Matt Schaub is going back to the Atlanta Falcons

Matt Schaub is going back to the team that drafted him to backup Matt Ryan and play for offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan in the Atlanta Falcons.

According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, the Atlanta Falcons have come to terms with quarterback Matt Schaub to serve as starter Matt Ryan’s backup in 2016.

This will mark Schaub’s second tenure with the Falcons, as he was a third round pick by the Falcons in the 2004 NFL Draft out of the University of Virginia. He spent his first three years backing up then franchise quarterback Michael Vick during the Jim Mora era in Atlanta before signing with the Houston Texans in 2007.

Schaub had his best seasons as an NFL quarterback in Houston, making two Pro Bowls (2009 and 2012) while with the Texans. He came into form as an NFL passer under former Texans offensive coordinator and current Falcons offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan.

Shanahan is especially particular with how he wants to run his West Coast offense and utilize his zone blocking running scheme. He brought in former quarterback disciple Rex Grossman in the preseason to show what he wants his quarterbacks to do in his system.

By bringing in the veteran Schaub, Shanahan won’t have to teach the ropes to a quarterback unfamiliar with the West Coast offense of his. Though starter Ryan has only missed two games in his eight-year NFL career with the Falcons, it’s nice to have a backup that is both familiar with the offense and has considerable starting experience at the NFL level in Schaub.

This signing probably means that Atlanta is parting ways with Ryan’s former backup Sean Renfree who won the backup gig over Grossman and Atlanta native T.J. Yates last preseason. Atlanta needed an upgrade at backup quarterback and seem to have gotten a good one in a former Falcon in Schaub.

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