Matt Ryan Stats, News, Photos - Atlanta Falcons

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Breaking down the Falcons' ranking
Published 7/22/2008 at ESPN.com - NFL Nation - Blog
... will help the offense a lot and Matt Ryan will be a good quarterback -- at some point. But it's going to take some time for Ryan and the Falcons to become contenders. ...

Boston College Football Preview
Published 7/30/2008 by Mike at Sports of Boston
... With summer winding down and fall approaching, that means football is right around the corner.  Boston College, led by first year coach Jeff Jagodzinski and senior quarterback Matt Ryan, started the season 8-0, rising to #2 in the polls.  They went on to win their first ACC Atlantic Division title, though they lost to Virginia Tech in the ACC Title tilt.  BC went on to defeat Michigan State in the Champs Sports Bowl for a nation-leading eighth consecutive bowl victory.  ...

Falcons letting QB battle play itself out
Published 8/4/2008 at ESPN.com - NFL Nation - Blog
... There is a very interesting situation playing out in Atlanta right now. The Falcons know Matt Ryan is their quarterback of the future, but they don't know if he's the quarterback of the present. ...

Falcons waiting to pick this week's QB
Published 8/11/2008 at ESPN.com - NFL Nation - Blog
... Rookie quarterback Matt Ryan had a strong debut against Jacksonville, but the Falcons aren't ready to anoint him the starter just yet. In fact, they're not even ready to name a starter for Saturday's preseason game with Indianapolis. ...

Falcons have to decide best approach with Ryan
Published 8/22/2008 at ESPN.com - NFL Nation - Blog
... Picture a scale that's perfectly balanced. That's what the Atlanta Falcons are looking at as they prepare to make one of the most important decisions in franchise history. On one side, they've got the quarterback who gives them the best chance to win on opening day. On the other, they've got the quarterback who gives them the best chance to lose. Problem is, it's the same guy on both sides. It's Matt Ryan. He's the third-overall pick in this year's draft. He's the guy with a contract worth $72 million over six years. ...

Ryan makes QB Choice easy for Falcons
Published 8/25/2008 at ESPN.com - NFL Nation - Blog
... Coach Mike Smith went ahead and did the obvious Sunday, announcing rookie Matt Ryan will open the regular season as the starting quarterback. After Ryan performed well in extended playing time against the Titans on Friday night, he pretty much made the choice for Smith. ...

Backup QBs a strength in NFC South
Published 8/28/2008 at ESPN.com - NFL Nation - Blog
... at No. 13 and that's about right. Redman came out of premature retirement last year and ended up playing well. The team considered sticking with Redman until rookie Matt Ryan showed he was ready. But Redman showed, under some tough circumstances last year, that he's got some moxie. If Ryan stumbles, Redman's not a bad alternative. ...

Little things must go right in the NFC South
Published 8/29/2008 at ESPN.com - NFL Nation - Blog
Posted by ESPN.com's Pat Yasinskas Jake Delhomme's elbow, Jeremy Shockey's attitude, Jeff Garcia's age and Matt Ryan's contract have been talked and written about repeatedly for the last month. They could be talked about for the next four months and any of the above could help decide the NFC South title. But, often times, it's not the big stories that determine a season. Often, it's the things that seem subtle that emerge as big topics. Here's a look at three under-the-radar things that have to go ...

Falcons: Cutdown analysis
Published 8/30/2008 at ESPN.com - NFL Nation - Blog
... made the team. Shockley is a bit of a local cult hero because he played at the University of Georgia, but this move wasn't about popularity. It was about Shockley's potential. Yes, he's a project, but the Falcons think they might be able to develop Shockley into something. They'll have time because rookie Matt Ryan is going to be the starter and veteran ...

BC Opens Chris Crane Era With Shutout of Kent State
Published 8/31/2008 by Mike at Sports of Boston
... going to fare replacing Matt Ryan? With the departure of a number of offensive and defensive starters, former coach Tom O’Brien’s key players have mainly left the program. Jeff Jagodzinski’s players have passed the first test with tonight’s 21-0 victory. ...

Audibles: NFC South Week 1 preview
Published 9/5/2008 at ESPN.com - NFL Nation - Blog
... , White could become the next great pass rusher -- for one day, anyway. White is looking at what could be the luckiest draw of Week One. He'll be out there trying to sack rookie quarterback Matt Ryan in his debut. ...

Audibles: NFC North Week 1 preview
Published 9/5/2008 at ESPN.com - NFL Nation - Blog
... No less important, however, has been a quieter effort to improve a run defense that has ranked in the bottom third of the NFL for the past three years. Even after trading Pro Bowl defensive tackle Shaun Rogers, the Lions are hoping to bring a scrappier and more effective run defense to Atlanta this weekend. They'll need it, considering the Falcons intend to rely on new tailback Michael Turner and holdover Jerious Norwood while rookie quarterback Matt Ryan adjusts to the professional game. Lions coach Rod ...

Lions steamrolled in Atlanta
Published 9/7/2008 at ESPN.com - NFL Nation - Blog
... Conventional wisdom suggested the Lions would sell out against the run, forcing rookie quarterback Matt Ryan to beat them. Instead, Turner ran for 117 yards in the first quarter alone and Ryan only had to attempt 13 passes. ...

Breakdown: NFC South
Published 9/8/2008 at ESPN.com - NFL Nation - Blog
... That's what Matt Ryan did against the Lions, but that doesn't mean he'll turn into Carr or Weinke. Ryan is a different personality than Carr, who never recovered from the shell shock of playing behind a horrible Houston offensive line. ...

Breakdown: NFC North
Published 9/8/2008 at ESPN.com - NFL Nation - Blog
... Conventional wisdom suggested the Lions would sell out against the run, forcing rookie quarterback Matt Ryan to beat them. Instead, Turner ran for 117 yards in the first quarter alone and Ryan only had to attempt 13 passes. ...

The NFC South's most irreplaceable players
Published 9/9/2008 at ESPN.com - NFL Nation - Blog
... had to be the featured back. McClure isn't a big name, but the veteran center is hugely important with rookie quarterback Matt Ryan behind him. McClure has started 97 consecutive games and he's holding together a young offensive line that looked pretty good in its debut. ...

Is Flacco taking same path as Big Ben?
Published 9/10/2008 at ESPN.com - NFL Nation - Blog
... Coming out of Delaware, Flacco also had questions marks concerning whether he was ready for the NFL game. At 6-foot-6, 230 pounds and with a strong arm, Flacco looked the part. But he fell to No. 18 overall, where the Ravens snagged him. He was the second quarterback selected, 15 slots behind Atlanta's tabbing of Boston College's Matt Ryan. ...

Audibles: NFC South Week 2 preview
Published 9/12/2008 at ESPN.com - NFL Nation - Blog
... the way they have in the past. Maybe Tampa Bay's defense is too young at the same time it's too old and there's not enough in between. We'll find out if last week was just a fluke for Tampa Bay's defense or a real problem because Atlanta did a pretty good job tearing apart Detroit's defense last week. For those who don't make the connection, Detroit is coached by Rod Marinelli, who spent years at Kiffin's side and subscribes to all of his theories. Rookie quarterback Matt Ryan looked very poised against Marinelli's defense and running ...

NFC South: Monday afternoon quarterback
Published 9/15/2008 at ESPN.com - NFL Nation - Blog
... He's going to get every touch near the goal line. Fantasy dud of the week: Jeremy Shockey. With Marques Colston out with an injury, the Saints were expected to turn more to their tight end. They didn't. Shockey had two catches for 22 yards. So far, Shockey's been a model citizen for the Saints. But they should ask the Giants what happens when Shockey doesn't have enough passes thrown his way. Reality check of the week: Matt Ryan and Tracy Porter were the two rookie sensations in Week ...

Audibles: AFC West Week 3 preview
Published 9/19/2008 at ESPN.com - NFL Nation - Blog
... The speculation prior to the April draft was that Kansas City could try to move up with its gaggle of draft picks and take Boston College quarterback Matt Ryan. ...

Audibles: NFC South Week 3 preview
Published 9/19/2008 at ESPN.com - NFL Nation - Blog
... I'm guessing that had something to do with the competition. Drawing Kansas City in the Georgia Dome this week is probably the best thing that can happen for rookie quarterback Matt Ryan, who took a beating from the Bucs. ...

Flaws, strengths of NFC South becoming evident
Published 9/22/2008 at ESPN.com - NFL Nation - Blog
... That's also true of rookie Matt Ryan in Atlanta, where the Falcons have been the division's most surprising team. Sure, their wins have come against Detroit and Kansas City, but the Falcons have figured out they can keep the heat off Ryan if they run ...

Audibles: NFC South Week 4 preview
Published 9/26/2008 at ESPN.com - NFL Nation - Blog
... In their wins, the Falcons have run the ball and taken the pressure off rookie quarterback Matt Ryan. In their lone loss, Ryan looked like a rookie quarterback because Tampa Bay took the running game away. ...

Boldin situation triggers blame game
Published 10/1/2008 at ESPN.com - NFL Nation - Blog
... Matt Ryan was throwing passes for the Falcons in the final 2 minutes of a 24-9 defeat to Carolina. St. Louis' ...

Audibles: NFC South Week 5 preview
Published 10/3/2008 at ESPN.com - NFL Nation - Blog
... But it won't be easy. Atlanta hasn't played well on the road and 70,000 Cheeseheads aren't going to make life easy for rookie quarterback Matt Ryan. He's been just fine in the two home games, where ...

NFC South playing from position of strength
Published 10/10/2008 at ESPN.com - NFL Nation - Blog
... , the best coach you've never heard of, has the Falcons believing. Rookie quarterback Matt Ryan and running back ...

Rapid Reaction: Falcons 22, Bears 20
Published 10/12/2008 at ESPN.com - NFL Nation - Blog
... ATLANTA -- You kidding me? I was almost finished rapidly reacting to what appeared to be a rousing Chicago Bears victory, the kind that makes a good season special. I had praised Kyle Orton and Rashied Davis for their sharp 17-yard touchdown connection, which had given the Bears a 20-19 lead with 11 seconds left. And somehow, the Bears walked off the field 22-20 losers. A squib kick, a 26-yard pass from Atlanta quarterback Matt Ryan to Roddy White, and a 48-yard field goal from ...

Anatomy of 11 unbelievable seconds
Published 10/12/2008 at ESPN.com - NFL Nation - Blog
... Babich said he didn't feel comfortable playing man-to-man defense in that situation, an understandable sentiment considering Hillenmeyer's tough spot. That ruled out putting heavy pressure on Atlanta quarterback Matt Ryan and left the Bears in a relatively soft Cover 2 defense. ...

Explaining a certain power ranking
Published 10/14/2008 at ESPN.com - NFL Nation - Blog
... Quarterback Matt Ryan is pretty polished for a rookie. Ryan has some scary weapons and a creative play caller in offensive coordinator Mike Mularkey. Defensively, the Falcons won an interior slugfest with the Bears' offensive line. And you always have a chance to win a close game with ...

Scouts Inc.: Ryan is a difference-maker in Atlanta
Published 10/17/2008 at ESPN.com - NFL Nation - Blog
... As we inch toward the midway point of the 2008 season, the clear-cut front-runner for the NFL's rookie of the year award is Atlanta's Matt Ryan. The Falcons raised eyebrows when they selected the Boston College product with the third overall pick of April's draft, choosing a quarterback of the future over defensive help that appeared to be a more pressing need. Now first-year general manager Thomas Dimitroff looks like a genius for jumping on Ryan. ...

Blank: Falcons moving through 'the process'
Published 10/17/2008 at ESPN.com - NFL Nation - Blog
... They talked some about Atlanta's 4-2 start, which naturally led to rookie quarterback Matt Ryan. "I said, 'Roger, when I was 23 years old, I can assure you I didn't carry myself the way he does and I thought I was a pretty mature young man,'" Blank said. "I'm amazed at his personal maturity. It's just shocking to me." Largely because of Ryan, there's a lot of shock in Atlanta -- and across the league -- these days. Ryan, the third overall pick in this year's draft from Boston College, is playing with uncommon poise and the Falcons are ...

Rapid Reaction: Packers 34, Colts 17
Published 30 days ago at ESPN.com - NFL Nation - Blog
Posted by ESPN.com's Paul Kuharsky GREEN BAY, Wisc. -- The Baltimore game was supposed to signal a reversal. The Colts were finished struggling. They'd found themselves against the Ravens, forced the action, controlled the game. If rookie Matt Ryan could bring his Falcons to Lambeau Field and win, surely Peyton Manning could do the same for the Colts, who'd pick up where they left off in the impressive win over the Ravens, right? Um, no. The sloppy Colts failed miserably in Green Bay, ...

Audibles: NFC South Week 8 preview
Published 25 days ago at ESPN.com - NFL Nation - Blog
... The latest chapter in the story that's been Matt Ryan's rookie year is the homecoming. The quarterback grew up just outside Philadelphia and his return, along with the surprising success of the Falcons, has been a big story in the local media. ...

Audibles: NFC East Week 8 preview
Published 25 days ago at ESPN.com - NFL Nation - Blog
... Eagles defensive coordinator Jim Johnson wants to confuse Falcons rookie quarterback Matt Ryan at every turn. You might not see six or seven sacks, but Ryan will get hit almost every time he goes back to throw. The Falcons are one of the best rushing teams in the league. ...

Balance key to Atlanta's fast start
Published 21 days ago at ESPN.com - NFL Nation - Blog
... Even after deciding to go with rookie quarterback Matt Ryan, Smith hasn't veered from his philosophy. He's let Ryan throw more than a lot of people might have expected and that's been allowed because the running game has been good enough to occupy defenses. ...

Asomugha lives on a lonely island in Oakland
Published 18 days ago at ESPN.com - NFL Nation - Blog
... Listening to opposing coaches, it doesn't sound like the Asomugha boycott will end anytime soon. It's doubtful that Atlanta rookie Matt Ryan will take on Asomugha on Sunday when the Falcons visit Oakland. Saints quarterback ...

Audibles: NFC North Week 9 preview
Published 18 days ago at ESPN.com - NFL Nation - Blog
... was the No. 1 overall draft pick in 2007. Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan was the No. 3 overall pick this year. ...

BC Comeback Fails, Clemson Seizes Leather Helmet
Published 16 days ago by Mike at Sports of Boston
... , and Harper showed flashes of the offensive attack I thought they would have.  So, that puts my predictions at 6-2 against the 5-3 BC is at now.  I had next week’s Norte Dame game as a loss, so we can get back to par with a BC win next weekend.  ND played the Eagles tough last season, really causing some problems for Matt Ryan.  With the downgrade on BC’s side and the improvement ND was showing, this looked like a vulnerable game for BC.  However, with the Irish’s loss to Pittsburgh, they still have not beaten a team with a winning record and do have their own ...

Rapid Reaction: Falcons 24, Raiders 0
Published 16 days ago at ESPN.com - NFL Nation - Blog
... But let's stop looking for ways to shoot holes in the Falcons' very impressive half season. Let's look at why they are where they are and how they can get even better. We all know plenty about rookie quarterback Matt Ryan and running back ...

Video: Brady Quinn to start
Published 15 days ago at ESPN.com - NFL Nation - Blog
... Trey Wingo and Trent Dilfer discuss the change at quarterback in Cleveland and tell you who is the better rookie, Joe Flacco or Matt Ryan. Also, what is wrong with the Jaguars?

Beyond first round, draft shaping up as a hit
Published 14 days ago at ESPN.com - NFL Nation - Blog
Posted by ESPN.com's Pat Yasinskas The NFC South's rookie class has been getting a lot of attention, but it probably should be getting more. Way beyond first-round picks Matt Ryan, Sam Baker, Jonathan Stewart, Jeff Otah, Sedrick Ellis and Aqib Talib, this class is making significant contributions. Each division team is getting good production from its first-round choices and beyond. Time to single out some guys who weren't taken in the first round but are producing. ...

NFC South midseason awards
Published 13 days ago at ESPN.com - NFL Nation - Blog
... valuable player (off the field): Carolina cornerback Ken Lucas. He might have made the biggest play of the entire season back in August. After getting punched out by teammate Steve Smith, Lucas instantly forgave the wide receiver -- and truly meant it. In the process, Lucas might have saved Smith's career, the jobs of coach John Fox and general manager Marty Hurney and set up the Panthers for a big season. Best rookie: Atlanta quarterback Matt Ryan. No need for an explanation. Best rookie ...

Breaking down the division's QBs
Published 13 days ago at ESPN.com - NFL Nation - Blog
... Part of the reason New Orleans quarterback Drew Brees is having such a good season is because his receivers are catching the ball. Although Marques Colston and Jeremy Shockey each have missed significant time with injuries, the rest of the receivers haven't let Brees down. Although he's thrown far more passes than the rest of the NFC South quarterbacks, Brees has been the victim of less drops than Carolina's Jake Delhomme, Atlanta's Matt Ryan and Tampa Bay's Jeff Garcia and Brian Griese. New ...

From No. 2 combos to No. 1 WR, White grows up in a hurry
Published 11 days ago at ESPN.com - NFL Nation - Blog
... White's been a big part of the reason for Atlanta's surprising 5-3 start. His 48 catches for 733 yards and five touchdowns have helped rookie quarterback Matt Ryan look like a veteran. ...

Falcons' White grows up in a hurry
Published 11 days ago at ESPN.com - NFL Nation - Blog
... White's been a big part of the reason for Atlanta's surprising 5-3 start. His 48 catches for 733 yards and five touchdowns have helped rookie quarterback Matt Ryan look like a veteran. ...

Around the NFC South
Published 10 days ago at ESPN.com - NFL Nation - Blog
... he might be able to play Sunday against the Raiders. As always, look for coach John Fox to take the cautious approach on this injury. If Stewart plays, I wouldn't expect a lot of carries. Defensive tackle Darwin Walker has been ruled out for Sunday. It looks like Andrew Walter will start at quarterback in place of the injured JaMarcus Russell for Oakland. Like it matters. FALCONS We've heard plenty about Matt Ryan, Michael Turner and John Abraham and that's all justified. ...

Eagles Shut Out Notre Dame to Win Sixth Straight Holy War
Published 9 days ago by Mike at Sports of Boston
... My preseason pick was Notre Dame in this game as Charlie Weis’ squad was improving last season and clamped Matt Ryan down last season and nearly stole the victory.  So, despite a couple missed calls, my preseason slate to this point is even with BC’s season to this point at 6-3 en route to a predicted 7-5 season.  I liked Florida State before kickoff and I will stick to it. ...

Atlanta's defense breaking out
Published 9 days ago at ESPN.com - NFL Nation - Blog
Posted by ESPN.com's Pat Yasinskas ATLANTA -- We've heard a lot about the rapid development of rookie quarterback Matt Ryan. But how about the development of Atlanta's defense? A week after shutting out the Raiders, the Falcons have held the Saints' high-power offense to two first-half field goals. They've done it with a secondary that doesn't really have any big names and they've done it with starting cornerback Brent Grimes sitting out most of the first half with an ankle injury. Domonique Foxworth and rookie ...

Defense has been quiet key for Falcons
Published 9 days ago at ESPN.com - NFL Nation - Blog
... The fact is the Atlanta Falcons shut down the league's most prolific offense in a 34-20 victory against the Saints at the Georgia Dome. Forget rookie quarterback Matt Ryan (248 passing yards and two touchdowns) and running back Michael Turner (97 rushing yards and a touchdown) for just a minute. There's another reason why the 6-3 Falcons are the NFL's most surprising team. The unsung story is the defense. It, like everything else with the Falcons these days, is far better than anybody expected. "You've just ...