Falcons version of “Saving Private Ryan”
Will Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan get some good protection against Washington and Albert Haynesworth, the $100 million man? (CURTIS COMPTON/AJC).
THE BRANCH — The one thread that runs through the last three performances by Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan is that the opposition — Chicago, Dallas and New Orleans – brought the noise up front.
Coach Mike Smith said the one thing about Ryan’s seven interceptions is that he was being competitive and trying to make plays.
You can bet that offensive line coach Paul Boudreau is taking a closer look at the protections.
In the Chicago game, Alex Brown was a threat even though the Bears didn’t get any sacks or quarterback hits.
DeMarcus Ware had two sacks and made things rough on Matt Ryan. (V
In the Dallas game, Jay Ratliff and DeMarcus Ware put on Pro Bowl performances. The Cowboys had four sacks and three quarterback hits.
In the New Orleans game, defensive end Will Smith got jiggy with it. They had three sacks and seven quarterback hits.
When given time, Ryan has shown what he can do. When the pocket collapses his NFL improvisational skills are still developing. But note that he did some of his major damage at Boston College while on the run. (Just pop in the Virginia Tech tape/disc/reel to reel from his senior year).
Look for Todd McClure and his posse to tighten up the protection.
And they’ll have a really big challenge against the Redskins’ front, too.
McClure, Justin Blalock and Harvey Dahl will get a chance to see the $100 million man, Albert Haynesworth. He only has three sacks, but defensive end Andre Carter has ran into 6.5 sacks with Haynesworth gobbling up blockers like a mammoth Pac Man.
Washington cornerback DeAngelo Hall described Haynesworth as a “menace.”
Washington coach Jim Zorn said he’ll move Haynesworth around. He noted that he’s seen his defensive tackle pushing grown men around football fields and being quite disruptive.
PRO BOWL VOTING : Seems a bit early, but you can get in some Pro Bowl voting on NFL.com. The All-Star game will be played Jan. 31, 2010 in South Florida after years in Hawaii.
REDSKINS AND FALCONS CONNECTIONS: There are several connections between the two teams:
• Falcons Assistant Head Coach/Secondary Emmitt Thomas was the Wide Receivers Coach for the Redskins in 1986 and the Secondary Coach from 1987-94.
• Atlanta Quarterbacks Coach Bill Musgrave worked in the same capacity for the Washington Redksins in 2005.
• Falcons Wide Receivers Coach Terry Robiskie worked in the same role for the Redskins from 1994-98, was the
Falcons WR coach Terry Robiskie.
Passing Game Coordinator from 1999-2000 and served as the Interim Head Coach for the final three games of the season in 2000.
• Redskins CB DeAngelo Hall spent four seasons with the Atlanta Falcons from 2004-07 where he received two Pro Bowl nods.
• Washington Offensive Lineman D’Anthony Batiste competed for the Atlanta Falcons in 2007 and part of the 2008 season.
• Redskins Director of Player Personnel Scott Campbell coached the Falcons from 1987-89 and moved to the player personnel department in 1990 where he served seven seasons. He was also part of the University of Georgia’s 1980 National Championship team.
Should the Falcons new regime been so quick to trade DeAngelo Hall?
LOOKING BACK AT THE D. HALL TRADE: Since trading D. Hall to the Raiders, the Falcons have failed to
Loading ...Brent Grimes opened last season there before giving way to Domonique Foxworth. Brian Williams open there this year before getting hurt, giving way to Grimes again. Then Tye Hill started at LCB last week.
The Falcons have had options at the position.
Hall had issues, but he was going to mature. Should the Falcons have paid him and waited for him to mature? Should they have paid Foxworth last season? Should they have drafted Illinois CB Vontae Davis instead of DT Peria Jerry. Davis had some issues, but maybe the team can help some guys work through some issues.
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91 comments Add your comment
Manny
November 5th, 2009
1:03 pm
… and against St. Louis. The Falcons beat the Rams the same year as the Packers in the playoffs that year. (I was at that game, LOL!)
But your point is that Ryan won the same amount of games as Flacco this year. That’s fine. Personally, I think Flacco is a better QB than Ryan RIGHT NOW (because that may change.) And Flacco was taken 18th in the draft, instead of 3rd overall. (But given how the draft worked, you almost had to take Ryan 3rd, because Flacco wouldn’t have been there when your next draft pick came up.)
Oh, and speaking of the 2008 draft: hindsight being 20-20, didn’t Dimitroff do a good job? Think about it: Matt Ryan at 3rd, Sam Baker at 21, Curtis Lofton at 37, Chevis Jackson at 68, Harry Douglas at 84, Thomas DeCoud at 98, Robert James at 138, Kroy Biermann at 154, Thomas Brown at 172, and a couple of 7th rounders.
Flash-forward to 2009. Dimitroff did a good job.
midnite
November 5th, 2009
1:11 pm
Thanks DOL, keep doing what you do.
!st time Long time...
November 5th, 2009
1:13 pm
Perspective please!!!! Last year, both Ryan and Flaco won 11 games… But to really be fair, you have to look insdie the schedule…Ryan beat Oakland and Detroit ( combined 2-30) and Flaco last twice to Pittsburg, ( Super bowl champs).
midnite
November 5th, 2009
1:15 pm
Excellent post Manny. TD has done a fantastic job with the draft.
Supes
November 5th, 2009
1:17 pm
You need to give an NFL draft class 3-4 years to see “if it worked” or “not”.
Anything less is short sighted.
DJ Shockley
November 5th, 2009
1:35 pm
Miss me yet?
REDMAN 4 QB
November 5th, 2009
1:37 pm
I SEEN ENUFF. ITS TIME 4 REDMAN TO STRAT SO WE CAN SALVAGE THIS SEASON.
MV7
November 5th, 2009
2:16 pm
Hi, it’s Mike, y’know? I really appreciate all you fans still supporting me. I mean, my 42.4 passer rating and 2.3 yards per carry with the Eagles can’t get any worse, can it? Y’know?
Matt "Choke" Ryan
November 5th, 2009
2:21 pm
vs Chicago 2 ints QB RATING 68
vs Dallas 2 ints QB RATING 66
vs Saints 3 ints QB RATING 46
vs Redskins 3 ints 2 fumbles QB RATING 37
Starting To Feel Sorry For Blank
November 5th, 2009
2:21 pm
As a white guy, who was raised in Hall County, I support all of the Georgia sports team. At the same time, I appreciate and respect honesty. This is the way I see the current situation with Matt Ryan and Atlanta.
Unfortunately, Matt Ryan will always be considered the player that divided this city down racial lines. This is not because of Matt himself, but the timing of his arrival and the hype that the Falcons brass bestowed upon this kid. Consequently, he came to this city at the wrong time and now he will reap the benefits, hopefully in the end, in a good way. I really feel that had he arrived next year or the year after that wouldn’t be as half as much controversy surrounding him.
The Atlanta Falcons currently have 5 different fan bases, which is never a good thing for a team and its owner (Arthur Blank).
First, you have us fans who strongly support Ryan and would love nothing more than to see him develop into a super-star and carry this team to a Superbowl. I don’t care about that other crap. I just want to win..right now
Secondly, you have some fans that will side with Ryan no matter what in protest of Michael Vick. (us against them mentality)
Third, you have the fan base that feel Matt does not have the necessary tools to lead this team. Also, they feel that Vick gave us the best chance to win over a Ryan type QB. However, with this sector winning would cure any doubts they may have about Ryan and the Falcons new strategy.
Fourth, you have the loonies that will cheer against Ryan no matter. And while they’re criticizing everything Matt does, I don’t think the hatred is so much towards him as it is Arthur Blank.
Finally, you have the fans in Atlanta that have no “dog in the fight” (no pun intended) and are very neutral. Of course, this sector makes up most of the fan base here in Georgia. Many of them will tell you that while Ryan might be suffering from the old “Sophomore Slump” he is very overrated at this point in his young career. With that said, many of the neutral fans still believe that he can improve over time; Conversely, many from this fan base also feel that Blank & Co. could very well be staring at the same scenario from five years ago with Mora. You now- the guy interviews well, but that’s about it. And as a result of Blank’s obsession with image, the organization took several steps backwards by passing on Lovie Smith. Some even think that we are still reeling to regain that national draw and interest. Yes Vick destroyed the team image, but the interest went down the drain as well. Vick could fill the seats and the national media loved him, whether you believe it or not.
I digress-
I truly believe that Matt had started to catch the eye of many local and long distance observers and critics, but took 2 steps back on Monday night. Now he must show the world that he belongs in the NFL and the Falcons really do have a star in the making. As of right now, he’s lost a lot of that luster and his flaws are starting to show on more consistent basis.
Nevertheless, it’s going to be a very interested 2 months in Atlanta. And while I feel Matt will definitely improve in some categories like decision making and game management, you can’t teach touch and arm strength. And with the Falcons current structure and scheme, he’s going to need both. His “touch” is fine, but arm strength…I’m not so sure.
Honestly, I’m waiting on pins and needles to see how Matt develops over the remaining season, and so is Arthur and Co. Fortunately for Ryan, winning heals all wounds and I would venture to say that all will be forgiven with the haters if the team manages to win a game or two in the playoffs. If not, then Arthur will see this thing get uglier before it gets better.
!st time Long time...
November 5th, 2009
2:22 pm
Just an observation…. Do the Ryanites realize that crapping on Mike Vick does nothing to make Matt Ryan any better? He still has happy feet and tries to hard to force the ball to Mr. “never done anything but collect stats” Gonzales….
MV7
November 5th, 2009
2:36 pm
Hi, it’s Mike, y’know? Y’all don’t be hatin’ on “Choke” and Vick Supporter. It’s called freedom of speech, y’know? And it’s a good thing it’s free ’cause I’m broke, y’know?
Jerome
November 5th, 2009
2:38 pm
Why does anyone say these words about a NFL quarterback? “When given time”. Most any quarterback that has made it to this level and with a good running game would look like an All Pro if allowed to stand in the pocket and look,look look and look and make a throw. Please stop anointing Ryan great just yet, he look to have all the qualities of a future pro bowl quarterback but there is a progression that he has to go through. Stop the unreal high expectation just yet. Most quarterbacks make that jump to pro bowl status in the third or fourth year.
gdg73
November 5th, 2009
2:47 pm
You are right, we haven’t addressed D. Hall’s vacated CB spot. I say open up the check book Blank and go after a proven free agent CB. And let your young corners (Owens, Jackson, Grimes) continue to develop. Chris Houston will not get another contract with the Falcons, nor does he deserve one. By the way, is Antonio Cromartie a free agent next year? If so, he would be my pick. With the way our defensive line is shaping up, this team could be dangerous for years to come.
gdg73
November 5th, 2009
2:49 pm
And as far as Matt Ryan goes, Bill Parcells said it best when commenting on Tony Romo, “Put Away the Annointing Oil”!!!
Thankful we have Matt Ryan
November 5th, 2009
3:28 pm
Enter your comments here
Dukester9
November 5th, 2009
4:08 pm
Look folks stop making excuses for the kid, he must overcome bad protection, drops by recievers, bad coaching, bad calls and even this whole “he is only in his second year” non sense. If last year you guys would have said “lets wait a minte before we annoint him the next Payton or Brady” non of you guys said that. So since he has been annointed by all of football as a savy young man that can carry his team step back and let him do it. If he succeed through all of the pitfalls then he truly his one of the best like he has been annointed. He fails lets not point the finger at why. He failed.
F-105 Thunderchief
November 5th, 2009
4:57 pm
Wow, this blog was unleashed and off the hook.
Matt "Choke" Ryan
November 5th, 2009
5:28 pm
UPCOMING TEAMS RANK VS THE PASS:
Redskins………..Number 2
Carolina………….Number 1
Giants…………Number 3
We shall see if it’s a bump or a thump
Kato Kaelin
November 5th, 2009
5:52 pm
Kato Kaelin
November 5th, 2009
5:29 pm
I want to address this individual who goes by the moniker “Matt ‘Choke’ Ryan” (we’ll call him The Chicken Choker). This person, The Chicken Choker, logs repeatedly onto every Falcons blog on this web site and takes needless, pointless, malicious jabs at Matt Ryan all day long. The Chicken Choker is obviously, as he makes it well-known, a huge fan of Mike Vick. So these endless attacks on Ryan have less to do with Ryan than they do with The Chicken Choker’s obsession with the failed career of Mike Vick. Never mind the fact that Ryan is a solid and talented – but young and inexperienced – quarterback, with a strong work ethic and a high intelligence, who has done nothing but try, with all his might, to learn the game, to get better and to help his team win. Never mind that Vick is a washed-up has-been, a third-string quarterback, a convicted felon with a very low I.Q. and a far worse work ethic, a selfish oaf who brazenly self-destructed, throwing away a fortune and a future as a potential Hall of Famer/sports legend. What is truly sad and pathetic are The Chicken Choker’s reasons for his love affair with Vick and his loathing for Ryan. Of course, he is a racist. Yesterday I blogged that The Chicken Choker cheered when O.J. was acquitted. The Chicken Choker’s response? “I take the fifth!” In other words, he freely admits that he was elated when a black murderer was exonerated by a black jury for the brutal murder of two innocent white people. That pretty much tells us all we need to know about The Chicken Choker. Let us be thankful that The Chicken Choker is indeed a chicken. Unlike his heroes, Mike Vick and O.J. Simpson, who are merely cowards, The Chicken Choker is a chicken – he lacks the courage to act out his self-hatred on the innocent. He dreams of viciously murdering white people, or even dogs, but he cannot bring himself to do it. Let us be thankful that he can only muster the courage to sit anonymously behind a keyboard and attack that which is honest and decent in this world, while idolizing cowardly black sports ex-heroes who get away with murder simply because of the empathy/adoration of other moronic ebony-idol worshippers like The Chicken Choker.
To Kato Kaelin
November 5th, 2009
6:28 pm
Kato Kaelin- You are the one with issues. Matt Ryan is not the only QB critized. You’re the one that needs to get over it. If Matt was in Philly, NY or Chicago he would be toast by the media.
Mary Wanna
November 5th, 2009
6:48 pm
You idiot sportswriters at the AJC are beyond predictable. Gee, wonder what controversy you’ll dig up for the Eagles game? I hope y’all make minimum wage, because you’re worth even less.
count_schemula
November 5th, 2009
8:01 pm
DeAngelo Hall might be the better corner, but I can root for Brent Grimes. I can’t root for DeAngelo Hall. And balls to this “lies and disrespect treat me like a man” sheit. Big time sports is big time money and things are going to happen, just like in any other business. Athletes are so coddled from 8th grade on, that when they hit the real world, all they know how to do is cry cry cry about how they were treated after failing to hold up their end of the deal. Seen Michael VIck saying any crap about Blanks? No, because Vick is MAN enough to understand his role in his own situation. Nothing about me misses DeAngelo Hall.
Chan
November 5th, 2009
8:10 pm
Mike Ryan is who we thought he was.A little wimp!
Steve C
November 5th, 2009
9:36 pm
After the play that Grimes made to sky and pick the pass out of the air at the very top of it’s arc, I’ll give him every benefit of the doubt. Until our D line starts to harass the QB, even Deion Sanders and Champ Bailey would have a tough time covering today’s top line receivers.
Falcon 8211
November 5th, 2009
11:10 pm
Meangelo need to shut up. seeems he still has not learned to shut his mouth. all he did in atl was get picked on every game. can anyone tell me what he did for atlanta besides give up touchdowns. if i was thomas i would have traded him too because he is NOT a team player. i hope he covers roddy sunday because roddy needs some touchdown catches. oh yea meangelo likes to arm tackle too never recall him hitting anybody while he was here. i do remember eddie royal schooling him last year in the first game of the season
Kato Kaelin
November 5th, 2009
11:31 pm
To Matt “Choke” Ryan: Dude, you’re not fooling anyone. We all know it was YOU who responded at 6:28 PM under the moniker “To Kato Kaelin.” And my blog was not about your criticizing Matt Ryan. It was about your obsession with him. My only “issue” is your “issue” over the fact that a white quarterback replaced your black quarterback. From your perspective, it was about race. From the Falcons’ perspective, it wasn’t about race. Vick hung himself and the team had to replace him. Ryan was available. They drafted him and now he is their guy. It’s over and done with, and there’s nothing you or I can do about it. You need to let it go.
VICK IS GONE!!!
November 5th, 2009
11:54 pm
***THE BOTTOM LINE!!!***** MIKE VICK is not here anymore. If Matty Ice doesn’t pick up his game he’s going to look like a complete BUST. That’s the honest truth, we have to have better quarterback play if we have a chance of making the playoffs. Atlanta Media has built this kid up to be the savior of the franchise. Arthur Blank praises this young kid. He’s not Mick Vick, not even close to the arm strength and athletic ability. Right now he look just like JOEY HARRINGTON!!! john parker Jr is in the waiting. WHY NOT? THE ICE IS MELTING!!!
TRUE FALCONS FAN
November 5th, 2009
11:57 pm
MATT RYAN IS NOT LIVING UP THE HYPE……COOL AS ICE…….YEAH RIGHT!!!
7-9, ANOTHER LOSING SEASON!
bigdawg2
November 6th, 2009
8:06 am
Hey,
If vasaline hands jenkins catches that pass to put us at first and goal to go up 21-14 we’re singing a different tune. Instead we play catch up the rest of the game. Big difference mentally. When are the coaches going to wake up and cut him? He’s worthless. How do we not have a 2nd legit receiver? It’s the easiest position to fill these days.
Thankful we have Matt Ryan
November 6th, 2009
9:11 am
I’ll listen to people like Steve Young and other former great QB’s and their assessment of Matt Ryan and tell you non-meaning scums who no nothing about football to take your meaningless spew and “choke” on it!!
Matt "Choke" Ryan
November 6th, 2009
1:48 pm
Thankful we have Matt Ryan
November 6th, 2009
9:11 am
I’ll listen to people like Steve Young and other former great QB’s and their assessment of Matt Ryan and tell you non-meaning scums who no nothing about football to take your meaningless spew and “choke” on it!!
Can you hear: 68, 66 & 46
Thankful we have Matt Ryan
November 6th, 2009
1:51 pm
“choke”……..your hilarious. No one wants to see hear about your I.Q.(68,66 $ 46) Silly little man.
Matt "Choke" Ryan
November 6th, 2009
1:56 pm
Oh really thankful…..what’s your I.Q.?
Matt "Choke" Ryan
November 6th, 2009
1:57 pm
If Ryan wasn’t so big I wouldn’t choke on it. Vick never gaged me like Ryan.
Matt "Choke" Ryan
November 6th, 2009
2:02 pm
Well gotta go boys and girls, UPS just delivered Vick’s jock from last weeks game. Man I’m so happy the other one was losing its aroma.
leader
November 6th, 2009
2:46 pm
I wish Vick all the best in his future. He has paid a big price for his stupidity. The cause for it can be laid directly to Coach Mora and his hero-worship coaching style. Instead of coaching-up Vick, Mora did nothing but praise him to the press and all who would listen. He never made a bad play or did the wrong thing. Anything he did was perfect according to Mora. With the right coach, I believe everything would have turned aout differently. As far as the current staff, Ryan has all of the tools, both physical and mental to make it big in this league. We had a playoff run last year and it looks good for this year. We are not a super bowl team yet. Should be within the next couple of years if everything goes according to plan. Go Falcons
brad
November 7th, 2009
12:23 am
On Mike Vick: “Sir, you are to consider the intention of punishment in a future state. We have no reason to be sure that we shall then be no longer liable to offend against God. We do not know that even the angels are quite in a state of security; nay we know that some of them have fallen. It may, therefore, perhaps be necessary, in order to preserve both men and angels in a state of rectitude, that they should have continually before them the punishment of those who have deviated from it; but we may hope that by some other means a fall from rectitude may be prevented.”
Anybody but me have a son? I’d want my son to be allowed to put it down if he paid the punishment.
On the comments about “the Man” and other dick-like racial slights: You can be white and conservative and still be concerned that a young man got two years of prison time when a few months later people rode a horse to death after shooting it full of roids and another guy gets thirty days for running over a human. We’re fcking Americans fercrissakes and I want the system fair and rational. I’m a dog lover btw so spare me the bullsht response.
As for Ryan: He’s panicking back there. He’ll learn. Mularkey DOES need to game plan it and I don’t mean keeping 8 in the boxand splitting two wide. That’s an automatic double team and a crease blitz. Now that the coaches have seen that Ryan’s weakness is moving in the pocket undera rush they need to adress it. They will. He will. And he’ll get alot of practice cuzthese rushesaren’t gonna stop ’til he proves he can beat them.
Falcon in a down spin with Ryan (Patty Melt) ICE NOT
November 12th, 2009
12:44 pm
Get new Matt Ryan fan ware melted burger or two pieces of bread with melted cheese and waffle house could have a add that says 2 dollars off a Ryan patty melt or #2 punk under pressure patty melt ! with no Ice!!
Falcon in a down spin with Ryan (Patty Melt) ICE NOT
November 13th, 2009
6:23 am
Ryan you are doing better than J. culley 5 whole INT. Ryan you are look up!
Michellecgk
February 8th, 2010
5:10 pm
very useful article. I would love to follow you on twitter. By the way, did any one know that some chinese hacker had busted twitter yesterday again.