AJC > Sports > Falcons > Blog > Archives > 2008 > October > 24
Friday, October 24, 2008
Philly Blitz Master praises Ryan
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Got to always check out the other team’s newspapers to see what they are saying about the Falcons. It’s part of the background that goes along with preparing for what might happen on Sunday.
Ray Parillo of The Philadelphia Inquirer has a pretty interesting article today with Eagles defensive coordinator Jim “the Blitz Master” Johnson. (Don’t know how to put the link in here for you but you can go to Philly.Com, bounce around and find it).
Johnson was the linebackers coach in Seattle during Peyton Manning’s rookie year. After studying Ryan for Sunday’s game, Johnson concludes that Ryan is ahead of where Manning was at this stage of his rookie season.
I’d been writing that Manning was 3-13 as a rookie and Ryan is already 4-2. Manning, who wasn’t devoid of weapons as he had Marshall Faulk, was 1-5 after his first six games. It’s interesting that Johnson and went that extra step in the comparison.
Since becoming the Eagles defensive coordinator, Johnson is 8-3 while confusing rookie quarterbacks. Pittsburgh’s Ben Roethlisberger (2004), Tampa Bay’s Bruce Gradkowski (2006) and Tennessee’s Vince Young (2006) have posted wins over Johnson’s defenses. The list of victims include Cade McNown, David Carr, Patrick Ramsey, Chad Hutchinson, Eli Manning, Ryan Fitzpatrick, John Beck and Trent Edwards.
The Eagles note that like when Roethlisberger was a rookie quarterback with the Steelers, Ryan has been helped immensely by Michael Turner and the Falcons’ running game, which ranks second in the league.
Is it asking too much of Ryan to handle the Eagles’ blitz scheme in just his seventh game? Does Michael Turner and the offensive line need a strong running game to help Ryan? When teams blitz they are exposing themselves to quick passes. Can Roddy White beat Asante Samuel on some quick stuff? Can the Falcons really climb to 5-2?
