Falcons' Desmond Ridder Needs 'Efficiency and Consistency'
Year two looks to be a massive one for Atlanta Falcons quarterback Desmond Ridder, as for the first time in his career, he’ll be entering the season as the team's presumed starter.
The Falcons drafted Ridder following a successful collegiate career in which he led the Cincinnati Bearcats to the College Football Playoffs, making school history by going 13-0 and college football history by being the first Group of 5 team to make the playoffs.
His success as a college prospect, paired with the fact that he could run a 40-yard dash in 4.52 seconds, made him an easy selection for Atlanta in the third round of the 2022 NFL Draft.
As a rookie Ridder started the team's final four games, and after beginning his career 0-2, he finished the season on a two-game win streak and nearly won the NFC South Division title as Atlanta’s starter. Now he’ll e expected to continue building on his late-season success from Week 1 in 2023.
"I like Ridder's mobility, ability to throw on the move and his effectiveness in the play-action game on short-to-intermediate throws," ESPN's Louis Riddick wrote. "But the field vision, decision-making and ball placement/accuracy? I need to see improvement. Atlanta can give him time, though, and see if efficiency and consistency start to emerge as he gets comfortable in Smith's system."
Something that should help Ridder improve is the addition of No. 8 pick and elite offensive weapon Bijan Robinson and the return of rising star tight end Kyle Pitts who was injured before Ridder took over as the Falcons’ starting quarterback.
If Ridder’s comfortable in Atlanta this season, the Falcons could have their first postseason berth since 2017 and potentially even win the division. The first chance to evaluate his familiarity with the offense is just around the corner, with training camp beginning on July 27.
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