 What's up everybody and welcome to the Falcons final whistle podcast I'm Scott there alongside Tori McElhaney and Ashton Edmonds That sounds like our regular cast of characters and we're coming to you after a 30 to 17 victory Falcons victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Here at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. We are still here. It's very little. It's we're pushing well into the late night Into the evening as we record this podcast and we are Not gonna break this game down a whole lot Right because I don't know how many fans want to dissect a win that had no impact on the playoff picture when I think all the optimism and focus is on what could and likely is a pivotal off-season for the Atlanta Falcons were after Dealing with I just checked over the cap.com eighty two million dollars in dead money built up. It started in the 60s Right, right before the season was over They're gonna have a lot of cap space. Yep, they're gonna have a really good draft pick it We haven't seen anything official from the league at this point. It's either eight or nine seems to look like eight Yeah, okay, they got a pretty good player at number eight last year got by the name of Drake London He had a big day today hundred and twenty yards on six catch six catches. Wow. I know that right But but yeah, so we're gonna talk about this youth movement. We're gonna talk about Desmond Ritter and the four game evaluation. We're gonna look at where the Falcons go from here in terms of needs Give a little off-season preview That's what Tori McElaney script says so No overall takeaways to this game, right, but from where they sit with the assets They have to worry it seems to me you're smarter than me It seems to me though that they have a golden opportunity to get better fast. Yep. I Look at what? So on Saturday night, we saw Jacksonville Get a birth to the the playoffs. Yeah, and I look at what they were Two years ago and now they're a team going to the playoffs I mean, I think that just goes to show that When you do have money you can spend it in free agency And then when you get some really high draft picks and you have a couple good draft classes That have a bunch of impact players on it. That's what happens I don't think Sitting here right now as the 2022 season officially comes to an end that there is any Reason to not be hopeful and optimistic about where the Falcons are going We've said it before I'll say it again I do think that this Falcons team has a really important rookie not just rookie class but young Players that you can use as your foundation to build upon And I really I mean literally you've seen what Drake London and Tyler Algier have done in the last Month and a half of the season and getting into franchise the franchise record books like There is something Building here We're still I think in the early stages of that and and it was something that Two years ago when Terry fontano and Arthur Smith Came to Atlanta and the first day that they were here I remember saying I can't remember if it was on the radio or what but it was like This was never going to be an overnight haul This is not going to be something that you get a new coaching staff in here You get a new front office in here and everything magically changes because the salary cap constraints were so significant You knew that it was going to take a couple of years to even begin to see What Terry fontano and Arthur Smith wants want to build in Atlanta and I think that's where we are Now I actually think that we are on the cusp of that now We've seen these foundational pieces the drake londons the Tyler Algiers the chryslyn strones a j trills cowl pits these Pieces that you know you can keep around and build around Now you have now you go into this off season with money Which you haven't had you can be players in free agency And you're going to have some pretty significant draft capital to work with I'm talking from the top all the way down. They have a lot of picks going into this 2023 NFL draft It's going to be a really big off season For this team for this organization one that in my opinion should shift the way that we think about this team And we we've talked a lot about the off season priority list the off season shopping list what they need What is most pressing ashen? I think it's fair to say that Because of what we've seen let let's put desmond ridder, you know Aside for once. Yeah, we'll talk about him in a minute But what I believe is that what we've seen from first and second year players is that they have established themselves as long-term solution possibilities Do you agree that that the shopping list still has some big? Uh big uh holes will not holes the spots right priorities But it seems to have gotten shorter based upon what we've seen from first and second year players Oh, yeah, most definitely. I think um, like you mentioned in your article from What's how lg and drake london and and those young guys have did this season? I think that definitely has made the shopping list way shorter I'm sure the falcons are going to look at the defensive defensive side of the ball On the front line and also in the secondary When thinking about you know getting players in free agency or maybe drafting a player I think the defensive side of the ball is really going to be like a big focus going into the draft Just because you know Like torii said earlier in the season that a lot of these guys are just on like one year contracts or Minimum contracts and and this team is pieced together So some of these guys may not be on the team next season and and I think um, it's crucial and critical that the falcons do look for You know, maybe a pass for a talent or maybe somebody in the secondary that um, you know Can add that to that group. So um, I definitely think the shopping list is shorter But I do know that um, it's going to be a crucial off season for the falcons. I think it's going to be Fascinating honestly. This is the most excited. I've been heading into an off season. Right. Yeah, I'm excited. I'm excited for the falcon Yeah, just uh, I think and it will be It only works if you spend and draft right Yes, and how they start we're not going to nerd out on contract Structure, I could Tori and I will do that. I could do it three of us will do that But I think in general if you do it right So much and there's been oh, this was the point that I was going to make there has been a lot of roster turnover over the last couple Years out of necessity, right? They either had to get rid of a lot of contracts They couldn't afford to pay guys that they wanted to keep like foyer a luikin That there are some guys that they had to let walk out the front door and that doesn't have to happen anymore So I think we're going to see more roster turnover a significant amount This coming off season. There's only 39 dudes under contract right now wild right So which is not unlike what it was the year before last right, but as we move forward If if they're doing it right the roster turnover should get slower and slower and slower Because they don't need as many things and I think it's important because we're talking about having this money, right? And part of it is you need to among the players They need to be confident that if a if they perform and are productive and honorable members of the team They will get rewarded You you have a chance to make a statement this off season with aji terrell and chris lindstrom And I don't know maybe if the price is right kaleb migari, right? You have an opportunity to show your draft picks you do well We pay you and I think that is an important thing And what is left out of that Is another important thing can they go find the right? Marquis a list impact premium position player and get him in here and have and put him into the culture that arthur smith Has established and have that work out because I think everything that arthur said and I know nobody cares about the small stuff My ranch is almost over Nobody cares about the small stuff of working hard day to day the practice grind the commitment They want to see wins, right? They I think the foundation for how the falcons work How they operate what they stand for has been established I think they do not have enough talent to compete with Upper level teams right seven and ten two years in a row a blown opportunity to win a division that was claimed By an under 500 squad Gross. Yeah Miss miss miss opportunity, but can you make the most? Of the next one We can get into some more offseason stuff here. Let's switch to to to desmond to where you wrote about kind of the state of the falcons quarterback situation heading into 2023 What did arthur smith what did desmond say about that and what did you kind of learn about him over the course of force? Starts. Yeah, so I think first off the first thing that I want to say about this is that I want everyone to understand and and let's be clear about this The 2022 season was always going to be a bridge from the matt ryan era To whatever comes next and we are sitting in the middle standing in the middle of this bridge Looking out across whatever body of water. We are i'm really painting a picture here I love it the waves are crashing and so you're looking over there, but you can't see what's on the other side yet And 2022 I think when I went into it. I was like it's okay if we don't know What the direction is but we should be able to see the falcons heading in a specific Direction after the season's over. So right now you look at where desmond ridder is We got to see him in a four game. Let's call it a try out It was really and truly the coaching staff Giving themselves the opportunity to see what they have in desmond ridder the guy that they drafted with the number 74 overall pick You've seen him go out and perform for four games. You've seen him improve I think and makes and take steps in the right directions through four games I am really curious. I would love to be in the mind of arthur smith daver gone Etc. Etc. Charles london these decision makers for this offense about truly what they feel like they do have in desmond ridder Do you feel like you saw enough in four games to give him the start in 2023? If if it's me, I am shopping around this off season Definitely Either way regard and I said this before regardless of what desmond ridder did in those four games that we saw Quarterback was always going to have to be on the priority list It just how much can desmond did desmond ridder move the needle for how important it is that you find a starter caliber Quarterback. I honestly still think you need to go out and find that And whether that's in the draft or whether that's in free agency or a trade or whatever I just I still think that you owe it to yourself to see what options are out there To fall in love with somebody who you think could be Your future franchise quarterback because you can't stay on this bridge forever at some point You're gonna have to make a decision and go towards it Yeah, I think desmond has deserved has earned the right to compete for this job and compete and be A respected competitor not somebody who would need something herky land to make it happen I I kind of I don't know if I disagree with you, but I wouldn't if you're not going to draft a quarterback in the first round Oh, I would I mean don't yeah, right because you already have a third round talent And a guy who knows your system and is likable and a good leader and all those types of things Don't go to day two and three. That's why I said fall in love Right, exactly because when you fall in love fall in love is the first round pick right 100 so it's and I don't think that It benefits The falcons to just give desmond the keys and bring in a colt mccully type Right a career backup at this point. Yeah, I don't know if that helps right either right There are so many quarterbacks seemingly this front franchise tags haven't been Uh applied yet, but there are so many quarterbacks in hitting free agency Uh Derek car ryan sandhill daniel jones lamar jackson sort of but probably not really maybe not really But there's there are a lot of options there and tory mentioned a trade We are seeing signal callers move at a crazy rate Yeah, and I think this could be the busiest quarterback off season that we've found and we have the last five six years Have been very busy In the quarterback market right I mean just the blockbuster trades that we've seen over the last five years have been kind of mind boggling Because I feel like we didn't see stuff like that prior like 10 years ago Right now for going back to like what the falcons do and what desmond ridder does I I think too a part of this is that I do think that I get the sense that arthur smith does like desmond ridder I think I think he likes him for him to say constantly that he likes what he's made of and he really He likes what he sees from desmond ridder in pressure situations using the example of what we saw Against tampa bay today. They went for it on they were kind of around midfield in the fourth quarter and they go for it on fourth and medium and arthur smith said After the game That it was because of desmond ridder in those pressure situations that it almost kind of changed his thinking About going for it on fourth down I kind of think that that's a good thing for I mean if i'm desmond ridder and my coach says that about me then feels like I can come up in the clutch That's pretty good. And I just I think about What maybe again it all just goes back to what I think arthur smith is thinking He's the play caller. He's the head honcho like In his head. Does he want to stick with desmond ridder? Yeah, that's that's the passion. He's seen a lot of football. He's been a coach in nfl for a while He's seen a lot of different players come through the league and um desmond only played four games But I do think you saw his confidence through those four games He played a lot of tough teams the saints the ravens cardinals and and now the tampa bay buccaneers And I think he did really well. I think he progressed in each of those four games And that's that was like one of the main things that he talked about focusing on is just progressing each game and You know, like tori said arthur smith It seems like he has a lot of confidence in desmond ridder and it seems like he he really likes what he sees out of ridder. So You know Yeah, I mean you shall see yeah, and it's gonna It's it's gonna be fascinating because there is no doubt that Arthur and terry will be pictured at ohio states pro day. Yep. And we talked about this and albert. They're gonna be there They're gonna be there and why not do your due diligence and see what is available to you in terms of the top tier In the same breath of when we got to the bi-week and we're talking about the falcons deserve to see what they have in desmond ridder They deserve to see what's out there 100% and what is an option for you moving forward and what are things going to cost If they go and they sign a quarterback in the open market for 25 million bucks a year You're you're locked in that one. Yeah, um and you made your decision right and That the actions of what comes next Will will speak louder than anything that can be said from a podium And should not be looked at as a referendum on desmond ridder and his ability to compete at an nfl level He talked about increasing confidence after this four game stint. I think he showed he can play at this level Yeah, four games without a pick I mean that's that's pretty impressive. I know like I know you can kind of talk all day long, but This is a guy who I mean sure we go back and we look at that saints game and there probably should have been three picks in that game But there wasn't they didn't kept them. He went four games without throwing an interception Yeah, and I think His body of work was one of quality and that's A compliment that I think is fair and should be afforded to a guy who I like it because he's got moxie He's a gamer. Yes. I like gamers. Yeah, and he is definitely one I mean we saw it on I mean the best play that I think he's made He made Today was his best performance. Definitely in my opinion without question. We saw desmond ridder's best today I know the first half was not great He was four for nine for like 25 passing yards, whatever But then he comes out in the second half and this is what I think desmond ridder does So so well, I cannot compliment him enough on the way that he doesn't let one bad thing Progress into more bad things in spiral out of control He get he can get a hold of himself like if something bad happens He's right back in it And I think that's what you saw in the second half and the guy goes out and throws for over 200 passing yards And the one of the best plays that I thought he made was on his very first touchdown Pass to michael prouitt He the pocket is collapsing in around him. He scrambles out. He extends the play Enough so that he makes the defender come to him and it leaves michael prouitt wide open or not wide open But open enough to get in the ball in the end zone Yeah, I'm not saying that's the best play that he's made in like these four games But to me it's up there and it shows that gamer mentality and it shows you something That maybe you want to see more of when there are more weapons out there When you maybe go out and get a couple more wide receivers and kyle pits gets back out there, you know like That's another part of this. Do you want to see desmond ridder with a different collection of playmakers around him? Yeah, that's another question too. It is an arthur smith He's not going to go over his offseason priority list But he made it clear even in this press conference and it's not the first time he's mentioned this But he said we need to get more explosive on offense and we need to improve Our pass rush and pass defense as a whole. I think those are two major areas that need to get addressed Both through the draft and free agency. They've got to get more explosive on offense And I think you're right desmond ridder gets better if kyle pits is out there. He gets better with another I think juju smith shuster You throwing that out there. Yeah, I just I don't I'm speaking it into existence I think he'd be a great personality for this group as well But but there's a lot of intriguing talent and go out there Take care of those two things. Yeah, I mean I just go get Someone someone anyone beside grady. Share it Someone in the defensive Yeah, and and it's not just edge rushers although they need some of those So I think it's going to be important to see how that works forward Um, you know, I don't know if you guys have it What's what's on top of your priority list? Right exactly. It's different for everybody. You know like what's on top of my priority list is a An interior defensive lineman. Okay, I I tend to lean defense heavy anyways I said last year I wanted them to draft an edge rusher. So either both I tend to lean that way anyways Especially considering what defense has been in Atlanta for the last few years. Um, so for me That that's where I think you put you need to put money back into that group I know you're paying grady jared a lot, but Gosh, we saw against Tampa Bay The man had two or three people around him at all points in time Yeah Almost every snap outside of that one tackle for a loss where they just forgot Where is grady jared? Yeah, I would say my Mines is honestly Cornerback in the secondary. Okay, we definitely need somebody Opposite. We know kasey hayward's contract is uh through the 2023 season. Correct. Yeah, he has one more year after this year Okay, um, so I would say I think the falcons should look at you know, maybe Maybe drafting a young cornerback or maybe bringing in a young cornerback through free agency Um, I feel like that was an area where they struggle, you know A lot of teams they passed over like 200 plus yards Over the course of the season, which has hurt the falcons defense a lot. Um, and I definitely think they need a more Solid cornerback opposite of uh, aj twirl. I mean and you would hope that you get kasey hayward back And he is the guy that you all like I think everybody thought that that duo would be the aj twirl kasey hayward duo I said so many times on this darn podcast I was the most excited to see aj twirl and kasey hayward work together. I still feel that way I still want to see how they work together But I also agree with ashen that you have to build up that position group because When we look when kasey hayward went down and we look at Nothing against the guys that went in for him, but there was a very obvious dip Yeah, 100 and kasey hayward is Entering his mid 30s right at this point. So that's not going to go on forever. So I I I do agree that both of those position groups and areas I always think edge rusher and And that's one of those that you draft and then you go get one that you just can't have enough I think dean p said we need guys who can win one-on-one battles He said that in december of 2021 He could easily say that In december of 2022. Yeah, no offense to arnold ebacate. I think who will be a good player and de angelo malone Who needs to keep developing? He's gonna first real off season kind of pack on some muscle probably But I just think that you need more there. I think do you think this isn't in the script? Do you think fans would be How do you think they would react to another skill player? Like in the first round because they've gone pits in london. I know that's the thing my thing is is Especially with the state of this right my thing is is with the state of this defense. I can't overlook the state of this defense and also This may be a hot take. I'm gonna say it anyways though Because you don't have a solid answer at quarterback It makes it really hard for me to say You go out and you get kyle pits drake london and then another receiver let's say another wide receiver Three years in a row when you have this fluctuating idea of what you want to do at quarterback because Those guys I mean kyle pits will be entering into his third year in the league which is bonkers to say but You don't want to waste that Right, and I don't know if waste is the right word. That's probably a little too harsh But I just can't overlook that the fact that you you've you've gone out and you've got some really good receivers here Put something towards This defensive line Right and and I mean addresses and I mean interior guys. Yeah, I I personally just can't Get past that right at this juncture where we are right now the entire defensive front seven needs Help a lift. Yeah, I think all right. Uh another quick question for you Which of the proof-it-deal guys do you resign? um I I know you're gonna say rashaun evans. I'm not gonna say you're not gonna say I was gonna say I was gonna say if you weren't gonna say rashaun. I was gonna say michael pruitt. Okay. That's a good one I he's really a merge. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah rashaun You think about it rashaun michael pruitt um Bradley pinion. I think a lot of the the key is is he on the prove it? He he signed a restricted. Yeah, tender. So he he will hit the market. Yeah, you know, so like that's another guy who's been Productive you could kind of bring all those guys back. I think they Probably bring isaia oliver back. Why not? You know, why not but you still need to keep stacking that corner back Right. Yeah, you just have to that's another position where you can't have Enough good ones. Right. So I think some guys have proven it. Yeah, I think rashaun evans is coming back. I'll say it I think I think he should he had like command. Yeah, and he knows it and you know, I think I think he I think he works right the MPs spoke a lot of great things about him just over the course of the Season yeah, and then for michael pruitt I think that's a good one outside the box one. Yeah I think I've been very pleased with what he did in kyle pits absence and I think getting Kyle pits back Like I think I actually think michael pruitt's a really good like number two number three Tied end option for you and I think he's a good pass catcher. We've seen I mean gosh He's been in the end zone how many times this year. Yeah, I think He's a really good Downfield blocker I think in terms of just like your I think he works in arthur smith's system He's proven in that So I like michael pruitt. I like rashaun evans I'll be interested to see what they do with Elijah wilkinson. Yeah, I think the fact that they were Playing around with the idea of moving matt hennessey to left guard That'll be something to watch this offseason I'm curious to see across the offensive line how that group shapes out But in terms of prove it guys those are kind of the ones on my radar Yeah, and I think overall like we could kind of go through all these things and Go well over time But I I think what the takeaway is Is that 2022 had some good and positive developments within it It obviously wasn't good enough or the falcons would still be in contention or still be playing But that's not the case But I think that there were some good developments And I think that we're going to enter into a fascinating period That we're going to write a ton about quarterbacks and edge rushers and Cornerbacks everything is just premium position one after another. I agree with arthur smith get more explosive on offense And generate a pass rush that has not been good enough that has to change as we head into the 2023 off season Yeah, and let's be honest too. I'll say this as well the pressure is on for this front office and coaching staff to Create pass rush options in atlanta because I think the old regime Missed the mark on that. I think that there are a lot of people who would say that they did I mean the tack mckinley just didn't work out, right? So I think the pressure is on it's been years since pass rush has been a topic of conversation For the falcons. I want to see that change this year Yeah, so it's going to be fascinating to see how this develops as we as I've said in this pod And I always say actions speak louder than words and it's action time for How they build this roster up and that's going to do it for us Here week 18 falcons final whistle. Thank you guys so much for sticking with us for season number two of this podcast it started literally from nothing and Has a really solid following and we you know and we really appreciate the people that go on they they comment on youtube They they you know put Questions in the mail bag and that we've seen this thing grow and that's only because Of you guys it's all word of mouth and it's all about having the loyalty of a great fan base And you guys care and that's the most important thing We don't want you to agree with us all the time No, I I just want you to be passionate about how you feel about this team I would absolutely love I mean I love having a difference of opinions because a lot of times it helps me think differently about what other people prioritize and why they prioritize it I think it's so good to have a different opinion that there be difference of opinions Collectively across the board. Just be nice about it. Yeah, that's all I ask I I don't ask for anything else. Just be kind about it. Well. Hey, please rate review subscribe to the falcons audio podcast network If that's how I'm supposed to say it. Yeah, that's a podcast network and uh, boy, I'm not gonna give away I'm not I'm not gonna give anything away But have we got some exciting podcast related developments coming for you stay tuned for that very soon Maybe even this week and uh, we will talk to you again real real soon See you