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
kaput
August 3rd, 2011
7:13 am
Josh Freeman is better than Ryan.
Next question.
Lowcountry Bulldawg
August 3rd, 2011
7:17 am
To throw long he does need to be down 28 points. Down 28 points the offensive line is almost helpless because the defense is primed to kill the QB. They know you are passing. So ears are pinned back.
Also Freeman is a nice QB at this point, good leadership skills, but really? Ryan lead the Falcons to 13-3 and the #1 seed in the NFC. Hate all you like but have some perspective.
Lowcountry Bulldawg
August 3rd, 2011
7:17 am
**does not***
JB
August 3rd, 2011
7:38 am
It took Roddy White about 3 years to mature and become a #1 pick type player. Let’s hope with Roddy drawing doubles, it will open up big things for J. Jones. you can’t double both of them with an all pro TE lurking. This might be fun to watch.
honest_abe
August 3rd, 2011
7:50 am
will be still be an all pro TE @ 60? some of you amaze with this talk of tony g. he’s older than dirt.
wr depth is non existent. middle linebacker major question mark considering lofton is coming off two knee surgeries. and they have another dinosaur slated to get major minutes on the outside. the lines are solid but not spectacular. the rb has too much wear and tear and his numbers should decrease drastically.
also, could use a new defensive coordinator.
True Falcon Fan
August 3rd, 2011
7:56 am
Kaput, can’t you at least throw at least say 100 words together and expand your statement as to how you have come to such propensity of knowledge of the game?? I’ll hang-up and listen intently to your monronic wisdom .
Go Falcons #2
honest_abe
August 3rd, 2011
8:03 am
he*
True Falcon Fan
August 3rd, 2011
8:25 am
Kaput, another “Chunk N’ Duck”!!!
At least honest_abe tries to back-up his opinions with some weak facts! Although I don’t agree him either.
Fellas’: The truth is – this is the beginning of a new season, could be a real story to come with any of the 32 franchises/teams. My feelings this year the Falcons are still in need of at least one solid defensive player i.e., safety or DE possibly. If the Falcons stay healthy on offense & defense we will win 10-13 games this year. Meaning if there is no major injury issues at skill positions. The play-offs it’s a toss-up, whoever the hot handed QB is – will WIN!
Go Falcons
honest_abe
August 3rd, 2011
8:32 am
please tell me how my facts are weak? i’m all ears. bottom line is this team is nowhere near as strong as some of you would like to think. major holes all over this team.
corners – subpar
safeties – good
linebackers – (if lofton out) weak
d-line – avg
o-line – good
te – avg
qb – above avg
wr’s – (1 excellent and a bunch of unprovens) = fair
rb – good
sounds like an avg team to me with a much more tougher schedule. they’ll be lucky to go 9-7.
tony
August 3rd, 2011
8:33 am
They forgave Vick in Phili land so expect good things to come their way. I’m picking the Eagles and the Patriots in the SB. I think the Falcons will have a decent season with the Ray Edwards signing.
True Falcon Fan
August 3rd, 2011
8:36 am
You opinions in my opinion are not with merit!!
Sobeit, on your prediction, I hope you wrong!
Go Falcons
True Falcon Fan
August 3rd, 2011
8:39 am
We will see how good the Eaglettes really are week #2 – Also we will see how good the Falcons are TOO!!!
Go Falcons
Kane337
August 3rd, 2011
8:40 am
Julio, Julio, Julio, Julio, Julio, Julio, Julio, Julio, Julio, Julio, Julio !
Kane337
August 3rd, 2011
8:40 am
Ryan to Jones for six!
True Falcon Fan
August 3rd, 2011
8:47 am
Over past 3 seasons – How adout 33 & 15 is that average you dumba$$ idiot!
Go Falcons
TrishaDishaWarEagle
August 3rd, 2011
8:48 am
11-5 season AND we beat the filthydelpian’s week 2. Yep. Believe it.
JChikara
August 3rd, 2011
8:49 am
Apparently arm strength means everything, just ask Jeff George, holder of 10 Super Bowl Rings….never mind.
Then how about Warren Moon, he won a bunch of titles with his…..never mind that either.
Ok, ok, one more. Let’s go with the powerful arm strength of guys like Randall Cunningham and Patrick Ramsey, guys who won many….oh forget it!
You losers think that arm strength alone makes a great QB? Really? Matt Ryan is a winner and is growing into an elite QB. He doesn’t play in a pass first system like Rodgers and Brees, guys who have to rely on 4 & 5 wide receiver sets to be successful.
He’s got a wealth of talent around him, and I trust that he will get the job done this year. Mularkey needs to know that you can throw the ball to your running backs.
Lowcountry Bulldawg
August 3rd, 2011
8:51 am
I will take a Super Bowl at 9-7. Just get in the playoffs and finishing the season on a streak. Look at the Packers last year. It isn’t all about the regular season. If so then when the Pats went 16-0 we should not have even played the playoffs. This team is built for the long haul of a NFL season. Hate all you like buy the Falcons are in the ELITE class of the NFL.
honest_abe
August 3rd, 2011
8:51 am
you sound like an inane redneck. go chew some snuff and choke on yourself.
the falcons have had a comically easy schedule last year. they managed to squeak by in a few games last year. i give them credit for that. but they also got blown out in the playoffs @ HOME. the schedule is much tougher this year. this team is the epitome of avg. from their gameplan to their talent.
honest_abe
August 3rd, 2011
8:53 am
oh yes that was directed “true falcon moron”
True Falcon Fan
August 3rd, 2011
8:55 am
33 & 15 —- is that average?
Steve
August 3rd, 2011
8:56 am
To all you vick lovers out there. How did the eagles game end that got them knocked out of the playoffs last year? Oh yeah, it was on a weak underthrown ball in the endzone. The eagles problem in that game wasn’t the defense but like always on a vick led team it’s all the other offensive players.
True Falcon Fan
August 3rd, 2011
8:57 am
Honest_abe you have right to your opinion! If you don’t love the Falcons, then go someplace else!
Enough said
Go Falcons
honest_abe
August 3rd, 2011
9:04 am
i’ve been a fan since 89. suffered alot through the years. so don’t give me that crap. just because i’m a fan doesn’t mean i need to be a blithering idiot either. i don’t have to assume that everything they do is right. as a fan i voice my concerns and opinions just like you … who sound like a new comer to this falcon fan base who joined after they started getting prime time games on tv. ya i highly doubt you listened to the falcons on radio back on 750 am when they used to be blacked out every sunday. and good ol larry munson held the mic. so buzz off about being a true falcons fan.
A HIT....
August 3rd, 2011
9:10 am
Steve
August 3rd, 2011
8:56 am
To all you vick lovers out there. How did the eagles game end that got them knocked out of the playoffs last year? Oh yeah, it was on a weak underthrown ball in the endzone. The eagles problem in that game wasn’t the defense but like always on a vick led team it’s all the other offensive players.
OK, but Matty Ice MELTDOWN gave his game away with 2mins left before the half!! Game over! Turn the channel..
True Falcon Fan
August 3rd, 2011
9:13 am
Hey buddy, I am been fan since “DAY ONE” 1965! Probably before you were born.
Don’t get your panties in a wad, you have a right to your own opinion, RELAX!
Go Falcons
True Falcon Fan
August 3rd, 2011
9:21 am
honest_abe ok you have the final work, GO
True Falcon Fan
August 3rd, 2011
9:22 am
I meant “WORD” – I’ve got “WORK” to do “Good Bye”
Go Falcons
honest_abe
August 3rd, 2011
9:24 am
ok. if jj lives up to this crazy hype (unlikely since he’s injury prone and has butterfingers) and burner can regain some of that speed from several years back. and if the linebacking corp stays healthy. and one of either frank or ownes steps up at nickel back. and if ray edwards give legit pressure opposite of abe. if abe stays healthy. if peria jerry can contribut anything! then yes the falcons have a shot to go 10-6 and make the playoffs. obviously this is what i would prefer happening.
but since there’s no depth anywhere. a couple of injuries and this whole thing could blow up. and guess what our 1st rounder next year goes to cleveland. awesome.
PMC
August 3rd, 2011
9:26 am
So, what are we going to do about the Sam Baker giving up sacks problem with this new pass happy offense?
kman
August 3rd, 2011
9:29 am
A Hit, a lose is a lose, and a win is a win, no matter what you win or loose by. Yes the Eagles went to two Super Bowls, and lost both…………They still havent won anything!
kman
August 3rd, 2011
9:31 am
I meant loss!
PMC
August 3rd, 2011
9:35 am
Abe what do you not like about the depth? I think they have plenty of depth. That was the last few drafts. Depth on the LOS. They’ve got depth now at with Biermann and Davis. They’ve got depth at tackle with Jerry, Peters, Babs maybe Trey Lewis. A couple years ago the middle of the line was a sieve. Now it’s pretty stout. They added Dent to help give depth in the middle at LB. The problem I’d think now would be CB, and whether or not we can trust the WR position. The line depth on the offensive line is also pretty decent except for Left Tackle where they could stand to upgrade. They also I think need better depth at RB unless they keep Snelling.
I like the depth though for the most part and the starters are pretty good too at most positions. They are a pretty good football team as constituted though I think they will add some veterans in the next few weeks at CB and WR.
No reason to think they can’t win 10 or 11 games even with a brutal schedule. A couple of injuries and every team can go in the tank. They only get 53 players, they can’t all be stars.
Of course I’d feel better if I actually trusted our left tackle and if I could trust our rookies to perform on offense, but I don’t at the moment.
Steve
August 3rd, 2011
9:39 am
I love how people always want to compare Vick and Ryan. Ryan has only been in the league for 3 years. I think he’s done pretty well. Check out Peytons first 3 years, even Vick sat behind Chandler his first season. Usually you compare QBs that have been in the league for the same amount of time. How bout comparing Vick to one of those guys, say one from his draft class maybe. If i’m not mistaken Brees came out in 2001.
honest_abe
August 3rd, 2011
9:42 am
pmc: you’re just listing names. jerry has done what? davis will most likely get cut. either him or sidbury. trey lewis is just another on a long line of busts. biermann? really? he made one nice play last year. other than that he got pushed around like a rag doll.
dent? a guy that runs over a 5 sec forty manning the middle of the field. i’m a georgia alum and fan and he is nowhere near a 3rd round pick. good value at around the 5th round. and he’s projected to be a special teams player. maybe we’ll actually see him get some snaps unlike spencer adkins or robert james.
depth on offensive line? who nelly. how do you know this these guys have been on the practice squad and no live action so how do you know there capable backups?
wr? really? who other than roddy? once again names that sound good if you’re a falcons fan but the rest of the world is like WHO?
no TE depth. teams reeks of old players. hopefully i’m wrong.
A Man Of Reason
August 3rd, 2011
9:44 am
Some of you are so dumb on this blog it makes me want to move to Canada. I love the people saying the Falcons had a weak schedule last year. Um… ok…. you must have went to a public school in Philly.
They played 8 games against teams that were in the top 10 defenses in NFL, including the top 3 defenses in the NFL. They went 6 and 2 in those games and 2 and 1 against the top 3. They played the Super Bowl Champions, the AFC Champions, and the defending super bowl champions. If they had played only the top 10 defenses in the league they still would have had a 12 and 4 record.
Philly has assembled a great collection of players, that doesn’t mean they have assembled a great team. If talent was all that mattered, the Red Skins and Cowboys would have been a dynasty recently. Both of them had loads of talented players. Philly hasn’t proved anything yet. If you want to crown them, then crown them. A lot of people bought into the Heat too… how did that work out? I will wait till I see them actually play a game.
John Wilkes Booth
August 3rd, 2011
9:53 am
Abe,
It’s time for you to go away. This is the reason Atlanta fans get a bad rap. Get behind your team or get out of the way. The team is moving in the right direction and has built on each of the previous years. I also think TD knows a little bit more about how to build a NFL team than you do. Go back to asking people if “they’d like fries with that shake.”
honest_abe
August 3rd, 2011
9:53 am
4 games against nfc west. those teams won 5,6,7,7 games. the played the panthers twice who won 2 games. they played the browns who won 4 games. they played the bengals who won 4 games. ???????????? two of their 3 losses came against backup qb’s. and you’re trying to tell me their schedule wasn’t easy? every tough game was at home which they squeaked by. hey i give them credit for pulling those out. but they had an easy schedule face it.
honest_abe
August 3rd, 2011
9:55 am
john wilkes booth: very clever. atl is known for a stupid fan base. thank you for fitting that description to a t.
A Man Of Reason
August 3rd, 2011
9:57 am
You are still glossing over the fact they were 6-2 against 8 of the top 10 defenses in the NFL for 2010. That is pretty darn good. One of those 2 loses was in OT.
PMC
August 3rd, 2011
10:01 am
Sidberry is probably Cut, I think Lewis was a 7th rounder. Not really a canidate to bust. Jerry was pretty good for the first 2 games before he tore up his knee. It usually takes a full year to get right, he and Harry Douglass weren’t fully back last year. Akeem Dent won’t be running 40 yards unless he’s on special teams and then it won’t matter much. Dent needs to be good in about a 10 yard area in the middle against the run. It’s not like he’s doing anything but spelling Curtis Lofton who frankly could use some rest in games. They aren’t asking him to cover fast receivers, if anything he’s playing a deep zone on a blitz package, again, not much running. Mike Johnson was a heck of a player at Alabama, and it looks like Reynolds is going to play guard too, Hawley is obviously not ready, but seriously, the Falcons have one of the best OL coaches in the league. They’ll be fine.
The team wasn’t even this talented last year and they won 13 games, why would you feel this negative about every player coming off a 13 win season? They haven’t regressed, they must be doing something well.
A Man Of Reason
August 3rd, 2011
10:10 am
Also, I love the people who think the reason we haven’t gone deep is because Ryan lacks the arm strength. You know nothing about football.
MM hasn’t allowed Ryan to go deep often because of our personnel. We only had one real deep threat in the passing game and because of that the safety was always rolled over to Roddy. Even if Roddy beat the CB off the line, the safety was always in position to get to the deep ball. Throwing the long ball would almost always result in a 2 vs 1 in favor of the defense. Gonzo is a great possession receiver, but he isn’t fast enough to stretch the defense. There is no way the O line can block long enough to get him down the field. Jenkins was good at doing some things, but he wasn’t a threat. Even if he got behind coverage, no one was worried he was going to take it to the house. He lacked the speed and big play ability to make defenses regret double coverage on White.
We didn’t go long because there was no favorable match up to warrant going long. It had nothing to do with Ryan. If we don’t go long this year, then you can whine.
scrappy
August 3rd, 2011
10:17 am
Abe, hate to say it, but you are right on…With this very tough schedule, the falcs could wind up below 500..(maybe even way below with a few injuries..i.e. Matt R. or anyone on an already weak defense) The NFC south is going to be tighter than it has ever been.. a few conference losses could mean the difference between 10 and 6 or 6 and 10) Keep those fingers crossed for good luck.. We will need it.
Not the falcons
August 3rd, 2011
10:35 am
You fal-cants fans keep drinking that red kool aid. Your team will not make the playoffs this year. Then I’m going to watch my eagles and my boy Vick make it to the NFC championship game, against the packers or saints, who we know how much you guys envy for winning a super bowl. You guys will be jumping off that bird wagon by game number 6.
PMC
August 3rd, 2011
10:40 am
So you’re really confident about Vick making it through the season uninjured huh?
Yeah, I remember being really confident back in 2003.
True Falcon Fan
August 3rd, 2011
10:44 am
Back at cha, honest_abe — As “OchoCinco” put’s it “Child Pleeass”
Are you going to answer the question: What is average about 33-15 record over the past three seasons, as compared to the ALL NFL TEAMS?? I really want to your “young person” intelligence come out in your answer??
Since you are a “Average” stating, “young person”!
I see 11-5 2011 seson coming baring no major skill position injuries.
Haven’t got much time I’ve got to get back to work, you have the “FINAL WORD”
Go Falcons
True Falcon Fan
August 3rd, 2011
10:50 am
Vick “Con” is coming to town game 2 – we will get good look at the “Dream Team” – Yes we shall see who the best team is — ooops i forgot “WHO THE BEST QB IS”.
Go Falcons
honest_abe
August 3rd, 2011
10:52 am
there’s nothing average about 33-15. but i’ve already stated why i don’t see the same results this year. (tougher sched, age, mediocre drafts)
much tougher schedule. falcons play 5 of the first 8 on the road with the 3 homes games being philly, green bay, carolina. unless they come out of that first 8 game stretch at least .500 they’re going to miss the playoffs.
age: tony g. who the birds rely heavily on is too old. michael turner and mike petersen. all very old and on the backend of their careers. but all big time contributors to this team last yr.
mediocre drafts: say whatever you will thomas dimitroff has had only one great draft. the others for whatever reasons i.e. injuries have been below avg to say the least.
True Falcon Fan
August 3rd, 2011
10:52 am
I’m sorry should “CON VICK”
True Falcon Fan
August 3rd, 2011
10:55 am
Thank You for your answer i concur!
TD – really has not had a “GOOD” draft since he’s been here. This past draft maybe his best yet – we will see soon enough.
Go Falcons