By: JJ Lanier

TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services

NFL history is peppered with players, particularly from the quarterback position, whose legacies have been hindered because the surrounding talent never quite matched up to their own. Matt Ryan is in danger of adding his name to the list.

You can debate where Ryan ranks within the current crop of quarterbacks, but it’s hard to argue against his being in the upper echelon.

Since arriving in the league, he’s had decent coaching and an array of offensive weapons that have helped him maximize his talents. The issue when it comes to the team’s achievements, and ultimately what Ryan will be judged on after he retires, falls on the defensive side of the ball.

I know this “analysis” isn’t anything new; it’s about as expected as my son going to a Chinese buffet and eating nothing but chicken nuggets and french fries.

The reason I mention it now is Ryan is quietly putting together one of his best seasons, something he seems to be doing quite regularly lately, yet the Falcons are in danger of missing the playoffs because their defense thinks they play in the Big 12.

Currently Atlanta ranks 30th in every major defensive category, except for rushing, where they’re 20th.

One of the reason Dan Quinn was brought in four years ago was to bring some stability to the defensive side of the ball. I like Quinn, and I do think he was good hire, but his lack of influence on the defensive side has been a little disappointing.

Since his arrival the Falcons have yo-yoed back and forth from 14th down to 27th, up 8th, and then back down again to their current ranking, 30th.

Conversely, the offense has been ranked, 21st, 1st, 15th, and 11th over the same span. Actually, looks like part of the problem is they can’t get both sides to function at an acceptable rate at the same time.

But to get back to Ryan, if you’re looking for a recent comparison just go ahead stay in the NFC South and Drew Brees.

Whenever Brees retires, he will do so as the most prolific passer in NFL history, and a fantasy football hero. But, because the Saints defense played like the computer setting at the beginning level on Madden, he’ll have had to put up those numbers in order to get the credit he deserves. And he has Super Bowl ring, unlike Ryan.

There’s still plenty of time left on the season for Atlanta to make a run to the playoffs- stranger things have happened- but it’s going to take a near perfect second half of the year to make it come to fruition.

However, at this point it turning out to be a wasted season in which the franchise quarterback played possibly the best ball of his career.

I have no idea when Matt Ryan is going to retire, or how long he’ll be able to play at the level he’s currently at. But if fans have to go through another season where the blame falls on the offensive coordinator or the defense is having a down year, there won’t be many years left in the Matt Ryan era for them to enjoy.

I feel like with some of the personnel moves management understands their window is now and is trying to do what they can. If they can’t bring it all together soon, their franchise quarterback will just be another great quarterback not significant enough to remember.