MAYOCK: Matt Ryan needs to step it up
Patriots QB Tom Brady chats with Falcons QB Matt Ryan before Tuesday's morning practice between the teams in Flowery Branch. Curtis Compton/ccompton@ajc.com
NFL Network draft analyst Mike Mayock has been a big supporter of Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan.
When asked about the top quarterbacks taken in the last four drafts and Andrew Luck, the projected top QB selection for 2012 draft, Mayock had some interesting things to say about Ryan, who’s posted at 43-19 regular-season record to go with an 0-3 playoff mark.
The comparison group includes Ryan (No. 3 overall in 2008), Matthew Stafford (No. 1 overall in 2009), Sam Bradford (No. 1 overall in 2010), Cam Newton (No. 1 overall in 2011) and Luck.
“Matt Ryan needs to take the next step,” Mayock said. “To do that, he needs some offensive line help. Matt Ryan is kind of at point now where he needs to make that next step and win some playoff games and become that next-level quarterback.”
Mayock believes that Stafford and Bradford have displayed NFL talent, but must remain healthy. Stafford, the former Georgia standout, guided the Detroit Lions to the playoffs for the first time since 1999 last season.
“Cam Newton had a year that was mind boggling to me,” Mayock said. “They will continue to build around him. The question is how well NFL defenses will adapt to what Carolina did a year ago and will Cam Newton continue to work as hard as he needs to, to stay ahead of that curve.”
Luck is the son of former NFL quarterback Oliver Luck, who played at West Virginia and is now their athletic director. (The elder Luck was a pretty good high school basketball player, too. Saw him lead Cleveland St. Ignatius to the city title over the John Adams Rebels back in the day at old Public Hall.)
“When you throw Andrew Luck into that grouping, I think he falls — from an intellect and the whole passion for the game of football — somewhere in that kind of Peyton Manning and Matt Ryan mold,” Mayock said. “That’s how much the kid loves it.
“As far as ability, I don’t think he’s quite in the Peyton Manning mold. But I think he’s close. I think he’s got a little more ability than a Matt Ryan when he came out. But, I don’t put him up there as a once in a lifetime guy. I’ve never said that about him. I think he’s in the same category with a Bradford. . . I’m not sitting here telling you that I think he’s going to be Tom Brady or Peyton Manning.”
What about Newton?
“I would probably take him over Cam, yes,” Mayock said.
Luck is not expected to throw passes next week at the NFL scouting combine in Indianapolis. He’ll likely wait until his Pro Day.
“He’s going to win the battle in the board rooms,” Mayock said. “He’s going to sit up with the teams and draw what he knows about the game of football and he will process (the) information from those team and spit it back at them. All of those top teams are going to come away saying ‘wow, I want that guy.’”
–D. Orlando Ledbetter, The Atlanta Falcons beat blog
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145 comments Add your comment
TrueFalcon
February 16th, 2012
7:01 pm
Face it Matt Ryan peaked in his rookie year. Stop blaming everyone else this is not the one!
bama52
February 16th, 2012
9:03 pm
GET IN THE WEIGHT ROOM MATT, IMPROVE YOUR FOOT WORK, LEARN TO GET RID OF THE BALL QUICKLY AND SPREAD IT AROUND CONSISTENTLY PLEASE !!!!!!!!!!!! MORE TO COME LATER.
O-Line
February 16th, 2012
9:40 pm
“To do that, he needs some offensive line help”
Food for thought: Eli was sacked more times than Ryan this season.
I think he managed just fine
Eskoballa
February 16th, 2012
9:42 pm
here we go again……another, hey lets point the finger at the quarterback article again. jeez when will ya learn that it takes a good o-line to make an elite qb and explosive rb out of them. i bet if brees, brady, or rodgers were behind an crappy o-line like the browns they wouldnt be so elite. tell ya if ya do let matty go, and he becomes elite else where atlanta will wonder (why didnt matty produce like that here?) and ill say quite simple………..O-Line retards!!!!!!!!!! our time will come. if it werent for this trio(ryan, smith, and dimitroff), we’d be in far worse shape than we were in the old days here.
Eskoballa
February 16th, 2012
9:59 pm
And how the hell can ya metion playoff wins? in order to get playoff wins, you gotta first make it to the playoffs and this team has proven that in back to back years. now that we’ve jumped over that hurdle we can focus on winning them now. you can expect to build a dynasty in 6 days lol. its a building process and time differs depending on which team you are. with this team, the sayin goes(the more you fall the more yo learn and grow).
Ichabod
February 16th, 2012
10:07 pm
Fix the OL and patch up the Secondary and send Ryan to the gym to strengthen you know what.
Jim
February 17th, 2012
5:33 am
Why do people get paid for stating the obvious? Of course he has to step it up.
DebJay35
February 17th, 2012
7:56 am
It’s all about ATTITUDE! Been watching the Falcons since 1991 and the only time they had a big time ATTITUDE was under Dan Reeves. This staff is scary and it permeates thru the team!! Need to trade RB#33 and go after Matt Forte and a big time pass rusher and off. lineman. Oh yeah and gets some ATTITUDE!!!
DebJay35
February 17th, 2012
8:00 am
Oh yeah and I agree with Cedrick…they hated on Warren Moon and the prejudice contiinues down to today!! Cam is way better than A. Luck and RGIII might be too!!
True Falcon Fan
February 17th, 2012
8:21 am
jss — one of your “many” problems is —- Ole wondrous “OZ” —- from LA or was it SF????
“You can’t it” —- “More importantly YOU know it”
It’s eating at YOU like a rat eats cheese……………..
Did YOU ever locate the Pawn Shop yet???
True Falcon Fan
February 17th, 2012
8:23 am
OOPS – I meant “You can’t handle it”
True Falcon Fan
February 17th, 2012
8:21 am
jss — one of your “many” problems is —- Ole wondrous “OZ” —- from LA or was it SF????
“You can’t it” —- “More importantly YOU know it”
It’s eating at YOU like a rat eats cheese……………..
Did YOU ever locate the Pawn Shop yet???
DC Dirty Bird
February 17th, 2012
9:01 am
At the end of the day, until Ryan is provided with a coach of similar caliber as the guys we call elite, the jury will still be out.
Things I think I think I know: Ryan’s limited mobility requires that he have an upper echelon offensive line to be effective. Ryan is cerebral enough to be given extensive audible authority and run a no huddle offense. A more versatile starting RB would better compliment Ryan’s as it would for defenses to account for the RB in obvious passing downs. Ryan should utilize weight training in an effort to improve his deep passing (the assumption is that accuracy improves when you’re not throwing it as hard as you can). MAYOCK is one of the worst predictors of college to NFL success in the business.
Falconstheyfly
February 17th, 2012
10:24 am
PLAYOFFS? Did you say PLAYOFFS? PLAYOFFS?
Falconstheyfly
February 17th, 2012
10:28 am
Last comment, cause it doesn’t matter anyway. It wont help the Falcons win. They need to get a new RB and release Turner. He is a sputterer now. Get a quality running back. Train the OL to be good and protect their QB. The defense is good. They need rest from always being out there. The WR core needs to take lessons from Gonzales on how to catch balls. If Moss is available, let’s look at him. I’d love to get Fitzgerald.
JoFo
February 17th, 2012
11:04 am
To cedrick: “REALLY”? …trying to make discussion/comparisons of Qbs into a racial issue?!!?? You know misconstruing what “racial” even entails; it goes much further than a simple black/white issue. What about issues that the great Jim Thorpe faced, Jim Plunkett and maybe even Mark Sanchez? Issues that had NOTHING to do with their abilities to play football!
FALCON DIE HARD
February 17th, 2012
11:10 am
MAYOCK, YOUR COMMENTS ON CAM NEWTON, WAS VERY RACIST!!!
mark
February 17th, 2012
12:02 pm
its easy matt ryan lacks mobility he is just a sitting duck! in this days u need a qb with some mobility im not telling newton mobility,but just see how brees is so calm and poised in the pocket, maybe matt need to take some lessons and work on that noodel arm that aint working, because he is killing us along with roddy drop white!
PMC
February 17th, 2012
12:07 pm
The stats primarily get put up against teams with a bad pass rush, that’s the major discrepancy in the stats.
The Falcons scored in bunches on terrible teams and struggle to score against equal or better teams, it’s been that way for 4 years. They have eeked out a few really nice regular season victories against good teams, but that success dried up in the playoffs.
It really has been the offense, and to a large part the horrible offensive system.
al.com
February 17th, 2012
1:18 pm
If he thinks Ryan is in the same class as Cam Newton he must have not watched the games. I bet Luck will not beat Cam’s rookie records.
JSS
February 17th, 2012
1:26 pm
True Falcon Fan
February 17th, 2012
8:23 am
“jss — one of your “many” problems is —-“You can’t (handle) it” —- “More importantly YOU know it”
“It’s eating at YOU like a rat eats cheese……………..”
You can always tell the ones who watched too much Tom and Jerry when they were latch key kid…
Dude, why are you using so many quotation marks? Whom are you are quoting: Lester Maddox or J.S. Stoner?
Hint, Adult Swim has a whole new generation of animation ready for you. Why don’t go to a friend’s house sleep on their couch for a couple of weeks and mooch their wi-fi and get some new material? It’ll be over your head the first 6 viewing, but you’ll catch on to it eventually (one hopes)!
Sid
February 17th, 2012
2:12 pm
Get ‘em an O line.
Luv 2 Hate Me
February 17th, 2012
2:47 pm
Yes Matt needs to learn how to STEP UP in the damn pocket to elude the sack. He needs to check his foot work big time. Needs to look at Drew Breesy’s tape and study his foot work.
falconfan 24-7
February 17th, 2012
5:55 pm
Matt did not earn the starting job his rookie year.It was given to him, along with a ton of money. That’s why he will not improve, he’s too complacent.He doesn’t know how it feels to have work hard and earn the job.I doubt that he will get any better.
However, I hope that I’m wrong.
True Falcon Fan
February 17th, 2012
7:25 pm
What the heck is wrong with Tom& Jerry – HeckleN’Jeckle – Bugs Bunnie – Amos N’ Andy – Three Stooggies – Jackie Glesson
I know you probably watch “Arm Chair Play House”
jss – you are a “Stick-da-mud” big time!
You need to get a life!
JSS
February 17th, 2012
7:40 pm
True Falcon Fan
February 17th, 2012
7:25 pm
“You need to get a life!”
Hey Lead Kettle, don’t you get tired of that pot kicking your rump?
True Falcon Fan
February 17th, 2012
7:58 pm
Like i said in the very beginning you got the message for sure, your jus JEALOUS!
Maybe a nut case too!
By the Road Runner was pretty dam good also.
True Falcon Fan
February 17th, 2012
8:00 pm
By the way the road runner was pretty dam good too!
True Falcon Fan
February 17th, 2012
8:35 pm
So was The Good, The Bad, The Ugly — that was a GREAT movie too!
But,,,, While you sit on your buff, worry or argue about “WHAT” you think somebody owes you —- the world is continuing to go by “My Brother” and you need to catch-up! Start by: Stopping your self opinionated BS, nobody really cares! Wait, wait maybe because there is some truth in your BS!
JSS
February 17th, 2012
9:19 pm
Spent the last 3 weeks in Ixtapa and I’m “jealous?” You’re as ripe in observational skills as you are in geography… Every time you post, the effect is like driving by I-285 and Moreland Av. (there’s a landfill there and like your post it is full od garbage). That is a big zilch! You’re joke book is as lethal as Matt Ryan’s deep throws, scattershot…
True Falcon Fan
February 18th, 2012
4:19 pm
Like i said nobody owes you anything! Now continue working to pay your 3 trip or vacation or what. That is if you even have J.O.B. — which i would bet nope, notta, ain’t in the near future either — you are probably like the leeches back in nam days!
DR. FALCON
February 18th, 2012
8:01 pm
MIKE MAYOCK IS FULL OF SH#@! WHAT DOES CAM NEWTON HAVE TO DO TO EARN MAYOCK’S RESPECT? WITH ONLY ONE QUALITY WEAPON, NEWTON THREW FOR OVER 4,000YDS! PRIOR TO THE DRAFT, MAYOCK STATED :CAM NEWTON WON’T HAVE SUCCESS FOR SEVERAL YEARS”! AS FOR MY QB MATT RYAN, TELL US SOMETHING THAT WE ALREADY DON’T KNOW! WE KNOW MATT NEEDS TO STEP UP! HE HAS 14-15 4TH QTR COMEBACK VICTORIES. SO, WE KNOW THE INTESTINAL FORTITUDE IS THERE! MAYBE IT’S MAYOCK, THAT NEEDS TO STEP UP, AND BE A BETTER ANALYST! MAYOCK CLAIMS TO BE A DRAFT EXPERT! BUT, THE LOCAL GUY ON THE STREET KNOWS MORE ABOUT PROSPECTS! HE OVER STATES THE OBVIOUS! ANYBODY CAN DO THAT!!!!
MAYOCK: Matt Ryan needs to step it up | NFL Online News
February 18th, 2012
9:08 pm
[...] Atlanta Falcons This entry was posted in Atlanta Falcons and tagged Matt, Mayock, Needs, Ryan, step. Bookmark the permalink. ← Oakland Raiders Former Head Coach Hue Jackson Ironically Heads to Cincinnati: Fan Reaction (Yahoo! Contributor Network) [...]
TSleazy
February 18th, 2012
9:30 pm
The maturation of Matt Ryan is over! He is not the QB to take the Falcons to the next level. He has no heart! He is soft and just doesn’t get fired up like premier QB’s do. If we want to truly become contenders, dump Ryan and Michael “Tippy Toe” Turner!
78dawg
February 19th, 2012
1:00 am
DOL….YOU”RE THE ONE THAT NEEDS TO STEP IT UP !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
JSS
February 19th, 2012
4:04 am
Ha, ha… Here’s your “real worst nightmare.” He still has two more seasons to break new ground in playoff ineptitude… The “New Age Ken O’Brien (Matthew Thomas Ryan), the unluckiest Irishman since Jimmy Clausen!
JSS
February 19th, 2012
4:11 am
Dang, I did O’Brien a disservice. At least he had a 97 QB Rating once in his 0-3 playoff career… TTF, you just can’t handle their collective failure, and you spend your very limited football capital hoping and praying that they win just once so you don’t have to live with the infamy!
You’re like a the village idiot still hollering Woop there it is!
Ackshun
February 19th, 2012
8:35 am
Go get Peyton and let Ryan learn from him for a year or two.
GA Native
February 19th, 2012
8:59 am
I can’t believe how we stab the very people in the back when it is new worthy! Mike Smith and Mat Ryan have turned the Falcons form an inconsistent door mat to a team that has consistently ranked in the top 1/3 of the NFL. We are no longer the laughing stock or a sure win on our opponents schedule.
Phalcon Phil
February 19th, 2012
3:29 pm
It gets old hearing how Mularkey “held ryan back”. Why would he do that? How does that benefit Mularkey, ryan or the Falcons? Take your tin foil hats and matt ryan training bras off and smell the coffee son because if you don’t, you’re going to have a hard time coming up with another excuse next year. First year in a new system isnt going to cut it either, especially since td will surely once again lavish more offensive weapons upon the geek who is built and plays like a sophomore cheerleader.
Flo=Ri-Duh
February 19th, 2012
7:59 pm
The offensive line was over achievers the first two years Mike Smith was in Atlanta. They never were that talented and now they have more age and wear and tear on them. Other than Sam Baker who has Atlanta drafted on the OL with a high pick in the last 5 years?
Deep Posts: Joe Flacco just wins, baby! (Yahoo! Sports)
February 19th, 2012
9:14 pm
[...] Mayock also mentioned that Luck will blow NFL teams away when they ask him to draw things up on the whiteboard. He seemed more intrigued by Baylor’s Robert Griffin III, and we’ll have a piece up with Mayock’s thoughts on RGIII later today. [Atlanta Journal-Constitution] [...]
stinger
February 20th, 2012
6:40 pm
Dude that’s like saying if Tom Glavine could’ve stepped up his fastball that last year he could’ve played another year…the point is he can’t step it up…it’s impossible..that’s all he’s got. The guy is what he is. A pretty good pro QB…nothing wrong with that, there are just so many Aaron Rodgers and Drew Breez out there…we don’t have one.
hiramsaint
February 20th, 2012
8:55 pm
step it up because he can’t throw it up. only the fans get the opportunity to throw up. geaux saints!!!!
Phalcon Phil
February 21st, 2012
3:22 pm
Ryan lacks faith in his skill set and rightfully so. He’s weak. Overthrowing receivers does nothing to prove he has adequate arm strength. Maybe you girls need a physics lesson. Just because a pinto can go 55 mph doesn’t mean it can beat a mustang in a race. Have you ever seen his mechanics when throwing a ball more than 20 yards? He looks like he is about to dislocate his shoulder with that violent desperate hail mary throwing motion which makes the pass look like a punt. And mularkey gets blamed for holding him back. You guys want to a pinto to go 0-60 in 5 seconds. Not going to happen son. He is what he is. A game manager. He would have been great 20 years ago but he has no place with the elites and greats in this league.
Fats OKelly
February 21st, 2012
10:01 pm
Wonder if Ryan was Howdy Doody in the huddle at College?? If so, Mr.Doody will not get his soldiers to listen in 2012 . Hope I am wrong.