Good, we moved to Ridder, but it's now late.

[isproab]

This is just based off of me listening to 92.9 the game this morning.  A few weeks ago, their was a thought that the Falcons would not be a player in the 2023 QB market (draft).  It was they "like Ridder".

Now, since the switch has been made, I'm hearing the guys on the morning show say 4 games, but that is not enough time to get a good read on him.  This is EXACTLY what I wanted to avoid.  I do think that as a 3rd rounder, he is in an in-between space.  Talented enough to be a starter, but not the big investment of a 1st rounder that tends to mean you play sooner rather than later and you have big expectations.

I thought the absolute minimum he needed was 5 games when the season started.  We are not far off that, but the more time, the better.  After Thursday night at Carolina, Ridder should have been in there.  I think this "dream" of us making the playoffs has been a waste of time and a detriment to our future.  It may look good on Smith's resume, but this team has not show the ability to go on a run or turn anything around.  Historically, that is not us.  This season, that is not us.

2-2, 3-3, 4-4.  Those were the best records we had at anytime this year.  Now we are 5-8.  A young QB is likely going to look lost for a time.  We need to get that process started.  Glad people are seeing things clearly as our future is concerned.  Would have been nice if Ridder already had 3 or more games under his belt.

[Diesel_Bird]

Time will tell 

[FalconFanSince1969]

So you're complaining about 1 game? One? How is 4 not enough time to evaluate but 5 somehow magically is? This post makes zero sense. 

[Herr Doktor]

I think they roll with Des.  Mariota is still on contract.  He's the number two moving forward.  NO ONE wants him as a starter.  But the guy is a team player and the players seem to genuinely like him.

[FalconsFanSince194eva]

Woulda, coulda, shoulda, doesn’t matter anymore Ridder is starting. I agree Ridder should have started sooner, but he didn’t and Smith will have to own up to that sooner or later. It may be good, it may be bad. Only time will tell. 

[isproab]

4 minutes ago, FalconFanSince1969 said:

So you're complaining about 1 game? One? How is 4 not enough time to evaluate but 5 somehow magically is? This post makes zero sense. 

I did think 5 was a good sample.  However, the more the better.  I think this goes back to this "we are not rebuilding, but reloading".  Just go ahead and do the things we need to for our future.  2022 was 0 expectations.  Playoff talks were really crazy.  Especially after Thursday night Carolina.  Could never get over the hump to a winning team from .500.  Focus on the future.  Playoffs in 2022 means virtually nothing giving the team dynamics and climate of this division.

[dirtybirds233]

10 minutes ago, isproab said:

This is just based off of me listening to 92.9 the game this morning.  A few weeks ago, their was a thought that the Falcons would not be a player in the 2023 QB market (draft).  It was they "like Ridder".

Now, since the switch has been made, I'm hearing the guys on the morning show say 4 games, but that is not enough time to get a good read on him.  This is EXACTLY what I wanted to avoid.  I do think that as a 3rd rounder, he is in an in-between space.  Talented enough to be a starter, but not the big investment of a 1st rounder that tends to mean you play sooner rather than later and you have big expectations.

I thought the absolute minimum he needed was 5 games when the season started.  We are not far off that, but the more time, the better.  After Thursday night at Carolina, Ridder should have been in there.  I think this "dream" of us making the playoffs was been a waste of time and a detriment to our future.  It may look good on Smith's resume, but this team has not show the ability to go on a run or turn anything around.  Historically, that is not us.  This season, that is not us.

2-2, 3-3, 4-4.  Those were the best records we had at anytime this year.  Now we are 5-8.  A young QB is likely going to look lost for a time.  We need to get that process started.  Glad people are seeing things clearly as our future is concerned.  Would have been nice if Ridder already had 3 or more games under his belt.

This staff has seen Ridder in practice every day for the last 6 months. Practice is not a game, but they have a very good idea of what they have in Ridder. 

A few weeks ago, their was a thought that the Falcons would not be a player in the 2023 QB market (draft).  It was they "like Ridder".

And that's still their thought, they're just trying to debate for the sake of debating. An aside, but I'll be very happy the day John and Hugh are replaced. They've gotten very hard to listen to. John whines about something, Hugh makes fun of him, John makes grumbling noises, Hugh disagrees with John's grumbling because he's a contrarian. Rinse and repeat and you've got the morning show. 

[DonDaLuvMaker]

Look at how the Eagles rolled with Jalen Hurts once they started him over Wentz.

 

Hurts was absolutely terrible those games once he first got to start. He improved some last season. Now he's a serious NFL MVP candidate in year 3 because Eagles stuck with him as they built a really good team around him despite many thinking Hurts was not going to be good.

[isproab]

1 minute ago, dirtybirds233 said:

This staff has seen Ridder in practice every day for the last 6 months. Practice is not a game, but they have a very good idea of what they have in Ridder. 

A few weeks ago, their was a thought that the Falcons would not be a player in the 2023 QB market (draft).  It was they "like Ridder".

And that's still their thought, they're just trying to debate for the sake of debating. An aside, but I'll be very happy the day John and Hugh are replaced. They've gotten very hard to listen to. John whines about something, Hugh makes fun of him, John makes grumbling noises, Hugh disagrees with John's grumbling because he's a contrarian. Rinse and repeat and you've got the morning show. 

I think it was the evening crew a few weeks ago, as well as other media that were basically saying, "hey, Falcons do like Ridder".  If that is truly how you feel, stop the Mariota experiment.  

I think the thing that bothers me most is A.) the overall thought that this organization is not rebuilding, but retooling.  B.) Mariota is the best chance to win while we are alive for the division.  I'm not saying tank, I don't believe that.  Somebody has on rose colored glasses if they think this 2022 Falcons team is going to the playoffs. 

[isproab]

2 minutes ago, DonDaLuvMaker said:

Look at how the Eagles rolled with Jalen Hurts once they started him over Wentz.

 

Hurts was absolutely terrible those games once he first got to start. He improved some last season. Now he's a serious NFL MVP candidate in year 3 because Eagles stuck with him as they built a really good team around him despite many thinking Hurts was not going to be good.

Correct.  They took the hit to develop their guy.  After Hurst fell out of favor at Alabama, you pretty much thought that guy couldn't play QB.  He came back to save them after losing his job to Tua.  Lights out at Oklahoma and proved he was an NFL capable QB.

Yes, you have to start over on the NFL level.  Eagles patience has paid off.

[Killing Floor]

Drafting is always a gamble. So is signing a FA but for different reasons. You cannot guarantee how someone will perform based on college or previous team or even in practice, you can only make assumptions. I bet most of us and most of the experts didn’t expect Baker Mayfield to step up off a Southwest plane Tuesday and win a Rams game on Thursday. 
 

Point is we find out starting next Sunday what we have in Ridder. Not a moment sooner. And we may not really know until 2024 because there will be so much roster turnover this offseason it will be a different circumstance altogether. 
 

If he’s in our hat on Sunday I hope he’s the best in the game. And if not, better to find hot now that we’ve dumped the season than waiting til the next one. I am pulling for him. 
 

He cannot possibly be any worse. They didn’t run the butt play at Cincy. And I don’t think he has the arm to overthrow every pass by 10 yards. 

[dirtybirds233]

5 minutes ago, isproab said:

I think it was the evening crew a few weeks ago, as well as other media that were basically saying, "hey, Falcons do like Ridder".  If that is truly how you feel, stop the Mariota experiment.  

I think the thing that bothers me most is A.) the overall thought that this organization is not rebuilding, but retooling.  B.) Mariota is the best chance to win while we are alive for the division.  I'm not saying tank, I don't believe that.  Somebody has on rose colored glasses if they think this 2022 Falcons team is going to the playoffs. 

I believe they were saying they like Ridder in terms of not having to be in the QB market because of how much they like him. 

A. I agree with you, but no coaching staff is going to come out and say 'we're rebuilding'. I think any reasonable person understands that this is coach speak. 

B. Just two weeks ago this team was a .5 game back of the division. Regardless of Mariota's poor play, you don't make a change at QB in that moment. Now that Mariota has had a string of horrific games and that division lead has been extended, it makes sense to make the change now during the BYE week. 

[DonDaLuvMaker]

12 minutes ago, isproab said:

Correct.  They took the hit to develop their guy.  After Hurst fell out of favor at Alabama, you pretty much thought that guy couldn't play QB.  He came back to save them after losing his job to Tua.  Lights out at Oklahoma and proved he was an NFL capable QB.

Yes, you have to start over on the NFL level.  Eagles patience has paid off.

 

Exactly!!!

 

Give Ridder time as the Falcons build a better team around him.

 

If he plays really well these 4 games then great. If he struggles a bit then that is okay as well. Stick with him and build the team and he could pay huge dividends next season or even in 24'.

 

Patience is key.

Edited December 9, 2022 by DonDaLuvMaker

[ImElPresidente]

I really don’t think it matters. Ridder is one of those QBs who might not get a legitimate shot at being a franchise guy. He’s one of those QBs who were mid round, and hasn’t had enough talent so far to impress the coaching staff to win the starting job. That’s just how the business side of the NFL works! He’s got the starting job now not because of what he can do talent wise, but because of what Mariota hasn’t been able to do. If the coaching staff likes a QB in the draft they won’t hesitate to draft in the first round! 

Edited December 9, 2022 by ImElPresidente

[isproab]

2 minutes ago, DonDaLuvMaker said:

 

Exactly!!!

 

Give Ridder time as the Falcons build a better team around him.

 

If he plays really well these 4 games then great. If he struggles a bit then that is okay as well. Stick with him and build the team and he could pay huge dividends next season or even in 24'.

 

Patience is key.

The moment we moved on from Ryan, I felt that 2024 would be the year we start to make noise.  If, we do it the right way and get the right pieces.

[DonDaLuvMaker]

5 minutes ago, isproab said:

The moment we moved on from Ryan, I felt that 2024 would be the year we start to make noise.  If, we do it the right way and get the right pieces.

 

Yep, I've been thinking the same thing.

[takeitdown]

Yeah, I would have given him 8 games, as it was pretty clear we weren't a great team.  But it's hard to balance the need to compete this year with preparing for next.

[FalconsFanSince194eva]

22 minutes ago, ImElPresidente said:

I really don’t think it matters. Ridder is one of those QBs who might not get a legitimate shot at being a franchise guy. He’s one of those QBs who were mid round, and hasn’t had enough talent so far to impress the coaching staff to win the starting job. That’s just how the business side of the NFL works! He’s got the starting job now not because of what he can do talent wise, but because of what Mariota hasn’t been able to do. If the coaching staff likes a QB in the draft they won’t hesitate to draft in the first round! 

This statement is about as crazy as people gushing over Ridder thinking he is going to light it up in the next few games.

[Thiccolas Cage]

I think Ridder will make mistakes but he has a standard for himself and competitive drive to win. Ridder wants the job. Therefore he is going to do everything he can to hold onto it and those small mistakes will be corrected these next four games of the season. My hope is that we end it on a high note with Ridder and allow him to have the offseason to get stronger and clean up some mechanics. I think he will be a franchise QB. The people that keep throwing '3rd rounder' in there don't realize that most teams weren't in need of a QB in the draft or they wanted to roll with a veteran. Ridder's potential is being overlooked because all they see is '3rd rounder' when most QBs as-of late have been overdrafted/overvalued.

[NorthGaBoy]

This is JMHO.

The guys on the radio feel a great loss now that their QB controversy is diminished.  They need to crank up the drama and dissension.  What better way than to say 4 games is not enough to evaluate Ridder and the Falcons may need to draft a QB now?  Hey, that should keep ratings up.

You know that politicians and media "professionals" attend the same indoctrination training camp, right?

[Hashbrown3]

5 games we’re good but 4 is unacceptable right? Just sort of poking you but…

 

[NorthGaBoy]

2 minutes ago, Thiccolas Cage said:

I think Ridder will make mistakes but he has a standard for himself and competitive drive to win. Ridder wants the job. Therefore he is going to do everything he can to hold onto it and those small mistakes will be corrected these next four games of the season. My hope is that we end it on a high note with Ridder and allow him to have the offseason to get stronger and clean up some mechanics. I think he will be a franchise QB. The people that keep throwing '3rd rounder' in there don't realize that most teams weren't in need of a QB in the draft or they wanted to roll with a veteran. Ridder's potential is being overlooked because all they see is '3rd rounder' when most QBs as-of late have been overdrafted/overvalued.

Remember when Tom Brady, Aaron Rogers, and Patrick Mahomes came off the bench?  How many passes did we see from Matt Ryan before we were thinking "This could work"?

[NorthGaBoy]

1 hour ago, isproab said:

This is just based off of me listening to 92.9 the game this morning.  A few weeks ago, their was a thought that the Falcons would not be a player in the 2023 QB market (draft).  It was they "like Ridder".

Now, since the switch has been made, I'm hearing the guys on the morning show say 4 games, but that is not enough time to get a good read on him.  This is EXACTLY what I wanted to avoid.  I do think that as a 3rd rounder, he is in an in-between space.  Talented enough to be a starter, but not the big investment of a 1st rounder that tends to mean you play sooner rather than later and you have big expectations.

I thought the absolute minimum he needed was 5 games when the season started.  We are not far off that, but the more time, the better.  After Thursday night at Carolina, Ridder should have been in there.  I think this "dream" of us making the playoffs was been a waste of time and a detriment to our future.  It may look good on Smith's resume, but this team has not show the ability to go on a run or turn anything around.  Historically, that is not us.  This season, that is not us.

2-2, 3-3, 4-4.  Those were the best records we had at anytime this year.  Now we are 5-8.  A young QB is likely going to look lost for a time.  We need to get that process started.  Glad people are seeing things clearly as our future is concerned.  Would have been nice if Ridder already had 3 or more games under his belt.

Tell the guys on 92.9 that I am going to provide an evaluation here on this thread after watching Ridder for 1 game.  I will be here on 12/18. 

[Killing Floor]

1 hour ago, isproab said:

2-2, 3-3, 4-4.  Those were the best records we had at anytime this year.  Now we are 5-8. 

Just so we’re clear, January 13, 2018 was the last time Falcons had a positive W-L record. That was the end of the 2017 season. So nobody here including the HC I complain about has done any worse or better. 
 

My concern is that we’ve left points and wins on the table this year by sticking with Mariota. I believe that was a mistake. There is no such thing as a season in professional sports where any team in any sport shouldn’t be singularly dedicated to making the playoffs. And we’re a butt pass and a couple interceptions and a red zone fumble and locating “some rando guy” when London or Pitts were open away from running away with our division. 
 

Putting in Ridder the moment it was clear that Mariota was not up to the job was the only right decision for a professional sports head coach. 
 

And Mike Tomlin was in the exact same position as Art Smith at the exact same time. And he simply made the better decision for his team, his owner, his players, his fans. And came to our house and beat us out of contention. 

Hoping it was a lesson learned for the future.

 

[1989Fan]

I think the FO still hedges their bets at QB. If Mariota finishes the season on the bench he is likely done here, at his current contract he is anyways. Maybe they stay in contact and see if there is a need after the draft or something.

I would be fine investing another mid round pick on a QB to start to develop a guy in case Ridder isn’t it. I don’t expect Ridder to play good or bad enough to leave us confident in what we have. Will prolly have some ups and downs, like all rookie QBs with NFL potential. 

I am sure the post season debrief with Blank will influence things too if Ridder doesn’t blow us away in the next 4 games. Could Blank pound the table for a round 1 QB or a huge trade if Jackson decides he wants out of BAL?