Atlanta Falcons quarterback Desmond Ridder hasn’t been heard from much since the end of last season. He got the chance to talk up his offensive weapons on ESPN.
ESPN’s Dan Orlovsky asked Ridder about Bijan Robinson, the running back the Falcons took with the No. 8 overall pick in April’s draft. Was there anything that surprised him since they’ve been working together?
“Just his explosiveness,” said Ridder. “You obviously see it on his film from Texas, but just seeing it in person. We haven’t got the pads on yet, so we’ll see what it’s like when we get the pads on. But just being out there in OTAs, just [his] ability to play anywhere and do anything, it’s just really huge.”
Ridder mentioned Robinson’s ability to play anywhere. Robinson shouldn’t be thought of as just as running back. He was taking reps at slot receiver during OTAs and mini camp and will be a playmaker all over the field for the Falcons.
Orlovsky asked Ridder about his relationship with Drake London and Kyle Pitts and what they’ve been working on in the offseason.
“Drake and I obviously had a great connection last year,” said Ridder. “For myself and Kyle, we didn’t get as many reps as we’d have liked to last year. So for me it was about keep developing that relationship with Drake. Then obviously build that relationship with Kyle. Whether it’s playing golf on the weekends or actually being out there and working on our crafts together. Just growing that connection both on and off the field.”
Pitts was injured Week 11 after a blindside hit to his knee by Chicago Bears safety Eddie Jackson, and Ridder took over as Falcons quarterback in Week 14.
After Ridder took the reins, London finished his rookie season with 25 catches for 333 yards.
Dan Orlovsky finished by asking Ridder easiest thing and the hardest thing about throwing to London and Ridder. He played up the size of his targets.
“The easiest thing for me is just putting it where they can get it,” said Ridder. “They’re two monsters outside of the ball, just put it in their vicinity and they’re able to go up and get it.”
“The hardest thing would probably be missing,” Ridder said with a laugh. “Just because they’re so big and they can cover a long range of area. It’s hard to miss ’em.”
The Falcons surrounded Desmond Ridder with one of the game’s best offensive lines and a bevy of young weapons including Pitts (22), London (21) and Robinson (21). If Ridder can keep making it easy to get the ball to London and Pitts, the running game will take care of itself.
