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.)
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511 comments Add your comment
TradeMark
August 29th, 2009
10:42 pm
..you know, like the starting D could have come out and forgot their pants or soemthing…just saying.
toccoadawg
August 29th, 2009
10:42 pm
Dear Lord please let some good Defensive backs get cut frrom other teams. Amen
Driver8
August 29th, 2009
10:42 pm
Mark Bradley – I say NO hands here … it cant and wont be this bad. Too much talent and young yes, will it be exposed at times probably will it get better absolutely just give em time. That was your collumn MB.
Cedrick (Arlington, TX)
August 29th, 2009
10:43 pm
Again, who in the defensive backfield did their job and protected their job TONIGHT?? None of them!!!!
Mark Bradley
August 29th, 2009
10:43 pm
The trouble with getting better as they go — which I’m fairly certain the Falcons will — is that the schedule is front-loaded this time. No Detroit in Week 1 and Kansas City two weeks later.
La Jolla Dawg
August 29th, 2009
10:43 pm
I am very worried.
Bad News
August 29th, 2009
10:44 pm
Mark
I have a better question:
What was the redzone percentage while Matty Ice was in there?
Also……….
How many near picks did he throw tonight? I counted 3.
That’s not what you want from an NFL starter. Maybe that’s why it took 5 years to graduate
Dominique Foxworth
August 29th, 2009
10:44 pm
Only Bright spot on D is Kroy Bierman! At least he is hustling and fighting through the traffic. We need two tandems: CBs and LBs. The middle of the field has been ok. We are getting killed by perimeter play!
Mark Bradley
August 29th, 2009
10:44 pm
Both Chris Vivlamore and I just laughed at your last comment, Toccoa. And we’re both churchgoers.
TradeMark
August 29th, 2009
10:45 pm
If they expect to get off to some early season wins, they will have to lean very heavily on the offense. But honestly, honestly, if I had to have an offense to lean on, this one is one of them.
Mark Bradley
August 29th, 2009
10:45 pm
Biermann has looked OK. And Owens just showed some speed. Of course, he made the tackle 42 yards downfield.
Dominique Foxworth
August 29th, 2009
10:45 pm
Think Atlanta will try to trade for me? At least I know the defense!
SonicBoom
August 29th, 2009
10:46 pm
Start Owens at corner. Nice walkdown.
ALTA man
August 29th, 2009
10:46 pm
oh wow–that run takes the cake! What an exclamation point on a horrific display by the defense…THIS defense combined with the schedule they have to play may make for a LONG year
Mark Bradley
August 29th, 2009
10:46 pm
I’m thinking Sidbury might be getting some serious minutes soon.
TradeMark
August 29th, 2009
10:46 pm
Sidbury is BEAST
La Jolla Dawg
August 29th, 2009
10:46 pm
Wow. I am starting to believe I could convert a third and long on this defense.
Cedrick (Arlington, TX)
August 29th, 2009
10:46 pm
LOL, that was funny Mark Bradley.
Driver8
August 29th, 2009
10:46 pm
MB – I actually to receive the AJC rag ( Im one of the few i know ) but you stated that the early season would be very tough. The Falcons wouldnt make the run until the last 6 or 7 games.
Mitch
August 29th, 2009
10:47 pm
Worried about coverage. We got pressure when we wanted it with blitzes, but that coverage was awful. That being the case, we can’t blitz like we need to to get pressure.
That being said, Abe was not full throttle, and I agree with bodean, it was kept very vanilla on purpose, and they were experimenting with some d line combos and rotation. Jamaal is not going to make it. He might get cut.
La Jolla Dawg
August 29th, 2009
10:47 pm
At least Tony Gilbert is playing well.
Defensive Detective
August 29th, 2009
10:47 pm
wondering if the Falcons can sign the defensive back all stars from the former Arena League to the practice squad to check them out if there are no NFL d-back trades to be had
Dominique Foxworth
August 29th, 2009
10:47 pm
ok ok Add a backup MLB to the list. Call Derrick Brooks. He77, while you are at it. See if we can get Simeon Rice out of his arena league contract!
TB
TradeMark
August 29th, 2009
10:47 pm
Fran Tarkenton falling out of his bed in the morning converts a third and long on this starting D.
Mark Bradley
August 29th, 2009
10:47 pm
And you folks are correct when you say teams don’t do a lot, scheme-wise, in preseason. But I’m not thinking San Diego did a whole bunch new offensively, either.
BugKiller
August 29th, 2009
10:47 pm
Mark, I’m concerned that the Falcons won’t cut the player who’s bringing the whole defense down, Jamaal Anderson, because of his draft status.
Seriously, I’m no genius, but I pretty well explained how Anderson is destroying the Falcons’ defensive scheme with his lackadaisical play, his slow motor, and his general ignorance of how to play defensive end.
And is it true that McKay actually drafted this guy without seeing him work out, or having him in for a work out?
The Falcons could have gotten Okoye for crying out loud!!!
Seriously, make Davis the starter, and the WHOLE defense, INCLUDING the secondary improves.
ONE MAN is bringing down the whole defense.
Hmmm. Where have I seen that happen before? Hmmm.
eddiedawg
August 29th, 2009
10:48 pm
Thanks DRIVER8 and others for saying the obvious-this is PRESEASON. Please keep this in perspective, guys. Mike Smith is EVALUATING. And I trust him-he and Van Gorter are PISSED. WE WILL BE FINE ON DEFENSE!
bodean
August 29th, 2009
10:49 pm
foxworth…. i don’t think any of our corners over the past 20 years can be called “shut down” corners, including sanders, that idiot we sent to oakland… and you…. wish we could just find a corner that could cover somebody and shut their mouth….
Darrin "The Vent King"
August 29th, 2009
10:49 pm
From here on out, I’m calling them our “seconary” cause there’s no “d” in it…
Mark Bradley
August 29th, 2009
10:49 pm
Thanks for your patronage, Driver8. And I have counseled patience, and I will again. But I was taken aback by this first half.
Driver8
August 29th, 2009
10:50 pm
MB – I actually to receive the AJC rag ( Im one of the few i know ) but you stated that the early season would be very tough. The Falcons wouldnt make the run until the last 6 or 7 games.
10-6 is what you said and NFC South Champs. I thought that was pretty solid. Don’t get the sharks a swimming so fast with your posts…. ugly night doesnt mean an ugly thing.
TradeMark
August 29th, 2009
10:51 pm
Is there anyone in the Falcon’s locker room postgame Mark that can tell me if even one of the Defensive Starters is holding their head up? If there is…they need to be moved to the 2nd string…and immediately.
Mark Bradley
August 29th, 2009
10:51 pm
SD with an FG. It’s 24-20 with 2:07 left. Will Redman finish? And if he does, what does that mean for DJS and JPW?
Mark Bradley
August 29th, 2009
10:52 pm
I don’t think we can blame Anderson for everything, BugKiller. He didn’t even play much of the first quarter.
Good line, Darrin.
Redman goes in.
TradeMark
August 29th, 2009
10:53 pm
I think DJS might be all done. He doesn’t fit the offensive scheme, no matter how talented he is.
Bad News
August 29th, 2009
10:54 pm
Can anybody tell me why there are so many Eagle number 7 jerseys for sale in Atlanta?
That’s weird
bodean
August 29th, 2009
10:55 pm
Mark, the problem is, Jamal should have been….He was a high draft pick….He should have been in for about three series with about three qb hurries and 1 sack and off the field….instead, no hunger, no guts…..
Mark Bradley
August 29th, 2009
10:56 pm
Speaking of Arena players … Troy Bergeron just caught a ball.
Dominique Foxworth
August 29th, 2009
10:56 pm
Nothing San Diego has done has been complicated. The D just sucked!
Defensive Detective
August 29th, 2009
10:56 pm
Even though Matty Ice can sling the rock around, I am looking for VERY LONG offensive possesions with tons of running and very short TE passes to keep the clock moving to win games this year because this falcom defense is going to need long breaks on the bench and then come flying at the QB with a crazy blitz ratio to try to screw up opposing offenses…still think the coaches should try more man to man coverage, even with our short CB’s, would rather force the QB to throw a perfect high ball than those easy “dump it into the zone’s seam” lobs that have been killing us
SonicBoom
August 29th, 2009
10:57 pm
Yes, again, I know it’s preseason. But you should NOT be seeing opposing offenses converting on MULTIPLE 3rd and 10+ yards on the 1st team defense. Would have been better to see those kind of breakdowns in the first preseason game, not the third preseason game.
Mark Bradley
August 29th, 2009
10:57 pm
Nice drive by Redman. Falcons could win this thing. Which would be weird.
TradeMark
August 29th, 2009
10:57 pm
Redman is SHARP. He just locked up the backup roll.
Mark Bradley
August 29th, 2009
10:58 pm
I’m not going to defend Jamaal Anderson. (Well, not much.) He has had chances.
NRBQ
August 29th, 2009
10:58 pm
I’m just glad this one’s almost over.
If for no other reason, no more expert, genius, I’m a frickin’ authority on defense posts from Bugkiller.
Needle-Probiscus Techsters are easier to digest.
TradeMark
August 29th, 2009
10:58 pm
Amen Mark, we don’t deserve to win this one. That is definitely an effect of the preseason.
bodean
August 29th, 2009
10:58 pm
sonicboom…agreed
BugKiller
August 29th, 2009
10:58 pm
I know.
But in the end, he was on the field for most of those 3rd down plays.
He was the DE who let himself get blocked out of the play and lost containment on the corner on the screen that went for the TD.
When you play a Cover 2, it is imperative that your line can get a rush. Your blitzes have to be called when needed, and we know BVG has a good feel for when to call a blitz.
But you need to get a rush with your down 4.
Anderson’s presence on the field impacts so much more than just trying to get pressure. Tight ends and backs can release without having to chip him because the opposing team KNOWS their tackle can handle him easily.
I mean, I actually saw Anderson doing some ridiculous things with his hands that looked like patty-cake with the right tackle.
He has no moves, his footwork is sloppy, and he gets no leverage, which is why he finds himself on the ground a lot.
If you’re only as strong as your weakest link, Anderson is the weakest link I’ve seen on an Atlanta defense since Booker was roaming the secondary.
Yeah, he’s THAT bad.
TradeMark
August 29th, 2009
10:59 pm
“Redman needs to get into the endzone in just 1;45″ niiiiiice call there Fouts…
bodean
August 29th, 2009
10:59 pm
any word on norwood?