Week 11 QB projections • ATL Stats
QB Matt Ryan, Atlanta Falcons
HT: 6-4, WT: 228, Born: 5-17-1985, College: Boston College, Drafted: Round 1, Pick 3
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Stats and Week 11 Projection
| WK | OPP | RES | CMP | ATT | PYD | Y/A | PTD | INT | RSH | YD | Y/R | TD | FPT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 | at NO | L, 27-35 | 19 | 42 | 289 | 6.9 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 9 | 3.0 | 0 | 14 |
| 9 | vs WAS | W, 31-17 | 17 | 24 | 135 | 5.6 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 1.2 | 0 | 10 |
| 10 | at CAR | L, 19-28 | 22 | 41 | 224 | 5.5 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 2.0 | 0 | 13 |
| SEASON TOTAL | 178 | 298 | 2008 | 6.7 | 14 | 12 | 22 | 34 | 1.5 | 1 | 156 | ||
| 11 | at NYG | PROJ | 19 | 32 | 214 | 6.7 | 1.5 | 1.3 | 3 | 9 | 3.0 | 0.1 | 17 |
Week 11 Injury Status and Other News
He was not listed on Friday's official injury report. Opinion (from The Upgrade/Downgrade/Waiver Report): For the past month it has become clear to defensive coordinators that Ryan has not been able to handle pressure like the savvy veteran the media wants to make him in just his second year. Ryan was frequently high or early on passes when forced out of the pocket. He also surprisingly took his eyes off his receivers multiple times, overreacting to pressure when he still had time to make a good throw or slide away. He overthrew Michael Jenkins on a designed roll to the left and the pass was intercepted and he was nearly intercepted on a third down throw to the TE on a jerk route at the goal line. His second interception was also an overthrow to Jenkins deep with 4:00 left and down by two. With RB Michael Turner likely doubtful next week with a high ankle sprain, Matt Ryan will be further exposed as a good second-year quarterback who still has a ways to go before he's a must-start fantasy option week in and week out because the opposition is getting away with blitzing the young QB with 5-6 defenders without Ryan making them pay. Opinion (from Bob Henry's sleeper report): The Giants have been the worst pass defense in the league over their last four games allowing 262 yards, 2.8 TDs and 0.8 INTs per game. Opponents are completing better than 65% of their passes during this stretch. Granted, they've faced some of the league's best quarterbacks (Rivers, McNabb, Warner and Brees), but Ryan is no slouch, even if he has become more interception prone this year. His 12 INTs in 9 games surpass his 11 INTs in 16 games as a rookie, and he has thrown 10 in his last five games. This won't be an easy game for Ryan, but with Michael Turner sidelined they could be forced to throw more often, leading to solid yardage and probably a couple of touchdown passes for Ryan.
Week 11 Matchup Info
at New York Giants - Detailed analysis coming soon.
Game Summaries
Week 1 vs MIA - Ryan spread the ball among his receivers very well in this game. Although Tony Gonzalez and Roddy White got their share of looks, Michael Jenkins was often his first option and he checked down frequently to Jerious Norwood. Even FB Ovie Mughelli was used in key situations. That said, Ryan was inaccurate on down field throws all day. He under threw a wide-open Roddy White in the first quarter, who had turned around Dolphins' rookie CB Sean Smith on a deep post. He under threw Jenkins in the second quarter and then overthrew a wide-open Jerious Norwood on a wheel route in the closing seconds of the half. Combine these with another under-thrown bomb to Roddy White who beat bracketed coverage down the left hash in the third quarter, and three of these four routes should have been touchdowns and all four were throws to the left side of the field more than 15 yards past the line of scrimmage. Despite his issues down field, he made only one ill advised throw all game and managed the offense like a veteran.Week 2 vs CAR - It was another day at the office for Matt Ryan, who rarely faced pressure, and pretty much got to do what he pleased in the pocket against the Panthers. Ryan didn't throw any of his deep ball lollipops, but he didn't need to against Carolina. He was executing well on timing passes, surveying the field calmly, and mostly making very good decisions. Ryan's one interception came when he stared down Marty Booker in the middle of the field, allowing Richard Marshall to jump the pass, but he also dropped the ball in perfectly between a linebacker and safety on Tony Gonzalez's TD, and he made a real nice read on the checkdown to Jason Snelling that resulted in another one of his three TDs. With defenses gearing up to stop Michael Turner and great pass-blocking from his line, Ryan is getting very comfortable in this passing offense.
Week 3 at NE - Ryan drove the team right down the field on his first drive for a field goal, and led the Falcons to a TD on his third drive, but the rest of time, he struggled to find open receivers and convert on his bread and butter plays to Roddy White outside and Tony Gonzalez in the middle of the field. Ryan honed in on Michael Jenkins, but Jenkins wasn't getting open downfield enough to punish the Patriots for focusing attention on White and Gonzalez. Michael Turner didn't break off any long runs to loosen up the D, and Ryan didn't make any individual plays to overcome the good game plan. You can't say Ryan or the Falcons offense played badly as much as you can say the Pats defense had a very nice game.
Week 5 at SF - Ryan dissected the 49ers defense in a Manning/Brady/Brees-esque surgical performance. He was given a lot of time to survey the field by his offensive line, and he used it to see the field with clarity and make smart decisions and accurate throws. Ryan hooked up with Roddy White a lot early in the contest, including a deep TD where Ryan led White to the open part of the end zone with ease, and a quick throw that White turned into a 90-yard catch and run TD. Ryan was patient, and his execution and timing were precise on all but a handful of plays. His one interception came when the umpire disrupted Roddy White's crossing route, but Ryan hustled downfield to make a fumble recovery when White caught Dre Bly from behind. Ryan scoring a rushing TD when a rollout was called on 1st and goal at the one and nothing came open in the end zone. Ryan performed very well, but the 49ers defense seemed to lose their fight when the Falcons opened up a lead in the second quarter.
Week 6 vs CHI - Despite having a bit of an off night Matt Ryan was able to lead his team to victory over the Bears on Sunday night. Early in the game the Bears pass rush was able to get to Ryan causing him to overthrow his receivers. The Falcons staff realized this and adjusted on the fly going to a no-huddle offense in the 2nd quarter. Ryan then led his team on two TD drives, the first on a short pass to Roddy White that White was able to take 40yds to the house and then later on a 10 yard strike over the middle to Tony Gonzalez. Ryan threw a couple of 2nd half INT's both caused by the Bears pressuring him, leading Ryan to overthrowing his receivers down field. However with the game on the line Ryan was able to lead his squad to a game winning TD. Overall an asymmetrical performance from the 2nd year signal caller.
Week 7 at DAL - Ryan started out very sharp with the timing based short passing game moving the chains, but the Cowboys blitzes and pressure soon got to him, and Ryan never really got comfortable for the rest of the game. He did hit Roddy White on an out close in for the Falcons first TD, and the Falcons did call a flea flicker early, but the Cowboys pressure and good coverage downfield kept it from producing a big play. Ryan threw his first interception with Mike Jenkins left Michael Jenkins and jumped a Roddy White route, and his second happened on an ill-advised throw into double coverage during a desperation attempt to come back. Ryan also gave up the ball on an all-out blitz that ended a drive into Cowboy territory. His second TD was a 4th and 10 throw to a receiver that the Cowboys forgot to cover in garbage time. Ryan did move around and keep his eyes downfield well when he could elude the pressure, but nothing seemed to come open downfield. It was a combination of a lack of special, inspired plays by the Falcons offense, and a great job dialing up blitzes and keeping Ryan off balance that led to mediocre day for the Falcons passing game.
Week 8 at NO - Ryan had a rough night. He was under pressure for the entire game, and he never seemed to get completely comfortable in the pocket. He was uncharacteristically off on many of his throws, broke the pocket too early at times, and even felt pressure when it wasn't there. Ryan's interceptions were on a play that he didn't read Jabari Greer, who peeled off of his man when he diagnosed the play, a tremendous tipped pass by Jon Vilma in the red zone when the Falcons were about to take the lead, and a hail mary at the end of the game. Ryan looked his best on timing throws to Roddy White. His long TD to White was underthrown, but White's physical game took over and he made the catch and run for the TD. It is a testament to Ryan that he had the team in position to win despite being off his game.
Week 9 vs WAS - Ryan never really got in a groove during this game, but luckily for the Falcons, the defense and running game did the heavy lifting. Ryan threw an early interception by forcing the ball into triple coverage, and he didn't really make any inspired throws on the day. In Ryan's defense, the pocket often closed in on him quickly, and he often had to break the pocket to run. He did the most for his team by drawing Albert Haynesworth offsides inside the Redskins 10 to set up an early first and goal, and by taking late hits on the two-minute drill to set up a field goal. Ryan did move the offense incrementally with some short throws over the middle to Tony Gonzalez and to the sidelines to Roddy White, but he never really even tried to throw downfield for a big gain (he didn't have time), and Ryan didn't create much on his own when he did have to abandon the playcall. His status as a fantasy QB1 is very questionable right now.
Week 10 at CAR - Ryan had yet another uneven day as the Falcons chances to win were in his hands, and he couldn't seal the deal. Ryan looked pretty good on timing play and on rollouts, but his downfield accuracy was spotty at best. His two interceptions came on downfield targets to Michael Jenkins that he airmailed, including one when the Falcons were set up with possession at midfield down only two points late in the fourth quarter. Ryan remained fearless throwing the ball into small windows, and he moved around well, but he had another throw that should have been a pick at the goal line, and in general he was too careless with the ball. His one touchdown came on a play action fake on fourth down at the goal line, but he produced no big plays for this offense all day. Ryan is trending the wrong direction heading into a big matchup vs. the Giants.
