Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan has come to grips with the team’s plight. That includes how to deal with the speculation about the future of head coach Mike Smith.
“When things are not going your way and you’re not winning games, there is going to be criticism,” Ryan said. “We understand that.”
Off to a disappointing 2-6 start, the Falcons face Tampa Bay (1-7) Sunday at Raymond James Stadium. Ryan believes the Falcons, who trail New Orleans (4-4) by two games in the NFC South, can still forge a turnaround.
“I like the guys that we have, coaching staff and players included,” Ryan said.
Now in the middle of his seventh season, Ryan has been trying to provide leadership with the hopes of jump-starting the team, even as public criticism has mounted.
“I think one of the things in tough times, when you don’t have the finger-pointing or guys calling each other out or that kind of turmoil in the locker room, I think that kind of showcases what kind of leadership that we have,” Ryan said.
Falcons right guard Jon Asamoah believes the players are responding to their quarterback.
“He’s tried different things to get us going,” Asamoah said. “He always gives us that push and that confidence to go out there and execute.”
But they all know that if the team doesn’t get things turned around, there will be consequences for players and perhaps the coaches.
“Everybody understands the nature of our business,” Ryan said.
Ryan has received some help from some other veterans as they’ve tried to rally the locker room.
“Steven Jackson, a veteran guy who’s been around here a couple of years, but has been in the league a long time, says it all the time to guys in the locker room: ‘We rent the lockers.We don’t own them,’” Ryan said.
The message is clear: Work hard or lose your rental spaces.
“You can’t worry about all of things that are being said outside of this building,” Ryan said. “You can’t worry about next week or two weeks from now. You have to focus on this week. Guys have bought into that and Coach Smith has done a great job of getting that message across.”
Despite a rash of injuries along the offensive line, Ryan has continued to play at a high level. He’s completing 64.9 percent of his passes and has thrown for 15 touchdowns with eight interceptions.
But problems along the line have led to 17 sacks. The unit is on pace to give up 35 sacks, which would be nine fewer than last season’s 44.
Also, Ryan’s wide receivers have dropped 20 passes, which is tied for the second-highest total in the league. Kansas City, Baltimore and Detroit receivers have also dropped 20 passes. Indianapolis leads the league with 25 drops.
The Falcons’ biggest drop of the season was probably the screen pass to Julio Jones as they were trying to run the clock out against Detroit in London. But Ryan has maintained his composure and hasn’t publicly ranted.
He views the drops as physical mistakes. Those, he believes, don’t deserve a rebuke from the quarterback.
“The thing I try and constantly harp on is that we know our plan and we don’t make mental mistakes,” Ryan said. “That’s probably a little more frustrating than the physical ones.”
Against Detroit, Ryan made an uncharacteristic pass — possibly his worst of the season — across the field that was intercepted. That mistake helped the Lions rally to victory from a 21-point deficit.
“A lot of the reasons why we are behind the chains is because of self-inflicted wounds, mistakes or penalties that put you behind the sticks,” Ryan said. “But also in the fourth quarter, playing behind in games, being two scores out in multiple fourth quarters, I think that changes what you do offensively.”
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