RealGM Football: The Red Zone - Be The GM: Ryan Vs. Brees

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Be The GM: Ryan Vs. Brees

Authored by Andrew Perna - 1st September, 2009 - 5:10 pm

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Which NFC South quarterback would you rather have -- Matt Ryan or Drew Brees?

They split the two games they battled in last year, but Brees had the better statistical season. Do you prefer the track record of the Saints quarterback or the youth and promise of the Falcons star?

How They Got Here

Both Ryan and Brees received 86% of the vote in their respective first-round matchups. The young quarterback took down Panthers linebacker Jon Beason, while the veteran signal caller defeated Buccaneers linebacker Barrett Ruud.

Why Ryan Is A Franchise Player

Coming out of Boston College we knew "Matty Ice" had the skills to be a productive NFL quarterback. We didn't know, however, that he'd be ready immediately. Ryan went 9-for-13 with 161 yards, one touchdown and a 137.0 quarterback rating in his first-ever professional game.

He went on to post 3,440 yards, 16 touchdowns and 11 interceptions in his rookie season, even putting in a respectable performance in his playoff debut. He was 26-for-40 with 199 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions in Atlanta's 30-24 loss to Arizona on Wild Card weekend.

In actuality, he had just two poor games in 2008 and both came against the Buccaneers. He combined to go 28-for-56 with 364 yards and four interceptions in Weeks 2 and 15 against Tampa Bay.

Ryan showed the mental strength needed to play quarterback in the NFL last season and flashed a strong, accurate arm as well. He's a breath of fresh air for the Falcons after a few seasons of turmoil at the position.

Why Brees Is A Franchise Player

There is no doubt that Brees is a franchise-caliber player. He is sometimes left out of the conversation involving the game's best quarterbacks, but is right up there with the likes of Tom Brady and Peyton Manning.

He's one of the most accurate quarterbacks in the league and throws a very catchable ball. The Saints haven't always had the greatest offensive line or set of receivers, but Brees simply keeps on ticking. After missing a few games early in his career, he's answered questions about his durability by playing a full slate in four consecutive seasons.

Brees threw for 5,069 yards in 2008, coming within 16 yards of breaking Dan Marino's single-season record. His average production over the last four years is 4,400 yards, 28 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. In addition, his touchdown and yardage numbers have increased in each of the last three seasons.

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Andrew Perna is Deputy Editor of RealGM.com and co-host of RealGM's Radio Show. Please feel free to contact him with comments or questions via e-mail: Andrew.Perna@RealGM.com

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