'We'll Win With Power!' Falcons' Desmond Ridder Previews Packers Defense
Despite the 24-10 Week 1 win over the Carolina Panthers, Atlanta Falcons quarterback Desmond Ridder has been a frequent topic of discussion this week.
Head coach Arthur Smith’s gameplan was conducive to after-the-catch opportunities and, ultimately, a successful day at the office, but Ridder was asked to do very little. His 3.5-yard average depth of target was the second lowest amongst starters in Week 1. Running backs Bijan Robinson and Tyler Allgeier were targeted on nine of Ridder’s 18 passes.
Ridder went 15-of-18 for 115 yards and a touchdown in the win. Now, he’ll get a tougher foe: the Green Bay Packers. He spoke on Wednesday about the high-level talents on the Green Bay defense.
“Obviously, Jaire [Alexander] is the number one guy you look at in the DB room,” Ridder said. “He’s a physical player, likes to play press … Then you’ve got guys up front like Preston Smith, [Rashan] Gary, big up front, then guys like [De’Vondre] Campbell and [Quay] Walker, big in the linebacker room.”
The Packers are coming off of a dominant 38-20 win over the Chicago Bears. Chicago never scored more than eight points in a quarter and spent a large chunk of the game trying to put together some semblance of an offense. Quarterback Justin Fields was the team’s leading rusher but struggled to move the ball through the air, averaging less than six yards per attempt.
It was a disastrous performance from Fields’ passing woes to laughable efforts from receivers and linemen. Atlanta, in some ways, will be Green Bay’s first true test of the season.
“We won’t really win with speed, but we’ll win with power,” Ridder said. “It’s going to be great competition not only for the guys up front, but myself as well.”
Ridder’s comments may be foreshadowing another ground-and-pound effort from the Falcons. Expect to see Robinson’s name called repeatedly, even if it doesn’t come in the form of six targets like it did against the Panthers.
