Atlanta Falcons fans are focusing on the wrong person

The focus of Atlanta Falcons fans seems to be on Matt Ryan regardless of what someone else accomplishes and preseason practice has been no different.

Looking across the NFL, you won’t another NFL franchise quarterback gets as much hate from his own fan base does as Matt Ryan from Atlanta Falcons fans. The hate is beyond obnoxious at this point is bordering on being a mental illness for some.

Throughout the last couple of weeks, several defensive players have made spectacular reads and been able to get their hands on a ball thrown by Matt Ryan – which most love to see. Not because Ryan threw the ball but rather the defender’s ability to read the play and get their hands on the ball.

A play by corner/safety Isaiah Oliver epitomizes that type of play as he had to use every ounce of his athletic ability to make a play on a ball thrown by Matt Ryan.

The Atlanta Falcons defense looks good early

Like every other NFL team, the Atlanta Falcons just put on pads so it’s hard to get a really good read on where they are under first-year head coach Arthur Smith but both sides of the ball have made some plays since camp started.

As the Atlanta Falcons get ready for their first preseason game, some guys are clearly itching to make a name for themselves, and Oliver is one of them.

Oliver has not been impressive his first couple of years in the league, many are ready to label him a bust, but he is hoping to change that under new defensive coordinator Dean Pees and he is showing that on the practice field. He used every inch of his vertical to go up and make a play on a ball Matt Ryan was trying to throw over the top.

Of course, instead of focusing on the incredible read and play by Isaiah Oliver, many are focusing on the pass from Ryan – one that wasn’t even a bad throw. When a defender has to make a play like Oliver did in practice, the focus should be on him and the play not what armchair couch quarterbacks believe was a bad play.

Every quarterback is going to have a dozen throws every practice they want back but that is the point of practice – to make bad decisions, understand why it was a bad decision, and what both the quarterback and playmaker can do the next time to keep it from happening again.

Matt will make mistakes; it comes with the position, but we should be focusing on the play by Oliver as it could be signaling a change in his ability and he is finally starting to understand the game of football at the NFL.

If that is in fact the case, the Atlanta Falcons will benefit greatly from his improved recognition and on-the-field play.