 What's up everybody and welcome to the latest edition of the Falcons final whistle podcast I'm Scott Bayer and we're doing this in person this time with Tori McElaney and Ashton Edmonds. What's up y'all? Yeah, man, we are coming to you after a 20 to 19 victory over the Falcons 2019 victory over the Arizona Cardinals here at Mercedes Benz Stadium where they have been playing a lot better than they play on the road It took a fourth quarter comeback drive from Desmond Ritter. We're gonna get into that and Youngway coup sealed the deal with the 21 yard field goal or something like that as time expired The Cardinals had no opportunity to go down and do that. It was a good ending to a game that was We don't have to sugarcoat it right that was essentially meaningless between two teams eliminated from playoff contention But there's still plenty to observe and to take note of and to dissect and decipher as we move forward Throughout the rest of the season and obviously into the offseason We I talked so much about this about an offseason priority list that we're gonna compile And every piece of evidence that we get Makes brings that into clearer view. So anyway, we're gonna get into all that fun stuff I'm taking a look at Tori McElaney. She writes the topic lists here And we're gonna get into Desmond Ritter Tyler LG here Cordero Patterson Young Foundation all that fun stuff But the the first topic That I'm just gonna skip the general takeaways because I just think it's so well written here all caps. They won period. Wow period 4-game losing streak snapped and thoughts. So Yeah So I guess I'll just borrow from my good friend Tori here Thoughts. Yeah thoughts question mark. Um, so just for me personally It was interesting because I thought that this game played out exactly how the last few games have played out for the Falcons But instead they won this game like they just found a way to win Which is something that they haven't been able to do in the last probably Month and a half give or take one game. Yeah, and I mean you're still What looking at this team and at this point in the season, you know exactly who this team is even as you're kind of finding more about Finding more out about Desmond Ritter in his progression. You know exactly what this team is You know that this defense is gonna give up some yards, but they're gonna hunker down inside the 20 I use hunker down because the dogs are moving into the national championship Thank you. Thank you. It was wild, but we're not talking about that game. We're talking about this one So for me, it's like, you know what that you know what the defense is They have now not given up more than 20 points in the last four games or 21 points in the last four games Yep, that's that's big for this defense. That's pieced together with a Lot of different guys and duct tape and duct tape. Yeah for sure and then for this offense It's about seeing progress with Desmond Ritter and you still rely on the run game Which was evident with what Tyler Algira was able to do and then you've seen Desmond Ritter's growth And I know we're gonna get into that more but to see his passer rating Increased to see his completion percentage increase to see him be more comfortable in the pocket I felt was very very evident. So this team is exactly what it's been the last few weeks The Cardinals just aren't very good. They're in a very similar situation They're they're playing a quarterback that it's what their fourth quarterback in the season. Yeah, that's crazy And then I mean they just found a way to win. Yeah, that's kind of my general thought Yeah, they found a way to win when they haven't been able to do that recently. I mean, they went play three games in a row Three games in a row. Yeah, they played two games in a row where they lost by three and then we all know what happened in Washington, but nonetheless they snapped this for a game losing streak and I'll ask Ashton thoughts Yeah, I thought it was yeah. Um, I thought it was a great game I thought the defense played really well. I think they had what four or five red zone stops Which was which was big like Tori said and I just thought they all just played They were all consistent and you could tell that, you know, they wanted to win this game They want, you know, when I talked to players after the game They talked about the need to just finish strong finish out these last two games strong And you could tell that they put their their best foot forward against the Cardinals regardless If they're eliminated from playoff consention or not I mean Arthur Smith also talked about, you know, just the need to finish this season. I was strong again We saw the Falcons play fishing on both sides and and that's why they came out with it up Yeah, I mean, it's interesting after the Ravens lost that when combined with other positives for other NFC South teams eliminated the Falcons from the playoffs He was asked what like what are you looking for out of the last two He said victories and progress. I think we saw a little bit of both if we're using his guidelines And why not because he's the one making decisions about he and Terry fawn know about what happens next So let's be honest. This was a game against two teams with Nothing to lose right it had its moments where you're watching it And you're just like gosh the these teams are are a ways away from being what they ultimately want to be So let's go ahead and put that out there, too We're not saying that this was a fantastic win by the Falcons by any means this was a win It was a win period. Yeah, and the thing that I liked most about it is What happened at the end? Arizona's defense right not necessarily top caliber Still got JJ Watt them right, but when it mattered most when they were down with five minutes to go Desmond Ritter led them 67 yards. They got a big run from Cordero Patterson It was nice to see him Doing something doing something. Yeah Desmond Ritter though three for three On a third and seven where you absolutely have to have it. Yeah Otherwise you just kick the field goal and then the Cardinals have a chance to come back have to have it He throws an absolute rocket to Michael Pruitt who led the team in receiving yards. Yeah, that's an inexemplate But nonetheless, um, I think and we're going to talk a lot about In ways that Desmond Ritter is improving, right? I think You can look at all these small things and you can dissect the operation at some point You're just gonna have to go in the game right at some point all those small things That we can talk about and you see signs of progress at some point. I don't care about that. I care about How'd you do when the game was on the line? And we know Desmond is a gamer like that his reputation precedes him You're not 44 and six in college if you haven't done some good things in the fourth quarter The guy's a gamer the guy gets it. Heck he threw up a perfect pass to Drake london in new orleans that could have set them up to at least tie the game He didn't drop the ball. No, yeah, but I think it was encouraging to see Him go out there with the game on the line And find a way to get it done. Yeah. Yeah, and I think too The part of that goes along with this and this is something Scott and I were talking about after the game It's like the more Desmond Ritter gets comfortable in this offense and in the league. Let's just be honest He hasn't played But two games prior to this so there is a There are growing pains that you you go through and there is an adjustment to When catching up to the speed of the game understanding that this is different than college This is his first time playing in the league And because of going through those growing pains and really just taking those reps that he didn't have before this It allows you to kind of get into that gamer mode, you know Like it when you are doing the foundational fundamental things and you can kind of get those going a little bit It allows you to be a gamer like how we saw and to go three for three in a drive that Really really mattered to to this game and and not just that and something else We were talking about too was that those three going three for three in that drive Even though like people be oh, we only threw it three times But when you really break it down, especially in the scope of arthur smith's offense That's really all he's asking his quarterbacks to do right. He's not asking them to go out and throw the ball seven eight times in a drive the the run game has its Strengths and you should be able to lean on that and and I think that that's something that that drive Encompassed I think What one this offense can look like and two How desmond ridder Operates in it and I go back to what I said earlier where it does I think it's very evident that desmond ridder Is comfortable More comfortable almost night and day comfortable than what he was the first time that we saw him in new Orleans and this is only a very small Sample size and we have seen growth growth and we have seen him take steps in the right direction And I do think that that should be something that We're talking about because It's gonna matter In 2023 Right regardless of what the falcons do what they decide to do with desmond ridder is going to matter and it's gonna come It's gonna stem from the foundation that he sets Right now. Yeah, no, I definitely agree with that and I think The poise that we saw from desmond ridder in that late fourth quarter drive Is like you said, it's gonna mean the most in the future and and for this team in the future But he does continue to progress every game Statistically, you know, he went he completed a 73 percent of his passes today and he still didn't throw Any interceptions which is amazing for a rookie quarterback And he just continues to grow You know, he exudes so much confidence On the field and in press conferences and and I and I think that You know, that definitely provides a lot of hope for the falcons offense moving forward in the future Yeah, he didn't single-handedly make this an explosive passing No, no, and he was never supposed to yeah, but I think as you continue to evaluate him I think there's a lot to like and when it comes down to it The thing the poise the the moxie the Confidence that he projects. I asked him about that that that About projecting confidence that understanding He does all these little things to let everyone know that he that that he supports them that he's confident that that they're gonna win I asked Dave vagon this a couple weeks ago and arthur last week as well I hate when people say I asked so I'm sorry. I just broke my own rule Those guys were asked by somebody Maybe names godbear But just about is he self-aware is he critical in meeting rooms? Can he say oh, yep, I made a mistake right there or is he blind to it? And both guys who work with the quarterbacks a lot say he can identify Problems and his ego isn't too big to be like, yeah, I screwed that up. Here's how I can do that better Sometimes you guys have guys with supreme confidence who like can't see their own shadow Right, I don't think that's the case here. And that's another one of those encouraging signs. Look, he's got the arm talent That's on that third and seven completions. Right. I mean, he's not always totally perfectly accurate, but I think that I think he even talked in the I'm getting off on a tangent now He even talked in the press conference about early on He let the pressure affect his footwork Who says that in a press conference and that's why he was inaccurate, which means he understands the process And I think those are the things that I like Yeah, it's funny too because I I talked about this on a couple of different occasions I can't remember if it was podcast or written or tv or what but yeah, you're everywhere I'm doing a lot of things. Um, but I remember saying in that for when we were in new orleans And we were watching desmond ridder operate in the pocket. He had happy feet And I I could feel it was almost you felt that jitter and I think that's normal for a guy in that situation I didn't see happy feet in this game And I think that alone is a sign of progress and he I mean he even started the game Arthur smith talked about like starting the game aggressively and he completed 12 of his first 14 passes Right that I mean that's pretty good for a guy. I think in desmond ridder's position right now Yeah, and And we're we're gonna hop back in and talk about tyler and cp In just a second. I just want to clear something up for falcons final whistle listeners I read the youtube comments not always a great idea, but I did and all three of us were getting killed in the comments because I think maybe it was misconstrued or we didn't I thought we explained it well enough, but nonetheless everybody was saying Because you're considering other quarterbacks of the future drafted or free agent or veteran or otherwise You've already given up on desmond ridder as the starter and that is not that is not correct And that's not what we that's not what we were trying to say. Yeah I want to make it clear that we were talking about I mean you only have desmond ridder Moving forward logan woodside was brought in just to Be out there in case the The only person who you can feel like is gonna be there next year is desmond ridder You can't go into a 2023 season with just desmond ridder in the quarterback room and why not get a talented Right. Yeah, you want desmond ridder to be pushed desmond ridder is the type of guy who wants to be pushed Like I I think that was all we were trying to say is that Regardless of what desmond ridder does or doesn't do you have to go fill the quarterback room. You you absolutely do and you You're very Contemplated the ridder ruckus, right? Yes is going to be frustrated During the spring when arthur and terrier at ohio states pro day And at alabamas pro day and they're and they're checking out young and shrouded and levis and All the peeps and all those guys Because that's what they have to do and I keep going back to say it and then the tangent will be over her But I feel like if you're out on the road And you find a guy who you think is a generational perfect for my offense fall in love with this individual You take them no matter what the situation is You and that's not anything that's not anything negative about ridder That's just a fact of the matter is that if you feel like you have a Somebody might put on a gold jacket one day type of talent in front of you and you're sitting there Whatever draft pick that Like that you have I don't care if matt ryan's still on the roster I'm probably taking a hard look at that until you have that true friend I wouldn't have looked at it matt ryan's third year But I look at it in 12 or 13 and that's all that I think that we were trying to say But yeah, just numbers gotta add a quarterback, right? So might as well make it a good one Right. Might as well have someone to push desmond ridder and desmond ridder to push someone else. I mean I know it's so stupid cliche and I hate that i'm about to say this it hurts me The whole iron sharpening iron thing is true. Yeah, I think arthur smithy even used the example of Drew domin and matt hennessey today. We saw matt hennessey get the start at left guard Matt hennessey and drew domin had the Most significant position battle that I've seen since The sins I started covering this team and I think matt hennessey is going to be better for it I don't know what's going to happen in the off season with that left guard position But I do think that matt hennessey could potentially be a guy who Either one steps into that role or fights for that role. Yeah And I think that's all you're asking these players to do is to compete with one another Because at this point with this team No position is safe Unless you are Maybe chris lunstrom aj trail grady jaret jake matthews Drake london jake london If you're one of those guys, okay, sure whatever you have the money to prove that you're out there for a reason Everybody else How much how much turnover are we gonna see a lot? Exactly exactly my point. So and then after in years after that I think we will see less and less because they can spend on these bigger deals Yeah, we need to move on right one area. How's this for a transition one area where where the The need is very low. Oh, yeah, is that running back? Yep. Because add them to the list too, right because tyler algear That dude the second half of the season. He looks so comfortable. He looks like his byu highlights Against novato rino. You know, I mean, he looks like he's he's he gets it. He's confident. He's patient. He's all these things And then today we have Cordero who maybe hasn't had the best statistical season his receiving yards or way way down I guess rushing yards are way up But we saw him used in a way that I think everybody Expected him to be used because tyler can be that Three down type of running back so you can put cordero in the slot. He had what six catches today He was all over the place and I think that the combination of those two guys is super encouraging I spent I mean tyler's averaging what five yards a carry now That that was really encouraging Ashton and arthur smith and desmond ridder talked about that. Yeah for sure. Yeah I mean algear. He moved into the record books today. He eclipsed over 1000 Yards in scrimmage. So, you know, I think that says a lot about algear. He didn't play the first game Against the same saying he's a healthy scratch. He was yeah, he was a healthy scratch And like he came alive in the second half of the season And he merged as a as a young quality running back But what arthur smith said after the game is that, you know cp is such a versatile player and you can use them together There are a lot of plays where you see cp as a wideout, which you saw against the cardinals today And you saw the one down in the red zone some other plays and it's nice when you can mix and match And you know, I think that's very true And I think that provides a lot of hope for the falcons offense in the future because cp is such an amazing Inversital player like he's great in the backfield. He's great at wide out and inside the algear He's just a force in the backfield like Nobody can really tackle algear And we saw cp. He had 42 yards receiving 42 yards rushing and the touchdown And I think that just you know Again that that provides a lot of hope for the falcons offense moving forward in the future and I just think that's that's going to make this offense Versatile in every way Here's the thing that I think people need to think about when it comes to this idea of What we saw today with tyler algear and cordial patterson was that They didn't I don't think they necessarily even knew what they had in tyler algear until you get to the midpoint of the season When both cp and damien williams are on ir and I think back to Kind of something that arthur smith has talked about recently Where he was talking about how cp was your featured back and so he had because he had to be so you use him As a traditional running back and cp goes out and has a 200 some odd rushing guard game in seattle, but As tyler algear has emerged you see the like mystery of cp and the I hate saying this word because I know cp doesn't like it But the gadgety type of guy of being able to have a versatile like Look about what cp can provide your offense in the different packages Definitely like two back packages like that that is Something that tyler algear's emergence provides this offense and that's something that arthur smith talked a lot about And I think it's because they have started to trust tyler algear And he's really proven himself that he can go out and get those dirty yards that is So I think that that just goes to show kind of what the trajectory of The again the the emergence of tyler algear's role in this offense is and how it can help Corderole Patterson because I know we have talked so many times this year. It's like Why isn't cp getting out wide like he was last year? I think that I mean he this was a guy who had a lot of receiving yards last year And you're kind of wondering why well, that's why he had to be the feature back for a while Now it's kind of morphing into tyler algear because he's been productive and it allows you to move cp out And do different things with him. Yeah, and that was always the plan It was just a matter of it wasn't you couldn't execute it because damy williams got hurt in a flash And it just never and then corderole gets hurt and then tyler emerges, you know, it takes So anyway, this was all the plan and that's why it's like I think it's easy to be like Well, you know arthur smith is an idiot because he's not using cp the way he did last year Well, I'm sure he really wanted to right and that's what we saw here And he he identified some matchups that worked well for patterson on like on the outside Yeah, so it's not just a matter of oh, well, he's not calling this play It's like you have to think about these things football is so interesting to talk about right because there's so many like dimensions You and if you're not seeing the full picture Then you're not doing it. Yeah, you know and nothing that we're talking about here Is not something that arthur smith hasn't already talked about three times over in press conferences He's the one that brought up All that stuff about you know cp goes on ir and then tyler emerges and then you got to and then cp's working back to full health Then he's the one that brought up that up what a month ago, right? He even said that tyler He even he's basically said that tyler, um impressed him like as far as like how fast he adjusted to the nfl like earlier in the season just paraphrasing what he said but I think the biggest thing that i like about tyler is just like his awareness Even arthur smith said after the game like when it was third and two with the minute and three seconds left You know tyler needed three or two he really needed two yards to get the first down But he got three and he went down and that's what ran basically ran the clock out and and helped seal the falcons victory And i just think he's playing very maturely and i think he's he's definitely adjusting to the game very quickly It's it's weird. I think at times Arthur smith can be he's really good in press conferences in that if he doesn't want to answer your question Like he's he's not going to answer it and I think sometimes he may have a reputation of coming off as kind of like Flippant sometimes which I don't think he is right, but if you listen close enough, he's going to tell you the truth Right, you just have to be like aware of it And you have to really understand kind of what Exactly what he's saying and how he's saying it. I think over a couple years I feel like i'm fluent in arthur smith At least i'm getting better at it nonetheless, but nonetheless he I think he's he's a very smart engaging individual And I do think that to your point torii that there are some nuggets in there Um, you just got to pay attention to it. Um, and as we kind of move forward we've been talking about desmond ritter tyler algear Right and you look at how many members of this draft class and this rookie class are seeing significant time Troy anderson and arnold ebacadie and so on and so forth And it's not because they're in evaluation mode. It's because those rookies have earned the roles that they've gotten They're not just taking a look at troi anderson troi anderson is playing Better than michael walker right now So when you have these young guys and at the end of the year they've earned it merit-based promotions and you see them produce If you're trying to look at this thing Beyond you know the last two games where they're not going to make the playoffs is that this young foundation is expanding Yeah, don't you think I know i was like Yes No, something I wrote about post game was just this idea that I do think What we're seeing from this young foundation Is that there is a foundation to build upon The falcons are going to have Significant money this off season They're going to be able to make moves that we haven't seen them be able to make in a couple years if not longer than that so Even in that I feel like there are pieces in place that you can build around and and I say that kind of just really looking at this 2022 draft class and The way that I think that they have emerged in their own Individual roles is something that Yes, gives me hope for what the falcons can do in 2023 and 2024 and beyond I don't think that just because they are out of playoff contention that we can sit here and be like Oh, this is it like fire everyone like this is just the beginning Of my evaluation of this front office and of this coaching staff because for the last two years that they've been here The salary cap has kept them in jail They have been unable to really create the team in my opinion that they want to here And that's nothing against the guys on this current team But we know this is a team that's pieced together with a ton of guys on their rook on the early days Of their rookie contracts and then a lot of free agents that are signing one-year deals and so To be able to say that even in all of that and even in the growing pains and even in the losses and In everything that we've seen that there is a foundation there that is reliant on Tyler Algier and Drake London and Troy Anderson and ak and de angelo de angelo and kyle pits and I mean AJ to rail chris lynch from all of those guys. I just named all in their rookie deals Right all of them So These are pieces that you're gonna have for a while and you're gonna be able to build Around them and here's I mean so I have to give a shout out to Matt Haley and John Dayton who they write our nerdy birds report, which runs on Friday morning since it's fun Yeah, I I learned something new every every day because I sometimes don't get like too stat heavy I try not to because sometimes I do think stats can be misleading. I feel like dean peas just like Spoke through me at that point. Oh 100 but they really did break this down that Only 11 players on this active 53 man roster were on the team prior to last year 11 On the 53 man active roster 90 percent of the players are under 30 and 50 percent are under the age of 27 that's the fifth highest mark in the NFL in terms of young players and Atlanta leads the NFL and rostered players Under the age of 26 at 13 That is and then the Falcons also have the fifth highest percentage of players on rookie contracts with three or fewer years of experience That's 85 percent of this 53 man roster I I know I just threw out a ton of numbers and stats and everything But that's important when you're looking at this team and where it wants to go and I do think that there is something That with this foundation that they've laid that there is something for the future to be built upon This team has had its issues. This team has had its problems. This rookie class has had their growing pains but even in saying all of that They're still showing that they have a foundation worth building upon. Yeah Every off season or at least the off season that we've been here of which there aren't too many But I've been here for three three But during the off season we do this series called building blocks, right and and it's and you have to Select guys who are on their rookie deal who you would consider part of the Falcons young foundation Tori and I did this last year this was before ashen came on and we had to come up with five or six and five and five and by the time we got to the fourth one we're like Who are we going to pick? Right and now this off season it it's almost going to be the opposite. Yeah, there's there's going to be too many We're going to have to expand the series, which I think is a sign It's a way of saying that I do think the young foundation is expanding And we all talk about the growth that you see between years one and two and the guy has an off season Arthur Smith has brought this up a couple times where he says The growth between years three and four Like what we're seeing with chris lindstrom who was already pretty good and now elite that there's an opportunity there. So when Throw kala magari in there too. Yes 100 the the kala magari that we are watching play this year is Head and shoulders above what he's been since he's gotten to alana. Yeah, and those types of things are encouraging because He's he's not all that old anyway, right? So but so you you're looking across this roster and it look there's a lot of work to do Yeah, and it's gonna this is not an excuse I want to say that too just because i'm sitting here being like the there is Potential and hope for the future that doesn't excuse the fact that the falcons are out of playoff contention And they've lost as many games as they have this year. This is not an excuse No, but if we are in evaluation mode now because there's nothing because we know when the season's gonna end Yeah, and I think that Those are some encouraging signs as you can as all of a sudden you get the money and then you have Some more draft capital and you look at what you have And maybe your needs are lesser or you're you can draft for depth. You know all all those types of things I think are encouraging We just hit the 30 minute mark. We generally have a heart out at 30. We tried to anyway So thank you So much for joining us on this episode of falcons final whistle Please do us a solid rate review subscribe to the falcons podcast network Hopefully if you're listening to this on your commute or your run, you've reached your final destination and Have a pleasant day What a way to what a way to go. That's so nice. Isn't it though? But you know i'm scott frittoria and ashton Thank you so much the season finale Falcons final whistle is next week Next week after the falcons play the bucks here at mercedes-benz stadium. We will talk to you then Thanks. See you