Falcons' Desmond Ridder a 'Poor Man's Ryan Tannehill,' Says Former QB
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The Atlanta Falcons are set to enter this season with second-year pro Desmond Ridder as their starting quarterback, seemingly much to the surprise of many national observers.
Of course, the Falcons have long endorsed Ridder as a viable option under center, even if some never saw that as true. However, the 23-year-old's four-game sample size to close last season was enough to foster belief from coach Arthur Smith and others within the organization, and he's been firmly given the reigns.
What should fans expect from Ridder in his first full season as a starter? According to former NFL quarterback and current NBC Sports analyst Chris Simms, the closest comparison may not be the most favorable.
"I look at (Ridder) as almost like a poor man's Ryan Tannehill and what he did for Tennessee and Arthur Smith," Simms said.
Smith, the Titans' offensive coordinator in 2019 and 2020, had a highly successful two-year stint with Tannehill under center, headlined by a trip to the AFC Championship Game in their first year working together.
Tennessee's offense was led by a strong running game with Derrick Henry carrying a heavy load, and the Falcons are poised to have a similar approach this season with running backs Bijan Robinson, Tyler Allgeier and Cordarrelle Patterson leading the way.
But still, Tannehill is largely viewed as a middle-of-the-pack signal caller across the league. Ridder being a "poor man's" version of that is not exactly a glowing review, and part of why Simms has him slotted at No. 40 in his quarterback rankings.
Ridder completed 63.5 percent of his passes for 708 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions while going 2-2 across four starts last year, and Smith has often noted how well he performed in third- and fourth-down scenarios plus commanding the offense.
So, lots working in Ridder's favor, right?
While Simms touted the former Cincinnati Bearcats standout's growth with mechanics, tightening his motion, turning his shoulders and improving his arm speed, the lack of experience and Atlanta's use of "training wheels" led to the low ranking.
Moving forward, Simms wants to see greater pocket presence and more consistent high-level throws from Ridder while leading receivers in run-after-catch situations. Further, the former eight-year pro signal caller believes Atlanta didn't fully trust Ridder as a passer or decision maker last season.
This take from Simms largely goes against what Smith has said publicly, as he's stressed that Ridder was often put in uncomfortable, pressure-packed positions to see how he'd respond ... and passed the test. The same is true for accuracy and managing the pocket, both of which drew praise from Smith down the stretch.
Interestingly, Simms, who cited the inexperience that Ridder has as a knock in his evaluation, put three rookie quarterbacks in the Carolina Panthers' Bryce Young, Houston Texans' C.J. Stroud and Indianapolis Colts' Anthony Richardson all above him in the rankings.
Nonetheless, Simms isn't fully out on Ridder, dishing praise on his off-field attributes while adding that the Falcons feel they can improve his tangible traits.
"His intangibles jump out to you," Simms said. "Desmond Ridder has your starting quarterback charisma and command. He knows how to take a joke and criticism. They're believing in that, and they believe they can fix some of the issues in his physical play."
So, if the Falcons manage to do exactly that, will Ridder still be a "poor man's" Tannehill? That's largely up for interpretation - but if the Smith can enjoy similar success with Ridder in Atlanta as he did with Tannehill and the Titans, the comparison largely won't matter.
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