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
JSS
February 16th, 2012
5:32 am
I said it before, and I’ll say it again; the six-year $72 million dollar (with that staggering and the equally stifling $34.75 million dollar guarantee) was just mystifying! He was not the number one choice, they had the ceiling for the pick that the Vince Young pick in 2006 set for the No. 3 draft position. That contract was five years and $58 million with $25.75 guaranteed. The idiot Russell contract and Ryan’s set much of the ground work and the animus for the lockout problems dealing with rookie pay.
SO another analyst is saying that the jury and judgement on Ryan is now in question? Well, except for the Deadenders, it’s been that way since the last pass of the first half of the Green Bay playoff game… Wow, just join the line, it now stretches a long way!
MAYOCK: Matt Ryan needs to step it up | football-feed.com
February 16th, 2012
5:36 am
[...] to Original Content From Atlanta Journal Constitution (blog): read more Related Articles Share About Author [...]
Sterling
February 16th, 2012
6:10 am
@JSS WTF are u talking about??
Laughing out LOUD
February 16th, 2012
7:02 am
Give the guy an offensive line! Failure to provide adequate offensive line play is a traditional Atlanta Falcon’s Achilies Heel.
cedrick
February 16th, 2012
7:03 am
WTH has Mayock been drinking????? We all know Ryan needs to step up and take that next step that’s why Dimitrioff went out and got Julio Jones. But working in that obvious passing down offense did not help to protect the QB. Now, I have to defend Cam Newton here!!!! Even after the amazing year this young man had with all the people doubting his ability Mayock turns right around and does it again. Mayock says “I would probably take him (Andrew Luck) over Cam, yes,” WOW! If Carolina had any defense with a sign of life they would have had a much better year but again let’s take the standard QB (Tall, White) over a guy whose proven now this is just typical!!!! I hope Luck falls on his face like Joey Harrington and Chris Redmon who so many scouts and GMs loved to death coming out of college.
Mr. Panic Button
February 16th, 2012
7:23 am
He does need to step it up! The OL is part to blame, the WRs are part to blame and the coaching staff is MOSTLY to blame for his lack of performance against the top teams in the league–and especially in the playoffs. Coaching needs to have Matt get the ball out of his hands quicker and make better decisions. He’s not as cool in the pocket as his nickname “Ice” would have you to believe. Matt must work on his pocket presence, ball accuracy and timing. Coaching can fix these things. One other thing I never understood with this coaching staff is the inability to make in game adjustments. Never rolled Matt out of the pocket, run more bootlegs, play action and screens to slow down the rush. Hopefully our new coaching staff will be 100% better than those to yahoos that just left.
Blue Fender
February 16th, 2012
7:24 am
@cedrick — Bitter much?
Ackshun
February 16th, 2012
7:29 am
We should just sign Manning to a one year deal and let him show Ryan how to win. BTW The problem is not with the o-line the problem is talent evaluation and coaching. The staff seriously underestimated the value of Harvey Dahl and seriously overestimated the value of Sam Baker. In hindsight they had enough evidence to determine that baker was a bust they should have cut him and kept Dahl. O-line chemistry is important with one player we went from one of the best units in the league to an average at best unit. but I’m serious about Manning. If he wanted to come here and I was TD I would tell Matt to take one for the team and get it done.
Marcus in Ellenwood
February 16th, 2012
7:34 am
Matt does need to step up his game. I am concerned that Author Blank is going re-up Matty Ice to a 5-6 year 100mill deal; leaving us with very solid QB for 10 years. But not a GREAT QB.
Ackshun
February 16th, 2012
7:40 am
PS – Cam Newton is probably in the top five of Quarterbacks who ever came out of College to the NFL for a commentator to say he would choose Luck (who hasn’t taken a single snap in the NFL yet) over a guy who just set the record for passing yards as a rookie, is just plain stupid. Indy will get Luck and he will probably do well there but Newton is better and the record proves that.
Falcons 4 LIfe
February 16th, 2012
7:43 am
Matt is fine…JSS it’s too early to be drunk man.
just sayin'
February 16th, 2012
7:56 am
defenders of the current qb will have a hard time being objective…the current qb has lived up to the evaluation most had of him out of BC…smart, good game manager…im-mobile, weak arm, in-accurate on long throws…just accept the fact the AB will re-up him and pay him big $$ because he’s not a loud mouthed show off like some others on the team…..
DC Dirty Bird
February 16th, 2012
7:58 am
That had to be the worst JSS post I’ve ever read.
Agree Ryan needs to step up. At some point in time, he’s going to have to be able to play well in spite of the weakness of the offensive line. Hopefully Koetter can give him more plays to be able to do that.
Luck over Newton? Sounds like Mayock is still bitter over Newton proving all of the football “geniuses” wrong. Luck is good, but I don’t see how a kid can go from being in an ideal situation (great coaching/great offensive line) in college and not prove to be a game changer to an NFL team where the playing field is a lot more even and become a game changer.
AlanFalcon
February 16th, 2012
8:05 am
Cedrick——–J.Russell, V. Young, J. Johnson and now Cam Newton, lets see if he follows the mold and falls off the cliff, I think the liar will probably go by the way side as these predecessors have, remember ( I know nothing, thought he and his father were close) and now he thinks he is Super man.
Hurt Kurbstreit
February 16th, 2012
8:16 am
Matt Ryan needs a good offensive line for him to be effective. The only deficit in his game is his lack of ability to escape the pass rush. That’s what Newton, Eli Manning and Drew Brees do so well. They escape the rush and extend the play. If you pick up a few extra first downs a game from the QB scrambling, that’s big. Ryan will always be a top 10 QB in the league. But if he wants to move up into the top 5 he has to have a good OL to protect him.
Willie
February 16th, 2012
8:49 am
Amazing people get paid for writing this stuff. Pointing out that Ryan needs to take the next step is like a Wall Street analyst downgrading a stock after it’s lost half it’s value. Of course Ryan needs to step up his game- the blogs and sports radio here have been saying this since Green Bay playoff meltdown last year. The comments about the other QBs were worthless also.
I'm Gumby, Dammit!!
February 16th, 2012
8:50 am
Ackshun, how can you say “the record proves that”, when there’s no record for Luck to base it on. Mayock has the right to say he thinks Luck will be better, without everybody pulling out the “card”, and yelling BS. Cam had a great year (he certainly surprised me), but let’s give this some time, before we annoint him the next savior. If I remember correctly, Ryan’s rookie year was pretty amazing, and now half you clowns have forgotten how moribund the franchise was before he got here.
Samuel
February 16th, 2012
8:50 am
Ok, let’s say the offensive line they assemble this year is above average. Matt Ryan has to make his team-mates better because the onus will be on him, If he can make big play’s under tremendous pressure and get a playoff win, I think you can say his game is going upward…..
ASHCAN
February 16th, 2012
8:58 am
Yep,matt needs to step it up.But over all, his arm strength will be his down fall.Dink and donk won’t get it done in this league.Whats the use of having speedy recievers if you can’t throw deep???? too many times i’ve seen his recievers stop and come back to the ball.Disagree all you want but facts are facts.
Just Sayin.....
February 16th, 2012
9:03 am
0-3 is 0-3. The facts don’t lie.
Every qb wants a great o-line. An Elite qb excels under any condition…..
Just sayin……………………..
GA Fan
February 16th, 2012
9:11 am
Enter your comments here
mark
February 16th, 2012
9:12 am
Cedric
Wow you didn’t watch Luck at all during his days at Stanford did ya? To bring race in to it was just wrong. Mayock does his homework, and I would be willing to bet my paycheck that race had nothing to do with his comments. Step into 2012 why dontcha!!!!
ATLFAN
February 16th, 2012
9:15 am
@ Just Saying ask Tom Brady in 07 and 11 about having a o-line. I’m just saying!
mark
February 16th, 2012
9:16 am
Guys it was a piece on NFC south QB’s. What else was he gonna say when he got to Ryan.. Was there something else you were expecting to hear?
UpperDeck4Life
February 16th, 2012
9:18 am
I’m sure all of you have seen the movie the Replacements. The play of Clabo this year made me think of that movie. When Gene Hackman is giving a little rundown on all of the players and he mentions that the two guards in the movie were two of the best until they were split up. Seems they never recovered from not playing together and were never played to the same level again. I agree with “Askshun” in the team undervaluing Dahl. The line and specifically Clabo just didn’t seem the same without him this year.
D. Orlando Ledbetter
February 16th, 2012
9:18 am
Falcons 4 Life – Just got my QuikTrip coffee. Who else is drinking early today? JSS?
DSmith
February 16th, 2012
9:25 am
What games have you all been watching? Even when he has times he doesn’t make the throws to put receivers in a position to make a play. Rodgers, Brady, Brees, even Eli throws the ball to covered receivers and trust them to make a play on the ball. It also seems that know ever wants to admit that he just doesn’t have good arm strength. He struggles on the rd in open air stadiums for a reason. Guess what the falcons want to bring to Atlanta; and “open air” stadium. Wow! I don’t blame Ryan, I blame every analyst, dimitroff and the coaching staff for not realizing a long time ago Ryan isn’t Brady and we should build a great defense to stop Bree’s and Rodgers and not waste pics and money on WRs that can stretch the field when we have a qb that can’t get the ball to them. I’m out guys tell me what you think!
True Falcon Fan
February 16th, 2012
9:27 am
WTF, Hey Sterling, jss is trying to imply that the NFL owner induced “Lockout” & CBA this past season was the fault of these player signings; Raiders “Russell” contract signing & the Falcons “Ryan” contract signing….Now do you get it????????? jss —- buddy you jus got up way too early this morning for everybody…… I always said you are the “Wondrous wizzard of OZ” —- You said it —- is that SF or LA —– LOLOLOLOLOL you are hilarious buddy —- If they still have that drag strip up in Dallas near Canton, you must have been standing too close to the racers fumes….You have brain cells that are gone bye bye
ASHCAN
February 16th, 2012
9:28 am
@ cedric,its always about black and white.When something is said it all depends on who says it(Black or white).Mayock and many more have been wrong most of the time.But then they call themselves experts.I don’t listen to none of them,i take my own assessment of drafted palyers and vets.These guys put the standards(Pressure) for these young men coming out of college so high,then when there espectations are not met,they call them busts.The ones whom they declare sorry(In so many words they do)(Cam, Tebow) saying what they can’t and aint gonna do, a lot of times rise to the occasion.Dled,i guess it would have been better for mark bradley or jeff schultz come up with this topic than for you to,if you know what i mean.
Falcons13and3
February 16th, 2012
9:37 am
It’s not surprising that you bloggers defend or support your own race when it comes to QB’s. That’s par for the course. Sure there are the J. Russells and V. Youngs of the world. Why do people still use them as comparisons to C. Newton. Then there are the J. Harrington and C. Redmons of the world. As far as C. Newton, We don’t know that he lied…we suspect it. And AlanFalcon, if you’ve never lied in your entire liffe, stand and take a bow. Actually we all should. Only our lies aren’t made globally public. Remember…glass house. And Cedrick, I agree that C. Newton probably has a remarkable career ahead of him. But let’s not discount A. Lucks potential. Just leave Mayock to eat his words once again.
UGABugKiller
February 16th, 2012
9:57 am
Oh guys, come on, you know JSS’s faux-failed journalist, Enron-like “smartest guy in the room” schtick by now.
Only someone with severe reading comprehension skills would read what Mayock says as direct crticism of Ryan (or maybe he didn’t actually read the actual quotes, just the lame AJC sensationalized title for the link), especially when Mayock mentioned the help Ryan needs to get fro
his team to reach the next level (as ALL QB’s do).
JSS isn’t drinking. That’s just his personality.
PMC
February 16th, 2012
10:10 am
This is the understatement of the year. No question he has to be better and be good in the playoffs or his next contract will be smaller than his first at least in terms of guaranteed money.
I thought he progressed late in the season, but the game plan against NY was hot garbage. The worst ever by Mularkey at any time in his coaching tenure. Matt was again, awful.
This is basically a contract year for him coming up. If he comes up big like Eli in 2007, he’s going to get a fat contract. If he comes up small again, his replacement is potentially on the way.
Arlito
February 16th, 2012
10:19 am
Mayock: 10th round draft pick; 9 total NFL games. Yeah, he knows what it takes to be an NFL star.
I doubt Aaron, Drew, or Peyton would have much success with Atlanta’s recent play-calling: run (or lumber) off tackle; run (or squat) off tackle; look for Tony G. on 3rd and 9.
D man
February 16th, 2012
10:25 am
Here are the facts; last year the Falcons needed defense because we were torched by A. Rodgers. This year we need an offensive line because we couldn’t stop the Giants pass rush. So what have we done about it? We fired our offensive and defensive coordinators. We plugged some holes in the defense last year and the defense was better. So now we need to plug the holes in the offensive line AND keep our talent from leaving as free agents. Resign Grimes, and Abe. Get some good big O linemen, get a good CB to backup the starters and we are still a great team but improved. If Ryan can’t win a playoff game with that, then he will need to step it up…
Falcon James
February 16th, 2012
10:25 am
Matt Ryan problem is not his weak arm. His problem is the big mouth reciever he throw to way too much. His other problem is the tired leg running back he had off to way too much. But above all that, he biggest problem was the OC he had calling the play. At least that problem is fixed. Pretty sure the RB back problem will be fixed, and looking like Mr. Big Mouth, may have sealed his fate. Ryan a decent QB and when the line get they head out they butt and block for him, Ryan may be the best short throw QB in the league.
JSS
February 16th, 2012
10:44 am
You faux-football fans never followed the back story…
http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=3406508
and the Kevin Smith wanna-be and his turnstill lackey who can’t read a map wouldn’t understand if they had neuro implants with the data embedded…
Puppet Please
February 16th, 2012
10:51 am
When Ryan learns to quit being afraid and throw the ball where it needs to go and rely on the WR’s to get it…..he will take that next step….or he will fail miserably. But the time has come to find out if he has that talent or not. NFL defenses have figured out his isn’t going to throw the ball downfield unless the WR is wide open and that rarely happens in the NFL.
Matty, time to put on your big boy pants and nut up….the NFL doesn’t respect you and you either need to prove them wrong or go home and let us hook our wagon to somebody else with a spine.
JeanE
February 16th, 2012
10:55 am
Matt Ryan is not the type of QB that can be good without a top tier o-line. He’s not Eli out there making things happen while getting pummeled. That’s a fact. At this point, I’d say he can be “good enough.” WITH a much better o-line. But even with improved protection, he’s got to improve. He can look tough one game and then look like he’s falling down or going down before anyone even touches him! He may have a good football brain but I don’t know if his body is going to help him out, he is way unathletic.
Mike FR
February 16th, 2012
10:57 am
Is this supposed to be some game changing article? Of course MR needs to step up his game, as a matter of fact, every major area of the team needs to step it up in order to be considered an elite and dangerous team. Failing to do so (for MR, o-line,d-line, running game, wr,dbs) will let this team where it is, in a pretty good situation but not in championship caliber situation.
Rick
February 16th, 2012
11:07 am
didn’t eli get sacked more than ryan? yes. it’s more than the line. that is excuse making. he needs to stop being afraid and play big boy football. the problem was the coordinator. he’s gone. i expect more of an attacking offense next year.
Joey
February 16th, 2012
11:11 am
Ryan does need better protection by his OL. The big question for ‘12 is, will the new OC do a better job with this offense than he did with the Jags offense?
I’m betting no, not with Smith’s ultra conservative leanings.
BIGDAWGFAN
February 16th, 2012
11:21 am
Hey they cant go on strike this year.
Mabey i should not have said that.
JSS
February 16th, 2012
11:34 am
And there have been only two QBs in the modern era of the era of the draft (prior to 2009) who have gotten guaranteed salaries dollars above $25 millions: JaMarcus Russell and Matt Ryan. Between 1998 and 2008 (no one and I mean no one) is even in the ball park. Only one QB was paid 1st pick money when he was not the “actual” 1st pick of the draft: Matt Ryan.
http://www.ramsondemand.com/blog/2010/08/sam-bradford%E2%80%99s-mega-deal-underlines-the-need-for-an-nfl-rookie-wage-scale/
It set off a silly season pf throwing money around in signing bonuses for drafted QBs (2009-Stafford and 2010-Bradford). And for as much as Stafford’s guts and upside has impressed me, he is too fragile to have gotten $41 million in guaranteed money! But the Ryan contract set a new floor, bam!
When a Peyton Manning, who had taken a team to championship game only got $34.5 million in guaranteed money in his 2004 extension; then you guys don’t see the problem? The owners saw it, the NFLPA leadership saw it as a problem! What really expresses the mistake and the aftermath, two weeks of negotiations over the matter (the rookie scale) says as much, the reduction to 5 years (with the 5th year as a team option really emphasis the matter)!
joe whtie
February 16th, 2012
11:41 am
Hopefully we have a oc that will let him loose, we falcons ran no huddle kid put in good spots and we scored and moved the ball against anyone, When we huddle the other team knew what we was doing not all matt fault, but now with a new oc and hopefully we rebuild that oline and the defense get off the field on 3 and outs and allow the offense to get a rythm going we should be fine. I mean the kid has only won in first four years period.
thesportsdoctor
February 16th, 2012
11:47 am
Falcons ownership made it clear that they were more concerned about the image of their QB than whether or not he is an elite QB. Matt Ryan will probably always win 9+ games per year and will be 1 of the top 12 QB’s statistically every yr. I’m sure at some point he’ll probably win a 1st round playoff game then fold in the next round….He’s the ultimate GAME MANAGER. unfortunately he’s not close to being ELITE. In fact, I can only think of 1 time where he made what I considered an elite play in his Falcon career (sideline pass to Jenkins vs Chicago w/ 1 sec left on the clock setting up a GW FG). Every other truly Elite QB in this league has made game saving plays with average OL’s…the last time I looked, Big Ben, Eli & Aaron Rodgers didn’t have elite line play, yet they all have made ELITE level plays…Ben even played well in the playoffs this yr on 1 leg.
todd
February 16th, 2012
12:02 pm
I don’t think the article said anything about “the jury is still out” on Matt Ryan. It says he needs to take the next step- which is pretty obvious. Mike Smith needs to take the next step, Arthur Blank needs to take the next step. The franchise needs to start winning playoff games since they have been so successful in the regular season. The three playoff games they lost were to superbowl teams so not like anyone else in the NFL were beating those teams either. RELAX on Matt Ryan. He’s a winner.
Mike Mayock plays it safe on Andrew Luck | Goal-Line Stand | Blogs | theScore.com
February 16th, 2012
12:08 pm
[...] Network draft expert Mike Mayock weighed in on projected No. 1 overall pick Andrew Luck this week, and his endorsement didn’t glow: “As [...]
PMC
February 16th, 2012
12:16 pm
JSS, what were the numbers on Matt Stafford? I thought the guarantee was pretty high for him too.
PMC
February 16th, 2012
12:16 pm
The 6th year I think is what increased the Ryan contract.
PMC
February 16th, 2012
12:19 pm
http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/draft09/news/story?id=4097641 At least what was published anyway, Stafford 41.7 Million Guaranteed.
Ex-Season Ticket Holder
February 16th, 2012
12:20 pm
Matt Ryan in not a winner! He is a good game manager and he plays not to lose. But that is not the same as playing to win! It time for Matt Ryan to step up his game or move on so the Falcon can get a real QB.
old man
February 16th, 2012
12:21 pm
Ryan needs to maintain and improve his athleticism. He needs to be prepared to make an athletic play to get a first down, or extend a play when his protection breaks down, 2, 5, or 8 times a game. The problem is that when you are asked to do that 20 times a game, you asking someone to risk their career every game with concussions, ACLs, etc. At a certain point, you need to just start taking sacks, throwing the ball away. But, agreed, he certainly needs to be not complacent, and needs to come to camp every season having worked harder to maintain and improve physical ability.
The real test is for management. Are they just changing deck chairs on the Titanic? Or will we see major departures and additions? Turner, White, Grimes, Muhelli, Baker, and a couple more on the O-Line. You can’t make all these moves, but if we don’t see two or three big time changes, then we will see more of the same.
PMC
February 16th, 2012
12:22 pm
http://www.prideofdetroit.com/2009/5/19/879945/matthew-staffords-contract-only and then it was 17 M before incentives.
Wonder what Matt’s incentives are.
tt44
February 16th, 2012
12:22 pm
Has has done as well as can be expected with the lame O line that has blocked for him and the lame O coordinator that had absolutely no creativity with the talent. Go Mayy Ryan! Go Falcons!
Joe Falcon
February 16th, 2012
12:23 pm
43-19. Awesome numbers. That equals 4 seasons going 11-5 every year. That puts Ryan in the tops of the league right there. As this year demonstrates, the playoffs are a crap shoot. Anyone actually believe the NY Giants were the “best” team in the NFL this year? Nope. Not even second best. But they made the plays, got the breaks, won the games. Getting in the playoffs is all that matters. After that, it’s a crap shoot. Matt Ryan is averaging 11-5 every season. That’s not just playoffs every year folks, that’s usually a division title and a bye most years. That easily makes Ryan one of the top 3 QB’s in the NFC.
Tha Real Falcon
February 16th, 2012
12:38 pm
So Mayock would take Luck over Newton. This even after Newton won the Heisman and the National Title? Why is this not a suprise, after saying this before the draft: “I think the kid is smart enough. I just don’t know if he cares enough,” Mayock said. ”And I don’t know how you qualify that either. The kid has done everything right.”
Some people should just let it go.
JSS
February 16th, 2012
12:41 pm
@ PMC…
$41.7 million guaranteed for Stafford, correct… But he was the first overall pick in the draft, still think that is silly guaranteed money for a rookie QB…
DC Dirty Bird
February 16th, 2012
12:56 pm
JSS,
For once, I agree with you on something. Rookie salaries were getting out of control. I will say this to you, I believe, if you asked Arthur Blank the pure business man if he’s gotten his money’s worth out of Matt Ryan’s contract, he’d say yes. In Atlanta and around the country Ryan has become the face of the franchise. The Falcons “brand” has flourished since 2008.
With that said, given the multitude of assessments that result in labeling of Ryan as a game manager, what do the Falcons need to do to win a SB with Ryan and the helm. I ask this because, unless the Falcons luck out and get a another franchise QB as the Saints and Patriots did, Ryan is in Atlanta to stay for the next few years.
PMC
February 16th, 2012
1:01 pm
Agreed. I’m glad for the new rookie cap because teams can sign a new QB without being trapped for a few years if they turn out not to be worthwhile. The deal is getting torn up if they outplay it anyway.
If Newton is awesome again this year, he’ll get paid.
Spanky Comin Back
February 16th, 2012
1:05 pm
DC DB, the Falcons need to model the 2000 Ravens…stellar defense and average offense. If Trent Dilfer can win the SB as a QB, Ryan sure can. He might have to get some big ballz first though and stop being a beotch.
just sayin'
February 16th, 2012
1:08 pm
@joe…what, pray tell, are u smokin’?
True Falcon Fan
February 16th, 2012
1:23 pm
Folks try to understand, if you haven’t figured it out to this point this person jss is either 1) X NFL wnat-a-be reject 2) Very envious, jealous X #1 that never got his $$$$$$ due “in his/her opinion 3) Or just a person that truly likes to give his/her opinion of knowledge of the game
My opinion i think he/she is hilarious LOLOLOLOL
opie
February 16th, 2012
1:28 pm
Joe Falcon, you are delusional! Yes, we believe the Giants are the best team! Why, because they WON the damn Super Bowl on the football field. 43-19 means nothing if you can’t produce in crucial situations!! The Playoffs are the measuring stick, not meanlingless games against subpar 500 teams.
True Falcon Fan
February 16th, 2012
1:37 pm
opie —- I second that post!!!!
StatesBurr
February 16th, 2012
1:39 pm
Can’t we go one year with some decent reporting??
It’s always Mr. Obvious.
Najeh Davenpoop
February 16th, 2012
1:39 pm
Sam Bradford might be the most overrated quarterback in the entire league. In his supposedly great rookie season he was dead last in YPA and put up a whopping 76 QB rating. Give me a break. For him to be mentioned in the same breath as Stafford, Newton, and even the unproven Luck is preposterous.
Najeh Davenpoop
February 16th, 2012
1:42 pm
“what do the Falcons need to do to win a SB with Ryan and the helm.”
Bring in at least two elite defensive playmakers of the caliber of Polamalu or DeMarcus Ware, a dynamic running back, and a slot receiver who can get open underneath against zone coverages. In other words, surround Ryan with elite players at several other positions. Right now the only Falcons who can stake claims to being top 10 at their position without looking foolish are Roddy White and Brent Grimes.
Najeh Davenpoop
February 16th, 2012
1:44 pm
In fact after Roddy’s drop festival this year, I don’t think even he can claim to be top 10 without looking foolish. So really that only leaves Grimes who may or may not even be a Falcon next year.
In the absence of an elite QB, you better have several elite playmakers at other positions. The Falcons right now do not.
Najeh Davenpoop
February 16th, 2012
1:46 pm
“Luck over Newton? Sounds like Mayock is still bitter over Newton proving all of the football “geniuses” wrong. Luck is good, but I don’t see how a kid can go from being in an ideal situation (great coaching/great offensive line) in college and not prove to be a game changer to an NFL team where the playing field is a lot more even and become a game changer.”
Luck over Newton is not that much of a stretch. Luck is mobile, accurate, and made plays under pressure. Not saying he definitely will be better than Newton, but it wouldn’t be that big of a surprise.
spikeknows
February 16th, 2012
1:50 pm
Hey,
Matt Ryan Lost in the First Round to the team the Won the Super Bowl the last 2 years. And the Team that won his division won it 3 years ago Ya he could have played better but the O line against the Giants. I pity the fool that has to take that rush on.
JSS
February 16th, 2012
1:57 pm
True Falcon Fan…
You’re the Rudy Guiliani of AJC blogging… Every comment will have this combination of these things: first a subject and misspelled verb; then some version of a teenager’s attempt of being jocular… Buy a real map, because your Google Map app has a virus of insanity…
DC Dirty Bird
February 16th, 2012
2:00 pm
Here’s a question for CHOKE if he/she is out there, JSS, and Davenpoop.
What QB has made his offensive coordinator look better than he really is?
Did you guys not here Eli say that Gilbride called a great game? I guess elite QB’s need good game plans. Go figure.
DC Dirty Bird
February 16th, 2012
2:05 pm
Najeh, concur with your assessment. You can’t win the Show without playmakers on both sides of the ball. I will disagree with you on Grimes. I’m not exactly sure he’s top 10.
LawDawg
February 16th, 2012
2:07 pm
Its a good thing Mayock does not work for ESPN, or he would be fired for blaspheming Andrew Luck by not saying we should just go ahead and give him 11 super bowl rings and induct him into the Hall Of Fame now.
My prediction: Luck will have a career more like Ryan Leaf than Peyton Manning.
LawDawg
February 16th, 2012
2:08 pm
Or I should say, more accurately, that Luck is the next Tim Couch. He seems to have too good of a head on his shoulders to flame out as spectacularly as Leaf, even if that head has Andre the Giant’s voice coming out of it.
JSS
February 16th, 2012
2:13 pm
@ DCDB…
Mike McCoy in Denver, he schemed the nearly impossible (the flaws of Tim Tebow)… You live in DC (assumption), Shanahan has been trying to pull it off and see what a failure that has been… I will say this for Denver, they could have stood in the way when Tebow ran to the West Coast and went to Mora’s new OC Noel Mazzone to work on his mechanics. They were big enough as a staff to not get in the way…
Gilbride is the only one of the old Run and Shoot coordinators that passing game and learned to use TE sets and a fullback… He’s an exception, it is always strange to watch call a game. His QBs take a pounding but he’s won two Super Bowls…
DC Dirty Bird
February 16th, 2012
2:18 pm
LawDawg,
Luck has an excellent pedigree and comes from a football family, unlike the 1st round busts that you mentioned. He will be good.
Blue
February 16th, 2012
2:18 pm
Najeh; Bring in at least two elite defensive playmakers of the caliber of Polamalu or DeMarcus Ware, a dynamic running back, and a slot receiver who can get open underneath against zone coverages.
WELL said. Does Jaquez (spelling?) catch the ball well enough for them to utilize him like Sproles?
JSS
February 16th, 2012
2:18 pm
As far as a QB making a OC look better, Kurt Warner made Mike Martz and Todd Haley look like geniuses…
Blue
February 16th, 2012
2:19 pm
Maybe someone brough out the examples of the black QB’s who were talented and a bust was because Cedric played the race card first. Don’t start nothing if you can’t handle the heat…
G
February 16th, 2012
2:25 pm
Even if you plant a premium all-pro Oline in front of Matt, that will only give him more time to do what? My guess is it’ll only give him more time to check down. All I’ll say, is there are qbs winning with less than Matt Ryan.
The biggest problem with the offense is the qb position. Quote all the numbers you want, but the only important numbers that stick to his butt is 0-3. If we’re lucky/good enough to get another crack at a playoff game, he’s staring 0-4 down the barrel.
DC Dirty Bird
February 16th, 2012
2:25 pm
JSS,
This is why I have more confidence in Koetter than I had in Mularkey. Koetter made David Garrard a Pro Bowler by taking advantage of his strengths. Mularkey’s schem did not incorporate pass plays that protected Ryan’s lack of mobility.
Shanahan is his own worst enemy. Is he really that arrogant to think that your scheme win in the league with two back-up QB’s?
G
February 16th, 2012
2:29 pm
Also…..Luck over Newton? I wouldn’t even take Matt Ryan over Cam Newton.
DC Dirty Bird
February 16th, 2012
2:29 pm
JSS, based on the losing records of both OC’s post Warner you have a good point. I also think that the receiving corps had something to do with it as well. Warner was throwing to Torry Holt, Isaac Bruce, Az Hakim, Fitzgerald, and Boldin.
JSS
February 16th, 2012
2:39 pm
I think Koetter is going to run in to the same problem with Ryan that Mularkey had. The second teams see his schemes the 2nd or third time around, they goung to start taking things away and Matt will panic.
He (Koetter) made Garrard? Garrard was solid before he got there. They had that one year where they threw for 3,600 yards; but you have remember Del Rio had that bizarre Mike Smith power football gene…
The thing I always say about Matt Ryan, “prove me wrong.” He’s never done it yet.
JSS
February 16th, 2012
2:48 pm
“they goung to start taking things away and Matt will panic.”
“They (are going) to start taking things away and Matt will panic.”
JSS
February 16th, 2012
2:53 pm
I’ll give Gilbride this point, if he see you more once, he’ll isolate your weaknesses in the secondary and pass covering linebackers like very few coordinators can do!
BOB
February 16th, 2012
2:59 pm
So DOL,not only are you a member of the horseshoe club, you are from the mistake by the lake. Interesting.
Statick
February 16th, 2012
3:06 pm
Meh. All this speculation is for blah. Just give Ryan an OL that’s worth a dang that’ll give him more than 3 seconds and he’ll be fine.
Hoopster
February 16th, 2012
3:38 pm
Mike Mayock is a TOOL!!
Karl
February 16th, 2012
3:40 pm
Mike Mayock Is a HORRIBLE Analyst!! He repeatedly STATED THAT CAM Newton was NOT the Best QB in the ‘10 draft and believed that he would be drafted in the 2nd rd. MAYOCK, Todd McSHAY, and CHARLIE CASSERLY all went against CAM! and CAM made them look SOOO Stupid!!. Mark Mike Mayock does not do any homework and if he does then he is the Dumbest Analyst EVER!! How would you take Andrew Luck Over Cam Newton!! Cam Newton Won Every QB award there was in ‘10 (while Andrew Luck was AT Stanford) and Mayock still says that he would take LUCK over CAM. That explains WHY MAYOCK is NOT a GM!! He WOULD STINK it up!!! Cedric was right it HAS to be a RACE thing. Look at the TIM TEBOW situation!! Tebow was drafted in the first rd, but any other Black QB with the same skill set is Scrutinized as “NOT READY ENOUGH for The NFL” guess CAM Showed them that that was a LIE!!! Andrew Luck still didn’t win the Heisman, RGIII did but LUCK is the #1 qb, GET REAL!! no matter how you want to see it. the QB position is about race!!! Mark you r an IDIOT savante if you LISTEN to ANYTHING that MIKE MAYOCK has to SAY!!!
tidog
February 16th, 2012
3:45 pm
The double standard just continues on and on. There was a young QB that wore # 7 for a while that didn’t get support for the poor offensive line play he was given. Oh I guess thats why he ran for his life and didn’t have time to read downfield coverages.
X
February 16th, 2012
3:52 pm
If the Falcons O-line is soooo bad, and I do think they need some work, but how does a QB throw for over 4000 yds and 29 td’s and a RB rush for over 1200 yds if they are that bad? I just think there is TO MUCH blame put on the O-line. Coaching and Ryan’s inability to extend plays along with a few other things were more the case than just putting everything on the O-line. BTW GB’s line was not that great this year but their QB seemed to compensate for it!
SeaHag
February 16th, 2012
4:30 pm
Oh really? I wouldn’t have known that Ryan was on the hot seat without this article. Lol
True Falcon Fan
February 16th, 2012
4:42 pm
You are just jealous!
JSS
February 16th, 2012
1:57 pm
True Falcon Fan…
You’re the Rudy Guiliani of AJC blogging… Every comment will have this combination of these things: first a subject and misspelled verb; then some version of a teenager’s attempt of being jocular… Buy a real map, because your Google Map app has a virus of insanity…
ASHCAN
February 16th, 2012
4:52 pm
Opie,i 3rd that post!
ASHCAN
February 16th, 2012
5:04 pm
Why is everyone blaming every player on the team but matt ryan?? ok eli manning took more sacks than ryan and held up a trophy.Ryan suppose to be in the drivers seat and make things happen.But i guess he’s in the back seat.This is what falcon fans are happy with,1.over rated QB 2.Certificates of coach or coordinator of the year 3.consecutive winning seasons 4.Average QB winning percentage 5.Home record 6.ECT…………… All that don’t mean squat diddly if you cant win trophys,and this team can’t.Every year i hear the same ol song,WAIT TIL NEXT YEAR!!!!! Been hearing that since 1980.
Runnin with the Dawgs
February 16th, 2012
5:16 pm
I remember all those years with Steve Bartkowski, and that’s what I’m afraid we’re heading into now. With the talent we’ve got on our offense there’s no way we should be completely shut down by teams like the Bears, or even the Giants. I say build a new O line and give Ryan another season with it, then if he doesn’t produce, move on to the next man.
DePlane
February 16th, 2012
6:00 pm
Folks can mack on MR2 all they want. Four years, four winning seasons. Yes, he must take the next step, and he will. But a big back slow to hit the hole, if there was a hole, and an OC with the apparent inability to do anything but run, run, throw put chains on MR2.
He might not be as mobile as Eli, neither is Brady. Perhaps some coaching might help him slide right or left and step up in the pocket…but there has to be a pocket for that to happen and that aint his fault. He doesn’t have to be Mr. Mobile, he just needs protection and a OC and QB coach that will utilize his strengths.
JSS
February 16th, 2012
6:32 pm
True Falcon Fan
February 16th, 2012
4:42 pm
“You are just jealous!”
That is almost as laughable as reading “Gimper Jones” for the first time!
“Afflictive emotions – our jealousy, anger, hatred, fear – can be put to an end. When you realize that these emotions are only temporary, that they always pass on like clouds in the sky, you also realize they can ultimately be abandoned.”
His holiness, the Dalai Lama…
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.