It’s the dawn of a new era for the Atlanta Falcons, officially speaking.
All eyes will be set on star RB prospect Bijan Robinson, but he might not be the most crucial part of their offense in 2023.
Second-year QB Desmond Ridder is now the starter from Week One, and while the early returns of his NFL career were far from encouraging, he’s looking forward to silencing the naysayers in the encore.
“This time last year, my head was spinning,” Ridder said. “Obviously having a year under my belt and a whole offseason, it’s become a lot more comfortable. Now we’re just trying to work the intricate details of it, just working the ins and outs, and knowing the exact whys of why everything is going on.”
QB Desmond Ridder comfortable in Falcons' offense after "my head was spinning" last offseasonhttps://t.co/ufV5q4V3Ao pic.twitter.com/KfiqhoBU5v
— Around The NFL (@AroundTheNFL) May 25, 2023
Ridder is a big question mark as he enters his first full season as a starter.
There were always serious doubts about his prospects as an NFL starter, even after an impressive final season with the Cincinnati Bearcats.
The NFC South seems up for grabs right now, with Baker Mayfield and Kyle Trask going toe-to-toe for the QB1 spot with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Andy Dalton reportedly set to start over Bryce Young with the Carolina Panthers, and Derek Carr taking his talents to the Big Easy and the New Orleans Saints.
It’s been a while since the Falcons were last a contender, and it feels like they’re misusing a potential generational tight end like Kyle Pitts.
Falcons fans will hope to get him more involved in the passing game, instead of using him as a blocker like it happened with Marcus Mariota under center.
But even if Ridder doesn’t turn out to be good, their offense should look much better in 2023 with Robinson logging as many touches as he can handle, as some scouts believe he’s the best player in this class and should make an immediate impact for this rebuilding franchise.
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