Ryan will determine if draft is solid

By D. Orlando Ledbetter | Monday, April 28, 2008, 01:08 PM

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Had some time to digest the draft and the post-draft interviews of Thomas Dimitroff and Michael Smith.

Here’s the bottom line: If Matt Ryan is a baller at quarterback, then this was a successful draft even though the Falcons virtually ignored the offensive and defensive lines.

Here’s some of the data the Falcons had on Ryan that swayed them to take him over LSU defensive tackle Glenn Dorsey.

• Of the Division I-A quarterbacks in the draft who started 24 or more games, Ryan won 76.5 percent of his 34 starts. Louisville’s Jeff Brohm won 73.5 percent and Michigan’s Chan Henne won 72 percent of their starts.

• In “big games,” Ryan posted a 10-4 record (2-2 vs. Virginia Tech; 1-1 vs. Florida State; 3-0 vs. Clemson; 1-1 vs. Miami and 3-0 in Bowl Games).

• Before this draft, over his career Ryan only played with five players who were drafted by the NFL. USC’s John David Booty played with 19, Brohm played with 12 and Henne played with 12.

• In film review of Ryan’s play, the Falcons counted 54 dropped passes. Ryan completed 388 of 654 passes (59.3 percent). If his receivers had caught half (27) the drops, his completion percentage would have soared to 63 percent.

• Also, a friend who attended William Penn Charter High in Philadelphia told us to ask Ryan to sing the school’s fight song! It goes something like this, “Penn Charter, Penn Charter, Fight Harder, Fight Harder.”

• At least we know he’s going to “Fight Harder!!!”

Dude's a winner. That's kind of been my point about him -- he makes chicken salad out of chicken shit. That's the story of his career at BC.

Doesn't mean he'll be a great one at this level, but I can't wait to see what he does throwing to Roddy White instead of no name 1 and no name 2 at the WR position.

Man you love that facial Matt ryan is giving you. Open Wide!

Stop your fuggin crying E.
It`s not going to bring Vicky (your man crush) back. :D

We know what the reason for your nonacceptance of Ryan is all about.

Bitch fuck that shit. When your savior is being carted to piedmont hospital because he was hit again and again and again and again.......


All you have on me is Vick. fugg that. Blank has polarized all you mf to not liking his ass. So he won't be here again. You better pray he doesn't go to a division rival. nr6

That the best you got?

Weak shit right there, Eddie. WEAK.

E wake up to the fact that Vick fucked the Falcons, himself and the fans along with AB.

Ryan is not a savior, like y`all wanted Vick to be and he was not either.
He is just a player that signifies Vicks deal is done in Atlanta and that`s why you`r so upset..

Take a chill pill, that shit is gonna fuck with you`r blood pressure. <,;

I WAS ONE OF VICK'S BIGGEST FANS.

Just FYI. My old sig. banner at the OMB:



So lay off the Matt Ryan facial bullshit. You're revealing your own bias.

I told you over there and I'll tell you over here: We ain't all in the same basket. You don't have to hate Matt Ryan to support Mike Vick, and I don't have to hate Mike Vick to support Matt Ryan.