'Matt Ice' Ryan a nice addition for Falcons

[BlacksburgHokie]

MATTY ICE

That's what they called Matt Ryan at Penn Charter, that's what they called him at Boston College, and that's what they're calling him in Atlanta these days, where the cool-as-a-popsicle rookie quarterback has spearheaded one of the more impressive makeovers of the first half of the NFL season.

The NFL is the land of rapid reformation, where worst-to-first turnarounds have become as common as ants at a picnic. But heading into this season, few observers had the Falcons anywhere near the top of their Most Likely To Get Their Act Together list.

This was a team with a new coach (Mike Smith), a new general manager (Tom Dimitroff) and a roster loaded with new players, including the aforementioned Ryan, who was the third overall pick in the April draft. But here they are, six games in, fresh off a bye week and headed for a Sunday meeting with the Eagles at the Linc with a not-too-shabby 4-2 record that already has equaled last season's win total.

Nothing about the Falcons' surprising start has been more impressive than the play of Matty Ice. His numbers - a .578 completion percentage, 7.2 yards per attempt, five touchdown passes in 161 attempts - are nothing special.

But he has displayed remarkable poise in managing the Falcons' offense and executing offensive coordinator Mike Mularkey's game plans. He has thrown just three interceptions, and only one in the last four games.

Ryan led them to a come-from-behind, 22-20 win over the Bears 2 weeks ago, completing a 26-yard pass to wide receiver Michael Jenkins on a deep corner route with 1 second left in the game that set up Jason Elam's 48-yard, game-winning field goal.

"The guy's been unbelievable," Falcons center Todd McClure said. "He's got ice water going through his veins. He's not playing like a rookie. His level of confidence has been like that from the first few days here. He's been controlling the huddle, controlling the offense, and if you've got a young quarterback doing that, it trickles downhill, and a lot of people get behind him and rally."

That's the way it's always been with Matty Ice. Talk to his college coaches, talk to scouts who watched him play at BC, and they'll mention the kid's intangibles - his leadership, toughness, intelligence, work ethic, grace under pressure - even more than they will his ability to throw the football from Point A to Point B.

"When we went up to Boston before the draft for a private workout with Matt, he had some of his teammates there to catch balls," the Falcons' Smith said. "I was trying to be very observant. We had just met Matt and walked into the locker room and the guys were sitting down tying their shoes. I kept hearing, 'Matt Ice.' That's the way they addressed him. I took notice of that. You could feel the dynamic in the locker room there. You could feel the respect they had for him.

"When we talked to the coaches up there, they said he was in the coaching offices as much as the coaches. Spent a lot of time studying film. I think that was a big advantage for him coming in here as a starting quarterback. Because they've got to spend a lot of extra time on film. Matt's done a bunch of it."

The Falcons drafted Ryan for two reasons. One was to help turn their fortunes around. The other was to help get rid of the lingering stench from the Michael Vick saga. The franchise needed a "new face," and clean-living, hard-working Matty Ice was it.

A new face isn't much good, though, if it doesn't belong to somebody who can play. So far, Ryan has given every indication that he can.

One thing that has helped prevent opposing defenses from focusing too much on the rookie has been the Falcons' ground game, which is ranked second in the league. The lethal combination of Michael Turner and Jerious Norwood already has combined for 877 rushing yards.

"Our offensive philosophy is we're going to be a team that's going to run the football," Smith said. "When you can run the football, it doesn't necessarily take pressure off the quarterback. But when you run the ball, it increases your opportunity to make big plays in the passing game."

In the first six games, Ryan has 16 completions of 20 yards or more, which is just two fewer than the Eagles' Donovan McNabb, who has thrown 50 more passes than the Falcons' rookie.

Ryan hasn't played like a rookie. In the Falcons' 24-9, Week 2 loss to Tampa Bay, he had a dismal first-half performance, completing just three of 15 passes for 36 yards and throwing two interceptions. But he bounced back in the second half, completing 10 of 18 passes for 122 yards. Led the Falcons on back-to-back scoring drives in which he completed 10 of 12 passes.

"He had a real tough start in that game," Smith said. "Oftentimes, when you're going through this learning process, it usually isn't until the next week after they've seen it on film and we've made corrections [that they can adjust].

"But we were able to make adjustments on the sideline and at halftime. The way he bounced back in that game speaks volumes not only for his mental toughness, but also his ability to improvise and adjust within a game. I think that's where successful players and coaches in this league show you what

they're really about; the way that they're able to adjust through a game."

Matty Ice's Falcons teammates are starting to believe in him the same way his BC teammates did, the same way his Penn Charter teammates did. They have been impressed with the rookie's poise.

The first thing he said when he entered the huddle before the game-winning drive against the Bears was, "We're going to win this game." A few moments later, he completed the pass to Jenkins that made it possible.

"Matt is so composed and shows such confidence in the huddle," wide receiver Brian Finneran said, "that you don't think of him as a rookie anymore." *

[Tandy]

MATTY ICE

That's what they called Matt Ryan at Penn Charter, that's what they called him at Boston College, and that's what they're calling him in Atlanta these days, where the cool-as-a-popsicle rookie quarterback has spearheaded one of the more impressive makeovers of the first half of the NFL season.

The NFL is the land of rapid reformation, where worst-to-first turnarounds have become as common as ants at a picnic. But heading into this season, few observers had the Falcons anywhere near the top of their Most Likely To Get Their Act Together list.

This was a team with a new coach (Mike Smith), a new general manager (Tom Dimitroff) and a roster loaded with new players, including the aforementioned Ryan, who was the third overall pick in the April draft. But here they are, six games in, fresh off a bye week and headed for a Sunday meeting with the Eagles at the Linc with a not-too-shabby 4-2 record that already has equaled last season's win total.

Nothing about the Falcons' surprising start has been more impressive than the play of Matty Ice. His numbers - a .578 completion percentage, 7.2 yards per attempt, five touchdown passes in 161 attempts - are nothing special.

But he has displayed remarkable poise in managing the Falcons' offense and executing offensive coordinator Mike Mularkey's game plans. He has thrown just three interceptions, and only one in the last four games.

Ryan led them to a come-from-behind, 22-20 win over the Bears 2 weeks ago, completing a 26-yard pass to wide receiver Michael Jenkins on a deep corner route with 1 second left in the game that set up Jason Elam's 48-yard, game-winning field goal.

"The guy's been unbelievable," Falcons center Todd McClure said. "He's got ice water going through his veins. He's not playing like a rookie. His level of confidence has been like that from the first few days here. He's been controlling the huddle, controlling the offense, and if you've got a young quarterback doing that, it trickles downhill, and a lot of people get behind him and rally."

That's the way it's always been with Matty Ice. Talk to his college coaches, talk to scouts who watched him play at BC, and they'll mention the kid's intangibles - his leadership, toughness, intelligence, work ethic, grace under pressure - even more than they will his ability to throw the football from Point A to Point B.

"When we went up to Boston before the draft for a private workout with Matt, he had some of his teammates there to catch balls," the Falcons' Smith said. "I was trying to be very observant. We had just met Matt and walked into the locker room and the guys were sitting down tying their shoes. I kept hearing, 'Matt Ice.' That's the way they addressed him. I took notice of that. You could feel the dynamic in the locker room there. You could feel the respect they had for him.

"When we talked to the coaches up there, they said he was in the coaching offices as much as the coaches. Spent a lot of time studying film. I think that was a big advantage for him coming in here as a starting quarterback. Because they've got to spend a lot of extra time on film. Matt's done a bunch of it."

The Falcons drafted Ryan for two reasons. One was to help turn their fortunes around. The other was to help get rid of the lingering stench from the Michael Vick saga. The franchise needed a "new face," and clean-living, hard-working Matty Ice was it.

A new face isn't much good, though, if it doesn't belong to somebody who can play. So far, Ryan has given every indication that he can.

One thing that has helped prevent opposing defenses from focusing too much on the rookie has been the Falcons' ground game, which is ranked second in the league. The lethal combination of Michael Turner and Jerious Norwood already has combined for 877 rushing yards.

"Our offensive philosophy is we're going to be a team that's going to run the football," Smith said. "When you can run the football, it doesn't necessarily take pressure off the quarterback. But when you run the ball, it increases your opportunity to make big plays in the passing game."

In the first six games, Ryan has 16 completions of 20 yards or more, which is just two fewer than the Eagles' Donovan McNabb, who has thrown 50 more passes than the Falcons' rookie.

Ryan hasn't played like a rookie. In the Falcons' 24-9, Week 2 loss to Tampa Bay, he had a dismal first-half performance, completing just three of 15 passes for 36 yards and throwing two interceptions. But he bounced back in the second half, completing 10 of 18 passes for 122 yards. Led the Falcons on back-to-back scoring drives in which he completed 10 of 12 passes.

"He had a real tough start in that game," Smith said. "Oftentimes, when you're going through this learning process, it usually isn't until the next week after they've seen it on film and we've made corrections [that they can adjust].

"But we were able to make adjustments on the sideline and at halftime. The way he bounced back in that game speaks volumes not only for his mental toughness, but also his ability to improvise and adjust within a game. I think that's where successful players and coaches in this league show you what

they're really about; the way that they're able to adjust through a game."

Matty Ice's Falcons teammates are starting to believe in him the same way his BC teammates did, the same way his Penn Charter teammates did. They have been impressed with the rookie's poise.

The first thing he said when he entered the huddle before the game-winning drive against the Bears was, "We're going to win this game." A few moments later, he completed the pass to Jenkins that made it possible.

"Matt is so composed and shows such confidence in the huddle," wide receiver Brian Finneran said, "that you don't think of him as a rookie anymore." *

Good article. I just want to point out one thing that I haven't really heard anyone comment on. It's true that his numbers are not that impressive - but does anyone realize that his numbers are increasing with time. Remember - this kid started his 1st professional game just 45 days ago! His passing attempts have increased as he's become more familiar with the offense and they've given him more passing plays and more liberty to make decisions at the line. His numbers are deceptive, because he is getting better - and they will rise more and more as we play teams that continue to focus on the run. At some point - they will begin focussing on the passing - but then our running will excel - we have a great balance - things are looking good for our future!

[bleedblackandred]

great read, thanks

[bleedblackandred]

Good article. I just want to point out one thing that I haven't really heard anyone comment on. It's true that his numbers are not that impressive - but does anyone realize that his numbers are increasing with time. Remember - this kid started his 1st professional game just 45 days ago! His passing attempts have increased as he's become more familiar with the offense and they've given him more passing plays and more liberty to make decisions at the line. His numbers are deceptive, because he is getting better - and they will rise more and more as we play teams that continue to focus on the run. At some point - they will begin focussing on the passing - but then our running will excel - we have a great balance - things are looking good for our future!

I agree 100% with what you said.

[KRUNKuno]

though a lot of these articles are starting to sound tha same.............

i still havent gotten tired of reading them.

[FalconFanForLife]

Well I was glad they focused on the Tampa game myself. Yes the come from behind win against Chicago is the hottest story of his career at the moment because all the great QB's display that knack of coming from behind to win the game. But I have seldom seen any Falcon QB's start as horribly as he did at Tampa, and then regain their composure to get the team back in the game. That game impressed me more than any others even though we did not win it.

[deja entendu]

Well I was glad they focused on the Tampa game myself. Yes the come from behind win against Chicago is the hottest story of his career at the moment because all the great QB's display that knack of coming from behind to win the game. But I have seldom seen any Falcon QB's start as horribly as he did at Tampa, and then regain their composure to get the team back in the game. That game impressed me more than any others even though we did not win it.

Yeah to throw two interceptions so quickly and then lead us within 8 points at the end of the game(if my memory serves me correct) against a tough defense, was incredible definately made me a 100% believer in ryan and showed he has the most important quality for a rookie quaterback starting out ,mental toughness

[Dedsquirl]

Yeah to throw two interceptions so quickly and then lead us within 8 points at the end of the game(if my memory serves me correct) against a tough defense, was incredible definately made me a 100% believer in ryan and showed he has the most important quality for a rookie quaterback starting out ,mental toughness

Very true.

I think we learned more about him in that loss than in any of the wins so far.

Well......... that Chicago game was a sweet sight.

But that Never Say Die effort vs Tampa was my second favorite.

I hate to admit it, but I wasn't expecting that after the start

.It felt great to see a Falcon team that had no quit in them.

[g-dawg]

nice read

[dirty4life]

I think a happy tear just fell!!

[falconsfan1987]

though a lot of these articles are starting to sound tha same.............

i still havent gotten tired of reading them.

I totally agree.

[falconsfan1987]

Good read.

[Magic Man]

Good read, and I thought we'd gotten through ONE article about the Ice Man, without having to hear YKW's name, but I was wrong...still nice read.

[Izo#2883]

I see what the articles mean when they say people rally behind him cause the rest of the team just wont quit when he is under center. They know that their QB can take em places.

I cant help but feel that our previous draft and FA aquirements were franchise changing.. and how sweet it is to finally be focusing on the positives instead of the negatives

[Vicious]

The first thing he said when he entered the huddle before the game-winning drive against the Bears was, "We're going to win this game." A few moments later, he completed the pass to Jenkins that made it possible.

[iloxygenil]

Well I was glad they focused on the Tampa game myself. Yes the come from behind win against Chicago is the hottest story of his career at the moment because all the great QB's display that knack of coming from behind to win the game. But I have seldom seen any Falcon QB's start as horribly as he did at Tampa, and then regain their composure to get the team back in the game. That game impressed me more than any others even though we did not win it.

That's what I was screaming all the way, if it weren't for a 3rd down defensive collapse / Tampa Bay cheatin their butts off tackling Jamaal Anderson, then the Falcons would no doubt in my mind have tied that game up. They were brimming with confidence. That was the game when I started to turn my feelings around towards Matt Ryan, he won me over in his ability to adjust mid game.

[Exar0s]

Awesome read, I'm proud of Ryan and he deserves all the hype he is getting.It is insane to believe a rookie QB and coaching staff could come here with all the problems we had and start the season out 4-2.It is still a long road though and Matty will have his bad times.I will be there to support him through them all though.He is our guy after all

[Bring It]

Great read..............thanks.