Ryan should benefit from arrival of Koetter (and Samuel)
Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan likes the approach of new offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter. (Curtis Compton/AJC)
FLOWERY BRANCH – The Falcons’ acquisition of Asante Samuel this offseason might prove to be more than just an upgrade of the team’s secondary. He also opened Matt Ryan’s eyes a little bit with some analysis.
“Yeah, he crushed me,” Ryan said, laughing. “But he has a way of crushing everybody. We played against him four times, and I think he had like three picks against me.”
The Falcons opened training camp Thursday. Ryan had just finished talking about his revised offseason workouts (increased weight-lifting), his new approach to practices and meetings (maintaining consistent focus, discipline and intensity through the year) and the hiring of a new offensive coordinator (Dirk Koetter), all of which he hopes will result in something significantly north of another playoff shutout.
It’s no secret that Ryan hasn’t been good in his three playoff games. It hit him shortly after (and possibly during) the 24-2 loss to the New York Giants that something had to change.
Taking ownership wasn’t a problem Thursday. “When you look at the past season, and leading up to this point of your career, I certainly haven’t been where I need to be,” he said. “I haven’t been as good as I can be.”
He sought and received critiques from opposing players. Quarterbacks “tend to not be too rough on each other,” he said. But Samuel, acquired from Philadelphia, didn’t hold back after arriving and provided some revelations.
Like what?
“Well, I’m not going to tell you,” Ryan said, smiling.
But he is not shy about addressing the obvious: He knows the offense has to get better, and particularly more efficient in the red zone, for this team to have any postseason.
“When you look at the difference between a first-round exit and a Super Bowl championship, the game shakes on five, six, seven plays,” he said. “We have to be better. I have to be better.”
They also have to be less predictable. If we can’t yet know how effective Koetter will be, we at least know things had hit a wall with Mike Mularkey. Play-calling seemed rubber-stamped from the week before. It’s less about the common refrain, that Ryan needs to throw deep more, than it is the offense needs to be more varied.
I have found there to be one absolute in football: When guys in the press box are calling out the play before the snap, there’s a problem.
It’s hard for an offense to get shut out in a game. When a team gets 10 to 12 possessions, it’s bound to stumble into at least a couple of field goals.
Mularkey didn’t understand the criticism. He lived at the intersection of arrogant and insufferable. He seemed closed to any suggestions that his offense had become predictable and that halftime adjustments by opponents possibly led to a drop-off in production. He dismissed these as mere theories from “outside sources.”
“The general public and yourself would not know that unless you studied film, knew what the game plan was and knew what was happening in the first half and not the second half,” Mularkey said last season.
Oh, woe be our feeble minds.
Mularkey is now disseminating his brilliance in Jacksonville.
Ryan did not take any shots at Mularkey, of course. He even said, “I liked playing for Mike.”
But take note of Ryan’s remarks on Koetter: “He’s been really good in meetings, really upbeat, really positive. Everybody is impressed with how smart he is and how receptive he is to our input. … Dirk’s got a different way of teaching, and a lot of our guys respond to it well. He pushes people differently. Mike was very demanding, very organized. Dirk is as well, but he has a different type of personality. He’s very positive. It’s a different vibe.”
Ryan actually had an impressive year statistically — career highs in yards (4,177), touchdowns (29) and efficiency (92.2) — especially considering he was out there with a just-average running game and too-often less-than-average protection from his line. But he knows he needs to better.
He said the offense most needs to improve on “finishing drives.” Some of that is execution by his teammates. Some of it is play-calling. Some of it is on the quarterback.
“There’s one thing that tells you that you need to do something different, and that’s the end result,” he said.
– Jeff Schultz
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183 comments Add your comment
JSS
July 26th, 2012
11:32 pm
““keeping it real” is for aunts and uncles on reality tv… I rather be considered the vulgarity that you implied everyday, all day, 24/7, than a yessir lackey…
Oh yeah, you might want to try a Bluetooth or a wireless headset. Then you might not have to sit behind a keyboard anymore… Well, that is unless you’re like an unintelligent version of Stephen Hawking? Oops, was that mean like it took you two paragraphs to describe?
JSS
July 26th, 2012
11:37 pm
Rollo…
What did that Hawks schedule look like?
Bobby
July 26th, 2012
11:39 pm
There is ZERO chance that these same people critiqued Vick’s game the way they do Ryan’s. The ulterior motive is clear, whether Ryan has missed the playoffs every time or even if he had won a SB by now. No need to hide behind it. Vick got a pass from a lot of fans for years, now they act like standards are so high? LOL Oh please. You know how many teams would kill to have a QB as good as Ryan and be in the playoff hunt year after year now? Would you rather be the Jags? The Vikings? The CARDINALS? Maybe the Dolphins? OK I’ll leave it alone. As I said, certain fans gave Vick a pass for years, now nothing is too good for him because he doesn’t look or play like Ryan.
rideordiefalconsfan
July 26th, 2012
11:41 pm
yall bashing matt ryan because he put up a goose egg but i clearly remember peyton manning doing the same thing against the jets 41 0
Rob
July 26th, 2012
11:47 pm
“Same way you can when don’t score a single point in a playoff game… I guess they call it hope…”
Not even close to the same thing, don’t make me laugh. This is one step from the Carolina Panthers claiming they will win the Super Bowl. I mean, have you clowns seen the NFC? It ain’t easy to get to January football despite what these Vick apologists think when they trash Ryan. But in the meantime, it’s best to stfu and play ball. Just shows that his head isn’t in the right place and it doesn’t match his game. It never has. But once again, the Vick fans can’t see it and gloss over their boy’s failures after being drafted what 11 yrs ago?
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
July 26th, 2012
11:47 pm
rollo lawson
July 26th, 2012
11:29 pm
Asante probably told him to stop playing like a b#tc# in big games, grow a pair, stop trying to be so politically correct/vanilla all the time, take charge of this team, and take us deep into the playoffs!!
______________________________________________
And then CHOKE said…..”Who do you think I am Flacco?….ha ha
Rick
July 26th, 2012
11:48 pm
Wow JSS lots of venom for Matt; reminds me of the venom for Payton, I guess I will remain a fan and see how it shakes out…….
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
July 26th, 2012
11:50 pm
5 years in. What is the over and under that Blank doesn’t cut CHOKE?…..HA HA
Rob
July 26th, 2012
11:52 pm
Matter of fact, let’s stack it up: Vick has been in the league well over a decade and all he has to show for it is jailtime and two playoff win, one of which was against the sorry a** Rams. No Super Bowl appearances, no list of passing records, no long string of pro bowls… just two playoff wins and some jail time. So he’s basically Tony Romo-lite.
That’s the guy yall are falling over yourselves to defend? THAT’S you hero?
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
July 26th, 2012
11:53 pm
Zero playoff wins for 72 million dollar investment. If Blank ran Home Depot that way, he would be bankrupt in both companies…..ha ha
Rick
July 26th, 2012
11:55 pm
I guess I have to ask JSS; you a mad fan? I am because I want more so nothing you said I disagree with. It is more of me being a fan and knowing its time to RISE UP. The deal is that I dont quit on the home teams because I am a fan……..(noticed I said HOME TEAMS WITH AN “S”). I expect to win the SB if not catch me here next season with the same expectations. Fan, real fan. I would perfer these bashers to say that they are angry and that they expect more. For me that would show some passion. To bash the home team on the home team blog does not show passion, it comes across as angry and bitter……..just saying.
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
July 26th, 2012
11:57 pm
@Roberta
Vick has 4 pro bowls…….CHOKE 1
Vick has 2 playoff wins….. CHOKE Goose eggs
MVP Runner Up…..Vick 2 (2002 & 2010)……CHOKE….Just kidding.
You made my case for me…..ha ha. Vick could retire tomorrow and CHOKE would still finish 3 pro bowls, 2 playoff wins, 1 championship game behind him…..
What a LOSER!
Rick
July 26th, 2012
11:58 pm
And if I can recall correctly only one QB I know won in his first five years lately was Big Ben……help me out here I could be wrong? Just saying………
Rob
July 26th, 2012
11:58 pm
I could see if dude was setting passing records or going to the pro bowl/super bowl every other year. But what has he accomplished? Don’t even compare him to Ryan, let each QB stand on his own merit. What has Vick accomplished in comparison of other QBs since he was drafted? Sorry kids, I ain;t impressed and wasn’t when he was in Atlanta. Yeah he runs around, but he missed games. yeah he has a strong arms buut he throws as many interceptions as TDs. So what’s the excuse? Dude is overrated, and all you clowns who defend him are getting laughed at by fans in other cities because they knows Vick’s game and resume doesn’t match his hype.
Rick
July 27th, 2012
12:02 am
As for you “Matt choke” who cares what Vick did? (Btw you talking to a big VICK fan) like all of these guys say, they play for the ring, not individual accolades……I bet if you ask him he would say fudge them awards “I want a ring.” Just saying…….
Rob
July 27th, 2012
12:02 am
“You made my case for me”
Bahahaha! Two playoff wins in 12 years. The way you idiots talk about him, you would think he won a few Super Bowls like Eli or Ben LOL. TWO playoff wins. Mark Sorry Sanchez has more and so does Joe Waka Flacco Flames. TWO in twelve years? Ryan at least has youth on his side. Vick is almost done. No chance at the Hall, no jersey retirement, no Super Bowl, and a criminal record. Congrats LMAO
Rob
July 27th, 2012
12:05 am
“MVP Runner Up…..Vick 2 (2002 & 2010)……”
You are in here bragging about RUNNER UP awards… LMAO. You want a 2nd place ribbon and a juice box for showing up too? He was the first pick, and with that comes pressure to finish FIRST in all things. So where are the rings? Where are the trophies? He has stolen money from TWO franchises do far and you clowns keep making excuses.
JSS
July 27th, 2012
12:06 am
Save passion for things that matter, these people have been blogging long before you gather your rate they said all those things that you just pointed out there beyond that point now. While otherslike myself have moved on from that fan phase and we just enjoy the NFL for what it is. It is a game that is played for money by people who give their allegiance from money.
I’ll enjoy the sport for what it is; but I understand at its root is the business ( that started as a not-for-profit), but like Maj. league baseball before it, people have made it a secular quasi-religion… and It is simple as that… Funny, the same people who denigrate the city of Atlanta by forming little cluster cities separate from the environs of Atlanta are generally the ones who scream the loudest about home teams… That is an amazing dichotomy…
Rob
July 27th, 2012
12:10 am
Let me explain how a #1 pick’s career should look:
Eli Manning: 8 seasons, 2 super bowls, 2 SB MVPs, doesn’t care about regular season MVPs and dynasty talk, concensus Top 5 QB.
Now THAT is someone to brag about. So what doesn’t have to brag about again? He’s been in the league longer and had plenty of talent. But I don’t see any rings or hardware. Just all talk, and too busy writing tell all books. LOL
JSS
July 27th, 2012
12:11 am
“angry and bitter”
No that would be the fact that a billionaire would come to ordinary citizens and visitors and force them to subsidize what amounts to a recreational pursuit that he owns…
Make no mistake, that is what Arthur Blank intends to do…
Rob
July 27th, 2012
12:12 am
Let me explain how a #1 pick’s career should look:
Eli Manning: 8 seasons, 2 super bowls, 2 SB MVPs, doesn’t care about regular season MVPs and dynasty talk, concensus Top 5 QB.
Now THAT is someone to brag about. So what does Vick or his fans have to brag about again? He’s been in the league longer and had plenty of talent. But I don’t see any rings or hardware. Just all talk, and too busy writing tell all books. LOL
Bobby
July 27th, 2012
12:15 am
“Funny, the same people who denigrate the city of Atlanta by forming little cluster cities separate from the environs of Atlanta are generally the ones who scream the loudest about home teams… That is an amazing dichotomy”
It works both ways. People call themselves die hard Falcons fans but then turn against the team when a player leaves after screwing it up for himself and pissing on the team and the city, their hometown. and they still defend him. Now THAT is amazing.
Rick
July 27th, 2012
12:19 am
JSS it’s football man. Your big words mean little to nothing when it comes down to x’s and o’s. If you enjoy the game that much and appreciate it for what it is dont come on a Falcons blog and bash them. Find you a team and use your big words to describe how excited you are about that team. Nothing to prove here because you have a vocab……..just saying. Relax a little man….you come across as a mean and bitter person. Its Falcon football…..it wont solve the worlds problems…..just saying!
JSS
July 27th, 2012
12:20 am
Are they claiming Eli now? Before he won last winter; they were saying he only won because that defense! They also cursed him because of how his father maneuvered him out of San Diego… Wow
JSS
July 27th, 2012
12:22 am
Rob, takes one to know one huh? Sentence short enough for ya?
JSS
July 27th, 2012
12:34 am
The best thing about being a fan of an NFL instead of a single team is that you realize that every kind of quarterback has won a Super Bowl… Past their prime ones (Unitas), unimaginable ones (Dilfer), superstars (Namath), and even drunkards (Stabler)… However the great equalizer is that far more have lost across that same spectrum of talent.
That is why I watch football Rob, that journey to one Thisfinal game… And I don’t hate all aspects of the Falcons; but their weaknesses are glaring! It does you absolutely no good to sugarcoat those things under the guise of being a fan.
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
July 27th, 2012
12:46 am
@Roberta
And this is what a 3rd overall pick should do………………..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l15S7mooJAY
As analyst Troy Aikman said……………POOR decision by CHOKE………….HA HA
JSS
July 27th, 2012
12:49 am
MCR…
You didn’t go Tramon Williams on them again did you? SMDH
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
July 27th, 2012
12:51 am
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2012/writers/don_banks/01/08/wild.card.playoffs/index.html
The great quarterback….ha ha
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
July 27th, 2012
12:53 am
@JSS
They have short memories….ha ha.
JSS
July 27th, 2012
1:07 am
German mind whip is more like it! Well, back to the grind… Olympic Friday finally!!!
JSS
July 27th, 2012
1:15 am
Rick, Brady won in his first five years (2,4, & 5)… Aaron Rodgers won in year 5, but in fairness he threw for 423 yards and 4 and 1 TD in his playoff debut (losing in the desert to Arizona end of similarity with Ryan)…
Falcons: Play 60!
July 27th, 2012
2:50 am
“Ryan should benefit from arrival of Koetter (and Samuel)”
if they can again reach the playoffs and score just 1 offensive point then hey, they’re already better than they were last year!
Rob
July 27th, 2012
5:27 am
If that interception was a poor decision by Ryan, what would we call throwing away two years of your life over some dogs? LMAO… Or all the games he lost since being in Philly by not protecting the ball? Or the GAME-LOSING pick vs Green Bay in the playoffs? Why don’t you want to discuss that Philly vs Green Bay playoff game, you talk about everything else. Does it hurt that bad? LOL Did you enjoy watching your boy miss the playoffs again last year? Or spitting up blood in the GA Dome? He’s finished, it’s over, it’s done. Bury him like those dog carcasses. He’ll be out for the season by Week 4. First round bust. Back to studying for your GED.
Rob
July 27th, 2012
5:41 am
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=abjUPUiHOqw
Tramon Williams INT eliminates Vick and the Eagles, LMAO!
JSS
July 27th, 2012
6:35 am
Rob are you serious? You guys “discussed” that pick for 5 days leading up to the Green Bay game! Stalin’s goon people like you crowed how Ryan wouldn’t throw an interception like that to save his life… That is one of the reasons why people are hanging it over your heads in such a manner… It was the gift that keeps on giving!
Still, it was the collective sound of crickets that came over not just the beat writer’s blog; but the fan blog, and the Jeff Shultz game blog that made the moment just so extra special!
You guys talk about Karma so much, but when fate swings itself around ( unlike the Philly game as they challenge to win the game)… But instead, the game is decided and put away even before the half-time gun fired! In-line citations and APA references are available upon request!
Sean "CHOKE" Payton
July 27th, 2012
6:43 am
See ya next season after my suspension, pain pill rehab and divorce.
Samuel
July 27th, 2012
6:45 am
Matt Ryan has to put himself in position- where, when they mention Dree Brees, Rodgers, Manning he’s a part of that conversation.
Sean "CHOKE" Payton
July 27th, 2012
6:45 am
I’m still living in Dallas instead of that dump, New Oeleans.
Sean "CHOKE" Payton
July 27th, 2012
6:46 am
Drew Brees ain’t nothing without me and my crooked ways.
Sean "CHOKE" Payton
July 27th, 2012
6:47 am
BountyGate got me a fake Super Bowl trophy.
Sean "CHOKE" Payton
July 27th, 2012
6:49 am
Who in the world would want to live in New Orleans,
camping out in a ghetto.
Sean "CHOKE" Payton
July 27th, 2012
6:51 am
I’m gonna try to coach pop warner this year in Dallas,
not New Orleans.
Sean "CHOKE" Payton
July 27th, 2012
6:52 am
Don’t you think I’m a cute little slimeball?
Sean "CHOKE" Payton
July 27th, 2012
6:53 am
The NFL and my wife got fed up with me.
Atlanta Falcons: Q&A with head coach Mike Smith | Atlanta Falcons
July 27th, 2012
6:54 am
[...] MATT RYAN’S OFFSEASON PROGRAM: He was the first guy in the weight room this offseason. (Check out a column by Jeff Schultz on Matt Ryan. Click Here!) I think he took somewhere between two or three weeks off before he popped back up here in the [...]
Sean "CHOKE" Payton
July 27th, 2012
6:54 am
JSS should move to New Orleans and help rebuild that dump.
RobbE33
July 27th, 2012
6:55 am
My thoughts exactly. Hope springs eternal. Looking forward to an innovative and re-energized Falcon team; a team that would have been last year, had the walk-out not occurred.
Sean "CHOKE" Payton
July 27th, 2012
6:55 am
Will somebody please hire me and my ugly haircut?
Video: Q&A with Matt Ryan as Falcons open training camp | Atlanta Falcons
July 27th, 2012
7:00 am
[...] FLOWERY BRANCH – Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan spoke with the media after Thursday’s opening practice. The Atlanta Journa-Constitution columnist Jeff Schultz checked in with Ryan also. [...]