Steelers F. Dale Lolley beat writer on the Falcons

[FalconMama]

I overestimated how good Matt Ryan was when I made my pick of the Falcons to win this game.

Ryan’s passes don’t have a lot of zip on them and his outs take forever to get to the sideline. Without a running game to help him, he was pretty toothless.

He was also way to dependent on one receiver. Roddy White was targeted 23 times in this game for 13 receptions.

I’ve been covering the NFL for 18 years and can’t recall seeing so many passes intended for one receiver. That made the Falcons very predictable.

My link

[slamee101]

Ryan’s passes don’t have a lot of zip on them and his outs take forever to get to the sideline. Without a running game to help him, he was pretty toothless.

I won't lie...this is a MAJOR CONCERN to me. 1) We go to this too often and 2) It's compounded by the fact that (as this writer says) Matt doesn't have a lot of zip on the ball and it takes forever to get there. I find myself getting nervous everytime we throw it.

[supremedarius]

Doesnt have the strongest but the ball was getting there on time.....

[supremedarius]

Ryan’s passes don’t have a lot of zip on them and his outs take forever to get to the sideline. Without a running game to help him, he was pretty toothless.

I won't lie...this is a MAJOR CONCERN to me. 1) We go to this too often and 2) It's compounded by the fact that (as this writer says) Matt doesn't have a lot of zip on the ball and it takes forever to get there. I find myself getting nervous everytime we throw it.

Its a time throw..Look at when the ball is released and when the WR is in/out of his break..The ball is already released..He didnt have a problem throwing other passes. Seemed to have enough zip and fire behind them. Not saying he has the strongest arm but he has enough to get the job done

[Dr. Billings]

Ryan’s passes don’t have a lot of zip on them and his outs take forever to get to the sideline. Without a running game to help him, he was pretty toothless.

I won't lie...this is a MAJOR CONCERN to me. 1) We go to this too often and 2) It's compounded by the fact that (as this writer says) Matt doesn't have a lot of zip on the ball and it takes forever to get there. I find myself getting nervous everytime we throw it.

"My noodle has a first name"

It's "M-A-T-T"

"My noodle has a second name"

It's "R-Y-A-N"

[Gee-Q]

Problem is that the timing throws have to be perfect or else receiver completely open.

Matt's throws seem to have lost some zip in the offseason

[coastiemike]

I'm a bit concerned with the zip on passes as well. My wife, who doesn't know alot abou football even made the same comment yesterday that the passes seemed to float like a balloon.

As for the writer, I have to question whether he has really covered the NFL if he can't remember simple things that occurred less than a year ago. He said:

I’ve been covering the NFL for 18 years and can’t recall seeing so many passes intended for one receiver. That made the Falcons very predictable.

On Dec 13, 2009, Brandon Marshall set an NFL record for 21 receptions in a game. if I remember correctly, he was targeted 28-30 times that game by Kyle Orton. So, perhaps he should check the record books before typing something that makes him appear ignorant.

[Statick]

Ryan’s passes don’t have a lot of zip on them and his outs take forever to get to the sideline. Without a running game to help him, he was pretty toothless.

I won't lie...this is a MAJOR CONCERN to me. 1) We go to this too often and 2) It's compounded by the fact that (as this writer says) Matt doesn't have a lot of zip on the ball and it takes forever to get there. I find myself getting nervous everytime we throw it.

It concerned me as well, too, that is, going too often to that out route to Roddy. Again, I blame MM.

Ryan's passing strength has always been his timing on his throws and not too much how much "zip" they have on them.

[Hatch]

If Matt Ryan doesn't improve this season, his rookie season is a fluke.

[Statick]

If Matt Ryan doesn't improve this season, his rookie season is a fluke.

I disagree. Mike Mularkey's season with Ryan as a rookie would be a fluke.

[Old fan]

Gonzalez is usually Ryan's security blanket but after they wasted several plays trying to get him catch 1,000, he turned to White. Half of the receptions were to White. No wonder Polamalu jumped that throw.

[muskokas finest ©]

I’ve been covering the NFL for 18 years and can’t recall seeing so many passes intended for one receiver. That made the Falcons very predictable

.

Brandon Marshall had 21 catches in a game - QB's with one WR option that is heads and shoulders over the rest tend to lock in on their fave. Maybe Lollygagger should watch more football in his 18 years.

The Falcon offense predictable.....Ya Think!!

[supremedarius]

I disagree. Mike Mularkey's season with Ryan as a rookie would be a fluke.

I think more has to due with the development of Ryan as a QB and the offensive fit for the team. We basically turned Roddy into a possession receiver. The scheme as a whole is really vanilla. Compare our offense to 2008 and you will see a HUGE difference in the progressions Ryan went through..Something happened in the offseason of 09 and we will never know

[maddmatt]

Problem is that the timing throws have to be perfect or else receiver completely open.

If this is what we're counting on all I can say is "Game over dude!" , "Be like Kroy, BOY!" , and to quote Glanville, "This is the NFL son, that means not for long..."

Matt's throws seem to have lost some zip in the offseason

See above idea of doin what Kroy does and become a man, Matt. If I was 6'4" 220 you had better believe I could outthrow this hump. Blown shoulder in 01/ I'm 42 and still puttin the pill in breadbasket all day at 30 yds. 5'8 180 broken down pug. Ryan, your disgustingly over paid and PLEASE quit smiling til we get our sheet together kid. You too Dimitroff. Focus people.

[maddmatt]

Gee-Q my bad. I mistakenly multi quoted you. Sorry. The small print above is from the hands/mouth of maddmatt. Not Gee-Q

[kschreck]

It concerned me as well, too, that is, going too often to that out route to Roddy. Again, I blame MM.

That's exactly what I thought yesterday. I blame MM as much, if not more for that int. You can only be successful on that same route so many times before they catch on. That's why Troy P. was able to break on that ball at the snap.

I also give him credit for the instincts and athleticism to get there, make the INT and stay in bounds.

Bad call, bad read, good play by the defense.

[Jay Z]

I agree. I believe the scheme as a whole is really vanilla! Very predictable! Run run pass! The only deep threat on the Falcons is Roddy, which is why I wanted the Falcons to look at T.J., T.O., Brandon Marshall, Vincent Jackson, or Boldin this off-season. The Falcons don't spread the ball around the field. They roll Matt outside the pocket to much. And Matt's consistency needs to improve in order to win. I still think it's to early to judge, but they have some things to address..

[Hashbrown3]

First of all Mularkey is a terrible in-game adjuster to exploit the other teams Defense. Second, Ryan is beginning to earn a rep as not spreading the ball around and using 1 reciever as a security blanket. And 3 catches for HD, and 1 each to the RB's is not considered spreading the ball around. Lets get everyone in one room at falcons central and call a spade a spade and devise a plan to address this bullcrap right away before it continues to cost us L's....

[Knight of God]

It concerned me as well, too, that is, going too often to that out route to Roddy. Again, I blame MM.

Ryan's passing strength has always been his timing on his throws and not too much how much "zip" they have on them.

I blame TD for not getting him any extra help this offseason. Not ONE runningback of note and not ONE impact WR even after our 5th rounder went down.

Can't get cute in this leagure.

[mountain_jim3]

If Ryan/Mularkey don't get it together, time may prove the Flacco supporters here pre-draft to have been right. He has a cannon, and is not afraid to throw downfield, nor coached not to.

[Suave G i B]

I disagree. Mike Mularkey's season with Ryan as a rookie would be a fluke.

Matt should be smart enough to know he has to "work around" his OC.

[Striker42]

It's no fluke White was targeted so much. He's head and shoulders above all of our other WRs. Get Ryan a real option opposite White and we could really have something. Other than White we don't have a WR opposing teams fear.

[Faithful Falcon]

Matt just didn't see Troy. His problem was, he stared Roddy down the entire time. Troy, a smart DB took advantage.

[Dharma Initiative]

If Ryan/Mularkey don't get it together, time may prove the Flacco supporters here pre-draft to have been right. He has a cannon, and is not afraid to throw downfield, nor coached not to.

Ryan was much better their rookie seasons, but Flacco was better last season with ease. And I'd say Roddy and Gonzalez are better targets than Mason and Heap.

[5 to the squad]

My link

there's been receivers that have caught 20+ balls.