Matt Ryan confident but admits he, offense could be better
Matt Ryan said he is concerned about the offense, but admits he'd like to have had more success in the preseason. (Curtis Compton/AJC)
FLOWERY BRANCH — Matt Ryan spent part of practice Monday as a blitzing linebacker on the scout team. Wow, seems a little premature to change his position already, doesn’t it?
“Maybe I missed my calling,” the Falcons’ quarterback cracked.
OK, nothing is over-analyzed more than NFL exhibition games. So this whole why-hasn’t-Matt-Ryan-been-better thing probably is overblown. But even Ryan, who was off target on several throws (13 for 26) in last Friday’’s game against Miami, admits that the offense could be operating more efficiently and he needs to be better.
“While we would’ve liked to have been a little more productive the other night, I still feel like we’re moving at a high level,” Ryan said after practice Monday. “We’re close. There are still a few things we’d like to tighten up.
“Personally, I needed to play better. I didn’t play well the other night. But it’s one game, and especially in the preseason you need to put those things behind you.”
Ryan is 24 for45 for 213 yards, one touchdown and one interception in the three exhibitions. But the most glaring statistic of the preseason is that the first string offense has produced only one touchdown in 13 possessions.
When asked what he saw when he looked at tape from the Miami game, Ryan said: “There’s definitely some footwork stuff. But it’s never as good or as bad as you think it’s going to be when you go in and watch the tape. The biggest thing is to maintain good footwork in the pocket, especially when there’s a pass rush around you. Miami did a good job with the pass rush. We had some opportunities. An inch here, an inch there. But if we want to be the kind of football team we want to be, you can’t just be close, you’ve got to do it. That’s probably the biggest thing you take from that tape – we’re right there, we’re right in position to make those plays.”
Ryan makes perfect sense. The Falcons might be fine. I’m just saying this: Until we see success on the field, that inch here and inch there is a big deal. As he said himself, “… If we want to be the kind of football team we want to be, you can’t just be close, you’ve got to do it.”
The Falcons play their final exhibition Thursday night in Jacksonville. The first string offense will play one to two series. Ryan said, “Our confidence is high.”
But a little more success would ease any doubts going into the regular season opener against Pittsburgh. Do you agree? Or are you not concerned ab0ut preseason results?
♦
Have you entered the “Sack Schultz” contest yet? You can win tickets to the Georgia-Georgia Tech game and an HDTV. CLICK HERE for details.
♦
Recent episodes on instant re-post . . .
♦ Braves may have an opportunity to trade Troy Glaus
♦ McCann’s homer helps Braves overcome Florida and Lowe
♦ College football special: Predicting Georgia Tech’s season
♦ College football special: Richt says Georgia is poised for bounce-back season
♦
Follow me on Twitter @JeffSchultzAJC and Facebook.com/JeffSchultzAJC
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
92 comments Add your comment
JONESBORO SLIM
August 30th, 2010
6:37 pm
Every game is important…………
mark bradley's 70's fro and mustache
August 30th, 2010
6:40 pm
thanks for the response….
SirReal
August 30th, 2010
6:43 pm
@GSU Eagle You have a great point about the line. Its hard to throw 40 yards downfield if your line isnt holding up. its been suspect for a while. In these 3 games, I’ve seen Sam Baker get beat constantly with his T-Rex arms. I think TD is too proud to admit he whiffed on Baker so he coaxs Smith to put him in so he can save face. This line will need to retooling. Guys, you can give me all the backlash you want but our team is not poised at a title run, playoff run maybe but TITLE run…we’re not built for it. BOTH our lines are questionable, as well as the coordinators. That alone won thave us hoisting up the trophy anytime soon….
Gman
August 30th, 2010
6:47 pm
Hoping for the best from the Falcons but…
There seems to be quite a bit of unwarranted hype around this team. The team itself seems very, very self-satisfied.
The only issue with this is that they look mediocre in the preseason and looked pretty mediocre last year (bad D).
I have to believe what I’ve seen and not what I wish for. As such, look for the Falcons to be a medore bunch (9-7, 8-8).
They don’t look like world-beaters
jfreak13713
August 30th, 2010
6:56 pm
The Falcons are a team made up of good and some really good players which means they will be fine this year assuming key players don’t get hurt?? Ryan is the key of course but the QB’s play depends on O-line and the running game behind him. The team has talent with good management and ownership which spells success. How far this team will go (12-4 or 10-6) we’ll just have to wait and see?? I’d take 11-5!
Peter
August 30th, 2010
7:01 pm
You know it’s so typical of Atlanta blogs. Ryan comes out and says “yeah, I could be better” and guys are so wrapped up in imagining that they are Matt Ryan and it’s not “their” fault but Roddy White’s fault. Nobody cares about your high school careers as fourth string QB. Roddy White helped make Matt ROY.
“Personally, I needed to play better. I didn’t play well the other night. But it’s one game, and especially in the preseason you need to put those things behind you.”
That’s what he said, it’s what he meant and it is the truth. Grow up like he is and give him credit for telling it like it is. He’s right it’s one game and he and the offense have to put it behind them.
ReddJonn68
August 30th, 2010
7:05 pm
Every team in the league, are gonna have those days when the D doesnt show up & vice versa I expect Matt to show his true fortitude, and pull a cpl of games out with his arm. I just think we are missing that one extra game changer like a Harvin & a Cribbs. We have give Norwood several chances to wow us, it has not happen. Please Dimitroff give the kid some tools please, or at least get someone for the return game, is it just me or did you guys see that Weems couldn’t shake the kicker !!!!
SirReal
August 30th, 2010
7:09 pm
Thanks to all the people with REALITY assessments based on what you see and NOT what you think. i love my team and just because I point out their issues, it doesnt mean I’m a fair weather fan. I obviously observe and follow them alot if i do. Let’s face it. Our team has a questionable QB…b/c he obviously has admitted he needs to play better…its the same broken record as last year and I’m not feeling that this time around. We dont get to tell our bosses….”Well, I’m getting better…” We’d be gone. Our O-Line OVER-achieved in ‘08 b/c the league thought we’d be in the doldrums. They got exposed last year….our QB didnt get that toe injury bc guys didnt make it into the backfield. Our RB (who’s an absolute stud) came to camp fat so he has to show and prove this year too. Our #1 WR needs to hold on to the ball and our #2 needs to do the same when he gets back. Harry Douglas coming back gives me a lot of hope. I like what he can bring. Our O coordinator is questionable at best and I think Musgrave should have his job. There I said it. Musgrave has worked MUCH closer with Ryan and knows what he can do.
Defensively, our main star on the line is aging and our best DT will be out the first game. Jerry is pretty much a rookie again. The LBs are solid. The secondary is better but they’ll probably still give up a good number of 20+ yarders.
With all that said….do we really look poised to make a run….be honest with yourselves…me personally, I’ll take the cautiously optimistic approach.
DHunt
August 30th, 2010
7:11 pm
Isn’t it about time to start banning people who still want to make Matt Ryan great in comparison to “He who Shall Remain Nameless”, who is no longer the Falcons QB. It’s been three years already, Ryan has got to stand or fall on his own merits by now. Having said that, he has looked pretty mundane so far, and between his errant throws and the ones that should have been caught, his numbers and those of the Falcon offense look uninspiring in the extreme. The major problem that I have seen is coming from under center, Matt is often taking a three step drop, but then holding the ball like he has all kinds of time. Three step drop has to mean short timing pattern, so the ball has to come out quicker. I don’t have the benefit of video showing the whole field, but If this is happening because he is waiting for receivers to get open, that’s going to be a problem. He has to start throwing the ball to where they are supposed to be going and putting it in a position that only they can catch it. That’s what Montana, Peyton and Brady and all the great ones were/are great at doing.
But I still have 100% faith that Matt Ryan and his receivers will get on the same page, Matt can throw for a 70% completion rate and this can be a dynamic offense. My confidence will start to shake if he gets three games into the regular season and we are only averaging one TD per game. That just won’t cut it.
whodat70816
August 30th, 2010
7:13 pm
Just finished reading the article about where does Ryann fit in the QB pecking order. I had to laugh, because Brees was not listed in the top teir, but I have no idea what the rankings were based on. Many will say Brees has reached the level already.
Anyway, the article said Ryan was in the 3rd grouping and can become an elite QB…which I suppose is possible, but then I read this article and the following quote from Ryan:
“Personally, I needed to play better. I didn’t play well the other night. But it’s one game, and especially in the preseason you need to put those things behind you.”
Sorry falcon fans…those are not words of an elite QB or anyone working towards elite status. This is what Brees or any elite QB would have said….
“Personally, I needed to play better. I didn’t play well the other night. I definitely have to clean those things up before the next preseason game.”
Elite QBs would never dismiss their mistakes for playing poorly…they always talk about how they will work to fix their mistakes…preason or not.
Sorry Falcon fans…you do not have an elite QB in Ryan….at least not for a awhile!
DHunt
August 30th, 2010
7:21 pm
@ReddJonn68, that was ridiculous that Weems didn’t even try to make a move on the kicker. Hopefully someone else will emerge (or Norwood can get back there again without falling apart), because big plays are going to be few and far between with Weems doing all the return work.
Peter
August 30th, 2010
8:06 pm
Please, please, please don’t encourage any Saints fans on our blogs. Leave ‘em out to dry. If we answer them we’ll be in a pi$$ing match all season long. Don’t answer them!!
DHunt
August 30th, 2010
8:49 pm
Brilliant whodat. My QB doesn’t talk a good enough game. If that’s the worst that happens Mr. Ryan will be just fine. Can’t wait to see how many of these Saints interlopers will hang around after we put that beat down on them in the Superdome week 3. Only way to shut up a Saints fan is to beat them down, one way or the other.
McDavid's win is painful reminder of Atlanta Spirit's birth | Jeff Schultz
August 30th, 2010
9:05 pm
[...] ♦ Matt Ryan confident but admits he, offense could be better [...]
JSS
August 30th, 2010
9:38 pm
Well at least he’s interjecting some reality back on to himself for a change… I’ve said it before, Ryan is not the key to this team. If they can’t run it, forget about it! I won’t even get started on the defensive side of the equation.
@ Ted Striker…
Thanks for calling him out! He sat around for three years ranting and raving about getting other bloggers banned for bringing up a certain player. Now, when everyone else has turned the page, closed the book, and sold the item on EBay; he keeps trying to bring it back up…
@ Jeff Schultz, I’m going to send you some pics from the wedding on Facebook…
Big O
August 31st, 2010
12:09 am
Give the Falcons a couple games to get in a groove and they will be VERY competitive. Will they blow away everybody? No. Will it be mostly Ryan’s fault? No. Is Matt Ryan an “elite” QB at this time? No, but so what! Give him a break. Will the Falcons go 12 -4? Possible, but I think 10-6 or maybe 11-5 is realistic. Are they better than 2009? Definitely. It’s a process . . . . . . . . .
Whopper Dawg
August 31st, 2010
9:00 am
Ryan and the offense hasn’t been worth killing yet. They may be close, I don’t know, but close just gets you beat. Witness the New England game.
THE CURSE OF BRETT FAVRE LIVES IN THE ATL
August 31st, 2010
9:04 am
ALL I CAN SAY IS NOODLE ARM!
P.S. FALCANTS LOOK AT THE COLTS,SAINTS,PATRIOTS,COWBOYS,JETS,CHARGERS AND BENGALS,THEY ALL HAVE MORE THAN 1 TOP RECEIVER,WE ONLY HAVE RODDY WHITE,AND HE AINT LIGHTING UP THE SCOREBOARD EITHER,WE DONT HAVE ENOUGH TO BEAT THE TOP TEAMS
THE CURSE OF BRETT FAVRE LIVES IN THE ATL
August 31st, 2010
9:06 am
BEAT THE SAINTS DOWN? ARE YOU KIDDING ME,THESE ARE THE FALCANTS WERE TALKING ABOUT!
jam
August 31st, 2010
9:17 am
I think it’s time for everyone to stop holding Matt’s hand and skipping around with him. Each year everyone hype’s him up like he is ALL MIGHTY. Well it’s time for him to start walking the walk, Talk is cheap, SHOW me something OR Who’s next, This is the NFL not daycare!
RobbE33
August 31st, 2010
10:48 am
The Falcons needed the stinker in Miami as a reality check against believing in the preseason “Rise Up” hype. Sure, “it’s time,” but it will require a lot of grindstone work and mental toughness.
Manny
August 31st, 2010
11:45 am
Uh, two things:
1. Why do we call Matt Ryan “Matty-Ice?” Is it a Southern thing to have this need to have nicknames for our quarterbacks… especially stupid nicknames that sounds like he’s some failed rapper from the late 1980s? Seriously. I mean, what’s Tom Brady’s nickname? Or Peyton Manning? Can we let the “Matty-Ice” madness die and start calling the quarterback “Matt Ryan?” It’s a good name for a quarterback.
2. Another thing: What’s up with these bloggers getting upset because someone types the name “Michael Vick” on this blog? Why does it have to be some vast conspiracy, or heinous crime to compare the current quarterback to the former quarterback? Did Mike Vick actually exist? Yes. Did he win football games as a Falcon? Yes. So what’s the big deal?
‘Oh, but he killed dogs and lied about it!’ ‘He quit on the team!’ ‘He partied too much and he didn’t work hard!’ Those are valid arguments but no excuse for his name to be banned from blogs or an excuse for those who validly and fondly recall his tenure as a Falcon. It’s completely bull-headed to exert some weird reasoning that his name should be banned from Falcons lore as some moral high ground because when people talk about Mike Vick, they talk about what he did on the football field, not off it.
This reminds me of when my eldest son learned about Mike Vick going to prison because of dogfighting and lying. In his room, he has a big giant poster of Michael Vick. He also possesses a Michael Vick jersey and a Michael Vick autographed football. My son is an African-American and plays football and basketball.
Well I asked him one day as to if he was going to throw away his Vick gear. He said no. I asked him why? He said “Because I like the way he play football. I don’t know Vick personally.”
Think about this for a moment: I like the way Roger Clemens played baseball. And Pete Rose was probably one of the top 5 players in baseball history. I admire their play, too. Get it?
But here’s the real bottom line: The last time the Atlanta Falcons won a playoff game, Michael Vick was quarterback. The last time the Atlanta Falcons won a playoff game on the road, Michael Vick was quarterback. The last time the Atlanta Falcons was a fan favorite to watch nationwide, Michael Vick was quarterback. The last time the Atlanta Falcons would sell out stadiums when they were the VISITING team, Michael Vick was quarterback.
So until Matt Ryan and these Atlanta Falcons reach a few of these milestones, people in Atlanta are still going to talk and compare him to Michael Vick. You can be angry about it all you want, but you’re going to hear it. You’re going to see #7 jerseys in the stands. You’re going to see his name in blogs. It’s going to happen until at least the Falcons win a playoff game or two.
jam
August 31st, 2010
12:26 pm
Well said Manny. It’s time for some action instead of just talking and hype
Big O
August 31st, 2010
1:39 pm
The only “talking” I’ve heard from Falcons players have been when the press asked them questions. I don’t recall hearing ANY “hype” from them. All the ‘hype” and most of the “big talk” has come from earlier press reports and the blogger football experts. Then when the team doesn’t live up to our previous blogger/press hype, we bad mouth the team for not meeting our hype expectations! What a lousy bunch of fans we are!
Birdword
August 31st, 2010
1:42 pm
I believe he was called Matty Ice at his northern university for his ability to remain cool under pressure.
As for Vick, it is equally valid to like or dislike the guy for actions on or off the field. The issue has certainly been talked to death and it seems people have reached their own conclusions as to what it important to them.
Go Falcons!
Eric C.
August 31st, 2010
1:49 pm
If only he was more of a deep threat
Saints LSU
August 31st, 2010
2:08 pm
@D HUNT are you crazy beat the saints in NAWLINS you have to score more than 16 points deep in your heart you know what gonna to happen saints 42 falcons 17
Manny
August 31st, 2010
2:46 pm
Birdwood,
You are correct about Vick. You can like or dislike him based upon your own personal conclusions. But just because you choose to dislike Vick doesn’t make you more or less of a fan than those who doesn’t.
Oh, and as for the term “Matty Ice”, he actually got it in high school, but it wasn’t something that was commonly used. At Boston College, kids weren’t walking around calling the guy “Matty Ice.” It’s kinda like how Joe Montana was called “Joe Cool.” It’s not commonly used, but we use it like Matt Ryan’s friends walk around calling him that. It’s silly.
Birdword
August 31st, 2010
3:53 pm
Sounds like you’ve answered you own question regarding the nickname.
I make no judgements about your “fan”dom.
Go Falcons!
Manny
August 31st, 2010
4:04 pm
Birdwood,
No, I haven’t. Why would we want to propagate a nickname that was given as a joke from high school as a mantra of some sort? Why do we have to continue this? It’s not like it’s something that he goes about calling himself. It’s not something that his teammates call him. Why do we need to continue to call him this?
This is merely my personal opinion because it’s silly to me. My disdain for “Matty Ice” speaks nothing for his abilities. By the way, I can’t stand “MV7″ (Michael Vick), ‘Air’ Jordan or “The Human Highlight Film” (Dominique Wilkens).
Sick & Tired Of Being Sick & Tired
August 31st, 2010
4:42 pm
I TOTALLY AGREE with all the folks who have stated that a HUGE part of the Falcons offensive problems fall on the shoulders of Mike Mularkey.
Birdword
August 31st, 2010
4:49 pm
I’m sorry man I just don’t care about his nickname to have this conversation. Was just trying to help. Best, and go Falcs!
Aaron Murray will give Georgia what it has been missing | Jeff Schultz
August 31st, 2010
5:06 pm
[...] ♦ Matt Ryan confident but admits he, offense could be better [...]
Martin
August 31st, 2010
5:07 pm
Beat the saints down, in what world you live in. First of all you have to have a offense that can keep up with the saints high powered offense. The saints are averaging 33 points a game in the preseason. Secondly the saints has had the number one offense the last 3-4 years. The year that they were not number one they were number 4. Thirdly, the saints are 7-1 against your team the last eight games, so you may think a beat down is in order, but the only team that will get the beat down is the dirty birds. I know you guys hate the saints, just like we hate the falcons, due to the rivalry, I just don’t see the dirty birds winning the NFC south are making the playoffs for that matter. You guys don’t have a offense, nor do you have a good enough defense to stop some of the better teams in the NFL. Week three is fast approaching, I’ll bet any of you, that the dirty birds will not and I mean will not beat the saints in the super dome. The only championship Atlanta will see this year, may be with the braves.
sorrytogopoltical
August 31st, 2010
8:13 pm
Manny—-reminds me of certain folks who try to defecate a discussion,by trying to control the very verbage/language with dictum that is profound,thank you very much to the PC thought police,and I’m glad this blog remains an open discussion,oh yeah,vick is dog killer,but what a great guy.mattyice is for remaining cool under pressure,you don’t get that?
whodat70816
August 31st, 2010
9:05 pm
@DHunt….Elite QBs don’t talk a good game, they are constantly looking at how to improve and how they can get better. Ryans basically said, yeah I could have played better, but who cares…it was a preseason game. If you think that winners talk like that, then sure you have an elite QB in Ryan. Good Luck with him!
sorrytogopoltical
August 31st, 2010
10:18 pm
a
Manny
September 1st, 2010
9:43 am
sorrytogopolitical-
No. The “Thought Police” are tose who try to dictate as to if you have a certain thought, you are or are not labelled something… i.e. “A REAL Falcons fan doesn’t like Mike Vick nor should they type his name on a Falcons blog.” That’s policing the blog for those who doesn’t think like you.
I’m more of a “Thought Liberator.” You can call Vick a dog killer and hate his guts all you want. You can also think that Vick was the greatest thing to happen to the Falcons as well. But if you spend money on tickets or watch the Falcons games on television, you are a Falcons fan. You can come on here and call Matt Ryan “Matty-Ice” or you can think the nickname “Matty-Ice is silly, but you are still a Falcons fan.
In other words, I cannot label you. And you cannot label me. Get it?
What I’ve said about certain Falcons fans continuing to call Matt Ryan “Matty-Ice” is silly to me personally. And it’s silly to a lot of people across the country, because people didn’t constantly call the guy “Matty-Ice” when he was at Boston College. But I also think that to call Matt Ryan an “Elite” quarterback is silly, too. I think he’s an average quarterback that can run the “no-huddle.” He’s Chad Pennington to me. And I like Chad Pennington. You can win a Super Bowl with Chad Pennington.
But this is merely me stating my opinion. Continue to state yours.
stendek
September 3rd, 2010
12:22 am
SO MUCH FOR ANOTHER SEASON IN TOILET!
http://hubpages.com/hub/Falcons-Choke-On-Jaguar-Meat-In-Florida?done
Jake Wolf
September 4th, 2010
2:23 pm
T.J Houshmandzadeh is now a free agent!!!!Falcons could get him or trade Michael Jenkins to chargers for V-Jax(Vincent Jackson)
Vick Supporter
September 5th, 2010
3:07 pm
This team will always be nothing without The Great Mike Vick. It will never be the same. I hate the falcons
Samuel
September 5th, 2010
9:37 pm
Will we have Michael Jenkins back against Pittsburg? Somebody is going to have to step up, to fill Babs shoes in the opening game. It will be crucial for Ryan to pickup that blitz from the Steelers. If we can get Turner going early, it should be able to loosen up the defense. I look for Harrry Douglas to be very effective against that Pittsburg defense. Watch Norwood and Snelling come out the backfield catching passes. Also special teams can’t give up the big play. Remember, we have to take advantage of the Steelers- not having there Hall of fame, quarterback out there.GO FALCONS!!!