April 30, 2025 • 43 mins
Derek, Dave & D.J. react to the Atlanta Falcons 2025 NFL draft class, giving their immediate reactions to each move the team made and each player joining the Falcons roster. They break down each pick and look ahead to what it might mean for the Falcons in the 2025 season.
0:31 - Intro
1:15 - Atlanta's draft in 3 words
3:35 - Happiness level with draft class
6:00 - Reaction to first round moves
12:53 - Breaking down Jalon Walker
19:39 - Trading up for James Pearce Jr.
27:30 - Shoring up the secondary
35:00 - OT Jack Nelson
38:44 - Undrafted Free Agents
41:00 - Falcons draft grade
43:11 - Outro
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
At the Home Depot. We make it easy to turn
your to do list into a done list with our
speedy delivery options. Need something in a hurry, We offer
next day and even same day delivery on a wide
variety of products. The best part is you can order
straight from your couch. Our team is ready to help
and get your order to use same day if it's
placed by four pm. On select products. When shopping online,
(00:23):
filter by delivery to see availability options, delivery at the
speed you need only at the Home Depot. Welcome back everyone.
Derek Rakbly here along with my guys, DJ Shockley and
Dave Archer. This is the Falcons Audible presented by AT
and t Anda special Draft recap show. Okay, twenty twenty
five NFL Draft is now in the books, and fellas,
(00:46):
now it is time to talk about discuss break down.
Welcome all the different words I can throw out. Welcome
the newest members of your twenty twenty five Atlanta Falcons
and the draft class. So before we get into these players,
I got a quick question for you, and this is
I know these destructions are hard, DJ for you. Sometimes
these are really hard. Okay, fellas, here we go all
(01:09):
right right here let me never had an issue with
had an issue to Yes, but I just like to
pick on you a little bit more. Okay, this is
the number three. Describe the Falcons draft. You did wear
number three, so this should be good for you. Describe
the Falcons draft in three words. Three he's from Georgia.
Speaker 2 (01:34):
He can't all here we go number one?
Speaker 1 (01:39):
Unforgettable Okay, unforgettable?
Speaker 2 (01:42):
Wow, significant last word I got dudes.
Speaker 1 (01:49):
Okay, and you're with two big ones?
Speaker 2 (01:54):
Can you pick it up?
Speaker 1 (01:55):
And he went with two big words, starting with a phrase.
Speaker 3 (02:02):
He picked words out of the dictionary and came out direction.
Speaker 2 (02:06):
He said three words.
Speaker 1 (02:07):
Let's ask you a question. Did you go into like
a thesaurus or chat G B T or anything like that?
Straight off off.
Speaker 4 (02:15):
The do just the TV guy, the TV guys in Georgia,
don't all right?
Speaker 1 (02:19):
I wrote you down shock, unforgettable significant dudes, alright, arch
you're up. Okay, I can't.
Speaker 3 (02:27):
I don't know if I can top that, but I'm gonna.
Speaker 2 (02:28):
I'm gonna.
Speaker 3 (02:29):
I'm gonna twist a little bit because I got a
little conjunction.
Speaker 2 (02:31):
He already he's already passed.
Speaker 3 (02:33):
Well, no, no, no, I've got a word combined with
a little hyphen it. I'm gonna go I'm gonna, I'm gonna.
Speaker 1 (02:39):
I got a phrase for you. I'm not gonna go
to the dictionary.
Speaker 3 (02:43):
Let's go hunt.
Speaker 1 (02:45):
Let Okay, I'm good with that.
Speaker 2 (02:48):
That's three.
Speaker 1 (02:49):
I mean he's just saying the let's right, yeah, a couples,
It's fine, let's go hunt.
Speaker 2 (02:55):
I like it. I like him.
Speaker 1 (02:58):
All Right, you all ready for min let's go right
with I got three. Okay, mind's a little bit of
a sentence, all right, Defensive issues addressed? Okay, mind's a
little bit more simple. Okay. But to me, this was
a draft where the Falcons came in and said, we've
got some things we got to get taken care of
on that side of the ball. And I thought they
took care of them as we stand here right now,
(03:20):
right Obviously this stuff has to play out on the field.
But I feel like defensive issues addressed in the draft. Okay,
I think I know you said unforgettable significant? What is
your happiness your content level of this Falcons draft?
Speaker 2 (03:38):
It under fifteen?
Speaker 5 (03:39):
I mean we all sat here and if my memory
serves me correct, when we talked about who was gonna
take I said Jaylen Woker.
Speaker 2 (03:47):
Then I changed my.
Speaker 1 (03:48):
Mind because it sounded like Bernie from The King's Counting
the Start preach, Yeah.
Speaker 2 (04:01):
That's what happened. When we got Jimmy Walker in the crowd,
the fan said, hey, man, so yeah nah.
Speaker 5 (04:06):
But seriously, though, going at fifteen, I don't think anybody
probably in this building thought Jalen Walker would be there.
Speaker 2 (04:15):
And you couple that with him being a guy that
played at University of Georgia.
Speaker 5 (04:19):
We've everybody talked about that for years and you finally
get that guy and he started to fall to you
there and you saw Mike cal Williams, another guy everybody
was looking at fall at eleven to the forty nine,
and you're like, oh man, there's a chance, there's a possibility.
And then when it happened, I thought that was kind
of significant that, for one, you get a guy of
(04:39):
his caliber at that point, You get a guy who
you know has that pedigree and has played a bunch
of good football over his career.
Speaker 2 (04:50):
And obviously, if you.
Speaker 5 (04:52):
Guys get a chance to talk to him, I know
you probably talked to him already, but he is one
of the best individuals you will meet, let alone one
of the top football players coming out in this draft.
So it was significant in the point that you were
able to get him, and then you turn around and
get another guy, dude that I felt the Falcons really
wanted as well, because obviously if you go back into
(05:12):
the first round.
Speaker 2 (05:13):
To get it, baby, he got a one team.
Speaker 5 (05:15):
Right, And I know that's a lot of the conversations.
He was the guy and if you you know, watching
the Falcons doing the draft, you see him whole together
talking right there at fifteen.
Speaker 2 (05:22):
That takes them probably.
Speaker 5 (05:23):
I talked to Jaling about it and he was like, man,
I was sitting there and it looked up and said
five minutes and nothing happened, And he was like, it
was three minutes, and it was two minutes. Then he
finally got the call. So that tells you they were
going back and forth because they really were strong on
our man, James Spears Junior. So it's it's significant in
the point that you got two dudes in this draft
who people were really highly on when it comes to
(05:46):
Edge Rusher's and you were able to get both of
those guys in the first round. Uh, it's pretty cool.
Speaker 1 (05:52):
Yeah, Arch you were down at the Benz right, and
so you're both of us. You guys are both down there.
You as you and I were talking before the show
as these picks started to unfold, kind of talk to
us about what your thoughts were when you were getting
to ten, twelve, fourteen, What was going through your mind?
Speaker 3 (06:10):
Yeah, I mean, well, in shock was right across the
field for me doing TV, so I'm sure you were
living this too. But I'm looking at I'm looking. Okay,
Jacksonville goes receiver or Cleveland or you know, they made
the trade, so Cleveland is going what defensive line or
whatever it was, receiver? I guess, Vegas goes running back,
(06:32):
Jet's gone offensive line, Carolina goes receiver. I'm going what
you know, because that's where he was. Kind of all
of a sudden, New Orleans goes offensive line. I said, man,
they're shoving both Georgia guys back towards Atlanta. I'm talking
about mikeel Williams and Jalen Walker. So yeah, the excitement
level began to rise for me as a fan. So
you knew Niners were going defense. It just was a
(06:54):
matter Okay, they lost green Law the linebacker.
Speaker 1 (06:56):
Are you thinking, oh, are.
Speaker 3 (06:57):
They going second level? Are they going to go edge
go Michael Williams, Well, you knew Dallas wasn't going there,
and Miami they took a d Lineman. I like that
was a good pick for them. You knew Indianapolis was
going tight end that way. That had been talked about for.
Speaker 1 (07:10):
Like a month.
Speaker 3 (07:12):
You're thinking, Oh, he's gonna fall right in your lap.
And then I got nervous, like shock did I'm looking
at the clock and I'm going.
Speaker 2 (07:20):
What do we wait?
Speaker 3 (07:23):
As soon as it clicked to throwing the clock, pick
is in. But obviously there was some jockey and going on.
There was you know, Atlanta maybe talking to people around them,
could they slide back, maybe get a pick. There was
a conversation about, you know, was because they had had
conversations with James Pearce, James Pearce Junior and his mom
(07:44):
the day before and they talked about how he was
their guy, you know, and was was fifteen too rich
for that pick and they didn't feel that way. Were
they're going to still be able to get him a
lot of conversation there, But the adrenaline started following to me,
hair stood up on the back of my neck. But
there were people standing around our broadcast area much like yours.
(08:05):
And you and I have been down there a number
of years now. This is probably we've been doing the
draft show for the radio and shot down there for TV.
We've been doing it for eight or ten years now
from the building, and I mean there's been mixed reactions
to different people we've taken over the years. I have
never heard a reaction like there was about eight thousand
(08:26):
people in the building probably somewhere in everyone when you
say shock locked in for sure. When we when they
said Jalen Walker, the place exploded, it was like a halt,
like the team taking the field is what it sounded like.
Guys are running and high fiving, People were falling down
on the field.
Speaker 1 (08:44):
Tackling each other and stuff like that.
Speaker 3 (08:46):
It was there was a joy that overcame the bulk
of the fan base there like I've never seen before.
Speaker 1 (08:53):
It was really cool to be there for that.
Speaker 5 (08:54):
Right before you go into yours, I want to ask
urs to kind of explain to people, because you went
to something really interesting.
Speaker 2 (09:00):
I don't think people realize is.
Speaker 5 (09:01):
Yeah, the Falcons are sitting there talking about who should
they take, you know, how they should go about it,
and it's not all just Okay, do you want this guy?
Speaker 2 (09:10):
This guy?
Speaker 5 (09:10):
You have to talk to other teams to make sure
that Okay, yeah, we want this guy, but also how
do we get back in to get this guy? So
you've got to have that trade partner as well. That
was part of the conversation too, right, if that team
was going to do the right thing and mayby come
back and help them get back in.
Speaker 2 (09:24):
The first round.
Speaker 3 (09:24):
I think certainly Shack and Rack they were discussing, Okay,
James Pierce was the guy they had Junior had had
kind of targeted, and whether that was going to be
able to move back or what you know, And they
were probably had conversations already in place that Atlanta might
not have was gonna stay at fifteen. Maybe they already
had a trade partner set up to where they were
(09:45):
going to move back to take James Pierce Junior, and
all of a sudden you look up and say, wait
a minute, we got to pump our brakes on the
trade because Jalen Walkers sitting here. So now how do
we still you know, potentially negotiate that. Now, maybe those
discussions happen after they took Walker, but it probably took
them a long time to talk to these other teams
and they potentially maybe had trades already in place to
(10:08):
move back, and all of a sudden, well, wait a minute, Gus,
we're gonna have to call We're gonna have to call
off the trade because we've got a guy we really
like right here at Jalen Walker. So yeah, a lot
of negotiation, a lot of lot going on there, but
really cool that they were ended up with those two
guys in the first round.
Speaker 1 (10:23):
Think it's why they say, guys that you always have
you have to just take the draft on how it
comes to you. Because as you mentioned, like we're not
going to get into the details of this, but the
sdor Sanders situation that ended up taking a player out
of what most people thought was going to be a
selection before Atlanta, okay. And then you mentioned the receiver
tedor Rod McMillan. I think everybody thought he was going
(10:44):
to be a first round I didn't think they were.
I don't think people thought he was going to be eight. Okay.
And so that's potentially another player that came off the
board earlier than maybe the Falcons, different draft experts, whoever
you want to call it. Anticipated now, I had called
for a trade back to try to get Michael Williams,
but I said, the chances of it happening are slim,
just because I've seen him walk anywhere from eight to
(11:05):
twenty eight, and of course he ends up going what
eleven to San Francisco. However, I did say on the
pregame show, I said, if Jalen Walker is sitting there
at fifteen, you run not walt the body to put
that to that card in. And to your point, there
was some discussion. So obviously they were potentially fielding different
trade offers, because I think on the television copy it
(11:27):
came pick as in at one minute left or somewhere
around there, right.
Speaker 3 (11:30):
I think it was less than that. I think it
was inside thirty seconds.
Speaker 1 (11:33):
Right, And so you're kind of sitting there thinking like
what's going on here? Like, what's taken so long? Jalen
Walker's available? But to me, there had to have been
multiple conversations going on on whether or not there was
a trade suitor for them to move back or move
up whatever it ends up being. There was there was
some stuff going on there.
Speaker 3 (11:51):
Yeah, I certainly think that the conversation wasn't necessary in
my opinion. I don't know, did not talk to anybody
with the falcon brass here, but my opinion, the conversation
was ongoing as you were closing in on fifteen, and
he began obviously started looking out of the corner your eye. Wait,
Jaalen Walker still.
Speaker 1 (12:10):
On the board.
Speaker 3 (12:12):
But Terry and everybody in the draft room are setting
the table for them to move back potentially to take
James Pierce Junior, if that's who they wanted. And then
all of a sudden they look up and they say,
wait a minute, this guy's still in the room. This
guy's still standing there. And so they had to make
it to me. They had to make some phone calls
and pump the brakes on. Maybe a couple of teams
that were looking to trade to fifteen said wait a minute,
(12:34):
our guy is still sitting there, you know, and so
we're going to have to maybe hold off on whatever
we put together, you know, for the last fifteen to
twenty minutes thirty minutes of the draft leading up to
our fifteenth pick.
Speaker 1 (12:45):
So we've kind of talked a little bit more like
thirty thousand foot level about both these guys. I want
to dive into them a little bit more individually, because Shak,
you're very close to the program. You're there each and
every game. You get a chance to not only see
Jalen Walker play on the field, you get a chance
to talk to the head coach, the position coaches about him.
Arguably got a chance to talk to him on some
(13:05):
or multiple occasions. So why don't you give us your
breakdown of what Atlanta gets in Jalen Walker and what
you know about the young man that maybe the average
fan doesn't know about him.
Speaker 5 (13:16):
I think you get one of the most complete players
and individuals probably that you'll ever meet. I remember talking
to a bunch of different scouts here and with other
teams at the pro day, and a couple of them mentioned,
this is the kind of guy that you want to
bring home to your daughter, and that speaks volumes for
(13:36):
the type of person and player he is. That that's
the kind of individual that you want in your building.
And another thing is the guy was such a leader
at the University of Georgia, and usually when you think
about leaders, you think about the guys who will maybe
little skilled position guys or guys who maybe a quarterback
or something like that. When he spoke, everybody listen including
(13:57):
the quarterback. There were times where talked to coach Smart
and he would say, I can't get to the guys
right now, Jalen, I need you to go get the
guys in order. Those were kind of things that you
saw with him, particularly when you talk about stuff in
the locker room, stuff you talk about outside the field
and getting his guys together, but you talk about the
(14:18):
things that they asked him to do. First off, when
you think about a guy who's versatile, a guy who's versatile.
Speaker 2 (14:24):
Means he has to be intelligence.
Speaker 5 (14:25):
The guy has to be smart because in this Curby
Smart defense with Glenn Schuman, the defense coordinator, I've sat
there and listened to the multitude of things that they
go through in a game plan, what they talk about
with an opposing offense, and there's so much going on,
and this guy is asked to play three, four or
five positions within that defense, with the calls, with the checks,
(14:48):
with everything that happens, and then it happens within two
or three seconds of a snap. And this guy, Jaylen Walker,
was asked to do that all year long, and this
guy brought it every single week.
Speaker 2 (14:58):
I remember.
Speaker 5 (14:58):
Obviously, Georgia has some games season where they were down,
they were not playing their best football. And this was
one guy who I saw on the sideline was continuously
walking up and down on the offense and the defensive side,
trying to get guys going. And this is a guy
who hardly ever came out to played special teams and everything.
He's one of those guys that you see come off
and they put the big old three ex jersey on
(15:19):
him when he got there run on special team and
you got to take it off and run right back
on the field. This guy was willing to give anything
for his team, and I think it's a reason why
he was one of the proven leaders of that team
and why he's been on that for the last couple
of years, and why a lot of people felt the
way they did about him coming out. And I think
I talked to one of the higher brass here who said,
(15:39):
you know, we talked to him at the combine, and
they were blown away by just the conversation, by the
way he held himself, by the way he walked into
the room and shook every single person's had in the room,
and then the way he eloqually talked about things that
were going on in their defense.
Speaker 2 (15:55):
And then just talked about life. So that tells you this.
Speaker 5 (15:58):
Is a guy that you got to worry about things
going on off the field. This is a guy that
absolutely is going to be one of those star wars
of your defense for a long time.
Speaker 2 (16:08):
And when you get a.
Speaker 5 (16:08):
Chance to meet him out in public in the community,
you understand exactly what I'm saying of who the guy is.
Speaker 3 (16:14):
Yeah, it's incredible to.
Speaker 1 (16:17):
Shock.
Speaker 3 (16:17):
Made a ton of great points about the kid. I
think first of all, how he fits in your locker
room and immediately becomes one of those guys that everybody
wants to be around. He's got one of that. He
feels like he's got that magnetism that pulls you want
to be next to Jalen Walker. You want to hear
what he has to say. So leadership and aid ability
for a young man to come in with. But we
(16:39):
talked about there were thirteen players Georgia players drafted in
this draft right, and another four or five guys went
in free agents were free agents. They're schooled so well
at george especially on the defensive side of the football
to play.
Speaker 1 (16:56):
We talked about.
Speaker 3 (16:56):
Before we came on about hard Georgia practices are. It's
harder than the games. They're excited to get in the
games because it's easier than what Kirby's putting them through
in practice. So they're so well schooled. He had three
Georgia players come off the board in the first round, Okay,
in three different levels. That tells you they're not good
at just the defensive line. They're good at linebacker, they're
good in the back end. But when you talk about
(17:19):
Jayalen Walker, I thought the point you made right there
at the end. He played all the special teams last year.
Speaker 1 (17:25):
Yeah, he didn't.
Speaker 3 (17:26):
Just play on defense and making plays off the edge
and the linebacker and walking out in the slot and
playing slot corner or whatever. He played all the special
teams on all the coverage units. I mean, that tells
you all you want to know about the guy. The
dude is off the charts. It was a great, great
coup for us to end up with him at fifteen.
Speaker 1 (17:45):
I wrote down three things, partly from what you said
and others some observations that I had. Number one, I
feel like he's kind of one of those alpha dogs,
right what you guys were talking about, like people magnetism,
People want to be next to him, People are interested
in what they have to do, what he has to say,
and they respond to what he has to say. That's
a huge thing, not only playing in the NFL, playing
(18:05):
defense and playing the linebacker position, because most people are
turning around looking at the linebackers, saying, get us set
up in the right spot? What are we doing? How
do we need to make a play right somebody to
get everybody else going. I made this comment on the
We did a post draft podcast late after the draft
off the first round, and I said, obviously, Travis Hunter
is probably the most versatile player in the draft right
(18:27):
He's going to play offense and defense. But Atlanta might
have got the second most versatile player because of what
he can do for them, because of his ability to
rush off the edge, because of his ability to cover
people out in space, because of his ability to get
back behind the defensive line to fill an A gap,
to fill a B gap, to blitz through. There's not
too many guys that you feel comfortable can do all
(18:48):
that and then shoulder the load mentally of all that
stuff that goes along with playing like that. The last
thing that you said. I picked this up DJ the
most from his press conference after he was flown in
and you mentioned the word eloquent. I was surprised at
how well spoken the young man was. He sits down
in a press conference. It's just him up there. You
never know how this is going to go. No offense.
(19:10):
But some NFL players are not great interviews, if you
guys know.
Speaker 2 (19:13):
What I mean.
Speaker 1 (19:14):
But this guy got up there and he just owned
the situation right, super comfortable, could hear everything he had
to say, excited, looking forward to the opportunity. So these are.
Speaker 2 (19:24):
Many people in that room, right.
Speaker 1 (19:25):
I don't know because I didn't see that, but I
think we would all agree that as it stands right now,
you call it on paper, call it what you've seen
on film. And Georgia Atlanta got themselves a star in
Jalen Walker. Let's pivan talk a little bit about James
Pierce Junior, because this is the one that kind of
maybe threw everybody for a little bit of a curve ball,
not not only maybe us, but also in the NFL.
(19:48):
Is Atlanta ends up trading back into the first round,
ends up trading away their first round pick last year.
They do get a third round pick in exchange for
this move, but they go back in and they continue
to address pass rush and Arch I'm going to start
with you this time by trading back to get James
Pierce Junior in the first round, who many believed was
maybe one of the most athletically gifted pass rushers in
(20:11):
this class. Once again, you're Donn a Merceites been stadium
and you hear trade Atlanta is on the clock. Your
knee jerk reaction was what you got to be kidnming.
Speaker 3 (20:20):
We froze and started looking at the camera, you know, looking,
what do we because we knew we didn't amy draft capital,
and so you think, okay, it's got to be something
from next year. Now, Yeah, steep price to pay that
number one pick. But if Atlanta is going the direction
they feel like they're going and this, that pick is
going to be at the back end of the first round.
(20:42):
Not to dispel, yeah, not to dispel what a first
round draft pick means, because look here we're getting James
Pearce at twenty six, so you can obviously get really
good players at the back end. But I thought that
it just showed the aggressiveness. That's who Terry is, That's
who this Falcon organization is. They see a guy they
spend a time a time. In fact, they spent more
time with James Pearce Junior than they did with Jalen Walker. Now,
(21:05):
they went over and saw Georgia and talked to Jalen
and you guys, all the things you said about Jalen Walker,
obviously he just he bleeds them out, you know, the
leadership and all the things. But they wanted to spend
time with James Peers because there was some questions. Okay,
does he go hard all the time? Does he do
this that or the other? There was some questions, and
so they went and sat down with him and his mom,
(21:26):
and they visited with him up until right the day
before the draft, right shock. And they spent a lot
of time feeling comfortable about the fact that this was
probably going to be their first round pick. And it
might have been like you suggested, wasn't Mikel Williams. They
traded back for They traded back to get him. I
think that was what was in the play here. But
then they said, wait a minute, we got to go
get that was our guy to begin with. We got
(21:47):
to go get him. They so, yeah, again, I thought
you got to be kidding. You doubled down you just
went and, like you said, addressed defensive issues. That's exactly
what they did. And think about Jeff Olbrick. Will McDonald
was drafted at Iowa State two years ago, almost the
exact same size, six', four about two Forty Actually pierce
(22:12):
is a little bit. Bigger think About Leonard, floyd almost
the same, guy his slim come off the, edge and
All floyd's done is have forty eight and a half
sacks in his last five, seasons include eight and a
half last. Year they thought that this guy's built very
similar to, that a very similar type. Player so you're
talking about two body, types one That raheem had worked
(22:33):
with IN la one That olbrick had worked with In New,
york and both were. EXPLOSIVE i think will McDonald what
ten sacks this year for The. Jets this is this
is a dude very Similar and so they get a
guy that now is going to be able to watch
one of the one of the really good pass rushers
in the league over the last five seasons In Leonard,
floyd and kind of tutor under. Him and also maybe
(22:56):
all of a sudden you look up and one's on
one side and one's on the other. Side and, oh
by the, Way Jalen walker And Kaden ellis are stacked
in behind block. SOMEBODY i mean they're, coming you. Know so,
YEAH i think the EXCITEMENT i can get chills a
little bit thinking about what these two guys could. Be
But James Pierce junior in, particular we need to give
him his. Kudos this guy was a really good player
(23:18):
seventeen and a half sacks after over his last two
seasons seven and a half a year ago ran four four.
Seven you talk about a guy that can get around
the edge shock you saw it in. Person you talk
about being able to close and all this conversation about
him being too thin in the hips and all that
kind of. STUFF i thrown tape on where he can
defend the edge as. Well he's got long, arms can
(23:39):
keep himself leveraged to the outside and defend the edge.
Too so, yeah excitement about this, GUY.
Speaker 1 (23:46):
Dj what type of player do you feel Like James
pierce is and is coming to The falcons to?
Speaker 5 (23:51):
BE i, Mean arts was spiraling about everything that he
brings to the, table and it's interesting to. Watch Like
arch just mentioned some of the body type and things
that come along with the guys that they want in this.
Speaker 2 (24:02):
Defense and you think.
Speaker 5 (24:04):
About you already have a you're gonna have A Bringland
trice coming, back a bigger sized guy, body and Then
Jalen walker is kind of a kind of an in
between her guy as. Well but you're talking about having
multiple guys who if you put on the edge With
James prince as. Well all these guys have been taught
if you give me one on, one there's no way
you're gonna block. Me and you're talking about putting all
(24:25):
these guys on the field at the same. Time it
makes it very tough to kind of. Defend but when
you think About, PIERCE i GOTTA i got a chance
to see hi last couple of years actually when he
came up here and when he talked to actually he
was talking to him about, it and you, just you,
know just talking about how how he enjoys the fact
that he gets the chance to just go rush the,
(24:45):
quarterback and he, said the only thing THAT i want
to do is put the quarterback on the. Ground LIKE
i wake up and, say you know, what how CAN
i beat this? Guy he and he individually talked to
me about you, know there's things THAT i watched with.
Tackles there's THINGS i watch with, Guards there's things that
that they give me little small clues that helped. Me
and you talk about having a guy Like, floyd he's been.
Around he's gonna be able to absolutely kind of just you,
(25:08):
know be a sponge to those guys and pick up
some of the things that they are. Doing but he
is one of those players that once you get him out,
there you're gonna See and one thing that surprised me
WAS i didn't know was as big as he. WAS i,
mean he's like six' five two fifty and he is all.
Of it AND when i seen Him When Georgia, BLAKE tennessee,
i mean he was a good sized dudecause obviously everybody's out.
(25:29):
There huge but THEN when i saw him when he
walked in, THE building i, was like this dude has.
The size this guy has the demeanor as well that
goes along. WITH it i Think the vialgon is gonna be.
Really excited fans should be really excited about what this
guy is. Capable of and he's gonna get in the
room with all these other alpha dogs and He's an.
Alpha two he's gonna want to go get.
Speaker 3 (25:47):
It too think about what hurt has hearded land over
the last couple. Of, seasons guys we talked about being
able to get to the passer and we're at the
bottom of the rail when it went to, last year
the last, five years last. Ten years with all that,
being said think about what's going on at the quarterback
position and some of the guys You're gonna Jayden and
daniels is going to be here. Next year you got
the big kid From from buffalo gonna come down here AND,
(26:10):
defending mvp and those guys creating outside of the realm
of what you're. Doing offensively sure they can operate within,
the confines but think about the drive at the end
in overtime against and even in the second Half against
washington a year Ago Where jade daniels kind of took
over and started. Running, around now all of, a sudden
(26:32):
You've Got kaden ellis on. The field You've Got jalen
walker on. The field You Got James pearce junior on,
the field maybe Even A leonard floyd that's kind of
rejuvenated because he's not having to play so. Many snaps
you've got guys that can run everywhere on. The field
talk about tracking guys down and getting them on, the
ground get you off, the field don't let quarterbacks. Extend
plays you got a bunch of guys, that CAN like,
(26:54):
i said let's.
Speaker 2 (26:55):
Go hunt and it's a good point because you think
about two guys that's in your.
Speaker 5 (26:59):
Own division you go To Seeing bryce Young And, baker
mayfield and you're talking about two of the craftiest guys
within the pocket outside of the pocket that wants to.
Make plays it's a direct result of what those guys.
Speaker 1 (27:10):
Can do look to win IN. The Nfl and i'm
gonna make. This analogy you gotta have tools in, the.
Toolbox okay and some could say, that scheme some could
say that's, you, know plays, trick play whatever you want to.
Call it, to me tools in the toolbox meets players
that can go out and make plays.
Speaker 2 (27:26):
For.
Speaker 1 (27:26):
You right so we talked about the. Pass Rushers atlanta
falcon's got two really. Good tools in Addition To morgan
Fox And leonard Floyd And caden ellis and all those
other guys that are gonna be on that defensive side of,
The ball you've now got some tools to do some
things with on. The field. Next year speaking, of tools
let's go back into the, back end as you. Call
it arch two other picks that were, brought In and
(27:47):
i'm gonna kind of throw this out to you guys
to talk freely about whoever ends up coming to, you
first first Third Round xavier watts Out Of notre. Dame
trade there a safety INTERESTING stat i saw, about him
Along With, travis hunter the only two unanimous First Team
all americans each of the last. Two, years yep that's crazy.
Speaker 3 (28:08):
To think that's crazy to think that those.
Speaker 2 (28:11):
Two, guys okay.
Speaker 1 (28:12):
That's crazy so he is now going to Be Wearing
atlanta falcons jersey and then, to me one of THE
and I wouldn't i'm not going to call him wild
card because this is a really. GOOD player i actually
wrote him down in our pre draft STUFF when i
was talking about. DEFENSIVE backs i have. Cornerbacks here but
you see that NAME that i have written this is
Pre Draft Billy. Bowman Junior because i've seen him a
(28:32):
few times and this kid is impressive. To me he's,
got instincts he. Is physical now he will come up
and hit you like it IS your i Had The
missouri oklahoma game last Year in missouri and he. HAD
a i think he picked up a ball a fumble
and ran it back for touchdown in. That game and
he's always around, the football and he's one of. Those
(28:53):
guys he's gonna talk a, little trash he's gonna get in,
your face and he. Don't care and so When the falcons,
GOT him, I said, i complay let understand that pick
because that's the PLAYER that i saw in. The field
just a guy that's always around. The football so with
those two players in the, back end which one sticks out?
To you and what does he bring to?
Speaker 5 (29:10):
THIS organ, I mean i think you did a great
job Talking about bowlman Because obviously bobman is one of
those guys you look at it and we always talk
about versatility and the things that he can do and
where he, can play and you watch. The tape this
guy has all. Those instincts he has everything you. Talk
About but i'm gonna Go With xavier.
Speaker 2 (29:25):
Watch Too. XAVIER watch i got a chance to see.
Speaker 5 (29:27):
Him when jordan played him In The, sugar bowl and
he was similar a guy who was always around. The
football somewhere, you look you see that zero number somewhere around.
The football and you're talking about thirteen interceptions in the last.
Two years and the other thing that that sticks out
to me is is we talk about. Defensive backs a
lot of, guys, say oh maybe they can't catch. The
football this guy, catch football but he wants to make
something happen. With it dude had two hundred and seventy
(29:50):
three yards worth of interception yards throughout, his career led
to conference the last. Two YEARS like i mentioned, the
interceptions but the other THING that i Like about xavier
ONCE was i kind of dove into a little, bit
more was the kid has. A Why and i'll explain
that for the fans WHO maybe i know. His story
his dad was paralyzed and he talks about playing for,
(30:14):
his dad his dad living through him because of the
things that, has happened and when he talked, about it
you can see that every single thing.
Speaker 2 (30:23):
He does is to make his. Parents proud mom.
Speaker 5 (30:27):
And dad, HE said i can't leave, by mom but
he also mentioned his dad and the things that he's.
Speaker 2 (30:31):
Gone through so.
Speaker 5 (30:32):
He, tell you the kid has. A why the kid
understands why he plays. This game and when he thinks,
about quitting when he thinks about maybe not going, extra
hard he thinks about what his dad had to go
through in. His SITUATION so i love the fact the
kid has a why he's Similar, to bowman has, the
instincts has the ability be all over, the field can
play multiple positions, for you really, good size six foot
(30:53):
two O three and he's going to be one of
those guys you look back in that secondary, And, said
okay it's gonna be. A battle he's not gonna come,
in here just give. It up he's gonna give everybody what.
You want and the best thing about it is they
got to do back there that wears the. Number, three
yeah and.
Speaker 2 (31:07):
They all can just. Lean.
Speaker 5 (31:08):
On yeah you just turn on the tape and watch
what number three has done in, his career and, you
say you, know what this fits perfectly for the guys
that we have to be able to replicate what this
guy does on a. Daily basis you know you're in
a good spot when you're being laid by a Guy Named.
Speaker 2 (31:23):
Jesse.
Speaker 1 (31:23):
Bates Yeah terry fountina talked about it in his. Press
conference he said there was a text exchange between Him And,
jerry Gray And jerry gray basically send something to him
about you're doing a really good job in, the draft
but what have you done for? Me later Basically meaning
i'm back here in, the secondary bring me. Some, tools
okay what kind of Tools Does jerry gray and the
(31:44):
rest Of this falcons defense getting that?
Speaker 3 (31:46):
BACK end i talked about let's go hunt to start,
off with and that means go get. The quarterback that
also means go hunt. The football and we're talking about
when was the last time that a team drafted two
guys and you say twenty. Four interceptions bowman's got. Eleven
interceptions You mentioned watts at, thirteen interceptions and they're not
(32:08):
just picking. It off you guys talked. About it bowman
had three interception returns for touchdowns in. Twenty three watts
has had a couple interception returns. For touchdowns they're not.
Just Looking and wat's a former receiver that now IS
a defensi back played a little bit of, nickel linebacker
so the versatility. Is, there obviously the ball skills. Are
there you mentioned the Toughness Of. Billy Bowman BILLY bowman
(32:28):
i remember Watching specifically OU's on the road in their
first GAME at byu in. TWENTY three byu had just
Joined the Big twelve conference and by is Gonna. Beat
oklahoma They're Gonna billy bowman picks off a pass at the,
goal line go back and. Pull it you can pull
it up. On YouTube goes one hundred with it for
a touchdown to win the GAME. For ou that's who.
(32:49):
He is but, five ten one ninety you think how
physical you need? To be seventeen reps at two twenty
Five For, Billy bowman so that tells you he's packing, some.
Punch right he's a he's A dad's his dad is
a high school, football coach so. Well schooled they're kind
of the discipline that you're looking. For there he plays at.
MULTIPLE levels i think this guy is gonna compete day
(33:10):
one to be your be your nickel. NICKEL corner i
think there's gonna be a heck of a, competition there
whether you know it's the all for whoever else is
in there fighting for. That job that's what you're looking
for from a from a. Competition standpoint you Mentioned The.
Sugar bowl wats WAS The MVP defensive mp Of THE
sugar mvp Of The sugar bowl at seven tackles in
(33:30):
that game and a tackle. For loss he was a
team Captain At. Notre dame we know how much that
means to be a team captain at one of these,
venerable programs Whether it's Georgia Or notre dame or something.
Like that they don't give those. Opportunities away so You're
gonna you're talking about two guys that are, gonna compete
and they're gonna come in and they're not just going
to be special, teams PLAYERS which i think they. Will
Be And marquise williams has got to be ecstatic about
(33:52):
getting two athletes like this to play on. Special teams
but they're. Coming in they're gonna lay lay it on
the line to. Go compete both guys mention And and watson
Particular Mentioned. Jesse bates they mentioned that was a guy
that they'd like to model their. Game after and just
a little cave you have. To throw and you talk, about,
competition now think about the Competition At billy. Bowman's house
(34:13):
his Wife Is, jada coleman maybe one of the best
softball players in. The country she got.
Speaker 1 (34:20):
Four natties if he comes home field a little doubt,
About himself, jada's, going no that ain't working, around. Here
baby she's now. Playing professionally you talk about why he's
got to continue to play well just to say that he's.
His household she.
Speaker 3 (34:33):
Played, center field center field on four.
Speaker 1 (34:35):
National champions she can, Go, now yeah she can.
Speaker 3 (34:39):
Go now so he ain't coming home dragon tailor or anything,
like That because jada's going to be.
Speaker 1 (34:43):
On him so coming home, Complaining either she's going to, be,
like dude until you got. Four rings now she probably
got like seven from conference, Championships, too like go work
hard to get some. Of, this, okay so but very
interesting story. Behind That jada coleman one of the best
center fielders played in recent History For Patty Gasso's. Oklahoma sooners,
all right so that kind of wraps up the first. Four,
(35:04):
rounds fellas let's go one more, draft pick and they. Went,
offense finally the, seventh round Offensive Lineman jack nelson tackle
coming Out of wisconsin six seven three eighteen four. YEAR
starters i think we all Know that wisconsin has been
one of those pillars when it comes to. Offensive lineman
this goes all the way back To The barry. Alvarez.
Days guys you got to go back to the nineties
(35:24):
when they started pumping out offensive lineman and it was
just seemingly like, first round after, first round after. First
Round well nelson comes in the. Seventh round but what
does he bring depth wise to this. Offensive, line yeah.
Speaker 3 (35:36):
He, brings experience fifty. Career starts he's talked about. It
rack he started thirteen games at, right guard thirty thirty
seven games at. Left tackle that tells you has the
versatility played right side and the interior played. Left side
and we know that that really difficult position to play at. Left,
tackle rush you know guys rushing off. The edge by,
the way he faced some pretty good competition In The
big ten coming off. The edge so you love the
(35:58):
tools that he comes to the. Table with he's a
big dude that looks like he can transition inside. Or
outside the conversation about him is. Really good in the zone,
blocking scheme does an outstanding get job of getting lateral
and up to the. Second level maybe challenged a bit
from time to time from a pass. Protection standpoint that's
why it made me make sense to move him inside
(36:21):
and play in that guard position where he can potentially
be detected on one side or. The other but it's
a big body dude that has a tremendous amount of
playtime experience that comes in we've seen that kind of
transition to. Other positions think about some of these quarterbacks
that are coming in that have played more, college football
that are Adapting the brock perties and some of those
people of. The world they certainly would apply to an
(36:42):
offensive lineman.
Speaker 2 (36:42):
As WELL, in.
Speaker 1 (36:43):
Dj he's got two pretty good veteran tackles that he
can learn from if. HE does, I mean I just
i see six seven three TWENTY and i see that's
a tackle IN. The, nfl right you could, play, card
yes but, to me those are measurables to get ready
to play one of the. Tackle positions but he again
hope health wise that he doesn't have to start. This
year so he's got two veterans that he can learn
(37:05):
from for maybe call it a season if, you will
to try to get up to speed watch TAPE how
nfl pass rushers try to attack tackles IN the nfl
and how do you. Combat that so he's another tool
in the toolbox to bring some depth to.
Speaker 5 (37:18):
This offense which is a great point because you talk
about we talked About jesse bach and his experience on
the back end and what he can add to a young.
Defensive group you Talk about kayla McGarry And, jake matthews
two guys who will played tons. Of football We Know
jake matthews just got another deal for what he's done
and consistency in which he's done it with tells you
everything you need. To know and you're gonna have a
(37:40):
guy coming here and sit and. Play well one THING
that i thought About what archer was talking was you
think about all five of these draft picks and where
they played and how much. They played you're Talking, About,
Georgia Tennessee, Notre. DAME wisconsin, i mean, come on these
guys have played major. College FOOTBALL and i Looked up
arch Just mentioned jack had. Fifty Starts billy bowman played all.
(38:02):
Four Years examer watch fifty five games. IN college, i
mean these guys are not coming to here like we
say sometimes all this guy only played thirteen.
Speaker 2 (38:11):
Games and this guy just. Played one these dudes have.
Speaker 5 (38:13):
Played a ton of football in major, college football and
it speaks volumes about where they. Are now and you
know they're gonna come in. With experience they're gonna come
in humble because they know what it feels like to
play and not play at. This level so it's gonna
be very very interesting to see how these guys adapt
to what's. Going ON but i think all these guys
will will fit the mold really well and find.
Speaker 2 (38:35):
Their niche within.
Speaker 5 (38:36):
This team and all, THESE guys i think are our
solid players at gonna be fun For this.
Speaker 1 (38:42):
Falcons organization falcons have agreed to terms with another eleven undrafted,
free agents and we may end up getting into a
discussion about those guys as the time ends up leading
up to training camp. And everything but in the interest,
of time let's go ahead and kind of wrap this
up before.
Speaker 2 (38:57):
We do fellas talking, ABOUT this i, was, GUY.
Speaker 1 (39:00):
Well, i mean do you want? To, ART yeah i.
CAN wait i can't.
Speaker 3 (39:05):
Say That, malik verden, the safety he, comes in he
played played with a cast on his arm the. Whole
year he's six three and a half two hundred and.
Nineteen pounds but it's a crowded, safety room right he.
Comes in maybe this is a guy that he was
Second Team All big twelve this. Last year there's a
number of things we can. Dive Into kobe bryant the,
football player not. The Bellton, kobe bryant three time First
(39:30):
Team All big, twelve corners did not get picked he
was projected as a sixth. Round pick there's a number
of guys and we could dive into it. Another time like,
You Said.
Speaker 2 (39:38):
NICK nash, i mean come on.
Speaker 3 (39:40):
His, duzy yeah you're Talking About joshua Gray At. Oregon
state fifty six career starts on the offensive line For.
The Beavers At, oregon state played also played tackle. And
guard this Guy was he also projects as. A center,
in fact there were a number of guys had him
rated as the top six or seven centers coming out
in colleg moving. Him inside he was projected as a
(40:02):
fifth or six. Round pick so great Job by terry
and the staff to go get some guys to add,
to that to dad to the competition as. Undrafted guys terry.
Speaker 1 (40:12):
Talked about this in his pre draft. Press conference they
call it the, eighth, round right the undrafted. Free agents
but he said that this year specifically was such a
big like why a deep draft when it comes to
what they felt like were, draftable players but more players
than there were. Draft, Slots right so these are players
that we may end up talking a lot more as
(40:33):
we get into camp because somebody's gonna end up jumping
off the page that came out of this undrafted free,
agent crew and we end up talking about them during.
The preseason i'm the one. TO talk i was an
undrafted free. Agent myself these guys are very very important
to the success Of The National. Football league sometimes you
just want you find. Your gems and essentially You, Were.
Speaker 2 (40:53):
No, i'm saying that's pretty close to. FREE agent, i
mean he, was like let's go ahead. And draft, You,
know no that's not what they.
Speaker 3 (40:59):
Were doing they, were, saying hey let's get the sec
M v p and let him.
Speaker 1 (41:02):
Come in, all, right hey before, we go before we go,
real quick because everybody, does It and i'm gonna ask
you guys to. Do it can you give us a
grade on the old rid the draft For? The falcons
can you give us?
Speaker 5 (41:14):
A grade i'm, Gonna say i'm gonna Get A Falcons
a i'm gonna. Be honest it was a draft that
YOU we, i mean for all the things that we already,
talked ABOUT and i thought you addressed all the major
needs that. You had and what's the point of the
draft is getting quality guys and spots that.
Speaker 2 (41:30):
You need what else you need?
Speaker 3 (41:31):
To say, like it he's got An A what i
DON'T think i, COULD go i kind of want to
give the same.
Speaker 2 (41:36):
Grade shot. I'll, go.
Speaker 3 (41:40):
Now there's no question you had an idea of what
you wanted to go do in. The draft did your
needs meet the levels at which you had these? Guys
GRADED and i think you you. Exceeded that walker falls
to your pierces there and he's your, Guy anyway so
you want to get both and then. Two safeties the
two guys that you got coming in are all, conference Players.
(42:04):
All american You, mentioned watts Consensus. Al america the only
Other Guy. Travis hunter so you're talking about two guys
they're gonna come in. AND compete i. Almost wonder i'm gonna, ask,
you guys, twenty sixteen we had four rookies start on.
The defense they went To The, Super, bowl okay.
Speaker 2 (42:19):
And it was.
Speaker 3 (42:20):
A defense it was a mixed bag here, and there
but four rookies contributed. On that you could make an
argument that you got four guys that could come in
and potentially start on. This defense that's pretty damn good if.
Speaker 1 (42:34):
You, Ask Yeah and i'm, not sure, like man maybe
they don't even, all START but i think all of
them play a, lot right, like rotational especially pass rushers
these days are to keep, them fresh bring them in,
third down so on and. So forth i'm gonna Give
the FALCONS a b plus on, the draft but this
is one to where when the season comes around, next
year my grade can be elevated Because If james pierce
(42:57):
ends up having about eight and a. Half weeks you didn't,
say it you didn't. Qualify it i'm qualifying. My, grade
okay we make up rolls a long way here on
top of the trble PRESENTED by AT And t why
YOU and i.
Speaker 3 (43:09):
Were out playing in the. Yard stuff he WAS doing
ap class and get.
Speaker 1 (43:12):
Himself advanced hey BEFORE the AP the ad credits can
boost the. Grade Up If jays pierce ends up with eight, plus.
Speaker 2 (43:21):
Sacks stacks you can get and we can Get.
Speaker 4 (43:24):
In minnesota, that's hey that's gonna do it With The
falcons audible PRESENTED by at And t our post draft
wrap up of the newest members of the twenty Twenty Five.
Speaker 1 (43:35):
Atlanta Falcons I'm, Derrick Brackley, dave ARCHER. D. J shockley
thanks so much for. Joining us we'll, be back hopefully
very soon to give you more content About The atlanta
falcons IN. The nfl thanks for. Joining us everybody
At the Home Depot. We make it easy to turn
your to do list into a done list with our
speedy delivery options. Need something in a hurry, We offer
next day and even same day delivery on a wide
variety of products. The best part is you can order
straight from your couch. Our team is ready to help
and get your order to use same day if it's
placed by four pm. On select products. When shopping online,
(00:23):
filter by delivery to see availability options, delivery at the
speed you need only at the Home Depot. Welcome back everyone.
Derek Rakbly here along with my guys, DJ Shockley and
Dave Archer. This is the Falcons Audible presented by AT
and t Anda special Draft recap show. Okay, twenty twenty
five NFL Draft is now in the books, and fellas,
(00:46):
now it is time to talk about discuss break down.
Welcome all the different words I can throw out. Welcome
the newest members of your twenty twenty five Atlanta Falcons
and the draft class. So before we get into these players,
I got a quick question for you, and this is
I know these destructions are hard, DJ for you. Sometimes
these are really hard. Okay, fellas, here we go all
(01:09):
right right here let me never had an issue with
had an issue to Yes, but I just like to
pick on you a little bit more. Okay, this is
the number three. Describe the Falcons draft. You did wear
number three, so this should be good for you. Describe
the Falcons draft in three words. Three he's from Georgia.
Speaker 2 (01:34):
He can't all here we go number one?
Speaker 1 (01:39):
Unforgettable Okay, unforgettable?
Speaker 2 (01:42):
Wow, significant last word I got dudes.
Speaker 1 (01:49):
Okay, and you're with two big ones?
Speaker 2 (01:54):
Can you pick it up?
Speaker 1 (01:55):
And he went with two big words, starting with a phrase.
Speaker 3 (02:02):
He picked words out of the dictionary and came out direction.
Speaker 2 (02:06):
He said three words.
Speaker 1 (02:07):
Let's ask you a question. Did you go into like
a thesaurus or chat G B T or anything like that?
Straight off off.
Speaker 4 (02:15):
The do just the TV guy, the TV guys in Georgia,
don't all right?
Speaker 1 (02:19):
I wrote you down shock, unforgettable significant dudes, alright, arch
you're up. Okay, I can't.
Speaker 3 (02:27):
I don't know if I can top that, but I'm gonna.
Speaker 2 (02:28):
I'm gonna.
Speaker 3 (02:29):
I'm gonna twist a little bit because I got a
little conjunction.
Speaker 2 (02:31):
He already he's already passed.
Speaker 3 (02:33):
Well, no, no, no, I've got a word combined with
a little hyphen it. I'm gonna go I'm gonna, I'm gonna.
Speaker 1 (02:39):
I got a phrase for you. I'm not gonna go
to the dictionary.
Speaker 3 (02:43):
Let's go hunt.
Speaker 1 (02:45):
Let Okay, I'm good with that.
Speaker 2 (02:48):
That's three.
Speaker 1 (02:49):
I mean he's just saying the let's right, yeah, a couples,
It's fine, let's go hunt.
Speaker 2 (02:55):
I like it. I like him.
Speaker 1 (02:58):
All Right, you all ready for min let's go right
with I got three. Okay, mind's a little bit of
a sentence, all right, Defensive issues addressed? Okay, mind's a
little bit more simple. Okay. But to me, this was
a draft where the Falcons came in and said, we've
got some things we got to get taken care of
on that side of the ball. And I thought they
took care of them as we stand here right now,
(03:20):
right Obviously this stuff has to play out on the field.
But I feel like defensive issues addressed in the draft. Okay,
I think I know you said unforgettable significant? What is
your happiness your content level of this Falcons draft?
Speaker 2 (03:38):
It under fifteen?
Speaker 5 (03:39):
I mean we all sat here and if my memory
serves me correct, when we talked about who was gonna
take I said Jaylen Woker.
Speaker 2 (03:47):
Then I changed my.
Speaker 1 (03:48):
Mind because it sounded like Bernie from The King's Counting
the Start preach, Yeah.
Speaker 2 (04:01):
That's what happened. When we got Jimmy Walker in the crowd,
the fan said, hey, man, so yeah nah.
Speaker 5 (04:06):
But seriously, though, going at fifteen, I don't think anybody
probably in this building thought Jalen Walker would be there.
Speaker 2 (04:15):
And you couple that with him being a guy that
played at University of Georgia.
Speaker 5 (04:19):
We've everybody talked about that for years and you finally
get that guy and he started to fall to you
there and you saw Mike cal Williams, another guy everybody
was looking at fall at eleven to the forty nine,
and you're like, oh man, there's a chance, there's a possibility.
And then when it happened, I thought that was kind
of significant that, for one, you get a guy of
(04:39):
his caliber at that point, You get a guy who
you know has that pedigree and has played a bunch
of good football over his career.
Speaker 2 (04:50):
And obviously, if you.
Speaker 5 (04:52):
Guys get a chance to talk to him, I know
you probably talked to him already, but he is one
of the best individuals you will meet, let alone one
of the top football players coming out in this draft.
So it was significant in the point that you were
able to get him, and then you turn around and
get another guy, dude that I felt the Falcons really
wanted as well, because obviously if you go back into
(05:12):
the first round.
Speaker 2 (05:13):
To get it, baby, he got a one team.
Speaker 5 (05:15):
Right, And I know that's a lot of the conversations.
He was the guy and if you you know, watching
the Falcons doing the draft, you see him whole together
talking right there at fifteen.
Speaker 2 (05:22):
That takes them probably.
Speaker 5 (05:23):
I talked to Jaling about it and he was like, man,
I was sitting there and it looked up and said
five minutes and nothing happened, And he was like, it
was three minutes, and it was two minutes. Then he
finally got the call. So that tells you they were
going back and forth because they really were strong on
our man, James Spears Junior. So it's it's significant in
the point that you got two dudes in this draft
who people were really highly on when it comes to
(05:46):
Edge Rusher's and you were able to get both of
those guys in the first round. Uh, it's pretty cool.
Speaker 1 (05:52):
Yeah, Arch you were down at the Benz right, and
so you're both of us. You guys are both down there.
You as you and I were talking before the show
as these picks started to unfold, kind of talk to
us about what your thoughts were when you were getting
to ten, twelve, fourteen, What was going through your mind?
Speaker 3 (06:10):
Yeah, I mean, well, in shock was right across the
field for me doing TV, so I'm sure you were
living this too. But I'm looking at I'm looking. Okay,
Jacksonville goes receiver or Cleveland or you know, they made
the trade, so Cleveland is going what defensive line or
whatever it was, receiver? I guess, Vegas goes running back,
(06:32):
Jet's gone offensive line, Carolina goes receiver. I'm going what
you know, because that's where he was. Kind of all
of a sudden, New Orleans goes offensive line. I said, man,
they're shoving both Georgia guys back towards Atlanta. I'm talking
about mikeel Williams and Jalen Walker. So yeah, the excitement
level began to rise for me as a fan. So
you knew Niners were going defense. It just was a
(06:54):
matter Okay, they lost green Law the linebacker.
Speaker 1 (06:56):
Are you thinking, oh, are.
Speaker 3 (06:57):
They going second level? Are they going to go edge
go Michael Williams, Well, you knew Dallas wasn't going there,
and Miami they took a d Lineman. I like that
was a good pick for them. You knew Indianapolis was
going tight end that way. That had been talked about for.
Speaker 1 (07:10):
Like a month.
Speaker 3 (07:12):
You're thinking, Oh, he's gonna fall right in your lap.
And then I got nervous, like shock did I'm looking
at the clock and I'm going.
Speaker 2 (07:20):
What do we wait?
Speaker 3 (07:23):
As soon as it clicked to throwing the clock, pick
is in. But obviously there was some jockey and going on.
There was you know, Atlanta maybe talking to people around them,
could they slide back, maybe get a pick. There was
a conversation about, you know, was because they had had
conversations with James Pearce, James Pearce Junior and his mom
(07:44):
the day before and they talked about how he was
their guy, you know, and was was fifteen too rich
for that pick and they didn't feel that way. Were
they're going to still be able to get him a
lot of conversation there, But the adrenaline started following to me,
hair stood up on the back of my neck. But
there were people standing around our broadcast area much like yours.
(08:05):
And you and I have been down there a number
of years now. This is probably we've been doing the
draft show for the radio and shot down there for TV.
We've been doing it for eight or ten years now
from the building, and I mean there's been mixed reactions
to different people we've taken over the years. I have
never heard a reaction like there was about eight thousand
(08:26):
people in the building probably somewhere in everyone when you
say shock locked in for sure. When we when they
said Jalen Walker, the place exploded, it was like a halt,
like the team taking the field is what it sounded like.
Guys are running and high fiving, People were falling down
on the field.
Speaker 1 (08:44):
Tackling each other and stuff like that.
Speaker 3 (08:46):
It was there was a joy that overcame the bulk
of the fan base there like I've never seen before.
Speaker 1 (08:53):
It was really cool to be there for that.
Speaker 5 (08:54):
Right before you go into yours, I want to ask
urs to kind of explain to people, because you went
to something really interesting.
Speaker 2 (09:00):
I don't think people realize is.
Speaker 5 (09:01):
Yeah, the Falcons are sitting there talking about who should
they take, you know, how they should go about it,
and it's not all just Okay, do you want this guy?
Speaker 2 (09:10):
This guy?
Speaker 5 (09:10):
You have to talk to other teams to make sure
that Okay, yeah, we want this guy, but also how
do we get back in to get this guy? So
you've got to have that trade partner as well. That
was part of the conversation too, right, if that team
was going to do the right thing and mayby come
back and help them get back in.
Speaker 2 (09:24):
The first round.
Speaker 3 (09:24):
I think certainly Shack and Rack they were discussing, Okay,
James Pierce was the guy they had Junior had had
kind of targeted, and whether that was going to be
able to move back or what you know, And they
were probably had conversations already in place that Atlanta might
not have was gonna stay at fifteen. Maybe they already
had a trade partner set up to where they were
(09:45):
going to move back to take James Pierce Junior, and
all of a sudden you look up and say, wait
a minute, we got to pump our brakes on the
trade because Jalen Walkers sitting here. So now how do
we still you know, potentially negotiate that. Now, maybe those
discussions happen after they took Walker, but it probably took
them a long time to talk to these other teams
and they potentially maybe had trades already in place to
(10:08):
move back, and all of a sudden, well, wait a minute, Gus,
we're gonna have to call We're gonna have to call
off the trade because we've got a guy we really
like right here at Jalen Walker. So yeah, a lot
of negotiation, a lot of lot going on there, but
really cool that they were ended up with those two
guys in the first round.
Speaker 1 (10:23):
Think it's why they say, guys that you always have
you have to just take the draft on how it
comes to you. Because as you mentioned, like we're not
going to get into the details of this, but the
sdor Sanders situation that ended up taking a player out
of what most people thought was going to be a
selection before Atlanta, okay. And then you mentioned the receiver
tedor Rod McMillan. I think everybody thought he was going
(10:44):
to be a first round I didn't think they were.
I don't think people thought he was going to be eight. Okay.
And so that's potentially another player that came off the
board earlier than maybe the Falcons, different draft experts, whoever
you want to call it. Anticipated now, I had called
for a trade back to try to get Michael Williams,
but I said, the chances of it happening are slim,
just because I've seen him walk anywhere from eight to
(11:05):
twenty eight, and of course he ends up going what
eleven to San Francisco. However, I did say on the
pregame show, I said, if Jalen Walker is sitting there
at fifteen, you run not walt the body to put
that to that card in. And to your point, there
was some discussion. So obviously they were potentially fielding different
trade offers, because I think on the television copy it
(11:27):
came pick as in at one minute left or somewhere
around there, right.
Speaker 3 (11:30):
I think it was less than that. I think it
was inside thirty seconds.
Speaker 1 (11:33):
Right, And so you're kind of sitting there thinking like
what's going on here? Like, what's taken so long? Jalen
Walker's available? But to me, there had to have been
multiple conversations going on on whether or not there was
a trade suitor for them to move back or move
up whatever it ends up being. There was there was
some stuff going on there.
Speaker 3 (11:51):
Yeah, I certainly think that the conversation wasn't necessary in
my opinion. I don't know, did not talk to anybody
with the falcon brass here, but my opinion, the conversation
was ongoing as you were closing in on fifteen, and
he began obviously started looking out of the corner your eye. Wait,
Jaalen Walker still.
Speaker 1 (12:10):
On the board.
Speaker 3 (12:12):
But Terry and everybody in the draft room are setting
the table for them to move back potentially to take
James Pierce Junior, if that's who they wanted. And then
all of a sudden they look up and they say,
wait a minute, this guy's still in the room. This
guy's still standing there. And so they had to make
it to me. They had to make some phone calls
and pump the brakes on. Maybe a couple of teams
that were looking to trade to fifteen said wait a minute,
(12:34):
our guy is still sitting there, you know, and so
we're going to have to maybe hold off on whatever
we put together, you know, for the last fifteen to
twenty minutes thirty minutes of the draft leading up to
our fifteenth pick.
Speaker 1 (12:45):
So we've kind of talked a little bit more like
thirty thousand foot level about both these guys. I want
to dive into them a little bit more individually, because Shak,
you're very close to the program. You're there each and
every game. You get a chance to not only see
Jalen Walker play on the field, you get a chance
to talk to the head coach, the position coaches about him.
Arguably got a chance to talk to him on some
(13:05):
or multiple occasions. So why don't you give us your
breakdown of what Atlanta gets in Jalen Walker and what
you know about the young man that maybe the average
fan doesn't know about him.
Speaker 5 (13:16):
I think you get one of the most complete players
and individuals probably that you'll ever meet. I remember talking
to a bunch of different scouts here and with other
teams at the pro day, and a couple of them mentioned,
this is the kind of guy that you want to
bring home to your daughter, and that speaks volumes for
(13:36):
the type of person and player he is. That that's
the kind of individual that you want in your building.
And another thing is the guy was such a leader
at the University of Georgia, and usually when you think
about leaders, you think about the guys who will maybe
little skilled position guys or guys who maybe a quarterback
or something like that. When he spoke, everybody listen including
(13:57):
the quarterback. There were times where talked to coach Smart
and he would say, I can't get to the guys
right now, Jalen, I need you to go get the
guys in order. Those were kind of things that you
saw with him, particularly when you talk about stuff in
the locker room, stuff you talk about outside the field
and getting his guys together, but you talk about the
(14:18):
things that they asked him to do. First off, when
you think about a guy who's versatile, a guy who's versatile.
Speaker 2 (14:24):
Means he has to be intelligence.
Speaker 5 (14:25):
The guy has to be smart because in this Curby
Smart defense with Glenn Schuman, the defense coordinator, I've sat
there and listened to the multitude of things that they
go through in a game plan, what they talk about
with an opposing offense, and there's so much going on,
and this guy is asked to play three, four or
five positions within that defense, with the calls, with the checks,
(14:48):
with everything that happens, and then it happens within two
or three seconds of a snap. And this guy, Jaylen Walker,
was asked to do that all year long, and this
guy brought it every single week.
Speaker 2 (14:58):
I remember.
Speaker 5 (14:58):
Obviously, Georgia has some games season where they were down,
they were not playing their best football. And this was
one guy who I saw on the sideline was continuously
walking up and down on the offense and the defensive side,
trying to get guys going. And this is a guy
who hardly ever came out to played special teams and everything.
He's one of those guys that you see come off
and they put the big old three ex jersey on
(15:19):
him when he got there run on special team and
you got to take it off and run right back
on the field. This guy was willing to give anything
for his team, and I think it's a reason why
he was one of the proven leaders of that team
and why he's been on that for the last couple
of years, and why a lot of people felt the
way they did about him coming out. And I think
I talked to one of the higher brass here who said,
(15:39):
you know, we talked to him at the combine, and
they were blown away by just the conversation, by the
way he held himself, by the way he walked into
the room and shook every single person's had in the room,
and then the way he eloqually talked about things that
were going on in their defense.
Speaker 2 (15:55):
And then just talked about life. So that tells you this.
Speaker 5 (15:58):
Is a guy that you got to worry about things
going on off the field. This is a guy that
absolutely is going to be one of those star wars
of your defense for a long time.
Speaker 2 (16:08):
And when you get a.
Speaker 5 (16:08):
Chance to meet him out in public in the community,
you understand exactly what I'm saying of who the guy is.
Speaker 3 (16:14):
Yeah, it's incredible to.
Speaker 1 (16:17):
Shock.
Speaker 3 (16:17):
Made a ton of great points about the kid. I
think first of all, how he fits in your locker
room and immediately becomes one of those guys that everybody
wants to be around. He's got one of that. He
feels like he's got that magnetism that pulls you want
to be next to Jalen Walker. You want to hear
what he has to say. So leadership and aid ability
for a young man to come in with. But we
(16:39):
talked about there were thirteen players Georgia players drafted in
this draft right, and another four or five guys went
in free agents were free agents. They're schooled so well
at george especially on the defensive side of the football
to play.
Speaker 1 (16:56):
We talked about.
Speaker 3 (16:56):
Before we came on about hard Georgia practices are. It's
harder than the games. They're excited to get in the
games because it's easier than what Kirby's putting them through
in practice. So they're so well schooled. He had three
Georgia players come off the board in the first round, Okay,
in three different levels. That tells you they're not good
at just the defensive line. They're good at linebacker, they're
good in the back end. But when you talk about
(17:19):
Jayalen Walker, I thought the point you made right there
at the end. He played all the special teams last year.
Speaker 1 (17:25):
Yeah, he didn't.
Speaker 3 (17:26):
Just play on defense and making plays off the edge
and the linebacker and walking out in the slot and
playing slot corner or whatever. He played all the special
teams on all the coverage units. I mean, that tells
you all you want to know about the guy. The
dude is off the charts. It was a great, great
coup for us to end up with him at fifteen.
Speaker 1 (17:45):
I wrote down three things, partly from what you said
and others some observations that I had. Number one, I
feel like he's kind of one of those alpha dogs,
right what you guys were talking about, like people magnetism,
People want to be next to him, People are interested
in what they have to do, what he has to say,
and they respond to what he has to say. That's
a huge thing, not only playing in the NFL, playing
(18:05):
defense and playing the linebacker position, because most people are
turning around looking at the linebackers, saying, get us set
up in the right spot? What are we doing? How
do we need to make a play right somebody to
get everybody else going. I made this comment on the
We did a post draft podcast late after the draft
off the first round, and I said, obviously, Travis Hunter
is probably the most versatile player in the draft right
(18:27):
He's going to play offense and defense. But Atlanta might
have got the second most versatile player because of what
he can do for them, because of his ability to
rush off the edge, because of his ability to cover
people out in space, because of his ability to get
back behind the defensive line to fill an A gap,
to fill a B gap, to blitz through. There's not
too many guys that you feel comfortable can do all
(18:48):
that and then shoulder the load mentally of all that
stuff that goes along with playing like that. The last
thing that you said. I picked this up DJ the
most from his press conference after he was flown in
and you mentioned the word eloquent. I was surprised at
how well spoken the young man was. He sits down
in a press conference. It's just him up there. You
never know how this is going to go. No offense.
(19:10):
But some NFL players are not great interviews, if you
guys know.
Speaker 2 (19:13):
What I mean.
Speaker 1 (19:14):
But this guy got up there and he just owned
the situation right, super comfortable, could hear everything he had
to say, excited, looking forward to the opportunity. So these are.
Speaker 2 (19:24):
Many people in that room, right.
Speaker 1 (19:25):
I don't know because I didn't see that, but I
think we would all agree that as it stands right now,
you call it on paper, call it what you've seen
on film. And Georgia Atlanta got themselves a star in
Jalen Walker. Let's pivan talk a little bit about James
Pierce Junior, because this is the one that kind of
maybe threw everybody for a little bit of a curve ball,
not not only maybe us, but also in the NFL.
(19:48):
Is Atlanta ends up trading back into the first round,
ends up trading away their first round pick last year.
They do get a third round pick in exchange for
this move, but they go back in and they continue
to address pass rush and Arch I'm going to start
with you this time by trading back to get James
Pierce Junior in the first round, who many believed was
maybe one of the most athletically gifted pass rushers in
(20:11):
this class. Once again, you're Donn a Merceites been stadium
and you hear trade Atlanta is on the clock. Your
knee jerk reaction was what you got to be kidnming.
Speaker 3 (20:20):
We froze and started looking at the camera, you know, looking,
what do we because we knew we didn't amy draft capital,
and so you think, okay, it's got to be something
from next year. Now, Yeah, steep price to pay that
number one pick. But if Atlanta is going the direction
they feel like they're going and this, that pick is
going to be at the back end of the first round.
(20:42):
Not to dispel, yeah, not to dispel what a first
round draft pick means, because look here we're getting James
Pearce at twenty six, so you can obviously get really
good players at the back end. But I thought that
it just showed the aggressiveness. That's who Terry is, That's
who this Falcon organization is. They see a guy they
spend a time a time. In fact, they spent more
time with James Pearce Junior than they did with Jalen Walker. Now,
(21:05):
they went over and saw Georgia and talked to Jalen
and you guys, all the things you said about Jalen Walker,
obviously he just he bleeds them out, you know, the
leadership and all the things. But they wanted to spend
time with James Peers because there was some questions. Okay,
does he go hard all the time? Does he do
this that or the other? There was some questions, and
so they went and sat down with him and his mom,
(21:26):
and they visited with him up until right the day
before the draft, right shock. And they spent a lot
of time feeling comfortable about the fact that this was
probably going to be their first round pick. And it
might have been like you suggested, wasn't Mikel Williams. They
traded back for They traded back to get him. I
think that was what was in the play here. But
then they said, wait a minute, we got to go
get that was our guy to begin with. We got
(21:47):
to go get him. They so, yeah, again, I thought
you got to be kidding. You doubled down you just
went and, like you said, addressed defensive issues. That's exactly
what they did. And think about Jeff Olbrick. Will McDonald
was drafted at Iowa State two years ago, almost the
exact same size, six', four about two Forty Actually pierce
(22:12):
is a little bit. Bigger think About Leonard, floyd almost
the same, guy his slim come off the, edge and
All floyd's done is have forty eight and a half
sacks in his last five, seasons include eight and a
half last. Year they thought that this guy's built very
similar to, that a very similar type. Player so you're
talking about two body, types one That raheem had worked
(22:33):
with IN la one That olbrick had worked with In New,
york and both were. EXPLOSIVE i think will McDonald what
ten sacks this year for The. Jets this is this
is a dude very Similar and so they get a
guy that now is going to be able to watch
one of the one of the really good pass rushers
in the league over the last five seasons In Leonard,
floyd and kind of tutor under. Him and also maybe
(22:56):
all of a sudden you look up and one's on
one side and one's on the other. Side and, oh
by the, Way Jalen walker And Kaden ellis are stacked
in behind block. SOMEBODY i mean they're, coming you. Know so,
YEAH i think the EXCITEMENT i can get chills a
little bit thinking about what these two guys could. Be
But James Pierce junior in, particular we need to give
him his. Kudos this guy was a really good player
(23:18):
seventeen and a half sacks after over his last two
seasons seven and a half a year ago ran four four.
Seven you talk about a guy that can get around
the edge shock you saw it in. Person you talk
about being able to close and all this conversation about
him being too thin in the hips and all that
kind of. STUFF i thrown tape on where he can
defend the edge as. Well he's got long, arms can
(23:39):
keep himself leveraged to the outside and defend the edge.
Too so, yeah excitement about this, GUY.
Speaker 1 (23:46):
Dj what type of player do you feel Like James
pierce is and is coming to The falcons to?
Speaker 5 (23:51):
BE i, Mean arts was spiraling about everything that he
brings to the, table and it's interesting to. Watch Like
arch just mentioned some of the body type and things
that come along with the guys that they want in this.
Speaker 2 (24:02):
Defense and you think.
Speaker 5 (24:04):
About you already have a you're gonna have A Bringland
trice coming, back a bigger sized guy, body and Then
Jalen walker is kind of a kind of an in
between her guy as. Well but you're talking about having
multiple guys who if you put on the edge With
James prince as. Well all these guys have been taught
if you give me one on, one there's no way
you're gonna block. Me and you're talking about putting all
(24:25):
these guys on the field at the same. Time it
makes it very tough to kind of. Defend but when
you think About, PIERCE i GOTTA i got a chance
to see hi last couple of years actually when he
came up here and when he talked to actually he
was talking to him about, it and you, just you,
know just talking about how how he enjoys the fact
that he gets the chance to just go rush the,
(24:45):
quarterback and he, said the only thing THAT i want
to do is put the quarterback on the. Ground LIKE
i wake up and, say you know, what how CAN
i beat this? Guy he and he individually talked to
me about you, know there's things THAT i watched with.
Tackles there's THINGS i watch with, Guards there's things that
that they give me little small clues that helped. Me
and you talk about having a guy Like, floyd he's been.
Around he's gonna be able to absolutely kind of just you,
(25:08):
know be a sponge to those guys and pick up
some of the things that they are. Doing but he
is one of those players that once you get him out,
there you're gonna See and one thing that surprised me
WAS i didn't know was as big as he. WAS i,
mean he's like six' five two fifty and he is all.
Of it AND when i seen Him When Georgia, BLAKE tennessee,
i mean he was a good sized dudecause obviously everybody's out.
(25:29):
There huge but THEN when i saw him when he
walked in, THE building i, was like this dude has.
The size this guy has the demeanor as well that
goes along. WITH it i Think the vialgon is gonna be.
Really excited fans should be really excited about what this
guy is. Capable of and he's gonna get in the
room with all these other alpha dogs and He's an.
Alpha two he's gonna want to go get.
Speaker 3 (25:47):
It too think about what hurt has hearded land over
the last couple. Of, seasons guys we talked about being
able to get to the passer and we're at the
bottom of the rail when it went to, last year
the last, five years last. Ten years with all that,
being said think about what's going on at the quarterback
position and some of the guys You're gonna Jayden and
daniels is going to be here. Next year you got
the big kid From from buffalo gonna come down here AND,
(26:10):
defending mvp and those guys creating outside of the realm
of what you're. Doing offensively sure they can operate within,
the confines but think about the drive at the end
in overtime against and even in the second Half against
washington a year Ago Where jade daniels kind of took
over and started. Running, around now all of, a sudden
(26:32):
You've Got kaden ellis on. The field You've Got jalen
walker on. The field You Got James pearce junior on,
the field maybe Even A leonard floyd that's kind of
rejuvenated because he's not having to play so. Many snaps
you've got guys that can run everywhere on. The field
talk about tracking guys down and getting them on, the
ground get you off, the field don't let quarterbacks. Extend
plays you got a bunch of guys, that CAN like,
(26:54):
i said let's.
Speaker 2 (26:55):
Go hunt and it's a good point because you think
about two guys that's in your.
Speaker 5 (26:59):
Own division you go To Seeing bryce Young And, baker
mayfield and you're talking about two of the craftiest guys
within the pocket outside of the pocket that wants to.
Make plays it's a direct result of what those guys.
Speaker 1 (27:10):
Can do look to win IN. The Nfl and i'm
gonna make. This analogy you gotta have tools in, the.
Toolbox okay and some could say, that scheme some could
say that's, you, know plays, trick play whatever you want to.
Call it, to me tools in the toolbox meets players
that can go out and make plays.
Speaker 2 (27:26):
For.
Speaker 1 (27:26):
You right so we talked about the. Pass Rushers atlanta
falcon's got two really. Good tools in Addition To morgan
Fox And leonard Floyd And caden ellis and all those
other guys that are gonna be on that defensive side of,
The ball you've now got some tools to do some
things with on. The field. Next year speaking, of tools
let's go back into the, back end as you. Call
it arch two other picks that were, brought In and
(27:47):
i'm gonna kind of throw this out to you guys
to talk freely about whoever ends up coming to, you
first first Third Round xavier watts Out Of notre. Dame
trade there a safety INTERESTING stat i saw, about him
Along With, travis hunter the only two unanimous First Team
all americans each of the last. Two, years yep that's crazy.
Speaker 3 (28:08):
To think that's crazy to think that those.
Speaker 2 (28:11):
Two, guys okay.
Speaker 1 (28:12):
That's crazy so he is now going to Be Wearing
atlanta falcons jersey and then, to me one of THE
and I wouldn't i'm not going to call him wild
card because this is a really. GOOD player i actually
wrote him down in our pre draft STUFF when i
was talking about. DEFENSIVE backs i have. Cornerbacks here but
you see that NAME that i have written this is
Pre Draft Billy. Bowman Junior because i've seen him a
(28:32):
few times and this kid is impressive. To me he's,
got instincts he. Is physical now he will come up
and hit you like it IS your i Had The
missouri oklahoma game last Year in missouri and he. HAD
a i think he picked up a ball a fumble
and ran it back for touchdown in. That game and
he's always around, the football and he's one of. Those
(28:53):
guys he's gonna talk a, little trash he's gonna get in,
your face and he. Don't care and so When the falcons,
GOT him, I said, i complay let understand that pick
because that's the PLAYER that i saw in. The field
just a guy that's always around. The football so with
those two players in the, back end which one sticks out?
To you and what does he bring to?
Speaker 5 (29:10):
THIS organ, I mean i think you did a great
job Talking about bowlman Because obviously bobman is one of
those guys you look at it and we always talk
about versatility and the things that he can do and
where he, can play and you watch. The tape this
guy has all. Those instincts he has everything you. Talk
About but i'm gonna Go With xavier.
Speaker 2 (29:25):
Watch Too. XAVIER watch i got a chance to see.
Speaker 5 (29:27):
Him when jordan played him In The, sugar bowl and
he was similar a guy who was always around. The
football somewhere, you look you see that zero number somewhere around.
The football and you're talking about thirteen interceptions in the last.
Two years and the other thing that that sticks out
to me is is we talk about. Defensive backs a
lot of, guys, say oh maybe they can't catch. The
football this guy, catch football but he wants to make
something happen. With it dude had two hundred and seventy
(29:50):
three yards worth of interception yards throughout, his career led
to conference the last. Two YEARS like i mentioned, the
interceptions but the other THING that i Like about xavier
ONCE was i kind of dove into a little, bit
more was the kid has. A Why and i'll explain
that for the fans WHO maybe i know. His story
his dad was paralyzed and he talks about playing for,
(30:14):
his dad his dad living through him because of the
things that, has happened and when he talked, about it
you can see that every single thing.
Speaker 2 (30:23):
He does is to make his. Parents proud mom.
Speaker 5 (30:27):
And dad, HE said i can't leave, by mom but
he also mentioned his dad and the things that he's.
Speaker 2 (30:31):
Gone through so.
Speaker 5 (30:32):
He, tell you the kid has. A why the kid
understands why he plays. This game and when he thinks,
about quitting when he thinks about maybe not going, extra
hard he thinks about what his dad had to go
through in. His SITUATION so i love the fact the
kid has a why he's Similar, to bowman has, the
instincts has the ability be all over, the field can
play multiple positions, for you really, good size six foot
(30:53):
two O three and he's going to be one of
those guys you look back in that secondary, And, said
okay it's gonna be. A battle he's not gonna come,
in here just give. It up he's gonna give everybody what.
You want and the best thing about it is they
got to do back there that wears the. Number, three
yeah and.
Speaker 2 (31:07):
They all can just. Lean.
Speaker 5 (31:08):
On yeah you just turn on the tape and watch
what number three has done in, his career and, you
say you, know what this fits perfectly for the guys
that we have to be able to replicate what this
guy does on a. Daily basis you know you're in
a good spot when you're being laid by a Guy Named.
Speaker 2 (31:23):
Jesse.
Speaker 1 (31:23):
Bates Yeah terry fountina talked about it in his. Press
conference he said there was a text exchange between Him And,
jerry Gray And jerry gray basically send something to him
about you're doing a really good job in, the draft
but what have you done for? Me later Basically meaning
i'm back here in, the secondary bring me. Some, tools
okay what kind of Tools Does jerry gray and the
(31:44):
rest Of this falcons defense getting that?
Speaker 3 (31:46):
BACK end i talked about let's go hunt to start,
off with and that means go get. The quarterback that
also means go hunt. The football and we're talking about
when was the last time that a team drafted two
guys and you say twenty. Four interceptions bowman's got. Eleven
interceptions You mentioned watts at, thirteen interceptions and they're not
(32:08):
just picking. It off you guys talked. About it bowman
had three interception returns for touchdowns in. Twenty three watts
has had a couple interception returns. For touchdowns they're not.
Just Looking and wat's a former receiver that now IS
a defensi back played a little bit of, nickel linebacker
so the versatility. Is, there obviously the ball skills. Are
there you mentioned the Toughness Of. Billy Bowman BILLY bowman
(32:28):
i remember Watching specifically OU's on the road in their
first GAME at byu in. TWENTY three byu had just
Joined the Big twelve conference and by is Gonna. Beat
oklahoma They're Gonna billy bowman picks off a pass at the,
goal line go back and. Pull it you can pull
it up. On YouTube goes one hundred with it for
a touchdown to win the GAME. For ou that's who.
(32:49):
He is but, five ten one ninety you think how
physical you need? To be seventeen reps at two twenty
Five For, Billy bowman so that tells you he's packing, some.
Punch right he's a he's A dad's his dad is
a high school, football coach so. Well schooled they're kind
of the discipline that you're looking. For there he plays at.
MULTIPLE levels i think this guy is gonna compete day
(33:10):
one to be your be your nickel. NICKEL corner i
think there's gonna be a heck of a, competition there
whether you know it's the all for whoever else is
in there fighting for. That job that's what you're looking
for from a from a. Competition standpoint you Mentioned The.
Sugar bowl wats WAS The MVP defensive mp Of THE
sugar mvp Of The sugar bowl at seven tackles in
(33:30):
that game and a tackle. For loss he was a
team Captain At. Notre dame we know how much that
means to be a team captain at one of these,
venerable programs Whether it's Georgia Or notre dame or something.
Like that they don't give those. Opportunities away so You're
gonna you're talking about two guys that are, gonna compete
and they're gonna come in and they're not just going
to be special, teams PLAYERS which i think they. Will
Be And marquise williams has got to be ecstatic about
(33:52):
getting two athletes like this to play on. Special teams
but they're. Coming in they're gonna lay lay it on
the line to. Go compete both guys mention And and watson
Particular Mentioned. Jesse bates they mentioned that was a guy
that they'd like to model their. Game after and just
a little cave you have. To throw and you talk, about,
competition now think about the Competition At billy. Bowman's house
(34:13):
his Wife Is, jada coleman maybe one of the best
softball players in. The country she got.
Speaker 1 (34:20):
Four natties if he comes home field a little doubt,
About himself, jada's, going no that ain't working, around. Here
baby she's now. Playing professionally you talk about why he's
got to continue to play well just to say that he's.
His household she.
Speaker 3 (34:33):
Played, center field center field on four.
Speaker 1 (34:35):
National champions she can, Go, now yeah she can.
Speaker 3 (34:39):
Go now so he ain't coming home dragon tailor or anything,
like That because jada's going to be.
Speaker 1 (34:43):
On him so coming home, Complaining either she's going to, be,
like dude until you got. Four rings now she probably
got like seven from conference, Championships, too like go work
hard to get some. Of, this, okay so but very
interesting story. Behind That jada coleman one of the best
center fielders played in recent History For Patty Gasso's. Oklahoma sooners,
all right so that kind of wraps up the first. Four,
(35:04):
rounds fellas let's go one more, draft pick and they. Went,
offense finally the, seventh round Offensive Lineman jack nelson tackle
coming Out of wisconsin six seven three eighteen four. YEAR
starters i think we all Know that wisconsin has been
one of those pillars when it comes to. Offensive lineman
this goes all the way back To The barry. Alvarez.
Days guys you got to go back to the nineties
(35:24):
when they started pumping out offensive lineman and it was
just seemingly like, first round after, first round after. First
Round well nelson comes in the. Seventh round but what
does he bring depth wise to this. Offensive, line yeah.
Speaker 3 (35:36):
He, brings experience fifty. Career starts he's talked about. It
rack he started thirteen games at, right guard thirty thirty
seven games at. Left tackle that tells you has the
versatility played right side and the interior played. Left side
and we know that that really difficult position to play at. Left,
tackle rush you know guys rushing off. The edge by,
the way he faced some pretty good competition In The
big ten coming off. The edge so you love the
(35:58):
tools that he comes to the. Table with he's a
big dude that looks like he can transition inside. Or
outside the conversation about him is. Really good in the zone,
blocking scheme does an outstanding get job of getting lateral
and up to the. Second level maybe challenged a bit
from time to time from a pass. Protection standpoint that's
why it made me make sense to move him inside
(36:21):
and play in that guard position where he can potentially
be detected on one side or. The other but it's
a big body dude that has a tremendous amount of
playtime experience that comes in we've seen that kind of
transition to. Other positions think about some of these quarterbacks
that are coming in that have played more, college football
that are Adapting the brock perties and some of those
people of. The world they certainly would apply to an
(36:42):
offensive lineman.
Speaker 2 (36:42):
As WELL, in.
Speaker 1 (36:43):
Dj he's got two pretty good veteran tackles that he
can learn from if. HE does, I mean I just
i see six seven three TWENTY and i see that's
a tackle IN. The, nfl right you could, play, card
yes but, to me those are measurables to get ready
to play one of the. Tackle positions but he again
hope health wise that he doesn't have to start. This
year so he's got two veterans that he can learn
(37:05):
from for maybe call it a season if, you will
to try to get up to speed watch TAPE how
nfl pass rushers try to attack tackles IN the nfl
and how do you. Combat that so he's another tool
in the toolbox to bring some depth to.
Speaker 5 (37:18):
This offense which is a great point because you talk
about we talked About jesse bach and his experience on
the back end and what he can add to a young.
Defensive group you Talk about kayla McGarry And, jake matthews
two guys who will played tons. Of football We Know
jake matthews just got another deal for what he's done
and consistency in which he's done it with tells you
everything you need. To know and you're gonna have a
(37:40):
guy coming here and sit and. Play well one THING
that i thought About what archer was talking was you
think about all five of these draft picks and where
they played and how much. They played you're Talking, About,
Georgia Tennessee, Notre. DAME wisconsin, i mean, come on these
guys have played major. College FOOTBALL and i Looked up
arch Just mentioned jack had. Fifty Starts billy bowman played all.
(38:02):
Four Years examer watch fifty five games. IN college, i
mean these guys are not coming to here like we
say sometimes all this guy only played thirteen.
Speaker 2 (38:11):
Games and this guy just. Played one these dudes have.
Speaker 5 (38:13):
Played a ton of football in major, college football and
it speaks volumes about where they. Are now and you
know they're gonna come in. With experience they're gonna come
in humble because they know what it feels like to
play and not play at. This level so it's gonna
be very very interesting to see how these guys adapt
to what's. Going ON but i think all these guys
will will fit the mold really well and find.
Speaker 2 (38:35):
Their niche within.
Speaker 5 (38:36):
This team and all, THESE guys i think are our
solid players at gonna be fun For this.
Speaker 1 (38:42):
Falcons organization falcons have agreed to terms with another eleven undrafted,
free agents and we may end up getting into a
discussion about those guys as the time ends up leading
up to training camp. And everything but in the interest,
of time let's go ahead and kind of wrap this
up before.
Speaker 2 (38:57):
We do fellas talking, ABOUT this i, was, GUY.
Speaker 1 (39:00):
Well, i mean do you want? To, ART yeah i.
CAN wait i can't.
Speaker 3 (39:05):
Say That, malik verden, the safety he, comes in he
played played with a cast on his arm the. Whole
year he's six three and a half two hundred and.
Nineteen pounds but it's a crowded, safety room right he.
Comes in maybe this is a guy that he was
Second Team All big twelve this. Last year there's a
number of things we can. Dive Into kobe bryant the,
football player not. The Bellton, kobe bryant three time First
(39:30):
Team All big, twelve corners did not get picked he
was projected as a sixth. Round pick there's a number
of guys and we could dive into it. Another time like,
You Said.
Speaker 2 (39:38):
NICK nash, i mean come on.
Speaker 3 (39:40):
His, duzy yeah you're Talking About joshua Gray At. Oregon
state fifty six career starts on the offensive line For.
The Beavers At, oregon state played also played tackle. And
guard this Guy was he also projects as. A center,
in fact there were a number of guys had him
rated as the top six or seven centers coming out
in colleg moving. Him inside he was projected as a
(40:02):
fifth or six. Round pick so great Job by terry
and the staff to go get some guys to add,
to that to dad to the competition as. Undrafted guys terry.
Speaker 1 (40:12):
Talked about this in his pre draft. Press conference they
call it the, eighth, round right the undrafted. Free agents
but he said that this year specifically was such a
big like why a deep draft when it comes to
what they felt like were, draftable players but more players
than there were. Draft, Slots right so these are players
that we may end up talking a lot more as
(40:33):
we get into camp because somebody's gonna end up jumping
off the page that came out of this undrafted free,
agent crew and we end up talking about them during.
The preseason i'm the one. TO talk i was an
undrafted free. Agent myself these guys are very very important
to the success Of The National. Football league sometimes you
just want you find. Your gems and essentially You, Were.
Speaker 2 (40:53):
No, i'm saying that's pretty close to. FREE agent, i
mean he, was like let's go ahead. And draft, You,
know no that's not what they.
Speaker 3 (40:59):
Were doing they, were, saying hey let's get the sec
M v p and let him.
Speaker 1 (41:02):
Come in, all, right hey before, we go before we go,
real quick because everybody, does It and i'm gonna ask
you guys to. Do it can you give us a
grade on the old rid the draft For? The falcons
can you give us?
Speaker 5 (41:14):
A grade i'm, Gonna say i'm gonna Get A Falcons
a i'm gonna. Be honest it was a draft that
YOU we, i mean for all the things that we already,
talked ABOUT and i thought you addressed all the major
needs that. You had and what's the point of the
draft is getting quality guys and spots that.
Speaker 2 (41:30):
You need what else you need?
Speaker 3 (41:31):
To say, like it he's got An A what i
DON'T think i, COULD go i kind of want to
give the same.
Speaker 2 (41:36):
Grade shot. I'll, go.
Speaker 3 (41:40):
Now there's no question you had an idea of what
you wanted to go do in. The draft did your
needs meet the levels at which you had these? Guys
GRADED and i think you you. Exceeded that walker falls
to your pierces there and he's your, Guy anyway so
you want to get both and then. Two safeties the
two guys that you got coming in are all, conference Players.
(42:04):
All american You, mentioned watts Consensus. Al america the only
Other Guy. Travis hunter so you're talking about two guys
they're gonna come in. AND compete i. Almost wonder i'm gonna, ask,
you guys, twenty sixteen we had four rookies start on.
The defense they went To The, Super, bowl okay.
Speaker 2 (42:19):
And it was.
Speaker 3 (42:20):
A defense it was a mixed bag here, and there
but four rookies contributed. On that you could make an
argument that you got four guys that could come in
and potentially start on. This defense that's pretty damn good if.
Speaker 1 (42:34):
You, Ask Yeah and i'm, not sure, like man maybe
they don't even, all START but i think all of
them play a, lot right, like rotational especially pass rushers
these days are to keep, them fresh bring them in,
third down so on and. So forth i'm gonna Give
the FALCONS a b plus on, the draft but this
is one to where when the season comes around, next
year my grade can be elevated Because If james pierce
(42:57):
ends up having about eight and a. Half weeks you didn't,
say it you didn't. Qualify it i'm qualifying. My, grade
okay we make up rolls a long way here on
top of the trble PRESENTED by AT And t why
YOU and i.
Speaker 3 (43:09):
Were out playing in the. Yard stuff he WAS doing
ap class and get.
Speaker 1 (43:12):
Himself advanced hey BEFORE the AP the ad credits can
boost the. Grade Up If jays pierce ends up with eight, plus.
Speaker 2 (43:21):
Sacks stacks you can get and we can Get.
Speaker 4 (43:24):
In minnesota, that's hey that's gonna do it With The
falcons audible PRESENTED by at And t our post draft
wrap up of the newest members of the twenty Twenty Five.
Speaker 1 (43:35):
Atlanta Falcons I'm, Derrick Brackley, dave ARCHER. D. J shockley
thanks so much for. Joining us we'll, be back hopefully
very soon to give you more content About The atlanta
falcons IN. The nfl thanks for. Joining us everybody
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
On Purpose with Jay Shetty
I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!