Matt Ryan is becoming an ‘elite’ QB, Smith says
Atlanta Falcons' Matt Ryan (2) throws a pass against the Carolina Panthers during the third quarter of an NFL football game in Charlotte, N.C., Sunday, Dec. 11, 2011. AP
FLOWERY BRANCH — Falcons coach Mike Smith believes that fourth-year quarterback Matt Ryan, who became the second quarterback in team history to pass for 4,000 yards in a season, has reached elite status among NFL quarterbacks.
“His maturation process continues to accelerate and he’s becoming, in my mind, one of the elite quarterbacks in this league,” Smith said.
Ryan needs 73 yards passing against Tampa Bay on Sunday to break the franchise’s record for most yards passing in a season.
Ryan, who has passed for 4,071 yards, is set to break the record of Jeff George, who passed for 4,143 yards in 1995.
“That’d be a great honor and an individual honor for Matt,” Smith said. “But again, all those individual honors take a bunch of other guys. There are guys that have got to catch the ball and guys that have got to block. But Matt’s had a very good season.”
Ryan passed for a career-high 373 yards in the 45-16 loss to New Orleans on Monday night. He also tied his career highs with 32 completions and 52 pass attempts.
Ryan already has surpassed George in one category. He has passed for more than 300 yards six times this season, breaking George’s old record of four 300-yard games in 1995.
However, the Falcons are just 2-4 this when Ryan throws for more than 300 yards. He has thrown for more than 300 in wins over Tennessee (316) and Carolina (320) and in losses to Chicago (329), Tampa Bay (330) and New Orleans twice (351 and 373).
Ryan, who went to the Pro Bowl after guiding the Falcons to the NFC South title last season, has completed 339 of 557 passes and is within striking distance of his records of 357 completions and 571 attempts that he set last season.
–D. Orlando Ledbetter, The Atlanta Falcons beat blog
Get instant updates on Twitter at AJCFalcons and you can join the Facebook Fan page at AJC Falcons.
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
124 comments Add your comment
Kashi
December 30th, 2011
12:07 pm
First !!!
Kashi
December 30th, 2011
12:08 pm
“Elite” quarterback with no playoff WIN.
RonFalcon Fan
December 30th, 2011
12:12 pm
“Elite” status ? Now we know for certain. Mike Smith is in over his head.
Fishwrapper
December 30th, 2011
12:12 pm
First….to not post some stupid comment about Ryan. He is very much growing into one of the elite, it’s just a shame most that post in this blog will be too ignorant to see that.
Veedub
December 30th, 2011
12:17 pm
D. Orlando Ledbetter…… According to the article seems like Smitty said Ryan “is becoming” one of the elite QB’s in the league, not that he is already. Or am I readin something wrong??
Hollywould
December 30th, 2011
12:24 pm
Looks like he said “Is becoming”
Nom Nom Nom Chucks....Taylor or Norris, I don't care
December 30th, 2011
12:25 pm
Elite status by passing Jeff George? Dang, we are in more trouble than I thought. Everybody have fun at the draft this year, with our first pick not coming till July.
Good move on that dmitiy. Still looking for the 6th round gems huh?
Nom Nom Nom Chucks....Taylor or Norris, I don't care
December 30th, 2011
12:26 pm
Actually, yeah you titled this piece incorrectly.
tidog
December 30th, 2011
12:36 pm
Wow it seems as though he’s been in the league longer than four years. I admit the 0 playoff wins is a negative but too have his team in the playoffs 3 out of his 4 years in the league is damn good or elite,
D. Orlando Ledbetter
December 30th, 2011
12:38 pm
Nom chucks — I concur. How’s this for the new headline: Matt Ryan is becoming an ‘elite’ QB, Smith says (Ah, much better!)
Mr. Panic Button
December 30th, 2011
12:49 pm
Not with this coaching staff’s conservative, predictable play calling he’s not!
Eric C.
December 30th, 2011
12:52 pm
Let’s hold judgement until after the playoffs
Mr. Panic Button
December 30th, 2011
12:53 pm
And what exactly is Smitty’s definition of “elite”?
Mr. Panic Button
December 30th, 2011
12:54 pm
Eric C. a leopard doesn’t change its spots. If you are expecting something different from this team in the playoffs you’re insane.
mackdad
December 30th, 2011
1:08 pm
becoming is correct….not sure he will ever measure up to a Brady, Manning but he is “becoming” a more complete QB, he reads defenses better now and with the increase in passing yards it does show the OC is looking outside the box (run run run)….I still think Matt will not reach his potential under OC MM but be that as it may he is “becoming” elite but not Brady, Manning elite
Veedub
December 30th, 2011
1:08 pm
D. Orlando Ledbetter.. I was trying to get your attention. That shud have been my props not Nom chucks.. **No respect***.. And you’re welcome!!
Veedub
December 30th, 2011
1:11 pm
D. Led… Why fo come you don’t respond much in your blogs anymo’?
Joe
December 30th, 2011
1:17 pm
All you naysayers check this out. Matt Ryan could be the only QB in the NFL to have TWO 1,000 yard receivers. Smoke on that hate stick.
Mr. Panic Button
December 30th, 2011
1:20 pm
Eric C. I apologize for calling you insane…that’s a bit harsh. But nothing is going to change with this current coaching staff. They are mediocre at best.
mark
December 30th, 2011
1:22 pm
elite?! elite? lol!!!! he dosent have 1 playoff w! its a good player for sure but elite?! you gotta be kidding in here it only shows how crazy is this coaching staff! cant be elite without a playoff w last time i check my book, he hasnt step up his game when it comes delivery time, its a good game manager but thats all, he would never be elite until he can find that killer instincts
D. Orlando Ledbetter
December 30th, 2011
1:23 pm
Veedub — Usually, grinding away for the print product in-season.
D. Orlando Ledbetter
December 30th, 2011
1:24 pm
Veedub — Props to you, too!
Veedub
December 30th, 2011
1:25 pm
@Joe… Having two 1,000 yd receivers means nothing if you get bounced out in the first round. Ryan really needs to step up and finish drives and get in these guys a$$e$ and be a more vocal leader. These guys need it!!!! They lack the passion and poise of the truly elite teams.
Veedub
December 30th, 2011
1:29 pm
D Led.. Grind away, jus dont forget about us here. Need to feel ya presence er’y now and then!!… Grind on!!
mark
December 30th, 2011
1:30 pm
hey D LED why you were the only one making questions to ryan on the monday night game vs new orleans there was nobody there? or how it works
Vesaversa
December 30th, 2011
1:47 pm
I’ll cut Matt Ryan some slack because the Falcons offensive line haven’t really protected him much this year.But he need to mature fast i mean this year not next year to make me a believer in this elite BS .A good test would be for Ryan and the ATL. Falcons return to Louisiana for a rematch with them Saints .
Michael M.
December 30th, 2011
1:47 pm
If not elite, he is up there in the top 10 to say the least.
Nique
December 30th, 2011
2:02 pm
Well looking at the #’s the thing that’s truly seperating the elite qb’s Rodgers, Brady, Brees, & usually P Manning in a regular season context is Ryan’s inefficency in the redzone. Ryan is 6th in the league in TD’s, but there’s a huge difference between 45 Brees, 41 Rodgers, 36 Brady & Stafford, then the 27 Ryan has. A HUGE DIFFERENCE! Concerning all of the rest of the #’s Ryan is right there though & for all of those who want to write it off soley on the o-line, Ryan has been sacked 2 more times than Brees, 10 less times than Rodgers, 8 less times than Stafford, & 2 less times than Brady. So that in & of itself isn’t the entire reason for his lack of redzone ineffeciency!
D man
December 30th, 2011
2:06 pm
Ryan is a good QB who will be an elite QB some day soon. I believe that too.
Nique
December 30th, 2011
2:18 pm
All that said, i agree with Smith Ryan is BECOMING one of those qb’s he still has 2 very significant hurdles to clear, a playoff victory & becoming more efficent in the redzone. He’s also about to get labled as a qb who inconsistant on the road in a minute if he doesn’t turn it around soon though. Although he started his career well in the department 4-4 on the road this year isn’t elite.
Die Hard Falcon
December 30th, 2011
2:37 pm
It all depends on how “Elite” is defined. Matty Ice is a top 10 QB playing right now in my opinion. I think most people consider the top 5 QB’s as being elite, in which case he wouldn’t be there…yet. I believe as many stated, he’s on his way. While he might not have been sacked much compared to others mentioned above, that’s b/c he has to get rid of the ball, if you watch Brady & Brees especially, they have ALL DAY to pass most of the time and if Ryan had that much time, I’ll bet the house he’d be closer to 4500 yds and have less picks & more TD’s w/ a higher completion %. Sacks aren’t the only way to determine if a QB gets adequate protection, he is towards the top in the league in most times hit and/or hurried.
Die Hard Falcon
December 30th, 2011
2:42 pm
As a side note, I will say that Aaron Rodgers doesn’t get the protection any better the Matt this year, but he’s very mobile and as much as I despise the him & the pack, they’re very good and have a great scheme.
I think if you put Brees, Brady, and Rodgers (I think everyone’s top 3 this year)w/ our protection and scheme, they’d all be much less successful. MR2 in the aints scheme and protection would be elite I’ll bet. Of course this is all conjecture and I wouldn’t want Matty to go anywhere else, I just hope we can bring a better scheme and get better protection for him soon.
Wendell
December 30th, 2011
2:48 pm
Send CVIV to Winnipeg.
SeenThisBFalcon
December 30th, 2011
2:54 pm
SAINT’S WILL LOSE IN THE 1ST RD OF THE PLAYOFFS!!!
Sterling
December 30th, 2011
2:57 pm
I love you falcon fans. You guys really know how to support your team. smh
Joe
December 30th, 2011
3:04 pm
Ryan has NO O-line and has still passed for over 4,000 yards and 27 touchdowns. Only 12 picks. He knows how to take care of the football. Everyone needs to acknowledge the fact that he’s a top 10 QB. That means he’s elite. Dan Marino never won a Super Bowl but he’s in the HOF. See? Ryan will get his first playoff win this season, and it’ll be against the team that we love to hate. New Orleans in the 1st round. Watch.
IKillTrollsAllDay
December 30th, 2011
3:08 pm
Matt Ryan is elite. The Oline. No! Turner has not been the same since Mughelli went down. Which affects protection for the QB and the running backs. Damn I miss that guy. He’s also a great offensive threat as a power back to compliment Turner and Snelling.
realitycheck
December 30th, 2011
3:13 pm
Probably top ten between the 20’s…….Red zone-fair at best……..Playoffs and winning big games-poor…….Elite?-not anywhere close!
BIG MIKE
December 30th, 2011
3:15 pm
Just think what his stats would be if he had receivers (Gonzalas not withstanding) that can actually hold on to the ball when it hits them in the hands (chest, head, etc) and a line that can hold off a three man rush.
Decatur Falcons
December 30th, 2011
3:16 pm
Matt Ryan is becoming a good quarterback, if you give him time to throw the ball. OC has to know his quarterback strenghts and weakness in the game. Matt Ryan can make all the throws, but the deep ball example Houston Texans. Matt Ryan need to stop playing in the weight room get some muscles in his arms. We have Julio Jones not on IR Micheal Jenkins. The NFL is a cruel sport, and it is hard to win games especially Playoff games on road. OC has develope a scheme that make Matt Ryan look good out on the field. Which means everyone on Offense have to do they job: block, running 5 or more years a carry, catch the football, getting separtation from the defense, and getting first downs. That what wins you games and Playoff games on Offense, and if the OC can create that for Matt Ryan on Sunday than Sport Center and others will call him an elite quaterback in the NFL. GO FALCONS!!!!
BIG MIKE
December 30th, 2011
3:16 pm
He would “WALK THE DOG” in New Orleans. As good as people think Brees is, he’s better. Give him Brees’s supporting cast and the rolls are reversed.
realitycheck
December 30th, 2011
3:23 pm
The guy threw for a bunch of yards between the 20’s and produced 1 TD in a 29 pt loss. That sounds exactly like a game that elite QB’s have since they are always getting beat 29 pts. LOL!!
Jborodawg
December 30th, 2011
3:23 pm
“Becoming” elite, maybe. Manning, Brees, Brady, Big Ben are elite. Matty Ice isn’t quite there yet. Big Mike, you’re right, “a line that can hold off a” four man rush actually. That’s all NO did all game and they still got thru. That, and no running game does tend to lean toward the O-line not doing their job.
While I’m at it, why call plays at all from the sidelines or booth when Ryan is going to change it at the line every time?
Falcons4Eva
December 30th, 2011
3:26 pm
Guess What Coach Smith……..
Matt Ryan would ALREADY BE AN ELITE QUARTERBACK if not for you and this staff ! !
Sean Payton and the great offensive mind that he as and gift for call plays MADE DREW BREES the quarterback he is today.
Matt has the necessary skill sets to become an elite quarterback if put in the right builder!
Falcons4Eva
December 30th, 2011
3:29 pm
Corrections: “If put in the hands of the right builder (i.e. Sean Payton), Matt Ryan would already be considers a Elite Quarterback. Its all about putting your players in the right position to make plays and bring out the best in them.
If Mike Mularkey and Mike Smith would just get out of Matt Ryan’s way, the kid would be better off,
BIG MIKE
December 30th, 2011
3:29 pm
Four man rush was all New Orleans did, but I saw them fail to hold off a three man rush against a team I don’t recollect right now, but I do remember my disgust. With Mughalli out it’s even worse. He was their best back at picking up the blitz from anywhere on the field.
steeler4eva
December 30th, 2011
3:32 pm
Yeah elite, just like Tony Romo!!!!
realitycheck
December 30th, 2011
3:32 pm
Dreamers can keep dreaming and they’ll be on here 4 or 5 years from now without even sniffing a SB shot. Falcons aren’t winning anything with this QB or regime that’s in place now. How quickly so many seem to forget what happened 90 or so hours ago in NO.
Tell it like it is.
December 30th, 2011
3:32 pm
Matt Ryan needs a supporting cast in the red zone,when defences pin back thier ears ,and come after him,he needs pass blocking,and people to catch the ball,excludeing Gonzalis,then he will become elete in the NFL.
Sean
December 30th, 2011
3:44 pm
To the people that say Matt Ryan has no o-line. Do you realize he’s been sacked less than Rodgers, Romo, Big Ben, Stafford and only twice more than Brees? The difference is some QB’s have a knack for finding the open reciever down field. Ryan has a tendency to check down and make the “safe” throw.
SeenThisBFalcon
December 30th, 2011
3:44 pm
SAIN’TS WILL LOSE IN THE 1ST ROUND GO LIONS!!!!
Fanever
December 30th, 2011
3:48 pm
Player SEASON TEAM GP CMP ATT CMP% YDS AVG TD LNG INT FUM RAT
Matt Ryan 2008-2011 ATL 61 1226 2013 60.9 14132 7.02 93 90 46 15 88
Tom Brady 2001-2004 NE 63 1242 2015 61.75 13919 6.95 97 91 52 28 87.675
Peyton Manning 1998-2001 Ind 64 1357 2226 61 16418 7.385 111 86 81 12 85.175
Drew Brees 2002-2005 SD 58 1110 1782 62.125 12127 6.8025 79 79 53 18 84.6
Aaron Rodgers 2005-2008 GB 23 376 595 57.825 4367 5.6125 29 71 14 9 71.95
Fanever
December 30th, 2011
3:51 pm
Hey D-led. I tried to post the stats of Ryan for his first four years. Surprisingly, Matt Ryan has a better QB rating than Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, Drew Brees, and Aaron Rodgers during their first four years as pros. You may want to do a story on this. So Ryan is in great company. he does need to improve, but he is on his way to becoming elite. Check the stats.
ATLien
December 30th, 2011
3:52 pm
Ryan might not be “elite” (yet) but he is more than capable of winning a Super Bowl. Too bad the defense, particularly the secondary, won’t let that happen
Die Hard Falcon
December 30th, 2011
4:16 pm
@Sean RE: Your post from 3 today
Ryan might not have more or as many times sacked as some of those QB’s, but sacks aren’t always the indicator of pass protection. He is one of the most hit/hurried QB’s in the league this year and that’s why he has to check down more; to avoid the sacks that are coming. Also, if the scheme were better, he’d have the “knack” for finding open receivers, b/c there would be more open receivers.
Defenses have figured out that if they can cover for 2 seconds the pressure will get to us, that’s not Matt’s fault that he doesn’t get the 4 and 5 second looks that Brees & Brady especially get. Plus, he is admittedly not as nimble as Rodgers or Brees.
hiramsaint
December 30th, 2011
4:26 pm
i’ll post something sarcastic as soon as i stop laughing so hard!
fansince74
December 30th, 2011
4:32 pm
Folks he’s only played in two playoff games and the loses weren’t his fault. Tom Bardy nor Drew Brees could have beaten the Packers last year with the horrible play of the Falcons defense. Think…
jim
December 30th, 2011
4:38 pm
Breaking a record set by Jeff George is not exactly “elite”. I think Ryan is really good and may be elite but I would go out of my way if I were the Falcons to not mention the two names in the same sentence. Some of us are old enough to remember Mr. Personality and his “friendly talks” on the sidelines with June Jones. Once a putz, always a putz.
Nique
December 30th, 2011
4:54 pm
& ppl talking about a supporting cast should be ashamed of themselves, yes ppl need to hold onto the ball more, but I’d take our skill position cast over every team in the NFL, with the exception of MAYBE 3 teams, Packers, Lions, & Saints, but honestly really only the Lions & Packers. Ryan is on the verge but not there ppl. Yes sacks isn’t the only stat, qb pressures is a very significant stat as well but it would be ignorant to believe that a qb who’s been sacked more hasn’t had comparable, if not more intense pressure on him throughout the year. I know it doesn’t look like it when we play these teams, but that’s because our pressure is lacking, not because there O-Lines are so great! & the comment about Rodgers being mobile, you’d have to add Brees to that list as well, its just mobile to keep plays going instead of mobility to scramble. Every time we play him we miss at least 3 sacks we should have had. Our Defense has gotten better but we still have to lead the NFL in whiffs on sack opportunities! It killed us against GB in the playoffs last year, killed us Monday against N.O. & will kill us again this year if we don’t straughten it out. Missed sacks, redzone inefficiency, costly penalties at key moments in drives, & dropped balls have been our problems all year long, coupled with poor O-line play, especially at the RG position, but as quit as its kept, our “pro bowl” RT that we paid all that $ to this offseason hasn’t lived up to his billing & we keep talking about overpaying ppl on D (the most common targets being D. Robinson & R. Edwards), how about we start holding the Offenses feet to the fire, after all they’re suppose to be the strength of our team. As bad as the D played Monday, they got us the ball back at the beginning of the 2cnd half on the Robinson int & we were only down 15 & what did the offense do…3 & out, that unacceptable. 16 points in a game is unacceptable!
Now don’t take this as me knocking Matt because i think this was actually one of his better crunch time games, between the 20’s that is, which is a problem in & of itself, but not solely his problem. But we knock the D so much, when we all know its the Offense that’s suppose to be carrying this team. & in BIG games they haven’t held their weight. 16 points against N.O. this last time, 23 against them the first time, 12 against Chi, 14 against GB, & 10 against Houston. That means in our 5 most difficult games this year, our offense has yet to put up more than 23 points… THAT IS SIMPLY UNACCEPTABLE & IF NOT FIXED, will lead to another one & done, or maybe a wild card victory & being bounced in the 2cnd round. This is not bashing the team, the potential is there, they’ve just gotta find the heart, dedication, & consistency to tap into that potential!
SeenThis B4
December 30th, 2011
4:58 pm
So, if he’s “becoming” elite, how big of a contract renewal is he going to get?
Eli Manning
December 30th, 2011
5:14 pm
@joe i have two 1000 yard receivers (Nicks & Cruz)
Ben Roethlisberger
December 30th, 2011
5:19 pm
@joe so do I.(Brown & Wallace)
Drew Brees
December 30th, 2011
5:22 pm
@Joe If Colston gets two more yards I will have a 1000 yard receiver and tight end!
Tom brady
December 30th, 2011
5:25 pm
@Joe i also have a 1,000 yard receiver and tight end. (Welker & Gronkowski)
Nique
December 30th, 2011
5:30 pm
fansince74
Are you sure those losses weren’t Matt’s fault. The pick 6 he threw right before the half last year was a huge turning point in the game & he threw a 2cnd pick in that game. In the Arizona loss, he also threw 2 picks, & in both games, he is yet to throw for 200 yards. So to say that neither playoff loss is his fault might be a bit of a stretch!!! You can’t turn the ball over in the playoffs & he’s done so twice in each appearance.
Runnin with the Dawgs
December 30th, 2011
5:32 pm
There’s no telling how much they’ll have to pay MR when contract time rolls around. Heck, Redman got $5.6 million on a two year contract. OUCH!
RAY
December 30th, 2011
5:39 pm
There are at least 20 or so teams in the NFL that would love to have Matt Ryan
Runnin with the Dawgs
December 30th, 2011
5:58 pm
No matter who comes or goes we’re gonna keep MR. He’s the heart of the Falcons.
hiramsaint
December 30th, 2011
5:59 pm
sorry fans -nothing yet-still laughing way to hard!
Jared
December 30th, 2011
6:20 pm
There are at least 20 or so teams in the NFL that , would love to have Matt Ryan
———————————————————–
Here’s a list Teams that don’t need or wish they had Ryan: Colts, Chargers, Texans, Lions, Cowboys, Panthers, Giants, Eagles, Steelers, Saints, Bears, Patriots
Do we want to be a SB contender or satisfied with having a top 10- 15 QB?
The Shermanator
December 30th, 2011
6:21 pm
ELITE!!!???????????? REALLY???????
This proves that Mike Smith was either high as a kite (unlikely), or is terribly, terribly inept at recognizing true talent on a football field (sadly, this is most likely it). Matt Ryan cannot, i repeat CANNOT throw an accurate deep ball to save his life, I would like a stat nerd here to pull his deep ball completion percentage and if it is over 10 percent I will be shocked, heck if it is over 5 percent i would be pleasantly surprised. I will admit he is great at throwing 5 yard out patterns and 8 yard curls…is that what Mike Smith thinks an elite quarterback does??? really?? I mean I dont know how many times Ryan has stalled a drive by throwing a little 6 yard out pass when we need 9 yards for a first down, and we end up punting. Hence the nickname -Matt “dink and dunk” Ryan, because 90 percent of his throws are checkdowns. He has a noodle-arm and cant throw a deep pass with any type of accuracy, and he is 0-2 in the playoffs. That is ELITE??? I guess they must have changed the definition of elite or something. What makes this REALLY FUNNY, is this is right after a game when we saw what a TRULY ELITE qb looks like when Drew Brees led his team to 45 points, while Matt led his team (with many more offensive weapons) to 16 points. Aaron Rodgers another elite qb, led his team to 48 points against us in the playoffs, while Matt Ryan responded with 21 points. Case closed, he is not even close to elite…He is in the class of the Mark Sanchez’s and Kyle Orton’s of this league. GET REAL!!!!
Brick Head O Reilly
December 30th, 2011
6:34 pm
Ryan is a force to be reckoned with BUT………NO playoff victory = NO cred in NFL………..THAT’S ALL
Blake
December 30th, 2011
6:44 pm
Drew Brees Is an elite Quarterback ! Matt Ryan Isn’t even In His league and I’m a Falcons fan. The bull has got to stop fans. Atlanta Isn’t In the same zip code as the Saints…Please…enough of the dreaming,hoping,wishing. This team Isn’t going anywhere.They showed us that.They can’t win a big game and they wont In the playoffs. They want to play the Saints again In the playoffs…why…to get whipped all over the field again.To get humiliated again…Enough of the fantasy…This team Isn’t good enough and lays eggs In big games….They always do and they always will. Do they give us any reason to believe differently?
Blake
December 30th, 2011
6:48 pm
Hiramsaint and SeenthisB4….you guys we’re right all along and we are living In a fantasy world.The Falcons proved that…..
Blake
December 30th, 2011
6:55 pm
Elite Quarterbacks either don’t get flushed out of the pocket or when they do…they make plays…Ryan throws the ball away…just watch and see…mark It down….
Eric
December 30th, 2011
7:19 pm
Ryan is not elite. Just stop it. Stop blaming the line. Stop blaming the scheme. Stop blaiming Michael Turner. Ryan is not elite because he hasn’t proven it yet. Period.
Preston Thompson
December 30th, 2011
8:03 pm
All y’all know Mike said that for Matt’s benefit. He’s just trying to pump him up. Mike don’t really believe that, does he? There is a very big difference in a good quarterback and an elite one. Maybe Matt can get to that point but he’s not even that close. Matt’s not even on level with Eli yet.
Somebody’s in lala land or either smoking that funny ba’ke. I guess Malarky is a saint. Ya think?
True
December 30th, 2011
8:39 pm
If Smith describes Ryan as elite then obviously he needs to pack his things too!
ATL66
December 30th, 2011
8:54 pm
what did you expect him to say?
Melted Ice and Steve Martin are Jokes...Fact...
December 30th, 2011
9:22 pm
Failcants organization is truly the JOKE of the NFL…..reaching for straws to think Melted Ice is even close to Brees, Brady or Manning….so delusional…yet, so funny….1 and done in the playoffs…my Saints will own your sorry team again…fact…stay classy and happy new year…
Michael M.
December 30th, 2011
9:39 pm
Without having to write a book about this subject , you can go here and see the details and compare and decide for yourselves. Keep in mine this is 2010 year so here you are………………………………..
http://2010-nfl-quarterback.pikimal.com/drew-brees/vs/matt-ryan
you can also search other QB’ s and compare……………………your welcome !
CGD..
December 30th, 2011
11:25 pm
Becoming Elite? Meanwhile Coach Clean Shot has become Norv Turner Jr.. lmao!
CGD..
December 30th, 2011
11:29 pm
Scoring 2 FG’s in the last 3 quarters against one of the best teams in the NFL is becoming Elite….Really Coach Smith? Coy way of taking the pressure off your staff and self for ineptitude….Slick dude!!!!! lmao
CGD..
December 30th, 2011
11:31 pm
BTW Cam Newton is becoming ELITE too!! Look up his stats Coach. Look at all the rookie records he’s destroying………
wins-by-a-link
December 30th, 2011
11:37 pm
The QB is only as good as his offensive line and Ryan’s line has not performed this year, Poor pass blocking and run blocking, no where near as good as last year.
jonk
December 30th, 2011
11:37 pm
I justknow all the records you have, if you dont have super bowl ring …wellll.
stendek
December 31st, 2011
3:30 am
Mentioning Matthew Ryan and elite in the same sentence is insane! Did Michael Sick leave his crack cocaine stash to Mike Smith before they hauled his sorry a$$ off to jail! Man has our head coach lost it. Big time! MR has been the QB of record for wins over the Eagles (dregs), Seahawks (dregs), Panthers twice (double dregs), Lions (legit), Colts (dregs), Titans (dregs), Vikings (dregs) and Jaguars (dregs). An elite QB would prevail over all but one of these dregs on their worst days. MR struggled against almost every one of them. Teams MR led team lost to which will not be in the playoffs are the Bears and Buccaneers (division loss no less). Other losses were to the Saints twice, Packers and Texans. Does that sound anything CLOSE to elite to you? Chasing record of well known quitter Jeff George? Man the Falcons are worse off than even I realized! Elite? Spare me that propaganda lie!
Dwayne, the elite blogger
December 31st, 2011
6:14 am
No playoff wins…I can hear the NFL guys now….”Come on man”!!!!
HardyFalcon
December 31st, 2011
6:18 am
Mike Smith just proved he doesn’t need to be a head coach, Matt Ryan can’t win a play-off game, much less a big regular season game. Hate to say this but he CHOKES in the clutch. ALL TD draft picks have proven to be BUSTs, Ryan is the best of the lott.
EVERYONE though TD was the mastermind of drafts in New England, NOW we find out , he was the weakish link in the organization and they glady let him go. New England drafts behind us every year and look at the great players they end up picking and look what we are stuck with.
We couldn’t trade all those bust for 1 descent draft pick.
UNLESS WE GET A NEW COACHING STAFF AND TOTALLY REBUILD OUR DEFENSE, WE WILL BE LUCKY TO .500 NEXT YEAR.
HardyFalcon
December 31st, 2011
6:34 am
POOR MIKE SMITH THE WHEELS HAVE COME OFF THE WAGON AND HE CAN’T FIGURE OUT WHY HE CAN’T GO ANY WHERE. ALL MATT HAS PROVEN IS HE CANNOT WIN IN THE CLUTCH
Dwayne, the elite blogger
December 31st, 2011
7:12 am
Stendek….Kari rules!!! lol
Saints R.E.A.M.
December 31st, 2011
8:22 am
Read NIQUE’s comments above. They are on the money. I’ve said the same all year but Falcons fans won’t listen to a Saints fan….I get it. But it is true….Matt lacks, pocket presence, can’t make plays under pressure (throws it away), panics, ….he should be able to escape a pass rusher every now and then..but he doesn’t . Matt is elite alright….an ELITE BACK UP QB!
Dwayne
December 31st, 2011
10:12 am
some playoff wins by him over a 3 or 4 year span might get him there. he might even have to win the Super Bowl..
Saints R.E.A.M.
December 31st, 2011
11:39 am
No one likes the TRUTH….especially the Falcons. Its better to believe through smoke and mirrors that they have a real contender….and a real Franchise QB. Propping up Matt Ryan as the local “hero” ain’t gonna help. He is an Elite backup QB. Same as Matt Schaub…you’ll see in another 4 years or so when you are still waiting for a deep playoff run.
SirReal
December 31st, 2011
11:49 am
Elite? So sick of that word being attached to QBs.lol But for sake of argument? Exactly in WHAT way is he?lol
Brick Head O Reilly
December 31st, 2011
1:27 pm
Ryan must prove he is the FIELD MARSHALL of the Falcons. The way he is going, Tim Tebow will get a playoff victory before Ryan. Prove us wrong Von Ryan!!
stendek
December 31st, 2011
4:13 pm
Matthew Ryan is not an elite QB! Mike Smith is not an elite coach. The Falcons are at best a middle of the pack team! This edition of the team has a tenth of the heart of the 2010 bunch. Why? Only the players know. They ain’t talking!
WhoDat4Eva
December 31st, 2011
4:59 pm
Becoming elite?? Hahaha…..Howdy Dooty has not even won a playoff game and freaks out when he feels pressure……becoming elite? seriously? elite? hahahaha …… as if, hahahaha
Smith just blowing smoke up his ass, hahahaha …………becoming elite? what a joke, hahahaha
realitycheck
December 31st, 2011
5:20 pm
D Led obviously got a memo that said if you ever write anything negative about the Falcons you can immediately look for another job. His articles remind me of what you see in smaller college towns where they rarely ever knock the local team(s). D Led would gain credibility if he wrote about the good, bad, and ugly. He must have watched a different game than I did last Monday, because I saw a team lose by 29 pts and an offense produce only a single TD. All those yards between the 20’s don’t mean squat!
WhoDat4Eva
December 31st, 2011
5:32 pm
I love this forum, U Falcant fans make me laugh so hard Hahahaha
I wanna thank you….and so does my old lady Wilma. Please keep posting, hahahaha
elite? hahaha
HAHAHAHAHAHAHA
One and done in the playoffs AGAIN
HAHAHAHAHA
ELITE? HAHAHAHA
#1SaintsFan
December 31st, 2011
7:21 pm
Mannnnnnn..yall r killing me ELITE??? MATT RYAN???????? REALLLY?????
If I was Authur Blank, Smitty would be fired, just for saying some dumb $h** like that!!!
Mr. SaintsFan Jr.
December 31st, 2011
8:38 pm
Matt Ryan has shown flashes, he is a very good quarter back. I like his size, tall,nice arm in certain instances. I haven’t got a chance to see MR the entire season, but the few games I saw he had some nice throws and drives. The QB we call elite are guys who have won on a cosistent basis and have won games either when they needed them or there was something riding on them. I will give MR another 2 years and he should be right up there.
Mike Smith must be High
December 31st, 2011
9:29 pm
Ryan is far from that, with that wimpy arm of his!!
Goodgod
December 31st, 2011
11:53 pm
Rookie Cam Newton is elite, he has improved his franchise over 500% in the win category from last year. Against winning teams he has held his own and shattered just about every rookie records there was including “elite” ryan’s. melty looked real “elite” against chicago, the texans and the saints twice in all those one sided losses. until melty can win against the big boys in his own division, the falcons will watch a lot of superbowls from the confort of there homes like the rest of us. in our own division the top qb are drew brees, cam newton and then the rest. that real telling when melty passes for a lot of yards we usually lose. shouldn’t that be the other way around. another thing we won’t win a lot of games with the td production we get. against the saints we scored one td last week no wonder we can’t beat the good teams we can’t find the end zone. as we get medicore, the panthers are getting stronger and the saints are so far ahead it ain’t funny. don’t worry, with elite ryan in charge we’re at least feel like winners in pro-per-ganda world or in the mushroom buzz our coach is in.
Goodgod
January 1st, 2012
12:49 am
see the attached article which ranks quarterback yards production. number one is cam newton and elite ryan is like number twenty. http://courtsideanalyst.wordpress.com/page/2/
Saints R.E.A.M.
January 1st, 2012
8:36 am
ELITE???? UH….YEAH ….RIGHT.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G5Edh7AfT2g
Mister.Earl
January 1st, 2012
9:49 am
GodGood – brilliant piece of writing.
The word elite is reserved for QBs who can will their teams to wins against elite teams. ryan’s resume is lacking in that regard.
Brees is elite. Cam Newton will be elite once he gets a tight end and someone reliable besides Steve Smith
cowdogit
January 1st, 2012
9:54 am
The falcons offense is way to complicated, no offenseive lineman can protect a quarterback when the defense knows when he’s going to pass.
Mixxo
January 1st, 2012
10:26 am
lol@ “elite.”
The Falcons’ season ended last week vs. N.O.
Cannot beat good teams. Bottom line.
Saints R.E.A.M.
January 1st, 2012
10:32 am
Are the Falcons with their “Elite” QB the easiest team to beat in the NFC playoffs????
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G5Edh7AfT2g
‘Nuff Said…..LOL.
Brick Head O Reilly
January 1st, 2012
11:31 am
Playoffs might bring out the best this year in Matty Ice. No one expects crap from his leadership this year so the pressure is off him this year.
Not a Falcon fan
January 1st, 2012
1:08 pm
Matty Ice-Cold is an “elite” QB. That’s about as funny as the falCANTS winning a Super Bowl !!!!! Falcon dreamland !!!!!!!!
Jim
January 1st, 2012
1:47 pm
ESPN posted the lowest completion percentage this season on passes over 20 yards.
Ponder. 17.6%
Gabbert. 18.8%
Ryan. 23.3%
Sanchez. 23.8%
Ryan was no better than two rookie QB’s throwing deep. Hmmm?
Bobo is Not the Problem
January 1st, 2012
2:27 pm
Elite in his own mind.
Little Tommy Brady gets blocked after his interception and the blocker is flagged for “unnecessarily driving THE QUARTERBACK into the ground.” One, no one drove Brady into the ground. Two, it was a fair block. Three, are there separate rules for blocking the quarterback?
ASSININE.
BIG JIM
January 1st, 2012
3:10 pm
matt will be a elite QB just keep working and watching film so the falcons lost there fullback obe why not put a O linemen in the back field to set the edge for turner on short yardage the bears did it with willams perry the falcons can do it with a O LINEMAN…..
FalconRed
January 1st, 2012
4:14 pm
Maybe the headline should be “Ryan has ‘potential’ to be an elite qb”. I think the Falcon fans (myself included) are showing their frustration in these posts because the team, along with Ryan, has the potential to be so much more than they are showing on the field. The Saints just showed us that the Falcons are more comparable to the Panthers than the Saints…
Taylor
January 1st, 2012
5:18 pm
Feels good beating up on a terrible team doesn’t it? Falcons new years resolution : avoid the saints in the playoffs
ln29576
January 1st, 2012
5:50 pm
Question, wonder why the Falaints are not pulling their QB against the
BUC’s like they wanted the Saints to do against them last week.?
Falcon Nut
January 1st, 2012
9:11 pm
Watching this game tonight between the Giants and Cowboys makes me think that Ryan may very well get his first playoff win next week. Neither one of these teams will make the Super Bowl, and the 2 playoff games that Ryan has lost were to the NFC teams that went to the Super Bowl that year, 2008 season to Arizona, and 2010 season to Green Bay. Ryan may well be the most intelligent quarterback in football, but he lacks in physical ability to at least 10 NFL quarterbacks. However, I do agree, he is “Becoming” an elite QB. Prove me right next week, Matt!
Ichabod
January 1st, 2012
11:33 pm
Eli Manning / Cruz looked smoking in the 4th qtr.
Ryan rules!
January 1st, 2012
11:57 pm
with that huge blowout win over tampa, the falcons are back! Ryan—proved he is one of the top 3 QBs in the league–his game is on fire!!! Atl upsets New york in round 1–bet the house! ryan will light up the scoreboard!!!
DR. FALCON
January 2nd, 2012
1:17 am
MATT RYAN IS ALREADY ELITE! HE HAS TIED H.O.F. QB’S DAN MARINO AND JOHN ELWAY FOR MOST WINS IN THE 1ST 4 YEARS IN A CAREER! HE IS 2ND IN FRANCHISE HISTORY FOR CAREER TD PASSES! HE IS THE 1ST FALCONS QB TO TAKE HIS TEAM TO BACK TO BACK PLAYOFF APPEARANCES! FOR THIS FRANCHISE, THAT IS SAYING A LOT!
RMikel58
January 2nd, 2012
11:01 am
Tone it down alittle Mike………………………top 10 maybe! We dont want teams to know we have an elite QB in our midst. That’ll get him hurt quicker than saying the Giants are soft and sissys. Pass who’s record?
George’s record?
Youre kidding right? I mean back in those day’s Atlanta’s primary function was the run. Give me a 1500 yard rusher and i’ll agree he is an elite RB but not a QB.
Matty like you and everything but son youre nowhere elite yet, maybe with your children but not football fans in atlanta. Mike’s sounding like a politician and lobbying for you to move up from #10 to #9 it seems.
Maybe if you were the Drew Brees/Aaron Rogers proto-type then i’d put you up there but not now.
Youre a stay in the pocket QB which rarely scrambles to get yards.
A high proficiency QB doesnt rate you ELITE, throwing like Joe Montana with 50 yard precision passes, hard to sack without falling down when you hear footsteps, showing a tough mental attitude when you get knocked down or blitzed.
Any QB can pass 5/10 yards down the field and look great. The aforementioned is what makes you elite and proven. Numbers dont mean nothing unless you show youre eliteness against very good football teams and you have done that yet.
God forbid if Ryan starts to think he’s elite.
SupaG
January 3rd, 2012
8:56 am
I think that Matt Ryan is a good quarterback that can take a lot of good hits. Until he wins a playoff game and plays consistently against good teams he will not be thought of as an elite quarterback. He can start by beating the New York football Giants!!!