Falcons QB, 32, in prime of his career

FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — Matt Ryan, at age 32 and set to enter the prime of his already sterling NFL career, has doggedly remained true to his self as he continues to work on his game.

It’s his stable, understated and dynamic leadership that has vaulted the Atlanta Falcons from a solid playoff team early in his career to defending NFC champion and Super Bowl contender.

Ryan has put the historic Super Bowl LI collapse in his rearview mirror and spent his efforts on getting on the same page with new offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian and quarterback coach Bush Hamdan.

Ryan’s offseason plan hasn’t changed much over time, but he continues to find ways to stay motivated.

“I think we all are searching for ways to get better,” Ryan said. “If you are not trying to find things to improve on and to work at, I think boredom could set in.

“But when you are constantly trying to find ways to improve, as a competitor you’re going after that so hard that boredom doesn’t really set in.”

Ryan, who became the first player in franchise history to win the league’s most valuable player award last season, remains passionate about the game.

“This is what I love to do,” Ryan said. “It’s the only thing, honestly, that I ever wanted to do. I’m lucky and fortunate to be able to do it. I enjoy it every day. Ten years in, it’s still exciting to be at minicamp. It’s fun to be out there and playing this game.”

With the team set to break for the rest of the offseason, Ryan felt that the Super

Bowl LI loss was amply addressed and he expects when they reconvene for training camp in late July they’ll be cleansed of their 28-3 demons and ready to move forward.

He’s not expecting any Super Bowl hangover.

“We’re already back at it,” Ryan said. “When we started as a team in April, we got together before that as players down in Miami, it was time to move on. It was time to look forward.

“Anytime that we kind of dwell on that is wasted time. We have to focus trying to become the best football team that this group can be.”

Ryan clearly feels the team was in a good place.

“I sense that from all of the guys,” Ryan said. “I think that everybody has that mindset.”

The Falcons will enter the season as favorites to win the NFC South. They’ll try to become the first team since the 1993 Buffalo Bills to return to the Super Bowl after losing the game.

“But this year’s group is different and this team is different,” Ryan said. “We have to find a way to become the best football team that we can. Find ways to get better and improve. That’s what we are trying to do.

“Our focus is what is front of us. We learned a lot from last year. We’ll take those learning lessons with us, but we have to find a way to make this group the best group that we can be.”

Hamdan has been impressed with Ryan.

“I was blown away with how intentional, really, all of these guys are,” Hamdan said. “They don’t waste time. If they are going to do something, they are going to do it the right way.

“As coaches we have a playbook and a lot of our answers come from the playbook. There are a lot of times that I think both Matts — Ryan and backup QB Matt Schaub — give the answers from a lot of experience.

“It’s been a unique experience for me piecing this offense together and learning this offense, but also getting the offense from their point of view as well.”

Hamdan sees the fire that Ryan has used to propel his career. In five of his nine seasons, Ryan has guided the Falcons to the playoffs.

“I think that the guy plays with a chip on his shoulder,” Hamdan said. “He works with a chip on his shoulder. That’s what has been really unique for me to see him day-to-day.”

Review-journal videographer Heidi Fang had all of the details from the unveiling of the NHL jerseys by adidas, including the Golden Knights’ new uniform, at The Wynn.

Check it out at Reviewjournal.com/ Goldenknights.

“I’m proud of him. He’s going to get himself right to be able to essentially lead a healthy lifestyle.”