Falcons’ Ryan built to last
Quarterback beefs up to ward off postseason disappointment
Newly chiseled Matt Ryan embodies his team’s 2012 mantra to finish stronger and step up in postseason weight class after adding 7 pounds of body armor to his 6-4, 220 frame.
The question is, will the Atlanta Falcons quarterback’s physical transformation produce a January-February breakthrough for a player driven to cast aside a haunting 0-3 playoff record?
Hope grows that Ryan’s added muscle, gleaned through intense weight training, along with a revamped offensive line will translate into a run at the Lombardi Trophy.
“My frame could have used the extra 7 pounds for a couple of years,” Ryan says with a laugh. “I’ve gotten stronger and hopefully more durable.”
Ryan owns a sterling 43-19 record in regular-season games. But the playoff losses in which he threw a total of three touchdown passes and four interceptions while averaging less than 200 yards drew speculation he was running on empty.
“The main focus was trying to be in the best possible shape to really play at a high level in November, December and January,” Ryan said.
“It’s a league where one team and one quarterback are happy at season’s end. We haven’t been that one team yet. But we’re primed and ready to be a great football team.”
The man nicknamed “Matty Ice” more resembled “Matty Icebag” as he was hit a combined 110 times last season in suffering 26 sacks and 84 quarterback hits behind a leaky line.
“Matt’s approach to this offseason has been admirable,” general manager Thomas Dimitroff said. “He has really set out to strengthen himself physically and understands the importance of being strong and having endurance down the stretch.
“He’s put more time in here this offseason than anyone.
“There’s no doubt in my mind that Matt is an upper-echelon quarterback.”
When Ryan was drafted third overall in 2008 out of Boston College, comparisons were made to a young Tom Brady.
But Ryan’s postseason struggles are more reminiscent of a young Peyton Manning, who ended his 0-for-3 postseason skid when he led the Indianapolis Colts to a 2003 season wildcard win vs. the Denver Broncos.
“I don’t know if they’ve taken a before and after picture, but you can definitely see the noticeable difference with Matt,” coach Mike Smith said. “If you’re stronger at the beginning of the season, you’re going to be stronger at the end.
“It’s very important for us, because we feel like we’ve got to be more consistent and play better at the end of the season.”
It starts up front. To help Ryan orchestrate a deeper passing game, free agent guard Vince Manuwai, second-round centerguard Peter Konz and thirdround tackle Lamar Holmes were added.
“We have to take the things we’ve learned from our critical analysis of the last three times that we’ve been in the postseason,” Smith said, referencing the most recent disappointment — a 24-2 drubbing administered by the eventual Super Bowl champion New York Giants.