Starter For The Last Preseason Game

[foreversunny23]

So much for learning more about Troy Smith against the Rams. Which brings the question, should Smith start the last game? I think he should because Harbaugh will want to see what Troy Smith is made of.

[ham]

I dont care who starts as long as they throw harper the ball more!

[Borris]

I dont care who starts as long as they throw harper the ball more!

yeah, maybe they should throw the ball to M. Smith less, since he only catches the ball, once ever four times it hits his hands.

[PuRock]

I wasn't a Smith fan a few weeks ago. But the more I think about it, the more I believe Troy Smith should start the 4th preseason game and the regular season, and lets see what happens to our record.

With our OL play, Smith can give us the agility at QB to adapt.

[Bleeding Purple]

Although it's highly unlikely to happen, I would like to see Boller and Smith split a half (either half) and Flacco play the whole other half. Harbaugh has said that Boller and Smith had "distanced themselves" from Flacco before this point. But, now Flacco has had the most playing time, is the only one with a TD, and is the only one without an interception. There's a chance this was just a good day for him and he won't repeat, but I'd certainly be satisfied with Flacco starting if he can still make these claims after the fourth game.

[foreversunny23]

Flacco was 18/37 for 152 yards. He had his moments and is clearly progressing, but I don't think he is ready to start.

I too would like Smith and Boller to split a half. The problem is that the Falcons will not be playing their starters for long. So it would be impossible to compare performances.

[march4superbowl]

I was looking foward to seeing Troy start but at least something good came out of it, Joe got a whole game of experience under center. Strange how both vets were sidelined huh?

[Ed_Reed20]

I think Troy should start seeing as he didn't start tonight.

[ROH522155]

I think Troy should start seeing as he didn't start tonight.

i think troy is the best man for the job

[march4superbowl]

i think troy is the best man for the job

Yeah, I think he gives us the best chance to win right now. Boller would be good if he had all day to throw.

[BuckWilds]

i think troy is the best man for the job

I think Troy needs to get the reps, deserves to get the reps, and should likely start. He only has 17 attempts so far this year if I'm looking at the right stats:

Flacco - 28/55, 1 TD, 0 INT, 50.9% comp.

Smith - 8/17, 0 TD, 1 INT, 47.1% comp.

Boller - 19/27, 0 TD, 2 INT, 70.3% comp.

Flacco had a good time out there and worked out some kinks once he got relaxed, but it's time to figure out the starter for week 1. That means Troy needs reps against anyone. If it's against guys who won't be in the NFL in two weeks, fine.

[berad]

He's probably going to start just by the notion that we still haven't seen much of him. Harbaugh's still going to be making determinations on our starter all through this week and Thursday's game. It's pretty depressing that the search is taking this long, I mean, someone needs to step forward.

[EdReedisthebestsafetyeva20]

Troy smith needs to get warmed up for his season opener

[twiz42]

let troy play the 1st half and flacco the 2nd half. we know what we are getting with boller.i think flacco will be starter by wk 6 or 8.he just needs a lil more time to catch up with the speed of game and learn defenses he will see.troy n flacco will lead us to playoffs.

[BAL_Hawk]

Flacco isn't ready to lead us anywhere, especially not the playoffs. He has great talent but...

...he's got a long way to go.

[Troy SmiTH Xx]

Flacco did a fantastic job even for a rookie. He might have not made a lot of smart plays, but he moved the ball pretty well. Still a little inconsistent on the drives. But i think Troy should get the start for the 4th cuz he was supposed to start this one, now he'll have to make up for it. And he should because im going to the preseason game this Thursday

[Black&Purple]

I would hate to see Flacco be thrown into the starter position, let him be sidelined and learn as the season progresses. I don't care what he has learned in training camp, OTA's, and pre-season. I really want him to watch live games when it matters to really see these starting offenses, and defenses during the season. I know what he has learned up to now is a LOT being a rookie, but I wouldn't be comfortable with him starting until at LEAST Week 12.

[theFRANCHISE]

Although it's highly unlikely to happen, I would like to see Boller and Smith split a half (either half) and Flacco play the whole other half. Harbaugh has said that Boller and Smith had "distanced themselves" from Flacco before this point. But, now Flacco has had the most playing time, is the only one with a TD, and is the only one without an interception. There's a chance this was just a good day for him and he won't repeat, but I'd certainly be satisfied with Flacco starting if he can still make these claims after the fourth game.

I think that's the most sensible option.

Although Troy Smith was initially given the starting nod for last night's game, only to have it taken away, I don't believe he is due any sense of entitlement to automatically start next week.

Coach Harbaugh could use this final game to challenge all three QBs and push one of them to stick their arm up and say they're the starter.

For Boller, he would have to prove that he can protect the ball and be efficient, rather than an "either/or" proposition.

For Smith, he would have to prove that he can shake off the Minnesota game and deliver the type of performance he had promised to deliver last night.

For Flacco, he would have to prove that last night was no fluke and he can continue to show improvement and be consistent in his decision-making.

If one of those three men can do what they need to do to stand out, then that makes the decision easier on the coach. If more than one meets the challenge, then that's certainly a dilemma Coach Harbaugh would welcome, as opposed to none stepping up and having to choose the lesser of two (or three) evils.

[FerrariFan87]

I am just happy that I may actually see some starters for longer than expected at the game this Thursday!

[K-Dog]

Yeah, I think he gives us the best chance to win right now. Boller would be good if he had all day to throw.

I agree 100%

No O-line go with Smith

Decent O-line go with Boller.

[heapitup247]

Im not sure whether to go with the person who completes less than 50% of his passes or the one who has turned the ball over 3 times to no TDs. Granted its preseason, but its almost turned into pick your poison right now.

[I*Bleed*Purple]

Im not sure whether to go with the person who completes less than 50% of his passes or the one who has turned the ball over 3 times to no TDs. Granted its preseason, but its almost turned into pick your poison right now.

Which is exactly why Flacco starts. His downside can't be much worse than the other 2, while his upside is almost surely WAY better.

[BRYAN1146]

So much for learning more about Troy Smith against the Rams. Which brings the question, should Smith start the last game? I think he should because Harbaugh will want to see what Troy Smith is made of.

boller is going to be the starter this year so who ever else they dont want to get injured will play the last preseason game.

[SickBoy]

I think I've seen enough of Joe Flacco to know I dont want to see him anymore. If the Ravens start Joe Flacco they will essentially be telling Ray Lewis, Chris McAllister, Samari Rolle, Kelly Gregg, Trevor Price, and Derrick Mason that we have givin up on the season. And if those guys arent motivated, we have no chance at going to the playoffs. I've read over and over again that the team has a lot of faith in Troy Smith due to his leadership and what WE ALL SAW him do at Ohio State. Kyle Boller is very capable although at the same time very erratic. No one in that locker room wants to see Joe Flacco at all this season. Maybe I'm hard on him, its not his fault the Ravens drafted a second or maybe even third round talent in the middle of the 1st round.

[bossman419]

we all know kyle was the better QB during the preseason and if this qb competiton is fair he would win. but it is not.

[I*Bleed*Purple]

the team has a lot of faith in Troy Smith due to his leadership and what WE ALL SAW him do at Ohio State.

F Ohio State and what Troy did there. This isn't College anymore, and he hasn't shown ANYTHING in his NFL career. While I respect Ray and Company and their opinions, they aren't the coaching staff. And I'm sure they would change their tunes once Flacco showed them why he should be the starter. Get off of Troy's jock strap.

[heapitup247]

Which is exactly why Flacco starts. His downside can't be much worse than the other 2, while his upside is almost surely WAY better.

The downfall is our future QB gets rattled and his fundamentals break down. He loses all his composure and cant regain it ever and we wasted a draft pick. Thats a pretty big downside. The upside of starting him before hes ready would be?

[Troy SmiTH Xx]

While I respect Ray and Company and their opinions, they aren't the coaching staff.

And neither are we, so let's just let them do the thinking. Sitting here and cutting everyone down doesn't help morale.

[I*Bleed*Purple]

The downfall is our future QB gets rattled and his fundamentals break down. He loses all his composure and cant regain it ever and we wasted a draft pick. Thats a pretty big downside. The upside of starting him before hes ready would be?

You bring up a valid point, especially since we saw what happened to Boller. I don't think Joe would get rattled, though. He was getting absolutely killed the first couple games, but this last half seemed to be really calm and collected. He's even said that he wants to be thrown into the fire and that the best way for him to learn is to play. Realistically, no he's not ready.....yet. But I wouldn't be upset to see him starting 9 or 10 games into the season, especially if the playoffs are pretty much out of reach.

[berad]

I think I've seen enough of Joe Flacco to know I dont want to see him anymore. If the Ravens start Joe Flacco they will essentially be telling Ray Lewis, Chris McAllister, Samari Rolle, Kelly Gregg, Trevor Price, and Derrick Mason that we have givin up on the season. And if those guys arent motivated, we have no chance at going to the playoffs. I've read over and over again that the team has a lot of faith in Troy Smith due to his leadership and what WE ALL SAW him do at Ohio State. Kyle Boller is very capable although at the same time very erratic. No one in that locker room wants to see Joe Flacco at all this season. Maybe I'm hard on him, its not his fault the Ravens drafted a second or maybe even third round talent in the middle of the 1st round.

The Steelers didn't do half-bad when Ben Rothlisberger started as a rookie for them. That said, I'm not saying Joe should start in anyway. I'd much rather him sit on the bench and learn than be thrown into the fire. You just have to keep an open mind on the season and the personnel we have on the team.