Skip to content
TrackPodcasts
sportsSep 10, 202616:23

Will Falcons already be making a QB change ahead of season opener

Dukes & Bell

About this episode

Carl and Mike close out the show with final thoughts on the reports of Tua Tagovailoa dealing with an oblique issue and take calls from listeners to allow them to discuss how they believe Kevin Stefanski should move forward if Tagovailoa is unable to go on Sunday.

Get every episode summarized

Each time Dukes & Bell publishes, we email you a written briefing from the transcript — the topics, who appeared, and any specific claims, with the ad reads skipped.

Email me new episodes

Free for 3 shows. No card needed.

Hosts & guests

Transcript ready

189 searchable segments. Every word is indexed and playable.

Will Falcons already be making a QB change ahead of season opener

Dukes & Bell

0:00
16:23

Full transcript

Dukes & BellWill Falcons already be making a QB change ahead of season opener. Machine-transcribed; use the interactive transcript above to jump the player to any line.

Gunn South has been a podcast about crime in the American South, but for our new season, we're widening the lens. Follow and listen to Gunn South season 5, wherever you get your shows. It's funny, you've got all the answers and then when I say, hey, we're taking your calls, nobody's calling Mike 404-726. Oh, no, tonight, what are you doing if you're Kevin Stofansky? And don't say, well, you know, I'd play Pinnix, he's inactive. That's the problem. He's not ready, guys. He's 97.5% ready. And until we fill that 2.5, we just can't get across the finish line. So we got to wait. Dayday says, you know, you just can't push it. The man knows when he's ready. And that's just the way it is. I mean, sure in the old days, you get cleared by the doctors. You say, I'm out there, coach, but you know, it's not the way it works in 2026, every cat in the house. Let's get as a cat in the house. Yeah. All right, 404-7260929. I am going to roll the dice. You're going to do it. You know, say it and I'm starting to act strange. And I'm just going to roll the dice, Mike, and say, you know what?

He's got all the tools. The problem is, guys, you got to get him some reps. But at the end of the day, like I We're going short-handed anyway right now. He's the backup technically is if Cooper Rush starts this game, then strand is going to be your backup. That's it. I mean, the thing is, oh, today, and that's why I mean, as much as I like what you're saying is a lot of guys agree with you is as soon as this thing became what it was today, it was just Cooper Rush. Next up, you get all the reps and Cooper Rush. That's the pecking order. You know, you'd have to make a concerted effort. Look, Jack strand is on this roster because somebody in the organization sees something. Yes. You know what that is? Matt Ryan. You know, I think it's Matt Ryan. I like to think you know, or it's as we learned earlier in the week, it's a consensus. They have a collaborative effort with the general manager and the coach. Do you think at any point Matt went, not I like this kid. I don't think he's any good. But you guys go ahead and keep it. I just I mean, but they see something in him. And so if you see something to have him on the roster at the, you know, and again, guys will lose their minds about Zach Harris into some of the other guys who became that 54th man with the roster. It's, it's like, well, if you're, if you feel you can start to see with them, why couldn't you? I mean, you've, you've, you've, you've almost made the argument for you to do it.

Because you see something and it would be a hell of a look. It's going to be a be some mistakes. It'll be trial by fire and Pittsburgh. But I'd rather, I'm with you. I would rather see strand and I mean, my number one guy would be Michael Panic Jr. That option is not available to us. Let's start with Danny on in North Atlanta. Danny. Thanks for listening to sports video 92 9 the game. What would you do? I just got to tell you guys after being a Falcons fan 61 years. This is the year I jumped off the wagon and a bet the Falcons will lose 10 games. Come on. Come on. Come on. What's where's your fighting spirit? Now you quit after after 283. Now you quit 60 years. He said, this is, this is the brother to go in with his back and this is the straw that breaks the camels back part in the pun. Quarterback. Go to jail, but no, no, no, no. Yeah, we had a proud Mike Vick in the who's scall the great choke. I people Treno put lockers. Let me know. Hey guys, I'm going to call those hogs homes. Zooie.

Yeah, but this is the, this is the, this is the move. It's interesting because there is a lot of history that we don't want to talk about or that we've lived. I get it. But you know what, man, like, like, I'm asking you what would you do? We got a game Sunday. We got to show up. What gives you the best chance to win? And that's what we're talking about. And by the way, I look, a banged up oblique against this defense does not help us. If in fact, it is that guy, if it is that series, Mike, it may not be, he may be back out there tomorrow, but I doubt it. No, the way he looked in the preseason, it drew a lot of attention. I talked about nationally. And I found that work ESPN. But you know, going up against the third string of the Colts is not going up against TJ Watten Company. That's the thing. Although he would at least And being given, there's a thing is too late in the game now. It's already Thursday. It's it. Cooper rush got the reps. I mean, Friday and then you fly up there. That's it. I mean, you just hope he's ready. I mean, nobody wants to wish an injury and Cooper rush because he is brilliant. He's a fast study. My heel picked this up. By the way, for those who asked Michael Pentax Jr. If he wanted to, he could go to the company. They could activate him up to 90 minutes before the game.

But again, that's not going to keep putting that pressure on this man. He's not going to do that. You know, I mean, you know, the hero, you know, being the man, you have, you know, being the captain. Don't need no meow. We don't have. You know, it's kind of a time on a tradition, you know, like coming to the rescue. Guys, I'm ready. I wasn't ready. But you know what? By God, I'm going to I want to see this team going to ask his kicked up in Pittsburgh and put me in their coach. I'm ready to rock him. Let me get this straight. So it's okay for a guy with a potentially bad oblique to sit it out, but a guy coming off his third ACL injury. How bad is he? What you know what? You know what? Now, you know what? Now that I think about it. You know what? I'm going to go ahead and go out here and jeopardize my future. Yeah. I mean, again, you know, where is this future? This future with some other team? I'm talking about the future of the Feltis. Maybe it will be because I don't give. My heel. I don't give a crap about Michael Pentax. I'm just explaining all of that. I don't give a crap about Michael. He's a professional player. Yes. Again, no, not really. He's played 12 games. Not really. Come on. Well, he knows what is that real Halloween November 1st.

It doesn't matter. It doesn't matter. Well, that's just good. It doesn't matter. His career is not going to be with the Atlanta Falcons because they will not take up his 50 and best believe he, his agent, his new wife, they all understand that. So the massive money, the only money you're going to make is off that first, the first four years of your contract and everything else is going to be wearing a baseball hat and making four or five. You don't know that. If he ends up on another team, he can end up borrowing out. Yes. As long as, but if he, especially if he fully recovers, like, look, it's a gamble for everybody. Because the Feltis, the Feltis too are saying, look, we're going to give you the time to your point earlier, Carl. We're going to give you the time. Tell us when you're ready. But guess what? When you ask kids on the field, you better show out. If not, we're cutting ties and you can go figure it out. So is it 94.5? It doesn't matter. 97%. I'm just curious. I'd like to see a float chart on. All right. Let's keep it. No one of guys really ready to go. Let's 544. You can start the clip right there. Let's let's talk to Vincent Riverdale. Vince, what are you doing in this situation?

This is where we're at right now. It's Thursday. Things good change. What are you doing? Hey, man. I think we just got to stay professionals, man. I hate to be the cliche, but it's next man up. So we see otherwise, man. I think it's just one game. I think Michael be ready next week, man. And I'm not saying that we're really throwing the towel, but that we got to be a run heavy outfit. So I'm talking if I can get 60 plays running me to be 40 of them playing. Well, that's what I think the game plan was going to be even with tour. Who are the quarterback? This is this is my debate. This is my my my my issue with this. For everybody says strand may not be ready. Any may not be. He's not getting the reps. We know that. But the game plan was going to be the same whether we strand rushed or a tour. So why not run the guy out there who has more scape ability can take a hit mic. At least what we've seen. Right. And can stretch the field. Like at least he'll throw a deep couple of times, man. We'll see what happens. But that's why I'm like, you know what? At this point,

I have nothing to lose. And by the way, nobody now is expecting us to go up there and win this game. I mean, the numbers moving up as we speak. Steelers were 13th against the run last year average, and 113.1 yards of game that comes after 4.3 totes. It's not a bad average. I mean, like I said, Bijon, as we talked about yesterday with the beat rider from the athletic in Pittsburgh. I mean, Bijon is, it's like, you know, you can't stop him. We've seen some teams slow him down. You know, most effective probably was at San Francisco game last year. Yeah, that's true. All right, Kenneth and Duluth, you're up next on sports radio, 9290 game. What are you doing, Kenneth? In this situation, what are you doing? Hey guys, it's Keith, but I'm sorry. I think it's obviously strand because Mike is right on it. The Falcon's future quarterback is in the draft next year. That's obvious to everyone. The one thing I haven't heard one thing of guys, I keep hearing Penex's already mentally, physically. Maybe he's not ready because he couldn't plant this all year.

He doesn't know the playbook. It's not ready to run the offense. I mean, all we know is he could do the seven on seven, which is in 11 on 11. And that's something that has been brought up, but he's got the mental reps. Saphanski said he's done everything they've asked of him, you know, in his preparation. But I mean, I can't speak to that because we, you know, and as the fanski is said that Mike, they've been in communication and Carl's point about where he is with his body and there's no like surprises. If anything, the Falcon is probably let Michael speak too much to the media about where he is, because now we're inside his head. Yeah, I don't mind that though. I said it yesterday. I don't mind him being honest because at least you know where you stand. Look, if you hadn't heard from his mouth, I'm not ready. You would be killing him right now. So I'm okay with that. Tell us the truth. And then we have to live with it. I'm fine with that. But this idea like if he didn't say that and just said, man, you know, when they ready to put me out there, they'll put me out there. You would be killing Saphanski. You'd be killing Matt Ryan because you'd be saying, that's the reason

why they're holding him back. We now know that's not it. It's him. Okay. So now the onus is on Michael Pinnix to let us know when he's ready. This is just a weird situation, man. And now I just got the craziest text message, Mike. What you got? And this is this is where we are. This is this is the craziness. Why don't we go sign camp? Would you stop it? Come on. Go sign camp. Yeah, man. I mean, then then both guys get say that. Ready. But this is what I'm talking about. Oh my god. I drive this Matt Ryan sign a one day contract and play on Sunday. How many games are going to win this year? Seven. So I it's a gap year. And that's why day days right. And I'm wrong. Mike, you take all the time in the world. It just doesn't matter. Why do I even pay for my PSL in my season tickets? It doesn't matter. It's got a year. Another year. Not making the playoffs. Make it nine.

You need even more like a doll. What do we care? You know, why do we why do we follow this? See, why do we live and die for the Falcons? You know, we get around to it. Seven. Right now. Yeah, I mean, we're we just how are we going to scheme the past rush? Are we going to have to blitz it get the past rush? Can the old Gs do the past rush thing? You know, I love candle Daniels. I love Parkinson's. I'm curious to see what over it. He's good with linebackers. But you know, you're bringing a guy like Zadaria's I mean, it's he's old to dudes. I mean, these are guys that are just it's hard to envision, you know, that production. You're not going to replace it. Now the good news is we'll probably be better against the run. You know, and you're going to help your young linebacker, Corey, because we got some big bodies up front in the middle. Mike, you said seven right now. Does it mean that never goes up? You think if he's if pinnishes back sooner than later. I mean, that's what I think. Why am I being such a PRI is because I want to see Pentax out there. I want to see what this guy's all about. You know, because I didn't see what I thought I wanted to see because Zach Robinson was an idiot because he Morris screwed the pooch with his assistance and

everything was a trap. Is he going all the way back to font? No. I want to see what a really good offensive coordinator with a really good staff can do with Michael Pentax. You need to to make him the quarterback. We thought he was going to be and I'd love to see that start Sunday. But I got a wait. All right. By the way, if you're tuning in and you're going guys, what is going on to is questionable now after tweaking his oblique at practice today. That's where this starts. And it happened literally as we came on the air. So that is why we're even discussing the idea because some of you're like, what are you guys talking about? Jack Strand. Well, he's your emergency quarterback. Cooper rushes your backup. So with the questionable tweaking of his oblique, he did not take first team reps today. They gave those to Cooper rush. And so now it's Thursday. Tomorrow's Friday guys. That's the last real preparation day. They'll do meetings and all kind of stuff as they get up there on Saturday. But when you talk about being on the grass and preparing tomorrow's it. And so now you're looking at a situation where two are on Monday and then they were off Tuesday. Wednesday was supposed to be preparing. Now this is the hiccup. And that's why we're talking about

this. And again, if we get to work tomorrow, it's Quinn peaks in Bucket. And we find out that Cooper rush was splitting reps with Jack Strand. Then okay. But that won't happen. And they don't even do that tomorrow because they're traveling Saturday. They'll try. Yeah. I mean, but tomorrow is just a walk through. It's not even like there's nothing that you would see that would give you any idea about like somebody leapfrogging somebody on a dep truck. Well, they're going to work, Mike. I mean, Friday is a work day. I don't think they'll be walk. They'll walk through on Saturday. I think tomorrow they're trying to again make sure everybody's on the same page of this damn game plan. You got two days before a kickoff Saturday when they get up there, all that other stuff will happen. But I just think like that is a big deal when you start talking about how do I give this offense confidence? Who gives us the best chance to win? Hey, obviously, think it's Cooper rush. It's the pecking order right now. If it was me, I'd roll the dice. I mean, you know what the ceiling is with Cooper rush. You have you have some hope for Jack Strand. That's where it's at. That's why so many folks are fired up about trying to see the guy out there. All right. You know, which ill will about Cooper rush. But yeah, I mean, two needed on Sunday. If I can't get Michael Patix, I want to see Jack Strand. All right, man. Well, yeah, our at Twin Peaks tomorrow. Come on out and hang out with

his Chris got a full show tonight by the way. Two hours. Oh, he's got we've got the game. That's right. Look at me tonight. Who you like? By the way, I'm just thinking with the Rams. No, I like the 49 is to cover the three and a half eight o'clock pregame kicks it eight thirties. So Chris is on for two hours. We talked about that tomorrow. It's so crazy, Mike, because the game last night we really didn't dive into it today because of what's going on with our football. I like Seattle. Never thought that Drew Larka do what he did. And that defense just lights out and Drake may against winning teams is just not good. And boys, that's that been thrown around today in social media. All right, man, we're back at it tomorrow on a big Friday show. Let's get out here and clear through. Um, we got to find a way to win those football games. Yes, we do a coach. We do. We do. We do, raw. You're right. Man, we're pulling from the vault of our former coaches right now. Kevin, we got to find a way to get up there and get this done.

Can we get it done? Okay, wait until tomorrow. Answer that. Day day. Great job, executive producing big O behind the glass. Our engineers, stay tuned. Trotters got you covered, guys. Big shut out to our guests today as well. Tomorrow, I think Daniel Flick's going to stop by to talk some Falcons. We'll talk to Koon and we'll talk to a B Mac, our regulars, guys. And we'll be out there talking about all the big games. Lots of interesting college football games this weekend, by the way. We'll break it all down for you tomorrow. Make sure you're here. Hey, Mike Bell, clear your throat. I saw this today. Why are we playing in Australia? Because the NFL can. I mean, it's just the growth and the stuff that these guys that count the beans up at Madison Avenue or Park Avenue live for. More money, more markets expanding the brand. But to play, you know, a big division game, which has serious playoff ramifications of 15 hour flight away. Hell, there's more to talk about how you prepare for this one. He's been there a week. One team just flew in. I'm glad to see football, but I don't think no, we shouldn't be playing in Australia. It's too much. Yeah, I don't like it either. And by the way, the Madrid game, we lose a home game. Do we? Do we lose a home game? I know it's a great question. I know.

And when you play his international game, somebody's losing a home game. Hey, man, as we talk about the Falcons, don't get more frustrated. Just know it can't get any worse. Can it? We haven't even started the season. And it feels like we've got a lot of things that are unsettled and controversial right now. Hopefully things get settled out. And Mike. On Reddit, true crime doesn't come from journalists. It comes from the victims, the witnesses, and sometimes the suspects themselves. Every Tuesday on Crimes of Reddit, we read these posts out loud. I'm Sabrina Deanna Roge, and I'm Alexis Linkletter. One of us brings the story, the other goes in blind, reacting in real time, just like you. New episodes dropped every Tuesday. Listen to and follow Crimes of Reddit, available now wherever you get your podcasts.

Are you looking for a football podcast that doesn't put you to sleep with a fog of analytics or insult your fandom with phony hot takes? I'm Dan Hanses. And I'm Mark Sessler. And we're the host of He the Call, the NFL podcast you've been waiting for. Heed the call covers the entire NFL, not just the same five or six teams you're sick of, delivering news, weekly power rankings, plus previews and recaps of every matchup. Yes, we cover your team, and we do it with a touch of birth because football is fun. Why shouldn't your football podcasts be the same? Follow and listen to He the Call, NFL podcasts wherever you get your podcasts.

More episodes

More from Dukes & Bell

View all episodes →