Matt Ryan

[Borat]

Ok we all know that Matt is one of the best young QBs in the game, but let's face it, with Mularkey's drumbeat playcalling, the D's we face know that if they load the box on 1st and 2nd down to stop Turner, and then cover all

Short to short-intermediate routes on third down they've got us beat. I can't really think of too many games where we wonwith the pass while the run wasn't working. I think it's high time for Mularkey to stop treating Ryan like it's week 3 of his rookie season, and let him throw on more downs than third and long. We're way too predictable, and it showed in the 2nd saints game and obviously the packers game. Your thoughts appreciated.

Edited May 15, 2011 by Borat.Sagdiyev

[paulitik]

We won the Ravens game pretty much only passing. That was a revelation.

I hope so. It's time.

[Borat]

And don't tell me he physically can't make those types o throws. Look at his college tapes, he was a bit of a gunslinger. Mularkey (or possibly smith) has his leg attached to a ball and chain back there

[Borat]

We won the Ravens game pretty much only passing. That was a revelation.

I hope so. It's time.

Yeah that may be the lone example. Even then, it was mainly short routes that they got better and better at stopping as the game progressed

[NJDirtyBird]

I sure as **** hope so. When you draft Julio Jones to join this offense you better be prepared to start slinging the ball around. This is year 4 in the league for Matt and its time to let him go and take shots down field, and utilize the screen pass as well.

I wouldn't mind it at all if they ran the no huddle the entire year! lol. I always find myself not yelling when Matt runs plays from the no huddle

[Atl/0]

So after 3 years this this scheme still hasn't "opened up"?

This year's motto should be NO EXCUSES!

[moorem]

I hope so... It's Time....

[falcon70]

Ok we all know that Matt is one of the best young QBs in the game, but let's face it, with Mularkey's drumbeat playcalling, the D's we face know that if they load the box on 1st and 2nd down to stop Turner, and then cover all

Short to short-intermediate routes on third down they've got us beat. I can't really think of too many games where we wonwith the pass while the run wasn't working. I think it's high time for Mularkey to stop treating Ryan like it's week 3 of his rookie season, and let him throw on more downs than third and long. We're way too predictable, and it showed in the 2nd saints game and obviously the packers game. Your thoughts appreciated.

Honestly.

Matt Ryan and the offense is not the problem. If you can win with that kind of ball control and low risk taking that's a pretty good formula.

The problem with this team is clear.

No commitment to the non-glamorous positions. All the money goes to guys that have to have the football in their hand to help you.

Also, depth is non-existent. The two years where there has been success, this team has had unbelievable luck with a lack of injuries.

This team is structured to succeed only if every thing goes as planned.

That's a problem.

Edited May 15, 2011 by falcon70

[kiwifalcon]

To me this is simple with the NFL being a QB driven league,as fast as Ryan develops the deeper the Falcons go.You can go on about defense this defense that but to me Ryan is the key to the Falcons success if he continues on the vein of form and development I see no reason why the Falcons can't go all the way.But to me its Ryan and always has been about our QB being the key as to how the team fears.

[d#d#d#]

Id like to say yes, but until we have a reliable left tackle it wont happen. Ryan usually gets about 2 seconds to get the ball out, so any routes that take time to develop are out...

[benny]

honestly i dont think Mularkey will ever change. i think we could still be a vanilla unexplosive offense this year, leading to the firing of Mularkey, which shouldve happened 2 years ago.

[d#d#d#]

honestly i dont think Mularkey will ever change. i think we could still be a vanilla unexplosive offense this year, leading to the firing of Mularkey, which shouldve happened 2 years ago.

This wouldnt surprise me either...

[Hezikiah]

Our offense is capable of doing some damage this year. I sure hope we open it up a little bit...Seems were gonna be in a lot of shootouts this next season.

[FalconFromSpain]

I'm not against the ball control short pass type offense, but we have to adjust to the game. The 2nd saints game and the packers gaem showed that you if you do something and doesnt work dont try to do same and expect a different result. For the ones saying that the problem is the line, maybe its true, but this year when we took some deep shoots, like the games against the bengals or browns, we were almost in max protect formations. I know it would be perfetc to throw deep passes with only 5 people blocking, but if we have to put a back and/or a te to help block we can do it, the problem is that mularkey seems to love that flat route on shotgun formations and the **** skinny post that every defense know how to stop, for me the problem is not the players is more the situations where mularkey puts them.

[Borat]

I'm not against the ball control short pass type offense, but we have to adjust to the game. The 2nd saints game and the packers gaem showed that you if you do something and doesnt work dont try to do same and expect a different result. For the ones saying that the problem is the line, maybe its true, but this year when we took some deep shoots, like the games against the bengals or browns, we were almost in max protect formations. I know it would be perfetc to throw deep passes with only 5 people blocking, but if we have to put a back and/or a te to help block we can do it, the problem is that mularkey seems to love that flat route on shotgun formations and the **** skinny post that every defense know how to stop, for me the problem is not the players is more the situations where mularkey puts them.

Amen brother

[Mr. Right]

.

Edited May 16, 2011 by Mr. Right

[Tandy]

Honestly.

Matt Ryan and the offense is not the problem. If you can win with that kind of ball control and low risk taking that's a pretty good formula.

The problem with this team is clear.

No commitment to the non-glamorous positions. All the money goes to guys that have to have the football in their hand to help you.

Also, depth is non-existent. The two years where there has been success, this team has had unbelievable luck with a lack of injuries.

This team is structured to succeed only if every thing goes as planned.

That's a problem.

I agree and disagree with this (lol). Actually, you have some valid points. I would like to see them throw some money on the lines. That being said - they did take Jerry and Baker in the first. Not Glamour positions.

Our depth is coming along. We had so much more depth last year than we had the year before. When you are rebuilding a team as we have been over the past 3 years - depth is the last thing to occur.

I'm still waiting to see what happens in FA this year. I will consider the offseason disappointing if they don't do something to improve the front line on both sides of the ball. Even though I will consider it disappointing - I am not unhappy with the picks they have made either. I just want to see those final pieces put in place.

Until I see what they do in FA though and through possible trades - I'll reserve judgement.

[AllStarHandyMan]

get ice passing in the beginning and when play off time comes go back to the old ways run run and run some more then that will help!!! but what ever we do it going to be good are team is good this year!

[Tandy]

I agree and disagree with this (lol). Actually, you have some valid points. I would like to see them throw some money on the lines. That being said - they did take Jerry and Baker in the first. Not Glamour positions.

Our depth is coming along. We had so much more depth last year than we had the year before. When you are rebuilding a team as we have been over the past 3 years - depth is the last thing to occur.

I'm still waiting to see what happens in FA this year. I will consider the offseason disappointing if they don't do something to improve the front line on both sides of the ball. Even though I will consider it disappointing - I am not unhappy with the picks they have made either. I just want to see those final pieces put in place.

Until I see what they do in FA though and through possible trades - I'll reserve judgement.

Here are the Draft Picks by TD and company since 2008 through the 4th round of each year.

2008 = QB, Tackle, Mike, Corner, WR, Safety

2009 = DT, Safety, Corner, DE

2010 = Will (or Sam), DT, Guard, Center

2011 = WR, LB (not sure what position yet) (Then RB in 5)

[Return of SWFT]

Matt Ryan was very very efficient last year and had a great statistical season with his td to int ratio and his yards. What needs to go up is his YPA and drop the pass attempts down and hopefully with Julio Jones and Rodgers more explosive plays . Ill take a very similar season with solid playoff performances from Ryan .

Ryan also had 4 games of Passer rating under 70 (including playoff) thats 1 /2 games to many to be that bad .. Its understand for a QB to get 1 or 2 games a season with that poor of rating but not 4 games

[dirtybird1989]

I agree. Its time for Matt to call the shots. When we run no huddle, our offense is deadly. The plays seem to work a bit better and things go alot smoother. i know a part of it is because the D hasnt got time to get in a play thats fitting for the call but Matt seems way better when the play desions are on him.

[Tandy]

Matt Ryan was very very efficient last year and had a great statistical season with his td to int ratio and his yards. What needs to go up is his YPA and drop the pass attempts down and hopefully with Julio Jones and Rodgers more explosive plays . Ill take a very similar season with solid playoff performances from Ryan .

Ryan also had 4 games of Passer rating under 70 (including playoff) thats 1 /2 games to many to be that bad .. Its understand for a QB to get 1 or 2 games a season with that poor of rating but not 4 games

That made me curious - something to look at for sure.

I went and looked up the top QB's in the league in their 3rd year when actually playing games and listed the number of games in that season where their QB rating was below 70.

Peyton Manning only had 1 in his 3rd year - but in his 4th year - he had 4 of 16

Philip Rivers had 7 of 16

Tom Brady had 5 of 16

Big Ben had 7 of 15

Drew Brees had 8 of 11

Mike Vick had 5 of 15

Joe Flacco had 3 of 16

Eli Manning had 7 of 16

Tony Romo had 3 of 13 (Mind you - that was really his 6th year - he had 3 years to sit behind a QB and learn)

Aaron Rodgers had 2 of 15 (Again - really his 6th year - he had 3 years to sit behind a QB and learn)

Some of the greats in history

Joe Montana - he really didn't take over until '80 - so in '83 (really his 5th year) - 4 of 16

Dan Marino (ok - I am giving up on these old ones - but I know his real 3rd year) - in 86 he had 3 of 16

After looking these up, I kind of feel Ryan is going through the normal maturation process - and we'll see him continue to improve. I don't think having those 4 games in his 3rd year is anything to worry about.

[Return of SWFT]

Thats good post Tandy appreciate the look up of stats I dont think it is either all QBs have bad games . You just want to manage those games and keep them down to min cause most of the time your not going to win those games even though we did split 2-2 . I also dont judge players on the year by year rating system..Its kind of not a great way to judge talent as a example Josh Freeman had a better 2nd season then most NFL QBS including Ryan is that a good sample size to drawn down that Freeman will be a better QB or is a better QB then Ryan just on his soph season .

[Tandy]

Thats good post Tandy appreciate the look up of stats I dont think it is either all QBs have bad games . You just want to manage those games and keep them down to min cause most of the time your not going to win those games even though we did split 2-2 . I also dont judge players on the year by year rating system..Its kind of not a great way to judge talent as a example Josh Freeman had a better 2nd season then most NFL QBS including Ryan is that a good sample size to drawn down that Freeman will be a better QB or is a better QB then Ryan just on his soph season .

We should see improvement from him as he matures in the position. I don't like seeing those bad games either - and just want to see him continue growing in the position.

As for year to year - I think it's the best way to get where he should be in his development - I wasn't really trying to compare him to an individual one on one in that given year - because some QB's are going to do better in a given year for sure and there are other factors - injury, surrounding cast, opponents - - but when you take an average of good QB's in that year of development, it should give us an idea of whether he's in line in his development or falling behind.

As for Freeman - he's young as well - and turning out to be a phenominal QB - so who knows where his ceiling is - he has a long way to go. He didn't do as well in his first year - but he turned it on last year. Ryan played in 3 less games (counting TB where he went out on the first drive) - so his stats were a little skewed - plus he came back hurt to finish the year. That's not to take away from Freeman in any way - I think he's pretty awesome, but if you break those stats down by game - there is not that much difference between the two.

Freeman 2010 per game stats: 18.2 of 29.6 for 216 yds - 1.56 TD and .375 Int

Ryan 2009 per game stats: 20.2 of 34.7 for 224 yds - 1.7 TD and 1.1 Int

Ryans big issue in his 2nd year were the turnovers. Bad decision making in 2009. I feel he got a handle on that in his 3rd year - and let's hope he keeps that handle.

Honestly - both of those 2 are awesome QB's. By the end of their career - I don't know who will have been the best QB - but I have a feeling both of them will be extremely successful. Now, if Newton steps it up and becomes a phenom in Carolina - by the time these guys are peaking - Brees will be ready to retire. I wonder what young gun they'll be bringing in to NO?

Either way - our Division is hot.

[FalconFanSince1970]

The hatred for MM continues. Dude gets a serious amount of blame for our offensive woes. Yes he has made mistakes, but he is a dam good coordinator, especially for the kind of offense Smitty said he wants to run (a tough, run first, ball control, smash mouth offense).

His Oline, WRs and QB have not always executed well. Mularkey is too old to run, block, throw or catch passes. The notion that all he does is run the ball is simply a myth. We passed 54% of the time and ran 46% of the time last season. With that split there's no way the run, run, pass moniker his detractors have pinned on him could be true. It's just not mathematically possible folks.

You can point to the lack of 20+ yard receptions but to paraphrase him from a TV interview in 2009, 'there are deep routes in most of our pass plays. The players have to execute them'. By the way we were ranked 10th in both the 20+ and 40+ yard reception categories in 2008, before TonyG got here.

MM's offense posted some good stats last year:

2010

1st - 4th down conversion%

1st - fewest penalties

2nd - time of possession

3rd - 3rd down conversion%

3rd - fewest sacks allowed

3rd - fewest giveaways

4th - total first downs

4th - fewest INTs thrown

5th - points scored

5th - fewest fumbles lost

8th - passing TDs

9th - rushing first downs

9th - passing first downs

9th - rushing TDs

10th - completion%

10th - passer rating