Post by hermancain - NUGGETS on Jul 6, 2020 9:26:40 GMT -8
"I think currently, yeah, I'll go with myself," said Ryan during a recent interview on the Pardon My Take podcast when asked if he was the best quarterback in the division.
Guess what? He's right. Matt Ryan is the best quarterback in the NFC South in 2020 -- and it's not even close.
Before you light up my Twitter mentions with Tom Brady memes and Drew Brees GIFs, I'm well aware that the Bucs and Saints' QB1s have had distinguished careers as gold-jacket players, but we're not talking about a lifetime achievement award. The crown should be awarded to the quarterback with the best skills at the position right now, and it's clear that Matty Ice is that guy.
The four-time Pro Bowl quarterback throws with outstanding touch, timing and anticipation, while also displaying pinpoint accuracy. He routinely threads the ball through the needle on tightly contested throws, while also displaying the range to utilize every area of the field. Although Ryan's arm wouldn't grade out as an A+ in a bullpen session, he has more than enough arm strength to make every throw in the book as a 35-year-old quarterback still in his prime.
From a numbers standpoint, Ryan is coming off a year in which he posted 11 300-yard games, which is tied for the third-most such games in a single season in NFL history. He surpassed the 4,000-yard mark for the ninth straight season, which is the second-longest streak in NFL history (Drew Brees holds the record with 12) and the longest active streak. Given that his 2019 campaign was considered an off year by his standards, the Falcons' QB1 is positioned for a bounce-back season that should see him reclaim his spot as a top-five quarterback.
Don't believe me? Just look at how well Ryan has done when he's been supported by a strong running game throughout his career. Whether it was Michael Turner during his early years or Devonta Freeman more recently, the former MVP has always been at his best when he has a credible threat behind him to set the table. The presence of a dominant rushing attack alleviates the pressure on Ryan to carry the offense while also adding a dimension to the Falcons' play-action passing game.
Reviewing Ryan's MVP season of 2016, it's not a coincidence that he had the fourth-fewest passing attempts of his career while directing an offense that ranked fifth in rushing yards. The balanced run-pass ratios kept the defense in flux and enabled Ryan to pick apart opponents with his pinpoint passing.
Enter two-time All-Pro Todd Gurley, who agreed to a one-year deal with the Falcons this offseason after being released by the Rams. It's quite possible that Ryan will lean on No. 21 as he tries to re-establish himself as one of the league's premier quarterbacks. Despite the concerns surrounding Gurley's knee, he is a significant upgrade over his predecessor (Freeman fell off last year) and his ability to command attention as a hybrid will only make the game easier for the veteran passer.
If defensive coordinators elect to utilize more plus-one fronts to slow down Gurley, Ryan will pick coverage apart targeting Julio Jones or Calvin Ridley on the outside. If the opponents sit back in two-deep coverage, the veteran can hand the ball to Gurley or attack the underneath areas of coverage with checkdowns and screens to the 2017 Offensive Player of the Year.
With another season in Dirk Koetter's system under Ryan's belt, the stage is set for the Ice Man to put any lingering doubts to rest as to who wears the crown among QBs in the NFC South in 2020.
Guess what? He's right. Matt Ryan is the best quarterback in the NFC South in 2020 -- and it's not even close.
Before you light up my Twitter mentions with Tom Brady memes and Drew Brees GIFs, I'm well aware that the Bucs and Saints' QB1s have had distinguished careers as gold-jacket players, but we're not talking about a lifetime achievement award. The crown should be awarded to the quarterback with the best skills at the position right now, and it's clear that Matty Ice is that guy.
The four-time Pro Bowl quarterback throws with outstanding touch, timing and anticipation, while also displaying pinpoint accuracy. He routinely threads the ball through the needle on tightly contested throws, while also displaying the range to utilize every area of the field. Although Ryan's arm wouldn't grade out as an A+ in a bullpen session, he has more than enough arm strength to make every throw in the book as a 35-year-old quarterback still in his prime.
From a numbers standpoint, Ryan is coming off a year in which he posted 11 300-yard games, which is tied for the third-most such games in a single season in NFL history. He surpassed the 4,000-yard mark for the ninth straight season, which is the second-longest streak in NFL history (Drew Brees holds the record with 12) and the longest active streak. Given that his 2019 campaign was considered an off year by his standards, the Falcons' QB1 is positioned for a bounce-back season that should see him reclaim his spot as a top-five quarterback.
Don't believe me? Just look at how well Ryan has done when he's been supported by a strong running game throughout his career. Whether it was Michael Turner during his early years or Devonta Freeman more recently, the former MVP has always been at his best when he has a credible threat behind him to set the table. The presence of a dominant rushing attack alleviates the pressure on Ryan to carry the offense while also adding a dimension to the Falcons' play-action passing game.
Reviewing Ryan's MVP season of 2016, it's not a coincidence that he had the fourth-fewest passing attempts of his career while directing an offense that ranked fifth in rushing yards. The balanced run-pass ratios kept the defense in flux and enabled Ryan to pick apart opponents with his pinpoint passing.
Enter two-time All-Pro Todd Gurley, who agreed to a one-year deal with the Falcons this offseason after being released by the Rams. It's quite possible that Ryan will lean on No. 21 as he tries to re-establish himself as one of the league's premier quarterbacks. Despite the concerns surrounding Gurley's knee, he is a significant upgrade over his predecessor (Freeman fell off last year) and his ability to command attention as a hybrid will only make the game easier for the veteran passer.
If defensive coordinators elect to utilize more plus-one fronts to slow down Gurley, Ryan will pick coverage apart targeting Julio Jones or Calvin Ridley on the outside. If the opponents sit back in two-deep coverage, the veteran can hand the ball to Gurley or attack the underneath areas of coverage with checkdowns and screens to the 2017 Offensive Player of the Year.
With another season in Dirk Koetter's system under Ryan's belt, the stage is set for the Ice Man to put any lingering doubts to rest as to who wears the crown among QBs in the NFC South in 2020.