Twenty-Four Eighty-Four
Footballguy
He'll be in my lineup.
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WR Calvin Ridley, TEN (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter Faust
- Start date
Faust
MVP
Calvin Ridley’s work ethic draws praise from Falcons’ coaches   (Atlanta Journal Constitution - autoplay video)
Faust
MVP
Silver & Black
Footballguy
I wanted to bump this thread (I searched and this is the only thread I could find about Ridley) to see what everyone thinks of him heading into the 2019 season.
Sanu continues to hang around and there is a lot of talk about Hooper taking a big step forward and becoming a bigger part of the Atlanta offense this year. Ridley flashed some serious talent last year, but he also dropped a lot of balls. Do we think he can step up and replace or phase out Sanu as the true number 2 option in this offense? I worry he will be a weekly hit or miss with so many mouths to feed. Thanks.
Sanu continues to hang around and there is a lot of talk about Hooper taking a big step forward and becoming a bigger part of the Atlanta offense this year. Ridley flashed some serious talent last year, but he also dropped a lot of balls. Do we think he can step up and replace or phase out Sanu as the true number 2 option in this offense? I worry he will be a weekly hit or miss with so many mouths to feed. Thanks.
Silver & Black
Footballguy
Perfect, thanks Faust!
TheDirtyWord
Footballguy
He’s commented that he feels like he is playing faster/smoother in Year 2 which for a guy who had precision route running as a key attribute coming into the NFL, is a good sign. I kind of feel he supplanted Sanu as the #2 WR last year already. I know their numbers were very similar, but he felt like the bigger threat.Silver & Black said:
Yes, there are a lot of mouths to feed...but if there is anyone who is hurt by that, I think it’s Julio believe it or not. And not in a bad way...could still see Julio putting up a 90/1450/9 type year, but that would represent a pull back.
Biabreakable
Footballguy
I can see a scenario where the Falcons dont run the ball that much and pass attempts are well over 600 attempts to go around.
Silver & Black
Footballguy
Great post, thanks. But what about Hooper. Hearing lots of hype about him being more involved this year as well. And I thought I read very early on in the offseason that they didn't want to air it out quite so much and wanted to be a bit more balanced this year. I was really hoping Sanu got cut, he has a hefty salary figure this year.....
TheDirtyWord
Footballguy
I wrote this on the Falcons MB earlier this off-season...the key points were
1) Ridley was feast-or-famine his rookie year...more famine; 6 great games, 10 very subpar games.
2) When he feasted, the Falcons offense was ridiculously productive and efficient (especially Ryan)...and not at the expense of other components.
So from my POV...and I'm a Falcons fan so I dig into this stuff, I'd really try and get Ridley going in 2019. If he makes the Year 1/Year 2 leap like we see players do, it helps unlock the diversity of their offense in a way few teams can match (or limit).
Hooper & Sanu are nice safety vales and Ryan is adept and knowing when to go them, but they don't profile and field tilters. Ridley does. I'm hoping we see more consistency from him. If the Falcons do...could be big.
Twenty-Four Eighty-Four
Footballguy
Apologies if this has been discussed but is Ridley starting opposite Jones? Is Sanu still ahead of him? Does it matter?
Raptors409
Footballguy
I really like Ridley. He’s just as good as Brandin Cooks, imo.
Ilov80s
Footballguy
TheDirtyWord
Footballguy
Couple of more things on Ridley as I wrote on him last month:
1) Decent chance they don't play a bad weather game all year. Away games @ IND, @ HOU, @ ARI, @ MIN, @ SF...along with three division tilts. 5 weather controlled environments and CAR, TB, SF. Good for passing games.
2) Sanu is coming off a career year. He's likely though in his last year with the Falcons. The 3-4 year outlook for this passing attack is centered around Ryan/Julio/Ridley. That transition starts to take effect in earnest this year.
3) Ryan doesn't get alot of love (#62 on NFL Top 100? - really?) but 2 of the last 3 seasons he's put up 5000/35 numbers. If you believe this offense is that type of offense, there is a 85/1200/8-9 season out there for Ridley. Compare that to DJ Moore who has a QB that's only averaging 225 passing yards/game over the last 6 seasons (compared to Ryan 289)? Just the difference in passing yards alone is a 1000+ yards/season.
1) Decent chance they don't play a bad weather game all year. Away games @ IND, @ HOU, @ ARI, @ MIN, @ SF...along with three division tilts. 5 weather controlled environments and CAR, TB, SF. Good for passing games.
2) Sanu is coming off a career year. He's likely though in his last year with the Falcons. The 3-4 year outlook for this passing attack is centered around Ryan/Julio/Ridley. That transition starts to take effect in earnest this year.
3) Ryan doesn't get alot of love (#62 on NFL Top 100? - really?) but 2 of the last 3 seasons he's put up 5000/35 numbers. If you believe this offense is that type of offense, there is a 85/1200/8-9 season out there for Ridley. Compare that to DJ Moore who has a QB that's only averaging 225 passing yards/game over the last 6 seasons (compared to Ryan 289)? Just the difference in passing yards alone is a 1000+ yards/season.
jm192
Footballguy
Tanner9919
Footballguy
thanks for this. #3 is interesting. Ridley was legit in college and last season, I'm not sure why so many people seem so down on him. Ryan is a stud QB the numbers back this up. 5000/35 in two of the past 3 seasons! get him now for dynasty leagues his value is still low
Raptors409
Footballguy
He reminds me of Jerry Rice.
Hot Sauce Guy
Footballguy
Read a very similar article about Tyrell Williams. Same concept - by holding back a little off the line, they can be more fluid in their cuts, and then have another gear.
shadyridr
Footballguy
![[icon]](/data/avatars/m/5/5167.jpg?1660313464){kind=avatar}
Biabreakable
Footballguy
Week one
M Sanu WR 62 84% 6 targets
C Ridley WR 57 77% 6 targets
J Jones WR 50 68% 11 targets
J Hardy WR 21 28% 5 targets
R Gage WR 13 18% 2 targets
Week two
M Sanu WR 55 83% 7 targets
J Jones WR 54 82% 10 targets
C Ridley WR 42 64% 10 targets
J Hardy WR 11 17% 1 target
R Gage WR 9 14% 1 target
Sanu is still playing more than the other WR but no it doesn't matter.
The Frankman
Footballguy
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TheDirtyWord
Footballguy
Couple of things...
1) The existing ankle issue Ryan has is not enough at this point to shut him down. Way to early for that anyway.
2) In the game Ryan missed, Schaub threw for 400+ yards, so even in the event that Ryan misses more games, while he may be Pick 6 prone, he’s a backup that won’t kill his WR’s production.
Now, as a Falcons fan...and hindsight being 20/20, while I thought WR was a dark horse position the Falcons could address in the 2018 draft, with defense in shambles, the selection of Ridley seems dubious. If you couple that with the fact that 1.5 years into his career and given where he was drafted, he’s yet to establish himself as a legit second option in this offense (I’d say it’s Hooper right now)...that’s a problem (amongst many). In fact, you could make an argument he was a 4th option before the Sanu trade.
So you’d think the Falcons would be motivated to see, if by providing more available targets with the Sanu trade, that would increase Ridleys production which right now stands as flat YoY. However, he seems to disappear too easily for my liking.
Ultimately, I think these next 8 games are pretty important for him and there is a great opportunity for him to establish himself further with Ryan. At the same time, I’ve been a bit disappointed that his chemistry with Ryan is as sketchy still as it is.
1) The existing ankle issue Ryan has is not enough at this point to shut him down. Way to early for that anyway.
2) In the game Ryan missed, Schaub threw for 400+ yards, so even in the event that Ryan misses more games, while he may be Pick 6 prone, he’s a backup that won’t kill his WR’s production.
Now, as a Falcons fan...and hindsight being 20/20, while I thought WR was a dark horse position the Falcons could address in the 2018 draft, with defense in shambles, the selection of Ridley seems dubious. If you couple that with the fact that 1.5 years into his career and given where he was drafted, he’s yet to establish himself as a legit second option in this offense (I’d say it’s Hooper right now)...that’s a problem (amongst many). In fact, you could make an argument he was a 4th option before the Sanu trade.
So you’d think the Falcons would be motivated to see, if by providing more available targets with the Sanu trade, that would increase Ridleys production which right now stands as flat YoY. However, he seems to disappear too easily for my liking.
Ultimately, I think these next 8 games are pretty important for him and there is a great opportunity for him to establish himself further with Ryan. At the same time, I’ve been a bit disappointed that his chemistry with Ryan is as sketchy still as it is.
Smack Tripper
Footballguy
He would need a julio injury to be a legit option . Julio is really having an unsung great year, he must be doubled every play and he still creates space and gets fed. Ridley is a huge let down to me
Statorama
gangster
I signed up to own him for a long time, so I'm duty bound to be optimistic. If I didn't have him, I'd be sniffing around to see if he could be had at a good price. I'm a big fan of his talent, and when he's focused and things are clicking he's a really special player. His numbers have been ok, but nothing special. He's a maddening player to own, as he's a candidate to explode and win a week for you, but he's just as likely to roll out a 3/31 or 4/40 day while a John Brown type doubles his score on your bench.
He has definitely NOT taken the step forward I gambled he would this year. Emmanuel Sanders was supposed to be his floor, not his ceiling.
Ilov80s
Footballguy
1) Oh I know, I meant it more as the season is a total loss. The entire coaching staff may get wiped out. Is there a chance the GM, owner and Ryan all agree it's not in the longterm best interest of Ryan or the Falcons to have him continue with the season?
2) Sure Schaub threw for 400 yards. Daniel Jones also looked like the 2nd coming of Steve Young in his first start. I don't put much stock into 1 game.
Ultimately, I see too many red flags to make the move I am being offered even though I am desperate for WR help.
TheDirtyWord
Footballguy
So long as Ryan is healthy, he’ll play. It’d be tough to lead a franchise if every time a lost season occurred, you placed your franchise QB in bubble wrap. Plus, the GM is as likely to get fired as the HC.
Schaub is an experienced veteran whose been the Falcons back-up for 3-4 years, not a rookie. Not saying he’ll throw for 400 yards again, but he won’t be Luke Falk. He can execute the offense.
Ilov80s
Footballguy
I am sure you are right that Ryan comes back and plays Sunday. What if he aggravates it? I just think the the QB situation is worth factoring into the equation given their struggles. You are right though that it is small. As for Schaub, he's worse than a rookie. He is a vet with years of tape to show he likely can't execute an offense that supports 3 fantasy pass catchers.
