The Falcons are leaning towards naming Matt Ryan, the No. 3 overall pick, their opening day starter, according to SI.com's Don Banks.


This may not be great news for Roddy White owners according to some reports out of Falcons camp.

If this is true Roddy drops off my radar. I was LOVING the idea of Chris Redman playing QB and picking up Roddy in the 6th or 7th round. Crap!

wow this is really surprising to me. didnt expect it so quickly. i think this is going to hurt him in the long run.

I have seen reports elsewhere saying the opposit. So I think a lets wait and see may be in mind here.

You still like him over Chambers

CRAP. I forgot about that. This is no good. If Matt Ryan wins the starting job I could be screwed there. I made that bet under the assumption that Chris Redman (who love Roddy) would be playing QB.

Opening Day Starter Pros and Cons
Pros
He can learn on the job which will ease the learning curve.
They can tell him that he isn't expected to win, just to learn to win.
He can develope gameday chemistry with his fellow players sooner
He can develope into a leader on the field faster
A top 10 pick in next years draft

Cons
Early poor performances could hurt his long term confidence
He could get hurt from a lack of field awareness
Vet players will consider this season a wash from day one and will could alienate them from Ryan and the franchise.
A lost season resulting in lost revenue for the team.

Let's trip through history and find a starting rookie QB on a bad team that had success.

Perhaps the Falcons are not a bad team. Maybe Ry-Ry can be as successful as Big Ben.

Visions of Jim Plunkett are running through my head.

In 1998, Manning led the Colts to a 3-13 season as a first year starter. In 1999, he led them to a 13-3 record. Big Ben was drafted in 2004 and went 14-1. In 2005, he led the Steelers to a Super Bowl victory. Success may not follow in the first season, but success can be had in the second year.

Ry-Ry is of the same caliber as Manning?
Big Ben was on a pretty good team, yes?

The point is most teams capable of drafting a "franchise" QB are pretty lousy. Having that QB start straight away is not usually successful.

Troy Aikman led the Cowboys to a 1-15 record.

Are the Falcons really on the cusp of greatness?

Who knows. A teams true potential cannot be brought out until they have a good QB. If you have a great RB and 2 Great WR's but have Rex Grossman at QB, then you're not going to win crap...Just ask Arizona what it's like to have all the tools but no one the run the offense.

Who knew the Cowboys were on the cusp of greatness. Yeah, Ben was on a good team, but without Ben, the team wouldn't have been nearly as successful.

For all we know, Ryan could be the next Manning, or he could be Ryan Leaf. Only time will tell. This is the reason I do not go out and get rookie QB's for fantasy teams.

Indeed.

Perhaps we are talking in circles.

I am questioning the move of starting a rookie QB too soon. Very few times has this worked.

Is this a decision based on talent or just throwing the dice and trying to force success?

I think the Falcons might be jumping the gun on this. Of course their fans want to see their new QB play but they have a guy in Chris Redman who could do ok this year. No he won't lead them to the playoffs, but neither will Ryan. I say let the kid sit and learn for a year and give Chris a shot.

Riding this one out to the end I see

I don't think there is a proven pattern here. Mcnair sat for a couple of seasons before he took over. Peyton was thrusted into the starting spot. Both ways have had successes and failures. I think it just comes down to how mature the QB is and whether he is emotinally ready to be the leader of an NFL Franchise.

This is your opinion based on Fantasy Football but the Falcons dont care about Fantasy Football. Matt Ryan will be the starting QB because there is no hope in Redman besides throwing a few TD'S to Roddy White.

I think it's not only a fantasy football perspective but a perspective of not ruining a young talented QB by destroying his confidence. If you need some examples of what a horrible rookie season will do to a talented young player, look no further then David Carr and Ryan Leaf. All the tools but didn't have the head to go with it. These were guys who would have benefited sitting behind an experienced veteran QB. Ryan seems to have his head on straight. I honestly don't think he needs to sit.

Sorry that is a rediculous statement.

Fact: The offensive line in Atlanta is just that...offensive
Fact: The plan in Atlanta is a ball control don't make mistake Offense. That fits Redman, not a rookie who has seen no pro experience.
Fact: Redman while not a "star" did damn well for the team in that type of role last year.

Everyone thinks a team is FORCED to start a 1st round Qb because of the money. That is faulty thinking. You have to think long term with a young Qb. Would it not be better to let him sit for a year, learn the system well so he isn't thinking but instead reacting? Also, what good does it do a young Qb to be put behind that line? The ONLY thing he will learn this year is pain.

The expectations in Atlanta are not high. Ownership has a bye due to its main star's stupidity. They can take that opportunity to bring Ryan along slowly and let him really learn. Heck...I can see a McNabb situation here where he sits for 4-6 weeks then comes in part time, then takes over.

But he won't be starting from day one....at least I hope not because he will end up being Alex Smith II.

Lets watch another preseason game and see what happens. I have read the same reports that Phicinfan has about Redman starting the season. Those reports came from coaching and management throughout camp ( not that They never lie). After one nice showing we get a report from one reporter for SI speculating that Ryan will be the starter. I will wait for a little more data here, myself.

I'm with Coach. Although I think starting Ryan would be a poor choice, I'll wait and see.