[Blogs] Ravens Trust Flacco WILL Take Games Over

[BR News]

Mere days after Joe Flacco posted a disappointing showing against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Ravens Head Coach John Harbaugh expressed confidence that the third-year quarterback can still join the elite class of passers.

With Flacco completing 16 of 30 passes for only 125 yards – losing a fumble and an interception along the way – the Ravens lost 31-24 in their playoff ouster.

In judging Flacco’s performance, Harbaugh took a look at the bigger picture.

“I think he is going to the place where he is going to be in games like that and take those games over,” Harbaugh said this week.  “I’m very confident that that’s where he is going to go. I mean here is a guy in his third year. There are many plays and many throws and many looks and things like that that he’s going to look at that tape – even all through the season – and go, ‘Gosh, I know I can do that so much better.’

“It just doesn’t happen overnight. I think it’s a process.”

When strictly looking at the numbers, Flacco has improved with leaps and bounds since the Ravens selected him 18th overall in 2008.

The Delaware product became the Ravens’ all-time leading passer with 10,206 yards, 60 touchdowns and only 34 interceptions.

He set personal bests with 3,622 passing yards and 25 scores in 2010.   Flacco did it with a revamped unit that included high-profile free agents like wideouts Anquan Boldin, Donte’ Stallworth and T.J. Houshmandzadeh, along with several offensive pieces added through the draft.

Flacco showed an ability to come up in the clutch, most notably in a masterful 25-of-34, 265-yard, two-touchdown game in the wild-card round against the Kansas City Chiefs.

But for fans and media, the biggest gripe with Flacco is the Ravens’ inability to put a consistent offense on the field.

Harbaugh said Flacco’s success will also hinge on the Ravens’ defense and the playmakers around him.

“I think in this league, if you want to win these games, and you want to take it to that level, you’ve got to play great defense, and you’ve got to make plays on offense,” Harbaugh explained.  “And Joe is going to be able to do that.”

[url=http://blogs.baltimoreravens.com/2011/01/19/ravens-trust-flacco-will-take-games-over/]View the full article[/url]

[RavensFanThick&Thin]

Uh, I don't think alot of people's gripe is Flacco's ability to CHANGE a game (he has the tools and physical stature to do so), it's the ability to CALL a game. You know check out of a dud play at the line of scrimage since CAM calls the same plays.

[bmore_07]

Here we go again - the Kyle Boller Experiement Part II.
Flacco is and always will be a mediocre QB at best.
How many more seasons are we going to waste with Flacco?
Reed, Lewis, Mason, Boldin, Rice, etc need to have an intervention.
I'm selling my season tickets if Flacco is back next year. I can't stomach it any more.

[berad]

[quote name='bmore_07' timestamp='1295459887' post='617440']
Here we go again - the Kyle Boller Experiement Part II.
Flacco is and always will be a mediocre QB at best.
How many more seasons are we going to waste with Flacco?
Reed, Lewis, Mason, Boldin, Rice, etc need to have an intervention.
I'm selling my season tickets if Flacco is back next year. I can't stomach it any more.
[/quote]

Joe Flacco is the best quarterback this franchise has ever had. If you don't agree with that, you're either not watching or you have some special connection to Marc Bulger. He's coming off his most statistically successful and the teams' most successful year in his time here and you liken him to Kyle Boller?

I'm sorry, you're spreading this message all around the boards but I can't help but question what you're really thinking. And since you're selling your tickets, hit me up, Flacco will be back.

[Eveal]

I really think it has to do a lot with the QB coach. Zorn just isn't good enough.

[bleedbaltimoreravens]

I want to say that everyone needs to lay off Flacco, again he's still young and hasn't had a veteran quaterback to hang around. He came from a small school and is still learning. Everyone is just so impatient because our defense is getting older. Now eveyone is saying Bulger should have played. Give me a break, did you see him behind a poor Rams O-line? The same thing that would have happened behind any poor line-David Carr in Houston! give Flacco a break, Recievers werent getting open, Cam has bad route combos and the line didn't protect. It's more than Flacco not having a great game. He did play decently in that last game. He played well enough to win if we didn't have the penalties, the dropped passes, the 3rd and 19 coversion, etc.

[coreyadams]

I just want him to lead better. Instead on leaving his helmet on and not talking to his WRs, TEs, and RBs 2 see if they can get open or know that they can beat their man on a play.

[bpytnjr58]

He is still growing as a QB...not all Qb win a championship their couple of seasons but he probably needs the proper tutoring.

[ravens626]

Flacco is good. We need a new OC who will let him use his arm and open up the playbook.

[ravens626]

Yes I also agree, Zorn and cam are the issue.

[ravensfan1234]

bmore_07-

boller experiment? r u nust or u insane? flacco is way better than boller, 300 times better. i know flacco needs the work but when did boller took us to the playoffs 3 straight years? and seriously i could buy those tickets from u if u gonna sell them cuz i forsee joe cool as the starter next year. but the problem is cam, he needs to be replace asap. Steve watever you do get rid of this guy fast.

[OrganizedChaos2052]

I feel like we have a slightly better version of Kyle Boller, but still can't win a playoff game to save his life...

SMH, at least Sanchez plays good in the post season. I'd rather take him and his awful play during the regular season than have Flacco put up great numbers in the regular season then suck it up come Playoff time.

[edreedfromtheu]

I have no doubt Flacco will "take over" games. Boller took over many games... he was just doing it for the other team.

[#20 Big Mike #52]

Can't wait till he is able to audible and call the shots! He will shut every single doubter up! Your either a fan or not, quit saying your stomach hurts with flacco, thats bullcrap! You make my stomach hurt, your a disgrace as a fan. Go cheer for a different team!
"Go Ravens"

[Purple&Black]

he still growin but he needs to become more a leader and step up in big games...he doesnt have to be great..some average qbs have been to the superbowl..he just has to do enough to get over tough games...in steelers game he completely folded after tthe rice fumble. you cld see the pressure getting to him and thats when he threw a pick into double coverage

[PuRock]

[quote name='bmore_07' timestamp='1295459887' post='617440']
Here we go again - the Kyle Boller Experiement Part II.
Flacco is and always will be a mediocre QB at best.
How many more seasons are we going to waste with Flacco?
Reed, Lewis, Mason, Boldin, Rice, etc need to have an intervention.
I'm selling my season tickets if Flacco is back next year. I can't stomach it any more.
[/quote]

Boller experiment my ***. If we were to cut Joe, he would be snatched up so quick. Teams would die to have Joe as a QB. Top 10 in nearly every statistical category this year.

Have you seen the long list of QBs who have started for us. QB's just don't fall out of the sky.

[RAVENSFREAK66]

Hey bmore_07 u said like that about flacco means u dont have a feeling strong loyality to ravens... u are not true ravens...i can see that flacco played better than boller and many qbs since 1996 huh huh we did make it in play off 3 years in row with flacco/harb huh huh flacco still is young and learning.. WHAT DO U EXPECT FROM FLACCO???? flacco didnt play on his own created coaches did make a mistake to tell flacco to plays.. anyway..he is not brady or manning so what!!! manning didnt play very well this year but he is still best qb huh.... if u still complaint u find other team then!!!!

[Bristol Raven]

Flacco will be great when he is given more responsibilities. You can't blame him for a poor offense - he does not call plays and is not yet allowed to audible when he sees pre-snap that they aren't going to work (hence "deer in the headlights"). Some of the plays he has made this year (TD pass to Rice vs. Saints) are among the best in the league. Also, number 52 needs to give him a chance to speak as a leader of the team from time to time.

[Raven4Life21]

yeah seriously... i'll take some of your tickets... Flacco has done nothing but improve each year consistently... take that crazy Boller experiment crap somewhere else

[Purple&Black]

he needs be able to audible out of plays..on another note we gona loose an rb. either mcclain or mcghee i think we shld try and shop mcghee then that will allow mcclain to get more carries ppl forget he had 800 yards like 2 years ago..wit the damage hillis did this year i cld see the team taking that path

[ravensgirl20]

Can't blame Joe if, as the other players are saying on the radio, "no one changes Cam's play on the line." Too many players have stated Joe isn't able to audible...let him go and then we'll see changes. I have faith in Joe...our OC sadly not so much anymore.

[Raven4Life21]

let the man call the shots! it's the only way he will become elite! c'mon Cam!

[BmoreRavens201044]

Is this really an issue? Flacco is the least of our short list of worries he will be a good quarterback ladies and gentlemen

[DarkmanX]

Everybody jus leave flacco alone..he is our guy. ITs camerons fault

[Rave-O]

We can debate a lot of things about where a 'franchise' qb should be in his development after 3 yrs., but there is 1 thing that should not be in doubt and that is he should be the leader of the team. Flacco is not the leader of the offense let alone the team and that is a big problem.

[Richmond_Raven]

the kyle boller talk is getting old

[ftimbo]

I'd rather keep McGhee and McClain but McClain already voiced that he doesn't know if he's coming back. I don't think our running game was a problem. I think the chemistry between Flacco and the wide recievers were the problem and its not their fault because Flacco and all our recievers are great but I don't think Cam used them properly especially in the post season.

[stixfix69]

This isn't even a article that is worth debating, Flacco has been our QB who has taken us to 3 straight playoff appearances, he has improved his numbers in each of his first 3 years, what more can you ask of a QB??? To put into perspective, the Browns have gone through 7 QB's since Flacco broke in, he is our franchise QB.....

[I Roll With Purple n Black]

1Bristol Raven
Posted
4 minutes agoFlacco will be great when he is given more responsibilities. You can't blame him for a poor offense - he does not call plays and is not yet allowed to audible when he sees pre-snap that they aren't going to work (hence "deer in the headlights"). Some of the plays he has made this year (TD pass to Rice vs. Saints) are among the best in the league. Also, number 52 needs to give him a chance to speak as a leader of the team from time to time.


I agree with everything you said except that last line about number 52 allowing Flacco to speak as a leader. Ray didn't become the leader cause someone let him speak. He took the role as leader at a time when our team was developing s strong defensive identity. If Flacco wants to lead his offense and then the team he needs to just go lead. If he wants it he will take it and it should happen no other way !

[kojie22]

watch NFL.com's playbook recap of ravens-steelers game. not all the blame must go to flacco. it's the play calling! watch how they dissected the poor plays cameron called. i really don't know what harbaugh sees in cameron that he can't replace him. with regards to flacco, i think the problem with him is his decision-making during big plays and when being pressured by the opposing defense. i don't know if he's allowed to audible but one thing i know for sure, the play calling is really poor. changes must be made.