Falcons QB Matt Ryan talks changes in NFL defenses since 2008

Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty ImagesA lot has changed since Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan came into the league. Gas is cheaper (fun fact: the average price of gas in 2008 was $3.39/gallon). And now we have straws made out of awesome stuff like cardboard and avocado pits! But imagine experiencing these past eleven seasons through Ryan’s eyes. Imagine how the game has changed for him.

Asked how defenses have evolved since he was drafted, Ryan had some interesting things to say earlier today. (Our own Jeanna Thomas was on hand.) The first thing Matt talked about was size. “The size of defensive players, oddly enough, has gotten smaller, and there’s been a greater emphasis on speed,” he said. “When…