[News] Joe Flacco Wants To Spread The Ball More

[ddj410]

Give Joe some weapons. I think we are one wide receiver away from turning this thing around.

[ravenstime]

I agree, we aren't tackling well at all. On a side-note, at least we haven't tried to lateral the ball during a play, like the Jets' Marshall. He said it was the worst play ever in the NFL. In case you didn't see it or read about it, he tried to lateral a ball and it ended up in the other teams hands as a turnover. He was really upset about it and I don't like to gloat (I'm not); it's just that I'm surprised it didn't happen in our game so far. It might be a long year for us, so anything is possible. We're playing at such a poor level, aside from SSS and Flacco for half a game, that it's disgusting! We have to finish strong and win 9 or 10 out of 13. It's do-able, but I'd be surprised for sure.

[Grapple Raven]

Firstly, I don't think SSS can keep this pace up for a whole season, and that is not a knock on him, but more to the fact that it isn't fair to him, he shouldn't be asked to put every game on his back. 

 

Secondly, I think there are more than a couple of subliminal messages in Flacco's comments, lol. 

[Ravensfolyfe]

Oh boy Flacco. How you play sometimes just boggles my mind,can you ever play consistent football for 4 whole quaters?

[purpledown]

kamar aiken,marlon brown, darren wallace, michael campanaro one of you please step up , beginning Thursday.

[Zeus]

Wish Marlon would step up and start catching some balls rather than dropping the few he gets

[NeilfromBarbados]

I think that we over-analyze these things sometimes. Folks on here telling other receivers to step up. If you watch the games and the replays, Flacco is missing key open players all the time. he has got to read the field better. In addition, our offense has not had a consistent OC, so we always have a vanilla offense. It's still better than Cam Cameron's run-run-deep ball nonsense. Receivers got to work hard, but our O is too vanilla. But if you can run the ball better, anybody who watches the game knows that it makes everyone better.

[purpledown]

OC Trestman should be on his way out if the running game doesnt improve.

[RavensBaltimore]

Joe has had a 384 and 364 yd game b-to-b. That strategy isn't working. granted the defense is falling on its face in the 4th, but it would be nice if the offense could string together two series of downs in the first half. 3 and outs the entire first half hurts the D.

Running into a wall a bunch of times was a big reason we went 3 and out in the first half. When we stopped doing that, and we let Joe throw on most of the 1st downs, the 3-and-outs turned into scoring drives. It's been like that all year. When we get stuffed on 1st down, we get into 2nd and 3rd and long situations, which leads to 3-and-outs, which puts the defense right back on the field. We almost never go 3-and-out in our spread, pass first offense. We didn't lose because Joe had over 350 yds. We lost because we waited too long to spread it out, and because our defense blew 2 leads.

[RavensBaltimore]

If every time a WR dropped a pass and a QB stopped throwing him the ball, it would be a "run happy" league. Brady put no name wide WRs on his back and carried them into the post season a couple of years ago. Joe ought to be able to do the same.

No he didn't. The Patriots had a great o-line and run game that year, and they have an OC who can draw up plays to get his WRs wide open on a consistent basis. All Brady did was manage the games and complete short passes to wide open receivers. The Patriots also had a clutch defense that year, something the Ravens haven't had this year.

[letitgosometimes]

Joe: you are doing fine. Keep the play action fakes and follow-through. Tell your receivers to step toward the ball and secure it. Yes they will get hit, but making the catch takes away the pain. Have two backs blocking and one release to your strong side. You will get an extra beat to complete the pass or quick dump to back. Shake things up and good things will happen!

[sami]

Quit blaming Flacco for everything. Two weeks in a row he put us in a position to win and the defense blew it. Ladarius Webb might be done and I don't know whats going on with Jimmy Smith. And what ever happened to tackling or is that not a thing anymore?

4 weeks in a row (including our last game last year) Joe has had the ball last with enough time to get the job done. 3 of those games he threw interceptions with the game on the line. The blame is squarely on him. If he wants to be considered elite, those are the plays he has to make. Edited September 29, 2015 by sami

[WordProphet]

If we have other people to throw too, than throw them the ball, I mean that's why they are getting paid right!! It's a poor QB who don't know how to utilize all his receivers, you said you are elite then play like that and share the ball. I can see if they are dropping the ball or just can't catch it, but if they can catch it what is the reason for not throwing them the ball more often??? Torrey Smith wasn't getting the ball much either, now we know why because Flacco refused to throw his way. I don't have much time for people who pull the team down and when you refuse to use all the weapons that the teams has, then that's just what you are doing pulling the team down. Maybe folks need to look at you and redo your paycheck!!! I'm just saying!!!

[Benjamin13]

If another WR we are obviously in trouble, but what really worry's me is next year. After SSS retires who do we have? I don't see the Ravens bringing any young talent along. Waller, Camp, Brown, ext. need touches and reps to improve. I'm sure there is a plane in place but I have no idea what it is.

[trhsjr]

Sounds to me like Joe is a little tired of every pass play drawn up for SSS. %u201CI%u2019m going out there and running the plays.%u201D

%u201CWe need to get some other guys some similar amount of opportunities..." I doubt this is Joe telling himself to spread the ball more.

[DrinkmoreBeer]

Obviously, SSS is the only receiver Flacco trusts. Then again, maybe SSS is the only receiver who gets open.

[Fastynart]

Another crap article. You know who is making plays? The three tight ends, that's who. Each of them can catch and run over people. Why we are not using them more is beyond me, especially given the sorry production from this great wide receiver class. Smith can't do it alone. God love him for trying. The rest have disappeared. Get the tight ends out there. We are not gonna go deep anyway. Ball control and short stuff works. The coaching staff should be doing what is working, not trying to force that what is not.

[Crusader]

All these articles on offense. You think they were trying to deflect the real issue that the defense is a JOKE.

[Bob21043]

Split a couple TEs out in a wide set - they're not the fastest, but they can use their body size for position. SSS is the only WR doing it right now. He has to "Ice Up" the rest of them in a hurry!

[ReginaldColeman1]

Opposing DC: stuff the run, double down on number 89. And their QB coach: don't panic under pressure and throw it into the flat for a pick six. Throw it away to live another day.

[Ravens_Flock]

Gee, then DO it Joe. Quit looking for Steve, not really looking to see if anyone else is open, and then throwing to Steve. Don't talk about spreading the ball around, do so.

[Drew P]

It seems like a lot of writers knew Trestman was pass happy kinda like Cam. Ravens don't put enough emphasis on running the ball. Give the ball to Buck and LT. Spread offense is not Ravens AFC North Football. Ravens lose when Flacco has 35 or more attempts.

 

No doubt Buck is a bigger back and at this point is under utilized

[yourmomsman]

It would be nice to spread the ball out, but Ozzie Newsome can't draft receivers, so we're screwed.

[yourmomsman]

Mr. Newsome, can you please stop trying to draft receivers. You're really bad at it. Thanks.

[Edug27]

If another WR we are obviously in trouble, but what really worry's me is next year. After SSS retires who do we have? I don't see the Ravens bringing any young talent along. Waller, Camp, Brown, ext. need touches and reps to improve. I'm sure there is a plane in place but I have no idea what it is.

Well I think the plan is to have Perriman take over that role. I know he's a hated person on this board, but my gut tells me that he's not going to be injured forever. I still like Camp in that slot guy. Maxx and Crock are our future TE's. So if Perriman pans out, then Ozzie needs to grab a legit #2 possession receiver to compliment him on the other side.

 

Waller...Brown...Aiken... Nothing special about them whatsoever.

[Drew P]

They ran a 5 wide set and it was successful why the hell didnt they continue to use it? They only use bunch formations and the entire planet can read the play.

[Edug27]

4 weeks in a row (including our last game last year) Joe has had the ball last with enough time to get the job done. 3 of those games he threw interceptions with the game on the line. The blame is squarely on him. If he wants to be considered elite, those are the plays he has to make.

You have a legit point here. Although we were a few defensive stops away from not needing to put Flacco in that situation. I guess it goes both ways.

[Bat-mite]

If I remember correctly, Brown had a big catch, and Gillmore has had some very big plays, including the one in which he fought his way to the goal line.

[ibleedpurpleandblack]

Didn't read the article but just by the title alone I'm going to say - TO WHO JOE? You tried these past 3 games and it appears the only ones who know how to catch are Steve Smith Sr, Gillmore, Boyer, Williams and Juice.

[ibleedpurpleandblack]

4 weeks in a row (including our last game last year) Joe has had the ball last with enough time to get the job done. 3 of those games he threw interceptions with the game on the line. The blame is squarely on him. If he wants to be considered elite, those are the plays he has to make.

 

Can't disagree with this comment.  I would also like to add that you also expect that when your offense does get the lead back that your defense is able to make a stop and unfortunately the defense hasn't been able to do that either.

 

That said, the game against NE last year - Joe put the ball where Torrey could get it, he stopped running and waited for the defender to catch it before he decided to make an attempt.  Against Denver Joe put the ball right into Steve Smith Sr's hands that bounced off his face mask.  

 

I understand completely what you're saying about Joe needing to step up but if he doesn't have the supporting cast it doesn't matter how well the ball is placed, which has become evident watching Aiken and Brown drop almost every ball he's thrown to them this year.  

 

Honestly, I would line up our 3 TE's as our receivers, at least we know they can all catch!!! 

Edited September 29, 2015 by ibleedpurpleandblack