Arthur Clean has not been right here earlier than.

Since buying the group in 2002, the Falcons’ proprietor had by no means watched his group endure greater than three dropping seasons till now. There have been the playoff years with Michael Vick in 2004 and 2006, the considerably sustained success from 2008-2012, and the transient burst of brilliance from 2016-2017 to interrupt up the lulls. Over the previous 5 seasons, nevertheless, an proprietor who doesn’t like dropping has watched the Falcons put up dropping information in all 5, leaving him craving for wins similar to the remainder of us.

That’s why Clean appears so optimistic right this moment, and why his expectations are heightened. Contemporary off a significant spending spree in free company and three offseasons of curler coaster team-building work, the Falcons are primed to win extra video games. This was clearly the yr Atlanta was concentrating on to get again to being a respectable contender, and Clean made it clear Tuesday he sees and approves of the place the group is.

“That is the third yr of a three-year plan, and I believe what I see and what I like so much is coach (Arthur) Smith and (basic supervisor) Terry Fontenot laid out a really cautious, considerate, sort of methodical plan of what they had been going to do,” Clean mentioned Tuesday.

The primary bit is the actually vital one. The Falcons must construct a sustainable winner past 2023, however the pitch to Clean seems to be the pitch we thought it was heading into final season: Endure a few tough seasons whereas we work out the cap and the muse of the roster and we’ll ship you one thing higher. An proprietor who had by no means sat by means of a half-decade of dropping seasons willingly embraced that plan when he might have seemingly made hires who would’ve promised extra speedy success, regardless of the long-term prices of that method, however didn’t. Clean is cautious to measure his phrases and never say “playoffs or bust” or “we’re successful 11 video games,” however it’s clear that one other tough season could be a bitter tablet to swallow in any case this time and all these investments.

“I believe they obtained us ready now the place our group is gonna be extra aggressive than it’s been the final couple years. I believe they’d be disenchanted if that wasn’t the case, I’d be disenchanted, our followers could be disenchanted,” Clean mentioned. “So I be ok with the route of the place we’re. You need to play, you’ve obtained to keep away from accidents and all that sort of stuff. However we’re in a division that’s going to be aggressive. All people says, effectively it’s one of many weakest divisions. However 22 years proudly owning a group within the NFL, you notice that divisions that begin out apparently not so robust find yourself, by the top of the yr, being very robust. There’s gonna be plenty of competitors, however I be ok with the place we’re.

“I anticipate us to definitely win extra video games than we’ve gained the final couple years, and the place that places us and what quantity that’ll be, I’m undecided.”

Desmond Ridder could be a part of that future. The group has made him the clear-cut starter this yr, a transfer that earned the confusion and ire of some followers, however Clean made it clear that he and the group’s mind belief are purchased in on the younger quarterback. A part of anticipating this group to do higher is anticipating that wager in Ridder to repay, so that you’d anticipate that confidence to be excessive.

“Because the yr progressed, he had a possibility to play, and I believe he performed at a really aggressive stage. These final 4 video games every sport gave the impression to be a bit of bit higher. So, we really feel fairly strongly that he’s going to be our quarterback of the longer term. We’ve obtained to play video games and we’ve obtained to see, however we be ok with him.”

Clean just isn’t making these personnel selections—that’s at all times a horrible concept for an proprietor—however he’s signing off on the grand plan right here and clearly sees the sunshine on the finish of the tunnel that we’ve been craving. Like the remainder of us, he’s prepared for the wins to start out rolling in, as they need to.