Matt Ryan is ready for his final preseason tune-up
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan (2) calls signals during first quarter NFL preseason football action against the Miami Dolphins in Miami, Friday, Aug. 27, 2010. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)
FLOWERY BRANCH – Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan likely won’t be on the field for long in the final exhibition game.
In last season’s preseason finale, the Falcons were defeated by the Baltimore Ravens, 20-3. Ryan completed his only pass, a 13-yard completion to wide receiver Roddy White. Running back Michael Turner had 12 yards on just two carries.
With the passing game clearly being off track in the regular-season tune-up last week against Miami it will be interesting to see if Ryan plays longer and throws more than one pass this season.
Ryan was 13-of-26 for a meager 50 percent completion rate. “As we evaluated it, as Matt evaluated it, we still have some things to work on,” Smith said.
How long should Ryan and the rest of the first-team offense play against Jacksonville?
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86 comments Add your comment
IceFan
September 2nd, 2010
7:17 am
I would like to see the first-team offense play two series tonight.
Ronnie
September 2nd, 2010
7:28 am
It’s the most pointless of all the pointless preseason games. I wish the starters hadn’t even gotten on the plane.
bama-falcon fan
September 2nd, 2010
7:40 am
Seems like too much hinges on the season for Smith to leave his starting offense in the game for more than 1 or 2 series.
Season Ticket Holder
September 2nd, 2010
7:43 am
I know the Falcons don’t want to risk a starter being injured in the final pre-season game. However, Matt Ryan and the first string offense need to prove they can put the ball in the end zone. The O-Line needs work on pass blocking. We need to get the running game clicking to open up the pass. The M.R. passes needs to be on target. And, the receivers must catch the ball. Hopefully the birds will look good in this game.
suwaneefalcon
September 2nd, 2010
7:46 am
I agree with Ronnie, one series at the most and get their butts to the bench.
robdawg08
September 2nd, 2010
7:51 am
It will be interesting to see what receivers and DB’s make the team based on this practice game.
I sure hope the Falcons offense has more scoring power than they’ve shown in pre-season. They looked worse than Detroit did last year. At least Stafford & C.Johnson hooked up for tds a lot. Its hard to imagine the offense just all of a sudden “turning it on” after playing so poorly.
FrontRow
September 2nd, 2010
7:53 am
Not at all. The second teamers and bubble guys should have been game planning while the starters studied up for the Steelers.
This is the last chance for some of these guys. Further, the last chance for the coaching staff to practice game planning.
SirReal
September 2nd, 2010
8:07 am
ONE series….thats ALL…..
BC
September 2nd, 2010
8:10 am
This is a meaningless game that the NFL makes season ticket holders pay full price for.
The starters should not play at all.Why risk injury to your best players?
BKJ
September 2nd, 2010
8:13 am
One series max. As far as I’m concerned, Ryan, White, and Turner should be last minute scratches with a mysterious fingernail “injury”.
SOUTH GA DAWG FAN
September 2nd, 2010
8:13 am
I say one play take a knee and get the the heck out of the preseason.After last year i think they need to be as careful as possible turn them loose in Pittsburgh , stay careful this week.
FalconDawg
September 2nd, 2010
8:26 am
Go all out to score a touchdown and then get the heck out!
NES
September 2nd, 2010
8:30 am
Be for REAL on starters not playing! Ryan and the starters haven’t even played 4-5 quarters of football this pre-season. That my falcons’ fans is why the offense is stalling out and don’t look like they are on the same page. Also, this is how injuries will happen at the start of the regular season because you can’t just turn it on and off, so when regular season starts and players got to go at full speed every play and extended playing time, they just aren’t really in game condition to play 4 quarters. This will be why some players will get injured, and not just the falcons either. The offense is out of sync because they didn’t play long enough together in pre-season to catch a cold. It all started the first week of practice this year when D.Robinson stretched his hamstring so Coach Smith went soft with starters for the rest of the practices and pre-season games. No one wants injuries in pre-season or regular season, but football is a contact sport and trying to avoid injuries will lead to injuries! It also takes scrimmaging to build that tough, physical type of game the falcons want to have. Well, the old saying is this, practice makes perfect. The defense will be really hurting if D. Robinson’s hammy is worse than Coach Smith is saying and he tweaks it again against Pittsburgh by not having played in any games this pre-season, he will be out for a long time rehabbing along with Norwood and Moore and Jerry.
Joe Tess Fish House
September 2nd, 2010
8:34 am
I was watching hard knocks alst night and saw the Jets may cut Lavernus Coles……..OK Falcons, you past on TO, make up for that by signing Coles….NOW
FrontRow
September 2nd, 2010
8:45 am
@NES they haven’t exactly been sitting around Flowery Branch playing rummy. The only game I saw was NE (I don’t count TV games; that’s watching not seeing) and the final 1st team series had Turner lined up in the slot for almost every play. Is that the NEW Falcon’s offense or just some preseason experiment?
They look “rusty” because they are doing things in games that they normally would not do. Another example: they normally go no-huddle to trap the defensive players on the field. This pre-season, they did it to see how the new ref scheme worked out. I doubt the Falcons will be concerned about ref alignments after September 12.
Bird Dog
September 2nd, 2010
8:46 am
MR2 has work to do. I’d like to see him and the starters play the first quarter.
zone6
September 2nd, 2010
8:48 am
do you guys think we need another wide reciever some one fast if we get into a shoot out with any high power teams were in trouble.
we have decent average recievers at best i think the defense will step up this year and surprise some people but its our offense that worries me we dont have enough firepower on offense to keep up with the saints i think the only reason we stayed close in the games when played them is because we play them regulary by being in the same division i think the falcons will come in second place in the nfc south but you never know cant count out tampa bay and carolina its topsy turby in the nfc south history suggests that the last place team comes in first but i dont think thats going to happen saint and falcons come in at # 1and 2 saint will win the division but go falcons rise up or sit down
truthbtold
September 2nd, 2010
8:51 am
This mentality of worrying about eing hurt is whathas hurt pro football. It used to be that players just played football. That’s what they were selected and hired to do. The preseason was designed to get the players warmed up and at top form by the first game of the season. Now, they coddle and protect these guys so that by the time the season starts – they’re as cold as they were when they reported to camp. It’s usually the 4th or 5th game before they are playing as a unit.
ASHCAN.
September 2nd, 2010
8:52 am
BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!
Flowery Branch, Georgia
September 2nd, 2010
8:53 am
.
————————–
Nesbitt for Heisman
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.
GT GRAD
September 2nd, 2010
8:56 am
They should play the starters (Offense & Defense) for the entire first half; maybe even longer!
Both sides have room for improvement. I realize they will not do this due to fear of injuries; however, I would play them half of the game unless the players show solid consistency and are really effective. I would also bring some of the “on the bubble” players in for some reps with the first string players (during the first half) to get a really good & realistic idea of whether or not they can be effective against established NFL football players {not offensive line because we do not want missed assignment resulting in blindside shots at Ryan or Turner}.
Turner needs to run through and around some people……..rather than getting so low that he simply falls on the ground in front of the defensive player in an attempt to protect his lower body (same thing TJ Duckett was doing after his first two seasons of solid running style).
FrontRow
September 2nd, 2010
9:06 am
Good thing none of you are the coach. Putting in your 16 game offensive staters in this game is dumb considering the opponents defense will include last chance guys looking to do ANYTHING to make the team including breaking Turner’s ankle or Ryan’s neck.
Defensively, maybe. A good time to install the D-line rotation possibly for most of the game. However, with the Falcons depth at D-line is do not think we will get a good look at our ability to wear down the offense until we play a real offense.
FrontRow
September 2nd, 2010
9:11 am
@GT so why not play Turner for the whole game? Is not part of his game to run over D-backs and see if they are afraid to tackle in the 3rd and 4th quarter?
Bad idea. I think it’s a pretty good assumption that if Turner is on his game, the CB’s will be ducking him with 8:33 left in the 4th quarter. I don’t need to see him play tonight to know that for 100% certainty.
Grant
September 2nd, 2010
9:12 am
I don’t know why everyone is so worried about the Falcons offense. Their best weapons is Turner pounding the defense. They aren’t trying to get him hurt so we will have to wait until the reg season to see them click.
GSTATEFTW
September 2nd, 2010
9:12 am
Stop talking about THESE LOSER FALCONS! The real champions of the dome are the one and only GEORGIA STATE PANTHERS! – THEY WILL OWN THIS CITY BY 2015!
RB
September 2nd, 2010
9:13 am
I hope Matt proves we took the right QB in the draft. At this point Flacko is better. I hope Matt shows better this year than last.
rekingball
September 2nd, 2010
9:16 am
I think that the Falcons should just go on up to Pittsburg, and play the Steelers a real game tonight.
rekingball
September 2nd, 2010
9:18 am
The Georgia State what? Never heard of them.
PMC
September 2nd, 2010
9:32 am
This game is meaningless. No reason to play starters at all.
I would hope they would give the back half of anyone who can play as much PT as they possibly can so that if they can’t play here, they’ll get to show off thier wares for the rest of the league.
alanfalcon
September 2nd, 2010
9:37 am
Please bring on the season before these so called coaches and experts have a heart-attack. GO FALCONS AND GO SOUTHERN RUSH. !!!!!!!!!!!!!
robdawg08
September 2nd, 2010
9:39 am
The offense needs to come together against an opposing team. Time to find out what ya got. A player can get injured any time. The Packers played their starters a whole half last week. If you are scared of getting injured then you shouldn’t be in the NFL anyway. And I know the players aren’t scared its just you wuss fans…
robdawg08
September 2nd, 2010
9:40 am
yeah Ryan might hurt his arm tonight but he could hurt it on the first play of the Steelers game too. Let football players play.
robdawg08
September 2nd, 2010
9:41 am
They need a kicker. Bring back Elam or summin’
Falconblogman
September 2nd, 2010
9:47 am
If Ryan does not throw three td passes in the first quarter, then you have to consider him a bust. we should have traded for aaron Rodgers so that our fans could draft one of their own for their league. It looks like the Rams will be handing everyone their azz this year because they picked the right QB.
Everyone TD drafts gets hurt. Why does he like soft players so much?
FrontRow
September 2nd, 2010
10:00 am
D’led your 5 burning questions piece is one of your better works so far this season. Looks like your are ready for the season as well.
BeefATL72
September 2nd, 2010
10:15 am
LOL, the majority of you are so oblivious & ignorant it’s funny. Many of you are just down right dumb.
The preseason is for experimentation & evaluation, period. It’s meaningless. It doesn’t get 100% effort because it’s dumb to risk injury for something that doesn’t count. And we’re not going to see those plays they know work, they’re going to run plays that are on the bubble of making the playbook.
The Lions went 4-0 in preseason then lost 16 games. The Colts went 0-4 in preseason then went to the SB. Get it through your head, preseason doesn’t mean squat.
Borrow a braincell from someone & think. We went 9-7 with 8 key people injured & missing games on top of one of the hardest schedules ever conceaved & 11-5 the previous year when most of those people were healthy. We’re going to be significantly better this year with everyone healthy & a much easier schedule. These guys have worked harder than ever before in the offseason. They started training earlier, a bunch of them even did MMA training, they perform plays in practice at high levels & with high percentage of success on both sides of the ball. They’ve added playmakers, upgraded positions, & have another year of experience under their belt in this system playing together.
To think that they’ve digressed or won’t be much better simply because of 5 underwhelming series in the preseason is just dumb!
Wait until the second half of the Steelers game. When they put up 28 points in those 2 quarters & the defense holds the Steelers to under 100 yards in that 2nd half, you’ll be giddy telling everyone this is a SB year.
The starters should play 1 series against Jacksonville & then let the guys fighting to make the team earn it the rest of the game.
Larry
September 2nd, 2010
10:24 am
Take one series at a time.
If the first series is a much more than a three and out, pull the starters. A maximum of two series.
Beef
September 2nd, 2010
10:35 am
Put Ryan in for a series to try some things. Leave Roddy, Tony and Turner on the bench tonight.
Manny
September 2nd, 2010
11:01 am
Turner and Tony’s ready right now. They should be in street clothes. I can see Ryan and Roddy playing a series to continue to work on timing and confidence. I think one series is enough, though- unless it’s a 3 and out. Then you might go 2 series.
John Abraham and Biermann should be in street clothes.
zone6
September 2nd, 2010
11:06 am
come on falcons fans what needs do we need to make it to the big game 1st is we need a better offensive line to give ryan time to think things through i mean an average joe will look good if he has the right line we need a steady mix of pass and run blockers i think now we have more run blockers because were a run the ball team. 2nd better wide outs to me we only have 2 good recievers in white and gonzalez. jenkins should be a 3rd or 4th reciever he should do better then. teams will forget about him and count him out he should get his 5 or 6 catches thats bout his average any way that will be good for a 3rd or 4th reciever douglas is up coming he should be the 3rd wideout that leaves us with a open # 2 reciever spot finneran is done he has been hurt since vick was the qb. weem is not proven just a special team returner but he is not good punt returner.what about converting norwood to a reciever since he is not built to take a licking as rb if we want to be cheap which all georgia teams are teams are.3rd better punt and kickoff returners nowood and franks should take the spots.4th ryan needs more deep throws stop all this sideline throws.5th better pass rush maybe a premier pass rusher. 6th a shutdown #2 corner but i like owens if we dont.7th a big defensive tackle who weighs 315-330 range this will cause double teams immeadiatly.free up a defensive end or linebacker 8th better play from our safeties with this and correct play calling we should do good but thats if the falcons are willing to spend the money on key players in which we wont we rather have a team of mediocre players that not going to cut if you want to be the boss you got to pay the cost
Coach
September 2nd, 2010
11:07 am
Let Redman play and put Ryan on the bench! Redman is more athletic, he better poise, and he’s not afraid to throw the ball down the field. Ryan is only a game manager.
TEAMPLAYER
September 2nd, 2010
11:16 am
@BeefAtl72…… it couldn’t have been said any better….thanx for those words of wisdom… anyone who skipped BeefAtl blog go back and read it……
Veedub
September 2nd, 2010
11:16 am
@NES and GT GRAD… When I was reading the first few posts and everyone was like.. rest the starters..take a knee…one series. I was thinking to myself are these people really fans and have they even been watching preseason. Have they not seen that the offense, especially Matt Ryan is NOT looking like a playoff team right now? Then I got to you guys post and I was like finally, some real fans who can see the reality that I see.. so thank you guys for that..
With that said… The offense and defense needs significant playing time, at least up to halftime.. UNLESS… they come out blazin and do some spectacular things, but unless that happens, they should take all the snaps they can get. I cannot believe some of you are so comfortable going into the season when we have seen average play from both offense and defense. We expect average play from the defense but the offense should be in full swing right now. The fact is, at this point we WILL NOT beat a team with a high powered offense. We have not shown that we can score quickly or even score consistently and the defense will spend too much time on the field and they will tire and get burned by any of the elite offenses.. Yall gotta feel that. We can’t just go into the season hoping it comes together.. The preseason is the thime to show, hey, we are a force, and this is what u gone have to deal with. The FALCONS need to do that. We do not have a history where we can say, its just preseason, we’ll show up when it counts!!! That is not our makeup.. And Dunta has not even played yet!!! So everyone expects him to just step on the field opening day and be up to speed, if he does, it’ll be a miracle. And if he starts off slow, then I guess yall will say.. he just needs a few games to get warmed up!!!! UNBELIEVABLE, you people.. Haing said that, this is still my team but I would love to see some FIRE and PASSION out of somebody on this team…. Thanks for letting me vent!!!!!
Bob
September 2nd, 2010
11:31 am
“….it will be interesting to see if Ryan plays longer and throws more than one pass this season.”
Yeah, I would say that would be interesting if he only threw one this season.
PMC
September 2nd, 2010
11:35 am
This is not a game planned game, this is a timed live action scrimmage, It is futile to bring guys out put them in injury risk for a game that counts for nothing. Experience in this game against 4th and 5th stringers isn’t doing ANYONE any good unless those players are playing for a job. They can get reps at practice. Starters don’t need to and don’t typically play more than a series or so in the 4th preseason game…because…any practice they get wouldn’t be against front line starters and would be irrellevant when live bullets fly. Dunta needs to play but he’s probably still going to take a month to get up to speed.
This game and the stats in this game have no relevant meaning in the regular season other than to tune guys up. Don’t pay much attention to any of it.
The Falcons problems on offense are not getting fixed tonight. They are what they are. They are simply going to have to play better when the season starts. Nothing they do tonight is relevant.
PMC
September 2nd, 2010
11:37 am
One of the reasons the NFL is looking at the 18 game schedule is due to thier complete ripping off of season ticket holders in these meaningless games.
D. Orlando Ledbetter
September 2nd, 2010
11:42 am
FrontRow — Thanks! Here’s the link to the 5 burning Falcons questions — http://www.ajc.com/sports/atlanta-falcons/5-burning-falcons-questions-604993.html
TEAMPLAYER
September 2nd, 2010
11:42 am
Keep in mind that the STEELERS scouting staff are making note…..along with every other team we play this season….so you don’t want to show too much….it’s a “cat & mouse game”
Samuel
September 2nd, 2010
11:45 am
If you put too many emphasis on getting hurt, you probally will. If I were the coach, I would put the starters in and try to score. If you accomplish that, then pull your starters. You want to go into the regular season with something too build on offensively.
Flo-Ri-Duh!
September 2nd, 2010
11:47 am
Ryan is not ready. He should play all the 1st quarter and mid way through the 2nd. Then play Redman the rest of the way. The 3rd stringer played enough last week to prove he isn’t the answer.