Flacco To Start This Week

[theFRANCHISE]

[quote name='SIZZLE4PRESIDENT' post='62073' date='Sep 1 2008, 11:13 PM']But with a rookie qb its just a fact basically that you arent going to make it far.[/quote]

I [i]do[/i] understand that you like Joe Flacco and you're not completely dogging the kid. But you can't say it's "fact" if there's been at least two notable rookie QBs that have done well their first season: Dan Marino and Ben Roethlisberger.

Although history is against a rookie QB winning immediately, it's not as if it's an impossible feat. You also have to keep in mind that, the majority of rookie QBs aren't thrust in the same situation as Flacco; they mostly did not have a strong defense nor a solid ground attack to save the day if they were to make a crucial mistake.

Roethsliberger had the luxury of a potent Steelers veteran defense [i]and[/i] a workhorse in the last [i]productive[/i] season of Jerome Bettis' career (before tapering off in his retirement year).

Flacco is placed in a similar situation with a dangerous Ravens veteran defense and a (hopeful) one-two punch in Willis McGahee and Ray Rice.

The similarities between the two have existed since Flacco emerged at Delaware, and for good reason. The kid has shown glimpses that he can flat-out [i]play[/i], and he's being put in a comfortable position where he can make small mistakes and learn on the go, but still be able to win games.

[itlstl7]

[quote name='SIZZLE4PRESIDENT' post='62073' date='Sep 1 2008, 11:13 PM']I dont want to be negative in any way but I feel I have too. I like flacco and I think he will be good in the future but its hard for me to go into a season thinking we have no chance of going far in a season regardless of what everyone says. But with a rookie qb its just a fact basically that you arent going to make it far. So as much as I think Flacco will be good, I think Smith and Boller can lead this team far with some help from the guys around them. In my opinion flacco can play well enough to get us off to a 2-0 start vs cinci and the texans and then boller or smith or harrington or bouman or stoney case or scott mitchell or elvis grbac or tony banks or trent dilfer or anthony wright (sorry i got a little sidetracked) anyways one of our vets can take over by week 3 and take us pretty far this season if everyone can stay healthy. Good Luck Joey Flacco[/quote]

I agree... I know as a Ravens fan everyone including me wants Flacco to be the answer day 1 but realistically its just wishful thinking.... and the worse part is when someone brings it up that flacco didnt look like the best qb ever!! and that it might be better to not play him...90% of the people on this board freak out and say you dont know what your talking about.... i hope Flacco plays well but I am no way excited that he is starting... i mean we criticize how Boller performed when we threw him to the dogs and now we are celebrating throwing flacco to the dogs???? oh but somehow Flacco will be able to handle it because he did what now???? started 2 preseason games and came from a DII school.... and he somehow shows so much more promise than Boller did in this situation??? I know we have to start Flacco due to the circumstances but i think alot of people are blind to the possible effects of this... odds are way against Flacco and while I hope he succeeds this is not a happy and glorious day for the Ravens... its a very scary day and we should not be celebrating until the kid overcomes the odds and proves he can win now ...

[I*Bleed*Purple]

Am I allowed to say "I told you so" yet?

[Mahatma_Sloth]

i could see this one coming from a mile away dont get too used to him starting its a panic go ahead as result of an act of god but if he dose well (which i pray he dose) who knows but he is starting for the same reason we are working out harrington simms and that other dude bucause our qb squad fell to pieces in the last couple of days.....

that being said GO JOE i hope he puts up 3+ touches and 400+ yards i hope this is a sign and he is the future watching his interviews his confidence and his want to learn from experiences gave me faith and i hope for the best for him and the team i think the same way i thought for redman boller girbac and so many more.... put on your shades for the future is bright

[foreversunny23]

This decision was bound to happen because Flacco is the last healthy one standing. I am really excited for Flacco. However, being realistic I am ready for one of those games where Flacco is simply overwhelmed. Let's face it, defenses won't show all their cards during preseason. Flacco could be in for a rough game.

On the other hand, if we've learned anything from preseason, it's that Flacco learns quickly. Who knows, as the season progresses, so too will Flacco to the point that we could be talking playoffs (very unlikely, but next year watch out!) Plus, I can't wait to see what else Cam Cameron has in mind for our offense!

[ravensgirlx88]

Im a little uneasy about Flacco starting but its probablly the best move for the Ravens as of now. He did throw the only TD all preseason, the boy deserves some credit!!

[BrownsFan]

In all total honesty good luck to him. It's the right move.

[FerrariFan87]

I think what made this decision easier for Coach is that his first game will be at Home and the O-Line is back healthy... Now, I really want to see Willis back in there to take some of the load off of Joe and set up play-action. Although Ray Rice is a great option, to have both Willis and Ray will really help out Joe that much more.

[PuRock]

Plus the Bengals DL is suspect. In fact there whole D is. But expect the Bengals to throw a lot of Blitz Packages against us. Especially if Ray Rice is our starting RB. They are going to test our offensive youth. Expect to see a lot of screen passes and quick passes to the TE from us.

[Marc2k6]

[quote name='smashmouth' post='62026' date='Sep 1 2008, 09:35 PM']This has been the plan of Harbaugh and Cam since before the 3rd pre-season game. Football is just like Politics in a way,They will lie and make things look like something, but the real truth is somethikng else. they wanted to go with Flacco, so all of a sudden Boller gets a shoulder injury, anmd Smith is out with a tonsil infection ( of all things ) . Im excited, and I think Flacco will become the Ravens Franshise QB ( I Pray anyways ) He will have His rookie mistakes, He may have a game or two that we all wish to forget, but in the end He will become a guy like Peyton manning is to the Colts, or Brady is to the Pats, Rothisberger is to the Squeelers. GET YA POPCORN READY RAVENS FANS, This is going to be exciting for years to come, Imingine this.. our defense keeps its top 5 status for another 10 years, now all of a sudden we have a awesome QB in Flacco and Cam brings us a top 5 or at at least a middle of the pack offense.. We are now a every year playoff team!![/quote]


Oh I get it now Harbaugh has made it seem as if Boller's injury is way more than what it is and also created the Tonsil infection problem for T. Smith so that he can start Flacco with out controversy! Man! This is better than Water Gate or even Bush's WMD's in Iraq! How silly to even think that is the case! LMAO!!!!

I hope Flacco plays up to everyones high expectations and we beat the Bengal's on opening day!

[PuRock]

Even if this was some elaborate scheme. Do you really believe that Troy Smith & Kyle Boller would have gone along with it. They both want to start more than anything else.

[b-morebrotha]

Glad He is getting his time in against Cincy and possibly Hou because he can slowly adjust to the speed of the game and can be a better back up for us than Boller when Troy comes in and starts later in the season.

Joe can put us in a great position to win against those 2 teams.

[RoflDogs]

may i remind you ALL of peyton manning's rookie stats

326/575
56.7 pass %
3739 yards
6.5 avg
26 TDs
[b]28[/b] interceptions
71.2 Pass rate

of course we won't have 3000+ yards and 20+ tds, but Peyton manning made mistakes too

[Marc2k6]

[quote name='PuRock' post='62117' date='Sep 2 2008, 10:21 AM']Even if this was some elaborate scheme. Do you really believe that Troy Smith & Kyle Boller would have gone along with it. They both want to start more than anything else.[/quote]
Hey! that was the funniest thing I have read today!

[PuRock]

[quote name='Marc2k6' post='62120' date='Sep 2 2008, 09:33 AM']Hey! that was the funniest thing I have read today! [/quote]

I prefer to think Destiny over Conspiracy.

[Marc2k6]

[quote name='PuRock' post='62123' date='Sep 2 2008, 09:38 AM']I prefer to think Destiny over Conspiracy.[/quote]
OK! I can go with Destiny but the Conspiracy Theory, that sounds ridiculous to me! I can not wait until Sunday!

[tweety]

If Joe can't perform within the first three games why chance the 4th against the Steelers. The harder challenge should be our defense Browns (8th), Texans (15th), and Bengals (28th not this year in offense). Pass defense Bengals (32nd) Browns (29th) Texans (28th) SQUEELERS (11TH). First three game should be like preseason with a little more heart, challenge for our defense. 3-0 should be easy.

[PuRock]

[quote name='tweety' post='62161' date='Sep 2 2008, 01:22 PM']If Joe can't perform within the first three games why chance the 4th against the Steelers. The harder challenge should be our defense Browns (8th), Texans (15th), and Bengals (28th not this year in offense). Pass defense Bengals (32nd) Browns (29th) Texans (28th) SQUEELERS (11TH). First three game should be like preseason with a little more heart, challenge for our defense. 3-0 should be easy.[/quote]

The schedule is working in Flacco's favor. He'll have plenty of opportunity before we start increasing to more difficult pass defenses. But he is going to need to read NFL blitz packages quickly. Because all teams will be throwing them at us on a consistent basis. If our OL can hold up, Flacco has a chance to make some big plays (but mostly screens and slants).

[Ravensman5220]

After watching Flacco play against the Falcons I noticed something about his progress with his technique. After Flacco hits his last step in his drop his footwork is very similar to Peyton Mannings. He has that same bounce that Peyton has while he is setting in the pocket waiting to through. Now does this mean that Flacco will be the next Petyon? NO! Everyone knows that Peyton is a great quarterback but what makes him great is natural ability and superb technique. Peyton makes great throws because he keeps his feet under him and delievers from a solid balanced base. This is a great thing to see in a young quarterback and it will help Flacco alot because he is not the most agile or fleet of foot much like Manning. When you are watching the game this weekend pay attention to his footwork. If he continues to keep his feet under him I see him playing very well much like he did against the Falcons. If he get pressure or starts to get flustered and his footwork deteriorates expect him to struggle.