Calvin Ridley has put to work this offseason with the mentality of being the elite in 2020. In many ways, quarterback Matt Ryan believes third-year wide receiver for the Atlanta Falcons is already here.
It’s hard to gain proper recognition when you’re playing on the same offense as the game’s top receiver, Julio Jones. But Ridley, the 26th overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft, stood out with 17 touchdowns in his first 29 games. The only active players to have had more touchdown receptions in their first two seasons are Odell Beckham Jr. (25), Larry Fitzgerald (18), AJ Green (18) and Jones (18), according to ESPN Stats & Information .
“The one thing that probably affects Calvin more than anything – and that doesn’t take away from how good a player he is – but your stats are skewed because of the guy you’re playing with on the opposite side. [Jones]Ryan said. “There are only a limited number of pieces in a game. We have so many talented guys.
“But I think people in the know, those who have to play against Calvin or try to keep him in a man-to-man blanket, know he’s elite. He is exceptional. He’s really, really good.
Ridley has been a hot topic of discussion this offseason when it comes to potential breakout contenders and budding fantasy superstars. His teammate and team captain Ricardo Allen continued to call the receiver a “real deal” and said he wished he had a Ridley jersey because the guy is so talented.
Ridley was third for the team in receptions last season with 63, behind Jones (99) and tight end Austin Hooper (75). And Ridley has missed the last three games with an abdominal injury.
Now Hooper has gone to Cleveland, although the Falcons have traded for another tight pass-catching end Hayden Hurst, who has created a buzz as a big athletic target. Jones remains the primary weapon in offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter’s pass-friendly system, but the extra attention he often gets should free up more opportunities for Ridley. Jones had 156 targets last season, Hooper 96 and Ridley 92.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers had two 1,000-yard receivers last season, Chris Godwin and Mike Evans. Why couldn’t the Falcons do the same with Jones, who has six straight seasons over 1,300 yards, and Ridley, who finished 134 under 1,000 yards last season missing those three games? The last time the Falcons had two 1,000-yard receivers was in 2012 with Jones and Roddy White. They’ve done it four times in their history, including three 1,000-yard receivers under June Jones in 1995.
“I’m not going to lie, I’m just really hungry to show people that I’m an easy 1,000 yard receiver, and better,” said Ridley. “I still have confidence in myself. And I’m really, really hungry and I want to help the team win as much as I can.
Ridley’s motivation is evident in the time he devotes to developing his art. A video has gone viral this offseason of him showing his stop-and-go journey against a defenseman, a clip that inspired South Florida’s childhood friend and reigning NFL MVP Lamar Jackson to Tweeter: . “
Ridley posted a video of himself running loops, digging, exiting and coming back from a hill using explosive movements and fancy footwork. He got a Jugs machine for his house to grab passes from inside and outside his garage.
“I really worked on pretty much everything, but really on my legs, which makes my legs a lot stronger,” Ridley said. “I try to raise my knees more; go a little faster. … I received an insane amount of Jugs.
“I’m usually in OTAs and I’m crazy about Jugs, so I was like, ‘I’m going to have [the machine] and I can just use it whenever I’m home, or a few days off, I can use it just to keep my hands really good. I should be elite this year.
ESPN analyst Matt Bowen, a former NFL security who faced Randy Moss and Terrell Owens, knows the lineup of an elite receiver. Bowen isn’t quite ready to place Ridley in his top 10 yet, but he sees elements of an ascending talent although the 6-foot-1, 190-pound Ridley is not the same type of physical specimen as his teammate Jones (6 feet). 3, 220 pounds).
“Course-wise he’s up there,” Bowen said of Ridley. “As a pure road racer – and that goes back to when he got out of Alabama – he’s up there. I’m not going to put it in the Michael Thomas or Keenan Allen category just yet. More similar traits to Robert Woods in terms of production and course.
“The only thing about Ridley is he’s very good with Matt Ryan in terms of timing and pace. Matt Ryan won’t be making many second reaction plays at this point in his career. It just doesn’t move like that. So when Matt Ryan puts that foot back in the ground, that ball comes out. To be successful with a quarterback like this, you have to be detailed in your running journey, know where the window is, know when to split, how to set up defense. I think Ridley runs routes like a very mature player.
Ridley’s maturity has a lot to do with learning from one of the best. Take a look at the receptors during a workout and you’ll often see Ridley trying to pick the brains of seven-time Pro Bowler and future Hall of Famer Jones.
“I’m just following his footsteps,” Ridley said of Jones. “I want to be as good as him. If I watch it and go there with the right frame of mind, it’s easy.
