Finally!
Matt Ryan, who signed a $113.75 million contract last offseason, is in total control of the Falcons, and he knows it.
“We have this rule in the weight room where the oldest guys get to choose the music,” Ryan said. “So, in my life, I’ve never had the opportunity to choose the music in there, but this offseason has probably been the first time that I’ve looked around and said, I’ve got four more years than everybody else.”
Ryan, who’s set to enter his seventh season in the NFL, shares the power and usually defers to wide receiver Harry Douglas to make his musical selections.
“Harry and I are the same year (drafted in 2008),” Ryan said. “So, you have to grill Harry for what we put on. But, I tell him what to turn off, I know that much.”
Ryan, 29, the unquestioned leader and musical stylist, is trying to bounce back from his first losing season.
In addition to ruling as the weight-room disc jockey, he’ll have to lead an evolution of the offense without the aid of his security blanket, tight end Tony Gonzalez.
Gonzalez retired after last season and is getting ready for his new TV gig with CBS Sports. His departure leaves a major hole in the offense.
Gonzalez averaged 81.8 catches over five seasons with the team. Of his 409 catches, 267 went for first downs, or 65.2 percent. He played a major role in helping the offense move the chains.
In his final two seasons under offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter, Gonzalez caught 93 passes for 930 yards and eight touchdowns in 2012 and 83 passes for 859 yards and eight touchdowns last season.
“As Tony has moved on, we’re going to have to find different ways to replace some of the production that he gave us,” Ryan said.
The Falcons don’t have a replacement on the roster. At OTAs last week, Mickey Shuler received a lot of action with the first-team offense. Levine Toilolo was the backup last season, and the team signed blocking tight end Bear Pascoe over the offseason.
Ryan believes that a committee of wide receivers and running backs will help fill the void created by Gonzalez’s retirement.
“Harry falls into a little bit of that role,” Ryan said. “Last year when he had the opportunity to (play), with Roddy (White) and Julio (Jones) out the majority of the year, I thought that he showcased what he could do. He was a 1,000-yard receiver last year and certainly (was) productive for us.”
Ideally, Douglas would be on the field when the Falcons employ their three-wide receiver formation.
“I think he can fit into that role really well,” Ryan said. “I’ve said that a number of times in the past. I really feel comfortable (with Douglas). He’s probably one of the smartest guys that we have on the offensive side of the ball. He and I are very much on the same page.”
Ryan, like the rest of the team, hopes that Jones will fully recover from right foot surgery and that White has another big season left.
“That makes us a different football team,” Ryan said. “Those guys are getting healthy now. We had Roddy out on the field (at OTAs). He looked great. It’s nice to have those guys back healthy. If we can keep them on the field, that’s going to bode well for us.”
The Falcons also are experimenting with returner/receiver Devin Hester. He may be able to help cover a portion of Gonzalez’s lost production.
“He’ll find different ways to fit in with our offense,” Ryan said. “We’ve used him in a lot of different roles, from outside to inside. We’ve moved him into the backfield, all kinds of different stuff.”
Running backs Steven Jackson, Jacquizz Rodgers and Devonta Freeman also will get a chance to pick up some of Gonzalez’s catches. Coach Mike Smith singled out running back Antone Smith, who shined in spot duty last season, as being up for an expanded role.
“Across the board, we are pretty deep at that position,” Ryan said. “We’ve got a lot of guys who have a little bit different skill sets, but when you kind of blend them all together, that gives us a lot of different options out of the backfield.”
Ryan believes he can improve, and that should help offset the loss of Gonzalez, too.
“I’ve tried to be as detailed as I possibly can in the weight room, film room and out on the practice field,” Ryan said. “I think it’s overall consistency. As I mature and keep playing in this league, it’s about tightening things up and becoming more consistent.”
Despite moving up in seniority — only Jackson (11 seasons), White (10), Hester (nine) and left guard Justin Blalock (eight) have more time in the league among the players on offense — Ryan still feels young.
“I feel really good,” Ryan said. “My body feels great. I feel like I’m in better shape than I’ve ever been. I still love getting out and practicing. (Six) years went by fast, but I feel really good.”
There are times that Ryan still has to do a double-take.
“When you look around and you see guys that have been here the entire time with you, the numbers are less and less,” Ryan said. “I’m excited about the young guys coming in. Competition always pushes everybody. It’s crazy to see guys that were born in the 1990s that you are playing with now, which is weird.”
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