My initial answer is a resounding yes. He is having a hell of a season to this point. His numbers have been nothing short of phenomenal to this point.
Matt Ryan’s Average Game, Statistically Speaking.
- 27.4 Completions
- 43.4 Attempts
- 306.9 Yards
- 2.4 Touchdowns
Keep that helmet high Matt, because you are straight ballin
Now I don’t intend to put a damper on his stellar statistical performance this season. But, my thoughts a raising some doubts about Ryan, and his team. This is another case where the level of competition has to be brought up in reference to what has been accomplished to this point. Yes he has blown up each and every defense he has faced this season. But the defense’s he has faced this season have been far from good, straining into the world of average
Average of the four major defensive statistics, passing, rushing, total and scoring.
- Wake Forrest – 49.75
- North Carolina State – 70.25
- Georgia Tech – 14.75
- Army – 65.75
- UMass – 28.5 (In the division formerly known as 1AA)
- Bowling Green – 87.5
- Notre Dame – 61.25
- Total Average – 53.96
Now the point of this is not to invalidate what Matt Ryan and his no name group of receivers have so far this season. The point is to provide some perspective to the numbers that are so spectacular. The best defense he has faced this season was Georgia Tech, and I watched the game in spurts and he was spectacular to say the least. 30 of 44, 405 yards and a TD. But it is only one game, and the question to be brought up is if he can sustain that level of performance against the defenses left on the docket, which are far better than what he has faced this season to date. The historical precedent with Matt Ryan is that he can. But the questions will remain for both him, in terms relative to his more ballyhoed peers, in the form of Kentucky boys Brian Brohm and André Woodson, and for this team.
Virginia Tech is going to be the most physical secondary that Ryan and the Eagles will run up against this season. This is going to be the big test of this team, probably the biggest one for the remainder of the year, even though each and every team on the coming schedule is inherently capable pulling an upset. I am really looking forward to the game tonight, because it will be my first extended look at the Eagles since the Georgia Tech game. In that game I was impressed with Ryan and with the two defensive tackles. But I was slightly underwhelmed with the rest of the team. Tonight will go a long way to answering the principal question of the day. If BC wins out are they deserving of a National Championship bid over a 1 loss LSU. This game is the defacto measuring stick for that argument because it is the only common opponent, and BC will be hard pressed to match LSU’s dominating performance. Is Boston College for real? We don’t know, but a convincing win in Blacksberg will go a long way to answering the question.
