Vick Versus Ryan........Very Interesting

This was a pretty good article......from Mark Bradley of the Atlanta Journal Constitution....

He did his research......and compared Michael Vick's and Matt Ryan's first 26 games in the NFL.


Courtesy of Mark Bradley and the AJC:

After 26 NFL starts, how does Ryan compare to Vick?

10:30 am November 23, 2009, by Mark Bradley

The high point of Michael Vick's early days: The famous playoff victory at Lambeau Field.

Matt Ryan hasn’t had the sunniest of sophomore seasons. His team is 5-5. He threw 10 interceptions in a five-game span. His team has lost four of its past five. But with all the dissection we’ve done, here’s one thing we haven’t tried: We haven’t yet compared/contrasted the Falcons’ newest franchise quarterback with their previous franchise quarterback. Here goes:

• After 26 regular-season starts, Ryan is 16-10. After 26 regular-season starts, Michael Vick was 16-9-1. (Note: Owing to his apprenticeship behind Chris Chandler in 2001 and his broken leg in 2003, Vick needed four seasons to make 26 starts.)

• Ryan’s passer rating in his second season as a pro is 80.0. Vick’s passer rating in his second season as a pro was 81.6. Ryan’s career passer rating is 84.3. Vick’s career passer rating is 75.6.

• Ryan’s completion percentage in his second NFL season is 59.3. Vick’s completion percentage in his second NFL season was 54.9. Ryan’s career completion percentage is 60.3. Vick’s career completion percentage is 53.7.

• Ryan has thrown 12 interceptions through 10 games of his second NFL season. Vick threw eight in his second NFL season. Ryan has thrown 16 touchdown passes in those same 10 games. Vick threw 16 touchdown passes in 15 games in his second NFL season.

• Ryan has fumbled three times in his second NFL season, his team losing two. Vick fumbled nine times in his second NFL season, his team losing six.

• Ryan has accounted for 2,324 yards (passing and rushing) through 10 games of his second NFL season — an average of 232.4 yards per game. Vick accounted for 3,713 yards in his second NFL season — an average of 247.5 per game.

• Ryan’s team lost his first playoff start, which came in Phoenix in his first NFL season. Vick’s team won his first playoff start, which came in Green Bay in his second NFL season.

Even though the styles were dissimilar, there’s not a lot of difference between the raw numbers at this point in the two careers. But it’s worth noting that we’re rating Ryan at a personal low — though he did have a big second half in Giants Stadium on Sunday — and Vick after 26 NFL starts was among the most feared players in the league.

That 26th start came in Week 5 of the 2004 regular season. The Falcons would finish 11-5 and beat the Rams in a playoff game and reach the NFC title game. But that was the end of Vick as a winning quarterback. He was 15-15 over his final 30 games as a Falcon, and his last NFL start came Dec. 31, 2006. This year he has accounted for 67 yards, more than half of them coming on one run against the Bears on Sunday night.

We can compare/contrast Ryan to Vick as young players, and you can make the case that Vick was slightly better. (Though not as a rookie; he started only two games in 2001.) But we cannot compare the Ryan of 2009 to the Vick of 2009 because there’s no comparison. One is the starting quarterback. The other is a backup.

One man's opinion....but ...it does make us think.....and that's a good thing.

Michael Vick.....Matt Ryan....& the Atlanta Falcons

"So this is Christmas........what have you done?........

Another year is over........and a new one just begun"......(John Lennon, 1971)

I must apologize..........I was wrong.

When the Atlanta Falcons first drafted Matt Ryan........I was under-impressed to say the least. I speculated the weak offensive line of these Falcons would spell a quick and sudden death, both to the rookie QB........and to the team's play-off aspirations.

Again..........I was wrong.

I thought this team would be lucky to win 3 games........It was not a good team. Michael Vick had proceeded to camouflage much of the teams deficiencies by his super-natural talents and his running abilities.

With Vick..........now just an after thought ........still doing time for the dog fighting mess.......thus a non issue.......

We turn our attention to the new Atlanta Falcons......

A new general manager.......a new coach...........and a new quarterback .....

And............after a 4-12 season..............a play-off birth.

In the spirit of the season........can you say, "Miracle on .......Peachtree Street?"

Merry Christmas .......Atlanta Falcons, Matt Ryan............and ........yes........Michael Vick!

Things...We Learned From the Weekend

Th0se Chicago teams...........

Weren't that good after all. In the first round of the MLB play-offs, the Cubs were swept away by the L A Dodgers in 3 straight..........and the White Sox were beaten by the Tampa Bay Rays, 3 games to 1.

This was supposed to be the year. The Cubs boasted the best record in the National League. The Sox forced a 1 game play-off on the final day of the regular season.......won that against Minnesota.....only to get routed by the "worst to first" Rays. The Cubs (Lou Piniella is pictured with this "We 're losing again" look) were even more pathetic......The 3 games against the Dodgers? Not even close! It seemed over night, the Cubs forgot how to hit, throw, and catch a baseball.

That "thud" we heard that even made a reading on the Rickter Scale.......was the millions of fans jumping off that Cub bandwagon.

1908 was the last year the "Cubbies" won a World Series......I'm no math major..........but that's 100 years!............Dare we say? Maybe next year?


A Lambeau Leap....and NFL........stuff........

For the second straight visit to Green Bays' storied Lambeau Field, the Atlanta Falcons beat up on the Packers. Who can forget the last time Atlanta went into the land of "Cheese-heads" during the 2003 wild card play-off game..........Led by Michael Vick, the Falcons trounced Green Bay, 27-7.

This time .......led by their rookie quarterback, Matt Ryan (pictured)..........the "birds" again took care of the ball........the......."Pack".......and the game.......to come away with a 27-24 victory.....It was the first road win of the year. At 3-2..............Atlanta trails Carolina (4-1) for second place in the NFL south division.

Speaking of Carolina, are they that good? Or , are the Kansas City Chiefs....that bad? A week after upsetting the division leading Denver Broncos......the Chiefs go into Charlotte , and get mauled, 34-0. Head coach Herman Edwards will not last the season.

Same goes for Detroit Lion coach, Rod Marinelli. Marinelli is 10-26 and 0-4 this year as head of the woeful Lions. They have been beaten in 4 consecutive weeks by scores of, 34-21, 48-25, 31-13, and 34-7.......Ouch!

Defending Super Bowl champion, N Y Giants are showing no signs of a letdown. The "G-men" destroyed the over-rated Seattle Sea Hawks, 44-6. It's only week 5.....but there are just 2 undefeated teams, the Giants (4-0) and the Tennessee Titans (5-0).


This Detroit team....can take a bow.....


For the 3rd time in 6 years, the WNBA's Detroit Shock has won the championship. The Shock swept the San Antonio Silver Stars 3 games to none in the best of five series. Coached by former "bad boy", Bill Laimbeer (who won 2 NBA titles with the Pistons) the Shock entered the season as one of the best teams in the league............but lost thier top post player, Cheryl Ford to a season ending knee injury in July. They sputtered briefly.......but came together in the play-offs........and the rest is history.

Detroit Shock.....we salute you!





Vanderbilt........5-0?



Yes ..........it's true. In our only loss in the Friday Picks.......Vandy beat Auburn, 14-13 to go 5-0 for the first time .....since........(we really had to research this).......1943. Known as the lone academic school in the SEC, the Commodores have long been a joke on the football field. Well now......the joke's on us. Revenge of the nerds?

Thrown.....to the Wolves

It's official........(and some mighty big shoes to fill)..........

The Atlanta Falcons announced today, first round draft pick, quarterback Matt Ryan will get the start to open the season as the leading signal caller for this NFL franchise....

Are you guys nuts?

Are you insane?

Do you have a "death wish " for this young man?

So.........Matt Ryan did........OK...........in preseason....yes..........and .......even ......I .....can hit a fast ball ....in a batting cage....

But .....when the real season begins........when defenses unleash an array of stunts and fronts.......how will a rookie QB respond?

History says, he'll get his brains beat in.........The Falcons offensive line is ........well.....porous at best.

In an attempt to make the ATL forget about Michael Vick.....the Falcon front office has put an enormous amount of pressure on this young man.

Over/under? 6 games..........He will be either hurt or ineffective...........and will not finish the season as the starter.

Mr. Ryan? We feel your pain.