Prisco: Ryan not worthy of No. 3 pick
So Matt Ryan had a lights-out workout at Boston College. What a surprise. Now he can be the first quarterback in the NFL Draft, taken by the Atlanta Falcons with the third pick.
|
|
| Matt Ryan's late-game heroics at Virginia Tech should tell you something about his mental makeup. (Getty Images) |
There are few clubs that need a quarterback more than the Falcons and few in better position to take Ryan.
The Falcons don't have to budge to get their hands on him. All they must do is wait for Miami and St. Louis to pass on the guy, then choose him and forget about the position for the next 10 years.
OK, so Matt Ryan is no Michael Vick. That can be a good thing. Ryan has the size you look for in quarterbacks. He has the mechanics you would expect from a five-year veteran. And he's a pocket passer.
He knows how to read defenses. He throws well on the run. He works hard. He's poised. He's tough. He's smart. And he's used to playing from behind, which is perfect on-the-job training for Atlanta.
In short, he's everything the Falcons should want.
But let's forget about all that and concentrate on why the Falcons need him more than they need, say, Jake Long or Darren McFadden: BECAUSE MATT RYAN PLAYS THE MOST IMPORTANT POSITION IN THE GAME!
There, I got that out of the way.
When you build football teams, you start with key positions and work your way out, and there is no better place for Atlanta to start than quarterback. For the moment, they have Chris Redman and Joey Harrington, and I dare you to dig your way out of the NFC South ditch with either.
Sure, Redman had his moments last year, and Harrington had occasional stretches of credibility. You're not going to win with them, and you might with Matt Ryan.
All I know is I would like to find out.
I don't care about his 19 interceptions or his 59 percent completion rate. This is someone who had to carry a club and did a good job of it. The last time I checked, Boston College tied for 10th in the AP poll with an 11-3 record, and look no further than Matt Ryan for an explanation.
