1 00:00:00,320 --> 00:00:03,080 Speaker 1: Dirty Birds. What's up and welcome to another edition of 2 00:00:03,120 --> 00:00:05,400 Speaker 1: Falcons Final Whistle. I'm your host, Will McFadden. I am 3 00:00:05,480 --> 00:00:07,920 Speaker 1: joined by Tory mclaney. And Tory, it feels like a 4 00:00:07,960 --> 00:00:11,360 Speaker 1: long time since you've been in the studio together. It's 5 00:00:11,400 --> 00:00:14,280 Speaker 1: not been as long for you because you did a 6 00:00:14,360 --> 00:00:16,400 Speaker 1: solo pod that everybody should go check out. It was 7 00:00:16,760 --> 00:00:20,240 Speaker 1: well finally now right, Yeah, But it was the five 8 00:00:20,560 --> 00:00:22,920 Speaker 1: candidates that you thought made sense for the Falcons at 9 00:00:22,960 --> 00:00:26,759 Speaker 1: defensive coordinator. They have since made that higher. Jeff Ulbrick 10 00:00:26,880 --> 00:00:29,920 Speaker 1: coming back to Atlanta after a few years spent in 11 00:00:29,960 --> 00:00:33,360 Speaker 1: the Big Apple. He was on your new Jersey. Well 12 00:00:33,720 --> 00:00:36,640 Speaker 1: you know, I'm not as familiar up with that that area, 13 00:00:36,720 --> 00:00:41,199 Speaker 1: but he was on your list of five candidates. So 14 00:00:41,400 --> 00:00:44,120 Speaker 1: what was your initial reaction when you saw that Jeff 15 00:00:44,159 --> 00:00:45,200 Speaker 1: Ulbrick was going to be the pick? 16 00:00:45,440 --> 00:00:50,479 Speaker 2: Well, I think that I knew it was less about 17 00:00:51,320 --> 00:00:55,000 Speaker 2: my feelings and more about what I immediately knew the 18 00:00:55,040 --> 00:00:57,600 Speaker 2: fan base was gonna feel. You're such a professional, and 19 00:00:57,680 --> 00:00:59,800 Speaker 2: I know I just care so much, like I'm all 20 00:00:59,800 --> 00:01:01,360 Speaker 2: in feeling about me. 21 00:01:01,640 --> 00:01:03,840 Speaker 1: This is about Will, this is my. 22 00:01:03,880 --> 00:01:04,600 Speaker 3: Time to shine. 23 00:01:05,280 --> 00:01:08,960 Speaker 2: But no, I was, I was sitting there and I was, actually, 24 00:01:08,959 --> 00:01:12,000 Speaker 2: what's funny is the news broke on a Saturday, and 25 00:01:12,120 --> 00:01:15,000 Speaker 2: I actually was home visiting my family over the weekend, 26 00:01:15,240 --> 00:01:18,400 Speaker 2: and we were on our way to my sister's basketball 27 00:01:18,400 --> 00:01:21,759 Speaker 2: game in Rome, and I'm in the backseat of the car, 28 00:01:21,840 --> 00:01:24,360 Speaker 2: you know, working on stuff, and I just the whole 29 00:01:24,520 --> 00:01:28,200 Speaker 2: entire time was like, the loudest faction of the fan 30 00:01:28,280 --> 00:01:33,160 Speaker 2: base is going to have very strong opinions about this hire. 31 00:01:33,520 --> 00:01:35,600 Speaker 2: And I didn't think that it was going to be 32 00:01:35,840 --> 00:01:40,880 Speaker 2: an announcement that was met with a lot of excitement. 33 00:01:40,400 --> 00:01:42,679 Speaker 3: By the fan base, if I'm being completely honest. 34 00:01:42,400 --> 00:01:46,680 Speaker 2: And looking back at once the Falcons did announce that 35 00:01:46,760 --> 00:01:50,360 Speaker 2: it was Ulbrick, kind of the response was exactly what 36 00:01:50,440 --> 00:01:52,200 Speaker 2: I thought it was going to be from the fans, 37 00:01:52,680 --> 00:01:56,600 Speaker 2: everybody being very skeptical about it, being a bit apprehensive 38 00:01:57,800 --> 00:02:00,920 Speaker 2: to a certain extent, even some frustrating and a little 39 00:02:00,920 --> 00:02:01,880 Speaker 2: bit of vitriol. 40 00:02:02,040 --> 00:02:04,200 Speaker 3: Like I think that I. 41 00:02:04,240 --> 00:02:08,560 Speaker 2: Knew it was going to be something that I don't 42 00:02:08,600 --> 00:02:10,840 Speaker 2: think a lot of people were gonna agree with in 43 00:02:10,880 --> 00:02:11,320 Speaker 2: the fan. 44 00:02:11,240 --> 00:02:13,560 Speaker 3: Base, because it it goes. 45 00:02:13,360 --> 00:02:15,080 Speaker 2: Back to what I said in that podcast that you 46 00:02:15,080 --> 00:02:17,720 Speaker 2: were talking about, where I laid out these candidates and 47 00:02:17,720 --> 00:02:20,440 Speaker 2: I kind of did, like, okay, pro and a con 48 00:02:20,720 --> 00:02:23,720 Speaker 2: for you know who who they were, what they do 49 00:02:23,880 --> 00:02:26,480 Speaker 2: and them coming to Atlanta, and with. 50 00:02:26,480 --> 00:02:28,679 Speaker 3: Jeff Olbrick, it was like, is it a little bit 51 00:02:28,880 --> 00:02:30,120 Speaker 3: of a been there, done that? 52 00:02:30,400 --> 00:02:32,280 Speaker 1: Yeah? I mean in the mail bag as I was 53 00:02:32,480 --> 00:02:35,080 Speaker 1: kind of trying to get a pulse for the people 54 00:02:35,120 --> 00:02:37,560 Speaker 1: who didn't hit me up on Twitter, and there many, many, 55 00:02:37,639 --> 00:02:41,799 Speaker 1: many of them. But a common word is retread, right, 56 00:02:41,960 --> 00:02:46,600 Speaker 1: And that is the other sentiment to this, right, And 57 00:02:47,160 --> 00:02:50,520 Speaker 1: in this particular question, it says, you know, hiring Olbric 58 00:02:50,560 --> 00:02:54,600 Speaker 1: won't move the needle. I don't know what needle fans 59 00:02:54,720 --> 00:02:57,400 Speaker 1: necessarily are focused on at this point in time. Right, 60 00:02:57,639 --> 00:03:00,400 Speaker 1: Is it a splashy hiring that is going to get 61 00:03:00,440 --> 00:03:04,400 Speaker 1: everybody talking about you? Or is it ultimately something that 62 00:03:04,480 --> 00:03:07,280 Speaker 1: is going to pay dividends on the field, and in 63 00:03:07,280 --> 00:03:09,400 Speaker 1: my mind, sooner rather than later, because I think that 64 00:03:09,400 --> 00:03:14,600 Speaker 1: that's the timeline that this current organization is operating on. Right, 65 00:03:14,800 --> 00:03:17,359 Speaker 1: Is you want to win now? You wrote a great 66 00:03:17,400 --> 00:03:20,320 Speaker 1: column after the season talking about kind of the window 67 00:03:20,639 --> 00:03:23,720 Speaker 1: and the clock is ticking. Given the rookie contract for 68 00:03:23,840 --> 00:03:26,560 Speaker 1: Drake Lennon, Given the rookie contract for Jehan Robinson and 69 00:03:26,600 --> 00:03:29,720 Speaker 1: now Michael Pennock Junior, who, like I just continue the 70 00:03:29,760 --> 00:03:31,720 Speaker 1: further away from the season we get. I'm just like, 71 00:03:31,760 --> 00:03:34,160 Speaker 1: my excitement is growing for I think what he can 72 00:03:34,200 --> 00:03:37,920 Speaker 1: be based on what we saw in those three games. So, yeah, 73 00:03:38,000 --> 00:03:40,440 Speaker 1: you want to maximize I think this window. And now 74 00:03:40,480 --> 00:03:42,800 Speaker 1: the attention turns to the defensive side of the ball, 75 00:03:43,360 --> 00:03:45,960 Speaker 1: and I think that's where my first reaction was, Yes, 76 00:03:46,000 --> 00:03:49,760 Speaker 1: there's a lot of familiarity here, but is that a 77 00:03:49,840 --> 00:03:53,080 Speaker 1: bad thing necessarily, right, Because if you want to hit 78 00:03:53,120 --> 00:03:56,280 Speaker 1: the ground running, it makes sense to bring in somebody 79 00:03:56,320 --> 00:04:00,520 Speaker 1: that literally they worked together in this capacity city in 80 00:04:00,560 --> 00:04:03,280 Speaker 1: an interim role back in twenty twenty and the results 81 00:04:03,720 --> 00:04:04,520 Speaker 1: weren't that bad. 82 00:04:05,160 --> 00:04:10,120 Speaker 3: Yeah, And I think that too. I get it, you know. 83 00:04:10,200 --> 00:04:14,160 Speaker 2: And I think too that I think about course correction 84 00:04:14,280 --> 00:04:17,279 Speaker 2: a lot in like your decision making, and I feel 85 00:04:17,279 --> 00:04:21,000 Speaker 2: like if I'm Raheem Morris, and he has stated time 86 00:04:21,040 --> 00:04:22,719 Speaker 2: and time again that he kind of wants to be 87 00:04:22,839 --> 00:04:27,600 Speaker 2: this five thousand foot view operator of the organization, kind 88 00:04:27,600 --> 00:04:30,520 Speaker 2: of like a CEO, and then you trust your vps 89 00:04:30,720 --> 00:04:36,400 Speaker 2: or executives to handle their responsibilities. And I think that 90 00:04:37,200 --> 00:04:40,480 Speaker 2: it probably got to the point last season where he 91 00:04:40,640 --> 00:04:43,240 Speaker 2: was having to spend more time than maybe what he 92 00:04:43,240 --> 00:04:47,240 Speaker 2: would like within the minutia game planning of what the 93 00:04:47,320 --> 00:04:51,919 Speaker 2: Falcons were doing defensively. And I think that because of 94 00:04:51,960 --> 00:04:56,680 Speaker 2: this Jeff Oldbrick hire, it allows Raheem to immediately have 95 00:04:56,839 --> 00:05:00,440 Speaker 2: someone come in who he trusts, who has ex experience 96 00:05:00,520 --> 00:05:05,039 Speaker 2: calling games, who at this level. Who Let's be honest, 97 00:05:05,080 --> 00:05:08,039 Speaker 2: if you look at what the Jets have done defensively 98 00:05:08,080 --> 00:05:11,120 Speaker 2: over the last few years, especially Granted I know that 99 00:05:11,200 --> 00:05:14,520 Speaker 2: it's Jeff Ulbrick and Robert Sala probably together. 100 00:05:14,880 --> 00:05:17,159 Speaker 1: Yeah, I know that that's a but like Robert Sala 101 00:05:17,640 --> 00:05:19,480 Speaker 1: took that same approach, I went back and read a 102 00:05:19,520 --> 00:05:21,480 Speaker 1: lot of this stuff when he was hired. He said, look, 103 00:05:21,560 --> 00:05:23,679 Speaker 1: Jeff Ulbrick's going to be the play caller. He wants 104 00:05:23,720 --> 00:05:26,520 Speaker 1: to be that CEO type of you know, again, I'm 105 00:05:26,560 --> 00:05:30,320 Speaker 1: overseeing the organization. And I think that just misunderstands how 106 00:05:31,000 --> 00:05:34,760 Speaker 1: frankly involved with with a lot of stuff not necessarily 107 00:05:34,800 --> 00:05:36,919 Speaker 1: related to the product on the field that a head 108 00:05:36,960 --> 00:05:39,320 Speaker 1: coach has to deal with, Like well. 109 00:05:39,240 --> 00:05:41,039 Speaker 2: I think you know, you think about what the Jets 110 00:05:41,040 --> 00:05:43,320 Speaker 2: were having to deal with during the last couple of 111 00:05:43,400 --> 00:05:44,279 Speaker 2: years with that Aaron. 112 00:05:44,160 --> 00:05:48,040 Speaker 1: Rodgers recalization was not like a pinnacle of You can't. 113 00:05:47,839 --> 00:05:50,560 Speaker 2: Tell me that Robert Sala was sitting there every single 114 00:05:50,600 --> 00:05:53,279 Speaker 2: week just going over the game plan with Jeff Ulbrick 115 00:05:53,320 --> 00:05:55,400 Speaker 2: and being like, all right, man, go execute this like 116 00:05:55,440 --> 00:05:57,279 Speaker 2: I wrote it up for you. Like there were so 117 00:05:57,400 --> 00:05:59,840 Speaker 2: many things happening within that organization. 118 00:06:00,320 --> 00:06:03,120 Speaker 1: Working was defense, right, So I think his attention as 119 00:06:03,160 --> 00:06:05,000 Speaker 1: the head coach was on a lot of this stuff 120 00:06:05,160 --> 00:06:07,839 Speaker 1: not working. It was probably trying to manage, you know, 121 00:06:07,880 --> 00:06:10,200 Speaker 1: Garrett Wilson being like, how I'm not getting the ball 122 00:06:10,279 --> 00:06:13,400 Speaker 1: man a breeze hall and kind of that whole conundrums. 123 00:06:13,839 --> 00:06:15,000 Speaker 3: Aaron Rodgers of at all. 124 00:06:15,120 --> 00:06:17,320 Speaker 2: Yeah, I mean I think like that's the thing is 125 00:06:17,360 --> 00:06:19,279 Speaker 2: like we don't know, we're not in the building with 126 00:06:19,360 --> 00:06:21,640 Speaker 2: the Jets. We don't know how much like what that 127 00:06:21,720 --> 00:06:24,159 Speaker 2: working relationship was with Robert Sala and Jeff Olbrick. 128 00:06:24,160 --> 00:06:25,760 Speaker 1: All we can go by either are the people who 129 00:06:25,800 --> 00:06:27,520 Speaker 1: were saying it was all Robert. 130 00:06:27,200 --> 00:06:28,680 Speaker 3: Salaz exactly exactly. 131 00:06:28,760 --> 00:06:32,000 Speaker 2: So I think like that, But to the point that 132 00:06:32,160 --> 00:06:35,880 Speaker 2: we're making is like Raheem wants to be this CEO 133 00:06:36,279 --> 00:06:38,960 Speaker 2: and to trust his guys to come up with a 134 00:06:39,000 --> 00:06:41,159 Speaker 2: game plan and he can. They can bring the game 135 00:06:41,360 --> 00:06:43,000 Speaker 2: to him and he can go, Okay, I like this, 136 00:06:43,080 --> 00:06:45,400 Speaker 2: maybe tweak this here, all right, go back and do that. 137 00:06:45,800 --> 00:06:46,640 Speaker 3: That's what he wants. 138 00:06:46,800 --> 00:06:50,560 Speaker 2: And with Jeff Ulbrick, I think it lends itself to 139 00:06:50,760 --> 00:06:53,039 Speaker 2: immediately to your point, kind of this idea of hitting 140 00:06:53,080 --> 00:06:56,720 Speaker 2: the ground running. He can come in and they can 141 00:06:56,800 --> 00:07:01,240 Speaker 2: meld their plans and their ideas to because it's something 142 00:07:01,279 --> 00:07:06,120 Speaker 2: they've done before. And I but again, I think that 143 00:07:06,200 --> 00:07:08,760 Speaker 2: it's really hard. I understand, like the fan base is 144 00:07:08,960 --> 00:07:12,280 Speaker 2: frustration to kind of be like, well, isn't this didn't 145 00:07:12,320 --> 00:07:13,080 Speaker 2: we already try this? 146 00:07:13,240 --> 00:07:15,480 Speaker 3: Didn't we already do this? Like I think it. 147 00:07:15,520 --> 00:07:16,080 Speaker 1: Which is fair. 148 00:07:16,160 --> 00:07:18,560 Speaker 2: I think both of these things it's the same. It's 149 00:07:18,600 --> 00:07:21,640 Speaker 2: a different side of the same coin. To have frustration 150 00:07:21,720 --> 00:07:25,640 Speaker 2: about this higher while also kind of looking at the 151 00:07:25,680 --> 00:07:28,880 Speaker 2: facts of the matter and understand you can understand it 152 00:07:29,080 --> 00:07:31,720 Speaker 2: and also maybe not have made the decision if you 153 00:07:31,840 --> 00:07:32,960 Speaker 2: were in the decision, make. 154 00:07:32,880 --> 00:07:35,360 Speaker 1: Their shoes, you know, And it's all fair, right, but 155 00:07:35,880 --> 00:07:38,600 Speaker 1: to your point, and there's a couple of a couple 156 00:07:38,640 --> 00:07:42,000 Speaker 1: of minds about this. First, it felt like at the 157 00:07:42,080 --> 00:07:45,240 Speaker 1: end of the twenty twenty season, given where the organization 158 00:07:45,440 --> 00:07:48,040 Speaker 1: had been starting in kind of that Super Bowl, and 159 00:07:48,080 --> 00:07:51,800 Speaker 1: then in the aftermath, like that point felt much more 160 00:07:52,000 --> 00:07:53,520 Speaker 1: urgent in the sense of we need to kind of 161 00:07:53,520 --> 00:07:57,520 Speaker 1: like shake some things up within the organization. And they did, 162 00:07:57,680 --> 00:08:02,160 Speaker 1: and then the grass wasn't necessarily greener, right, And in 163 00:08:02,240 --> 00:08:05,520 Speaker 1: the meantime, you had Raheem Morris go to La win 164 00:08:05,560 --> 00:08:08,320 Speaker 1: a Super Bowl as the defensive coordinator work you know, 165 00:08:08,440 --> 00:08:13,760 Speaker 1: really good like wonders with both a veteran and an 166 00:08:13,760 --> 00:08:16,000 Speaker 1: experienced group. But then also that last year in twenty 167 00:08:16,040 --> 00:08:18,560 Speaker 1: twenty three with a young group, and you saw that 168 00:08:18,600 --> 00:08:20,680 Speaker 1: he could kind of do both things. And then to 169 00:08:20,720 --> 00:08:22,800 Speaker 1: your point, Jeff Ulbrick is in New York, and I've 170 00:08:22,840 --> 00:08:24,440 Speaker 1: got some of the numbers here. They were over the 171 00:08:24,520 --> 00:08:27,720 Speaker 1: last three seasons, so this is including twenty twenty four, 172 00:08:28,760 --> 00:08:32,840 Speaker 1: first in yards allowed per play, They were first in 173 00:08:32,960 --> 00:08:36,400 Speaker 1: first downs per pass attempt, they were first in passer 174 00:08:36,480 --> 00:08:40,360 Speaker 1: rating allowed, they were second in defensive success rate, and 175 00:08:40,400 --> 00:08:44,280 Speaker 1: they were third worst in average starting field position. So 176 00:08:44,360 --> 00:08:47,440 Speaker 1: they were set up by offenses completely putting them in 177 00:08:47,559 --> 00:08:50,800 Speaker 1: tough spots, and yet they still came through time and 178 00:08:50,840 --> 00:08:53,120 Speaker 1: time again. And I would say again to the roberts 179 00:08:53,160 --> 00:08:55,840 Speaker 1: Alla point, like the defense getting worse may have something 180 00:08:55,840 --> 00:08:57,400 Speaker 1: to do with him leaving, but it may also have 181 00:08:57,480 --> 00:09:00,720 Speaker 1: something to do with the defensive coordinator elevation up to 182 00:09:00,840 --> 00:09:02,720 Speaker 1: that head coaching role and just being able to spend 183 00:09:02,800 --> 00:09:06,560 Speaker 1: less time on that. So I look at what they're 184 00:09:06,559 --> 00:09:08,960 Speaker 1: both kind of coming back to do together, and I 185 00:09:08,960 --> 00:09:12,040 Speaker 1: think the interim tags that they had in twenty twenty, 186 00:09:12,200 --> 00:09:14,840 Speaker 1: that's always a little bit complicated, right, because you're not 187 00:09:15,200 --> 00:09:18,160 Speaker 1: necessarily having an off season or you're not having an 188 00:09:18,200 --> 00:09:21,440 Speaker 1: off season to implement your vision, your style. You're taking 189 00:09:21,480 --> 00:09:24,400 Speaker 1: over the reins for somebody else, right, And I do 190 00:09:24,440 --> 00:09:26,760 Speaker 1: think that they worked pretty well in that role. They 191 00:09:26,760 --> 00:09:30,120 Speaker 1: were dead last in defensive EPA that season and they 192 00:09:30,120 --> 00:09:33,760 Speaker 1: finished fifteenth, right, So we were both covering the team 193 00:09:33,800 --> 00:09:36,280 Speaker 1: there at that point. What do you when you think 194 00:09:36,360 --> 00:09:39,160 Speaker 1: back to that time, what do you remember hearing Raheem 195 00:09:39,240 --> 00:09:42,040 Speaker 1: and Olbrook say that, you know, you think will translate 196 00:09:42,280 --> 00:09:43,120 Speaker 1: here or won't? 197 00:09:43,440 --> 00:09:45,480 Speaker 2: I think that at that time, you know, it's in 198 00:09:45,480 --> 00:09:47,839 Speaker 2: the middle of the pandemic and they you know, they 199 00:09:47,920 --> 00:09:51,360 Speaker 2: just parted ways with dan Quinn and I remember the 200 00:09:51,400 --> 00:09:54,199 Speaker 2: first few zoom calls because we were doing zoom calls, 201 00:09:54,559 --> 00:09:57,480 Speaker 2: you were I remember those first few Zoom calls with 202 00:09:57,679 --> 00:10:00,480 Speaker 2: Raheem in the interim spot and then ol Brick in 203 00:10:00,559 --> 00:10:02,160 Speaker 2: the DC spot. 204 00:10:01,760 --> 00:10:05,160 Speaker 3: And I will give credit where credit is due. 205 00:10:05,360 --> 00:10:08,560 Speaker 2: I thought that the way that they handled that whole 206 00:10:08,640 --> 00:10:12,240 Speaker 2: season from a leadership standpoint, having to deal with COVID 207 00:10:12,280 --> 00:10:15,320 Speaker 2: testing and having to deal with the roster literally changing 208 00:10:16,080 --> 00:10:19,040 Speaker 2: daily to a certain extent when there were these like 209 00:10:19,080 --> 00:10:22,080 Speaker 2: pockets of COVID outbreaks, and having to change meeting styles 210 00:10:22,080 --> 00:10:25,760 Speaker 2: and having to do different things. And I mean I 211 00:10:26,640 --> 00:10:32,240 Speaker 2: was really at the time impressed by their ability not 212 00:10:32,360 --> 00:10:34,840 Speaker 2: just to handle all of that, not just to handle 213 00:10:34,960 --> 00:10:38,679 Speaker 2: the firing of Dan Quinn and Thomas Dimitrov in season, 214 00:10:39,559 --> 00:10:44,640 Speaker 2: but I appreciated from a media perspective how transparent they 215 00:10:44,679 --> 00:10:47,800 Speaker 2: were about all of the things that, Okay, yeah they're 216 00:10:47,840 --> 00:10:49,640 Speaker 2: not good enough here, we're not good enough. Here, we're 217 00:10:49,679 --> 00:10:52,959 Speaker 2: not good enough here, here's what we think is gonna 218 00:10:52,960 --> 00:10:55,880 Speaker 2: work by changing X, Y or Z. I don't and 219 00:10:55,960 --> 00:10:58,160 Speaker 2: I have a hard time like pulling examples because it's 220 00:10:58,160 --> 00:11:02,280 Speaker 2: been so long, But I remember one time Jeff Oulbrick 221 00:11:02,480 --> 00:11:04,640 Speaker 2: was talking about I think he was talking about like 222 00:11:05,360 --> 00:11:12,000 Speaker 2: Foye and how he was somebody who he could envision 223 00:11:12,080 --> 00:11:17,840 Speaker 2: being such a good, well rounded linebacker and how smart 224 00:11:17,880 --> 00:11:20,360 Speaker 2: he was and how he really wanted to tap into 225 00:11:20,840 --> 00:11:21,440 Speaker 2: him and. 226 00:11:21,360 --> 00:11:23,040 Speaker 3: Really like bring him along. 227 00:11:23,240 --> 00:11:26,400 Speaker 2: And I think about what Foyer ended up turning into 228 00:11:27,040 --> 00:11:29,680 Speaker 2: and the contract that he got with the Jaguars, and 229 00:11:31,080 --> 00:11:33,079 Speaker 2: I just use that as an example that was somebody 230 00:11:33,160 --> 00:11:36,400 Speaker 2: who Jeff Olbrick was like, I really feel strongly that 231 00:11:36,440 --> 00:11:39,319 Speaker 2: this guy can be somebody really really good. And for 232 00:11:39,440 --> 00:11:41,040 Speaker 2: a while there, I think two years in a row 233 00:11:41,080 --> 00:11:43,560 Speaker 2: he led the league in tackles for both the Falcons 234 00:11:43,600 --> 00:11:46,080 Speaker 2: and his first year with the Jaguars. So that's just 235 00:11:46,120 --> 00:11:49,200 Speaker 2: like an example of I think they could always see 236 00:11:49,200 --> 00:11:52,960 Speaker 2: the bigger picture and even in the midst of probably 237 00:11:53,320 --> 00:11:56,600 Speaker 2: one of the most chaotic years not just life but 238 00:11:56,720 --> 00:11:58,040 Speaker 2: in the Falcons organization. 239 00:12:00,120 --> 00:12:00,560 Speaker 3: That is. 240 00:12:00,880 --> 00:12:05,079 Speaker 2: I always said, like I as a person have always 241 00:12:05,160 --> 00:12:10,920 Speaker 2: respected and genuinely liked Raheem Morris and Jeff Ulbrick as people. 242 00:12:11,080 --> 00:12:14,079 Speaker 3: I think there, if I'm a player, I would want to. 243 00:12:15,559 --> 00:12:19,800 Speaker 2: Work with those type of guys, like those type of coaches. 244 00:12:20,040 --> 00:12:22,960 Speaker 1: And I think that's the main the main part to 245 00:12:23,160 --> 00:12:26,160 Speaker 1: maybe sell this higher, right, not that that's what we're 246 00:12:26,160 --> 00:12:28,720 Speaker 1: here to try to do, but just to present that 247 00:12:28,880 --> 00:12:32,480 Speaker 1: argument for why this, you know, could ultimately really work 248 00:12:32,679 --> 00:12:35,199 Speaker 1: is because Jeff Ulbrick spent a decade in this league 249 00:12:35,240 --> 00:12:37,520 Speaker 1: as a player as a linebacker for the forty nine ers, 250 00:12:37,880 --> 00:12:41,160 Speaker 1: so he can speak to the player as a player, 251 00:12:41,520 --> 00:12:44,160 Speaker 1: right and kind of has that I think player first 252 00:12:44,240 --> 00:12:47,720 Speaker 1: mentality mentality as a head coach. I was working for 253 00:12:47,760 --> 00:12:50,360 Speaker 1: the organization at that time, so you were external with 254 00:12:50,400 --> 00:12:53,360 Speaker 1: the athletic but I saw him in the hallway. I 255 00:12:53,440 --> 00:12:55,480 Speaker 1: kind of got to know him a little bit, and 256 00:12:56,200 --> 00:12:58,680 Speaker 1: I mean he's very laid back, he's calm. He's never 257 00:12:58,720 --> 00:13:00,800 Speaker 1: going to get too higher, too low. Oh, He's gonna 258 00:13:01,080 --> 00:13:04,440 Speaker 1: kind of embrace that mentorship role. And I think Foye 259 00:13:04,480 --> 00:13:07,679 Speaker 1: is a perfect example of how he can elevate and 260 00:13:07,720 --> 00:13:10,320 Speaker 1: work with a player to really grow and develop them. 261 00:13:10,440 --> 00:13:12,720 Speaker 1: You know, foy was a six round pick. Is a 262 00:13:12,760 --> 00:13:15,840 Speaker 1: safety out of Yale. Yeah, those guys don't turn into 263 00:13:16,080 --> 00:13:19,400 Speaker 1: two time NFL leading tacklers who get second contracts as 264 00:13:19,679 --> 00:13:22,360 Speaker 1: you know, big players on the free agency market, and 265 00:13:22,559 --> 00:13:26,040 Speaker 1: he helped develop him. I think Devondre Campbell turning into 266 00:13:26,040 --> 00:13:27,800 Speaker 1: an all pro. I know it wasn't here in Atlanta, 267 00:13:27,840 --> 00:13:31,000 Speaker 1: but when he was drafted he was widely considered to 268 00:13:31,040 --> 00:13:35,280 Speaker 1: be like a toolsy prospect to needed a lot of development. 269 00:13:35,360 --> 00:13:38,120 Speaker 1: And how many times have we seen players with much 270 00:13:38,200 --> 00:13:41,320 Speaker 1: higher draft pedigrees be kind of this like versatile joker 271 00:13:41,440 --> 00:13:44,000 Speaker 1: player who's got like this range and they never really 272 00:13:44,040 --> 00:13:47,400 Speaker 1: manifest but he has. And you know, the last we 273 00:13:47,440 --> 00:13:50,600 Speaker 1: saw of him was not necessarily the highlight of his career. 274 00:13:50,720 --> 00:13:54,199 Speaker 1: But again, that's besides the point. I think Dion Jones, 275 00:13:54,480 --> 00:13:58,200 Speaker 1: Devondre Campbell, Foyer, those guys are a testament to what 276 00:13:58,280 --> 00:14:00,520 Speaker 1: he can do as a coach, as a position coach, 277 00:14:00,600 --> 00:14:02,560 Speaker 1: and now he gets to kind of work with the 278 00:14:02,679 --> 00:14:07,400 Speaker 1: entire defense. So is there anybody on this defense, position, group, 279 00:14:07,520 --> 00:14:10,040 Speaker 1: or play or specific do you think really stands to 280 00:14:10,040 --> 00:14:11,080 Speaker 1: benefit from his presence? 281 00:14:11,200 --> 00:14:12,920 Speaker 2: I mean, I think like we have to talk about 282 00:14:13,240 --> 00:14:16,600 Speaker 2: the linebackers, the inside linebackers, because that is Jeff. 283 00:14:16,360 --> 00:14:17,600 Speaker 1: Oul Brick, your favorite position. 284 00:14:17,640 --> 00:14:18,959 Speaker 3: I love them, Yeah, I love them. 285 00:14:19,320 --> 00:14:22,440 Speaker 2: If I was a man, I would maybe want to 286 00:14:22,640 --> 00:14:25,520 Speaker 2: be an inside linebacker, Like if I got to play football. 287 00:14:26,240 --> 00:14:28,360 Speaker 3: I see that because I always would tell. 288 00:14:28,200 --> 00:14:31,560 Speaker 2: My dad, like growing up, because you know, flag football 289 00:14:31,600 --> 00:14:34,440 Speaker 2: for women wasn't like other girls, wasn't really a thing 290 00:14:34,760 --> 00:14:36,800 Speaker 2: in my high school like growing up, so I never 291 00:14:36,840 --> 00:14:39,920 Speaker 2: got the chance to play football like ever. 292 00:14:40,520 --> 00:14:42,880 Speaker 3: And I remember telling him. 293 00:14:42,920 --> 00:14:43,920 Speaker 2: I was like, I want to be a tight end 294 00:14:44,000 --> 00:14:46,000 Speaker 2: or an inside linebacker, like that was always the goal. 295 00:14:46,160 --> 00:14:47,720 Speaker 3: So I gravitate towards I. 296 00:14:47,640 --> 00:14:49,200 Speaker 1: Played tight end, so you can play linebacker. 297 00:14:49,200 --> 00:14:51,920 Speaker 3: There we go. Yeah, So anyways, that's beside the point. 298 00:14:51,960 --> 00:14:52,640 Speaker 3: That was a tangent. 299 00:14:52,720 --> 00:14:58,200 Speaker 2: But I I really think that that group is out 300 00:14:58,240 --> 00:15:02,040 Speaker 2: of crossroads right now. And and I think obviously you 301 00:15:02,120 --> 00:15:04,000 Speaker 2: saw and I wrote about this this past week as 302 00:15:04,040 --> 00:15:07,640 Speaker 2: we were doing like position reviews for every single position 303 00:15:07,680 --> 00:15:12,400 Speaker 2: group on the team, and I was talking about what 304 00:15:12,480 --> 00:15:14,480 Speaker 2: kaateen Ellis was able to do in twenty twenty four 305 00:15:14,560 --> 00:15:18,640 Speaker 2: was very special. But what happens around him moving forward 306 00:15:18,920 --> 00:15:22,360 Speaker 2: is going to be I don't know, it's gonna be tough, 307 00:15:22,360 --> 00:15:24,320 Speaker 2: and it's really hard to predict at this point because 308 00:15:24,360 --> 00:15:26,160 Speaker 2: you know, Okay, caten Nelis has one more year in 309 00:15:26,200 --> 00:15:30,720 Speaker 2: Atlanta under contract. Nate Leman's a restricted free agent this year. 310 00:15:31,120 --> 00:15:33,040 Speaker 2: I would imagine that they would bring him back because 311 00:15:33,040 --> 00:15:36,720 Speaker 2: you can bring him back on a lead minimum. Troy 312 00:15:36,760 --> 00:15:39,520 Speaker 2: Anderson and j D. Bertrand are both on their rookie deals. 313 00:15:40,440 --> 00:15:42,560 Speaker 2: Troy Anderson would be on the last year of his 314 00:15:42,640 --> 00:15:48,400 Speaker 2: rookie deal, and I think that the style of play, 315 00:15:48,640 --> 00:15:52,000 Speaker 2: Like thinking about we just talked about the insign linebacker 316 00:15:52,040 --> 00:15:55,400 Speaker 2: group that Jeff Olbrich and Raheem Morris had the last 317 00:15:55,400 --> 00:15:59,480 Speaker 2: time they were here, compared to this group, vastly different 318 00:16:00,080 --> 00:16:05,240 Speaker 2: in terms of I think how they play their roles 319 00:16:05,240 --> 00:16:06,160 Speaker 2: within the defense. 320 00:16:06,360 --> 00:16:10,920 Speaker 1: Weirdly, the closest comp is I think Troy Anderson and 321 00:16:10,960 --> 00:16:14,520 Speaker 1: Devondre Yes. Yeah, is like those two guys to me 322 00:16:14,720 --> 00:16:17,640 Speaker 1: fit that mold of like really toolsy but need a 323 00:16:17,640 --> 00:16:18,360 Speaker 1: little bit of work. 324 00:16:18,440 --> 00:16:18,720 Speaker 3: Yeah. 325 00:16:18,760 --> 00:16:22,760 Speaker 2: And I think that because we just haven't seen Troy Anderson. 326 00:16:22,920 --> 00:16:27,640 Speaker 2: He's been hurt, like way more than he's not been hurt. 327 00:16:27,680 --> 00:16:29,760 Speaker 1: But when he's out there, he's like a comment in 328 00:16:29,800 --> 00:16:32,200 Speaker 1: the sky, beautiful thing. 329 00:16:33,080 --> 00:16:33,640 Speaker 3: Oh it's gone. 330 00:16:33,720 --> 00:16:33,960 Speaker 1: Yeah. 331 00:16:34,080 --> 00:16:37,000 Speaker 2: And so I I really am curious to see what 332 00:16:37,080 --> 00:16:39,800 Speaker 2: jeff Ulbrick does with that group and if they bring 333 00:16:39,960 --> 00:16:43,400 Speaker 2: some different guys in, if there is maybe some draft 334 00:16:43,400 --> 00:16:47,680 Speaker 2: strategy involved in filling out that position a little bit, 335 00:16:47,800 --> 00:16:50,000 Speaker 2: or if Jeff Olbrick comes in and is like, I 336 00:16:50,000 --> 00:16:51,800 Speaker 2: actually really like these guys and I want to see 337 00:16:51,800 --> 00:16:54,760 Speaker 2: what they got. And I mean that's always an option too, 338 00:16:54,800 --> 00:16:56,840 Speaker 2: and you hope that you can get the best out 339 00:16:56,880 --> 00:16:59,680 Speaker 2: of that group, because I do think outside of Cayden, 340 00:16:59,760 --> 00:17:02,480 Speaker 2: you need a bit more out of that inside linebacker group, 341 00:17:02,520 --> 00:17:05,479 Speaker 2: and I think that's the group that if I'm thinking 342 00:17:05,560 --> 00:17:09,320 Speaker 2: about Jeff Albert coming in and really you can feel 343 00:17:09,680 --> 00:17:12,560 Speaker 2: his stamp on something, it's gonna be with that group, 344 00:17:12,600 --> 00:17:15,040 Speaker 2: which he is kind of the core of not only 345 00:17:15,080 --> 00:17:17,119 Speaker 2: who he is, but I think the defenses that he 346 00:17:17,600 --> 00:17:18,399 Speaker 2: operates out of. 347 00:17:18,680 --> 00:17:21,560 Speaker 1: Yeah, the other the other thought that I had on 348 00:17:21,600 --> 00:17:25,639 Speaker 1: that is when Devondre Campbell was drafted. I know that 349 00:17:25,720 --> 00:17:28,480 Speaker 1: for a couple of years there they really wanted to 350 00:17:28,720 --> 00:17:31,760 Speaker 1: have him be in that pseudo pass rusher role like 351 00:17:31,800 --> 00:17:34,040 Speaker 1: that was something I think he ultimately ended up being 352 00:17:34,080 --> 00:17:36,359 Speaker 1: better in coverage than he was as a pass rusher, 353 00:17:36,920 --> 00:17:39,520 Speaker 1: but early on they had him working with a lot 354 00:17:39,560 --> 00:17:43,160 Speaker 1: of those like edge rushers to try to utilize that size, 355 00:17:43,160 --> 00:17:45,960 Speaker 1: that skill set. So it's interesting that Caden is not. 356 00:17:46,440 --> 00:17:49,159 Speaker 1: I would not compare those two guys in terms of 357 00:17:49,200 --> 00:17:53,399 Speaker 1: like body style or anything like that, but yeah, maybe 358 00:17:53,440 --> 00:17:55,040 Speaker 1: it's like, all right, I finally got the guy that 359 00:17:55,080 --> 00:17:56,960 Speaker 1: I want to use in this way, and then the 360 00:17:57,000 --> 00:18:00,040 Speaker 1: other person I thought of was D'Angelo Malone, right, and 361 00:18:00,119 --> 00:18:03,840 Speaker 1: I believe he's another free agent candidate here, but he 362 00:18:03,920 --> 00:18:05,760 Speaker 1: does he have one more year on his deal anyway, 363 00:18:05,800 --> 00:18:08,800 Speaker 1: We'll have to look that up. But he was selected 364 00:18:08,840 --> 00:18:12,040 Speaker 1: in that final draft class with with DQ and with 365 00:18:12,080 --> 00:18:15,880 Speaker 1: Thomas and another kind of tweener type of player where 366 00:18:15,920 --> 00:18:19,119 Speaker 1: you can see, all right, is he a linebacker? Is 367 00:18:19,119 --> 00:18:21,040 Speaker 1: he an edge? What do we do with him? So 368 00:18:21,440 --> 00:18:24,399 Speaker 1: there are some interesting pieces. Now there's not you know, 369 00:18:24,480 --> 00:18:27,679 Speaker 1: a Quincy Williams or a CJ. Moseley type of player 370 00:18:27,720 --> 00:18:30,680 Speaker 1: on this defense. But I do think the linebackers are 371 00:18:30,680 --> 00:18:32,960 Speaker 1: going to stand the benefit. What about maybe some of 372 00:18:33,000 --> 00:18:36,480 Speaker 1: the defensive line guys, the edge guys and interior. 373 00:18:36,160 --> 00:18:41,720 Speaker 2: Well, I think they've got to develop some talent. Not 374 00:18:42,560 --> 00:18:45,639 Speaker 2: because I think about it this way, Grady, Jarrett, david 375 00:18:45,640 --> 00:18:48,720 Speaker 2: On Yamana are your aging, they're aging. 376 00:18:48,760 --> 00:18:51,280 Speaker 3: D tackles and we're all aging aging. 377 00:18:51,720 --> 00:18:55,120 Speaker 2: Don't remind me as someone who has a birthday coming up. 378 00:18:55,800 --> 00:18:56,639 Speaker 3: Yeah, don't remind me. 379 00:18:56,720 --> 00:18:59,840 Speaker 2: Far behind you, but I think that you got to 380 00:19:00,000 --> 00:19:03,040 Speaker 2: develop someone like ruc Roro if he is kind of 381 00:19:03,080 --> 00:19:07,440 Speaker 2: the air apparent to that position group. Zach Harrison, I thought, 382 00:19:07,480 --> 00:19:10,080 Speaker 2: Zach Harrison did some really good things this past. 383 00:19:09,840 --> 00:19:12,159 Speaker 1: Year player that I immediately thought of, Yeah. 384 00:19:11,960 --> 00:19:14,080 Speaker 2: I really think that, and I'm curious to see what 385 00:19:14,080 --> 00:19:16,280 Speaker 2: they want to do with him because you know, this 386 00:19:16,400 --> 00:19:17,200 Speaker 2: past off season. 387 00:19:18,320 --> 00:19:20,280 Speaker 3: I know this past off season. 388 00:19:20,200 --> 00:19:22,000 Speaker 2: He bulked up, had to put on a lot of 389 00:19:22,000 --> 00:19:24,840 Speaker 2: weight because they really wanted him to play more interior. 390 00:19:25,400 --> 00:19:27,640 Speaker 2: And even though that his first year was a bit 391 00:19:27,680 --> 00:19:29,760 Speaker 2: more coming off the edge out of Ohio State, that 392 00:19:29,800 --> 00:19:33,400 Speaker 2: was what he did at Ohio State. And now I'm 393 00:19:33,480 --> 00:19:35,399 Speaker 2: kind of like, are they gonna want him to revert 394 00:19:35,480 --> 00:19:37,000 Speaker 2: back to what he was? 395 00:19:37,040 --> 00:19:39,879 Speaker 3: But I also think that he was doing some good things. 396 00:19:40,640 --> 00:19:43,280 Speaker 1: I figured it out. Yeah, it's like it's like Chris 397 00:19:43,320 --> 00:19:46,560 Speaker 1: Pratt when he goes from Andy Dwyer to like Star Lore. Yeah, 398 00:19:46,600 --> 00:19:48,679 Speaker 1: they're just having him lose sixty pounds and then like 399 00:19:48,720 --> 00:19:51,280 Speaker 1: put sixty pounds back on. But he's like good in 400 00:19:51,320 --> 00:19:54,320 Speaker 1: both roles. That's exactly how I think is Zach Harrison. 401 00:19:54,400 --> 00:19:56,480 Speaker 2: Yeah, but I think he's somebody that I'm curious to 402 00:19:56,480 --> 00:19:59,280 Speaker 2: see what Jeff Olbrich thinks of him coming in and 403 00:19:59,320 --> 00:20:00,240 Speaker 2: if he feels. 404 00:20:00,119 --> 00:20:01,960 Speaker 3: Like, hey, this is a guy who. 405 00:20:03,240 --> 00:20:07,680 Speaker 2: Just looking at the interior can be a major part 406 00:20:07,720 --> 00:20:08,879 Speaker 2: of what they want to do. 407 00:20:08,920 --> 00:20:11,280 Speaker 3: And also I think like the elephant in the room 408 00:20:11,320 --> 00:20:12,200 Speaker 3: as well is. 409 00:20:13,680 --> 00:20:17,359 Speaker 2: Grady Jared and I hate I got a question the 410 00:20:17,400 --> 00:20:19,400 Speaker 2: reason I bring this upisode, I got a question about 411 00:20:19,400 --> 00:20:22,080 Speaker 2: it in the mail bag about what do you do 412 00:20:22,160 --> 00:20:26,440 Speaker 2: with Grady Jared And because he doesn't have any guaranteed 413 00:20:26,440 --> 00:20:28,919 Speaker 2: money left on his contract, if the Falcons were to 414 00:20:29,160 --> 00:20:33,440 Speaker 2: release him prior to June one, according to over the cap, 415 00:20:33,520 --> 00:20:36,119 Speaker 2: they would save I think it's like over six just 416 00:20:36,160 --> 00:20:38,240 Speaker 2: over sixteen million dollars towards the cap. 417 00:20:38,320 --> 00:20:41,000 Speaker 1: I'm looking it up right now because you're you're not 418 00:20:41,040 --> 00:20:43,360 Speaker 1: wrong if if people, Yeah, so it's like sixteen point 419 00:20:43,400 --> 00:20:47,760 Speaker 1: two five, so exactly there. And I mean, well, so 420 00:20:47,840 --> 00:20:50,840 Speaker 1: like I mentioned both of those, yeah, less it's about half, 421 00:20:51,119 --> 00:20:52,119 Speaker 1: but it's. 422 00:20:52,000 --> 00:20:52,760 Speaker 3: Still a number. 423 00:20:52,880 --> 00:20:57,360 Speaker 2: And I personally I can't because I know how I mean, 424 00:20:57,440 --> 00:21:01,440 Speaker 2: I just spent an entire offseason with Grady like completely 425 00:21:01,440 --> 00:21:05,160 Speaker 2: embedded into his ten years in Atlanta and his road 426 00:21:05,200 --> 00:21:08,320 Speaker 2: to recovery and getting back from the ACL injury last 427 00:21:08,359 --> 00:21:11,919 Speaker 2: off season. And I know this season wasn't as productive 428 00:21:12,040 --> 00:21:14,879 Speaker 2: as we've known Grady Jarrett to be, but I kind 429 00:21:14,920 --> 00:21:18,640 Speaker 2: of expected that coming off of that injury. But I 430 00:21:18,720 --> 00:21:22,040 Speaker 2: can't imagine, So I will say I'm not impartial about this, 431 00:21:22,240 --> 00:21:26,280 Speaker 2: like I'm not and I can't imagine an Atlanta Falcons 432 00:21:26,359 --> 00:21:30,080 Speaker 2: team without Grady Jarrett. But I also thought the same 433 00:21:30,080 --> 00:21:34,800 Speaker 2: thing about Matt Ryan and I and yeah, I thought 434 00:21:34,840 --> 00:21:39,000 Speaker 2: that these these core group of guys who are part 435 00:21:39,040 --> 00:21:41,639 Speaker 2: of that Super Bowl run, like I was, I felt 436 00:21:41,680 --> 00:21:45,560 Speaker 2: as though they would retire as Falcons and would play 437 00:21:45,560 --> 00:21:49,480 Speaker 2: their final season in an Atlanta Falcons uniform. And the 438 00:21:49,520 --> 00:21:51,840 Speaker 2: reality of the situation is that this is a business, 439 00:21:52,320 --> 00:21:56,880 Speaker 2: and sixteen million dollars towards the cap, when you're kind 440 00:21:56,880 --> 00:21:59,639 Speaker 2: of in that little like right on the line, you 441 00:21:59,640 --> 00:22:00,400 Speaker 2: don't have that. 442 00:22:00,440 --> 00:22:02,560 Speaker 3: Much that you can maneuver and do. 443 00:22:02,640 --> 00:22:04,159 Speaker 2: It's not like you're gonna go out and make the 444 00:22:04,400 --> 00:22:07,680 Speaker 2: slash the splashiest of signings. You're not gonna go out 445 00:22:07,680 --> 00:22:10,119 Speaker 2: and get another Jesse Bates, Like you're not going to 446 00:22:10,160 --> 00:22:13,040 Speaker 2: go out and give Kirk Cousins the contract that gave 447 00:22:13,119 --> 00:22:16,240 Speaker 2: him last offseason. You have to be way more strategic with. 448 00:22:16,320 --> 00:22:17,320 Speaker 3: Things this offseason. 449 00:22:17,480 --> 00:22:21,160 Speaker 2: And I just I think like that's the question too, 450 00:22:21,280 --> 00:22:24,320 Speaker 2: is like, Okay, Jeff Olbrick and Raheem Morris, they know 451 00:22:24,520 --> 00:22:28,600 Speaker 2: firsthand what Grady Jared is to this organization. 452 00:22:28,320 --> 00:22:31,800 Speaker 3: And I think that is another reason why I'm like, there's. 453 00:22:31,560 --> 00:22:34,280 Speaker 2: No way that they would be like all right, bye, man, 454 00:22:34,600 --> 00:22:37,760 Speaker 2: like thanks for ten years, but you're gonna save a 455 00:22:37,840 --> 00:22:41,639 Speaker 2: sixteen million, Like I don't see that happening, But crazier 456 00:22:41,680 --> 00:22:42,480 Speaker 2: things have happened. 457 00:22:42,680 --> 00:22:45,159 Speaker 1: Yeah, And I mean there could potentially be options on 458 00:22:45,200 --> 00:22:46,879 Speaker 1: the table where I do you restructure him? Do you 459 00:22:46,920 --> 00:22:48,960 Speaker 1: extend him a little bit and lower that number in 460 00:22:49,040 --> 00:22:51,320 Speaker 1: year one? But you look at and this is I'm 461 00:22:51,320 --> 00:22:53,879 Speaker 1: not gonna make you actually do this, but it's an 462 00:22:53,880 --> 00:22:56,240 Speaker 1: interesting exercise for people to think because you and I 463 00:22:56,320 --> 00:22:58,000 Speaker 1: are both in agreement that Kayla McGarry had a good 464 00:22:58,040 --> 00:23:00,280 Speaker 1: year this year. He is a younger player. I think 465 00:23:00,320 --> 00:23:02,760 Speaker 1: he is firmly in his prime and with more years 466 00:23:02,800 --> 00:23:06,400 Speaker 1: ahead of him. They're close in what you could save, 467 00:23:06,640 --> 00:23:09,359 Speaker 1: you know, like these are the decisions that you have 468 00:23:09,440 --> 00:23:12,240 Speaker 1: to weigh. It's like, all right, do we look at 469 00:23:12,240 --> 00:23:14,160 Speaker 1: maybe needing it right tackle? Do we look at adding 470 00:23:14,160 --> 00:23:16,919 Speaker 1: somebody defensive line? Like that's the tough situation that the 471 00:23:16,920 --> 00:23:20,520 Speaker 1: Falcons are in. So yeah, that's all kind of to 472 00:23:20,560 --> 00:23:23,959 Speaker 1: come last question for you before we wrap up because 473 00:23:24,119 --> 00:23:25,439 Speaker 1: this will be the last time we talked before I 474 00:23:25,440 --> 00:23:28,120 Speaker 1: head down a mobile for the Senior Bowl. So looking 475 00:23:28,119 --> 00:23:30,840 Speaker 1: at the draft, yeah, you know, fifteen, I think we're 476 00:23:30,880 --> 00:23:33,440 Speaker 1: all in agreement. The defense probably should be the way 477 00:23:33,440 --> 00:23:33,920 Speaker 1: that they go. 478 00:23:34,119 --> 00:23:37,000 Speaker 3: Yes, but I've also said that's the last four draft. 479 00:23:37,400 --> 00:23:39,880 Speaker 1: It's so hard. Yeah, it's so hard. But if if 480 00:23:39,960 --> 00:23:42,080 Speaker 1: let's say we narrow it down to the defense and 481 00:23:42,160 --> 00:23:45,040 Speaker 1: you have your pick of maybe number two options, not 482 00:23:45,119 --> 00:23:48,760 Speaker 1: the first player on each port, but like edge rusher, cornerback, 483 00:23:49,240 --> 00:23:51,120 Speaker 1: interior guy, where's your head at? 484 00:23:51,480 --> 00:23:55,200 Speaker 2: I think fifteen is prime real estate for a corner 485 00:23:55,280 --> 00:23:57,360 Speaker 2: or an ant thrusher, and I think that those are 486 00:23:57,400 --> 00:23:59,720 Speaker 2: the two got the two positions that I think are 487 00:24:00,119 --> 00:24:03,199 Speaker 2: your premium positions. I don't think that unless you can 488 00:24:03,240 --> 00:24:05,040 Speaker 2: figure out a way to maneuver the cap and you 489 00:24:05,080 --> 00:24:08,520 Speaker 2: have more money to make a splash signing, those are 490 00:24:08,600 --> 00:24:10,640 Speaker 2: always going to be expensive guys. 491 00:24:10,880 --> 00:24:12,240 Speaker 3: Those veterans that are. 492 00:24:12,160 --> 00:24:16,320 Speaker 2: Proven at those positions are expensive, and I worry that 493 00:24:16,320 --> 00:24:18,480 Speaker 2: they would be out of the price range of the 494 00:24:18,480 --> 00:24:19,560 Speaker 2: Falcons at this point. 495 00:24:19,760 --> 00:24:20,200 Speaker 3: I do. 496 00:24:20,520 --> 00:24:24,840 Speaker 2: I've said this every single year since AJ Treuell was 497 00:24:24,920 --> 00:24:27,640 Speaker 2: drafted to the Falcons that I would love to see 498 00:24:27,640 --> 00:24:31,880 Speaker 2: some consistency at the position opposite him. Every single year, 499 00:24:31,920 --> 00:24:33,359 Speaker 2: and I can't remember I've said even said this on 500 00:24:33,359 --> 00:24:36,560 Speaker 2: the podcast, but every single year it's been someone new, 501 00:24:36,840 --> 00:24:40,320 Speaker 2: someone different. And while that I don't think changes the 502 00:24:40,320 --> 00:24:43,520 Speaker 2: way that AJ plays because cornerback, especially outside, you're on 503 00:24:43,600 --> 00:24:46,119 Speaker 2: an island like it's not like a pairing. 504 00:24:46,480 --> 00:24:50,720 Speaker 1: But a little bit right exactly. 505 00:24:50,359 --> 00:24:54,520 Speaker 2: And so I think that I would love to see 506 00:24:55,359 --> 00:24:59,000 Speaker 2: a corner taken at number five if if you stay 507 00:24:59,000 --> 00:24:59,800 Speaker 2: at number fifteen. 508 00:25:00,080 --> 00:25:01,440 Speaker 3: Also, I think something else. 509 00:25:02,880 --> 00:25:06,400 Speaker 2: Or right, Yeah, I know there were, Yeah, there were 510 00:25:06,440 --> 00:25:08,680 Speaker 2: so many things, but I think too like I wouldn't 511 00:25:08,680 --> 00:25:11,919 Speaker 2: because of the the fact that the Falcons and a 512 00:25:11,960 --> 00:25:14,800 Speaker 2: third round picked up to New England for Matthew Junon, 513 00:25:14,880 --> 00:25:18,520 Speaker 2: they lost out on fifth round pick because of the 514 00:25:18,520 --> 00:25:22,120 Speaker 2: tampering violation. I think that they would be a little 515 00:25:22,119 --> 00:25:26,520 Speaker 2: bit draft capital hungry and would be willing to make 516 00:25:26,560 --> 00:25:31,160 Speaker 2: a move to move down if they foresee some top 517 00:25:31,200 --> 00:25:35,640 Speaker 2: defensive prospects, considering how deep the draft class is defensively, 518 00:25:36,200 --> 00:25:38,600 Speaker 2: if they feel like they can still stay in the 519 00:25:38,600 --> 00:25:41,960 Speaker 2: realm of being able to get their guy. Now, we 520 00:25:42,040 --> 00:25:43,960 Speaker 2: have so many months and months and months about this, 521 00:25:44,119 --> 00:25:48,000 Speaker 2: but I I right now, and as I'm probably going 522 00:25:48,080 --> 00:25:52,960 Speaker 2: to go into mock drafts and everything in the coming months. 523 00:25:52,960 --> 00:25:55,800 Speaker 2: Just edg rusher and corner, Ed drusher corner, Ed rusher corner. 524 00:25:55,880 --> 00:25:58,080 Speaker 1: It's mock draft season. But you're right, the early rumblings 525 00:25:58,160 --> 00:26:00,840 Speaker 1: are that this isn't a top heavy draft, kind of 526 00:26:00,880 --> 00:26:02,919 Speaker 1: like this last one was, where you look at the 527 00:26:02,920 --> 00:26:05,320 Speaker 1: first rounders and like man left and right, there's a 528 00:26:05,320 --> 00:26:07,160 Speaker 1: lot of really good players that came out of this draft, 529 00:26:07,160 --> 00:26:09,679 Speaker 1: and I think HIMPJ will be one of them. But 530 00:26:09,800 --> 00:26:12,880 Speaker 1: it looks like rounds two through four is where the 531 00:26:12,920 --> 00:26:15,439 Speaker 1: meat of this draft is. So could you slide back 532 00:26:15,480 --> 00:26:17,679 Speaker 1: a little bit, pick up a couple more Day two picks, 533 00:26:17,840 --> 00:26:20,200 Speaker 1: and feel a little bit better about bolstering the defensive 534 00:26:20,200 --> 00:26:20,680 Speaker 1: side of the ball. 535 00:26:20,760 --> 00:26:22,560 Speaker 2: The problem is is that you have to hit on 536 00:26:22,600 --> 00:26:24,560 Speaker 2: those picks, yes, you know, like those are those are 537 00:26:24,600 --> 00:26:27,000 Speaker 2: going to have to be guys that you feel don't 538 00:26:27,040 --> 00:26:28,800 Speaker 2: need a whole lot of development because I got to 539 00:26:28,800 --> 00:26:30,880 Speaker 2: come in and play and produce immediately. 540 00:26:30,960 --> 00:26:32,600 Speaker 1: This can't be a shotgun approach. It's got to be 541 00:26:32,640 --> 00:26:33,800 Speaker 1: a sniper right. Yeah. 542 00:26:33,840 --> 00:26:36,639 Speaker 2: And I think about like the Matthew bergeron pick in 543 00:26:36,800 --> 00:26:40,920 Speaker 2: Day two, I and what he has He's been a 544 00:26:40,960 --> 00:26:41,320 Speaker 2: good player. 545 00:26:41,440 --> 00:26:41,840 Speaker 3: I do too. 546 00:26:41,880 --> 00:26:44,000 Speaker 2: I think he's been consistent and the fact that he 547 00:26:44,080 --> 00:26:47,840 Speaker 2: had never played that specific position ever and forever. 548 00:26:47,920 --> 00:26:51,280 Speaker 1: We were talking about the left guard spot. You were 549 00:26:51,320 --> 00:26:54,280 Speaker 1: saying the number two corner spot. That was like that 550 00:26:54,359 --> 00:26:54,840 Speaker 1: was hard. 551 00:26:55,400 --> 00:26:58,520 Speaker 3: Yeah, it literally is. It just shifted to a new position. 552 00:26:58,840 --> 00:27:01,040 Speaker 2: But no, I think about like, it's gonna have to 553 00:27:01,040 --> 00:27:03,800 Speaker 2: be that caliber player that can come in and be 554 00:27:04,000 --> 00:27:05,720 Speaker 2: the guy immediately. 555 00:27:05,840 --> 00:27:09,119 Speaker 1: Yep, awesome, Well that will do it for us today. 556 00:27:09,440 --> 00:27:12,720 Speaker 1: Next week, at some point, you know, I will hope 557 00:27:12,760 --> 00:27:16,040 Speaker 1: to maybe have a Senior Bowl recap or speak to 558 00:27:16,119 --> 00:27:18,479 Speaker 1: some people down at the Senior Bowl. We're gonna produce her. 559 00:27:18,520 --> 00:27:20,040 Speaker 1: Sam and I are going to get together and try 560 00:27:20,080 --> 00:27:23,040 Speaker 1: to figure that out later today. But then we also 561 00:27:23,119 --> 00:27:25,760 Speaker 1: expect to hear from Jeff Ulbrick at some point in 562 00:27:25,800 --> 00:27:27,960 Speaker 1: the future, and I believe you will try to do 563 00:27:28,080 --> 00:27:33,040 Speaker 1: a recap of that conversation with Tarren Walcke. So everybody 564 00:27:33,119 --> 00:27:35,880 Speaker 1: please stay tuned for that. Thank you so much for listening. 565 00:27:35,920 --> 00:27:38,760 Speaker 1: You can watch us on YouTube. Be sure you're following 566 00:27:38,760 --> 00:27:42,600 Speaker 1: the Atlanta Falcons podcast network for everything Falcons, Audible, Falcons 567 00:27:42,680 --> 00:27:45,920 Speaker 1: in Focus, and Falcons Final Whistle. As always, today's show 568 00:27:46,040 --> 00:27:49,240 Speaker 1: was presented by Zaxby's for Tory mclaney. I'm Will McFadden 569 00:27:49,240 --> 00:27:52,320 Speaker 1: and we will see you guys next time. Today's episode 570 00:27:52,320 --> 00:27:55,240 Speaker 1: of Falcons Final Whistle is brought to you by Zaxby's. 571 00:27:55,359 --> 00:27:58,239 Speaker 1: And after a long game, when I'm tired and I 572 00:27:58,280 --> 00:28:02,280 Speaker 1: need to refuel, I turned to Zach their marinated, handbreaded 573 00:28:02,640 --> 00:28:06,120 Speaker 1: fried to perfection chicken fingers. They hit the spot every time. 574 00:28:06,240 --> 00:28:10,600 Speaker 1: Get yours with seasoned crinkle fries, a nice drink in 575 00:28:10,640 --> 00:28:14,240 Speaker 1: whichever of their twelve signature sauces you're feeling at the moment, 576 00:28:14,400 --> 00:28:17,320 Speaker 1: but it always hits just right. So next time you 577 00:28:17,359 --> 00:28:19,920 Speaker 1: need to refuel, go get yourself some Zaxbies.