http://www.cbssports.com/mcc/blogs/entry/13682485/33752962 If he does return, Barkley will likely return as well for a run at the NC. I believe they said a while ago they were going to decide together. That, to me, puts a dagger in drafting a QB unless we trade really far up, since we are going to win a few more games. Thoughts?
Barkley stays. The chance to win a title is just too strong. He could make himself the top prospect next season. Wrong forum BTW
The Fins Curse: 2005 we have the second pick and Ronnie Brown is the best option for us. 2008 we have the first pick and while Long was the best option, there really wasn't a can't miss prospect at QB in the draft. 2012, at one point the proclaimed "Year of the QB" and now they are dropping like flies and besides that, other than Luck, no one else looks anything like a can't miss...
My apologies for the "wrong forum" but with all the draft talk and specifically about QBs in the main forum, I felt it was appropriate.
We passed on Aaron Rodgers and Matt Ryan. The Miami Dolphins haven't been unlucky. Their management has been stupid. The #1 rule of the NFL draft is if you don't have a franchise QB, you don't pass on an elite prospect. Rodgers and Ryan were considered elite by many (yes, I understand not by everyone). Anyone who says that Aaron Rodgers wouldn't have become a Pro Bowler in aqua and orange is nuts. Anyone who says Matt Ryan isn't a top 10 QB in the NFL is nuts.
Except he's a JR too and doesn't have to come out. And he may have been the 2nd QB even with Barkley.
Ryan is borderline at best and may eventually prove he's elite but has not yet (and may not ever). He has been fortunate to end up in about the best situation possible yet, he hasn't proven he can carry a team yet. I remember seeing a comparison last year that showed his stats when he didn't have great run support and they were very Henne like.
"Nuts"? The only thing currently making Ryan a possible top 10 QB is the influx of QBs younger and/or less inexperienced than himself pushing him further up the list.
I don't understand how anyone can question whether Ryan is a top-10 QB in the NFL. There are 32 teams in the NFL and the Falcons have one of the best. I'll take the 10th best QB in the NFL any day of the week. I don't see how that is controversial. We passed on Ryan and it was a mistake. We passed on Rodgers and it was a mistake. Neither omission was "bad luck".
I think I recall that thread. When Atlanta backs rushed for 100+ yards, he won games and was quite effective. When they didn't, he indisputably struggled and was frequently incapable of carrying the team on his shoulders. For fans thinking a rookie (like Barkley) will come in here and immediately help turn things around, Matt Ryan's a realistic example of how long the developmental process can actually take b/c, despite being #3 pick in his 4th year starting, he's still maturing, learning, and developing..... and because of this I don't think Ryan is at the level yet to be qualified as a legitimate NFL "veteran". Atlanta could very well win a SB with him, but they're not winning a SB because of him. It's not to say he never will be capable, but at least not now. 4 years later and Ryan still hasn't reached the "franchise signal caller" status he was dubbed to become, although he's still yet to plateau either IMO. Just saying--- finding & developing a franchise QB isn't as easy as 1-2-3. We could draft Barkley and very well still not win games during his first 3 or 4 years unless the team around him helps him win.
Atlanta doesn't win games because of Ryan. They've been winning games for the exact same reason we're currently winning games with Matt Moore. Is anyone here saying Moore is suddenly a top 10 QB b/c Miami is putting up some points and beating the snot out of teams? So why would you call Ryan an undeniable top 10 QB?
I cannot understand how you cannot understand that anyone can question whether Ryan is a top 10 QB in the NFL.
Moore's sample size versus Ryan's is quite different. Ryan's been a starter in the NFL for 4 years now. 60% completion and an 86.5 rating. I disagree that "Atlanta doesn't win games because of Ryan". Your running-game stats are all ***-backwards. Ryan's greatness puts his team in the lead. Then, they send in the RBs to seal the deal, thus upping the rushing attempts and yardage. Teams that have the lead run the ball, inflating rushing stats. You got it all backwards.
Did read on a draft website that Kalil rumour is false, he has not made his mind up and isn't close to decieding just yet, don't know how to link, but is on walterfootball site
You're right Dupree. I kinda went overboard there. Still, can anyone name 10 guys who are better than Matt Ryan? The only guys I'd put above him, or on his level are: 1. Brees 2. Rodgers 3. Brady 4. Rivers 5. Roethlisberger 6. Schaub 7. Peyton Manning 8. Cutler
Yes, you're right. An argument could be made. Guys clearly better: Rodgers, Brees, Brady, Rivers Guys on par: Roethlisberger, Schaub Guys he's better than: Cutler, Romo, Flacco, Eli, Stafford Guys who I can't really make an opinion on: Vick and Manning. I have no idea if these guys have a future.
Romo, Cutler, Flacco and Eli have all played well in the playoffs. That is something Matt Ryan hasn't done yet. Also I do believe that all four of them are better than Matt Ryan. If Manning comes back from injury, I have Ryan 12th at best.
FWIW I also think Matt Ryan is a top 10 quarterback in the NFL. He throws the ball well but he also manages the game really well and makes a lot of good decisions. I think right now as a QB if your name is not Aaron Rodgers, Drew Brees, Tom Brady or Ben Roethlisberger, then you're trailing the elite level QBs by a fair distance. And even Ben Roethlisberger wasn't playing this well at the beginning of the season. Phil Rivers could re-join those ranks soon, after an extremely rocky start and middle to his season. But he's 23-2 as a starter in the months of December and January, and if that game he had against Jacksonville is any indication, he's about to show once again that in those months, this is one of the very best, most elite QBs in the league, not a guy you want to face on Sunday, Monday, or Thursday. Prior to this year, I held that the 6 elite QBs in this league are Aaron Rodgers, Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, Drew Brees, Ben Roethlisberger and Phil Rivers. Peyton Manning hasn't played a down this year but Tom Brady, Aaron Rodgers and Drew Brees have shown all year from the very first week that they belong in the elite category. Roethlisberger took a little warming up but as of right now, any given Thursday, Sunday or Monday, he's one of the five QBs you least want to see...and like I said even though he was mediocre most of the year now that we're in December/January then Phil Rivers is also one of the five QBs I would least like to see on the other side on game day.
Not so sure that Joe Flacco has played 'well' in the playoffs. He's played 7 playoff games and had a 90+ passer rating in only one of them. He's had 5 of the 7 performances at 61.1 rating or below. His total passer rating in the playoffs is 61.6. If that's playing 'well' then Matt Ryan has also clearly played 'well' in the playoffs, with his 71.1 passer rating in two appearances. That's just speaking objectively. As for which QB is better than which in the rankings, that's going to differ for every person. Suffice it to say I think that there's Peyton Manning, Tom Brady, Drew Brees, Aaron Rodgers, Ben Roethlisberger and (I would argue, when healthy) Phil Rivers...and then everyone else. And right now I personally think Matt Ryan is toward the front of the "everyone else" list.
Flacco had one good game. Which is more than Ryan has had. I should have been more clear. Cutler, Romo, Flacco and Eli have all had at least one instance of playing well in the playoffs. Ryan has not. What you say is true. I cannot say that for sure that Matt Ryan is not a quarterback that belongs in the top 10. I will say that a person could make a good argument that he isn't in the top 10. Which is just my point. I personally have him at or around 12th
I honestly don't see how anyone can say he's a top 10 QB, but that's just my opinion. I agree with Dupree in that I think he's around 12.
He could be playing like a top 10 QB, but he'll have to do it for another year to enter the actual Top 10 list IMO.