1 00:00:23,560 --> 00:00:26,560 Speaker 1: What's up everybody, and welcome to a training camp edition 2 00:00:26,720 --> 00:00:28,880 Speaker 1: of the Falcons Final Whistle Podcast. 3 00:00:29,000 --> 00:00:29,800 Speaker 2: I'm Scott Behar. 4 00:00:30,400 --> 00:00:34,200 Speaker 1: Tory mclaney is across for me via fancy technology. 5 00:00:34,600 --> 00:00:36,040 Speaker 2: We are not doing this on video. 6 00:00:36,120 --> 00:00:37,880 Speaker 1: I know that everyone is so used to us doing 7 00:00:37,920 --> 00:00:41,239 Speaker 1: it in the Ticketmaster studios, but as you all know, 8 00:00:41,280 --> 00:00:43,000 Speaker 1: there are joint practices. 9 00:00:42,520 --> 00:00:43,839 Speaker 2: Going on in Miami. 10 00:00:44,040 --> 00:00:48,639 Speaker 1: So we are down south where it feels like we're 11 00:00:48,680 --> 00:00:51,040 Speaker 1: walking on the surface of the sun to watch the 12 00:00:51,080 --> 00:00:54,280 Speaker 1: Falcons and the Dolphins have joint practices. One other note, 13 00:00:54,600 --> 00:00:57,360 Speaker 1: we normally have a player. Frank Darby was supposed to 14 00:00:57,440 --> 00:01:00,520 Speaker 1: go on. Not Frank's fault, My fault, because techn I 15 00:01:00,520 --> 00:01:02,240 Speaker 1: didn't have it set up for a player. We will 16 00:01:02,240 --> 00:01:05,840 Speaker 1: get back to Frank next week, we promise. All that 17 00:01:05,880 --> 00:01:11,200 Speaker 1: preamble over toy. Arthur Smith doesn't like to complain about 18 00:01:11,240 --> 00:01:15,000 Speaker 1: the heap. My goodness, it was absolutely an inferno down 19 00:01:15,040 --> 00:01:17,880 Speaker 1: in Miami, but I think the Falcons ultimately got some 20 00:01:17,959 --> 00:01:18,679 Speaker 1: good work done. 21 00:01:19,000 --> 00:01:21,640 Speaker 3: Yeah, I think so, I mean, and I yeah, it 22 00:01:21,680 --> 00:01:24,280 Speaker 3: was so freaking hot. I just felt like at one 23 00:01:24,319 --> 00:01:26,880 Speaker 3: point I ran into a couple of the trainers and 24 00:01:26,920 --> 00:01:29,080 Speaker 3: everything and they're like sweating yet and I was like, 25 00:01:29,120 --> 00:01:33,319 Speaker 3: I'm a glazed donut, so don't worry about me. Honestly, 26 00:01:33,560 --> 00:01:37,200 Speaker 3: it was the hottest practices I've ever been to in 27 00:01:37,240 --> 00:01:40,640 Speaker 3: my life. And I remember two a days with my 28 00:01:40,800 --> 00:01:44,560 Speaker 3: dad like in the middle of August, like this is 29 00:01:44,600 --> 00:01:48,160 Speaker 3: not like its heat for me, like being from the 30 00:01:48,200 --> 00:01:49,200 Speaker 3: north or something like that. 31 00:01:49,240 --> 00:01:49,960 Speaker 2: I'm from Georgia. 32 00:01:50,040 --> 00:01:51,840 Speaker 3: I know what heat is, I know what humidity is, 33 00:01:51,880 --> 00:01:55,680 Speaker 3: but this was on a different level. But yes, you're right, 34 00:01:55,760 --> 00:01:57,840 Speaker 3: there was a lot of good work to be put in. 35 00:01:58,000 --> 00:02:00,960 Speaker 3: I thought, especially for me, it was a lot of 36 00:02:00,960 --> 00:02:03,920 Speaker 3: fun watching this defense work over the last couple of days, 37 00:02:03,960 --> 00:02:07,760 Speaker 3: getting to see them more live than I think we've 38 00:02:07,760 --> 00:02:12,200 Speaker 3: seen them up to this point. I thought in specific situations, 39 00:02:12,320 --> 00:02:14,640 Speaker 3: this defense really came alive, whether it was in the 40 00:02:14,680 --> 00:02:17,440 Speaker 3: secondary or in the front seven. I mean, I think 41 00:02:17,520 --> 00:02:20,359 Speaker 3: back to the first day of camp or the first 42 00:02:20,400 --> 00:02:23,600 Speaker 3: day of joint practices where they were working on some 43 00:02:23,639 --> 00:02:26,400 Speaker 3: red zone stuff, and it felt like every level of 44 00:02:26,440 --> 00:02:29,760 Speaker 3: the defense Troy Anderson has a pick, Zach Harrison gets 45 00:02:29,760 --> 00:02:31,480 Speaker 3: a hand on the ball. I mean it felt the 46 00:02:31,840 --> 00:02:33,960 Speaker 3: defensive line as a hole was getting a really really 47 00:02:34,000 --> 00:02:35,560 Speaker 3: good push into to attack. 48 00:02:35,560 --> 00:02:36,079 Speaker 1: Of alloa. 49 00:02:36,600 --> 00:02:40,200 Speaker 3: There was just a lot that I thought looking back, 50 00:02:40,960 --> 00:02:43,600 Speaker 3: when they were in situations like red zone or in 51 00:02:43,800 --> 00:02:47,440 Speaker 3: end of game situations like on Wednesday when Jalen Hawkins 52 00:02:47,480 --> 00:02:49,920 Speaker 3: has a pick and de Alford gets a hand on 53 00:02:49,960 --> 00:02:52,040 Speaker 3: a ball. I mean, they were just stepping up. And 54 00:02:52,080 --> 00:02:55,600 Speaker 3: I think the moments that, like situationally, really really matter, 55 00:02:55,639 --> 00:02:57,400 Speaker 3: and I think that was a lot of fun to 56 00:02:57,520 --> 00:02:59,760 Speaker 3: see this defense work in that regard. 57 00:03:00,480 --> 00:03:00,679 Speaker 2: Yeah. 58 00:03:00,760 --> 00:03:03,799 Speaker 1: I think it was a tweet from Cam Woolf who 59 00:03:03,800 --> 00:03:07,440 Speaker 1: works for NFL Network, and he was talking to Dolphins 60 00:03:07,560 --> 00:03:10,600 Speaker 1: head coach Mike McDaniel and asked about the joint practices, 61 00:03:10,639 --> 00:03:15,760 Speaker 1: and Mike McDaniel, in his typical quirky yet funny way, said, 62 00:03:15,840 --> 00:03:17,880 Speaker 1: if the goal is to be average, then I was 63 00:03:17,919 --> 00:03:18,680 Speaker 1: super pumped. 64 00:03:20,160 --> 00:03:22,040 Speaker 3: I'm sure Arthur Smith would say something similar. 65 00:03:22,480 --> 00:03:22,720 Speaker 2: Yeah. 66 00:03:23,040 --> 00:03:25,720 Speaker 1: The reason why I bring that up is I think 67 00:03:25,800 --> 00:03:28,520 Speaker 1: part of the reason why Miami looked average was that 68 00:03:28,560 --> 00:03:31,480 Speaker 1: the Falcons looked pretty good. They didn't win every rep, 69 00:03:31,520 --> 00:03:34,600 Speaker 1: they didn't win every sequence, for example. And I think 70 00:03:34,600 --> 00:03:36,360 Speaker 1: that you would agree if we're going to go with 71 00:03:36,400 --> 00:03:42,360 Speaker 1: the defense first, right, because you specifically watched not specifically, 72 00:03:42,400 --> 00:03:44,960 Speaker 1: but you mostly watched the defense on Tuesday, switch to 73 00:03:45,000 --> 00:03:47,520 Speaker 1: the offense on Wednesday, and you and I flip flop, 74 00:03:47,640 --> 00:03:49,800 Speaker 1: so we could always have an eye on somebody. 75 00:03:50,000 --> 00:03:50,840 Speaker 2: So we're not here to. 76 00:03:50,760 --> 00:03:54,520 Speaker 1: Say that the Falcons dominated, because they probably didn't. But 77 00:03:54,800 --> 00:03:58,880 Speaker 1: on Tuesday, you saw the defensive line David Onyamanta, Zach Harrison, 78 00:03:58,880 --> 00:04:02,880 Speaker 1: and Arnold Ebakati. Of course Grady really shine. I thought 79 00:04:03,840 --> 00:04:06,600 Speaker 1: the defensive backs. I watched a ton of secondary play 80 00:04:06,640 --> 00:04:09,680 Speaker 1: today and we saw a lot of random dudes like 81 00:04:10,000 --> 00:04:13,640 Speaker 1: Lucas Dennis made plays up. Jalen Hawkins was all over 82 00:04:13,680 --> 00:04:18,559 Speaker 1: the field exactly that we saw some of these depth 83 00:04:18,680 --> 00:04:22,280 Speaker 1: pieces kind of make just get their hands on the ball. 84 00:04:22,320 --> 00:04:26,000 Speaker 1: And we saw defensive linemen really making good and smart 85 00:04:26,040 --> 00:04:29,320 Speaker 1: moves against Miami's offensive line. And the big question heading 86 00:04:29,320 --> 00:04:33,400 Speaker 1: into joint practices is you're seeing a new system. You're 87 00:04:33,440 --> 00:04:36,320 Speaker 1: not facing the same guy whose tendencies that you know, well, 88 00:04:36,920 --> 00:04:40,839 Speaker 1: you don't really know necessarily what's coming. And I thought, overall, 89 00:04:41,000 --> 00:04:45,719 Speaker 1: the Falcons showed well for this setting. It's not live football. 90 00:04:45,839 --> 00:04:48,200 Speaker 1: They're not tackling to the ground. That were a couple 91 00:04:48,160 --> 00:04:50,279 Speaker 1: of scuffles. I'm sure that we'll get to that, but 92 00:04:50,320 --> 00:04:55,200 Speaker 1: I thought it was professionally run overall. And if we 93 00:04:55,240 --> 00:04:57,839 Speaker 1: go back to two years ago, the Dolphins and the 94 00:04:57,880 --> 00:05:00,839 Speaker 1: Falcons had joint practices, I thought was pretty one sided. 95 00:05:01,000 --> 00:05:02,800 Speaker 2: Outside of a couple Kyle Pitts plays. 96 00:05:02,839 --> 00:05:06,520 Speaker 1: This I thought was pretty even, maybe even advantage Atlanta 97 00:05:06,600 --> 00:05:07,960 Speaker 1: over the course of the two days. 98 00:05:08,560 --> 00:05:11,720 Speaker 3: Yeah, and I think you know something that you know, 99 00:05:11,760 --> 00:05:15,560 Speaker 3: We're talking to Arthur Smith and Desmond Ridder after practice 100 00:05:15,600 --> 00:05:18,400 Speaker 3: on Wednesday, and they were talking about, you know, ways 101 00:05:18,440 --> 00:05:20,400 Speaker 3: that this offense can improve and kind of what they've 102 00:05:20,440 --> 00:05:23,040 Speaker 3: learned about this offense while going up against a defense 103 00:05:23,040 --> 00:05:25,400 Speaker 3: that isn't their own and doesn't know their cadences and 104 00:05:25,400 --> 00:05:27,800 Speaker 3: their snap counts and all that kind of stuff. And 105 00:05:28,160 --> 00:05:30,560 Speaker 3: I thought that it was it was Desmond Ritterer who 106 00:05:30,640 --> 00:05:34,320 Speaker 3: was talking just about the comfort that he feels within 107 00:05:34,400 --> 00:05:37,400 Speaker 3: the system, and Arthur Smith paid him quite the compliment 108 00:05:37,400 --> 00:05:40,480 Speaker 3: where he was like, you know, in terms of decision making, 109 00:05:40,600 --> 00:05:42,960 Speaker 3: he's pretty damn he's been pretty damn good at that. 110 00:05:43,360 --> 00:05:48,000 Speaker 3: And that's essentially that is a direct quote. So the 111 00:05:48,080 --> 00:05:50,839 Speaker 3: fact that you're seeing progress, I know we've been talking 112 00:05:50,880 --> 00:05:54,680 Speaker 3: a lot about defense, but you're seeing progress and moments 113 00:05:54,720 --> 00:05:57,559 Speaker 3: for this offense kind of coming together with a bunch 114 00:05:57,560 --> 00:05:59,840 Speaker 3: of new pieces. I mean you talk about even though 115 00:06:00,120 --> 00:06:02,880 Speaker 3: Kyle Pitts and Drake London have been on this team 116 00:06:02,920 --> 00:06:05,680 Speaker 3: now for three years, two years, so is Desmond Ritter, 117 00:06:05,800 --> 00:06:09,040 Speaker 3: and Jean Robinson's new and you have stp who's been 118 00:06:09,040 --> 00:06:12,080 Speaker 3: here for three All of these pieces haven't actually they've played, 119 00:06:12,080 --> 00:06:14,560 Speaker 3: but they haven't all played together, and they haven't played 120 00:06:14,560 --> 00:06:17,159 Speaker 3: with Desmond Ridder as the quarterback. And so I think this, 121 00:06:17,480 --> 00:06:20,600 Speaker 3: as much as anything, was a real learning process for 122 00:06:20,680 --> 00:06:25,599 Speaker 3: this offense, especially Desmon Ridder, to like feel out his playmakers. 123 00:06:26,000 --> 00:06:27,640 Speaker 3: And I think for the most part, I agree with 124 00:06:27,760 --> 00:06:31,120 Speaker 3: Arthur Smith in terms of like Desmond Ridder's decision making, 125 00:06:31,320 --> 00:06:33,440 Speaker 3: even though of course there are times where it's like, ah, 126 00:06:33,440 --> 00:06:35,520 Speaker 3: well why do you go there? Why do you do this? 127 00:06:35,640 --> 00:06:37,320 Speaker 3: But you don't know what he's being asked in those 128 00:06:37,320 --> 00:06:39,440 Speaker 3: moments to. You don't know if he's being asked to 129 00:06:39,440 --> 00:06:41,360 Speaker 3: go deep. You don't know if he's being asked to 130 00:06:41,400 --> 00:06:44,760 Speaker 3: give it to this guy. So overall I was pretty 131 00:06:44,760 --> 00:06:48,080 Speaker 3: pleased with the offense too. I think it'll be fun 132 00:06:48,160 --> 00:06:50,200 Speaker 3: to see them actually run the ball a little bit more. 133 00:06:50,240 --> 00:06:53,160 Speaker 3: I know, like that's a part they worked on that 134 00:06:53,320 --> 00:06:55,279 Speaker 3: quite a bit over the last couple of days is 135 00:06:55,360 --> 00:06:56,960 Speaker 3: just like their fits and their gaps and all that 136 00:06:57,040 --> 00:07:00,120 Speaker 3: kind of stuff, But you're not running the ball live, 137 00:07:00,200 --> 00:07:02,960 Speaker 3: and so it's hard to tell, you know, how dominant 138 00:07:03,000 --> 00:07:06,640 Speaker 3: the run game could potentially be in this in this 139 00:07:06,760 --> 00:07:07,279 Speaker 3: next year. 140 00:07:08,000 --> 00:07:11,200 Speaker 1: Yeah, let's let let's stay on the offensive track for 141 00:07:11,280 --> 00:07:14,240 Speaker 1: a little bit and go to the number eight overall pick. 142 00:07:14,440 --> 00:07:19,400 Speaker 1: But Jean Robinson talked after Wednesday's practice, and I thought 143 00:07:19,600 --> 00:07:23,280 Speaker 1: was gave a pretty fair evaluation of himself, just that 144 00:07:23,320 --> 00:07:26,600 Speaker 1: he's he understands that he has a lot to learn. 145 00:07:26,680 --> 00:07:29,520 Speaker 1: And it's so interesting because for a guy who presents 146 00:07:29,600 --> 00:07:32,960 Speaker 1: himself he's so sure of himself, he's sure of his faith, 147 00:07:33,160 --> 00:07:37,440 Speaker 1: and he's sure of his own faith that he's gonna 148 00:07:37,440 --> 00:07:38,080 Speaker 1: work hard. 149 00:07:38,000 --> 00:07:40,280 Speaker 2: Enough to be good at this level. 150 00:07:40,520 --> 00:07:42,480 Speaker 1: I think it was Kelly Price from Fox who asked, 151 00:07:42,680 --> 00:07:44,920 Speaker 1: what is there confidence to be glean You seem like 152 00:07:44,960 --> 00:07:47,840 Speaker 1: a really confident guy, but he'd mentioned that, yes, there 153 00:07:47,920 --> 00:07:50,440 Speaker 1: is confidence to be gleaned from that because it's it's 154 00:07:50,440 --> 00:07:52,760 Speaker 1: about doing it at the next level. And I think 155 00:07:52,920 --> 00:07:55,240 Speaker 1: he needs to go out and prove it to himself 156 00:07:55,360 --> 00:07:58,880 Speaker 1: that with all these different reads and checks that he 157 00:07:58,960 --> 00:08:01,040 Speaker 1: has to make and all these positions that he has 158 00:08:01,120 --> 00:08:03,720 Speaker 1: to play and now all these grand plans that Arthur 159 00:08:03,760 --> 00:08:09,560 Speaker 1: Smith has for this University of Texas superstar, that can 160 00:08:09,760 --> 00:08:12,920 Speaker 1: he execute the things that are being asked of him? 161 00:08:13,200 --> 00:08:16,000 Speaker 1: And I think that that's a really interesting kind of concept. 162 00:08:16,160 --> 00:08:18,480 Speaker 1: I think it was really good for him to work 163 00:08:18,480 --> 00:08:21,040 Speaker 1: with the first team offensive line because those are the 164 00:08:21,040 --> 00:08:22,760 Speaker 1: guys he's gonna have to fit behind. He needs to 165 00:08:22,840 --> 00:08:26,480 Speaker 1: understand how fast those guys can pull out into open space, 166 00:08:26,960 --> 00:08:29,200 Speaker 1: exactly how they're going to fit, how they're going to 167 00:08:29,240 --> 00:08:32,480 Speaker 1: do those things. I think that those learnings really came 168 00:08:32,520 --> 00:08:36,120 Speaker 1: across in the joint practices and that's the boring stuff, right. 169 00:08:36,720 --> 00:08:40,280 Speaker 1: You saw him though a couple of times make the 170 00:08:40,400 --> 00:08:43,680 Speaker 1: type of this guy a special type of plays against 171 00:08:43,720 --> 00:08:44,839 Speaker 1: the Dolphins. 172 00:08:44,520 --> 00:08:45,000 Speaker 2: Yeah, you did. 173 00:08:45,080 --> 00:08:48,080 Speaker 3: And it was what the very first like fifteen minutes 174 00:08:48,080 --> 00:08:51,760 Speaker 3: of practice on the first day of joint practices on Tuesday, 175 00:08:51,840 --> 00:08:56,360 Speaker 3: and Jean Robinson does his little like jukey move around 176 00:08:56,360 --> 00:09:00,000 Speaker 3: this linebacker for the Dolphins, and it was just exactly 177 00:09:00,160 --> 00:09:03,680 Speaker 3: what we've seen him do time and time again for. 178 00:09:03,600 --> 00:09:04,680 Speaker 2: The last couple of weeks. 179 00:09:04,720 --> 00:09:08,800 Speaker 3: And it's like seeing him do it against somebody else 180 00:09:09,640 --> 00:09:13,920 Speaker 3: and an opponent like That was really a lot of 181 00:09:13,920 --> 00:09:16,680 Speaker 3: fun too, because you're like, you know, he's not just 182 00:09:16,840 --> 00:09:21,959 Speaker 3: doing this against anybody, He's doing this against everybody. And 183 00:09:22,080 --> 00:09:25,480 Speaker 3: I think that's what's so fun about kind of looking 184 00:09:25,520 --> 00:09:28,080 Speaker 3: ahead and looking forward to this season and what Arthur 185 00:09:28,080 --> 00:09:29,960 Speaker 3: Smith can kind of cook up for a guy like 186 00:09:29,960 --> 00:09:30,920 Speaker 3: Pajon Robinson. 187 00:09:31,640 --> 00:09:35,319 Speaker 1: Yeah, and he's a major I think he's going to 188 00:09:35,360 --> 00:09:38,760 Speaker 1: be a major cog in this offense. Kyle Pitts was 189 00:09:38,760 --> 00:09:42,120 Speaker 1: a guy who they're still kind of ramping back up 190 00:09:42,280 --> 00:09:45,880 Speaker 1: into full activity. He didn't see a ton you watch 191 00:09:45,960 --> 00:09:48,520 Speaker 1: more offense than I did. It didn't look to me 192 00:09:48,640 --> 00:09:51,160 Speaker 1: like he saw a ton of team reps today. 193 00:09:52,440 --> 00:09:55,160 Speaker 2: But maybe just talk about that process. I hate that question, 194 00:09:55,240 --> 00:09:56,000 Speaker 2: talk about. 195 00:09:55,720 --> 00:09:58,920 Speaker 1: Something, but what are your impressions of Kyle Pitts and 196 00:09:58,960 --> 00:10:02,040 Speaker 1: how they're kind of grad getting him ready for Week one? 197 00:10:02,120 --> 00:10:04,079 Speaker 2: We still have a number of weeks left to go. 198 00:10:04,520 --> 00:10:07,360 Speaker 3: Right, Yeah, And after practice Arthur Smith was asking, you know, 199 00:10:07,400 --> 00:10:09,760 Speaker 3: how much of this first team are you actually planning 200 00:10:09,800 --> 00:10:12,040 Speaker 3: on playing over the preseason. He said, he was like, 201 00:10:12,040 --> 00:10:15,240 Speaker 3: we're planning on playing our guys. How much or how 202 00:10:15,280 --> 00:10:18,600 Speaker 3: little is still to be determined. I again, I think 203 00:10:18,600 --> 00:10:20,480 Speaker 3: I said this on our last podcast, Like, I don't 204 00:10:20,480 --> 00:10:24,040 Speaker 3: necessarily care to see Kyle Pitts all that much, especially 205 00:10:24,040 --> 00:10:26,720 Speaker 3: considering that they're still ramping him up. I think we 206 00:10:26,720 --> 00:10:29,080 Speaker 3: were able to see a bit more of him on 207 00:10:29,120 --> 00:10:32,200 Speaker 3: Tuesday than we were on Wednesday. But even then he's 208 00:10:32,240 --> 00:10:34,880 Speaker 3: out there and he's working on seven on sevens and 209 00:10:35,040 --> 00:10:37,280 Speaker 3: team drills and everything. It just may not be to 210 00:10:37,320 --> 00:10:40,040 Speaker 3: the level I think maybe that we're used to seeing 211 00:10:40,320 --> 00:10:43,160 Speaker 3: like what it was when he was a rookie, but 212 00:10:43,320 --> 00:10:46,080 Speaker 3: that's because he's still working his way back to one 213 00:10:46,160 --> 00:10:46,840 Speaker 3: hundred percent. 214 00:10:47,000 --> 00:10:47,200 Speaker 2: You know. 215 00:10:47,280 --> 00:10:50,520 Speaker 3: I think when we when you're coming off an injury 216 00:10:50,559 --> 00:10:53,720 Speaker 3: like that, we have months and months of rehab, a surgery, 217 00:10:53,800 --> 00:10:57,520 Speaker 3: and especially for a knee. I mean, there's no need, 218 00:10:57,559 --> 00:11:00,800 Speaker 3: I think again to push him into something that he's 219 00:11:00,840 --> 00:11:03,080 Speaker 3: not ready for. And maybe he is ready, and maybe 220 00:11:03,080 --> 00:11:06,400 Speaker 3: it's just protecting him. But I think overall, I'm not 221 00:11:06,400 --> 00:11:08,480 Speaker 3: worried about Kyle Pits getting to where he needs to 222 00:11:08,520 --> 00:11:11,960 Speaker 3: be because him and des are working, Him and Desmond 223 00:11:12,000 --> 00:11:15,120 Speaker 3: Ridder are working together. They're catching a lot of he's 224 00:11:15,160 --> 00:11:17,800 Speaker 3: catching a lot of passes from Desmond. I don't necessarily 225 00:11:17,880 --> 00:11:21,680 Speaker 3: think that just if we don't see Kyle in the 226 00:11:21,720 --> 00:11:25,280 Speaker 3: preseason that it's going to be a huge deal. And 227 00:11:25,640 --> 00:11:29,360 Speaker 3: I think you even ask Jean Robinson on Wednesday, like 228 00:11:29,679 --> 00:11:33,920 Speaker 3: how much you would he would want to to play 229 00:11:34,080 --> 00:11:36,440 Speaker 3: in the preseason, and he kind of said like, well, 230 00:11:36,480 --> 00:11:37,600 Speaker 3: I mean, if they want to put me out there, 231 00:11:37,640 --> 00:11:39,560 Speaker 3: they put me out there. But you know, I'm going 232 00:11:39,640 --> 00:11:42,120 Speaker 3: to be ready whether or not. It doesn't matter if 233 00:11:42,160 --> 00:11:43,360 Speaker 3: I go out there or not. And I think that's 234 00:11:43,440 --> 00:11:46,120 Speaker 3: kind of where Kyle Pitts is too, Like if you 235 00:11:46,160 --> 00:11:48,280 Speaker 3: were to ask him, like, do you want preseason reps? 236 00:11:48,280 --> 00:11:50,000 Speaker 3: He's like, if they want to give me reps, of 237 00:11:50,040 --> 00:11:51,560 Speaker 3: course I want to go out there. But it's not 238 00:11:51,880 --> 00:11:53,160 Speaker 3: the end of the world. And it's not like I'm 239 00:11:53,160 --> 00:11:54,600 Speaker 3: not going to be ready to go week one if 240 00:11:54,600 --> 00:11:55,400 Speaker 3: I don't have those. 241 00:11:56,120 --> 00:11:59,600 Speaker 2: Yeah. Now, somebody it doesn't seem like we'll be ready. 242 00:11:59,480 --> 00:12:02,560 Speaker 1: To go week one is Jeff Okudah because he suffered 243 00:12:02,559 --> 00:12:07,520 Speaker 1: an ankle injury last week. It's relatively good news just 244 00:12:07,559 --> 00:12:10,559 Speaker 1: as a minor aside. If you haven't checked your Twitter 245 00:12:10,600 --> 00:12:13,600 Speaker 1: feeder Tory's camp report, Clark Phillips is going to be 246 00:12:13,600 --> 00:12:17,240 Speaker 1: Aoka after getting transported off against the Dolphins. But back 247 00:12:17,280 --> 00:12:20,760 Speaker 1: to Jeff in talking to Jerry Gray like you did 248 00:12:20,760 --> 00:12:24,480 Speaker 1: on Tuesday, and talking to Trey Flowers who's been doing 249 00:12:24,480 --> 00:12:27,280 Speaker 1: a lot of first team reps. Mike Cues involved there 250 00:12:27,320 --> 00:12:31,080 Speaker 1: as well, that in previous in the last two years, 251 00:12:31,240 --> 00:12:34,400 Speaker 1: you lose kind of an obvious starting cornerback. 252 00:12:34,960 --> 00:12:37,880 Speaker 2: It's trouble. I don't think it's I don't think it's. 253 00:12:37,679 --> 00:12:40,400 Speaker 1: As much troubled this year as it has been in 254 00:12:40,520 --> 00:12:41,120 Speaker 1: years past. 255 00:12:41,200 --> 00:12:43,680 Speaker 3: Why is that, Yeah, it's because of the depth that 256 00:12:43,679 --> 00:12:46,640 Speaker 3: they've acquired in this secondary, I mean from I think 257 00:12:46,679 --> 00:12:48,920 Speaker 3: from top to bottom. And even on the day that 258 00:12:49,040 --> 00:12:52,200 Speaker 3: Jeff Akuda was taken off the field and you kind 259 00:12:52,200 --> 00:12:54,720 Speaker 3: of are sitting there, you're thinking that it may be 260 00:12:55,040 --> 00:12:58,040 Speaker 3: worst case scenario. Your mind just goes there because it 261 00:12:58,040 --> 00:13:00,800 Speaker 3: it was kind of a not a fun play to watch. 262 00:13:00,840 --> 00:13:02,920 Speaker 3: You know, you don't like watching somebody get hurt like that, 263 00:13:03,040 --> 00:13:07,800 Speaker 3: especially with an ankle, and you know, especially in the preseason. 264 00:13:07,880 --> 00:13:10,120 Speaker 3: But then you get the positive news that you know 265 00:13:10,160 --> 00:13:12,400 Speaker 3: it's he could be back in the early weeks of 266 00:13:12,480 --> 00:13:15,800 Speaker 3: the season. That's according to Arthur Smith and so, but 267 00:13:16,200 --> 00:13:19,120 Speaker 3: that also means that you may see one, two, three 268 00:13:19,240 --> 00:13:22,360 Speaker 3: games without Jeff akudah opposite A j Terrell, but it's 269 00:13:22,440 --> 00:13:24,720 Speaker 3: not again, took your point because of the depth that 270 00:13:24,720 --> 00:13:27,800 Speaker 3: they've accrued with Trey Flowers, with Mike Cues, with even 271 00:13:27,880 --> 00:13:32,080 Speaker 3: d Alford Clark Phillips when he can come back because 272 00:13:32,120 --> 00:13:33,840 Speaker 3: he was, you know, day to day, but he's he's 273 00:13:33,840 --> 00:13:36,920 Speaker 3: going to be moving back in I assume relatively soon 274 00:13:36,960 --> 00:13:40,720 Speaker 3: because his injury was not super serious. All of these 275 00:13:40,760 --> 00:13:43,160 Speaker 3: options are are playing fairly well. 276 00:13:43,200 --> 00:13:43,680 Speaker 2: And I know. 277 00:13:43,760 --> 00:13:46,760 Speaker 3: I talked to Trey Flowers after Tuesday's practice and he's like, 278 00:13:46,800 --> 00:13:50,160 Speaker 3: you know, of course that you hate it for Jeff Akuda, 279 00:13:50,200 --> 00:13:51,760 Speaker 3: and no one wants to see that. I don't want 280 00:13:51,760 --> 00:13:54,240 Speaker 3: to see that, but you try and step in where 281 00:13:54,240 --> 00:13:57,400 Speaker 3: you can, and you you prep every single day like 282 00:13:57,480 --> 00:14:00,160 Speaker 3: the start, like you are the starter. And what's really 283 00:14:00,200 --> 00:14:02,880 Speaker 3: interesting that what I got from Jerry Gray talking to us, 284 00:14:02,880 --> 00:14:04,720 Speaker 3: and this is something that I put in my camp 285 00:14:04,720 --> 00:14:07,800 Speaker 3: notes for Tuesday, was he was talking about the homework 286 00:14:07,800 --> 00:14:11,120 Speaker 3: that he's given Jeff Akuda that now as he's rehabbing 287 00:14:11,160 --> 00:14:13,000 Speaker 3: an injury, he's like, all right, now go and watch 288 00:14:13,080 --> 00:14:16,079 Speaker 3: Indianapolis film from last year so that you can understand 289 00:14:16,160 --> 00:14:19,800 Speaker 3: how Carolina's offense is going to operate with their new 290 00:14:19,840 --> 00:14:22,400 Speaker 3: head coach, go watch that. Don't sit there and just 291 00:14:22,440 --> 00:14:25,080 Speaker 3: not do anything, because I need you absolutely ready to 292 00:14:25,120 --> 00:14:26,520 Speaker 3: go when you get the green light to come back 293 00:14:26,560 --> 00:14:28,000 Speaker 3: out here so that you don't miss the beat. 294 00:14:28,000 --> 00:14:28,680 Speaker 2: I thought that was. 295 00:14:29,360 --> 00:14:31,640 Speaker 3: I enjoy talking to Jerry Gray because he can be 296 00:14:31,720 --> 00:14:35,280 Speaker 3: pretty like straightforward about Okay, here's what I have these 297 00:14:35,280 --> 00:14:37,080 Speaker 3: guys doing, and I always appreciate that. 298 00:14:37,960 --> 00:14:38,200 Speaker 2: Yeah. 299 00:14:39,240 --> 00:14:42,960 Speaker 1: I've mentioned this before when Cornell Armstrong lost to close 300 00:14:43,440 --> 00:14:46,080 Speaker 1: rep in coverage and he went right to coaching him. Today, 301 00:14:46,600 --> 00:14:48,720 Speaker 1: they were doing I believe a two minute drill or 302 00:14:48,760 --> 00:14:51,800 Speaker 1: at least red zone. I can't recall, but Darren Hall 303 00:14:52,200 --> 00:14:55,920 Speaker 1: kind of gave up the pylon and allowed a touchdown 304 00:14:56,000 --> 00:14:58,560 Speaker 1: that maybe if he could have been more aggressive, and 305 00:14:58,600 --> 00:15:00,440 Speaker 1: you can be more aggressive and joint act is that 306 00:15:00,520 --> 00:15:02,680 Speaker 1: you can put a shoulder pad into somebody. He could 307 00:15:02,720 --> 00:15:05,320 Speaker 1: have knocked him out at the one and that could 308 00:15:05,320 --> 00:15:07,920 Speaker 1: have been a moment that's technically six points. That could 309 00:15:07,960 --> 00:15:10,920 Speaker 1: have been a moment where Jerry Gray like los his 310 00:15:10,960 --> 00:15:13,040 Speaker 1: mind a little bit. But as I get to know 311 00:15:13,160 --> 00:15:17,600 Speaker 1: him more and more through these interactions, you can see 312 00:15:17,760 --> 00:15:21,520 Speaker 1: that he didn't pivot that way. He was not thrilled, sure, 313 00:15:21,760 --> 00:15:25,160 Speaker 1: but he immediately was like, Darren, you gotta get him 314 00:15:25,440 --> 00:15:27,760 Speaker 1: before the goal line, even if you have to get 315 00:15:27,760 --> 00:15:29,800 Speaker 1: really physical with him. And I think that those little 316 00:15:29,960 --> 00:15:33,560 Speaker 1: kind of teachable and coachable moments are important. Better to 317 00:15:33,560 --> 00:15:35,120 Speaker 1: get him out at the one foot line and see 318 00:15:35,120 --> 00:15:37,640 Speaker 1: how the next three plays go. And that's the type 319 00:15:37,680 --> 00:15:41,440 Speaker 1: of coaching that kind of pervaded throughout the secondary and 320 00:15:41,480 --> 00:15:44,080 Speaker 1: so many of these It was fun today I watched 321 00:15:44,200 --> 00:15:48,280 Speaker 1: Ryan Nielsen and Dave Huxtable kind of work with the 322 00:15:48,360 --> 00:15:50,360 Speaker 1: defensive lineman so close. I had to back up a 323 00:15:50,400 --> 00:15:52,440 Speaker 1: couple of times. But the reason why I wanted to 324 00:15:52,440 --> 00:15:55,120 Speaker 1: get that up close is really to try to hear 325 00:15:55,720 --> 00:15:58,760 Speaker 1: the technique and the motivation and the passion with which 326 00:15:58,800 --> 00:16:01,000 Speaker 1: he and Dave Huxtable were And I think it was 327 00:16:01,040 --> 00:16:03,600 Speaker 1: really fascinating. Even with a guy like Kalayas Campbell who 328 00:16:03,640 --> 00:16:08,440 Speaker 1: knows everything, Dave and Ryan are coaching these guys on 329 00:16:08,520 --> 00:16:11,680 Speaker 1: the techniques that make this scheme work and without them 330 00:16:11,760 --> 00:16:13,120 Speaker 1: it doesn't work quite as well. 331 00:16:13,520 --> 00:16:15,400 Speaker 2: And you know kind of knowing when to rush and 332 00:16:15,440 --> 00:16:16,280 Speaker 2: when not to rush. 333 00:16:16,320 --> 00:16:19,080 Speaker 1: To watch these coaches up close in the heat getting 334 00:16:19,120 --> 00:16:24,400 Speaker 1: ready to go see another team get crankin, I think 335 00:16:24,480 --> 00:16:27,920 Speaker 1: that was pretty cool. And I think that again we're learning, 336 00:16:28,280 --> 00:16:31,120 Speaker 1: You and I are learning practice by practice, interaction by 337 00:16:31,200 --> 00:16:35,160 Speaker 1: interaction about some of these new coaches, about some of 338 00:16:35,200 --> 00:16:38,200 Speaker 1: these new players, you know, and as you look at 339 00:16:38,720 --> 00:16:41,640 Speaker 1: where like I guess we can go just like to 340 00:16:41,760 --> 00:16:44,080 Speaker 1: the defense as a whole, right that we saw them 341 00:16:44,120 --> 00:16:47,240 Speaker 1: make some kind of flash plays. But if you look 342 00:16:47,280 --> 00:16:51,760 Speaker 1: at this defense from July twenty sixth or twenty seven 343 00:16:51,920 --> 00:16:53,640 Speaker 1: to where you are now, like, what have you kind 344 00:16:53,640 --> 00:16:56,360 Speaker 1: of learned about this group as you kind of have 345 00:16:56,480 --> 00:16:59,040 Speaker 1: seen them rep after rep after rep. 346 00:16:59,600 --> 00:17:02,400 Speaker 3: Yeah, I think the secondary and especially when they get 347 00:17:02,480 --> 00:17:05,840 Speaker 3: Jeff Hakudah back is just it feels night and day 348 00:17:05,880 --> 00:17:09,200 Speaker 3: from kind of where it was two years ago and 349 00:17:09,600 --> 00:17:13,480 Speaker 3: or last year. This front seven feels different. They're the 350 00:17:13,520 --> 00:17:18,239 Speaker 3: way that they were collapsing the pocket around Tua was 351 00:17:18,520 --> 00:17:21,200 Speaker 3: something that even when you know you're not getting a 352 00:17:21,280 --> 00:17:24,359 Speaker 3: sack or you're not or you're you know, not bringing 353 00:17:24,359 --> 00:17:26,919 Speaker 3: someone down to the ground, just affect the way that 354 00:17:27,000 --> 00:17:30,360 Speaker 3: I felt like they were affecting him, even not going 355 00:17:30,359 --> 00:17:33,439 Speaker 3: one hundred and ten percent, was like you can just 356 00:17:33,520 --> 00:17:36,840 Speaker 3: feel these like small differences in the way that they 357 00:17:36,880 --> 00:17:41,520 Speaker 3: go about their business where it's like they're affecting the 358 00:17:41,600 --> 00:17:44,320 Speaker 3: game and the flow of it, and I think that 359 00:17:44,480 --> 00:17:49,800 Speaker 3: is evident even two days through joint practices, even now 360 00:17:49,840 --> 00:17:52,639 Speaker 3: three weeks through training camp. It's something that you hope 361 00:17:52,640 --> 00:17:54,639 Speaker 3: carries over into the season that you still feel this 362 00:17:54,720 --> 00:17:57,480 Speaker 3: way in week five, week six, and so and you know, 363 00:17:57,720 --> 00:18:00,679 Speaker 3: on and on and on, but so far that something 364 00:18:00,720 --> 00:18:03,840 Speaker 3: that like just five thousand feet up, it's like, looking 365 00:18:03,880 --> 00:18:07,120 Speaker 3: at this defense, there are certain pockets that feel different 366 00:18:07,320 --> 00:18:08,480 Speaker 3: than where we've been. 367 00:18:08,400 --> 00:18:09,000 Speaker 2: In the past. 368 00:18:09,600 --> 00:18:13,240 Speaker 1: Yeah, and all that's without Kalas Campbell to this point. 369 00:18:13,359 --> 00:18:16,679 Speaker 1: He got back to practice on Tuesday. He's clearly in 370 00:18:16,720 --> 00:18:19,080 Speaker 1: a ramp up period, did some individual stuff and was 371 00:18:19,119 --> 00:18:22,399 Speaker 1: just kind of engaged from the sideline more often than not, 372 00:18:22,600 --> 00:18:25,960 Speaker 1: and talking to him, he was really like, look, we're like, 373 00:18:26,000 --> 00:18:28,520 Speaker 1: we're designed to get ready for Week one, and that's 374 00:18:28,560 --> 00:18:31,679 Speaker 1: what this defense is aiming towards. Everybody's kind of on 375 00:18:31,760 --> 00:18:37,159 Speaker 1: different schedules, but ultimately those schedules will merge just before 376 00:18:37,200 --> 00:18:39,520 Speaker 1: the Falcons play Carolina. That's the goal is to get 377 00:18:39,520 --> 00:18:44,880 Speaker 1: through this period healthy and communicating well and coordinated as 378 00:18:44,920 --> 00:18:45,359 Speaker 1: a unit. 379 00:18:45,560 --> 00:18:46,879 Speaker 2: I think we've seen that. 380 00:18:47,240 --> 00:18:49,800 Speaker 1: I'm sure that some of you will wonder why would 381 00:18:49,840 --> 00:18:53,760 Speaker 1: you do a final whistle being recorded on a Wednesday 382 00:18:53,800 --> 00:18:57,040 Speaker 1: posted on a Thursday when there's a Friday game. And 383 00:18:57,080 --> 00:18:58,920 Speaker 1: the reason why, as we're kind of wrapping this up, 384 00:18:58,960 --> 00:19:00,760 Speaker 1: is I think it speaks to the importance of these 385 00:19:00,800 --> 00:19:04,080 Speaker 1: joint practices, not saying the preseason game isn't important, but 386 00:19:04,119 --> 00:19:06,320 Speaker 1: I think that we and I'm not trying to make 387 00:19:06,359 --> 00:19:08,359 Speaker 1: both predictions here, but I feel like we got to 388 00:19:08,400 --> 00:19:11,480 Speaker 1: see a lot of the first unit guys get some 389 00:19:11,640 --> 00:19:14,720 Speaker 1: good work, and I think that's why this evaluation is important. 390 00:19:15,400 --> 00:19:17,920 Speaker 1: They've done joint practices three years in a row. Now 391 00:19:18,560 --> 00:19:20,640 Speaker 1: I know that they're always good. There were I thought 392 00:19:20,640 --> 00:19:23,720 Speaker 1: it was again professionally run. Now that you now that 393 00:19:23,720 --> 00:19:26,560 Speaker 1: you have a chance to kind of take a step 394 00:19:26,640 --> 00:19:28,840 Speaker 1: back at least ever so briefly, because we've only been 395 00:19:28,840 --> 00:19:32,919 Speaker 1: off the practice field for a couple of hours, did 396 00:19:33,000 --> 00:19:35,800 Speaker 1: you feel like this team that you either learn more 397 00:19:35,880 --> 00:19:37,680 Speaker 1: or this team got better? Kind of what are your 398 00:19:37,720 --> 00:19:40,240 Speaker 1: overall impressions of the work they were able to get 399 00:19:40,280 --> 00:19:41,440 Speaker 1: done in the last two days. 400 00:19:41,760 --> 00:19:41,960 Speaker 2: Yeah? 401 00:19:42,000 --> 00:19:44,320 Speaker 3: Absolutely, I feel like I learned quite a bit about 402 00:19:44,359 --> 00:19:47,000 Speaker 3: this group and how they what makes them tick, and 403 00:19:47,480 --> 00:19:49,720 Speaker 3: what their strengths are. I feel like that has become 404 00:19:49,760 --> 00:19:52,360 Speaker 3: a little bit more evident going up against people who 405 00:19:52,480 --> 00:19:54,680 Speaker 3: you don't know how they're going to react to certain 406 00:19:54,800 --> 00:19:58,439 Speaker 3: routes or certain blitzes or whatever the case may be. 407 00:19:59,480 --> 00:20:02,000 Speaker 3: And I'll say this for me, going kind of just 408 00:20:02,080 --> 00:20:05,960 Speaker 3: previewing the preseason game that's gonna be played on Friday Night, 409 00:20:06,200 --> 00:20:08,560 Speaker 3: that to me is more about the bubble guys. I 410 00:20:09,200 --> 00:20:13,000 Speaker 3: honestly use those games to evaluate who I think is 411 00:20:13,080 --> 00:20:16,959 Speaker 3: gonna be guys who are going to be on the 412 00:20:17,000 --> 00:20:19,320 Speaker 3: fifty three man roster come cut down day at the 413 00:20:19,440 --> 00:20:22,560 Speaker 3: end of August. So think about like the Frank Darby's 414 00:20:22,600 --> 00:20:26,320 Speaker 3: of the world, the Penny Hearts, the John Fitzpatricks. I 415 00:20:26,320 --> 00:20:28,720 Speaker 3: know I just named off three offensive guys, but their 416 00:20:28,800 --> 00:20:33,359 Speaker 3: defensive guys too. But it's those types of players and 417 00:20:33,400 --> 00:20:35,720 Speaker 3: the plays that they can make that I think are 418 00:20:35,880 --> 00:20:39,560 Speaker 3: what really stand out when you get to preseason games. 419 00:20:39,640 --> 00:20:44,960 Speaker 3: Less so what the Desmond Ritters and the Drake London's 420 00:20:44,960 --> 00:20:47,280 Speaker 3: and the Bajon Robinson's and Tyler Algiers and. 421 00:20:47,320 --> 00:20:48,479 Speaker 2: Cps of the world. 422 00:20:48,680 --> 00:20:52,399 Speaker 3: I care more about who are these fringe guys on 423 00:20:52,480 --> 00:20:55,800 Speaker 3: the fifty three man roster that could really cement themselves 424 00:20:55,880 --> 00:20:59,320 Speaker 3: as guys to make this team in a few weeks. 425 00:21:00,080 --> 00:21:02,639 Speaker 1: So we've gone over a lot of the stars on 426 00:21:02,680 --> 00:21:04,760 Speaker 1: this team, a lot of the first unit guys. Now 427 00:21:04,800 --> 00:21:07,760 Speaker 1: Tory and I are gonna go through the Dolphins preseason 428 00:21:07,800 --> 00:21:10,320 Speaker 1: game and move forward into the next wave of camp. 429 00:21:10,359 --> 00:21:12,600 Speaker 1: That's when we're gonna hit you with another Falcons final whistle. 430 00:21:12,640 --> 00:21:13,560 Speaker 2: We can talk more. 431 00:21:13,400 --> 00:21:15,920 Speaker 1: About guys who we're gonna fill in depth, key depth 432 00:21:16,000 --> 00:21:18,480 Speaker 1: rolls on the back end of this roster, kind of 433 00:21:18,520 --> 00:21:21,560 Speaker 1: highlight those guys again. Hopefully get Frank Darby on the pod. 434 00:21:21,640 --> 00:21:25,000 Speaker 1: That should be a fun one, and kind of keep 435 00:21:25,040 --> 00:21:28,399 Speaker 1: on continuing as we get through this three game preseason slate. So, Tory, 436 00:21:28,440 --> 00:21:30,920 Speaker 1: thank you so much for the time. Thank you guys 437 00:21:30,960 --> 00:21:34,359 Speaker 1: so much for rating, reviewing, subscribing. All the comments that 438 00:21:34,440 --> 00:21:36,760 Speaker 1: you guys give us, at least the nice ones. We 439 00:21:36,800 --> 00:21:39,320 Speaker 1: always appreciate those, and thank you guys so much. We 440 00:21:39,359 --> 00:21:41,680 Speaker 1: will talk to you again, really really soon. 441 00:21:42,440 --> 00:21:51,240 Speaker 2: See you