It’s fair to underestimate a team following a 4-12 season, especially one that has missed the playoffs in three consecutive years, but I don’t think it is ever fair to underestimate Matt Ryan. The 2016 MVP has continued to put up solid numbers despite the team’s lack of success, and 2021 might be the best position he’s ever been put in to succeed from an offensive standpoint.
As of now, the Falcons still have Julio Jones on the roster, giving them arguably the best 1-2 punch at the receiver position in football. On top of that, the new regime decided not to draft a quarterback with the fourth overall selection. Instead, they selected a walking mismatch out of the University of Florida in Kyle Pitts. Add in Hayden Hurst and Russell Gage, and the Falcons undoubtedly have the best skill position room in football. If the offensive line can keep Ryan clean, he will have the opportunity to put up eye-popping numbers, and Good Morning Football’s Peter Schrager seems to be all-in on Ryan taking advantage of his new situation.
"I don't think we're going to be underestimating him once we get to Week 8 of the season."
Which QB is being overlooked heading into 2021?@PSchrags ➡️ Matt Ryan @SlaterNFL ➡️ Ryan Tannehill @ShaunOHara60 ➡️ Carson Wentz pic.twitter.com/OgIJod9ePi
— GMFB (@gmfb) May 18, 2021
Schrager makes many of the same points I did above and also added to them. Ryan’s play is consistently overlooked, and most people just assumed the Falcons would take his successor, effectively ending his career in Atlanta. That didn’t happen because both Ryan and the coaching staff believe he has plenty of good years left in the tank.
If Tom Brady, Drew Brees, and Aaron Rodgers have taught us anything in recent seasons, it is that the bar has been raised for the age that quarterbacks begin to decline. Those guys are three first-ballot Hall of Famers, and Ryan might not be quite on their level, but he’s also just 36-years-old. There’s no reason to believe his play is about to fall all of a cliff, especially considering the weapons surrounding him and the quarterback-friendly system Arthur Smith is bringing to Atlanta.
The former Titans OC turned Ryan Tannehill into a Pro-Bowler, and this is also the first time in Matt Ryan’s career that he’s had an offensive head coach. Sometimes learning curves can be difficult, and I expect there to be growing pains, but by the second half of the season, this offense should be humming, and people will understand why the Falcons didn’t hesitate to take Kyle Pitts.
You must log in to post a comment.