Ryan on Shanahan: ‘We’re going to win a lot of games together’
FLOWERY BRANCH – Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan gave offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan a vote of confidence on Tuesday.
“I believe we’re going to win a lot of games together,” Ryan said Tuesday on his radio show on 680 The Fan.
The Falcons started the season 5-0, but have dropped 6 of 7 as teams have adjusted to Shanahan’s play-calling and have taken away the team’s key weapons, wide receiver Julio Jones and running back Devonta Freeman.
Jones has not scored a touchdown over the past four games and questioned the play-calling in the red-zone after the 23-19 loss to the Bucs. Freeman missed a game with an injury, but hasn't scored a touchdown over the past six games.
“Kyle and I have done a great job or working together all year,” Ryan said. “I feel really good about where we are at. Our production hasn’t been there, but in terms of plays and all that kind of stuff, I feel really good about how Kyle and I have worked together this year.”
There have been adjustments for Ryan and the new coordinator, who goes into game with more plays on his call-sheet than Ryan is used to.
“It’s different,” Ryan said. “There are more plays that’s for sure. But it’s different. In the past, we probably had a smaller plan, but we had so much no-huddle volume that it ends up being about the same number of things. It’s just different.
“That’s the thing people have to realize. Everybody has a different playbook. Everybody has a different style. Kyle’s is a little bit different from the guy’s that I’ve worked with in the past. With that said, I feel really good about it. I feel like he’s going to be a guy that I can learn a ton from. I believe we’re going to win a lot of games together.”
About the Author
Honored by the Pro Football Hall of Fame in recognition of his "long and distinguished reporting in the field of pro football," D. Orlando Ledbetter, Esq. has covered the NFL 28 seasons. A graduate of Howard University, he's a winner of Georgia Sportswriter of the Year and three Associated Press Sports Editor awards.
