PurpleHorseman

If not for knee injuries Boulware would of been a first ballot HOF. He was Von Miller before there was Von Miller. At his peak he was superior to Jason Taylor at his peak. Whom probably is going HOF. If his political career gains real traction he could have legit shot

It is really hard for a ravens player to anger me. But I do not like Zuttah and Lewis very much. Lewis and Zuttah are hurting our run game. And have our franchise QB who is returning from injury, play like he is not sure of himself. If KO and Jensen were in the lineup and Stanley did not get hurt we would be talking bout Joe having a career year. I don't believe There would not be debates across the state regarding replacing Joe Flacco

Hopefully this bings things in perspective so all fans alike can get to rooting for our offense to begin firing on most of its cylinders anyways. Because the Flacco fans and the "Fluko" haters is getting redundant and childish. And annoying. I mean nobody could say for sure he will get worse or better. So if the sides will put themselves in the walking shoes of what the opposing sides are thinking then you guys can find a common tailgate spot?? Before we look forward to Joe's consistent 300 yard 3 TD games, We examine his play this year. And try to understand the clear and blameless frustration and criticism some have for Joe Flacco. So let's get the frustration train trolling I mean rolling. Bad joke I know. Anyways be it you believe Joe has legit excuses or not.( I think he has them) There is no debate his play is shameful and even eventual bench worthy if it keeps up. I get it. QBs that show even fumes of a franchise or potential franchise QB is going to get paid. I mean look at the Fitzpatrick holdout after one good year. But when that QB is playing like the journeyman and jobbers without a contract. You know the Hoyers and McCowns who all do have their own moments and stretches of good play. Then what is the point of paying Joe Flacco or any QB 20+ million per year? If he is going to play like a jobber or one of the Qbs that starts during that time period during a search for The Franchise QB. If your QB consistently plays like the jobbers then you may as well begin the painful Easter egg hunt for the golden QB? Since you are not going to lose much, if anything by playing a different qb. You may as well begin looking for a real franchise QB. Please keep in mind that it is only if the bad play begins to snowball. ONE bad 5 game stretch is not a reason to write off a Super Bowl QB. If you happen to believe his play is who he is going to be during his contract extension. Then by all means state your case and reasons you Believe that. Or else that belief holds zero water. And you are saying it out of frustration and emotions of ravens failure last year and this season. However, before writing him off. Watch his highlights. See what he could do from behind a dominant line. Just as his biggest supporters determine his worth if his terrible play continues. Look at his throwing motion,release, velocity, rpms, and pinpoint accuracy. Watching his release, velocity to its target and accuracy is as good as any QB in the NFL. Winstons pure throwing skill is often lauded. Joe Flacco is right there with him. When Flacco's OL dominated, He was the best QB in the playoffs. Say it again. When his OL dominates, Joe is as good as Roethlisberger,Rivers, Luck and Ryan. And even Brady, Brees and Rodgers. The difference is Joe needs his OL to dominate a little more than those guys. That is not a knock on Joe. Those QBs are freaks for the position. Their skill to scan their weapons and the defense at warp speed is very very rare! The fact that Joe can match or exceed their play. With the help of a dominant OL should excite you as a fan. His potential should excite you. And should be a QB you will happily like on your team. Any coincidence the young QB that is distinguishing himself is the one with the best OL? Derek Carr is a notch better than his young bright rivals. Prescott is playing well behind a great OL and run game. Wentz took a small step back when his dominant RT was suspended. Bradford looked awesome until his tackles got hit with injuries. The Tackles got hurt, offense sputtered and coaches bickered. There was so much turmoil the OC resigned. Do you think any of those problems come to the forefront if the OL wasn't hit with the injury bug? Ravens offensive problems are not unique with teams experiencing bad OL play. Joe Flacco went on an historic playoff run behind a dominant OL. And he was the best QB in the NFL that year. Do you really think he can't even come close to that again once his OL is dominant? I think we should put resources into the OL. I think Joe could be elite with a dominant OL and would only need good WR's. He wouldn't need Jones or Beckham. Protect him well and he will put up great numbers and points on the scoreboard. He would only need a couple of good No. 2WR's. Say WR's the caliber of Wright in Tennessee, Tyler Boyd,Landry,Locket,Crowder, and the guy the patriots signed. Can't think of his name. Weapons like that who can win intermediate and get deep when necessary. I think ravens should put their resources into the OL and finding a good OC that Joe can connect with. While finding good adequate quality WR's. You pay Julio jones $16+million per year and a defense can take him out of the game. I think A dominant OL with a very good system and QB with a strong pinpoint accurate arm will show up every game!

But didn't he play his best when the OL dominated in the playoffs? Joe's continued success.... And is it conceivable that if we build him a great OL, he will play at a top5 QB level? And his WRs will only need to be good, not great. For him to play great? His WRs during the championship year were good but not freakishly good. Maybe that is all he needs to be an upper echelon QB. Something that gets forgotten about Joe is his release,smooth fluid throwing motion, and top shelf accuracy. When given a clean pocket he throws as accurate a football as any QB in the NFL. He doesn't need Julio Jones or Beckham. So wouldn't it be beneficial to Flacco and the team to make the OL the top priority. With a consistently clean pocket Joe is as good as Roethlisberger,Rivers,Ryan. Where those QBs are better than Flacco is their command of the offense and operate a little faster and more efficient than Joe. Throwing alone, Joe Flacco is as good as any. History shows that QBs with a strong and very accurate arm but mediocre in their command. Can play at a franchise QB level if protected in a clean pocket. Mark Rypien played great behind an online where he was tied for least sacked QB ever. And won a SuperBowl while winning MVP and a candidate for league MVP. The following year when there were multiple injuries along the OL with some of the hogs beginning to show their age he was a different QB. He was mediocre at best. Our own Elvis Grbac was one of the most prolific QBs with the chiefs behind a great OL that displayed 3 hof candidates. Ravens RT position was erratic and even terrible and he struggled with the ravens. Then a year later Trent Green a career journeyman known for a good accurate arm. Settled in with the chiefs behind that same OL and morphed into one of the most prolific and efficient QBs in the league. And our own Priest Holmes a smart runner that could follow blocks. Shined behind that same OL. So to get playoff Joe in weeks 1-17 should we make the OL the top priority? Is that the best route to take? He played his best when the OL dominates. McKinnie was motivated and the ravens guard tandem was the best in the NFL. The center was a smart perennial pro bowler that was still effective. Joe Flacco was comfortable and it showed. He was the best QB in the playoffs that year. And I think with a dominant OL it is reasonable to say Joe Flacco will play that well all season.

But didn't he play his best when the OL dominated in the playoffs?

Thomas Davis is a smart blitzer at finding spots to blitz. Collins can actually beat tackles if asked. Let's not forget the patriots have Mingo now who is just as athletic and getting increased reps every week. Mingo was not used right in Cleveland and Collins could find same problem but he is already coached up. Mingo is catching on and getting reps. He is as freakish as Collins and comes cheaper.

Karpernicks political agenda is hurting the ratings for sure. Of course if you disagree with him you are turned off the game. But even people that agree with him, watch football for entertainment. To escape all the political talk. And he is pushing that on people. He is at work. His crusade should be on his own time. What would happen if anybody else took their political agenda to work? Even if you agree with him, who wants to see that and hear about the backlash while trying to enjoy a football game with friends and family. Football brings people together.

Good post Not coaching up young talented WRs is catching up to Joe Flacco. He is not benefiting from years of chemistry. Same can be said for the OC. For all of Harbaugh's accolades he is not an offensive guru. So it is natural that there is going to be multiple OC's to find a really good one. Then it is natural a really good OC is going to take a coaching job elsewhere. The OL and offense is way out of whack. And so is Joe Flacco. Joe is rattled from the hits. It throws his timing and mechanics out of whack. Flacco hears footsteps from his previous drop backs and hits. The run game works sometimes. When it is on there is zero confidence to keep the run game working. And Flacco and his WRs due to the pressure, fails to get his piece of the machine working before the run game begins to get stuffed. The OL allows no timing and rythym for Flacco and his WR's. Thus all the short dumpoff tosses. Many fans have cited the cut block as the reason many offenses are struggling at times. And I think those people are correct. As matter of fact, fans do not realize how much it is hurting Offenses, QBs, WR's,timing,rythym and the OL. Offensive lineman with average talent get it done by keeping the DL off balance and guessing. Which effects the DL rythym and aggression when he has to anticipate a cut block. The smarter lineman even when missing the talent element consistently makes effective blocks through technique and mixing up his block techniques. The cut block is the biggest weapon for many technicians and all blockers really. I think it was Kevin Mawae that said in an interview the cut block extended his career beyond his dominant playing days. The cut block is that effective. From Rushing the QB or trying to fight through a block to get the RB. To slowing down an explosive defensive players pursuit or explosive jump off the line. The cut block was a necessary Weapon for many blockers success. With all the rule changes favoring the offense. Eliminating the low cut block has leveled the scale a little. Many lineman are struggling and the offense with them. Joe Flacco when given a clean comfortable pocket and allowed to scan through his weapons throws a beautiful pinpoint accurate football. As good as there is in the NFL. When his OL dominates he is as good as any QB in the NFL. No QB is as dependent on his OL as Joe Flacco. And that is not a bad thing. When his OL struggles he can play below average. When his OL dominates he is as good as Roethlisberger. (See 2012 playoffs)The way it looks I think is the only difference between Flacco and the top 5 QBs is their skills in going through progressions at warp speed. Flacco needs his time to go through his progressions and anticipate the longer intermediate and long throws. Especially when throwing over the middle with so much going on. When given time in a clean pocket Joe can make pinpoint accurate tight spiral throws with his eyes shut. Forget stats. Just use your instincts and the eye test. Do you see Joe lighting up the scoreboard with a dominant OL and run game? In an offense that effectively mixes run and throw. Even with good WRs that run effective routes as opposed to the freaks like Green. If ravens rebuild their OL, it is conceivable that next year everybody laughs about this year Joe is having. While he is one of the most prolific QBs in the NFL. And ravens offense as good as any as there is in the NFL. With the cut block eliminated, talented Offensive lineman will be at a premium. Blockers with average size and talent will have a harder time being successful. I think let's out think the league while fixing the OL, protecting the investment in Flacco and helping Joe and the offense light up scoreboards. I think the OL should be the focus in the draft and FA. Our rivals will begin to figure out the need for more size and skill on the OL with the cut block eliminated. Their salary will escalate while a bigger premium is laid on them in the draft. Because traditionally adequate blockers will begin to struggle with a big part of their repertoire 86'ed. I know some will say I'm making excuses for Flacco. But many offenses are struggling. Look at Jacksonville. A mostly adequate line that is now struggling. And it's QB and best WR with it. I think even his biggest critics acknowledge to themselves Joe can be as good as any QB when his OL dominates.

With Stanley and Yanda back in town the OL will allow Flacco to play a little more comfortable. That is a fact. I think our OL will continue to need work but we will discuss that later. I think the offense looks better with Yanda and Stanley back. If ravens can minimize Brown then ravens should win. Moore needs to get more involved and let's think his drops were an anomaly. I think he is our most shifty nimble route runner. I know Perriman has blazing 4.2 speed but Moore has that Chad Johnson game speed. He is a little more fluid than Perriman and Wallace. He can get separation on any level if used correctly. It is important coaching gets the runners involved throwing them the football. And not just short dump off catches. If healthy that begins with Dixon. The ravens can see if this draft can help the offense. And that means Dixon Moore and Lewis. Lewis don't look to good playing the interior. The question is would he be an upgrade over Wagner who has shown little since His pro bowl caliber year. Jensen deserves an opportunity at center because Zuttah is terrible. Stanley and Yanda returning will help the run game and Flacco. The OL should be priority this offseason. You do not need stats to show Flacco is there with the elite QBs like Brady Bree's and Rivers when his OL dominates. It allows him to scan his targets and throw comfortably. But with Yanda,Stanley playing and maybe Jensen at center the OL should at least look adequate. When the OL dominates Flacco can play well.

Getting hit often will cause any QB to lose focus and mechanics.

I like it. However what would we do about outside containment? We look slow at the edge. The OLB's are slow getting there and getting no help from the Down lineman there. Do you think Judon has the speed to contain outside running plays? Do we have any defensive lineman with speed to help chase down outside runs and short throws? On offense is Max eligible to return? Because boy can he block well. When Boyle returns the ravens could use a more effective blocking version of the 2 TE sets. This would allow more combo blocks. Which in turn can isolate and freeze huge sections of opponents defense. To make that work better it will require our RB's to be major receiving threats. To help keep defenses from loading the box. Which means more Dixon and Buck. And a WR that can win intermediate and deep. And the TE's must make plays as well. The max protection will give the ravens options. It will help the struggling OL by allowing more combo blocks on run plays and protecting Joe. While keeping the defense off balance and guessing run or throw. The rush will not be able to tee off on Joe. It will be worried and guessing about their blitz being picked up or trying to contain the 2 TE's and a receiving RB. And that is before the defense thinks of containing the speedy WR's Wallace, Perriman and Moore. 2 multi threat TE's and a duel threat RB gives the offense many options on screen plays. If ravens can master and sell screen plays with detail, it would slow down the rush on Flacco quite effectively.

Absolutely! If a playoff team wants to trade away future picks to help them for their sprint towards the SuperBowl, then allow it. Could even amend the salary cap to allow teams to take on a bigger % of the cap hit than original carry over numbers. So rebuilding or competing teams can have more flexibility to acquire and trade players for their SuperBowl run or rebuilding plans. One more loss and ravens should be completely open for business. Williams, Dumervil, Suggs,SS and maybe even Yanda, Wallace, and Weddle. However I personally wouldn't trade Weddle and Yanda because of their intelligence and leadership to help young players. But if something very significant were offered by a contending team because of those very accolades then I don't know. Could or would we? Thoughts? I could see Yanda Weddle and maybe even Wallace as hot commodities by contenders.

If morninweg can't get the offense firing on most of its cylinders at least, then he needs to go like trestman. Need a good OC and QB coach that Flacco can connect with. It would be nice if our HC could step in and tweak things. But unfortunately for all his accolades is not an offensive guru. Next up. IMO ravens need to fix Flaccos supporting cast before anything else. I'm sorry but as much as we need a young dominant sack artist. We can't have out $23million QB struggling and fronting bad mechanics on the account his OL is getting thrown into his lap. Flacco is not the brand of QB that can function effectively with a bad OL. If Flacco is protected he can throw a beautiful football and make adequate WR's look good. We have to fix Flacco's OL first and foremost. Sorry if that means no Myles Garrett or whatever his name is. Ravens need something in return for their investment in Flacco. And that means putting its resources into helping him before all else. Investing in the OL helps not only Flacco. But the run game and overall offense. Which in turn can play ball control and help the defense. We need 2 new top notch front line players on the OL. And a young in his prime WR whose best play is in front of him and not behind him. Give Jensen and Urschel opportunity. Find out who can play and play well. VERY WELL! Give the young WR's Moore and Perriman more opportunity. Give the young TE's reps as well. Guys like Brown and Boyle when he returns. Give all the young players more opportunity to see what young talent can be counted on to step up.

I do think when Stanley and Yanda return the line should improve and Flacco with it. No surprise that Flacco plays very well when his OL plays very well. Even with mediocre WR's. You know, I thought it was crazy to pay a guard over $10million annually. But when we get to thinking the cost to finding somebody to anchor the interior it could be more lucrative. And for a player that odds are against being as good as the player he is replacing. Especially when we get to thinking the resources that the ravens will spend on the OL. We could be talking 2 picks in the early rounds and or free agency. When we could be using those assets to pick players on various positions of need. It may have set the teams building back a little. Because we are adressing and fixing a position that could have been set for a while.

Ryan Mallet has a very strong arm and accurate. When he is tuned in he can be a very effective QB. Stanley and Wagner are playing this game. If he has to play the ravens win big anyways. Ravens27 jets10. Stanley matching up with Williams is going to be a game in itself. A big strong yet explosive Defensive lineman. If Stanley handles him then all the critics will have to say Stanley is a rookie and Stanley is one of the best in the game already.

When ravens are on the clock we could have a fan vote. Whichever player gets the most votes is the pick lol

Not a flattering selection. Wright is the only one that arouses me. But I don't think Tennessee will let him go. Floyd could be interesting. He has flashed before Palmer's shoulder and elbow injuries flared up again. But again I don't see him leaving Arizona with Fitzgerald's age a factor. But if Floyd were smart he would sign a one year contract with a team that is stable at the QB position.

Don't think it would happen. But if we acquired Kiko Alonso from Miami it would give us a game changer. I know he has his injuries but hopefully it's all behind him now. I think he is one of the most underrated defensive players in the NFL. If you watch him play you don't see much difference in him and Kuechly. I actually think Alonso plays more physical and hits harder. When Alonso hits somebody he stops. Players very rarely get any yac when Alonso touches him. He has very natural instincts and athleticism. His injuries are the culprit behind him being underrated. Because he is criminally underrated. It is very surprising he is not mentioned with the best LB's in the NFL. If he were not injured he would neck and neck with Kuechly. If we ever switched to the 4-3 he, Mosley and Orr would be an intimidating group with instincts and athleticism to cover better than any in the NFL as a group. Which in turn would massively help the secondary. Just an idea because he could be acquired for a minimal draft pick because of how underrated he is.

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I wouldn't replace Flacco. When he has a clean pocket his he throws a very nice football that is fun to watch. SO with that said let us rephrase it to QB's that arouse interest of the question. Can a different QB take the ravens offense to that exclusive club of the great offenses? Even the most loyal of fans at least think of it once. Jimmy Garappolo has sparked my interest. He has very impressive accuracy and release. He scans his targets at warp speed. And throws his guys open at that precise millisecond. He lit a fire under Brady during a blowout loss to the chiefs. He came in and looked very sharp and precise to lead a TD drive. Brady stepped his game up next patriots game.

As for positivity. If the OL can find a formula that works, I think the offense could actually carry the defense if necessary. Perriman is kind of limited but an electric big play WR. Wallace is not as dynamic as his steeler days. But nonetheless a speedy,competent and more experienced playmaker with the ravens. Moore is an X factor that can create separation at any level and make the spectacular catch. When Boyle returns I think we'll see him motivated and a better more experienced player. Dixon will work into the offense and make plays as a runner and receiver. Offense is looking promising. The standard thinking should be it can and will pick up productivity.

Stanley is a stud and everything you could want in your LT. After that there are questions. Lewis is not an interior OL. He is very awkward at his attempts clearing lanes in the run game. He could be a competent RT but there is no guarantee with that. Urschel could be a very competent Center but can he be counted on while having 2 personalities of an athlete and a mathlete? I'm guessing Harbaugh is a little frustrated with that. Yanda is in his 10th season. It is very conceivable the ravens hit OL position hard in the draft and free agency. I would favor hitting OL hard in the draft and maybe even FA. Flacco likes a clean pocket and is not comfortable when his decision making is rushed even the slightest. He can function very well with only adequate WR's and play at a very high level. While making his WRs look like a $Trillion. But he struggles badly when he is rushed even the slightest. When his OL dominates he throws a beautiful football with bullseye accuracy.

What is going on with Boise State OLB's? Get to the NFL and seem weak for their position. McClellan has similar problems.

I don't watch every game. When did Hands play for the ravens?

This is one of the most in depth, logical and well thought out posts I read so far here.