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The fantastic year that started it all.FalcoholicContact The FalcoholicFalcons StoriesScheduleRosterStatsYahoo Falcons NewsYahoo Falcons Team PageYahoo Falcons ReportYahoo Falcons Depth ChartYahoo Falcons TransactionsYahoo Falcons PhotosOdds About Masthead Community Guidelines StubHub 鉁昍eflecting on Matt Ryan’s 11 seasons: 2008New Game Calvin Ridley Jersey ,39commentsThe fantastic year that started it all.ESTShareTweetShareShareReflecting on Matt Ryan’s 11 seasons: 2008Kim Klement-USA TODAY SportsIt’s hard to believe that Matt Ryan is about to start his 12th season in the NFL in 2019. It still feels like he was drafted just a few years ago in the wake of the nightmare 2007 season. It’s easy to forget that many writers - including Dave Choate himself - were not fans of Ryan coming out of Boston College. Yet, twelve years later, it’s easy to see that he was not only the best pick of that draft class, he may be one of the best picks in franchise history. So join us as we look back at each of his first 11 seasons. We’ll take a look at his best and worst game and what we learned about our franchise QB during each season.His best gameLooking back at his rookie year, it’s hard to pick just one game. This was the season where Falcons fans learned what “Matty Ice” was really capable of. His first game against Detroit was a great one (with his first pass being a touchdown). His 138.4 passer rating against the Raiders was his highest of the season. However, I doubt few fans will argue that his game against Chicago will stand out as one of his best.Ryan went 22/30 in that game for 301 yards (his first 300 yard game) with 1 touchdown and a 116.1 passer rating. More importantly, though, was his late game heroics. The Bears took a 20-19 lead with just 11 seconds left in the game. Under normal circumstances Calvin Ridley Womens Jersey , that game was in the bag. Matt Ryan, though, was having none of it. With just 6 seconds left and under immediate pressure up the middle, Ryan delivered a sideline pass to hit Michael Jenkins, who went out of bounds with one second left on the clock. Jason Elam nailed the 48 yard field goal to give the Falcons the improbable 22-20 win. The legend of Matty Ice had begun.His worst gameGiven that he was a rookie at the hardest position in all sports, it was inevitable that Ryan would have some stinkers in his first year. While his first game against the Detroit Lions was a very good one, his very next game against Tampa Bay was easily the worst of the year. He completed just 13 of his 33 attempts for 158 yards, no touchdowns and 2 interceptions with a sad 29.6 passer rating. It’s easy to forget that this guy was a rookie once Youth Calvin Ridley Jersey , but this game was a clear indication that he was.What we learnedWhat can we say? We learned that this QB had a bright future in the league. We learned that the pressure of following after Michael Vick didn’t keep Ryan from having one of the best rookie QB seasons in NFL history. Most importantly, we learned that the Falcons had made a very good pick, one that is still playing 12 years later. When you look back on that 2008 season, what are some of the things that stand out to you? This team is built to be an offensive juggernaut, but it’s little surprise a lot of focus is on the defense."Peter King is one of the most respected and longest tenured reporters in the NFL, which is based partly on merit and partly on knowing everyone far too well to be unbiased. I won’t pick at that last scab too much today, though, given that we’re about to talk about King’s opinions on the Falcons.Last week Calvin Ridley Men Jersey , Kelsey Conway with the Falcons caught up with King to talk about what’s in store for 2019. As you’d expect nothing is earth shattering but it’s all fairly interesting with much of the talk revolving around the defense, which is the story line of note with Dan Quinn assuming control and so many question marks about the team going forward. He zeroed in on Takk McKinley, who is entering a pivotal third season when pass rushers typically arrive or fizzle. Part of that stems from DQ’s expanded role in the defense, which King thinks will translate into more opportunities and better usage for the likes of Takk, Vic Beasley, and Grady Jarrett. For that to happen, Quinn will need to be putting in much more time up front or spending more time making adjustments on gameday, which is where having a very senior offensive staff led by Dirk Koetter and Mike Mularkey Color Rush Calvin Ridley Jersey , plus new gameday/clock coach Bob Sutton, has to come into play. Quinn and these Falcons figure to sink or swim based on what he can get out of the defense, after all. King spent more time on the defense and the draft, too. King’s interest in the secondary, which extends to saying he believes the team really needs to solve that issue in the draft, is noteworthy if kinda errant. The Falcons are returning (we hope) a healthy secondary with their top cornerback, top two safeties, and an exciting young hybrid in Damontae Kazee Calvin Ridley Jersey Boys , meaning their needs there are more long-term than immediate. The trenches are where the attention ought to lie, and King is the latest analyst to say that he thinks the Falcons need to get another “franchise” tackle in the draft, something that certainly seems to be in play for #14. We’ll see if King’s foreshadowing an expanded role for Takk and high round selections at cornerback and right tackle, given his obvious connections to the higher up on this team, or if this just winds up being a forgettable if interesting interview in an offseason defined by them.