Thomas Dimitroff is beginning to appear like the genius the Atlanta Falcons hired him to be. The decision to sign free agent running back Michael Turner was criticized as experts thought he was not an every down back and more of a product of being LT’s back-up. Many scoffed when he ignored the various trade offers for the number three draft spot in order to stand pat and take Matt Ryan over Glenn Dorsey. Again, Dimitroff faced scrutiny for trading up to select left tackle Sam Baker from USC. That is, until the Michael Turner gashed the Lions for 220 rushing yards and two touchdowns, Baker gave up zero sacks, the offensive line as a whole gave up only one and paved the way for Turner and Jerious Norwood with relative ease and Ryan finished 9/13 for 161 and one touchdown. His first career touchdown coming on his first pass.
However, before Atlanta fans start hyperventilating and crowning Matt Ryan the next Tom Brady or Peyton Manning there are a number of facts to consider.
1. Ryan Leaf performed well and won his first two games as a rookie.
2. Ryan only threw the ball 13 times.
3. Ryan had little pressure on him throughout the game because Michael Turner and Jerious Norword were destroying the Lions defense on the ground. Due to this, Ryan had good protection and time to throw the very little times he actually did. Second, Ryan did not have to make many advanced reads because his wide-outs were open the majority of the time due to the Lions defense consuming themselves with stopping the run.
4. One of the linebackers on the Lions is named Paris.
5. 62 of Ryan’s 161 yards came on one pass.
6. It’s week one…relax.
Just putting it out there before Atlanta fans start running around in a tizzy and “crowning their asses.”
