WRAL Sports Fan

WRALSportsFan

O'Brien confident Matt Ryan will succeed in the NFL

By Tim Hall

May 27, 2008

The NFL Draft was criticized this year for its lack of star power in the first round. There wasn't a stud quarterback selected with the No. 1 pick overall and no big-time wide receiver was taken in the top five.

There was just one quarterback selected in the top 10, taken third overall by the Atlanta Falcons. And N.C. State coach Tom O'Brien believes that quarterback will succeed in the NFL.

O’Brien, who coached Matt Ryan at Boston College before moving to N.C. State, told 99.9 FM The Fan that Ryan is just the type of person they need in Atlanta.

"He's the perfect face you want on an NFL franchise," said O'Brien. "It seems they need that type of perspective, a fresh perspective in Atlanta."

O'Brien has had some experience coaching successful quarterbacks in the past. Not only did he coach Ryan in his time at Boston College, he coached the Seattle Seahawk's Matt Hasselbeck as well. Hasselbeck has 142 touchdown passes in his career and has played in a Super Bowl.

"I would think Matt will be as good as if not better than Matt Hasselbeck ever was in the NFL," said O'Brien. "It's going to be a good investment for the future in Atlanta."

Ryan recently signed a six-year, $72 million contract with $34.5 million in guarantees. He is likely to play right away for the Falcons, who are obviously in need of a new quarterback with Michael Vick no longer on the roster.