Despite Record, Cardinals Know Falcons’ Offense Has Weapons

When making ready for the Atlanta Falcons, Arizona Cardinals defensive coordinator Vance Joseph was capable of get some inside intel on quarterback Desmond Ridder. 

Ridder, a rookie out of Cincinnati, will likely be making his third profession begin in opposition to the Cardinals later at this time. His teammate in school and present Cardinals move rusher Myjai Sanders was capable of feed some Joseph some intel that Bearcats followers already knew: Ridder can ball.

“I did. Effectively, he [Sanders] stated Desmond’s an actual dude … I stated, Yeah, you are proper. Desmond’s clearly poised, he is received to play six years of school soccer. He is making his third begin in opposition to us. Arthur [Smith]’s doing job of making performs for him to have completions and it is a run-first offense, they’re averaging 160 [yards] a recreation speeding,” Joseph instructed reporters this week. 

“They received two backs who common 4.9 a carry, [that’s] like third or fourth within the league. So it is going to be a run-first night time for us, so we received to deliver our big-boy pads and defend the run and make him throw as a lot as we will. 

“But it surely’s unit. They received three first-round o-linemen up entrance, and so they’re all prototypes for this exterior zone scheme. So it is going to be a tricky outing to get the run recreation stopped. Each recreation you watch: They’re in it. Baltimore’s a one-score recreation. New Orleans was a one rating recreation. So it is a robust younger group. They have been coached the suitable method. O-line sensible man they’re robust and well-coached so it is gonna be a tricky out.”

12 of Atlanta’s 15 video games performed have resulted in one possession. They’re 4-8 in these matchups. 

Solely the Chicago Bears and Baltimore Ravens run the ball for extra yards per recreation than the Falcons, who make the most of each Cordarrelle Patterson and Tyler Allgeier out of the backfield effectively. 

By means of the air, Drake London has flashed what he may very well be for the Falcons throughout his rookie season. Joseph says he is simply certainly one of many larger our bodies on Atlanta that can pose issues for a Cardinals group that hasn’t fared properly in bringing cumbersome opponents to the bottom. 

“He is an enormous man who could make contested catches. He isn’t tremendous quick. So guys sort of cowl him and lay on him slightly bit, however he is making a tricky catch. He is an awesome blocker and after the catch he can break tackles and make RAC yards,” Joseph stated on London.

“So between him and [Cordarrelle] Patterson and you realize, No. 25 [Tyler] Allgeier, man they received huge guys who can carry the ball. So getting these guys tackled, that is going to be a problem. Now we have to gang sort out these guys [and] take them low. Final week, we had bother with [Leonard] Fournette and that is an enormous again, so it will not change this week with these three guys, getting them tackled, and that is my greatest concern.”

We’ll see how ready Joseph and the remainder of Arizona’s protection is right here in just some hours. 

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