If Matt Ryan isn’t Peyton Manning but Eli, is that enough?
Everybody's happy when Matty Ice throws a TD pass. (AJC photo by Curtis Compton)
Regarding this Falcons’ season, only one question remains, and it will be answered next week in Tampa. Regarding the Falcons as a team, a question has arisen, a question we didn’t figure we’d be asking. But here it is:
What if the franchise quarterback isn’t quite a franchise quarterback?
We stipulate by saying that, if on the day Matt Ryan was drafted we’d have known the Falcons would be 19-10 (and 13-1 at home) with him as a starting quarterback, we’d have swooned on the spot. And we spent all last season swooning. But the greatest rookie quarterback in league history — and that’s what he was — hasn’t been the greatest sophomore quarterback in NFL annals.
Sunday was another installment in Ryan’s good-but-not-great season. He completed barely half his passes and had to hit on his final five to manage that. He threw three touchdown passes against no interceptions, but he was sacked three times and fumbled twice. He finished with 250 yards and his team won 31-3, but after two quarters Ryan was only 10-for-23 and his team’s lead was 10-0 against a Buffalo roster so defoliated it wouldn’t have troubled Alabama.
Yes, there were extenuating circumstances. Michael Turner didn’t play. Tony Gonzalez left midway through. Ryan did buy his team a working lead on the Falcons’ first snap, throwing long to Roddy White down the right side. And Ryan himself is still hurting from turf toe — he limped during the game and sported a soft boot afterward.
And maybe that’s the story of Matt Ryan’s 2009 season: It was extenuating. Almost nothing went wrong last season; a lot did this time. Guys got hurt. The schedule got tougher. And still he has gotten this team to the cusp of those forever-sought consecutive winning seasons. He hasn’t been anything approaching a failure. That said …
Matty Ice hasn’t been as precise in Year 2. His completion percentage has dipped from 61.1 to 57.6. He has thrown one more interception in 13 games than he did in 16 last year. His yards-per-pass index — probably a better indicator than the confusing quarterback rating — has gone from 7.9 last season to 6.5.
Asked about Ryan’s non-rookie season, White said: “I think it’s been pretty good. He’s done a lot of good things. He’s thrown 20 touchdown passes, and that’s good. Him getting hurt really hurt. But he’s a competitor.”
Notice, though, there was no gushing in that response. When anyone associated with the Falcons was asked about Ryan in 2008, gushing ensued. In many ways that was to be expected; there was no way Ryan could have surprised his audience after his bravura rookie campaign. Still, there hasn’t been a Ryan game in 2009 that made you want to shout, “Hallelujah!” (The second half against the Giants did. But not the whole game.)
Asked to characterize Year 2, Ryan said: “The biggest thing — and this is something Coach [Mike] Smith preaches — is that it’s there’s a lot to learn from week to week. I said going into last season that if I could end it as a better quarterback than I started, it will be a successful year. That hasn’t changed in Year 2. There have been some ups and downs, but I’m standing here as a better quarterback than when I started the season.”
Understand: Nobody associated with the Falcons is even close to deciding Matt Ryan isn’t the real deal. Indeed, if this is as bad as it gets with Ryan as QB, then this franchise is in not just for two winning seasons in succession but five or 10. But the convenient point of comparison for Ryan raters entering 2009 was Peyton Manning. What if he turns out to be Eli Manning instead? Would that be enough?
And I say, “Heck, yeah.” At last check, Eli Manning has won just as many Super Bowls as his older sibling. If Matt Ryan wins just one Super Bowl for the franchise that hasn’t yet posted consecutive winning seasons, he’ll be worth every penny of that $72 million.
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435 comments Add your comment
Mike Carroll
December 27th, 2009
6:57 pm
Whether he is great or not will not be decided next week…. Thats just a stupid statement in a pointless article.
Peyton Manning » Current News Trends
December 27th, 2009
7:00 pm
[...] If Ryan isn't Peyton Manning but Eli, is that good enough? | Mark … [...]
Mike Carroll
December 27th, 2009
7:02 pm
Stupid me! i misread the first paragraph… Still seems like a pointless question though.
welikebaseball2
December 27th, 2009
7:03 pm
So, of course the same people that bash “Vick-lovers” for bringing up the former QB took the opportunity to bring up the former QB themselves…unwarranted. Some of you just can’t seem to make a case for the current QB without bringing up your hatred/dislike of the former. Go figure.
ANYWAY, in regards to Bradley’s take on THIS (get it?) year’s QB, I think the verdict’s definitely still out on Ryan. Next year will tell. He showed some guts this year, but also showed considerable poor decision making & arm strength limitations. I’m hoping he works hard in the offseason, studies some film, & comes back with what caused him to take the league by storm last year.
Note to you “Ryan-lovers” (sorry, couldn’t help myself): Just because he’s not the one you love to hate doesn’t mean he’s “enough.” I know, I know, there I go talking from an objective FOOTBALL perspective. I’m hoping for the best, but let’s not be blind to what was an undeniably mediocre season by our sophomore QB.
FalconOne
December 27th, 2009
7:03 pm
Yeah, Romo is so great, how many wins does his team have in December? The one against the Saints, yes, and then what? I don’t think he has any playoffs wins does he? Division titles?
Matt "Choke" Ryan
December 27th, 2009
7:04 pm
The rookie qb in Tampa has done something the CHOKE will never do…………..
Beat an ELITE team
jack
December 27th, 2009
7:04 pm
Bugkiller… you are on the money…
and your comments are worth repeating for those who might have missed them…
I think the problems with Matt Ryan this year have EVERYTHING to do with coaching.
Why does the offense NEVER throw screen passes to take the pressure off the o-line?
Why does Mularky continually call for roll-outs to the SHORT side of the field, taking 2/3’s of the field away from Ryan?
Why isn’t Mularky calling the downfield passes like he did last year?
I was worried, a little, going into the year, when Mularky said he took about 1/4 of the playbook offline.
Why the hell would he do that?
Matt Ryan needs an OC who can take advantage of his strengths and help him overcome his weaknesses.
None of that has happened with Mularky this year. It’s like there’s been no coaching of Ryan whatsoever.
The Falcons have a chance to bring in the man who made Tom Brady what he is today if they have the forsight to part ways with Mularky now.
You don’t think Charlie Weis wouldn’t jump at the chance to work with and groom Matt Ryan?
Unfortunately, Mike Smith will do as Mark Richt did, and hold on to his coach one or two years too long.
This offense should have been legendary. With or without Turner, there was enough power in this offense to do some great things.
Instead, it’s been unimaginative and very repetitive. Gonzalez runs two routes. White runs two or three routes. There’s no variation.
Let Mike Mularky go somewhere else and bring in offensive genius and quarterback guru Charlie Weis, the man who made Tom Brady, to bring out the best in Matt Ryan.
welikebaseball2
December 27th, 2009
7:10 pm
Gee, must be nice for a sophomore QB to have all his struggles (see picks/poor decisions) blamed on the OC. Come on folks. Not that Mularky is without fault (see Saints game playcalling), but let’s not treat Ryan with kid gloves. Mularky is not to blame for his increased interception numbers & missed throws. He showed really good accuracy last year, but this year he simply overthrew or, mostly, underthrew more than a few wide open receivers. Let not our bias blind us…please. One set of standards is all I ask for. Either use excuses for everyone or no one.
Steve C
December 27th, 2009
7:13 pm
Kinda don’t like the premise of the article, although I agree with the “Heck yeah” at the end. I think this has been a perfectly good season for the birds, all things being considered – not the least of which is that you’re not supposed to go from putrid (under Petrino) to a consistent playoff contender. They had a great (lucky/weak schedule) season last year and this year they’ve come back to earth some, but still consistently competitive – which is more than you can say just about any other back to back season. Same for Ryan, you don’t become a consistently good NFL QB without going thru some of the things he’s gone thru this year. Since we’re wrongly comparing him to the Manning bros., then take a look at what they went thru – same kinda things that have happened this year to Ryan. Its obvious to see that the Falcons got the right guy at QB, now they need the other cores pieces to make it work and to give Ryan a chance to see if indeed he is championship caliber.
Matt "Choke" Ryan
December 27th, 2009
7:14 pm
Who are the Falcons playing in the playoffs?
Oh my bad
FalconUGAFan
December 27th, 2009
7:16 pm
I always tend more towards the middle ground. Ryan isn’t the second coming nor was our last QB the antichrist. I felt this year would be successful if we went 9-7 and here we are (with one more to go). I agree that there were extenuating circumstances, but there always are. Next year should be the bellwether.
ed
December 27th, 2009
7:19 pm
Its funny how idiots are saying that ryan is the best qb that the falcons has ever had, but he has not won a playoff game yet. MV won his first playoff game against Brett Favre in Green Bay, took the falcons to the NFC championship game, Chandeller took the falcons to the super bowl. So until he accomplish these things then lets not make this guy Peyton Manning.
mike addington
December 27th, 2009
7:24 pm
Why don’t we wait another year or so before we go jumping on either the Eli and Payton bandwagons. OH, I forgot, we have to have something to argue about.
tjhook
December 27th, 2009
7:29 pm
I’m down for the Charlie Weis pickup. Lord knows I’m tired of all the Mularkey the Falcons gave fans this year.
mike addington
December 27th, 2009
7:30 pm
Additionally, Ryan’s and the Falcon’s record would be a lot better with better receivers. White is barely, if at al, a number one. Jenkins shouldn’t be on the roster, and, as much as I like him, the back up running back slot needs an upgrade. Harry Douglas was really missed this year.
ed
December 27th, 2009
7:32 pm
Think about this… if Elam had made two crucial field goals… then the Falcons would be in the playoffs and none of us would think twice about whether Ryan is worth it or not. .. or how about if they had won the coin toss in that overtime game? Regardless of all of that, this team was not ever going to the Super Bowl… there are too many serious holes to fill… (especially in the secondary). They need another good draft and they need this year’s picks to get healthy and contribute next year.
LantaFalcons
December 27th, 2009
7:35 pm
lol really, you pulled the Chandler comparison out?
“Chandeller took the falcons to the super bowl”
Chandler’s best seasons were at the end of his career … 10 years after he was drafted.
keith butts
December 27th, 2009
7:38 pm
The Falcons WILL win a Super Bowl under Matt Ryan! Nuff Said!!
Kasim Reed
December 27th, 2009
7:38 pm
If we win the Superbowl, who cares who Ryan is.
Either way, I’m still the mayor, and you’re all lovin’ every minute of it.
Suckers.
merculf
December 27th, 2009
7:39 pm
Who’s to say that one day people will compare the Manning boys to Matt Ryan instead of the other way around? To soon to tell………
George Holman
December 27th, 2009
7:41 pm
Without the injuries and the kicking woes we make the playoffs!
Kasim Reed
December 27th, 2009
7:43 pm
Hell, without injuries and kicking woes, we win the damn Superbowl!
Suckers.
Big Ray
December 27th, 2009
7:44 pm
I’m not at all worried about Matt Ryan. He has “it”, and that’s what counts for a lot. Don’t ask me what “it” is, it’s a long conversation that normally ends in argument.
Ryan may not be Peyton Manning. Manning has won one SuperBowl and may not ever win another. Look at Dan Marino. How many SuperBowls has HE won?
Ryan will be fine. He’ll get better and better. A franchise quarterback isn’t necessarily a guy whom you ride all the way to the top. He LEADS, rather than doing all of he heavy lifting. People should have figured that out with Mike Vick. That was a very clear example of riding a quarterback whose legs were nearly as potent as the arms of some of the best quarterbacks. Problem is, you don’t win big as a quarterback with your legs. And, we tried to ride those legs all the way, which is why we never got past the second round of the playoffs. It just doesn’t work.
You have to build an ENTIRE team, and you have to do it on BOTH sides of the ball. Ryan doesn’t have to be awesome. He has to be good. And good makes you a franchise quarterback.
I’d much rather have a very good team on both sides of the ball, with a very good quarterback, rather than an awesome quarterback, with a team that has question marks aplenty on both sides of the ball. Want an example? New Orleans Saints. Take Drew Brees out of the picture and suddenly all of those question marks coming floating up. It’s why they may go a ways in the playoffs, but I just don’t see them in the SuperBowl, much less winning it.
Tron5000
December 27th, 2009
7:45 pm
Matt Ryan’s QB rating this season is down to 79.1, and that is a rating Eli didn’t surpass until his 5th year in the league. He’s better than Eli was at this point, and I see no reason why he won’t continue to progress with more time and experience. Not worried about the kid at all. I said at the time of the 2008 draft that the Falcons should select Ryan, and I would trade up to No.1 to get the kid if I had to. I stand by that position.
TMoney
December 27th, 2009
7:45 pm
I’ve taken a good amount of time preparing this, so forgive me for it’s length.
Since so many media pundits like to compare players, I did a comparison of Matt Ryan to 7 other active QBs. Those QBs are the three named in this column, Peyton Manning, Eli Manning, and Chad Pennington. I also added two others I’ve seen him compared to, Tom Brady and Drew Brees. Finally, I added two other young QBs that I think have been very good, Ben Roethlisberger and Philip Rivers. Of the 8 QBs, only Peyton Manning started every game his first 2 seasons. Based solely on record, the QBs would be ranked as follows:
Ben Roethlisberger – 22-3, .880
Philip Rivers – 25-7, .781
Tom Brady – 20-10, .667
Matt Ryan – 19-10, .655
Chad Pennington – 12-9, .571
Eli Manning – 12-11, .522
Peyton Manning – 16-16, .500
Drew Brees – 10-17, .370
Based solely on this, Ben Roethlisberger is the best and Matt Ryan is nearly a mirror image of Tom Brady. However, there is another key to these numbers. 4 of these QBs, did not start at all as a rookie, Philip Rivers, Tom Brady, Chad Pennington, and Drew Brees. Not only that, but Rivers and Pennington didn’t start a game for 2 seasons. So let’s look beyond records and pull up the QB stats for the first 2 seasons when these 8 guys started. These will be in order of QB rating and will include Completions, Attempts, Yards, TDs, INTs, Rating, and Yards per Attempt.
Roethlisberger – 364-563, 5006 Yds., 34 TD, 20 INT, 98.3 QB Rating, 8.9 Y/A
Pennington – 464-696, 5259 Yds., 35 TD, 18 INT, 95.1 QB Rating, 7.6 Y/A
Brady – 637-1014, 6607 Yds., 46 TD, 26 INT, 86.0 QB Rating, 6.5 Y/A
Ryan – 505-850, 6133 Yds., 36 TD, 23 INT, 84.5 QB Rating, 7.2 Y/A
Rivers – 561-920, 5540 Yds., 43 TD, 24 INT, 82.7 QB Rating, 6.0 Y/A
P. Manning – 657-1108, 7874 Yds., 52 TD, 43 INT, 80.6 QB Rating, 7.1 Y/A
Brees – 525-882, 5392 Yds., 28 TD, 31 INT, 73.1 QB Rating, 6.1 Y/A
E. Manning – 389-754, 4805 Yds., 30 TD, 26 INT, 70.5 QB Rating, 6.4 Y/A
So what does this mass of numbers tell us? That even the greatest QBs take time to develop. Two other small notes, only 2 players on this list, Peyton Manning and Matt Ryan, started from day 1. People didn’t turn on Peyton as fast as they are turning on Ryan, they gave him a chance to grow. Do the same for Ryan, give him a chance to show us what he’s got before we try to label him.
BlackTalon
December 27th, 2009
7:45 pm
If, someone had told me the Falcons will be 19-10 in Matt Ryans 1st 29 starts, back at the start of the `08 season?
I probably would not have believed them but dang sure would have taken it as being positive if, true.
Michael
December 27th, 2009
7:46 pm
Matty will be fine; he’s still acclimating. And our season would have been fine, too, if our original kicker hadn’t lost us several games. Everyone downplays it; but easy field goals were missed, and now, so will be the postseason. DAMN YOU ELAM !!
Mr Charlie
December 27th, 2009
7:48 pm
When I first graduated college, I lived in the same apartment complex as Andre Bruce was living when he pulled the infamous Pizza incident, I remember sitting on the balcony watching the police cars filing past.
The next day, when I found out what happened, I was thinking WTF is the #1 draft choice living in the same dump as I was making $18,000 per year. It was then, I remembered he want to Auburn, and, quite frankly, was not very bright.
Mr Charlie
December 27th, 2009
7:50 pm
Ryan is fine, if he grows, he will be among the best in the NFL, if not, he still will be the most consistent QB in Atlanta History.
Mark Bradley
December 27th, 2009
7:51 pm
I would agree: Ryan is a “timing” quarterback. Unlike, say, Elway, who could throw a football through a locomotive.
BlackTalon
December 27th, 2009
7:52 pm
Enter your comments here
Mr Charlie
December 27th, 2009
7:54 pm
Really, all one has to do is look how the Chicago game last year, and the kicking woes this year, and see there has not been much difference. It is called consistancy. I do like the way Grimey is playing, and our D is starting to come together.
Mr Charlie
December 27th, 2009
7:54 pm
Mark, did you ban some regulars? I miss them.
Jimmy
December 27th, 2009
7:55 pm
It is indeed too soon to tell with Ryan if he is Peyton or Eli.
I would take Eli if Peyton is not available.
Eli would be just fine.
How many Peyton’s are there anyway?
Big Ray
December 27th, 2009
7:55 pm
The part that always gets me is when people talk about “the dearly departed.”
Well, for those who lamented the loss of Dominique Foxworth, there he sits with 48 tackles and 4 interceptions. Guess who sits HIGHER with 64 tackles and 5 interceptions? Brent Grimes. Heh…
For those who bemoan the loss of Harry Douglas…Harry Douglas? Harry Douglas! Dude has ZERO NFL stats for the year. Why? Lemme go out on a limb here….I’ll bet he was injured. Whether he was wearing a Falcons jersey or not…you’d STILL be missing him.
Mark Bradley
December 27th, 2009
7:56 pm
I don’t really ban people, Mr. Charlie.
Mr Charlie
December 27th, 2009
7:56 pm
Ice has shown the ability to step up his game in the 4th quarter. That is the mark of a true QB.
Jimmy
December 27th, 2009
7:57 pm
Mr Charlie,
I don’t miss a few of the regulars.
I bet their mommies made them stay off the computer for Christmas.
Mr Charlie
December 27th, 2009
7:57 pm
Oh well, they are OK as long as they keep it clean, we are all entitled to our opinions.
Mark Bradley
December 27th, 2009
7:57 pm
That’s kind of my point, Jimmy. If Ryan doesn’t turn out to be the best quarterback in the NFL but, say, the seventh-best, is that good enough? Probably.
Mr Charlie
December 27th, 2009
7:59 pm
Douglas was a Wes Welker type, Gonzo is a good go to guy, but it would be nice to have a jitterbug coming out of the slot.
Jimmy
December 27th, 2009
7:59 pm
Big Ray: Good observations. Never would have thought Grimes would have better stats than Foxworthy.
Mr Charlie: Yes, Ryan has shown us something.
I think he is going to be much improved next year.
Mr Charlie
December 27th, 2009
8:00 pm
Mark, There is only one Payton. Again, if the Falcons are down 4 with 2 minutes to go, I like Ryan.
Mark Bradley
December 27th, 2009
8:00 pm
And I would agree that, even if Ryan doesn’t make every throw, he makes the big throws. Converted two more fourth downs on touchdown drives today.
Sonny Clusters
December 27th, 2009
8:00 pm
Here’s wishing you a good vacation, Mark. Clusters don’t vacation because it causes too much stir when we walk out on the beach all ripped and tan and the women start coming over to us and leaving their sweethearts over there waiting for us to kick some sand in they face. We just stopped going to the beach. Of course, we can’t seem to place a Kentucky beach so maybe that kind of vacation would be alright. We hope you enjoy yours. Your pal, Sonny Clusters.
Jimmy
December 27th, 2009
8:01 pm
Mark,
You bet…I was agreeing with you.
I think this year was a aberration for Ryan too.
He will bounce back next year.
I think the team will be better next year.
I am just thrilled we have the chance to beat the curse next week.
We are going to beat the curse.
Mr Charlie
December 27th, 2009
8:02 pm
Grimes it a free agent in his 2nd year, I can’t count the picks he has dropped in the past two years, it seem like he is starting to hold onto them. He is small, but he has shown me something. I think he has a ton of heart.
Big Ray
December 27th, 2009
8:02 pm
Jimmy ,
Who would have thunk it?
Barkin'Dog
December 27th, 2009
8:03 pm
Jumping in here late with a thought. The Falcons have to bring their A-game next week against a resurgent Tampa Bay team that beat the Saints today… if they are to finish winners (2 years in a row). But they go in knowing last week they beat a Jets team (in the Meadowlands on a frigid, windy day) that just beat the undefeated, Super Bowl-bound Indy Colts. WOW! That is weird. A team just knocked out of the playoffs beating a team that could win it all… although I realize the Colts were trying to avoid injuries. It still says something.
willie martinez
December 27th, 2009
8:04 pm
Mark, what time are we leaving in the morning?