Expectations for Joe Flacco in the offseason

[jazz1988]

You need to go to other forums b/c every losing team believes their offensive coordinator and coach staff is clueless. Go to the Jets, Cowboys, Texans..... and several other forums of other teams and you will see a lot of fans feel that same way.

 

I used to think people were crazy when they said our offensive coordinator is clueless until I actually went to a game to see for my self ( this is when Cam was still the offensive coordinator  in 2012) . I couldn't believe how predictable our passing attack was all we did  was run our receiver deep for the majority of the time . I literally saw Smith, Boldin, and Jones line up together on one side of the field and saw all of them run deep at the same time. I thought for sure Cam would had Boldin to run accross the middle of the field but any way Flacco eventually was sacked because no body was open( the receivers didn't even finish their routes actually).

 

 The bad part about it  is Cam is gone and last year we was dealing with the same kind of play calling as if Cam never left but atleast cam never had a offense this bad when he was here.

[HomeoftheBRAVENS]

Why is there a serious conversation going on about whether or not a second year qb is better than Flacco?

[Bruce_Almty]

This is what the Steelers are contemplating....from http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1917195-breaking-down-the-steelers-2014-salary-cap-where-is-money-best-spent

 

There have been some big QB deals lately, notably Aaron Rodgers (and our own #5). It's likely Big Ben will want something very similar.

Here is what Roethlisberger's five-year extension with a $33 million signing bonus would look like.

• 2014: Salary: $1 million (guaranteed), Workout bonus: $500,000, Cap Hit: $14.9 million
• 2015:  Salary: $9.5 million (guaranteed), Workout bonus: $500,000 Cap Hit: $23.4 million
• 2016: Salary: $10.5 million (guaranteed), Workout bonus: $500,000, Roster Bonus: $600,000, Cap Hit: $18.2m
• 2017: Salary: $11.5 million, Workout bonus: $500,000, Roster Bonus: $600,000, Cap Hit: $19.2 million
• 2018: Salary: $12.5 million, Workout bonus: $500,000, Roster Bonus: $600,000, Cap Hit: $20.2 million
• 2019: Salary: $19.8 million, Workout bonus: $500,000, Roster Bonus: $600,000, Cap Hit: $20.9 million
• 2020: Salary: $20 million, Workout bonus: $500,000, Roster Bonus: $600,000, Cap Hit: $21.1 million

Welcome to the world of Salary Cap Hell.

[HoldingCall]

This.  Besides last year during the run, it doesn't seem Flacco gets the ball out quickly.  He seems gun shy at times for whatever reason, even if the guy is open.  Guys aren't always going to be running wide open.  He needs to work on timing with guys not named Pitta.

You are correct! Timing was a problem I noticed also. Missing the window when receiver are open or throwing receiver open is a concern that needs work.

[Hardbaugh]

Listening to preston and the guys on the fan, they basically said Harbaugh and Biscotti off the record stated that they want Flacco to put in more time with the receivers this off season. They can't force him too but they would like him too and they can't do it at the facility. They also said they want him to sit on some offense meetings in the off season, again, can't formally invite him to the facility he would just need to show up at the right time.

 

After 6 years, he should be knowing to do this on his own. The investment the front office put in you was based on potential, not past performances. Flacco said the timing was off with his receivers. Well, fix it!

 

When people question his ra ra leadership stuff, I don't give a crap. But I do understand when people are concerned about him being a leader in the sense of taking the young guys under his wings, putting in the long days at the office, basically putting his team in a better situation to succeed.

 

Hopefully he takes the front offices suggestions. I think he will, seems like a smart guy. If he doesn't, I won't have any sympathy or excuses for him if he has another rough season.

 

I read that and understood why Joe and his receivers aren't on the same page.  Here's a guy that demanded the top pay in football and can't even get off his behind and get in sync with his receivers unless it's an OTA?

 

No wonder he's average, inconsistent with poor accuracy and the offense sputters along. 

[HoldingCall]

Why is there a serious conversation going on about whether or not a second year qb is better than Flacco?

By observation (no stats) I believe QBs in conversation with Flacco should include Matt Ryan, Jay Cutler, Tony Romo, and Eli Manning.

[flynismo]

By observation (no stats) I believe QBs in conversation with Flacco should include Matt Ryan, Jay Cutler, Tony Romo, and Eli Manning.

After the season Flacco just had, that's fair.

But wouldn't you agree that, regardless of any external factors (ie 'excuses'), this season was not the norm for Flacco?

[HoldingCall]

After the season Flacco just had, that's fair.

But wouldn't you agree that, regardless of any external factors (ie 'excuses'), this season was not the norm for Flacco?

I agree it wasn't the norm and it applies to the rest of the team also. Nothing is normal when a championship team loses so many leaders in various positions Including C, Birk; Wrs, Boldin, Pitta; Ss, Reid, Pollard; LBs, Lewis, Ellerbe.

 

In fact, it should be titled, "How to dismantle a championship team".

1. Change championship language and blocking scheme to one that disrupts RB, and QB effectiveness.

2. Replace or lose as many position leaders as possible.

3. Trade the QB's most productive/reliable receiver for a practice squad guy, lol.

 

Actually, most were unavoidable changes.

[HomeoftheBRAVENS]

Not as bad as Luck anymore. I don't think he stares guys down anymore, but he does need some more work reading defenses. That's still an area that's hard to tell. Is he having a trouble reading the defense? Or are the receivers just not open?

 

Doesn't really matter though. Haven't we debated enough about this?

 

 

At some points this season I questioned his ability to read defenses too.But I don't think he just all of a sudden stopped being able to read defenses in one offseason.I believe its a combination of the wrs not getting enough separation,him not being on page with any of the tes or wrs because all of the turnover in the off season,him not trusting his protection enough to take the time to go through his progressions and him flat out being confused by defenses at times.So basically everything lol.

[HomeoftheBRAVENS]

By observation (no stats) I believe QBs in conversation with Flacco should include Matt Ryan, Jay Cutler, Tony Romo, and Eli Manning.

 

 

You can throw Roethlisberger and Rivers in that group too.All of those guys are on the same level with some being a little better than others.I hate admitting it because I want Joe to be on the same level as the 4 HOFers,but oh well.It just is what it is.It took Brady until about Joe's age to grow into what he has become so I guess there's still hope.

[kassaiscool]

Accuracy

 

Better decision making

 

Control of offense

[HoldingCall]

You can throw Roethlisberger and Rivers in that group too.All of those guys are on the same level with some being a little better than others.I hate admitting it because I want Joe to be on the same level as the 4 HOFers,but oh well.It just is what it is.It took Brady until about Joe's age to grow into what he has become so I guess there's still hope.

Things finally fell into place for Joe during the playoff run. The OL blocked well and receivers went to the ball, the defense stepped up and Joe played above his usual self with confidence through the roof. Winning is a very delicate and tricky balance of chemistry between players and coaches. That delicate balance was bump off the scale and thrown into an imbalance following the many team changes. 

[Militant X 1]

By observation (no stats) I believe QBs in conversation with Flacco should include Matt Ryan, Jay Cutler, Tony Romo, and Eli Manning.

 

I like Cutler.

 

#Mili

[Ravenslifer]

The big thing I would like to see is the front office draft Joe a big time consistent weapon and for Joe to then make a serious effort in finding him on gameday in addition to the likes of Torrey and Pitta.  The one major difference I see between Joe and the upper echelon guys in the league is that on any given Sunday they will find the open guy and throw to him.  Joe has, from his college days till now, always seemed to lock on to one receiver and stick to him.  In the past, when he had the likes of Heap, Mason, Boldin, etc., he seemed to spread the ball out a bit more, but this season especially I noticed he really stuck to Torrey, and when Pitta came back he force fed Pitta a little too much.  It's somewhat understandable in that Dickson really has never been reliable and for most of the season the other receiver Joe was working with was Brown who is a rookie and therefore doesn't have the same rapport, but we need to draft and USE more talented receivers, and that to me is the equal responsibility of 3 parties: the front office has to draft or sign these guys, the offensive staff has to get them on the field during gameday, and most importantly Joe needs to find them and throw to them.

[Chris K]

Speaking of Joe's development, I know it's been mentioned how he really has about one audible, "Alaska! Alaska!" 

I looked it up and found this interesting, I'm fairly sure it's referring to a "hard count", not sure.

 

 

 Regardless, a new system will be crucial for Joe to develop further. Along with training him to use no-huddle most of the time. He excels at it, based off how I watched him operate it throughout the season and the Super Bowl run. Harbaugh needs to hire an OC who will work with Joe, not above him, and will allow Joe to have final say in the play calling at the LOS. If we don't do this, the offense will always be painfully mediocre-above average at best, if that.

[TonyTone1192]

Look guys, our franchise QB had little help on offense. However, some of our offensive woes falls squarely on Flacco's shoulders. I couldn't stand to watch him get beat up ALL YEAR LONG! Not only do I hope the offensive line gets addressed (tremendously, I might add) but I hope this rough season makes Flacco better by doing everything possible to make himself better. What do you guys expect Flacco to do in the offseason to work towards being a top-10 QB once again?

 

I LOVE Joe with ALL of my heart! With that being said, he needs to improve on his pre-snap and getting the ball out quick.

One thing that I noticed w/ the Steelers that as they progressed into the season w/ their porous o-line big ben started to get the ball out of his hands quicker. His receivers were running shorter condensed routes so that he wasn't getting beat up all game long. 

And pre-snap, Joe needs to do his HW and be the vocal leader and understand where the blitzes are coming from and communicate with his guys. I know that there's only ONE Peyton Manning, but that doesn't mean that Joe can't study his ways.

[frozen joe flacco fan]

Has anyone bothered to find out what Joe's expectations are? He has said repeatedly that we're not good enough. One thing that would help is to have better continuity at the WR position. Our revolving door wide receivers and tight ends have been a problem, e.g., Heap, Pitta, Clayton, Mason, Boldin, etc. Most of the elite QBs in the history of the game had at least one or two of the same receivers for most of their storied careers. Just look at Montana to Rice, Manning to Harrison, Wayne and Clark, Brady to Welker (until last year), Unitas to Berry, Rodgers to Nelson, Brees to Graham and Bradshaw to Swann just to name a few. Even Mattie Ice had Tony Gonzalez for a long run. Having said that, I realize that free agency is a complicating factor. I've not heard anyone in the FO stand up and admit it was a mistake to trade Q for a 6th round draft pick but I'll betcha Joe Flacco thinks so. Considering the youth and inexperience he had to work with, I think he did a pretty decent job. This year he literally carried the offense on his back and part of our opponents' defense. By default, Torrey Smith became Joe's favorite go-to guy and only serious deep threat. Torrey couldn't do both in every game. I can only imagine what our record would have been with Matt Schaub or Mattie Ice at the helm. Give Joe an NFL center, a bona fide #1 WR, a healthy Pitta and another legitimate TE , a beefed up O-line, a RB who will block an oncoming rusher and a playbook with more than three plays in it and the sky's the limit. 

 

Anyone who realistically thinks there are 31 QBs in the NFL who are better than Joe are just fooling themselves. There are 4 or 5 current QBs who are better than Joe and he's in the next tier and in the Top 10. Like Al Davis used to say, "Just win, baby!" That's what Joe does!

[The Oakland Cathedral]

You need to go to other forums b/c every losing team believes their offensive coordinator and coach staff is clueless. Go to the Jets, Cowboys, Texans..... and several other forums of other teams and you will see a lot of fans feel that same way.

There's one difference though. We complain about the ineptitude of our coaches regardless of records. I recall complaints about coaches the week after the Super Bowl. That says a lot. I'm actually surprised there isn't more currently.