DEL.ICIO.USRyan, Russell two contrasting QBs
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Sunday, November 02, 2008
Oakland — Having Matt Ryan waltz into Oakland-Alameda County Stadium Sunday and help the Falcons pounce all over the Raiders 24-0 had to be JaMarcus Russell’s worst nightmare.
Here was this rookie — drafted a year later and two spots lower in the first round than Russell — driving his team up and down the field. Russell and his offense kept doing about-faces and walking to the sideline.
Curtis Compton/ccompton@ajc.com
Matt Ryan threw for 220 yards and two touchdowns for the now 5-3 Falcons.
The Raiders went three-and-out on their first four possessions. The Falcons scored on their first four possessions, including touchdown passes of 38 and 27 yards by Ryan.
The total first-half damage? The Falcons outgained Oakland 309 yards to minus-2. Ryan was 13-for-16 for 184 yards passing, while Russell was 2-for-7 for nine yards.
For the game, Ryan had almost as many incomplete passes as Russell had completed passes. See? Ryan was 17-for-22 for 220 yards. Russell was 6-for-19 for 31 yards. Russell actually rushed the ball for more yards than he threw; he had two carries for 46 yards.
Ryan had a season-best quarterback rating of 138.4, topping his 137.0 vs. Detroit. Russell, meanwhile, had a passer rating of 19. He was sacked four times to Ryan’s three and threw an interception in the end zone to Erik Coleman.
Both of them fumbled once, but at least Ryan had a defender knock the ball out of his hand. Russell fumbled the ball on a whiff, hesitating as he went into his throwing motion.
So, what does it all mean?
Just when the Falcons were getting lulled into getting used to this rookie quarterback they’ve got, they were flushed with a new appreciation Sunday.
“You’ve got a guy JaMarcus, who obviously didn’t start a lot last year [once and played in four games] and is pretty much a rookie right now,” Falcons linebacker Keith Brooking said. “You compare those two guys today, you see how impressive the start is that Matt Ryan has had this year.”
Brooking also pointed out how much the run game set the table for Ryan. The Falcons, who outrushed Oakland 252 yards to 67, ran in their first five plays. They had more first downs in those five plays (two) than the Raiders had in the first three quarters (one). The Raiders didn’t get a first down until 9:26 was left in the third quarter.
The Falcons did to Oakland what other teams try to do against Atlanta — stop the run and make the young quarterback beat you.
“[We thought if we] put the ball in JaMarcus Russell’s hand and make him beat us throwing the ball down the field, our chances are really good,” Brooking said. “Obviously, the game plan worked out perfectly.”
Russell’s longest pass was for seven yards. Of the three teammates he dinked balls to, only one was a wide receiver — Javon Walker (one catch, 7 yards). Running back Michael Bush caught three passes for 15 yards and tight end Zach Miller caught two passes for nine yards.
Russell seemed to have happy feet, showing anxiousness in all the hopping around he did in the pocket. He used that strong arm of his to fire bullets at receivers’ ankles.
“Today was not a showing of what this team is capable of,” Russell told reporters afterward.
He’d better hope that goes for him personally, too, or the Raiders fans who booed him and the offense all day might run him out of town.
The Falcons, meanwhile, get to feel better and better about their quarterback.
“His demeanor and his respect he draws from this team is just unbelievable,” Falcons center Todd McClure said. “And it all goes back to him and the way he prepares to play this game.”
Falcons coach Mike Smith agreed.
“He’s maturing beyond his years,” Smith said.
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