| Authored by Randolph Charlotin - 20th August, 2009 - 12:57 pm
 Matt Ryan’s career couldn’t start any better. The second overall pick of the 2008 NFL Draft won the training camp quarterback competition and in his first game, his first pass was a 62-yard touchdown.
Ryan led an Atlanta Falcons turnaround from 4-12 the previous year to 11-5 and a playoff berth. He won the NFL Rookie of the Year award and became the face of the franchise, replacing the maligned Michael Vick.
All of that is well and good, but in year two, Ryan could make history. Matty Ice could lead the Falcons to the playoffs again.
A second consecutive playoff appearance doesn’t sound like a big deal, and for most franchises, it isn’t. But Atlanta has never, ever reached the playoffs in two consecutive seasons. They alternated between playoffs and spectator during a five-year period when led by Steve Bartkowski from 1978-1982. Chris Chandler’s only playoff appearance with the Falcons led to a Super Bowl appearance. Vick came closest, leading Atlanta to an 8-8 record following an 11-5 playoff season. All other playoff years were followed by losing seasons.
Ryan excelled under conditions of low expectations, but his poise and maturity was surprising. The pass that set up the game-winning field goal against Chicago isn’t a completion most rookies connect on. The precocious Ryan carried the Falcons and performed like a veteran.
As he prepares himself for a season where a dramatic improvement is expected, having a great stat line isn’t enough. The results mean more than a high completion percentage or more touchdown passes.
Ryan will unfairly shoulder most of the responsibility for the Falcons reaching the post-season. Atlanta’s problem area was the defense that was ranked 24th overall. The Falcons addressed their deficiency in the off-season by signing free agent LB Mike Peterson and through the draft, using seven of their eight picks on defenders. The new additions have to do a better job than the players they replace: LBs Michael Boley and Keith Brooking, CB Dominique Foxworth, and the retired DT Grady Jackson.
The offense, nevertheless, has room for improvement. The tight end position contributed just 18 receptions 211 yards and two touchdowns. Expect that production to jump way up with Tony Gonzalez on the team.
Atlanta acquired the 10-time Pro Bowler for a second round pick in 2010. The all-time leader in receptions and touchdowns by a tight end will provide Ryan with a reliable target over the middle and in the red zone. Gonzalez will make the game easier for Ryan.
Gonzalez enhances Atlanta’s passing game that has the emerging Roddy White and Michael Jenkins. Unfortunately, Ryan won’t have Harry Douglas in the slot to throw to. Douglas will miss the 2009 season with a torn ACL.
The pieces are in place for Ryan to lead another playoff birth, but the degree of difficulty has gone way up. Atlanta had a soft schedule in 2008, beating on the AFC West and NFC North (combined record 48-80). The Falcons won’t bully the AFC East and NFC East (76-51). For a team with a 4.1 average margin of victory against a weak schedule, it’s a daunting challenge to keep winning in ‘09.
Matching last year’s 11-5 record doesn’t seem likely, but all Ryan and the Falcons have to do is just get into the playoffs and make history. We’ll see if Matty Ice stays cool under pressure or gets crushed by expectations.
Read more by Randolph Charlotin at his New England Patriots blog at . He can be reached at talktome@randolphc.com. |
