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Panthers say they're sold on Falcons rookie Ryan
AP File Photo
Matt Ryan of the Falcons has 11 touchdown passes this season.
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Published: November 22, 2008
CHARLOTTE - John Fox wasn't too thrilled when the Atlanta Falcons selected Matt Ryan with the third pick in April's NFL Draft.
Fox and others in the Carolina Panthers' organization had Ryan rated highly, highly enough to know that it was not good to see an NFC South rival draft him.
Ryan (6-4, 230) had the size of a prototypical NFL quarterback and the arm strength, Just as important, he had the competitiveness, leadership qualities and personality to handle the responsibilities of being the face of a franchise.
"We thought the world of him ourselves," Fox said this week as the Panthers prepared for Sunday's game at Atlanta. "He was impressive. He had a lot of intangibles that sometimes people miss the boat on. In Atlanta's case, which I'm not real happy about -- I'd like to see him somewhere other than our division -- that's a compliment. He's done very well."
Ryan, last year's ACC player of the year at Boston College, has done so well, in fact, that he's the overwhelming favorite to win NFL rookie-of-the-year honors.
He has been the starter since opening day and is directing an offense that ranks seventh in the NFL. The Falcons are a surprising 6-4, still in contention for a playoff spot and have won four of six since a 24-9 loss at Carolina on Sept. 28.
The numbers aren't always overwhelming, partly because the Falcons have run the ball so effectively (second in the NFL) behind Michael Turner and partly because Coach Mike Smith was careful not to put too much early pressure on Ryan.
But Ryan has finished with quarterback ratings of 116 or better -- anything above 100 is excellent -- five times. He completed 16 of 23 passes for 248 yards and two touchdowns in a win over New Orleans two weeks ago. The week before, he was 17 of 22 for 277 yards and two touchdowns in a win over Oakland.
He also completed 22 of 30 passes for a season-high 301 yards and one touchdown in a 22-20 win over Chicago. In that game, he directed a last-gasp drive with the Falcons down by one and hit Michael Jenkins for 26 yards with one second left. Jason Elam then kicked the winning field goal as time expired.
"He's definitely ahead of the curve, and not only the rookie class but just in general," said linebacker Na'il Diggs of the Panthers. "He looks real comfortable in there, and he's getting comfortable with the speed of the game and how defenses are going to try to mess with him to get him to make mistakes. For the most part, he's done real good, especially for a rookie. Hopefully we can get him rattled a little bit and get him on the ground."
The only team to rattle Ryan completely has been Tampa Bay, in the second game of the season. He was 13 of 33 for 158 yards with two interceptions. He has thrown just four interceptions in eight games since, and has 11 touchdown passes against six interceptions for the season.
"Matt has played very efficiently for a rookie," Smith said in a teleconference with reporters who cover the Panthers. "Any rookie in this league, regardless of their position, is going to have some ups and downs. I think Matt has had more ups than downs, but when he's had things not go his way or not go our way, we have learned from them. I talk about this being a process for our football team, and it's a process for Matt as well."
Ryan has refused to get too caught up in the hype surrounding his play. He was propelled into the spotlight from the day he was drafted, as the Falcons looked for a quarterback to build around in the post-Michael Vick era. The spotlight got bigger after he signed a six-year, $72-million contract that punctuated the Falcons' commitment.
"The biggest thing for me and what my focus has been since I have come down here is to do everything I can to play my best week in and week out," Ryan said. "With all the other stuff that goes with that, I haven't worried about it. I've just tried to focus on controlling the things that I can, and that's working hard and studying hard during the week and doing everything I can to be prepared for each game."
Ryan attributes his success to the fact that Turner, the league's third-leading rusher, has taken the pressure off. Turner rushed for 220 yards in Ryan's debut against Detroit, and he has rushed for more than 100 yards four times.
"We have good guys around me," Ryan said. "I think we have gotten on the same page as we have gone through this season and figured out things that we do well as an offense and things that we don't do well. We have kind of tailored to our strengths, and that's a big credit to our coaching staff."
That is why the Panthers are concerned, now ... and for what could be years to come.
"He's a winner," quarterback Jake Delhomme said. "I've always said that. I followed him at Boston College quite a bit, and from the beginning, (it was clear) this guy's got it. You know, he's just very good."
■ John Delong can be reached at jdelong@wsjournal.com.
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