1: it for what it's worth, says he's six two three 379 00:16:55,360 --> 00:16:57,880 Speaker 1: thirty five. There's a lot of guys that are that 380 00:16:57,960 --> 00:17:01,480 Speaker 1: big now, question right, I mean Jordan Davis towers over 381 00:17:01,480 --> 00:17:04,320 Speaker 1: the top of him that at six two three thirty five. 382 00:17:04,359 --> 00:17:06,480 Speaker 1: Follow me in nineteen eighty five. That was not good. 383 00:17:06,600 --> 00:17:10,359 Speaker 1: That doesn't feel good. So anyway, hopefully that for Marlon 384 00:17:10,440 --> 00:17:13,040 Speaker 1: Davidson's sake, that won't be his last touchdown and maybe 385 00:17:13,080 --> 00:17:15,720 Speaker 1: he will end up being the subject of a big 386 00:17:15,720 --> 00:17:22,680 Speaker 1: Man touchdown discussion one day down the road. This episode 387 00:17:22,680 --> 00:17:25,360 Speaker 1: in part brought to you by the Home Depot. Everything 388 00:17:25,359 --> 00:17:28,000 Speaker 1: you need for your next home improvement project is just 389 00:17:28,080 --> 00:17:30,640 Speaker 1: a tap away on the home Depot app. The home 390 00:17:30,640 --> 00:17:33,959 Speaker 1: Depot app Digital toolbox gives you access to how to guides, 391 00:17:34,280 --> 00:17:37,639 Speaker 1: project calculators, and image search so you'll know exactly what 392 00:17:37,720 --> 00:17:39,960 Speaker 1: you need to pick up. With the tap of the finger. 393 00:17:40,280 --> 00:17:42,880 Speaker 1: You can rent and reserve the right tools for the job. 394 00:17:43,200 --> 00:17:46,800 Speaker 1: Also browsed threw millions of items from top brands that 395 00:17:46,920 --> 00:17:49,959 Speaker 1: you can have delivered right to your door. Whatever your project, 396 00:17:50,200 --> 00:17:52,800 Speaker 1: find exactly what you need with the home Depot app. 397 00:17:53,080 --> 00:17:57,399 Speaker 1: Download the home Depot app today. All right, So we 398 00:17:57,480 --> 00:18:00,520 Speaker 1: talked about it this weekend. Panthers Falcon's on the road, 399 00:18:00,760 --> 00:18:03,200 Speaker 1: they get a little bit of revenge. Cam the starting quarterback. 400 00:18:03,200 --> 00:18:05,320 Speaker 1: You talked about this about four or five weeks ago, 401 00:18:05,400 --> 00:18:07,399 Speaker 1: you said, pretty good chance that Cam Newton is a 402 00:18:07,440 --> 00:18:09,879 Speaker 1: starting quarterback when the Falcons face off with him the 403 00:18:10,000 --> 00:18:14,000 Speaker 1: second time. So kind of breakdown, Dave you. We talked 404 00:18:14,000 --> 00:18:15,600 Speaker 1: about it all right before we came on the air. 405 00:18:15,640 --> 00:18:18,200 Speaker 1: But who are the Panthers right now? We know there's 406 00:18:18,200 --> 00:18:22,200 Speaker 1: no Christian McCaffrey. That obviously helps anybody that faces against them, 407 00:18:22,200 --> 00:18:26,920 Speaker 1: but who are they defensively? Key players areas of opportunity 408 00:18:26,920 --> 00:18:29,320 Speaker 1: for Atlanta to win this game? Well, first thing too, 409 00:18:29,560 --> 00:18:32,600 Speaker 1: you've mentioned Cam Newton. Joe Brady was just released as 410 00:18:32,640 --> 00:18:35,840 Speaker 1: their offensive coordinator this week in Carolina, so they are 411 00:18:35,920 --> 00:18:38,800 Speaker 1: now changing the guard as to who's going to be 412 00:18:38,880 --> 00:18:43,440 Speaker 1: calling plays. Joe Brady, that celebrated OC or celebrated assistant 413 00:18:43,440 --> 00:18:46,680 Speaker 1: that came off that twenty nineteen National championship team he 414 00:18:46,760 --> 00:18:49,199 Speaker 1: wasn't the play caller at LSU, and evidently that has 415 00:18:49,240 --> 00:18:51,280 Speaker 1: been part of the problem in Carolina. So those shift 416 00:18:51,320 --> 00:18:54,560 Speaker 1: gears there. Cam Newton's had a horrible day the last 417 00:18:54,560 --> 00:18:57,320 Speaker 1: time out to two Sundays ago, so they're gonna have 418 00:18:57,359 --> 00:18:59,640 Speaker 1: to regroup there. But when you look at the defensive 419 00:18:59,640 --> 00:19:03,680 Speaker 1: side of the football, it's a smaller defense that has 420 00:19:03,720 --> 00:19:05,040 Speaker 1: a couple of big guys in the middle of the 421 00:19:05,080 --> 00:19:08,280 Speaker 1: big Most people remember Derek Brown, the big guy at Auburn. 422 00:19:08,359 --> 00:19:10,000 Speaker 1: He's playing the middle. He was the running mate with 423 00:19:10,040 --> 00:19:12,919 Speaker 1: Marlon Davidson in the interior that Auburn defense. He's a 424 00:19:12,960 --> 00:19:15,360 Speaker 1: stout player. We had a tough time moving him last time. 425 00:19:15,480 --> 00:19:17,639 Speaker 1: But they've got edge guys that are quick. The away 426 00:19:17,720 --> 00:19:21,040 Speaker 1: kid from Penn State's outstanding off the edge, Brian Burns 427 00:19:21,119 --> 00:19:23,920 Speaker 1: out of Florida State. Both smallish guys that can rush 428 00:19:24,000 --> 00:19:26,800 Speaker 1: the passer. And then they got Jack Thompson who's developed 429 00:19:26,840 --> 00:19:29,720 Speaker 1: into a quite a linebackers, a guy who was a 430 00:19:29,720 --> 00:19:32,159 Speaker 1: safety in college that they moved a linebacker when he 431 00:19:32,240 --> 00:19:34,680 Speaker 1: arrived there, much like Thomas Davis. Remember Thomas Davis out 432 00:19:34,680 --> 00:19:37,440 Speaker 1: of Georgia. They moved him from safety to linebacker. They've 433 00:19:37,440 --> 00:19:39,520 Speaker 1: done the same thing with Shock. He's running side. On 434 00:19:39,520 --> 00:19:41,600 Speaker 1: the side, they got one of my favorite players defense. 435 00:19:41,640 --> 00:19:44,200 Speaker 1: The got named Jeremy Chin who plays safety. That's about 436 00:19:44,200 --> 00:19:46,159 Speaker 1: two hundred and fifteen two hundred and twenty pounds that 437 00:19:46,160 --> 00:19:48,800 Speaker 1: can run, that can come down, and he will probably 438 00:19:48,840 --> 00:19:51,520 Speaker 1: there's a good chance he might draw the assignment on 439 00:19:51,640 --> 00:19:53,760 Speaker 1: Kyle Pitts. I would not be surprised if you didn't 440 00:19:53,760 --> 00:19:55,719 Speaker 1: see Jeremy Chin draw some of the man to man 441 00:19:55,800 --> 00:19:59,159 Speaker 1: coverage there. But this is not a world beating group, 442 00:19:59,240 --> 00:20:01,160 Speaker 1: certainly not on the offense he side of the football. 443 00:20:01,480 --> 00:20:05,040 Speaker 1: The problem with it last time. Established no run game 444 00:20:05,359 --> 00:20:08,360 Speaker 1: against this defense last time, and they're not big enough 445 00:20:08,359 --> 00:20:10,120 Speaker 1: to keep you from being able to run it on them. 446 00:20:10,160 --> 00:20:11,760 Speaker 1: So I would think, based on what we saw in 447 00:20:11,800 --> 00:20:13,480 Speaker 1: the first half of this game Shock he pointed out, 448 00:20:13,480 --> 00:20:15,680 Speaker 1: and what you saw last week, Againt Jacksonville, this will 449 00:20:15,720 --> 00:20:18,960 Speaker 1: be a much better run effort by Atlanta. I think 450 00:20:18,960 --> 00:20:21,280 Speaker 1: that Arthur Smith told me post game that he thinks 451 00:20:21,320 --> 00:20:23,600 Speaker 1: they're improving dramatically in the run game, albeit they didn't 452 00:20:23,640 --> 00:20:24,800 Speaker 1: run it very well in the second half of this 453 00:20:24,880 --> 00:20:26,679 Speaker 1: last game. Yeah, you talked about it, Dave, You're not 454 00:20:26,760 --> 00:20:30,199 Speaker 1: gonna face against Vita Vea and and Dominican Sue and 455 00:20:30,280 --> 00:20:33,520 Speaker 1: Jason Pierre Paul every week in the NFL. Not to 456 00:20:33,600 --> 00:20:36,280 Speaker 1: say that Carolina doesn't have some dudes, as you outlined, 457 00:20:36,320 --> 00:20:38,800 Speaker 1: there's still some good players. But if they can get 458 00:20:38,840 --> 00:20:41,280 Speaker 1: Cordarrell Patterson and Mike Davis to rip off a couple 459 00:20:41,320 --> 00:20:43,640 Speaker 1: of runs like they did against Tampa DJ, what does 460 00:20:43,640 --> 00:20:46,120 Speaker 1: that do for Atlanta to give them the best chance 461 00:20:46,160 --> 00:20:47,920 Speaker 1: to stay balanced and win this game. Well, I think 462 00:20:47,920 --> 00:20:50,280 Speaker 1: the number one thing, it allows you to protect the 463 00:20:50,400 --> 00:20:52,760 Speaker 1: quarterback a little bit better because now the defense is 464 00:20:52,800 --> 00:20:55,000 Speaker 1: forced me have to stop the run. You get a 465 00:20:55,040 --> 00:20:58,440 Speaker 1: lot of maybe more guys coming up and being more 466 00:20:58,480 --> 00:21:00,159 Speaker 1: passed as far as not trying to get too far 467 00:21:00,160 --> 00:21:01,800 Speaker 1: a field because of the run game, and if you 468 00:21:01,800 --> 00:21:05,520 Speaker 1: can run the football agent, I mean, this was we mentioned. 469 00:21:05,520 --> 00:21:06,960 Speaker 1: We've said a couple of times that unit was a 470 00:21:06,960 --> 00:21:09,359 Speaker 1: little bit special that we played in last week, and 471 00:21:09,560 --> 00:21:12,200 Speaker 1: five sacks is never acceptable. But this is a ball 472 00:21:12,200 --> 00:21:14,040 Speaker 1: game where I feel like the offensive line will take 473 00:21:14,080 --> 00:21:17,000 Speaker 1: the onus to say we have to protect our quarterback, 474 00:21:17,119 --> 00:21:19,400 Speaker 1: we have any galls about us, We're gonna make sure 475 00:21:19,440 --> 00:21:21,800 Speaker 1: that does not happen again. I expect they're better performers. 476 00:21:22,040 --> 00:21:23,600 Speaker 1: But if we can get the run game going, it 477 00:21:23,680 --> 00:21:26,600 Speaker 1: just adds everything else to what Arthur Smith wants to do. 478 00:21:26,640 --> 00:21:28,760 Speaker 1: It's something that we've seen all year long, and Author 479 00:21:28,800 --> 00:21:30,640 Speaker 1: Smith wants you to be able to run the football 480 00:21:30,720 --> 00:21:33,280 Speaker 1: because you have so many things that can compliment the 481 00:21:33,359 --> 00:21:35,680 Speaker 1: run game that helps your offense. And then you're able 482 00:21:35,680 --> 00:21:36,879 Speaker 1: to push the ball down the field and then you're 483 00:21:36,920 --> 00:21:38,960 Speaker 1: able to get the matchups you want. Then you start 484 00:21:39,000 --> 00:21:41,480 Speaker 1: to get the one on ones where Kyle Pitts can win, 485 00:21:41,600 --> 00:21:44,119 Speaker 1: where you know Russ had where eleven catches in the 486 00:21:44,119 --> 00:21:46,520 Speaker 1: ball game, he continue to be that guy that can 487 00:21:46,760 --> 00:21:49,480 Speaker 1: you know, maybe create some separation on the outside, and 488 00:21:49,480 --> 00:21:51,720 Speaker 1: now you protect your quarterback. So the run game is 489 00:21:51,720 --> 00:21:55,160 Speaker 1: crucial to a lot of the success for this Findings offense. Dave, 490 00:21:55,240 --> 00:21:56,600 Speaker 1: let me ask you this question real quick. Out of 491 00:21:56,600 --> 00:22:00,600 Speaker 1: your experience Carolina coming off of buy and there's always that, oh, 492 00:22:00,640 --> 00:22:02,399 Speaker 1: it's the bye week, it's a chance to get our 493 00:22:02,440 --> 00:22:05,159 Speaker 1: players healthy. Can you truly get anybody healthy at this 494 00:22:05,200 --> 00:22:07,000 Speaker 1: point in the season when you're in December. If you 495 00:22:07,080 --> 00:22:09,120 Speaker 1: got a guy a little bit nicked, you know, obviously 496 00:22:09,119 --> 00:22:10,879 Speaker 1: you get by a week you've you've been through that. 497 00:22:10,920 --> 00:22:12,800 Speaker 1: We've all been through that having played. If you can 498 00:22:12,840 --> 00:22:14,960 Speaker 1: get a week off, you get through it. But let's 499 00:22:14,960 --> 00:22:16,879 Speaker 1: face it, these guys just weren't sitting at home playing 500 00:22:16,920 --> 00:22:19,200 Speaker 1: on the couch. There. They were in the weight room, 501 00:22:19,240 --> 00:22:22,280 Speaker 1: they were in training, they were practicing even though they 502 00:22:22,280 --> 00:22:23,800 Speaker 1: didn't have a game. So it's not like they were 503 00:22:23,840 --> 00:22:26,400 Speaker 1: just down and to do anything. But you can minimize 504 00:22:26,440 --> 00:22:27,960 Speaker 1: on the damage of not having to line up the 505 00:22:28,000 --> 00:22:30,280 Speaker 1: following week. So if you've got a few guys nicked, 506 00:22:30,560 --> 00:22:32,600 Speaker 1: I think you feel better that next week. But that's 507 00:22:32,600 --> 00:22:34,960 Speaker 1: not bringing Christian McCaffrey back, as you just said, and 508 00:22:35,040 --> 00:22:37,439 Speaker 1: he's the key guy for them. He's just they're different 509 00:22:37,440 --> 00:22:39,119 Speaker 1: with him on the field. He won't be on the 510 00:22:39,119 --> 00:22:41,280 Speaker 1: field in this game. Yeah, we talked about that. It's 511 00:22:41,320 --> 00:22:43,480 Speaker 1: the Atlanta is not going to face the same defense. 512 00:22:43,600 --> 00:22:45,720 Speaker 1: They're not going to face the same offense either. They're 513 00:22:45,720 --> 00:22:47,680 Speaker 1: not going to face an offense that has the weapons, 514 00:22:47,800 --> 00:22:50,119 Speaker 1: most notably like Tom Brady and his ability to just 515 00:22:50,240 --> 00:22:52,479 Speaker 1: march the football down the field. Guys, we didn't talk 516 00:22:52,480 --> 00:22:55,320 Speaker 1: about it a whole lot, but seventy percent of your 517 00:22:55,320 --> 00:22:58,840 Speaker 1: passes when you throw it fifty one times is truly impressive. 518 00:22:58,880 --> 00:23:01,840 Speaker 1: And right, here's one other thing. I mean to cut 519 00:23:01,840 --> 00:23:04,120 Speaker 1: you off there, But when you're thinking about this game 520 00:23:04,119 --> 00:23:06,600 Speaker 1: and thinking about how it's going to be different, how 521 00:23:06,640 --> 00:23:09,520 Speaker 1: many times have we seen Number one get up for 522 00:23:09,560 --> 00:23:13,240 Speaker 1: this game because it's the Falcons, because it's his hometown 523 00:23:13,640 --> 00:23:16,680 Speaker 1: and his last performance was five of twenty one. I mean, yeah, 524 00:23:17,200 --> 00:23:20,359 Speaker 1: he understands that this is his maybe his last opportunity 525 00:23:20,520 --> 00:23:22,760 Speaker 1: in the NFL to show that he can be a 526 00:23:22,800 --> 00:23:25,760 Speaker 1: star in this league. And he's gonna play against the Falcons, 527 00:23:25,800 --> 00:23:28,760 Speaker 1: the hometown team that Hey, let's be honest, he's gonna 528 00:23:28,760 --> 00:23:31,440 Speaker 1: be excited to play against. You. Expect a totally different 529 00:23:31,480 --> 00:23:33,560 Speaker 1: cam in his ball game too as well. I would 530 00:23:33,600 --> 00:23:38,240 Speaker 1: agree with that. I also say tomorrow, so we'll see 531 00:23:38,280 --> 00:23:41,240 Speaker 1: what happened. Yeah, we'll see which memory that he uh, 532 00:23:41,760 --> 00:23:45,640 Speaker 1: he holds onto coming into this game. So that'll wrap 533 00:23:45,640 --> 00:23:47,520 Speaker 1: it up. We will be back next week to talk 534 00:23:47,560 --> 00:23:50,520 Speaker 1: about that game and for all the Falcons fans watching, 535 00:23:50,520 --> 00:23:53,400 Speaker 1: hopefully it's a victory over the Carolina Panthers to help 536 00:23:53,880 --> 00:23:56,480 Speaker 1: get that one of three that you talked about and 537 00:23:56,560 --> 00:23:59,680 Speaker 1: to get them in better position as the postseason years. 538 00:23:59,680 --> 00:24:02,520 Speaker 1: As we continue through December. Football feels like we got 539 00:24:02,560 --> 00:24:04,600 Speaker 1: this thing started just a few weeks or guys, we're 540 00:24:04,640 --> 00:24:07,480 Speaker 1: in December here, right Time flies when you're having fun, 541 00:24:07,560 --> 00:24:10,080 Speaker 1: all right, that's gonna do it. Here on the Falcons Audible, 542 00:24:10,119 --> 00:24:12,879 Speaker 1: presented by AT and T, we thank you for watching 543 00:24:13,080 --> 00:24:16,040 Speaker 1: all the different venues that you get your podcast Atlanta 544 00:24:16,080 --> 00:24:20,399 Speaker 1: Falcons dot Com, Spotify, YouTube, iTunes, all the above, or 545 00:24:20,440 --> 00:24:22,600 Speaker 1: wherever else you might find them. I don't know wherever 546 00:24:22,640 --> 00:24:27,720 Speaker 1: else is, but that's four pretty good options. Hey, speaking 547 00:24:27,720 --> 00:24:29,840 Speaker 1: of which, on behalf of Shock and Arch. Thanks guys, 548 00:24:29,880 --> 00:24:32,119 Speaker 1: I'm darkly. We'll see you next time. Right here on 549 00:24:32,119 --> 00:24:34,119 Speaker 1: the Falcons Audible, presented by AT and T,