MERGED: Flacco Needs to Play Better

[Clutch Ravens]

Flacco wasn't asked to do anything more than manage the Denver game after the first Quarter (in which he put up over 100 yards).

We're atop the AFC with a 4-1 record, our All-Pro Safety Ed Reed is coming back and people are still moaning? You know what, I'll take the way Joe played today if it means we win 31-17 in all of our remaining games.

It's good to have high expectations, but expecations can be too high.

[berad]

The thing is, Joe Flacco did not do a bad job today. I don't understand where people are getting that from.

When his protection broke down, he did an excellent job evading pressure and throwing the ball away, something he has had issues with in the past.

I don't know, maybe I'm just blind.. Everyone in the stadium was remarking about how well Joe played.. Maybe it looked different on TV?

[RavensAllTheWay]

[quote name='edreedfromtheu' timestamp='1286756458' post='504291']
THANK YOU! If I see this guy throw as he's hop-stepping one more time. Or if he throws off his back foot with no pressure on him one more time.

The receivers ARE getting open. [b]But by the time Flacco's late, fluttering, floating, soft passes get to them... [/b]the defense has caught up and it LOOKS like the receiver isn't open to anyone who wasn't watching the entire play.

We've said it before the season started, and we'll say it all season long... Flacco has no more excuses. The receivers are there. The blocking is there. Joe... step it up.
[/quote]
I'll have to agree that Joe needs to improve his throws more than anything, and by that I mean he needs to quit the lofting and floating. If he floats one out of bounds on a throw away, fine. But don't do it in open field.

Although his stats aren't pretty, he's done an outstanding job so far and has made big time throws. But of course there's always room for improvement.

[Xxx52xxX]

Ok lets get this straight. Im drunk im happy. Flacco pwns and life is good got it sweet.

[PuRock]

[quote name='Xxx52xxX' timestamp='1286759135' post='504361']
[b]Ok lets get this straight. Im drunk im happy.[/b] Flacco pwns and life is good got it sweet.
[/quote]

Phew. Good thing you did, I was extremely worried that you were sober and sad.

[SackinU]

Good grief - Joe did nothing more than have 200 yds passing and no INTs with 15 YDS rushing with a TD.. how awful, he should be flogged....

We won with DILFER... I think we will be ok with Flacco....

[ravensdfan]

[quote name='EnVy_CaLiBeR' timestamp='1286744504' post='504033']
You have to give credit to the Broncos pass D. They are not horrible by any means. Perrish Cox stepped up when he was getting picked on and Boldin was blanketed by Champ. They were also getting pressure. Running the ball was the best way to go regardless.
[/quote]

We marched down the field with ease at the start of the game. Right into the red zone three straight times. Then what happened? The O line gave away just enough to let the pressure through. And then...Cam backed off yet again. Yeah we were winning. So some clock control is in order. But the play calling was too conservative too early in the game. We let them hang around and it could have resulted in a loss. It is not always Joe's fault. The O line needs some consistency too. And Cam needs to show a little faith.

[Guest Maryland1]

[font="Verdana"][size="2"]Flacco had a very good, but not great, performance. He still needs some work on mechanics and being consistent.


[/size][/font][size="2"][font="Verdana"][b][color="#0000ff"]Mike Preston's Ravens-Broncos report card
[/color][/b]
[/font][/size][size="2"][font="Verdana"][b]Quarterback

[/b]Joe Flacco wasn't spectacular, but solid, especially when he had to be in the first half. It was a typical Flacco performance; he ran hot and cold. The first-down run in the third quarter on third-and-7 was a huge play. When Flacco drills a pass, he is one of the better throwers in the NFL.
[/font][/size][b]
[size="2"][font="Verdana"]Grade: [color="#ff0000"]C+[/color][/font][/size][/b]

[url="http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/ravens/bs-sp-ravens-report-card1011-20101010,0,1155453.story"][font="Verdana"][size="2"][url="http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/ravens/bs-sp-ravens-report-card1011-20101010,0,1155453.story"]http://www.baltimore...0,1155453.story[/url][/size][/font][/url]

[GTRavens]

Flacco seems to get a bit lazy out there when we have big leads. I've seen a lot of games where he starts out with awesome numbers, then coasts the rest of the way, even if the victory isn't totally secure. If the lead's back in serious danger, though, he seems to turn it on again.

[JohnJohnson]

[quote name='Maryland1' timestamp='1286761953' post='504433']
[font="Verdana"][size="2"]Flacco had a very good, but not great, performance. He still needs some work on mechanics and being consistent.


[/size][/font][size="2"][font="Verdana"][b][color="#0000ff"]Mike Preston's Ravens-Broncos report card
[/color][/b]
[/font][/size][size="2"][font="Verdana"][b]Quarterback

[/b]Joe Flacco wasn't spectacular, but solid, especially when he had to be in the first half. It was a typical Flacco performance; he ran hot and cold. The first-down run in the third quarter on third-and-7 was a huge play. When Flacco drills a pass, he is one of the better throwers in the NFL.
[/font][/size][b]
[size="2"][font="Verdana"]Grade: [color="#ff0000"]C+[/color][/font][/size][/b]

[url="http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/ravens/bs-sp-ravens-report-card1011-20101010,0,1155453.story"][font="Verdana"][size="2"][url="http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/ravens/bs-sp-ravens-report-card1011-20101010,0,1155453.story"]http://www.baltimore...0,1155453.story[/url][/size][/font][/url]
[/quote]

I don't understand what he means by "typical Flacco performance." What QB doesn't do better at different points in the game? He didn't throw an interception. He didn't give up a forced fumble. He threw for over 200 yards and had a rushing TD. We didn't throw much in the second half, because we were consistently running it. I remember a key drop by Boldin that allowed the Broncos to score before the end of the first half. Flacco's pass to Mason resulted in PI, and we got a TD out of it. Shouldn't Flacco get at least a B?

[JEEPercreepermd]

Here's something that absolutely EVERYONE fails to mention. The other team gets paid too. There were a lot of plays where there was nobody open, and he had pressure on him. Q let sure 1st down pass go right through his hands, and in the 2nd half they were just pounding the ball anyway. When the game was still undecided, Flacco ran the Offense up and down the field at will. Play calling got WAY more conservative once they had that 17-0 lead.

Does Flacco need to play better? Yes. So does the ENTIRE TEAM. They just had their first blow out win of the year and people are doing nothing but complaining. Sometimes I question why I even post here.

[flynismo]

[quote name='purple.n.black' timestamp='1286753598' post='504237']And how is anyone going to saw we have the &quot;best WR corps in the league&quot;. That is just not true.<br />[/quote]


Yeah, actually you can make a very compelling argument that we do.

[D_UP]

I don't understand why people knock the guy even when the ravens win. The NFL is a tough league with the best of the best on the field, but it seems folks knock flacco for one thing or the other. The guy had a decent game alot of the qb's struggled today manning, shaub etc.

[ravensdfan]

[quote name='1/28/01' timestamp='1286754761' post='504254']
Agreed.....we were a few odd calls away from 7 on our first drive which would have had us with 38 pts on the day, yet Flacco is still getting these type of threads. Go figure....
[/quote]

I think it is a conspiracy hatched by the Troy Smith for starter fans. They are just sore lol.

[berad]

[quote name='D_UP' timestamp='1286763785' post='504467']
I don't understand why people knock the guy even when the ravens win. The NFL is a tough league with the best of the best on the field, but it seems folks knock flacco for one thing or the other. The guy had a decent game alot of the qb's struggled today manning, shaub etc.
[/quote]

They heard Jamie Dukes say it, so it must be true

[SackinU]

Unless Flacco puts up 400 and 4 there are those who will bang on him....

[rlh445]

[quote name='MagicianCamille' timestamp='1286744435' post='504029']
You can't win a championship in the NFL today without a solid quarterback. I think Joe was fine today considering we pretty much ran the ball down their throats, but there's cause for worry when we really haven't seen Joe have a great game yet.
[/quote]


What constitutes a 'great game'? Guys, Joe Flacco will never be Peyton. He'll never be Brady, he'll never be this mystical magical super elite QB you all seem to think he should be by now in his *third* year. GET OVER IT!! He will, however, continue to improve and as far as I'm concerned, every game this year we've won have been great games, because we won. He's one of the few quarterbacks today that didn't throw an INT. I'd call that great. He IS reading through his progressions, but Champ put the clamp on Boldin, and before BDawk went out Joe was probably worried about him too. Most of his misses were either drops (a rare one by Boldin) or throw aways which every last one of you whiners were complaining about last year (WHY DOESN'T HE JUST THROW THE BALL AWAY?!). Well, now he is. Sheesh. Talk about hard to please.

[flynismo]

[quote name='SackinU' timestamp='1286764287' post='504481']<br />Unless Flacco puts up 400 and 4 there are those who will bang on him....<br />[/quote]

Not true.
They'd complain about the overthrow that could've been TD #5.

[H8R]

Crybabies........ Flacco is a rhythm passer. He was very Sharp early then the Broncos started working our OLINE. I still think people expect too much out of young Qbs. How long did it take Peyton to win the big one???? If you think Joe won't win more games for us this year, you're crazy.

I think negative Nancy fans needs to pick which side of the fence they're on...." we just need a game manager" the same people say" Flacco is only a game manger".... make up your mind.

[purple.n.black]

They're working on it. It has gotten a lot better. Don't worry it will only get better and he will plant his feet more. If you're still unhappy after next week call up Harbs and tell him to bench Flacco, or call Oz and convince him to get another 1st round QB next year. Don't make another topic like this though.

[rlh445]

[quote name='nextgen_RavensFan' timestamp='1286737329' post='503679']
The guy has a great arm but it is like he hits spots in every game where he could not hit a suburban standing still. It is just so frustrating. I know we are winning but where is the consistency ?
[/quote]

The only consistent thing about ANYTHING in football is that you can count on armchair coaches complaining every week about the teams' quarterback whether it's a win or a loss, or even a blowout (and especially a win, because we can't have nice things). When fans say 'consistency', they really mean 'multiple throwing touchdowns from everywhere on the field'. Sorry guys and gals, that's about as realistic as thinking Troy Smith was gonna get the starting job back from Flacco after his injury.
The only thing I care about is that Joe has been consistently helping to get the Ravens wins this year.

[Purple Nurple]

[quote name='AsianRice' timestamp='1286756168' post='504281']
Let's this nonesense debate to end.
[/quote]

I agree....wait......what?

[Alexir]

[quote name='Moderator 2' timestamp='1286754696' post='504253']
Agreed I don't get it.
[/quote]

I think people are just saying that we gave him an offensive line, got him SEVERAL weapons and there just doesn't seem to be much progression. We want him to be our "Big Ben" or Phillip Rivers when he is performing like Alex Smith /Jason Campbell.

Yes we won. I am sooo glad we went back to the running game more this week. Yes we are 4-1 but from a 3rd year QB I want to see less overthrown balls, faster releases, better timing and just better poise. I wanna see smart plays and not taking a sack on 4th and inches. I wanna see receivers not coming back on their 9 routes because they have to wait for the ball to get to them.



I'm not hating on the guy by any means, but this is a discussion forum and I am not going to just talk about everything we did right. 5 games into the season and Flacco has played alright minus the dreadful Bengals game.


But to say he is playing good or great would just be bias. Not to bring statistics into this but look at his completion percentage. He is in the bottom tier with 57%. Yards Per attempt is also in the lowest tier.

It's just a little concerning to me and if you are comfortable with the level of his play, more power to you. But I want us to dominate our division for years to come and I want us to be able to actually beat the colts one day lol.


P.s. He did make some great plays with his feet today. Totally trucked DJ Williams today.

[BloodRaven]

I get that this is a topic of contention, but I wasn't really expecting such a hardline split in opinion.

[ravensfan160]

Freakin Drew Brees played horribly and lost to an undrafted rookie QB making his first NFL start. Carson Palmer threw 3 int's and lost to the the Bucs. Peyton Manning hasn't quite looked like Peyton Manning all year.

My point is get over it. We won. He made the plays when they matter most just like the Steeler game. I would rather him play poorly in the 2nd qtr and solid in the 4th than the other way around.

[Alexir]

[quote name='ravensfan160' timestamp='1286770832' post='504615']
Freakin Drew Brees played horribly and lost to an undrafted rookie QB making his first NFL start. Carson Palmer threw 3 int's and lost to the the Bucs. Peyton Manning hasn't quite looked like Peyton Manning all year.

My point is get over it. We won. He made the plays when they matter most just like the Steeler game. I would rather him play poorly in the 2nd qtr and solid in the 4th than the other way around.
[/quote]

Again, I don't understand why you have to get so defensive about his mediocre play. People are just concerned with his accuracy and release. It maybe nothing to worry about now since we are winning but this is something that needs to be addressed before the playoffs.

[ravensdfan]

"we gave him an O line" Really? I think they've played pretty inconsistent. Totally broke down against the Bengals. Held up alright for the Jets. Held up stellar today in the beginning then began to break down. I'm not saying Joe is perfect. I'm saying he's a 3rd year QB. There are things he still needs to learn. The fact is as well that we DO have a defense and a running game. We are not going to air the ball as much as Manning, Brees, Rivers etc. When you throw the ball 40 - 50 times a game it goes a long way to bringing up those numbers. Joe is fine. He is progressing just fine.

[1/28/01]

[quote name='ravensfan160' timestamp='1286770832' post='504615']
Freakin Drew Brees played horribly and lost to an undrafted rookie QB making his first NFL start. Carson Palmer threw 3 int's and lost to the the Bucs. [B]Peyton Manning hasn't quite looked like Peyton Manning all year.[/b]

My point is get over it. We won. He made the plays when they matter most just like the Steeler game. I would rather him play poorly in the 2nd qtr and solid in the 4th than the other way around.
[/quote]
I'll give you the Colts not looking Colt-esque, but Manning has been great all year!

[gabefergy]

I dont think anyone is really hating on Flacco, but everytime he leans back and releases off his back foot I cringe.

[JohnJohnson]

[quote name='Alexir' timestamp='1286770221' post='504596']
I think people are just saying that we gave him an offensive line, got him SEVERAL weapons and there just doesn't seem to be much progression. We want him to be our "Big Ben" or Phillip Rivers when he is performing like Alex Smith /Jason Campbell.

Yes we won. I am sooo glad we went back to the running game more this week. Yes we are 4-1 but from a 3rd year QB I want to see less overthrown balls, faster releases, better timing and just better poise. I wanna see smart plays and not taking a sack on 4th and inches. I wanna see receivers not coming back on their 9 routes because they have to wait for the ball to get to them.
[/quote]

There doesn't seem to be much progression? Have you watched the games? How can you compare him to Alex Smith or Jason Campbell when he showed more potential in his rookie year than they ever have?

He's in his THIRD YEAR. He made plenty of good plays today, and Rivers/Ben have had terrible games as well. Leave Flacco alone, we've had enough of the negativity. He's just beginning to show us what he's capable of, no great QBs have peaked after 2 seasons. Relax.