CHARLOTTE — The advantage to being 2-6 is it simplifies the analysis. Because when an NFL team starts 2-6, has dropped consecutive games by 38 points and commits such mind-numbing blunders as having 12 men on the field (still not enough for this defense), an offensive linemen not lining up on the line (shouldn’t “lineman” have been a hint for Lamar Holmes?) and forgetting to cover the tight end in the red zone (boom — touchdown), it becomes clear the mutation has spread through all corners of the team.
“The inconsistencies are across the board,” said coach Mike Smith, who is looking a little more pale every Sunday. “It starts with coaching. … Everyone in that locker room and the coaching locker room knows we’re all accountable for the 2-8 .. uh, the 2-6 record.” (2-8 — Freudian slip.)
Now that it’s clear there isn’t a member on the Falcons’ roster or coaching staff free of infection, let’s be clear about something: Matt Ryan stinks with the rest of them, and that simply can’t happen.
As the team’s quarterback, leader and highest paid player, Ryan carries the most responsibility. He mandates the highest expectations. Amid the Falcons’ blur of injuries and deficiencies, Ryan has to be the player who rescues them. But right now, he is burying them.
He threw four interceptions in last week’s 27-13 loss at Arizona. He threw three interceptions, including a game-smothering pick six in the fourth quarter, in Sunday’s 34-10 loss to Carolina. This is the first time in his NFL career he has thrown as many as seven interceptions in consecutive games, nor can he recall this ever happening to him on any level.
“Usually you try to stop it at one bad performance,” he said, and nervous laughter followed.
Ryan has to be perfect. Right now, he’s not even good. He is making too many mistakes. He is forcing the ball into coverages. The logical assumption is that he’s pressing, forcing the issue to try to make up the team’s weaknesses. Ryan won’t admit as much.
When asked if his quarterback is pressing, Smith said: “I can’t speak for Matt. We have to make sure we go through our reads and make sure our reads take us to the throws we need to make.”
In response to the same question, Tony Gonzalez said: “I can’t answer for him. But I know when Roddy [White] and Julio [Jones] aren’t there, that’s a big deal.”
If Smith and Gonzalez were convinced Ryan wasn’t forcing the issue, chances are they would have said so.
Does Ryan have excuses? Sure. For most of this season, the offense has lacked a running game to keep defenses guessing. Pass protection hasn’t always been great (or even good). Injuries have taken his two best receivers and running back out of the equation.
But Ryan can’t be the player who’s leading the parade down the drain.
Sunday’s moments of self-destruction:
• First quarter: Gonzalez is sandwiched down field by two defenders in front of him and one behind him but Ryan tries to force a pass to him, anyway. It’s intercepted. Carolina converts that turnover into the game’s first touchdown.
• Third quarter: The Falcons, trailing 17-10, were moving the ball effectively. But on first down from the Panthers’ 49, Ryan tries to complete a pass down field to Harry Douglas even though Douglas is covered. Carolina safety Quintin Mikell tips it to teammate Thomas Davis for the interception at the 24, ending a scoring threat.
• Fourth quarter: Down 24-10 and likely headed for another defeat anyway, Ryan telegraphs his pass to Drew Davis. Cornerback Drayton Florence jumps it for the pickoff and returns it 38 yards for the score.
“Really all three of the interceptions were a case of me trying to be aggressive and get the ball in spots,” Ryan said. “I just have to be more efficient in what I’m doing.”
Is he pressing?
“I don’t think so,” Ryan said. “I just haven’t been playing well. … Certainly you feel like you have to make plays. I just haven’t made them — not as much as we’d like to or I need to.”
At this point, Ryan is not going to turn the Falcons into a playoff team. Nothing short of divine intervention could accomplish that. And, yes this team is a mess. The Falcons committed seven penalties against Carolina. Strong safety William Moore bit on a run fake and Cam Newton bootleg and forgot to cover tight end Greg Olson in the second quarter (result: 14-yard touchdown to make it 14-3). Too many players remain chained to the cold tub.
But Ryan’s descent is bad foreshadowing. Remember, this is the player the Falcons just gave a six-year, $103.75 million contract extension to. He is supposed to be the guy they need to bank on, so to speak. Right now, he’s not close to being that player.
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