The Detroit Lions have contacted the Falcons seeking permission to talk with offensive coordinator Mike Mularkey about their vacant head coach position.

Journal-Constitution Pro Sports Editor Chris Vivlamore asked the same eight questions of several prominent Falcons. They will publish each day until Saturday’s playoff game against the Cardinals. Today’s subject: Rookie QB Matt Ryan.

Editor?s note: AJC columnist Jeff Schultz will blog live during Saturday?s Falcons-Cardinals playoff game. Follow the game with Schultz and add your comments.

Editor’s note: AJC columnist Jeff Schultz will blog live during Saturday’s Falcons-Cardinals playoff game. Follow the game with Schultz and add your comments.

Matt Ryan’s talent is complemented by a great deal of poise, leadership and other strong qualities.

Falcons coach Mike Smith was beaming earlier this week after putting his surprising team through their playoff paces.

Just about every move that Smith and general manager Thomas Dimitroff made has worked out.

From starting a rookie quarterback, playing a revamped offensive line, and coaxing a defensive line to stop the run, the Falcons have come up roses.

Smith and Dimitroff have taken the hard luck franchise in a fundamentally new direction.

He looked back on the decision to start Ryan, when conventional NFL wisdom is to sit-down rookie quarterbacks.

“We had it set up where we were going to make a decision after the second (preseason) game, going into the third game,” Smith said.

Falcons owner Arthur Blank couldn’t wait for the 2007 season to end. Michael Vick, the quarterback he signed to an NFL record contract, behaved and lied his way to federal prison. Bobby Petrino, the first-year coach who promised Blank he would return in ‘08, quit with a 3-10 record and left for Arkansas.

Miami Dolphins quarterback Chad Pennington and Atlanta Falcons running back Michael Turner were named AFC and NFC Offensive Players of the Week, respectively, on Wednesday.

By now, even if you just climbed aboard the Falcons bandwagon, you know about Matt Ryan, the Falcons’ sometimes spectacular, always steady, “best of all time?” rookie quarterback, who this week added the AP’s NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year award to his growing resume.