FLOWERY BRANCH – Despite never being listed on the team's injury report, there was rampant speculation on the local sports radio circuit that Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan must be injured.
On his weekly appearance on 680 The Fan, Ryan dismissed those concerns.
“I am healthy,” Ryan said.
The normally accurate Ryan has thrown two interceptions in three games this season, and has completed less than 60 percent of his passes in two of the past three games after a stretch of 14 consecutive games where he completed 60 percent or better.
He tracked all of his problems to execution of the new offense. He cited a tipped pass on one of his interceptions against the Titans and he wished he never made the throw on the screen pass in the 10-7 win over Tennessee.
Ryan also discussed his incompleted pass to Julio Jones on fourth down, which ended with them having an animated conversation on the sideline.
He also discussed Jones' touchdown catch where the Titans tried to cover him with linebacker Derrick Morgan, the former Georgia Tech standout.
“We’re going to win in that situation 100 out of 100 times,” Ryan said. “Julio is just going to be patient with that route. He’s physical enough that even if a linebacker gets his hand on Julio, a lot of guys are not big enough to take that contact. But he’s just as strong as those guys and is able to take the contact and come out of it and then finish with a strong finish into the end zone.”
Ryan also discussed the failed attempts on third and fourth down from the one-yard line.
“On the third down situation, we obviously felt like we had a good chance to kind of (win) back with the fullback,” Ryan said. “It was something that we’d seen on film that we felt really good ab out. I thought it was a good call….then on the fourth down call, it’s a thing where when you get both guys out, you’re hoping that the play-action freezes one of their DBs. They played really discipline on our No. 1 read. On a fourth down situation, you have to try and give a guy a chance and put the ball into the end zone. Unfortunately for us it (got) tipped. . . .you’ve got to be aggressive in those situations and we were.”
[cmg_cinesport url="http://cinesport.ajc.com/embed/ajc-atlanta-sports/d-led-how-falcons-can-emerge-funk/"]
The Falcons are admittedly having some issues on offense. The AJC’s D. Orlando Ledbetter and CineSport’s Noah Coslov get in those details while previewing Sunday’s game against the Buccaneers.
How did the Falcons get to 6-1?
FLOWERY BRANCH -- Here's a look back at the game stories, news and notes from their win over the Titans (10-7), the loss to the Saints (31-21) and their victories over the Redskins (25-19 in OT), Texans (48-21), Cowboys (39-28), Giants (24-20) and Eagles (26-24).
TENNESSEE GAME COVERAGE -- Falcons 10, Titans 7
5 things we learned from the Falcons' 10-7 victory over the Titans
BRADLEY: Falcons do enough to survive
10 comments from Dan Quinn after the Falcons' 10-7 victory over the Titans
NEW ORLEANS GAME COVERAGE -- Saints 31, Falcons 21
5 things we learned in the Falcons' 31-21 loss to the Saints
Saints hand Falcons their first loss -- Quarter by Quarter
Matt Ryan: 'It was a tough night'
What the Falcons had to say after their 31-21 loss to the Saints
Why didn't the Falcons feed Freeman? -- Mike Check
Falcons flash some of their ugly past -- Jeff Schultz column
WASHINGTON GAME COVERAGE -- Falcons 25, Redskins 19 in OT
Falcons pull out 25-19 victory over Redskins in OT -- Quarter by Quarter
5 things we learned in the Falcons' 25-19 win over the Redskins
What the Falcons had to say after the 25-19 win
Ryan, offense struggle with turnovers
Mark Bradley column: The Frenetic Falcons: Five-and-oh-my!
Roddy White hears support from the crowd
15 comments from Dan Quinn on the Falcons' victory
Roddy White: 'I'll be a Falcons for life'
Tweetcap: Falcons beat Redskins in OT
TEXANS GAME COVERAGE -- Falcons 48, Texans 21
How the Falcons hammered the Texans -- Quarter by Quarter
5 things we learned from the Falcons' 48-21 win over the Texans
Devonta Freeman stars again for the Falcons
What the Falcons had to say after pummeling the Texans
9 comments from Dan Quinn on the Falcons' victory
Jeff Schult'z column: Devonta Freeman, 7 TDs -- who didn't see that coming
Schraeder, Matthews keep Watt in check
Hankerson turns in a 100-yard receiving day (second of his career)
Houston's J.J. Watt tips hat to the Falcons
Former Falcons great Jessie Tuggle honored during Texans game
COWBOYS GAME COVERAGE -- Falcons 39, Cowboys 28
Falcons 39, Cowboys 28 -- Quarter by Quarter
5 things we learned from the Falcons' 39-28 win over the Cowboys
Mark Bradley's short takes: Julio, Freeman and the defense
Devonta Freeman is catalyst for Falcons run game
QUOTEBOARD: What the Falcons had to say after beating Dallas
Julio Jones does it again: 12 catches, 164 yards and two touchdowns
Mark Bradley column: A dominant half shows what he Falcons could be
Offensive line cracked the run-game code
Ryan directed second-half fireworks show
Beasley help lead resurgence on defense
Where's Falcons wide receiver Roddy White?
GIANTS GAME COVERAGE -- Falcons 24, Giants 20
Falcons 24, Giants 20 -- Quarter by Quarter
5 things we learned from Falcons' 24-20 win over the Giants
Mark Bradley column -- Don't stop believin': Dan Quinn's men are 2-0
A record day for Julio Jones: 13 receptions
Kroy Biermann: 'We're a ball-attacking team'
EAGLES GAME COVERAGE -- FALCONS 26, EAGLES 24
5 things we learned from Falcons' upset win over Eagles
Matt Ryan leads Falcons to 26-24 win over the Eagles
Jeff Schultz column: An impressive debut by Quinn's new Falcons
Mark Bradley column: A new year: The Falcons dig deep and hang on
Julio Jones moves into fifth on Falcons' all-time receiving list
Tevin Coleman powers new rushing attack
Ricardo Allen seals victory in first start at free safety
4 questions with Falcons wide receiver Julio Jones after the game
Falcons' revamped offensive line shows positive signs
