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As expected, the Atlanta Falcons will name rookie quarterback Matt Ryan the starter for the 2008 season.
Per Adam Schefter of NFL Network, the announcement is coming on Sunday.
Ryan, the third overall pick in the 2008 draft, beat out Chris Redman and Joey Harrington for the job.
The Falcons need to go with Ryan, because the other options were Chris Redman and Joey Harrington. And the Falcons need to justify the huge money being paid to Ryan. And the Falcons are desperate to wipe the Mike Vick stain off the franchise.
Ryan has completed 32 of 52 passes for 277 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception in three preseason games.
Atlanta opens its season on September 7 by hosting the Lions.
August 24th, 2008 at 3:19 pm
Never heard of him.
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Rating: 3 / 5 with 4 rating(s)
August 24th, 2008 at 3:21 pm
At least the Falcons can pick whoever they want with the #1 pick next year then.
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Rating: 5 / 5 with 2 rating(s)
August 24th, 2008 at 3:26 pm
You’re wrong, the Falcons don’t NEED to go with Ryan right now regardless of whether or not he’s the best quarterback. He probably is, but if you felt he’d be better served sitting for part or all of his rookie season, then there would be nothing wrong with playing a less talented guy while you continue to develop Ryan. There’s no right or wrong here, so your assertion that the Falcons NEED to do anything is wrong.
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Rating: 5 / 5 with 4 rating(s)
August 24th, 2008 at 3:28 pm
Might as well throw him out there early and see what he’s got. He’s looked impressive thus far …
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Rating: 1 / 5 with 1 rating(s)
August 24th, 2008 at 3:31 pm
The question is not how good is Ryan going to be, but how GREAT is he going to be…maybe he won’t be great this upcoming season ( I think he will have a decent year though), but he will become one the NFL’s elite down the road. I have watched each game and the way he runs the offense and commands that team is really something…he looks like a seasoned veteran that has the whole team’s respect. Yeah, I know Atlanta doesn’t have many other options, but I don’t understand why everyone thinks Atlanta is going to be THAT bad! They have one of the best one-two punch backfields in the league, a pretty good defense and an emerging all pro receiver in Roddy White…they will win AT LEAST 6 games this year, which isn’t too bad considering what everyone else thinks they are going to do!
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Rating: 1 / 5 with 4 rating(s)
August 24th, 2008 at 4:01 pm
Might as well go with him. None of the other QB’s on the roster figure into Atlantas future. The team is not going anywhere this year and everyone knows that. They will be terrible. But Ryan will gain some experience and they can see what they have in him. Worst comes to worst if he sucks after 3 years then you can go back to the drawing board and draft a new QB. Its the right move to make for a team that is expected to finish last anyway. Might as well go with youth
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Rating: 3 / 5 with 1 rating(s)
August 24th, 2008 at 4:04 pm
Guys…every year people get excited about how a rookie plays in the pre-season, only to be disappointed in the regular season. Nothing different here, Ryan will suck when the regular season gets here. That’s not a knock on him, it’s just the fact that he’s a rookie. This year will be bad, and then it will get better. It’s like that with every rookie quarterback. Don’t be thinking he might actually play well though based on what he’s done in the pre-season.
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Rating: 3.5 / 5 with 2 rating(s)
August 24th, 2008 at 4:20 pm
@MikeBayley re: “They have one of the best one-two punch backfields….”
Last I checked, this was Turner’s first shot at starting with Atlanta. It’s hard to say *anything* definitive about that RB tandem until after a couple of regular season games. Throwing that aside, most teams will likely stack the box against the run, and force Ryan to beat them in the air. Roddy White is better than average, but he’s no TO, Reggie Wayne, or Brandon Marshall. Which means, without a stud TE (which Atlanta doesnt have anymore) or a bonified #2 WR (which mike jenkins hasn’t proved he is yet), Matt Ryan probably isn’t going to be that great this year.
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Rating: 4 / 5 with 3 rating(s)
August 24th, 2008 at 4:44 pm
I would tune in to the Falcons vs. Lions in the opener.
Falcons showed a lotta desire against the Titans last week.
I wanna see how they do this year.
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Rating: 3.5 / 5 with 2 rating(s)
August 24th, 2008 at 4:54 pm
Offensive Rookie of the Year.
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Rating: 3.35 / 5 with 3 rating(s)
August 24th, 2008 at 6:12 pm
It beats how JaMarcus “earned” his first year’s salary.
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August 25th, 2008 at 11:48 am
If their running game turns out well with Turner and Norwood, maybe he won’t do too terrible.
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