Info on Matt Ryan's Pro-Day Workout

by Matty I on Mar 18, 2008 5:18 PM EDT in News Comment 42 comments

Here's what I've been able to find about Matt Ryan's pro-day workout up in Chestnut Hill, MA.

First of all, the Dolphins had two representatives at the workout. They are Chris Grier, the team's director of college scouting, and David Lee, their QB coach.

According to a Boston College official, Ryan threw 52 passes, completing 48 of them. The associated press reports, though, that 3 of those incompletions were drops. The other was an overthrow.

It'll be impossible to get any quotes out of Dolphin officials, for obvious reasons. But Chiefs head coach Herm Edwards, who was present at the workout, had the following to say about Matt's performance:

"I thought he pressed a couple times, trying to throw the ball a little too hard. That's generally what happens with quarterbacks, when you get the media there. It used to be 10-15 years ago, the workouts, five people were there. Now, depending who you are, what school you're at, and where people slate you being drafted, it becomes this. Which is kind of good, because it puts a lot of pressure on the kids, and the game everyone plays, there is going to be pressure on them. You look at that, and also understand that they're going to press some. He pressed some throws, but the thing this guy has is his ability to win. That's the thing you like about quarterbacks -- some guys win, some guys don't. You can look at all the stats, arm strength, you can look at all the different things, but at the end, can he win games? This guy has done that."

Also of note for Dolphin fans, the Sun-Sentinel reports that BC offensive tackle Gosder Cherilus also performed well at the workout. Cherilus is a guy who could very well be on Miami's radar withthe #32 pick if they do not select Jake Long with their 1st pick.

Update [2008-3-18 21:43:55 by Matty I]: The Palm Beach Post offers up this quote by Matt Ryan following his pro-day workout:

"I made every throw you need to make in the NFL. I thought it went well. It was the first opportunity I’ve had to throw in front of the scouts live."

Meanwhile, Armando Salguero had the following to say about Matt Ryan's workout:

Kansas City coach Herm Edwards, whose club has the fifth pick in the draft said Ryan, "pressed a couple of times, trying to throw the ball a little too hard. That's generally what happens with quarterbacks, when you get the media there. Again, he pressed some throws, but the thing this guy has is his ability to win."

Vikings personnel man Rick Spielman ('memba him?) also agreed Ryan was pressing.

Question: So some quarterbacks, including Ryan, throw too hard when the media is watching? I have news for the kid and that is the media watches practices, scrimmages and games. So he better get over it.

Bottom line is I would not draw too many conclusions from what happened Tuesday because Ryan, along with the Longs and possibly others will be scrutinized some more by the Dolphins. And as to what the Dolphins will do, nobody knows.

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Thanks for posting this...

I created a diary about it but could only get that he completed 48/52 and lots of chiefs brass were in attendance.

Maybe you could add content to it as more comes out or others speak on it?

by Natalya on Mar 18, 2008 5:27 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

That's the plan....

....though I'm having trouble finding info on his workout today.

by Matty I on Mar 18, 2008 6:24 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Hmm... so I guess this means the Dolphins

are going to draft Matt Ryan #1.

Neo is sure going to be happy.

;')

by LeftCoastFinFan on Mar 18, 2008 5:59 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Uncertainty

After reading this article, it seems we MUST get Ryan because he can indeed win. Thats the kind of swagger we need in a QB, one that is used to the winning mentality and brings confidence to the position. I was not sooo excited about Ryan SPECIALLY after they compared him to Rex Grossman...the "choke-master" of the NFL. Ryan may turn out the same way...Rex was also incredible in college...no hes a mediocre QB thats inconsistent.
This is the main reason why i hav mixed feelings about Ryan...If we dont end-up trading our first pick...Chris Long is the man for Miami!!

finz-freak

by finz55 on Mar 18, 2008 6:22 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

"QB" coach David Lee was at Pro Day!!!!

Yes!!!!! This means that MIA was there looking at "Matt Ryan"! Just in case Matty tries to twist the truth and make it look as if MIA was only there to see Cherilus or something. :)

by mred on Mar 18, 2008 7:30 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

lol

Again, I'll just say that the Dolphins will NOT pick Matt Ryan.

by Matty I on Mar 18, 2008 9:42 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Will You Come Back Here When They Draft Ryan?!!!

Sorry, couldn't resist. :)

Do I want Ryan? YES!

Do I think the Dolphins are going to draft Ryan? Probably not....but I am hoping!

by dab415217 on Mar 19, 2008 10:31 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Oh yea

I'll be here eating boatloads of crow if the Dolphins ever did draft Ryan.

But it's not going to happen...

by Matty I on Mar 19, 2008 12:32 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

but yer a little worried now, arentcha?

no worries Matty, when it comes time to eat crow, Neo will pass you the salt.

;)

by LeftCoastFinFan on Mar 19, 2008 5:36 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

He Retreating...

...his "not" was not in all caps this time. ;)

by dab415217 on Mar 19, 2008 6:51 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

a sure sign that his committment is faltering!

by LeftCoastFinFan on Mar 19, 2008 6:55 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Dude,

Put the lotion bottle down & relax!

Haven't you been around (or paid attention) long enough not to put much into ANYTHING you see or hear between Jan & April?

Remember last year, when we hired the guy who was prepping Brady Quinn for the NFL? Didn't mean shit, did it?

This time period is a poker game & NOBODY knows what the 'Phins are gonna do.

Try not to read too much into anything & just relax, wait and see & support your team no matter who they pick.

Peace :)

by davehowardcustom on Mar 18, 2008 7:46 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

We Didn't need Brady Quinn..

...because we had Cleo Lemon. He clearly gave us the best chance to win.

Sorry, I couldn't resist.

by dab415217 on Mar 18, 2008 7:54 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

DAB must me code...

for CAM!! Cam, is that you??!! ha. (:

Seriously though, Todd McShay of ESPN/ Scouts Inc.- whose mock drafts (including this one) from the beginning have had Matt Ryan going to the Fins at #1- was at Ryan's workout today, and reported today on Sportscenter that he believes that Ryan most likely goes to Atlanta at #3, KC at #5 or Baltimore at #8... all of sudden no mention of the Dolphins. Maybe he got a sense from folks in attendance there today? Who can say...

The Jayfiss Report ...one fan's rants.

by NumberSeven on Mar 18, 2008 8:33 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

sorry, that link may be

behind a paywall.. but there is the video of McShay's report on the NFL main page on ESPN.com

The Jayfiss Report ...one fan's rants.

by NumberSeven on Mar 18, 2008 8:36 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

NFL network

was saying baltimore was all over him...

maybe the fins could swing a deal with them...

at 8 they could still get a top player (maybe gholston or c long) and pick up a pick or two.

by W NY Fins Fan on Mar 19, 2008 12:13 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Interesting idea

If the Dolphins did move down to pick 8, cornerbacks would also be in play, too. Leodis McKelvin and Rodgers-Cromartie would certainly be possible picks at #8.

by Matty I on Mar 19, 2008 12:22 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

true

I just don't see parcels, taking a cb? i'm pretty sure his draft history is linemen and backers...
but you are correct if one of the LB's doesn't drop you do hit the top of those 2nd tier guys that have some apppeal....

the flip side of all of this is, newsome's pretty schrewd himself and might be willing to gamble that ryan falls into his lap at 8 and if he doesn't its very possible that mcfadden will and he can trade mcfadden down for a late first or two and pick up brohm or flacco at say 22 or 28?

by W NY Fins Fan on Mar 19, 2008 12:32 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

lol

by YatilGinnJr on Mar 18, 2008 8:33 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Good I hope the

Chiefs loved him. Maybe they will trade up to get him. Or Create enough buzz to make atlanta move up to make sure they get him. I would love to move down and get Chris Long that would make my Draft.

by jvw on Mar 18, 2008 9:25 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I know that I am on an island here.....

But since we are all talking strictly conjecture, I still think we should draft Darren McFadden. Here is the deal. Almost everyone has agreed that neither Ryan, the Longs or Gholston are true #1 picks. Most of us feel that simply by default or because of circumstance we should draft the safest player - Long 1 or Long 2, take your pick. This was my thought at one time also but now I say throw caution to the wind and pick Darren McFadden - the best talent coming out this year.

Who's with me???!!! :)

by misterx on Mar 18, 2008 10:47 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

nah

I think a lot(maybe some or at least a few) of people would say dorsey is the best talent coming out of this draft, it's just there are so many questions with him (injuries/position to money scale) I really think the dolphins or whomever gets him will do really well if he works out, it's just the downside is so low that he's getting dumped out of the top pick.

by W NY Fins Fan on Mar 19, 2008 12:11 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

McFadden

I think the McFadden pick has gone really quiet, and consequently makes no sense unless Ricky is traded. Both are returning back from injury and seem to be doing well. Just because he is the best talent does not mean we should take him.

Sorry bud, you will be alone with your thinking. McFadden will not be any good for us next year. It looks like it is between the Longs and Ryan with the Longs winning out. McFadden will end up in Oakland with the Raiders. That fits with his personality.

by resman on Mar 19, 2008 6:33 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

No one

You're on your own with this :)

by icerob on Mar 19, 2008 11:40 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Nope, Nope....

this definitely means the Fins are going to draft Ryan. It's a done deal.

;)

by LeftCoastFinFan on Mar 18, 2008 11:28 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

NFL network

Mike Maylock gave his review of ryan
on the NFL network and said ryan did ok...

the big negative is several of his passes "fluttered" or weren't tight spirals as one would expect...

that might not be verbatum but it was the gist of it... IIRC he also mentioned the arm was good but not what you would expect of a manning under those conditions....

in the studio follow up - they did mention that baltimore was there in force..

so I wouldnt say that maylocks review was he's the best player in the draft class.

by W NY Fins Fan on Mar 19, 2008 12:06 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

one other point made

Parcels hates turnovers (i have to agree) and he will not like a senior QB who threw 19 Ints in a season.

have to agree 100% with this... I always felt that any ryan talk was purely parcels trying to drum up trade talk and when you think about what parcels wants in a QB, INTs do not go over. I just don't see miami ever taking ryan.

by W NY Fins Fan on Mar 19, 2008 12:20 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

doh

forgot to add....

Gosder Cherilus was suppose to have had a very good day and gave himself a good shot to be drafted at the end of the first round...

not good news if the phins were expecting to get him at #32.

by W NY Fins Fan on Mar 19, 2008 12:49 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Then Parcells Wouldn' Have Taken Marino...

...because he threw more Ints in a lot less passes his last year than Ryan did.

Again, the thing you need to remember is that Ryan threw 654 passes last year.

Just for perspective, Chad Henne would have thrown 21 Ints and Brian Brohm 17 if they had thrown as many passes as Ryan. Its how many passes he threw that skews his Ints so high.

Go to youtube.com or just search the web. You can easily see at least 200 of Ryan's throws this year. What you'll see is a highly accurate passer.

by dab415217 on Mar 19, 2008 8:15 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

and yet

30 teams passed on Marino, so Parcells wouldn't have been the only one. And poor drafting was the reason we couldn't get Marino a ring, so you could say we were just lucky with him.

In the article I link to above, they compare Ryan to Eli Manning. Most unflattering, if you ask me. I bet that Ryan is this year's Brady Quinn as he slips and slips, before he gets picked by a team that puts him on the bench for the rest of his natural life.

by icerob on Mar 19, 2008 12:25 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

or that

for all his ability marino threw a lot of INTs and some untimely ones too!!! where as the giants qb's kept turnovers to a min and they won superbowls....

by W NY Fins Fan on Mar 19, 2008 9:11 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

No One Threw More Int's Than Brett Favre...

...but he still won a Super Bowl. Why do you think that is?

by dab415217 on Mar 20, 2008 8:33 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

well for all his

numbers he went to two super bowls.. .the year he won his only one ... he kept his picks down....

on top of this its not about what we think, its about what parcels thinks and history tells us he HATES QB's who turn the ball over... so ryan is likely out.

by W NY Fins Fan on Mar 20, 2008 9:55 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Kansas City

I think K.C. knows that if Ryan is on the board when they pick, they could possibly trade down. They're playing the poker game as well. I wouldn't be surprised if they took him.

Matt

by Matt27 on Mar 19, 2008 12:38 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Here's our next QB if Beck fails

We'll have to wait a few years, though. :)

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/players/03/19/pryor.ohiost.ap/index.html

by New York Fins Fan on Mar 19, 2008 3:41 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I still think...

When it all washes out, that Troy Smith will take over for McNair in Baltimore. He's a winner with just a great personality, drive & leadership skills. He's the ONLY OSU quarterback to beat Michigan 3 times, and had one bad game that just KILLED his NFL draft day. Looked pretty danged good last year, when he got in a few games.

by davehowardcustom on Mar 19, 2008 7:36 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

One More Piece of Info Regarding Ryan's.

This is from Don Banks SI.com column:

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/writers/don_banks/03/18/ryan.proday/1.html

Later in our conversation, that same college scouting director had one more kudo to toss Ryan's way, and it's a sentiment that has been heard elsewhere within the league:

"Those Boston College receivers that he was throwing to, there's not a lot of talent there,'' he said. "It tells me that Matt Ryan must be a pretty impressive leader, a pretty impressive kid to have won 11 games this year with some mediocre talent around him. And that's taking into account those receivers and those linemen. They weren't much. To win 11 games in the ACC, which is a pretty good league, he must be a pretty good kid and a pretty good quarterback.''

by dab415217 on Mar 20, 2008 12:21 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I just don't get it...

Why do most people rate Matt Ryan as the top QB by far, and even as a top 5 pick? I really cannot distinguish him from Brian Brohm. I know Brohm's durability has been questioned given his history of injuries, and I also read that Ryan may have better leadership skills, but other than that what makes Ryan better than Brohm and worthy of such a high pick?

by kcorona4 on Mar 20, 2008 1:18 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs