Now with an even more outdated cultural reference in the title! Remember metrosexuals? Far out!WHAT NFL SCOUTS ARE SAYING
NFL.com's Pat Kirwan:
Ryan is the premiere quarterback of the class of 2008. He is a first round prospect with all the intangibles and is described accurately as a "winner." When compared to other draft classes, Ryan doesn't have the status of a Peyton or Eli Manning, Philip Rivers or Ben Roethlisberger to some clubs, but he is a guy you can build a club around. It will be hard for Atlanta, Kansas City and Baltimore to all pass him in the top 10 spots.PROBABLY GETTING DRAFTED...
At the top of the first round.
GUY WHO WATCHED HIM FOR FOUR YEARS IS SAYING
Ah, Matt Ryan. White. Pretty tall. Strapping, even. Possessor of the most annoying nickname ("Matty Ice") this side of Chris Berman. Potential top pick in the draft according to people who must have never watched college football ever.
There's an uncanny consensus amongst college football fans on Ryan: Jesus, that kid is overrated. Rarely does an entire nation of college football fans agree on anything other than "Paul Maguire must be fired immediately," but ask any non-BC fan from sea to shining sea and you will get one response: don't draft that guy. Why after the jump.
With apologies Bill Maloney, the Fanhouse's BC rep, this is why:
- Yes, Boston College had the nation's fourth-ranked passing offense, but Ryan was 62nd in passer efficiency. He completed 59% of his passes -- okay, not great -- and flung 19 interceptions to go with his 31 touchdowns.
- Yes, "Matty Ice" led quite a comeback in BC's critical matchup against Virginia Tech, but BC was in that hole largely because he spent the first 55 minutes of the game throwing passes anywhere but the approximate vicinity of BC receivers. He ended up completing fewer than half of his 52 attempts, had two interceptions to go with his two touchdowns, and had a passer rating of under 100. In the rematch he again threw 52 passes; this time he managed to complete more than half but had two interceptions and no touchdowns in a 30-16 loss.
- All of Ryan's stats, dubious as they are, came in the weakest BCS conference, the ACC. BC's nonconference schedule was Army, UMass, Bowling Green, and Notre Dame. In the bowl game, a 10-3 team that had gone to the ACC championship game played 7-5 Michigan State, which had gone 3-5 in conference.
- "Matty Ice." I mean... come on.
Kirwan calls him a "winner," complete with quote marks, above, and that's often code for "team wins despite the fact he's not that good." See: Dorsey, Krenzel, etc. Anyone who takes Ryan in the top ten picks is asking for it.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
4-21-2008 @ 2:13PM
Will Brinson said...
See, I tend to think that "Matty Ice" is a pretty badass nickname. In fact, so badass that I very briefly wanted the Panthers to trade up and get him. Then I stopped imagining the possibility of wearing aviator sunglasses to Bank of America every Sunday and yelling "He's dangerous!" after Ryan threw a touchdown and realized how stupid it would be to overpay for a first round quarterback when we already have Jake Delhomme. And need help in like 40 other areas. Agreed on the overrated.
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4-21-2008 @ 4:06PM
slippy said...
Thank god someone else realized this. Everyone points to him 'winning' the VT game. No one apparently noticed how he lost the FSU game. You pointed out his 19 picks (exorbitant for a "premiere" college qb), and still no one has mentioned that (I think) 6 or 7 of those were returned for TDs. Worst top 5 pick...ever.
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4-22-2008 @ 1:14AM
Reed said...
Paul Maguire must be fired immediately.
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4-22-2008 @ 1:55AM
Jealousy... said...
Wow. Did you actually watch any of the games, or are you just reading stats? (It's obvious you didn't watch the first BC/VT game, but I guess you may have watched 1 or 2 of the other games...) You couldn't be more wrong if you tried. Really. I think you're actually just jealous because Ryan is better than any Michigan QB since that Brady guy who couldn't even win the starting job but now has a few Super Bowl rings and a few celebrity girlfriends.
Matt Ryan is going to be a franchise QB in the NFL. What he accomplished over the last three years, surrounded by absolute dreck for BC skill position players, is nothing short of astounding. If you surround him with NFL-quality talent (which, presumably, an NFL team other than Miami will be able to do), you're going to see radically different stats. With receivers who can actually get separation and -- oh my goodness -- who can catch the ball and hold on to it when it arrives, the sky's the limit.
Oh, it would have helped Ryan's senior year stats if he could have played in fewer monsoons. But of course you took that into account when critiquing him. What, you didn't? Not shocked. You would have had to actually watch the game.
The kid can play. Hate his nickname all you want, but you better hope he's drafted by a team you like. Barring injury, he'll be around for a while.
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7-19-2008 @ 1:53PM
Atl resida said...
Finally, someone that knows what he is talking about.
4-22-2008 @ 7:40AM
pat said...
wow bro you know zero about football, did you see the recieving core MATTY ICE had to work with, not exactly Mario Manningham, and his nickname is a reason not to draft him? seriously. Cut your hair freakshow.
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4-22-2008 @ 8:18AM
Doug said...
I wasn't supposed to say anything about this, but I want the world to know that Brian Cook and I are lovers. He is the gayest man ever!...and i love him! Just look at that gorgeous hair!.......the flowing lochs......and those glasses, how refined he looks! Jesus couldn't have done it better! I know he can't see for sh*t because I am ugly as a troll.......so that means he must have missed most of the past few years of college football, too. Well, at least he gives a good reach-around.......no, come to think of it......that was fair at best......too much tension, I'll chalk it up to just being nervous. Ya big dumb lug, I love ya!
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4-22-2008 @ 9:22AM
Scalz1 said...
Spot on, Brian. As you said, anyone who doesn't refer to Matt Ryan as "wicked pissa", should be able to see this guy is the next Jim Drunkenmiller. He's third round talent hyped into a top 10 pick.
I guess it never rains or snows in the NFL and every team has Randy moss on it.
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4-22-2008 @ 9:33AM
Jack said...
Matty Ice has been blowin' up Crouch's rotary dial landline for advice.
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4-22-2008 @ 11:57AM
formerlyanon said...
I think we would all agree that Reggie Bush was the worst 4 year starter in history as well. True story.
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4-22-2008 @ 12:17PM
cute said...
Okay, you BC fans seem to really take it personally when someone thinks Matt Ryan could POTENTIALLY be overrated or POTENTIALLY be a bust. Ease up some and grow some thicker skin. The kid was a good qb, but he also has turnover issues and had some questionable experiences in big games. You can't just accidentally throw 19 picks.
Here's something I know you'll hate-- compare him to Brady Quinn. Was the reason ND never won the big game because Quinn wasn't good enough, or because the team around Quinn couldn't get it done? I think Quinn and Ryan are the same animal, so it's up to you-- was Quinn a good QB in a bad situation, and could the same be said for Ryan? Or did ND and BC fail to get the big game because of their QB?
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4-22-2008 @ 1:08PM
av1661 said...
I think this will duly confirm "Matty Ice's" overratedness:
http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080422/SPORTS01/804220348/1048/sports
If the Lions want you, you must suck.
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4-22-2008 @ 2:31PM
Truth said...
Saw him play at Maryland (BC loss) and was very impressed. Poise, arm strength and smarts. Good traits to start with. Oh and one more thing...a classy young man to boot. Cut him some slack "expert". BTW..nice hair!
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4-22-2008 @ 10:35PM
c171z3n said...
We are all aware that Matt Ryan is barely above average statistically and he comes from a marginal football school in a down conference. The scouts are aware of those facts as well. As a matter of fact, telling us all that is known as stating the obvious.
It is your job to look beneath the surface. To explain why he is being projected first round. It is not your job to repeat to us the obvious. You waste our time and yours.
Thank you.
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4-24-2008 @ 10:18PM
Jealousy... said...
Hmmm, compare Matt Ryan to Brady Quinn. OK:
Brady Quinn was a mediocre, highly-overrated QB who had the benefit of NFL-quality talent around him. If he hadn't opted for the guaranteed money of baseball (smart man!), Jeff Samardizja (sp) would be playing on Sundays. The NFL did NOT make a mistake by passing on Quinn in the Top 10; the Browns made a mistake by drafting him when they did. At least they haven't compounded the error by putting Quinn on the field and letting him lose games for them.
Matt Ryan is an outstanding QB who led his team to victory despite virtually no NFL-quality talent around him.
If Brady Quinn had gone to Boston College, he would be undrafted. He'd probably catch on with an Arena team.
If Matt Ryan had gone to Notre Dame, he'd be the no-brainer #1 pick in the draft and would probably have at least one Heisman Trophy. That talent combined with the Notre Dame hype? Even I'd have to hate him.
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