Matt Ryan's Biggest Flaw to Be Tested in 2012

There have been several interviews with Falcons head coach Mike Smith since the 2011 season ended, and in those pressers he mentions the coming emphasis on the vertical game.

It always appears to be assumed that Matt Ryan can unquestionably do his part, but I think that is a bit of a leap of faith.

Granted, Ryan's game could be shortened when he is running for his life all the time. However, his vertical game statistics are not good, even though he was protected well on several occasions last season.

The main reason the Falcons wanted Julio Jones was to stretch the field. In 2011, he was the only receiver to average over 15 yards per catch.

Roddy White and Julio Jones were the only Falcons with any catches over 15 yards last season.

Matt Ryan's average yards per throw (7.4) was not in the top ten in the NFL. Aaron Rogers was No. 1 in the league with 9.25 yards per attempt.

The other statistic that is very telling is that only Drew Brees was sacked less than Matt Ryan among the top-ten quarterbacks.

All this leads to the question; Can Matt Ryan's vertical game be assumed as a sure bet in 2012?

It appears from Coach Mike Smith's comments that he is making that assumption. Smith thinks that the hiring of offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter will add a solid vertical game.

Things are bound to be better in 2012, because an offseason will help Ryan and the receivers work together as a unit—something they lacked last year.

The fact remains that if everything else is in place, will Matt Ryan be able to lead a receiver on a 40-yard pass down the sideline? I haven't seen it yet, but maybe the coaches have.

I think we will get the answer to that in the first few games. The outcome of that test will have a big impact on the Atlanta Falcons' success in 2012.