Falcons QB Matt Ryan talks about defensive chaos

There's little doubt that it is critical for NFL teams to find a competent QB if they want any chance of winning these days. Thankfully, the Falcons have one in Matt Ryan (present struggles not withstanding). In this article with ESPN the Magazine, Ryan talks about the pressure of being a QB in the NFL today. It's a fascinating read and really highlights how difficult the position has become, even in just the past 5 years.

Ryan speaks at length about how defenses have changed in attacking the pocket and disguising looks. He also talks about how the mechanics of being a QB are changing, and how QBs are forced to adapt their game or become irrelevant. It's particularly interesting in the light of Ryan learning a new system which has asked him to do things he didn't do much of in the past.

The big thing in throwing now, you have to be able to throw from any platform because the timing of when things are open is really short and there's so many variables that affect your footwork. Your feet could be facing right, but things change or break down and now I need to throw left. My hips are facing this way, but, same thing, uh-oh, now I need to throw the other way. Footwork, flexibility, changing arm angles, all those things are very important now because you never really know how a pocket is going to shake out.

If you're at all interested in some of the complexities of the NFL, this is a very good read. It will also make you realize the insane amount of things that QBs have to think about before even making a throw. If you're like me, you'll come away with a deeper appreciation for how hard it is to find a consistently good QB.