The Atlanta Falcons have restructured quarterback Matt Ryan's contract to help create salary cap space for the upcoming 2021 season. What do I always say about our teams and making them competitive for next season? Live for now!
Falcon fans need to understand that Matt Ryan is not the problem, every team that has made the decision to pay their quarterback elite QB money (which has gone up since Matt signed his deal) must make the same decisions the Atlanta Falcons are making regarding creating more room under the cap to maneuver and attempt to put a play-off quality team on the field. It is a part of the NFL; I think the bigger question is when you do a restructure and extend can that player still help you win. Matt Ryan has been restructured 4 times since March 2019 to help the team.
Let us look at Mat Ryan. The Player.
In 2012 Ryan was 27 years old, and he led the Falcons to the NFC Championship game. His numbers that season in 16 games under OC Dirk Koetter.
68% Comp %/ 4719 Yards/32 TD’s/ 14 Int / Avg 294 yards per game/99 QB Rating
615 attempts/422 completions
The next season in 2013 the Falcons won 4 games even though Matt threw the ball 36 more times. The offense had no balance they could not run the ball or protect the quarterback.
In 2016 Ryan was 31 years old and led the Falcons to the Super Bowl and won the MVP in 16 games under OC Kyle Shanahan.
69% Comp %/ 4944 Yards/ 38 TD’s/ 7 Int/ 309 yards per game/117 QB Rating
534 attempts/373 completions
Less passing attempts, more wins. This was a balanced offense that ran the ball affectively and led the league in scoring at almost 35 points per game. This was a statically historic offense, yet Matt did not have to throw for 50 Touchdowns. Balance.
In 2018 Ryan was 33 years old and the team could not run the ball affectively. The Falcons went 7-9 and did not make the play-offs in 16 games.
69% Comp /4924 yards/35 TD’s/7 Int/307 yards per game/108 QB rating
608 attempts/ 422 completions
In a year that the team was almost last in every category running the ball. Matt Ryan put up 20 yards less, three touchdowns less, and two yards less per game from his MVP season with a different OC Steve Sarkisian. The quarterback play was great.
In 2020 Ryan was 35 years old and the team won 4 games, but lost leads late in the 4th quarter to the Cowboys, Bears, Panthers, Lions, Chargers, Chiefs.
65% Comp/4581 yards/26 TD’s/ 11 Int/ 292 yards per game/ 93 QB rating
626 attempts/ 407 completions
The Falcons threw it more in 2020 but had less results because again there was no balance. The Flacons once again found themselves with a limited running game.
Ryan threw for 363 total less yards than his MVP year, and 17 yards less per game over a 16-game season than he did in 2016.
Matt Ryan is not the problem. His contract and how to maneuver it, to create more cap space without hurting the team has been the issue. The player can still play at a high level and has shown that. This is the challenge of every team that is committed to pay their Quarterback the going rate of the top Quarterback’s in the NFL.
Matt Ryan has proven through three different Offensive Coordinators from 2012-2020 (Dirk Koetter was here twice) that his production has not really fallen off, despite the lack of a consistent running game and being the victim of three years of bad defensives under former coach Dan Quinn. Atlanta Falcon fans stop blaming Matt Ryan and let us make the team around him better. Offensive line. Running game. Defense. That is how you win now.
Put’em Up