Atlanta Falcons Sticking with Desmond Ridder as Starting QB
Atlanta Falcons coach Arthur Smith announced his team's starting quarterback ahead of a Week 5 matchup against the Houston Texans - and the result was of little surprise.
Smith asserted that Desmond Ridder, who started each of the first four games, will once again be under center Sunday at 1 p.m. EST.
"Absolutely," Smith said when asked if Ridder was still his starter. "I wouldn't be sitting here, pontificating about what went on in the game if we were making a change."
Ridder is coming off a disappointing effort in Atlanta's 23-7 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday, during which he completed 17 of 29 passes for 191 yards, one touchdown, two interceptions (one pick-six) and lost a fumble.
The 24-year-old's three turnovers nearly matched his career total (four) from his first seven starts.
During his last two games - both losses in which the Falcons have been outscored 43-13 - Ridder has gone 40 of 69 for 392 yards, one touchdown, three turnovers and has been sacked 11 times.
Should Atlanta opt to make a change, backup quarterback Taylor Heinicke, who's made 25 career starts, would slide to the forefront.
Smith acknowledged that he understands the quarterback question given the offense's recent struggles and Ridder's status as a 2022 third-round pick who didn't arrive with much hype.
That said, the Falcons invested heavily in building a team around the quarterback position and want to afford Ridder as many opportunities as possible.
Smith departed Wembley Stadium pleased with the way Ridder responded in the second half, as he connected on 10 of 17 passes for 118 yards, no interceptions and the lost fumble late.
Beyond the numbers, Smith liked the way Ridder carried himself and didn't shy away from taking risks with the ball.
"Nobody likes the result of what happened early in the game - 'let's see what you've got, see if you become hesitant, see if you've got anything to you,'" Smith said. "And I thought he came back and, obviously, it wasn't what you want result-wise, but he gave us a chance."
In each of the last two weeks, Smith has proclaimed that Ridder gave the Falcons a chance, even with his overall stat line and the offense's production leaving much to be desired.
But Atlanta's 0-2 in its last two games and hasn't been particularly competitive in either. Should the trend continue, Smith revealed that he'll consider making a move.
“Look, when you’re not winning, everything’s on the table," Smith said. "That’s your job to make decisions. The ultimate goal is to win. ... There’s no perfect answer but if you thought something was not going to work and there’s no signs of hope, that’s at any position, you got to make a change.”
There are, however, positives coming from Ridder's performance, and thus a move doesn't seem particularly close to happening.
Smith pointed to Ridder's second half mentality and strong numbers on third down - nine of nine for 85 yards and a touchdown - as particularly strong areas.
And so, Ridder seems safe, at least for now ... and he has another opportunity at home Sunday against the Texans to get back on track.
Through four games at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Ridder remains undefeated. He's 0-4 on the road and at neutral sites, but he's acclimated well to his home turf.
But Smith didn't dance around the elephant in the room - winning home games is certainly crucial, but if the performance doesn't travel, it's not good enough.
“He’s obviously more comfortable starting at home with your routines and this and that, but the reality is you have to win on the road in this league," Smith said. "You need to do both if you want to be a really great team. There are things you look at - what’s the biggest difference? (But) he has been pretty damn good at home.”
In a sense, this feels like Deja vu; another year with quarterback questions mounting and the backup becoming the most popular man in Atlanta.
But unlike last year, when Marcus Mariota had the reigns while Ridder, then a rookie, watched and learned behind the scenes, the Falcons have a proven candidate who doesn't need a developmental period.
As such, it's a "completely different situation," Smith said, from when Ridder overtook Mariota for the final four games, but one that Atlanta's third-year coach plans on approaching in the same measured way.
“You talk about big picture, you’re talking about young quarterbacks in this league and things that you want to be able to see, there’s a fine line between always jerking the wheel and making a guy more hesitant, and you got to make the best decision for your team going forward," Smith said.
"If you think that the biggest issue is making a change, then that’s what’s what you have to do.”
But for now, Smith believes the biggest issue is slow starts, which he feels comes from a variety of factors, starting with a lack of rhythm.
Through Ridder's eight starts, the Falcons are averaging only 7.3 points in the first half. They've mustered only three such points in the last two weeks and have been shutout in four of their last six quarters.
The sky isn't falling yet; it remains early, with the season's first quarter just not concluding ... but Atlanta needs more, and Smith, who's confident he has the right guys in the locker room, is desperately searching for answers - just not yet at quarterback.
“We know overall we need to take the next step," Smith said. "Thankfully, we’re 2-2. I know it feels like you’re 0-4 when you lose two games like that, but we know we have a lot of work to do, and we have to solve this problem.”
