[News] Late For Work 10/21: Joe Flacco Isn't The One Who Has Regressed

[OzzieBisciotti]

The only reason why Oz has mastered the compensatory picks is because he lets all our good players walk (almost every one of them). What the big deal anyways if we have the most comp picks when we can't draft anyone meaningful. You would think with all the picks we had, comp or regular picks, in the past five years, then we wouldn't be as we are now. I understand we can't pay everyone, but we have to develop our own and not just 1 or 2 people per draft. I think over the past five years, it'll be alarming to see all the wasted picks and picks not being fruitful. Oz was great back then but not so great recently.

Regarding Ngata, I'd be interested in seeing how many pass deflections we have this year vs last year. Ngata would always be reliable to bat 1 or 2 passes every other game or so. The only thing I've seen our defense bat this year is bat away interceptions.

[budman]

"Flacco has proven he can lead a team deep into the playoffs and even to a Super Bowl title when given the right weapons." Absolute key sentence here. Flacco is this year what I have always thought he was, an above average/good QB. As much as people think they are cap/money analysts by criticizing Flacco's salary, that is just the going rate for an above average/good QB who can win games in the right situation. When too many weapons are taken away PARTICULARLY DEEP threats to match Flacco's strength (BIG ARM), it shows his glaring weaknesses. Unfortunately, this year the Ravens just don't have the extra 'it' factor in any phase of the game. There are no Jacoby splash plays on special teams, not enough defensive stops, turnovers, or TD's, and no over the top explosive offensive plays other than wearing out SSS again before the 2nd half of the year. The fact the all the games were so close says to me that they are not terrible (as in never getting blown out). However, those 1 or 2 plays in any of the phase of the game that was there last year are clearly missing and making the Ravens a Bad/Below average team.

Agree with some of your post, however, last year Jacoby Jones really didn't have "splash". He made very questionable if not stupid decisions on bringing the ball out on kick offs and miss handling punts. That is why he is still not here.

Also, without a speedy receiver to take the top off the defense, the opposing defense knows exactly what we want to do and our receivers have a knack of not getting open quickly or even at all.

Like Mom Gene said, this years team requires patience. It will get better, the question is when.

[OzzieBisciotti]

We should've either kept Jacoby or Torrey as an insurance deep threat- not sure what the FO was thinking..

[BillyD]

Ravens are ranked 28th in the league. We have a better shot at the #1 overall pick in the 2016 draft. Which would mean picking 1st in every round. This is not a one year fix and that is IF we draft well. Poor drafting for the last 5 years has finally caught up to us. Over paying for under performance is also a factor. Freeing up Dead money will help in free agency.

I don't think we've drafted poorly overall.  We may have drafted poorly in areas.  And injuries haven't helped (Webby, Elam, Jimmy last season).  We consistently hit the nail on the head for TEs, DL, and LBs.  We have a terrible track record with WRs and DBs over the last several years.  And the RB position is questionable as well.  Now, does this have to do with the fact that we are drafting more talented players at those positions, or are those position coaches getting more out of their players than the coaches of the weaker parts of each unit?  Just food for thought.

[GageRage]

Brandon Williams pic looks like a bigger Floyd Mayweather lol.

[EliteRavens]

As much as I hate to say it.. Just trade SSS

[Jota]

Brandon Williams is a beast! It's the defensive backfield that is killing the Ravens. I don't know if it's lack of ability or poor tactics.

Edited October 21, 2015 by Jota

[cbrook1862]

Flacco more often than not puts the team in a position to win, though he's not perfect, the combo of a mediocre crew of weapons and a sorry defense is making him look bad, yet he always takes some part of the blame.

[iluvpurple]

Great article about Flacco and the Ravens on Grantland.com via the espn website. He's been part of the problem. No question.

Yeah, because anything ESPN related is SUCH a reliable source of Raven's news...... No thanks.....

[cbrook1862]

I have just 2 wishes for this season: To see Perriman play in at least 3 games, and get a top 10 draft pick.

[Barry S]

So what I gather from some is Flacco needs to be successful, great offensive line, elite receivers, and a great defense to hold leads. Those choices would make any QB in the league elite! Lets be realistic that is not going to happen the Ravens are strapped for cap space anyway, I think the FO was counting on Joe and his experience to make something out of these guys and it hasn't happened. Joe doesn't see what he wants pushes the panic button and makes mistakes, Joe isn't the whole problem but he is part of it.

[bmoraven]

Joe is doing what he always does, and he has not regressed. Big difference this year is He doesn't have the defense to bail him out for a bad decision or 2 each week like he has in years past. And, his biggest weapon is his arm strength throwing the deep ball, and he has NOBODY fast enough to get behind defenses.

[Mystigo_Dragon]

Flacco more often than not puts the team in a position to win, though he's not perfect, the combo of a mediocre crew of weapons and a sorry defense is making him look bad, yet he always takes some part of the blame.

 I agree that Joe is making the plays that should put us in the win column, but I wish people would stop saying he can "elevate a player"! He doesn't and then people say, "Oh, oh, those guys can't catch! Can't get separation!"

All during pre-season we hear of "circus catches" and "highlight reel receptions",.... either somebody's drink Harh Hyperbole Juice or telling a lie!

Still, these losses aren't Joe's doing, especially when the 4th Quarter begins! The INTs don't help but Joe's doing what he needs even with miss seeing open receivers!

[ravenstime]

We really need 2 really good WR's. One with speed, such as Perriman (healthy) and one who can move the chains, such as a healthy Campanaro. I know what the Front Office was thinking. They assumed we wouldn't have an overwhelming amount of injuries, especially on offense. We're not so very far off of having a better offense next year. But, then again, there's always injuries, every year, so we have to stock up on playmakers, imo.

[riseNConquer81]

So what I gather from some is Flacco needs to be successful, great offensive line, elite receivers, and a great defense to hold leads. Those choices would make any QB in the league elite!

glad you noticed!

now you can look around the league and take note of how all your favorite guys has some combination (if not all) of these things while Joe has none of them, and from there we can quit acting like Joe is the problem or that Joe is incapable.

Edited October 21, 2015 by riseNConquer81

[MTRavensFan]

I agree Mom Gene. Aso, why is everyone looking for someone to blame? I thought this was a Team game??

So true.

It's so much easier to just throw blame around than it is to offer any constructive ideas on how to fix the problem. All of this "fire this guy, bench this guy, trade, cut so and so"  makes no sense if you don't have replacements waiting in the wings, which we don't.

Too many people wanting to throw the baby out with the bathwater, IMO.

[PalmBayRaven]

Bleacher Report has an article today that's saying the Defense isn't good enough to hide Joe's mistakes anymore. Basically that if Trent Dilfer is the poster boy that a bad QB can win a Super Bowl then Joe's run in 2012 was just an aberration.Joe is the only starting QB to win a Super Bowl despite never going to a Pro Bowl. Basically we are over paying Joe lots of money for his performances and the Defense isn't good enough any more to stop other teams.

[The Greek]

need to draft a new camponaro but less fragile and a physical boldin type with perriman on the other side and flacco would be set as he has 3-4 te's that are more than capable. would like to find a future jammal lewis to go along with forsett. we struggle on short yardage even with fragile talliafero and buck allen.

[RavensBaltimore]

So what I gather from some is Flacco needs to be successful, great offensive line, elite receivers, and a great defense to hold leads. 

Nope, he needs competent WRs and a competent o-line, which is much less than most qbs need to be successful. He's never had anything close to an elite receiving corps, but this is probably the second time in his career that he's had the absolute worst one in the NFL. He's won a lot of games with a defense that has trouble holding leads as well. 

 

By the way, neither Peyton Manning nor Tom Brady have ever put up big numbers without at least one elite receiver or TE to throw to. Last year, the "experts" were saying that Tom Brady was done before Gronk got healthy. I said he was the exact same qb with a less talented offense. I was right, the "experts" were wrong. EVERY qb in the league needs help. No one throws passes to themselves. Most people like to overlook that and give the credit/blame to the qb.

[Flamengo1265]

I'll be happy if he just stops with the arm punts on 1st down.

[Bohica5]

Wonder if we can get a #1 or#2 for joe.......I'm good with Schaub the rest of the year.........

[GangofRavens]

Can we stop making excuses for the guy earning more money annually then anyone else at the Ravens facility besides the owner? Enough already.

 

Also, to answer the question has Joe regressed my answer is no. Here is why.

 

Joe still throws jump balls 

Joe still throws off his back foot

Joe still has trouble reading the blitz

Joe still blames the offensive coordinator for things he doesn't do, but should

Joe's number one pass is still the check down throw

Joe still has excuses made for him

 

No, Joe has not regressed.

Edited October 22, 2015 by GangofRavens

[sharkh20]

The difference between this year and last is the teams we are playing against and the offense no longer finishing games. This is just like 2013 where we were in close games every time and it was a tossup whether we would win or not. We were lucky to go 8 and 8 that year. This year we aren't getting so lucky.

This defense has fallen apart when opposing teams open up their passing game since Dean has been here. Even the year we won the superbowl we almost fell apart at the end. We could stop nothing. Last year, at the end of games, we just had to keep matching scores with other teams near the end. We weren't able to do it against the patriots. We would also come out strong offensively last year.

[PalmBayRaven]

So if Joe hasn't regressed what's wrong with him? As of now he is ranked 28th in the league. Sandwiched between Jameis Winston and Ryan Tannahill. His line according to PFF has protected him better than 21 other QB's. There has to be something our WR's can do good? Don't get me wrong I like Joe, I just don't like paying him 20-22 million a year for mediocrity. Sorry that's my opinion. Ravens are going to have to look at the facts when they negotiate the contract.

[GangofRavens]

I can't believe BR.com would publish an article that would denigrate some on the team and make excuses for others.

[RaineV1]

Bleacher Report has an article today that's saying the Defense isn't good enough to hide Joe's mistakes anymore. Basically that if Trent Dilfer is the poster boy that a bad QB can win a Super Bowl then Joe's run in 2012 was just an aberration.Joe is the only starting QB to win a Super Bowl despite never going to a Pro Bowl. Basically we are over paying Joe lots of money for his performances and the Defense isn't good enough any more to stop other teams.

Joe has been doing better than most QBs in the league and doing it with less talent around him. Also, Flacco and Boldin were the reasons we won that Super Bowl. The defense was mediocre at best and didn't do him much favors.

[Bross]

How to build an elite O-line, at least average RB and elite receiving corps when you can afford to sign only those who are to play for love? I dont know how it works, but I would create a budget for every corps a team's got (CB, S, DB, O-line, ...) before I sign contracts and running the team out of budget.

[DrinkmoreBeer]

The problem with Joe this year is he doesn't have the weapons he had before. Think about it. No Boldin, Pitta, Torrey -- other than SSS, nobody else gets open. The O line play has been spotty. No, don't put this year on Joe. The offense has been pretty good actually. It's the pathetic corps of LB's, CB's, and safeties who are sinking this ship.

[Arch Mage]

What's up with the NFL screwing the Ravens with the schedule lately ? This year its brutal and last year their were weeks that were tough as well. Seems like the Patriots , Steelers and others have more friendly schedules. Don't get it ............ back out WEST once again. The schedule this year has been in my opinion the #1 thing as to why we stink. Teams like to have the home games early rather than late. Things are just more comfortable and easier to get in a groove early and then take it onto the road. Ravens haven't been able to get into groove traveling and playing in hustle environments. Not cool NFL not cool at all.

To get the whole story on scheduling, we need to look at the Orioles' late season schedule, as they get priority!  If they have a Sunday home game, the Ravens have to play away.  It is about traffic and parking.

The Stadium folks and the transportation people could get together and build more parking.  Light Rail and MARC are at Camden Station and the lots could become part of a bigger commuter center for people coming into Baltimore from the south.  Some colleges have parking space licenses and a formal tail gate area could be amazing. and an additional source of revenue.

Edited October 22, 2015 by Arch Mage

[Arch Mage]

Bleacher Report has an article today that's saying the Defense isn't good enough to hide Joe's mistakes anymore. Basically that if Trent Dilfer is the poster boy that a bad QB can win a Super Bowl then Joe's run in 2012 was just an aberration.Joe is the only starting QB to win a Super Bowl despite never going to a Pro Bowl. Basically we are over paying Joe lots of money for his performances and the Defense isn't good enough any more to stop other teams.

Joe has been invited to the Pro Bowl (Jan 2015), and he has declined.