Matt Ryan on fumbles: ‘I’ve got to be a little bit better’
After eight games this season Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan already has fumbled six times, matching the high for any of his previous seven full pro seasons.
Ryan has fumbled on 1.2 percent of his 509 snaps played this season. If he plays 1,000 snaps and keeps fumbling at that rate, he will have a whopping 12 fumbles after 16 games.
Falcons coach Dan Quinn stresses the importance of ball security for his offense. The players get reminders at every practice as defenders constantly try to knock the ball loose.
But Ryan has been loose with the ball at times during live action.
“That’s part of the deal playing in the pocket: They are going to try to take swipes at the ball,” Ryan said. “I’ve got to be a little bit better than I’ve been. In the past I feel I’ve done a great job with that, historically. I know how to get that done. I’ve just got to be a little bit more solid than I’ve been.”
Ryan fumbled six times in 16 games a rookie in 2008. Since then he’s never fumbled more than five times in a season.
Subjectively, Ryan has been responsible for 4 ½ of his six fumbles this season.
Ryan fumbled twice against the Bucs. On the first miscue, he and running back Devonta Freeman were not on the same page on a run/pass option. The second fumble happened when Ryan attempted to pass with defensive lineman Howard Jones grabbing his throwing arm and wrestling him to the ground.
Against the Saints, Ryan forced one fumble himself by knocking the ball against fullback Patrick DiMarco’s shoulder. Later in the game Ryan lost the ball when he was hit from behind by a pass rusher after holding the ball for more than four seconds.
Ryan fumbled against Washington when he tried to scramble away from pressure and had the ball ripped away as he was tackled.
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