Ryan gives up some advice to Stafford
Matt Ryan pumping iron in the weight room. CURTIS COMPTON / CCOMPTON@AJC.COM
Flowery Branch – Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan and Georgia quarterback Matt Stafford are likely to be forever linked.
After Ryan’s spectacular rookie season, Stafford, who’s likely to be the top quarterback selected in the draft, will be expected to excel immediately, too.
Both are represented by super agents Ben Dogra and Tom Condon. At the NFL scouting combine, Stafford said he was impressed with Ryan’s work and will reach out to him.
Ryan will be ready to offer some advice when things slow down for Stafford, who went through a private workout for the Lions in Athens on Tuesday. Ryan, who was selected with the No. 3 pick overall last season, knows what Stafford and USC quarterback Mark Sanchez are going through.
Quarterback Matthew Stafford (7) will be pointing the way for a NFL team soon. Brant Sanderlin/ bsanderlin@ajc.com
“My advice to them would be to go in and work as hard as you possibly can,” Ryan said. “At times, you’re going to need to keep your mouth shut. Just keep your mouth shut, go out there and work hard and do everything you can to try and help your team win. If you focus on those things and leave some of the distractions that go with being drafted early and playing the position that you play, then you’ll be all right.”
Ryan doesn’t miss being under the NFL draft microscope.
“Things are starting to heat up,” Ryan said. “They have no idea where they are going to be. I’m sure, Matthew Stafford, at some point I’ll speak to him. Just with the relationship that I have with the agents, they represent me as well. But I wish both of those guys the best.”
Here’s Ryan on a few Falcons matters:
BIRDS NOT LAYING IN THE BUSHES: “We’re not going to sneak up on people. Anytime that you go 11-5 the NFL rewards you with a tougher schedule. So that makes things a little more difficult. With that said, teams are going to understand what we are capable of. But at the same time, we also know what we are capable of.”
OFFSEASON WORKOUTS: “I’ve been itching to get back here to start preparing for next season. I think that we did a lot of things really well last year, but losing in the playoffs serves as great motivation. I started to come back early and tried to get myself in shape before we got into the workouts. I wanted to watch a little bit of tape and start preparing for next year.”
OFFSEASON MOVES: (Five defensive starters left in free agency). “I think that they’ve done a good job. I think everybody has complete confidence in what Rich McKay, Thomas Dimitroff and the front office is going to do. We are comfortable with the moves they are going to make. We’re happy that we’ve kept a bunch of the guys that we have kept. We had Michael Jenkins deal done during the season. He’s a target that I like to throw to. He made a huge impact for our team last year. We got Babs (Jonathan Babineaux) back, which is huge and we picked up Michael Peterson in the offseason. He’s going to shore us up at linebacker.”
THROWING WITH THE WRs: “We’ve already started that. We’ve already started working on, getting out there and throwing a little bit. We are trying to do some different things. We want to get that rapport that we need to have during the season. We built a really good foundation during the season, we really did. But we need to get better. That’s got to be the emphasis this offseason.”
Ryan also pointed out that wide receiver Laurent Robinson is looking good and appears healthy.
Does Ryan have some sound advice for Stafford? How important is the offseason workouts? Do you think Ryan and his receivers can develop that type of chemistry that the Colts seem to have with Peyton Manning.?
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167 comments Add your comment
D3
April 1st, 2009
8:19 pm
If we go DT first, than it would assume that we probably would pass on even getting an OLB, unless its around the 4th or 5th round. As many of us have mentioned, is it common knowledge that we go safety next? There are several guys that could come in and help us immediately including Patrick Chung, Sean Smith, Chip Vaughn, and Rashad Johnson. After looking at many mock drafts, it seems there might be an outside shot of Delmas dropping to us, but probably not to us @ #55. The question is which S would be more of a hybrid S tha can cover and support the run.
So, fellow Bird-Cage bloggers: if we assume that we take a DT first, and Chung is gone by our pick who would you take between William Moore, Rashad Johnson, Sean Smith, and Chip Vaughn if all three were available?
Scooter – Whats up man? What D-Tackle would you prefer: Jerry, Hood, or Brace?
Monty
April 1st, 2009
8:39 pm
Harry, I’m a big UGA fan, how can you say Stafford doesn’t lead in the huddle? Were you in the huddle? I don’t know how Stafford will do in the pros but I wish him the best and will follow him.
falcon fan
April 1st, 2009
8:48 pm
I`m glad you write about the falcons as much as you do. Seems like the other columnist only write about the falcons when it`s convenient for them. Their is always a story, and you cover them well. Thanks and keep it up!
willdave
April 1st, 2009
9:01 pm
Terrell, what does “rebuttle” mean? You might want to check yourself before you resort to name-calling next time.
Bud Wiser
April 1st, 2009
9:31 pm
Wherever Stafford ends up, unless Denver makes a trade up to pursue him, it will be a dead end, deadbeat team. Look what happened to Calvin Johnson. MS had better have a thick coating of Rhino-skin painted on before the season begins.
He may eventually be a fine player, but I see a lot more of Jeff George and/or Ryan Leaf in him than a John Elway or Matt Ryan, for instance.
Yeah, he had a substandard O-line at UGA last year, yeah he had average at best receivers, but a QB is still supposed to make the big plays in the big games.
As evidence, I suggest you watch UGA-Alabama, or UGA-Florida tapes from this past season.
Big Ray
April 1st, 2009
9:37 pm
What’s up, fellas?
Nookah,
Baker looks like a guy who will either make it big, or not at all. Scouting reports say that he has the physical tools in abundance…but lacks the stamina and conditioning. He had some bad off-field incidents that will likely hurt him, but how much is a question. He’s not a first round pick, I think we can be certain of that. So the question is, was he a kid that simply got caught up wrong place/wrong time, and is emminently coachable? And also, what round do you pick him in?
D3,
If Chung is gone, I go with either Moore or Vaughn. However, I wouldn’t be unhappy with Rashad Johnson. Having read more, I’m not sure about Sean Smith. All three guys are noted as having good intangibles. Smith? Not so much. I’ll break down what I see and think about each.
Moore is a big hitter, and he’s great against the run. The knock on him is that his senior season didn’t go as well as his junior one did, stat-wise. Well, apparently there is a reason for that: Moore was brought up near the line of scrimmage a heck of a lot more his senior season? Why? Big hitter, who could probably have played LB in college. The guy makes plays though, and is smart. But you can’t get many interceptions when you’re playing low in the box so much. This guy may be the best safety out there. Really. Even though Delmas improved his draft stock by a large margin, Moore cannot be ignored. And he has the ability to play both safety positions, and more. He’s described as rather versatile, Never a bad thing, ya know?
Chip Vaughn is actually rated lower than Rashad Johnson in some spots. The knock on him is that he has average speed/quickness, and would struggle against wideouts in man-to-man coverage. However, he is also noted as having good intangibles, is described as a blue collar guy, and is great against the run. It’s said that he fits best in the NFL as a SS. Well how about that?
Rashad Johnson gets high marks for his coverage capabilities and very good intangibles. Described as having the uncanny ability to be in the right place at the right time…damn near all the time. Unfortunately, all the knocks on him are physical: not considered very strong and needs to improve in that area, average speed/quickness/size (and barely average according to some), and not much good against the run, though he will at least try. And many think that what you see is what you get, he won’t get much better. But they’ve been wrong before, so there is that.
Sean Smith is a “potential” pick. If a team has time to work with him, and the right guys to work with him, and he has a good work ethic….then it works. But if you didn’t like how many times I typed the word “work” in the last sentence, then this is not a guy you want. He’s got most of the physical stuff down pat, but there are questions about his ability to be smart out there. He can learn, sure, but in the meantime, if a guy gets beat deep in college, he’ll get beat silly in the pros. That ain’t good. Chances are, he’s a good pick if you want to run him through the drills for a year or two, then put him on the field regularly. If we’re happy with what we have to go to war with right now, then he’s a good pick, but not early in the draft.
Problem is, his wonderful “potential”…yes, THAT dangerous word….will attract somebody and he’ll be gone by the time we should be picking a safety.
My vote is for Moore or Chung. Both guys seem to exhibit the toughness, always around the ball, and leadership that we could really use. After that, Delmas or Vaugh. After that, Johnson.
Big Ray
April 1st, 2009
9:38 pm
WILLDAVE,
“Rebuttal” means a reply, a retort, etc…. to a posed question, statement, accusation, etc.
Big Ray
April 1st, 2009
9:44 pm
Oh please don’t let Jay Cutler go to the Panthers or Buccaneers. Not only is that trouble for us, but no bottle of lotion would be safe with VS2 around. Does that mean he’ll drop Joe Flacco? Say it ain’t so!
I wish Matt Stafford the best wherever he goes. And I like the Georgia Bulldogs. But the only quarterback named Matt that I really care about at this point is the one who’s last name is Ryan.
I am glad to see that Ryan is getting after it already. No doubt he and his receivers will have an even stronger relationship than they did last year. Good news that Laurent Robinson is healthy. Sure hope he can stay that way. By the way, did it occur to anybody that Ryan’s work in the weight room will probably make him STRONGER? Watch that arm…
D3
April 1st, 2009
10:09 pm
Big Ray – what’s up dude? You are THE MAN! Great research on these safeties. It’s amazing how opinions can change so quickly if you come in with an open mind and listen to others research and opinions. Big Ray, you knocked it out of the park.
It’s very funny your research came back like it did, because I was starting to have second thoughts about Sean Smith. He was “THE IT GUY” a week ago or so, including myself in that. I just saw his height, weight, speed, and stats and assumed he would be a stud. The more I looked though, I found out he played CB, not safety. Any time you change positions in the secondary, it’s concerning and takes a process most of the time. I think it might be easier to change from a DE to an OLB, for instance, as long as coverage skills can translate.
I like what you’re saying about William Moore. I have to admit that I was a complete snob on him because his awful senior year. That makes a lot of sense as the explanation. Maybe Hood and Moore’s stats were a result of an inept D-Coordinator? Just throwin’ something out there.
Watching Rashad Johnson play up close, he’s one of those guys that just makes plays. He doesn’t necessarily have the physical tools, but gets it done. Kind of like whenever Chauncey Davis is in the game for us.
Chip Vaughn sounds like a player to me, stud at run support, but if he struggles severely in the pass, than all we get potentially is a younger Lawyer Milloy. Decisions, decisions.
Bud Wiser – as a UGA ticket holder and grad, I’ve definitely had some criticisms of Stafford as a QB including consistency and progression, but I think he does have the potential to be a good, or even great QB, if he’s given time and not thrown to the wolves right off the bat. Matty Ice was the lone exception, not the rule. I think the Jeff George comparison is a little harsh. I was simply saying that it would have benefited from another year at UGA.
Big Ray
April 1st, 2009
10:13 pm
Hate to bring the USC linebacker stuff back up, but I just had to watch the results of the USC pro day. All I can say is that all three LBs looked good, especially Clay Matthews.
Ken Strickland
April 1st, 2009
10:28 pm
D3-I haven’t seen Hood play nor have I seen any tape on him. However, I have seen tape of Jerry, and if he’s available, it’s a no brainer, Jerry all the way. He has the size, strength and speed to totally disrupt the line of scrimmage and collapse a pocket. I’ve seen film of him doing it consistently. I also put a lot of stock in the conference he dominated. Let’s face it, the SEC is the country’s #1 football conference and annually sends a large number of quality players to the NFL, but not a lot of flops.
I don’t have a clue who we’ll draft with our 1st pick, but I know we’ll eventually draft a DT, SS, TE, CB, LB, or LB/DE hybrid, and OT.
D3
April 1st, 2009
10:37 pm
Ken Strick – right on about the SEC being the best, no question. You gott a fav. SEC team?
D3
April 1st, 2009
10:52 pm
All right guys, a little slow for a while, but finished with a bang with late, great analyses from Big Ray and Ken Strick, as usual. Gotta run, but I’ll leave you with a little research as food for thought for tonight and tomorrow. I went back to 2004 and looked at DT’s drafted after #20, which would be close to our pick. The results are not conclusive, but DT’s don’t get a lot of credit for many things they do, such as pusing the pile, pressure, closing running lanes, creating pile-ups, etc. See what you think:
Marcus Tubbs (#24 – 2004)
Tackles 60
Sacks 7.0
(averaged 7.5 tackles and about 1 sack a year)
Luis Castillo (#28 – 2005)
Tackles 158
Sacks 14.5
(averaged 39.5 tackles and about 4 sacks a year)
Mike Patterson (#31 – 2005)
Tackles 205
Sacks 9.5
(averaged 51 tackles and about 2 sacks a year)
John McCargo (#26 – 2006)
Tackles 35
Sacks 2.5
(averaged about 12 tackles and about 1 sack a year)
Justin Harrell (#16 – 2007)
Tackles 28
Sacks 0
(averaged 14 tackles a year)
Kentwan Balmer (#29 – 2008)
Tackles 7
Sacks 0
Catch you guys on the flip side. Have a good one.
D3
April 1st, 2009
10:58 pm
Sorry if this is a re-post. This blog eats posts like Andre Smith at Burger King….Doooh!
All right guys, a little slow for a while, but finished with a bang with late, great analyses from Big Ray and Ken Strick, as usual. Gotta run, but I’ll leave you with a little research as food for thought for tonight and tomorrow. I went back to 2004 and looked at DT’s drafted after #20, which would be close to our pick. The results are not conclusive, but DT’s don’t get a lot of credit for many things they do, such as pusing the pile, pressure, closing running lanes, creating pile-ups, etc. See what you think:
Marcus Tubbs (#24 – 2004)
Tackles 60
Sacks 7.0
(averaged 7.5 tackles and about 1 sack a year)
Luis Castillo (#28 – 2005)
Tackles 158
Sacks 14.5
(averaged 39.5 tackles and about 4 sacks a year)
Mike Patterson (#31 – 2005)
Tackles 205
Sacks 9.5
(averaged 51 tackles and about 2 sacks a year)
John McCargo (#26 – 2006)
Tackles 35
Sacks 2.5
(averaged about 12 tackles and about 1 sack a year)
Justin Harrell (#16 – 2007)
Tackles 28
Sacks 0
(averaged 14 tackles a year)
Kentwan Balmer (#29 – 2008)
Tackles 7
Sacks 0
Catch you guys on the flip side. Have a good one.
Jeremiah
April 1st, 2009
11:14 pm
Great blog, with some great comments! I’ve really enjoyed reading it! Go Falcons in ‘09!!!
richbrave
April 1st, 2009
11:33 pm
Sorry NOOGAH:
Haven’t been rolling with HAMPTON since my man JOE TAYLOR left town. Used to follow his players closely here at VIRGINIA UNION. What I’ve read on CHRIS is pretty much what you have as well. Haven’t seen him mentioned at all in the local paper in RICHMOND.
D. Orlando Ledbetter
April 2nd, 2009
12:54 am
HANGING OUT late night.
Just can’t go with the DT late in the first round. Only think two of them deserve first round grades. Raji and Jerry. They’ll be gone by 24. You want those big uglies up front to be hungry. You can find one later and let D-Line coach Sugar Bear coach them up.
TYGER: Strong MEAC post!!! Was going to roll OLD SCHOOL — Will Ferrell style — and talk about S.C. State’s Harry Carson and Donnie Shell.
JJ: Peter King is a legend and always welcome here. He helped me out early in my career. We actually had a fantasy baseball team together back in the day.
BUD WISER: Love that nickname.
RICH BRAVE: Joe Taylor went 1-9 at Howard in his one year there and got fired. Was replaced by Willie Jeffries. D. Led was the Bison beat writer back then. Joe Taylor has definitely figured it out since then.
Andy
April 2nd, 2009
1:35 am
There is no dought that the Falcons can develop the type of chemistry that the Colts have. Hearing that Laurent Robinson is doing well is no surprise i thought the previous season was going to be his break out season because he is talented and has had time to adjust to NFL game speed. Also, dont forget about Harry Douglas he also has one year under is belt and a load of untapped potential and talent still in him.
IE'66
April 2nd, 2009
7:28 am
Good morning whipper snaps and Falcon fans. What a glorious beautiful morning. I found a worm on my pants leg as I walked into work this morning. Good heavens.
But that worm reminded me of our offensive line. I appreciate the work they do taking care of the ball carriers and throwers, but I wonder if some improvement is needed at tackle. And I’m not talking about Baker, but that other tackle we have, who’s name I can not mention now due to a lost bet. That tackle should be replaced or at least given a challenge to keep his job.
Is there a tackle available in the draft, say round 3 or round 5?
marko
April 2nd, 2009
8:32 am
The falcons are said to have lined up an interview with Jarron Gilbert. http://www.nfldraftscout.com/ratings/dsprofile.php?pyid=72823&draftyear=2009&genpos=DE I’ll let you guy’s check it out and see what you make of it. Thought I’d share my observations on Dimitroff and Smith. Over the years I’ve seem a lot of failing Franchises go outside their systems. They select assistants from winning programs to put their houses in order. This is pretty much what Arthur did with Dimmitroff , Step two in the process usually involves the newly elevated brain trust attempting to clone the successful programs that they’d come from into their new surroundings. Most fail. Check the numbers. Why do they fail? Most suck because they simply weren’t as good as the guys they worked for. They were good assistants but if they try for a hundred years that’s all they’ll ever be. I think that the really great coaches, and GM’s were very good assistants. They worked hard. They consistently did what was asked of them to the best of their abilities. Where they differ from the guys that fall flat on their faces is that always at the back of their minds rest the nagging notion that given the chance they could do it better. Great coaches aren’t followers they’re innovators. They have systems identified with them .The West coast offense, cover two, run and shoot the list goes on. What I’m getting at is that I have no earthly idea where Smith and Dimmitroff are going, but I strongly suspect that someday there will be a name for it.
IE'66
April 2nd, 2009
8:47 am
marko, good comments strung together in well formed sentences. You are a credit to the blognet. I too question what the Falcons are doing, but I have faith that whatever the system is, once it succeeds (and it will) that they will call it Dimitroffootball.
I suspect we will build a second defensive front and rotate them in bunches. Wave after wave.
IE'66
April 2nd, 2009
9:48 am
Fellow interneters, I have copyright and trademark protection in the word Dimitroffootball. Please contact me before use. Thank you.
My assistant DePhonizo tells me that if the defensive end Michael Johnson from Georgia Tech slips into the second round that the Falcons will trade up (their second and fourth round selections) to take him. He is usually correct. And prepares a good muffin, English-style.
When did we stop writing foot-ball and start writing football? I’m guilty of it too.
willdave
April 2nd, 2009
9:56 am
Big Ray, note that the spelling of the word that you defined is different from the spelling of the word that Terrell wrote in his post and that I specifically asked him about in my response. My point was to reveal the irony of Terrell’s referring to someone else as being “stupid” in a post that contains his mispelling and misuse of the word “rebuttal.” Sorry if I confused you, boss.
D3
April 2nd, 2009
10:18 am
DOL – Agreed. Just using pure stats and draft history over the last 5 years, shows that picking a DT in the late first round has a low probability of success, around a 33% success rate.
And before I get lamblasted by the DT-first guys, I know these are only stats and its impossible to gauge things like closing running lanes, qb pressure, creating pile, etc. so I’m not saying it wouldn’t be successful, just that there are more guys that become fairly average (Tubbs, McCargo, Harrell, Balmer), than do that are studs (Castillo, Patterson).
More research to come……….
MARK IT DOWN!
April 2nd, 2009
10:22 am
Name one QB from the University of Georgia who had a career in the NFL that was more than being a back-up? Georgia has never been able to mold QB’s for the NFL. Now defense and running backs are a different story. Matt Stafford won’t make it either.
Mark it down for the count
April 2nd, 2009
10:29 am
Mark, I know two UGA quarterbacks that have done pretty well, Fran Tarkenton and Hines Ward. Both of those are Hall of Famers.
MARK IT DOWN!
April 2nd, 2009
10:47 am
Boy went way back several years and found Tarkenton! Good job, I’ll give you props on that. But, when did Hines play QB in the NFL?
Mark it down for the count
April 2nd, 2009
10:57 am
Ok, so Hines didn’t play QB at the pro level, but your original challenge was “QB from the University of Georgia”. And Hines played some QB at Georgia.
I understand your point. Eric Z, Greene, Shock, those guys haven’t accomplished much if anything at the pro level. But with that said, I don’t think you can say that will affect Stafford’s chances. He may or may not succeed but if he doesn’t it won’t have anything to do with his time at Georgia.
Of course, he should have stayed one more year.
JJ
April 2nd, 2009
11:36 am
http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news;_ylt=AqCet3nrTDOIufn7BddRBwFDubYF?slug=ms-trippintuesday033109&prov=yhoo&type=lgns
Good article about Dimitroff / Falcons!
MARK IT DOWN!
April 2nd, 2009
12:00 pm
FOR THE COUNT. Agree Stafford should had stayed one more year. My original challenge was a UGA QB who had a successful career in the NFL. Hines did not. No biggie though.
Nookah
April 2nd, 2009
12:00 pm
BIG RAY, thanks for the response. I think Chris Baker will be no more than the 5th to 6th round, and yes he does have some character issues which may and I think will eliminate him from condiderations by us.
I’m feeling you with the Safety analysis, good job. I personaly like Patrick Chung, 5-11, 212; 4.49 40; vertical 34″;
The skinny – sound tackler and very good vs. the run; quick feet, good instincts, natural leader and has return ability.
William Moore – 6-0 223; 4.56 40; vertical – 37″
The skinny – very natural athlete with o/s leaping ability. Has long arms, a big frame, strong hitter and has intimidating presence, reads the QB well.
The guy I projected we’d draft previously was Darcel McBath. I know he’s suspect against the run but I think he has considerable upside and he may be a guy we can develop.
MARKO, I looked at Jarron Gilbert and he is 6-5 288; runs a 4.81 40; can play DT (small for DT maybe but interchangeable) but has athleticism and has value because he can be a hybrid. I like him Marko.
Go Falcons!!!
Nuff respect!!!
However, the guy I really like is
IE'66
April 2nd, 2009
12:23 pm
Mr. (Atlanta) Ledbetter, please use your journalist credentials to secure us blognet readers an interview with this Ziggy Jarron Gilbert fellow. I’m not sure what all this talk about him playing cornerback. He seems to have the perfect size for defensive nose tackle. (We use to call that position the center-tackler or middle-center-guard depending on where you were from.)
What did we decide on that Laurent chap? Canadian French or just French? I’m not sure I know how to use the google.
JG
April 2nd, 2009
12:59 pm
I am tired of everyone blaming Cutler.
I have nothing to do with the guy, and don’t care about Denver.
But, If I hear another Sports talk station call him a baby, I am gonna get sick. He had a 32 year old punk come in and try throw his weight around.
That Coach has not only lost Jay Cutler, but what person is gonna listen to him in the Locker room ? Tomlinson was special, I dont understand this trend, Denver, Tampa Bay, The Mistake called Lane Kiffin. Why are Orgainizations putting so much trust in kids with no Head coaching History? Then Denver starts their reconstruction on the offense? Last I checked there offense was good, There defense sucked!
Also, Thomlinson inherited a program that was already in pretty good standing and not in trouble. Can you say Cruise Control? So now Denver and Tampa are rebuilding with 32 year olds? I will stay with Smitty, and the respect he demands as a seasoned Coach. Not the latest Flavor, because a young coach inherited a established team. Nother Example Gruden. He Inherited Tony Dungy’s superbowl team. Tampa will fall apart even with Cutler and Cutler won’t listen to that baby coach either.
Matt Ryan, Smitty and TD… THANK YOU Mr. Blank!
JG
April 2nd, 2009
1:10 pm
Sorry,
had to get that off my chest.
I am still for Clay Matthews for our First pick.
He had a strong Pro day, and we have a chance of him being there if New England doesn’t snag him. And If he is good enough for New England, He is good enough for me.
If he isn’t then I would definite take Perry, Ziggy or Ron.
We need Dline and Linebacker help bad.
Go Birds..
Ken Strickland
April 2nd, 2009
2:36 pm
FOOD FOR THOUGHT for anyone offering their selfserving opinions on whether QB Stafford, or any player for that matter, can be successful in the NFL. The Falcons own former MLB Jessie “THE HAMMER” Tuggle was an Undrafted FA that many said couldn’t make it in the NFL, especially as a MLB, because he was too small, and yet he had a stellar career. Falcons Assistant coach, and former Chiefs DB, Emmitt Thomas of Bishop College and former Dolphins OG Larry Little of Bethune Cookman were also Udrafted FA’s. Former Cowboys OT Rayfield Wright of Ft Valley St(7th rd pick), former Browns RB Leroy Kelley(8th rd pick) of Morgan St, and former Cardinal TE Jackie Smith(10th rd pick) of Northwestern LA are all in the Hall of Fame. Based on where they were drafted, or not drafted, and/or the schools they attended, would you have predicted they’d have NFL success, let alone end up in the HOF?
Just to reinforce my point, I want all of you Stafford Haters/pyschics to answer the following question. How many of you predicted, or could have predicted, that Patriots QB Tom Brady, a 7th rd pick, multiple SB winner and Probowler, would have achieved all of this, and become a certain 1st ballot HOFer while still playing, especially so early in his career?
A LOT OF FACTORS WILL DETERMINE IF A PLAYER WILL ACHIEVE NFL SUCCESS, BUT OUR OPINIONS AREN’T INCLUDED IN THOSE FACTORS.
ORLANDO LEDBETTER-did you know that SC State, FAMU, Bethune Cookman, Ala A&M and Ala State were all once in the same conference, the SIAC?
MARK IT DOWN!
April 2nd, 2009
2:55 pm
Hey Ken, Stafford still want make it in the NFL.
IE'66
April 2nd, 2009
3:36 pm
Who gives a rats tookus if Stafford will make it in the NBA. This blog site is about Falcons. Atlanta Falcons. Atlanta Falcons football. Let’s put this Stafford thing to rest and just agree that he will be drafted and he’ll throw a few passes. We can all agree on that.
Now someone tell me about Ziggy Matthews. Is he the son of Clay Matthews?
IE'66
April 2nd, 2009
3:48 pm
I’ve got an ex-wife that teaches at FAMU and one that teaches at South Carolina State. With the checks I write to those ladies, I must fund half of the athletics in the SIAC.
When Coach Ross was at Tech, he and I would sometimes watch those SIAC games. There was some talent on those fields. And the dance teams were good too, just don’t marry one.
D. Orlando Ledbetter
April 2nd, 2009
4:21 pm
IE’66: Those — S.C. State and FAMU — are both MEAC schools. SIAC is Division II (Clark and Morehouse, et al).
Tyger
April 2nd, 2009
4:25 pm
DLed: I was a freshman WR on that 1983 Joe Taylor 1-9 Bison Team, what a miserable year. Still cant figure why you bench All-MEAC QB Sandy Nichols for HD Woodson’s Kenny “I’m the Man” Jones?
My 2nd yr under Coach J wasnt much better, but we eventually turned that program around. And had a good run for about 10 years afterward, but looks like ship has sunk again.
Was surprised to see so many Bison in the league, despite the school record in recent years . I guess we owe that to Coach Steve Wilson, he brought an NFL pedigree and they have been getting good looks ever since.
IE'66
April 2nd, 2009
5:09 pm
Mr. Ledbetter, I appreciate that. I should pay closer attention to such things. But those women were trouble.
BLAAA!!
April 2nd, 2009
5:11 pm
nuff said!
marko
April 2nd, 2009
5:20 pm
Ken Strickland, Jessie “the Hammer” Tuggle may have bee a munchkin, but you don’t find a munchkin every day that can bench press five hunred pounds. Of all the Falcons that have been rejected by Canton, Jessie’s ommission bugs me the worst.
Nookah
April 2nd, 2009
5:30 pm
Jay Cutler to the Bears for 2009 & 2010 first round picks plus a 2009 third round pick plus Kyle Orton. What a steep price to pay but I gues when you are in the desert for many many days, a sip of water will seem like a river to you!!! Also grateful he did not go to Tampa!!!
Thank God we got Matty!!!!!
Go Falcons!!!
Nuff respect
Nookah
April 2nd, 2009
5:35 pm
Oh by the way I heard it from Rich Eisen on NFL Network!!!
Hope it’s authentic!!!
Go Falcons!!!
Nuff respect!!
Nookah
April 2nd, 2009
5:38 pm
One more thing….how will this change the dynamics of the draft?
That question is a blog within D LED’s blog!!!!
Nuff respect!!
Falcon Devil
April 2nd, 2009
6:36 pm
Glad cry baby Cuddles isn’t in our division. He has the attitude of a spoiled 4 year old but the arm of a great.
Bud Wiser
April 2nd, 2009
7:11 pm
Well, I called it yesterday that Denver was going to make a move……just didn’t see Chicago in the mix. List of teams going after Stafford grows shorter.
I hope he likes the Browns uniforms.
marko
April 2nd, 2009
7:31 pm
I see that a lot of the mocks still have us going with Pettigrew. While I can see the logic in the selection, I doubt the birds will go that way. Most the games we lost last year weren’t the fault of our offense. We lost when our defense couldn’t get Matty the ball back. He proved in The Chicago game that any time we touched the ball last we were in pretty good shape to win. If the kid’s this good now, what’s he gonna be like when he starts shaving? JJ, I love all things GSU with the exception of our team’s name. Panthers seems a boring generic label to hang on a truly unique University. I always felt that an urban university needed a cool urban Mascot. If I’d named the team, they’d be the GSU Alley Cats. Boring names are alright for boring schools. I understand that another school somewhere south of here calls themselves gsu. Their nickname is Eagles. Now isn’t that special.
crabapplejoe
April 2nd, 2009
7:46 pm
@JG “I am tired of everyone blaming Cutler.
I have nothing to do with the guy, and don’t care about Denver.
But, If I hear another Sports talk station call him a baby, I am gonna get sick. He had a 32 year old punk come in and try throw his weight around.”
x2…Now you’re preaching the Gospel. McDaniels is a complete idiot and I wouldn’t want to be him for the next two years. The Bears just upgraded tremendously and McDaniels has destroyed a really good offense.