After 26 NFL starts, how does Ryan compare to Vick?
Matt Ryan hasn’t had the sunniest of sophomore seasons. His team is 5-5. He threw 10 interceptions in a five-game span. His team has lost four of its past five. But with all the dissection we’ve done, here’s one thing we haven’t tried: We haven’t yet compared/contrasted the Falcons’ newest franchise quarterback with their previous franchise quarterback. Here goes:
• After 26 regular-season starts, Ryan is 16-10. After 26 regular-season starts, Michael Vick was 16-9-1. (Note: Owing to his apprenticeship behind Chris Chandler in 2001 and his broken leg in 2003, Vick needed four seasons to make 26 starts.)
• Ryan’s passer rating in his second season as a pro is 80.0. Vick’s passer rating in his second season as a pro was 81.6. Ryan’s career passer rating is 84.3. Vick’s career passer rating is 75.6.
• Ryan’s completion percentage in his second NFL season is 59.3. Vick’s completion percentage in his second NFL season was 54.9. Ryan’s career completion percentage is 60.3. Vick’s career completion percentage is 53.7.
• Ryan has thrown 12 interceptions through 10 games of his second NFL season. Vick threw eight in his second NFL season. Ryan has thrown 16 touchdown passes in those same 10 games. Vick threw 16 touchdown passes in 15 games in his second NFL season.
• Ryan has fumbled three times in his second NFL season, his team losing two. Vick fumbled nine times in his second NFL season, his team losing six.
• Ryan has accounted for 2,324 yards (passing and rushing) through 10 games of his second NFL season — an average of 232.4 yards per game. Vick accounted for 3,713 yards in his second NFL season — an average of 247.5 per game.
• Ryan’s team lost his first playoff start, which came in Phoenix in his first NFL season. Vick’s team won his first playoff start, which came in Green Bay in his second NFL season.
Loading ...Even though the styles were dissimilar, there’s not a lot of difference between the raw numbers at this point in the two careers. But it’s worth noting that we’re rating Ryan at a personal low — though he did have a big second half in Giants Stadium on Sunday — and Vick after 26 NFL starts was among the most feared players in the league.
That 26th start came in Week 5 of the 2004 regular season. The Falcons would finish 11-5 and beat the Rams in a playoff game and reach the NFC title game. But that was the end of Vick as a winning quarterback. He was 15-15 over his final 30 games as a Falcon, and his last NFL start came Dec. 31, 2006. This year he has accounted for 67 yards, more than half of them coming on one run against the Bears on Sunday night.
We can compare/contrast Ryan to Vick as young players, and you can make the case that Vick was slightly better. (Though not as a rookie; he started only two games in 2001.) But we cannot compare the Ryan of 2009 to the Vick of 2009 because there’s no comparison. One is the starting quarterback. The other is a backup.
Note: I’m posting this now, but I’m not opening it for comments just yet. I’m flying back from Newark, and I know from the hour I spent over dinner with D. Orlando Ledbetter last night how quickly matters can deteriorate on here. So I want to be able to monitor the comments. If you’d like to leave one, check back early in the afternoon. In the interim, feel free to vote in our poll.
In-flight update: Delta flight 2011 has wireless available — a free trial! — and I will open this for commenting. Since I’m at 30,000 feet, I’ve got nowhere to go. But let’s keep it clean, shall we?
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706 comments Add your comment
Nocumentum
November 23rd, 2009
9:17 pm
Vick was a very exciting, compelling player. He alone made my season tickets worth what I payed for them. I think this comparison, more than anything else, shows that Vick was, perhaps, a better overall QB and many of us remember. But, Ryan has something that we all know Vick never really had in the NFL; Ryan has longevity — Vick always played 1 or 2 runs away from a serious injury and, let’s face it, even if he didn’t get hurt, it was just a matter of time before his legs would become no better than the defensive players trying to run him down. Maybe he could have transitioned over to a more traditional-styled QB, but we may never know. One thing is for sure, Vick was not going to last as he was, we just hate it that it ended so soon and so poorly.
Once "Recent" Reader
November 23rd, 2009
9:24 pm
Got it. After sending message I thought I may have oversimplified / inaccurately assessed your statement to mean boring.
Ramguy
November 23rd, 2009
9:24 pm
Is this a serious question? Vick wouldn’t do some of the work like studying film. He never learned how to read defenses and depended on his running ability too much. That was ok his first couple of years but defenses learned how to defense him thus his productivity declined. Besides I haven’t heard anything about Ryan fighting dogs. Where is Vick now? Riding the pines at Philly.
Vick Supporter
November 23rd, 2009
9:26 pm
I find it funny….a town that has “gotten over” Vick, and think that he sucks are all over this blog. You put up an artice about Ryan and it turns into a Vick blog,lol.
Vick still owns this city and he doesn’t even play here
Fair and Balanced
November 23rd, 2009
9:26 pm
Ramguy throwing 12 interceptions in 10 games is a sign of not being able to read a defense isn’t it? or is Matty Ice colorblind?
Fair and Balanced
November 23rd, 2009
9:29 pm
VS….they can’t let him go! LOL Why do you think the only picture accompanying this blog is one of Vick? LMAO! They didn’t even think to have two pics side by side with one of Matt too…they just put up one of Vick in that Green Bay game.
pilgrim
November 23rd, 2009
9:32 pm
When Ryan won the Chicago game last year, the analysts pulled out their yellow video markers and broke down what a great play that was. Vick, on the other hand, was pure highlight film.
lamac66
November 23rd, 2009
9:32 pm
VS….they can’t let him go! LOL Why do you think the only picture accompanying this blog is one of Vick? LMAO! They didn’t even think to have two pics side by side with one of Matt too…they just put up one of Vick in that Green Bay game.
I burst out laughing at that too!! Vick will always be the main cog in these AJC blogs until Ryan get’s to an NFC championship or win some playoff games.
AB
November 23rd, 2009
9:35 pm
VS, Blame Bradley, your new hero…idiot
This crap would NEVER happen if MB could dream up something else to blog about,so he gets a charge out of the action. It’s about being fun, but tools like you turn it into a racial issue.
Typical Atlanta.
PIT BULL FROM THE GRAVE
November 23rd, 2009
9:35 pm
BAD NEWZ BRADLEY: You forgot to mention ME. I was HUNG TO DEATH because I didn’t win my fight. What punishment do YOU get for sellout journalism?
Once "Recent" Reader
November 23rd, 2009
9:38 pm
Um . . . Gents . . . .just about every other day there seems to be a picture of Ryan in the paper. Maybe reading into things a bit much there . . . or seeing what you want to see.
Vick Supporter
November 23rd, 2009
9:44 pm
AB
I’m being racist? Please show me the post
AB
November 23rd, 2009
9:49 pm
VS when I call you out slick, you will know,paranoid.
AB
November 23rd, 2009
9:51 pm
BTW, the article was about Vick AND Ryan…can you read?
PIT BULL FROM THE GRAVE
November 23rd, 2009
9:52 pm
BAD NEWZ BRADLEY: You forgot to mention ME. I was WET DOWN AND ELECTROCUTED because I didn’t win my fight. What punishment do YOU get for sellout journalism?
AB
November 23rd, 2009
9:53 pm
I’m a counter puncher VS, If you can’t go the distance, get out of the ring…..
willie martinez
November 23rd, 2009
9:55 pm
Mark, I had some great limericks on the blog earlier. Some of my best material yet.
can i get paid for making your blog more entertaining?
looking for a new career, willie
Benjamin
November 23rd, 2009
9:56 pm
Good lord, Bradley, the freaks really do come out on your blogs….
JSS
November 23rd, 2009
10:00 pm
Look gentlemen and maybe lady, don’t let this degenerate in the last remaining portions of this blog… The same ones who always declare “reverse racism” are digging for a fight. You’ve pretty much stayed above the fray… Just stick to the topic, it has been insightful to those who have chosen to listen…
Fair and Balanced
November 23rd, 2009
10:01 pm
Once “Recent” Reader….you actually BUY the AJC?? LMAO!!!!!!!!!!!! Yeah, all 100 of you see those daily pics of Matt…while they cater to the masses by featuring Vick once a week online.
PIT BULL FROM THE GRAVE
November 23rd, 2009
10:02 pm
BAD NEWZ BRADLEY: You forgot to mention ME. I was SHOT WITH A .22 PISTOL because I didn’t win my fight. What punishment do YOU get for sellout journalism?
Old Dawg 3
November 23rd, 2009
10:03 pm
One more thing.I wore my Falcons gear to work today.I loves me some Dirty Birds!!!! Win or lose.I’m gonna get mad and criticize,but I still love yall.I’m a po man that aint got a lot.But I gots me a bona fide NFL team that I root for and love.And you caint take it away from me either.No you cant,uh,CAINT……Man I loook good in red and black.
willie martinez
November 23rd, 2009
10:08 pm
its ten pm and i tire
another day in the fire
its been fun
but now its done
me thinks i’m in straits quite dire
willie martinez
November 23rd, 2009
10:10 pm
done blogging. not coaching.
Old Dawg 3
November 23rd, 2009
10:10 pm
Nice Rhyme WM.Is that iambic pentameter?
BugKiller
November 23rd, 2009
10:11 pm
JSS..
You’re actually COMPARING Vick to DOUG FREAKING WILLIAMS???
One of the best, most responsible, most upstanding, MOST LAW ABIDING African American athletes of the last quarter century???
Really?
REALLY?!?!?!
Girl, you’ve done lost your ever-loving mind.
PIT BULL FROM THE GRAVE
November 23rd, 2009
10:15 pm
BAD NEWZ BRADLEY: You forgot to mention ME. I was SLAMMED TO THE GROUND UNTIL DEAD because I didn’t win my fight. What punishment do YOU get for sellout journalism?
Birdy
November 23rd, 2009
10:17 pm
Man, comparing the two QBs isn’t even close.
Matt Ryan had a chance to extend a drive Sunday on a 2nd down run and he purposefully slid a yard before getting the first dow. The Falcons failed to get the yard on 3rd down, punted, then yielded another touchdown because the Falcons offense had run 6 plays to the 20 that theGiants ran. Ryan is scared to take a hit, he won’t play ‘football” thus he looks very bad out there at times.
I could live with Ryan’s lesser physical skills, but he seems to have lost the moxie and courage he displayed as a rookie.
Ever since he dove for the touchdown like a courageous daredevil committed to winning against Minnesota, the staff talked him out of playing with heart. Now he is looking skittish because he is now convinced that he should play NFL football for $30 million+ and not be touched.
They’ve ruined him.
Who cares if he is on the field every play if he isn’t going to make plays?
Give me Vick and the effort he gives on gameday any day of the week and twice on Sundays.
blazerdawg
November 23rd, 2009
10:24 pm
I enjoyed MV; thought he gave it his substantial all in 99% of the games he played with the Falcons, but HE screwed up, not Blank/Knapp/Mora/Reeves. There was no way the Falcons could/should have kept him.
So, fine support Vick, but I do not understand why it has to come at the expense of the Falcons or Ryan.
JSS
November 23rd, 2009
10:25 pm
See what I mean?
Matt Ryan Patty melt(not Ice)
November 23rd, 2009
10:26 pm
you still have more #7 than 2’s . Ryan had a better all around team than vick. Put Ryan in vick place with the team then and now. Vick win hands down. Tampa defense then and now playing the falcon. On offense line vick had a Old man Ganda as the only #1 draft picks on the offense line every body else was 4,5, and 6 rounders to Ryan Baker is a 1 , the texas guard a #2. look at defense they are all better than the team vick had coaching, Gregg Knapp player killer where ever he went. vick is the better player who played with less tools . Ryan punk under pressure . Just think if he had played when Tampa had those great defensive. Ryan all the hype and all the best players and just look at him. Yes as for what team he has now he is a when you compare the two teams top to bottom vick wins hand down!!
Saints All the Way
November 23rd, 2009
10:28 pm
all I’m saying is – man you hit the nail right on the head. These people forgot how they went to the doom every week and cheered for MV7 and when that great white savior came in they lost their minds. With this article it proved that Micheal Vick did more with less and Matt Ryan who has a much better supporting cast and done the same. Again, the numbers don’t lie We Saint fans are laughing all the way into the playoffs with a conference championship!!!!!!!!
birddawgbill
November 23rd, 2009
10:28 pm
Why do most people think you have to hate one to love the other. Vick is as good a football player thats ever played for the Falcons. That being said Ryan will be a much better pure QB than Vick. To even compare these first 26 starts are not fair. Ryan probably has more talent than Vick did. But Vick had the (huge)advantage of sitting and learning for a couple of years. But anyone who says The Falcons did Vick wrong is just trying to stir up an argument. Even the most irrational person can look at the facts and see #1 Vick lied #2 Vick went to prison for dogfighting #3 Vick flipped off the fans And #4 Vick stopped being as effective after signing his big contract. And as for how scared opponets were of Vick, I dont think he put any fear in Tampa. Ryan needs to stop trying to be Favre and just be a good decision maker. As Deion said last night in this league the most important thing a QB can do is limit mistakes.
AB
November 23rd, 2009
10:30 pm
Birdy, out of ,touch
Bugkiller, right on,as expected
willie,funny as hell
AJC,clean it up..You have said this for over a year.
If Choke has you under his thumb, stay tuned.
blazerdawg
November 23rd, 2009
10:30 pm
THWNO!
E43
November 23rd, 2009
10:34 pm
1st the simple playbook excuse is gettin old. do you honestly think nfl DBs dont know what corner routs/ slants etc ar?. the qb has to make that throw the only thing a simplified playbook does is gets the football player up to speed when he switches from backyard to pewee to high to college to semipro/pro. its a start. look at jamarcus russell. he was either plugged in to gregg knapps west coast or a system that was all west coast and look at how his development has come around. joey harrringtons case is very similar.
2nd wasnt peyton mannings playbook also “simplified?” just where do you think he started of with his nfl career right into the fire. The late steve mcnairs playbook was also simplified as he improved his passing skills during his career the game plan was like a heavy run playaction here deep pass here screen pas there etc
3rd do yall honestly think that this “simplified playbook” will never be modified? we only have two probowl receivers. we dont have those harrison-wayne johnson-houshmanzadeh boldin-fitzgerald combos we kind of have to use a simplified playbook.
Jimmy Jam
November 23rd, 2009
10:38 pm
Forget who the better Qb is, who is the better team? ATL, or the 7 teams ahead of them that’s all that matters. LEt this non sense over Vick and Ryan go, neither guy can claim a Super Bowl so who gives a $@$#.
Fix the defense, can we do that.? Write about something that matters, PLEASE!
Once "Recent" Reader
November 23rd, 2009
10:54 pm
I live in SE Florida so I go to AJC on-line to follow the Falcons. I was just commenting that there seems to be a pic of Ryan several times a week when I go to the site. I don’t think there’s any need to have the two super-imposed next to each other. Actually I can’t remember if it was SportingNews or ESPN.com that had a picture of Ryan on the front page everytime I viewed it for all of last season and through the summer. It was a cover of their magazine . . . . .I’m sure that would have driven many . . .or should I say a small few with many names . . . on this post crazy.
Kris G
November 23rd, 2009
11:30 pm
What I find most hilarious is how a poster will claim that “Choke” or “Falcons Sorry” must be black, and step back like they achieved some great victory by making that assessment. And on top of it, then accuse Choke or Sorry of being racist. I mean, wow. As a black man who owns both a Vick and a Ryan jersey, it’s good to know the redneck is alive and well.
BosnianBaller
November 23rd, 2009
11:43 pm
Matt Ryan had a better o line than vick
JSS
November 23rd, 2009
11:46 pm
Let me put this before the world and all…
BugKiller (AKA BugLiar)
“You’re actually COMPARING Vick to DOUG FREAKING WILLIAMS???”
Where in the universe did I compare the social, cultural, or athletic abilities of Michael Vick to Doug Williams?
Please show me and everyone else where?
PIT BULL FROM THE GRAVE
November 23rd, 2009
11:50 pm
Kris G is the Man. High Five, brother!
Matt "Choke" Ryan
November 23rd, 2009
11:51 pm
Kerry Collins 0-6 and what did the Titans do…………..
Turn to the brotha………
Just like Tennessee, the Falcons legacy is in the mobile LEGEND Mike Vick
“DUMP THE CHUMP”
JSS
November 23rd, 2009
11:57 pm
Let me make this easy for everyone… I DIDN’T!!!
From my earlier post…
“In terms of Vick, those who are so quick to bury him should remember that Doug Williams, Jeff Hosteltler, and Jim Plunkett were thrown on the ash heap of failure. All three were how old when they led teams to Super Bowl championships? Like I said, it is a question for another day.”
Notice he conveniently left out Jeff Hostetler 1990 QB SB Winner with the Giants and two time SB winner and MVP Jim Plunkett… Amazing!!!
Matt "Choke" Ryan
November 23rd, 2009
11:59 pm
PIT BULL FROM THE GRAVE
November 23rd, 2009
10:15 pm
BAD NEWZ BRADLEY: You forgot to mention ME. I was SLAMMED TO THE GROUND UNTIL DEAD because I didn’t win my fight. What punishment do YOU get for sellout journalism?
“Maybe you should fight a little harder next time”
JSS
November 24th, 2009
12:13 am
It had nothing to do with comparisons of ability, It was about opportunities, and there is a history of both winning and losing QB’s finding redemption in leading teams to the ultimate game after being caste off and left to rot…
Winners
Len Dawson (Cut)
Earl Morrall (reduced to backing up Johnny Unitas)
Jim Plunkett (Cut and traded twice)
Jeff Hostetler (Traded and was the backup to Phil Simms)
Doug Williams (Started the season as a backup to Jay Schroeder)
Trent Dilfer (discarded by the Bucs)
Kurt Warner (an undrafted free agent)
Losers
Craig Morton (discarded by the Cowboys)
Fran Tarkenton (Traded twice)
Kerry Collins (Traded twice)
Matt "Choke" Ryan
November 24th, 2009
12:15 am
WOW – Hall of Famers Matt Millen & Steve Young saying wins and losses rest on the quarterback.
How dare they blame the leader of the team for wins and losses
Matt "Choke" Ryan
November 24th, 2009
12:22 am
PIT BULL FROM THE GRAVE
November 23rd, 2009
11:58 pm
CHOKE talks alot… how about climbing my fence and meeting my pit bull? Would love to see the real you. PU$$Y.
“I’m alergic to trailer parks Billy Bob”
jojatek
November 24th, 2009
12:26 am
No comparison at all. You knew immediately when the Falcons drafted Vick that he was not someone who had the tools and leadership skills to deliver a Super Bowl, much less a consistent winner, in Atlanta. The goal of that draft pick was simply to make a statement, create a buzz around a historically dismal franchise (indeed, to create some separation distance between Blank and the much-maligned Smith family – the “Clampetts” of the NFL), and offer Falcon fans better value for their entertainment dollar…
Matt Ryan, by way of contrast, is a football player, not an entertainer. He is a young man with natural leadership skills who appreciates and respects the history of the game and the insight of the veteran players and coaches around him. He is self-aware enough to recognize both his strengths and weaknesses as a young quarterback in the NFL, and has already demonstrated (see Bears game last season, and the second half of the Giants game on Sunday) the poise and character necessary to win consistently in the NFL. He is, in the truest sense of the term, a “franchise player”…
Michael Vick never had – nor did he pretend to have – any of these qualities. He knew exactly why he was drafted and what was expected of him. He gave us great entertainment before he finally collapsed under the combined weight of his own success and a stunning – though perhaps not surprising – lack of judgment and maturity. Unfortunately, Michael Vick will very likely become another footnote in the long and dismal history of the Atlanta Falcons franchise… more gimmick than football player. He will do well to recognize the extraordinary opportunity the Philadelphia Eagles have given him… we should simply wish him well and move on…
In the meantime, Arthur Blank should focus on giving Dimitroff and Smith the tools they need to build an offensive line in front of Matt Ryan that Steve Bartkowski never had, and a defense worthy of Brezina, Kuykendall, and, yes, even the Gritz Blitz…
JSS
November 24th, 2009
12:28 am
By the way Plunkett was nearly 33 when one his 1st Super Bowl, and heading towards 57 when won his final one… Williams was 32… Hostetler was 29 and only started 3 games before starting in 1990…