QB Joe Flacco

[callahan09]

It's  preseason, so why throw it away. Joe may be just fishing, see who will fight for the ball. The routes may not be 100 % at this point in time.

That's how I feel about it.  It's the pre-season, wins and losses and stats don't count and they don't matter.  You just need to see how things work, how players play, what you can get done, and most importantly, you still need to keep your drive going so you can run more plays and see more things.

 

In a 3rd down situation, throwing the ball away when there's no-one open and punting on 4th down... that's logical and the smart play in a real game, where a turnover can be the difference between winning and losing.  In a pre-season game, a turnover and a punt are the same thing... they prevent your offense from being able to run more plays in that drive, the win/loss doesn't matter.  So from that perspective, you want to try to make the play at the risk of the turnover because throwing the ball away has a 100% chance of your drive ending, but trying to make a play might keep the drive alive.

 

This is one of many reasons why people say you have to take what you see in pre-season with a grain of salt.  The things the players are doing and try to do, their mission and goals, they are different in pre-season than in a regular game.

[PerpetuallyBored74]

I would much rather suffer in the field position on kick returns than to struggle on third and manageable.  

 

Flacco has looked bad on third and short in the preseason.  We are dangerously close to not being able to compete with the upper echelon teams.  

 

When your 3rd down passing options are Torrey, Jacoby and Tandon, and Torrey's covered, then you need Jacoby to run the correct route (and run it correctly) and you need Tandon to hold on to the ball even as he's being hit. When neither happens, you get a poor 3rd down conversion rate when you pass the ball.

When we play Denver, our O-line will be McKinnie, Osemele, Gradkowski, Yanda and Oher.

Our 5 WRs will be Smith, Stokely, Jones, Doss and Thompson (the other 1 or 2 will be between Mellette, Reed and Williams, with Streeter and Brown to the PS, and if Mellette doesn't make the roster, he gets IR'd)

Our 2 TEs will be Clark and Bajema/Shiancoe (or Dickson if he's healthy with Bajema/Shiancoe then being cut; Furstenburg will be #3)

We're also going to actually start throwing the ball deep again to Torrey, Jacoby and Deonte (when he gets back) and that will help our offense score more points.

 

The overall point is that both the offensive team and offensive scheme that we're seeing in pre-season is not what we'll be seeing, in many important ways, from what we'll see once the season begins.

[Guest RBates]

When your 3rd down passing options are Torrey, Jacoby and Tandon, and Torrey's covered, then you need Jacoby to run the correct route (and run it correctly) and you need Tandon to hold on to the ball even as he's being hit. When neither happens, you get a poor 3rd down conversion rate when you pass the ball.

When we play Denver, our O-line will be McKinnie, Osemele, Gradkowski, Yanda and Oher.

Our 5 WRs will be Smith, Stokely, Jones, Doss and Thompson (the other 1 or 2 will be between Mellette, Reed and Williams, with Streeter and Brown to the PS, and if Mellette doesn't make the roster, he gets IR'd)

Our 2 TEs will be Clark and Shiancoe (or Dickson if he's healthy with Shiancoe then being cut; Furstenburg will be #3)

We're also going to actually start throwing the ball deep again to Torrey, Jacoby and Deonte (when he gets back) and that will help our offense score more points.

 

The overall point is that both the offensive team and offensive scheme that we're seeing in pre-season is not what we'll be seeing, in many important ways, from what we'll see once the season begins.

Oh yeah I agree with almost your entire post.  He still needs that receiver that can climb a tree to make a catch and none of the said receivers looks capable.  I'm almost hoping it's Furstenburg because he seems to catch everything thrown in his direction. 

[hawkprey]

Torrey is 3-for-3 on his targets this year, all for 1st downs/TDs. Julio Jones was 3-for-3 against us, all for 1st downs/TDs. Why? That's preseason. CBs are left 1-on-1 with no scheming.

 

If we wanted the offense to look good in preseason, we'd target our best receiver on most every play. Some teams choose to do that and that's why they look good even though they're really not. 1st string vs 1st string is the "battle of who wants it more". 

 

How Joe looks now doesn't mean anything because he has nothing to prove. How our depth receivers (who are fighting for a job) look is the problem.

[Guest RBates]

Torrey is 3-for-3 on his targets this year, all for 1st downs/TDs. Julio Jones was 3-for-3 against us, all for 1st downs/TDs. Why? That's preseason. CBs are left 1-on-1 with no scheming.

 

If we wanted the offense to look good in preseason, we'd target our best receiver on most every play. Some teams choose to do that and that's why they look good even though they're really not. 1st string vs 1st string is the "battle of who wants it more". 

 

How Joe looks now doesn't mean anything because he has nothing to prove. How our depth receivers (who are fighting for a job) look is the problem.

This statement couldn't be any farther from the truth.  

 

 As a QB in Preseason  you don't have to put up great games but you do want to show that you have a handle on the offense and can make plays when needed especially against the 2's.  You don't have to have the major stats or anything but minus the slant play I don't know what else he has done. This is truly a reason for concern. He is not on the same page with any of the talent that he is playing with minus Torrey. 

[The Raven]

You know what's really reassuring me about Joe? Despite the incompetence of his wide receivers and their inability to get open, Joe is 14/18 so far in this preseason. That's good for a 77.8 percent completion percentage. Also, his average yard per attempt is 9.7, which is also pretty solid. Though, that stat is inflated by Torrey's slant for a TD. 

 

Regardless, Joe is making chicken salad out of chicken poo by maintaining a high completion percentage. He was 7 of 9 in each game. Yeah, they are easy throws, but he's making smart decisions  and accurate throws for the most part. Once his receivers show up and get going, we're going to see fireworks. 

[1/28/01]

You know what's really reassuring me about Joe? Despite the incompetence of his wide receivers and their inability to get open, Joe is 14/18 so far in this preseason. That's good for a 77.8 percent completion percentage. Also, his average yard per attempt is 9.7, which is also pretty solid. Though, that stat is inflated by Torrey's slant for a TD.

Regardless, Joe is making chicken salad out of chicken poo by maintaining a high completion percentage. He was 7 of 9 in each game. Yeah, they are easy throws, but he's making smart decisions and accurate throws for the most part. Once his receivers show up and get going, we're going to see fireworks.

Sure hope you're right. Just finally watched all the camp/practice videos and seems the reports of tons of INTs are accurate. Ugh, whats that all about?

[The Raven]

Sure hope you're right. Just finally watched all the camp/practice videos and seems the reports of tons of INTs are accurate. Ugh, whats that all about?

I hope I'm right too. I'm always right, so we should be okay.

 

A few people, myself included, believe that the interceptions are the result of Joe taking chances on receivers to see who will fight for the ball. With so many inexperienced receivers, timing and poor route running could be an additional factor.

 

Furthermore, our defense is stacked. 

[1/28/01]

Must be poor route running, cause quite a few were over the receivers head or on the wrong side of the break. You better be right! Ha

[The Raven]

Must be poor route running, cause quite a few were over the receivers head or on the wrong side of the break. You better be right! Ha

 

When am I not? :P

[1/28/01]

When am I not? :P

Am I'm called the cocky one around here, ha.

[T3hRaven]

I hope I'm right too. I'm always right, so we should be okay.

 

A few people, myself included, believe that the interceptions are the result of Joe taking chances on receivers to see who will fight for the ball. With so many inexperienced receivers, timing and poor route running could be an additional factor.

 

Furthermore, our defense is stacked. 

 

I think that's what it is too.  One of the real positive attributes that actual analysts point out about Joe is that he's not afraid to throw the ball into tight windows.  Boldin was almost never open, he was consistently making contested catches, and that's a valuable asset with a QB like Joe.  He has to see who can be that guy and what these new receivers are capable of.

[JEEPercreepermd]

Wow are we really complaining about Flacco throwing picks in practice? FREAKING PRACTICE? Really people?

Go back and look at that pick against Atl. He threw AWAY from the defender, Jacoby didn't go for the hole where the ball was going...where HE should have been....not on Flacco.

Practice is PRACTICE. Tandon Doss lights it up every year in TC then cant get on the field.

Re freakin lax....please

[TXRaven]

I am not worried at all. Its camp. Getting used to new receivers. There is just not a problem there for me right now.

[cursona pirate]

How many Flacco threads are there? geez!

[The Raven]

You know what's really reassuring me about Joe? Despite the incompetence of his wide receivers and their inability to get open, Joe is 14/18 so far in this preseason. That's good for a 77.8 percent completion percentage. Also, his average yard per attempt is 9.7, which is also pretty solid. Though, that stat is inflated by Torrey's slant for a TD. 

 

Regardless, Joe is making chicken salad out of chicken poo by maintaining a high completion percentage. He was 7 of 9 in each game. Yeah, they are easy throws, but he's making smart decisions  and accurate throws for the most part. Once his receivers show up and get going, we're going to see fireworks. 

 

A little more on these stats. Of those 14 completions, 6 are to wide receivers. 4 of those 6 are to Torrey Smith. 

 

Our young receivers are struggling much more than I thought they would. They should grow a lot this year though. With all the experience, they should develop and become at least adequate.

[Ed_Reed20]

You know what's really reassuring me about Joe? Despite the incompetence of his wide receivers and their inability to get open, Joe is 14/18 so far in this preseason. That's good for a 77.8 percent completion percentage. Also, his average yard per attempt is 9.7, which is also pretty solid. Though, that stat is inflated by Torrey's slant for a TD. 

 

Regardless, Joe is making chicken salad out of chicken poo by maintaining a high completion percentage. He was 7 of 9 in each game. Yeah, they are easy throws, but he's making smart decisions  and accurate throws for the most part. Once his receivers show up and get going, we're going to see fireworks. 

 

Well said.

 

Just saw on PFF that of his 18 attempts, only one has seen the ball travel more than 9 yards. Caldwell's play-calling has been Cameron-vanilla this pre-season. 

[gabefergy]

Well said.

 

Just saw on PFF that of his 18 attempts, only one has seen the ball travel more than 9 yards. Caldwell's play-calling has been Cameron-vanilla this pre-season. 

Yup, that 1 attempt went for an INT. I thought he had one other attempt but it was called back due to penalty. Very very vanilla offense. I wonder if it will change at all week 3.

[5aiah]

Wow are we really complaining about Flacco throwing picks in practice? FREAKING PRACTICE? Really people?

Go back and look at that pick against Atl. He threw AWAY from the defender, Jacoby didn't go for the hole where the ball was going...where HE should have been....not on Flacco.

Practice is PRACTICE. Tandon Doss lights it up every year in TC then cant get on the field.

Re freakin lax....please

Well one interception was a late read and throw. That being said it's not fair to fully judge any of them by this preseason yet until this upcoming game. If guys like Doss can't make a splash vs the pretty bad secondary that Carolina fields, then that is a sign.

[Speed Kills]

Flacco has now thrown at least one interception in every single pre-season game this year.... Really hope this isn't a trend. At least the offense was moving the ball at times this past game and getting first downs. Hopefully this rough pre-season won't shake Joe's confidence

[beanfigger]

Flacco has now thrown at least one interception in every single pre-season game this year.... Really hope this isn't a trend. At least the offense was moving the ball at times this past game and getting first downs. Hopefully this rough pre-season won't shake Joe's confidence

 

He's fine.  You don't just go from having one of the best INT% of all time to becoming an INT machine.  I'm taking the positives from tonight over the negatives.

[ratedr]

Actually didn't have an issue with Flacco tonight, though the pick was a bad decision. Overall though I thought he was fine.

[Speed Kills]

He's fine.  You don't just go from having one of the best INT% of all time to becoming an INT machine.  I'm taking the positives from tonight over the negatives.

It was a 6 game stretch. He definitely does not have one of the best INT% of all time

[Speed Kills]

Actually didn't have an issue with Flacco tonight, though the pick was a bad decision. Overall though I thought he was fine.

You didn't feel he was inconsistent? Just tryin to gauge how people think he played since it is tough because the WR's are clearly not playing well so it makes it tricky

[ratedr]

It was a 6 game stretch. He definitely does not have one of the best INT% of all time

He does, actually, and he currently has the third best INT percentage behind Rodgers and Brady.

[ratedr]

You didn't feel he was inconsistent? Just tryin to gauge how people think he played since it is tough because the WR's are clearly not playing well so it makes it tricky

I thought he moved the ball well despite Jah Reid killing the line. The one issue I had was when he stared down Shiancoe. Otherwise, nothing too alarming imo.

[Speed Kills]

He does, actually, and he currently has the third best INT percentage behind Rodgers and Brady.

Among active QB's true

[beanfigger]

It was a 6 game stretch. He definitely does not have one of the best INT% of all time

 

He's fourth best in the history of the NFL.  That's for his career.  Take a look:

 

http://www.pro-football-reference.com/leaders/pass_int_perc_career.htm

[hawkprey]

INTs are what happen when you constantly rotate your WRs and TEs. No time for chemistry. Receivers aren't on the same page, and they're not necessarily put in position to succeed nor are they your best. But you throw it anyway because your WRs need as many targets as you can give them.

 

In other words, PRESEASON.

[StingerNLG]

I'm not concerned about Joe.    Look at who he was throwing to tonight.   Rookie WR's and guys who in their 3rd year still can't run a hot route, and a TE who reminded us why he was unemployed before we called him.  There is a difference between a QB making receivers better, and receivers who simply cannot play.

 

Not to mention the OL.  So I am not going to panic on Joe or his INT's in the pre-season.    Now if we're in week three and he's staring down receivers and throwing stupid picks (which I don't think is going to happen at all), then we can start questioning him.