Falcons Coach Arthur Smith Reveals Motives for Desmond Ridder, Marcus Mariota QB Swap
After a crucial 19-16 home loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers leading into the bye week, Atlanta Falcons coach Arthur Smith marched to his post-game press conference and declared that changes would be made, failing to go deep into specifics but certainly alluding to the quarterback position.
One week later, Smith took to the podium with a different tone - but said a six-word sentence many had been waiting to hear for weeks, if not months:
"Desmond Ridder will be the starter," Smith said.
The announcement officially brought an end to eighth-year veteran Marcus Mariota's stint under center, appointing the third-round rookie Ridder to lead Atlanta over its final four games.
Was it due to the Falcons wanting to get a look at Ridder moving into the offseason? Perhaps.
Or maybe, did it have something to do with Mariota's knee injury that Smith "anticipate(s)" will land him on injured reserve?
Atlanta's second-year coach shared the primary reason behind the quarterback change ...
"It's a performance-based decision," Smith said. "I talked last time about trying to get over the hump, some of these close games. Where we're trying to push the offense, we feel like this is the best decision, not only where (Ridder's) at but where the team's at, as we prepare to go down to New Orleans."
"Performance-based decision."
It's difficult to argue - Mariota eclipsed 200 yards passing just once over his final 10 games, and the Falcons remain the only team in the NFL without a 250-yard passing game this season.
His biggest issue was hitting vertical shots, creating what Smith calls "explosives." Atlanta's offense ranks top five in the league in rushing - imagine what it could be with a more respected deep passing game that prevents defenses from stacking boxes.
But still, Mariota's been having these issues all year - with calls for his job heating up after losing to the Carolina Panthers on Thursday Night Football.
Smith exited the mini-bye week claiming there was no quarterback discussion ... but did reveal he began thinking about the switch "in the last month or so" as the Falcons have struggled pulling out wins in close games.
It's here where Smith feels the need for his team to "get over the hump" - and continue to show signs of evolution. He feels as if the running game has done exactly that, but the aerial attack left something to be desired.
"Where we're at in the season, where I thought we were trending, made a lot of progress offensively," Smith began. "Obviously, some things we've evolved and tried to push to in the passing game, and we were close, but we need to get over that hump ... There's things that we need to see evolve in the passing game, as we've evolved this season. I like the progress we've made in the running game ... Our objective is to win."
To help fulfill that objective, Smith's staff has turned to Ridder, who's yet to play a regular season snap in the NFL. The last time he was in front of the public eye, Ridder, the two-time American Athletic Conference Offensive Player of the Year, was finishing up an impressive preseason in which he went 34 of 56 for 431 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions.
It's been over three months since then, and much has changed - not only with the Falcons, but with Ridder's skill set. Smith praised the former Cincinnati Bearcat's mental strength while adding that he's taken significant steps forward in understanding the playbook, even from some of the early points in the season.
With such little experience, Ridder's borderline being thrown into the fire in a hostile environment against the division rival New Orleans Saints ... but Smith feels he's ready for it and is "very comfortable" with his young signal caller.
"The growth of Desmond that we've seen, he's been one play away all season. Feel very comfortable with where he's at right now, to be able to handle the gameplan and operate at full capacity. We would've adapted if he had to play early in the season but feel really good where he's at right now.
"I wouldn't have made this decision if I didn't think it was in the best interest for this team, not only short term but probably long term as well. So that led to a lot of that."
Smith mentioned this idea of the short- and long-term multiple times, playing into the notion that at least part of the reason behind the change was to see if Ridder can be the solution under center moving forward.
But really, the consummate answer around why Smith opted to make a switch isn't as simple; there's a lot of factors, and he threw a few more into the discussion later in his press conference.
"I felt we need to push this offense," Smith declared. "There's certainly a risk every time you make that, if you take a step back, but we've got a lot of confidence in Desmond. And a part of it is where the offensive line is at; very different situation than we were early this year, consistently. We've got to continue to do that, which makes the transition easier. When your line's playing better, you're able to run the football, so that certainly factors into it."
It's a diverse, complex situation, but Smith made it pretty clear-cut ... sort of.
The decision to play Ridder now stems from a variety of things, from Mariota's performance to improvements from the offensive line and Ridder's knowledge of what's going on around him.
But above all else, the Falcons simply needed more - more wins, more production, more understanding of what's to come ... and they feel Ridder has a chance to do exactly that, starting Sunday in his regular season debut.
"We need more production in things that we've tried to do. That's not putting all the blame on (Mariota), but there's certain things we want to see, and we feel Desmond's got a chance to provide that spark."
The Falcons, led by Ridder, are set to kick off at 1 p.m. Sunday in New Orleans.
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