SI.com wonders: Does Matt Ryan still have room to grow?

NC Dawg

December 2nd, 2011
10:28 am

First!

Nom Nom Nom Chucks....Taylor or Norris

December 2nd, 2011
10:42 am

Gimme Second Mark!!

Me Too

December 2nd, 2011
10:42 am

Matt Ryan is only limited by the coaching staff and mainly Mike Mularkey.

Seen (Sean Payton) This (cross picket lines and play as a scab) B4

December 2nd, 2011
10:42 am

I think it’s a valid point and I also recall either you or Schultz writing a column suggesting that Ryan may be more akin to Chad Pennington (albeit with a better arm) than Tom Brady. Bottom line, if this organization had the right tools and personnel, they could’ve won a title with Bartkowski…the Cowboys could’ve won with Danny White…Eli already won a ring…the list goes on and on (and the aforementioned Falcons and Cowboys came darn close). Heck, we came within 60 minutes of a title with Chris Chandler. I believe in Matt Ryan and in the success of the current regime (40 wins since 2008, second only to Pittsburgh and NE I believe).

Me Too

December 2nd, 2011
10:42 am

Enter your comments here

Clay

December 2nd, 2011
10:43 am

Of course he has room to grow — he’s only 26 and has several parts of his game he can improve upon. Will he? That remains to be seen.

matt r

December 2nd, 2011
10:43 am

Modern offensive systems in football, pros and even most college, are so QB focused that you are screwed immediately if you don’t have an outstanding player there. The onus is on one player to always make the right decision AND execute perfectly. Works great if you have Drew Brees, notsomuch 90% of the time. Falcons are one of the few teams that is very run-focused which does Ryan a great service (even though the offense looks a lot like the others). This is what makes an offense like Georgia Tech’s interesting… the coach is essentially taking the pressure off the QB to always do something perfect and putting the pressure all on himself to call the right plays. The team still needs to execute, but that pressure is more evenly distributed.

Big Crimson 75

December 2nd, 2011
10:44 am

I’d take Matty “ice” over all 4. Does anyone need reminding again of this teams condition prior to his arrival??

Seen (Sean Payton) This (cross picket lines and play as a scab) B4

December 2nd, 2011
10:45 am

That being said, I also believe they need to win a playoff game this year. The path lies through the 5th seed: wildcards will play on the road at NFC East and NFC South winners (likely Dallas/NY and of course NO). We can beat any of those teams on the road and that would set up a game vs. San Fran (another winnable game) assuming the other wildcard wins (a big if since it will be Detroit or Chicago…). A road playoff win is definitely in sight and that will go a long way to giving this regime, and Matt Ryan, creditibility.

GT92

December 2nd, 2011
10:45 am

There’s only one Aaron Rodgers and everyone else is pretty much a notch below. Other than Brady and Payton, Matt Ryan is right there with the top guys. He’s a leader and one of the best guys you’ll ever have in a locker room.

Jesse

December 2nd, 2011
10:45 am

His main problem is in big pressure moments he over throws the ball and they sail on him. He can’t force balls into places. He’s great when he has time and can throw to a spot, but he can’t zing a ball into a small space. Just watch.

Steve

December 2nd, 2011
10:46 am

SI has not been relevent in the last 20 years. BUT they might have a point, I doubt it

jay

December 2nd, 2011
10:48 am

Matt still hasn’t made the step of reading the entire field in a quick manner. That’s the only reason I can explain having so many weapons, but not shredding defenses. I give him 1-2 more seasons and he will be semi-elite. All of the elite QB’s took 5-6 years in the league to reach that status.

NC Dawg

December 2nd, 2011
10:49 am

Thanks Mark…and Kudos to your “How Munson would have called it” article. One of the best ever!

tonyb

December 2nd, 2011
10:51 am

Way unfair to Ryan. This is only his 4th year in the league. Drew Brees and Arron Rodgers did not achieve their level of success in that short of period of time. I think this has been by far Matt’s best year. He’s reading defense’s (see his success in no huddle) and he spreads the ball around very well (which means he sees the field). For all of Julio Jones talent, he is still a rookie and that puts more pressure on the QB. Oh, and one more thing he does very well. The guy wins. Period. It looks like he and the team are on track for their third playoff appearance in 4 years.

We live in an age when people want instant results. Matt, at 26, is still a young QB. People want him to be at Drew Brees level in 4 years. That’s not realistic. Let him grow, and with the weapons the Falcons are putting around him, one day he will walk off the field with the Lombardi trophy in his hand.

blazerdawg

December 2nd, 2011
10:54 am

IMO, Dimitroff’s last comment was a statement in reality. That seems to be the way he communicates and treats people. But, I also think it is a challenge to Ryan – that he has a chance to become elite. If Dimitroff sees it, then I beleive it.

SimpleDawg

December 2nd, 2011
10:55 am

I think what we have in Matt Ryan is simply a good NFL caliber QB. He has strengths and he has limitations. With the right personnel around him, he and his team can be very successful. Without a good complement of talent, the QB and team never reach a consistent level of success.

On the other hand an elite NFL QB can be moderately successful, even on a bad team, but he too needs good players around him to succeed and to ascend to the highest level of success.

Now, we’re talking about coaching as to how to get to the top with either player and surrounding talent. And, someone has to be consistently successful at drafting good talent.

>>>>and before the idiots start…..Michael Vick is not an elite NFL QB. He is a unique player with a unique skill set that allows him to be successful some times, and look completely lost other times, due to his lack of study and attention to detail. Some days a diamond, some days a stone.

Objective fan

December 2nd, 2011
10:56 am

One thing missing in the Ryan debate is how many of the elite QBs took off once they were paired with dynamic playcallers. Brady – Weis, Peyton – Moore, Rodgers – Sherman then McCarthy, and even Brees had to get away from Schotty and get with Payton (arguably the best in the business) to show what he’s capable of. Heck, look at what Reid did with Vick last season.

Mularkey is a nice coach, but he’s never been on the level of those other coaches. It’s tough for me to judge Ryan until they find a better playcaller who will bring in a more passer-friendly scheme.

coloradobulldog

December 2nd, 2011
10:58 am

Ryan has never had a losing season as Falcon QB. He has a ton of come-from-behind victories. Forgat the other stats. If he keeps those up his whole career, I’d be happy.

vafalconfan

December 2nd, 2011
11:01 am

Under Mularkey we will never see Matt Ryan;s true talent develop

Telfo

December 2nd, 2011
11:02 am

the style of offense we run limits him in terms of stats for sure. He isn’t going to rack up huge yardage numbers throwing so many short passes.

Cobb Dawg

December 2nd, 2011
11:06 am

At one time, it was said that it takes five years to “grow” an NFL quarterback. That was the rationale that was used to explain John Elway’s more-or-less gradual ascension in the league. It may be true that college QBs enter the draft more NFL-ready than in Elway’s time, but I still think it takes a few years for most to reach that elite level. Ryan’s job is to keep working hard and learning. Everything else will work itself out.

CO_Braves

December 2nd, 2011
11:10 am

If we expected Matt to be elite, then we were most likely going to be let down. Not saying he can’t be elite, but those are rare and difficult to come by. Peyton, Brady, Brees and Rodgers are the only QBs I would consider elite right now, and last draftee out of those 4 was in 2005 (Rodgers). Brees didn’t reach that level until his 6th pro season. Point is, the book isn’t done on Ryan and I do think there is room for growth with him. Whether he does grow or not is another thing. I do think that Mularkey and the coaches have hindered him from showing potential growth recently, hopefully they continue to let Matt be Matt and reach his ceiling.

JSS

December 2nd, 2011
11:12 am

Funny, SI was “relevant” when Peter King was picking the Falcons for the Super Bowl back in the Summer.

OK, Ryan will be close to 28 years old come the end of next season… There’s only been 2 late blooming elite level QBs since Kurt Warner broke the mode in 1999. He’s an average NFL QB. Notice I did not say “bad” or “below average.” He’s never surpassed 4,000 yards passing or 30 TDs. 4 QBs are on the pace to hit the vicinity of 5,000 passing yards this year. Ryan is not in that conversation…

Falconoid

December 2nd, 2011
11:16 am

Remember, San Diego let Drew Brees go. Part of that was his shoulder issue, but Brees had had a bounce-back season after they drafted Rivers. The Chargers let Brees go because they thought Rivers upside was higher than Brees. Brees landed in a system perfect for his skills that elevated him to the highest levels. Rivers has not been shabby either (until this year and he’s arguably playing hurt.) So Ryan may yet rise. We’ve yet to see him in the no-huddle all game long. We’ve yet to see him have full control of the offense. When Mularky lands in J-ville as head coach, the next o-coordinator will be the key hire that determines his next level of development (Bratowski? Billick.)

Gman 84

December 2nd, 2011
11:23 am

The Falcons are what they are. They are worth watching and fairly entertaining. They generally beat everyone they are supposed to beat. They really don’t have much hope of beating the elite teams though.

Better than mediocre but not good enough to win it all.

Hillbilly D

December 2nd, 2011
11:27 am

The article makes a valid point. I do think Ryan would show improvement with a better OL in front of him. That’s been a problem even before Ryan arrived, in my opinion.

The best pure QB’s playing right now, in my mind, are Rogers and Brees. Brady has that intangible that separates the great from the good; he knows how to win.

Aint's Killer

December 2nd, 2011
11:36 am

Ryan is just fine. For every person working a job, there is always room for improvement somewhere. Deep passing for instance. But the guy is still young, and this is his first year throwing to Julio Jones. I suspect next year or the following season Ryan to Julio is all we’re gonna hear.

And it is correct that to win a SB a team does not need an elite QB, just a smart one. And that we do have.

I know we are hungry, but let’s give Ryan a little more time before we run him outta town. Our time just may be upon us yet.

mountain_jim

December 2nd, 2011
11:38 am

Another vote for Mularkey is holding him back. Smith is too, getting too conservative with a lead.

I hope Mularkey get’s the Jax job and Smith lets TD help him pick out a better, more agressive, OC.

Some better oline pass-blockers would help as well. It takes time to pump fake and see all your reads.

Still Matt needs to improve his deep balls and no looks and look offs also.

JSS

December 2nd, 2011
11:41 am

@ Hillbilly…
That is the funny about Ben Roethlisberger, he has that same thing that Brady has… When you look at his number, you say “blah!” Then you see his intangibles lines, 20 comebacks and 26 game winning drives including that massive Super Bowl comeback… Of course they both lost a Super Bowl, but they ramp it up when it has counted. He was a sleaze, but as a QB, he did it effectively…

Aint's Killer

December 2nd, 2011
11:43 am

And I wish people would stop calling Payton an elite QB. He has very good stats, but in my eyes he is not elite. A couple notches above his brother, but not Montana, and Brady like.

To me, if you are looking for elite QB’s, we’re talking about QB’s who have won multiple SB’s.

Joey

December 2nd, 2011
11:47 am

A QB at any level is only as good as his OC. Rodgers, Brees, Brady wouldn’t be quite so spectacular under Murlarky.

Josh Freeman is also a talent being wasted, in my opinion.

extremus

December 2nd, 2011
11:48 am

I really like Matt Ryan from everything I’ve heard about him both as a player and a person; he sems to be mature and carries himself professionally. A friend of my brother’s who’s met him in person says he’s humble and pretty much just an everyday guy, and a nice one at that. The Falcons could certainly have done worse with that 1st Round draft pick a few years back.

Has Matt Ryan reached his limit of development as an NFL quarterback? From a skillset standpoint, most likely, meaning he’ll never have a downfield cannon for an arm. So no, in that regard he’s not Peyton Manning or Drew Brees. But he is also, I personally believe, being held back by the offensive system currently in place here, and that fact is on display every Sunday. When Ryan is running the no-huddle, the offense generally runs smoothly and efficiently; when he’s not it tends to stall. Also, as has been noted above, the offensive line, while better the last few weeks, has often allowed Ryan to be rushed and/or take way too many hits. Neither Manning nor Brees could have done much better the first few weeks of this season under the circumstances Ryan faced.

Is Matt Ryan an elite quarterback? Not yet, and who knows whether he ever will be. But give him more control of the offense and better protection, and he could be a Superbowl-winning quarterback. Personally, I’d take the latter in a heartbeat given a choice, and I’d suspect he would as well.

Joey

December 2nd, 2011
11:56 am

I don’t mind run-oriented offenses – they can usually enable you to beat teams you should beat. The problem comes when your running-offense plays the better (playoff) teams.

The Falcons will not beat the Packers or the Saints at playoff time.

Not until Mularkey is gone.

dean

December 2nd, 2011
12:03 pm

Trent Dilfer and some guy named Brad Johnson won Super Bowls.

I like the Falcons’ chances down the road.

JSS

December 2nd, 2011
12:05 pm

He (Ryan) is going to run into the same issue that Boomer Esiasan ran into eventually in the No Huddle. When you finally account for the runner in the No Huddle, then eliminate the shallow cross. Blam, then the No huddle is Buffalo against the Cowboys or the Redskins… You can only get away with that offense with massive weapons and the QB that can trigger it in a massive way… Jim Kelly yes, Thurman Thomas yes, Andre Reed yes… The Falcons setup, no……….

JSS

December 2nd, 2011
12:07 pm

Trent Dilfer was nearly 11 years ago, those are exceptions not the regular scenario… You’re counting on reaching a SB and having Rex Grossman or Kerry Collins staring across the field against you… Ain’t happening!

dean

December 2nd, 2011
12:09 pm

Defense wins championships. Offense is for TV ratings.

Hillbilly D

December 2nd, 2011
12:12 pm

JSS

Yeah, I just overlooked Roethlisberger. He’s cut from the same mold. And like you, I’m talking strickly on the field stuff.

One of my all-time favorite QB’s was Ken Stabler. Not the greatest or flashiest of QB’s but when it came crunch time, he turned it up a notch. Some guys rise to the occasion and some kinds shrink away from it. Most any NFL QB can win, if he has enough pieces around him but the really good ones can compete with pieces missing.

Hello

December 2nd, 2011
12:13 pm

Vick is awful like always. Where is ‘Choke’ now? Choking on his words.

Jay

December 2nd, 2011
12:13 pm

Ryan really hasn’t shown much improvement the last two years. His ceiling is lower than we suspected, and his arm strength is average on a good day. We won’t win a Super Bowl with him as QB.

P B Orr

December 2nd, 2011
12:14 pm

This is just a stupid topic. I’d rather read about Kim Kardashian, and let me tell you, I don’t want to do that either.

Matt Ryan has been the main pillar of rescuing a dead program, killed by a miserable, vicious, self-involved felon who has succeeded in destroying another coach’s career. He is nothing but a credit to his family, his team, and his new city. I’ve watched a great deal of football since the 1960s and childhood, and I’ve never felt the same sort of pride for one of my players. That includes Hank Aaron, Jeff Van Note, Eric Vail, and Dale Murphy. His accomplishments go far beyond the field. This program was dead – it was a disgrace on and off the field, and he saved it practically single-handed.

Hillbilly D

December 2nd, 2011
12:14 pm

That should be strictly. I just threw that in to see if anybody caught it.

Big Lou

December 2nd, 2011
12:18 pm

@ JSS

He should pass 4000 yards this year, and he will be close to 30 touchdowns. Currently he’s 2887 yards and 18 touchdowns with 5 games left. He’s been improving on yards thrown from last year.

Also, he reached 28 touchdowns last year. The guy is really close to being up there.

JSS

December 2nd, 2011
12:19 pm

It is better to have both segments…

Mike

December 2nd, 2011
12:21 pm

Lets look at it real quick:

- Eli Manning did beat Bret Favre’s Packers and Tom Brady’s Patriots for a Super Bowl win. – Peyton Manning, Bret Favre, Aaron Rogers, and Drew Brees have one Super Bowl championship each. That’s exactly the same number as QB’s like Doug Williams, Trent Dilfer, Brad Johnson, Eli Manning, Kurt Warner…
- Dan Marino didn’t win a Super Bowl that I remember.
- John Elway was 0-3 in Super Bowl’s until Terrell Davis and a solid running game showed up.
- How many Super Bowl’s would Brady really have if SpyGate wasn’t in full gear? Likely only one…two on the outside.
- Joe Montana, Steve Young, Terry Bradshaw, Troy Aikman…all had Hall of Fame talent up and down the rosters on both sides of the ball.

So basically, YES Matt Ryan is good enough to win a championship, and no Matt Ryan does not have to be the next Aaron Rogers to do so. He just has to be good enough to manage the offense, make plays, and not kill the team with mistakes. Its a team sport. If the Falcons around him step their game up too on both sides of the ball, the championship will come…just like it eventually did for Tampa Bay.

P B Orr

December 2nd, 2011
12:21 pm

Bart Starr, who Ryan reminds me of in spades, won 7 games in his first 4 years. Then he won 5 championships and nearly a 6th, in 7 years. Questions, anyone?

Joey

December 2nd, 2011
12:23 pm

Folks are talking (writing) about the Falcon’s Super Bowl chances? Isn’t that kinda like the cart getting ahead of the horse?

Dang, let’s see 1 (ONE) playoff win, or even one competitive playoff game, first.

Joey

December 2nd, 2011
12:28 pm

I think Starr was surrounded by about 14 future Hall of Famer also, along with a head coach named Lombardi.

They probably helped with the championships . . .

JSS

December 2nd, 2011
12:29 pm

Being close is not being there, all the “real elite QBs” are already getting ready to shatter the 3600 range at the 11 game mark. He already have the 400 attempts range and only about 2900 yards. Brady on the other hand, 421 attempts and 3887 yards…Explain it as you like, he taking massive attempts and getting minimun returns. He has to average 2 TDs a game just to get to his last year total… Nearly 500 attempts on this pace, and he only cranks out a 4,000 yard season… That is weak, go look at the historic output of 500 attempt QBs and their numbers….

P B Orr

December 2nd, 2011
12:32 pm

The Packers were not over-talented. They were not even the best team of the mid-to-late 60s – that would be the Colts. But they avoided key injuries and they had a work-ethic based system, and they had two guys at the helm who had their heads on straight – Lombardi and Starr, who made a perfect team. I get the same feeling about Smith and Ryan.

Jack in Macon

December 2nd, 2011
12:33 pm

My problem is this: Ryan is very inaccurate throwing the deep pass. Why did we give us so much to draft Julio Jones? Because we wanted a deep threat at wide receiver. The two just don’t add up… In my opinion a bad decision for TD to give up so much for Jones. We still have a problem getting off the field on third down and there are other needs that needed to be addresses in that draft.

I’m a 40+ year Falcon fan but I just can’t get excited about this team being in the Super Bowl much less winning it…. Anything short of that is meaningless.

JSS

December 2nd, 2011
12:46 pm

Smith and Ryan can never be mentioned in the same breath with Lombardi and Starr, not even in jest… The 60s Packers only needed to taste failure once in a playoff scenario (NFC Championship 1960), they never let it happen again! Ryan and Smith have never adjusted to being punched in the mouth!!!

Hillbilly D

December 2nd, 2011
12:49 pm

The 1960’s Packers also had a very good OL and a hell of a defense. Jim Taylor and Paul Hornung didn’t hurt either.

Dr. Warren

December 2nd, 2011
12:52 pm

I agree with Mike. I would add that Matt Ryan passes the “frustrate you” test. I can’t remember a game that ended with me cursing Ryan for dumb mistakes or uninspired play. Sure, he is never going to be Rodgers/Brady/Brees, but the problems I’ve seen could be traced to the play-calling or other personnel.

doc

December 2nd, 2011
12:53 pm

why did the chargers let go brees at a similar age? did they feel he had risen as high as he could and took rivers to be the next great franchise qb?

didnt work out did it?

same could be true of ryan, that he could have another gear to go. especially, if he truly has the no huddle down.

i also think it is better to have a very good qb than to keep trying for the next peyton. grass is greener … not always, bird in hand … less risk, arguments apply.

JSS

December 2nd, 2011
12:55 pm

Run to Daylight… Kramer and Gregg!!!

JSS

December 2nd, 2011
12:58 pm

Brees was coming off a really serious shoulder reconstruction… They just lost faith that he could make it back and it was his contract year… It was simple as that…

GTT

December 2nd, 2011
12:58 pm

I’m starting to doubt it. He can’t hit the deep ball or sideline throws. He overthrows them about 60 percent of the time. And, twice now he has slid short of the sticks in a situation where his team needed a first down. Hmmmmm.

JSS

December 2nd, 2011
1:02 pm

The Pittsburgh game he failed the “frustrates you test.” The Philly game last year he really failed it… The Green Bay games, wow he failed those no doubt…

Hillbilly D

December 2nd, 2011
1:08 pm

JSS

Saw an interview a while back with Deacon Jones. He said Forrest Gregg was the toughest guy he ever went up against. He said a lot of guys will hit you and then let up but Gregg hit you and stayed on you until the play was over.

JSS

December 2nd, 2011
1:12 pm

Hillbilly he was that, I watch the Green Bay-NY Giants championship game every now and then and just marvel at the Packers line play, Gregg was just a beast…

Joe Tess Fish House

December 2nd, 2011
1:22 pm

Uhhh…Everone no Ryan is not that grate. In fact I pointed B 4 many times he is a first round bust.

Hillbilly D

December 2nd, 2011
1:23 pm

JSS

They were an amazing team. I was a kid then, so some of my memories of them are hazy but they just dominated line play in most games. Vince Lombardi didn’t believe in blitzing much either. He said blitzing was covering up a weakness that you needed to fix.

Another wise thing he did was design his game plan to run right at a team’s strength. His reasoning was that most teams run away from a team’s strength, so that’s what they are used to and that’s how they game plan. Of course, you have to be good to pull that off. lol

Joe Tess Fish House

December 2nd, 2011
1:24 pm

And 2 thing that the Flacons got rid of Vick and Matt Schwaub.

karl

December 2nd, 2011
1:29 pm

Matt Ryan is clearly capable of winning a Super Bowl. But he does need a strong supporting cast. But then again, who doesn’t? Think Dan Marino.

P B Orr

December 2nd, 2011
1:36 pm

There are surely as many Colts from that era as Packers in the HOF. Unitas was better, for far longer, than Starr. They won more regular season games. What the Packers had was a determined system and the brains to apply the right force in the right place, as well as some plain old breaks. You can’t analyze football as a series of stats that fit well on ESPN.

MEGO

December 2nd, 2011
1:39 pm

What does Vick have to do with this?? Is it deflection? Matt, can’t throw the long ball or any out…..does not have the arm strength and he looks pretty Jittery in the pocket IMHO.

Vick Fan

December 2nd, 2011
1:46 pm

Matt Ryan will win this team a championship

JSS

December 2nd, 2011
1:49 pm

People like PB Orr miss the point… It is not whether Unitas or Starr were better than the other. They rarely left opportunities on the table… The Packers, Colts, and Browns (to a lesser extent Bears and Giants) waged shear death matches during that period… Screw that ESPN analogy too, we grew up watching it in front of us before we were doomed to having to watch the Falcons every Sunday…

JSS

December 2nd, 2011
1:53 pm

“Vick” has nothing to do with this, it was the typical AJC blogger comment on pg 1 bringing his name into it when no one had an intention to mention him… Sideways insults…

DeportMalarkey

December 2nd, 2011
1:55 pm

If Tom Brady played for the Falcons he would not be the elite quarterback he is. Defenses don’t know what the Patriots will do on any give play. Defenses can stack against the Falcons because they are so predictable. So Ryan having the outstanding win/loss record he has shows he can play even when defenses know what is coming.
Can Ryan throw with amazing consistency like Brees? No. But neither can Peyton Manning.
The Falcons ALWASY have trouble closing because Malarky has no balls and gets very conservative the moment the Falcons get a lead.

Fred Macmurray

December 2nd, 2011
1:56 pm

Kudos Joe Tess,, I believe thats the first time you’ve ever spelled “First” correctly,,,, But Matt Schwaub, good one.

Innocent Bystander

December 2nd, 2011
2:01 pm

Can Matt Ryan continue to grow and improve? Yes, but I believe it is entirely dependent on the coaching staff putting him into a position to succeed. I find it very telling indeed that the Falcons offense marches up and down the field at will when Matt is running the Texas offense, yet they can’t maintain any semblance of consistency when Mularkey is radioing the plays into the huddle. I honestly believe there is a disconnect between what is happening on the field and what MM sees from the coaches booth. It’s my opinion that they need to “take the training wheels off” and give Matt full control of the offense. Continue fielding 3 receiver sets to keep the defense guessing between pass and run, and we should only be huddling up on 4th and inches or on a potential game changing play.

Ryan highly over hyped and their GM

December 2nd, 2011
2:04 pm

yes he can grow. But will he, I think he has done all he is going to do. If the run game is gone so is he. Deep pass still weak arm. But keep hoping. You gave up a lot for J.Jone and it is just not paying off for what you gave up MR. GM!!

Old Falcon Fan

December 2nd, 2011
2:08 pm

Second tier NFL QB. Of course, Brady, Brees and Rodgers have set the first tier bar pretty high.

Cohutta Dawgman

December 2nd, 2011
2:11 pm

Would still rather have Matty Ice than the other 3 mentioned in the article.

Hillbilly D

December 2nd, 2011
2:11 pm

One further point about Johnny Unitas and Bart Starr, in those days, QB’s called their own plays. That was a strength of both of them, play calling.

ATLER (Ramblin Wreck)

December 2nd, 2011
2:17 pm

Ryan’s arm strength and mobility is his biggest down falls. If you look at the elite QBs in the league today, you’d see how the scramble around in the pocket to buy time and make plays. If you go back and watch ole slow Matty Ice he freaks out and panics when he’s forced out the pocket. To add to that, he’s not mobile at all. The Falcons don’t have that killer instinct that the other elite teams have and that’s why we’ll stay an average team. And that goes for all of our professional teams.

AlpharettaGuy

December 2nd, 2011
2:19 pm

Ryan is not a bad QB but your chances of winning SB go down when you don’t have one of the few elite–Rodgers, Brees, Brady. Falcons are close but need some pieces to get far in the playoffs. Julio is great but his price tag may prevent some of those pieces from getting here!

AlpharettaGuy

December 2nd, 2011
2:22 pm

ATLER makes a good point–Matty is not the athlete that many other QBs are. When he runs on 3rd down, he’ll slide 2 yards short of marker rather than try to make a move to get the first down. He’s not nimble when out of the pocket. So, you have to try to frame the offense around his strengths as best you can…kind of an ‘anti-Tebow’ approach.

P B Orr

December 2nd, 2011
2:25 pm

ALTER, what world are you living in? Despite getting regularly pummeled in the early part of the season, Ryan was 4-3 and could easily have been 6-1. He rolls out great and can throw on the run. No, he’s not a scrambler but neither is any other of the good QBs in the league. Jesus, all you have to do is watch the game. He was nearly perfect last week because he’s getting protection now. Are you folks blind??

ATLER (Ramblin Wreck)

December 2nd, 2011
2:25 pm

I think Matt Ryan has a strong supporting cast offensively. So don’t try to say he needs help. That’s a bunch of crap!!!!! (For the person who left the comment about Ryan needing help)

P B Orr

December 2nd, 2011
2:27 pm

No wonder the country hates Atlanta fans. They can’t process simple visual information from the television. Ryan is 6′4″ and 220 lbs – not a good athlete? WTF?? He got his ankle stepped on by a 300 lb dude and was back the next play! The only games he’s missed in 4 years were caused by a bad toe!

The Falconator

December 2nd, 2011
2:28 pm

If you want to see Ryan progress faster, then stop doing the primary thing (aside from arm strength issues) that’s holding him back. Take play-calling away from Mularkey and give it to the obviously much more aware and cerebral Ryan and run the no-huddle with greater frequency. Then tell Van Gorder to give up his love affair with that miserably frustrating and inept soft zone defense. If the DB’s can’t cover man-to-man, then you’ve spent a great deal of money on the wrong talent.

jfreak13713

December 2nd, 2011
2:30 pm

Ryan is a really good QB and I’m proud to have him on this team. Just look at Philly with Vick and they are a mess! Vick with all his talent seems to either associate with or create a mess in the locker room?? Is Matt Ryan equal to Aaron Rodgers, Tom Brady, or Drew Brees probably not on most Sundays but he is good enough win! Ryan seems more comfortable in New England style offense where plays are called at line and the pace is much faster. Ryan is a FULL COURT PG not a half court offensive QB??

crackbaby

December 2nd, 2011
2:31 pm

@Objective fan
“Mularkey is a nice coach, but he’s never been on the level of those other coaches. It’s tough for me to judge Ryan until they find a better playcaller who will bring in a more passer-friendly scheme.”

Bingo! Couldn’t agree more. When the Falcons play the Patriots, Pack, Bears, etc. they look like a minor league franchise. Mularkey’s WR routes leave something to be desired – the defenders seen to know where the receivers are going. Not so with teh Pats or the Pack.

northern neighbor

December 2nd, 2011
2:32 pm

Read the ESPN interview with Aaron Rogers and you begin to understand how much room there is to grow as a quarterback, the attention to detail and hard work required. Plus, you need the physical skills. A lot of things have to work together to make great.
Plus, Rogers has 3-4 more years, including 3 years watching Favre, learning and practicing without the distraction of having to play in games.

ATLER (Ramblin Wreck)

December 2nd, 2011
2:32 pm

P B Orr what games are YOU watching? All the 7 and 8 yard passes that Matty throws are the reason he was nearly perfect. Come on dude get real. That’s what wrong with us Atlanta fans. We settle for whatever and look for a slightly above average QB to take us to the promise land. Coulda, shoulda, but we’re not 6-1. We are who we thought we were. Slightly above average.

jfreak13713

December 2nd, 2011
2:34 pm

Also, If you “Mularkey” throw the ball on 1st down you MUST be prepared to throw on 2nd and 3rd down as well in the event you don’t complete the first down pass! Drives me crazy when HE calls first down pass which is not completed then runs on second down and little or no yards. That creates 3rd and long which is never a good thing.

ATLER (Ramblin Wreck)

December 2nd, 2011
2:40 pm

@ P B Orr
What games are you watching my friend? Any QB in the NFL can throw short passes and allow their receiving corps to get yard s after catch, which is what Matty is good at. But let him try to throw deep and you can see what his weakness is. We even get to the red zone often, but end up kicking field goals. Elite QBs put 7 points on the board. Stop being a Matty homer, he’s been exposed.

Ben

December 2nd, 2011
2:41 pm

People don’t really appreciate what they have in Matt Ryan right now. He’s a game manager type QB, he doesn’t run a 4-wide, single back offense. He doesn’t throw the ball enough times per game to put up Brees or Rodgers like numbers. The Falcons run the ball about 55% of the time while the Packers/Saints/Patriots throw it about 60% of the time. That translates to about 10 attempts and 7 completions per game, and if you take a league average of about 7 or 8 yards per attempt that’s around 80 yards per game or 1000 yards per season difference. Comparing Ryan to Brees/Brady/Rodgers is not a very effective comparison. You’ll get a better understanding of Ryan’s true value by comparing him to a guy like Roethlisberger or Eli Manning, or even a pre-2007 Brady. Don’t forget, the Patriots haven’t won a Super Bowl since they went to this spread style offense, they won three SB’s as a pro set, run first team.

I’d like to see the Falcons offense get more aggressive and develop a killer instinct, but that’s a “playcalling” issue and not a “playbook” issue. The offensive coaches just need to get better at picking the right moments to step on the gas.

Paddy

December 2nd, 2011
2:42 pm

dean…..defense does not win championships. A great offense gets you the ring. That saying, so often repeated, that folks take it as gospel. It might have been true for Woody Hayes and Vince Lombardi, not that way anymore.

jfreak13713

December 2nd, 2011
2:44 pm

Mobility? That is really what you idiots think is Ryan issues? Really? Watch Tom Brady and you’ll think Ryan is Vick! Arm strenght? Joe Montanah was considered to have avg arm strenght as well and he did pretty good I think. Ryan is a really good QB and will at some point win a Super Bowl or at least play in one. Every team wants Rodgers or Brady but those just don’t come around too often. Show a little support guys this team is good enough to win and win now!

jfreak13713

December 2nd, 2011
2:48 pm

VICK OR RYAN?

Chris

December 2nd, 2011
2:48 pm

Aaron Rodgers was not even Aaron Rodgers until we beat him in the dome last year. He was not considered elite by far last year. He has gone on an amazing run since then, including the playoffs and super bowl. I’ll take Matt Ryan on my Falcons, he will be great also.

Cutty

December 2nd, 2011
2:50 pm

he has a limited skill set. He can’t throw the deep ball at all. I don’t know what games some of you ryan lovers are looking at. He has questionable decision making as well. Why give away all those draft picks for Julio Jones when Matty Ice can’t even get him the ball deep. He in average quarterback nothing more nothing less.

jfreak13713

December 2nd, 2011
2:50 pm

Montanan sorry of the spelling error.

JSS

December 2nd, 2011
3:01 pm

See that is what I mean by a “sideways insults…” Just look at the bloggers who keep trying to inject Vick into this blog? Brady is slower afoot than Ryan but I’d prefer him in scramble scenario because he has eons more pocket presence and when he gets in the open field, even with that bum knee, he gets more yards before sliding…

The Truth

December 2nd, 2011
3:04 pm

Ryan was drafted for his image, and that alone. He is not an elite QB, and does not possess the skill set to become one of the game’s best. I love the Falcons, but they need to go another direction at the QB position.

GTT

December 2nd, 2011
3:06 pm

How to you have a weak arm, if you overthrow every deep ball, geniuses? It’s no touch, not no strength.

JSS

December 2nd, 2011
3:11 pm

Chris, you so far off it is just strange…The game that jump started Rodgers was the Lions game last year in Detroit. After he was knocked out, he came back other worldly! He passed for 396 in the Meadowsland the next week and from that moment on, it was game, set, match Packers…

GTT

December 2nd, 2011
3:11 pm

Touch is where the ball goes and when it gets there. Ryan lacks that on many throws.

word

December 2nd, 2011
3:19 pm

Me Too called it early and right. Ryan is only limited by the offensive coordination. He stands out on his no huddle offense but is still very raw and young. Coaching that correctly could put him alongside with the more effective qb’s.

JSS

December 2nd, 2011
3:24 pm

Somewhere Bruce Coslett is laughing at the “no huddle” is a cure all of his shortcomings talk…

The Truth

December 2nd, 2011
3:27 pm

Ryan will never be anything more than a middle of the road QB. That is a fact.

Cutty

December 2nd, 2011
3:32 pm

The Truth My friend you nailed it on the head. I said it 1000 times the team was so anxious to get get passed the Vick incident that they reached for the first quarterback that they saw. Honestly as god as my witness I feel the Chris Redman would put up equal or better numbers that Matt Ryan if given the same chance. Matty Ice should give Vick and his convict buddies half his pay because they got it for him. LOL

Die Hard Falcon

December 2nd, 2011
3:38 pm

Matt Ryan is a terrific young talent. I cannot predict the future to know if he’ll ever be “Elite”, depending on how a person defines it. I do KNOW that he is NOT an average or below average QB, he is in the top 10 right now in his 4th year. I don’t believe he’s hit his ceiling, I think if they start opening up this offense and he gets a full season (and offseason) w/ Julio, he’ll start getting in sync on deep routes. He certainly doesn’t possess elite arm strength but neither did Montana. Bottom line is all these haters can bugger off, he’s the best QB the Falcons have ever had and the wins can attest to this. If we’re fortunate enough to have Mularkey go elsewhere this offseason, and we can bring in Josh McDaniels or Norv Turner or some brilliant playcaller, Ryan will be top 5 in the league, bank on it. He’s played very well, and while they have finally put talent around him this year, the OL has been a liability, Brady has all day to pass, if Ryan played in that system with that protection, he could be just as good, that last part of course is opinion.
Go FALCONS! Go Matty ICE! Go to HELL all haters!!!!

Bobo is Not the Problem

December 2nd, 2011
3:40 pm

Good grief. He’s a middle-of-the-pack QB. Of course, there’s room to grow. This headline would be appropriate for Rodgers, Brees, Brady, Manning. But not Ryan. How about growing in the area of “accuracy”? Not being high and wide? Leading receivers so we can get some YAC?

The Truth

December 2nd, 2011
3:42 pm

I love how all of a sudden not being delusional = being a hater.

Innocent Bystander

December 2nd, 2011
3:45 pm

ATLER: I’m not sure where you are getting your WAG about the Falcon’s inability to score TDs in the redzone. Currently, they’re ranked 9th in redzone TD %, one spot above NO, who is QB’d by someone I’m sure you would qualify as “elite.”

Don’t you hate it when actual stats debunk your theorycrafting?

http://www.teamrankings.com/nfl/stat/red-zone-scoring-pct

JSS

December 2nd, 2011
3:48 pm

The drop-off between the Top 8 passers is huge!!! He (Ryan) is even behind the highly inconsistent Tony Romo… If you read the Trotter article, he hits on all the points in stark language from Thomas Dimitroff… It is the first time that Thomas has been honest in how describes Matt Ryan (and QBs like him)…

Howdy Doody in a Helmet

December 2nd, 2011
3:50 pm

QBs are graded on how they peform in the clutch. 3rd down and 5+ in regular season, road games and meaningful games in record in January. Ryan has proven to be a good game manager, but not one who has performed well in the key clutch moments to earn an elite status moniker.

We hope he can continue to progress. Concerns are QB rating on throws 20+ yds down field, where he is at the bottom of the heap in the NFL despite having White, Gonzalez, Julio and HD as downfield targets. He has proven to be a bit timid in the pocket and when leaving the pocket is more concerned about sliding short vs. moving the chains. Big on checkdowns, throw aways. Accuracy has also been an issue for him, even on intermediate routes.

Hopefully he will develop into a “play-making” QB. Brees in SD was good, now elite in the Big Easy. We have hope, I hope!

I Wonder

December 2nd, 2011
3:53 pm

If you tell haters to go to hell, doesn’t that make you hater as well?

heartofdarkness

December 2nd, 2011
3:56 pm

Which coach on the Falcons got his pro creds by developing professional passers? Which coach on the Falcons is known throughout the league as an offensive guru? It was never the plan, to my eye, to run a high octane passing attack in Atlanta under Dimitroff-Smiith. In their deepest, darkest visions, Falcons management envisioned Billy Wade handing off to Gayle Sayers.

old man

December 2nd, 2011
4:01 pm

I’m impressed with the posts describing great QBs–like Brees–who really hit their stride only after several years in the league.

Only two players touch the ball on every offensive play, and let’s forget about the center. So if your QB has enough to be a winner for your team, you need to stick with him and structure what you do around him. Ryan’s weaknesses, in order:

1. Mobility/extending the play
2. Long throw strength/accuracy (this is way overblown, in my opinion)

His strengths, in order:

1. Bad habit of winning a lot
1. Play calling/reading defenses
2. Short and intermediate throw strength and accuracy
2. Quiet leadership

Whining about his weaknesses doesn’t help. Choosing personnel, calling plays, going no-huddle all the time, etc., which maximize his strengths, does help. If we do these things we will just fine.

Die Hard Falcon

December 2nd, 2011
4:02 pm

Truth–

I can only assume its hating. I KNOW it’s NOT delusional to say he’s top 10 currently in the league. I would be curious who you would put ahead of him. Saying someone is average or middle of the pack w/o anything to back it up or say who’s better than him is not “a fact”.

Ryan is definitely the best QB the Falcons have ever had and I would like to know who’s better if that’s not true. I would also like to know if we can agree or not that he’s in the top 10, and if not, who do you put ahead of him?
I have massive respect for him as a player and as a person, that doesn’t make me or any of my statements delusional, and if others statements aren’t based in evidence, then that would be hating for the sake of hating. I’m not painting him as the 2nd coming just stating he’s top 10, good enough for us to win consistently and I believe eventually at an elite level (meaning our team not necessarily him). He has all the intangibles of staying calm and making plays at the end of games for comebacks. Go Falcons and true Falcons Fans! Go Matty Ice!

DCBrave33

December 2nd, 2011
4:08 pm

Has anyone around here noticed how fantastic Matt Ryan has played since out offensive line became more stable? He struggled in a few games early (as well as showed fantastic heart and ability in a gutty comeback against the Eagles) when his offensive line couldn’t keep him clean for more than a split-second.

Ryan has shown and hopefully will continue to show the ability to be a pro bowl QB that can lead a team to a Super Bowl. I don’t know how much more “elite” you want from him.

Just like Brady, Brees, Manning…if you dont keep them clean, they will look pedestrian. Rodgers on the other hand, he is playing unworldly. Congrats to him, but you can’t ever reasonably EXPECT that kind of production from your QB.

Die Hard Falcon

December 2nd, 2011
4:10 pm

I WONDER–

Perhaps it is a bit hateful. I retract my statement about going to hell. I get testy about people bashing my teams QB, especially when I feel it’s undeserved. I still believe it is hating going on, I’ve been coming on these blogs for about a year and so many Ryan haters that are just negative Monday morning QB’s.

MR2 is in the top 10, and so is our team, I think both will progress higher in the next 2 years. Go Falcons!

D man

December 2nd, 2011
4:23 pm

I think Matt is a great young QB that has plenty of room to grow. Once he wins a playoff game and a couple of other “big” games, we will all see improvement. That is where he has lacked so far. After he beat NO and Baltimore last year, I could see a step up in his game. He just needs a few more of those type wins under his belt. He does great winning the games we are suppose to win.

D man

December 2nd, 2011
4:34 pm

Matt just needs to get fired up a little more before the big games. I’m an athlete and I have always found that if I get myself “up” for a game, I always perform at a higher level. Maybe he needs to hire Ray Lewis to teach him how to get fired up before a game.

GTT

December 2nd, 2011
4:56 pm

“Ryan is definitely the best QB the Falcons have ever had and I would like to know who’s better if that’s not true.”

Steve Bartkowski

GTT

December 2nd, 2011
4:58 pm

But, Ryan has a chance to surpass him and I hope he does. He’s clutch, although his overthrows and sliding short of the sticks is maddening.

Ted M

December 2nd, 2011
4:59 pm

Bobby Hebert was better

Ted M

December 2nd, 2011
5:00 pm

One thing is for sure Ryan is not and likely never going to beat Aaron Rodgers in the playoffs

Mr Charlie

December 2nd, 2011
5:10 pm

Ryan’s career head to head record to Rogers is 2-2. No reason to think we can’t beat him…

Whopper Dawg

December 2nd, 2011
5:29 pm

I thought this would be a critical year for Ryan. In his fourth year, with two supposedly elite WRs, HOF TE and a pro bowl RB and FB. What more could you ask for?

So far, the returns have been mixed. Problems with the deep ball and accuracy overall, in addition, in big games, seems to play his worse.

That being said MM does him no favors. The ballyhooed Jones trade in the name of more explosive plays has been mediocre at best.

Looks like Ryan will be a good to occasionally very good QB, but not an elite one.

Mr Charlie

December 2nd, 2011
5:39 pm

Ryans upside is his ability to master the no huddle, call plays, get match ups, etc. He had not had a great year, but ever since our line stablized, he has gotten steadily better. I liken him to Tom Brady, he needs protection, not very mobile, and takes what is there, not afraid to check down.

Brady was great at the Long ball, only when he had great deep receivers….Funny how that works.

Mr Charlie

December 2nd, 2011
5:55 pm

Why don’t we talk about MV7 anymore, and his epic fail, and how I pointed out that team had no O-line or heart. And how I said that MV7 would be knocked out for the season by week 8. I mean, he used to be a pretty lively topic, what happened to all his advocates? Did they realize he was a quitter?

CUTTY

December 2nd, 2011
6:02 pm

Mr. charlie,

In case you didn’t know Mike Vick doesn’t play for the Falcons anymore. He plays in Philadelphia. what reason do falcons fans on the atlanta journal constitution.com falcons blog have to discuss him. Grow up. We don’t about Mike Vick. we are talking about our noddle armed quarterback. have a nice day.

Cutty

Ivan

December 2nd, 2011
6:10 pm

Charlie,

They’ve pretty much run out of ammunition aside from the fact Ryan hasn’t won a Super Bowl yet. Ryan is still winning, Vick is sitting out, on his losing team.

And I’ll one up ya, Vick will end up getting Reid fired.

ATLER (Ramblin Wreck)

December 2nd, 2011
6:44 pm

@ Innocent Bystander
I don’t care about your freaking stats that you pull up. The last few game our Falcons drove down the field only to kick field goals. Look at the stats from last year and on paper we should have destroyed Green Bay. The game is played on the field not a website. How do you keep letting weaker team hang in the ball game with you instead of closing them out? Don’t worry, the other team will look at our offensive ranking and bow down. Get smarter dude ( Innocent Bystander )

The Truth

December 2nd, 2011
6:47 pm

Chris Miller won in the playoffs…as did Chris Chandler, fwiw. Stafford, Romo, Shaub, Rivers, Brady, Flacco, Brees, Rogers, Rothlisberger, Eli and Payton Manning – in no particular order.

Ryan is absolutely a good game manager, but he doesn’t have the capacity to take over a game – and he most certainly is not worthy of being a top 5 pick in the NFL draft.

ATLER (Ramblin Wreck)

December 2nd, 2011
6:48 pm

To all of the REAL Atlanta Falcon fans.

When will this state and delusional fan around the country stop trying to make an average, mediocre team out of a fairly tale NFL Superbowl contender. Can someone help me out with that question?

ATLER (Ramblin Wreck)

December 2nd, 2011
6:58 pm

Preach ( The Truth ) Preach!!!!
No one said he’s not a good QB, he’s not what Atlanta needs to make it to the next level or ever win a playoff game.

Great Falconi

December 2nd, 2011
7:02 pm

Ryan’s been damn good for us. Maybe he’ll pull a Brady and have his first big-time quarterbacking season later on in his career, but even if he never approaches Brady’s 2007-08 breakout campaign, I feel confident in his ability to spread the ball around accurately. The dude’s completion percentage is one-tenth below his career-high of 62.5 from last season. I want to win playoff games like the rest of you, but we’ve all complained enough about other aspects of this team to know that Ryan’s not one of the main culprits in holding this team back.

realitycheck

December 2nd, 2011
7:03 pm

He reminds me of Marc Bulger. Bulger looked so good early on with the Rams, and because of his youth, they gave him the job and moved Kurt Warner. But Bulger’s teams started to decline, and he started to get beaten up and slowly disappeared out of the league. I don’t think that will happen to Ryan, but I do see a lot of similarities between the two former Big East QB’s, and their numbers (including playoffs) are erie similar.

JSS

December 2nd, 2011
7:11 pm

I wondered how long it would be before one of the four “Vick Is The Anti-Christ” blogger would show up and try to breathe life into their tired old argument? It hasn’t changed since May 2007. When Michael Vick is on a playing field, then I’ll be happy to address the matter. If it were all about Vick or just skin hue (as your vivid imaginations cry out for) , then folks would have been lining up behind Vince Young (as a savior), or D.J.. Shockley… Now there a few crazy people calling for Shockley. I was not one of them, the Falcons never did a thing to prepare him to get better (NFL Europe). I say the same thing about the over matched John Parker Wilson. They’re not Matt Cassell tolling besides Brady and getting to pick great offensive minds (or being able to comprehend it either)… What is wrong with the Eagles has so little to do with QB play that is comical. Still, you keep going there, like the little boys in the school yard that never learn a new joke because their range never improves… So keep harping on Vick, as Dimitroff said in the article: “But it’s not like we spent hours upon hours ruminating about it as it pertains to their technique or knowledge. A lot of teams are looking for the raw skills that these quarterbacks possess and project from there. It never came up in conversation that maybe he had maxed out because of the system he had been under. But it’s interesting that you would think that way. Maybe there is something to it.”

SawThat1nce

December 2nd, 2011
7:22 pm

I’m not an expert, but it looks like the GM should work on getting a stronger OLine and a quicker pass rush.

Sam

December 2nd, 2011
7:25 pm

Amazing video of a high school senior from Columbia TN who kicks the ball dead straight 75-80 yards in the air. He was successful on 54 of 54 attempts this season….100%. Now he needs a college team.

Watch for yourself…it is unreal!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S_JKwgwFY3g

D man

December 2nd, 2011
8:02 pm

Sam – Alabama sure needs a kicker. They would be playing my Dawgs tomorrow if they had one…

BlahBlahBlah

December 2nd, 2011
9:27 pm

Brady, Brees, Rodgers and Roethlisberger are the only 4 in the top tier this year. Ryan’s #10 in QB rating. That puts him solidly in the 2nd tier. Meanwhile, Sanchez is 19th, Freeman is 28th and Flacco is 22nd. It’s not even fair to lump Ryan in with that trio this year!

72 Million Dollar Bust

December 2nd, 2011
9:34 pm

Room to grow? Where is the proof?

4 Years and ZERO Playoff wins?

Where is the growth?

I do believe Baltimore & New York have a pair of qbs that grew in their rookie seasons.

brog

December 2nd, 2011
9:38 pm

Matty’s struggles to start the year can be traced back to how bad the offensive line played. He had zero time to throw the ball and when I did Roddy White was busy not gettiing open or dropping everything. Thank god for Tony this year I BEG you to come back, great security blanket. But the past couple of games the O-Line has played pretty well and Matty has started to get hot. He looked good vs Ten, he looked good vs NO and looked great last week. Most of the tougher matchups were early on so lets hope Matty is currently taking that next step and will prove over the remainder of the season that he his an elite QB

72 Million Dollar Bust

December 2nd, 2011
9:44 pm

Falcons fan base is head down a dangerous road. When you are willing to settle for second rate performance, that is like a marriage of convenience.

Just because you hated the previous qb so bad, it’s not going to change the fact that he is the last qb to win a playoff game for this team. Hatred never has positive results. I don’t hate Ryan, I just question the die hard fans who praise him for showing up and running a no huddle. How many playoff games has that no huddle produced?

It has been 8 seasons since the Falcons have won a playoff game, and 4 under this regime, yet there is no urgency, no push, no pressure from the fan base or the local media.

It’s almost like the fan base is so used to losing, that they feel like the Falcons are champions just because they make the playoffs, yet consistently are eliminated in the 1st round. In cities like New York, Green Bay, Baltimore and Pittsburg, if their qb has 4 years as a starter and not a single playoff win to show for it, that qb will be ran out of town.

Falcons fans need to make up their minds: Do they want a winner or a wanna be winner. You can praise Ryan until the cows come home, but it is not going to make him a winner.

P B Orr

December 2nd, 2011
10:01 pm

72 Million Dollar Bust – I made up my mind ages ago when I was a Falcons fan for a mediocre but improving team. I loved the team because they worked hard and didn’t quit. I learned a lot more about football from that, than I did watching the Cowboys and Steelers.

Delbert D.

December 2nd, 2011
10:20 pm

I think he does. Read the story in the NY Times, “The Education of Aaron Rodgers.” It’s online.

Mr Charlie

December 2nd, 2011
10:58 pm

JSS ” What is wrong with the Eagles has so little to do with QB play that is comical”.

Their 100 Mil QB has 11 TD, 11 picks, and 2 fumbles, and 1000 yards passing But NOOOO, that has NOTHING to do with anything. Maybe Ryans numbers are not “elite”, but MV7 numbers whatever the opposite of elite is. I do think somebody is in denial….And I do not think Vick is the antichrist, but he is who I thought he was. And since the eagles played, I feel it is very appropriate to bring him up.

Michael M.

December 2nd, 2011
11:32 pm

In four or five more years ask this same question about Matt Ryan. There’s an old song called, We have only just begun. It will only get better with Ryan in the years ahead. Some of the sports peeps will be eating their own words after Ryan’s Career is over and in the history books !

JSS

December 2nd, 2011
11:33 pm

And what does that have to do with 4 tacklers not being able to bring down Marshawn Lynch in the 1st quarter last night? Please explain to all of us great and omniscient Charlie how a team that is 2nd in the league passes dropped is suddenly suppose to be anything but mediorce even when Michael Vick has not been on the field? But in the bizarro world of “Charlie,” of course, that means he’s the problem? How many leads have they blown this year Massa Charlie, please that us how they must have been Vick’s fault? When you’re unable to get even the 1st inkling of safety play then just like the Falcons anytime they seen a team that actually isolates Moore, Sanders, or DeCoud, you can smell the toast burning!

And the person who is “denial” happens to be “you.” You fudge numbers when you know that you’re not going to get the point across, that means unless you blatantly lie… Here’s the latest Charlie “lie.” “Their 100 Mil QB has 11 TD, 11 picks, and 2 fumbles, and 1000 yards passing” Since when has 2193 yards turned in to 1,000 yards Charles? Is that some of that Blackwater or Enron math? Why lie Charles?

JSS

December 2nd, 2011
11:35 pm

Bradley, please check your filter…

So Charles, when did 2,193 yards become “1000 yards?”

JSS

December 2nd, 2011
11:39 pm

@ Michael M…
You do realize that Karen Carpenter looked in the mirror and saw an overweight person as she starved herself to death? Sad that you’d pick that song because it is an anthem for the delusional who don’t see the real world for their own delusions…

JSS

December 2nd, 2011
11:41 pm

Poor Charles, he spends his life picking fights about Vick as like Nero, the rest of Rome was on fire…

P B Orr

December 2nd, 2011
11:51 pm

JSS, check out the Eagles.

72 Million Dollar Bust

December 3rd, 2011
1:11 am

@ Mr. Charlie

1,000 yards – really?

You have lost all credibility for that big lie. Do you have to make an argument with blatant lies?

That’s how the wolves got Little Bo Peep.

The bottom line is, Vick could retire today and still have more playoff wins than Ryan, so if Vick sucks, then what does that make Ryan?

It’s really sad how Atlanta Falcons fans embrace mediore performance.

Boo Brees

December 3rd, 2011
1:53 am

Enter your comments here

BlahBlahBlah

December 3rd, 2011
7:00 am

Matt Ryan #10 in QB rating this year.

Michael Vick #21 in QB rating this year. And although he has 500 rushing yards, he hasn’t scored any rushing TD’s. And now for the 2nd year in a row he’s going to miss at least 3 games.

If Ryan’s a $72 million bust, Vick’s a $100 million bust.

JSS

December 3rd, 2011
7:04 am

@ P.B. Orr…
I answered that whopper of a lie that Charles put out there, maybe Mark Bradley will release it from the AJC Blog filter if he checks back on the this mess… Charles has a Vick fixation…

Elite or Not?

December 3rd, 2011
7:24 am

Ryan and the offense are good enough for us to win a super bowl now if the D is solid but not good enough to carry us with the likes of Chris Owens playing corner – no NFL QB is. Our D must be top 10 and must be better on 3rd down. If it is we can do that, we can do anything.

Gatorman

December 3rd, 2011
8:06 am

Flacco has continually been up and down in his career, but he had been successful in some big games. Sanchez never impressed me in college nor in the pros, good defenses constantly confuse him. I like Josh Freeman’s tenacity, but he’ll need 1-2 more years to get the experience needed to be good QB. Matt Ryan still needs a good receiver that can get open deep to take the pressure off the mid range throws. It seems that speed is the only thing the Falcons draft, but outstanding receivers snap off tight routes and leave good defensive backs guessing on what they are doing. So far the Falcons don’t have that type of receiver. I don’t think Ryan can take this team to the highest level unless they have a shut down defense and a coordinator that can run that defense. Finally, we are glad we have a perennial playoff team that will surprise us with their existing personnel, but no championships.

ATLER (Ramblin Wreck)

December 3rd, 2011
8:39 am

72 Million Dollar Bust

December 2nd, 2011
9:44 pm

That’s what I’ve been saying for a long time when it comes to Atlanta fans. We looks for Mr Nice guys in Atlanta. I want a QB the can win the big games , not the Mr nice guy who hugs babies and signs autographs.

ATLER (Ramblin Wreck)

December 3rd, 2011
8:45 am

(Gatorman) the receivers are NOT the problem. If you go and look at film of this year alone, you see receivers wide open and Ryan not seeing them open. This has happen on several occasions. I think we have one of the best receiving corps in the NFL.

72 Million Dollar Bust

December 3rd, 2011
9:12 am

BlahBlahBlah

December 3rd, 2011
7:00 am

Matt Ryan #10 in QB rating this year.

Michael Vick #21 in QB rating this year. And although he has 500 rushing yards, he hasn’t scored any rushing TD’s. And now for the 2nd year in a row he’s going to miss at least 3 games.

If Ryan’s a $72 million bust, Vick’s a $100 million bust

—-

Okay they are both bust if it makes you come to reality that Ryan is a bust.

One difference – Vick is the last Falcons qb to win a playoff game.

Enjoy.

cannot make this up

December 3rd, 2011
9:14 am

better question, does wes durham’s backside have room to grow?

one word..treadmill for the dogtards ..two words tread mill

Sam

December 3rd, 2011
9:16 am

Amazing video of a high school senior from Columbia TN who kicks the ball dead straight 75-80 yards in the air. He was successful on 54 of 54 attempts this season….100%. Now he needs a college team. Wants to go to Georgia Tech!

Watch for yourself…it is unreal!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S_JKwgwFY3g

72 Million Dollar Bust

December 3rd, 2011
9:16 am

Falcons have a Top 5 running back, Top 10 receivers & a hall of famer at tight end, yet no playoff wins.

Why is this quarterback not under heat like in other cities that care about playoff success?

How much more money does Blank needs to blow on making a mediocre qb look dynamic?

Nativebird

December 3rd, 2011
9:35 am

Gee minitly; The true question is: “Is there more room to grow for the HEAD COACH and GM?” This QB has only won more games as a Falcon QB in first 3.5 years than any other. And in year 4, as someone who has seen EVERY home professional game Ryan has played, he has definitely met and exceeded the eye test in proficiency, footwork, pocket awareness, delivering the ball quickly, and has decidedly more “zip” on his throws than ever before. Matt has ONE and only one deficiency that all of the other “elite” QB’s in league don’t have: MIKE MULARKEY. Think about it: Rogers:McCarthy, Breez:Payton, Brady: Weiss/McDaniels, etc. etc. Mularkey’s offensive scheme is like a lead weight to the talent and tools that the Falcon O has. Face it; honestly, He’s not in the same league with these elite OC’s. Proof: Most of Atlanta’s offensive success clearly has come running the No-Huddle: when RYAN is actually choosing which play’s to run. Net, net: the QUARTERBACK is the last problem this Atlanta Falcons team has, and the head coach AND the GM apparently don’t seem to understand it….THAT’S A PROBLEM.

Delbert D.

December 3rd, 2011
9:44 am

That NY Times web article on Rodgers is worth reading. It’s about QB development, learning to read the defense to find holes, rather than looking at receivers. It’s how Aaron Rodgers developed, spending his 1st 3 years on the practice squad, but it should be applicable to any QB early in his career.

SG

December 3rd, 2011
9:46 am

MR2 definitely came out of a program that had him in gear for the pros, but as others have posted, the surrounding talent ultimately contribute to the stats. That said, Ryan hasn’t come close to peaking – because his field-general sense, (which I think is as solid as his athletic ability), while already far superior to the other QBs mentioned in the article, still is maturing. And that’s the one trait that all the elites have always possessed regardless of the team and the scheme.
He’s a quiet one, but he is a born leader. And we haven’t seen his best yet.

Delbert D.

December 3rd, 2011
9:48 am

I forgot to mention this. It emphasizes the system around Rodgers, coaching and stability. It makes the point that Alex Smith never really developed as a pro until the staff people did.

SG

December 3rd, 2011
9:48 am

@Nativebird Agreed.

DePlane

December 3rd, 2011
9:52 am

MR2. Three and half years of steady progression. 3.5 years of winning. 3.5 years reading NFL defenses and learning to utilize the NFL talent around him. Being scrutinized, ridiculed, insulted and criticized to kingdom come.

His reaction? Handling all things with forethought, calmness and dignity. Putting his time in the film room soaking up the knowledge. Transforming knowledge to play on the field. Dealing with CMS and MM putting chains on him. He is an utltimate competitor. He is a leader. He is a role model. He is a team mate his fellow players are proud to follow and buy-in to his leadership.

This guy gets sold short by the media. SI Wonders? Pfsssst. Compare Brees 1st 4 yrs to Ryan and you will find them pretty close except that Ryan is Winner those 1st 4 yrs!
Aaron Rodgers is the anomaly. 4k yds his 1st season as a FT starter…but he was also behind Favre for three years! Brees is in his 11th yr!

The immediate comparisons are unfair. Give Ryan time folks!!!! 3.5 yrs so far! If anyone is paying attention to the fact that he is progressively getting better and better this season at running the offense on his own they will see there is a metamorphisis taking place.

Brady, Brees, Manning, these guys have all been around a long time. The jury is still out on whether Ryan will join the elite. He is just now being given the opportunity to run the offense on a more consistent basis and the weapons to take advantage of. But I believe he will succeed if Smith and company will let him.

Sid

December 3rd, 2011
9:58 am

If you know music, really trully know it, then you know it’s all been done before. Maybe phrased differently, maybe syncopated differently, but there are only so many notes. Like music writers are quite the same. Trotter’s premise is not new or is it even news. I wouldn’t ask anyone but Ryan if he was “maxed out” (excuse me while I snicker). “Seven and a Half Minutes to Destiny”, yeah, Joe Montana was maxed out. Eli Manning, a Super Bowl winning QB on ONE pass to Destiny, caught not by Burress but Tyree, and not a pass but a wing and a prayer. But by God give me one of those for Matt Ryan and a Super Bowl victory and I’ll agree about these maxed out QB’s, well, not really. Mr. Trotter, what else do you want to write about that’s already been written about.

DePlane

December 3rd, 2011
10:00 am

I’m not worried about the offense ability to win if they execute. The D is our achilles heel especially now with Grimes and Hayden out. Owens and Franks have their opportunity and now is the time if they are ever going to show and perform. Our season hinges on them and how long the others will be out. We already know AR and DB will exploit these weaknesses and I’d be surprised if HOU doesn’t test them early with Yates to Johnson.

ATLER (Ramblin Wreck)

December 3rd, 2011
10:03 am

People need to stop getting so butt hurt when others criticize Matty. To be honest, I think the back up Chris Redmond is a better QB then Matt Ryan. Ryan knows it too, that’s why he’s quick to get back on the field when he’s hurt. He’s no fool.

Mr Charlie

December 3rd, 2011
10:47 am

Chris Redmon did have an opportunity last year, he failed. He also did not show much during the offseason. Chris Redmon is pretty lucky to be employed in the NFL, and I would bet he would agree. Back up Matty Ice is a pretty sweet gig.

stephen

December 3rd, 2011
10:50 am

I think its obvious Ryan has more upside. If you look at the “elite” players, all took four to six years from being drafted to put up huge numbers and get to into this category. I assume that is what we are basing this article off of, stats which do not tell the true story of Matt Ryan’s season in 2011. You cant be sacked 13 times in the first three games and get off to a quick start. If you look at where Ryan is headed into the Houston game he is on pace for over 4000 yds passing, 30+ tds and 13-16 ints. That’s a hell of a season considering Ryan is still in a run first offense and in a Mike Mullarky scheme. Right now Ryan ranks as the 6th rated QB in ESPN’s QBR (which I am a fan of) rating scale. That’s damn good after the less than impressive, stat wise, start to the season. That is “elite” (I hate this category by the way). This could put Ryan into his second Pro Bowl, possible third playoff run, and a ton of wins for his franchise. Matt Ryan has had a better START to his career than any of the other “elites” playing and in the past as a whole.
As time moves on the Falcons will keep adding pieces (hopefully tight end and center/left tackle) and Mullarky will be forced to keep loosening the leash on Ryan with no huddle and adjusting plays at the line. Remember Manning did not become the general on the field that he was until his sixth or seventh season. Also, I have to keep in mind when articles like this come out, these writers are not watching Falcons games week in and week out from the first whistle to the last. I think if they did, you would not see Ryan mentioned in this article. The kid is too smart, too accurate, too competitive, and frankly too good to not keep improving.
Ryan is about to hit what I call the golden years for a QB in this league, age 26-31. To put in perspective Rodgers was in his fifth or sixth season when he won his Superbowl. Lets talk about this again after the 2013 season.
Love your articles M. Bradley. You write honestly and objectively with the right amount of opinion. Keep up the good work.

ATLER (Ramblin Wreck)

December 3rd, 2011
11:01 am

Their the same to me Mr. Charlie.

Mr Charlie

December 3rd, 2011
11:03 am

I think playing QB in the NFL is like being a batter, or pitcher in MLB. You see guys come in and look like they are going to be starts, but once the adjustments start being made, they figure out your weakness. It is a chess game, and you have to continually adjust. Out of Sanchez, Flacco and Ryan, I like Ryans chances to most. Over the past few games, he is playing as good as I have ever seen him play.

lulz

December 3rd, 2011
11:06 am

Mark- write your own article….seems like all you ever do is report about other articles….hit the pavement..find the story…..If i wanna know what SI thinks-I’ll read SI.

lulz

December 3rd, 2011
11:11 am

72 million dollar mistake
Id rather not win a playoff game for 20 years than be associated with Michael Vick…..the guy is a disgrace……

Mr Charlie

December 3rd, 2011
11:13 am

Actually, Redmons career stats do not look all that bad. 21 TDs, 13 Picks. But he is 4-8 as a starter, and 1-5 as a Falcons starter. Redmon had his chance in 07, he did not seize the opportunity. Notice nobody tries to sign Redmon? He’s happy to be employed.

Fact is, Ryan has won more games in 3 1/2 seasons than any QB in the history of the league. Ryan is durable, so I expect him to be in the league for another 10-12 years or so. In that time, I would assume he is going to make 6-8 more playoff appearances. In that time, I suspect he will win a game or two.

Mr Charlie

December 3rd, 2011
11:18 am

Sure, we won our last playoff game with Vick, and our last superbowl appearance with Chandler. So what? Ancient history. Actually, I would rather take our chances with Chandler running the team. 11 TD and 13 Turnovers? Those are Joey Harrington numbers, lol. But NOOOO, that NOTHING to do why why the Eagles are the must underachieving team in the history of the NFL.

JSS

December 3rd, 2011
12:04 pm

Keep listening to “Charles” of the world, you end up ultimately as just ignorant and unable to tell the truth…
“The Philadelphia Eagles, led by there defense said all week that they had their head coach Andy Reid’s back. Well after the Eagles 31-14 thrashing by the Seattle Seahawks and the team looking like they just gave up and did not want to play, now have a lot of questions to answer. The Eagles record is now 4-8 and any hope of making the playoffs is over.
This so called promising season has hit a season low for this team. There are a lot of questions that need to be asked and after watching last nights game it will begin with the defensive unit.
Coming into the season there were a lot of questions about the hiring of the Eagles former offensive line coach, Juan Castillo as it new defensive coordinator. He had no experience number one but head coach Andy Reid was so impressed with Juan’s interview that he thought Castillo was the best choice. The team really did not interview any other possible coordinator prospects.
At the time if seemed very strange. Why not find the best possible person available. Was Castillo really the best person out there or were there other reasons why Castillo was interviewed and than got the job.
Thursday nights game against the Seahawks again showed that this team still can not make tackles and still looks totally confused out on the field. There were plenty of missed coverages too. There is no excuse for any of this. The players just look out of position and just clueless and that continued again last night. The Eagles defense was embarrassed by Tavaris Jackson. Jackson made the Eagles defense look silly. The defense made him look like Tom Brady and Tarvaris Jackson is certainly no Tom Brady that is for sure.
The Seahawks running game last night ate up the Eagles defense as well. The Seahawks were led by running back Marshawn Lynch who just ran all over the Eagles. Lynch finished the night with 22 carries and 148 yards and a couple of touchdowns as well.
The Eagles just looked like they were not interested in playing. They should no heart and desire. Lynch broke tackles all night long. The defense had no answer for Lynch.
The system that this defense is running is no doubt not working. This cheerleader approach by Castillo does not work in the NFL. Where is the desire and the sense of being embarrassed from the defense. They are lacking pride and heart as well. This is how you cover the back of your head coach? Really come on now.
Let us see how it would be if you came out and said that you don’t have his back. The play last night of the defense of the Eagles totally should tell all fans that the team does not want to play for its head coach and that it has totally given up on him and the season.
Each and every player on this defensive unit of the Eagles needs to look at themselves. The performance Thursday night by the defense is totally unacceptable and has been all season long.
The blame starts with the head coach Andy Reid and goes down to defensive coordinator Castillo. Last nights performance is the final straw. Both Andy and Juan have to realize that the team and the defense do not want to play for either one of these two.”
Source: George Remally, Phillysports24×7

There is an old parable, “If you’re going to lie, then tell a good lie…” A bad lie, one that just distorts the possibility of gaining some actual good is just sad… When Charlie and his ilk post, it just reads like a terrible melodrama…

The Truth

December 3rd, 2011
12:20 pm

JSS….that’s perfect for the delusional sect of the Falcons fan base that believes Ryan to be an elite QB.

Monday Morning QB

December 3rd, 2011
12:53 pm

Matt Ryan is avery good QB. He certainly has flaws but so do most players. To say that the Falcons cannot win with Ryan is plan stupid. Ryan is clearly better than some championship qurterbacks and much better than some with playoff wins including Vick. I was a Vick fan until his flaws wrecked the Falcons. I would rather have a smart QB with a weak arm than a moron with no heart. I wonder if Matt Ryan had the same “injury” as Vick he would have missed three games while his team was fighting for their lives? I supect he would have played much Romo did. As Falcon fans we need to support the men that are here and forget about those that are gone.

JSS

December 3rd, 2011
1:04 pm

Oh yeah MMQB? We already have the answer to that point when he (Matt Ryan in 2009) had to sit out with the “turf toe.” Revisionist history is a speciality here…

Monday Morning QB

December 3rd, 2011
1:12 pm

JSS

No one plays with turf toe, most everyone plays with cracked ribs. Ryan missed a couple of games in his career. Vick misses several games almost every season. He also missed two full seasons for fighting dogs.

Mr Charlie

December 3rd, 2011
1:13 pm

Romo/Vick comparison is not fair. Romo can play and take steps to avoid contact. Since Vick is really a running back who cannot run an offense like a traditional QB, he would be totally ineffective if he were to have to sit in the pocket and throw it away of he cannot find the open man. I mean, he would throw it away ever play, lol.

However, I do think he quit against the Falcons. Either you have a concussion, or you do not. They don’t heal in 3 days. That pretty much set the tone for the Eagles 2011 season. Once they saw the “leader” quit, they all just quit. What happened to the Eagles reminds me on 2005 and 2006.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JlXxj7Pzaw4

BlahBlahBlah

December 3rd, 2011
1:16 pm

How many playoff wins did Peyton Manning have in his first 4 years in the league?

Mr Charlie

December 3rd, 2011
1:18 pm

Vick 2011, 11 TDs, 13 Turnovers. And Ryan is compared to Joey Harrington? LOL. But, it is not his fault.

Trade School FTW

December 3rd, 2011
1:21 pm

The punk cant pass………but at least he isnt fighting dogs in his spare time.

Trade School FTW

December 3rd, 2011
1:22 pm

BTW MMQB, Mark it down. I say “the Falcons will NEVER win a Super Bowl with flat Matt at the helm.”

JSS

December 3rd, 2011
1:30 pm

You’re crazy, Warrick Dunn and LaDamien Tomilinson played two seasons with same degree of turf toe… But hey, I gave him the benefit of the doubt because I know from personal experience how debilitating it can be… But since you guys want to make it a personal grit issue… Hey bring it on…

Monday Morning QB

December 3rd, 2011
1:31 pm

@ Trade School

The odds are in your favor because there have been less than 40 super bowl winning quarterbacks in the history of the league. Like I said before Ryan is a better player now than some of those quaterbacks but that does not mean he will ever play in a super bowl. Football is the ultimate team game and the Quaterback cannot win or lose it on his own.

Mr Charlie

December 3rd, 2011
1:33 pm

Well, Matty Ice showed me all I needed to see when he missed 2 plays after Svetik stompped his ankle. Actually, that is when Choke gave up. after that play, he was all happy and gushing, but when came back 2 plays later, MR2 even earned Chokes respect.

Mr Charlie

December 3rd, 2011
1:40 pm

There have been 28 superbowl winning QBs.

Monday Morning QB

December 3rd, 2011
1:43 pm

JSS

If Dunn & Tomlinson had the same injury why did theirs take two years to heel? Ryan was not affected over multiple seasons? Anyone can get injured and sometimes you cannot play but Vick seems to have a low threshold for pain. Maybe you’ve seen something different but I don’t know what your looking at?

Monday Morning QB

December 3rd, 2011
1:52 pm

Of the Super Bowl winning Quarterbacks Matt Ryan is clearly better than 11 of them and as good as 2 others.

J. Namath
L. Dawson
B. Greise
K. Stabler
J. Plunkett
J. Theismann
J. McMahon
D. Williams
J. Hosteteler
M. Rypien
C. Dilfer
B. Johnson
E. Manning

It is clear by this list that the Falcons can win a Super Bowl with Matt Ryan. Doesn’t mean they will, but they could.

M10

December 3rd, 2011
2:15 pm

I think M.Ryan has already reach his ceiling he’s not or never will be a elite Qb he’s a gm manager.I for one wish we had a chance to draft A.Luck or R.Griffin III.

Monday Morning QB

December 3rd, 2011
2:22 pm

@ M10

I disagree about Matt Ryan reaching his ceiling. I do agree on Luck and Griffin. I really like Griffin, I think he can be a huge star.

M10

December 3rd, 2011
2:28 pm

Monday Morning Qb

Hopefully Ryan proves me wrong,but I agree with you on Luck and Griffin III I think he could be a star as well.

72 Million Dollar Bust

December 3rd, 2011
2:30 pm

Mr Charlie

December 3rd, 2011
11:18 am

Sure, we won our last playoff game with Vick, and our last superbowl appearance with Chandler. So what? Ancient history. Actually, I would rather take our chances with Chandler running the team. 11 TD and 13 Turnovers? Those are Joey Harrington numbers, lol. But NOOOO, that NOTHING to do why why the Eagles are the must underachieving team in the history of the NFL

___

Thanks for bringing up Joey Harrington. He and Ryan has the same amount of playoff wins.

72 Million Dollar Bust

December 3rd, 2011
2:34 pm

@Mr. Charlie

I have noticed from previous post that you choose when it’s appropriate to bring up the “ancient” history. I mean why are you talking about Vick if you don’t like bringing up ancient history. Can you “walk the walk”?

If you don’t want to hear about ancient history, then maybe Matt should erased that 8 year drought.

72 Million Dollar Bust

December 3rd, 2011
2:37 pm

@Monday Morning QB

The only flaw that matters is a qb that can’t deliver at lease a single playoff win.

If you can live with that flaw, well you are supporting the right qb.

72 Million Dollar Bust

December 3rd, 2011
2:40 pm

Monday Morning QB

December 3rd, 2011
12:53 pm

Matt Ryan is avery good QB. He certainly has flaws but so do most players. To say that the Falcons cannot win with Ryan is plan stupid. Ryan is clearly better than some championship qurterbacks and much better than some with playoff wins including Vick. I was a Vick fan until his flaws wrecked the Falcons. I would rather have a smart QB

_____

You mean smart as in throwing a PICK 6 before half time in last season in the playoffs? Or smart like losing both playoff games? Or smart like giving up a safety vs Arizona in the playoffs?

Is that the same guy you call smart? Well I rather have a dumb winning qb as long as they deliver a playoff win.

72 Million Dollar Bust

December 3rd, 2011
2:43 pm

Monday Morning QB

December 3rd, 2011
1:12 pm

JSS

No one plays with turf toe,

——-

Historically “True” turf toe is career ending. Ryan showed up 2 or 3 games later.

Just saying.

72 Million Dollar Bust

December 3rd, 2011
2:49 pm

Trade School FTW

December 3rd, 2011
1:21 pm

The punk cant pass………but at least he isnt fighting dogs in his spare time

—–

Who gives a rat butt about dog fighting? I don’t, and in fact when I was on active duty overseas dogs were viewed as…..well…..the same way as the animals that are on the kitchen tables of you so called animal loving fanatics.

Do any of you really know what Ryan does off the field? Exactly. I however did see Ryan on The NFL Network admitting he was a Vick fan in college.

Mr Charlie

December 3rd, 2011
2:52 pm

I did not bring Vick up. When he left, he was done he was dead to me.

BUT, others seemed to want to come on here and bring him up and make predictions and comparisons between Vick and Ryan. So, I feel obligated to come on here and hold them accountable.

Even today, you compare Vicks playoff record to Ryans, because that is the ONLY stat left that is favorable for MV7…..And I guess you will continue to do that, until Ryan eclipses it. So until then, have fun, but you will disappear like all the rest, and criticize me for finishing something you started.

lulz

December 3rd, 2011
3:42 pm

72 million dollar bust–Ryan does a few things in his off time…he likes to hunt and fish…Ive seen him at Tech when BC is in town for hoops or football…Ive seen him at Braves games and charity events….I havent seen him fighting dogs yet.

You’re one of those people still wearing a #7 ATL jersey you bought from Marhsalls…..LET IT GO…VICK IS GONE….he had a couple good years here–and a lot of shit years..and left us with a big bill…

the guy can rot in hell for all I care…..Should be banished from the NFL……funny how some guys can play in the NFL and make tons of money but they wouldn’t be allowed to work for most companies.

lulz

December 3rd, 2011
3:44 pm

and to eat dogs because of culture is one thing—-to fight dogs for sport–is classless…..like yourself sir….

Guarantee your fascination with comparing everything Ryan does vs. Vick is race related……..oh noes–we got a white qb…..oh noes…..lol…biggot

100 Million Bust

December 3rd, 2011
4:00 pm

Vick is not as smart as Ryan. That’s obvious. You can’t have too much going on upstairs and get involved in dog fighting. Only a punk would hurt a dog. Period. And I don’t care what he did in the playoffs. It’s history. He won’t be in the playoffs this year. Ryan will. I think those facts are a reflection on those two individuals.

Yeah, I’ll take this edition of the Falcons, with Ryan calling the signals, any day.

100 Million Bust

December 3rd, 2011
4:06 pm

Loving dogs makes me a fanatic? Welcome to loser world.

Geo

December 3rd, 2011
4:15 pm

“Toward the end of Trotter’s story we hear from Dimitroff again, and this time he addresses a point yours truly has been batting around, sort of, since the end of Ryan’s second season: That Matty Ice could be closer to Eli Manning than to brother Peyton — a very good quarterback but not quite a great one. ”

These kinds of questions are default mode article fodder I gess. But not particularly interesting imho. Matt Ryan is Matt Ryan. He plays like Matt Ryan. Why take the joy out of it by comparing against preconceived notions, obsessing about rankings and wondering whether stats are good enough? Let the kid play. He’s writing his own story, even if ajc sportwriters aren’t.

todd

December 3rd, 2011
4:50 pm

Why does everyone constantly have to label everything? Players guy through peaks and valleys throughout a career. His stats are very comparable to other “elite” guys. Peyton Manning threw 23 INTs his 4th season. Brees’ 1st 4 yrs he had 80 TDs and 53 INTs compared to Ryans 64-44 with 5 games to go this year. He hasn’t reached the ceiling yet. It’s not that much of a stretch that could be that type of guy but he doesn’t have a Sean Payton coaching him- no knock on Mike Smith.

They never won back to back seasons before he got here, they are working on 4 in a row. He will own every Falcon record before he’s done and I believe at least 1 superbowl.

72 Million Dollar Bust

December 3rd, 2011
6:42 pm

26 years old an playoff winless – that’s embarrassing.

Enjoy your mediocre qb.

Number 1 defense + Andre Johnson + Arian Foster – Good luck with that.

REAL DAWG'S N FALCONS FAN

December 3rd, 2011
8:12 pm

hey mark why don’t you go interview the punter the buc’s signed again? while you are in tampa stay there because you fit right in there with the rest of the doom and gloom bunch!

WhoDat4Eva

December 3rd, 2011
9:03 pm

Matt Ryan’ arm = water pistol = no playoff again for the dirty birds…..sorry guys.

JSS

December 4th, 2011
12:10 am

“Mr Charlie
December 3rd, 2011
2:52 pm
“I did not bring Vick up. When he left, he was done he was dead to me. BUT, others seemed to want to come on here and bring him up and make predictions and comparisons between Vick and Ryan. So, I feel obligated to come on here and hold them accountable.”

You’re a L-I-A-R!!!
Simple Dawg brought up Vick in a derisive comment at 10:55AM Dec. 2nd. I’ve said this over and over about you Charlie, your the one who comes on and kicks up a Vick comment like you and PB Orr did at 12:14PM that same day… Everyone told him that Vick was relevant to this blog… Then you stuck your nose (again) and spent the next 3 pages trying to flame other bloggers… Charlie, you have a Vick fixation and it is time for you to get over it once and for all… Stop your campaign of lies and half-truths on the sports blogs..

JSS

December 4th, 2011
12:12 am

Everyone told him that Vick was ‘not” relevant to this blog…

Eric C.

December 4th, 2011
1:28 am

Todd, excellent post

Mr Charlie

December 4th, 2011
8:50 am

Yes Todd, very good…..JSS, no reason to start calling names, is says more about you than it does I….And I was not the first person to ever bring up Vick on the Blogs. For 3 years, any Ryan post has been covered with Vick posters, mainly comparing the two. Now, as everything is playing out, my predictions are true. NOW, all of a sudden, he is not relevant?

You just want him to not be relevant because I am right about him. If you want me to stop bringing him up? Just admit that I was right, he is who I thought he was, and I will stop. But, if you want to say things like the Eagles wows are not caused but QB play, expect a debate with facts.

Again, we make predictions, I am just making sure everyone is accountable on past opinions as to measure their credibility.

randyt

December 4th, 2011
9:06 am

Ryan doesn’t have a cannon for an arm true. But neither did Joe Montana. Ryan is very smart and could be very successful with good players and coaches around him. Improve the line next off season and get an offensive coordinator that understands him and his abilities. Then you’ll see what we have and you’ll be very happy with him.

lulz

December 4th, 2011
9:25 am

100 million dollar bust….lmfao…..love the handle….

72 million dollar bust is just a troll–guy gets his roxx off by irritating people…gue doesn’t realize joke is on him…..

JSS

December 4th, 2011
10:32 am

Mr Charlie
December 4th, 2011
8:50 am
“JSS, no reason to start calling names, is says more about you than it does I…” “I am just making sure everyone is accountable on past opinions as to measure their credibility.”

Name calling? Do you ever read what you post after you hit the submit button? Because it is clearly obvious that you don’t read it or think about it before you hit that button… Name calling is the random throwing out of palabra… You lied, and you continue to lie at every opportunity… Now you’re trying to deflect from being caught in your habit of lying… And again, it is not about Vick, it is about the group of bloggers who lie (like you) about who brought up the subject of Michael Vick.

Whatever delusional state you’re in about your habit, you need to get to the bottom of it…

JSS

December 4th, 2011
10:47 am

And a grown man who does not know the use of “wows” and “woes” is not just full of any “credibility!” And you can keep putting that childish Vick is the cause of the Philly failure issue. As I pointed out yesterday at 12:04 PM, people, columnists, players, and observers all see where the problem is there. But be my guest deflector, your issues will still be the same after this NFL playoff tournament is over… Anybody who goes back through this blog and looks at the chronology of Simple Dawg, PB Orr, JFreak, and your comments see the truth… But when you’re a pathological liar (that would be you Mr. Charlie), you never claim what you do…

Mr Charlie

December 4th, 2011
11:06 am

Man, I guess I won. You cannot even put anything rational up anymore. Attack vocabulary, spelling, grammer and name calling, Troll 101 handbook. Your 12:10 post that “proves” anything is a joke.

You make excuses that suggest Vick is not the root cause of Phillys problems, but you do not ever do the same for Ryan. So you are a hypocrite, and if you deny it, you are a liar….See who easy that is?

Move on, you have been beaten. Checkmate.

Mr Charlie

December 4th, 2011
11:10 am

But I predicted that Philly would fail miserably, and for good measure I say Vick does not make it past game 8. I was right. Soooo, my credibility to read through the hype, to make good football analysis is spot on.

I also say that before it is said and one, Ryan had MORE playoff victories that Vick ever had. So, we can debate it, but it is pointless, at least until I am proven right, or Ryan and Vick retire, and I am wrong. At that time, I would expect a “told ya so” just like I am laying on you…..Anyway, enjoy hoping your home team loses today.

JSS

December 4th, 2011
11:22 am

Somebody post how many game Vick has started for Stephen “Mr. Charlie” Hawkins… I guess he cannot count with his fingers and toes that high? Are your diabetes amputations keeping you from being cognitive enough to function?

Go look at the January 15th blog and enjoy my “I told ya so!”

JSS

December 4th, 2011
11:23 am

Bradley, check your filter…

JSS

December 4th, 2011
11:34 am

Change your current multiple user name to “Mr. 1000 yd Charlie.” Troll? Your black pot must be grey? You’re still can’t count… Approximately, 2200 yards is 1000 yards in “Charlie’s World!” 9 is suddenly 8 in “Charlie’s World!” Simple Dawg, JFreak, and PB Orr derisive comments are “people defending Vick” in “Charlie’s World!” And not being able to spell w-o-e is higher education in “Charlie’s World!” Ladies and gentlemen, please enjoy this trip to an previously undiscovered parallel universe: “Charlie’s World!”

JSS

December 4th, 2011
11:38 am

And here’s some food for thought… 2-8 even if they win out the final 6 games will still have a 1st round, 2nd, and 3rd round draft pick in the Spring… What will you team have in those rounds?

Mr Charlie

December 4th, 2011
11:46 am

JSS, you really need to raise your hands and step away from the computer. You are now grasping as straws…

and the Vick 1000 yard was actually a typo, meant to type 2000. Anyone with common sense would know that he threw for more than 1000 yards, but the numbers that matter are 11-13. Fact is, you don’t win in the NFL with a QB who turns is over more they produces TDs. If you could get a handle on your emotional issues, I am sure you would agree….Could you imagine it that was Ryan’s line? OMG!!!

JSS

December 4th, 2011
11:57 am

“Emotional issues,” you mean that “Vick fixation” that you have? And since you bring up the 4 more TDs than TOs (yeah, that is all the great Matt Ryan has), but that fantastic “elite play” in the previously undiscovered parallel universe called “Charlie’s World!”

Mr Charlie

December 4th, 2011
12:35 pm

Glad you got your composure back…..Charlies World….I like it.

JSS

December 4th, 2011
12:35 pm

Since some fool brought this up…
Turnover +/- numbers of possible playoff QBs (7. Matt Ryan is only +6) in 11 games
(including rushing TDs)
1. Aaron Rodgers +29
2. Tom Brady +14
3. Drew Brees +11
4. Matthew Stafford +11
5. Tony Romo +9
6. Matt Schaub +9
8. Tim Tebow +5 (Are you kidding me?)
9. Jay Cutler +5 (playing 1 less game)
10. Joe Flacco +4 (Still tied at waist)
11. Alex Smith +3 (hey, that is why he’s Alex Smith)
12. Andy Dalton +3 (he only beats a rookie!)
13. Mark Snachez +1 (speaks for itself)
14. Carson Palmer -3 (and an off the street player)

JSS

December 4th, 2011
12:40 pm

Mr Charlie
December 4th, 2011
12:35 pm
“Charlies World….I like it.”

Only a narcissistic clown like you would… It was s-a-r-c-a-s-m! Sarcasm, get the point?

Mr Charlie

December 4th, 2011
12:48 pm

Yes, I get it, obviously you don’t…..Turnovers, no surprise there….Ryan was struggling with it early, but over the past few games he has righted the ship….all W’s. Funny how that works.

JSS

December 4th, 2011
12:58 pm

Ws against all except the “elite.” Charlie’s Bizarro World! The legend grows!!!

Mr Charlie

December 4th, 2011
1:00 pm

Todd at 4:50 says it best. Elite, Schmalete.

Mr Charlie

December 4th, 2011
1:05 pm

Anyway, outta here…gonna watch the game with humans….There is some guy starting Vick stuff on the main blog…I am sure you will accuse him of being me…Thats ok….I can live with that.

JSS

December 4th, 2011
2:24 pm

Tell the kids at the Chucky Cheese top drink their milk… Then clean up those other two tables!

JSS

December 4th, 2011
2:26 pm

He roughed him alright!!!

JSS

December 4th, 2011
4:30 pm

Here’s another spelling lesson for Charlie… V-i-n-d-i-c-a-t-i-o-n!!!

jlperry

December 4th, 2011
4:47 pm

Ryan yes he have more growing to do he hold the ball to long and don”t have that clock in his head to move like aaron roger.And the killer mind set like brady or bress or payton.But with hard work on the off season and more frim study he will be alright.

lamac66

December 4th, 2011
4:52 pm

Ryan is not a downfield passer. This goes back to college. He missed 3 open WR’s downfield today. Nobody wants to talk about that in the loss of course but Turner and Jones got the blame on both those INT’s by the joke of a FOX broadcast today. Sickening.

achybreakyheart

December 4th, 2011
5:53 pm

Matt Ryan has been going backwards ever since his first year in the league..Anyone in his right mind can see that..Of coarse when the ball hits the the receiver in the hands or chest and said receiver drops the ball..is that on Ryan? I think not! I wonder if stats are kept on drops..I would bet that Gozo And White are right there at the top of the list.
As for T.D. the GM. comments..He has made several huge blunders in his draft picks since he has been here..Who cares what he says. As for the game today..we have proven once again that we can Not compete with the big boys..we are the cellar dwellers sloshing around with the rest of the riffraft..Mediocre team..mediocre coaching staff..that’s about it!

lamac66

December 4th, 2011
6:24 pm

Trent Dilfer won a championship…lol. so what is the point. Actually the point is that pundints and whover like to pick and chose when to give someone a pass I suppose. Ryan will always be given the benifit of the doubt regardless to the fact that he is not accurate throwing the ball downfield. Even when he has multiple INT games.

The national media and the league wants to protect the Falcons. The local media wants to protect Ryan. All because of the Vick thing.

Mr. Charlie

December 4th, 2011
9:01 pm

What lamac66 said…ALL TRUE! They’ll never admit it, but Bradley and his ajc peers know deep in their hearts, its true!

JSS

December 4th, 2011
9:16 pm

Please don’t steal Charlie’s user name…

The Truth

December 4th, 2011
9:39 pm

Ryan was incredible today…tremendous upside.

Oldfan

December 4th, 2011
9:46 pm

Matt needs to stop over thinking the game and just go out and play. You don’t have to change every play at the line of scrimmage

Fred

December 4th, 2011
9:58 pm

I agree with the writer who said the Falcons will not win a Super Bowl with Ryan. I think Arthur Blank shot another “Blank”. How about today? A young QB who hadn’t started an NFL game, made hash out of the Falcons and Ryan. Trade him for Cam Newton, if you can. He may not be trade bait.

Paulitik

December 5th, 2011
12:46 am

Have you ever written an article that wasn’t based off what some other journalist wrote? Just wondering.

P Rose

December 5th, 2011
9:48 am

Drew Brees is 32. He had his breakout season in 2006, when he was 27.

Falconfever

December 5th, 2011
10:19 am

Matt ryan’s QB coach Bill Musgrave is now coahing in Minn. the Falcons are stingy with $ with the ppl they shoud keep. ie Harvey Dahl. Brian Finneran and Bill Musgrave. He should be our OC and MM should have been shown the door….

LawDawg

December 5th, 2011
11:48 am

Does anyone on Earth thing that Ryan has a shot to be Peyton Manning? Even Eli Manning is a stretch the way Eli is playing this year.

PlanB

December 5th, 2011
3:13 pm

I’ve been skeptical of Ryan and would be willing to trade him for Luck (Colt’s #1 pick). This won’t happen so I think we can win with Ryan but not with MS, MM & BVG. These guys are about as good coaches as we’ve had in awhile. They’ve brought the Falcons to respectibility. Three winning seasons in a row and probably another this year but I feel they are too conservative for the next step.
Jury is still out for me on TD. Some picks are good but have injury problems. On other picks, some think we could have gotten later in the draft and then there is JJ. A good WR that will get better but at a cost of giving up some of the needed OL, DE and CB picks we needed last year and the coming one. We do have some good talent on this team though and these guys do want to win. They play hard but just make too many mistakes in some games.
Just my opinion

Birdy

December 5th, 2011
7:43 pm

All Matty “OVERTHROW” Ryan needs to do to demonstrate growth in his profession is STOP OVERTHROWING THOSE GO ROUTE PASSES.

He has the short game down pat.
He can make the intermediate cross throw with the best of them.
We have seen him hit the timing out throw beautifully — to Michael Jenkins of all people, remember?
He has the leadership intangibles.
He can read defenses.
He can call plays and orchestrate an NFL offense effectively.

Yet when we are not ‘desperate’, he nearly always OVERTHROWS THE GO ROUTES.

Why is that?

I mean, he sees the receivers. He knows where they are. He’s not unintelligent. He practices throwing a football every day. He has an idea about the max speed of a human being.

Yet he always seem to OVERTHROW THE GO ROUTES when the team is not trailing, when we are not ‘desperate’. When we could set a tone, put a team away.

He did not OVERTHROW the last two passes of the game Sunday. He had no choice but to make them playable.

So why does he OVERTHROW GO ROUTES so routinely when we are not desperate? If a person can throw a football 45 yards, is it so impossible to scale it back a tad and throw it 40 yards instead — to give his teammates a fighting chance to make a play?

I expect Cam Newton to make some GO route throws playable Sunday. I wonder if we will do the same BEFORE FALLING BEHIND in the score?

Watching Ryan OVERTHROW those passes is truly fascinating. I wonder what is it due to?

Straight Cash Homie

December 7th, 2011
9:17 am

Great article. I’ve been preaching this to the Ryanettes for quite a while now. They just don’t get it. Dude is as good as he’s going to get for the most part. Blame Mularkey, blame smith, even TD admits Ryan will never be elite yet you STILL have folks claiming he is going to be something special. Maybe a special olympian.

Ed

December 7th, 2011
10:08 am

Matt Ryan has been in the league 4 years and knows the terminology in the playbook as well as any QB in football but now has to apply that knowledge into actual performance on the field. I think he has all the skills to lead this team to a Championship.

Runnin with the Dawgs

December 7th, 2011
12:30 pm

If you hang around these blogs and discuss the Falcons with the fans you will discover real quick that almost all of them will say nothing to criticize either of the Matts. (Bryant and Ryan) The truth of the matter is they both have their bad days just like the rest of the players. In the N.O. game this year Bryant missed 41 yard FG which would have won the game. This is like a chip shot for him, but he’s human, and he missed it. I never read a word about that miss in these blogs. It’s against the blog rules to bad mouth the Matts. As for Matt Ryan he has played like a dog all year and I’m beginning to think we’d be better off to replace him with a new QB out of the draft. Andrew Luck — Stanford, Robert Griffin — Baylor just to name a couple. I as most of us love having Matty Ice on the team, but he’s just not getting the job done this year.

Runnin with the Dawgs

December 7th, 2011
12:41 pm

We REALLY looked bad running the no-huddle plays in Texas. Everybody says it catches the opposing D off guard, but if you ask me everybody on the field looks confused, and MR looks like he is about to panic.

Wil

December 8th, 2011
9:01 pm

Two things. Terrible O-line, and most dropped passes in the league. Many of them possible big plays.

Paddy O

December 9th, 2011
10:05 am

The Ryan slam happens everytime we lose. We lost at TX due to dropped passes and penalties – the key one being the unnecessary holding penalty by Dunta Robinson. Ryan has led us to over a dozen come back victories. I don’t know what you want him to do.

Paddy O

December 9th, 2011
10:05 am

runnin – you are full of crap.

SirReal

December 9th, 2011
10:30 am

@runnin I agree…the guy looks like a deer in the headlights runnning it sometimes.

SI.com wonders: Does Matt Ryan still have room to grow?

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SI.com wonders: Does Matt Ryan still have room to grow?

268 comments Add your comment

About Mark Bradley

We’ve Moved!

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