Michael Rothstein, ESPN Workforce Scribbler
FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — A moment then Atlanta Falcons proprietor Arthur Unoccupied mentioned he believed in quarterback Desmond Ridder because the day of the location along with his franchise, Ridder mentioned listening to his group’s proprietor say that was once “comforting.”
Ridder, a third-round pick out in 2022 out of Cincinnati, is coming into his first complete season because the origination quarterback then changing Marcus Mariota for the general 4 video games of endmost season.
“That’s comforting for me obviously knowing that Mr. Blank and everyone in the organization believes in me and my skill set,” Ridder mentioned. “At the end of the day, for myself, it’s about putting a higher expectation than even what they have for myself and going out and trying to exceed that and be better.”
Ridder finished 73 of 115 passes for 708 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions endmost season. This season, Atlanta signed Taylor Heinicke to be Ridder’s spare all through sovereign company in March, solidifying Ridder will be the group’s starter.
“We feel pretty strongly that he’s going to be our quarterback in the future,” Unoccupied mentioned Tuesday. “And we gotta play games and we gotta see. But we feel good about him.”
On Wednesday morning, Falcons common supervisor mentioned they continue to be “very excited about Desmond,” year bringing up how he performed when he become the starter in an offense now not essentially adapted towards him. Falcons lecturer Arthur Smith has mentioned on more than one events how Ridder treated himself in vital statuses in his 4 begins is one thing that stood out to him.
“We saw him in critical moments, third down, fourth down, end of game end to half. And he was able to produce in those moments,” Fontenot mentioned. “And also, Desmond, we saw him get knocked down. We saw him handle some adversity and we saw him respond to it. So, we believe in the makeup and the maturity, and then now we get into the offseason and it’s about improvement as opposed to the immediate result.
“It’s in regards to the strategy of growth and we’re process-oriented group. So, he’s had a in reality excellent offseason and he’s operating dried to enhance in all boxes.”
Ridder said hearing Blank and Fontenot say that about him “hits a slight extra nearer to house” than if family who weren’t decision-makers within the group had mentioned him.
Ridder took his management function critically within the offseason, together with organizing off-site throwing periods with the group’s pass-catchers within the Atlanta branch during the spring and summer time. It’s one thing he was once hoping paid off all through coaching camp because the Falcons get able for his or her season-opener on Sept. 10 towards Carolina.
