1 00:00:00,520 --> 00:00:03,440 Speaker 1: Welcome back to the Falcons Audible presented by AT and T. 2 00:00:03,720 --> 00:00:06,559 Speaker 1: I'm Derek Rackley, joined with my guys DJ Shockley and 3 00:00:06,680 --> 00:00:10,119 Speaker 1: Dave Archer and of course fellas before we get into 4 00:00:10,600 --> 00:00:13,880 Speaker 1: what transpired in the Falcons Cardinals game of last weekend. 5 00:00:13,960 --> 00:00:19,560 Speaker 1: As we record this podcast, it is Tuesday morning, January third. 6 00:00:20,200 --> 00:00:24,240 Speaker 1: Obviously a sad day in the NFL. Last night, Damar 7 00:00:24,360 --> 00:00:28,560 Speaker 1: Hamlin of course, had to get some very serious medical 8 00:00:28,560 --> 00:00:31,320 Speaker 1: attention on the field and and pretty much everybody knows 9 00:00:32,159 --> 00:00:35,440 Speaker 1: the story behind that. Our thoughts and our prayers are 10 00:00:35,479 --> 00:00:39,879 Speaker 1: with him, his family, the entire organization and quite frankly 11 00:00:39,920 --> 00:00:42,440 Speaker 1: all of the football players that were on the field 12 00:00:42,560 --> 00:00:45,400 Speaker 1: last night that saw all of this come down. So, 13 00:00:46,080 --> 00:00:49,199 Speaker 1: Dave DJ, let's first start by just getting your guys's 14 00:00:49,720 --> 00:00:54,000 Speaker 1: kind of thoughts on this. It's it's it's unprecedented territory. 15 00:00:54,200 --> 00:00:56,880 Speaker 1: We have all been in games, we've broadcasted games where 16 00:00:57,080 --> 00:01:01,560 Speaker 1: unfortunately somebody has to be attended to by medical staff 17 00:01:01,640 --> 00:01:04,360 Speaker 1: and a cart comes out, an ambulance comes out, but 18 00:01:04,520 --> 00:01:07,679 Speaker 1: generally you get a thumbs up, you get some type 19 00:01:07,680 --> 00:01:12,360 Speaker 1: of reaction. And the scary part was that didn't happen 20 00:01:12,480 --> 00:01:15,080 Speaker 1: last night. So it's hard for us to sit here 21 00:01:15,080 --> 00:01:20,319 Speaker 1: and say, Dave, DJ, what was your thoughts from something 22 00:01:20,360 --> 00:01:23,319 Speaker 1: like that that's happened in your past, because I'd be 23 00:01:23,319 --> 00:01:25,759 Speaker 1: willing to bet it hasn't happened in your past. But DJ, 24 00:01:26,400 --> 00:01:28,800 Speaker 1: let me start with you as as you kind of 25 00:01:28,840 --> 00:01:33,200 Speaker 1: saw everything unfold, what was going through your minds as 26 00:01:33,240 --> 00:01:37,240 Speaker 1: a former player thinking about this and trying to put 27 00:01:37,280 --> 00:01:39,840 Speaker 1: yourself as best as possible in the shoes of those 28 00:01:39,880 --> 00:01:42,280 Speaker 1: guys that were on the field last night. Yeah, rec 29 00:01:42,720 --> 00:01:45,360 Speaker 1: you know what the first thing came to mind was 30 00:01:45,760 --> 00:01:49,360 Speaker 1: a couple of things that when you watch it and 31 00:01:49,600 --> 00:01:52,640 Speaker 1: you don't really understand what's happening at the moment, and 32 00:01:53,880 --> 00:01:59,680 Speaker 1: the only visual that you have is how his teammates 33 00:01:59,680 --> 00:02:02,400 Speaker 1: are making it at that moment, and at that time, 34 00:02:02,440 --> 00:02:04,760 Speaker 1: it was so emotional to watch his teammates. You can 35 00:02:04,760 --> 00:02:07,040 Speaker 1: see Josh Allen, you can see guys that on the 36 00:02:07,040 --> 00:02:09,400 Speaker 1: defensive side of the boat, you can see his entire team, 37 00:02:09,480 --> 00:02:14,600 Speaker 1: you can see guys literally balling, crying, and in that moment. 38 00:02:15,000 --> 00:02:18,280 Speaker 1: You know, throughout my years playing, I've seen you know, 39 00:02:18,360 --> 00:02:21,400 Speaker 1: guy's break legs, I've you know, torn acl I've seen 40 00:02:21,560 --> 00:02:25,239 Speaker 1: you know, bones come out of you know guy's you know, legs, 41 00:02:25,320 --> 00:02:29,520 Speaker 1: whatever it may be, and you know they're okay. And 42 00:02:29,600 --> 00:02:33,760 Speaker 1: when you watch the playback of the particular incident and 43 00:02:33,880 --> 00:02:36,400 Speaker 1: you watch him get up and you watch him collapse again, 44 00:02:36,919 --> 00:02:39,480 Speaker 1: and then immediately you see all his teammates could just 45 00:02:39,600 --> 00:02:43,040 Speaker 1: come to his aid. And then the first thing that 46 00:02:43,080 --> 00:02:48,360 Speaker 1: comes to mind is his family, and you hear his 47 00:02:48,440 --> 00:02:51,040 Speaker 1: mom has to come out of the stands. So thankful 48 00:02:51,040 --> 00:02:56,160 Speaker 1: that his mom was able to be there in that moment. 49 00:02:56,240 --> 00:02:58,200 Speaker 1: I'm sitting with my wife and my daughter and we're 50 00:02:58,240 --> 00:03:03,360 Speaker 1: watching it, and you know, ten minutes into it, my 51 00:03:03,440 --> 00:03:05,679 Speaker 1: wife just grasped my hand, grasped my wife saying, and 52 00:03:05,720 --> 00:03:10,960 Speaker 1: we just start praying, because she says, I remember a 53 00:03:11,000 --> 00:03:14,799 Speaker 1: time when you were playing against the Buffalo Bills and 54 00:03:14,880 --> 00:03:18,280 Speaker 1: you went down and I wasn't there, and I didn't 55 00:03:18,320 --> 00:03:20,920 Speaker 1: get an update, I didn't know what was going on 56 00:03:21,040 --> 00:03:25,400 Speaker 1: with you. And she instantly went to praying because she said, 57 00:03:25,400 --> 00:03:28,280 Speaker 1: in that moment, the first thing I thought about was 58 00:03:28,320 --> 00:03:31,920 Speaker 1: his family and how they felt, so just so thankful 59 00:03:31,960 --> 00:03:33,760 Speaker 1: his mom was able to be there and not have 60 00:03:33,840 --> 00:03:36,360 Speaker 1: to wait on a phone call to hear what's going 61 00:03:36,400 --> 00:03:41,240 Speaker 1: on with her baby boy and to watch the reactions 62 00:03:41,280 --> 00:03:46,680 Speaker 1: from all his teammates. I really just I was. I 63 00:03:48,560 --> 00:03:51,320 Speaker 1: felt it so deep because I understand what it's like, 64 00:03:51,320 --> 00:03:53,720 Speaker 1: and I don't think people you have to understand these 65 00:03:53,720 --> 00:03:57,120 Speaker 1: guys are together all the time, you had built a 66 00:03:57,160 --> 00:04:00,920 Speaker 1: relationship with your teammates, because around him all the time, 67 00:04:00,960 --> 00:04:02,480 Speaker 1: you know about his family, you know about things he's 68 00:04:02,480 --> 00:04:04,520 Speaker 1: going through, you know what's going on in his personal life. 69 00:04:04,920 --> 00:04:09,400 Speaker 1: And to visually watch one of your teammates on the 70 00:04:09,440 --> 00:04:15,200 Speaker 1: field and they have to give him CPR. You're trying 71 00:04:15,200 --> 00:04:18,400 Speaker 1: to restore his heart. He's not breathing on his own. 72 00:04:18,720 --> 00:04:22,720 Speaker 1: And that's something that is so different from like you mentioned, 73 00:04:22,720 --> 00:04:24,720 Speaker 1: seeing a guy going to stretch and you see the 74 00:04:24,760 --> 00:04:26,400 Speaker 1: thumbs up where you see a guy laying on the 75 00:04:26,440 --> 00:04:29,680 Speaker 1: ground but you can see him moving. This was something 76 00:04:29,720 --> 00:04:33,120 Speaker 1: totally different. I don't think nobody else could see. And 77 00:04:33,520 --> 00:04:37,800 Speaker 1: internally I had goosebumps just washing it because I could 78 00:04:37,839 --> 00:04:40,279 Speaker 1: put myself in that moment and say, you know what, 79 00:04:41,320 --> 00:04:43,400 Speaker 1: every guy on that field that night who had on 80 00:04:43,480 --> 00:04:47,839 Speaker 1: shoulder pads looked at DeMar Hamlin and said, oh my god, 81 00:04:47,920 --> 00:04:51,120 Speaker 1: that could be me. And I think that one is 82 00:04:51,160 --> 00:04:55,039 Speaker 1: registered the most that this is just a game people 83 00:04:55,040 --> 00:04:57,280 Speaker 1: are looked at. People look at these athletes and look 84 00:04:57,320 --> 00:04:59,800 Speaker 1: at these professional players as guys who make millions of 85 00:05:01,200 --> 00:05:03,960 Speaker 1: but you forget that these guys put their life on 86 00:05:04,000 --> 00:05:06,440 Speaker 1: the line. Yeah, every time you go out, and let's 87 00:05:06,480 --> 00:05:09,200 Speaker 1: say even as athletes, we don't realize every time you 88 00:05:09,279 --> 00:05:13,719 Speaker 1: go out there's a chance of something like this catastrophically 89 00:05:13,760 --> 00:05:17,680 Speaker 1: happened to you. And to be in that moment, I 90 00:05:17,800 --> 00:05:20,360 Speaker 1: just instantly just pray for him, pray for his family. 91 00:05:20,520 --> 00:05:23,240 Speaker 1: We're still praying for him, Steal, praying for his family. 92 00:05:24,080 --> 00:05:26,839 Speaker 1: And it's just one of those INSes that you put 93 00:05:26,960 --> 00:05:30,720 Speaker 1: so many things in perspective and it goes so far 94 00:05:30,800 --> 00:05:34,440 Speaker 1: beyond football, goes so far beyond the game, and it's 95 00:05:34,480 --> 00:05:39,680 Speaker 1: all about the actual man. DJ. Between yourself, me, Arch, you, 96 00:05:40,480 --> 00:05:43,880 Speaker 1: between high school, college and the NFL, we have a 97 00:05:44,000 --> 00:05:47,360 Speaker 1: lot of years of football, Like you just talked about, 98 00:05:47,360 --> 00:05:51,680 Speaker 1: a DJ, we signed up for playing an extremely physical, 99 00:05:52,240 --> 00:05:55,719 Speaker 1: extremely physical game where like DJ said, there is a 100 00:05:55,800 --> 00:05:59,880 Speaker 1: chance of not only injury, but some type of serious injury. 101 00:06:00,040 --> 00:06:03,840 Speaker 1: And we all know that, but Arch, we don't ever 102 00:06:04,040 --> 00:06:07,960 Speaker 1: think about what could have happened like last night to Damar. 103 00:06:08,680 --> 00:06:13,360 Speaker 1: And my question to you is we talked so much 104 00:06:13,360 --> 00:06:16,279 Speaker 1: about DJ mentioned it football players, they make so much money. 105 00:06:16,760 --> 00:06:18,800 Speaker 1: At the end of the day, this is a human 106 00:06:18,839 --> 00:06:24,719 Speaker 1: being that is fighting as we record this podcast. And 107 00:06:24,800 --> 00:06:27,400 Speaker 1: again it's it's hard to put yourself in that position, 108 00:06:27,520 --> 00:06:30,440 Speaker 1: but you mentioned it like there was no way those 109 00:06:30,440 --> 00:06:32,360 Speaker 1: guys were going to go play a football game after 110 00:06:32,400 --> 00:06:34,720 Speaker 1: what they saw on the field, Like that was way 111 00:06:34,760 --> 00:06:37,800 Speaker 1: too emotional for them because, like DJ said, it wasn't 112 00:06:37,839 --> 00:06:41,120 Speaker 1: just their teammate, that was their brother that was down 113 00:06:41,160 --> 00:06:43,159 Speaker 1: on the field, not just the Buffalo Bills, but the 114 00:06:43,200 --> 00:06:48,880 Speaker 1: Cincinnati Bengals, because it's all a brotherhood. Absolutely well, stated Rack. 115 00:06:49,000 --> 00:06:52,680 Speaker 1: And and let's be let's let's pump the brakes a 116 00:06:52,720 --> 00:06:55,520 Speaker 1: little bit on blaming the National Football League for not 117 00:06:55,600 --> 00:06:57,880 Speaker 1: shutting the game down right away. There was a lot 118 00:06:57,920 --> 00:06:59,760 Speaker 1: of things that needed to be sorted out at the 119 00:06:59,800 --> 00:07:02,520 Speaker 1: time time as to what was going on. Number one 120 00:07:02,640 --> 00:07:05,440 Speaker 1: was the care of the player, and they were doing 121 00:07:05,560 --> 00:07:08,119 Speaker 1: everything they possibly could on the field. The MT units 122 00:07:08,120 --> 00:07:10,600 Speaker 1: had come out and they were doing everything they could there. 123 00:07:10,960 --> 00:07:13,160 Speaker 1: I know there was some talk about them continuing to 124 00:07:13,160 --> 00:07:15,840 Speaker 1: play the game. This was an unprecedented as situations you 125 00:07:15,880 --> 00:07:18,720 Speaker 1: guys said, But I do feel like that they did 126 00:07:18,800 --> 00:07:21,120 Speaker 1: a nice job of kind of sorting it out. The 127 00:07:21,160 --> 00:07:24,440 Speaker 1: two coaches came together. There was a conversation there. They 128 00:07:24,480 --> 00:07:27,880 Speaker 1: talked about where their two teams were mentally. Certainly Buffalo 129 00:07:27,920 --> 00:07:30,040 Speaker 1: affected a little bit more maybe than Cincinnati, but not 130 00:07:30,080 --> 00:07:32,040 Speaker 1: too much. Both teams are sitting there watching what was 131 00:07:32,080 --> 00:07:34,200 Speaker 1: going on. I thought the two coaches came together, and 132 00:07:34,200 --> 00:07:36,160 Speaker 1: then of course you saw the conversation with the league. 133 00:07:36,400 --> 00:07:38,360 Speaker 1: The league ultimately makes the decision we're not going to 134 00:07:38,400 --> 00:07:40,120 Speaker 1: play football. I don't think they were ever going to 135 00:07:40,200 --> 00:07:42,760 Speaker 1: play football because either one of the Bills or Cincinnati 136 00:07:42,880 --> 00:07:44,840 Speaker 1: was interested in playing that night, no matter what they 137 00:07:44,840 --> 00:07:46,800 Speaker 1: said in New York. But New York, I thought they 138 00:07:46,800 --> 00:07:48,800 Speaker 1: did a nice job of kind There's been a lot 139 00:07:48,800 --> 00:07:51,120 Speaker 1: of criticism they should have canceled it right then and there. 140 00:07:51,600 --> 00:07:53,320 Speaker 1: I thought there was a conversation, and there's a lot 141 00:07:53,320 --> 00:07:55,800 Speaker 1: more to it. You've got seventy thousand fans in there 142 00:07:55,960 --> 00:07:57,720 Speaker 1: that are going to spill out all at the same time. 143 00:07:57,760 --> 00:08:00,640 Speaker 1: There there was concerned maybe for safety of bands. There's 144 00:08:00,640 --> 00:08:03,240 Speaker 1: a lot of stuff to consider, So think about the 145 00:08:03,440 --> 00:08:06,160 Speaker 1: entire big picture about what's going on. They weren't going 146 00:08:06,200 --> 00:08:08,240 Speaker 1: to play football, but they needed to come to that 147 00:08:08,320 --> 00:08:12,000 Speaker 1: conclusion by sorting through all the things. Let's say that 148 00:08:12,040 --> 00:08:15,400 Speaker 1: first of all, the thing that comes and shock really 149 00:08:15,440 --> 00:08:17,880 Speaker 1: went through it there and very eloquently talked about the 150 00:08:17,960 --> 00:08:20,440 Speaker 1: feelings and stuff. So, now where do you move forward 151 00:08:20,480 --> 00:08:24,240 Speaker 1: from here? Every team in the league saw this last night, 152 00:08:24,400 --> 00:08:26,760 Speaker 1: or if they didn't, they're getting clips and seeing it 153 00:08:26,840 --> 00:08:29,560 Speaker 1: or reading it on social media. What do you do 154 00:08:29,680 --> 00:08:34,320 Speaker 1: now by the league or per team to now cancel 155 00:08:34,400 --> 00:08:37,840 Speaker 1: these players? Because you guys know, we all kind of 156 00:08:37,840 --> 00:08:39,920 Speaker 1: try to find a way where human beings try to 157 00:08:39,960 --> 00:08:42,840 Speaker 1: find a way to categorize what happened to him. Okay, 158 00:08:42,880 --> 00:08:45,920 Speaker 1: well there was a pre existing condition there, and so 159 00:08:46,000 --> 00:08:48,600 Speaker 1: that doesn't apply to me, so I can kind of 160 00:08:48,640 --> 00:08:51,800 Speaker 1: slide by. That may not be the case. This may 161 00:08:51,800 --> 00:08:54,440 Speaker 1: be one of those once in a million shots where 162 00:08:54,440 --> 00:08:56,200 Speaker 1: he took a shot in the wrong spot at the 163 00:08:56,240 --> 00:08:59,240 Speaker 1: wrong time, and that makes all of us vulnerable to 164 00:08:59,320 --> 00:09:02,480 Speaker 1: play this game, high school, college, pro level, I don't 165 00:09:02,480 --> 00:09:04,760 Speaker 1: care who it is. So now, how do we get 166 00:09:04,760 --> 00:09:07,480 Speaker 1: our head around that and get some counseling and some 167 00:09:07,640 --> 00:09:10,560 Speaker 1: ideas and some safety pieces that maybe need to be 168 00:09:10,559 --> 00:09:13,280 Speaker 1: in put in place. There's a lot to sort out here. 169 00:09:13,320 --> 00:09:14,800 Speaker 1: We're not gonna be able to sort down out here 170 00:09:14,800 --> 00:09:17,840 Speaker 1: on this podcast, but we wanted to give our thoughts 171 00:09:17,880 --> 00:09:20,640 Speaker 1: to you of the fans out there of how we're feeling. 172 00:09:21,640 --> 00:09:24,280 Speaker 1: I get I was crushed when I saw it. I 173 00:09:24,320 --> 00:09:25,760 Speaker 1: don't even know this kid. I did a couple of 174 00:09:25,760 --> 00:09:29,360 Speaker 1: his kids in games in college. But we're the same brotherhood. 175 00:09:29,360 --> 00:09:31,640 Speaker 1: We played in the game together and we know what 176 00:09:31,640 --> 00:09:33,880 Speaker 1: it's like to be on the field and be in 177 00:09:33,920 --> 00:09:37,319 Speaker 1: it and like shock, talk about the brotherhood and the camaraderie, 178 00:09:37,360 --> 00:09:39,280 Speaker 1: both the guys on the other side of the field 179 00:09:39,280 --> 00:09:42,400 Speaker 1: and our guys. We're all in the same fraternity. So 180 00:09:42,920 --> 00:09:44,880 Speaker 1: hopefully that gives you a little bit of perspective as 181 00:09:44,880 --> 00:09:47,520 Speaker 1: a fan as to how we feel about it, and 182 00:09:47,559 --> 00:09:49,880 Speaker 1: how it's probably being felt around the league, and how 183 00:09:49,920 --> 00:09:52,160 Speaker 1: the league's gonna have to now look at this and 184 00:09:52,240 --> 00:09:56,200 Speaker 1: make some evaluations, maybe just from a counseling standpoint, to 185 00:09:56,240 --> 00:09:59,600 Speaker 1: all the players that saw this and are uneasy about 186 00:09:59,600 --> 00:10:03,160 Speaker 1: the situa. Yeah, well, we're going to continue to send 187 00:10:03,200 --> 00:10:05,080 Speaker 1: our thoughts and prayers to him and his family, the 188 00:10:05,240 --> 00:10:08,280 Speaker 1: entire Buffalo Bills organization as well as in Cincinnati Bengals, 189 00:10:08,320 --> 00:10:11,720 Speaker 1: and we're praying hard that we're gonna get absolutely some 190 00:10:11,800 --> 00:10:16,440 Speaker 1: good news. So one of the most difficult segues we 191 00:10:16,480 --> 00:10:19,000 Speaker 1: could ever do, absolute, but we will do our best 192 00:10:19,040 --> 00:10:22,480 Speaker 1: to try to pivot away from that situation and talk 193 00:10:22,480 --> 00:10:25,600 Speaker 1: a little bit about the Falcons previous game against the 194 00:10:25,640 --> 00:10:28,640 Speaker 1: Arizona Cardinals. They are able to snap a four game 195 00:10:28,720 --> 00:10:31,280 Speaker 1: losing streak this past Sunday come back victory. They get 196 00:10:31,280 --> 00:10:34,320 Speaker 1: a twenty to nineteen win over Arizona and arch I'm 197 00:10:34,360 --> 00:10:37,440 Speaker 1: gonna come back to you again calling the game. Let's 198 00:10:38,040 --> 00:10:40,520 Speaker 1: a lot of the focus right now is on the 199 00:10:40,520 --> 00:10:44,680 Speaker 1: young players as they're getting thrusted into action, and the organization. 200 00:10:44,720 --> 00:10:47,000 Speaker 1: The head coach is trying to figure out what they 201 00:10:47,120 --> 00:10:50,079 Speaker 1: have in these guys. Right So, we're getting another sample 202 00:10:50,200 --> 00:10:53,400 Speaker 1: set of Desmond Ritter, We're getting more of Tyler Algier, 203 00:10:53,480 --> 00:10:55,640 Speaker 1: We're starting to see more of Drake London. I'm not 204 00:10:55,679 --> 00:10:57,880 Speaker 1: trying to pigeonhole you into one of those three guys, 205 00:10:58,200 --> 00:11:00,280 Speaker 1: but tell us some of the positives that you saw 206 00:11:00,360 --> 00:11:03,400 Speaker 1: in the game that helped them ultimately pull out this victory. Well, 207 00:11:03,480 --> 00:11:06,240 Speaker 1: it starts up front, guys. Their ability to control the 208 00:11:06,280 --> 00:11:08,480 Speaker 1: line of scrimmage in the run game continues to be 209 00:11:08,520 --> 00:11:10,120 Speaker 1: a part of the mix, and that's going to be 210 00:11:10,480 --> 00:11:13,440 Speaker 1: as you begin to grasp on things moving forward. Those 211 00:11:13,480 --> 00:11:15,920 Speaker 1: are the kind of things that I latch onto. Your 212 00:11:15,960 --> 00:11:17,880 Speaker 1: ability to control the line of st scrimmage in the 213 00:11:17,920 --> 00:11:21,160 Speaker 1: run game, Shockunile Botel. You know you played some quarterback 214 00:11:21,200 --> 00:11:23,000 Speaker 1: as well. The best friend of a quarterback is to 215 00:11:23,040 --> 00:11:25,040 Speaker 1: be able to run it. And this team can run it. 216 00:11:25,080 --> 00:11:27,520 Speaker 1: They got two guys that are ferocious running the football, 217 00:11:27,720 --> 00:11:29,559 Speaker 1: and they've got an offensive line that wants to come 218 00:11:29,600 --> 00:11:31,080 Speaker 1: off the football. That's going to help you in the 219 00:11:31,080 --> 00:11:34,200 Speaker 1: past game as well. But as far as as far 220 00:11:34,240 --> 00:11:36,680 Speaker 1: as the young players, I think that really probably is 221 00:11:36,679 --> 00:11:40,320 Speaker 1: the focus, and certainly the young quarterback. I think Desmond 222 00:11:40,320 --> 00:11:44,880 Speaker 1: continues to show his ability and it probably to me 223 00:11:45,760 --> 00:11:48,240 Speaker 1: even harkens back to what he was in college. He 224 00:11:48,280 --> 00:11:52,080 Speaker 1: played fifty games in college major college football. Fifty games. 225 00:11:52,320 --> 00:11:55,040 Speaker 1: He was forty four and six. He never lost a 226 00:11:55,120 --> 00:11:58,320 Speaker 1: game at home in Cincinnati. He just extended that street 227 00:11:58,360 --> 00:12:01,280 Speaker 1: here in Atlanta as a starter, is undefeated in Atlanta 228 00:12:01,280 --> 00:12:03,959 Speaker 1: as a starter in our building. He's now twenty seven 229 00:12:03,960 --> 00:12:06,640 Speaker 1: and oh as a starter if you will, in college 230 00:12:06,640 --> 00:12:11,679 Speaker 1: and pro football. So which is cool, But the ability 231 00:12:11,720 --> 00:12:14,200 Speaker 1: to win in your own building. Okay, this was a 232 00:12:14,200 --> 00:12:17,120 Speaker 1: team that was four and twelve the last two seasons 233 00:12:17,120 --> 00:12:19,240 Speaker 1: in their own building. They're five and three this season. 234 00:12:19,440 --> 00:12:21,880 Speaker 1: As you begin to turn the page and change the 235 00:12:21,920 --> 00:12:24,280 Speaker 1: culture and kind of mold it the way you want to, 236 00:12:24,440 --> 00:12:26,400 Speaker 1: much like you do in the run game. And the 237 00:12:26,440 --> 00:12:28,360 Speaker 1: young quarterback is a part of that. I thought. He 238 00:12:28,480 --> 00:12:31,640 Speaker 1: continues to make throws that kind of belie his years, 239 00:12:31,679 --> 00:12:35,400 Speaker 1: a little bit back shoulder throws, ball placement, his ability 240 00:12:35,400 --> 00:12:37,559 Speaker 1: to heat it up. The deep shot he took the bird. 241 00:12:37,559 --> 00:12:39,840 Speaker 1: I thought bird was interfered with on the play, but 242 00:12:39,880 --> 00:12:42,040 Speaker 1: it's a deep shot that's right on the money. And 243 00:12:42,080 --> 00:12:46,280 Speaker 1: then how about Arthur Smith's trust on third down with 244 00:12:46,360 --> 00:12:48,520 Speaker 1: a minute fifty three left in the game. It's third 245 00:12:48,559 --> 00:12:51,319 Speaker 1: and seven. You could variously run the football, make them 246 00:12:51,360 --> 00:12:53,720 Speaker 1: burn a time out, kick a field goal with about 247 00:12:53,720 --> 00:12:56,320 Speaker 1: one forty five left, and then hold on and try 248 00:12:56,320 --> 00:12:58,760 Speaker 1: to win the game defensively. Didn't do that. He put 249 00:12:58,800 --> 00:13:01,679 Speaker 1: it in the young quarterbacks hands. On third and seven, 250 00:13:01,679 --> 00:13:04,120 Speaker 1: he finds Michael Pruett for a fourteen yard game that 251 00:13:04,160 --> 00:13:06,400 Speaker 1: shoves the ball down to the ten yard line. And 252 00:13:06,520 --> 00:13:09,160 Speaker 1: it was a tight window throw. Now I mean it 253 00:13:09,240 --> 00:13:11,280 Speaker 1: was at a full pattern deal. He had to discern 254 00:13:11,320 --> 00:13:13,880 Speaker 1: where he wanted to go. He thought. I even talked 255 00:13:13,880 --> 00:13:15,040 Speaker 1: to Arthur and he said, I thought he was going 256 00:13:15,080 --> 00:13:17,760 Speaker 1: to go to London. But he rotated back inside and 257 00:13:17,480 --> 00:13:20,600 Speaker 1: found Michael Pruett over the middle. Michael rolls for another 258 00:13:20,640 --> 00:13:23,080 Speaker 1: thirteen or another five or six yards and gets the 259 00:13:23,120 --> 00:13:25,320 Speaker 1: first down. But the whole part of it was he 260 00:13:25,520 --> 00:13:27,679 Speaker 1: put him up the bat when the game was on 261 00:13:27,720 --> 00:13:31,760 Speaker 1: the line, and we've seen that repeatedly. Now, fourth down 262 00:13:31,800 --> 00:13:34,400 Speaker 1: in New Orleans, he makes the throw to London. Ultimately 263 00:13:34,440 --> 00:13:36,400 Speaker 1: it was a fumble, but he makes the play to 264 00:13:36,440 --> 00:13:38,880 Speaker 1: put you in position. He did it again. He did 265 00:13:38,920 --> 00:13:41,680 Speaker 1: some stuff like that in Baltimore, and here he wins 266 00:13:41,679 --> 00:13:43,800 Speaker 1: the football game. Not he, but the team wins a 267 00:13:43,800 --> 00:13:45,960 Speaker 1: football game because they loaded on his back and he 268 00:13:46,000 --> 00:13:48,760 Speaker 1: makes the right decision. All those things bode well for 269 00:13:48,840 --> 00:13:50,720 Speaker 1: me as you move forward, aren't you think about some 270 00:13:50,800 --> 00:13:53,520 Speaker 1: of the play calling decisions that you had that you 271 00:13:53,640 --> 00:13:58,520 Speaker 1: highlighted there. It's not Arthur Smith being conservative and trying 272 00:13:58,559 --> 00:14:00,679 Speaker 1: to just help him out with the run game right 273 00:14:00,679 --> 00:14:03,800 Speaker 1: and critical situations. He's saying, I want to see what 274 00:14:03,800 --> 00:14:05,680 Speaker 1: the young fella can do. We've seen him do it 275 00:14:05,720 --> 00:14:08,079 Speaker 1: in college. We've seen him do it in practice. I 276 00:14:08,160 --> 00:14:10,520 Speaker 1: want to see him do it on NFL field now. 277 00:14:10,880 --> 00:14:12,840 Speaker 1: And not only is he calling the plays, the young 278 00:14:12,880 --> 00:14:17,520 Speaker 1: fella is executing those plays. Yes, the run game helps 279 00:14:17,760 --> 00:14:20,320 Speaker 1: because you talk about after that they end up running 280 00:14:20,360 --> 00:14:22,960 Speaker 1: the ball for another first down to basically salt away 281 00:14:23,120 --> 00:14:26,600 Speaker 1: their chance of kicking the field goal and limit any 282 00:14:26,720 --> 00:14:29,040 Speaker 1: Arizona chance to come back into the game. But DJ, 283 00:14:29,440 --> 00:14:31,720 Speaker 1: he talked a lot about Desmond Ritter seventy three percent 284 00:14:31,760 --> 00:14:33,760 Speaker 1: completion rate does not throw a touchdown, but it also 285 00:14:33,800 --> 00:14:36,880 Speaker 1: does not throw an interception. But Algier just again bruising 286 00:14:37,120 --> 00:14:40,800 Speaker 1: twenty carries eighty three yards CP punching it in for 287 00:14:40,840 --> 00:14:43,480 Speaker 1: a touchdown running the football as well. What's stuck out 288 00:14:43,480 --> 00:14:45,920 Speaker 1: to you as positive as offensively. Let me kind of 289 00:14:45,960 --> 00:14:48,680 Speaker 1: piggyback and go back to what you guys just talked 290 00:14:48,680 --> 00:14:50,920 Speaker 1: about with Ritter, and we talk about some of the 291 00:14:50,960 --> 00:14:53,080 Speaker 1: stuff and Archers did a really good job of talking 292 00:14:53,120 --> 00:14:55,080 Speaker 1: about some of the things that happened in game. And 293 00:14:55,120 --> 00:14:58,600 Speaker 1: I know sometimes fays want to equate it to stats 294 00:14:58,680 --> 00:15:01,360 Speaker 1: or numbers and say, okay, the stats in numbers match. 295 00:15:01,760 --> 00:15:03,920 Speaker 1: Let's go back to the last two weeks. Last two 296 00:15:03,920 --> 00:15:07,320 Speaker 1: weeks he is forty one or fifty nine. He completed 297 00:15:07,440 --> 00:15:10,320 Speaker 1: sixty six percent versus Baltimore, and you just mentioned the rack. 298 00:15:10,400 --> 00:15:13,440 Speaker 1: He completed his seventy three percent versus Arizona. So he's 299 00:15:13,480 --> 00:15:16,360 Speaker 1: completed sixty nine percent over the first over these last 300 00:15:16,360 --> 00:15:18,960 Speaker 1: two ball games. First ball games three percent. So now 301 00:15:18,960 --> 00:15:21,960 Speaker 1: we're talking about growth. Look at the last two ball games, 302 00:15:22,000 --> 00:15:24,920 Speaker 1: he's steadily getting better. Sixty six percent two weeks ago, 303 00:15:25,320 --> 00:15:28,400 Speaker 1: seventy three percent in this ball game. In the first 304 00:15:28,440 --> 00:15:31,080 Speaker 1: game that he ever started versus in new Walls, he 305 00:15:31,080 --> 00:15:35,040 Speaker 1: got sacked four times. Next two ball games only three times. 306 00:15:35,600 --> 00:15:37,280 Speaker 1: That tells you right there, the balls get out of 307 00:15:37,280 --> 00:15:39,040 Speaker 1: his hands, he understands where to go at the football. 308 00:15:39,080 --> 00:15:42,680 Speaker 1: That sometimes stuff happens, and maybe it's it's not his issue, 309 00:15:42,680 --> 00:15:45,400 Speaker 1: maybe a guy gets beat, whatever it is. But it's 310 00:15:45,400 --> 00:15:48,080 Speaker 1: the growth that you're seeing in its completion percentage. You're 311 00:15:48,120 --> 00:15:50,840 Speaker 1: seeing it in inside the pocket. You're talking about efficiency, 312 00:15:51,000 --> 00:15:54,000 Speaker 1: you're talking about him seeing the field clear. It's things 313 00:15:54,040 --> 00:15:56,600 Speaker 1: like that that shows you that from one game to 314 00:15:56,680 --> 00:15:59,240 Speaker 1: the next, all you want to see is progression. You're 315 00:15:59,280 --> 00:16:03,400 Speaker 1: seeing progress should steadily climb regardless of you know, who's 316 00:16:03,400 --> 00:16:05,240 Speaker 1: out there on the field with who you're playing against, 317 00:16:05,280 --> 00:16:07,680 Speaker 1: what's going on in that ball game. This is a 318 00:16:07,800 --> 00:16:11,280 Speaker 1: guy that's continually to get He's continuing getting better each 319 00:16:11,320 --> 00:16:13,760 Speaker 1: and every weekend. You talk about Algier, who's got nine 320 00:16:13,920 --> 00:16:16,720 Speaker 1: hundred yards rushing on the season as a rookie, and 321 00:16:16,760 --> 00:16:18,960 Speaker 1: this is a guy who's one hundred and twenty three 322 00:16:19,000 --> 00:16:21,200 Speaker 1: yards away from the rookie record, who was said by 323 00:16:21,200 --> 00:16:23,920 Speaker 1: William Andrews, You're talking about some of a guy who 324 00:16:24,600 --> 00:16:29,640 Speaker 1: is maybe the bell call for his offensing. Whenever you 325 00:16:29,720 --> 00:16:33,840 Speaker 1: hand him the football, good things happen. And I thought 326 00:16:34,200 --> 00:16:36,240 Speaker 1: one of the more telling plays in this ball game 327 00:16:36,400 --> 00:16:39,600 Speaker 1: was Doesn't drops it out to him for two three 328 00:16:39,640 --> 00:16:42,200 Speaker 1: yards in the flat, makes one guy miss, makes two 329 00:16:42,280 --> 00:16:45,280 Speaker 1: guys miss, and Boom hits it for another five six 330 00:16:45,360 --> 00:16:48,160 Speaker 1: yard picks up a first down. We talked about it 331 00:16:48,200 --> 00:16:50,600 Speaker 1: last week. That's something that's starting to grow even more 332 00:16:50,680 --> 00:16:52,560 Speaker 1: from him. And maybe he's done it for a while, 333 00:16:52,600 --> 00:16:54,880 Speaker 1: but he's showing it even more this year. The fact 334 00:16:54,960 --> 00:16:56,800 Speaker 1: that he can be that every down guy, he can 335 00:16:56,840 --> 00:16:59,040 Speaker 1: be a guy who can catch it out the backfield 336 00:16:59,040 --> 00:17:01,000 Speaker 1: and make guys miss. Continue to do it. I thought 337 00:17:01,200 --> 00:17:03,880 Speaker 1: the use of CP is exactly what I think this 338 00:17:03,920 --> 00:17:06,960 Speaker 1: team needs. He had nine carries for forty two yards, 339 00:17:07,040 --> 00:17:10,080 Speaker 1: six receptions for forty two yards. That tells you he 340 00:17:10,160 --> 00:17:13,800 Speaker 1: is being used in multiple ways inside this offense and 341 00:17:13,920 --> 00:17:17,280 Speaker 1: even had a rushing touchdown. You know, you want to 342 00:17:17,320 --> 00:17:19,919 Speaker 1: take away maybe the FuMO snap, that's something he can 343 00:17:20,000 --> 00:17:22,320 Speaker 1: learn from. Obviously moving with the center and all that 344 00:17:22,359 --> 00:17:24,840 Speaker 1: kind of stuff. But I just love to growth by 345 00:17:24,880 --> 00:17:26,720 Speaker 1: all three of these guys on the offensive side of 346 00:17:26,720 --> 00:17:29,920 Speaker 1: the ball, for sure, and it shows you weekending week 347 00:17:29,960 --> 00:17:32,400 Speaker 1: out that they're starting to grow and become even better 348 00:17:32,400 --> 00:17:34,480 Speaker 1: players inside this league. And as we know, you got 349 00:17:34,480 --> 00:17:36,520 Speaker 1: to play the game and both these all these guys 350 00:17:36,560 --> 00:17:38,760 Speaker 1: are getting put up the bat and they're proving it. 351 00:17:38,840 --> 00:17:41,800 Speaker 1: But I just love the point that you made Arch 352 00:17:41,880 --> 00:17:45,520 Speaker 1: about it being third or seven and you're putting your 353 00:17:45,600 --> 00:17:47,760 Speaker 1: quarterback up the bat and he making a play that's 354 00:17:47,840 --> 00:17:50,480 Speaker 1: so much trust. How much confidence does that give him? 355 00:17:50,880 --> 00:17:53,680 Speaker 1: That ain't My coach believes in me. And this key 356 00:17:53,800 --> 00:17:57,560 Speaker 1: moment deep in the ball game at home games, you know, 357 00:17:58,000 --> 00:18:00,440 Speaker 1: in the balance and he says, you know what, putting 358 00:18:00,440 --> 00:18:02,280 Speaker 1: in your hands rope and he made to play you 359 00:18:02,320 --> 00:18:05,000 Speaker 1: know what, and it's not lost on Ritter either. I 360 00:18:05,040 --> 00:18:07,359 Speaker 1: asked it Ritter the question after the game in our 361 00:18:07,400 --> 00:18:10,600 Speaker 1: post postgame interview, and then I had a chance to 362 00:18:10,640 --> 00:18:12,480 Speaker 1: talk to him in our players Spotlight on the on 363 00:18:12,520 --> 00:18:15,879 Speaker 1: the Arthur Smith Coaches Show on radio on Monday. I 364 00:18:15,920 --> 00:18:19,080 Speaker 1: asked him back to back days about it, and it 365 00:18:19,119 --> 00:18:21,639 Speaker 1: meant a lot to him. Don't think that that was 366 00:18:21,720 --> 00:18:24,520 Speaker 1: lost on him, that he didn't recognize that. I mean, 367 00:18:24,600 --> 00:18:26,680 Speaker 1: sometimes those things happened in a game and you don't 368 00:18:26,680 --> 00:18:30,600 Speaker 1: really think about what just happened. But he was readily 369 00:18:30,760 --> 00:18:33,520 Speaker 1: on the ball on what that meant for the coach 370 00:18:33,560 --> 00:18:35,640 Speaker 1: to put him into up to bat and trust him 371 00:18:35,720 --> 00:18:37,520 Speaker 1: enough to make that play. Yeah, that he's got the 372 00:18:37,560 --> 00:18:39,840 Speaker 1: faith in me in a critical situation that I'm not 373 00:18:39,880 --> 00:18:42,919 Speaker 1: going to just turn around and be ultra conservative coaches. 374 00:18:42,920 --> 00:18:44,760 Speaker 1: Put it on my shoulders. He wants me to go 375 00:18:44,760 --> 00:18:46,840 Speaker 1: out there and make a play in DJ. I want 376 00:18:46,840 --> 00:18:48,440 Speaker 1: to piggyback real quick on one thing you were talking 377 00:18:48,440 --> 00:18:51,199 Speaker 1: about with Algier. One thing I like about him is 378 00:18:51,440 --> 00:18:55,720 Speaker 1: for a young player, you rarely see him lose yards. Okay. 379 00:18:56,000 --> 00:18:57,840 Speaker 1: And the other thing that I like about him is, 380 00:18:57,880 --> 00:19:01,840 Speaker 1: and here's what what I see from calling college football games, 381 00:19:01,880 --> 00:19:03,960 Speaker 1: to the transition to the NFL. I'm sure you guys 382 00:19:03,960 --> 00:19:06,680 Speaker 1: see this as well. And nobody taught me this more 383 00:19:06,760 --> 00:19:09,280 Speaker 1: than Alex Gibbs when he was coaching. The running game 384 00:19:09,320 --> 00:19:13,760 Speaker 1: here for the Falcons is getting north and south, finding 385 00:19:13,840 --> 00:19:17,320 Speaker 1: a way to get one or two. Like Alex Gibs, 386 00:19:17,320 --> 00:19:19,359 Speaker 1: you used to always say, give me one or two, 387 00:19:19,680 --> 00:19:22,040 Speaker 1: but don't you dare give me minus three or four? 388 00:19:22,400 --> 00:19:24,440 Speaker 1: Dj you remember it now. There was a couple other 389 00:19:24,440 --> 00:19:29,439 Speaker 1: colorful words, but his ability to get north and south 390 00:19:29,520 --> 00:19:32,239 Speaker 1: and find the smallest of gaps just to pick up 391 00:19:32,400 --> 00:19:35,720 Speaker 1: something puts the offense in a much better situation. And 392 00:19:35,840 --> 00:19:39,040 Speaker 1: second and nine is better than second and thirteen. It's 393 00:19:39,160 --> 00:19:41,879 Speaker 1: unbelievable that you mentioned that, because there's so many times 394 00:19:41,920 --> 00:19:44,200 Speaker 1: you think about him being a big bruiser kind of bag, 395 00:19:44,600 --> 00:19:46,600 Speaker 1: but there's so many times you see him get skinny. 396 00:19:46,640 --> 00:19:49,240 Speaker 1: He's got a scapability, but many times you see him 397 00:19:49,480 --> 00:19:52,520 Speaker 1: just slide through a little small hole and five, two 398 00:19:52,560 --> 00:19:54,440 Speaker 1: or three yards in they're like you mentioned, and that 399 00:19:54,640 --> 00:19:58,520 Speaker 1: keeps your offense and going into positive right, staying ahead 400 00:19:58,520 --> 00:20:01,960 Speaker 1: of the change. He's he's been fun. Yeah, there's a 401 00:20:02,080 --> 00:20:05,440 Speaker 1: run in the game that epitomizes exactly what you're talking about. 402 00:20:05,760 --> 00:20:10,399 Speaker 1: He literally runs through the middle linebacker slides across, he 403 00:20:10,480 --> 00:20:13,760 Speaker 1: runs right through him, and then does a little sidestep, 404 00:20:13,840 --> 00:20:17,160 Speaker 1: little sachet to the right, little dance move and get 405 00:20:17,200 --> 00:20:19,920 Speaker 1: you another eight. So in one play down there in 406 00:20:19,960 --> 00:20:22,679 Speaker 1: the red zone, he epitomized what you're talking about. 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Find exactly what you need 417 00:20:54,320 --> 00:20:57,679 Speaker 1: with the home Depot App. Download the home Depot app today. 418 00:20:58,400 --> 00:21:01,000 Speaker 1: All right, guys, let's fast forward to the final game 419 00:21:01,040 --> 00:21:03,159 Speaker 1: of the season. Six and ten Falcons are going to 420 00:21:03,240 --> 00:21:05,600 Speaker 1: face the eight and eight Buccaneers. Tampa Bay's feeling a 421 00:21:05,640 --> 00:21:07,760 Speaker 1: little bit of momentum. They were able to clinch their 422 00:21:07,800 --> 00:21:10,960 Speaker 1: spot in the postseason. They beat the Carolina Panthers last 423 00:21:10,960 --> 00:21:15,200 Speaker 1: weekend thirty to twenty four. And Guys, I didn't think 424 00:21:15,800 --> 00:21:17,520 Speaker 1: that we would talk about this where you know, we 425 00:21:17,600 --> 00:21:20,239 Speaker 1: always talk about the weapons, right, and one weapon for 426 00:21:20,280 --> 00:21:22,359 Speaker 1: Tampa this year that we have not talked about is 427 00:21:22,400 --> 00:21:27,119 Speaker 1: Mike Evans. And Mike Evans not only woke up, he 428 00:21:27,240 --> 00:21:29,840 Speaker 1: said there's a reason why I'd go for a thousand 429 00:21:29,920 --> 00:21:33,200 Speaker 1: yards a year after a year after a year, as 430 00:21:33,240 --> 00:21:36,800 Speaker 1: he just dominates last weekend. So I don't not want 431 00:21:36,800 --> 00:21:40,199 Speaker 1: to just sit here and discount everybody else DJ, But 432 00:21:41,000 --> 00:21:43,760 Speaker 1: is it a little bit of worrisome for Atlanta to 433 00:21:43,920 --> 00:21:47,760 Speaker 1: face Tampa Bay that now Brady and Evans have found 434 00:21:47,760 --> 00:21:50,760 Speaker 1: the connection that's been kind of missing all season long. Yeah. 435 00:21:50,800 --> 00:21:53,760 Speaker 1: And then I wrote a clip where I guess they 436 00:21:53,760 --> 00:21:56,000 Speaker 1: were asking Evans about the game and what was going on, 437 00:21:56,480 --> 00:22:00,080 Speaker 1: and he said, Tom Knomy has said, I'm gonna he 438 00:22:00,200 --> 00:22:03,640 Speaker 1: feeding you. And that's what is probably the scariest thing 439 00:22:03,760 --> 00:22:07,560 Speaker 1: is Yarll is sub coverage. Regardless of what's going on, 440 00:22:08,000 --> 00:22:10,080 Speaker 1: he gonna keep feeding the big dude. And there were 441 00:22:10,080 --> 00:22:11,640 Speaker 1: a couple of times you can see if you watch 442 00:22:11,720 --> 00:22:14,080 Speaker 1: the game, he's not even looking at Mike, he's going 443 00:22:14,080 --> 00:22:16,360 Speaker 1: through other progressions. All of a sudden, you see Mike 444 00:22:16,440 --> 00:22:18,240 Speaker 1: running down to you know, run to go round and 445 00:22:18,280 --> 00:22:19,720 Speaker 1: he just lets it fly and he go get it. 446 00:22:19,760 --> 00:22:22,679 Speaker 1: I mean, that's that's that's scary, and it's hidden in 447 00:22:22,720 --> 00:22:26,000 Speaker 1: the right time for them coming into obviously the playoffs. 448 00:22:26,000 --> 00:22:29,440 Speaker 1: They solidified that spot last week by beating Carolina. But 449 00:22:29,560 --> 00:22:32,520 Speaker 1: it's always been Mike Evans. He's always been a big issue, 450 00:22:32,560 --> 00:22:34,680 Speaker 1: regardless of who he's had thrown in football, and you 451 00:22:34,720 --> 00:22:37,000 Speaker 1: mentioned I think it was but eight nine consecutive seasons 452 00:22:37,000 --> 00:22:39,720 Speaker 1: where he over a thousand yards and he continues to 453 00:22:39,800 --> 00:22:42,000 Speaker 1: be that guy for you, and it continues to be 454 00:22:42,480 --> 00:22:45,359 Speaker 1: an ultra competitor, and yeah, the fight is gonna have 455 00:22:45,359 --> 00:22:47,520 Speaker 1: their their hands full. And that's what you want though. 456 00:22:47,640 --> 00:22:49,480 Speaker 1: You want to go play against the best. You want 457 00:22:49,480 --> 00:22:52,440 Speaker 1: to play against a guy who has that kind of 458 00:22:52,480 --> 00:22:54,400 Speaker 1: cachet about him because you want to know where you are. 459 00:22:54,520 --> 00:22:56,520 Speaker 1: And I think you know you got guys like AJ 460 00:22:56,720 --> 00:22:58,960 Speaker 1: Terrell who will not shy you away from that matchup. 461 00:22:58,960 --> 00:23:01,080 Speaker 1: He will be looking for the matchup and I love 462 00:23:01,119 --> 00:23:03,480 Speaker 1: that about it. So it's gonna be a fun game 463 00:23:03,560 --> 00:23:07,440 Speaker 1: to see. Obviously, I think they mentioned you know, Tabos 464 00:23:07,480 --> 00:23:10,119 Speaker 1: wants to play a starter, so we'll see how that 465 00:23:10,160 --> 00:23:13,400 Speaker 1: plays out. But this would be a unique matchup for sure. Yeah, 466 00:23:13,480 --> 00:23:15,639 Speaker 1: I don't know if this is Again I'm not coaching 467 00:23:15,680 --> 00:23:17,240 Speaker 1: the Buccaneers, but I don't know if this is the 468 00:23:17,280 --> 00:23:20,400 Speaker 1: season where it's a twelve and four and they're comfortable 469 00:23:20,440 --> 00:23:22,920 Speaker 1: they're hitting on all cylinders going into the postseason, they 470 00:23:23,000 --> 00:23:26,040 Speaker 1: might need to build a little bit more momentum. Yes, 471 00:23:26,080 --> 00:23:27,840 Speaker 1: you got one of the best quarterbacks, if not the 472 00:23:27,920 --> 00:23:30,720 Speaker 1: best quarterback into the game that's going to the postseason again, 473 00:23:31,160 --> 00:23:33,600 Speaker 1: but it's almost like they need to continue to find 474 00:23:33,640 --> 00:23:37,639 Speaker 1: some offensive consistency going into the postseason. Arch What sticks 475 00:23:37,640 --> 00:23:40,560 Speaker 1: out to you as some of the biggest areas keys 476 00:23:40,600 --> 00:23:43,240 Speaker 1: to this game, Well, if you go back to the game, 477 00:23:43,320 --> 00:23:45,480 Speaker 1: I believe it was in Week six, back when it 478 00:23:45,480 --> 00:23:48,240 Speaker 1: seems like a lifetime ago. They won the game twenty 479 00:23:48,240 --> 00:23:50,119 Speaker 1: one to fifteen, and they held on in the game. 480 00:23:50,160 --> 00:23:53,280 Speaker 1: Remember they jumped out twenty one of three and they 481 00:23:53,280 --> 00:23:55,440 Speaker 1: were using their short path to attack. Evans had four 482 00:23:55,520 --> 00:23:57,159 Speaker 1: for eighty one in a game, so it wasn't like 483 00:23:57,280 --> 00:24:00,280 Speaker 1: he wasn't used in the game, but Atlanta wasn't willing 484 00:24:00,320 --> 00:24:01,920 Speaker 1: to give up the deep shot, played a lot of 485 00:24:02,000 --> 00:24:04,760 Speaker 1: zone coverage, matchup zone underneath, and four net caught ten 486 00:24:04,800 --> 00:24:08,160 Speaker 1: balls in the game. But Atlanta got the run game 487 00:24:08,200 --> 00:24:11,159 Speaker 1: cranked up. I remember this was the game where maybe 488 00:24:11,280 --> 00:24:13,840 Speaker 1: Arthur put a little signature on a game where you 489 00:24:13,840 --> 00:24:15,560 Speaker 1: didn't give up on the run game. You're done twenty 490 00:24:15,560 --> 00:24:17,840 Speaker 1: one to three in the second half. They didn't give 491 00:24:17,920 --> 00:24:20,399 Speaker 1: up on it, and rightly so Atlanta ends up going 492 00:24:20,400 --> 00:24:22,359 Speaker 1: for over one hundred and fifty yards in the game 493 00:24:22,720 --> 00:24:24,919 Speaker 1: and climbs right back in the football game. And of 494 00:24:24,920 --> 00:24:29,359 Speaker 1: course everybody remembers the call that was made on Grady 495 00:24:29,480 --> 00:24:32,480 Speaker 1: Jarrett on the on the sack that the essentially gave 496 00:24:32,520 --> 00:24:34,680 Speaker 1: them life to allow them to win the football game. 497 00:24:35,880 --> 00:24:38,280 Speaker 1: Things that stick out to me, Okay, they had five 498 00:24:38,320 --> 00:24:40,480 Speaker 1: sacks in that game that can't happen in this game. 499 00:24:40,560 --> 00:24:42,760 Speaker 1: They cannot get after Ridder. That way, we're going to 500 00:24:42,840 --> 00:24:45,600 Speaker 1: protect better. And that was with a good running game 501 00:24:45,640 --> 00:24:47,679 Speaker 1: that they were able to sack Marcus Mariota in that 502 00:24:47,720 --> 00:24:51,159 Speaker 1: game five times. Got a limit the sacks there, and 503 00:24:51,200 --> 00:24:53,600 Speaker 1: I think that you will continue to see a very 504 00:24:53,640 --> 00:24:56,640 Speaker 1: similar game plan where they're not going to allow the explosives. 505 00:24:56,680 --> 00:25:00,600 Speaker 1: This is a Tampa offense, even when they went to 506 00:25:00,600 --> 00:25:04,280 Speaker 1: the Super Bowl. Since he's been in Tampa Bay and 507 00:25:04,359 --> 00:25:08,040 Speaker 1: Tom Brady is they live on explosives. If you don't 508 00:25:08,080 --> 00:25:10,800 Speaker 1: give up explosive plays, then the game is going to 509 00:25:10,840 --> 00:25:12,720 Speaker 1: be very similar to what we've seen over the last 510 00:25:12,760 --> 00:25:15,840 Speaker 1: five weeks. It's going to come down in the high teams, 511 00:25:15,960 --> 00:25:18,760 Speaker 1: low twenties, and the game is going to be endowed 512 00:25:18,760 --> 00:25:23,640 Speaker 1: in the fourth quarter. Because, believe it or not, Atlanta defensively, 513 00:25:23,640 --> 00:25:25,200 Speaker 1: and I know everybody's saying, oh, they're not very good 514 00:25:25,200 --> 00:25:28,840 Speaker 1: at defense. Teams in the last five games are six 515 00:25:28,960 --> 00:25:31,959 Speaker 1: for sixteen in the red zone. That's thirty three percent, 516 00:25:32,040 --> 00:25:35,600 Speaker 1: just around thirty four percent something like that in the 517 00:25:35,600 --> 00:25:38,880 Speaker 1: red zone. That would lead the National Football League by 518 00:25:38,960 --> 00:25:43,479 Speaker 1: ten percent. Buffalo leads the league for the entire regular 519 00:25:43,520 --> 00:25:46,760 Speaker 1: season at forty four percent. This team over the last 520 00:25:46,800 --> 00:25:50,360 Speaker 1: five games has limited teams just thirty four percent touchdown 521 00:25:50,400 --> 00:25:53,639 Speaker 1: conversion in the red zone. That's winning football and that 522 00:25:53,640 --> 00:25:56,360 Speaker 1: will continue. I think that will continue. So you don't 523 00:25:56,400 --> 00:25:59,560 Speaker 1: give up the explosives and make them make them play 524 00:25:59,600 --> 00:26:03,280 Speaker 1: the long game. Put plays together. We've seen themselves destruct. 525 00:26:03,280 --> 00:26:06,320 Speaker 1: They're gonna have penalties most teams do right. Those are 526 00:26:06,320 --> 00:26:07,639 Speaker 1: the kind of things that I thinks sticking out in 527 00:26:07,640 --> 00:26:09,439 Speaker 1: this game. Obviously, you're gonna have to continue to run it, 528 00:26:09,680 --> 00:26:12,040 Speaker 1: and I think Marcus will bring a dimension into the 529 00:26:12,080 --> 00:26:14,760 Speaker 1: game in this building with his connection with Drake London 530 00:26:14,920 --> 00:26:17,160 Speaker 1: that seems to be emerging. One thing I gonna add 531 00:26:17,200 --> 00:26:19,240 Speaker 1: to what Arts talking about, especially on the defensive side 532 00:26:19,240 --> 00:26:22,440 Speaker 1: of the ball, is obviously the last five games only 533 00:26:22,480 --> 00:26:24,560 Speaker 1: given up twenty one points or less. That's real big. 534 00:26:24,600 --> 00:26:26,760 Speaker 1: I talked to Arch's talking about how well they've been 535 00:26:26,760 --> 00:26:31,359 Speaker 1: doing in situational scenarios, especially in the red zone. And 536 00:26:31,680 --> 00:26:33,480 Speaker 1: I heard last week when you talk to all the 537 00:26:33,480 --> 00:26:37,600 Speaker 1: guys after the game about situations matter and how they've 538 00:26:37,640 --> 00:26:41,800 Speaker 1: struggled in the situations of the game last week versus Arizona. 539 00:26:41,920 --> 00:26:44,600 Speaker 1: One of four in the red zone, third down four 540 00:26:44,680 --> 00:26:47,680 Speaker 1: of eleven. Those are winning the situations of the game, 541 00:26:47,920 --> 00:26:50,040 Speaker 1: and ultimately that's what BOWS will when you play a 542 00:26:50,040 --> 00:26:52,480 Speaker 1: team like Tampa, you play any team, to be honest, 543 00:26:52,640 --> 00:26:55,120 Speaker 1: When you win those aspects of the game, you gotta 544 00:26:55,119 --> 00:26:57,159 Speaker 1: get a chance to win the game. One thing Tampa 545 00:26:57,200 --> 00:27:00,200 Speaker 1: has not been running the football consistently very well, and 546 00:27:00,240 --> 00:27:02,320 Speaker 1: then you think that that bodes well for any team 547 00:27:02,359 --> 00:27:05,720 Speaker 1: against him, However, might be one of two or three 548 00:27:05,800 --> 00:27:08,520 Speaker 1: quarterbacks at all time where it's like, well, just because 549 00:27:08,520 --> 00:27:10,040 Speaker 1: you got to make him throw it all the time, 550 00:27:10,080 --> 00:27:12,040 Speaker 1: that doesn't make your chance as a whole lot better. 551 00:27:12,080 --> 00:27:15,320 Speaker 1: But if you can make them one dimensional any team, right, 552 00:27:15,400 --> 00:27:18,119 Speaker 1: it's gonna help your situation out. But you got to 553 00:27:18,119 --> 00:27:20,520 Speaker 1: make sure that they don't let anybody get behind the defense. 554 00:27:20,520 --> 00:27:22,560 Speaker 1: And then, as always, guys turnovers. It's got to be 555 00:27:22,880 --> 00:27:25,240 Speaker 1: especially with a young offense, like you can't afford to 556 00:27:25,280 --> 00:27:28,360 Speaker 1: give Tom Brady first and ten at Atlanta thirty five 557 00:27:28,440 --> 00:27:30,760 Speaker 1: yard line after a turnover, So they're gonna have to 558 00:27:30,800 --> 00:27:33,639 Speaker 1: make sure that they're really, really smart and tight with 559 00:27:33,680 --> 00:27:36,400 Speaker 1: the footback in this game. And another thing is you're 560 00:27:36,400 --> 00:27:39,280 Speaker 1: gonna have to cash in your opportunities. Atlanta has been 561 00:27:39,320 --> 00:27:42,200 Speaker 1: a little bit laxed in the red zone offensively themselves, 562 00:27:42,240 --> 00:27:45,000 Speaker 1: so we've got to be better when we get down tight. 563 00:27:45,520 --> 00:27:47,600 Speaker 1: It's nice to have Coup and he can bang it 564 00:27:47,640 --> 00:27:50,720 Speaker 1: through from everywhere, but you need to close with some touchdowns. 565 00:27:50,720 --> 00:27:53,160 Speaker 1: You need to put some touchdowns on the board because 566 00:27:53,160 --> 00:27:55,720 Speaker 1: you're only going to get so many chances with the football. 567 00:27:55,960 --> 00:28:00,840 Speaker 1: Atlanta has been averaging about nine or ten sessions a game. 568 00:28:01,440 --> 00:28:03,720 Speaker 1: Normally in an NFL game, you guys know, twelve to 569 00:28:03,800 --> 00:28:06,960 Speaker 1: thirteen possessions for both teams as normal. We're probably about 570 00:28:07,080 --> 00:28:09,880 Speaker 1: three possessions under that, maybe even more than only nine 571 00:28:09,920 --> 00:28:12,760 Speaker 1: possessions is last the last time we played Tampa, you 572 00:28:12,840 --> 00:28:15,240 Speaker 1: only had the ball nine times in the last week. 573 00:28:15,440 --> 00:28:18,000 Speaker 1: So so you've got to make sure that you maximize 574 00:28:18,000 --> 00:28:20,120 Speaker 1: your opportunities. And it can't be settling for field goals. 575 00:28:20,119 --> 00:28:22,360 Speaker 1: You gotta be able to catch you in your opportunities. Absolutely, So, 576 00:28:23,080 --> 00:28:25,200 Speaker 1: final game of the season, chance for Atlanta to go 577 00:28:25,240 --> 00:28:27,480 Speaker 1: to seven and ten on the season, and uh yeah, 578 00:28:27,480 --> 00:28:29,679 Speaker 1: I guess it would be good to make Tampa go 579 00:28:29,760 --> 00:28:32,359 Speaker 1: into the postseason on a loss, especially if it's a 580 00:28:32,359 --> 00:28:35,400 Speaker 1: division rival that's going to be representing you in the playoffs. 581 00:28:35,440 --> 00:28:38,400 Speaker 1: Might not be a bad thing to spoil things for 582 00:28:38,440 --> 00:28:40,600 Speaker 1: them a little bit. That's going to wrap it up 583 00:28:40,600 --> 00:28:43,320 Speaker 1: for once more. I want to say that our thoughts 584 00:28:43,360 --> 00:28:46,640 Speaker 1: and prayers are going out to Damar Hamlin again. Whatever 585 00:28:46,720 --> 00:28:49,200 Speaker 1: you can do, young man, to keep fighting. The entire 586 00:28:49,360 --> 00:28:53,920 Speaker 1: NFL community is praying in pulland for you on behalf 587 00:28:53,960 --> 00:28:56,600 Speaker 1: of DJ Shockley and Dave Archer. I am Derek Rackley. 588 00:28:56,600 --> 00:28:58,520 Speaker 1: Thanks so much for joining us again here on the 589 00:28:58,520 --> 00:29:01,600 Speaker 1: Falcons Audible presented by TNT. Good luck to the Atlanta 590 00:29:01,640 --> 00:29:04,320 Speaker 1: Falcons this weekend, facing off in their final game of 591 00:29:04,360 --> 00:29:07,480 Speaker 1: the season against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Take care of 592 00:29:07,520 --> 00:29:11,920 Speaker 1: the one A shock Fear of the frog Frogs. The 593 00:29:12,000 --> 00:29:12,480 Speaker 1: Frogs