Live from the Dome: It’s a Matty Ice anniversary!
Matt Ryan delivers against the Titans one year ago. (AJC photo by Curtis Compton)
It was a year ago that the course of the Falcons changed. It was the third exhibition of the 2008 preseason that told the new administration what it had suspected since the April draft: That it could go with a rookie quarterback as its starter and get away with it.
We forget now, in the light of a rookie of the year award and a 11-5 season of the highest giddiness and even a playoff turn, how bold that decision was. The Falcons had drafted Michael Vick No. 1 overall in 2001, and he hadn’t started as a rookie. But this was a different time, a different rookie.
We look back and we see it as a no-brainer: You have Matt Ryan and you have Chris Redman and D.J. Shockley — who else are you going to start? But we forget how perilous the state of the Good Ship Falcon was in August 2008. They were widely projected as the NFL’s worst team, and they were coming off the most depressing season in the history of North American team sports. (Quarterback in jail, coach in the Ozarks, et cetera.)
It took guts just to draft Ryan No. 3 overall — the consensus, local and otherwise, held that Glenn Dorsey was the better choice — but it took more to say, “He’s our starter in Week 1 of Year 1.” NFL teams had all but gotten away from that, preferring to nurture, preferring to cover their assets in case a big-name draftee flopped. (Tim Couch, Ryan Leaf, Akili Smith, et alia.) But that’s why Matt Ryan wasn’t just a good pick: He was the perfect pick at the absolute proper moment.
We on the periphery looked on the Falcons’ unassuming offensive line — considered the NFL’s worst by some observers, lest we forget — and said knowingly, “Putting a rookie quarterback behind those blockers is just one more indication why the Falcons are bush league.” But the new Falcons had seen two things in mini-camp and then in summer drills that we outsiders couldn’t quite grasp.
1. That Matt Ryan was a different sort of rookie.
2. That this offensive line, under the tutelage of Paul Boudreau, could hold up its end.
We should never underrate the second part. Indeed, on the way into the Dome on the night of that third exhibition last year, Thomas Dimitroff told a reporter that the key to starting Ryan would be the Falcons first having convinced themselves internally they could protect him. The first two exhibitions had given them an indication, and the third — a 17-3 victory over Tennessee — was the clincher. Ryan threw 21 passes, completing 15. (Here’s my column from that night, if you’re so inclined.)
The Falcons named Ryan the starter the next day. He threw a touchdown pass to Michael Jenkins on his first delivery of the regular season. He took a frightful beating in the second week in Tampa Bay but played better in the second half than the first, and that was when the Falcons knew beyond all doubt they’d made the proper choice. The kid was a keeper. The kid was a kid by no measure other than age.
We forget now how major that decision was: Say the line had broken down and Ryan had thrown 32 interceptions — Peyton Manning did as a rookie — and the season after going 4-12 the Falcons had gone 3-13 and their No. 1 draft pick had been a first-year bust. Would we Atlantans have washed our hands of NFL football altogether?
We’ll never know. All we know is this: On Saturday night the Falcons were to play another third exhibition of another preseason, and there’s no reason to feel bad about them or their future or their brain trust. Or their quarterback.
(OK, folks. I’ll be here all night, chatting and cracking semi-wise. If you’d care to join me, I’d be obliged. It’d get mighty lonely in the big ol’ Dome without you.)
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
511 comments Add your comment
eddiedawg
August 29th, 2009
9:36 pm
Relax everyone-it’s PRESEASON. We all knew the defense was gonna be a work in progress-so here you go. It may take us til week 4-5 to gel on defense-fine. We will be fine-I trust this coaching staff, and you all should too. If anything, this will keep us HUMBLE and HUNGRY.
GO FALCONS.
Central Fl Dawg
August 29th, 2009
9:36 pm
I am watching this game with alot of disbelief….. where is the pass defense? 4 3rd down and long conversions by San Diego.. is the Falcons secondary that terrible?
Mark Bradley
August 29th, 2009
9:37 pm
Field goal is good. It’s 21-13 at the half. And not a good 21-13, if you take my point.
crabapplejoe
August 29th, 2009
9:37 pm
I swear Petersons looked good on those first two touchdowns…..he was “trash talkin’” real good and had a lot of “swagger”….seemed “aggressive” especially when he was grabbing the shoe laces of the RB on that second touchdown. On the first touchdown, as Sproles ran by him, I think he was discussing Ted Kennedy’s funeral with the blocker playing footsie with him….so much for “stuffing the running lanes”. Wow. But, hey, his dreadlocks looked really good tonight.
toccoadawg
August 29th, 2009
9:37 pm
Halftime. Oh well Elam looked good
TradeMark
August 29th, 2009
9:38 pm
Bad News can’t calm down Once “Recent” Reader, he is upset he missed his bus to Philly this morning.
eddiedawg
August 29th, 2009
9:38 pm
@Chemdog-
you are wrong-Vick was SCRAMBLING when he broke his leg-check your facts. He wanted to make something happen…..and he did.
Bad News
August 29th, 2009
9:38 pm
Like I keep saying, the tight end was not the problem in the redzone – it’s the qb because he has a noodle arm with no zip. He just proved it all over again.
Should have drafted Flacco – sorry guys
They are going to get stomped by the Dolphins and will be 0-3 before the bye week.
Maybe next season guys, but you can watch Vick in the superbowl though
ALTA man
August 29th, 2009
9:39 pm
How’d you like to be a defensive starter in that halftime lockerroom? Talk about verbal abuse…major butt-chewing soon to ensue
BugKiller
August 29th, 2009
9:39 pm
Bad News… NOODLE arm???
Really.
So, to be straight… you’re just a Vick Fan and a Ryan Hater, and you know absolutely NOTHING about football, right?
You and Gravy need to hang out in the Delusional Morons Club.
Ryan was late on the read, idiot. The pass was late. There was nothing wrong with the speed.
If you’re going to criticize him, why don’t you do so with some actual knowledge, and not with your usual pro-Vick IGNORANCE?
TradeMark
August 29th, 2009
9:39 pm
Offense…B+, Defense ….damn….what comes after “Z” ?
mountain_jim
August 29th, 2009
9:40 pm
Ryan missed the spot on those last 2 passes – underthrew Roddy big time
ALTA man
August 29th, 2009
9:40 pm
Should’ve drafted Flacco? Did I just read that? Are you serious?Bueller? Bueller?
Defensive Detective
August 29th, 2009
9:42 pm
It looks to me like the Falcons cornerbacks are getting exposed where they pass off coverage from the short guy in the flat to the deep guy’s zone…wondering if we played more straight man to man if we’d be in better shape (with the safety sitting on top of the deep threat WR), thoughts?
Extremus
August 29th, 2009
9:44 pm
The CBS telecast got overridden by the Titans game where I live (NE Tennessee), so I’m following along here. Obviously it sounds like things are terrible right now with the secondary especially, but I believe the coaching staff and management will make the correct decisions in the days ahead to address what needs they can regarding our defense. My big concern right now is Norwood; has there been any word yet on his status? A loss like that behind Turner would be awful.
BugKiller
August 29th, 2009
9:44 pm
The Vick Fans like Bad News prove with every word they write that they don’t know the tiniest thing about football.
Hey Bad News, what route did Roddy run?
What were Ryan’s first two reads on that play?
Why was he late coming to Roddy’s side of the field?
What was the defense playing, or what did they do, to momentarily confuse Ryan on that play? Did the drop an end into coverage? Did the Will show blitz, but drop into coverage?
You’re a moron. You’re ignorant. You’re a Vick Fan. These three things are NOT mutually exclusive.
TradeMark
August 29th, 2009
9:44 pm
Defensive Detective ..Sound theory. with a good MtoM coverage you prefer to have some taller guys, though. Plus, you have to have pass rush to upset the QB’s rhythm. It just isn’t there….yet. YET.
Bad News
August 29th, 2009
9:44 pm
That was the worst redzone experience I have ever seen but it doesn’t surprise me, being he has a NOODLE ARM when you need an NFL arm to score in the redzone.
Maybe the Falcons can have the top pick in the draft
Looks like Arthur misses Vick
RA
August 29th, 2009
9:45 pm
Atlanta’s weakness has been exposed. On third and long, they have to drop back into a nickel and if it’s a long enough third, a dime. They simply don’t have the corners to go one on one and they can’t generate enough off the blitz to guarantee a sack. They need to drop back into coverage and pray that someone can pressure the QB before someone beats it.
Slick
August 29th, 2009
9:45 pm
I thought we all know the Falcons were going to have to win shootouts? Especially early in the year. Did you guys forget we had a suspect but opportunistic defense last year? Did you guys forget that we spent 6 or 7 draft choices on defense? Did you guys forget we’re counting on several of those draft choices to be major contributors? Get used to games like these folks, and pray that the defense begins to jell as the year wears on.
CONCERNED-NOW
August 29th, 2009
9:45 pm
Why not play C. Jackson, Chris Owens, V. Hutchins, Middleton???? Get Houston and Grines One-way airline tickets outta here, didn’t we just make a deal with Value-Jet ??? There you go. It’s a Win-Win for us.
Bad News
August 29th, 2009
9:46 pm
Arthur doesn’t look happy
ALTA man
August 29th, 2009
9:47 pm
Noodle arm? Yea, that Ryan he is TERRIBLE. Just like that Tom Brady guy in New England–what a JOKE for a QB…
Back to reality, Ryan, to me, looks VERY Brady-esque–what a future & it’s w/ the Falcons.
David Ford
August 29th, 2009
9:48 pm
Are you kidding! 3rd and 17, 3rd and 18, 3rd and 24, Can only be one of two problems. Def Coor. can’t call the right defense or the defense is AWFUL. We have a problem. Better make some trades. Quick!
Anthony
August 29th, 2009
9:48 pm
Hey Bradley,
I am very concern about the defense. They are letting the second string offense for the chargers just walk down the field. We do not have a pass rush and that is concerning. i understand it is a young defense but Jammal Anderson should be doing better…. I predict a 9-7 season… The starters have been out there for the entire first half and have not shown me anything. I am disappointed Bradley..Disappointed
TradeMark
August 29th, 2009
9:48 pm
Better a slight weaker arm (noodle arm…what a troll comment) that has about 60%+ accuracy, than a laser arm…that throws the ball to say…oh who the hell knows where it’s going…probably into the stands…in Toronto.
SonicBoom
August 29th, 2009
9:48 pm
Offense looks fine. But that was one of the worst defensive efforts that I’ve seen in a long time. We have no pass rush, poor secondary coverage, and horrible tackling techniques.
I’m behind the team all the way, but somebody needs to man-up and play like they need a job.
bodean
August 29th, 2009
9:48 pm
Remember guys, half of pass defense is a pass rush….. corners look weak yes, but pass rush looks weaker….. big man will be back opening day, but it’s time to put Jamal on the bench…need someone hungry on the other end
CONCERNED-NOW
August 29th, 2009
9:49 pm
Mark, can you think of any quality free agent DB’s still available???
Russ
August 29th, 2009
9:51 pm
Philly used Vick’s laser arm the other night for thoses 19 yds. on 4 completions.
bali smith
August 29th, 2009
9:51 pm
makes you wonder if if we should have kept some of the veteran defensive players. I know the defense is in transition but it looks like the offense is going to have to score 50 pts a game to win. Defense , especially pass defense looked terrible in the first half
TradeMark
August 29th, 2009
9:52 pm
Is there any word on Norwood yet?
BugKiller
August 29th, 2009
9:52 pm
Defensive Detective…
… with corners as short as the Falcons employ, playing man would be suicide.
Playing a Tampa 2 (cover 2) is what you do with corners this short.
The problem really begins at the line. The problem begins and ends with Jamaal Anderson.
Okay, this is how it works in a Tampa 2.
Your line HAS to get pressure, so you can drop your safeties two deep to protect against the long pass play and your corners and LBs can play up and in the middle in a zone. The LBs cover the middle, sitting in the passing lanes, while the corners will cover the hashes to the sideline.
If you can’t generate a pass rush with your down 4, you’re screwed.
The problem lives with Anderson.
Anderson can be single covered, leaving Abraham to be double covered. But the problem is worse than that.
Because Anderson is so terrible, the opposing offense doesn’t even have to use a tight end or a back to chip Anderson… to help out, basically.
The right tackle can handle Anderson all by himself.
This means the tight end can find the seem route, without having to chip down on Anderson, meaning he can find the hole in the zone quicker than her normally would.
Also, this means the backs can get to the flat quickly and take the dump pass in front of the zone for easy 5 yard completions, or, because Anderson keeps on letting himself get blocked down on screen plays, letting the backs break containment, this means that screens are going to be killer as well.
So, to answer your question, playing man would be worse.
But the defense is breaking down because Anderson isn’t pulling his weight. Not even close to pulling his weight. He’s bringing the whole defense down with him.
NIGHTRAIN04
August 29th, 2009
9:52 pm
welcome to our nightmare….NO Defense……..Curse continues…………..
Defensive Detective
August 29th, 2009
9:52 pm
@ TradeMark – correct me if I’m wrong, but I haven’t seen the Falcons corners try man-to-man on 3rd and long…I know it would be nice to have tall corners but I think even our short fast (but young and inexperienced) corners would have an easier time sticking with one guy the whole time than trying to execute a zone without much of pass rush…I think the qb’s in the nfl can exploit these simple zones easier than man to man…let our athletes be athletic and stop thinking, too much thinking and not enough doing if you ask me…seems we are getting “too schemey” on secondary coverage, would like to get back to basics this week in practice leading up to 1st game
ALTA man
August 29th, 2009
9:53 pm
A defensive stop??? How nice that would be
FalconUGAFan
August 29th, 2009
9:53 pm
Hey Bad News I just have one question for you. I put all my hopes for my beloved Falcons into Vick. Vick himself admitted he was wrong and screwed the franchise. With that said, why do you feel you have to come on this blog and taunt the very people that were hurt the most by MV?
BugKiller
August 29th, 2009
9:54 pm
And that’s the reason why the team need to RELEASE Anderson.
Mark Bradley
August 29th, 2009
9:55 pm
Hey, folks. I’m still here. Just writing for the print edition about — guess what — the first-half defensive non-showing. Chargers had 281 yards, 255 on passes, and were seven of eight on third down. All seven of the third-down conversions came on third-and-seven or longer.
TradeMark
August 29th, 2009
9:56 pm
Defensive Detective Well, no, they don’t. Especially when there’s a personnel match up with a taller- athletic receiver. There you see plays like you do in the 1st quarter, there the receiver, despite very tight coverage, is able to just outposition and out-leap the shorter corner. Don’t get me right, Grimes has game, and leaping ability, but it has to be perfect for him to break up a pass like that. Houston’s problem is he still looks like he gets lost out there every so often.
bodean
August 29th, 2009
9:56 pm
3-13, 3-17 made…..ugh
Stan Diego
August 29th, 2009
9:57 pm
Charger fan here, living in the ATL. Other than the Falcons’ secondary getting cut down like the Anzacs at Gallipoli, the Birds looked alright. Y’all are gonna score some points. The defense was getting after Rivers – the corner blitzes were working until Norv started calling screens and things went pear-shaped. Would have *loved* to have heard the Falcons’ locker room at halftime.
Mark Bradley
August 29th, 2009
9:57 pm
To Concerned: Lester Hayes, maybe? Michael Haynes? Scott Case?
Another third-down conversion. Another screen. Holy cow.
TradeMark
August 29th, 2009
9:58 pm
You know, despite the Sproles 9-yard TD shred, the run defense has been stout.
Mark Bradley
August 29th, 2009
9:59 pm
Sidbury’s in now. Just made the tackle. He’s No. 90.
La Jolla Dawg
August 29th, 2009
10:00 pm
Are there any people left n the Dome? Very quiet.
TradeMark
August 29th, 2009
10:00 pm
Sidbury’s very good. And a 3rd down stop…*checks lottery numbers*..nope, damn.
bodean
August 29th, 2009
10:00 pm
Other teams in the NFL are making it with short corners….not only is the pass rush key to negating yardage, but it gets in the QBs head… those laser perfect passes to those tall receivers aren’t so accurate when the QB gets his bell rung a few times….Jamal is dead weight !!
Mr C
August 29th, 2009
10:00 pm
Peterson looks awful. The falcons are in trouble.
Mark Bradley
August 29th, 2009
10:01 pm
Your attention, please! A third-down stop. Coleman hauled down Hester a yard short of a first down. And SD misses a FG. The new Steel Curtain has just announced itself!
OK, maybe I’m a little carried away. But it’s been some time between stops.
Ryan going back in, FYI.