Here’s what Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan had to say to the media on Wednesday:
On the preparation for the Steelers:
“It’s been a good start for us. Obviously tough place to play to go on the road. They have a great fan base, it’s going to be loud. I thought we got off to a good start on our communication today and getting to work on our plan. We got a long way to go throughout the week, but it was a good start for us.”
On how they try to keep moving forward offensively despite the recent outcomes:
“We got to continue to keep working on the things that we’re doing well and then trying to find ways to improve in the areas that we can get better. Last week we had a couple opportunities with low red zone stuff where we didn’t come away with as many touchdowns as we needed so that’s got to be a point of emphasis for us in this game. The late game situations, we’re going to continue to work those to trying to be the best we can be. Then continue to keep putting the work in the way that we have throughout the offseason and throughout the first half of the season or the first quarter of the season.”
On what he sees from the Steelers defense:
“They’re some talented players at all levels of the defense. You mentioned Cam (Heyward) in the front-seven – disruptive player, very physical, they’ve got some good outside linebackers in their base schemes come defensive ends and they’re sub-defense. Talented rushers, physical guys, very athletic. So they’ve got some good players on the backend. They’ve been dealing with some injuries across the board on defense but they’ve got some tough schemes to go against as players.”
On whether he is surprised to see that Julio Jones doesn’t have the touchdowns:
“His production is through the roof. I think he’s leading the league in yards, or close to leading the league in yards – so his production is through the roof. He’s going to find the end zone, people are accounting for him and are continuing to account for him even with the production of other guys. So he stays unselfish when he gets his opportunities and makes plays, nobody plays harder than him. We’d love for him to get in the end zone, but we have to find ways to get into the end zone whoever it is and he’s 100 percent on board with that too. He’s going to find it, I really believe that and I feel like when that gets again it’s going to keep going.”
On Devonta Freeman getting back out there:
“It’s always good for us if he’s able to get back out this week. He’s such a talented player, so good in the run game, so talented for us out in the backfield for the passing game. He’s a matchup problem. We’ll see where he’s at. I don’t know what the deal is with that. We’ll see where he’s at, at the end of the week, he’s a talented guy.”
On whether when Devonta Freeman is available if there are more plays available:
“It’s just what’s emphasized with him. I think we have a lot of the same stuff, it’s just as we go through matchups on certain things we like his matchups on backers, on safeties he’s really good for us in that part of the passing game in the backfield, breaking people off. So it’s just a different emphasis on those things. But he brings a lot to the table. He brings a little bit of a unique skill set to the table for us.”
On whether T.J. Watt and Bud Depree those outside, hybrid guys that he was referring to:
“Yeah, he’s not little (Watt). He’s a good player. Physical. He’s athletic. You see him in coverage, he does a nice job in coverage being able to run but is also a high effort guy. Does a good job in pass rush and against the run. Bud Depree is a big, physical player as well. Both those guys are very athletic in what they ask them to do, and do a nice job in their scheme.”
On the chemistry with Calvin Ridley:
“Calvin has done a great job for us, taking advantage of every opportunity he’s gotten. One-on-one coverages, he’s made a ton of plays for us. So I’m proud of him. He’s put in a lot of hard work in the time that he’s been here and I’m sure in the time before that he got here, he’s worked really hard to get to this point. He’s taken real advantage of his opportunity which is cool to see.”
On his production being high even without Devonta Freeman these last couple of weeks:
“We’ve done some good things, that’s for sure. But to me there’s still a lot of room for improvement when I watch the film there’s still a lot of things that we can do better. That’s more of the focus as opposed to what we’ve done well, that’s alright. But let's keep it going. What are the few things that we can do better, that’s where our focus has been at.”
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