FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. – Desmond Ridder went home after practice, pulled up the voice recorder app on his iPhone, hit record and started to speak. He looked at the script of playcalls from practice and went through each one, reading the proper cadence and language he needed to articulate.
Then the Atlanta Falcons rookie quarterback put in his Airpods, hit play and pretended like it was Falcons coach Arthur Smith calling the plays in through his helmet on game day. It was his way of learning and trying to memorize one of the nuances he has to learn as the third-round pick is transitioning from a standout career at Cincinnati to a first-year player learning everything as a professional.