Starting Qb Next Year?

[Enisity]

I think we should give mcnair a few games to start and see how he does but also allow Troy Smith to sub in maybe like switch off every quarter or half? ...........I would really like to see more of Troy Smith.

[Raven07]

point proven, i think its shaping up to be McNair at the helm with Troy (i believe as the Back up behind McNair)....McNair has alot to Prove to the public that he deserves another shot after last season.......to prove to everyone and his critics out there that he's not washed up and done with....he can still play....at least i know he can still play, i mean any doubt or question about his play making ability, should be erased after our 13-3 season with McNair under center and at the helm.......this season is like a Re-bound year for him to prove just that.....that last season is behind them and him, the future is now and thus thats what he's going to be playing for.

[ragnorok99]

I think we should give mcnair a few games to start and see how he does but also allow Troy Smith to sub in maybe like switch off every quarter or half? ...........I would really like to see more of Troy Smith.

I don't know how well the switching-off every quarter or half idea that's been floating around this board would work. It'd be hard for either QB to get into a rhythm, egos would be an issue, and trust could be an issue.

Then, you have to consider the O-line. They would have to get used to hearing a new style of cadence multiple times a game. We've all seen the Ravens line struggle with false starts; I think constantly switching QBs would only add to that. Furthermore, they'd have to adjust from protecting a no-longer-totally-mobile QB in McNair to rolling and wheeling with a super-mobile guy in Smith.

As for substituting one QB or another for special situations or gadget plays, I'm all for it, but I'm not too hot on the full-fledged QB-by-committee idea.

[Raven07]

yea there's that issue in which to be a little worried or concerned about, but there's also the fact of getting comfortable with those players around you....meaning no matter who's under center taking the snaps...the whole team has the poise and the confidence in which they need in order to drive down the length of the football field and score those points on the board......if both Quarterbacks are in there at some point in time, (whether the playing time between the 2 players, be split in half...like one plays the first half, the other plays the second half) the main issue here is getting the entire team as a whole unit into that comfort zone....and by doing a strategy such as this.....it allows for the Team to get comfortable with either or of the 2 quarterbacks under center....heck there could even be a possbility of a Quarterback rotation on every other play...we dont know for sure on what exactly will happen. but you or we can all rest assure that we will come around and put forth a strong valiant performance...come sunday.

[XXl007lXX]

If Steve is 100%, I can't see how we wouldn't start him.

If Steve isn't 100%, we have to give Troy a chance.

[Raven07]

thats the overall feel or jist that i got from this whole thing.....and reports from the Ravens Training Facility, says that McNair is just about 100 percent healthy, if not already......and from the looks from things and what Steve's teammates are saying about him...he's working hard, training harder, and preparing like he's going to be the starter.....as such steve looks (as of right now, this instant) to be the main guy to go with at this current point in time..and who knows....maybe just maybe he will reward us with great play and offensive production and really get this team where it needs to be, all the while, during that whole process.....Mentoring Troy and shaping him up to become the eventual starter for this team.

[ragnorok99]

yea there's that issue in which to be a little worried or concerned about, but there's also the fact of getting comfortable with those players around you....meaning no matter who's under center taking the snaps...the whole team has the poise and the confidence in which they need in order to drive down the length of the football field and score those points on the board......if both Quarterbacks are in there at some point in time, (whether the playing time between the 2 players, be split in half...like one plays the first half, the other plays the second half) the main issue here is getting the entire team as a whole unit into that comfort zone....and by doing a strategy such as this.....it allows for the Team to get comfortable with either or of the 2 quarterbacks under center....heck there could even be a possbility of a Quarterback rotation on every other play...we dont know for sure on what exactly will happen. but you or we can all rest assure that we will come around and put forth a strong valiant performance...come sunday.

Yeah, but if you're rotating quarterbacks, you're telling them neither is good enough to stay on the field for the whole game. Would make the starting and leadership roles ambiguous, and it could lead to some angry egos.

I've never played quarterback in my life, but I think it would be much more difficult to get a feel for a defense if you're getting yanked every other quarter or series or play. Quarterbacks learn more about a defense as the game progresses--interrupting that learning process can't be a good thing.

Let's say a certain blitz fools McNair and he throws an INT--yeah, he screwed up, but he'll know what that blitz looks like later in the game and be more prepared for it. If Smith comes in, though, he'd have to "re-learn" that blitz, possibly making the same mistake.

It also has the potential to make clock-management more complicated, which, like the false starts, has burned the team in the past. Plus, the QBs will be wondering if they're going to be on the field for the next play instead of concentrating on what the next play actually is...I just don't like it.

[vern]

I believe Smith should have a shot at starting. From the way he looked at the end of last season what harm would it do.

[rayvenfan_52]

Even though I voted for Smith.. Id much rather love to keep McNair and do what you said with em Raven07.. Rotate em out... I think its going to be a waste of a draft pick if we get another QB and thats gonna really get me mad if that happens. Smith showed promise at the end of the season. McNair is good when at the top of his health. Boller will be a back up no matter what.. atleast its what I think. But alteast give McNair nd Smith a chance though... The team just needs a good o line to protect em for them to get those perfect throws without having to worry about rushing...

[FerrariFan87]

Sadly, McNair looked his age last year, and is only getting older and he can't throw over 25 yards so I don't want him back as starter. Boller had his shot, and failed once again, so enough is enough. Troy Smith has poise, athleticism, a great work ethic, and is a winner, so he gets my vote at this early point. Depending on whom we draft this year and seeing what they all do in training camp and the pre-season, I can't put anyone in as the starter, but I would prefer Smith...

[geo]

Only four votes to KB? Nice.

I would say it is a split decision between him and McNair.

[Raven07]

which i feel, seems to be the most reasonable and the most logical way to go with at this point in time....Boller certainly has had more than his fair share of "starting" opportunities and time and time again....he has continually showed a constant thing of him not being that of "starter" quality....but he's certainly proven that he can certainly be a solid number 2, back-up quarterback type player, whom can step in at any time and (based from his years experience as starter) doesnt have to wonder and/or worry about if he can get it done...he most certainly can get it done, he just lacks the overall consistancy in order to do so on a continual play in and play out, week in and week out, basis.

Thus is why Troy seems to be ther guy that the city of Baltimore has alot faith and hope stored into..i remember when at the start of per-season and during the course of the pre-season last year, there was alot of speculation about Troy's ability to play and the overall inconsistancy he was displaying at different points in time. well let me just say that every rookie or "young" player will struggle in time, but its their ability to overcome those times and the adversity....adapting to a new system and allowing the proper amount of time to adjust, that will be the deciding factor in how much of a factor and how "good" his development has come along for both him and this team. everything takes time and throughout the course of last season, the only thing that was said (practically) of Troy, was the way he performed in the pre-season...and all this and that....people getting hung up on one thing for too long, then the end of the season rolls around and Troy steps into the starting role and BAM!.......his overall athletic ability and play, practically shut everyone up.......well to be honest with you.....what did everyone expect him to do? go the entire season without learning a dang thing?......and just sit there? no, he took everything in stride as a learning experience and adapted quite well. so i say give Troy mor time and things will certainly pan out.

[rayvenfan_52]

cant wait to see how Troy does. Id also like to see McNair come back. Itll be just like when critics said Favre was washed up and too old. Look at the season he just had. Maybe that will happen to McNair.

[RoflDogs]

Let troy start this year, if he sucks(i doubt it ) just use the draft to draft a quarterback, cuz this year all the qbs look like busts....

[rayvenfan_52]

id love to see troy start. but im also wanting mcnair to get a shot at it too.. a healthy mcnair = good offense like the 06 season

[Raven07]

Troy will start with time and better/more fine tuning his skills and game play to best fit this system and the team overall....and with a completely new system, i think that he will have to further his adjustments a bit more, in order to best fit in Cameron's schemes and what he wants to do with the offense.

Troy certainly has the talent to do so, and thus has all the qualities in a quarterback that the Ravens have been looking for....and thus all he needs is a bit more time to fine tune his style and abilities to best fit this team as a whole........besides, if we keep drafting quarterback after quarterback or bring in more quarterbacks from other teams....wouldnt that be just like "shooting yourself in the foot?".....isnt the game plan here to Find and have our Franchise Quarterback? and not have to keep this never ending circle going? i would surely hope so....and as such is why i re-iterate.....we dont need yet another qb on this team/roster......our most noticable issue or position we need to address first and foremost is that of the CornerBack position. plain and simple beause of what i've said before and because Rolle himself suggested that the Ravens draft a Corner just in case....thus marketing the best player on the board as Leodis for the job..IF he's still available at the number 8 spot. but anyways...thats beside the point, with Troy all that is needed to fine tune him is a such thing as time.....something that Boller never really got....he was just shoved in there without anything and had to basically be self-taught...thus the result of that being what it is......

and by the way....isnt Time what we want our quarterback to have? time to learn Properly and adjust the right way?.........how can he do such a thing if everyone is saying "PUT HIM IN NOW!"? thats totally the oposite as to what people were saying a year ago on here...."draft a franchise quarterback....let him sit and study and learn at his own pace.....then put him in, given the time".....thus we must stick by that.

[SupaBwandin]

looks like mcnair is outta the question

[smashmouth]

Well my vote is worthless now, Guess I will wait for Pre-season to come around to make up my mind now. I figure Boller will probally be the guy, but I'm hopeing Troy Learns alot this off season, If He improves from last year He may just take the reigns.

[Bazard]

kyle boller

[akabaltimore2009]

I got my bets on Troy Smith. I think that he will show the team that he is ready to lead this offseason. Kyle Boller will always be a 2nd string quaterback, dont get me wrong I like him but he's just not starting quaterback material. The best thing the Ravens can do is to put Troy Smith in, he'll do fine. With McNair out of the picture we can accutally get in a couple of snaps without fumbling the ball(no offense to McNair Fans). With the defense at the top of the league all we have to do is step up our offense, and I think we could be real Super Bowl material this year.

[rayvenfan_52]

My vote is solely on Smith now. Its sad that McNair left though. This time his body couldnt take as much punishment as it could have over the years. He was great though Nonetheless. I just hope Smith learned everything he could from McNair.

[stan]

Boller is the incumbent and I have reserved criticism of him until now. I've been watching replays on NFL Network of the Ravens / Bills game where we lost to a rookie QB in Buffalo. We lost because of Kyle Boller.

Sorry Kyle

[rayvenfan_52]

which is why i put my vote on smith

[samic]

no qb in this draft in my mind is better than troy day 1 and once camp opens i honestly believe kyle has no chance against troy in an open competition. the guy just has qualities i don't think boller possesses. yes boller may have a gun for an arm and he has shown that he's tough and will run when he gets an open lane. but we all know boller's pocket awareness is limited, he has difficulty reading coverages, he's not really a mobile qb (did you see mcnair cracking up when he ran for a first down and jumped out of bounds with some kind of bunny hop!! i can't remember the game but i remember seeing steve laughing on the sidelines), he's not a leader in the huddle and his decision making is poor. i really hope troy continued to progress over the off-season and improved on those things he needed to work on from last year. what it all comes down to is who really wants it more. it all comes down to the player showing the coaches enough to convince them that they deserve the job.

[smashmouth]

no qb in this draft in my mind is better than troy day 1 and once camp opens i honestly believe kyle has no chance against troy in an open competition. the guy just has qualities i don't think boller possesses. yes boller may have a gun for an arm and he has shown that he's tough and will run when he gets an open lane. but we all know boller's pocket awareness is limited, he has difficulty reading coverages, he's not really a mobile qb (did you see mcnair cracking up when he ran for a first down and jumped out of bounds with some kind of bunny hop!! i can't remember the game but i remember seeing steve laughing on the sidelines), he's not a leader in the huddle and his decision making is poor. i really hope troy continued to progress over the off-season and improved on those things he needed to work on from last year. what it all comes down to is who really wants it more. it all comes down to the player showing the coaches enough to convince them that they deserve the job.

There's alot of Troy Smith fans out there, Most of them think the same way, Bottem line is that He hasnt shown that He could lead a team during the season or during OTA's. A little competion does nothing but help push other players of the same postion. Right now no one in the Ravens organization thinks that TS or Boller is the guy for the Job of the future, so we are more then Likley going to bring a guy in, If thats Matt Ryan then so be it. I also think that even if we spend a high draft pick on a QB that we will not expect him to start right away.

[samic]

There's alot of Troy Smith fans out there, Most of them think the same way, Bottem line is that He hasnt shown that He could lead a team during the season or during OTA's. A little competion does nothing but help push other players of the same postion. Right now no one in the Ravens organization thinks that TS or Boller is the guy for the Job of the future, so we are more then Likley going to bring a guy in, If thats Matt Ryan then so be it. I also think that even if we spend a high draft pick on a QB that we will not expect him to start right away.

i don't know what makes you think no one in the organization thinks troy can start. why keep him then, let him go to another team then and wish him all the best. but we'll see on draft day how this organization really feels about him. from what i've seen the players believe in troy. derrick mason felt like he handled himself like a veteran in his starts. my enthusiasm for troy is based on what i've seen of him in college and the promise he's shown in his time in the games he's played. but again, we'll just have to wait and see.

[neepo13]

There's alot of Troy Smith fans out there, Most of them think the same way, Bottem line is that He hasnt shown that He could lead a team during the season or during OTA's. A little competion does nothing but help push other players of the same postion. Right now no one in the Ravens organization thinks that TS or Boller is the guy for the Job of the future, so we are more then Likley going to bring a guy in, If thats Matt Ryan then so be it. I also think that even if we spend a high draft pick on a QB that we will not expect him to start right away.

The only problem with that is if Matt Ryan is the guy there will be no real competion. There is no way they are going to pay a guy 20 some million dollars in bonuses and have him ride the bench. He might not be handed the starting job his rookie year but eventually it will be HANDED to him. Ironically, thats the thing you've been argueing we shouldnt do to Troy Smith. And I agree. But that doesnt mean we need to bring in another unproven player and hand him the job. What has he proven that the guys on our roster havent already proven?

[rayvenfan_52]

The only problem with that is if Matt Ryan is the guy there will be no real competion. There is no way they are going to pay a guy 20 some million dollars in bonuses and have him ride the bench. He might not be handed the starting job his rookie year but eventually it will be HANDED to him. Ironically, thats the thing you've been argueing we shouldnt do to Troy Smith. And I agree. But that doesnt mean we need to bring in another unproven player and hand him the job. What has he proven that the guys on our roster havent already proven?

There we go. Listen to what Neepo says for all the people who want Matt Ryan to come in and start.

[die_hard_raven]

There's alot of Troy Smith fans out there, Most of them think the same way, Bottem line is that He hasnt shown that He could lead a team during the season or during OTA's. A little competion does nothing but help push other players of the same postion. Right now no one in the Ravens organization thinks that TS or Boller is the guy for the Job of the future, so we are more then Likley going to bring a guy in, If thats Matt Ryan then so be it. I also think that even if we spend a high draft pick on a QB that we will not expect him to start right away.

1st of all Troy didn't start many games and the reason he was not starting is because of McNair and because Boller has been there alot longer and new the system better. The reason Troy started is because Boller performed so poorly. No one knows what Troy can do. The one thing we know about Troy is that he could lead the team down field, he is athletic and has potential to improve alot. What do we know about a rookie that has never stepped on the field and has the potential to destory our salary cap? NOTHING. Stats don't translate into NFL success. I'm not against drafting a rookie but don't knock Troy when he hasn't even had a chance to show what he can do.

[rayvenfan_52]

Exactly. As Ive said before. Hes got a lot of potential. Give him and draft a Corner of something. Otherwise it would have been a waste of time picking him up. Its true he didnt go in the 1st round... But he MIGHT be one of those late round draft picks that were STARS. I guess we'll just have to wait and see what happens.