Will Atlanta Falcons Fire Desmond Ridder & Arthur Smith?
The Atlanta Falcons are back to losing games after looking like a playoff team earlier this season, and many fans are pointing fingers at the team’s quarterback room and head coach Arthur Smith.
After the Falcons struggled in its second straight loss to a division opponent, this time the NFL’s worst team, the Carolina Panthers, who had just one win entering the contest, coach Smith was asked about Desmond Ridder’s future as the starter for the Falcons.
Although Smith acknowledged that he planned to start Ridder for the rest of the season after he took the job back from Taylor Heinicke, he wasn’t as committal now.
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Desmond Ridder (9) throws against the Carolina Panthers during the second quarter at Bank of America Stadium.
Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports
“Nothing’s ever set in stone,” Smith said. “You’ve got to evaluate and adapt…We got to find a way, and we need to win.”
At this point, Atlanta has fallen behind the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and New Orleans Saints, so it seems that the Falcons have given the division away for good this season after being the No. 1 seed just a couple of weeks ago.
Regarding whether or not the team currently has its franchise quarterback on the roster, Smith dodged the question with a political answer that made it sound like fans should expect a new face next season.
“We’ve had some good moments,” Smith said. “We’ll get back and evaluate everything. We’ll make sure we have the right plan and make the right decision for the best of the team; that’s in the best interest of this team to win a game. We need to get back in the win column.”
Overall, this season has been disappointing, considering that Atlanta has the talent to be a playoff contender on paper. However, the offense, whether due to Smith’s play calling or quarterback play, has held back the team.
If things don’t improve, Smith and Ridder may both be looking for new jobs next season.
