It’s time for Falcons to turn Matt Ryan loose with offense
Expect the Falcons to take the clamps off of quarterback Matt Ryan a little this season.
FLOWERY BRANCH — The oldish-looking coach who has been accused of putting his quarterback in leg shackles and handcuffs insists that his reputation is undeserved.
“Everybody may have this vision that coach Smith is a 50-plus-year-old, gray-haired conservative guy,” Mike Smith said Tuesday. “But that’s not the case. By nature, I am not a conservative person. We are going to be aggressive and we are going to be physical.”
With Smith as their head coach and Matt Ryan as their quarterback, the Falcons have gone 33-15, easily the best three-year run in franchise history. So criticism obviously is in short supply. But with two quick playoff exits and Ryan fizzling in both postseason games — four interceptions, two fumbles, two turnovers returned for touchdowns – shortcomings tend to get magnified by the populace.
Some of the postseason problems obviously fall on Ryan. But general manager Thomas Dimitroff recognized that his team needed another weapon on offense, leading to draft day pyrotechnics and the selection of Julio Jones. Now the team needs to make another change — this one more philosophical.
The Falcons go as Ryan goes, and the only way we’re going to know just how far they can go is if they put more in the hands of their quarterback and open up the offense. With Roddy White on one side, Jones on the other, Tony Gonzalez in the middle, the addition of running back Jacquizz Rodgers and the expected improvement of receiver Harry Douglas, the Falcons have the potential to be as explosive as any offense in the NFL.
Ryan is not one to complain. Fact is, there hasn’t been much to complain about. But we’ve seen before what can happen when the Falcons have turned Ryan loose. Wins at New Orleans and Green Bay in 2008, and over Cincinnati and Baltimore last season come to mind.
Notwithstanding Smith’s contention that he is not conservative, there’s a sense in Flowery Branch that offensive coordinator Mike Mularkey resides to Smith’s left.
Ryan said with the addition of Jones, “It probably changes what we do a little bit. You change to the personnel you have.”
When asked if there have been times when he has wanted the offense to be more aggressive, Ryan said, “You can’t be frustrated as a player. There was no dissension or anything like that. I think everyone was on board. Winning 13 games [last season] the way we did it is not an easy thing to do. But I think this year things probably will be a little bit different.”
White already has seen a difference in training camp, saying: “We have to throw the ball down field, and in the first five practices we’ve done that a lot — more go routes, more posts, a lot more things down the field to get guys open.”
Ryan realizes it’s on him to make it work.
Last year’s playoff loss to Green Bay stuck with him through the offseason. He had two key first-half interceptions against the Packers by Tramon Williams: one from the Green Bay 26 when he attempted to hit Michael Jenkins in the end zone (the score was tied 14-14) and the other, a crusher, when he misfired on a sideline pass to White just before halftime, and Williams picked it off and returned it 70 yards for a touchdown (make it 28-14).
“That’s the one that keep you up at night,” Ryan said. “When you’re in that position, especially before the half, it’s such a critical time in the game and you can’t make mistakes.”
Some of Ryan’s critics think the Falcons have protected him, that he doesn’t have the arm strength to operate a more wide-open offense. But that ignores evidence to the contrary. Playoff turnovers have been about mistakes, not arm strength. Smith certainly believes in him.
“I’m not going to give away state secrets,” he said. “But when you draft a player with [Jones'] skill set, it creates a different dynamic on your football team. That’s something we’ve embraced.”
It should be a show worth watching.
By Jeff Schultz
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212 comments Add your comment
jab
August 2nd, 2011
9:02 pm
something tells me peters is going to be disruptive and have a breakout year…offensive guards will be looking out the corner of thier eyes (worried about our DE) and not in front of them
Mike is Back
August 2nd, 2011
9:02 pm
Shultz, I agree with you…Mike needs to turn Ryan loose…or Mularkey needs to be more imaginative with the play calling…we were too predictable…without a change of pace back…teams was able to key on Turner…AND jump passing routes.
So, yeah some of the bad throws could be contributed to arm strength…But less we forget the state this organization when he took the helm as a rookie…he proved he was a winner… I think he has all tools to win a Super Bowl…will he have to get better…of course.
IF the BIG Tuna says…he should have drafted Matt Ryan…when Miami had the number one pick…Hey, that’s good enough me.
GO BIRDS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
A HIT....
August 2nd, 2011
9:04 pm
Sorry “Fall-Con” Fans. Matty “MELTDOWN” aint the one….Give it 4 more years of excuses from the organization….
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
August 2nd, 2011
9:06 pm
Yeah turn than ole NOODLE ARM loose with those 15 yard slants and the INTs will get even more pathetic.
It must be killing you fools knowing Vick will get that Lombardi for Philly
I wonder if CHOKE will get any blame this year
A HIT....
August 2nd, 2011
9:07 pm
Turner lost 3 steps..He gets hit in the back field far to many times..Now its 3rd and long and the pressure is on Matty and Mularkey…
Greenbay beatdown again.and again and again…
A HIT....
August 2nd, 2011
9:13 pm
Week 1 Sun. 9/11/2011 @ St. Louis Rams
Week 2 Sun. 9/18/2011 @ Atlanta Falcons
Week 3 Sun. 9/25/2011 vs. New York Giants
Week 4 Sun. 10/2/2011 vs. San Francisco 49ers
Week 5 Sun. 10/9/2011 @ Buffalo Bills
Week 6 Sun. 10/16/2011 @ Washington Redskins
Eagles go 6-0 first six games!
A HIT....
August 2nd, 2011
9:19 pm
Matty wont know were the blitzes are coming from and Philly will shake him up! Over by halftime….
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
August 2nd, 2011
9:32 pm
Nnamdi on the left…………
Cromartie on the right……………
Asante in the nickle……………
Where is ole NOODLE ARM going to throw those butterflies?
Cole on one end……………..
Babin on the other………………..
Jenkins in between……………….
Somebody better call the medics, I think ole NOODLE ARM maybe having issues
OldTimer
August 2nd, 2011
9:34 pm
Ryan is the man. Get over it.
Mookie
August 2nd, 2011
9:42 pm
Matt needed a personal trainer to strengthen arm during off season but too late now to begin. Turner needed to loose weight. Matt needs to call his own plays since he is a lot more savy at it than Mularky. He does a great job with the no huddle offense and changing the call at the line. We need Grimes signed now and before the 8-20 date. I can’t believe it looks like we are doomed to repeat history again with Chris Owens at nickel back this year (5′-9″ 179 lbs, 2 steps slow, reference the Ochocinco highlite film on NFL network burned for touchdowns and not to mention the last GB game). This is our last weak link and it will burn us. Love all the other moves.
tom
August 2nd, 2011
9:48 pm
Back in the day when the Falcons went to the Super Bowl that season the two things the team did with great success. They put constant pressure on the opposing quarterback and they threw the long ball. Well Dan Reeves blew in the Super Bowl. Long pass did not happen most of the game and they allowed the opposing quarterback to sit back with almost no pressure. Go figure.
Foreverfan
August 2nd, 2011
9:50 pm
I think his arm is everything we need already. What he has already, that’s more important than arm strength, is between his ears. He’s a true leader and nobody works harder than him both mentally and physically. We are fortunate to have him and think of all the fun we’ll have watching him for the next few years.
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
August 2nd, 2011
9:53 pm
Foreverfan
August 2nd, 2011
9:50 pm
I think his arm is everything we need already. What he has already, that’s more important than arm strength, is between his ears. He’s a true leader and nobody works harder than him both mentally and physically.
______________________________________
Does that come with a side of Z E R O Playoff wins
No Worries
August 2nd, 2011
9:54 pm
Some of the thugs on Philly’s team will likely be in jail before we play them.
And the plot thickens
August 2nd, 2011
10:03 pm
Fal-cants are lucky if the win 6 games this year. Eagles, packers and saints will be fighting for the NFC championship.
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
August 2nd, 2011
10:06 pm
No Worries
August 2nd, 2011
9:54 pm
Some of the thugs on Philly’s team will likely be in jail before we play them.
____________________________________________________
Last year Philly beat you girls 34-17 and 34-7 the year before. In fact you girls haven’t beaten the Eagles since Vick beat them in 2006.
They could suit up the waterboy and whip you girls
Big Ray
August 2nd, 2011
10:07 pm
I didn’t know you won playoff and SuperBowl games with arm strength. If that’s the case, I can think of some strong-armed guys who should have had their teams in the SuperBowl by now.
Gosh, we should just trade Ryan and get a guy with elite arm strength. Because clearly that’s why we haven’t won playoff games. Because of Ryan’s arm strength.
Sounds like we have some Al Davis type of thinkers around here….
Big Ray
August 2nd, 2011
10:08 pm
And I see the troll turd-eating heckler is back.
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
August 2nd, 2011
10:09 pm
Saints got stronger………….
Bucs got stronger…………..
Panthers got stronger……………
Looks like 4th place in the NFC South. Welcome back to pre Vick football
SAL PAOLANTONIO
August 2nd, 2011
10:09 pm
`
Winning the NFC South Division and 13 games
does not equal “CHOKE”.
It’s about time for you to finish your 8th grade homework and go to bed.
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
August 2nd, 2011
10:11 pm
Aaron Rodgers has both arm strength and mobility.
Two things CHOKE doesn’t.
So much for that weak theory Lil Ray
And the plot thickens
August 2nd, 2011
10:20 pm
That Georgia dome will be empty by game number 6, just like it was when the packers put the beat down on your team last year. The entire nation knows that the fal-cants fans are with the team when the season starts, boy when they start to lose, they abandon ship as fast as the Somalia pirates.
Not the falcons
August 2nd, 2011
10:23 pm
What team in the NFC south has never won a super bowl? That’s right not the FALCONS
GO FALCONS ............. phillie stinks
August 2nd, 2011
10:28 pm
“CHOKE” forgot to take his Ritalin and is hallucinating again.
JASon
August 2nd, 2011
10:29 pm
Regardless of the discussion about arm strength, I think we can all agree that matt ryan is a good enough quarterback to run a pass-first offense. I don’t care what the record was, it is an outrage that the coaching staff has played their conservative, run-first offense for so long; stifling this kid’s development, for so long.
kman
August 2nd, 2011
10:29 pm
the only fans who should be allowed to comment here, are fans of teams that have won something……..The Eagles haven’t won anything, and probably won’t this season. Next season maybe because they would have been together a full season and will work better together.
GO FALCONS ............. phillie stinks
August 2nd, 2011
10:30 pm
The Carolina Panthers have never won a Super Bowl,
know your damn football before you mouth off.
Marquis James
August 2nd, 2011
10:51 pm
Its about time we stopped making excuses for him….he now has MORE weapons thany ANY quarteback in the league….except for a coordinator, he has ALL the tools….NOW WHAT? Im tired of excuses. He has Gonzales underneath and Turner behind him…why cant he throw deep?? Matt “Howdy Doody” has a popcorn arm…..I saw Polomalau bait him, I saw the bait twice by Green Bay…..I saw Jenkins wait on a bomb in Foxboro that he ended up having to push off on….he aint got it……and no one has seen it. PERIOD!!!!!!
Not the falcons
August 2nd, 2011
10:57 pm
I knew the panthers never won a super bowl, I omitted them because they’ve only been in the league a couple of years, unlike the sorry fal-cants, who has been in the league since the 60s. The fal-cants are one of a handful of teams never to win a super bowl. You guys were all giddy last year because they won the NFC south. At least my eagles has been in the super bowl several times. I’ll bet we win one with my boy Vick, before you win one with matty iceberg.
Marquis James
August 2nd, 2011
10:58 pm
Fact: he is 0-2 in the playoffs….our money has been spent on the offensive side of the ball….where is our 30 points???? Its a bunch of Milarkey and the Howdy Doody Ryan show….he needs to man-up or go home!! Harvey Dahl is gone…Howdy Doody is gonna get hit if he doesnt air it out!! Besides, our best strategy against the Eagles SHOULDNT be….wait til Vick gets hurt??? Vick NEVER had Howdy Doody’s personnel….Im disgusted!!!!!
BiggdawgK
August 2nd, 2011
11:02 pm
I am eager to see Ryan hit Julio on a deep route while Roddy is being double covered. It will probably take 4 games of Matty connecting with the Falcons posse of fleet footed receivers to shut the “Ryan has no arm” crowd up and damn it will be fun to watch.
I would like to add myself to the ever widening group of readers who are unhappy with DOL and his non coverage of our Atlanta Falcons. The guy is clueless and is constantly scooped by other beat writers and even worse by regular guys posting to his lame blog. I would complain on DOL’s page but the last few times I pointed out to him readers didn’t want to read about ohio st he had me banned.
TCCB
August 2nd, 2011
11:12 pm
Vince Young. Need I say more?
PaulieOldSchool
August 2nd, 2011
11:18 pm
Jeff, good column, thanks. From your pen to God’s ear, and the Falcons’ coaching staff. PLEASE open up the offense and go downfield more. We’ll never be Air Coryell, but we can certainly be Air Georgia.
Mr. Cleo
August 2nd, 2011
11:21 pm
I have seen the future; its name is Julio Jones. This young man is going to do for the Falcons’ offense what Randy Moss did for the ‘98 Vikings. Rejoice, Falcons fans, we’re finally going to see fireworks in the Georgia Dome from our beloved Birds.
TrishaDishaWarEagle
August 2nd, 2011
11:29 pm
While i would never put Vick in the league of a super bowl winning QB like Joe Theisman, I hope the buzz of NFl week 3 is how their careers ended the same. Go Abraham and Edwards!! Mangle some QB’s
A HIT....
August 2nd, 2011
11:44 pm
“Winning the NFC South Division and 13 games
does not equal “CHOKE”.
Ah 9 out of 13 wins were against teams with sub .500 records!! The FALL-CONS can thank the the league for their fools paradise record.. Most of the elite football analysts did not jump on the bus cause they knew the real “FALL-CONS” would show up and get crushed on NATIONAL TV! Man that was embarrassing..
The Eagles< Falcons d last season and only lost to GB by 5 lousy pts.
Matty gave it away with 2mins left on the clock before Halftime! Game over! Turn the channel!
A HIT....
August 2nd, 2011
11:46 pm
Mularkey has got to go!!
A HIT....
August 2nd, 2011
11:55 pm
kman
August 2nd, 2011
10:29 pm
“the only fans who should be allowed to comment here, are fans of teams that have won something……..The Eagles haven’t won anything, and probably won’t this season. Next season maybe because they would have been together a full season and will work better together.”
Ah News Flash Curly, the Eagles only lost by 3 pts in the that 2005 SuperBowl that eveyone knows BILL BELLACHEAT STOLE!
What did the FALL-CONS LOOSE by, 3 touchdowns against Denver in the 98 SuperBowl?
Reid owns the “Fall-Cons”. Won 8 of 9 by an average score of 2 touchdowns!
Eagles 52 Fall-Cons 18, Sunday night in 6 weeks on NBC!
The Eagles are gearing up to crush GreenBay not he “FALL-CONS”
Ang
August 2nd, 2011
11:57 pm
The Falcons are going the way of the Braves – good, but not great.
I can’t blame them as far as ticket sales go, but I’m not going to get too excited about a team dependent on an over-the-hill RB, a diminishing TE, and a rookie WR.
ATLER (Ramblin Wreck)
August 3rd, 2011
12:11 am
Let’s just hope his arm strength has gotten better. Old bubble gum arm could throw deep at all the last couple of years.
Whopper Dawg
August 3rd, 2011
12:13 am
The problem is with the OC. If you look at the elite offensive teams, MM is nowhere NEAR their ilk.
Combine that with a running back that can’t catch (Turner) and good luck.
A HIT....
August 3rd, 2011
12:17 am
“The problem is with the OC”
How many years now 13? Think they’ll ever fix the O line? Especially with a non mobile QB @ the helm? Duh…
ATLER (Ramblin Wreck)
August 3rd, 2011
12:21 am
Seattle Falcons Fan
August 2nd, 2011
7:23 pm
Mark my words…… Its only a matter of time before Vick gets hurt…….. He is nothing without his legs! I’m more scared of GB and the Saints than the Eagles…
Your smoking some of that Kurt Cobain up there in Seattle my friend. The Eagles have assembled a force to be reckoned with. Hopefully our Dirty Birds come with their A+ game. I just don’t see it though. Wish we didn’t have to play them this year.
TrishaDishaWarEagle
August 3rd, 2011
2:14 am
He’s right..how many seasons has the canine assassin completed healthy? kolb is gone and an escaped mental patient is their backup..one good crack and philly goes down. R. Mexico has flashes of great play..even 4 or 5 games..then the injuries..It happened when he was here more than not, it happened last year, and now their backup Qb makes Herschel Walker(or at least 4 or 5 of his personalities) seem normal.
Najeh Davenpoop
August 3rd, 2011
2:25 am
If your best bet is that an opposing player gets seriously injured, you are not in very good shape.
Miles
August 3rd, 2011
3:04 am
I agree, Jeff.
Turn Matt Ryan loose.
RELEASE HIM, and get MV7 back here in a trade!
Stinger2
August 3rd, 2011
3:44 am
Schultz: Is it you or your bosses who come up with
the subject and content of what you write? Just asking.
Flo-Ri-Duh
August 3rd, 2011
5:05 am
\Left tackle and right guard needs to be upgraded in the next draft. Baker is injury prone and would be better suited on the right side – as a backup. Dahl was tough and all that but his lunch was handed to him i the big games (Packers). To throw long Ryan needs more time than he has been getting. Resign Snelling. Julio has had two problems = catching the ball and staying healthy. The Falcons should try to resign Michael Jenkins to a lower contract. He is a good possession receiver and the Falcons can use him. The defensive line is better with Edwards but our oft injuried 1st round choice DT needs to step up this year.
JeanShonay
August 3rd, 2011
5:31 am
Ryan ain’t the man until he takes the Falcons to a NFC Championship like Mike Vick!!! That’s when he will get my true respect….
Mike S
August 3rd, 2011
5:44 am
Anyone else a little worried about the WRs after Roddy and Julio
? Any chance they could resign Jenkins to a cheaper deal or are they even allowed to resign a player they have cut.