Atlanta Falcons Podcasts - The Falcons Audible, Bird Noises, Postgame Breakdown

New Falcons cornerback Mike Hughes joins Scott and Tori to discuss his career arc, entering the NFL as a first-round pick, dealing with injury and being poised and ready to capitalize on his Falcons opportunity. We also go back to some if his greatest plays, including one where he saved Central Florida's unbeaten season.

Having grown up just 25 minutes from the Falcons facility in Flowery Branch, Ga., quarterback Taylor Heinicke details his excitement to return home to play for his hometown team. Heinicke also shares stories from his Collins Hill High School days as well as his unconventional journey as a backup quarterback through the league.

Scott Bair and Tori McElhaney identify themes, important sections of the 2023 schedule and how the Falcons can navigate it while competing to win a wide-open NFC South.

Derek, Dave and DJ dive into the Atlanta Falcons 2023 NFL Draft, discuss the new draftees in depth, as well as examine the current state of the NFC South.

Scott Bair and Tori McElhaney react to the Atlanta Falcons drafting running back Bijon Robinson eighth overall in the 2023 NFL Draft.

NFL Network chief national reporter Steve Wyche joins the program to discuss what the Falcons might do in this year's NFL draft. He reviews what Arthur Smith and Terry Fontenot accomplished in free agency and what those moves tell us about how they might use the No. 8 overall pick.

Falcons quarterback Desmond Ridder joins Scott Bair and Tori McElhaney to detail how he turned one of two scholarship offers into a role as Falcons starting quarterback. He detailed the hilarious way he got a scholarship offer to Cincinnati, who taught him to throw a perfect spiral -- the answer will surprise you -- his bond with Drake London and how having a young daughter has changed his life for the better.

Inside linebacker Kaden Elliss joins the Falcons in Focus podcast to recall memories of growing up as the oldest of 11 siblings, as well as his father Luther Elliss' influence on him. Kaden was born mere months after Luther was drafted in 1995. Life as an NFL player is one Kaden knew well, even before he became a professional in his own right.

New Falcons defensive tackle joins Scott Bair and Tori McElhaney to discuss a unique journey from his native Nigeria to Canada, where he was first introduced to the game of football and forged a path to the NFL.

Safety Jessie Bates III joins Scott Bair and Tori McElhaney in Ticketmaster Studios to take a look back on his journey to Atlanta. Bates talks his mother's influence on his creation of the JB3 Single Mother's Initiative, the goal of signing his second contract and connecting with fellow Falcons defensive backs A.J. Terrell and Casey Hayward. Bates also makes a pledge to single mothers and organizations in Atlanta.

New Falcons tight end Jonnu Smith joins Scott Bair and Tori McElhaney to discuss his difficult upbringing in Philadelphia and his mother's role in helping him realize his dream. He moved from Philly to Florida, where his football career took off put him on a path to the NFL, allowing him to give back to those who helped him along the way.

This podcast, as well as many others, is available as audio only on the Atlanta Falcons Podcast Network on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

Scott and Tori attend the 2023 NFL Combine and ask other national media members their thoughts on the Atlanta Falcons. Listen in as Ben Solak, Chris Simms, Albert Breer, Robert Mays, and Charles Davis share their views on Free Agency, the NFL Draft and beyond.

Zoria Mcclerklin, a junior Education Studies major at Spelman College and Caleb Tsegaye, a junior Journalism Major with a concentration in Sports at Morehouse College, worked with the Atlanta Falcons and interviewed journalists, students, and Georgia natives to ask how they feel about the Falcons, Michael Vick, and how they have impacted the community. We hope you enjoy the project as much as we enjoyed making it!

Scott Bair, Tori McElhaney and Ashton Edmunds analyzed the Super Bowl combatants in relation to the Falcons and what they must do next. The Chiefs and Eagles built their championship rosters in different ways, and there's plenty to for Atlanta to take from how those teams were successful. We identify three pillars of success, including dominance on both offensive and defensive lines and under center. We break down ways the Falcons can make strides in those areas, through upgrades or developing players already on the roster. We also discuss the possibility that the Falcons can surge into playoff contention in the NFC South if they make the right moves.

Scott Bair and Tori McElhaney kick off the offseason version of Falcons Final Whistle – Ashton Edmunds was in Las Vegas on assignment – with a discussion of the Ryan Nielsen and Jerry Gray hires and how they can impact this Falcons defense following Dean Pees retirement. They discuss what Nielsen brings to the table – his history with a 4-3 base isn't a big deal – and how he can help the Falcons and what's left to find out about what the new defensive coordinator has planned.

Timestamps

(00:00:00): Intro, initial reactions to Ryan Nielsen, Jerry Gray hires

(00:03:50): What we've found out about Ryan Nielsen

(00:07:15): Discussing Nielsen's history in a 4-3 base formation

(00:11:17): Does this hire change the Falcons' needs?

(00:15:24): Why Ryan Nielsen seems like an Arthur Smith guy; Jerry Gray's fit

(21:40): Could we expect Falcons to bring in players their staff has a history with?

Greg Beadles joins Scott and Tori for the Falcons in Focus season finale to break down his journey from intern to team president, with great stories from 28 years spent rising through the organization. Beadles also details life as the son of a coach and athletic director, what it took to get Mercedes-Benz Stadium built and why his new role is a dream job for someone who grew up a huge Falcons fan.

Derek, Dave and D.J. discuss ending the season on a win, and what is next for the Atlanta Falcons. The guys also reflect on Dean Pees' retirement and legacy, as well as dive into Arthur Smith and Terry Fontenot's end of season press conference.

Scott, Tori and Ashton discuss what should be a fascinating offseason for the Falcons franchise, with the 2022 season officially in the rearview. We evaluate quarterback Desmond Ridder's four NFL starts and why he deserves the right to compete for the starting gig. We also preview the offseason and identify pressing needs that must be filled in free agency and the NFL Draft, which players to re-sign and which players they should extend now that the Falcons have tons of salary-cap space and quality draft capital.

Timestamps:

(00:00:15): Intro, what happens next after 2022 season comes to a close

(00:09:25): A four-game evaluation of Desmond Ridder and the Falcons QB situation moving forward

(00:18:49): Most pressing positional needs: skill player vs. pass rusher

(00:24:27): Which players on expiring contracts Falcons should re-sign

Falcons cornerback and special teams ace Mike Ford joins Scott and Tori for an in-depth discussion about his journey to the NFL, his quest to learn about his father, who died when he was six months old. He also details how buying his mother a house realized a dream, and how he established himself in the NFL after starting as an undrafted free agent with a small signing bonus.

Derek, Dave and D.J. discuss the Atlanta Falcons win over the Arizona Cardinals and the keys to finishing out the season with a win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Scott, Ashton and Tori break down a New Year's Day victory over the Arizona Cardinals, which ended with a game-winning field goal by Younghoe Koo. We dissect Desmond Ridder's role in the victory, how Tyler Allgeier's emergence is helping Cordarrelle Patterson and why the team's young foundation is expanding with a stellar rookie class

Timestamps:

(00:00:15): Intro, difference between victory and four-game losing streak

(00:06:02): A deep dive into Desmond Ridder's game-winning drive

(00:09:30): Desmond Ridder's overall development

(00:13:33): Desmond Ridder vs. other available quarterbacks

(00:17:00): Tyler Allgeier and Cordarrelle Patterson working in tandem, how CP is used

(00:23:44): Evaluating Falcons expanding young foundation

Star Falcons guard Chris Lindstrom joins Scott Bair and Tori McElhaney to discuss his whirlwind month of December, when he was named the Falcons' Walter Payton Man of the Year and then received his first Pro Bowl honor a few weeks later. We dive into the time and effort he's pouring into the Atlanta community and his primary motivations for it, plus what life was life growing up in a big football family full of offensive linemen.

Dave and D.J. discuss the Atlanta Falcons loss to the Baltimore Ravens and break down Desmond Ridder's and the Falcons' performance and how they could beat the Arizona Cardinals. They also dive into why these two last games carry a lot of importance for the Atlanta Falcons.

Scott, Tori and Ashton take a look at what the Falcons must do over their last two games, and how to evaluate players and their progress while compiling an offseason priority list. We talk extensively about Desmond Ridder and the quarterback position moving forward, about adding depth at the skill spots and finding intimidators throughout the defensive front.

Timestamps:

(00:00:15): Intro, what Ravens game said about offseason priorities

(00:06:40): Evaluating Desmond Ridder's performance, and offseason QB needs

(00:14:05): Drake London and WR/TE evaluation

(00:22:00): Evaluating Falcons defense, including Grady Jarrett's stellar season

(00:25:15): Discussing the need for additions on DL, edge rusher

Falcons receiver Drake London joins Scott and Tori for an in-depth conversation about life growing up as a two-sport star, balancing football and basketball schedules well into his USC career. The No. 8 overall NFL Draft pick also details his upbringing in a close, supportive family, his tight bond with his equally famous sister and that time Drake (the rapper) bet on Drake (the football player).

Derek, Dave and D.J. discuss the Atlanta Falcons loss to the New Orleans Saints and break down Desmond Ridder's and the Falcons' performance. They also dive into the keys to beating the Baltimore Ravens.

Scott, Tori and Ashton break down Desmond Ridder's first regular-season start in great detail, putting it under the microscope and into the bigger picture, setting a baseline for how to evaluate his games moving forward. They also look at Tyler Allgeier's season and the best game of his young career, plus Drake London's showing, both the good and bad, in this Week 15 contest.

Timecodes:

(00:00:15): Takeaways from Saints loss, why Falcons performance is more important than NFC South race

(00:08:09): Breaking down Desmond Ridder's performance

(00:23:30): On Tyler Allgeier's big day, rookie development

(00:28:38): Why passing inefficiency plagues Falcons

(00:29:20): Evaluating Drake London's day, the good and bad, and what he said afterward

(00:34:00) On Dean Pees carted off pregame, and optimistic outlook after coming home with the the team

Falcons kicker Younghoe Koo joins Scott and Tori for an in-depth conversation about his unlikely journey from South Korea to the U.S. from playing youth soccer to the NFL. Koo discusses working through a language barrier to fit into a new culture and how athletics eased that transition. He also talked about the nature of clutch performance and inspiring those by sharing a story detailed in the latest episode of Falcons in Focus.

Derek, Dave and D.J. discuss Desmond Ridder stepping in as quarterback, the Atlanta Falcons loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers and break down how the Falcons can find success on the road vs the New Orleans Saints.

Scott, Tori and Ashton break down the Falcons' latest loss to the Steelers and how they can rebound well enough to capitalize on unique opportunity to win the NFC South despite recent struggles. Head coach Arthur Smith said changes will be made during the bye week, and left the door open to a change at quarterback. We evaluate Marcus Mariota's performance over the past few games and whether Desmond Ridder could provide a spark in crucial moments.

Timecodes:

(00:00:15): Intro, thoughts on loss to Steelers

(00:05:28): Discussing Mariota, Ridder and possibility of making change at quarterback

(00:15:30): Could Desmond Ridder provide a spark? Can he prove a long-term solution?

(00:18:27): Pros and cons of making QB change, sticking with Mariota

(00:22:05): Can Falcons make right changes, rebound and win NFC South?

Falcons left tackle Jake Matthews joins Scott Bair and Tori McElhaney to detail the wild journey to be present for the birth of his son and the Falcons game at Carolina on the same day, explaining how it all happened and how special the day was for him and his wife, Meggi. Then we go back in time to discuss being part of football royalty in the Matthews clan, including what his father Bruce Matthews' advice has meant to him as a kid and throughout a long and prosperous career.

Derek, Dave and D.J. discuss the Atlanta Falcons loss to the Washington Commanders and break down how the Falcons can find success vs the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Scott Bair, Tori McElhaney and Ashton Edmunds break down a difficult loss to the Washington Commanders, including a detailed look at the decisive drive where the Falcons fell just short after a Marcus Mariota pass was batted and intercepted in the end zone. We look at this game in detail and where the Falcons sit in the NFC South, which is still ripe for the picking.

Timecodes:

(00:00:10): Intro, takeaways on Washington loss, state of NFC South

(00:03:50): Falcons must finish better to end season right

(00:06:46): Breaking down final Falcons drive that fell just short

(00:13:20): What to make of defensive effort, the good, bad and the clutch performance at the then

(00:15:08): How Falcons fared without Kyle Pitts

(00:18:24): Why Bucs loss doesn't change perception of Falcons loss

Derek, Dave and D.J. discuss the Atlanta Falcons win over the Chicago Bears and break down how the Falcons can find continued success vs the Washington Commanders. They also dive into Cordarrelle Patterson's record-setting return touchdown, as well as how injuries may cause adjustments among the Falcons team.

Tori McElhaney and Ashton Edmunds take a look back at the Falcons 27-24 win against the Chicago Bears. They break down Cordarrelle Patterson's 103-yard kickoff return for a touchdown - a play that broke an NFL record - as well as one of the best defensive performances the Falcons have had to date.

Rashaan Evans joins Scott Bair and Tori McElhaney on Falcons in Focus to discuss growing up on a ranch, chasing horses with his brother, why he Dean Pees think the same way and how he chose Alabama despite having a family full of distinguished Auburn alumni.

Derek, Dave and D.J. discuss the Atlanta Falcons loss to the Carolina Panthers and break down how the Falcons can rebound against the Chicago Bears. They also dive into the talk surrounding the quarterback position, and what players have been outstanding thus far this season.

Derek, Dave and D.J. discuss the Atlanta Falcons loss to the Los Angeles Chargers and break down how the Falcons can rebound while on the road playing the Carolina Panthers.

Scott Bair, Tori McElhaney and Ashton Edmunds look a last-second loss to the L.A. Chargers under a microscope and from a big-picture perspective, identifying where things went wrong and how it impacts the Falcons position in the NFC South. We break down why the Falcons ran well behind Tyler Allgeier and Cordarrelle Patterson, why Marcus Mariota struggled finding sync in passing game and what Ta'Quon Graham, Arthur Smith said about pivotal fumble.

Timecodes:

(00:00:10): Intro, thoughts on how winnable game slipped away

(00:04:36): Impact of Falcons passing seemingly out of sync

(00:08:32): Falcons run game is not the issue, working through heavy boxes

(00:11:20): Issues with second, fourth quarters; causes for Falcons inconsistency

(00:15:47): Breaking down the Austin Ekeler, Ta'Quon Graham fumbles

(00:21:43): How loss impacts NFC South positioning

(00:24:40): Looking ahead to massive game in Carolina

Falcons linebacker Troy Andersen sits down with Scott Bair and Tori McElhaney to discuss life growing up on a Montana cattle ranch, his love for the Big Sky state and his improbable journey going a from a small school to the NFL.

Derek, Dave and D.J. discuss the Atlanta Falcons dramatic win over the Carolina Panthers and break down how the Atlanta Falcons can find continued success playing the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 9.

Scott Bair, Tori McElhaney and Ashton Edmunds break down what went right, what went wrong and how the Falcons emerged victorious from Sunday's weird, wild overtime win over the Carolina Panthers. They go over that furious finish where the lead kept changing hands, plus things the Falcons simply have to fix if they're going to stay atop the NFC South. They also hone in on the value of Younghoe Koo, Marcus Mariota's big moments and how much they missed A.J. Terrell.

Timecodes:

(00:00:10): Intro, making sense of that wild, wacky finish

(00:05:49): Finding a way to win, fight through late mistakes

(00:07:48): The value of Younghoe Koo on display

(00:11:00): Identifying issues to be fixed from Panthers game

(00:19:07): Evaluating Marcus Mariota's performance, press conference

(00:22:54): How Falcons can stay atop NFC South

Falcons return man, running back and defensive back Avery Williams joins Scott Bair and Tori McElhaney for a candid conversation about life growing up on TV sets, with a mom who was a prominent TV producer and showrunner. He also talks about his time at Boise State, the mentality of a punt returner and what it means to have a "walk-on mentality."

Derek, Dave and D.J. discuss the Atlanta Falcons loss vs the Cincinnati Bengals and break down how the Atlanta Falcons can find success playing the Carolina Panthers in Week 8.

Was the Falcons loss to the Bengals loss bad matchup or something more? Scott, Tori and Ashton discuss what went wrong against Cincinnati, what to make of it and where the Falcons stand in an NFC South division that's completely up for grabs. We also focus on the state of the Atlanta secondary, which operated most of the game without Casey Hayward and A.J. Terrell.

Timecodes:

(00:00:10): Intro, where things went wrong vs. Bengals

(00:04:38): Was loss to Bengals a matchup problem or a sign of bigger issues?

(00:08:35): Impact of A.J. Terrell loss

(00:10:03): Impact of Falcons second quarter flurry and a pivotal, game-changing sequence

(00:14:06): Are there issues with Falcons offensive imbalance?

(00:18:48): What is the Falcons winning formula?

(00:20:46): Where Falcons stand in wide-open NFC South after loss

Falcons rookie OLB Arnold Ebiketie sits down with Scott Bair and Tori McElhaney for the Falcons in Focus podcast to share his story. Ebiketie came to the United States when he was 13 years old. Throughout the podcast, he thinks back to that time, recalling stories of his childhood in Cameroon and how sports helped him connect with people in a new country. Ebiketie (self-proclaimed "Doctor of pass rush") also discloses Arthur Smith's nickname for him.

Derek, Dave and D.J. discuss the Atlanta Falcons win against the San Francisco 49ers, and break down how the Atlanta Falcons can continue to find success playing the Cincinnati Bengals on the road in Week 7.

Scott, Ashton and Tori break down a dominant Falcons victory where they beat the 49ers in every phase of the game. They discuss Marcus Mariota's big day and what it meant on his road to redemption, the run game's efficiency, replacing Cordarrelle Patterson and what the defense has done to get big takeaways and shut opponents down in the second half.

Falcons right tackle Kaleb McGary joins Scott and Tori to discuss life growing up the Pacific Northwest, about hunting and fishing and his prized possession, a giant broadsword he occasionally carries while walking his dog. McGary also talks about scoring big-man touchdowns, when how being in the NFL has changed life for his family.

Derek, Dave and Scott discuss the Atlanta Falcons loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and break down how the Atlanta Falcons can find success playing the 49ers in Week 6.

Scott, Ashton and Tori analyze the reported Deion Jones trade, where the Falcons moved the veteran inside linebacker to the Cleveland Browns on Sunday night. We break down the details of the deal and how it benefits the Falcons, plus we go over Deion Jones career in Atlanta. Then we get to the big moment of the day, a 21-15 loss to Tampa Bay, and the roughing-the-passer penalty that proved costly to the Falcons comeback hopes. We also talk about the Falcons issues early in the game, and how improving them can save Atlanta from dire straits late in the game.

Timecodes:

(00:01:16): Breaking down reported Deion Jones trade to Cleveland and what it means

(00:07:45): State of Falcons ILBs after Deion Jones trade

(00:09:13): Putting a bow on Deion Jones' time in Atlanta

(00:11:15): Breaking down Grady Jarrett roughing-the-passer-penalty, what was said about it

(00:22:28): How Falcons doing better early can avoid problems late in game

(00:26:00): Playing without Kyle Pitts, Cordarrelle Patterson

(00:28:49): What Falcons must improve moving forward

Inside linebacker Mykal Walker joins Tori McElhaney for the fourth episode of the Falcons in Focus podcast. Walker dives into the joys of fatherhood, friendship with Foye Oluokun and growing up with a twin brother. He also discusses whether or not he actually believes in twin telepathy as a twin himself.

Derek, Dave and DJ discuss the Atlanta Falcons win against the Cleveland Browns, and break down how the Atlanta Falcons can find success on the road playing the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 5.

Scott, Tori and Ashton broke down the Falcons' big win over Cleveland on Sunday at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, the second straight victory earned through clutch performance in the fourth quarter. They talk about the impact of the Falcons run game and their opportunistic defense on this game and this early season, paced by stars Cordarrelle Patterson and Grady Jarrett, and why fourth-quarter performance will have a huge impact on the 2022 season as a whole.

Falcons starting safety Richie Grant joins Scott Bair and Tori McElhaney in studio for the third episode of the Falcons in Focus podcast. Grant shares stories from his childhood and how his uncle Terry Grant shaped him into the man he is today. Plus: Grant reveals his go-to karaoke song, because (yes!) he loves karaoke.

Derek, Dave and DJ discuss the Atlanta Falcons win against the Seattle Seahawks, and break down how the Atlanta Falcons can find success in Week 4 against the Browns.

Kyle Pitts joins Scott and Tori for a wide-ranging conversation about life outside of football, including his newfound interests in golf and photography, his favorite tattoos and how he's becoming more worldly even at age 22. We delve into all that and more in the second episode of Falcons in Focus.

Derek, Dave and DJ discuss the results from Atlanta Falcons vs LA Rams matchup, break down how the Atlanta Falcons battled and what it could mean for their road game against the Seattle Seahawks in Week 3.

Scott and Tori make sense of that crazy game between the Falcons and Rams, analyzing how Atlanta got in trouble and how it nearly erased a massive deficit down the stretch. We also look at Kyle Pitts' relative lack of production over the first two weeks, plus how Drake London has made a truly instant impact

Falcons star defensive tackle Grady Jarrett joins Scott and Tori for a wide-ranging conversation on the Falcons in Focus series premiere. He dives deep when discussing his Falcons role models, how he reached his third NFL contract while maintaining a rare level of NFL lasting power. Jarrett talks about making an impact on his young son, Atlanta and the Georgia community where he grew up, leaving a legacy that will last well beyond his playing days.

The Falcons in Focus podcast provides deep dive interviews with Atlanta Falcons players, coaches, staff. Join us as we delve into their personalities and passions on and off the football field.