Qb Issue Closed

[bigmacattack2123]

Okay McNair only played a few games this year so you must be referring to only those few games. Because last year our team was FIRED UP. Everyone was so excited that STEVE MCNAIR was our QB. Everyone stepped up their game when McNair joined the team. Every player stepped up because they felt we had a shot at the superbowl. The Defense played spectacular, they just wanted to get the ball back to their new QB. All i heard last year was Steve McNair bringing confidence, leadership and experience to the ravens offense...something they have desperately needed for years. And now what? What happened to all that? The man suffers numerous injuries and you are ready to bash him without even giving him a chance? He trusted his O line to protect him and they let him down. This guy is a possible HOF, who made the pro bowl (gave his spot to vince young probably because he felt so horrible after losing in the playoffs), and led the Ravens to their best record and best offense ever.

How do you know McNair didn't care about the losses or turnovers? Are you him? Did he speak with you? You have no idea what he is thinking or feeling. What do you want him to do, get on his knees and cry like a baby? Thats how McNair has always been, he is not going to think about his turnover...he is thinking about clearing his mind and leading that team the next drive. It is fans like you, ready to boo your QB off the field the minute they start to play bad that make our QB situation worse. No wonder Kyle Boller has no confidence. But even Kyle Boller, horrible season after horrible season, was given the opportunity to redeem himself.

McNair's face may be expressionless to you....or just maybe, he is feeling really guilty, sad about letting his team down, watching his hopes for a ring before retiring slipping away. At least he wasn't like Donovan McNabb, smiling/laughing while he was losing at the superbowl. I'm not saying Troy Smith is not a leader, i'm not saying he sucks, and i'm not saying he is not our future. But we said the same things about Kyle Boller and we threw him to the wolves and look what we did to him. Troy Smith deserves a chance to sit and learn, and whats more perfect than learning from a veteran scrambling QB just like him.

LAST YEAR!!!!!!! LAST YEAR thats what McNair brought. LAST YEAR he was excited. LAST YEAR he jumped around like Favre when we scored. LAST YEAR he got upset when there was a turnover. LAST YEAR he showed emotion. Its like someone turned the switch LIGHTS OUT in the off-season. I'm not bashing him I'm just saying that its time to pass the torch. He is wayyyyy past his peak (which was short lived with all due respect to McNair) he was good in his time not great. Plus he's broken almost every bone in his body he's practically held together with duct tape. The o-line will be improved hopefully but its not safe for the ravens or McNair to have him back there. We ruined Boller no doubt but Troy is different. We couldn't "ruin" him if we tried. He's too strong and has over come far more than what he'll prob ever see again. I can't say enough about Troy

[Raven07]

and even still, McNair Has brought a overall sense of Leadership and a sense of mentoring the younger Quarterbacks into becoming better all-around athletes..and it has shown.....in Boller's performance (because he has improved from when McNair wasnt here till now, he's alot more posied and calm and able to make those throws) and with Troy of whom has taken full advantage of his teachings and embraced everything given to him with open arms. and to which ultimately has given us the overall hope that Troy will be a Good player for us in the future....

[USF BULLS RAVEN]

He will be a solid backup, but we are in good position to take Ryan, Brohm, or Woodson. They have NFL bodies.

How fitting would it be to have Brohm go from playing in the stadium with the helmet- less Johnny Unitas statue to playing in the stadium with the helmet-clad johnny U statue?

[Raven07]

but as of right now...Troy is our Future and judging from his performances and his consitancy...he will continue to become the "future" of this team, he just needs to learn from his mistakes and work on his techniue and what not and do whatever he possibly can, so he can maximize the potential he can offer this team in the future seasons to come....and he's doing just that by beginning it with a positive mindset and outlook on next season.

[Troy Smith IS the future..]

He will be a solid backup, but we are in good position to take Ryan, Brohm, or Woodson. They have NFL bodies.

How fitting would it be to have Brohm go from playing in the stadium with the helmet- less Johnny Unitas statue to playing in the stadium with the helmet-clad johnny U statue?

That would be nice but...I'm trying to think, were any balls batted down at the line last night? NFL body?...Not another "I need a 6'5" quarterback" minded person...I guess playing well against the best defense in the National Football League just doesn't cut it anymore.

[Raven07]

my stance on the whole Troy issue.....Troy is our Future for this team and he's really proven himself worthy of becoming that type of player and one to which can handle that starting role with responsibility and leadership and one to which can make the necessary plays for his team to walk away as the victorious one's..and with the added practice and studying of film and practicing his skills.....Troy has the makings of becoming a Huge focal point of this team and one whom can be th driving force

[smashmouth]

I think it's absolutely absurd to say Troy needs to be our QB after 1 decent game. I wasn't impressed from what I saw in Seattle, and frankly he didn't do TOO much in this game. He played okay, but the fact he didn't have 2 INT was sheer luck of the D players dropping the ball. (Or was that 3?)

The bottom line is you cannot have such confidence as naming Troy our STARTING QB after 2 games, we need to see CONSISTENCY. Boller himself has played good games, but his issue is he is not consistent. Personally I wouldn't mind him being the starting QB and them trying him out at the position, because he would have potential to improve as he is only a rookie. But that would mean in the off season, and over the summer he would need to improve and show the team in practice he is capable. Yea, he played okay, but come on... naming him our QB already?

Hey Ill take 10 "almost" picks from Troy rather then the 6 picks Boller "would" have thrown any day or year.

[Raven07]

Troy really has proven his worth/value to this team and its fans....and i highly look forward to whats in store for Troy and this offense/Team overall when it comes down to it.

[bigmacattack2123]

Troy really has proven his worth/value to this team and its fans....and i highly look forward to whats in store for Troy and this offense/Team overall when it comes down to it.

Yea we have soooo much raw talent its almost a good thing we had these injuries this year I mean c'mon lets face it we def weren't going to the super bowl. We got to see what we have cuz all the talk was about how old this team is. And the brightest side of it all.....TROY SMITH-I was dying to see him play all season I was semi excited for McNair knowing he'd give us one good year (last year) n I was curious/optimistic to maybe a mediocre second year but a third I really had no faith in. I've been a fan since 96 like many others and I have NEVER been fully ECSTATIC about a qb. I was never excited about Boller I just I dunno he didn't seem like he had the IT factor which clearly after 5 years he does not. Troy does and he is our future I can't wait until the front office fully acknowledges it whether its in the offseason or some time next season. And if we draft a qb I might just do something stupid, dramatic, and illegal. No wait...I definately will...as for the rest. I think our corners have at least showed progress n how about pittman coming up with multiple interceptions yea he's gotten beat a few times but hes made some big plays too. This o-line learned AAAAAA LOOOOOTTT and they are extremely young you let them grow with troy maybe pick up some trains in the draft...and these wide receivers are talented despite the dropped balls I see these guys stepping up and we'll actually have an offense next year provided that Troy is named our starter (or maybe if we can get mcnabb for a reasonable price for troy to learn from[thats a whoooolllle new conversation haha just a random idea]) we will not only have a good offense in coming years of 09 and beyond but a rather explosive one.

[USF BULLS RAVEN]

That would be nice but...I'm trying to think, were any balls batted down at the line last night? NFL body?...Not another "I need a 6'5" quarterback" minded person...I guess playing well against the best defense in the National Football League just doesn't cut it anymore.

The best defense in the NFL's backups. I watched a few of Smith's games during his senior season. He didn't impress me against Michigan and that pathetic performance against the Gators was embarrassing for him.

Look, if we take a CB and LB with the first two picks and stick with Smith, I'll take it. I want him to prove me wrong. I just hope Billick doesn't have his heart set on McNair or Boller. Smith deserves a fair shot, but I'd like to see someone (not McNair or Boller) compete with him for the starting job.

Now Troy Smith can kick back and watch Ohio State get housed by LSU. I hope it doesn't become a yearly thing...

[smashmouth]

The best defense in the NFL's backups. I watched a few of Smith's games during his senior season. He didn't impress me against Michigan and that pathetic performance against the Gators was embarrassing for him.

Look, if we take a CB and LB with the first two picks and stick with Smith, I'll take it. I want him to prove me wrong. I just hope Billick doesn't have his heart set on McNair or Boller. Smith deserves a fair shot, but I'd like to see someone (not McNair or Boller) compete with him for the starting job.

Now Troy Smith can kick back and watch Ohio State get housed by LSU. I hope it doesn't become a yearly thing...

They played almost all there starters, minus there S and LB, Big Ben was out on the offense.

[guitar84playr]

I agree that Smith has the potential to become a solid starting quarterback and possibly a star. Two and about a half games played with no interceptions is very good for a rookie. No matter what he was a bargain as a late round draft pick. He's playing better than most of the QB's that were taken in the first round of the last draft.

There are some areas that he needs to improve though. He needs to work on ball security, throwing accuracy while on the move, and decision making. Those are all things that will come with experience. I've followed him through out his college career. I know that nobody trains harder than this guy in the off season. There probably will be a "QB controversy" at the start of next season but I predict Troy Smith winning the starting position.

[Section147]

Troy has still only played one game against a first string line-up. That was against the Sea Hawks were his performance was marginial. If you missed it , the Steelers first string was setting on the bench, some of the players on the feild weren't even in the program. The Steelers were not taking any chances of their first string being beat up going into the playoffs , this game ment nothing to them, and they showed it. We are a long way from beating the drum, if we don't do some major changes to the offensive line and our secondary durning the off season , we could well be where the Dolphins are now next year.

[judge]

It goes without saying that we need to make some upgrades/improvements on the staff, most notably with the O-line. Especially if we have players retiring.

The fact of the matter regarding troy smith being the starter or not is unlikely to be as simple as let boller[or mcnair, or whomever] start until they suck and then switch in troy.

Troy smith is a QB of a different caiber than say boller, he has different strengths, and that is not to say that he also has weaknesses.

The Ravens would be wise, if to decide on smith being their starter, to devise an entirely different offensive scheme for the year, emphasizing on having smith at QB, but also having 2-3 run threats in the backfield at any given time (Smith, McGahee, fullback) If they can perfect a system with significant threat from the backfield like this, it will incredibly increase the deep threat to guys like clayton, darling and williams, but more importantly open up any double teams that would focus on such a skilled receiver as mason. I think with the proper playbook and playcalling, a scheme that CAN NOT be devised overnight(even though i have previously ridiculed the playcalling of the current regime) the team can be a force.

Most importantly, I believe the statistics show the ravens to have out gained their opponents as a whole this season(yardage) but lead the league in significant turnovers, most of which come from the QB position, and others would not have happened(several INT returns fumbled) had the defense not felt so pressured to play so aggressively.

If we can have any QB who can protect the ball, this team is certain to be a force in 2008.

[j_h_smith]

With the way this season went, I don't know what to expect next year. I do believe that Troy Smith earned a chance at the starting QB spot, but who knows. I would like to keep McNair. Maybe even as a Quarterback Coach. Anyone think this could happen?

I wouldn't want to venture a guess as to what's going to happen next year, but I do know, Troy Smith's value went up a lot after yesterday's game.

[Troy Smith IS the future..]

Troy has still only played one game against a first string line-up. That was against the Sea Hawks

The best defense in the NFL's backups.

Pro bowlers Casey Hampton, James Farrior and James Harrison are 2nd string? Thats amazing.

I watched a few of Smith's games during his senior season. He didn't impress me against Michigan and that pathetic performance against the Gators was embarrassing for him.

Look, if we take a CB and LB with the first two picks and stick with Smith, I'll take it. I want him to prove me wrong. I just hope Billick doesn't have his heart set on McNair or Boller. Smith deserves a fair shot, but I'd like to see someone (not McNair or Boller) compete with him for the starting job.

Now Troy Smith can kick back and watch Ohio State get housed by LSU. I hope it doesn't become a yearly thing...

If these stats don't pop out at you in the greatest rivalry in college football, adding to that the first time the two met as the #1 and #2 teams in the country, you're not right in the head.

29-41 Passing Attempts

316 Passing Yards

4 Touchdowns, 1 Interception

Would have been a 115 NFL QB Rating

Pathetic performance against the gaytors? This coming from another "you can't blame everything on the quarterback (I.E. Boller)." I believe 7 of the 11 players of that florida defense was drafted, i think that might be saying something. How about the pathetic performance of USF against Rutgers? They blew the first game they had the #2 ranking hahahaha, Ohio State went the whole season undefeated. if McNair comes back we've got to start him, and Troy should be #2, so if the injury prone McNair gets beaten again, send in the young gun.

[PIG 20]

Troy Smith beat the Squeelers at M&T.

Thats a pretty dam good start to a career as the Ravens QB if you ask me.

He may not understand the rivalry yet but he'll learn after this week how much we appreciate it.

You can't tell me that we had a rookie with just one start under his belt playing QB yesterday. That's special! The kid's a gamer!

I'm sold! Go Troy!

And yes, it's just that simple. If McNair wants to come back, he should have to battle Troy for the starting job.

[Ravens52]

I like Troy as much as the next guy but come on guys, you can't tell me you think Troy is already the future of this team?

[Bullrush]

And why not? Just because he was not a 1st round pick? I bet if we had wasted a 1st round pick on Troy he would've been our starter from day one. Just because we drafted him in the 5th round doesn't mean we have to keep him on the bench. He looked extremely good out there the past 4 games. At the very least he deserves a shot to be the starting QB next season, no matter who we bring in.

[LongLiveBillick]

I agree with you guys. Troy Smith looked calm, cool and collected...something I am not used to seeing in a quarterback in Baltimore.

He would take a deep drop, look at all receivers and make great passes. He ran when he needed to run, made mistakes and learned from them.

Pittsburgh also wasn't blitzing 8 guys on Troy like teams to Kyle because they knew Troy wouldn't panic and that he could look down field.

I think he's the future.

[saved72907]

I think it's absolutely absurd to say Troy needs to be our QB after 1 decent game. I wasn't impressed from what I saw in Seattle, and frankly he didn't do TOO much in this game. He played okay, but the fact he didn't have 2 INT was sheer luck of the D players dropping the ball. (Or was that 3?)

The bottom line is you cannot have such confidence as naming Troy our STARTING QB after 2 games, we need to see CONSISTENCY. Boller himself has played good games, but his issue is he is not consistent. Personally I wouldn't mind him being the starting QB and them trying him out at the position, because he would have potential to improve as he is only a rookie. But that would mean in the off season, and over the summer he would need to improve and show the team in practice he is capable. Yea, he played okay, but come on... naming him our QB already?

All this Troy Smith hype is making me sick, actually I've been sick. He beat a 2nd string Steelers defense, actually our RUNNING GAME beat the Steelers. Troy has been EXTREMELY LUCKY not to have been picked off atleast 8 times since he took over in Miami.

[Ravens52]

All this Troy Smith hype is making me sick, actually I've been sick. He beat a 2nd string Steelers defense, actually our RUNNING GAME beat the Steelers. Troy has been EXTREMELY LUCKY not to have been picked off atleast 8 times since he took over in Miami.

Exactly

[JonM229]

Cory Ross running people over won the game for us. Even Phill Simms was impressed by him.

[purplebandana]

How about Troys preformance today. 16/27 171 yards 1 TD and guess what...NO INTS!!! He also had 5 rushes for 23 yards. Troy better be the starting QB next year. Keep Boller as one of the top backup QB's in the NFL and focus our draft picks on OL's and DB's.

amen...

[Troy Smith IS the future..]

He beat a 2nd string Steelers defense,

When did pro bowlers James Farrior, James Harrison, and Casey Hampton get demoted to second string?

Polomolu is not the whole defense, he is the only 1 out of the 11 starters (even then, he had a knee injury), other than that, I have every single pass play on tape and I'd be happy to point out the other 10 starters that played every snap on defense from start to finish.

It's like these people halucinated the steelers second string defense playing last night.

[amwo]

Troy Smith beat the Squeelers at M&T.

Thats a pretty dam good start to a career as the Ravens QB if you ask me.

He may not understand the rivalry yet but he'll learn after this week how much we appreciate it.

You can't tell me that we had a rookie with just one start under his belt playing QB yesterday. That's special! The kid's a gamer!

I'm sold! Go Troy!

And yes, it's just that simple. If McNair wants to come back, he should have to battle Troy for the starting job.

Troy understands the greatest rivalry in sports period! ravens/steelers is nothing compared to Ohio state/michigan. How you perform as a player in those games follows you your entire career and I think troy proved himself in that rivalry and the one he played in yetserday. he had more poise and stance in the pocket than i have ever seen from boller! and his scrambling ability was impressive as well.

[LongLiveBillick]

All this Troy Smith hype is making me sick, actually I've been sick. He beat a 2nd string Steelers defense, actually our RUNNING GAME beat the Steelers. Troy has been EXTREMELY LUCKY not to have been picked off atleast 8 times since he took over in Miami.

17/27 171 YDs 1 TD

23 Yds Rushing

Yeah, the running backs did great. But don't say Troy didn't play well.

[footballfan1221]

after finally seeing troy smith play for the 1st time in the pros, i am just writing to say that all the talk about who the QB should be next year should stop! this is troy's team now and the ravens have a lot to focus on this off-season but quarterback isn't one of them. don't waste time and focus where focus is needed!

yeah I am so happy the way Troy played he really showed us something! I just wish the other team would of played their top players then it would have been even better!!!

[bigmacattack2123]

When did pro bowlers James Farrior, James Harrison, and Casey Hampton get demoted to second string?

Polomolu is not the whole defense, he is the only 1 out of the 11 starters (even then, he had a knee injury), other than that, I have every single pass play on tape and I'd be happy to point out the other 10 starters that played every snap on defense from start to finish.

It's like these people halucinated the steelers second string defense playing last night.

HOLY CRAP! AMEN! I was about to kerk out on all those saying it was a second string d...wow yea polomolu was out thank you!! How about batch playing against typically what a slim few 1st string cpl 2nd some 3rd n non exisistent strings haha. That d is a joke and the veteran couldn't get it done. And I am siiiiiiiiiiiiiiick of the whole oohhh the steelers weren't playing bs. 3rd seed was huge for them..they said "oh we don't care about that" yea u do u sound like ur telling ur middle school gf that u never liked her when she dumped u for ur best friend. Get outa here with that crap. When u play u play to win period.

[Mazda]

we were evenly matched, but think about it.... Steelers D- (without Troy) vs Troy SMith, a mostly inexperienced line, and a 4th string RB...... Troy is my boy!