Nolas take on Matt Ryan

[nolafan33]

I will try to be as objective here as I can be.

The first thing QB's need to have, IMO, is accuracy. If your not accurate as a QB, you just won't be very good. Matt Ryan seems to be very inconsistent with his accuracy. I saw plays yesterday where he would sail the ball over the recievers head, but a few plays later he'd fire a laser into the recievers chest from 20 yards out. The biggest example I've seen to this is those throws to the sideline. One throw he'll put it only where the reciever can catch it, then he'll let it sail over the recievers head, throw behind him, or too far in front.

Then you have his arm strength. Is Matt Ryan like Chad Pennington, who can barely throw the ball over 20 yards? No he isn't, but he also isn't like a Aaron Rodgers who can launch it 60 yards downfield on a consistent basis. Matt Ryan, IMO, has about average arm strength. Which certaintly is not a knock on him, because Drew Brees arm strength is probably a little above average. You almost have to be like a magician with arm strength, make people think your arm is stronger than it actually is. Drew does a great job at that. If there is one thing a QB doesn't need to be elite, it's arm strength. As a coach and as a player, you have to know the zone a QB can throw the ball in, and what throws he can make and which he can't. The Falcons coaching staff and recieving corps don't do a great job at helping Ryan out in this aspect IMO. They'll often force him into making throws just out of his zone, resulting in underthrown balls or off target throws because he's trying to make the throw.

Ryans best aspect of his game, or atleast the one that stands out the most when I watch him? Pocket awareness and ability to manuever around the pocket. He's very close to the elite level of this. The best QB at doing this plays in division, Drew Brees. I'm sure Ryan looks at alot of film of how Drew gets around the pocket. You saw yesterday how well Ryan can move around the pocket with the throw to Gonzo for his 1000th catch (congrats). That play was a thing of beauty. He can feel the pressure and step up, or take a simple step to the right or left to buy himself more time.

In the end, I'd put Matt Ryan near the top of the tier of "average" QB's. He's not elite, and he's not great. He's solid, and good around for his age. My problem with him, he seems very inconsistent with his throws, like I mentioned more than a few times in this post. The thing that disappoints me the most, I haven't seen much of an improvement from year 1 to year 3 with Matt Ryan. Honestly, it's beginning to make me wonder how high his cieling really is. Prove us wrong, Matt Ryan.

[bossFALCON™]

good post nola. i agree with most of what you said.

[rcky_mtn_falcon]

I can't really disagree with any of your observations.

However I would point out

Drew Brees

Season Team Passing Rushing Fumbles

G GS Comp Att Pct Yds Avg TD Int Sck SckY Rate Att Yds Avg TD FUM Lost

2005 San Diego Chargers 16 16 323 500 64.6 3,576 7.2 24 15 27 223 89.2 21 49 2.3 1 8 5

2004 San Diego Chargers 15 15 262 400 65.5 3,159 7.9 27 7 18 131 104.8 53 85 1.6 2 7 2

2003 San Diego Chargers 11 11 205 356 57.6 2,108 5.9 11 15 21 178 67.5 21 84 4.0 0 5 3

2002 San Diego Chargers 16 16 320 526 60.8 3,284 6.2 17 16 24 180 76.9 38 130 3.4 1 2 0

Matt Ryan

Season Team Passing Rushing Fumbles

G GS Comp Att Pct Yds Avg TD Int Sck SckY Rate Att Yds Avg TD FUM Lost

2010 Atlanta Falcons 1 1 27 44 61.4 252 5.7 0 1 2 15 67.6 2 4 2.0 0 -- --

2009 Atlanta Falcons 14 14 263 451 58.3 2,916 6.5 22 14 19 92 80.9 30 49 1.6 1 5 2

2008 Atlanta Falcons 16 16 265 434 61.1 3,440 7.9 16 11 17 104 87.7 55 104 1.9 1 6 1

Matt's first 2 years as a starter are very comparable to Bree's and alot of his stats are better. He had better completion percentage, better TD to INT ration, and higher QB rating both years. Drew has been playing for 10 years he's seen it all, and the way Ryan studies film he'll get there.

Ryan didn't get to sit for a year and learn before he started, he was the starter from day 1. Drew sat his first year and became a full time starter in his 2nd season.

I would also point out Brees didn't become the stat machine that he is now until he was paired with Sean Payton. In other words when he got a gambler for an OC. A lot of people in Atlanta are already complaining about Mularkey and wanting him to take the training wheels off.

Everyone can see that our offense is at its best when Matt is calling plays from the line.

A lot of people gave up on Brees in San Diego way to soon, and New Orleans is reaping the benefit. We in Atlanta are going to have to go through the growing pains before Matt reaches his FULL potential.

[sean weatherspoon]

aaron rogers had 188 yards vs the eagles

matt ryan had 252 yards vs the steelers

[sean weatherspoon]

all in all i will agree with you nola, but you left things out, like his ability to run the no huddle, he is very gifted in this area. also his poise and calmness in hostile enviorments. no defense in the league or crowd in the league can rattle matt ryan.

there are things other then stats that make a qb good.

[SaintRay]

ability to run the no huddle, he is very gifted in this area. also his poise and calmness in hostile enviorments. no defense in the league or crowd in the league can rattle matt ryan.

there are things other then stats that make a qb good.

SW, please pass the pipe....I wanna try that stuff too... :ph34r:

[sean weatherspoon]

SW, please pass the pipe....I wanna try that stuff too... :ph34r:

you disagree? try to make a valid point

[SaintK]

I don't care that he can run the no huddle. Poise and calm is all good if he was smart enuff to use it to his advantage. All he does is look at gonz or white.

If they aren't open he throws it out of bounds. And he throws critical ints.

I agree with Nola. His upside is not looking very high. He may have touched his ceiling.

Edited September 14, 2010 by SaintK

[sean weatherspoon]

I don't care that he can run the no huddle. Poise and calm is all good if he was smart enuff to use it to his advantage. All he does is look at gonz or white.

If they aren't open he throws it out of bounds. And he throws critical ints.

blame the falcons front office for not getting any weapons besides gonzo and matt to throw too, not matt ryan, when your number 2 reciever is eric weems pickens is slim. that interception that he threw to pittsburgh was right on the money, blame mike mularkey for going to the well to often and calling that route over and over, so that troy p. knew it was comming.

[SaintK]

blame the falcons front office for not getting any weapons besides gonzo and matt to throw too, not matt ryan, when your number 2 reciever is eric weems pickens is slim. that interception that he threw to pittsburgh was right on the money, blame mike mularkey for going to the well to often and calling that route over and over, so that troy p. knew it was comming.

What about hd and turner and Norwood.

[SaintRay]

you disagree? try to make a valid point

Payton Manning - no huddle - end of story.

Matt Ryan away record career - 7-10 - end of story.

Edited September 14, 2010 by SaintRay

[joe horn]

Payton Manning - no huddle - end of story.

Matt Ryan away record career - 7-10 - end of story.

Yeah, but man does he rock the bootleg :ph34r:

[Kevo]

blame the falcons front office for not getting any weapons besides gonzo and matt to throw too, not matt ryan

Ryan throws to himself??? Maybe that's the problem

[bossFALCON™]

Does anyone think Atlanta runs the no huddle to simplify the defensive read for Marty? Wasn't there talk of shortening up the playbook last year? I think it may be a continuation of that and that ice isn't the qb he's been built up to be.

doubt it. they run the no huddle to keep the defense from subbing and to calm the offense down at times. we usually go to no huddle when nothings clicking and we're struggling. he's been running the no huddle since his rookie year.

I don't care that he can run the no huddle. Poise and calm is all good if he was smart enuff to use it to his advantage. All he does is look at gonz or white.

If they aren't open he throws it out of bounds. And he throws critical ints.

I agree with Nola. His upside is not looking very high. He may have touched his ceiling.

lol you're talking out of your ***. maybe he throws it out of bounds because our players other than roddy and TG have a tough time getting open. and he has not thrown that many critical INTs. i can only think of a few.

ryan is usually pretty clutch in big situations. it seems like a lot of you are taking his play from the pittsburgh game and saying "this is matt ryan".

[rcky_mtn_falcon]

I notice everyone on this post ignored the logical post I left on here last night.

We got Saints fans on here talking like they drafted Brees and he became a stud by his third year, and that's just pure BS. Matt's first 2 years were better than Drew's first 2 years and his 3rd year could very easily be better.

The Saints signed a chia QB and all they had to do is add water. The Falcons drafted a QB and NO one said he would be the number 1 QB in the league after 2 years as a starter, and those that espected that are morons.

[nuccah]

Many of your observations are pretty much spot on.

Only two things I disagree with:

1. His accuracy. Most of his throws were spot-on Sunday. When he throws a ball excessively high and out of bounds its because he feels alot of pressure, been in the pocket too long or rolling out, and needs to throw it away.

2. His arm strength. It's not just average, it is definitely above average (noted by you saying his fires lasers 20 yard downfield). It was by play design yesterday that we didn't go downfield, and that was a very good decision by Mularkey as the Steelers don't allow it either by pass rush or coverage.

I seriously think people forget that we played the Steelers defense on Sunday.

[nuccah]

Does anyone think Atlanta runs the no huddle to simplify the defensive read for Marty?

That may be the single, least knowledgeable statement I've heard since the Ovie Mughelli Sucks thread.

[Shredman]

I will try to be as objective here as I can be.

The first thing QB's need to have, IMO, is accuracy. If your not accurate as a QB, you just won't be very good. Matt Ryan seems to be very inconsistent with his accuracy. I saw plays yesterday where he would sail the ball over the recievers head, but a few plays later he'd fire a laser into the recievers chest from 20 yards out. The biggest example I've seen to this is those throws to the sideline. One throw he'll put it only where the reciever can catch it, then he'll let it sail over the recievers head, throw behind him, or too far in front.

Then you have his arm strength. Is Matt Ryan like Chad Pennington, who can barely throw the ball over 20 yards? No he isn't, but he also isn't like a Aaron Rodgers who can launch it 60 yards downfield on a consistent basis. Matt Ryan, IMO, has about average arm strength. Which certaintly is not a knock on him, because Drew Brees arm strength is probably a little above average. You almost have to be like a magician with arm strength, make people think your arm is stronger than it actually is. Drew does a great job at that. If there is one thing a QB doesn't need to be elite, it's arm strength. As a coach and as a player, you have to know the zone a QB can throw the ball in, and what throws he can make and which he can't. The Falcons coaching staff and recieving corps don't do a great job at helping Ryan out in this aspect IMO. They'll often force him into making throws just out of his zone, resulting in underthrown balls or off target throws because he's trying to make the throw.

Ryans best aspect of his game, or atleast the one that stands out the most when I watch him? Pocket awareness and ability to manuever around the pocket. He's very close to the elite level of this. The best QB at doing this plays in division, Drew Brees. I'm sure Ryan looks at alot of film of how Drew gets around the pocket. You saw yesterday how well Ryan can move around the pocket with the throw to Gonzo for his 1000th catch (congrats). That play was a thing of beauty. He can feel the pressure and step up, or take a simple step to the right or left to buy himself more time.

In the end, I'd put Matt Ryan near the top of the tier of "average" QB's. He's not elite, and he's not great. He's solid, and good around for his age. My problem with him, he seems very inconsistent with his throws, like I mentioned more than a few times in this post. The thing that disappoints me the most, I haven't seen much of an improvement from year 1 to year 3 with Matt Ryan. Honestly, it's beginning to make me wonder how high his cieling really is. Prove us wrong, Matt Ryan.

Manning, Brady, even your own Brees would not have fared any better vs the Steelers in their home opener, if you saw the game you know this to be true.........

but yea he did have a chance to make a statement, and fell short again....

[Laugher]

I really think all three would have fare better then your qb, the difference is receivers and oline, brees manning and Brady all don't hold the ball long and have people to throw to. Ryan threw the ball like 25 times to roddy and 15 to tg.

[Laugher]

And no we didn't draft brees, we did however get him after no one really wanted him, due to everyone thinking he was finished.

There bad.

[SaintRay]

We got Saints fans on here talking like they drafted Brees and he became a stud by his third year, and that's just pure BS.

The Saints signed a chia QB and all they had to do is add water.

:wacko: That's it. I'm calling Coach Smith and insisting the Falcons cut Gonzo, Turner, Robinson and few others because you guys didn't draft them. :wacko:

[nolafan33]

So what happens if Ryan has another average game against the Cards? Doesn't spread the wealth, off target throws, mistakes? For the sake of this board, he better come out and have a heck of a game.

22-28, 241 yards, 2 TD's, 0 INT's

not something like

15-28, 173 yards, 1 TD, 0 INT

[ThunderCookie]

I will try to be as objective here as I can be.

The first thing QB's need to have, IMO, is accuracy. If your not accurate as a QB, you just won't be very good. Matt Ryan seems to be very inconsistent with his accuracy. I saw plays yesterday where he would sail the ball over the recievers head, but a few plays later he'd fire a laser into the recievers chest from 20 yards out. The biggest example I've seen to this is those throws to the sideline. One throw he'll put it only where the reciever can catch it, then he'll let it sail over the recievers head, throw behind him, or too far in front.

Then you have his arm strength. Is Matt Ryan like Chad Pennington, who can barely throw the ball over 20 yards? No he isn't, but he also isn't like a Aaron Rodgers who can launch it 60 yards downfield on a consistent basis. Matt Ryan, IMO, has about average arm strength. Which certaintly is not a knock on him, because Drew Brees arm strength is probably a little above average. You almost have to be like a magician with arm strength, make people think your arm is stronger than it actually is. Drew does a great job at that. If there is one thing a QB doesn't need to be elite, it's arm strength. As a coach and as a player, you have to know the zone a QB can throw the ball in, and what throws he can make and which he can't. The Falcons coaching staff and recieving corps don't do a great job at helping Ryan out in this aspect IMO. They'll often force him into making throws just out of his zone, resulting in underthrown balls or off target throws because he's trying to make the throw.

Ryans best aspect of his game, or atleast the one that stands out the most when I watch him? Pocket awareness and ability to manuever around the pocket. He's very close to the elite level of this. The best QB at doing this plays in division, Drew Brees. I'm sure Ryan looks at alot of film of how Drew gets around the pocket. You saw yesterday how well Ryan can move around the pocket with the throw to Gonzo for his 1000th catch (congrats). That play was a thing of beauty. He can feel the pressure and step up, or take a simple step to the right or left to buy himself more time.

In the end, I'd put Matt Ryan near the top of the tier of "average" QB's. He's not elite, and he's not great. He's solid, and good around for his age. My problem with him, he seems very inconsistent with his throws, like I mentioned more than a few times in this post. The thing that disappoints me the most, I haven't seen much of an improvement from year 1 to year 3 with Matt Ryan. Honestly, it's beginning to make me wonder how high his cieling really is. Prove us wrong, Matt Ryan.

Outstanding post NOLA. Unbiased and insightful. And almost my sentiments as well.

[Big Bubba]

Ryan vs the Cards will be iffy. You never know which Cards defense will show up. The one that gets in there on almost every play and hits the qb in the mouth or the one where they just look timid and make a qb look like an All-Pro.

Edited September 14, 2010 by 08NFCSChamps

[ThunderCookie]

So what happens if Ryan has another average game against the Cards? Doesn't spread the wealth, off target throws, mistakes? For the sake of this board, he better come out and have a heck of a game.

22-28, 241 yards, 2 TD's, 0 INT's

not something like

15-28, 173 yards, 1 TD, 0 INT

For the sake of Ryan he better have a good game. With a lot Falcon fans still feeling like we were robbed(even if it was by Mularkey and his ever unchanging snap count), he better come out and play like there was no tomorrow. And if White continues to snag the passes he missed last year, there will be no excuse to lay an egg at home.