Arthur Smith's offense is looking to take a giant leap forward in 2023 with Desmond Ridder set to take over under center. Smith's unit is loaded with weapons, yet there seems to be an assumption that we already know what this group will look like.
But to assume we already know what this offense is capable of would be foolish.
Beau Morgan and Andy Bunker were live at Falcons training camp on Saturday afternoon and the pair discussed what this offense could be like in 2023 by looking back at what it was in 2021 and 2022.
“The 2021 offense looked a lot more like what Matt Ryan was used to," he said. "[It was] just slinging it around, you can't run the ball and it's just, 'Let's air it out'. The 2022 offense looked more college-like with, ‘Let's run, run, run.’ I don't think either one of them were [a representation] of Arthur Smith's actual offense."
For whatever reason, onlookers saw the offense last season and have simply assumed that he just wants to run the air out of the football. But that's just simply not the case.
With Matt Ryan at the helm in 2021, Arthur Smith's offense threw the ball 33.7 times per game compared to 23.1 rushing attempts. As we saw, those numbers completely flipped in 2022 with Marcus Mariota taking over under center with the team throwing the ball about 24.4 times per game while running it 32.9 times.
There was a method to this.
"I think he was taking what he had at quarterback and [said], ‘This how to get the most out of the most important position on the field,’" Beau continued. "I think the 2023 offense, with all these weapons in the passing game and in the backfield, and you're going to see a hodgepodge of 2021 and 2022’s offense. To the point where there might be one game where [Desmond] Ridder has to throw it 30 times, and there might be another game where Ridder throws it 20 times.”
While both of those units struggled on occasion, that was more a product of what was available rather than what his offense is capable of.
In 2021, they couldn't keep Matt Ryan on his feet and they were struggling after the losses of numerous skill players (e.g. Julio Jones via trade and Calvin Ridley due to suspension/injury).
Then in 2022, they were loaded with youth at the skill position and were eventually forced into a quarterback change.
Entering 2023, these issues presumably won't be the case and if history tells us anything, Arthur Smith will be able to maximize what he has on this roster. We've seen how he has cut his teeth in Atlanta by being able to take what he has in the cabinet and make a meal out of it.
“Arthur Smith does one thing better than almost anybody else in the league -- not anybody, but almost [anybody]," Beau said. "He takes guys, and he figures out what they're good at. Then he brings them in, and he uses them in exactly the way that they're good at.”
Andy agreed with Beau’s sentiment.
“I definitely agree with the idea of Arthur Smith being able to identify who can do what and then utilizing that,” Bunker replied. “I don't think there's a more telling example of that than what Cordarrelle Patterson's career has become here.”
Patterson had nearly a decade’s worth of experience in the NFL but had never been anything other than a return specialist and depth player on offense. Arthur Smith saw something more and turned him into a weapon.
Between Patterson, Bijan Robinson, Drake London, Kyle Pitts, and Tyler Allgeier, Arthur Smith has an offense that is loaded with players that can take over a game. Perhaps this is finally the group that puts it all together.
