1 00:00:03,840 --> 00:00:06,600 Speaker 1: Dirty Birds. What's up and welcome to another edition of 2 00:00:06,640 --> 00:00:10,119 Speaker 1: Falcons Final Whistle presented by Zaxby's I'm your Host Will McFadden, 3 00:00:10,200 --> 00:00:13,520 Speaker 1: joined as always by Tory mclaney and Tarren Walk. We 4 00:00:13,560 --> 00:00:16,200 Speaker 1: are here. It's week one. They have a game on Sunday. 5 00:00:16,200 --> 00:00:19,480 Speaker 1: They are welcoming the Pittsburgh Steelers hu Mercedes Been Stadium, 6 00:00:19,520 --> 00:00:23,320 Speaker 1: one pm kickoff. Karen, what are you just most excited 7 00:00:23,360 --> 00:00:26,040 Speaker 1: about to have football actually mean something on Sunday? 8 00:00:26,960 --> 00:00:28,639 Speaker 2: It means we're going to be able to see what 9 00:00:28,800 --> 00:00:32,199 Speaker 2: this team is actually able to do, as like the 10 00:00:32,240 --> 00:00:35,839 Speaker 2: starting unit rather than some starters here and there or 11 00:00:35,880 --> 00:00:38,720 Speaker 2: the backups, and actually see full tackles and whatnot, like 12 00:00:38,800 --> 00:00:41,320 Speaker 2: all out effort for the first time, because I know 13 00:00:41,360 --> 00:00:43,800 Speaker 2: even in the skirmage it is just a tease. 14 00:00:44,200 --> 00:00:46,040 Speaker 3: This is not the tease. This is the entree. 15 00:00:46,320 --> 00:00:48,239 Speaker 1: This is the real thing, Toriy. I know, football like 16 00:00:48,400 --> 00:00:51,680 Speaker 1: pulses through your veins. So when you just get that 17 00:00:51,800 --> 00:00:55,360 Speaker 1: season kickoff, like what is it about the whole pageantry 18 00:00:55,440 --> 00:00:57,360 Speaker 1: and just everything that really speaks to you? 19 00:00:57,640 --> 00:00:59,520 Speaker 4: It can be a very loaded question because this is 20 00:00:59,560 --> 00:01:01,440 Speaker 4: what I eat, sleep, and breathe. You know, this is 21 00:01:01,440 --> 00:01:04,280 Speaker 4: what I've always known, and I love football. I love 22 00:01:04,319 --> 00:01:06,000 Speaker 4: the game, I love the stories of the game, I 23 00:01:06,040 --> 00:01:09,080 Speaker 4: love the people of the game. And to finally have 24 00:01:09,200 --> 00:01:11,920 Speaker 4: it come to a head with the start of the 25 00:01:11,959 --> 00:01:15,680 Speaker 4: regular season after let's be honest, a very boring preseason 26 00:01:16,440 --> 00:01:20,320 Speaker 4: on the field, not off the field. Off season different, 27 00:01:21,040 --> 00:01:23,560 Speaker 4: very very busy off season. I feel like it's been 28 00:01:23,600 --> 00:01:25,840 Speaker 4: the busiest off season that I've had since I started 29 00:01:25,880 --> 00:01:28,960 Speaker 4: covering the Falcons in twenty twenty. And I'm including when 30 00:01:29,080 --> 00:01:32,080 Speaker 4: Julio got traded. I'm including when Matt Ryan got traded. 31 00:01:32,120 --> 00:01:36,440 Speaker 4: Like this off season was a gigantic off season. To 32 00:01:36,560 --> 00:01:40,760 Speaker 4: Terrence point, you finally have the opportunity to see what 33 00:01:41,000 --> 00:01:45,800 Speaker 4: this roster can do, and that's very, very exciting. It's 34 00:01:45,800 --> 00:01:48,680 Speaker 4: something people should be, I think, excited for at the 35 00:01:48,760 --> 00:01:50,880 Speaker 4: end of the day. These these players have said, they've 36 00:01:50,880 --> 00:01:52,400 Speaker 4: said it ad nausea and they said it all the 37 00:01:52,440 --> 00:01:55,800 Speaker 4: time that we feel like we have a good roster, 38 00:01:56,440 --> 00:01:58,160 Speaker 4: but we have to go out and prove it. We 39 00:01:58,200 --> 00:02:00,560 Speaker 4: have to go out and earn it. And and something 40 00:02:00,600 --> 00:02:02,520 Speaker 4: that has come up with Kirk Cousins, and I think 41 00:02:02,560 --> 00:02:05,040 Speaker 4: it was even Matt Ryan who who first said this 42 00:02:05,200 --> 00:02:07,920 Speaker 4: is like you have to earn the respect of this 43 00:02:08,000 --> 00:02:08,560 Speaker 4: fan base. 44 00:02:08,760 --> 00:02:09,080 Speaker 3: M hm. 45 00:02:09,440 --> 00:02:11,800 Speaker 4: This fan base is very excited to see what this 46 00:02:11,880 --> 00:02:14,680 Speaker 4: team is going to do in twenty twenty four, and 47 00:02:14,800 --> 00:02:17,880 Speaker 4: this team specifically are looking to go out and earn 48 00:02:17,919 --> 00:02:20,080 Speaker 4: the respect of this fan base, not just the league, 49 00:02:20,400 --> 00:02:21,960 Speaker 4: but here at home in Atlanta. 50 00:02:22,440 --> 00:02:25,160 Speaker 1: Yeah. I mean, you're absolutely right. And I have seen 51 00:02:25,200 --> 00:02:28,959 Speaker 1: this fan base rally behind some of the most exciting 52 00:02:29,000 --> 00:02:32,680 Speaker 1: teams that this organization has ever had and make both 53 00:02:32,720 --> 00:02:36,359 Speaker 1: the Georgia Dome and Mercedes Benz Stadium look like one 54 00:02:36,360 --> 00:02:39,200 Speaker 1: of the toughest environments in the league. So it's possible. 55 00:02:39,240 --> 00:02:42,040 Speaker 1: And the hope is that with a new head coach, 56 00:02:42,080 --> 00:02:44,639 Speaker 1: with a new quarterback, with kind of a new culture, 57 00:02:44,760 --> 00:02:46,960 Speaker 1: it feels like in place that that is what fans 58 00:02:47,000 --> 00:02:48,799 Speaker 1: are going to see on Sunday, and as the season 59 00:02:48,840 --> 00:02:51,280 Speaker 1: progresses along, they're going to be given more and more 60 00:02:51,280 --> 00:02:53,800 Speaker 1: of those reasons to really galvanize. I think behind this 61 00:02:53,840 --> 00:02:56,040 Speaker 1: group and it's a really exciting group. And I mean 62 00:02:56,360 --> 00:02:58,360 Speaker 1: right out of the gates, Taran, is there a better 63 00:02:58,800 --> 00:03:02,440 Speaker 1: kind of opponent to welcome into Mercedes Benz Stadium than 64 00:03:02,520 --> 00:03:05,040 Speaker 1: the Steelers. I mean, it's not an opponent that the 65 00:03:05,080 --> 00:03:08,880 Speaker 1: Falcons see a ton, right, they don't face AFC opponents 66 00:03:09,000 --> 00:03:10,800 Speaker 1: very often. Yeah, let's go our. 67 00:03:10,720 --> 00:03:14,960 Speaker 2: All time record between the Falcons and the Steelers two 68 00:03:15,000 --> 00:03:15,839 Speaker 2: fifteen and one. 69 00:03:16,680 --> 00:03:18,079 Speaker 1: Wow, So there we go. 70 00:03:18,240 --> 00:03:20,320 Speaker 2: Just did a lot of heavy stats dives and so 71 00:03:20,400 --> 00:03:22,720 Speaker 2: stay tuned for that because I was just looking at 72 00:03:22,720 --> 00:03:24,880 Speaker 2: like Week one opener, but then I was like, I'm 73 00:03:24,960 --> 00:03:28,240 Speaker 2: kind of curious how they look all time. Yeah, I'm 74 00:03:28,240 --> 00:03:29,960 Speaker 2: not going to give too much away from that story 75 00:03:30,040 --> 00:03:30,399 Speaker 2: right now. 76 00:03:30,440 --> 00:03:33,000 Speaker 1: How many times have they played in Week one? One's 77 00:03:33,040 --> 00:03:34,760 Speaker 1: only what was the record in that game? 78 00:03:35,160 --> 00:03:35,960 Speaker 3: The Steelers one? 79 00:03:36,040 --> 00:03:38,080 Speaker 1: So we're going to even up the score on Sunday. 80 00:03:38,320 --> 00:03:42,240 Speaker 1: There we go. Spin it positively, No, but I think 81 00:03:42,280 --> 00:03:45,640 Speaker 1: that again, there's familiarity, even though this is an outside 82 00:03:45,680 --> 00:03:49,560 Speaker 1: the conference opponents when you look at this Pittsburgh team, 83 00:03:49,920 --> 00:03:52,080 Speaker 1: like what about it are you most focused on? 84 00:03:53,200 --> 00:03:54,960 Speaker 4: For me, I feel like we know a little bit 85 00:03:54,960 --> 00:03:57,280 Speaker 4: more about the defense than the offense when it comes 86 00:03:57,280 --> 00:04:00,480 Speaker 4: to this Pittsburgh Steelers team. And that's because you do 87 00:04:00,720 --> 00:04:03,560 Speaker 4: feel like you know what TJ. Watt is, you know 88 00:04:03,600 --> 00:04:05,200 Speaker 4: what type of game record it is. There are a 89 00:04:05,240 --> 00:04:09,480 Speaker 4: few guys in that defense that you they've been staples 90 00:04:09,640 --> 00:04:12,000 Speaker 4: for the Steelers for a little bit now, So you 91 00:04:12,360 --> 00:04:15,360 Speaker 4: talking about that physicality they've shown that year in year out. 92 00:04:15,360 --> 00:04:19,000 Speaker 4: It's this offense with Arthur Smith as the offensive coordinator, 93 00:04:19,400 --> 00:04:24,000 Speaker 4: with Russell Wilson under center, potential packages for Justin Fields, 94 00:04:24,040 --> 00:04:26,560 Speaker 4: who the heck knows. The Falcons have prepared for it, 95 00:04:26,600 --> 00:04:29,880 Speaker 4: according to Raheem Morris, after Mike Tomlin said, you know, 96 00:04:29,960 --> 00:04:34,000 Speaker 4: you should prepare for this. But I say all that 97 00:04:34,040 --> 00:04:38,280 Speaker 4: to say that even though you it's funny because there's 98 00:04:38,279 --> 00:04:42,400 Speaker 4: this weird juxtaposition to where Jesse Bates on Wednesday said, 99 00:04:42,440 --> 00:04:44,200 Speaker 4: you know, I feel like we know what this team 100 00:04:44,279 --> 00:04:46,520 Speaker 4: is coming in. We know that they're going to play physical. 101 00:04:46,640 --> 00:04:49,159 Speaker 4: That's their brand of football. That's what Arthur Smith preached 102 00:04:49,200 --> 00:04:51,839 Speaker 4: to the Atlanta teams that he coached, that we're going 103 00:04:51,880 --> 00:04:54,200 Speaker 4: to out physical people. So he's like, I know that 104 00:04:54,200 --> 00:04:57,640 Speaker 4: that's his calling card. I know that that's Mike Tollman's 105 00:04:57,680 --> 00:05:01,560 Speaker 4: calling card. The problem is, it's like, Okay, what do 106 00:05:01,600 --> 00:05:05,920 Speaker 4: you look at to break down this Steeler's offense? Particularly 107 00:05:06,200 --> 00:05:09,960 Speaker 4: Do you look at Russell Wilson as a Bronco? Do 108 00:05:10,000 --> 00:05:12,599 Speaker 4: you look at Russell Wilson as a Seahawk? Do you 109 00:05:12,640 --> 00:05:16,120 Speaker 4: look at Atlanta's offense from twenty twenty one, two or 110 00:05:16,160 --> 00:05:19,120 Speaker 4: three with Arthur Smith play calling. Do you look at 111 00:05:19,120 --> 00:05:22,520 Speaker 4: what Justin Fields did with the Bears? Like what are 112 00:05:22,560 --> 00:05:26,000 Speaker 4: you looking at? Because there are so many different pieces 113 00:05:26,040 --> 00:05:28,480 Speaker 4: and you can get lost in the sauce, to use 114 00:05:28,520 --> 00:05:30,840 Speaker 4: that term, if you're not careful. And I think that's 115 00:05:30,839 --> 00:05:34,560 Speaker 4: something that over conversations that you have with some of 116 00:05:34,600 --> 00:05:36,880 Speaker 4: these leaders of this team, it's like, Yeah, you can 117 00:05:36,920 --> 00:05:38,920 Speaker 4: prepare as much as you can, but at the end 118 00:05:38,920 --> 00:05:42,680 Speaker 4: of the day, it's all about enacting your will and 119 00:05:42,720 --> 00:05:46,400 Speaker 4: playing your brand of football, playing to your strengths in 120 00:05:46,440 --> 00:05:48,000 Speaker 4: these early weeks of the season. 121 00:05:48,640 --> 00:05:50,599 Speaker 1: Yeah, and that's something that you know, I kind of 122 00:05:50,640 --> 00:05:53,920 Speaker 1: asked Rady today that type of question, right, like, when 123 00:05:53,960 --> 00:05:57,200 Speaker 1: you you can get over extended almost, I think mentally 124 00:05:57,279 --> 00:05:59,320 Speaker 1: and in your preparation when you try to focus on 125 00:05:59,400 --> 00:06:01,200 Speaker 1: what you think a team is going to do or 126 00:06:01,240 --> 00:06:04,200 Speaker 1: what you expect to see as opposed to early in 127 00:06:04,200 --> 00:06:06,320 Speaker 1: the year really just playing your brand of football and 128 00:06:06,360 --> 00:06:09,760 Speaker 1: building your own team identity. And I know that this 129 00:06:09,880 --> 00:06:13,000 Speaker 1: offseason and really in recent weeks with the addition to 130 00:06:13,040 --> 00:06:15,560 Speaker 1: Matthew Judon, a lot of people have been focused on 131 00:06:15,600 --> 00:06:17,960 Speaker 1: kind of the Falcons fronts and the defensive line, and 132 00:06:17,960 --> 00:06:21,000 Speaker 1: it was one of the standout groups all throughout training camp. 133 00:06:21,279 --> 00:06:22,960 Speaker 1: When you look at Pittsburgh and you look at their 134 00:06:22,960 --> 00:06:24,960 Speaker 1: offensive line and they've got a couple of guys banged 135 00:06:25,040 --> 00:06:27,800 Speaker 1: up there, and it's a group that some people have 136 00:06:27,880 --> 00:06:31,120 Speaker 1: some questions about. Taren, what do you think Atlanta's defensive 137 00:06:31,160 --> 00:06:34,320 Speaker 1: line can maybe accomplish on Sunday and hopefully kind of 138 00:06:34,440 --> 00:06:36,599 Speaker 1: jumpstart maybe a good season to come. 139 00:06:36,880 --> 00:06:39,400 Speaker 2: Instead of worrying more so about the Steelers, because I 140 00:06:39,400 --> 00:06:42,000 Speaker 2: think it does matter who's behind center. I know it 141 00:06:42,040 --> 00:06:45,720 Speaker 2: came out today that Russell Wilson was limited possibly, so 142 00:06:46,640 --> 00:06:49,080 Speaker 2: you're still question mark back there. I think for the 143 00:06:49,160 --> 00:06:53,920 Speaker 2: defensive line it matters more so of this first game together, 144 00:06:54,160 --> 00:06:56,479 Speaker 2: just asserting their dominance as a whole. I mean, you 145 00:06:56,520 --> 00:06:59,480 Speaker 2: have Grady Jarrett back, you have David Onyamata back, You're 146 00:06:59,520 --> 00:07:01,760 Speaker 2: in a half, have Matthew Judon, You're going to have 147 00:07:01,880 --> 00:07:05,000 Speaker 2: Lorenzo Carter. You're gonna have other options too who will 148 00:07:05,080 --> 00:07:08,839 Speaker 2: likely cycle in. So it's kind of like, what does 149 00:07:08,880 --> 00:07:12,280 Speaker 2: this group look like alive together? I think that's more 150 00:07:12,320 --> 00:07:14,560 Speaker 2: so it and how can they click and be on 151 00:07:14,640 --> 00:07:18,560 Speaker 2: the same page. As opposed to maybe worrying about all right, 152 00:07:18,600 --> 00:07:21,240 Speaker 2: who's opposite of me, It's like who's next to me? 153 00:07:21,440 --> 00:07:22,880 Speaker 3: And what are we doing as a unit. 154 00:07:23,160 --> 00:07:25,400 Speaker 1: Let's touch on the injury situation a little bit. Toy 155 00:07:25,440 --> 00:07:26,400 Speaker 1: you want to run through that. 156 00:07:27,000 --> 00:07:29,840 Speaker 4: Yeah, So Tarren mentioned I think the big one for 157 00:07:30,040 --> 00:07:33,200 Speaker 4: the Steelers. The Steelers have actually quite a view on 158 00:07:33,240 --> 00:07:38,960 Speaker 4: their injury report. Guys like Roman Wilson, Russell Wilson, Jalen Warren, 159 00:07:39,680 --> 00:07:40,800 Speaker 4: Darnold Washington. 160 00:07:41,000 --> 00:07:42,800 Speaker 5: There are a lot of important. 161 00:07:42,480 --> 00:07:47,200 Speaker 4: Pieces that are here listed here that are some are limited, 162 00:07:47,240 --> 00:07:48,360 Speaker 4: some did not participate. 163 00:07:48,480 --> 00:07:51,120 Speaker 5: We're recording this on Thursday, so when. 164 00:07:50,960 --> 00:07:53,640 Speaker 4: You're listening to this on Friday, it'll be pretty close 165 00:07:53,680 --> 00:07:55,600 Speaker 4: to probably when the game report comes out, and that'll 166 00:07:55,600 --> 00:07:58,320 Speaker 4: be really telling for the Falcon side. They're going into 167 00:07:58,360 --> 00:08:01,960 Speaker 4: this week pretty hell healthy for the most part. Kyle pits, 168 00:08:02,040 --> 00:08:05,960 Speaker 4: Nate Lamon, and Antonio Hamilton have been limited at different 169 00:08:05,960 --> 00:08:09,840 Speaker 4: parts over the course of Wednesday and Thursday. 170 00:08:10,240 --> 00:08:12,360 Speaker 5: It was interesting everybody made a huge. 171 00:08:12,200 --> 00:08:15,440 Speaker 4: Deal about Kyle Pitts and his hamstring injury that he 172 00:08:15,480 --> 00:08:18,880 Speaker 4: was limited for for Wednesday's practice, and he goes on 173 00:08:18,880 --> 00:08:22,960 Speaker 4: Twitter and is essentially like dang like I just didn't 174 00:08:22,960 --> 00:08:25,239 Speaker 4: have two plays in the rack, like and y'all acting 175 00:08:25,400 --> 00:08:28,160 Speaker 4: like this is some huge deal, And that's kind of 176 00:08:28,160 --> 00:08:28,800 Speaker 4: how I felt too. 177 00:08:28,840 --> 00:08:29,560 Speaker 5: I thought that the. 178 00:08:31,040 --> 00:08:33,560 Speaker 4: Nationally it was made a much bigger deal than it 179 00:08:33,720 --> 00:08:36,760 Speaker 4: was from an internal standpoint. Nate Lamon is still working 180 00:08:36,800 --> 00:08:40,560 Speaker 4: through a quad injury that he sustained in preseason practices. 181 00:08:40,920 --> 00:08:43,200 Speaker 4: Something to monitor, but Troy Anderson and Kaden Ellis are 182 00:08:43,200 --> 00:08:46,480 Speaker 4: expected to be the starters insidelnebacker. And someone who showed 183 00:08:46,520 --> 00:08:50,400 Speaker 4: up on Thursday as a limited participant was Antonio Hamilton 184 00:08:50,520 --> 00:08:54,439 Speaker 4: Senior with a groin injury. Something to monitor as well, 185 00:08:54,480 --> 00:08:56,760 Speaker 4: because he wasn't there on Wednesday, or he wasn't on 186 00:08:56,760 --> 00:08:58,439 Speaker 4: the injury report on Wednesday. 187 00:08:58,120 --> 00:09:01,000 Speaker 1: Right, Yeah, he wasn't listed there, so that that would 188 00:09:01,000 --> 00:09:01,920 Speaker 1: be a new injury. 189 00:09:02,120 --> 00:09:05,640 Speaker 4: And he's the backup nickel behind the Alford, so important 190 00:09:05,640 --> 00:09:06,720 Speaker 4: depth depth piece. 191 00:09:07,160 --> 00:09:10,240 Speaker 1: Yeah, so one one edition on thursdayble one upgrade with 192 00:09:10,320 --> 00:09:13,800 Speaker 1: Kyle Pitts, you know, getting that full participation, which is important, right, 193 00:09:13,840 --> 00:09:15,760 Speaker 1: I mean likes he's obviously going to be a huge 194 00:09:15,760 --> 00:09:17,760 Speaker 1: part of this. Hopefully, you know, we can see what 195 00:09:17,800 --> 00:09:19,640 Speaker 1: the status of Nate Laman is going to be. But 196 00:09:19,920 --> 00:09:23,360 Speaker 1: if there is a position inside linebacker. You know you've 197 00:09:23,400 --> 00:09:25,720 Speaker 1: got a little bit of depth there and this doesn't 198 00:09:25,760 --> 00:09:28,200 Speaker 1: appear to be anything too too serious. Again, given the 199 00:09:28,200 --> 00:09:32,959 Speaker 1: limited participation status for Nate Laman, we are going to 200 00:09:33,240 --> 00:09:36,280 Speaker 1: wrap up kind of our preview talk, but honestly, if 201 00:09:36,320 --> 00:09:40,760 Speaker 1: you guys have any like want more preview discussion for 202 00:09:40,840 --> 00:09:42,280 Speaker 1: this game, I would encourage you to go check out 203 00:09:42,320 --> 00:09:44,760 Speaker 1: Falcons Audible. They did an incredible kind of deep dive 204 00:09:44,840 --> 00:09:47,480 Speaker 1: into some of the x's and o's and matchups and 205 00:09:47,520 --> 00:09:52,120 Speaker 1: what to expect. Today's episode of Falcons Final Whistle is 206 00:09:52,280 --> 00:09:55,559 Speaker 1: brought to you by Zaxby's. And after a long game, 207 00:09:55,920 --> 00:09:58,200 Speaker 1: when I'm tired and I need to refuel, I turned 208 00:09:58,200 --> 00:10:03,120 Speaker 1: to Zaxbie's. They're marinated, handbreaded, fried to perfection chicken fingers. 209 00:10:03,400 --> 00:10:06,480 Speaker 1: They hit the spot every time. Get yours with seasoned 210 00:10:06,520 --> 00:10:10,360 Speaker 1: crinkle fries, a nice drink in whichever of their twelve 211 00:10:10,400 --> 00:10:13,640 Speaker 1: signature sauces you're feeling at the moment, but it always 212 00:10:13,760 --> 00:10:16,600 Speaker 1: hits just right. So next time you need to refuel, 213 00:10:17,120 --> 00:10:22,040 Speaker 1: go get yourself some Zaxby's. Let's predict how this season 214 00:10:22,120 --> 00:10:25,559 Speaker 1: might play out. We've got some superlatives which usually come 215 00:10:25,600 --> 00:10:27,880 Speaker 1: on the back end of a season, right, it's looking 216 00:10:27,960 --> 00:10:30,800 Speaker 1: back and it's who did X or who surprised the 217 00:10:30,840 --> 00:10:35,480 Speaker 1: most or whatever, So exactly right, Yeah, I think that 218 00:10:35,720 --> 00:10:38,560 Speaker 1: by getting ahead of that, it'll be fun to then 219 00:10:38,600 --> 00:10:40,840 Speaker 1: when the season wraps up, look back and we can 220 00:10:40,880 --> 00:10:43,640 Speaker 1: see how we did. So we're going to start. We've 221 00:10:43,640 --> 00:10:46,680 Speaker 1: got five here. We'll start with storyline that we didn't 222 00:10:46,720 --> 00:10:48,640 Speaker 1: see coming. So when all is said and done at 223 00:10:48,640 --> 00:10:50,960 Speaker 1: the end of the year, what will have come to 224 00:10:51,000 --> 00:10:55,360 Speaker 1: pass that right now, we just have no concept of, right, 225 00:10:55,400 --> 00:10:57,320 Speaker 1: And I think Nate Lanman last year is a great 226 00:10:57,360 --> 00:10:59,480 Speaker 1: example of what we're talking about. Somebody who just didn't 227 00:10:59,480 --> 00:11:01,640 Speaker 1: see coming who ends up being a key figure for 228 00:11:01,679 --> 00:11:04,080 Speaker 1: this team. So, tory, what is the storyline that we 229 00:11:04,400 --> 00:11:07,199 Speaker 1: won't have seen coming? I think that Darnell Mooney will 230 00:11:07,200 --> 00:11:11,000 Speaker 1: be the Falcons leading receiver, whoa leading receiver. 231 00:11:10,720 --> 00:11:14,880 Speaker 4: Leading receiver? And there are reason why. I mean, these 232 00:11:14,920 --> 00:11:17,880 Speaker 4: are always just we're saying these in fun. You know, 233 00:11:18,000 --> 00:11:20,680 Speaker 4: this is not that perfect, right, Like, this is not 234 00:11:21,360 --> 00:11:24,160 Speaker 4: something that you know. If this doesn't happen, I'm gonna 235 00:11:24,160 --> 00:11:25,120 Speaker 4: be like, oh, toy. 236 00:11:25,000 --> 00:11:25,640 Speaker 5: She's an idiot. 237 00:11:25,679 --> 00:11:25,959 Speaker 1: Like that. 238 00:11:26,040 --> 00:11:29,040 Speaker 4: These are just things to get us thinking a little bit, 239 00:11:29,080 --> 00:11:32,000 Speaker 4: And I really do think that Darnell Mooney is going 240 00:11:32,040 --> 00:11:36,000 Speaker 4: to be a very very important figure in this offense. 241 00:11:36,320 --> 00:11:39,120 Speaker 4: I think is connection with Kirk Cousins is absolutely there. 242 00:11:39,240 --> 00:11:41,840 Speaker 4: I think that they really trust each other. You talk 243 00:11:41,840 --> 00:11:44,520 Speaker 4: about like you talk about them individually about the other one. 244 00:11:44,920 --> 00:11:47,720 Speaker 4: There is a lot of trust there. Darnald Mooney has 245 00:11:47,720 --> 00:11:50,280 Speaker 4: said time and time again, I know if I get 246 00:11:50,280 --> 00:11:52,480 Speaker 4: to my spot, the ball is gonna be there. 247 00:11:52,720 --> 00:11:53,880 Speaker 5: I have to do my job. 248 00:11:54,240 --> 00:11:55,880 Speaker 4: Then you on the other side, you have Kirk Cousins 249 00:11:55,920 --> 00:11:57,560 Speaker 4: being like, I know Darnal Mooney is going to get 250 00:11:57,559 --> 00:11:59,080 Speaker 4: to a spot. I gotta get it to him. Like 251 00:11:59,800 --> 00:12:02,080 Speaker 4: the there's something to be said about that. I know 252 00:12:02,200 --> 00:12:04,600 Speaker 4: that we're going to talk so and we should talk 253 00:12:04,679 --> 00:12:05,720 Speaker 4: so much about Drake London. 254 00:12:05,760 --> 00:12:06,760 Speaker 5: We should talk so much. 255 00:12:06,640 --> 00:12:10,839 Speaker 4: About Kyle Pitts, but don't forget about Darnell Mooney, because 256 00:12:10,880 --> 00:12:13,720 Speaker 4: I do think that, and maybe this is honestly to 257 00:12:14,000 --> 00:12:16,160 Speaker 4: his benefit that not a lot of people are talking 258 00:12:16,160 --> 00:12:19,560 Speaker 4: about him and are more focused on Kyle pits But 259 00:12:19,600 --> 00:12:24,959 Speaker 4: John Robinson, Tyler Algier, Drake London again, et cetera, et cetera. 260 00:12:25,800 --> 00:12:28,960 Speaker 4: Darnall Mooney matters to this offense, and I'm really excited 261 00:12:28,960 --> 00:12:29,559 Speaker 4: to see what he. 262 00:12:29,520 --> 00:12:32,079 Speaker 1: Does with that. I love that hot out of the gates. 263 00:12:32,320 --> 00:12:33,480 Speaker 1: All right, Saren, what's yut? 264 00:12:33,760 --> 00:12:35,880 Speaker 3: I'm gonna go with D'Angelo Malone popping off. 265 00:12:37,160 --> 00:12:40,800 Speaker 2: I know he was like the differentiator between all of 266 00:12:40,840 --> 00:12:44,240 Speaker 2: our fifty three man roster projections, and I put him 267 00:12:44,240 --> 00:12:47,000 Speaker 2: in there because of his special team strength. But there's 268 00:12:47,040 --> 00:12:49,920 Speaker 2: just like an inkling that I'm like, I see him 269 00:12:49,920 --> 00:12:52,679 Speaker 2: factoring into this defense too. I mean, I know he 270 00:12:52,960 --> 00:12:57,040 Speaker 2: spoke about his full time now roll with the linebacker position, 271 00:12:57,080 --> 00:12:59,200 Speaker 2: and I can just see him getting more comfortable and 272 00:12:59,240 --> 00:13:02,120 Speaker 2: growing and possibly being a weapon for them. So he's 273 00:13:02,160 --> 00:13:04,679 Speaker 2: like getting his toe in the water with special teams, 274 00:13:04,679 --> 00:13:06,640 Speaker 2: but I think he can do so much more. 275 00:13:06,960 --> 00:13:09,400 Speaker 1: Yeah, And I mean again, you look at where what 276 00:13:09,520 --> 00:13:12,079 Speaker 1: he did in college, and I think that this defensive style, 277 00:13:12,200 --> 00:13:14,920 Speaker 1: kind of a three to four front, absolutely suits him 278 00:13:14,920 --> 00:13:16,800 Speaker 1: a little bit better than what they had previously. So 279 00:13:16,840 --> 00:13:18,120 Speaker 1: You're right, he got his foot in the door with 280 00:13:18,160 --> 00:13:21,040 Speaker 1: special teams. That's how he's on the roster, and maybe 281 00:13:21,080 --> 00:13:23,760 Speaker 1: he can continue to ascend from there. So I love that. 282 00:13:23,880 --> 00:13:26,120 Speaker 1: Mine also involves kind of a young player that I 283 00:13:26,160 --> 00:13:29,440 Speaker 1: think fans may have put in the back of their 284 00:13:29,480 --> 00:13:31,640 Speaker 1: minds given some of the recent news, But that's Richie Grant. 285 00:13:31,720 --> 00:13:34,240 Speaker 1: I think Richie Grant is going to be way more 286 00:13:34,280 --> 00:13:37,640 Speaker 1: involved with this defense than people are expecting, certainly right 287 00:13:37,679 --> 00:13:41,320 Speaker 1: now in the aftermath of the Justin Simmons acquisition. But 288 00:13:42,040 --> 00:13:43,840 Speaker 1: you know, I was just thinking a lot about what 289 00:13:43,920 --> 00:13:46,920 Speaker 1: we saw Kevin King doing in that scrimmage on Wednesday, 290 00:13:46,960 --> 00:13:49,280 Speaker 1: in the different roles that he was kind of playing, 291 00:13:49,280 --> 00:13:51,520 Speaker 1: and they had some dime out there on the field 292 00:13:51,520 --> 00:13:53,280 Speaker 1: and they had him down in the box. Is like 293 00:13:53,320 --> 00:13:56,280 Speaker 1: a little bit of a big linebacker safety type, And 294 00:13:56,400 --> 00:13:58,760 Speaker 1: I think there is absolutely a world where you can 295 00:13:58,880 --> 00:14:01,760 Speaker 1: have Jesse Bay, It's Justin Simmons and Richie Grant on 296 00:14:01,800 --> 00:14:03,960 Speaker 1: the field at the same time and almost do a 297 00:14:04,040 --> 00:14:07,240 Speaker 1: mirror like Nickel look where you've got d Alford in 298 00:14:07,280 --> 00:14:08,959 Speaker 1: the slot on one side, you've got Richie Grant the 299 00:14:09,000 --> 00:14:10,439 Speaker 1: slot on the other side. You still have a too 300 00:14:10,480 --> 00:14:12,400 Speaker 1: high look. Like That's what I'm talking about with the 301 00:14:12,400 --> 00:14:14,719 Speaker 1: scheme and the creativity. You got a single linebacker there 302 00:14:14,720 --> 00:14:17,040 Speaker 1: in the middle, whether that's Kaden Ellis or Troy Anderson, Like, 303 00:14:17,600 --> 00:14:19,640 Speaker 1: there's just so much potential. But I think Richie Grant 304 00:14:19,760 --> 00:14:22,880 Speaker 1: is going to be a factor in that and the 305 00:14:22,920 --> 00:14:25,440 Speaker 1: reason why it can work as opposed to maybe like 306 00:14:25,960 --> 00:14:29,480 Speaker 1: a detriment to that. So he, I think, is just 307 00:14:29,520 --> 00:14:31,840 Speaker 1: going to be so involved. Karen will go back to 308 00:14:31,880 --> 00:14:33,160 Speaker 1: you and who is who do you have as a 309 00:14:33,160 --> 00:14:33,840 Speaker 1: breakout player? 310 00:14:33,920 --> 00:14:37,080 Speaker 2: Okay, So I almost switched last second because I've dangerous. 311 00:14:37,200 --> 00:14:38,760 Speaker 2: I don't want to say I forgot about a player 312 00:14:38,840 --> 00:14:41,600 Speaker 2: until you mentioned his name earlier, but I think I 313 00:14:41,640 --> 00:14:44,080 Speaker 2: didn't think of him because I saw his breakout season 314 00:14:44,200 --> 00:14:45,680 Speaker 2: already Kayden Ellis. 315 00:14:45,760 --> 00:14:47,160 Speaker 3: I was like, ooh, do I switch to Cayden? 316 00:14:47,520 --> 00:14:49,800 Speaker 2: But then I saw his breakout season two years ago 317 00:14:49,840 --> 00:14:54,600 Speaker 2: in New Orleans where he came from. 318 00:14:52,920 --> 00:14:55,000 Speaker 1: Not related obscurity. 319 00:14:54,480 --> 00:14:57,280 Speaker 2: Yeah, exactly, and then became as Tomorrow Davis called him 320 00:14:57,280 --> 00:14:59,120 Speaker 2: the best kept secret in the NFL. 321 00:14:59,360 --> 00:15:00,120 Speaker 1: When you get that. 322 00:15:00,240 --> 00:15:03,840 Speaker 2: Yeah, so he had that breakout moment already. So just 323 00:15:03,920 --> 00:15:06,920 Speaker 2: putting that out there first. But my player I'm reverting 324 00:15:06,960 --> 00:15:09,440 Speaker 2: back to the one I originally pigged is Avery Williams. 325 00:15:09,760 --> 00:15:14,240 Speaker 2: He's back from an injury. He has this opportunity with 326 00:15:14,280 --> 00:15:18,120 Speaker 2: the dynamic kickoff rule to really show like I'm back, 327 00:15:18,560 --> 00:15:21,320 Speaker 2: look what I can do, and I think the format 328 00:15:21,360 --> 00:15:24,880 Speaker 2: of it works well for his abilities, like he'll be 329 00:15:24,920 --> 00:15:27,360 Speaker 2: able to slice and dice down and. 330 00:15:28,360 --> 00:15:30,600 Speaker 3: Also he score a few special teams touchdowns. 331 00:15:30,600 --> 00:15:32,960 Speaker 2: I mean, I know, I've these are two special teams 332 00:15:33,000 --> 00:15:34,680 Speaker 2: things back to back for me, but I have been 333 00:15:34,680 --> 00:15:36,920 Speaker 2: a big proponent of it, and I'm just really excited 334 00:15:36,920 --> 00:15:41,920 Speaker 2: to see Avery take advantage of this change, also show 335 00:15:42,000 --> 00:15:44,720 Speaker 2: that he's back and healthy, and personally see him in 336 00:15:44,760 --> 00:15:48,080 Speaker 2: person too, because last year was my first year covering 337 00:15:48,080 --> 00:15:50,320 Speaker 2: the Falcons and he was injured and everyone talked about 338 00:15:50,640 --> 00:15:52,880 Speaker 2: how great of a returner he is. So I think 339 00:15:52,920 --> 00:15:55,800 Speaker 2: this is like the time for him to drop. 340 00:15:55,600 --> 00:15:57,720 Speaker 3: The mic and be like, I'm back, y'all shouldn't have 341 00:15:57,760 --> 00:15:58,760 Speaker 3: missed me? Yeah? 342 00:15:59,000 --> 00:16:00,480 Speaker 1: Or do you think he's going to be that much 343 00:16:00,480 --> 00:16:02,000 Speaker 1: an offense? And all this year? 344 00:16:02,480 --> 00:16:06,520 Speaker 4: I keep not unless something happens, I think to Ray McLeod, Okay, 345 00:16:07,320 --> 00:16:08,920 Speaker 4: I think I expect that answer. 346 00:16:09,560 --> 00:16:12,440 Speaker 1: Oh really, that's the clone. He's the clone of Ray 347 00:16:12,480 --> 00:16:13,040 Speaker 1: Ray kind of. 348 00:16:13,080 --> 00:16:15,360 Speaker 4: I know that Avery Williams works with the running backs, 349 00:16:15,360 --> 00:16:17,720 Speaker 4: but I actually don't similar skill sets. Yeah, but I 350 00:16:17,760 --> 00:16:20,480 Speaker 4: actually in my head in the way that I feel 351 00:16:20,520 --> 00:16:21,560 Speaker 4: like you could use him. 352 00:16:21,640 --> 00:16:25,440 Speaker 1: I feel like, yeah, a little bit the slot guy 353 00:16:25,640 --> 00:16:26,360 Speaker 1: kind of moving around. 354 00:16:26,400 --> 00:16:28,080 Speaker 5: That's kind of what I I know. 355 00:16:28,280 --> 00:16:30,360 Speaker 4: Again, I know his histories as a running back and 356 00:16:30,360 --> 00:16:32,360 Speaker 4: that's what he's been working as. But like, I just 357 00:16:32,440 --> 00:16:36,280 Speaker 4: feel like they the way that they move, the way 358 00:16:36,440 --> 00:16:38,800 Speaker 4: their kind of skill set, both kind of having this 359 00:16:39,240 --> 00:16:42,840 Speaker 4: special team's background in return man dial of play. 360 00:16:43,960 --> 00:16:45,080 Speaker 5: I don't I don't hate that. 361 00:16:45,400 --> 00:16:46,800 Speaker 1: So who's your up breakout player. 362 00:16:46,960 --> 00:16:48,960 Speaker 4: I'm going to stick with Darnel Mooney. I know that 363 00:16:49,040 --> 00:16:51,400 Speaker 4: I just went on like a two minute tangent on him, 364 00:16:51,480 --> 00:16:52,280 Speaker 4: but I do. 365 00:16:52,400 --> 00:16:53,680 Speaker 5: I just truly. 366 00:16:53,360 --> 00:16:58,360 Speaker 4: Believe that he's this dark horse of this offense, and 367 00:16:58,880 --> 00:17:02,840 Speaker 4: I I'm okay if people want to continue to overlook him. 368 00:17:02,840 --> 00:17:05,000 Speaker 5: I think he maybe would be okay with that as well. 369 00:17:05,480 --> 00:17:09,160 Speaker 4: You know, if they put if Drake London and Kyle 370 00:17:09,200 --> 00:17:13,320 Speaker 4: Pitts and they're kind of shading to them, spying on them, 371 00:17:13,359 --> 00:17:15,920 Speaker 4: Like I'm darn Al Mooney, I'm like, do it all 372 00:17:16,040 --> 00:17:18,440 Speaker 4: day long, all day long. Let me be the number 373 00:17:18,480 --> 00:17:21,720 Speaker 4: one receiver. That's cool for a number one tarket, I 374 00:17:21,720 --> 00:17:22,840 Speaker 4: should say yeah. 375 00:17:22,880 --> 00:17:25,760 Speaker 1: I mean, if he leads the team in yards this year, 376 00:17:25,840 --> 00:17:27,600 Speaker 1: we'll be playing a lot of Katie Perry at his 377 00:17:27,640 --> 00:17:30,840 Speaker 1: breakout party. So don't you worry about that because of 378 00:17:30,880 --> 00:17:34,600 Speaker 1: the dark horse mine is Troy Anderson, you know, and 379 00:17:34,640 --> 00:17:36,879 Speaker 1: I kind of have, I think, touched around this and 380 00:17:36,920 --> 00:17:39,840 Speaker 1: so I can briefly touch on him as like the speed, 381 00:17:39,880 --> 00:17:43,720 Speaker 1: the sideline, the sideline range. I just think the coverage ability, 382 00:17:43,800 --> 00:17:45,280 Speaker 1: Like he is the player that I think if you're 383 00:17:45,320 --> 00:17:47,520 Speaker 1: going to look for an athlete to match up against 384 00:17:47,600 --> 00:17:50,400 Speaker 1: just another dude on the other side, he's that guy 385 00:17:50,440 --> 00:17:52,960 Speaker 1: that I think you would just want to one on one, 386 00:17:53,040 --> 00:17:55,800 Speaker 1: lock up and run with. But then I also think 387 00:17:55,840 --> 00:17:59,320 Speaker 1: when he's playing downhill, just his ability to erase things sideline, 388 00:17:59,359 --> 00:18:02,119 Speaker 1: the sideline is to be so huge, and obviously because 389 00:18:02,119 --> 00:18:04,399 Speaker 1: of injuries like he hasn't had that opportunity, but I 390 00:18:04,400 --> 00:18:08,040 Speaker 1: think talent wise he is he is certainly of that caliber. 391 00:18:09,000 --> 00:18:12,760 Speaker 1: All right, So let's go to our next one. This 392 00:18:13,000 --> 00:18:15,800 Speaker 1: is an area that we feel needs improvement. And this 393 00:18:15,840 --> 00:18:18,280 Speaker 1: can be right now going into the season or something 394 00:18:18,320 --> 00:18:20,880 Speaker 1: you think that over the course of the year may 395 00:18:21,000 --> 00:18:24,040 Speaker 1: expose itself as an area of concern going into the 396 00:18:24,080 --> 00:18:26,520 Speaker 1: next offseason. So, Taren, what is your pick for this? 397 00:18:26,720 --> 00:18:28,720 Speaker 2: I feel like Minie is like a disclaimer. I don't 398 00:18:28,720 --> 00:18:31,879 Speaker 2: think this player needs to improve. I think the usage 399 00:18:31,920 --> 00:18:34,880 Speaker 2: of him from year one year two needs to improve. 400 00:18:35,080 --> 00:18:39,320 Speaker 2: So when I say Bijon Robinson, nobody freak out. I 401 00:18:39,320 --> 00:18:41,960 Speaker 2: don't think Bajon needs to improve. I mean, though I'm 402 00:18:41,960 --> 00:18:43,959 Speaker 2: sure he say he would say he does. I mean 403 00:18:44,119 --> 00:18:45,280 Speaker 2: everyone says I can better. 404 00:18:45,320 --> 00:18:47,240 Speaker 1: Yeah, they're alway trying to get one percent better every day. 405 00:18:47,320 --> 00:18:49,920 Speaker 2: But I think the way the Falcons used him last 406 00:18:50,000 --> 00:18:53,879 Speaker 2: year didn't allow him to reach his full potential. The 407 00:18:53,960 --> 00:18:57,560 Speaker 2: fact that he evenly split his rushing and receiving touchdowns 408 00:18:57,680 --> 00:19:01,840 Speaker 2: is just doesn't feel right. When he is so such 409 00:19:02,400 --> 00:19:05,000 Speaker 2: a smooth runner and you see him juking and driving. 410 00:19:05,040 --> 00:19:06,320 Speaker 2: I don't think driving is a word, but. 411 00:19:06,640 --> 00:19:08,880 Speaker 1: So you want to see him get more opportunities, yeah. 412 00:19:09,160 --> 00:19:11,879 Speaker 2: Scoring, especially like in the red zone you just look 413 00:19:11,920 --> 00:19:17,040 Speaker 2: at I think it was Jamiir Gibbs had ten rushing touchdowns, 414 00:19:17,280 --> 00:19:21,640 Speaker 2: even though Bajeon had more rushing yards than Jamieir. Right, 415 00:19:21,880 --> 00:19:24,000 Speaker 2: So it's just kind of like the opportunities in which 416 00:19:24,119 --> 00:19:27,639 Speaker 2: Bajeon is used. I would like to see be more fruitful, 417 00:19:27,760 --> 00:19:30,960 Speaker 2: more adventurous, more fun. And even he said himself like 418 00:19:31,359 --> 00:19:33,359 Speaker 2: the plan this year is to use me more of 419 00:19:33,400 --> 00:19:36,480 Speaker 2: a runner first mentality and then I can do everything else. 420 00:19:36,560 --> 00:19:38,280 Speaker 2: And that's how he was in college and that's why 421 00:19:38,280 --> 00:19:40,520 Speaker 2: he ended up being a first round draft pick because 422 00:19:40,560 --> 00:19:43,359 Speaker 2: he was good in that way. He also said, like 423 00:19:44,040 --> 00:19:47,560 Speaker 2: Christian McCaffrey esque style is the goal, and so if 424 00:19:47,600 --> 00:19:50,800 Speaker 2: he can do that, it's not that he needs to improve. 425 00:19:50,840 --> 00:19:53,480 Speaker 2: I just think the entire offense can benefit from it, 426 00:19:53,560 --> 00:19:56,720 Speaker 2: and I think that's an improvement on and of itself. 427 00:19:57,119 --> 00:19:59,719 Speaker 1: I think this answer, more than any that we're going 428 00:19:59,760 --> 00:20:02,400 Speaker 1: to p in this segment, is the one that I'm 429 00:20:02,440 --> 00:20:04,080 Speaker 1: most curious to look back on at the end of 430 00:20:04,160 --> 00:20:06,399 Speaker 1: the season to just see, Okay, like, how did they 431 00:20:06,520 --> 00:20:08,800 Speaker 1: use Bajan, How did it compare and contrast to his 432 00:20:08,880 --> 00:20:11,320 Speaker 1: rookie season. Did he get some more of those looks 433 00:20:12,040 --> 00:20:13,760 Speaker 1: in the red zone at the goal line? Was he 434 00:20:14,040 --> 00:20:16,440 Speaker 1: run dominant? And then the passing game kind of played 435 00:20:16,480 --> 00:20:19,760 Speaker 1: off of that. So yeah, I like that as a 436 00:20:20,560 --> 00:20:22,160 Speaker 1: We'll put a pin in it and then we'll see 437 00:20:22,200 --> 00:20:27,360 Speaker 1: ultimately how it turned out. So Tori, would you get here, Yeah. 438 00:20:26,320 --> 00:20:29,360 Speaker 4: My area that I feel like needs improvement or an 439 00:20:29,400 --> 00:20:31,719 Speaker 4: area that I feel like I want to see take 440 00:20:31,760 --> 00:20:34,280 Speaker 4: a jump, Like I hate being kind of like oh, 441 00:20:34,320 --> 00:20:36,280 Speaker 4: this needs to be better, but like an area that 442 00:20:36,320 --> 00:20:38,879 Speaker 4: I want to see a jump in pass protection with 443 00:20:38,960 --> 00:20:42,639 Speaker 4: this offensive line. This is recently ESPN came out with, 444 00:20:42,720 --> 00:20:45,600 Speaker 4: like you know, position by position rankings across the league 445 00:20:45,640 --> 00:20:48,440 Speaker 4: and they had this Falcons offensive line at number three overall, 446 00:20:48,520 --> 00:20:51,919 Speaker 4: which I think is very warranted considering how much money 447 00:20:51,960 --> 00:20:55,000 Speaker 4: and draft capital you've put into this offensive line. You 448 00:20:55,080 --> 00:20:58,760 Speaker 4: have a group that has continuity that is unlike anything 449 00:20:58,760 --> 00:21:02,879 Speaker 4: I've ever seen at that position. You return all five starters. 450 00:21:03,720 --> 00:21:06,720 Speaker 4: My expectations for this group are already so so high. 451 00:21:06,800 --> 00:21:08,600 Speaker 4: But a lot of the reason why I have high 452 00:21:08,680 --> 00:21:11,040 Speaker 4: expectations for them is because of what we have seen 453 00:21:11,080 --> 00:21:13,600 Speaker 4: them do in the run game. I want to see 454 00:21:13,600 --> 00:21:17,080 Speaker 4: them take a step in pass protection mainly and with 455 00:21:17,240 --> 00:21:19,720 Speaker 4: Kirk Cousins in the pocket. Who let's be honest, and 456 00:21:19,760 --> 00:21:21,879 Speaker 4: Kirk would say this himself, he's an older quarterback. 457 00:21:22,320 --> 00:21:23,000 Speaker 5: I don't think he. 458 00:21:23,000 --> 00:21:25,720 Speaker 4: Really wants to scramble all that much. He will do 459 00:21:25,840 --> 00:21:27,919 Speaker 4: it and probably get some good yards out of it 460 00:21:27,920 --> 00:21:30,399 Speaker 4: from time to time when things break down. But I 461 00:21:30,440 --> 00:21:32,960 Speaker 4: think the more time you can get him in the pocket, 462 00:21:33,000 --> 00:21:37,000 Speaker 4: the more dangerous he's going to be, the more explosive 463 00:21:37,080 --> 00:21:42,280 Speaker 4: plays you're allowing and I can't help but just think 464 00:21:42,320 --> 00:21:46,640 Speaker 4: that if I'm setting this expectation for this offensive line, 465 00:21:46,680 --> 00:21:48,719 Speaker 4: not like they're sitting here listening to what I have 466 00:21:48,800 --> 00:21:51,720 Speaker 4: to say, but I think that they are also a 467 00:21:51,760 --> 00:21:53,919 Speaker 4: group that would, you know, kind of nod and be 468 00:21:54,040 --> 00:21:56,879 Speaker 4: like okay, yeah, Like we're going to show you how 469 00:21:56,960 --> 00:21:58,919 Speaker 4: much time we can give Kirk Cousins in the pocket, 470 00:21:58,960 --> 00:22:00,760 Speaker 4: and we're going to show you that we can pass 471 00:22:00,800 --> 00:22:03,360 Speaker 4: protech as well as we can run block, and we 472 00:22:03,560 --> 00:22:05,880 Speaker 4: are a jack of all trades, have of offensive line 473 00:22:05,880 --> 00:22:07,960 Speaker 4: and you can trust us with just about anything. I 474 00:22:07,960 --> 00:22:10,720 Speaker 4: think they would want to have that standard set for 475 00:22:10,760 --> 00:22:13,800 Speaker 4: themselves as well. So for me, I want to see 476 00:22:13,800 --> 00:22:16,360 Speaker 4: what they can do in pass protection this year. 477 00:22:16,560 --> 00:22:18,400 Speaker 1: I love that you picked that because I almost picked 478 00:22:18,440 --> 00:22:20,320 Speaker 1: that as my storyline. We didn't see coming was that 479 00:22:20,359 --> 00:22:22,800 Speaker 1: the Falcons were going to be better in pass protection 480 00:22:23,040 --> 00:22:25,080 Speaker 1: than we thought they were going to be because I 481 00:22:25,080 --> 00:22:27,000 Speaker 1: don't know, I just during preseason games, I was kind 482 00:22:27,000 --> 00:22:29,240 Speaker 1: of and I know that the starting offensive line wasn't 483 00:22:29,240 --> 00:22:32,080 Speaker 1: out there, but from the second team guys, like I 484 00:22:32,119 --> 00:22:35,480 Speaker 1: thought their pass protection was actually really solid, And to me, 485 00:22:35,600 --> 00:22:39,160 Speaker 1: that just maybe pointed back to either scheme or coaching 486 00:22:39,320 --> 00:22:41,960 Speaker 1: or are they reemphasizing something a little bit differently. So 487 00:22:42,080 --> 00:22:44,280 Speaker 1: I'm really curious to see what the offensive line, the 488 00:22:44,320 --> 00:22:46,600 Speaker 1: starting guys do, and we will get a great test 489 00:22:46,720 --> 00:22:48,880 Speaker 1: right out of the gates, yeah, in Week one on Sunday. 490 00:22:49,400 --> 00:22:52,440 Speaker 1: So my area is just skill position depth. I think 491 00:22:52,480 --> 00:22:54,840 Speaker 1: at the end of the year, injuries happen, right, I 492 00:22:54,840 --> 00:22:57,200 Speaker 1: don't even want to say a name, but they do 493 00:22:57,320 --> 00:23:00,199 Speaker 1: happen throughout the season, and so if anybody on the 494 00:23:00,200 --> 00:23:02,280 Speaker 1: offense kind of goes down, I'm looking, and I know 495 00:23:02,359 --> 00:23:04,919 Speaker 1: that they have added guys like Darnol Mooney and Ray 496 00:23:04,960 --> 00:23:08,239 Speaker 1: Ray mclodd. I think that's a great start. However, you know, 497 00:23:08,520 --> 00:23:11,639 Speaker 1: are are we going to Is this offense going to 498 00:23:11,680 --> 00:23:15,560 Speaker 1: be able to survive some attrition, particularly at maybe one 499 00:23:15,600 --> 00:23:18,280 Speaker 1: of the key like wide receiver spots or you know, 500 00:23:18,320 --> 00:23:21,360 Speaker 1: anywhere on the offense. So when all is said and done, 501 00:23:21,520 --> 00:23:23,520 Speaker 1: I think that the way that they have kind of 502 00:23:23,560 --> 00:23:26,960 Speaker 1: overhauled the defense and really replenished it not with not 503 00:23:27,000 --> 00:23:30,719 Speaker 1: only with starting caliber talent, but like also with quality depth. 504 00:23:30,840 --> 00:23:33,440 Speaker 1: Just as a result of that, I think this offseason 505 00:23:33,440 --> 00:23:35,880 Speaker 1: you could see maybe an emphasis on all right, let's 506 00:23:35,920 --> 00:23:38,960 Speaker 1: kind of bolster some of the offensive ranks here as well. 507 00:23:39,000 --> 00:23:41,960 Speaker 1: So that's kind of what I had for that. We've 508 00:23:42,000 --> 00:23:44,720 Speaker 1: got two left. The next one will be a favorite 509 00:23:44,720 --> 00:23:47,800 Speaker 1: of Raheem Morris's and that is what we predict the 510 00:23:47,880 --> 00:23:50,439 Speaker 1: team's identity will be. And for those who you know, 511 00:23:51,040 --> 00:23:53,240 Speaker 1: may not have been following along as closely as we have, 512 00:23:53,359 --> 00:23:55,640 Speaker 1: being in those press conferences every day, it's I feel 513 00:23:55,640 --> 00:23:57,840 Speaker 1: like Raheem gets asked once a week about like what 514 00:23:57,920 --> 00:23:59,760 Speaker 1: is the team identity going to be? What are you 515 00:23:59,760 --> 00:24:02,399 Speaker 1: seeing out there? And he wants it to just be 516 00:24:02,480 --> 00:24:04,000 Speaker 1: a thing that occurs organically. 517 00:24:04,440 --> 00:24:06,320 Speaker 4: So I don't know how many times he has to 518 00:24:06,320 --> 00:24:08,800 Speaker 4: say right, right, Like he continues to be asked like 519 00:24:08,800 --> 00:24:10,040 Speaker 4: what's the seam identity year? 520 00:24:10,320 --> 00:24:12,200 Speaker 1: Because it doesn't it's and he's like he. 521 00:24:12,240 --> 00:24:14,320 Speaker 5: Said it time and time again. He's like, I want 522 00:24:14,320 --> 00:24:15,400 Speaker 5: the players. 523 00:24:14,960 --> 00:24:17,600 Speaker 1: To because how else can it come about? 524 00:24:17,840 --> 00:24:18,159 Speaker 3: Right? 525 00:24:18,280 --> 00:24:20,280 Speaker 1: Like, what is is he going to like put a 526 00:24:20,359 --> 00:24:23,000 Speaker 1: label on? The team's got to be able to play 527 00:24:23,000 --> 00:24:25,520 Speaker 1: a certain way. That's what an identity is. That's how 528 00:24:25,560 --> 00:24:27,840 Speaker 1: the team comes out there on the field. So, Tory, 529 00:24:27,920 --> 00:24:29,840 Speaker 1: what do you think the team's identity will end up being? 530 00:24:30,040 --> 00:24:34,000 Speaker 4: So it was interesting because on Wednesday, Kirk Cousins was 531 00:24:34,080 --> 00:24:36,639 Speaker 4: asked kind of to use some adjectives to describe what 532 00:24:36,720 --> 00:24:38,399 Speaker 4: he believes this offense to be and kind of a 533 00:24:38,400 --> 00:24:41,800 Speaker 4: similar vein of like, let's get around this whole identity idea. 534 00:24:41,920 --> 00:24:44,600 Speaker 4: And he was so funny because he was like, I 535 00:24:44,600 --> 00:24:46,320 Speaker 4: think we're going to play with a lot of effort. 536 00:24:46,400 --> 00:24:48,080 Speaker 5: I think we're going to execute. I think we're gonna 537 00:24:48,080 --> 00:24:48,800 Speaker 5: be explosive. 538 00:24:49,000 --> 00:24:50,879 Speaker 4: But it was this one part that he said that 539 00:24:50,920 --> 00:24:53,479 Speaker 4: I really held onto, was this idea of we're going 540 00:24:53,520 --> 00:24:55,760 Speaker 4: to be a team that plays with an edge. I 541 00:24:55,760 --> 00:24:58,040 Speaker 4: think this team has a lot to prove to itself, 542 00:24:58,160 --> 00:25:00,080 Speaker 4: to the league at large. I think a lot lot 543 00:25:00,080 --> 00:25:02,639 Speaker 4: of times the Atlanta Falcons organization is the butt of 544 00:25:02,680 --> 00:25:06,080 Speaker 4: a joke and it has been for the last few years, 545 00:25:06,640 --> 00:25:08,560 Speaker 4: and I think they want to go out and prove 546 00:25:08,960 --> 00:25:11,399 Speaker 4: that wrong and to be like, well, this is not 547 00:25:11,480 --> 00:25:14,120 Speaker 4: a joking matter, Like we're here and we mean business. 548 00:25:14,720 --> 00:25:17,760 Speaker 5: And that's what I get from. 549 00:25:17,640 --> 00:25:19,800 Speaker 4: These guys when I feel like I speak to them, 550 00:25:19,800 --> 00:25:21,359 Speaker 4: and it goes back to the whole thing about like 551 00:25:21,960 --> 00:25:24,720 Speaker 4: they are wanting to prove to everybody that they're a 552 00:25:24,760 --> 00:25:26,840 Speaker 4: good team, they're a good roster and that they can 553 00:25:26,880 --> 00:25:31,240 Speaker 4: make a postseason push. And the only way you kind 554 00:25:31,240 --> 00:25:33,800 Speaker 4: of have that chip on your shoulder and the way 555 00:25:33,840 --> 00:25:36,919 Speaker 4: it comes out is this idea of playing with an 556 00:25:37,040 --> 00:25:40,240 Speaker 4: edge to win. Their backs are against the wall, they 557 00:25:40,280 --> 00:25:43,680 Speaker 4: become this ferocious group and that you really don't want 558 00:25:43,720 --> 00:25:44,239 Speaker 4: to mess with. 559 00:25:44,440 --> 00:25:45,639 Speaker 5: I like that idea. 560 00:25:45,680 --> 00:25:48,359 Speaker 4: I like this almost kind of this thought that a 561 00:25:48,359 --> 00:25:50,320 Speaker 4: lot of those guys in the locker room I feel 562 00:25:50,320 --> 00:25:51,800 Speaker 4: like I have a good relationship with and they're so 563 00:25:51,960 --> 00:25:53,760 Speaker 4: kind to me and I could never say a bad 564 00:25:53,800 --> 00:25:56,080 Speaker 4: thing about any of them from the interactions that I have, 565 00:25:56,560 --> 00:25:59,919 Speaker 4: but like they walk around with this again, kirkis at 566 00:25:59,920 --> 00:26:03,320 Speaker 4: it before with this mentality of like simmering anger to 567 00:26:03,600 --> 00:26:05,600 Speaker 4: go out and play well into proofs of the fan 568 00:26:05,640 --> 00:26:08,680 Speaker 4: base that they can be proud to wear Gottkins gear. 569 00:26:09,240 --> 00:26:12,240 Speaker 4: And that's what playing with an edge means. And that's 570 00:26:12,240 --> 00:26:15,120 Speaker 4: something that I think that this team has an act 571 00:26:15,200 --> 00:26:18,119 Speaker 4: to carry with it throughout the twenty twenty four season. 572 00:26:18,359 --> 00:26:21,480 Speaker 1: Yeah, the simmering anger line is awesome. Like that'll that'll 573 00:26:21,520 --> 00:26:23,399 Speaker 1: probably be one of the quotes of the season, just 574 00:26:23,480 --> 00:26:25,520 Speaker 1: like you know, the hit him in the mouth like 575 00:26:25,560 --> 00:26:27,919 Speaker 1: blood in the mouth type. I love that. 576 00:26:28,280 --> 00:26:30,600 Speaker 2: So what she got heren mine kind of like plays 577 00:26:30,600 --> 00:26:34,119 Speaker 2: off of what Toy said, where she's saying like they 578 00:26:34,119 --> 00:26:35,639 Speaker 2: want to play with an edge, they want to do this, 579 00:26:35,720 --> 00:26:37,640 Speaker 2: they want to do that. Well, for me, it's don't 580 00:26:37,680 --> 00:26:40,400 Speaker 2: just talk the talk, walk the walk. So the identity 581 00:26:40,440 --> 00:26:44,159 Speaker 2: should be turning potential into reality because I feel like 582 00:26:44,160 --> 00:26:46,760 Speaker 2: I've said that so many times this preseason in general, 583 00:26:46,840 --> 00:26:49,080 Speaker 2: even like when Raheem was hired, it's like, this is 584 00:26:49,160 --> 00:26:53,160 Speaker 2: a great hire, Like he's a great guy. Okay, can 585 00:26:53,160 --> 00:26:56,560 Speaker 2: he get great results? It's just keeping that perspective in mind. 586 00:26:56,600 --> 00:26:59,920 Speaker 2: Same thing when Kirk Cousins was signed, great history, great 587 00:27:00,680 --> 00:27:02,920 Speaker 2: can he be great with the Falcons? And it's the 588 00:27:02,960 --> 00:27:07,760 Speaker 2: same thing with every single aspect with this team because 589 00:27:07,800 --> 00:27:10,119 Speaker 2: in training camp everyone seems like they can be great. 590 00:27:10,240 --> 00:27:12,600 Speaker 2: You have these rose colored glasses on where no one 591 00:27:12,600 --> 00:27:15,560 Speaker 2: can do wrong, and then it's just like reality check 592 00:27:15,720 --> 00:27:19,879 Speaker 2: weak ones here. And so that's why I almost skipped 593 00:27:19,920 --> 00:27:24,320 Speaker 2: to the next one. But I think turning potential into 594 00:27:24,359 --> 00:27:29,199 Speaker 2: reality is the identity that I want to see. But 595 00:27:29,320 --> 00:27:31,560 Speaker 2: I'm not a player, so I don't get to decide 596 00:27:32,240 --> 00:27:33,040 Speaker 2: that's fair. 597 00:27:33,920 --> 00:27:36,080 Speaker 1: No, I mean I think that that has actually been 598 00:27:36,160 --> 00:27:38,200 Speaker 1: kind of the theme from a lot of the players 599 00:27:38,520 --> 00:27:41,320 Speaker 1: all off season in training camp, and I'm sorry, I 600 00:27:41,359 --> 00:27:43,560 Speaker 1: wasn't like texting anybody or what I'm pulling up a 601 00:27:43,600 --> 00:27:45,879 Speaker 1: tweet because what you said reminded me exactly of what 602 00:27:45,960 --> 00:27:49,840 Speaker 1: mattew Don said earlier today, which was potential is untapped talent. 603 00:27:50,160 --> 00:27:51,760 Speaker 1: We've got to go out there and do it. And 604 00:27:51,760 --> 00:27:54,119 Speaker 1: then he kept saying to us the media sitting there, 605 00:27:54,160 --> 00:27:56,199 Speaker 1: He was like, look, if we went out there and 606 00:27:56,240 --> 00:27:58,720 Speaker 1: we didn't perform, you guys wouldn't be writing about our 607 00:27:58,760 --> 00:28:01,320 Speaker 1: potential and our unto talent about how good it is. 608 00:28:01,400 --> 00:28:02,880 Speaker 1: You'd be writing about the fact that we're not getting 609 00:28:02,880 --> 00:28:04,720 Speaker 1: it done. You'd be writing about what's happening. So we 610 00:28:04,760 --> 00:28:06,359 Speaker 1: got to go out there and do it. And I 611 00:28:06,359 --> 00:28:08,000 Speaker 1: think that's a great mindset for the team to have, 612 00:28:08,080 --> 00:28:11,440 Speaker 1: certainly going into Week one. Mine is when you look 613 00:28:11,440 --> 00:28:13,840 Speaker 1: at a lot of the guys on this roster and 614 00:28:13,920 --> 00:28:17,480 Speaker 1: what they've overcome. You know, Tory did an amazing feature 615 00:28:17,840 --> 00:28:21,160 Speaker 1: series on Grady Jarrett and coming back from his ACL 616 00:28:21,240 --> 00:28:23,560 Speaker 1: injury going into year ten, just what it means to 617 00:28:23,560 --> 00:28:27,119 Speaker 1: overcome really the first significant injury of his career. Please 618 00:28:27,160 --> 00:28:29,480 Speaker 1: everybody go read that like, that's such a good piece. 619 00:28:29,520 --> 00:28:31,480 Speaker 1: Go watch the video on YouTube. This whole series so 620 00:28:31,560 --> 00:28:36,000 Speaker 1: well done. Hats off to you, toy. But I think 621 00:28:36,000 --> 00:28:37,800 Speaker 1: this team's going to be mentally tough. I think this 622 00:28:37,840 --> 00:28:40,719 Speaker 1: team's going to be resilient. I think that, you know, 623 00:28:40,760 --> 00:28:42,440 Speaker 1: when you look at the roster and the number of 624 00:28:42,480 --> 00:28:45,440 Speaker 1: guys that have overcome injuries throughout their career and bought 625 00:28:45,480 --> 00:28:47,400 Speaker 1: their way back on the field and honestly handled it 626 00:28:47,440 --> 00:28:50,520 Speaker 1: the right way. And you've got key leaders Kirk Cousins, 627 00:28:50,800 --> 00:28:53,440 Speaker 1: Grady Jarrett, Troy Anderson, katean Ellis, all of those guys 628 00:28:53,480 --> 00:28:56,480 Speaker 1: at one point or another have overcome injuries. I just 629 00:28:56,480 --> 00:28:58,560 Speaker 1: think that's going to bleed into the chemistry of this team. 630 00:28:58,640 --> 00:29:00,520 Speaker 1: And I think that you're going to see time and 631 00:29:00,560 --> 00:29:02,400 Speaker 1: again maybe they're down in the fourth quarter, almost like 632 00:29:02,440 --> 00:29:06,080 Speaker 1: some of those early Matt Ryan games and teams vibes, 633 00:29:06,120 --> 00:29:07,800 Speaker 1: where there were a lot of fourth quarter comebacks, a 634 00:29:07,800 --> 00:29:09,440 Speaker 1: lot of never say never, a lot of. 635 00:29:09,440 --> 00:29:10,200 Speaker 5: Ice in the banes. 636 00:29:10,320 --> 00:29:13,120 Speaker 1: Yeah, exactly right. So I think that you're going to 637 00:29:13,120 --> 00:29:15,480 Speaker 1: see more of that this year, on top of the 638 00:29:15,560 --> 00:29:18,160 Speaker 1: chip on the shoulder mentality that we've already seen out 639 00:29:18,160 --> 00:29:19,960 Speaker 1: there on the field. So to prove it and also 640 00:29:20,120 --> 00:29:22,880 Speaker 1: kind of overcoming maybe setbacks because hey, we've been there 641 00:29:22,880 --> 00:29:25,080 Speaker 1: before and what else is there to lose? 642 00:29:25,200 --> 00:29:27,520 Speaker 4: Yeah, Jesse Bates did say he was like, we want 643 00:29:27,520 --> 00:29:29,360 Speaker 4: to be the toughest team mentally and physically on the 644 00:29:29,360 --> 00:29:30,040 Speaker 4: field every day. 645 00:29:30,320 --> 00:29:31,960 Speaker 1: I feel like that's an identity. I don't know what 646 00:29:32,000 --> 00:29:34,160 Speaker 1: else are you looking for? Him, Like, that's a pretty 647 00:29:34,160 --> 00:29:36,720 Speaker 1: solid identity coming from one of your team captains right there. 648 00:29:36,760 --> 00:29:40,800 Speaker 1: But I love that quote though. That's yeah, that's a 649 00:29:40,800 --> 00:29:43,040 Speaker 1: good one. All right. We'll wrap up with what do 650 00:29:43,040 --> 00:29:44,719 Speaker 1: we think is going to be the best game of 651 00:29:44,760 --> 00:29:46,720 Speaker 1: the year, tarn We'll start with you week one. 652 00:29:47,000 --> 00:29:49,720 Speaker 2: That's what I was going to say, like turning the 653 00:29:49,760 --> 00:29:52,160 Speaker 2: potential into reality. The rose colored glasses are off. It's 654 00:29:52,160 --> 00:29:56,320 Speaker 2: week one. There's no excuse of like, well, the starters 655 00:29:56,320 --> 00:29:59,840 Speaker 2: didn't play well, it's pre season. It doesn't matter, no, no, 656 00:29:59,840 --> 00:30:02,520 Speaker 2: no matters. You're either one to oh or you're zero 657 00:30:02,560 --> 00:30:05,600 Speaker 2: and one at the end of the day. And I 658 00:30:05,640 --> 00:30:08,640 Speaker 2: think there's also too many storylines that go into this one. 659 00:30:09,200 --> 00:30:13,120 Speaker 2: I mean, Arthur Smith is coming back to Atlanta. That's 660 00:30:13,400 --> 00:30:17,320 Speaker 2: a huge thing. But for me, it's just seeing it 661 00:30:17,440 --> 00:30:18,320 Speaker 2: come to life. 662 00:30:18,680 --> 00:30:19,280 Speaker 3: And seeing. 663 00:30:20,600 --> 00:30:23,120 Speaker 2: I know it's going to take time to completely get 664 00:30:23,360 --> 00:30:25,520 Speaker 2: all the kinks worked out and like this team to 665 00:30:25,560 --> 00:30:29,120 Speaker 2: fully mesh. But they had five thousand reps we were 666 00:30:29,120 --> 00:30:31,600 Speaker 2: told during the preseason as starters. 667 00:30:32,480 --> 00:30:34,080 Speaker 3: Let's see it put together now live. 668 00:30:34,520 --> 00:30:37,000 Speaker 1: This is a real like Week one is Christmas Day? 669 00:30:37,080 --> 00:30:40,320 Speaker 1: Vibe from you. I wasn't excited. Enjoy. 670 00:30:40,440 --> 00:30:41,959 Speaker 5: Yeah, man, you are listening to this. 671 00:30:42,000 --> 00:30:45,400 Speaker 1: It'll be Terrence Bark Cloud nine right now. This is great, Torri. 672 00:30:45,480 --> 00:30:47,760 Speaker 5: What you get Saints Week four at home? 673 00:30:48,520 --> 00:30:52,880 Speaker 4: And I think for a lot of reasons, but I 674 00:30:52,960 --> 00:30:54,800 Speaker 4: have said this and I'm going to say it again, 675 00:30:55,000 --> 00:30:58,760 Speaker 4: the way that this schedule turns out, the way this 676 00:30:58,880 --> 00:31:01,480 Speaker 4: schedule looks for the Falcons in the first six weeks 677 00:31:01,480 --> 00:31:04,920 Speaker 4: of this season, you cannot hide. There's nowhere to hide 678 00:31:05,040 --> 00:31:08,480 Speaker 4: because you have the Steelers coming in Week one, You're 679 00:31:08,520 --> 00:31:11,040 Speaker 4: going up to Philadelphia for Monday night football in a 680 00:31:11,160 --> 00:31:14,640 Speaker 4: national stage. Week two, they're reigning Super Bowl champions in 681 00:31:14,720 --> 00:31:18,440 Speaker 4: Kansas City coming to your hometown. In week three, you're 682 00:31:18,480 --> 00:31:23,920 Speaker 4: hosting your bitter arrival at home. In week four. You 683 00:31:24,040 --> 00:31:27,480 Speaker 4: cannot hide. This team has to be ready to go. 684 00:31:28,000 --> 00:31:29,800 Speaker 4: And as much as we can talk about those first 685 00:31:29,840 --> 00:31:32,280 Speaker 4: three games of the season and how much those things matter. 686 00:31:32,560 --> 00:31:33,760 Speaker 4: At the end of the day, it's what you do 687 00:31:33,800 --> 00:31:35,720 Speaker 4: in your conference, it's what you do in your division, 688 00:31:36,160 --> 00:31:40,080 Speaker 4: and the Falcons need to win the division in twenty 689 00:31:40,120 --> 00:31:40,640 Speaker 4: twenty four. 690 00:31:40,960 --> 00:31:43,280 Speaker 5: That's the expectation, that's the goal. 691 00:31:43,680 --> 00:31:45,840 Speaker 4: Raheem Worris said it in his very first team meeting 692 00:31:45,920 --> 00:31:48,240 Speaker 4: when they when all the whole entire team reported for 693 00:31:48,280 --> 00:31:51,520 Speaker 4: mandatory mini camp in training camp. We want to outrun 694 00:31:51,560 --> 00:31:55,840 Speaker 4: the South. That starts at home against the Saints in 695 00:31:55,880 --> 00:31:58,040 Speaker 4: Week four, So you got to be ready for. 696 00:31:58,000 --> 00:32:00,520 Speaker 1: It, absolutely, and you've got to feel like the team 697 00:32:00,600 --> 00:32:02,440 Speaker 1: is just going to be raring to go and like 698 00:32:02,560 --> 00:32:03,680 Speaker 1: chomping the bit to go. 699 00:32:04,000 --> 00:32:06,320 Speaker 4: I kind of hope that that game has this like 700 00:32:07,240 --> 00:32:09,360 Speaker 4: I think for a while it was very that we 701 00:32:09,440 --> 00:32:11,800 Speaker 4: got away from the rivalry to a. 702 00:32:11,760 --> 00:32:13,920 Speaker 5: Little bit the like bitterness of the rivalry. 703 00:32:14,000 --> 00:32:14,800 Speaker 1: And I get petty. 704 00:32:14,880 --> 00:32:15,680 Speaker 5: I want to get petty. 705 00:32:15,680 --> 00:32:18,080 Speaker 1: I want to salty, I want. 706 00:32:17,920 --> 00:32:18,400 Speaker 3: To get shot. 707 00:32:18,960 --> 00:32:22,560 Speaker 4: I want I want like there to be some John like, 708 00:32:22,600 --> 00:32:25,080 Speaker 4: I want there to be some passion, because that's the 709 00:32:25,120 --> 00:32:28,840 Speaker 4: basis of a rivalry, and that's what makes good rivalries 710 00:32:28,920 --> 00:32:31,840 Speaker 4: good is when both teams. 711 00:32:31,440 --> 00:32:34,040 Speaker 5: Are just going at each other. I don't know, it's 712 00:32:34,160 --> 00:32:34,720 Speaker 5: the best time. 713 00:32:34,800 --> 00:32:37,479 Speaker 1: It's the best kind of football, yes, and and Saints 714 00:32:37,480 --> 00:32:39,600 Speaker 1: Falcons at its best is right up there with the 715 00:32:39,680 --> 00:32:42,280 Speaker 1: very best rivalries in this league. So I'm right there. 716 00:32:42,320 --> 00:32:44,640 Speaker 1: I endorse that as well. Let's let's get salty, let's 717 00:32:44,640 --> 00:32:47,479 Speaker 1: get petty in the Falcons Saints rivalry. But there's no 718 00:32:47,520 --> 00:32:51,240 Speaker 1: doubt weeks four through ten division heavy. You've got to 719 00:32:51,240 --> 00:32:53,160 Speaker 1: be like, they've got to be peaking kind of. I 720 00:32:53,160 --> 00:32:55,040 Speaker 1: think at that part of the of the year, which 721 00:32:55,120 --> 00:32:57,520 Speaker 1: is earlier than most teams would so maybe like eight 722 00:32:57,600 --> 00:32:59,840 Speaker 1: your apex come back down for a little siesta and 723 00:33:00,120 --> 00:33:03,560 Speaker 1: peak again for the playoffs. But in the midst of 724 00:33:03,600 --> 00:33:06,720 Speaker 1: that four weeks four through ten is a little game 725 00:33:06,760 --> 00:33:11,600 Speaker 1: against the Dallas Cowboys in Week nine at home, and 726 00:33:12,160 --> 00:33:15,800 Speaker 1: just recalling some of the Rams Cowboys games over the 727 00:33:15,880 --> 00:33:18,960 Speaker 1: last few years when both teams were, you know, really 728 00:33:19,080 --> 00:33:20,920 Speaker 1: for some seasons like right up there at the top 729 00:33:20,960 --> 00:33:23,640 Speaker 1: of the NFC, a lot of memorable games. I think 730 00:33:23,720 --> 00:33:25,480 Speaker 1: I defined best in my mind is just like what's 731 00:33:25,480 --> 00:33:28,360 Speaker 1: going to be the most entertaining fun game. I think 732 00:33:28,360 --> 00:33:30,560 Speaker 1: you get CD lamb out there with AJ Terrell, you 733 00:33:30,600 --> 00:33:33,200 Speaker 1: get Dak Prescott against Kirk Cousins. You get, you know, 734 00:33:33,280 --> 00:33:36,200 Speaker 1: just really some of these fun storylines and the added 735 00:33:36,240 --> 00:33:39,920 Speaker 1: attention of the national media for the Cowboys. I expect 736 00:33:39,960 --> 00:33:42,120 Speaker 1: the Falcons and the Cowboys to both be kind of 737 00:33:42,200 --> 00:33:44,200 Speaker 1: right up there at the top of their divisions and 738 00:33:44,360 --> 00:33:46,360 Speaker 1: in the NFC at this point of the year. So 739 00:33:46,400 --> 00:33:47,720 Speaker 1: I just think it'll be a little bit of a 740 00:33:47,800 --> 00:33:51,280 Speaker 1: fun let's pull back from the division stuff, even though 741 00:33:51,280 --> 00:33:54,520 Speaker 1: that's the most important thing. And here's another opponent coming 742 00:33:54,560 --> 00:33:56,520 Speaker 1: in that is not an NFC South team that we 743 00:33:56,680 --> 00:33:59,880 Speaker 1: just get to enjoy some hopefully really fun for. 744 00:34:00,280 --> 00:34:02,320 Speaker 4: Here's the thing about that game, too, is there is 745 00:34:02,480 --> 00:34:05,400 Speaker 4: some recent history that has not been good for the 746 00:34:05,400 --> 00:34:08,560 Speaker 4: Falcons with that game specifically, I'm thinking, you know when 747 00:34:08,560 --> 00:34:10,480 Speaker 4: they went a couple of years ago to down Side 748 00:34:11,200 --> 00:34:14,279 Speaker 4: No No the year before or two years before that, 749 00:34:14,400 --> 00:34:17,680 Speaker 4: no Onside kicks, Like this has not been a good 750 00:34:17,760 --> 00:34:20,320 Speaker 4: series for the Falcons in the last what five years. 751 00:34:20,800 --> 00:34:23,000 Speaker 5: There needs to be a little bit of redemption in 752 00:34:23,040 --> 00:34:23,480 Speaker 5: this game. 753 00:34:23,719 --> 00:34:27,160 Speaker 1: Let's get Adrian Claiborne like six Sac type of vibes 754 00:34:27,200 --> 00:34:27,839 Speaker 1: in this game. 755 00:34:28,160 --> 00:34:31,000 Speaker 4: Like literally, it's one of those games that I think 756 00:34:32,080 --> 00:34:34,239 Speaker 4: maybe this team, but the thing is, like this team, 757 00:34:34,280 --> 00:34:36,640 Speaker 4: a lot of them weren't around for the last couple 758 00:34:36,680 --> 00:34:40,680 Speaker 4: of years, with how how badly they were beaten two 759 00:34:40,800 --> 00:34:45,279 Speaker 4: years ago in Dallas, what happened in twenty twenty with 760 00:34:45,320 --> 00:34:47,799 Speaker 4: the onside kick, Like a lot of these guys weren't 761 00:34:47,800 --> 00:34:48,319 Speaker 4: around for that. 762 00:34:48,640 --> 00:34:49,840 Speaker 5: But these fans remember that. 763 00:34:50,360 --> 00:34:52,960 Speaker 4: There's a bitter taste in the mouth of a lot 764 00:34:53,000 --> 00:34:55,280 Speaker 4: of this fan base when it comes to the Cowboys 765 00:34:55,280 --> 00:34:58,280 Speaker 4: when it comes to America's team because of what's happened 766 00:34:58,280 --> 00:34:59,640 Speaker 4: the last two times they've faced them. 767 00:35:00,160 --> 00:35:04,200 Speaker 1: Been good rectify that absolutely. So that was a fun 768 00:35:04,280 --> 00:35:07,040 Speaker 1: trip down what we expect this season to be. But honestly, 769 00:35:07,080 --> 00:35:09,520 Speaker 1: everything is going to kick off for Reel on Sunday 770 00:35:09,520 --> 00:35:12,719 Speaker 1: one o'clock in Mercedes Benz Stadium. The Steelers are coming 771 00:35:12,719 --> 00:35:15,400 Speaker 1: to town. It's here. Thank you guys so much for 772 00:35:15,800 --> 00:35:17,920 Speaker 1: tuning in to today's episode, and thank you guys so 773 00:35:18,000 --> 00:35:20,560 Speaker 1: much for following along all through our training camp and 774 00:35:20,640 --> 00:35:23,279 Speaker 1: the preseason. It's been a long journey. Honestly, there was 775 00:35:23,320 --> 00:35:27,160 Speaker 1: a lot of moves, floorries, joint practices in Miami. Feels 776 00:35:27,160 --> 00:35:30,080 Speaker 1: like a lifetime ago, but it's all led up to 777 00:35:30,200 --> 00:35:33,680 Speaker 1: this weekend. It's led up to tonight like NFL football 778 00:35:33,760 --> 00:35:36,879 Speaker 1: is on our TV screens to night Thursday night. I'm 779 00:35:36,920 --> 00:35:39,560 Speaker 1: so excited. So that's where we're gonna wrap things up 780 00:35:39,600 --> 00:35:42,480 Speaker 1: for Tory mclaney, Karon Walk, I'm Will McFadden. Thank you 781 00:35:42,480 --> 00:35:45,640 Speaker 1: guys for listening to Falcons Final Whistle presented by Zaxby's. 782 00:35:45,719 --> 00:35:48,680 Speaker 1: We will be back postgames, so be on the lookout 783 00:35:48,960 --> 00:35:52,560 Speaker 1: Sunday evening for our postgame show. But until then, everybody 784 00:35:52,840 --> 00:35:53,480 Speaker 1: to see you later.