The Next Tom Brady? He's Already In Boston

It seems that for the past five years, NFL teams have been looking for a game-managing quarterback that is cool under pressure, has a big enough arm to attack the openings in a Cover 2 defense and the intelligence to beat a defense in a hurry-up offense. We've yet to see this ability from Matt Leinart, Eli Manning, Phillip Rivers and many other young quarterbacks in the NFL.

In their search for the next Tom Brady, NFL decision makers need not look outside the 02459 zip code. At the Boston College campus, there is Golden Eagle wearing #12 that closely resembles another number twelve in Boston.

In looking at Matt Ryan progress as a football player and quarterback, the first thing you'll notice is his moxie and leadership. Ryan is a player that can be emotional, even fiery at times, but is also collected and calm under pressure. Against Virginia Tech during this 2007 season, Ryan led the Eagles to two fourth-quarter touchdowns against one of the best, and certainly the most talented secondary in the nation. Despite a late penalty erasing one touchdown, Ryan remained calm and collected, eventually scrambling around before hitting a receiver in the end zone on an impossible across-the-body throw down field. What more would you expect from a player nick-named "Matty Ice" by his teammates?

Matt has the big frame that allows him to absorb contact from defenders, see from the pocket and push the ball down field.  He is a calm game manager that does not make many mistakes in his reads or throws and is also an intelligent player that sees what the defense gives him and makes necessary changes at the line of scrimmage. With little NFL caliber talent around him, none of the skill players on the Boston College team, Ryan has put up gaudy numbers this season while finally staying healthy for the entire year.

What does Matt Ryan lack may be a better question among scouts and general managers. Ryan has played through a broken foot and other minor injuries during his junior season. He's a good athlete that is estimated to run a 4.8 in the 40-yard dash and was a star baseball and basketball player as high schooler. Before his senior season, Ryan tended to put too much air on his deep balls and often lobbed passes to open receivers underneath. Ryan has since corrected this and has started putting more velocity on all passes.

Ryan is a lock to go in the first-round of the 2008 NFL Draft, and with a solid performance in the Senior Bowl and during pre-draft workouts, Ryan could be the first quarterback taken in the draft. His combination of intelligence, confidence and pure quarterbacking skills will make Ryan an attractive quarterback for a team with a need early in the draft. Hopefully the good people in Chicago and Baltimore will take note.