Matt Schaub: Interested in being Matt Ryan’s backup?
By John Buhler
Matt Schaub is a free agent backup quarterback. Might the Atlanta Falcons consider bringing back their former third round pick to backup Matt Ryan in 2016?
ESPN’s Vaughn McClure writes about the though of bringing back former Atlanta Falcon and free agent quarterback Matt Schaub as a guy who could help the Atlanta Falcons by backing up starting quarterback Matt Ryan in 2016.
Head coach Dan Quinn did say that the Falcons had interest in signing Schaub before the start of the 2015 NFL season, before he ultimately signed a one-year deal to backup Joe Flacco with the Baltimore Ravens. Is it all that farfetched to think that the Atlanta Falcons may sign Matt Schaub this offseason to sure-up their issues of quarterback depth?
Matt Schaub was a third round pick out of the University of Virginia and was Michael Vick‘s backup in Atlanta his first few years in the league. Schaub had arguably his best years in the league as the starting quarterback for Gary Kubiak‘s Houston Texans, whose offensive coordinator was none other than current Atlanta Falcons offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan.
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Schaub’s ability to start in the NFL rapidly disintegrated once Shanahan joined his father Mike Shanahan in Washington, but still has a great understanding of the offense, which could help the Falcons in the quarterback room, as well as stand as a serviceable backup to Matt Ryan.
Though Sean Renfree went on to win the backup quarterback job over T.J. Yates and Rex Grossman in the 2015 NFL preseason, Renfree is still unproven as an NFL player. Schaub is past his prime, but has big game experience playing in the National Football League, leading the Texans to two AFC South Division Titles.
Having a guy in the quarterbacks room that knows Kyle Shanahan’s West Coast offense inside and out will certainly help Matt Ryan in year two of the offense, as he had his best success in Dirk Koetter’s Air Coryell attack in 2012 to 2014.
Next: Dan Quinn: What needs to happen in year two in Atlanta?
Depending on how Schaub looks in a physical, Atlanta should consider signing him, as they will want a backup to Ryan that has played meaningful NFL snaps. The 2016 NFL Draft has only so-so talent at quarterback, so it may end up being in the Atlanta Falcons’ best interest to pursue a veteran to become Ryan’s backup quarterback in 2016. However, if Atlanta feels confident in what they have in Sean Renfree, then the Falcons may not want to bring back Matt Schaub to the Atlanta Falcons organization.