:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/59981513/usa_today_9852149.0.jpg)
We’ve heard nothing but glowing reviews about the Falcons’ 2018 rookie class, with this most recent piece of praise coming from Falcons WRs coach Raheem Morris.
Matt Ryan said rookie WR Calvin Ridley was as good in and out of breaks as anyone he’s been around. I asked #Falcons WRs coach/passing game coordinator about that high praise for Ridley. pic.twitter.com/gObRbIQKzI
— Justin Felder (@Justin_FOX5) June 6, 2018
Rookie WR Calvin Ridley seems to be one of those guys who is doing everything right, and is doing everything he can to get better. For Morris to be that effusive that early about what the young player can already do (it’s only the first week of June) is rather exciting.
We’ve seen snippets of this here and there, but to be frank, I can’t remember the last time a coaching staff has been this vocal about what a rookie class can do.
Ridley will be the main one to contribute right away, as he’s no doubt entrenched as the team’s third receiver, replacing Taylor Gabriel in the offense. If he’s already this far along, he could get some pretty early snaps into the offense. Like, Week One early. Even if he has to supplant the learning curve that gets every rookie at any position, look for him to be an impact guy on day one.
2018 will live and die on OC Steve Sarkisian’s improvement, but having a strong rookie class could even pick up a little bit of the slack there if Sark still is uneven next season. You saw what that 2016 class did for the team, and while you really may only see Ridley, CB Isaiah Oliver and DT Deadrin Senat getting substantial time on the field outside of special teams, this has the makings of one of those cornerstone classes team brag about in the years to come as helping them sustain their success.
The fall can’t get here soon enough; after all the hype, seeing Ridley in action in this offense with guys like Julio Jones and Mohamed Sanu joining him seems pretty darn exciting.