The Joe Flacco Thread (merged)

[52N19]

"Flacco said he’s not going to adopt a run-first mentality by any means, but an area where

 

he’s trying to improve his game is by keeping drives alive with his feet when he breaks out of

 

the pocket. “I wish I would take a couple yards here and there when given the opportunity, but

 

I’m usually still looking to make the big play downfield,” Flacco said. “I just have to get better

 

and better and balance the two.”

 

Joe passes up a lot of easy first down runs for more difficult passes down field. i thought he

 

didn't run because he was bull headed. i am glad to hear he is taking this approach. we need

 

to keep our defense off the filed as much as possible in addition to scoring.

[TDubbs]

It has to be a balancing act with his running. He's always been pretty smart with his running (except the snow game vs. the Vikings) and its a big reason why he never misses playing time. As long as he doesn't get too reckless with it, Its fine b/c his speed has always been underrated. 

 

Now if he does establish himself as a threat outside the pocket, it could open up those down the field passes. If DB's consider him a threat they may move up, and we all know he can throw on the run as good as any QB. 

Edited August 26, 2015 by TDubbs

[ravensdan]

"Flacco said he’s not going to adopt a run-first mentality by any means, but an area where

he’s trying to improve his game is by keeping drives alive with his feet when he breaks out of

the pocket. “I wish I would take a couple yards here and there when given the opportunity, but

I’m usually still looking to make the big play downfield,” Flacco said. “I just have to get better

and better and balance the two.”

Joe passes up a lot of easy first down runs for more difficult passes down field. i thought he

didn't run because he was bull headed. i am glad to hear he is taking this approach. we need

to keep our defense off the filed as much as possible in addition to scoring.

Hopefully he doesn't stray from

This too much. His looking down field to make a big play is what makes him a great player. It's why QBs who look to run first will never be as good. To quote the great GregCossell there's no stat for throws not attempted.

[JoeyFlex5]

it depends on the situation. when we are in dire need of a first down and the throw isnt a 100% chance of a catch, then maybe pull it down and run if you know you can extend it. 

 

but the thing about joe is, he isnt a running qb, but his great pocket awareness and ability to extend the play is what makes him great. his size and toughness, along with his underrated mobility, combined with his "balls" and his rocket arm and great touch on deep throws is just a lethal combination, and oh so many teams have felt the pain that joe can bring by just being joe. 

 

i say dont change, keep doing what you do, and if you feel that running with it more often would improve your game, then go for it.

[K-Dog]

Oh no!

The opposing teams now know our plans.

WE ARE DOOMED.

No, not really.

[1/28/01]

it depends on the situation. when we are in dire need of a first down and the throw isnt a 100% chance of a catch, then maybe pull it down and run if you know you can extend it.

but the thing about joe is, he isnt a running qb, but his great pocket awareness and ability to extend the play is what makes him great. his size and toughness, along with his underrated mobility, combined with his "balls" and his rocket arm and great touch on deep throws is just a lethal combination, and oh so many teams have felt the pain that joe can bring by just being joe.

i say dont change, keep doing what you do, and if you feel that running with it more often would improve your game, then go for it.

Hope he improves on the great touch with the deep ball. Everything else I generally agree with.

[JoeyFlex5]

Hope he improves on the great touch with the deep ball. Everything else I generally agree with.

are you saying he doesnt have good touch on a deep ball? 

[1/28/01]

are you saying he doesnt have good touch on a deep ball?

Yes, that is what I am saying. Would love to see vast improvements there. He has a cannon, no doubt. But it's a huge misconception that he is overly accurate when throwing deep. Whether it's a mix of not gelling with his receivers deep, not trusting them or something else, his completion percentage (and amount of underthrows) need improvement when throwing deep. You're going to disagree and that's fine. It's been proven otherwise time and time again, but I get the sentiment.

[JoeyFlex5]

Yes, that is what I am saying. Would love to see vast improvements there. He has a cannon, no doubt. But it's a huge misconception that he is overly accurate when throwing deep. Whether it's a mix of not gelling with his receivers deep, not trusting them or something else, his completion percentage (and amount of underthrows) need improvement when throwing deep. You're going to disagree and that's fine. It's been proven otherwise time and time again, but I get the sentiment.

thats accuracy, not touch, kaepernick can throw a ball 60 yards on a dime, but he cant float a ball to save his life, because he has no sense of touch, stafford has problems with his touch too but he may have the most accurate deep ball in the league, its just not the same thing. 

Edited August 26, 2015 by JoeyFlex5

[BSHU_Miami]

Yes, that is what I am saying. Would love to see vast improvements there. He has a cannon, no doubt. But it's a huge misconception that he is overly accurate when throwing deep. Whether it's a mix of not gelling with his receivers deep, not trusting them or something else, his completion percentage (and amount of underthrows) need improvement when throwing deep. You're going to disagree and that's fine. It's been proven otherwise time and time again, but I get the sentiment.

not having multiple deep threats and the one who you did have doesn't have hands/stops running his route/doesn't win 50/50 jump balls despite having a 41 inch vert/runs the wrong route, isn't aggressively attacking the ball/watching it sail into the defenders hands.....it's kinda difficult to have high percentages. On a low percentage throw, you know?

[Adreme]

We all know he could get an extra first down or two a game if he were more willing to run for it but we also have to remember that the reason Joe Flacco has not missed a single game in his career is because he is smart enough to know that one or two first downs a game is not worth ending the season over.  In the playoffs sure I want him to bite scratch and claw and do whatever it takes to win, and his playoff numbers speak to him doing just that, but in the regular season I dont want the franchise QB taking risks just to get a single first down because the goal of the regular season is just to get to the postseason healthy and if you have home field that is great but being healthy is more important.

[beanfigger]

I don't think this is anything new, and I doubt we see much of a change. He's always a throw-first guy. Keep the runs few and far between, and they will be more effective. He does it enough when we need it (like to kick-start an offense doing nothing and pinned deep in our territory against Miami last year). Running is important, but I don't think he needs to change his style of play to incorporate it more.

[52N19]

not having multiple deep threats and the one who you did have doesn't have hands/stops running his route/doesn't win 50/50 jump balls despite having a 41 inch vert/runs the wrong route, isn't aggressively attacking the ball/watching it sail into the defenders hands.....it's kinda difficult to have high percentages. On a low percentage throw, you know?

+1

[The Mom Gene]

I personally don't think he has had the weapons in the past to do it.  Now I think he's more confident.  We've all said time and time again...  Torrey would either catch it, or draw the penalty...   more often the latter.  We now have guys who will fight for the ball.  Guys who are big enough and strong enough to go up and get it.  It's all about confidence.  And this year, for some dumb reason, I don't know why, but I see so much more confidence in Joe. 

[Edgar]

Wonder if the tape of the second pick at New England Is the impetus. On that play, he had nothing but green grass to his left.

I've always thought he should run more than he has.....If for no other reason than to make a defense reckon he might.

[1/28/01]

thats accuracy, not touch, kaepernick can throw a ball 60 yards on a dime, but he cant float a ball to save his life, because he has no sense of touch, stafford has problems with his touch too but he may have the most accurate deep ball in the league, its just not the same thing.

Okay.

[1/28/01]

not having multiple deep threats and the one who you did have doesn't have hands/stops running his route/doesn't win 50/50 jump balls despite having a 41 inch vert/runs the wrong route, isn't aggressively attacking the ball/watching it sail into the defenders hands.....it's kinda difficult to have high percentages. On a low percentage throw, you know?

Yes, both QB and receiver play a part in it.

[beanfigger]

Okay.

According to PFF, which some people feel is gospel (but is really just another opinion), they feel that Joe has already shown a lot of improvement in the deep ball last season. This is especially true for balls thrown over 40 yards. He still has a ways to go in the intermediate-deep range (21-30) according to them, though.

Personally, I always thought he was pretty solid (minus 2013, when his and everyone else's game regressed all around). Last season, especially early on, he was really clicking with his receivers deep. I hope to see more of that because it really should be a strength of his and our team given our talent and skill set.

[1/28/01]

According to PFF, which some people feel is gospel (but is really just another opinion), they feel that Joe has already shown a lot of improvement in the deep ball last season. This is especially true for balls thrown over 40 yards. He still has a ways to go in the intermediate-deep range (21-30) according to them, though.

Personally, I always thought he was pretty solid (minus 2013, when his and everyone else's game regressed all around). Last season, especially early on, he was really clicking with his receivers deep. I hope to see more of that because it really should be a strength of his and our team given our talent and skill set.

I agree. Last year he showed major improvement. I really hope he builds off that and perhaps Waller and Perriman can help there. Outside last year, his efficient and accuracy on throws over 20 and 40 yards has been in the bottom half of QBs in the league. Again, it's just a huge misconception with Ravens fans due to his arm strength. Rarely have we seen him hit receivers in stride on the long throw (yes, some are gonna post links of the few times he has, but doesn't change the facts). He definitely has it in him to be a beast, though.

[JoeyFlex5]

I agree. Last year he showed major improvement. I really hope he builds off that and perhaps Waller and Perriman can help there. Outside last year, his efficient and accuracy on throws over 20 and 40 yards has been in the bottom half of QBs in the league. Again, it's just a huge misconception with Ravens fans due to his arm strength. Rarely have we seen him hit receivers in stride on the long throw (yes, some are gonna post links of the few times he has, but doesn't change the facts). He definitely has it in him to be a beast, though.

look at all of torreys PIs. then consider the fact that it has been spoken from joe, torrey, and harbaugh, that torrey and joe had worked on this tactic and developed it to use it in games. 

 

then consider who joes deep threat was for the past 4 years.. the guy purposely missing catches to draw PIs because of his ridiculous lack of ball skills and deep ball tracking

[January J]

Hopefully this mentality doesn't result in us needing to rely on Matt Schaub.

[The Mom Gene]

Hopefully this mentality doesn't result in us needing to rely on Matt Schaub.

Pfooooey...  Blasphemy!

 

[salamander]

I must say that Joe has 1 of the best MLB quality slides when he does run and he knows to start that slide well before a defender is very close. However, it only takes 1 defender out his field of vision to blindside him with a crushing blow. Joe, if you run the ball, just do so selectively and keep your eyes peeled. Those QB runs will make defenders come at you like it's XMAS morning so be safe out there. You have some impressive wheels though Joe and many MLB players don't slide half as efficiently as you do. In fact, hear you can hit also. Hey, if you weren't so busy, the Orioles could certainly use your help these days. May wake them up to have Joe Cool make an appearance.

Edited August 26, 2015 by salamander

[1/28/01]

look at all of torreys PIs. then consider the fact that it has been spoken from joe, torrey, and harbaugh, that torrey and joe had worked on this tactic and developed it to use it in games.

then consider who joes deep threat was for the past 4 years.. the guy purposely missing catches to draw PIs because of his ridiculous lack of ball skills and deep ball tracking

As stated, since 2008 (not just since Torrey's arrival) Joe has had troubles connecting deep, in stride and on a consecutive basis. But I get it, Joe's your boy. He's mine too. Just want some areas to improve and this is one of them.

[Tank 92]

I must say that Joe has 1 of the best MLB quality slides when he does run and he knows to start that slide well before a defender is very close. However, it only takes 1 defender out his field of vision to blindside him with a crushing blow. Joe, if you run the ball, just do so selectively and keep your eyes peeled. Those QB runs will make defenders come at you like it's XMAS morning so be safe out there. You have some impressive wheels though Joe and many MLB players don't slide half as efficiently as you do. In fact, hear you can hit also. Hey, if you weren't so busy, the Orioles could certainly use your help these days. May wake them up to have Joe Cool make an appearance.

 

 

He does have a quality slide.  You can tell he is a baseball player.

[Tenacious Faulker]

"Flacco said he’s not going to adopt a run-first mentality by any means, but an area where

 

he’s trying to improve his game is by keeping drives alive with his feet when he breaks out of

 

the pocket. “I wish I would take a couple yards here and there when given the opportunity, but

 

I’m usually still looking to make the big play downfield,” Flacco said. “I just have to get better

 

and better and balance the two.”

 

Joe passes up a lot of easy first down runs for more difficult passes down field. i thought he

 

didn't run because he was bull headed. i am glad to hear he is taking this approach. we need

 

to keep our defense off the filed as much as possible in addition to scoring.

This is a strange statement because the offense is still based on Kubiak's run-first offense.  His comments then seem to insinuate that Trestman's version will also be a run-first.  They had their best season ins 2014 with Kubiak's run-first offense. Why would Joe say he's going to be throwing first?

[beanfigger]

This is a strange statement because the offense is still based on Kubiak's run-first offense. His comments then seem to insinuate that Trestman's version will also be a run-first. They had their best season ins 2014 with Kubiak's run-first offense. Why would Joe say he's going to be throwing first?

I'm pretty sure he's talking about what he will be doing on passing plays, not every play. He said he will always look to throw first before he scrambles, not before he calls a run.

[beanfigger]

As stated, since 2008 (not just since Torrey's arrival) Joe has had troubles connecting deep, in stride and on a consecutive basis. But I get it, Joe's your boy. He's mine too. Just want some areas to improve and this is one of them.

It would be amazing if every receiver got hit exactly in stride on deep streak routes, but that is unrealistic in the NFL. If you think other teams have receivers not adjusting or slowing up on most deep routes, that's incorrect. Manning is really the only one who hits deeps routes in perfect stride more often than not, and he throws deep very sparingly nowadays according to the numbers. Andrew Luck might be second best at this. Even Aaron Rodgers needs his receivers to adjust on deep balls, and Jordy is perhaps one of the best at that (that'll be the biggest thing that is missed from him this year).

[Tenacious Faulker]

I'm pretty sure he's talking about what he will be doing on passing plays, not every play. He said he will always look to throw first before he scrambles, not before he calls a run.

Ah.  Thanks.

 

So what is the "huge" admission then?

Edited August 27, 2015 by Tenacious Faulker

[DomMcRaven]

I'm pretty sure Flacco isn't thinking this, but what I got from this is that if Big Ben could do it, why can't he?