Flacco In Perspective

[ravenwildman]

It is easy to dump on Joe. A lot is riding on him advancing faster then what is reasonable for a QB in the NFL.

Most QBs have the advantage of understudying under a good or great QB before being given the spot. Cassel under Brady, Rodgers under Favre and so on. As a rookie he has had to learn under a baptismal of fire. He is the franchises passing record holder in only three years. He has been to the playoffs as a starter since he went pro. In his third year his team is one of the top teams nearing mid season.

Can Joe make an other leap to take the Ravens to the Superbowl? Some pundits would say no, based on what? He can't do better than where he is they say. Go back and read the last paragraph and tell me truthfully what would cause anyone to think that after only 6 games into the season, with a 4-2 record Flacco is not able to progress any more. That is unfounded garbage.

I know as a fan I want the Ravens to go to Dallas, so I am asking Joe to do the unreasonable and meet this challenge head on! I want to see some media people eat some crow (Raven) for their words.

Had to be said.

GO RAVENS!

[Purple Punishment]

He is still a young QB in the league. We still haven't gotten him a young deep threat to grow with. We still have a banged up O-Line. We have Cam calling some crazy plays at demanding times. Flacco is getting shaken in the pocket sometimes and throws off of his back foot just to try to make a play. Its not just one thing that is hurting this young man. When we solidify the O-Line with Gaither bookending Oher things will dramatically change. Next year if we get Joe a young deep threat, he will improve leaps and bounds over his current state which is more than anyone expected from a 3rd year starter. I believe we have a great young QB and people should cut him slack when he has bad outings and realize that there are professionals on the other side of the ball playing against our Offense.

[Ngata92NT]

[quote name='Purple Punishment' timestamp='1287595198' post='514888']
He is still a young QB in the league. We still haven't gotten him a young deep threat to grow with. We still have a banged up O-Line. We have Cam calling some crazy plays at demanding times. Flacco is getting shaken in the pocket sometimes and throws off of his back foot just to try to make a play. Its not just one thing that is hurting this young man. When we solidify the O-Line with Gaither bookending Oher things will dramatically change. Next year if we get Joe a young deep threat, he will improve leaps and bounds over his current state which is more than anyone expected from a 3rd year starter. I believe we have a great young QB and people should cut him slack when he has bad outings and realize that there are professionals on the other side of the ball playing against our Offense.
[/quote]

Hopefully he will get his deep threat after the bye when Stallworth comes back. If we don't go four-wide with Boldin/Mason/Housh/Stallworth I'm going to go insane. Flacco HAS progressed no matter what people say. He can make any throw he just needs to make better reads. He's done very well so far IMO.

[steeldude]

I think the fact that he is a young quarterback has nothing to do with it. He has all the tools and shows that consistently. As a fan of a rival AFC North team I see your problem as an offensive coordinator issue. His play calling is too conservative and predictable. The worst example of that is the Pats game. To have them down 10 points with 10 mins to go-you guys should have went for the jugular. instead Cameron went totally conservative. That was inexcusable. You guys in Baltimore should be asking for Cam Camerons head. He is holding Flacco back-not utilizing the amazing talent you have on this team!

[AsianRice]

Joe and Cam have been beaten terribly by Zone 2 defense twice already. It's time to make other opponents bite for the repetition.

The first time you got beat by Zone 2 is you are outcoached, the second time is you are stubborn and blind, and the third time is *********************

[steeldude]

[quote name='AsianRice' timestamp='1287603233' post='515011']
Joe and Cam have been beaten terribly by Zone 2 defense twice already. It's time to make other opponents bite for the repetition.

The first time you got beat by Zone 2 is you are outcoached, the second time is you are stubborn and blind, and the third time is *********************



[/quote]

And cover two is soo easy to beat with audibles and no huddling? Why are you guys running Rice to the right so much. He is such a threat as a receiver. You all should have a town meeting and demand Cam Cameron attend!

[Mick0311]

I agree with the above statements so far. Don't get me wrong, I like Joe as our QB, I think he is doing just fine. But, the area where I think he needs work the most is his awareness. Throw it deep if a defender jumps offsides. Step up in the pocket if pressure comes from the outside edges. For God's sake, if Polamalu is lined up at the line of scrimmage, and you have a run play going to that side, switch it up. I get that Cam is not letting him do this, but there is a point where he must say, BS, I'm sending Rice to the left on this one. These are things that he should be doing, or at least showing an inclination every once in a while of doing. OK, for all the reflexive haters, I think we have a good thing in Flacco, a very good thing, but he is not immune from mistakes. Fact of life.

[Jamal]

Flacco has pressure, but its nowhere near guys like Kolb, Sanchez, or Eli. Hes probably glad he plays for Baltimore.

[Alexir]

Sam Bradford has just as much pressure and his best receiver was Mark Clayton....which was Joe's number 2.

Including playoffs, Joe Flacco has played 43 games. So I kind of disagree that there is "unfair pressure" on Joe. I don't expect him to be Peyton Manning, he is still young. I just expect him to play like he's played 43 games lol

[purple_pride]

eli???? huh?? no body here in nyc is calling for elis head. they were calling for the HC head. but that kinda died down.ever since he won that super bowl he doesnt get that much flack like he use to get..

[JohnJohnson]

[quote name='Alexir' timestamp='1287610094' post='515114']
Sam Bradford has just as much pressure and his best receiver was Mark Clayton....which was Joe's number 2.

Including playoffs, Joe Flacco has played 43 games. So I kind of disagree that there is "unfair pressure" on Joe. I don't expect him to be Peyton Manning, he is still young. I just expect him to play like he's played 43 games lol
[/quote]

But he came from a division 2 school. Those are 43 games on the fly, adjusting to the NFL level while trying to take in all of the knowledge that QBs need, and win games. Not many QBs have come into the league and been better over that span, and many of them were probably more prepared. Two years as a starter at D-2 level, two years as a starter in the NFL. He's entering his fifth year of football, think about how huge of a journey it's been for him. Just a little over four years ago, he was starting at Delaware, thankful for the chance to even show what he could do. During the Patriots game, they said he has started more games than anyone ever has for the amount of time he's been in the league.

And I don't know that any QB has escaped criticism from the fans in their first 2-3 years, with the exception of Tom Brady.

[Alexir]

[quote name='JohnJohnson' timestamp='1287624091' post='515284']
But he came from a division 2 school. Those are 43 games on the fly, adjusting to the NFL level while trying to take in all of the knowledge that QBs need, and win games. Not many QBs have come into the league and been better over that span, and many of them were probably more prepared. Two years as a starter at D-2 level, two years as a starter in the NFL. He's entering his fifth year of football, think about how huge of a journey it's been for him. Just a little over four years ago, he was starting at Delaware, thankful for the chance to even show what he could do. During the Patriots game, they said he has started more games than anyone ever has for the amount of time he's been in the league.

And I don't know that any QB has escaped criticism from the fans in their first 2-3 years, with the exception of Tom Brady.
[/quote]


Cop out. Joe was verbally committed to Pissburgh but went to Delaware to get playing time. I'm sorry. No matter what school you went to, if you are drafted in the first round, someone saw something special in you. Period. If you have 3 training camps under your belt, 12 pre season games, and 43 regular season games, you are officially an NFL player and you need to play up to that standard. Not saying he isn't but I wouldnt call him elite. I wouldnt call Canton but its obvious he needs to improve but he is what we need him to be.

[JohnJohnson]

[quote name='Alexir' timestamp='1287633778' post='515412']
Cop out. Joe was verbally committed to Pissburgh but went to Delaware to get playing time. I'm sorry. No matter what school you went to, if you are drafted in the first round, someone saw something special in you. Period. If you have 3 training camps under your belt, 12 pre season games, and 43 regular season games, you are officially an NFL player and you need to play up to that standard. Not saying he isn't but I wouldnt call him elite. I wouldnt call Canton but its obvious he needs to improve but he is what we need him to be.
[/quote]

I knew you were going to say cop out, but it's not. No one saw anything in him until his senior season. He left Pissburgh because he didn't think he would get the chance to play there, and he never did play there. Like I said, no QB has done much better in 43 games than he has, so your expectations are a little arbitrary. He has played more games in his time in the league than any QB ever has, so his development is unprecedented to a degree.