The Atlanta Falcons are still excited about the possibilities, but they've also emphasized again and again this week that Matt Ryan is very much a work in progress.

Coaches and team executives have spent a lot of time praising the ability of their

second-year quarterback, but have also pointed out he's only 24 and that his NFL career

consists of 28 games.

Coach Mike Smith says Ryan has the skill set and instincts to play in the NFL for years. Ryan

can scoot around inside the pocket and has a special knack for placing the ball over defenders

and into the hands of his receivers. He also has the strength and ego to occasionally fire one

right past a defender. But he's still learning the rudiments of playing quarterback in the

NFL.

"Matt has gone through Year Two like we anticipated," Smith said. "I really think it takes

more than one year to learn how to play quarterback in the NFL, and I think he's still

learning. He's still seeing things for the first time. I think people have thrown different

things at him than he saw as a rookie."

Ryan, the Associated Press Rookie of the Year last season, makes his 29th start when the

Falcons (7-7) host the Buffalo Bills (5-9) on Sunday. While the Falcons are still trying to

grasp exactly what Ryan can do, they are clearly impressed by his calm temperament — his

nickname is "Matty Ice" — and how he has handled the demands of playing the position.

"To start from Day One, and take this football team over the way he has just speaks volumes

of his ability, not only on the field, but off the field," Smith said. "Matt is the leader of

this team because he's earned it. Teammates have a feel that Matt is going to be able to make

plays when the game is on the line. He's done that a number of times this season."

Last week against the New York Jets, Ryan began making accurate reads against the blitz and

completed 4 of 6 third-down passes in the fourth quarter. On fourth-and-goal with 1:13 left,

Ryan and tight end Tony Gonzalez connected on an inside route for a 6-yard winning touchdown.

"Being comfortable in those situations, I played a lot of sports growing up my entire life,"

Ryan said. "Not just football, I played basketball and baseball growing up. Just being in

those situations a lot. The more you're in those situations the better you're going to be. So

I think it's a little bit of both. A lot of it is having confidence because I've been in those

situations before and knowing I can get it done."

The News' football writers preview the Bills-Falcons matchup

Ryan has passed for 2,443 yards, 17 touchdowns and 12 interceptions, numbers that are similar

to his rookie season (3,440 yards, 16 TDs, 11 INTs in 16 games). He believes he's improving.

"As a player, it's the old saying, you're either getting better or you're getting worse. I

feel like I've continued to get better," Ryan said. "I'm learning a lot of different things.

We've played some good teams, some good competition this year and I feel like I've made

strides as a quarterback. I still have a long way to go, no question about it."

But the Falcons' record is at .500 in part because of injuries. Running back Michael Turner

has been limited to 11 games this season because of a lingering ankle injury. Ryan has also

been battling turf toe and while he's been limited in practice this week, he's expected to

play Sunday.

"I think different guys have stepped up in different situations to come in and make some

plays," Ryan said. "Off the top of my head, I think of [running back] Jason Snelling and all

the things he's done for us this year coming off the bench.

"Not only with the injury to Michael Turner the past four-to-six weeks but really before

that, [running back] Jerious Norwood had been nicked up for about six weeks and Jason has done

a great job for us all year."

Turner missing from the lineup has forced Ryan to go to the air more than he probably wants

to. In Weeks Six through Nine, Ryan threw more interceptions (eight) than touchdowns (six),

was sacked 10 times, and had an average passer rating of 65.5.

But Smith noted that the Falcons have expanded their playbook and Ryan has more tasks.

"I think Matt has had some throws like all of us that he'd like to have back," Smith said.

"But overall his decision making has been very good. We were able to get into our no-huddle

offense last year, which was a big surprise to us. We didn't know that we'd be able to get to

it that quickly. We have expanded our offense in terms of responsibility because how well Matt

did that first season."

Ryan said his recognition of defenses is improving and his confidence is growing. The Falcons

probably have their franchise quarterback.

"There's a lot of things you see from defenses in the NFL you don't really see in college,"

he said. "The more you see it, the more you're out on the practice field and in games, your

recognition of coverages, fronts and blitzes — all those kind of things improve with

experience. I'm definitely better with that this year than last year."