FLOWERY BRANCH — For three seasons, Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan and his former position coach, Bill Musgrave, were nearly inseparable.
If you saw Musgrave walking across the practice fields, Ryan wasn’t far behind.
If Musgrave was studying film late, Ryan was with him.
When Musgrave would drive out of the complex, Ryan’s car was not far behind.
It was the perfect picture of the young and eager student trying to soak up all of the knowledge he could from the wily and experienced mentor.
The relationship — personally and professionally — blossomed. They got along off the field, and Ryan’s NFL career exploded on the field.
Ryan credits much of his success, which includes three consecutive winning seasons, two trips to the playoffs, tying the great Dan Marino for most victories in his first three seasons and a trip to the Pro Bowl, to Musgrave, who left after last season to become the offensive coordinator for the Minnesota Vikings.
Sunday will be tough on the two, with Ryan trying to guide the Falcons to a 7-4 record and Musgrave, who’s breaking in a new young quarterback in Christian Ponder, trying to pierce the Falcons’ defense for touchdowns.
“Bill Musgrave was extremely influential in my transition into the NFL, as much as anybody else,” Ryan said. “He really was. He taught me a ton about preparing, taught me a ton about offensive football, playing the quarterback position, understanding, making good decisions, when to take chances, when not to take chances. Those kinds of things.”
Musgrave had Ryan’s immediate respect in part because he was a former quarterback in the NFL. Also, Musgrave’s track record of helping Peyton Manning get started in Indianapolis was a quick attention-getter, too.
But the laid-back Musgrave’s attention to detail rubbed off on Ryan. Musgrave had a little book that he gave Ryan. In the book, he has 100 things a quarterback must do, and it covers everything from reading defenses to how a quarterback should conduct himself in the huddle.
One item advises the quarterbacks to brush their teeth and use mouthwash because they’ll be speaking a lot to teammates.
Ryan took all of the lessons to heart.
“Really, even more so off the field, too, having played quarterback in the league and played with some really good guys, setting up my week, understanding when to push, when to work, when to get some rest so that you’re mentally fresh,” Ryan said. “Those things were invaluable. I’m really glad to have had Bill for the time that I did.”
Because the Falcons had to get Ryan ready to start as a rookie, Musgrave had to ignore the history of letting young quarterbacks learn by watching.
Ryan won the job early during the exhibition season and opened the season as a starter. Musgrave’s work with Ryan was noticed league-wide, and the Falcons had to make him assistant head coach in order to keep teams away for a year.
But last season when the Vikings came calling, Musgrave was allowed to accept the position.
“I’m glad to see guys get an opportunity to advance, and Bill is well-deserving,” Falcons coach Mike Smith said. “He’d done a very good job for us here and had the opportunity to move into that position, and watching him and his group on tape, they’ve done a really good job so far this season.”
Ryan knows what Ponder, the 12th player taken in the 2011 draft, is going through with Musgrave.
“I think, as a rookie, you’re so wrapped up in just trying to get prepared and trying to learn the offense,” Ryan said. “I’m sure he’s probably just wrapped up in the game plan week-to-week and trying to make sure he’s as well prepared as he can be.”
League insiders credit the Falcons, Musgrave and the Baltimore Ravens’ staff, who got Joe Flacco ready to play as rookie in 2008, with starting a new trend in the NFL.
After the early success of Ryan and Flacco, teams have become more comfortable with starting rookie quarterbacks.
After Ryan and Flacco guided their teams to the playoffs as rookies, the New York Jets, Detroit and St. Louis started Mark Sanchez, Matthew Stafford and Sam Bradford with varying degrees of success.
This season, Ponder is in a group of rookie quarterbacks along with Cam Newton (Carolina), Blaine Gabbert (Jacksonville) and Andy Dalton (Cincinnati) who are starting.
Ryan and Smith see some of Musgrave’s work with Ponder.
“He’s functioning very well,” Smith said. “The thing that he can do is he can extend plays. This guy rushed for 70-plus yards against Oakland. He’s got a very strong arm, and he’s getting more comfortable. ... He’s probably the second most athletic quarterback that we’ve faced this season.”
About the Author
