FLOWERY BRANCH – With Julio Jones missing 58% of the offensive snaps last season, Calvin Ridley stepped into the No. 1 receiver role for the Falcons and turned in a Pro Bowl-caliber season.
When the Falcons host the Eagles at 1 p.m. Sunday at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Ridley will enter the contest as the unquestioned No. 1 receiver for the Falcons and likely will see Philadelphia cornerback Darius Slay covering him for most of the day.
“No, I don’t feel like there are any differences,” Ridley said. “I’ve been putting in the work at camp. Last year, I put in the work. Been in lot of different situations. Seen a lot of different situations. I feel pretty confident in myself to go out there and make some plays and be in that No. 1 role.”
Ridley had a career-high 90 catches last season and tied for fifth in the NFL with a career-high 1,374 yards. He had nine receiving touchdowns and became the fourth player in NFL history with seven or more touchdown catches in each of his first four seasons.
He’s expecting Slay and some double-team coverage against the Eagles.
“When you’re out there and you’re making plays, you’re going to bring extra help and different looks,” Ridley said. “They are going to try and double you sometimes. Most of the time they are not. I’m ready for whatever that comes with it.”
Ridley was elated to be elected one of the five captains by the team Wednesday.
“I got voted in by my peers,” Ridley said. “That’s amazing. I didn’t realize how big it was until I got off the field and everyone was congratulating me. I’m very excited about that. I just want to step into that role as a leader and a captain.”
Ridley essentially replaces Jones, who was a captain.
“I’ve seen my previous teammates, Julio and them become captains,” Ridley said. “I realized that it’s really an honor to be a captain. I’m more of a chill, relax guy. It’s an honor. I really appreciate all of the guys who voted for me.”
Ridley doesn’t plan to be one of those “rah-rah” captains. He’s going to lead by example.
“I’m going to catch (passes) in the morning,” Ridley said. " I’m going to catch (passes) after (practice). Follow me, that’s what I mean. For the younger guys, watch what I do. I’m going to do whatever I have to do to play great in the game. Follow me. Follow my lead.”
Slay, a three-time Pro Bowl player and one-time All-Pro from Brunswick, is in second season with the Eagles. He played seven seasons with the Detroit Lions from 2013-19 after being selected in second round out of Mississippi State.
“He’s a very talented guy,” Slay said Wednesday when talking to the Philadelphia media. “He can go get it. Speed. I honestly think he’s one of the best route runners in the league. It’s a good challenge for each and all of us to contain him.”
Ridley has mutual respect for Slay.
“Slay is one of the top DBs in the league,” Ridley said. “I’m very excited to be playing against a great corner like that. Let’s get to work. It brings the best out of me.”
Ridley completed his weekly film student of his opponents. That’s a project that he started at Alabama when working under then-offensive analyst Keary Colbert.
“I obviously start with the No. 1 corner on the team,” Ridley said. “But I watch everybody (over) the week. It takes a week to watch the whole secondary, and I’m constantly watching everything else.”
He started Wednesday with Slay. He then moved to the rest of the secondary. But the end of the week, he has the entire scheme studied.
“In high school you don’t have to study that much,” Ridley said. “It’s not that hard. But when I got to Bama, (I) had to start looking at these guys. When I first got there, there were a lot of older really, really good players in the SEC and on my team. I learned that maybe my freshman year in college.”
He would go into Colbert’s office to study film. Colbert, a former NFL player, currently is the wide receivers coach at Southern Cal.
“We’d get right into,” Ridley said. “I took exactly what he taught me, and that’s exactly how I still study.”
Ridley believes he’s prepared for the opener.
“Sure. I don’t want to go into this Sunday’s game and Slay gets in front of me and I’m like, ‘Man I don’t even know him, I just know his name,’” Ridley said. “I definitely put in the work and the time to study my opponent just for me to feel a little bit more calm going into the game. I’m not guessing about what he’s doing and what I’m going to do.”
The Bow Tie Chronicles
For more content about The Atlanta Falcons
Follow me on Twitter @DOrlandoAJC
On Facebook at Atlanta Falcons News Now
Atlanta Falcons coverage on the Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Falcons’ 2021 schedule features trip to London, January trip to Buffalo
About the Author
