Last_Blast's Blog

The Atlanta Falcons have announced that rookie Matt Ryan will be their starting quarterback to begin the 2008 NFL season.  I think this is the right move, don't you?

I'm a firm believer that it takes time to develop as an NFL quarterback and there is no substitution for playing.  Mistakes need to be made to learn and you can't make those mistakes holding a clipboard.  Now, there are plenty examples that support and refute this claim.  Here is a list of successful NFL quarterbacks who started either right away from game one of their careers or shortly thereafter.  Peyton Manning, Warren Moon, Troy Aikman, Dan Marino, John Elway, Drew Bledsoe.  Here is a list of quarterbacks who started early in their careers and weren't or haven't been succesful yet:  David Carr, Rick Mirer, Vince Young.  There are just as many successful quarterbacks who didn't start early on in their careers but did carry a clipboard and when it came time for them to play they were ready:  Tom Brady, Steve McNair, Carson Palmer, Brett Favre, Matt Hasselbeck.

While there is no perfect formula for success, again I feel like if you believe in a guy and you want him to be your quarterback of the future you play him sooner than later.  The Falcons obviously believe in Matt Ryan.  They took him with the third overall pick in the draft.  I don't know if Matt Ryan will become Peyton Manning or David Carr or someone in between.  But I sure get the feeling he might be pretty good and I know it's going to be fun watching him develop and get the chance to do it right away.  Plus, who wants to see highlights of Ryan holding a clipboard anyway?

Butch