Ludacris
FinHeaven VIP
I had this on VIP previously and thought i'll share it further...
BC at Virginia Tech-10/25/07
BC W14-10 Ryan 25 of 52 285yds 48.1CMP% 2TD/2INT
Conditions were poor. Raining heavily. The field was drenched.
Firstly, there is a reason he is called Matty Ice. This guy is cool under pressure. Nothing fazes this guy. It’s like he has a permanent poker face. No matter the situation he has a cool demeanour about him.
VT has an aggressive pass rush. They blitz on almost every down because they know they can’t give Ryan too much time and BCs OL is quite bad except for Cherilus. BC has a freshman at RT who severely struggled. BC’s WRs, RBs and TEs are good receivers but they are not great. They would on occasion drop the easy balls.
Ryan makes good pre-snap reads. He knows where the blitz is coming from and gets rid of the ball quick. He threw short passes because of the heavy rain. He took a while to get going but he throws with accuracy on the short slants, comebacks and out to the flats. He throws only where the receiver can catch the ball and away from the defender. If the receiver doesn’t catch the ball it will be incomplete. He spreads the ball around to WRs, TEs, and RBs. What Ryan does so well and which he does very often, is that when there is pressure, he can avoid he rush by scrambling around and rolling outside the pocket. When outside the pocket he’ll try to find an open receiver. If there isn’t one, he’ll throw it away out of bounds. Most often than not he’ll throw it away rather than risk a pick or a sack. This negatively impacts his completion stats but IMO is smart QB play. With the frequency of penetration coming from VT’s pass rush it was amazing he only got sacked 3 times.
The Interceptions.
1st – early in the third quarter his WR slipped on the wet grass and fell trying to turn for a comeback route along the sideline. Had he not slipped he would have been in front of the CB for the catch. Instead, he wasn’t there on the timing route and the CB was in position.
2nd – stupid pass by Ryan. It was about 6mins left in the game and BC is down 0-10. Ryan doesn’t read the LB dropping back in coverage and threw straight to him intended for a WR on a slant.
BC gets the ball back with 4:11 left. Ryan was able to complete a couple of deep outs and calmly threw a couple of balls away. He ended the drive with a nice 16 yard TD to a WR on a fly.
BC gets the ball back with an onside kick and 2:07 left. Ryan would again often scramble around the pocket and made some nice throws or threw it away. He ended up winning the game by rolling left and throwing deep across the field to his RB for a 24 yd TD. Very impressive.
BC vs Virginia Tech at Jacksonville ACC Championship
BC L30-16 Ryan 33 of 52 305yds 63.5CMP% 0TD/2INT
Conditions this time were perfect.
Pass protection was much better 5 weeks after the previous meeting. Ryan had more time to throw. VT however blitzed almost as much as the last game.
In the first half Ryan puts together a few good drives. He methodically sends BC up the field with the short passing game. The first drive ends with a blocked FG. The second drive ends in field goal range (receivers dropping balls didn’t help) but they go for it on 4th down because BCs head coach has zero faith in his kicker. Ryan overthrows his WR in 4th down. BCs third drive ends with a successful short FG. On one play, Ryan rolled left to avoid the pass rush and gunned it 30 yards off his back foot to a WR threading it between 2 DBs. That was impressive. He has an accurate strong arm. On the 4th drive, just like his first 3, he patiently gets up the field with a few short passes. Ryan ends the drive running up through the pocket for a 15 yard TD run. He does, on occasion use is feet to get up field if he can’t find anyone open. VT blocks the extra point.
The score is 16-16 at half time.
In the 3rd quarter, Ryan continues with the short passes. The first drive ends in FG range but on 4th down Ryan over threw his TE. The second drive was a 3 and out as Ryan got sacked, the only sack of the game.
The Interceptions
1st - In the 4th quarter BC is down 16-23. Ryan takes BC to VTs 9 yard line with 2:32 left in the game. BC goes for it on 4th down. This is the 3rd time BC goes for it on 4th down while in FG range. If BC had a good kicker they would be up 33-21 by now. This time Ryan feels the pass rush again and scrambles around the pocket. It’s 4th down so he has to throw it or it’s turnover on downs anyway. Everyone’s covered so he forces it near the goal line and a LB picks it off.
2nd - Ryan gets the ball back with 34 secs left. He throws a hail mary which gets tipped at the LOS and a LB picks it off for a TD.
BC vs MichiganState at Orlando (Bowl Game).
BC W24-21 Ryan 22 of 47 249yds 46.8CMP% 3TD/1INT
MS also blitzes often but their DBs play closer to the LOS than VT.
Again, Ryan is accurate and puts zip on his short passes. Early on he is not helped by dropped passes and pass protection breaking down. His first TD was a goal line throw to his TE. He then opens up. His second TD was a strong throw which went 40yards down the middle to his WR in stride who beat the CB. Next, he rolls left and on the run throws 45yards across the field and his WR drops it cold. His deep balls are very accurate.
In the second half BC leads 14-10. He goes deep again. Ryan overthrew his WRs twice for 50 yards but he showed touch on them and they were never short or in danger of being picked off. In the 4th quarter he connects on a 55 yard throw to his WR in stride along the side line for another TD.
The Interception.
Late in the first half he threw a stupid pass as he mis-reads a LB dropping back in
coverage intended for his TE across the middle.
Conclusion: Ryan should not be disregarded as the top pick. He comes from a pro style offence, has a good enough arm, accurate, makes quick decisions, can buy time in the pocket and he can roll out and throw on the run. He can make all the throws at the next level. He has the mental ability to handle the pressure on and off the field. I know this is only 3 games but if this is a typical sample I am not concerned about his completion rate as he does not shy away from the smart throw away. Nor am I concerned about the interceptions. 3 of the 5 were from bad situations and the other 2….well no one’s perfect. IMO he has all the tools to be a franchise QB.
BC at Virginia Tech-10/25/07
BC W14-10 Ryan 25 of 52 285yds 48.1CMP% 2TD/2INT
Conditions were poor. Raining heavily. The field was drenched.
Firstly, there is a reason he is called Matty Ice. This guy is cool under pressure. Nothing fazes this guy. It’s like he has a permanent poker face. No matter the situation he has a cool demeanour about him.
VT has an aggressive pass rush. They blitz on almost every down because they know they can’t give Ryan too much time and BCs OL is quite bad except for Cherilus. BC has a freshman at RT who severely struggled. BC’s WRs, RBs and TEs are good receivers but they are not great. They would on occasion drop the easy balls.
Ryan makes good pre-snap reads. He knows where the blitz is coming from and gets rid of the ball quick. He threw short passes because of the heavy rain. He took a while to get going but he throws with accuracy on the short slants, comebacks and out to the flats. He throws only where the receiver can catch the ball and away from the defender. If the receiver doesn’t catch the ball it will be incomplete. He spreads the ball around to WRs, TEs, and RBs. What Ryan does so well and which he does very often, is that when there is pressure, he can avoid he rush by scrambling around and rolling outside the pocket. When outside the pocket he’ll try to find an open receiver. If there isn’t one, he’ll throw it away out of bounds. Most often than not he’ll throw it away rather than risk a pick or a sack. This negatively impacts his completion stats but IMO is smart QB play. With the frequency of penetration coming from VT’s pass rush it was amazing he only got sacked 3 times.
The Interceptions.
1st – early in the third quarter his WR slipped on the wet grass and fell trying to turn for a comeback route along the sideline. Had he not slipped he would have been in front of the CB for the catch. Instead, he wasn’t there on the timing route and the CB was in position.
2nd – stupid pass by Ryan. It was about 6mins left in the game and BC is down 0-10. Ryan doesn’t read the LB dropping back in coverage and threw straight to him intended for a WR on a slant.
BC gets the ball back with 4:11 left. Ryan was able to complete a couple of deep outs and calmly threw a couple of balls away. He ended the drive with a nice 16 yard TD to a WR on a fly.
BC gets the ball back with an onside kick and 2:07 left. Ryan would again often scramble around the pocket and made some nice throws or threw it away. He ended up winning the game by rolling left and throwing deep across the field to his RB for a 24 yd TD. Very impressive.
BC vs Virginia Tech at Jacksonville ACC Championship
BC L30-16 Ryan 33 of 52 305yds 63.5CMP% 0TD/2INT
Conditions this time were perfect.
Pass protection was much better 5 weeks after the previous meeting. Ryan had more time to throw. VT however blitzed almost as much as the last game.
In the first half Ryan puts together a few good drives. He methodically sends BC up the field with the short passing game. The first drive ends with a blocked FG. The second drive ends in field goal range (receivers dropping balls didn’t help) but they go for it on 4th down because BCs head coach has zero faith in his kicker. Ryan overthrows his WR in 4th down. BCs third drive ends with a successful short FG. On one play, Ryan rolled left to avoid the pass rush and gunned it 30 yards off his back foot to a WR threading it between 2 DBs. That was impressive. He has an accurate strong arm. On the 4th drive, just like his first 3, he patiently gets up the field with a few short passes. Ryan ends the drive running up through the pocket for a 15 yard TD run. He does, on occasion use is feet to get up field if he can’t find anyone open. VT blocks the extra point.
The score is 16-16 at half time.
In the 3rd quarter, Ryan continues with the short passes. The first drive ends in FG range but on 4th down Ryan over threw his TE. The second drive was a 3 and out as Ryan got sacked, the only sack of the game.
The Interceptions
1st - In the 4th quarter BC is down 16-23. Ryan takes BC to VTs 9 yard line with 2:32 left in the game. BC goes for it on 4th down. This is the 3rd time BC goes for it on 4th down while in FG range. If BC had a good kicker they would be up 33-21 by now. This time Ryan feels the pass rush again and scrambles around the pocket. It’s 4th down so he has to throw it or it’s turnover on downs anyway. Everyone’s covered so he forces it near the goal line and a LB picks it off.
2nd - Ryan gets the ball back with 34 secs left. He throws a hail mary which gets tipped at the LOS and a LB picks it off for a TD.
BC vs MichiganState at Orlando (Bowl Game).
BC W24-21 Ryan 22 of 47 249yds 46.8CMP% 3TD/1INT
MS also blitzes often but their DBs play closer to the LOS than VT.
Again, Ryan is accurate and puts zip on his short passes. Early on he is not helped by dropped passes and pass protection breaking down. His first TD was a goal line throw to his TE. He then opens up. His second TD was a strong throw which went 40yards down the middle to his WR in stride who beat the CB. Next, he rolls left and on the run throws 45yards across the field and his WR drops it cold. His deep balls are very accurate.
In the second half BC leads 14-10. He goes deep again. Ryan overthrew his WRs twice for 50 yards but he showed touch on them and they were never short or in danger of being picked off. In the 4th quarter he connects on a 55 yard throw to his WR in stride along the side line for another TD.
The Interception.
Late in the first half he threw a stupid pass as he mis-reads a LB dropping back in
coverage intended for his TE across the middle.
Conclusion: Ryan should not be disregarded as the top pick. He comes from a pro style offence, has a good enough arm, accurate, makes quick decisions, can buy time in the pocket and he can roll out and throw on the run. He can make all the throws at the next level. He has the mental ability to handle the pressure on and off the field. I know this is only 3 games but if this is a typical sample I am not concerned about his completion rate as he does not shy away from the smart throw away. Nor am I concerned about the interceptions. 3 of the 5 were from bad situations and the other 2….well no one’s perfect. IMO he has all the tools to be a franchise QB.
