Should Matt Ryan Begin the Season as the Starter?

by jjestes on May 2, 2008 2:22 PM EDT

A question I keeping asking my water cooler football buds is:

Should Matt Ryan begin the season as the starter?

Should the Falcons try to go with Redman and see if he plays the same as he did at the end of last season?

I say why not find out now if he is another Marino or Manning...or worse Carr or Leaf!! I know, I know. Everyone says throwing a quarterback into the fire to early is detrimental to their careers, but the good thing about Atlanta is none of us are expecting to be near the playoffs next year. The fan base already knows that this year is a wash.

If this is a year of growing and developing, then why not grow and develop your franchise quarterback now?

Your thoughts?

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If you can do it without getting him killed

then I say go for it. Otherwise, it may be best to let one of the other guys take the brunt of the sacks. Give Ryan at least half a year to learn the offense and get his feet under him.

by WolfpackSteelersFan on May 2, 2008 3:05 PM EDT reply reply 0 recs

I think looking at quarterbacks

Around the league who were thrown right in, I would say keep him on the bench for a year. Alex Smith comes to mind immediately here.

by Pack Man on May 2, 2008 3:06 PM EDT reply reply 0 recs

Nooooo!

Build him an OL first. Got to protect that investment and keep him from becoming another David Carr. They can work him into some games the first year, but need to pick their spots wisely.

Otherwise his new nickname might be “Mincemeat Matt” or “Flat Matt”.

by tom slick on May 2, 2008 4:04 PM EDT reply reply 0 recs

NOOOOO!!!!

Give him time to sit. Give him time to learn. Most importantly, give Comrade time to build the team up around him. The line is still young and needs time to reach the point where it can protect a quarterback with regularity. Lets be honest here, Ryan isnt going to make or break this season. Him sitting won’t cost the team a playoff birth. I think that it is always best to let a young QB sit for a while and get a feel for the league. I dont want to see him get shell shocked the way Carr did. However the season goes, I would let him wait.

by SG Standard on May 2, 2008 8:28 PM EDT reply reply 0 recs

No

It’s not what’s best for him or for the team on the field. Having said that, remember that us drafting him was just as much a PR move as it was a football move. Trying to get the whole you know who thing laid to rest.

Not a good football move, but let’s remember that this sport is also about selling tickets. I fear that the later might accelerate him being given the starting job before he is ready.

In a way, each of us has an El Guapo to face.

by runningback on May 2, 2008 9:11 PM EDT reply reply 0 recs

Lots of pressure

Good point. Hope Blank keeps his hands off this decision.

Even if Redman or Joey Jo-Jo produce decently, there’s bound to be a lot of noise to start Ryan by the end of this year. Understandably, people will be absolutely clamoring for him to start the 2009 season.

Waiting a year or so is one thing, but they’re not paying him megabucks to sit. Same thing happened after #7 was drafted a few years ago, if memory serves me.

Better get that O-line built up quickly, Comrade!

by tom slick on May 2, 2008 9:37 PM EDT up reply reply 0 recs

Sit for now

If he gets a start or two at the end of the season, I might be able to live with that. The best thing for him would be to let Chris Redman run this team, learn from a couple of (sort of) capable veterans and be ready to be the starter through his second entire season. Tossing him in there to certain doom isn’t helping anyone.

Football is not a contact sport. It's a collision sport. Dancing is a good example of a contact sport. ~Duffy Daugherty

by Dave the Falconer on May 4, 2008 1:48 AM EDT reply reply 0 recs

Why not Harrington?

I don’t know why everyone hates on Harrington. I think the guy can get it done. I couldn’t believe it when I heard that the wonderful NFL coach Bobby P decided to bench him through a press conference after the win over SF. Plus we all know that he sure knows how to handle playing with a crappy O-line (see Detriot Lions ‘02-’05 and Miami Dolphns ‘06). I agree with the folk saying to let Ryan sit. I mean we have a prime example in Harrington of what happens when you start a high drafted QB with a questionable/non-existant O-line. Your thoughts.

The Falcons should sign Chuck Norris.

by Pregame with Pabst on May 7, 2008 8:20 PM EDT reply reply 0 recs