What you need to watch for in the Falcons' next preseason game + Wes Durham shares his 2025 insights
August 13, 2025 • 41 mins
Will, Terrin & Tori give you an in-depth update on who's been making the biggest moves throughout AT&T Training Camp as well as where they think the team needs to improve the most. They give a report after an intense second day of joint practices with Tennessee and who needs to show up in this Friday's preseason game.
0:00 - Intro & Preseason game 1
5:45 - Joint practices with Tennessee
12:30 - Who to watch this Friday
16:30 - Wes Durham joins the show
18:08 - Preseason observations
24:40 - Michael Penix Jr. & the offense
39:00 - Making the playoffs & Outro
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
What's up, y'all. Welcome back. I'm your host, Will mcfatt
and I've got Tory mclaney and Tarren Walk and we
are here to break down joint practices. We're gonna start
at the top of a little bit of a follow
up to the first preseason game. I apologize. I told
y'all you would have a final whistle coming Monday, but
because of the way that the game ended, you know,
we decided just to press pause on that. It's still
(00:20):
you know, we're working through the kinks, and we felt
like that wasn't the right time to kind of go
through that exercise. So everything, you know, if it goes
according to plan, we will have another final whistle on
Monday for you all after this second preseason game. But
kind of to share some thoughts on that preseason the
first preseason game, because you didn't hear from us, We're
gonna start briefly at the top, just talk about one
(00:41):
guy that we each picked that we felt either kind
of built throughout these two joint practices or maybe took
a step back after a strong preseason game and maybe
needs to kind of reignite that fire this weekend. So Tory,
we'll start with you after Friday's preseason game. Was there
somebody you felt really stood out in that game that
kind of either did a great job these last couple
(01:01):
of practices or maybe took a step back.
Speaker 2 (01:03):
For me, it was D'Angelo Imlone. I was very fascinated
with the cross training that he has been doing at
inside linebacker and more traditionally coming off the edge, and
that has been something that I feel like I've spent
a lot of time on this week asking Jeff Ulbrick,
Raheem Morris, even Dangelo himself what this transition has looked
like for him, because I do think that this is
(01:25):
the coaches really valuing. Yes, he is a special teams guy,
I believe, Rahim said he is the Barnyard bully on
special teams and that is his starting role. But the
fact that they are they're gonna have to make hard
decisions on a fifty three man roster, and you have
to provide more value than just special teams, and so
they're actively trying to figure out how to add value
(01:47):
to him within this defensive unit. He is somebody who,
like Jeff Fulbrig said, there were so many guys that
when Jeff Elbert came in and started evaluating this roster.
Is like there was a lot of guys who were
jack of all trades versus utility, master of nothing type
of players. And that's what he said, and I thought
that was a fair They'd been in so many different
systems that had asked them to do so many different things.
(02:10):
They didn't have time or honestly the capabilities to be like,
we can only focus on this one thing. So for
someone like Dangelo and Malone, it kind of got lost
in the shuffle. Well, as time has gone on this preseason,
I've been really excited about what I've seen him, particularly
playing a depth role within inside linebackers and off the edge.
(02:31):
You know, they're really full off the edge, and we
only got to see him a little bit, but what
I saw from him an inside linebacker I thought was
pretty important as you're talking about roster cutdowns, as you're
talking about people who add value across the entire fifty
three man. So he was somebody who if I'm talking
movers and shakers up and down the roster, he's someone
(02:52):
that after I saw what he did in that first
preseason game and the cross training and the reps he
got at both spots. He immediately shot up a bit
for me.
Speaker 1 (03:00):
And you have a movers and shakers piece that comes
up after these preseason games. So anybody who wants more
of an idea of really who we saw kind of
rise or fall after a prese game, go check that out.
But dan Sel Malone is a player we talked a
lot about last preseason as somebody who really stood out
to us. I think Taran you were the one that
identified him and was like, man number fifty one out there,
he's doing a lot. Was there anybody who saw in
(03:20):
this first preseason game that you felt the same way about.
Speaker 3 (03:23):
Well, you can always find my standouts from a game
in the game breakdown that'll publish right at the buzzer
every game, and this week in the preseason game, I
did a defensive and offensive and instead of going into
detail about them, go read it. But the names are
DeMarco Hellams, which I don't think anyone is surprised, and
East and Stick. So those are my standouts. But the area,
(03:44):
because you said, going into joint practices, what you wanted
to see more of and whatnot, I think my quote
unquote flag of concern would have to be the run game,
especially with the second team offensive line, because if you
look at the numbers, the Falcons only had twenty two
rushing yards against the Lions, and nine of them came
(04:05):
from quarterback Emery Jones. So that's like, you want to
see more, you need to see more, and so that's
something I hope they focused on in joint practices. I
don't know that we saw any big runs, but it's
so complicated in training camp because it isn't take them
to the ground, so you never really know who would
break a tackle or who would make it through the field.
(04:26):
It's just a thud and done.
Speaker 1 (04:28):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (04:28):
I think the problem that I had with the second
team offensive line was I didn't necessarily think they were
getting to the second level quick enough, and I think
to the detriment of the running backs carrying the ball,
it allowed the linebackers to kind of get in those
gaps and full on stop them within with probably only
one or two yard games. And so for that reason,
that's a big area that I think we're all looking
at going into this Friday as well.
Speaker 1 (04:49):
Yeah, one hundred percent that not being able to climb
to that second level, as you said, led to a
lot of like the running back meeting the linebacker in
the hole and not really going anywhere else. And I
don't fault the running backs for that necessarily, you know,
he got to kind of get the support somebody for
the Falcons who was meeting a lot of running backs
in the hole. With Josh Woods, he was a player
I thought the linebackers in particular, they get a little
bit of short shrift during training camp and the preseason
(05:13):
when the full team drills are happening because they're kind
of like right there in the middle, and it's easier
to look at the pass rush or the secondary and
not necessarily those guys right in the heart of it.
But I thought all week long, Josh Woods has been
really good at filling that hole, kind of reading the
flow of the offense and then adjusting and finding his
space to then make the impact right there the line
of scrimmage. So Josh Woods is a player that we
(05:34):
haven't given a ton of love to. He's probably also
fighting for a special team's kind of reserve role there.
But I thought he's played well the last few days.
So let's go ahead and start talking a little bit
more about joint practices. We mentioned kind of that reserve
offensive line group in the run game when they're in there.
But was there anything else that over the span of
two days really kind of stood out to you? Taran?
Speaker 3 (05:56):
Oh, gosh, the today is more recent mind aka Wednesday,
I almost a Thursday.
Speaker 1 (06:03):
It feels Thursday energy.
Speaker 3 (06:05):
Yeah, But Wednesday, with all the scuffles that happened, I
think you saw a bunch of fire within this team.
And something that surprised me is like, when it was
just Falcons on Falcons, it was the defense that was
kind of getting the chirpiest. But today I wasn't over there,
so I'll let Tory talk about it. The offense was
the chirpiest, and special teams, which we know has my
heart was chirpy. So it was just interesting. It wasn't
(06:29):
what I expected, and I think that has stood out most.
But besides that, I think yesterday was a completely different
day of practice than today, where yesterday I think you
walked away thinking the Falcons quote unquote won the joint
practice against the Titans, whereas today, I think the Titans
showed up thinking they had more to prove or had
to like step up their game because I wonder, I mean,
(06:51):
Calvin Ridley did did call out social media while scoring
a touchdown against the Falcons defense today, so just all
of social media, so he know about what people were
saying yesterday. So I think the Titans came in today
something with more to prove, and maybe that heightened the emotions.
Not saying they won. It just was a very different practice.
Speaker 2 (07:11):
I think for me, my observations are kind of twofold.
I'll start with the idea of I feel like this
defensive front, what they did on Friday night against the
Lions was not a mirage based on what we have
seen them do the last two days, I think they
have been very impressive. They're very impressive on Friday night,
collapsing the pocket. I thought that they're very impressive, especially
(07:33):
yesterday on Tuesday, making cam ward incredibly uncomfortable. A few
times you see Lakale, London, Rucuroro, Brandon Doriles, Zach Harrison
in the lap of cam Warden, and I think that
it was obvious how much pressure he has been under
the last couple of days, based on the intensity that
defensive front has been playing with. And then my second
(07:55):
note on something that I found to be something that
is incredibly interesting to me based on the conversations we're
talking about within the fifty three man roster is Natrone
Brooks establishing himself as the first cornerback off the bench.
This is a guy who we have been talking about
at nauseum over the course of camp of really showing
up and playing well, and he starting yesterday. They were
(08:19):
actually during the team periods he was getting some run
with the ones. He was subbing in for Mike Ces,
playing alongside AJ Traill. He was subbing in for aj
Traill to play alongside Mike Cues, getting those reps to
almost simulate what happens if one of those guys goes down.
And so he's someone who, as we're talking about the
D'Angelo Malones of the world, he is somebody who I
(08:40):
think is shooting up that fifty three man roster in
terms of importance. And seeing that, along with what was
happening along the defensive front, I thought was incredibly indicative
of what this defense wants to be.
Speaker 1 (08:57):
Yeah, I love that.
Speaker 3 (08:59):
Sorry, you guys, piggyback off that a little bit because
it just reminded me of someone who I noted today
was Mike Ford because he was rotating with de Alford
among the first team defense. So I think it's nice
to see how much they are cultivating that depth in
the secondary because we talk about the rotation so much
upfront with a defensive lineman and the edge rushers, and
(09:20):
so to know that they're building that in the backfield. Also,
not that they're going to rotate nearly as often, but
if someone were to go down, they have options who
are proving themselves, not just with the second team, but
with the first team unit itself.
Speaker 1 (09:34):
Yeah, I think that's an important note because you could
have an injury at any point, right it could be
the first snap of the game and all of a sudden,
now that second team players is starting for the rest
of the game, and so having these extended periods where
it doesn't necessarily matter as much, but you are able
to get that continuity developing of I'm just hearing somebody
else's voice that I'm not used to giving me that
information is important. But we haven't done a great job
(09:57):
of sticking with our Camp Champ, much of the chagrin
of a vocal minority. But I do think Theatron Brooks
would be definitely in the running right now for Camp Champ.
Maybe he and Casey Washington like that we should just
line those two up in a one on one at
the end of training camp and just be like, wat,
I guess is today is the official end of trade.
We should have done that afterwards? Is all right? You
guys had to head Monolymno. Yeah, but the defensive line
(10:20):
in particular, that is going to be something that I
think is the takeaway for me from all of training
camp is just the energy, the vibe, the rotation, the
number of guys coming in. And I caught up with
Peter Skronsky, the offensive one and for Tennessee because you
guys did a great job locking down the Falcons media availability.
So I just meandered on over to the much more
laid back like Tennessee guys walking off the field and
(10:43):
stopped him and I was just like, what was Tell
me a little bit about your experience going against this
defensive line, and he was like, man, you can tell
the influence of kind of Raheem Morris's idea and Jeff
Olberg's ideas and kind of like meshing them together, and
specifically the rotation. He was like, I hate that. I
hate that so much. As an offensive lineman, I gotta
be out there just every single snap, and now I
(11:04):
see another four sets of dudes like running onto the field,
fresh legs, all of that stuff. So you understand the
mindset and the mentality that this defense is trying to
bring in, how they're gonna make life harder kind of
the way Tyler Aljier does in the fourth quarter on defenses.
They want to do that to opposing offenses and wear
them down.
Speaker 2 (11:21):
So one note I will add on this as talking
to Brandon Dorles on Tuesday, he made the comment he
was like, nay Ali, who's the defensive line coach for
the Falcons, has made it a point to tell this
defensive front, you will not play more than four plays
in a row. If you get to number five, you're
coming out. And it's because to your point, they want
that fresh, violent energy to go up against these linemen
(11:46):
that Let's be honest, if you get to number five,
play number five and you're moving and you're shaking and
all that kind of stuff, and you get a fresh
James Pierce Junior coming at you after four bouts with
Leonard Floyd, I think that's going to matter, especially as
you get deep into the season and guy's legs aren't
as fresh you are feeling the grind of a regular season.
(12:09):
So to your point, I think that's a very interesting
note that Brandon doylescape. There you get four, four plays,
if you get to five, you're coming out.
Speaker 1 (12:17):
You just you're making me think of like putting a
whole new set of tires on a race car during
a pit stop, Like that's basically what this and you
just all right, we're gonna pull in boom four more,
get it, four more, get out there, four tires fuel.
Speaker 4 (12:28):
There you go.
Speaker 1 (12:30):
So let's let's go ahead and pivot to the next
preseason game, which take place Friday, seven o'clock kickoff inside
of Mercedes Benz Stadium. Now that we've seen two days,
we're gonna get our own little pit stop on Thursday,
a break, you know, before the action. What do you
want to see Tory out there on Friday night? Is
there anybody in particular that you're going to be locked
in on?
Speaker 2 (12:49):
David Sales the fifth I am. I feel like I
have a really great idea of what this defense is
and who they are already, even despite the fact that
we haven't even seen the first team defense. Go out
and get you know, some real live reps to me,
I am very curious to see if there is any
way that someone like David Seals the Fifth can make
this fifty three man roster because and this goes back
(13:12):
to something that we've talked about so much, like, Okay,
you know for a fact you can pencil in Drake London,
Darnell Mooney, probably, Cadara Hodge, probably Jamal Agnew, Casey Washington,
and Ray Ray McCloud.
Speaker 1 (13:26):
That is sorry, I.
Speaker 2 (13:28):
Sorry, I was kind of maybe I went in alphabetical
order and didn't even notice that would be that would
be crazy, That would be crazy. So those are your six?
Can you make a spot for David Seals the fifth?
Speaker 1 (13:40):
Has he played special teams? Have we seen him play
special teams?
Speaker 2 (13:43):
I think he yes, he has, he was he was yes,
and I personally I think that what we have seen
him over the course of the last two days, he's
getting reps with the ones. I don't know if you
can carry seven receivers, I really don't not on I
don't know on this roster if you can do that.
Speaker 1 (13:57):
Now when you're carrying like seventeen defensive lines exactly.
Speaker 2 (14:00):
And so for me it's like it's really I want
to see him establish himself the way that maybe Dylan
Drummond did on Friday Night, kind of have some more
opportunities to get some balls thrown his way, because I
do think he can make a case to make this
fifty three men roster and if anything, be a practice
squad elevation down the road, because from what we have
(14:23):
seen from him specifically getting some work in with the
ones alongside Drake London or even Heck in Drake London's
spot if Drake is not out there, I think that's valuable.
Speaker 1 (14:34):
Yeah, and the Falcons have said, you know, they look,
they take an expanded view.
Speaker 4 (14:38):
Of all of it.
Speaker 1 (14:38):
They look at the practice squad in addition to that
active roster. So you're right, if he doesn't make the
fifty three, they view that extra expanded practice squad as
an extension and maybe they make that call up. What
about you Urn, We've.
Speaker 3 (14:49):
Already discussed the second offensive line along with the run
game needing to improve in this preseason game. So otherwise,
I think something that has perked my ears up. I
don't know if it's going to have I don't think
it's going to happen, but raheem Or has left the
door open for Kirk Cousins playing in the preseason game.
And I'm just going to leave it at that because
(15:10):
he left it at that without saying yes or no.
Speaker 2 (15:13):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (15:13):
Yeah, he got a lot of run the last couple
of days, so it'll be. But he he also said,
I'm Kirk is among those players, right, those veterans were
I'm gonna chat with him a little bit. He knows
as much as anybody about what he needs to get
ready to go in a season. So it'll, yeah, exactly, it'll.
It'll open a period of entertainment and the lead up
to the hours up to that preseason game, we can
(15:35):
go ahead and lock in and see if number eighteen
is out there. We talked about it at the beginning,
so I'll bring a full circle here to close it out.
I think it's that backup offensive line, like how to
Kyle Hint and Javon Gwin. They just made a signing
this week to add kind of competition of that's in
a position. Jake Hanson, thank you, Joshua Gray, those guys,
like how does that interior line look out there? Is
(15:56):
really kind of the number one thing I want to see.
Speaker 4 (15:58):
So cool.
Speaker 1 (15:59):
Well, that was that was a nice long two days
of joint practices. I'm exhausted, Taron, and I are not
any Tanner. I don't know how that's possible to move
me into this. All right, you got a nice like red.
I'm not any Tanner. I'll take that. I'll take the
blame on that, But kitchen trace.
Speaker 4 (16:18):
Sorry.
Speaker 1 (16:20):
We do have a great interview with Westurham coming up
for you all right after this, So that is going
to do it for us, and we will see you
all on Monday for our first final whistle of the preseason.
But until then, everybody take care. Westerham joins us now.
Of course, the minute he speaks, you will know exactly
who he is, because he is the legendary.
Speaker 4 (16:40):
Play by play. Wow, legendary legendary. It just means I've
been doing it a long time.
Speaker 2 (16:44):
He long?
Speaker 1 (16:44):
How long?
Speaker 4 (16:45):
This will be? Twenty two man? And never Yeah, David,
I've been since two thousand and four. We started ironically.
Let's see, I got the job twenty two years ago,
two four, or roughly right in this neighborhood of the
last I got the job essentially about nine days before
(17:06):
the first preseason game in two thousand and four. They
were still having training camp at Furman. I got a
phone call Jeff Hollinger, people who if you know, you know,
had done the games and he was leaving to go
to Tampa to take a TV job and the job
had come open. I had done preseason games ninety nine,
two thousand and two thousand and one when the games
(17:26):
were at WGST at the time, and they called and said,
would you be interested in the job? And I was
still doing Georgia Tech. And you know, at about seventy
two hours later, I was interested in the job and
talking to people about the job and then doing some
stuff and it all worked out. And it's been unbelievable since.
Speaker 1 (17:45):
The heck of a first season of US.
Speaker 4 (17:47):
Yeah no kidding, Yeah, I mean it was NFC Championship
game and a blizzard in Philadelphia, on the back end
of a blizzard in Philadelphia, and we've had some pretty
good moments since them. We've had some tough ones, no question,
but at the same time it's been fun just a.
Speaker 1 (18:01):
Little you know, scene setter for US. And now going
into your twenty second training camp, right, like, what do
you look for at this time of year to get
a sense like what is real and what's not for you.
Speaker 4 (18:12):
That's a really good question. It's one I'm asked a
lot in the offseason, like, you know, how do you
think they're going to be? Is the general question. When
somebody finds out kind of what I do, they'll say,
how do you think they're going to be? And this
is the first time in a long time that I
didn't have some you know, pre constructed comment about it,
because I really didn't know. I do think that the
(18:34):
fight is going to be on in the division, literally
from Game one to Game seventeen. I think it's going
to last that long. I think that if we see
a team, you know, get a big running start in
this division, it'll be a big surprise because I think
all four teams have kind of fortified themselves a little
bit to be better than they were now. Tampa's obviously
had a run, but they didn't run away with this
(18:55):
last year. Atlanta was right there. So I think it's
going to be really interesting. That's number one I think
this team is going to be. And it was pointed
out by Raheem last week that this is going to
be a combination of a youth movement and a veteran element.
It just feels like that some of that can work here,
and it worked to their advantage. I think the coordinator
(19:18):
change with Jeff coming back as a defensive coordinator is
certainly a positive one so far. But Tory and I
were talking in the process of camp, I'm intrigued as
much by the other coaching elements on the staff as
I am. Just here's Zach Robinson, Here's Jeff Albrick, Here's
Marquise Williams. I think guys like Nate Alli, right, DJ Williams,
We're starting to hear about other guys. We know Jerry
(19:40):
Gray's here, we know some of those, but there are
guys that are a fascinating case study as to why
is it we heard so much going into camp about
Nate Ali and now we're hearing a lot about DJ
Williams as it relates to Michael Pennix. We know TJ.
Yates is around, we know Zach Robinson's around. But there
is a chemistry element of that process with the coaching staff.
(20:01):
I do think some of it will play out through
the preseason will but I think once we get into
the regular season then we start to find maybe the microcosm,
if you will, of what their impact is on this
team and really both respects offensive defense.
Speaker 2 (20:16):
I know it's still early, and you know, you don't
ever find out like who a team is or what
their identity is until well into the season and when
it's probably established. But for you, is there a feeling
around the team right now that remind you of any
team in the last twenty years.
Speaker 4 (20:36):
I'm really bad at recalling specific years. Here I can
recall players, okay, okay, So here's kind of where I
am on this, And it didn't take me long to
draw this kind of comparison. We haven't really had any
as Arts likes to call them pile scrapers since Harvey
Dall and Tyson clay Bow were in the offensive line.
(20:57):
It feels like now that Matthew berger On and Ryan
Noozl and Chris Linstrom and to a degree Caleb and Jake,
who are the much more familiar pieces, if you will,
it feels like we got some pile scrapers right, and
maybe Bergeron has moved himself into the pile scraping mode. Now,
why are they pilescrapers? Because the early things with James Pierce, okay,
(21:22):
and we hadn't had anybody like that in a while
who's willing to bring the fight when it's your own
team and you're not wearing pats. Okay, So I respect
kind of the emotions in the momentum of both those
and think that that is a potential playing personality once
we get going. Look, we got three preseason games, by
(21:43):
the way, and then you start the season in weeks
one and two against teams that were double figure win
teams a year ago. I mean it's a lot and
so I see where that kind of energy can really
help this team. Because I don't know, you guys will
talk about the schedule at back and forth. I think
the first four are pretty big before the bye yep.
(22:04):
I think those four games. If you box him up
and said any four of the rest of the year,
I'd pick those four just because of who they are,
where they are that kind of you know, Tampa the
way last year went Minnesota because of what happened up
there last year, Washington, Carolina. I mean, you know, they're
all kind of sitting right there in that nice little
(22:26):
bracket before the bye week. So I think it's going
to be a team that does and raheem use this
term too edge, I think this team's gonna play with
the edge. I think it's gonna be on both sides
of the ball. That's kind of we haven't had the
offensive line edge, if you will. We had it some
with the Super Bowl team, right, but not like the
Clay Bow Doll McClure. You know guys you wanted to
(22:50):
talk to on the bus going to the airport, Clay
Bow who came up acted really nice to you, and
you were like, God, he is such a jack on
game days. Or Harvey Dall, who I'll never forget just
went downfield one time and cleaned some guy out and
got a flag. And I'm thinking, that's okay, that's what
you that's a message you wanted to send. So we'll
(23:12):
see how it goes. But I am intrigued to kind
of see it once it gets going.
Speaker 1 (23:16):
I mean one of the one of the kind of
scuffles out there during practice was kind of a moment
like that where it was a double team I think
on James and sure, we'll just kind of like just
kept holding him the whole time. But you could tell
that James wasn't backing down either. So yeah, you've got
this kind of immovable object, unstoppable force mentality at least
I think.
Speaker 4 (23:33):
And look, and there are other guys on this team
who have that kind of playing personality. I mean, Tory
and I have talked in the off season a little bit,
and the one that drives me crazy is Divine Diablo
because I saw him as a college player as a safety,
and now knowing kind of what he does for this team,
I am really gunned up about what he can beat, right,
(23:54):
I mean, I just think he fits it. And then
his impact on other guys, and that's back to the
whole you know, youth movement, veteran element composition of this
football team. And yeah, I can hear everybody going, well,
all thirty two other teams are just like that, Yeah,
but this one is a little unique, I think in
just the dynamic of timing more than anything else. And
(24:16):
sometimes it is about timing, yeah, I mean, you guys
know the history of this franchise. Sometimes you just kind
of walk into it and it feels somehow like maybe
that's to their advantage again this year too.
Speaker 2 (24:28):
I think the word we're talking about playing with an edge,
but I also think the word that this offense specifically
wants to be known for is explosion. Explosion being an
explosive offense. And I'm curious, even in the three games
that we saw of Michael Pennix, what your impression was
of him and what needs to happen in order for
(24:49):
him to take the next step to potentially be the
guy super long term down the road.
Speaker 4 (24:56):
Yeah, I think this has really probably been a very
different season from a year ago for him, long before
camp started, long before certainly we played the year. I
thought one of the things that benefited him so much
last year when he was given those three games was
the fact he played a lot of college football. And
(25:17):
the term I came away with at the end of
last year was he throws guys open. I think his
arm is big enough to do that. I think now
we get to find out how many variables there are
in Zach Robinson's playbook for Michael Pennix to make plays. Look,
we're not talking about Lamar Jackson's speed, but we are
talking about a guy who can make plays with his feet. Yeah,
(25:40):
he is very athletic. You know, we're all enamored about
he and Kyle Pitts in their golf game, along with
their ability to connect because we've been waiting on Kyle
since his rookie year. But the reality of this is,
Michael Pennix has to orchestrate the offense here. He's got
to make Jean Robinson a top five running back. He's
(26:02):
got to make Drake London top five wide receiver. Given
Darnell Mooney's health, what will he be able to contribute?
Can he come back toward those numbers a year ago?
And then how does Cadaryl Hodge figure in? How does
some of these other guys coming along. I just think
Michael Pennix is wiring, is going to be exposed this year.
(26:23):
Last year was just the physical gifts, the ability to
rip it, you know, make the decisions, drive the team
laid against Washington, stuff like that. This year we get
to find out if he's got that kind of killer
mentality from Game one on, that winning mentality. You know,
we got spoiled around here for a long time with that.
And Michael had moments at Washington, not so much at Indiana,
(26:47):
although there were a couple. He did have some moments
at Washington where you know, he drove them to win,
and that year they ultimately ended up in the National
Championship Game one at Oregon. I do believe he is
were in that acumen than we realize, but we haven't
seen it except for the one drive in DC. So
(27:07):
that's the one thing I'm looking forward to. I'm also
been pretty impressed with his poison handling all this. Yep.
You know, some guys get ahead of themselves. That's not
been the case, at least so far with him.
Speaker 1 (27:17):
I think, yeah, we've talked you know, a good bit
so far and came about his kind of maturity and
the confidence, but that it's been very true to himself, right,
And that's the biggest thing with the quarterback is it
can't be fake. And I actually I know the Washington
game was a great moment for him. I feel like
that touchdown run against Carolina and we gave team sure.
I've felt a little bit of that kind of like
competitive like you're not getting me down. I'm making this
(27:39):
play by myself vibe from him. So, but you're right,
the ability to orchestrate an offense and what does he
bring to an offense that allows them to kind of
open it up and have these weeks week maybe wrinkles
that other teams then have to really game plan against,
or it takes time away from some of the other things.
What does Michael Pennix bring to that so early on?
(28:01):
Like do you still expect knowing the great running backs,
the great offensive line? Like this is still a running offense, right,
Or do you think adding a big arm with Michael
Pennix changes that to some degree?
Speaker 2 (28:12):
No?
Speaker 4 (28:13):
I think you're right. I think the usage rate of
Tyler Algier will be interesting. John Robinson's usage rate will
be high. It should has to be high, and it
should be high, right, But what is Tyler Aljier's usage rate? Look,
we all understand the math of the National Football League, right,
(28:33):
I mean, this is a big year for Tyler Algier.
It's a big year, you know, invariably a big year
for Drake London, Kyle Pitts. We understand that on the
offensive side, And I agree with Pennix. If it all
goes right, this can be an incredibly gifted unit. Yes,
but you got to have it go right and you've
got to get off to the good start. I'm curious
(28:53):
to see and I think Warren Sharp does the football
analysis and I think he's got great information. Tyler Aljier
did not play more than twenty snaps in like the
last four or five games of the year weird, and
when you look at the number, you think, oh no,
wait a second, he was on the field more than that,
and then you realize the ball of his work was
(29:15):
what set week seven through ten somewhere along in there, right.
It felt like in the middle of the year he
had the big game in Charlotte when Arch coined him
the bowling ball of knives or whatever it was. Yeah,
razor blades, that's it. Amazing work, you know, and it
was just it was hilarious. So you did see a
high usage rate for him. But did we ever get to,
(29:37):
like I know you guys talked about this last year,
did we ever really get to a combination of he
and Beajon together where there was an impact to be made.
Speaker 2 (29:45):
There was one It was against the Steelers Week one,
and there was one specific play that they had them
both in the backfield. It was a handoff two Bajon
and I think it was a pickup of seven or
eight yards and that. And then there was one other time,
notably the same thing, but it was a tackle for
a loss a few weeks later the.
Speaker 1 (30:06):
City is the game that I'm saying it was that
fourth down play. Yeah, fourth and two both go in
there at the same time, and Tyler, you know, not
that he missed the blood like I think that was
his assignment yamately, So that was kind of the last
time because I remember being like, ooh, yep, we're getting
the two backs in here.
Speaker 2 (30:21):
In very early yeah, and then we never really saw
it out of that. Yeah.
Speaker 4 (30:25):
Yeah, And you wonder somewhere in the packaging is there,
you know, we saw a lot of what one back
two tight end situations last year. Is there some place
this year where it's eleven personnel and it's Toleral Jeers
the running back and Robinson somewhere lining up as a
wide receiver.
Speaker 1 (30:45):
I think it's very possible.
Speaker 4 (30:46):
Yeah, I mean, because you know, and look, everybody's everybody
says they're four three three four whatever, they're all multiple, right,
But the reality toory, right is it feels like at
some point you put both those guys out there, and
if you can do it the right way, especially upfront,
you can handle the blocking up front. How much of
(31:06):
that happened post Cousins, not much, if any, because Algier,
as we just stated, was not on the field that much.
So I'm curious to see what they can get to
I don't think we'll see it in the preseason, right,
and I think we'll I think we'll get to it
at some point. And I'm curious on the usage rate
of Tyler in particular, especially early in the campaign, as
to how that works for him, and what's the checks
(31:28):
and balances with Bajan because clearly he's a showstopper.
Speaker 2 (31:33):
So you brought him up and I'm gonna bring him
back up again because he is basically the enigma of
this offense, and it's Kyle Pits and what this fifth
year could look like for him? And I know I
asked Robert Mays this question. I've asked some different people,
but like, what does a successful year for Kyle Pits
look like? When you have a rookie year that you
(31:53):
are trying to replicate and you.
Speaker 5 (31:56):
Never really get back to that, Ye, what does this
fifth year look like? If what does that success look like?
Do we need to change the way we're thinking about
Cole Pits.
Speaker 4 (32:06):
It feels like it's been years and years, I mean
like a decade since he caught the touchdown pass in London. Yes, yes,
I mean TV pass from Matt Ryan in London. Feels
like it was three presidential administrations ago.
Speaker 2 (32:20):
And also that was the only touchdown he scored at
all that year the Bowl.
Speaker 4 (32:26):
Yeah you will for those of you scoring on the
Pro Bowl way, Yeah, that's what will McFadden's got all
your Pro Bowl highlights coming up next year.
Speaker 2 (32:35):
That was important because it was the only touchdown that
he scored on US oil.
Speaker 1 (32:40):
That's why I remember it. That's why I remember it.
Speaker 2 (32:43):
So.
Speaker 1 (32:43):
Okay, it does feel like forever ago because it was.
Speaker 4 (32:48):
So let's go back to the dynamic here about Cole Pits. Okay,
highest drafted tight end right the whole nine yards. We
remember that second part it is he's coming to a
city who really has had not only a Hall of
Fame tight end Tony Gonzalez, has had very successful, underrated
(33:10):
Pro Bowl tight ends in their history. I mean Algie
Crumpler on.
Speaker 2 (33:15):
We literally this summer, we're talking about Algae Crumpler for
probably ten straight minutes.
Speaker 1 (33:19):
All right, I use my favorite player growing up out
outside of mic of course, but.
Speaker 4 (33:23):
Now Algernon Darius Crumpler from Wilmington, North Carolina. So all
that being said, Kyle came in and had to operate
with those expectations already built in. Okay, you come in
under one coach, you end up with another.
Speaker 2 (33:38):
Blah blah blah, quarterback, quarterback, quarterback, quarterback, thank.
Speaker 4 (33:41):
You, Yeah, that's the other one. Go from the greatest
quarterback in franchise history. So then you go through the
carousela Mariota Desmond Ritter. Oh by the way, here yeah,
Taylor Henike, Here comes Kirk Cousins. And now all of
a sudden, you're Michael Pennix, now one of their golf buddies.
He's trying to get a name tag, get a feel
for the guy.
Speaker 1 (33:58):
Figure it out.
Speaker 4 (33:58):
Hey, you threw me the ball of water Washington is
a great catch. Here's tell me what else you like
to do?
Speaker 1 (34:03):
We got a tea time, let's go.
Speaker 4 (34:05):
Yeah, and you don't. I don't blame him, but it
gets back to the question of the sharing of the
football here. I mean, what's the matchup going to look like?
How do our defense is going to key more on
seven than eight? Are they going to key on five
more than seven? Seven and five are outliers and a
(34:26):
scouting report, in my opinion, they're the two top names
every week. Then what does nine do and how does
that impact eight. The one thing I've noticed in training camp,
Kyle's been much more of a willing blocker in some things,
in terms of things like Mike Johnson, who does the
mornings here in Atlanta on radio. Stand behind him at
one camp and he'll say, man, way, Pitts just you know,
(34:48):
created a block and a path for a jump cut
on a run game. There we go, Okay, so let's
check on the investment. I don't disagree that it's enigma
is such a negative connotation in terms of the word,
and it's frustrating for him as much as it is
for any fan. And we totally understand that. And as broadcasters,
(35:09):
you want to see, you want to call his name
in a game. That's the thing when I noticed they're
in a bit of a downswoon with him is when
I don't call his name much. Interesting if I don't
say his name much during a game ball intended for
whether it was completed or not. If you don't call
his name much, you wonder, Okay, has he disappeared from
the plan? Have they just not been able to find
(35:31):
a way? Feels like right now, with given the other weapons,
he's not at the top of the old scouting report.
I mean, think about it. Is he he's not one
or two? Is he three?
Speaker 1 (35:43):
I think strong? Yeah.
Speaker 2 (35:46):
Again, I go back to the conversation that I had
with Robert Mays, which everybody can can go check that
out as well. But he was like, when I'm thinking
about this offense, He's like, I don't really think about him,
And that is like, that's hard to hear because you're
talking about a number overall pick. But like if you're
having people from the outside looking in from five thousand
feet up, like and they're not really talking.
Speaker 4 (36:07):
About him, Like, I mean, he's gonna be on the roster,
you know. That's he's locked here. Yeah, he and Charlie
Warner are locked. The third tight end is gonna be
a fascinating piece of what Atlanta ultimately gets to here.
But he has got to be a factor. And I
wouldn't say we're boxing up those four games, will I'm
(36:27):
not gonna put as much pressure on those four as
I am the long game. Yeah, yeah, yeah. First I
just wanted to be start to finish. I'm just not
really interested in like, you know, flashes in.
Speaker 1 (36:36):
The first three to six yards and then twelve yards
right and then yah.
Speaker 4 (36:39):
Yeah, but then go back to ratios on targets per game. Yes,
sometimes it goes six, sometimes it's two. A couple of
times it's been one, you know. I mean we go
back to usage with toler aljiyear we can have the
same conversation as the urunfolds. I think about Kyle Pitts too.
Speaker 1 (36:56):
And I think it's such an interesting way to look
at it, where it's like when I'm saying his name,
more like I feel like the offense is in a
flow that there may be you know, yeah.
Speaker 4 (37:05):
I mean, look, when you've got the weaponry that Archie
and I've been fortunate to call for twenty odd years here,
you kind of know when it's rolling okay, and you know,
like in the Super Bowl year you were bang bang
bang bang bang bang, And that's kind of what it
feels like it has the chance to be. Not saying
it will be, but it feels like it can do that.
(37:28):
And if so, he's going to be a big part
of that. Well.
Speaker 1 (37:31):
The player I was I thought about when you were
saying that was actually Harry Douglas. It reminded me a
little bit of like nobody would compare him to de
Julio RODDI. But when like Harry was getting the ball
and successful at doing it, it was almost a sign
that the entire offense was having a good day.
Speaker 4 (37:45):
Yeah, okay, let's go back to that team in this respect.
Everybody knew how good Devonte Freeman was, But who scored
the touchdown to open a second half of Atlanta Tevin Coleman.
Speaker 1 (37:55):
Ye.
Speaker 4 (37:56):
See, that's what I mean about the combination at running
back too. You've got two gears. How do you change
those gears? Kyle Shanahan found ways to balance Freeman and
Coleman together. I think Zach has the ability certainly if
they want to try and do that with Robinson and
with al Jeer, they also do it in the throw game.
(38:17):
Because remember who else was involved in that touchdown in
the Super Bowl too, rookie tied end from Stanford Austin,
Austin Hooper, Austin Hooper, Julio Jones, Harry Douglas. Right. I mean,
you had all this stuff stacked up, all this artillery
was stacked up and ready to go. And you know, again,
(38:39):
that's why I think Pennix is not just saying it
to say it, although as the quarterback you probably should
you know, buy some optimism by some excitement, but there's
reason to think that if all goes well, you can
get toward that level they were was it ten years ago?
Now keep your take.
Speaker 2 (38:58):
So that actually leads us right into kind of how
we like to close out the podcast with this question.
So it's a thought provoking one where it's like a
thought exercise.
Speaker 4 (39:08):
Too old for thought provoking question.
Speaker 2 (39:10):
Here's That's all we've been doing today is we're just
thinking it.
Speaker 4 (39:13):
All right.
Speaker 2 (39:14):
So let's fast forward to January twenty twenty six, and
you are calling the game for this team and they
have punched their ticket into the postseason. Okay, what is
one thing that happened over the course of the regular
season that got them there?
Speaker 4 (39:35):
If they punched their ticket to the playoffs, they're going
to have been decent against the run, and I mean
that defensively, and they're going to win the turnover battle.
I'm not caught up in the red zone stuff yet
with this team. I just don't see that as kind
of being one of those things. But I do believe
(39:55):
they're going to have to stemy run and they're going
to have to win the turnover battle. They can't give
the ball away last couple of years, last three years,
I think the turnover stuff's just been you know, almost like.
Speaker 2 (40:06):
A death mail, very lopsided. Yeah, and also the timeliness
I think of turnovers it matters greatly as well.
Speaker 4 (40:13):
Yeah, they look there been things from a during a game.
I keep this chart and make notes each week about
percentage of scoring allowed in a quarter or percentage that
they've scored in a quarter, and there have been quarters
where they've been sub fifteen percent. They can't have that
happen this year either. Now. They also can't allow teams
to score forty odd percent in the first half like
(40:35):
they did, you know, last couple of years. I think
that's all really really impactful. But to me, the two
things are run, defense and turnovers, and if they do
those two things, and the other part too is they've
been kind of unfortunate with injuries. When you think about
a couple of years ago, Grady Jarrett and the ACL
tear right, and then last year, you know, you just
(40:57):
never quite felt like they got it. DeMarco Hellams, to me,
was going to have a huge season a year ago,
and he would have been a perfect fit for what
they're doing defensively. If they can stay away from the
big injury. I think that's going to be critical too.
And that's easy to say, run defense and turnover margins
a little bit more factual.
Speaker 1 (41:16):
Yeah, and obviously, you know, injuries are the main thing
to kind of watch throughout the preseason and just hope
they can make it, you know, to that week one
relatively healthy. But totally agree, Wes, this was amazing. Thank
you so much for taking the time to join us.
Your insight is always appreciated and welcome.
Speaker 4 (41:30):
Will you got the best voice on this podcast.
Speaker 1 (41:33):
See now you're lying to the people that we got
the best hair on the podcast. I'll take that. I'll
take that.
Speaker 4 (41:38):
Quite a flow you got going at Trevor, I mean
Speaker 1 (41:40):
Will Yeah, Thank you guys so much for watching and listening,
and we will see you guys next time.
What's up, y'all. Welcome back. I'm your host, Will mcfatt
and I've got Tory mclaney and Tarren Walk and we
are here to break down joint practices. We're gonna start
at the top of a little bit of a follow
up to the first preseason game. I apologize. I told
y'all you would have a final whistle coming Monday, but
because of the way that the game ended, you know,
we decided just to press pause on that. It's still
(00:20):
you know, we're working through the kinks, and we felt
like that wasn't the right time to kind of go
through that exercise. So everything, you know, if it goes
according to plan, we will have another final whistle on
Monday for you all after this second preseason game. But
kind of to share some thoughts on that preseason the
first preseason game, because you didn't hear from us, We're
gonna start briefly at the top, just talk about one
(00:41):
guy that we each picked that we felt either kind
of built throughout these two joint practices or maybe took
a step back after a strong preseason game and maybe
needs to kind of reignite that fire this weekend. So Tory,
we'll start with you after Friday's preseason game. Was there
somebody you felt really stood out in that game that
kind of either did a great job these last couple
(01:01):
of practices or maybe took a step back.
Speaker 2 (01:03):
For me, it was D'Angelo Imlone. I was very fascinated
with the cross training that he has been doing at
inside linebacker and more traditionally coming off the edge, and
that has been something that I feel like I've spent
a lot of time on this week asking Jeff Ulbrick,
Raheem Morris, even Dangelo himself what this transition has looked
like for him, because I do think that this is
(01:25):
the coaches really valuing. Yes, he is a special teams guy,
I believe, Rahim said he is the Barnyard bully on
special teams and that is his starting role. But the
fact that they are they're gonna have to make hard
decisions on a fifty three man roster, and you have
to provide more value than just special teams, and so
they're actively trying to figure out how to add value
(01:47):
to him within this defensive unit. He is somebody who,
like Jeff Fulbrig said, there were so many guys that
when Jeff Elbert came in and started evaluating this roster.
Is like there was a lot of guys who were
jack of all trades versus utility, master of nothing type
of players. And that's what he said, and I thought
that was a fair They'd been in so many different
systems that had asked them to do so many different things.
(02:10):
They didn't have time or honestly the capabilities to be like,
we can only focus on this one thing. So for
someone like Dangelo and Malone, it kind of got lost
in the shuffle. Well, as time has gone on this preseason,
I've been really excited about what I've seen him, particularly
playing a depth role within inside linebackers and off the edge.
(02:31):
You know, they're really full off the edge, and we
only got to see him a little bit, but what
I saw from him an inside linebacker I thought was
pretty important as you're talking about roster cutdowns, as you're
talking about people who add value across the entire fifty
three man. So he was somebody who if I'm talking
movers and shakers up and down the roster, he's someone
(02:52):
that after I saw what he did in that first
preseason game and the cross training and the reps he
got at both spots. He immediately shot up a bit
for me.
Speaker 1 (03:00):
And you have a movers and shakers piece that comes
up after these preseason games. So anybody who wants more
of an idea of really who we saw kind of
rise or fall after a prese game, go check that out.
But dan Sel Malone is a player we talked a
lot about last preseason as somebody who really stood out
to us. I think Taran you were the one that
identified him and was like, man number fifty one out there,
he's doing a lot. Was there anybody who saw in
(03:20):
this first preseason game that you felt the same way about.
Speaker 3 (03:23):
Well, you can always find my standouts from a game
in the game breakdown that'll publish right at the buzzer
every game, and this week in the preseason game, I
did a defensive and offensive and instead of going into
detail about them, go read it. But the names are
DeMarco Hellams, which I don't think anyone is surprised, and
East and Stick. So those are my standouts. But the area,
(03:44):
because you said, going into joint practices, what you wanted
to see more of and whatnot, I think my quote
unquote flag of concern would have to be the run game,
especially with the second team offensive line, because if you
look at the numbers, the Falcons only had twenty two
rushing yards against the Lions, and nine of them came
(04:05):
from quarterback Emery Jones. So that's like, you want to
see more, you need to see more, and so that's
something I hope they focused on in joint practices. I
don't know that we saw any big runs, but it's
so complicated in training camp because it isn't take them
to the ground, so you never really know who would
break a tackle or who would make it through the field.
(04:26):
It's just a thud and done.
Speaker 1 (04:28):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (04:28):
I think the problem that I had with the second
team offensive line was I didn't necessarily think they were
getting to the second level quick enough, and I think
to the detriment of the running backs carrying the ball,
it allowed the linebackers to kind of get in those
gaps and full on stop them within with probably only
one or two yard games. And so for that reason,
that's a big area that I think we're all looking
at going into this Friday as well.
Speaker 1 (04:49):
Yeah, one hundred percent that not being able to climb
to that second level, as you said, led to a
lot of like the running back meeting the linebacker in
the hole and not really going anywhere else. And I
don't fault the running backs for that necessarily, you know,
he got to kind of get the support somebody for
the Falcons who was meeting a lot of running backs
in the hole. With Josh Woods, he was a player
I thought the linebackers in particular, they get a little
bit of short shrift during training camp and the preseason
(05:13):
when the full team drills are happening because they're kind
of like right there in the middle, and it's easier
to look at the pass rush or the secondary and
not necessarily those guys right in the heart of it.
But I thought all week long, Josh Woods has been
really good at filling that hole, kind of reading the
flow of the offense and then adjusting and finding his
space to then make the impact right there the line
of scrimmage. So Josh Woods is a player that we
(05:34):
haven't given a ton of love to. He's probably also
fighting for a special team's kind of reserve role there.
But I thought he's played well the last few days.
So let's go ahead and start talking a little bit
more about joint practices. We mentioned kind of that reserve
offensive line group in the run game when they're in there.
But was there anything else that over the span of
two days really kind of stood out to you? Taran?
Speaker 3 (05:56):
Oh, gosh, the today is more recent mind aka Wednesday,
I almost a Thursday.
Speaker 1 (06:03):
It feels Thursday energy.
Speaker 3 (06:05):
Yeah, But Wednesday, with all the scuffles that happened, I
think you saw a bunch of fire within this team.
And something that surprised me is like, when it was
just Falcons on Falcons, it was the defense that was
kind of getting the chirpiest. But today I wasn't over there,
so I'll let Tory talk about it. The offense was
the chirpiest, and special teams, which we know has my
heart was chirpy. So it was just interesting. It wasn't
(06:29):
what I expected, and I think that has stood out most.
But besides that, I think yesterday was a completely different
day of practice than today, where yesterday I think you
walked away thinking the Falcons quote unquote won the joint
practice against the Titans, whereas today, I think the Titans
showed up thinking they had more to prove or had
to like step up their game because I wonder, I mean,
(06:51):
Calvin Ridley did did call out social media while scoring
a touchdown against the Falcons defense today, so just all
of social media, so he know about what people were
saying yesterday. So I think the Titans came in today
something with more to prove, and maybe that heightened the emotions.
Not saying they won. It just was a very different practice.
Speaker 2 (07:11):
I think for me, my observations are kind of twofold.
I'll start with the idea of I feel like this
defensive front, what they did on Friday night against the
Lions was not a mirage based on what we have
seen them do the last two days, I think they
have been very impressive. They're very impressive on Friday night,
collapsing the pocket. I thought that they're very impressive, especially
(07:33):
yesterday on Tuesday, making cam ward incredibly uncomfortable. A few
times you see Lakale, London, Rucuroro, Brandon Doriles, Zach Harrison
in the lap of cam Warden, and I think that
it was obvious how much pressure he has been under
the last couple of days, based on the intensity that
defensive front has been playing with. And then my second
(07:55):
note on something that I found to be something that
is incredibly interesting to me based on the conversations we're
talking about within the fifty three man roster is Natrone
Brooks establishing himself as the first cornerback off the bench.
This is a guy who we have been talking about
at nauseum over the course of camp of really showing
up and playing well, and he starting yesterday. They were
(08:19):
actually during the team periods he was getting some run
with the ones. He was subbing in for Mike Ces,
playing alongside AJ Traill. He was subbing in for aj
Traill to play alongside Mike Cues, getting those reps to
almost simulate what happens if one of those guys goes down.
And so he's someone who, as we're talking about the
D'Angelo Malones of the world, he is somebody who I
(08:40):
think is shooting up that fifty three man roster in
terms of importance. And seeing that, along with what was
happening along the defensive front, I thought was incredibly indicative
of what this defense wants to be.
Speaker 1 (08:57):
Yeah, I love that.
Speaker 3 (08:59):
Sorry, you guys, piggyback off that a little bit because
it just reminded me of someone who I noted today
was Mike Ford because he was rotating with de Alford
among the first team defense. So I think it's nice
to see how much they are cultivating that depth in
the secondary because we talk about the rotation so much
upfront with a defensive lineman and the edge rushers, and
(09:20):
so to know that they're building that in the backfield. Also,
not that they're going to rotate nearly as often, but
if someone were to go down, they have options who
are proving themselves, not just with the second team, but
with the first team unit itself.
Speaker 1 (09:34):
Yeah, I think that's an important note because you could
have an injury at any point, right it could be
the first snap of the game and all of a sudden,
now that second team players is starting for the rest
of the game, and so having these extended periods where
it doesn't necessarily matter as much, but you are able
to get that continuity developing of I'm just hearing somebody
else's voice that I'm not used to giving me that
information is important. But we haven't done a great job
(09:57):
of sticking with our Camp Champ, much of the chagrin
of a vocal minority. But I do think Theatron Brooks
would be definitely in the running right now for Camp Champ.
Maybe he and Casey Washington like that we should just
line those two up in a one on one at
the end of training camp and just be like, wat,
I guess is today is the official end of trade.
We should have done that afterwards? Is all right? You
guys had to head Monolymno. Yeah, but the defensive line
(10:20):
in particular, that is going to be something that I
think is the takeaway for me from all of training
camp is just the energy, the vibe, the rotation, the
number of guys coming in. And I caught up with
Peter Skronsky, the offensive one and for Tennessee because you
guys did a great job locking down the Falcons media availability.
So I just meandered on over to the much more
laid back like Tennessee guys walking off the field and
(10:43):
stopped him and I was just like, what was Tell
me a little bit about your experience going against this
defensive line, and he was like, man, you can tell
the influence of kind of Raheem Morris's idea and Jeff
Olberg's ideas and kind of like meshing them together, and
specifically the rotation. He was like, I hate that. I
hate that so much. As an offensive lineman, I gotta
be out there just every single snap, and now I
(11:04):
see another four sets of dudes like running onto the field,
fresh legs, all of that stuff. So you understand the
mindset and the mentality that this defense is trying to
bring in, how they're gonna make life harder kind of
the way Tyler Aljier does in the fourth quarter on defenses.
They want to do that to opposing offenses and wear
them down.
Speaker 2 (11:21):
So one note I will add on this as talking
to Brandon Dorles on Tuesday, he made the comment he
was like, nay Ali, who's the defensive line coach for
the Falcons, has made it a point to tell this
defensive front, you will not play more than four plays
in a row. If you get to number five, you're
coming out. And it's because to your point, they want
that fresh, violent energy to go up against these linemen
(11:46):
that Let's be honest, if you get to number five,
play number five and you're moving and you're shaking and
all that kind of stuff, and you get a fresh
James Pierce Junior coming at you after four bouts with
Leonard Floyd, I think that's going to matter, especially as
you get deep into the season and guy's legs aren't
as fresh you are feeling the grind of a regular season.
(12:09):
So to your point, I think that's a very interesting
note that Brandon doylescape. There you get four, four plays,
if you get to five, you're coming out.
Speaker 1 (12:17):
You just you're making me think of like putting a
whole new set of tires on a race car during
a pit stop, Like that's basically what this and you
just all right, we're gonna pull in boom four more,
get it, four more, get out there, four tires fuel.
Speaker 4 (12:28):
There you go.
Speaker 1 (12:30):
So let's let's go ahead and pivot to the next
preseason game, which take place Friday, seven o'clock kickoff inside
of Mercedes Benz Stadium. Now that we've seen two days,
we're gonna get our own little pit stop on Thursday,
a break, you know, before the action. What do you
want to see Tory out there on Friday night? Is
there anybody in particular that you're going to be locked
in on?
Speaker 2 (12:49):
David Sales the fifth I am. I feel like I
have a really great idea of what this defense is
and who they are already, even despite the fact that
we haven't even seen the first team defense. Go out
and get you know, some real live reps to me,
I am very curious to see if there is any
way that someone like David Seals the Fifth can make
this fifty three man roster because and this goes back
(13:12):
to something that we've talked about so much, like, Okay,
you know for a fact you can pencil in Drake London,
Darnell Mooney, probably, Cadara Hodge, probably Jamal Agnew, Casey Washington,
and Ray Ray McCloud.
Speaker 1 (13:26):
That is sorry, I.
Speaker 2 (13:28):
Sorry, I was kind of maybe I went in alphabetical
order and didn't even notice that would be that would
be crazy, That would be crazy. So those are your six?
Can you make a spot for David Seals the fifth?
Speaker 1 (13:40):
Has he played special teams? Have we seen him play
special teams?
Speaker 2 (13:43):
I think he yes, he has, he was he was yes,
and I personally I think that what we have seen
him over the course of the last two days, he's
getting reps with the ones. I don't know if you
can carry seven receivers, I really don't not on I
don't know on this roster if you can do that.
Speaker 1 (13:57):
Now when you're carrying like seventeen defensive lines exactly.
Speaker 2 (14:00):
And so for me it's like it's really I want
to see him establish himself the way that maybe Dylan
Drummond did on Friday Night, kind of have some more
opportunities to get some balls thrown his way, because I
do think he can make a case to make this
fifty three men roster and if anything, be a practice
squad elevation down the road, because from what we have
(14:23):
seen from him specifically getting some work in with the
ones alongside Drake London or even Heck in Drake London's
spot if Drake is not out there, I think that's valuable.
Speaker 1 (14:34):
Yeah, and the Falcons have said, you know, they look,
they take an expanded view.
Speaker 4 (14:38):
Of all of it.
Speaker 1 (14:38):
They look at the practice squad in addition to that
active roster. So you're right, if he doesn't make the
fifty three, they view that extra expanded practice squad as
an extension and maybe they make that call up. What
about you Urn, We've.
Speaker 3 (14:49):
Already discussed the second offensive line along with the run
game needing to improve in this preseason game. So otherwise,
I think something that has perked my ears up. I
don't know if it's going to have I don't think
it's going to happen, but raheem Or has left the
door open for Kirk Cousins playing in the preseason game.
And I'm just going to leave it at that because
(15:10):
he left it at that without saying yes or no.
Speaker 2 (15:13):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (15:13):
Yeah, he got a lot of run the last couple
of days, so it'll be. But he he also said,
I'm Kirk is among those players, right, those veterans were
I'm gonna chat with him a little bit. He knows
as much as anybody about what he needs to get
ready to go in a season. So it'll, yeah, exactly, it'll.
It'll open a period of entertainment and the lead up
to the hours up to that preseason game, we can
(15:35):
go ahead and lock in and see if number eighteen
is out there. We talked about it at the beginning,
so I'll bring a full circle here to close it out.
I think it's that backup offensive line, like how to
Kyle Hint and Javon Gwin. They just made a signing
this week to add kind of competition of that's in
a position. Jake Hanson, thank you, Joshua Gray, those guys,
like how does that interior line look out there? Is
(15:56):
really kind of the number one thing I want to see.
Speaker 4 (15:58):
So cool.
Speaker 1 (15:59):
Well, that was that was a nice long two days
of joint practices. I'm exhausted, Taron, and I are not
any Tanner. I don't know how that's possible to move
me into this. All right, you got a nice like red.
I'm not any Tanner. I'll take that. I'll take the
blame on that, But kitchen trace.
Speaker 4 (16:18):
Sorry.
Speaker 1 (16:20):
We do have a great interview with Westurham coming up
for you all right after this, So that is going
to do it for us, and we will see you
all on Monday for our first final whistle of the preseason.
But until then, everybody take care. Westerham joins us now.
Of course, the minute he speaks, you will know exactly
who he is, because he is the legendary.
Speaker 4 (16:40):
Play by play. Wow, legendary legendary. It just means I've
been doing it a long time.
Speaker 2 (16:44):
He long?
Speaker 1 (16:44):
How long?
Speaker 4 (16:45):
This will be? Twenty two man? And never Yeah, David,
I've been since two thousand and four. We started ironically.
Let's see, I got the job twenty two years ago,
two four, or roughly right in this neighborhood of the
last I got the job essentially about nine days before
(17:06):
the first preseason game in two thousand and four. They
were still having training camp at Furman. I got a
phone call Jeff Hollinger, people who if you know, you know,
had done the games and he was leaving to go
to Tampa to take a TV job and the job
had come open. I had done preseason games ninety nine,
two thousand and two thousand and one when the games
(17:26):
were at WGST at the time, and they called and said,
would you be interested in the job? And I was
still doing Georgia Tech. And you know, at about seventy
two hours later, I was interested in the job and
talking to people about the job and then doing some
stuff and it all worked out. And it's been unbelievable since.
Speaker 1 (17:45):
The heck of a first season of US.
Speaker 4 (17:47):
Yeah no kidding, Yeah, I mean it was NFC Championship
game and a blizzard in Philadelphia, on the back end
of a blizzard in Philadelphia, and we've had some pretty
good moments since them. We've had some tough ones, no question,
but at the same time it's been fun just a.
Speaker 1 (18:01):
Little you know, scene setter for US. And now going
into your twenty second training camp, right, like, what do
you look for at this time of year to get
a sense like what is real and what's not for you.
Speaker 4 (18:12):
That's a really good question. It's one I'm asked a
lot in the offseason, like, you know, how do you
think they're going to be? Is the general question. When
somebody finds out kind of what I do, they'll say,
how do you think they're going to be? And this
is the first time in a long time that I
didn't have some you know, pre constructed comment about it,
because I really didn't know. I do think that the
(18:34):
fight is going to be on in the division, literally
from Game one to Game seventeen. I think it's going
to last that long. I think that if we see
a team, you know, get a big running start in
this division, it'll be a big surprise because I think
all four teams have kind of fortified themselves a little
bit to be better than they were now. Tampa's obviously
had a run, but they didn't run away with this
(18:55):
last year. Atlanta was right there. So I think it's
going to be really interesting. That's number one I think
this team is going to be. And it was pointed
out by Raheem last week that this is going to
be a combination of a youth movement and a veteran element.
It just feels like that some of that can work here,
and it worked to their advantage. I think the coordinator
(19:18):
change with Jeff coming back as a defensive coordinator is
certainly a positive one so far. But Tory and I
were talking in the process of camp, I'm intrigued as
much by the other coaching elements on the staff as
I am. Just here's Zach Robinson, Here's Jeff Albrick, Here's
Marquise Williams. I think guys like Nate Alli, right, DJ Williams,
We're starting to hear about other guys. We know Jerry
(19:40):
Gray's here, we know some of those, but there are
guys that are a fascinating case study as to why
is it we heard so much going into camp about
Nate Ali and now we're hearing a lot about DJ
Williams as it relates to Michael Pennix. We know TJ.
Yates is around, we know Zach Robinson's around. But there
is a chemistry element of that process with the coaching staff.
(20:01):
I do think some of it will play out through
the preseason will but I think once we get into
the regular season then we start to find maybe the microcosm,
if you will, of what their impact is on this
team and really both respects offensive defense.
Speaker 2 (20:16):
I know it's still early, and you know, you don't
ever find out like who a team is or what
their identity is until well into the season and when
it's probably established. But for you, is there a feeling
around the team right now that remind you of any
team in the last twenty years.
Speaker 4 (20:36):
I'm really bad at recalling specific years. Here I can
recall players, okay, okay, So here's kind of where I
am on this, And it didn't take me long to
draw this kind of comparison. We haven't really had any
as Arts likes to call them pile scrapers since Harvey
Dall and Tyson clay Bow were in the offensive line.
(20:57):
It feels like now that Matthew berger On and Ryan
Noozl and Chris Linstrom and to a degree Caleb and Jake,
who are the much more familiar pieces, if you will,
it feels like we got some pile scrapers right, and
maybe Bergeron has moved himself into the pile scraping mode. Now,
why are they pilescrapers? Because the early things with James Pierce, okay,
(21:22):
and we hadn't had anybody like that in a while
who's willing to bring the fight when it's your own
team and you're not wearing pats. Okay, So I respect
kind of the emotions in the momentum of both those
and think that that is a potential playing personality once
we get going. Look, we got three preseason games, by
(21:43):
the way, and then you start the season in weeks
one and two against teams that were double figure win
teams a year ago. I mean it's a lot and
so I see where that kind of energy can really
help this team. Because I don't know, you guys will
talk about the schedule at back and forth. I think
the first four are pretty big before the bye yep.
(22:04):
I think those four games. If you box him up
and said any four of the rest of the year,
I'd pick those four just because of who they are,
where they are that kind of you know, Tampa the
way last year went Minnesota because of what happened up
there last year, Washington, Carolina. I mean, you know, they're
all kind of sitting right there in that nice little
(22:26):
bracket before the bye week. So I think it's going
to be a team that does and raheem use this
term too edge, I think this team's gonna play with
the edge. I think it's gonna be on both sides
of the ball. That's kind of we haven't had the
offensive line edge, if you will. We had it some
with the Super Bowl team, right, but not like the
Clay Bow Doll McClure. You know guys you wanted to
(22:50):
talk to on the bus going to the airport, Clay
Bow who came up acted really nice to you, and
you were like, God, he is such a jack on
game days. Or Harvey Dall, who I'll never forget just
went downfield one time and cleaned some guy out and
got a flag. And I'm thinking, that's okay, that's what
you that's a message you wanted to send. So we'll
(23:12):
see how it goes. But I am intrigued to kind
of see it once it gets going.
Speaker 1 (23:16):
I mean one of the one of the kind of
scuffles out there during practice was kind of a moment
like that where it was a double team I think
on James and sure, we'll just kind of like just
kept holding him the whole time. But you could tell
that James wasn't backing down either. So yeah, you've got
this kind of immovable object, unstoppable force mentality at least
I think.
Speaker 4 (23:33):
And look, and there are other guys on this team
who have that kind of playing personality. I mean, Tory
and I have talked in the off season a little bit,
and the one that drives me crazy is Divine Diablo
because I saw him as a college player as a safety,
and now knowing kind of what he does for this team,
I am really gunned up about what he can beat, right,
(23:54):
I mean, I just think he fits it. And then
his impact on other guys, and that's back to the
whole you know, youth movement, veteran element composition of this
football team. And yeah, I can hear everybody going, well,
all thirty two other teams are just like that, Yeah,
but this one is a little unique, I think in
just the dynamic of timing more than anything else. And
(24:16):
sometimes it is about timing, yeah, I mean, you guys
know the history of this franchise. Sometimes you just kind
of walk into it and it feels somehow like maybe
that's to their advantage again this year too.
Speaker 2 (24:28):
I think the word we're talking about playing with an edge,
but I also think the word that this offense specifically
wants to be known for is explosion. Explosion being an
explosive offense. And I'm curious, even in the three games
that we saw of Michael Pennix, what your impression was
of him and what needs to happen in order for
(24:49):
him to take the next step to potentially be the
guy super long term down the road.
Speaker 4 (24:56):
Yeah, I think this has really probably been a very
different season from a year ago for him, long before
camp started, long before certainly we played the year. I
thought one of the things that benefited him so much
last year when he was given those three games was
the fact he played a lot of college football. And
(25:17):
the term I came away with at the end of
last year was he throws guys open. I think his
arm is big enough to do that. I think now
we get to find out how many variables there are
in Zach Robinson's playbook for Michael Pennix to make plays. Look,
we're not talking about Lamar Jackson's speed, but we are
talking about a guy who can make plays with his feet. Yeah,
(25:40):
he is very athletic. You know, we're all enamored about
he and Kyle Pitts in their golf game, along with
their ability to connect because we've been waiting on Kyle
since his rookie year. But the reality of this is,
Michael Pennix has to orchestrate the offense here. He's got
to make Jean Robinson a top five running back. He's
(26:02):
got to make Drake London top five wide receiver. Given
Darnell Mooney's health, what will he be able to contribute?
Can he come back toward those numbers a year ago?
And then how does Cadaryl Hodge figure in? How does
some of these other guys coming along. I just think
Michael Pennix is wiring, is going to be exposed this year.
(26:23):
Last year was just the physical gifts, the ability to
rip it, you know, make the decisions, drive the team
laid against Washington, stuff like that. This year we get
to find out if he's got that kind of killer
mentality from Game one on, that winning mentality. You know,
we got spoiled around here for a long time with that.
And Michael had moments at Washington, not so much at Indiana,
(26:47):
although there were a couple. He did have some moments
at Washington where you know, he drove them to win,
and that year they ultimately ended up in the National
Championship Game one at Oregon. I do believe he is
were in that acumen than we realize, but we haven't
seen it except for the one drive in DC. So
(27:07):
that's the one thing I'm looking forward to. I'm also
been pretty impressed with his poison handling all this. Yep.
You know, some guys get ahead of themselves. That's not
been the case, at least so far with him.
Speaker 1 (27:17):
I think, yeah, we've talked you know, a good bit
so far and came about his kind of maturity and
the confidence, but that it's been very true to himself, right,
And that's the biggest thing with the quarterback is it
can't be fake. And I actually I know the Washington
game was a great moment for him. I feel like
that touchdown run against Carolina and we gave team sure.
I've felt a little bit of that kind of like
competitive like you're not getting me down. I'm making this
(27:39):
play by myself vibe from him. So, but you're right,
the ability to orchestrate an offense and what does he
bring to an offense that allows them to kind of
open it up and have these weeks week maybe wrinkles
that other teams then have to really game plan against,
or it takes time away from some of the other things.
What does Michael Pennix bring to that so early on?
(28:01):
Like do you still expect knowing the great running backs,
the great offensive line? Like this is still a running offense, right,
Or do you think adding a big arm with Michael
Pennix changes that to some degree?
Speaker 2 (28:12):
No?
Speaker 4 (28:13):
I think you're right. I think the usage rate of
Tyler Algier will be interesting. John Robinson's usage rate will
be high. It should has to be high, and it
should be high, right, But what is Tyler Aljier's usage rate? Look,
we all understand the math of the National Football League, right,
(28:33):
I mean, this is a big year for Tyler Algier.
It's a big year, you know, invariably a big year
for Drake London, Kyle Pitts. We understand that on the
offensive side, And I agree with Pennix. If it all
goes right, this can be an incredibly gifted unit. Yes,
but you got to have it go right and you've
got to get off to the good start. I'm curious
(28:53):
to see and I think Warren Sharp does the football
analysis and I think he's got great information. Tyler Aljier
did not play more than twenty snaps in like the
last four or five games of the year weird, and
when you look at the number, you think, oh no,
wait a second, he was on the field more than that,
and then you realize the ball of his work was
(29:15):
what set week seven through ten somewhere along in there, right.
It felt like in the middle of the year he
had the big game in Charlotte when Arch coined him
the bowling ball of knives or whatever it was. Yeah,
razor blades, that's it. Amazing work, you know, and it
was just it was hilarious. So you did see a
high usage rate for him. But did we ever get to,
(29:37):
like I know you guys talked about this last year,
did we ever really get to a combination of he
and Beajon together where there was an impact to be made.
Speaker 2 (29:45):
There was one It was against the Steelers Week one,
and there was one specific play that they had them
both in the backfield. It was a handoff two Bajon
and I think it was a pickup of seven or
eight yards and that. And then there was one other time,
notably the same thing, but it was a tackle for
a loss a few weeks later the.
Speaker 1 (30:06):
City is the game that I'm saying it was that
fourth down play. Yeah, fourth and two both go in
there at the same time, and Tyler, you know, not
that he missed the blood like I think that was
his assignment yamately, So that was kind of the last
time because I remember being like, ooh, yep, we're getting
the two backs in here.
Speaker 2 (30:21):
In very early yeah, and then we never really saw
it out of that. Yeah.
Speaker 4 (30:25):
Yeah, And you wonder somewhere in the packaging is there,
you know, we saw a lot of what one back
two tight end situations last year. Is there some place
this year where it's eleven personnel and it's Toleral Jeers
the running back and Robinson somewhere lining up as a
wide receiver.
Speaker 1 (30:45):
I think it's very possible.
Speaker 4 (30:46):
Yeah, I mean, because you know, and look, everybody's everybody
says they're four three three four whatever, they're all multiple, right,
But the reality toory, right is it feels like at
some point you put both those guys out there, and
if you can do it the right way, especially upfront,
you can handle the blocking up front. How much of
(31:06):
that happened post Cousins, not much, if any, because Algier,
as we just stated, was not on the field that much.
So I'm curious to see what they can get to
I don't think we'll see it in the preseason, right,
and I think we'll I think we'll get to it
at some point. And I'm curious on the usage rate
of Tyler in particular, especially early in the campaign, as
to how that works for him, and what's the checks
(31:28):
and balances with Bajan because clearly he's a showstopper.
Speaker 2 (31:33):
So you brought him up and I'm gonna bring him
back up again because he is basically the enigma of
this offense, and it's Kyle Pits and what this fifth
year could look like for him? And I know I
asked Robert Mays this question. I've asked some different people,
but like, what does a successful year for Kyle Pits
look like? When you have a rookie year that you
(31:53):
are trying to replicate and you.
Speaker 5 (31:56):
Never really get back to that, Ye, what does this
fifth year look like? If what does that success look like?
Do we need to change the way we're thinking about
Cole Pits.
Speaker 4 (32:06):
It feels like it's been years and years, I mean
like a decade since he caught the touchdown pass in London. Yes, yes,
I mean TV pass from Matt Ryan in London. Feels
like it was three presidential administrations ago.
Speaker 2 (32:20):
And also that was the only touchdown he scored at
all that year the Bowl.
Speaker 4 (32:26):
Yeah you will for those of you scoring on the
Pro Bowl way, Yeah, that's what will McFadden's got all
your Pro Bowl highlights coming up next year.
Speaker 2 (32:35):
That was important because it was the only touchdown that
he scored on US oil.
Speaker 1 (32:40):
That's why I remember it. That's why I remember it.
Speaker 2 (32:43):
So.
Speaker 1 (32:43):
Okay, it does feel like forever ago because it was.
Speaker 4 (32:48):
So let's go back to the dynamic here about Cole Pits. Okay,
highest drafted tight end right the whole nine yards. We
remember that second part it is he's coming to a
city who really has had not only a Hall of
Fame tight end Tony Gonzalez, has had very successful, underrated
(33:10):
Pro Bowl tight ends in their history. I mean Algie
Crumpler on.
Speaker 2 (33:15):
We literally this summer, we're talking about Algae Crumpler for
probably ten straight minutes.
Speaker 1 (33:19):
All right, I use my favorite player growing up out
outside of mic of course, but.
Speaker 4 (33:23):
Now Algernon Darius Crumpler from Wilmington, North Carolina. So all
that being said, Kyle came in and had to operate
with those expectations already built in. Okay, you come in
under one coach, you end up with another.
Speaker 2 (33:38):
Blah blah blah, quarterback, quarterback, quarterback, quarterback, thank.
Speaker 4 (33:41):
You, Yeah, that's the other one. Go from the greatest
quarterback in franchise history. So then you go through the
carousela Mariota Desmond Ritter. Oh by the way, here yeah,
Taylor Henike, Here comes Kirk Cousins. And now all of
a sudden, you're Michael Pennix, now one of their golf buddies.
He's trying to get a name tag, get a feel
for the guy.
Speaker 1 (33:58):
Figure it out.
Speaker 4 (33:58):
Hey, you threw me the ball of water Washington is
a great catch. Here's tell me what else you like
to do?
Speaker 1 (34:03):
We got a tea time, let's go.
Speaker 4 (34:05):
Yeah, and you don't. I don't blame him, but it
gets back to the question of the sharing of the
football here. I mean, what's the matchup going to look like?
How do our defense is going to key more on
seven than eight? Are they going to key on five
more than seven? Seven and five are outliers and a
(34:26):
scouting report, in my opinion, they're the two top names
every week. Then what does nine do and how does
that impact eight. The one thing I've noticed in training camp,
Kyle's been much more of a willing blocker in some things,
in terms of things like Mike Johnson, who does the
mornings here in Atlanta on radio. Stand behind him at
one camp and he'll say, man, way, Pitts just you know,
(34:48):
created a block and a path for a jump cut
on a run game. There we go, Okay, so let's
check on the investment. I don't disagree that it's enigma
is such a negative connotation in terms of the word,
and it's frustrating for him as much as it is
for any fan. And we totally understand that. And as broadcasters,
(35:09):
you want to see, you want to call his name
in a game. That's the thing when I noticed they're
in a bit of a downswoon with him is when
I don't call his name much. Interesting if I don't
say his name much during a game ball intended for
whether it was completed or not. If you don't call
his name much, you wonder, Okay, has he disappeared from
the plan? Have they just not been able to find
(35:31):
a way? Feels like right now, with given the other weapons,
he's not at the top of the old scouting report.
I mean, think about it. Is he he's not one
or two? Is he three?
Speaker 1 (35:43):
I think strong? Yeah.
Speaker 2 (35:46):
Again, I go back to the conversation that I had
with Robert Mays, which everybody can can go check that
out as well. But he was like, when I'm thinking
about this offense, He's like, I don't really think about him,
And that is like, that's hard to hear because you're
talking about a number overall pick. But like if you're
having people from the outside looking in from five thousand
feet up, like and they're not really talking.
Speaker 4 (36:07):
About him, Like, I mean, he's gonna be on the roster,
you know. That's he's locked here. Yeah, he and Charlie
Warner are locked. The third tight end is gonna be
a fascinating piece of what Atlanta ultimately gets to here.
But he has got to be a factor. And I
wouldn't say we're boxing up those four games, will I'm
(36:27):
not gonna put as much pressure on those four as
I am the long game. Yeah, yeah, yeah. First I
just wanted to be start to finish. I'm just not
really interested in like, you know, flashes in.
Speaker 1 (36:36):
The first three to six yards and then twelve yards
right and then yah.
Speaker 4 (36:39):
Yeah, but then go back to ratios on targets per game. Yes,
sometimes it goes six, sometimes it's two. A couple of
times it's been one, you know. I mean we go
back to usage with toler aljiyear we can have the
same conversation as the urunfolds. I think about Kyle Pitts too.
Speaker 1 (36:56):
And I think it's such an interesting way to look
at it, where it's like when I'm saying his name,
more like I feel like the offense is in a
flow that there may be you know, yeah.
Speaker 4 (37:05):
I mean, look, when you've got the weaponry that Archie
and I've been fortunate to call for twenty odd years here,
you kind of know when it's rolling okay, and you know,
like in the Super Bowl year you were bang bang
bang bang bang bang, And that's kind of what it
feels like it has the chance to be. Not saying
it will be, but it feels like it can do that.
(37:28):
And if so, he's going to be a big part
of that. Well.
Speaker 1 (37:31):
The player I was I thought about when you were
saying that was actually Harry Douglas. It reminded me a
little bit of like nobody would compare him to de
Julio RODDI. But when like Harry was getting the ball
and successful at doing it, it was almost a sign
that the entire offense was having a good day.
Speaker 4 (37:45):
Yeah, okay, let's go back to that team in this respect.
Everybody knew how good Devonte Freeman was, But who scored
the touchdown to open a second half of Atlanta Tevin Coleman.
Speaker 1 (37:55):
Ye.
Speaker 4 (37:56):
See, that's what I mean about the combination at running
back too. You've got two gears. How do you change
those gears? Kyle Shanahan found ways to balance Freeman and
Coleman together. I think Zach has the ability certainly if
they want to try and do that with Robinson and
with al Jeer, they also do it in the throw game.
(38:17):
Because remember who else was involved in that touchdown in
the Super Bowl too, rookie tied end from Stanford Austin,
Austin Hooper, Austin Hooper, Julio Jones, Harry Douglas. Right. I mean,
you had all this stuff stacked up, all this artillery
was stacked up and ready to go. And you know, again,
(38:39):
that's why I think Pennix is not just saying it
to say it, although as the quarterback you probably should
you know, buy some optimism by some excitement, but there's
reason to think that if all goes well, you can
get toward that level they were was it ten years ago?
Now keep your take.
Speaker 2 (38:58):
So that actually leads us right into kind of how
we like to close out the podcast with this question.
So it's a thought provoking one where it's like a
thought exercise.
Speaker 4 (39:08):
Too old for thought provoking question.
Speaker 2 (39:10):
Here's That's all we've been doing today is we're just
thinking it.
Speaker 4 (39:13):
All right.
Speaker 2 (39:14):
So let's fast forward to January twenty twenty six, and
you are calling the game for this team and they
have punched their ticket into the postseason. Okay, what is
one thing that happened over the course of the regular
season that got them there?
Speaker 4 (39:35):
If they punched their ticket to the playoffs, they're going
to have been decent against the run, and I mean
that defensively, and they're going to win the turnover battle.
I'm not caught up in the red zone stuff yet
with this team. I just don't see that as kind
of being one of those things. But I do believe
(39:55):
they're going to have to stemy run and they're going
to have to win the turnover battle. They can't give
the ball away last couple of years, last three years,
I think the turnover stuff's just been you know, almost like.
Speaker 2 (40:06):
A death mail, very lopsided. Yeah, and also the timeliness
I think of turnovers it matters greatly as well.
Speaker 4 (40:13):
Yeah, they look there been things from a during a game.
I keep this chart and make notes each week about
percentage of scoring allowed in a quarter or percentage that
they've scored in a quarter, and there have been quarters
where they've been sub fifteen percent. They can't have that
happen this year either. Now. They also can't allow teams
to score forty odd percent in the first half like
(40:35):
they did, you know, last couple of years. I think
that's all really really impactful. But to me, the two
things are run, defense and turnovers, and if they do
those two things, and the other part too is they've
been kind of unfortunate with injuries. When you think about
a couple of years ago, Grady Jarrett and the ACL
tear right, and then last year, you know, you just
(40:57):
never quite felt like they got it. DeMarco Hellams, to me,
was going to have a huge season a year ago,
and he would have been a perfect fit for what
they're doing defensively. If they can stay away from the
big injury. I think that's going to be critical too.
And that's easy to say, run defense and turnover margins
a little bit more factual.
Speaker 1 (41:16):
Yeah, and obviously, you know, injuries are the main thing
to kind of watch throughout the preseason and just hope
they can make it, you know, to that week one
relatively healthy. But totally agree, Wes, this was amazing. Thank
you so much for taking the time to join us.
Your insight is always appreciated and welcome.
Speaker 4 (41:30):
Will you got the best voice on this podcast.
Speaker 1 (41:33):
See now you're lying to the people that we got
the best hair on the podcast. I'll take that. I'll
take that.
Speaker 4 (41:38):
Quite a flow you got going at Trevor, I mean
Speaker 1 (41:40):
Will Yeah, Thank you guys so much for watching and listening,
and we will see you guys next time.
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