Atlanta Falcons: One simple reason Desmond Ridder should start

Is Marcus Mariota playing well enough to start for the Atlanta Falcons? Well, you can argue either way, but even if he is playing well enough to start, that doesn’t mean that Desmond Ridder shouldn’t be given a chance.

This team has won more games already than most “experts” expected them to, but the team should be playing better than they are.

Marcus Mariota limits a part of the offense that holds the team back, which is exactly why Desmond Ridder should be taking the snaps.

Deep accuracy is the lone reason the Atlanta Falcons should start Desmond Ridder

If you have watched Marcus Mariota’s deep passing for the Atlanta Falcons then you know he struggles mightily.

Outside of a throw to Damiere Byrd against the Bengals, it seems like every time Mariota has thrown it deep, either the receiver is double-covered or the football lands ten yards in front of the receiver — it has been ridiculous.

Not having a consistent deep passing game can hinder an offense. It shrinks the field for the defense and puts less stress on them.

Mariota’s inability to put the ball on target down the field is the sole reason Arthur Smith should put the rookie Desmond Ridder in.

Ridder was deadly accurate down the field in college and accuracy usually translates to the NFL. He would certainly be at least marginally better on deep throws and that should be enough reason to put him in.

We just need a quarterback who can be accurate down the field and make the correct type of throw for each situation. It would allow this team to take a significant step forward and undoubtedly would win them at least a couple more games that they wouldn’t have with Mariota’s deep ball.

Having a running game should pair with a deep passing game, but for the Falcons that has not been the case, due to the aforementioned reason.