Can the Falcons win more than one championship with Matt Ryan?

Ever since Matt Ryan surprised everybody by leading the Falcons to an 11-5 record and the playoffs in his first season people have asked the question where does Matt Ryan rank among the NFL’s elite quarterbacks. Of course he would have to win a title to sneak into the top 5, but I definitely see him as a top 10 quarterback. Todd McShay answered a question a couple of months ago about the quarterbacks that were taken in the 2008 draft and beyond and about which quarterback he felt would have the most success in the next 10 years and he said Matt Ryan. McShay admitted that while Ryan doesn’t have the rocket arm or mobility he has a certain it factor.

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The bottom line for Matt Ryan is that he does win games. Yes, Ryan doesn’t have the rocket arm, but the Falcons are not asking him to throw the ball 35 to 40 times a game. In Mike Murlarkey’s offense it is all about balance and it starts with establishing the running game. I believe that Matt Ryan could thrive in a passing offense, and he has shown flashes that he could this season when the Falcons need to abandon the run of how affective he can be passing the ball. To me Matt Ryan is the definition of a game manager; he knows how to manage the game and an offense as well as any quarterback in the league. Ryan get’s the ball out of his hands and he makes good, quick decisions with the football. He has shown his ability to win games in the clutch which is why he has the nickname Matty Ice.

The only flaw that remains with Matt Ryan is that he has not won a playoff game yet. He lost to the Arizona Cardinals in his first year, the Falcons missed the playoffs his second year, and of course the Falcons lost to the Green Bay Packers last year. The good thing Ryan can say about those two games though is that both teams he faced went on to the Super Bowl. I believe Ryan has the ability to lead the Falcons to more than just one championship, because of the qualities he possesses in a quarterback and all the things that he has accomplished in such a young career. The front office with Thomas Dimitroff is committed to giving him the pieces to win and he has the coaching staff to maximize his potential. All there is for Matt Ryan is to go out there and get the job done.

By: Steven Virden
ProFootball-fans.com Atlanta Falcons Correspondent