This one is on Matt Ryan, and Falcons may be in trouble
Everything went right for Matt Ryan in year one. Notsomuch now.
CHARLOTTE — There’s a problem with setting the bar so high in year one. When you run face first into the bar in year two, everybody notices.
Matt Ryan hasn’t necessarily been a spectacular crash this season. But he certainly hasn’t been the quarterback that most expected after a first season that saw him lead a seemingly flat-lined franchise to the playoffs. And yes — any doubts about whether something was wrong just ended.
The Falcons lost to the Carolina Sunday, 28-19. We can rationalize several reasons why this may have happened. Kicker Jason Elam botched a go-ahead field goal in the fourth quarter. The defense crumbled yet again. Aliens abducted John Abraham.
But put this one on Ryan. He threw two interceptions — dreadful interceptions. The first came in the second quarter after the Falcons had closed to 14-10. It led to a Panthers’ touchdown drive just before the half that made it 21-10. The second was a game-killer — with 3:45 left from the Carolina 49, and the Falcons trailing, 21-19.
Both came on the opening plays of drives. Both sailed high over a wide receiver, Michael Jenkins, who has long arms and stands 6-foot-4. Both were mistakes many of us were deluded into believing Ryan would not, could not commit with a game on the line.
This is a troubling transition. The franchise centerpiece just went from a quarterback who lately has struggled to win games to one who just lost one.
“There’s going to be things you have to learn along the way,” Ryan said later when asked about his drop in accuracy. “There’s a lot of tough teams you’re going against. I feel like I’m learning a bunch and continuing to get better. But I’ve just made some mistakes, and that’s gonna happen.
“I just made some throws that weren’t on point.”
Learning curves are normal for young quarterbacks. But could we have anticipated this curve would turn 180 degrees?
Ryan’s first four games: 66.7 percent completion percentage, seven touchdowns, two interceptions.
Ryan’s last five games: 54.9, seven touchdowns, 10 interceptions.
Why? That answer isn’t clear. If Ryan knows, he’s not saying.
“Different things come up week in and week out,” he said. “I’m young. I’ve got a long way to go, a lot of improving to do, and a lot of things to learn. And I feel you do learn things in your second year that you don’t learn in your first. I’m trying to soak up everything I can.”
Soak this up: The Falcons are in trouble. They’re 5-4. That record certainly doesn’t scream they’re walking the Green Mile. But this is a team that goes as the offense goes. It’s not a roster built for 13-10 wins.
But now look: Running back Michael Turner is out with an ankle sprain, which was significant enough to keep him out the last two and a half quarters Sunday. Ryan, the other key member of the offense, looks average (maybe). If he stays average, the offense is dead and the Falcons’ playoff hopes will sleep with it.
Coach Mike Smith declined to let offensive coordinator Mike Mularkey or quarterbacks coach Bill Musgrave speak to the media. Smith and players came to Ryan’s defense. Everybody accepted blame, as you would expect.
Smith: “I thought Matt’s play was just like the rest of the football team. We didn’t sustain the level of play we needed to be successful.”
Wide receiver Roddy White also said, “We didn’t lose this game because of Matt. We all just gave it away.”
But he offered one solid theory as to why Ryan’s production has fallen off.
“Teams have seen him now on tape for a whole year,” he said. “They’re playing to his strengths and weaknesses, and they’re doing a good job.”
If this is an aberration, we’re about to find out. Three of the next four games come against the New York Giants, Philadelphia and New Orleans. The season will be either saved or buried. And now we have to wonder if the bar for Ryan was set too high.
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532 comments Add your comment
Sonny Clusters
November 15th, 2009
7:25 pm
We was just like that when a lot of the team was hurt and missing games. Stinky Wintes was our kicker and he had a cannon for a leg. He come up short on a big kick and pushed another one left and we lost a game we thought we had won. We near about killed him and he was afraid to miss anymore.
"Chef" Tim Dix
November 15th, 2009
7:26 pm
Is the Strayer University mascot an alley cat?
Falconstink
November 15th, 2009
7:26 pm
Bring back Vick and Brooking, this team has no GUTS
Vick Supporter
November 15th, 2009
7:26 pm
Eric C.
I’ve never said that I wanted Vick back with the Falcons. We both know that would never happen and it shouldn’t
bigdave
November 15th, 2009
7:27 pm
Pete…
“I guess it does not much intelligence…”
ATL-67
November 15th, 2009
7:28 pm
Ask me again if I’ve lost confidence in Ryan.
Asheville Dawg
November 15th, 2009
7:28 pm
I have patiently been saying that the Falcons can not have back to back winning seasons. At 5-2 everyone said I was wrong, now they see what I saw.
Art Blank
November 15th, 2009
7:29 pm
You little freakin weenie! I let the walking ATM machine out the door because the non paying fans threatened to protest at the training facility and the dome.
I took some stupid advice thinking a 5th year college player, with 22 interceptions in his senior year and couldn’t win a freaking A.C.C. title.
I should have known that his idea of stretching the field was squeezing some turf with his hands. I spent 72-million plus a ton more on marketing and advertisement to make this string bean loser look NFL material.
I even paid off the commissioner for that weak freakin schedule and even twisted some arms to get the Rookie of The Year award, when everybody knows if another rookie goes to the championship game, he should be the winner.
Now, how am I going to get sponsors to buy tickets, because this little piece of crap couldn’t sell out a stadium if he bought all the tickets.
What a loser this scrub is.
Fair and Balanced
November 15th, 2009
7:29 pm
Matt says he’s still “young”….can’t wait to hear how the morning shows on 790 and 680 bash him for that one! Oh wait…they won’t…he’s gonna get a pass.
Submariner683
November 15th, 2009
7:29 pm
I’m wondering how many people Gamble has to injure until the NFL looks into his tackling technique of going for the knees and below on players that are already 90% to the ground and completely defenseless. He essentially ended Culpepper’s career with a similar hit. Elam needs to be fired. That’s at least the 3rd chip shot field goal he’s missed this season. No excuse for that.
No pass rush at all. The two pics were disasterous. Does anybody know you deal with rooting for a consistent loser? I’m probably better off not getting the NFL package next year. I seem to do better with just reading about the loss then seeing it as it happens.
Keeping it real.
November 15th, 2009
7:29 pm
Vick Supporter, we did not “Annoint” Ryan anything, as QB, his team went from 4-12 to 11-5. Look at Sanchez and Stafford. It just ain’t that easy. Like Vick, he started out great, set high expectations and struggled later. However, Vick railroaded himself, blew his chance to learn and grow, and now we have Ice. Will he progress? Who knows, but Vick is done in the NFL after this year.
Fair and Balanced
November 15th, 2009
7:30 pm
TerryTheFalconFan
November 15th, 2009
6:47 pm
We had 19 points
Link Report this comment
*****************
Unfortunately the other team had 28. 28 is greater than 19.
"Chef" Tim Dix
November 15th, 2009
7:31 pm
Jeff, tard factor getting high IP addy’s need addressing….
Keeping it real.
November 15th, 2009
7:31 pm
Fair and Balanced, what is so wrong with saying “I am young”? He is only stating the obvious.
If Vick said that in his 2nd season after one of his games where he had 4 fumbles and 3 picks, I don’t think anyone would have had a problem with it.
Asheville Dawg
November 15th, 2009
7:32 pm
Rankin Smith’s curse still hovers against the Atlanta sky. Move over “Jed Clampett”
mars
November 15th, 2009
7:33 pm
This is downright woeful. Smitty needs to jerk a knot in Ryan’s @$$ before he goes the way of Vick. Every time a QB has a decent year in Atlanta, they follow it up with crap. No excuses. Get your head right! And Elam…. how many games in a row with missed field goals before you stop glaring at the holder and look in the mirror instead? Sure, we have injuries. So what. That’s when pros “man up!” Come on, Falcons!
Art Blank
November 15th, 2009
7:34 pm
I did let the walking ATM machine out the door, and just that fact that I can go to sleep tonight and know my QB’s posse is not going to steal someones watch, or give a girl herpes, or have some embarassing picture show up on the internet, or get is butt locked up in federal prison is work every red cent.
Vick Supporter
November 15th, 2009
7:34 pm
@Keeping it real.
How in the hell is Vick going to come in and beat Kolb out for the #2 job when he wasn’t even there for training camp?
Please tell me how that happens. You beat people out for jobs in training camp.
For your information, Vick is the #2 QB right now….if he wasn’t he couldn’t come in for the Wildcat….so technically, he’s number 2, and he will be a starter next year.
Mike Vick Curse
November 15th, 2009
7:35 pm
Did you fools really think you could replace me?
You can’t send a boy to do a man’s job.
By the way, he is 24 years old, I was only 22 in my 2nd season.
2004 and counting losers!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Fair and Balanced
November 15th, 2009
7:37 pm
The game next Sunday will be really ugly. If Turner isn’t playing, the Giants will slaughter the Falcons.
Matt Ryan Fans
November 15th, 2009
7:39 pm
I don’t care what anybody says, Matt will never be blamed for any losses because no matter what, he is one of “US”.
andrews31
November 15th, 2009
7:39 pm
The way I see it , is the Falcons are really hurting from lack of good play from the defensive tackle position and the bad decision making of the quarterback. When you are getting man handled in the middle of the line, everybody else pays the price on defence. You can say what you want but when the line of scrimage is pushed back or flattened at the line, you can not stop anybody. As far as Matt Ryan, It is very clear he is scared on nearly every drop back(happy feet). Its sad we have to pin our hopes on him at this stage because Turner is hurt. Its looks like it is going to be the same ole Falcons of the past.
Vick Supporter
November 15th, 2009
7:41 pm
Keeping it real: “Vick Supporter, we did not “Annoint” Ryan anything”
That’s a bunch of BS.
Cmon…be a man admit it….you people set the bar so high for Ryan and he believed it.
Now the bar has hit him in the face. the thing is, Vick actually has the skills a QB need to win…while Ryan does not.
mars
November 15th, 2009
7:41 pm
Keeping it Real, I’m afraid you have hit the nail on the head. Chris Chandler. Geez. We rival the Bears when it comes to picking QB’s.
Art Blank
November 15th, 2009
7:41 pm
Vick Supporter, he has not shown anything, he looks about as quick as Verron Haynes. He has a 42 QB rating, and has about 10 yards passing. When McNabb came out, Kolb started, he is the #2. Vick is a million dollar has-been gimmick, about as much a QB as Brown is in Miami, although Brown has been WAY more productive. .
AtlFalcons
November 15th, 2009
7:42 pm
I’m starting to think going to the playoffs last year was a big mistake .. succeeding as quick as they did was good at the time because of what happened the year before but as as we’re seeing now people set their expectations to high and when the expectations aren’t met the faults start coming and we start analyzing things more deeper.
I can only hope the Falcons overcome and have a winning season. Othewise, if the losses continue not only will the QB be under the microscope but the coach as well and that’s really disappointing.
Matt Ryan Fans
November 15th, 2009
7:42 pm
I hope Matty gets plenty of sleep Saturday, because that Giants from line of Justin Tuck and company are going give me a real beating.
Oh God – I thought I could just take all the credit, cash in that 72 million dollar contract and not have to earn it.
Don’t worry Matt – you are one of “US”.
We will blame everybody else.
jimbob
November 15th, 2009
7:42 pm
didn’t see any of it. What was with the Elam stutter step?? Is the snapper or holder not doing their job properly?? if so, then it will really screw up Elam’s kicking (although he has missed some easy kicks this year).
Real Falcons fans are still behind Matt Ryan. He’s having some sophomore problems–but it’s not his fault that the media annointed him a king immediately. He’s a hard worker, and I’ll give it at least two more seasons to see how things play out.
We know for certain that Vick couldn’t beat Philly or any really well coached defense. Matt Ryan has a lot more upside. It hasn’t helped that the running game has (overall) been a disappointment this season, and other than TG and Roddy (to a lesser extent), you can’t count on the hands of any of them.
pilgrim
November 15th, 2009
7:43 pm
I am a true fan of this club. The Panthers got a gift. I have to say that this kind of loss is the worst kind. It hurts the fan base. It is bad enough to destroy confidence between the players on the team. I hope nobody sugarcoats it. I hope the club never forgets it.
Keeping it Real
November 15th, 2009
7:44 pm
Ryan, like Vick, set the bar high by himself by winning early. Last year the team went 11-6, this year they are still above 500%. I don’t think you get there without the “skills” to win in the NFL.
It smacked both in the face, true character comes out with adversity. We all so how Mr Vick handled it, now lets see how Ryan handles it.
Vick Supporter
November 15th, 2009
7:45 pm
Art Blank
You put Ryan in Philly with McNabb and Ryan rides the bench.
McNabb has earned every right to be the starter in Philly.
Vick’s stats are meaningless when he doesn’t get consistent playing time. vick needs the ball in his hands to be effective, just like every other QB in the NFL…besides Ryan of course. Ryan is better when he hands the ball off to Turner.
That has been proven.
Matt "Choke" Ryan
November 15th, 2009
7:46 pm
“DUMP THE CHUMP”
BUST
BUST
BUST
BUST
BUST
Fair and Balanced
November 15th, 2009
7:46 pm
jimbob didn’t the Falcons beat Philly in 2005?? Oh, you thought no one would call you on that lie?
Mike
November 15th, 2009
7:47 pm
Why are we throwing long on 1st down from midfield, when our running game had been going all day. The throw was not what was bad, it was the decision to try and force it. All the Falcon fans who have been there for years, not just the Vick Bandwogoners have been waiting for this let down, because it is what we expect. Us fans remember that Bartkowski, Archer, Miller, Herbert, Chandler, and yes Mr Vick himself could never deliver back to back winning seasons. We had a chance in 05 with a 10 point lead over Tampa and Vick had a melt down that cost the game. Today Ryan delivered what we have come to expect from this franchise.
Fair and Balanced
November 15th, 2009
7:47 pm
Maybe that lil bus ride was the real culprit for this loss!
Vick Supporter
November 15th, 2009
7:47 pm
jimbob
Ryan has alot more upside than Vick? PLEASE elaborate.
Panther Fan
November 15th, 2009
7:49 pm
Can anyone tell me if the Panthers won?
Keeping it Real
November 15th, 2009
7:49 pm
What is wrong with Ryan saying “i am young”? It is an admission that he has a lot to learn. The guy is 16-9 as a starter since he stepped onto the field. WFT do you really expect?
Vick Supporter
November 15th, 2009
7:50 pm
@Mike
Besides the Vick “meltdown” you speak of that no one knows about, your post is right on the money.
You should expect this franchise to lose….Vick took this franchise to heights (on the field) that team has ever seen. Admit it man. At least with Vick, we always had a chance to win. Not so with Ryan…the Giants are going to destroy Ryan if turner is hurt.
Mr Charlie
November 15th, 2009
7:51 pm
VS, Ryan has a lot more upside because he is going not going to prison. Generally speaking, folks who go to prison for federal offenses do not have much “upside”.
Stafford sux
November 15th, 2009
7:51 pm
Could be worst! Stafford could be our QB. Man that guy sux. But Ryan will be a above-avg. QB Just give him some time,OK
jimbob
November 15th, 2009
7:52 pm
he lost at least twice to them when it mattered: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1P2-46162.html
Gimmicks like that will never beat the best defenses in the NFL. And he’s clearly never destined to do so. He doesn’t put in the effort that the great ones put in.
mars
November 15th, 2009
7:52 pm
I’m a life long Falcon fan. I gotta say, I’m am SSSSOOOOOOOO sick of this Vick versus Ryan crap. You Vickheads.. guys, you are coming across as complete racists. And, though Ryan’s our guy now… the rest of you need to quit making excuses. He’s playing like crap. Blind loyalty is the type of disfunction that led to Vick not doing his job and going to prison. I thought we were actually going to hold players responsible for their actions. Are we going to revert to the Vick days of making excuses?
Vick Supporter
November 15th, 2009
7:52 pm
Keeping it Real
November 15th, 2009
7:49 pm
What is wrong with Ryan saying “i am young”? It is an admission that he has a lot to learn. The guy is 16-9 as a starter since he stepped onto the field. WFT do you really expect?
——————————————————————
Here you go…making excuses. Who you gonna blame now…..the water boy? The water boy didn’t give Ryan his water correctly?
Mr Charlie
November 15th, 2009
7:52 pm
VS, not true, Chris Chandler took the Falcons to heights Vick never saw.
More of the Same
November 15th, 2009
7:52 pm
Matt Ryan=Rick Mirer
Panther Fan
November 15th, 2009
7:52 pm
I got it thanks Panthers 28 Fulcans 19
Mr Charlie
November 15th, 2009
7:53 pm
Saying “I’m young” is not an excuse, it is taking responsiblity by saying “I not very good because have a lot to learn”. I find it amazing folks have a problem with that.
disgusted
November 15th, 2009
7:55 pm
If the FALCONS WEREN’T SO BUSY TRYIN TO RIDE TO THE PANTHERS INSTEAD OF NORMALLY FLYING TO SAVE MONEY, AND HELP PAY SMITH FINE……….AND PRAISING HIM FOR HIS SENSELESS BEHAVIOR ON THE SIDE LINE AND PLAY FOOTBALL…
THOSE GUYS NEED TO BE ON THE FIELD EVERY DAY PRACTICE THROUGH THE NEXT GAME………WATCH MORE FILM….NO PRESSURE AT ALL ON JAKE ………COME ON MAN
Bob from Winder
November 15th, 2009
7:55 pm
If I see Matt throw the ball out of bounds 4-5 times a game I will puke.
He plays too conservative, get loose like farve or cutler and let it rip try to win instead of trying not to lose