A Franchise Quarterback and a Brand New Era

By Trey Cosby

Now that the Michael Vick Era is officially over in Atlanta, the Falcons have moved on and taken the city with them.  By taking a chance on drafting Matt Ryan, Quarterback from Boston College, with the 3rd pick in the 2008 NFL Draft, the Falcons have made a statement and they are standing by their man.  Ryan is a 6 ft., 5 inch monster with a better-than-average arm and a will to win that sold the Falcons coaching staff.  His willingness to work and study are second to none according to the coaches, and it seems that new GM Thomas Dmitroff sees just a little bit of Tom Brady in Ryan.  You can’t argue with the fact that Ryan has overachieved.  His Boston College team of receivers was not very talented, yet Ryan still overcame by spraying the ball all over the field in just about every game he played in, and he could have easily won the Heisman Trophy with a better cast.  His college coach raves about him.  His former teammates say he is a leader that cannot be shaken.  There is no doubt that the intangibles are there, his accuracy is off the charts, and he is very intelligent.  That being said, you still have an unproven commodity trying to come in and start for the most unstable team in professional sports. That's why a Matt Ryan helmet is an exciting addition to any collection, and why Atlanta Falcons jerseys are going to be popular fan apparel this year. Maybe not the big sellers Tom Brady jerseys are yet, but who knows?

The Falcons could have gone another way by drafting superstar defensive end Glenn Dorsey from LSU, and it was considered by some to be a done deal.  They decided, however, to just go ahead and give the keys to the kingdom to Ryan because they weren’t sure if they could get a quarterback as good as Ryan with their later round picks.  Brian Brohm from Louisville would have been available had the Falcons deferred on Ryan, but they could not justify past injuries to Brohm and the coaching staff and front office didn’t want to take a chance on picking him.  Brohm ended his career on a down note because Louisville did not live up to the expectations of the coaches and they lost more games than almost anyone ever expected.  Although Brohm is a pro-style quarterback with a rocket arm, the injury bug scares you when you are thinking about shelling out millions for his services.  That's probably why Brian Brohm footballs are so affordable.  Small school Quarterback Joe Flacco was available after Ryan, but he only lasted a few more picks because the Baltimore Ravens selected him with the 18th pick.

So here we go!  Dmitroff is a general manager who has been around the block.  By taking over for Rich McKay and propelling himself to the top of the Falcon’s front office football operations from the New England Patriots; you know he is skilled in drafting potential superstars.  Apparently he sees a side of Ryan that reminds him greatly of Tom Brady, so we as fans need to just wait and see what is going to pan out.  Dmitroff has a proven track record, and a world of respect from his peers, so it is going to be exciting none the less to see if he is able to put something together that the team and the city can be proud of. If all goes well, fans can proudly display the Atlanta Falcons home decorations again.

Ryan has the size, quickness, footwork and headiness in the pocket that franchise quarterbacks are made of.  He also has an arm that will fit in very nicely with head coach Mike Smith’s new offensive scheme.  The problem for Ryan is going to be getting used to the speed of the game, and how difficult it is to make his reads when defenses start mixing up their coverage schemes.  I know he is going to study and be smart…but I am not sure he is going to be ready to take on the load that comes with being a starting quarterback in the National Football League.  With the Falcons coming into camp with only Joey Harrington having any experience at all, it may be a training camp that spells doom.  Following that you only have D. J. Shockey and Chris Redman, both of whom have miniscule experience in a professional backfield, Ryan could easily win the starting job right out of training camp.  Will that be a good thing or a major distraction and mistake?  As a franchise, you don’t want to toss Ryan into the mix when you don’t know yet what he is made of.  Ryan Leaf could have been a fabulous NFL quarterback if he was groomed and nurtured over time, so he could grow and mature as a human being without having to always be in the spotlight.  Leaf could not handle the pressure, and I am not sure that Ryan is of the mold to be able to deal with that kind of enormous pressure either.  Keep an eye on Ryan Leaf collectibles; as he improves, his merchandise will gain value.

If Ryan does start, and the Falcons begin the season with an 0-6 record, will he have the intestinal fortitude and strong will to be able to withstand the onslaught of media hype and negative comments that will be directed towards him?  Joey Harrington has never been able to handle much of any of it.  I am not saying Ryan can’t overcome situations like that, I am simply suggesting that it could happen that way.  One thing is for certain that he is going to get his chance to start, and we are going to learn very quickly how he is going to adjust to the professional game.  Like it or not, Matt Ryan is the new franchise quarterback.  If you are a true Falcon fan, you will support the decision to draft him.  Gone are all the #7 apparel items and novelties, so the memory will soon die too.  Sit back and watch as the Falcons try to put the pieces back together.  I will be watching too. While waving my Falcons pennant, like the true fan I am.