Sophomore Slump Means Poor 2010 Odds For Matt Ryan And Falcons

NFL News - February 27th, 2010 - Written by John

So Matt Ryan isn't exactly Joe Montana, but he didn't exactly have the most reliable supporting cast in 2009. After reaching the playoffs in just his first season, Ryan was plagued by foot problems that kept him out for two and a half games, and Michael Turner was essentially lost by Week 10. Despite adding a pass catching option in Tony Gonzalez, Ryan's numbers dipped in his sophomore year, leaving the Atlanta Falcons a game short of reaching the postseason. He threw for 2,916 yards with 22 touchdowns, but was picked off 14 times and finished with a rating of 80.9.

But a healthy roster makes Atlanta an intriguing option for 2010, and for the moment, Bodog lists NFL Odds for the the Falcons as 30/1 underdogs for the 2011 Super Bowl.

Turner has proven to be an elite option in the backfield after gaining 1,699 yards and 17 touchdowns in 2008. Last season, he was on pace to match those numbers with three-straight 100-yard games through Week 10. But after gaining 111 yards against the Carolina Panthers in a quarter in a half, Turner got a flat tire and was relegated to the bench the rest of the game. Turns out it was an intrusive high ankle sprain that gave him problems the rest of the year. He sat out four of the final five games. In the only exception, he had only one carry for seven yards

In his place, head coach Mike Smith was forced to fall on Jason Snelling and Jerious Norwood, but the pair only combined for 865 yards on the year.

The attention this off-season will likely fall on a meager pass defense that allowed the fifth-most yards in the NFL, and surrendered 25 touchdowns. Only four other teams (Cleveland, Seattle, Tennessee and Detroit) gave up more yards per game than Atlanta.