Saturday Morning Edition
Saturday Morning Coffee
Every Saturday morning it’s time to pour a cup of Joe and discuss the more sports news, rumors, and topics from around the world of sports from this fan’s perspective. Comment if you like, post a question, this is your forum to speak your mind.
Matt Ryan has Arrived
Myth or Fact.
So Matt ryan’s elevation of play and MVP talk this season should not come as much of a surprise. His arrival has been a long time coming, so this is not much of a rumor or new information for discussion, but I would certainly agree this could be up for debate.
Matt Ryan has been a solid quarterback throughout his career and this season he’s elevated his play to that next level. Is this an anomaly or a trend? Is this a result of great coaching? Or is this a result of having all the pieces?
Some might say, well he has Julio Jones, arguably the best wide receiver in the NFL today. Maybe so, but Tom Brady had Randy Moss and he didn’t win the Super Bowl. Having a elite pass catcher does not define a quarterbacks greatness. Some might credit Kyle Shanahan’s brilliance as an Offensive coordinator. Kyle has been a difference maker yes.
But I would credit all three.
I am not going to post all kinds of numbers and cite a lot of statistics, but they are there for the research and undeniable.
It is my opinion from watching a lot of the Falcons this season, that Ryan has taken that next step. We have seen his play in the past and he’s capable of big numbers; his six straight seasons of passing for more than 4,000 yards display that fact.
What has been different about Ryan the past several seasons and what he displayed this season is his passing accuracy and command of the offense. Remember, he’s been doing this since 2011, but this is only Shanahan’s second season with the Falcons, and yes Kyle’s infulence can be seen in Ryan’s meteoric numbers.
Add the final pieces that have taken Ryan to the next level; a loaded backfield (Devonta Freemen and Tevin Coleman), the superstar receiver (Jones), and a couple of nice complementary pieces (Taylor Gabriel and Mohamed Sanu) to complete the set.
Shanahan and the Falcons have done of great job of finding the right talent and utilizing what they have to it’s fullest potential. And Ryan has been the most responsible for the execution and the Falcons offense blossoming into one of the most effective and prolific scoring machines fans have seen since the Rams “Greatest Show on Turf.”
Other teams can boast similar talents and playmakers, but Ryan has not only elevated his own play, but he’s carried a lot of the talent around him to their next level; passing touchdowns to 13 different players this season. The result has been a magical season for the Falcons and the arrival of the next elite quarterback in the NFL.
In the fantasy football arena, we talk about Brady, Aaron Rodgers, and Drew Brees, being on one level, but after what we have seen Ryan pull this season (4,944 yards passing, 38 touchdowns, 69.9% completions) he has to be part of the conversation.
In the real world, it’s his play in the playoffs that warrant his consideration as an elite passer; when he’s all done, his resume will say plenty about where he belongs.
Ryan looks to be the odds-on favorite to win the MVP this season with his career numbers and Super Bowl run. A win on the big stage will only put an exclamation point on his arrival. His postseason performances this season have more than cemented his name amongst the elite quarterbacks.
Taking a closer look at what he has done in the playoffs this season (730 yards passing, 7 touchdowns, no picks) should be enough to argue his seat among the best, but I would have to believe some would like to see him hoist the Lombardi to justify his spot.
I am not making any early predictions, but a Falcons victory is not so far fetched. Ryan has been the general of the Falcons offense and he’s been hitting on all cylinders this season, especially in the playoffs. I don’t see anything on the other side to say to me he won’t have similar success.
I’m sure a win on Super Bowl Sunday will end all doubt and place Ryan’s name with the best in the league, but win or lose his performance will speak volumes.
Matty Ice has waited 9 seasons to reach this pinnacle. And for us football fans and fantasy fanatics, we’ll have to wait another 8 days to see the conclusion of this chapter and the completion of Matt Ryan’s rise to the level of the NFL’s elite passers.
That’s Just My Take
~David G Ortega
No comments:
Post a Comment