1 00:00:00,200 --> 00:00:03,360 Speaker 1: Atlanta Falcons dot Com breaking down the first round of 2 00:00:03,400 --> 00:00:06,160 Speaker 1: the twenty twenty five draft. Weve got Tory mclahaney and 3 00:00:06,160 --> 00:00:07,840 Speaker 1: Will mcfatten here. I'm Derek Rackley. 4 00:00:08,200 --> 00:00:08,680 Speaker 2: I got a. 5 00:00:08,600 --> 00:00:11,239 Speaker 1: Different crew here because I'm normally with Shock and Arch here, 6 00:00:11,360 --> 00:00:13,840 Speaker 1: so but it's great to be with you guys because 7 00:00:13,920 --> 00:00:16,480 Speaker 1: it has been an exciting first round of the draft. 8 00:00:17,120 --> 00:00:19,239 Speaker 1: Coming into it, there was a couple of predictions I 9 00:00:19,239 --> 00:00:21,840 Speaker 1: think a lot of people made. This was not the 10 00:00:21,840 --> 00:00:24,160 Speaker 1: prediction that I made. The Atlanta Falcons was going to 11 00:00:24,200 --> 00:00:26,480 Speaker 1: make a move to get back into the first round 12 00:00:26,720 --> 00:00:29,159 Speaker 1: for their second pick. We'll break it all down, but 13 00:00:29,200 --> 00:00:33,200 Speaker 1: we're going to start chronologically, but before we get into that, y'all, 14 00:00:33,400 --> 00:00:36,360 Speaker 1: I want to break it down just your initial thoughts, right, 15 00:00:36,479 --> 00:00:39,640 Speaker 1: just initial thoughts of the first round, not necessarily the player, 16 00:00:39,680 --> 00:00:42,199 Speaker 1: but like after you've had a chance to kind of 17 00:00:42,240 --> 00:00:44,879 Speaker 1: swallow things a little bit. Your first thoughts. 18 00:00:44,560 --> 00:00:47,640 Speaker 3: Are, this defense took a step in the right direction. 19 00:00:48,040 --> 00:00:49,960 Speaker 1: Definitely took a step in the right direction. 20 00:00:50,080 --> 00:00:52,360 Speaker 3: Yeah, I think when you look at the two players 21 00:00:52,479 --> 00:00:55,280 Speaker 3: that were acquired, these are two players that I think 22 00:00:56,080 --> 00:00:59,160 Speaker 3: fundamentally what they want to do is disrupt the quarterback, 23 00:00:59,200 --> 00:01:01,360 Speaker 3: get after the quarter but they do it, and they 24 00:01:01,400 --> 00:01:04,240 Speaker 3: go about it in very different ways. The makeup and 25 00:01:04,280 --> 00:01:09,960 Speaker 3: the character and the drive and just them physically so different, 26 00:01:10,000 --> 00:01:14,000 Speaker 3: almost polar opposites. And yet the goal is to get 27 00:01:14,040 --> 00:01:16,800 Speaker 3: after the passer, and I think like that is the 28 00:01:16,920 --> 00:01:19,880 Speaker 3: ultimate goal of what Atlanta set out to do this 29 00:01:19,920 --> 00:01:22,360 Speaker 3: off seasons. They've got to get after the quarterback. They 30 00:01:22,440 --> 00:01:25,839 Speaker 3: cannot stay where they've been in terms of a pass 31 00:01:25,920 --> 00:01:28,920 Speaker 3: rush unit. They had to go and make a big move, 32 00:01:29,760 --> 00:01:31,160 Speaker 3: and this was the big move. 33 00:01:31,520 --> 00:01:33,200 Speaker 1: Well, before we sat down in this room, you and 34 00:01:33,200 --> 00:01:34,680 Speaker 1: I were talking a little bit, and it seemed like 35 00:01:34,720 --> 00:01:36,880 Speaker 1: the last two years there was a couple of I 36 00:01:36,920 --> 00:01:39,559 Speaker 1: guess you could call them surprises. I mean, you're coming 37 00:01:39,600 --> 00:01:41,480 Speaker 1: off a year where Tyler Algier ends up rushing for 38 00:01:41,560 --> 00:01:43,160 Speaker 1: over one thousand yards and all of a sudden, they're 39 00:01:43,160 --> 00:01:46,440 Speaker 1: like running back, yeah, And then we're like, that's kind 40 00:01:46,440 --> 00:01:48,520 Speaker 1: of a head scratch. I mean, we know Sean Robbinson's 41 00:01:48,560 --> 00:01:50,640 Speaker 1: a good player, and then obviously we've turned out a 42 00:01:50,640 --> 00:01:52,560 Speaker 1: couple of years later he's one of the best running 43 00:01:52,560 --> 00:01:54,720 Speaker 1: backs in the NFL. And then last year it was like, yeah, 44 00:01:54,720 --> 00:01:56,520 Speaker 1: we bring in Kirk Cousins in the offsea a great 45 00:01:56,520 --> 00:01:59,000 Speaker 1: free agent addition, We've got a veteran quarterback that's going 46 00:01:59,040 --> 00:02:02,000 Speaker 1: to stabilize the off and then it's first round quarterback. 47 00:02:02,320 --> 00:02:03,520 Speaker 1: And it was kind of like a little bit of 48 00:02:03,560 --> 00:02:06,080 Speaker 1: a head scratcher, Whereas this year it was like we're 49 00:02:06,080 --> 00:02:09,040 Speaker 1: going into it saying edge Rusher's in need. Ed Rusher's need. 50 00:02:09,080 --> 00:02:10,560 Speaker 1: By the way, I think they said that last year 51 00:02:10,560 --> 00:02:13,120 Speaker 1: that Ed Rusher was a need, but this year Will 52 00:02:13,480 --> 00:02:15,480 Speaker 1: edge Rusher was not only a need, but it was 53 00:02:15,600 --> 00:02:17,760 Speaker 1: addressed in the first round. 54 00:02:18,120 --> 00:02:21,280 Speaker 4: Yeah, and I think the biggest thing with those last 55 00:02:21,280 --> 00:02:24,400 Speaker 4: two players that you mentioned, Jean and Michael Pennix. The 56 00:02:24,440 --> 00:02:27,560 Speaker 4: word conviction was used a lot with both of those picks, 57 00:02:27,600 --> 00:02:31,280 Speaker 4: and it was I think mostly mentioned with James Pearce. 58 00:02:31,320 --> 00:02:33,560 Speaker 4: But the way they spoke about Jalen Walker, you can 59 00:02:33,680 --> 00:02:36,560 Speaker 4: feel the conviction that they had. And then also when 60 00:02:36,600 --> 00:02:39,119 Speaker 4: you look back at last offseason, what was the primary 61 00:02:39,160 --> 00:02:40,320 Speaker 4: need quarterback? 62 00:02:40,440 --> 00:02:41,520 Speaker 2: Yeah, they double dipped. 63 00:02:41,720 --> 00:02:44,840 Speaker 4: They made sure that they addressed that need. I love 64 00:02:44,880 --> 00:02:47,560 Speaker 4: what they did tonight because we all came into this saying, 65 00:02:47,600 --> 00:02:50,840 Speaker 4: you gotta fix the pass rush. Guess what, pass rush 66 00:02:50,840 --> 00:02:53,240 Speaker 4: has a lot more juice to it right now than 67 00:02:53,240 --> 00:02:56,280 Speaker 4: it did coming into tonight, so I'm I'm pretty happy, right. 68 00:02:56,440 --> 00:02:58,839 Speaker 1: Yeah, I mean this was obviously there was a couple 69 00:02:58,880 --> 00:03:01,840 Speaker 1: of free agent additions brought onto this defense to help 70 00:03:01,919 --> 00:03:05,520 Speaker 1: that side of the football, help defensive line, help pass rush, 71 00:03:05,560 --> 00:03:08,760 Speaker 1: but you figured they still needed that young new blood. 72 00:03:08,800 --> 00:03:11,240 Speaker 1: The talent in first round is where you're gonna get 73 00:03:11,280 --> 00:03:13,480 Speaker 1: some of the best athletes, some of the best tools 74 00:03:13,520 --> 00:03:16,200 Speaker 1: to work with to help that out. So Tory, let's 75 00:03:16,200 --> 00:03:18,480 Speaker 1: start with Jaalen Walker. And I think a lot of 76 00:03:18,480 --> 00:03:21,160 Speaker 1: times when it comes to drafting, I will say I'm 77 00:03:21,600 --> 00:03:23,800 Speaker 1: number one to say that I said the Falcons were 78 00:03:23,800 --> 00:03:26,680 Speaker 1: going to trade back out of fifteen back into the 79 00:03:26,680 --> 00:03:29,520 Speaker 1: twenties to try to get more capital. Okay, the only 80 00:03:29,600 --> 00:03:32,600 Speaker 1: thing that I got right was there was a trade. Okay, 81 00:03:32,760 --> 00:03:34,839 Speaker 1: it was the wrong direction. I had the wrong guy. 82 00:03:34,840 --> 00:03:36,880 Speaker 1: I thought they're gonna pick Michael Williams. He was gone 83 00:03:37,000 --> 00:03:37,920 Speaker 1: way before. 84 00:03:37,640 --> 00:03:38,600 Speaker 2: Then, you both did. 85 00:03:38,760 --> 00:03:41,400 Speaker 1: I think I saw that he was mocked anywhere from 86 00:03:41,440 --> 00:03:44,000 Speaker 1: like eight to twenty eight. Right, there was a big 87 00:03:44,080 --> 00:03:46,320 Speaker 1: range in Michael Williams, but he ends up going really 88 00:03:46,360 --> 00:03:49,440 Speaker 1: early on in the process. But let's start with Jalen Walker, 89 00:03:49,480 --> 00:03:51,680 Speaker 1: because the one thing I did say on the pre 90 00:03:51,840 --> 00:03:55,520 Speaker 1: draft show today was if for whatever reason, he is 91 00:03:55,560 --> 00:03:58,000 Speaker 1: still there at fifteen, you run the card up to 92 00:03:58,040 --> 00:04:00,840 Speaker 1: the commissioner. And as I was watching the draft tour, 93 00:04:00,920 --> 00:04:04,480 Speaker 1: it was all of a sudden like ten, eleven, twelve, 94 00:04:04,600 --> 00:04:07,160 Speaker 1: no Jalen Walker, Jalen Walker still on the board, And 95 00:04:07,200 --> 00:04:09,880 Speaker 1: all of a sudden, you're at fifteen and Jalen Walker 96 00:04:10,000 --> 00:04:12,240 Speaker 1: still on the board. And I was like, oh my gosh, 97 00:04:12,520 --> 00:04:14,400 Speaker 1: this might just work out for them. Yeah, was it 98 00:04:14,440 --> 00:04:15,520 Speaker 1: a similar thought for you? 99 00:04:15,640 --> 00:04:18,240 Speaker 3: Absolutely? I was shocked that he fell to fifteen. And 100 00:04:18,320 --> 00:04:22,400 Speaker 3: if I'm sure people have heard me say this, they've 101 00:04:22,400 --> 00:04:25,640 Speaker 3: seen me write it over and over. I never once 102 00:04:25,880 --> 00:04:28,440 Speaker 3: thought that Jalen Walker was going to get past the 103 00:04:28,520 --> 00:04:32,279 Speaker 3: Carolina Panthers at eight. I never thought that was gonna happen. 104 00:04:32,520 --> 00:04:35,599 Speaker 3: Knowing their needs, knowing what I think they valued in 105 00:04:35,680 --> 00:04:38,599 Speaker 3: terms of an edge rusher and a presence, and also 106 00:04:38,680 --> 00:04:42,000 Speaker 3: looking at all of the impact players that they added 107 00:04:42,400 --> 00:04:45,880 Speaker 3: to their defense during free agency, I was like, Jalen 108 00:04:45,880 --> 00:04:48,320 Speaker 3: Walker's just icing on the cake for the Carolina Panthers. 109 00:04:48,360 --> 00:04:52,040 Speaker 3: I had no doubt that he was gonna be there 110 00:04:53,240 --> 00:04:55,600 Speaker 3: or not be there at fifteen. Yeah, I had no 111 00:04:55,640 --> 00:04:58,960 Speaker 3: doubt I even today, tweeted earlier today, seven hours before 112 00:04:59,000 --> 00:05:01,240 Speaker 3: the draft, I'm like, you're my top five players that 113 00:05:01,279 --> 00:05:03,120 Speaker 3: I think the Falcons could get in the first round, 114 00:05:03,160 --> 00:05:05,880 Speaker 3: and I didn't put Jalen Walker. And someone asked me 115 00:05:05,920 --> 00:05:07,600 Speaker 3: why did you not put Jalen Walker on there? And 116 00:05:07,600 --> 00:05:09,880 Speaker 3: I was like, cause he's not gonna be there at fifteen. 117 00:05:10,440 --> 00:05:13,520 Speaker 3: And sure enough, to your point, you just see no 118 00:05:13,640 --> 00:05:15,840 Speaker 3: Jalen Walker, No Jalen Walker. He's still there. 119 00:05:15,880 --> 00:05:16,600 Speaker 2: He's still there. 120 00:05:16,640 --> 00:05:21,960 Speaker 3: And I think that when it all boils down to it, 121 00:05:22,520 --> 00:05:26,320 Speaker 3: Jalen Walker is the type of player that if you're 122 00:05:26,480 --> 00:05:30,159 Speaker 3: Jeff Olbrick, if you're Raheem Morris, you are excited to 123 00:05:30,279 --> 00:05:34,640 Speaker 3: get a hold of him because one the character, the leader, 124 00:05:34,760 --> 00:05:38,679 Speaker 3: the passion, it's all there. Everything. I talked to area 125 00:05:38,720 --> 00:05:42,120 Speaker 3: scouts and position coaches, and I've actually spoken to Jeff 126 00:05:42,160 --> 00:05:45,320 Speaker 3: Olbrick about Jalen Walker and James Pierce, which we'll talk 127 00:05:45,360 --> 00:05:48,880 Speaker 3: about later. But what stuck out was how much they 128 00:05:48,920 --> 00:05:50,920 Speaker 3: fell in love with the player as much as they 129 00:05:50,920 --> 00:05:52,360 Speaker 3: fell in love with the person when it comes to 130 00:05:52,440 --> 00:05:56,280 Speaker 3: Jalen Walker. And I think that something that came up 131 00:05:56,279 --> 00:05:58,160 Speaker 3: in my conversation with Jeff Oulbrick and I don't want 132 00:05:58,160 --> 00:05:59,920 Speaker 3: to spoil this because it was such a great com 133 00:06:00,000 --> 00:06:02,000 Speaker 3: conversation that you'll be able to check out on Atlanta 134 00:06:02,040 --> 00:06:05,120 Speaker 3: Falcons dot com. But it was such a great conversation 135 00:06:05,160 --> 00:06:07,240 Speaker 3: because I asked him. I was like, this is a 136 00:06:07,320 --> 00:06:10,200 Speaker 3: guy who all we talk about with Jalen Walker is 137 00:06:10,240 --> 00:06:12,320 Speaker 3: how much of a Swiss Army knife he is. How 138 00:06:12,360 --> 00:06:14,240 Speaker 3: he can do so many different things. You can line 139 00:06:14,279 --> 00:06:16,960 Speaker 3: him up in so many different areas. He has such 140 00:06:16,960 --> 00:06:21,360 Speaker 3: a diverse and versatile skill set as a play caller. 141 00:06:21,520 --> 00:06:26,080 Speaker 3: Is that sometimes a difficult place to live where you 142 00:06:26,160 --> 00:06:28,279 Speaker 3: almost don't want to throw too much at him? But 143 00:06:28,320 --> 00:06:30,000 Speaker 3: you know he can do a lot, But how do 144 00:06:30,080 --> 00:06:32,080 Speaker 3: you make sure that he's not drinking water out of fire? 145 00:06:32,120 --> 00:06:35,320 Speaker 3: Hyder like that was and he he was like, you 146 00:06:35,400 --> 00:06:38,760 Speaker 3: know what, Like there is something very specific. He was like, 147 00:06:39,279 --> 00:06:41,480 Speaker 3: it's going to be a fun challenge for me as 148 00:06:41,480 --> 00:06:44,920 Speaker 3: a defensive coordinator to find Jalen Walker a home in 149 00:06:45,000 --> 00:06:47,240 Speaker 3: this defense because he says, as soon as I can 150 00:06:47,240 --> 00:06:50,320 Speaker 3: find him a home, we can fine tune a lot 151 00:06:50,320 --> 00:06:52,760 Speaker 3: of things and take his game from where it's already at, 152 00:06:52,839 --> 00:06:55,359 Speaker 3: which is already at a good spot, and take it 153 00:06:55,440 --> 00:06:57,480 Speaker 3: up a next level, And I think like that if 154 00:06:57,520 --> 00:07:02,200 Speaker 3: you're jeff Olbrick sitting there with Jalen Walker and Kate 155 00:07:02,279 --> 00:07:06,039 Speaker 3: Nellis and having the ability to do some different things 156 00:07:06,080 --> 00:07:09,680 Speaker 3: with both of them, that should be very exciting. 157 00:07:10,400 --> 00:07:13,800 Speaker 1: You know. It's almost like the man upstairs was playing 158 00:07:13,840 --> 00:07:16,239 Speaker 1: tricks on me, because in the pregame show, I was saying, 159 00:07:16,320 --> 00:07:19,520 Speaker 1: when I was talking about Jalen Walker, basically in a 160 00:07:19,640 --> 00:07:22,720 Speaker 1: joking sense, that he's not gonna be there. I was like, 161 00:07:22,840 --> 00:07:24,680 Speaker 1: but wouldn't it be really good if you had an 162 00:07:24,680 --> 00:07:27,480 Speaker 1: opportunity where you could put Jalen Walker behind the defensive 163 00:07:27,520 --> 00:07:29,120 Speaker 1: line and put Kate Nellis up on the line of 164 00:07:29,120 --> 00:07:31,440 Speaker 1: scrimmage to rush the passer because we know how much 165 00:07:31,480 --> 00:07:33,120 Speaker 1: he likes to do that. And then the very next 166 00:07:33,200 --> 00:07:35,120 Speaker 1: play you put Jalen Walker on the line of scrimmage, 167 00:07:35,120 --> 00:07:37,960 Speaker 1: put kay Nellis back behind the defensive line, and it's like, 168 00:07:38,320 --> 00:07:41,320 Speaker 1: oh my gosh, that's now what's gonna happen? And will 169 00:07:41,440 --> 00:07:43,680 Speaker 1: here's And I'm gonna throw this out and it's gonna 170 00:07:43,680 --> 00:07:45,560 Speaker 1: sound a little funny at the start, but you're gonna 171 00:07:45,640 --> 00:07:49,400 Speaker 1: understand what I mean. No doubt that the Jacksonville Jaguars 172 00:07:49,400 --> 00:07:52,760 Speaker 1: obviously got a two for one player in Travis Hunter, 173 00:07:53,160 --> 00:07:55,320 Speaker 1: but I almost feel like the Falcons got a two 174 00:07:55,360 --> 00:07:58,480 Speaker 1: for one player in Jalen Walker, because this guy comes 175 00:07:58,560 --> 00:08:00,480 Speaker 1: up and he gets on the edge and he is 176 00:08:00,600 --> 00:08:02,240 Speaker 1: just like any edge rusher that. 177 00:08:02,200 --> 00:08:03,000 Speaker 2: Was in this draft. 178 00:08:03,320 --> 00:08:06,520 Speaker 1: But he's also got the versatility, the athleticism, the speed, 179 00:08:07,200 --> 00:08:10,760 Speaker 1: the tenacity to stand behind the defensive line and stay 180 00:08:10,760 --> 00:08:14,600 Speaker 1: in your traditional inside linebacker position, to fill gaps, meet 181 00:08:14,680 --> 00:08:17,960 Speaker 1: running backs, cover backs coming out of the backfield, tight ends. 182 00:08:18,360 --> 00:08:21,160 Speaker 1: You have this Swiss army knife that's kind of a 183 00:08:21,200 --> 00:08:24,360 Speaker 1: two for one. You got a potential and I don't 184 00:08:24,440 --> 00:08:27,120 Speaker 1: necessarily want to say in middle linebacker, but you got 185 00:08:27,160 --> 00:08:29,800 Speaker 1: an inside linebacker that has the skill set to be 186 00:08:29,840 --> 00:08:31,560 Speaker 1: an edge rusher in one player. 187 00:08:31,800 --> 00:08:34,920 Speaker 4: Yeah, absolutely, And I mean we were talking when we 188 00:08:34,920 --> 00:08:37,200 Speaker 4: were kind of going through each edge rusher and what 189 00:08:37,280 --> 00:08:40,839 Speaker 4: they brought to the Falcons potentially, and with Jane Walker 190 00:08:40,960 --> 00:08:44,160 Speaker 4: was almost like everybody talks about the fig Fangio defense, 191 00:08:44,200 --> 00:08:47,280 Speaker 4: but it's almost like the attacking style of defense that 192 00:08:47,320 --> 00:08:49,440 Speaker 4: you see in Minnesota. And I'm thinking of, you know, 193 00:08:49,480 --> 00:08:52,440 Speaker 4: you mentioned bringing Caden or Jalen up off the edge. 194 00:08:52,600 --> 00:08:54,680 Speaker 4: What if they're both in that a gap. Yeah, and 195 00:08:54,720 --> 00:08:56,960 Speaker 4: now you've got James Pierce and you got Leonard Floyd 196 00:08:57,040 --> 00:08:59,280 Speaker 4: or Arnold Levy Katie, and it's like I can just 197 00:08:59,320 --> 00:09:02,080 Speaker 4: picture this kind of junkyard dog defense, I think is 198 00:09:02,080 --> 00:09:03,360 Speaker 4: what I kind of called it back then, where you 199 00:09:03,480 --> 00:09:05,800 Speaker 4: just get a bunch of guys standing up staring at 200 00:09:05,800 --> 00:09:08,880 Speaker 4: the quarterback and you have no idea is this one coming, 201 00:09:08,960 --> 00:09:09,600 Speaker 4: is that one coming? 202 00:09:09,640 --> 00:09:10,439 Speaker 2: Other all coming? 203 00:09:10,480 --> 00:09:14,240 Speaker 4: When play like the I think flexibility, creativity that it 204 00:09:14,360 --> 00:09:16,959 Speaker 4: unlocks is is just gonna be so much fun to watch. 205 00:09:17,000 --> 00:09:21,480 Speaker 4: But your point about having a player who can do 206 00:09:21,679 --> 00:09:24,400 Speaker 4: everything in a Swiss army knife, like how many times 207 00:09:24,400 --> 00:09:27,439 Speaker 4: have we seen that? Actually not really translate to the NFL. 208 00:09:27,480 --> 00:09:28,319 Speaker 2: And I think that. 209 00:09:28,400 --> 00:09:33,199 Speaker 4: It's hard because that leap is substantial, and when you 210 00:09:33,600 --> 00:09:35,800 Speaker 4: do a bunch of everything, you have to make that 211 00:09:35,920 --> 00:09:38,320 Speaker 4: jump in like five or six different aspects of your 212 00:09:38,320 --> 00:09:41,160 Speaker 4: game instead of maybe one or two that you're concentrating on. 213 00:09:41,320 --> 00:09:44,720 Speaker 4: But Jeff Ulbrick is an amazing coach. He is an 214 00:09:44,760 --> 00:09:48,120 Speaker 4: amazing teacher. I think he simplifies things in an excellent 215 00:09:48,120 --> 00:09:51,199 Speaker 4: way for players. As a former player himself, Raheem Morris 216 00:09:51,640 --> 00:09:54,880 Speaker 4: same type of teacher and coach who simplifies things and 217 00:09:54,920 --> 00:09:57,280 Speaker 4: gets you to play fast, and the final piece is 218 00:09:57,280 --> 00:10:00,600 Speaker 4: having Kayden nellis somebody you can directly look at, watch 219 00:10:00,760 --> 00:10:03,920 Speaker 4: tape from last year see on the practice field. I 220 00:10:04,000 --> 00:10:06,280 Speaker 4: do think that Jalen Walker is going to be much 221 00:10:06,440 --> 00:10:09,439 Speaker 4: closer to fulfilling that vision of really being a Swiss 222 00:10:09,520 --> 00:10:10,280 Speaker 4: Army knife type. 223 00:10:10,160 --> 00:10:12,040 Speaker 2: Of player for all of those factors. 224 00:10:12,040 --> 00:10:15,480 Speaker 4: So yeah, again, I'm really excited for what he's going 225 00:10:15,559 --> 00:10:16,400 Speaker 4: to bring to this defense. 226 00:10:16,760 --> 00:10:20,240 Speaker 1: Jeff Albert obviously an excited defensive coordinator right now, but 227 00:10:20,280 --> 00:10:22,840 Speaker 1: to your point, Will, I almost feel like Kayden Ellis 228 00:10:22,920 --> 00:10:25,400 Speaker 1: him and Jesse Bates might be the next two most 229 00:10:25,480 --> 00:10:29,800 Speaker 1: excited people in this organization. Knowing that they've got well, 230 00:10:29,960 --> 00:10:32,559 Speaker 1: we're just still talking about Jayalen Walker, but knowing that 231 00:10:32,880 --> 00:10:35,600 Speaker 1: Cayden has got Jalen next to him to talk to him, 232 00:10:35,640 --> 00:10:38,600 Speaker 1: to mentor him, to teach him to use the skill 233 00:10:38,640 --> 00:10:41,000 Speaker 1: set that he brings to the table. Jesse Bates to 234 00:10:41,040 --> 00:10:45,040 Speaker 1: know that he's got another dynamic linebacker slash ed dresser 235 00:10:45,440 --> 00:10:47,800 Speaker 1: in front of him that he can continue to help 236 00:10:47,880 --> 00:10:49,920 Speaker 1: mentor and think about what's going to happen in the 237 00:10:49,920 --> 00:10:52,560 Speaker 1: film room with these guys, right two veterans that are 238 00:10:52,559 --> 00:10:55,000 Speaker 1: going to be work with not only Jalen Walker, but 239 00:10:55,240 --> 00:11:00,320 Speaker 1: also James Pierce. As we transition to the second first 240 00:11:00,400 --> 00:11:03,640 Speaker 1: round pick that most of us had no idea was coming. 241 00:11:04,240 --> 00:11:07,160 Speaker 1: Is that Raheem Morris and Terry Fontineau and the rest 242 00:11:07,240 --> 00:11:13,280 Speaker 1: of that staff pulled off a monumental trade. They're giving 243 00:11:13,360 --> 00:11:15,480 Speaker 1: up a first next year, they're giving up some they're 244 00:11:15,480 --> 00:11:18,760 Speaker 1: giving up some capital, definitely, but they went all in 245 00:11:19,080 --> 00:11:22,480 Speaker 1: to address a major need and they trade back into 246 00:11:22,480 --> 00:11:25,640 Speaker 1: the first round to take James Pierce out of Tennessee. 247 00:11:25,679 --> 00:11:27,480 Speaker 1: I think Tory a lot of people when they were 248 00:11:27,520 --> 00:11:29,560 Speaker 1: laying out the edge rushers, it was like you could 249 00:11:29,559 --> 00:11:32,400 Speaker 1: put probably a list of five guys or so down 250 00:11:32,480 --> 00:11:35,480 Speaker 1: the list, and pretty much you're gonna find James Pierce 251 00:11:35,559 --> 00:11:38,120 Speaker 1: in that list, right. And I always say that when 252 00:11:38,160 --> 00:11:41,720 Speaker 1: it comes down to this, you guys, myself, Arch Shock, 253 00:11:41,840 --> 00:11:45,480 Speaker 1: anybody else that has a platform a microphone can say 254 00:11:45,520 --> 00:11:47,679 Speaker 1: who they think that you should pick, who they think 255 00:11:47,720 --> 00:11:50,160 Speaker 1: the Falcons could pick. At the end of the day, 256 00:11:50,440 --> 00:11:53,560 Speaker 1: they're the ones the front office, the coaches that get 257 00:11:53,600 --> 00:11:56,040 Speaker 1: to talk to them one on one, that get to 258 00:11:56,080 --> 00:11:58,000 Speaker 1: sit down with them in meeting rooms, that get to 259 00:11:58,160 --> 00:12:01,080 Speaker 1: either fall in love or fall out of love with 260 00:12:01,160 --> 00:12:04,400 Speaker 1: certain players, and they decided that James Pierce was their guy. 261 00:12:04,600 --> 00:12:07,440 Speaker 1: So they trade back up and they get another premiere 262 00:12:07,600 --> 00:12:11,280 Speaker 1: pass rusher that played in the most challenging conference in 263 00:12:11,320 --> 00:12:14,520 Speaker 1: the country in the SEC at Tennessee. What does James 264 00:12:14,559 --> 00:12:16,760 Speaker 1: Pierce bring along with Jalen Walker? 265 00:12:17,040 --> 00:12:22,280 Speaker 3: So, I what's interesting is he's very different, very different 266 00:12:22,320 --> 00:12:24,720 Speaker 3: prototype of player, and he's huge. 267 00:12:25,120 --> 00:12:26,320 Speaker 2: Like that was something that I. 268 00:12:26,280 --> 00:12:29,720 Speaker 3: Was talking to Jeff Ulbrick about, was I was asking 269 00:12:29,800 --> 00:12:32,640 Speaker 3: him kind of to, you know, the juxtaposition between these 270 00:12:32,640 --> 00:12:35,040 Speaker 3: two guys that he now has at his disposal, and 271 00:12:35,080 --> 00:12:38,760 Speaker 3: he was talking about James Pierce Junior and how he played. 272 00:12:38,840 --> 00:12:41,960 Speaker 3: The way he plays is so much faster and quicker 273 00:12:41,960 --> 00:12:44,800 Speaker 3: and explosive than maybe what his size is. He's like, 274 00:12:45,040 --> 00:12:48,600 Speaker 3: you think that he plays like a six one six 275 00:12:48,679 --> 00:12:52,600 Speaker 3: foot type of guys, maybe a smaller guy, but then 276 00:12:52,640 --> 00:12:54,160 Speaker 3: you get in the room with him and he's six' 277 00:12:54,280 --> 00:12:56,640 Speaker 3: five and you're looking straight up at him and he's, 278 00:12:56,720 --> 00:13:00,320 Speaker 3: huge and he's just a large. Individual first, off the 279 00:13:00,440 --> 00:13:02,559 Speaker 3: length that we're talking about THAT i think could pair 280 00:13:02,679 --> 00:13:06,160 Speaker 3: really nicely on the other side Of Leonard, floyd who 281 00:13:06,200 --> 00:13:08,640 Speaker 3: also is someone who plays with so much length and 282 00:13:08,679 --> 00:13:12,000 Speaker 3: has learned over years in this league how to best 283 00:13:12,080 --> 00:13:14,760 Speaker 3: utilize that. Length SO i think learning from him is 284 00:13:14,760 --> 00:13:17,440 Speaker 3: also going to be an interesting part Of James Peerce 285 00:13:17,679 --> 00:13:21,400 Speaker 3: junior's development as a. Rookie but the pick itself and 286 00:13:21,800 --> 00:13:24,760 Speaker 3: the idea of The falcons moving back into the first 287 00:13:24,840 --> 00:13:28,439 Speaker 3: round specifically For James Pierce. JR i think just from 288 00:13:28,480 --> 00:13:31,280 Speaker 3: my conversations with people who were a part of that, 289 00:13:31,480 --> 00:13:35,640 Speaker 3: decision is they truly feel like he was one of the, 290 00:13:35,720 --> 00:13:38,920 Speaker 3: best if not the, best pure ed rushers in this. 291 00:13:39,120 --> 00:13:41,960 Speaker 3: CLASS i think there's been a lot made about the 292 00:13:42,000 --> 00:13:44,280 Speaker 3: different types of ed, rushers AND i know a lot 293 00:13:44,320 --> 00:13:46,199 Speaker 3: of people are, like, oh it just depends on where 294 00:13:46,960 --> 00:13:50,080 Speaker 3: where you take, somebody depending on where you know specific 295 00:13:50,120 --> 00:13:54,000 Speaker 3: teams are grading, them not necessarily like overarching consensus of the. 296 00:13:54,040 --> 00:13:58,559 Speaker 3: Player The falcons feel like he was very high up 297 00:13:59,000 --> 00:14:02,120 Speaker 3: on their when they broke down the pods of edge 298 00:14:02,200 --> 00:14:05,599 Speaker 3: rushers in this class that could go, early he was 299 00:14:05,679 --> 00:14:07,560 Speaker 3: up there for them because they feel like he's a 300 00:14:07,559 --> 00:14:12,080 Speaker 3: true three down. Guy they feel like he is someone who. Interested, yeah, 301 00:14:12,400 --> 00:14:15,520 Speaker 3: no that's exactly what they. Said and SO i think 302 00:14:15,559 --> 00:14:19,760 Speaker 3: that that is something that WHEN i think about to your, 303 00:14:19,800 --> 00:14:23,320 Speaker 3: point the conviction you have to be convicted to move 304 00:14:23,520 --> 00:14:26,000 Speaker 3: back into the first round to go get. SOMEONE i 305 00:14:26,040 --> 00:14:30,520 Speaker 3: think there was a very very strong conviction About James Pearce. 306 00:14:30,600 --> 00:14:33,480 Speaker 3: Junior AND i also think it's really interesting, too Because 307 00:14:33,640 --> 00:14:36,000 Speaker 3: James Fears junior is a, guy let's, say a year 308 00:14:36,040 --> 00:14:38,680 Speaker 3: and a half, ago is someone that a lot of 309 00:14:38,680 --> 00:14:41,880 Speaker 3: people were mocking in the first six picks of the 310 00:14:42,000 --> 00:14:47,040 Speaker 3: twenty twenty FIVE Nfl, Draft and so it's very interesting 311 00:14:47,080 --> 00:14:49,320 Speaker 3: to see here we are a year, later and yes 312 00:14:49,360 --> 00:14:52,440 Speaker 3: it's a twenty six overall pick and not maybe a 313 00:14:52,480 --> 00:14:56,360 Speaker 3: six overall, pick but the mechanics and the explosiveness and 314 00:14:56,400 --> 00:14:59,280 Speaker 3: the juice that were juice came up over and over 315 00:14:59,360 --> 00:15:01,280 Speaker 3: and over, again and where you're talking About JAMES S Pearce, 316 00:15:01,360 --> 00:15:05,360 Speaker 3: Junior like that was worth it for The falcons to 317 00:15:05,520 --> 00:15:09,280 Speaker 3: give up their number, twin to give up their number 318 00:15:09,360 --> 00:15:11,960 Speaker 3: forty six, pick their number two forty two and a 319 00:15:12,160 --> 00:15:16,960 Speaker 3: future first round. Pick they felt convicted in the juice 320 00:15:16,960 --> 00:15:19,360 Speaker 3: Of James Pears junior in order to do. 321 00:15:19,280 --> 00:15:21,120 Speaker 1: That and they felt that now was the time to 322 00:15:21,120 --> 00:15:23,840 Speaker 1: do it right Right they, like you could have sat 323 00:15:23,880 --> 00:15:25,560 Speaker 1: back on your laurels and Said, hey we Got Jayalen. 324 00:15:25,600 --> 00:15:27,080 Speaker 1: Walker we've got a really good player in the first. 325 00:15:27,200 --> 00:15:29,240 Speaker 1: Round let's go ahead and wait and see what's available 326 00:15:29,280 --> 00:15:31,960 Speaker 1: for our second round. Pick but they, said, no we're 327 00:15:32,000 --> 00:15:35,160 Speaker 1: going all in because this is something that has to be. 328 00:15:35,200 --> 00:15:38,080 Speaker 1: FIXED i think it's not so much that they hear the, 329 00:15:38,120 --> 00:15:41,480 Speaker 1: noise because every coach and personnel department will tell you 330 00:15:41,480 --> 00:15:43,360 Speaker 1: that they're not paying attention to what's going on in the. 331 00:15:43,400 --> 00:15:46,160 Speaker 1: News but they do pay attention to what's going on 332 00:15:46,160 --> 00:15:48,440 Speaker 1: on the, tape and they do pay attention to what's 333 00:15:48,480 --> 00:15:50,440 Speaker 1: going on in the stats. Column and when you're not 334 00:15:50,720 --> 00:15:53,600 Speaker 1: affecting the quarterback the way that you need to to 335 00:15:53,640 --> 00:15:56,480 Speaker 1: have success in The National Football, league at some point 336 00:15:56,520 --> 00:15:59,360 Speaker 1: it has to become a major, need and they clearly 337 00:15:59,440 --> 00:16:02,680 Speaker 1: showed that it was a major need that needed to be. 338 00:16:02,760 --> 00:16:05,200 Speaker 1: Dressed you guys talked a little bit About pierce to 339 00:16:05,440 --> 00:16:08,840 Speaker 1: six five and forty five pounds four point four seven 340 00:16:09,080 --> 00:16:13,880 Speaker 1: Forty that says suddenness to. Me it says athleticism to. 341 00:16:13,960 --> 00:16:17,480 Speaker 1: Me it says juice. Juice it says ability. 342 00:16:17,080 --> 00:16:19,320 Speaker 4: To get one of those. Sweatpants this is like juicy 343 00:16:19,400 --> 00:16:20,360 Speaker 4: on the back of, it aren't? 344 00:16:20,400 --> 00:16:21,600 Speaker 2: You you, Know jon. 345 00:16:22,080 --> 00:16:25,480 Speaker 1: One of these like the dazzled hats exactly juice on. It, 346 00:16:25,560 --> 00:16:30,000 Speaker 1: yeah but will bringing in a guy Like James pierce 347 00:16:30,000 --> 00:16:33,480 Speaker 1: again playing at a high LEVEL sec school against arguably 348 00:16:33,520 --> 00:16:36,440 Speaker 1: some of the best tackles in the country each and every. 349 00:16:36,520 --> 00:16:39,600 Speaker 1: Week you, know this guy is well, schooled he's played 350 00:16:39,640 --> 00:16:42,080 Speaker 1: against the, best and he's ready to come in. Here 351 00:16:42,080 --> 00:16:44,120 Speaker 1: and it goes back to kind of that mantra That 352 00:16:44,200 --> 00:16:47,200 Speaker 1: Jeff ulbrick is talking. About the very first one is 353 00:16:47,200 --> 00:16:49,960 Speaker 1: his heart is gonna have to be established early. On 354 00:16:50,200 --> 00:16:52,320 Speaker 1: you're gonna have to figure out what's gonna what it 355 00:16:52,360 --> 00:16:54,240 Speaker 1: takes to get him to. Tick you're gonna have to 356 00:16:54,240 --> 00:16:57,160 Speaker 1: figure out how he learns the, best and then the 357 00:16:57,200 --> 00:16:59,640 Speaker 1: rest of the defense is all gonna have to rally 358 00:16:59,640 --> 00:17:02,360 Speaker 1: around both of these new players and figure out how 359 00:17:02,400 --> 00:17:05,159 Speaker 1: we're going to institute them into this defense to get 360 00:17:05,240 --> 00:17:08,000 Speaker 1: them comfortable number one and number, two to get him 361 00:17:08,040 --> 00:17:11,680 Speaker 1: to come screaming off the edge to make opposing quarterbacks. 362 00:17:11,880 --> 00:17:14,360 Speaker 1: Nervous that's goal number one with both of these. 363 00:17:14,359 --> 00:17:16,760 Speaker 4: Guys, Absolutely but the way that you just laid all 364 00:17:16,800 --> 00:17:19,040 Speaker 4: of that, OUT i think that The falcons plan for 365 00:17:19,080 --> 00:17:23,040 Speaker 4: that has been. Awesome this. Offseason we've Heard Leonard floyd said. 366 00:17:23,040 --> 00:17:25,240 Speaker 4: It Raheem morris has said. It they look at this 367 00:17:25,280 --> 00:17:27,320 Speaker 4: pass rush as a little bit of a basketball, rotation 368 00:17:27,840 --> 00:17:31,640 Speaker 4: and the players that they're, ACQUIRING i really think work 369 00:17:31,720 --> 00:17:34,600 Speaker 4: well in that type of. Environment if you look At James, 370 00:17:34,640 --> 00:17:37,720 Speaker 4: pierce he only played like thirty four to thirty five 371 00:17:37,760 --> 00:17:40,679 Speaker 4: snaps a game over the last two. Seasons that's not 372 00:17:40,840 --> 00:17:43,960 Speaker 4: an every single down type of. Player, however one hundred 373 00:17:43,960 --> 00:17:46,399 Speaker 4: and seven pressures over the last two, years most in THE. 374 00:17:46,440 --> 00:17:49,280 Speaker 4: Sec so he is effective when he's out there on the. 375 00:17:49,280 --> 00:17:53,120 Speaker 4: Field you bring him in as a flamethrower specific kind 376 00:17:53,160 --> 00:17:56,440 Speaker 4: of designated pass rusher in year, one that's just year, one, 377 00:17:56,680 --> 00:17:58,760 Speaker 4: Right he's got the upside to do way more than. 378 00:17:58,760 --> 00:18:01,520 Speaker 4: That but in twenty twenty, five ALL i need you to, 379 00:18:01,520 --> 00:18:04,040 Speaker 4: do like you just, said is go get that quarterback 380 00:18:04,280 --> 00:18:06,280 Speaker 4: as fast as you, can and he does it faster 381 00:18:06,320 --> 00:18:08,960 Speaker 4: than pretty much anybody. Else like cat like is the 382 00:18:09,680 --> 00:18:12,360 Speaker 4: word that like he brings to my mind because he's 383 00:18:12,359 --> 00:18:14,359 Speaker 4: almost like a wide. RECEIVER i THINK i told you 384 00:18:14,400 --> 00:18:16,680 Speaker 4: this where it's like he doesn't want you to touch. 385 00:18:16,720 --> 00:18:20,199 Speaker 4: Him he, hates, right he hates being, touched and so 386 00:18:20,240 --> 00:18:23,840 Speaker 4: he's out here they're playing two hand touch football as 387 00:18:23,840 --> 00:18:26,480 Speaker 4: a pass presher and he's dancing around. Everybody and then 388 00:18:26,480 --> 00:18:28,520 Speaker 4: on the other side you Get Jalen walker just like 389 00:18:28,640 --> 00:18:30,960 Speaker 4: zombie walking a dude right back in the lap of the. 390 00:18:31,040 --> 00:18:33,640 Speaker 4: Quarterback you've Got arnold ab A kad maybe coming around 391 00:18:33,640 --> 00:18:35,919 Speaker 4: on a stun Or Leonard. Flock like, again that the 392 00:18:36,040 --> 00:18:37,920 Speaker 4: vision for all of, this the way it could work, 393 00:18:37,960 --> 00:18:41,199 Speaker 4: together the way it could work, individually just all of 394 00:18:41,240 --> 00:18:43,560 Speaker 4: the pieces you're seeing the dots kind of start getting, 395 00:18:43,640 --> 00:18:47,960 Speaker 4: connected and like the defense feels night and day. DIFFERENT 396 00:18:48,040 --> 00:18:49,560 Speaker 4: i know it's just been two picks AND i don't 397 00:18:49,560 --> 00:18:52,159 Speaker 4: want to make too much about, it but, LIKE i 398 00:18:52,200 --> 00:18:54,199 Speaker 4: just feel so much better about this defense right. 399 00:18:54,240 --> 00:18:57,040 Speaker 3: Now something else too that you talking, About you, Know 400 00:18:57,440 --> 00:19:01,720 Speaker 3: James James Pierce, junior only having played thirty five forty 401 00:19:02,280 --> 00:19:06,000 Speaker 3: snaps but being so effective in that that is not 402 00:19:06,160 --> 00:19:10,560 Speaker 3: dissimilar to What Jalen walker was for The University. Jeordian 403 00:19:10,800 --> 00:19:13,240 Speaker 3: this is a guy who led in almost every single 404 00:19:13,320 --> 00:19:17,600 Speaker 3: pass rush statistic for The university Of, georgia very very solid. 405 00:19:17,640 --> 00:19:21,280 Speaker 3: Defense but he only had the seventh most pass rush 406 00:19:21,400 --> 00:19:24,919 Speaker 3: snaps on the. Team so there are six other guys 407 00:19:25,040 --> 00:19:28,080 Speaker 3: ahead of him that had more pass rush, snaps more 408 00:19:28,119 --> 00:19:31,000 Speaker 3: pass rush, opportunities and yet It's Jalen walker who is 409 00:19:31,160 --> 00:19:35,679 Speaker 3: leading that group in every single pass rush metric in 410 00:19:35,760 --> 00:19:38,480 Speaker 3: the same way That James Pearce junior is doing the 411 00:19:38,520 --> 00:19:42,680 Speaker 3: same thing At. Tennessee they're, efficiency, efficiency efficient. 412 00:19:42,760 --> 00:19:46,719 Speaker 1: Rushers we are on An Atlanta falcons, podcast, right so 413 00:19:46,760 --> 00:19:50,720 Speaker 1: it's easy to take this next question or conversation as 414 00:19:50,760 --> 00:19:54,400 Speaker 1: a quote unquote. Homer BUT i would also say that 415 00:19:54,680 --> 00:19:58,600 Speaker 1: the draft is a time for optimism for every single, 416 00:19:58,640 --> 00:20:01,600 Speaker 1: team and especially the first round is a time for 417 00:20:01,680 --> 00:20:05,000 Speaker 1: optimism because you are arguably getting one of the most 418 00:20:05,119 --> 00:20:08,800 Speaker 1: dynamic players in the college ranks that's coming to join your, 419 00:20:08,800 --> 00:20:12,480 Speaker 1: team and he is likely fitting a need that you. Have, 420 00:20:12,600 --> 00:20:15,800 Speaker 1: now obviously there's the argument between best player available and, 421 00:20:16,040 --> 00:20:19,640 Speaker 1: need but The Atlanta falcons clearly addressed a need and 422 00:20:19,680 --> 00:20:21,679 Speaker 1: maybe we'll find out that that Was we're a perfect 423 00:20:21,720 --> 00:20:24,760 Speaker 1: marriage this year between best player available in a. Need 424 00:20:25,160 --> 00:20:27,359 Speaker 1: BUT i want to ask you guys this, Question, tori 425 00:20:27,800 --> 00:20:30,240 Speaker 1: what is Your what is your? Scale AND i don't 426 00:20:30,240 --> 00:20:32,080 Speaker 1: even know what it. Is i'm making this up on 427 00:20:32,119 --> 00:20:34,399 Speaker 1: it as we go, here on a scale of one to. 428 00:20:34,480 --> 00:20:37,440 Speaker 1: Ten your optimism now for this defense is. 429 00:20:37,440 --> 00:20:42,520 Speaker 3: What probably a, SEVEN a, SEVEN a, seven WHICH i 430 00:20:42,680 --> 00:20:46,400 Speaker 3: probably think there's fans out there that are like. Seven 431 00:20:46,920 --> 00:20:49,919 Speaker 3: but the thing is, is, like we DON'T i don't 432 00:20:49,960 --> 00:20:52,120 Speaker 3: know what this defense is going to look Like jesse 433 00:20:52,160 --> 00:20:57,720 Speaker 3: yet sure new defensive, coordinator two new fresh face first 434 00:20:57,840 --> 00:20:59,760 Speaker 3: round picks that are going to be a part of, 435 00:20:59,760 --> 00:21:04,280 Speaker 3: this and also some new faces from free. Agency, also 436 00:21:04,720 --> 00:21:07,359 Speaker 3: there's still more things that could happen in this year's, 437 00:21:07,400 --> 00:21:09,840 Speaker 3: draft and there's more things that can happen in free 438 00:21:09,880 --> 00:21:12,440 Speaker 3: agency down the. Road they Got Matthew judon And Justin 439 00:21:12,480 --> 00:21:17,280 Speaker 3: simmons during training. Camp so LIKE i still am, Calm 440 00:21:17,640 --> 00:21:20,720 Speaker 3: i'm a little. BIT i do tend to lead more pessimistic, 441 00:21:20,840 --> 00:21:23,159 Speaker 3: sometimes so take that with a grain of. Salt BUT 442 00:21:23,320 --> 00:21:26,840 Speaker 3: i do think that it goes back to my first point. Though, 443 00:21:27,240 --> 00:21:30,560 Speaker 3: OVERALL i think this defense took a step in the right. 444 00:21:30,640 --> 00:21:34,399 Speaker 3: Direction we'll see if that pays. Off you hope it pays, 445 00:21:34,440 --> 00:21:39,119 Speaker 3: off And i'll be, honest my overall personal excitement, level 446 00:21:39,400 --> 00:21:42,040 Speaker 3: as someone who has mocked AN Edg dresher to The 447 00:21:42,040 --> 00:21:47,600 Speaker 3: falcons every year for the last four, Years i'm so 448 00:21:47,880 --> 00:21:50,840 Speaker 3: glad it finally, happened and not just finally, happened but 449 00:21:50,840 --> 00:21:54,000 Speaker 3: happen twice in the first, round and that's. Nice AND 450 00:21:54,040 --> 00:21:57,639 Speaker 3: i think, too just from the fan bases. PERSPECTIVE i 451 00:21:57,680 --> 00:22:00,000 Speaker 3: think last year when we sat in this very podcast 452 00:22:00,080 --> 00:22:04,280 Speaker 3: studio and we're trying to have the conversation About Michael 453 00:22:04,280 --> 00:22:07,760 Speaker 3: Penis junior being taken at number eight overall and knowing 454 00:22:07,840 --> 00:22:10,560 Speaker 3: how the fan base felt about that in the confusion 455 00:22:10,680 --> 00:22:14,640 Speaker 3: and how essentially The Atlanta falcons organization shocked the world 456 00:22:14,680 --> 00:22:16,640 Speaker 3: because they're, like what do you mean you're gonna double? 457 00:22:16,720 --> 00:22:18,840 Speaker 3: Dip you already Have Kirk, cousins what are you? Doing 458 00:22:19,400 --> 00:22:22,880 Speaker 3: and looking back on that, decision right decision to, make 459 00:22:23,400 --> 00:22:26,520 Speaker 3: but at the, time it's met so, differently and SO i, 460 00:22:26,560 --> 00:22:29,400 Speaker 3: think like that's also Why i'm a little bit, hesitant 461 00:22:29,520 --> 00:22:33,280 Speaker 3: is because talking last, year it's, Like, okay there's this 462 00:22:33,320 --> 00:22:35,880 Speaker 3: optimism About Michael, penicks but we have no idea who 463 00:22:35,920 --> 00:22:37,920 Speaker 3: he's going to become or when we're even going to see. 464 00:22:37,960 --> 00:22:42,000 Speaker 3: Him with this, group with these two new, edgereshers these 465 00:22:42,040 --> 00:22:45,359 Speaker 3: two new defensive, players it's, like there is that, optimism 466 00:22:45,400 --> 00:22:47,399 Speaker 3: there is that, excitement but what are you going to 467 00:22:47,440 --> 00:22:48,920 Speaker 3: do when they're in the. Building what Is Jeff olbert 468 00:22:49,000 --> 00:22:51,960 Speaker 3: going to do with? Them how do they change what 469 00:22:52,040 --> 00:22:53,040 Speaker 3: this defense can do. 470 00:22:53,119 --> 00:22:54,760 Speaker 1: TO i didn't ask you if they were going to 471 00:22:54,760 --> 00:22:58,800 Speaker 1: The Super. BOWL i, KNOW i was asking your optimism level? Here, okay? 472 00:22:58,840 --> 00:23:00,280 Speaker 3: Seven well a. 473 00:23:00,440 --> 00:23:02,600 Speaker 2: Seven i'm Just, will what's. 474 00:23:02,440 --> 00:23:04,240 Speaker 1: Your what's your optimism level? 475 00:23:04,359 --> 00:23:04,719 Speaker 3: Score? 476 00:23:05,000 --> 00:23:05,760 Speaker 2: Will super? 477 00:23:05,800 --> 00:23:06,760 Speaker 3: Optimistic he? 478 00:23:06,960 --> 00:23:09,479 Speaker 2: IS i? AM i am super optimistic. 479 00:23:09,320 --> 00:23:11,240 Speaker 3: Asimistic he's, optimistic that's. 480 00:23:11,280 --> 00:23:13,680 Speaker 4: TRUE i, YEAH i can see the silver lining in. 481 00:23:13,760 --> 00:23:16,560 Speaker 4: ANYTHING I i mean, like it's it's an ad er 482 00:23:16,600 --> 00:23:20,960 Speaker 4: And i'm, LIKE i think if everything being taken with 483 00:23:20,960 --> 00:23:23,359 Speaker 4: a grain of, salt, RIGHT i suddenly don't think that 484 00:23:23,560 --> 00:23:25,080 Speaker 4: The falcons are going to go out there and be 485 00:23:25,200 --> 00:23:27,720 Speaker 4: like what The Denver broncos were last year or anything like. 486 00:23:27,760 --> 00:23:32,080 Speaker 4: That BUT I i do, think, again you trust your biggest 487 00:23:32,119 --> 00:23:34,840 Speaker 4: need in the biggest possible. Way there's gonna be excitement 488 00:23:34,840 --> 00:23:37,399 Speaker 4: about both of these. Players they're both players THAT i 489 00:23:37,440 --> 00:23:40,439 Speaker 4: think do have some, upside but different ways that they 490 00:23:40,440 --> 00:23:42,920 Speaker 4: can be used. Immediately so you're better in twenty twenty, 491 00:23:42,920 --> 00:23:45,360 Speaker 4: five but there's still the room to grow around them 492 00:23:45,760 --> 00:23:49,239 Speaker 4: as those. Players The the one thing THAT i do 493 00:23:49,320 --> 00:23:52,119 Speaker 4: think is interesting to note is the big turnaround That 494 00:23:52,119 --> 00:23:55,000 Speaker 4: atlanta had last year rushing the PASSER i think had 495 00:23:55,000 --> 00:23:58,000 Speaker 4: as much to do with their run defense as actually 496 00:23:58,000 --> 00:24:00,600 Speaker 4: their their pass, rush because we heard how many Times 497 00:24:00,680 --> 00:24:03,080 Speaker 4: Jimmy lake kind of, say in order for your pass 498 00:24:03,119 --> 00:24:05,520 Speaker 4: rush to be, effective you've got to get teams into passing. 499 00:24:05,560 --> 00:24:06,280 Speaker 2: Situations. 500 00:24:06,400 --> 00:24:09,560 Speaker 4: Right, so as nice as it is to Have James, pearce, 501 00:24:09,640 --> 00:24:12,080 Speaker 4: like you got to get him on the, field and 502 00:24:12,119 --> 00:24:14,000 Speaker 4: so to do, that you've got to set teams back 503 00:24:14,040 --> 00:24:16,359 Speaker 4: behind the eight. Ball and that is maybe the one 504 00:24:16,480 --> 00:24:19,520 Speaker 4: area of this defense THAT i don't know if they've 505 00:24:19,560 --> 00:24:22,320 Speaker 4: significantly improved in that. Way So i'm curious to see 506 00:24:22,320 --> 00:24:24,840 Speaker 4: how that all plays together and fits. Together can you 507 00:24:24,880 --> 00:24:26,919 Speaker 4: get these pass rushers out on the. Field but we 508 00:24:27,040 --> 00:24:29,760 Speaker 4: still have some drafts to, go so very excited for 509 00:24:30,280 --> 00:24:33,919 Speaker 4: that specific aspect of this. Defense and then you, know 510 00:24:33,920 --> 00:24:35,639 Speaker 4: knowing that you've Got Jesse bates on the back end 511 00:24:35,720 --> 00:24:38,600 Speaker 4: patrolling the, secondary, like let's get him a few more 512 00:24:38,720 --> 00:24:39,879 Speaker 4: errant passes his, way right? 513 00:24:39,960 --> 00:24:42,000 Speaker 1: Right, No, NO i think it's a great point because 514 00:24:42,200 --> 00:24:44,760 Speaker 1: will you, know WHEN i look at This falcons, defense 515 00:24:44,840 --> 00:24:47,440 Speaker 1: just think this is my personal. Opinion people might, disagree 516 00:24:47,520 --> 00:24:49,960 Speaker 1: but the areas that they needed to get better was 517 00:24:50,160 --> 00:24:53,720 Speaker 1: affect a quarterback, more, okay get off the field more 518 00:24:53,760 --> 00:24:57,280 Speaker 1: on third, down and create more. Takeaways. Okay and IF 519 00:24:57,320 --> 00:24:59,560 Speaker 1: i look at what these two guys can help do 520 00:25:00,320 --> 00:25:03,159 Speaker 1: if they're being effective in what they were brought here to, do, 521 00:25:03,560 --> 00:25:07,200 Speaker 1: right which is to affect a, quarterback make it. Difficult 522 00:25:07,680 --> 00:25:10,159 Speaker 1: obviously we'd like to see the quarterback on the. Ground 523 00:25:10,440 --> 00:25:12,880 Speaker 1: but if quarterbacks are scrambling for their lives and they're 524 00:25:12,880 --> 00:25:14,679 Speaker 1: having to throw the ball out away out of, bounds 525 00:25:14,760 --> 00:25:16,639 Speaker 1: or it's getting tipped at the line of scrimmage and 526 00:25:16,680 --> 00:25:20,120 Speaker 1: then somebody's coming up with a interception or the tip 527 00:25:20,240 --> 00:25:23,439 Speaker 1: ends up causing a three and, out that is getting 528 00:25:23,480 --> 00:25:26,280 Speaker 1: the job done and getting the posing offense off the, 529 00:25:26,280 --> 00:25:28,600 Speaker 1: field which is some of the best quarterbacks in the. 530 00:25:28,640 --> 00:25:31,560 Speaker 1: World and it's giving your, offense which we know we 531 00:25:31,640 --> 00:25:33,840 Speaker 1: have optimism on that side of the ball as, well 532 00:25:34,080 --> 00:25:36,399 Speaker 1: giving them an opportunity to come back on the field 533 00:25:36,400 --> 00:25:37,879 Speaker 1: to put points on the. 534 00:25:37,920 --> 00:25:38,240 Speaker 2: Board. 535 00:25:38,400 --> 00:25:42,199 Speaker 1: Right so to, me both of these selections help you 536 00:25:42,320 --> 00:25:46,680 Speaker 1: get closer to securing those three things THAT i talked 537 00:25:46,680 --> 00:25:48,879 Speaker 1: about that need to get better if you want to 538 00:25:48,880 --> 00:25:50,240 Speaker 1: get yourself into the, postseason. 539 00:25:50,440 --> 00:25:53,000 Speaker 4: RIGHT i think one other aspect of that is the 540 00:25:53,040 --> 00:25:55,520 Speaker 4: mobile quarterback, element which The falcons have played a lot 541 00:25:55,520 --> 00:25:56,120 Speaker 4: of mobile. 542 00:25:55,920 --> 00:25:56,960 Speaker 2: Quarterbacks of the last couple of. 543 00:25:57,040 --> 00:25:59,080 Speaker 4: Years, right and how many times have we seen that 544 00:25:59,160 --> 00:26:01,240 Speaker 4: third and six of a sudden become a new set of. 545 00:26:01,280 --> 00:26:05,400 Speaker 4: Downs Jalen walker's closing speed is, insane, Right James pearce's 546 00:26:05,440 --> 00:26:08,080 Speaker 4: burst up the, Field he's gonna cut off any type 547 00:26:08,119 --> 00:26:08,960 Speaker 4: of a skate route. 548 00:26:09,080 --> 00:26:12,640 Speaker 3: Immediately so this defense just got a lot, faster, faster. 549 00:26:12,640 --> 00:26:16,080 Speaker 1: Yes, Yes so before we wrap it, up, guys let's 550 00:26:16,119 --> 00:26:18,720 Speaker 1: just again now that we've kind of talked about both, 551 00:26:18,760 --> 00:26:22,960 Speaker 1: players we talked about the trade the move, again so 552 00:26:23,200 --> 00:26:25,119 Speaker 1: we WE i think we would all agree that this 553 00:26:25,200 --> 00:26:29,159 Speaker 1: defense has gotten. Better, Right and now as we end 554 00:26:29,200 --> 00:26:31,640 Speaker 1: up going to day two and day, Three i'm gonna 555 00:26:31,640 --> 00:26:33,119 Speaker 1: ask BECAUSE i was put on the spot as far 556 00:26:33,160 --> 00:26:36,720 Speaker 1: as where do we go next after this pass rushers was? Addressed, 557 00:26:36,880 --> 00:26:40,280 Speaker 1: okay do you guys foresee as we get to this 558 00:26:40,440 --> 00:26:43,000 Speaker 1: next pick on day, two is it stayed defense or 559 00:26:43,040 --> 00:26:44,120 Speaker 1: does this end up being more? 560 00:26:44,160 --> 00:26:48,119 Speaker 3: Wildcard i'm, going and people may be shocked about. THIS 561 00:26:48,640 --> 00:26:53,840 Speaker 3: i am going interior of defensive or offensive. Line, okay, 562 00:26:53,920 --> 00:26:56,240 Speaker 3: YES i will say offensive. LINE i think that there 563 00:26:56,280 --> 00:27:00,760 Speaker 3: could be some good sinners that may be at that you, 564 00:27:00,760 --> 00:27:04,719 Speaker 3: know pick potentially on day. TWO i think there are 565 00:27:04,760 --> 00:27:09,520 Speaker 3: some defensive tackles who BECAUSE i still think as much 566 00:27:09,560 --> 00:27:13,320 Speaker 3: as you put into this defensive line With Jalen walker 567 00:27:13,320 --> 00:27:16,720 Speaker 3: And James Pearce, junior this defensive, FRONT i still think 568 00:27:16,760 --> 00:27:21,960 Speaker 3: you need a little bit extra body in the interior 569 00:27:22,000 --> 00:27:26,040 Speaker 3: of this defensive. Line AND i would really like to 570 00:27:26,119 --> 00:27:29,760 Speaker 3: see a big dude get body of big. Body and 571 00:27:29,800 --> 00:27:34,040 Speaker 3: then also the other side of that is okay if 572 00:27:34,080 --> 00:27:37,080 Speaker 3: you don't go defensive. Tackle let's SAY i would be 573 00:27:37,119 --> 00:27:41,479 Speaker 3: okay with drafting a, center and BECAUSE i want someone 574 00:27:41,520 --> 00:27:44,760 Speaker 3: to come in and be this true competition For ryan 575 00:27:44,840 --> 00:27:47,640 Speaker 3: Noozl they've said they feel comfortable and confident In Ryan, 576 00:27:47,640 --> 00:27:50,720 Speaker 3: noozle AND i agree with. THAT i agree with, That 577 00:27:51,119 --> 00:27:53,520 Speaker 3: but you got to think about the future of it, 578 00:27:53,600 --> 00:27:56,320 Speaker 3: too AND i think that there are oftentimes a lot 579 00:27:56,359 --> 00:27:59,760 Speaker 3: of good sinners that come out of the third. ROUND 580 00:28:00,600 --> 00:28:00,919 Speaker 3: i like. 581 00:28:00,960 --> 00:28:02,760 Speaker 1: It, yeah what's your initial? 582 00:28:02,760 --> 00:28:04,680 Speaker 2: THOUGHTS i THINK i agree With. 583 00:28:05,119 --> 00:28:07,600 Speaker 4: TORI i would have felt better about the cornerbacks if 584 00:28:07,600 --> 00:28:11,800 Speaker 4: they were staying at forty. SIX i don't really think 585 00:28:11,840 --> 00:28:13,880 Speaker 4: that kind of at the tail end of the third, 586 00:28:13,960 --> 00:28:16,800 Speaker 4: round that's not. WHERE i like the strength of that position, 587 00:28:16,880 --> 00:28:20,200 Speaker 4: group particularly so if you look at the interior of 588 00:28:20,280 --> 00:28:22,880 Speaker 4: the defensive, line AND i know who you really, want 589 00:28:22,920 --> 00:28:28,359 Speaker 4: you Want Ty robinson out Of. Nebraska he's such a big. 590 00:28:28,440 --> 00:28:29,440 Speaker 3: Dude he's built like a. 591 00:28:29,400 --> 00:28:32,680 Speaker 2: Tree drunk like he literally. Is it's just insane. Movie 592 00:28:33,040 --> 00:28:33,600 Speaker 2: he's so. 593 00:28:33,720 --> 00:28:36,320 Speaker 4: Tough, yeah but The Josh farmer is another player out 594 00:28:36,359 --> 00:28:38,080 Speaker 4: Of Florida. State, Like i'd be happy with any of 595 00:28:38,120 --> 00:28:40,120 Speaker 4: those types of. Players but then, yeah if you can 596 00:28:40,160 --> 00:28:42,280 Speaker 4: give me A Jared wilson out Of, georgia, ye like 597 00:28:42,800 --> 00:28:44,800 Speaker 4: that would be great as. WELL i would also throw 598 00:28:44,800 --> 00:28:47,200 Speaker 4: a wide, receiver you. KNOW i think there's a chance 599 00:28:47,240 --> 00:28:50,080 Speaker 4: that if you want to elevate that third receiver fourth receiver, 600 00:28:50,160 --> 00:28:52,680 Speaker 4: role however they want to Use Rey, ray that could 601 00:28:52,720 --> 00:28:54,080 Speaker 4: be a good spot as. Well so end of the 602 00:28:54,080 --> 00:28:54,600 Speaker 4: third round is. 603 00:28:55,000 --> 00:28:58,080 Speaker 1: INTERESTING i was going into this thinking that the three 604 00:28:58,160 --> 00:29:02,760 Speaker 1: needs were edge rusher and corner and, linebacker and then 605 00:29:02,880 --> 00:29:05,600 Speaker 1: outside of that wide receiver was the next. One for. 606 00:29:05,680 --> 00:29:08,560 Speaker 1: ME i just felt like another speed threat on the, 607 00:29:08,600 --> 00:29:14,080 Speaker 1: outside somebody to really likes to go defenses to respect the. Speed, 608 00:29:14,160 --> 00:29:16,520 Speaker 1: right we Saw Matthew golden get drafted by The packers 609 00:29:16,520 --> 00:29:19,280 Speaker 1: today with the blazing. Speed like last year we saw 610 00:29:19,320 --> 00:29:21,600 Speaker 1: the same thing by The. Chiefs you pick a Guy 611 00:29:21,800 --> 00:29:24,720 Speaker 1: Xavier worthy that can absolutely take the top off the 612 00:29:24,760 --> 00:29:29,720 Speaker 1: defense that makes defensive backs defensive coordinators have to think 613 00:29:29,800 --> 00:29:32,200 Speaker 1: a little bit differently about their play. Calls so maybe 614 00:29:32,240 --> 00:29:34,680 Speaker 1: we'll see if that ends up factoring Into day two 615 00:29:34,840 --> 00:29:37,360 Speaker 1: or Even day three for The Atlanta. Falcons but as 616 00:29:37,400 --> 00:29:41,080 Speaker 1: we Recap day, One Atlanta falcons get not one but 617 00:29:41,360 --> 00:29:44,800 Speaker 1: two first round, picks both coming out of THE. Sec 618 00:29:44,960 --> 00:29:48,280 Speaker 1: Jalen walker was the first selection at, fifteen and Then 619 00:29:48,320 --> 00:29:51,680 Speaker 1: Atlanta falcons trade back into the first round and they 620 00:29:51,680 --> 00:29:54,760 Speaker 1: Get James Pierce junior out Of tennessee to get two 621 00:29:55,240 --> 00:29:58,920 Speaker 1: edge rushers for this twenty twenty five draft. Class so, 622 00:29:58,960 --> 00:30:00,840 Speaker 1: well we'll see what the the rest of this coaching 623 00:30:00,880 --> 00:30:03,480 Speaker 1: staff in front office has in store For day two 624 00:30:03,480 --> 00:30:05,480 Speaker 1: And day, three BUT i think we would all three 625 00:30:05,480 --> 00:30:08,640 Speaker 1: of us agree that it was a Successful day. One 626 00:30:08,760 --> 00:30:10,640 Speaker 1: so thanks for joining us so much here On Atlanta 627 00:30:10,680 --> 00:30:12,800 Speaker 1: falcons dot. Com and guess, what we will have so 628 00:30:12,880 --> 00:30:15,760 Speaker 1: much more coverage as we continue our way through this 629 00:30:15,840 --> 00:30:18,400 Speaker 1: twenty twenty FIVE Nfl. Draft thanks so much for joining. 630 00:30:18,440 --> 00:30:18,920 Speaker 2: Us, everyone