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AJC > Sports > Falcons > Blog > Archives > 2008 > April > 26 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USOK with Ryan
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
No surprise the Falcons picked Matt Ryan. I hoped they’d take Glenn Dorsey to solidify the D-line and I felt like he was the best player at No. 3, but obviously they felt Ryan could make a bigger impact.
Quarterback is a much tougher position to come in and play as a rookie, but the Falcons can’t afford to wait. They need results this season. I understand not wanting to rush along a rookie, but unless Redman, Shockley and/or Harrington can do something, they might have to get this guy in there. I hope he learns quickly.
He’s a big guy, 6-5, and he sounds like he’s very detail-oriented. Can’t wait to see what he can do. Now the Falcons just need to get some help on the lines.
Go Falcons!
Comments
Commenting is now closed for this entry.
By chico
April 26, 2008 7:48 PM | Link to this
We are counting on the Dome being “blacked out.”
By usetobeafalconfan
April 26, 2008 8:08 PM | Link to this
Worst pick ever thats all I have to say and that baker pick just as bad and lofton was terrible I don’t care what college he played for he is terrible.
By Big Dawg
April 26, 2008 9:49 PM | Link to this
Finally got some class at QB. The fans will love Matt once they get to know and see his work. * the main concern is who will block for him? New GM must pull a rabbit out of his hat to protect Matt. Pray!*
By Unbiased_Blogger
April 27, 2008 1:29 AM | Link to this
3-questions:
By Norman
April 27, 2008 8:12 AM | Link to this
The Falcons had no choice but to draft Ryan. The season ticket holders, especially the corporate suite owners, were threatening to not renew their leases on corporate suites unless a statement was made once and for all regarding Vick. According to the Atlanta Police Department, crime at the Dome and the surrounding parking lots was down last year for the first time since 02. Blank made a commitment to corporate Atlanta that he would improve the game day experience at the Dome. The ESPN town hall meeting was an embarrassment to the organization and Blank personally. The Atlanta Chamber of Commerce asked Blank to act in an attempt to rescue the city so that it would not be seen in such an unfavorable light. More than anything else, the town hall meeting proved to Blank that the situation was out of control. The city has become known nationally as the “ATL”, hip hop central and the like. Blank cant sell this stereotype to corporate america. By drafting Ryan, Blank hopes to recultivate a relationship that he covets for the future. A relationship that will help him leave the dome in the near future for a new facility in the northern suburbs.
By Mike
April 27, 2008 8:19 AM | Link to this
I do not think Ryan can or will make an instant impact. No QB ever has in their first year. Dorsey or Ellis would have. I do not have a problem with drafting a “New Face” but we should have built the body first. I think if the Falcons start Ryan this year they are crazy. Why invest in the QB of the future (if thats what you think you are doing) and put him out on the field in his first year to get knocked around and be out of the NFL in 2-3 years. Hopefully 2 years from now we will be happy with this selection. I like them moving up to get Baker OT…many people didn’t, but after him the O tackle talent took a nose dive. I loved that they got Lofton in the 2nd round. He is a big time hitter. Ofcourse since we do not have a DT he will be getting knocked around by 300 lb O linemen. I would go after 2 DT’s in the 3rd round. I like Dre Moore and Red Bryant. I have seen Dre Moore this year, he is not easy to move. He is not the pass ruisher like Dorsey or Ellis, but can still collapse the middle. I think Godfrey CB is a great choice with the 1st #3 pick. He has speed to play corner and can hit like a safety. He is what J Williams was suppose to be.
By Same Ole Falcons
April 27, 2008 10:44 AM | Link to this
Welcome back to the 70s. Say hello to regular blacked out games, losing seasons and no relevance whatsoever. All this supposed love being generated on the Falcons by the likes of Jaws and Mayock are just a show because they have “their guy” in as the Falcons QB…Arthur Blank got punked. See how much attention any of those guys pay the Falcons this season…none. See how many people get “excited” by this pick…..not many. This front office just showed it is looking for acceptance from the media instead of trying to build a winning football team. Who is the Dolphins franchise QB again?? Yep…thought so!! The Falcons just showed why its destined for perennial mediocrity….to busy looking to everybody else as to what to do.
By Blink
April 27, 2008 11:39 AM | Link to this
Best Falcon QB ever? No doubt, Steve Bartkowski. Great QB+ Bad O line= hurt QB (see shortened career of Steve Bartkowski). What I’m trying to point out is that it’s de ja vue all over again. We drafted the right QB for the future but we have endangered him from jump street without the right protection. I really wanted Dorsey but Ryan can work out and the true fans need to get behind him. This isn’t a matter of race but unfortunately he will be compared to Vick. Vick was a talented young man with deep troubles and we all should pray for him and as a city stand behind our team (with all the unexplainable picks they’ve made)…..My 2 cents.
By Tron
April 27, 2008 11:50 AM | Link to this
Blink, they ARE getting protection for him. They traded up into the first round to take the LT that kept John David off his Booty all year. And that was a good trade: 2 #2s and a #4 for a #1, #3 and #5. And I’m guessing we’ll be drafting high next year, so we can take another stud OL in that draft.
And remember, Vick’s salary will hopefully be off the books next year. The Falcons have cap room this year and will have lots more in 09. OL are available in free agency every year. Have faith. Dimitroff was there for the glory years of the Patriots. Based on his pedigree and every single thing I’ve heard him say, which is always impressive, I have faith that he and Mike Smith know what they’re doing in building this football team from the ground up.
By Tron
April 27, 2008 12:05 PM | Link to this
was a legitimate consideration,” first-time general manager Thomas Dimitroff said. “We respect the ability of both players. It came down to us, as far as a tipping point, us considering the value of that position and the need that we had. But most importantly we decided that the skill set that Matt Ryan possessed, along with his intelligence and leadership ability, we were excited about going in that direction.”
the pocket. Again, he’s very intelligent. A big-time leader. He has the accuracy at all levels. He’s a game winner. In the end, he’ll take a shot in the face and get up. He’s a persevering, hard-nosed quarterback.”
Dimitroff reiterated that Blank did not influence the selection of Ryan.
“In the end he made it very clear to us that this decision was my decision and Coach Smith’s decision,” Dimitroff said.
Added Blank: “The only way I’m involved in making the pick is by his hiring those people and making sure everybody has everything they need in terms of support. There were a number of people at the top of the [draft] board I would have been happy with.”Based on all of the above, do you people think Blank and Dimitroff are lying through their teeth to us when they say that this was the GM’s decision and not the owner’s? Do you likewise think Dimitroff is lying when he says he picked Ryan because he’s an intelligent leader at the QB position, when he actually took him because Arthur Blank wanted the next “Great White Hope” to replace his vanquished black quarterback?
Get real. Your baseless attempts to demonize Blank and Dimitroff and to paint the Ryan supporters as racists are ridiculous. Fine, don’t come to the games. I’d rather have people there that actually know the game of football and won’t boo Ryan simply because he’s a white quarterback. Quite frankly, it’s astounding that you actually think in these terms.
By Rory
April 27, 2008 12:12 PM | Link to this
The Falcons have had a good draft and are well on their way to becomming a legitimate winning franchise. Those of you who only want a black QB and continue to wear #7 jersies, please stay away from the dome. You only continue to embarrass the3 organization. Norman was correct about the crime stats. If more of you Vick supporters will stay away the game day experience will get better and better. Less panhandlers, loud obnoxious music, gangbangers, thugs and misfits. Please stay away.
By Najeh Davenpoop (Newest Jaguars Fan)
April 27, 2008 1:57 PM | Link to this
“The Falcons needed to fix the problems that were exposed over the last season, and its obvious that scoring less than 16 points in 10 games was a huge problem. Drafting Dorsey would have helped nil in that regards.”
They were also 29th in the league in team defense and opponents points per game. Dorsey would have addressed a need just as much as Ryan.
And the most logical way to address having a bad offense is to build up the line. A good line makes all the skill position players look better. They just shelled out a lot of money for Michael Turner… put him and Norwood behind a solid line and you have the makings of a powerful running attack off of which you can build a play-action passing offense.
Not surprisingly the Falcons have used exactly one pick on a lineman in the draft so far. Oh, but they have the “face of the franchise” for whom the ESPN analysts were bending over backwards to orally please. You know, kinda like they did for David Carr, Joey Harrington, Alex Smith, etc. Hilarious. The more things change, the more they stay the same. That’s why this lifelong Falcons fan is no longer one.
By Najeh Davenpoop (Newest Jaguars Fan)
April 27, 2008 2:11 PM | Link to this
“See the last 3 Super Bowl-winning QBs: Eli Manning, #1 overall. Peyton Manning, #1 overall. Ben Roethlisberger: #11.”
Peyton Manning is an exception — for him to join the Colts as terrible as they were at the time and not have his career ruined is remarkable. The other two are a perfect example of a player landing in the right situation. The Steelers happened to have one off year when they ended up with a high pick, they got Big Ben, and a lot of the supporting cast was already in place. The Giants had been up and down for a while — even they had a lot of the pieces in place, Tiki Barber in particular, to where Eli didn’t have to come in and shoulder the load immediately. Let’s not forget that was a Super Bowl team three years before Eli was drafted.
Look at the successful QBs in the league. For every Peyton, Eli, Palmer, McNabb, and Roethlisberger there’s a Brees, Hasselbeck, Garrard, Romo, Brady etc. who wasn’t drafted in the first round, if at all. What do all of the QBs mentioned have in common? With the exception of Peyton, Eli, and McNabb, every one of the QBs mentioned became a starter on a team that already had a good offensive line in place… and the fact that it took Eli this long to become a reliable player is due in large part to the Giants’ failure to develop a line before they made him the starter.
And at the same time, look at the first-round busts in this league. David Carr, Joey Harrington, Tim Couch, Akili Smith, Alex Smith, etc. Why did these players fail? Each case is different, but the common thread is that they were never given the chance to develop behind a good offensive line.
Having a good offensive line is crucial to the development of a quarterback, and is the main reason why Vick never put up spectacular passing numbers (well that and the fact that Greg Knapp is a complete idiot). If you don’t have a line in place when you acquire your franchise QB it becomes a lot more likely that your franchise QB will fail. Drafting Matt Ryan when you have one of the worst offensive lines in the NFL and you have so many holes along the O-line, D-line, secondary, at wide receiver, tight end, etc. is insanity, especially when Ryan is not all that much better than the supposedly 2nd-tier QBs in this draft.
By Unbiased_Blogger
April 27, 2008 4:22 PM | Link to this
The BRAVES & FALCONS have one thing in common. Look at the Braves roster and you will see why they have not won a Championship since the 1995 season. David Justice, Marquis Grissom, Fred McGriff, Terry Pendleton. I think you see the trend. Chipper Jones, John Smoltz & Tom Glavine are good players, but since 1995 what have they brought the City lately.
By Mike
April 27, 2008 11:41 PM | Link to this
I think Atlanta did a great job at drafting talented players who will do well in the NFL. I think Matt Ryan will be a good QB, Baker I am sure will do better than most of you are giving him credit for. Lofton is a steal in the 2nd round. I like the upgrades in the secondary. With that being said our biggest need going in to the draft was D-Tackle. After the draft our biggest need is still D-Tackle. So drafting good players is great and all, but the draft should be used to address needs. I was disappointed to pass on Dorsey and Ellis with the #3 pick. I really could not believe in the third round with Dre Moore and Red Bryant still on the board we passed on them as well with no 4th round picks. They were the last 2 DT’s with a lot of potential in this league. good thing we upgraded our LB’s DB’s…teams playing against us will have plenty of time to throw and we won’t have a DT to stop the run. We should only give up 5-6 yrds a play on average. Just my thoughts, hope I am wrong…
By Tron
April 27, 2008 11:55 PM | Link to this
Do you people understand how the NFL works? DTs are much easier to come by than franchise QBs. We can re-sign Grady, or wait until other teams make their July 1 cuts. DTs are available every year in free agency and in trades. Franchise QBs only come along so often. When you have the chance to get one, you don’t pass it up.
People talk about Arthur wanting the “Great White Hope.” Yeah, I’m sure all he wants is a white QB. That’s why he gave Vick the ridiculous $130 milion contract, right? I guess he and his Klan buddies were just trying to fool us all.
Get a grip. You people are showing that all you want is a non-white QB playing here. Well, guess what? I don’t care what race the QB is, as long as he wins games on Sunday.
All you people talking about “I’m never going to the Dome again.” You weren’t there in the first place. I have season tickets, and if half the people on these boards who say they’re canceling their season tickets actually had them in the first place, the Dome would’ve been filled last year.
It’s pathetic how many people view things only through race-tinted glasses. Matt Ryan is a top-flight QB, something you need to win in the NFL (see: Eli and Peyton Manning, Ben Roethlisberger, Tom Brady, et al). DTs are nice, but they can be found every year. You build your team around the QB, so Ryan was the correct pick.
By whyfalcons
April 28, 2008 1:45 AM | Link to this
matt ryan=joey harrington dude is overrated
By Dave
April 28, 2008 8:18 AM | Link to this
I admit I like most Falcon fans was in the camp to draft Dorsey and Brohm. Most pundits liked Ryan a lot more than Falcon fans. NFL teams who watched a lot of tape on Henne and Brohm did not think much of these two QBs as they lasted deep into the second round before being drafted. Falcon fans pretty much hated the pick of Matt Schaub in round three and were proved wrong on that one. Falcon fans loved the pick of Mike Vick as the first pick the pundits not so much the pundits proved to be right Mike Vick was never a good passer. No matter what we now probably have at least the second best QB in the NFC South behind New Orleans QB in Drew Brees. Tampa’s Garcia is an old retread now and Carolina’s QB Delhomme is trying to come off Tommy John surgery which no NFL QB ever has? Reality is we were hoping to see a Jacksonville defense & offense hopefully we can be more like the New England offense now where our offense maybe leads the way and puts people in seats. Fans are usually wrong about most everything this hopefully is just another case where fans are again proved wrong. Dorsey won’t be scoring any points and hopefully Ryan will have a bigger impact on this team than Dorsey would have only time will tell I will wait to reserve judgment unlike some fans who know it all.
By Hose
April 28, 2008 11:18 AM | Link to this
The Falcons should just make Matt Ryan the starter NOW. Let him learn on the run and take his bumps now instead of two years from now. The offense has a running game now which should make things easier for Ryan.
By jmac1971002
April 29, 2008 12:47 PM | Link to this
I think ryan is a terrible pick at #3. What did he do that was so special that separated him so decisively from brohm or henne? Nothing. They should have taken dorsey at #3, a good OL later in the first round and either brohm or henne in the second round.
By AFAN
April 29, 2008 6:27 PM | Link to this
Everybody knows this was a “knee-jerk” reaction to signal a new “face” of the Falcons. Its only the mighty Falcons that will bend to public pressures to dictate their team decisions and make stupid moves. Decisions like the MV fiasco...too many dumb moves to name here w/o opening a can of worms! Petrino, who wasnt a REAL pro coach…like Crumpler and Deangelo thought…Lets turn on those two, cutting one, and publically estranging the other so that he wants to go...Wow,the hits just keep coming, lol..Look at their positions, has there been an upgrade I didnt know about? The Falcons keep listening to nut jobs and local yokels and constantly make blind decisions. Now this years draft…making a statement pick. I say good for them and wish the Falcons all the best. Most blacks in Atlanta dont care that Matt Ryan was picked, we stopped caring before the season started LAST YEAR!!!The only black Falcon fans are the ones that were born and raised right here in good ol Metro Atlanta.They didnt have a choice.. Every body else left a year ago. There aint no "blacklash" against the Falcons, NOBODY CARES!!! lol...Half the sports anylists on TV, labled the Falcons as having the "Dumbest" Draft Day, and questioned the Ryan pick....click on any sports site,lol... So could you people please quit bringing up MV, Hes gone. Worry about the Team you have now…quit living in the past…the Team is full of “GREAT CHARACTER” players now, see ya next season…lol…I remember that someone on here said that Matt Shaub was supposed to go to the Super Bowl last year..lol, they actually said that s**….lol. go figure.
By Bumblebee Tuna!
April 30, 2008 9:16 AM | Link to this
I’m so tired of the racist commentary surrounding the Falcons. I just wish everyone would shut the he** up. Give the new guys a chance and hold off on griping until we know whether or not they work out. Seems pretty easy.