 What's up everybody and welcome to another edition of the Falcons final whistle podcast. I'm Scott bear sitting next to Tori McElaney Nope, not next to next to across from yeah, I mean accuracy is our job. I mean that would be a lie You would be lying to our listeners. I'd have to issue a Retraction yeah, yeah correction on the bottom of a to that's what I would do Ah, so Tori McElaney is a cross for me, and I guess we'll say adjacent there you go to me is Ashton Edmund correct really give them a lay out of the room. Yeah. Yeah, this is this is my office There's essentially nothing in it because I'm not fashionable or choose to decorate the office I mean, I have a picture pictures of Roddy white and Claude Humphrey. I have one of my Michael Vick That's gonna go up Michael right leg. Yeah, the legend not Mike Michael and Speaking of Michael Vick all I will say is the ultimate tease keep an eye out for the website If you happen to be a Michael Vick fan just just kind of bookmark it check back every day I mean, I don't know. Maybe he's gonna show up there at some point in the near future. It's anybody's guess But we are not here to talk about the former Falcons great Former number one pick Michael Vick. We are here to talk about Some other drafts. Yes another set of draft picks the 2021 draft class Terry Fontenau and Arthur Smiths first as Members of the Falcons and you always hear it, right? It's almost cliche to this point The big jump that is made between year one and year two the rookies coming in have basically had like a three-month job interview During the pre-drive process then they get dropped in for rookie mini camp And then they're off and running and they don't stop working until January, right? So there's a lot going on all these guys that we're gonna talk about have had a full off season to exhale To relax a little bit and find ways to improving it better and what they did last year a lot of these guys that we're gonna talk About we're gonna kind of go down the list I would say and break down all these different guys a lot of these guys played a lot a lot Maybe more than they had planned Yeah. Oh, yeah, I mean you think about Jalen Mayfield. I don't think that was supposed to be a thing Right Arthur Smith said that wasn't supposed to be a thing Absolutely not he talks a lot about long-term vision for some of these players And I think that his long-term vision and the expectations for some of the guys that we're gonna talk about Have obviously changed we're gonna go through the whole list and as we wrote it down We're like, man, that's a lot of draft picks a lot of people Yeah, and a lot of guys had a lot of different positions I think a lot of guys that the Falcons are going to be counting on in the 2022 season So let's just get started with the big man Drum roll, please I'm like last time when I was so surprised and Tori actually did it Yeah, but anyway The big guy, I'm Frank too. It's Kyle Pitts. I don't know if you guys have heard of him. No, never He's a pretty good ever. Yeah at this game of football. Yeah, we're actually recording this on Kyle Pitts day a Very exciting. So if you're on YouTube listening to this right now Just go back to our YouTube page click on the drive with Kyle Pitts We take him through a round of golf with him and his dad There's also a story that I wrote because I was fortunate enough to be part of Kyle and Kelly Pitts entourage that day I will say this Scott says fortunate enough and he said and I quote. I'm going to this right Nobody really had an opportunity to go to this I just kind of like stuck a claim to it and it was freaking awesome Oh, yeah, because everyone thinks Kyle is quiet because he's mild-mannered in front of the camera not quite He's hilarious hilarious. Yes. He is super easy going and you can tell I like everybody's the word swagger at okay I I have no swagger, right? Right. No, I think you I think you have a little a little My gosh, it's so sweet I'm really gonna have to figure out what that is and just try to mimic it But Kyle Pitts he's just his has his air of like this confidence about him this year We had over a thousand yards last year almost beat Mike did cuz record second best rookie by rookie tight end ever pro bowler That's like his floor now. Yeah, right and that that is quote scratching the surface of who he can be in the league per Arthur Smith, right? Ashley did this is your first Training camp with the Falcons see in Kyle Pitts work every day What are your impressions of seeing him go about his business over the course of these men? He's he's been a big standout in training camp so far I think One of the biggest things that he wanted to focus on this year is his precision and route running You can see that in training camp. He's been getting open a lot I think he's been one of Mario's biggest targets He finds himself an end zone a lot And I think you could see how you know that he put in the work in the offseason because it's showing here in training camp and You know, I think you know like you said Kyle Pitts is way more confident from last season And you can see him going into a second year You know stepping into a leadership role amongst not only the tight end group but receiver group as a whole So I think he's gonna have a great year, man And you know he's off to a great start in training camp when you think about elite tight ends, right? You think about Travis Kelsey you think about George Kittle. I think about Darren Waller Mark Andrews, maybe is he in that class? Yes. He's an elite talent. Yeah 100% I mean, I there's no way that you can't put him in rank with all of those guys Not a chance like this is a guy that what we're talking about had one of the best rookie years for a tight end ever period full stop ever He's only been the lead for one like one. This is yeah I mean, I think it is one of those things that we are look like I don't you know I know Arthur Smith's very much like don't put on the gold jacket before they've done anything like and I agree But with Kyle Pitts like the guy's a menace like a nice menace to us But like a menace on the field and I don't know they put they posted our social team put this video together Like his highlights from like year one and it was like season two loading and Still my favorite thing that he did last year was the stiff arm in Buffalo. Yeah, man. That was nasty Like this guy is doing some really really solid things for this team And he is a foundational part of an organization that's going through a major transition You know what else thinks? Kyle Pitts isn't it isn't elite tight end is George Kettle George Kittle loves Kyle Pitts and George Kittle doesn't necessarily offer He's an energetic sword. I covered the 49ers for a while But he is so complimentary and I think that some of these other tight ends they work together at these tight end camps in Nashville They had a chance to see each other and this guy is just next level and it's crazy you go back before the draft and Everybody or not everybody but there was a big level of consternation. That's a thing, right? How can you take a tight end at four? Are you insane? You're taking a tight end at four We need a quarterback. We need a ex a premium position quote-unquote, right? I think they should be pretty happy with the guy that they got. Yes It was one of the best choices. I think the Falcons could have made easily. Yeah, I mean The guy is is one of the greatest tight ends in the lead right now. He's so young. It's only 21 years old I know like it's it's kind of scary to think about what he's going to do, you know, honestly Yeah, yeah, and and the more help there was times last year I kind of thought it was Kyle Pitts and Cordero Patterson or punt, right? It just wasn't a lot of threats So he was getting Shadowed by Stefan Gilmore. That was he said that was his welcome to the NFL moment like that dude is a good And or he's getting double teamed or he's getting schemed against chipped at the line I think the more options that you have Drake London can establish himself if the wide if Brian Edwards can be a threat Then you can't do that to Kyle as much and I think that will open things up for him So that was the easiest evaluation that we're gonna make during this podcast, right Kyle Pitts is awesome We know who he is period. Yes full stop. Have you got up? Is they yeah? Richie Grant is a guy who When fans think of second Higher-level picks they think immediate impact and if you don't make an immediate impact You're a failure and a bust and what the heck were they thinking because There's another safety on another team that's doing better and they got Richie Grant who is a core special teams player and a slot guy kind of like a big slot Arthur Smith when he talks about long-term vision, it's always about Richie, right? Yeah, that's always the example He uses right so where are we in this long-term vision? I think it's kind of like a transition period now where the expectations go higher Yes, no, I completely agree. I mean when you look out It's almost I feel very secure in saying that I think the safety quote-unquote rotation is set I feel like from day one we have known Who's gonna be your starting safeties? You know, it's Jalen Hawkins and you know It's Richie Grant and that has been how it's been for the last two weeks of camp And I think that is very very interesting and I think Richie Grant a lot of a lot of times with Richie Grant I think what he did in his rookie year goes unnoticed because You talked to Dean Pease you talked to Arthur Smith. They said they say we threw a lot at Richie Grant We put a lot on his shoulders He was learning multiple positions in the secondary and it doesn't stunt your growth in a way But I think that it is one of those things that we have to consider that now in year two They know what they have in Richie and they are very much specializing him to be that counterpart counterpart to Jalen Hawkins and I knew you wrote a story about their connections Scott, but like I Think that is the most important because I said when Richie Grant was drafted And that he was joining like Jalen Hawkins and even though at the time you had Eric Harris and you had Duran Harman and you knew those guys were gonna play But I said the future of this position is Jalen Hawkins and Richie Grant We are actively seeing that come to fruition right now. Yeah, and Kyle Pitts Kyle Pitts did talk about Richie Grant. He like Richie's competitive out there He's super competitive and he seems very he seems pretty comfortable, right? Like when you watch him out there Yeah, he got an interception today in practice, right? He did and ran it all. Yeah. Yeah, but he looks really comfortable I think the communication amongst that safety group is you could see the chemistry building between them Hawkins Like those guys are very energetic. They're they're always on the ball They're like, you know Hawks or how you know what I'm saying and I think you know for Richard Grant going into his second year Like he he looks ready for this season And I and I think that's the that's the biggest thing that I've been noticing in training camp Yeah, and it's you know, it's it's so tough, right? He to your point He was learning how to play the slot and safety. There was a lot of things thrown at him I think a couple times people will kind of Maybe misinterpreted what Dean Pease was saying about him learning the like system like maybe he's struggling learning the system Or his responsibilities and I don't think that was yeah That comment was completely taken out of context by a lot of people. It was not and then they ran with it Yeah, it wasn't Dean Pease saying that Richard Grant is super far behind and like doesn't know the playbook No, it's because Dean was giving him a lot on his plate to learn and this is a guy who came from UCF Right a lot more simplified version of what he's being asked to do exactly playing the slot in Dean Pease defense No, not easy So I think he's growing it if you can get a productive three down safety these two younger guys Paired with some veterans at the cornerback spot. Hey word Terrell and most likely Isaiah Oliver I think that's a I think that's a pretty good group I and I I'm excited to see how Richie does handling all these things We're gonna start to get in into the preseason and into the regular season. I also I hate when I lecture people But it's like let's let's exercise some patience here, right? Patience is not It's not a Falcons fans. Yeah trademark Patience is a virtue. It is really Look, they're gonna give up a touchdown or two during the course of the season. It happens He's he's probably gonna get beat He's probably gonna be out of position at one point, but there's a long-term vision This guy has I think he has it and I think that we're starting to see it somebody who didn't have the luxury of a long-term Plan thrown into the fire into the fire is Jalen Mayfields who you go back last year He spent most of his training camp playing right tackle or competing at the right tackle spot They have an injury issue at left guard gets thrown in there PS He was a college offensive tackle not a guard. Yeah, so he gets legit thrown into the fire has a rough first game and then becomes Pariah level criticized by the fan base as to what's wrong with this offensive line and one thing that I He stands in front of the podium so often after that eagles game He stood there and took arrows from reporters and dealt with it with class and maturity and perspective Yeah, I have a lot of respect for that. Yeah, I really do now. Is he gonna start our left guard? It's been Elijah Wilkinson's gig to this point So I don't know but I still don't think it's like okay We're ready to give up on Jalen Mayfield right now, right? And I do think that would be unfair to say that because even though right now We're seeing a lot of Elijah Wilkinson But Arthur Smith has been very candid in the fact that Jalen Mayfield is working through a lower back in issue We talked to Jalen today about kind of what that means for him. He was out at practice today We're recording this on Monday. You're probably listening to this on Tuesday correct So he was back out at practice and Arthur Smith did say that they're kind of gonna take it through the week before making a Decision as to if they want to see him in Detroit on Friday So this is all very kind of up in the air right now, but for Jalen Mayfield. He was talking like I want to Like if I'm at a hundred and playing I want to go out there and show people that I'm not who I was in year one And I know like for the offensive line specifically offensive lot of players Specifically when you talk about the jump that you make from one from year one to year two I think you see it most in offensive linemen. I'm not saying that Jalen Mayfield's gonna go out there and just like Play fantastic and it's just gonna be night and day But I am saying that I do believe that there is going to be a shift for him now Does does that shift come in week one? Are we talking about him being a week one starter? I'm not sure because Elijah Wilkinson Every day since what day one yeah, he's been in that spot Right. He has been at that quote-unquote starting left guard spot. So how much are we gonna see Jalen Mayfield, right? I don't know. I can't say yet. Yeah, and I think it's Almost time to figure out who you're starting five is gonna be because those guys got a bill chemistry together Here's the thing. I actually think that I'm willing to wait a little while longer You are mm-hmm if we want to go ahead and talk about the Drew Dalman Matt Hennessey thing Yeah, we might as well Drew Dalman another guy in this class that they drafted last year are gonna play an important role But we don't know that for sure yet because every single day Drew Dalman and Matt Hennessey are switching That's right like back to back back. It's like you don't know who's going to start Yeah, it's every it's every other day and Arthur Smith was very candid I think when we talked to him on Saturday about that and wanting to see who commands this offense everything like that The way he was talking made me feel like they're gonna take this until they have to make a decision with Drew Dalman and Matt Hennessey Because I do think that they are very much right there in lockstep with each other And so I think I know you're talking about like building chemistry And I know that's something that Arthur Smith talked about like you want to set this You know in order for them to get that way, but I talked to Chris Lindstrom and I think it was Jake Matthews and I asked the question I was like, is there a point in time and I also asked Drew Dalman and Matt Hennessey this is this Is there a point in time where you feel like this offensive line needs to be set and they all said not really we're all working with each other We're all in the like we're all in the clubhouse clubhouse. This isn't baseball We're all in the meeting rooms together like we know what's up. We know what chemistry we have with one another so That to me says like they're fine if this coaching staff wants to push this Center rotation To figure out the fair assessment of who they want starting week one take it to the third game of the preseason I'm okay with that. I'm okay if you if we see both of them a lot in the first and second game of the preseason You know what one of my favorite versions of Tori is passionate as heck about something Tori and that's what we just I just think it's so important. I think you're right. Yeah, and Arthur talked a lot about That position needing to be confident and decisive. Yes, right making choices too often last year Not saying Matt Ryan was doing Matt Hennessey's job But he was in charge of the of the some center responsibilities that center needs to own that spot They need to find a guy who can be decisive. I'm now joining your side Right that we can push it and the only way that you're gonna find out if you're decisive is if you go through some games Yes, and they're gonna need that type of rotation. So These preseason games are going to show who's going to be in that center position for sure Like you said, you know Matt Ryan had had to do a lot of what Matt Hennessey's job last year And you know, I think Drew Dalman. He's he's very confident if he does get this position He's I think he's going to great even in his second year. Yeah, it's definitely interesting About what they have going on up front and they have we talked about the cornerbacks having veterans and Casey Hey We're gonna play at every down and you're all gonna play every down So that makes you wonder like where does Darren Hall fit into all this? He played mostly in the slot last year I feel like we're seeing him sparingly sparingly. Yeah, okay We've seen him a lot on the outside during training camp I think because he spoke on Monday as well. Yes, he looks a little bigger He does he's definitely physical and he's a fun guy to watch out there Yeah, whether he makes a mistake or he makes a play. He's going 100 miles per hour. Yeah No, he's ready. He's I think he's ready for this season He talked about what he worked on a lot in the soft season just getting faster getting bigger And you know, although, you know, Tyrell and Hayward are going to primarily be in those positions for most of the time I think when you put Darren Hall in there He's going to shine and perform when his name is called and you know That was the gist of what he talked about on Monday, you know at the presser and you could just see that energy He although he's a young guy and he's playing alongside some veterans You know, he's ready. He's ready to get on the field and I think you know, if if he plays a lot this season He's going to do great. Yeah, it's it's it's an interesting thing And the farther that we get down the list We're gonna talk less probably it'll be about Starters and it's okay if you draft a guy in the fourth round and he ends up being solid injury protection for you Yeah, that's what I was gonna say is like Darren Hall is a good death piece and that's Completely fine and completely normal. I don't think like he has to be a star Especially when you do have AJ and KC who are your leaders of this defense in my opinion. Yeah. Yeah And so I think that's fine. He does play with a lot of confidence. He's he's a he's a louder dude I'm a fan of his he came from he went to San Diego State. I'm from San Diego A bit of a bias there I covered that team one time billion thousand years ago But nonetheless it, you know, I think that that's another kind of important piece and talking about rotational guys guys are gonna fit in To Kwan Graham is another one of those guys. They didn't do a lot of adding to the defensive line And frankly the guys they added are all gone. Yes, they all Retired Vincent Taylor is now on injured reserve with the rupture of his Achilles tendon Brutal for a guy who hurt his ankle in the season opener last year and then miss the next 16 games He just feel for him. But to Kwan Graham a fifth round pick. He is I Guess we call him Grady Jarrett's protege because well originally that was Marlon, right, right? So are you? Are you changing that up now? I just I talked to To Kwan during the offseason Yeah, he just said that Grady Jarrett is the type of guy that he looks up to Grady Jarrett was a fifth round pick To Kwan is a fifth round pick. Everybody said Grady was too short to play in this league Everyone thinks is to Kwan big enough to play in this defensive scheme, right? And Grady Jarrett who is a big fan as well Expects big things from this guy. Yeah. Now. Does that mean like seven sacks or something? No, because that's not the position that he plays But he's a big strong dude and they're gonna count on him, right? Yes, okay So here's the thing about to Kwan Graham is somebody who I feel like we haven't talked about enough in training camp He is rotating in with the starting defensive line Arthur Smith has talked a lot over the last week, especially now that pads have gone on about how he's pretty pleased with how the front Seven is working and to Kwan Graham is right there in there today We saw you know, they're working on run defense and all that kind of stuff today But we saw Grady Jarrett Anthony rush into Kwan Graham lining up with each other a Lot, yeah a lot And I think that is very very interesting in terms of kind of what you expect this defensive line to look like and I think To Kwan Graham's development is a reason why this coaching staff is okay with what's transpired with some of the other defensive Lyman that they've brought in I think they feel really good about where to Kwan Graham is right now I asked Arthur Smith about that and you know, I was like I feel like he's somebody you talk about that jump feel like he's somebody who's making that jump and he was like Yeah, we feel good about where he's at in terms of what we need from him Has he been rotating with Marlon Davidson? Can't yeah a bit I think it's been kind of like the what the thing is is like I tell people this all the time like when it comes to fronts like D it Dean P's like runs so it's just mold It's just a multiple front like so sometimes you're gonna see different guys That's why I say like quote-unquote starters doesn't really matter to me at like on that front seven just because Yeah, there he has so many packages because great. He's gonna play every down and when Anthony rush who's every bit of 340 Large is in the middle. Then you've yeah, you've got Davidson and Graham kind of work in there It does seem like Graham has a little bit of an edge there. I think I dare to say I think so I think I've seen him more recently than I've seen Marlon right and I think that that's gonna be a good thing You know what I'm noticing as we're going through this It's kind of like a lot of positivity here when it comes to this draft class You feel good about them. Yeah, I think you do and I'm sure people listening We'll drop some YouTube comments saying that like Jalen Mayfield is the worst player that we've ever seen in the history of the offensive line Play. Yeah, you're gonna get a little pushback from us and I think that's okay But I think that as we look at this class Tori the only bigger rostered construction nerd than me is her And I think that these in terms of building a roster and a two slash three deep that these guys are obviously going to play a Factor you have to talk about him and I think I actually was talking to Jalen Mayfield today And I asked him the question about like do you see this like your draft class like how do you see them? How do you see guys making a jump from year one to year two? And he he'd said something that I thought was very interesting and he was like look We understand the position that our draft class is in we were the first class of the Terry Fontenot Arthur Smith regime. There's some Some added pressure to that Because this is the first one that they this first class really they stuck their name on It's that these are the guys that we are gonna use to build a foundation as we transition this thing So for Jalen Mayfield to say like that this draft class is very cognizant of that and their role in this transition I think was very interesting in terms of like the big picture of why this draft class is so important to not just the 2022 team but I'm talking 23 and 24 as well. Yeah, and how you build teams I won't get too far down the rabbit hole I swear is nailing these middle-round picks and that doesn't mean like that's how you build roster depth Yeah, it doesn't mean Darren Hall needs to start this year or next year or any year But is there solid injury protection? Can you survive those types of things? I think these guys help those types of things Audae Ogendage We finally got to it. I was waiting. Oh my god. I was waiting for Audae. Okay. You talk about Darren Hall looking different Audae Ogendage walked up to me for an interview Friday afternoon Dude has put on some muscle He looks so different than he did a year ago because I remember last year thinking that Audae was like Kind of a little skinny like I talked on Monday He said he lost weight during the season. Yeah, kind of wore on him physically. Yeah And so now he walked up to me and I was like, all right, dude Like get after it like he looks the part more now than he ever has and I think you when we're talking about this I wrote a whole story about it. So Shameless go read my story on Audae and his overall development what they believe him to be but Back in October of last year. I was talking to Ted Mono Kino who is the Outside linebacker coach and he made the comment then he was like we expect Audae at some point to be the bell cow of this position Group because we know this position group is gonna have Significant turnover. We're gonna have a lot of guys coming in and out of this building What have we seen in the last year a lot of guys coming in and out of this building? The only person in this position group who has returned from last year with significant reps under his belt is Audae he's going to be a quote-unquote star I use quote-unquote starter because again rotations are important but he is going to be a very important part of this defense and I Would argue that like we are seeing him be the quote-unquote bell cow of of the room Like what Ted was talking about in October of last year I think everybody's is gonna look at Lorenzo Carter and then look at Arnold advocating because his draft is so high Yeah, as like well, that's that's He almost gets kind of lost in the shuffle. He knows and he's such a quiet dude so humble Yeah, such a like quiet guy and that was something else that I was talking to Ted about he was like You know, we want Audae to be a leader But like that's not his thing like he's very quiet And he just goes out and does what he's supposed to do and he's like all I gotta do is put a green dot on I'm in the meeting room and say all right. He did that go do that when he's talking about like Ak and D'Angelo. Yeah, and he said something interesting over the course of the offseason He did a lot of film study of himself, obviously But other see he talked about watching Max Crosby and Sam Hubbard from the Bengals guys He thinks are kind of long-armed. They're similarly built and similarly They have this like similar skill sets and kind of watching how they went about their business Obviously Max Crosby has become a big-time player right and just kind of how he can use his because he's super long Right and he put on some muscle and how how he can use his skills to improve. So I think that's interesting This another one of those guys that is gonna kind of fit in to this group is gonna high expectations Avery Williams, we all know right he switched from slot corner back and really defensive back over to the offensive side He's played running back in high school. I think it's it's it's an interesting move What whether the exp you wrote about this story? So I won't talk too much about it, but He's he's a return man first. Yes, and anywhere else second Yeah, but they're working to try to see where he can fit in. Yeah, no, you're absolutely right And I think that's something that I tried to get across when I did write about Avery Williams I'm like, yeah, like this is fun and flashy that he's making this transition to running back But do not forget that Avery Williams is at his best when a punt lands in his hands Yeah, and I think that is a little bit like Everybody's talking about his move to running back And I think I'm not putting words in his mouth to say that Avery would be like, yeah The move to running back is just a plus. He knows why he was drafted He knows his role is to be a special teams guy and to perform on special teams He said his goal of 2022 was to be one of the best special teams players in the league like that's his goal He didn't say he wanted to be a Three-down running back. He said he wanted to be a good Nay, great special teams player. So don't forget that while he's doing all this that that is his bread and butter And I I do think that there is value in kind of having him play running back because Something that Dave Ragon has talked about a lot when they were talking about Cordero Patterson and his success in 2021 was about like Making like the running back like making these plays kind of morph into like returns like right it's from a vision standpoint Like and I think that coincides with what we see from Avery Williams and making it to where it's like, okay This is interesting. It looks kind of looks like what it would look like if I'm returning a punt like here's the holes Here's how everything morphs out. So That's my two cents. You can also read that story on Atlanta Falcons calm Shameless plug number two right. Yeah, but I he's you can't read too much into how somebody's being used in camp But I think that we've seen him work in with upper-level units there. Yeah, that this was Arthur Smith's idea It wasn't my petri's idea wasn't every Williams idea was Arthur's and it was an idea that kind of was set from the get-go Right to be honest. Yes, that's something that is oft forgotten Yes, that yes that Arthur Smith after they drafted Avery Williams said, you know, maybe we could see him on offense Yeah, that after he was drafted and he looks comfortable. He's been getting a lot of reps at the running back position He's very shifty can squeeze through holes really easily. He's a relatively smaller guy. So He looks comfortable. I think I've been seeing him a lot at the running back position during training camp Yeah, and it if they can find ways to get him in space and let him Weave through the be his slippery shifty, so right then why not and it and it if it doesn't work out It don't work out. You got a core special teams player in the fifth round again. Not a bad thing So as we're rounding out this discussion Frank Darby was the last pick of this 2021 draft the Arizona State products Didn't play a whole lot last year that was some injuries and things like that and He's kind of on the fringes of being able to make the team again. I think that we need to see a Pretty good preseason from him to really for him to force the issue because this receiver core is so much different than it was last year You think Drake London Brian Edwards a la Made a Absolute mortal locks. Yep. I didn't take on it. I think is probably in there, right? So now you're at four whether you keep five or six Yeah, you know it starts becoming difficult because they have a there's a lot of guys drawn to my Allison Kaderu Hodge Demi air bird. There's a lot of guys for those positions. Can he fit in there? I think that's a big question mark and it's tough because he is his personality plus everybody I mean everybody loves Frank. I feel like every comment I ever see on like Twitter or Instagram or Facebook or whatever about Frank Darby is like gosh We love him as a person like we just want him to like you know in order for him to be a fan favorite He has to see the field. Yeah, you can't be a fan favorite and not make the team. So, um Going off of all of this Talking to Frank Darby today It's funny. I feel like I talked to all of these guys within the last like four days, but talking to Frank today You're talking about this preseason being really important for him. He knows that he does he very much knows and understands like And he even said he was like, you know, I am really excited excited for the preseason to show what I can do at receiver He was like, it's been so long since I've been on the field as a receiver Right, and I think that's something that people like don't cognizantly think about when it's in when you're thinking about Frank Darby Like he did play some special teams reps and you know, but he wants to be he was drafted to be a receiver and he wants to be a receiver and he even said I was asking him about his relationship with Alameda Zaccheus and How he sees maybe his role mimicking that of Alameda's because they from a Size standpoint, they're kind of similar and he said he was like when I first got in here And I really started watching and met oz. He was like I told our receiver coach like I want to be oz I want to be versatile like oz is and so He wants to show in these preseason games that he can be like that That he can be of value in the way that oz kind of is right and I talked that I'm a story an undrafted guy Stanley Berryhill I'm not gonna get too far off the beaten path here But he was he also talked about being inspired by Alameda who was an undrafted guy who made the roster out of an excellent training camp Cut his teeth on special teams and found his way on offense over the course of three years And now he's one of our Smith's favorite players. So those I geek out over stories like that A guy was really good at Virginia and found his way and that's what needs to happen with some of these You know guys on the bottom and if you if you look at it And even if you don't get maximum return the best possible scenario for every one of these guys There's still a great opportunity for this 2021 draft class to not only make an impact and get them through this transition But also remind them. Hey when you look at needs You're good on cornerbacks because I'm Darren Hall and I'm and I'm a top tier number four Right, and I think that those things are important. You're obviously getting to get your star power out of Kyle Pitt So that's our 2021 draft class breakdown Pressure's on boys. It is So yeah, obviously keep a close eye on on them during the course of this preseason We've got the Detroit Lions game coming up on Friday Friday night quick. Yeah, man It's the all the days run together. So there's a plenty to keep an eye on during that preseason game We've got you all set up and we were gonna keep bringing the analysis to you on the Falcons final was a podcast Do your thing, right? Like a five-star review would be super dope. Amazing. Yeah. Yeah, do that and you know Pump up our new guy Ashton, right? Yeah. Yeah Yeah, let's do it. Yeah, let's do it and yeah, man Stay tuned for next week probably next Tuesday. You'll hear our voices again breaking more breaking down more Falcon's talk. Can I just end this podcast? Why am I still talking? I don't know Scott loves to talk that is a scientific fact. All right. I'm gonna shut up right now. Bye everybody. See ya