[News] Joe Flacco: I Have To Rise Up

[BR News]

The veteran quarterback said he needs to elevate his play as the Ravens try to dig out of their hole.

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[Purple Dawg 96]

Thank you Joe this is all I wanted to hear! Joe Flacco is the Ray Lewis of this team now and "HE" has to push to be great like Ray Ray did! Now get back in that SHOTGUN and let'er RIP! Marlon is waiting to do some damage! LETS GO!

[ellicottraven]

Well said Joe, you must play like a franchise QB whose team depended on your ability to make others around you perform. Much like Ray Lewis did for us on defense. But, it all starts with you eliminating the almost ridiculous mistakes you've been making this season. Also, it is critical that you don't repeat the same mistakes again. Acknowledging is a great first step but meaningful only if it is corrected. Repeated acknowledging of mistakes without remedial actions starts feeling hollow after a while. So, when you say it is 'on' you, you must make sure it is not 'on' you the next week as well.

[ciro]

remember Gisele? when the pats lost and she screamed out "He can't throw and catch them too?" This is the only time i'll agree with anything around that team but anybody see how much flacco scrambled and there was still nobody open???? the only thing i would ask of flacco is to make some plays with his legs more, and watch the interceptions. because honestly, we have the 12th offense in the league. the offense isn't the problem. The head office should explain itself not flacco, he needs playmakers heck, the whole team does

[Rich McG]

Joe, as you know, for this season the time to rise has come and gone. Be ready to rise when the season begins next year. Leadership is something that is constant, but raises when needed.

[b93333]

Joe just needs to stay healthy for next year. When he tries to force the issue it just results in turnovers anyway. Next year with a little talent around him (hopefully) he should resume his winning ways.

[ALSKAN RAVEN FAN]

The good news is we all know and have seen Joe play better in the past so that's not an unrealistic goal. However Joe cant catch the balls he is throwing that's on the receivers and we seriously need a few of them to step up too. SSS is the only WR that is helping Joe out this season so far and we all know what the knock on him was coming out of college they said he was too short but he shut all their mouths up by wanting it. None of the other WR's on this team seem to want it.

[fusuymada]

I like Joe, I really do. He is one of those guys you wish would just put together a run of a couple games with 300 yards, no interceptions and 2 or 3 Td's. You just want to see another run like the 2012 playoff run where he completes a bunch of TD's and no INT's. Joe is humble in winning and he shoulders the burden when we lose, even though he didn't draft or pick up these wide receivers. He knows his weaknesses, when he throws 25 times a game we may get an error or 2, when he throws 35 - 40 a couple more and when he throws 45 - 50+ times, expect 4 or 5 that are maddeningly bad decisions or poor throws. That is Joe, we know him, we accept that is the way he is. Unfortunately, as we train offensive coordinators to be head coaches, it seems the new guys don't get it right away (excluding Kubiak). I think Trestman's offensive scheme is not taking into consideration who he has playing, and instead is trying to fit these players into his system. This season Joe has thrown 32, 45, 49, 33, 35 and 53 attempts, all far more than he can be successful with. If Trestman truly studied Joe and knew his abilities, then maybe Trestman isn't the man for the job. Flacco looks just like Jay Cutler last year and what is the one consistent factor, Trestman.

Edited October 22, 2015 by fusuymada

[The Greek]

Thank you Joe this is all I wanted to hear! Joe Flacco is the Ray Lewis of this team now and "HE" has to push to be great like Ray Ray did! Now get back in that SHOTGUN and let'er RIP! Marlon is waiting to do some damage! LETS GO!

marlon has done plenty of damage already by not getting open and dropping passes. hehehehe

[salamander]

One thing that I don't understand is how Joe's focus and decision making can be so variable. Joe was consistently stellar  the duration of the SB run. Joe can also make some mind boggling poor decisions. I will never understand why Joe would heave the ball down the middle of the field rather than throw it out of bounds (just asking for a pick), then later explain that the was trying to throw the ball away.  I love Joe but he needs to eliminate those occasional, but deadly brain farts.

Edited October 22, 2015 by salamander

[stixfix69]

I agree, when you're a franchise QB, and getting paid the big bucks, you have to rise to the occasion...Comes with the territory for all 100 mil plus QB's....

[Bob21043]

It is oh so wearisome to hear week after week, player after player keep saying "we have to play better". We all see it and know it already! Just go out and do it. I wish one of them would step up and just say "Hey, I'm sorry we've sucked so bad so far, but I'll bust my butt to kick some butt this week". ....And then go out and actually do it.

[FloridalovesRavens]

I think Flacco is less confident because he really doesn't have that many options to throw the ball to. He has owned his mistakes and he wants to win just as much as we do. I can't really visualize things changing that much this season for our Ravens. Injuries have devastated our offense and defense. I don't think we can overcome all this. I do believe we will win some games but how many I can only guess.

[Bob21043]

I think breaking even at 8-8 would be a major coup at this point. More likely, we will have a losing record. Haven't seen that in a long time. Was Billick's last year, I guess.

[stixfix69]

Flacco is really at his best with a more up tempo game, in the 2nd half when we used more of the hurry up offense is when he did his best work....It gets him in a rhythm...Trestamn needs to put in a mid -range passing attack, everything is the short underneath ball, or he goes deep...He needs to take advantage of Flacco's arm as he can throw all the routes in the playbook...

[trevorsteadman]

I like Joe, I really do. He is one of those guys you wish would just put together a run of a couple games with 300 yards, no interceptions and 2 or 3 Td's. You just want to see another run like the 2012 playoff run where he completes a bunch of TD's and no INT's. Joe is humble in winning and he shoulders the burden when we lose, even though he didn't draft or pick up these wide receivers. He knows his weaknesses, when he throws 25 times a game we may get an error or 2, when he throws 35 - 40 a couple more and when he throws 45 - 50+ times, expect 4 or 5 that are maddeningly bad decisions or poor throws. That is Joe, we know him, we accept that is the way he is. Unfortunately, as we train offensive coordinators to be head coaches, it seems the new guys don't get it right away (excluding Kubiak). I think Trestman's offensive scheme is not taking into consideration who he has playing, and instead is trying to fit these players into his system. This season Joe has thrown 32, 45, 49, 33, 35 and 53 attempts, all far more than he can be successful with. If Trestman truly studied Joe and knew his abilities, then maybe Trestman isn't the man for the job. Flacco looks just like Jay Cutler last year and what is the one consistent factor, Trestman.

Trestman's offense worked in Chicago because he had Alshon Jeffery, Martellus Bennett, and Brandon Marshall. Big guys who can overpower and were taller than most defenders. This worked for them. We have the height but Marlon Brown, Kamar Aiken, and Darren Waller have the height but they don't use it to overpower defenders to go up and get a ball. Steve Smith does this even though he is only 5'9. 

[EdBallhawkReed20]

Joe if your reading this I know a lot of the dumb Raven fans will disagree. The smart ones will actually get what I'm about to say... Joe this is not the beginning of your career. Ray Rice is no longer here to bail you out 4 & 29. You can't throw the ball to one receiver all game and that may have worked with Derrick Mason and Anquain Boldin, but people have keyed in on that over the years.. That is not working with Steve Smith. Throw the ball to other receivers. I can't say you have bad receivers when one receiver has been targeted more than everyone else all game. If Breshad Permian plays this year practice throwing the deep ball in stride. I don't want another Torrey Smith penalty yardage, no catch because ball are under thrown speedy wideout. That Chris Givens catch weeks ago is a prime example granted he was only here a week it is completely understandable. I'ld rather you throw up contested throws to receivers and they get picked off so I can at least say you had bad receivers. Right now this is a trust issue between you and the receiver because you threw the ball to Anquain Boldin when he was here and he wasn't wide open for all the fans who I know will give me negatives. Put it like this Joe Flacco if I play Madden 16 I can't throw all my passes to Megatron, Larry Fitzgerald, Dez Bryant and expect to win the game. If I do win my opponent was trash... Everybody is not Steve Smith but I have to throw the ball to other receivers. I certainly don't target one receiver more than the rest combined. Just a thought, good luck with the rest of the season...

[riseNConquer81]

thats a wonderful media friendly sentiment Joe, but if your receivers dont tag along with you, it wont mean anything.

[riseNConquer81]

Joe if your reading this I know a lot of the dumb Raven fans will disagree. The smart ones will actually get what I'm about to say...

you really shouldve left this part out because your post makes ZERO sense.

Throw the ball to other receivers. I can't say you have bad receivers when one receiver has been targeted more than everyone else all game.

he has. they failed to make the play or got picked off. Smith Senior gets the most targets because he's the most frequently open and actual makes a play when given the opportunity

I'ld rather you throw up contested throws to receivers and they get picked off so I can at least say you had bad receivers.

you've already seen this multiple times. you saw it all 2013. and all you did was just blame it on Flacco again.

That aside: basically you want him to purposely throw away the season to prove to you that his weapons are inadequate because you dont understand enough about the game to watch them play and see that on your own.

brilliant....

[jravens13]

Too late for that... This year is all about positioning us for 2016 with a great draft pick and some cap space. AKA you will not make $28 Million Dollars next year.

[griffrb]

Want to improve, need to grind with the WRs before or after practices but I'm certain there is CBA language that would not allow QBs and WRs to do such. IMHO, pro athletes are paid way too much money to not work on their craft. The offseason player development programs also slow down the players ability to grow and prosper. Football is violent - I get that but there is too much money paid in sports entertainment to not work. All of us non-athletes who work daily, hey, we grind until we get it right and accomplished or get fired. It doesn't appear this is happening with the Ravens offense or defense. Joe, hold a passing camp during the off-season!!

[The Mom Gene]

Go Gettum Joe! I would love to see us go out there and put all of this behind us... It would be sooooo sweet to just come out all fired up and see them play a good ole' fashioned "Ravens Game"...

[voltesV]

More like "I have to RESTRUCTURE...... my contract"

[eek]

i would like to see flacco with at least 2 solid wr's which has only happened in 2010 when we had Mason and Boldin. I love torrey but never found him solid as his hands are questionable. i really would like too see 3 solid wr's but thats never been our Front Offices forte so im just hoping for 2.

[EliteRavens]

GIVE FLACCO PLAYMAKERS. How hard is it?

[Drew P]

We should sign the guys that been picking him off to play WR

[RavensReck27]

That fade back lob throw that went directly into the defenses hands last week made me sick, but Flacco is still a good QB and our guy. Flacco needs weapons to unleash his full ability. His top two weapons (Smith and Gilmore) played banged up last week. One of the best deep balls in the league with no deep threat? That is just a waste. I love our TE's, but we need another legit receiver that can get separation. I still believe in Breshad to do big things, but we need a guy next to him for the future. Aiken is a decent #3, but he is definitely no #2, and when he was our #1 a few weeks ago I almost puked. We need to draft a WR in the 1st or 2nd round this year. Get Joe what he NEEDS.

[EdBallhawkReed20]

you really shouldve left this part out because your post makes ZERO sense.

he has. they failed to make the play or got picked off. Smith Senior gets the most targets because he's the most frequently open and actual makes a play when given the opportunity

you've already seen this multiple times. you saw it all 2013. and all you did was just blame it on Flacco again.

That aside: basically you want him to purposely throw away the season to prove to you that his weapons are inadequate because you dont understand enough about the game to watch them play and see that on your own.

brilliant....

Okay lets get this straight what do you propose... He keep throwing the ball to Steve Smith every game. That has really been effective strategy so far. What I'm saying is no receiver is going to catch every pass. These guys are young and inexperienced. even though they have been in a league a few years how much playing time do they get... I could be on special teams doesn't mean because I catch punts and returns I'll make catches or interceptions. People do learn from theie mistakes its called growing pains. Oh yeah screw 2013, 2014 he had Torrey Smith and couldn't get him the ball. That's what I saw. That's why Torrey Smith had lower production and I don't blame him for asking for all that money. I'ld rather be paid than broke in the same qb situation Kapernick (even though he did on that one TD pass against us). Torrey Smith should have a had a breakout season last years given all the TD passes that came his way... I know football consistency is important all the way around. QB have to have consistent play so do the wide receivers. The QB must consistently trust the wide receivers and vice versa. I'm sure the receivers don't go back to the sideline and ask for Matt Schaub to start playing after Joe Flacco throws these interceptions...  

 

Solution: If I was the Raven staff I was just start trading for experienced receivers (don't waste draft picks on picking up one) because Joe Flacco only receiver to date that he played well with that came to the team was Dennis Pitta period. Get one fast receiver to stretch the field and everyone from other teams because he is incapable of raising the play of those around him like a true leader...  Those seem to be the receivers Joe has had the most success with. Joe Flacco just needs big body receivers because all throws is contested throws thats why a lot of people praise Steve Smith so much same with Anquain Boldin when he was here.

 

Plus you pick out what you want to strengthen your case in my post Rise N' Conquer. You know like I know he won't win throwing the ball to one person (Matthew Stafford tried that with the Lions and I haven't seen them in the post season in a long time). We tried that the first seasons Joe got hear and Indianapolis played Ray Rice the whole game and we lost Ray Rice left the field in tears because you can't win the game alone... Don't just breakdown my post and criticize what do you think the Ravens should  do to get better...

[iluvpurple]

Like I have said before, the entire team needs to elevate their play, not just one guy..... But I like that Joe stood up and took command of the reins, per se', now just hope the rest of the players will follow suit.....

[Crusader]

Joe needs to get out of his comfort zone. Before he had Ray and Edd running things and he seems to rely on the coaches telling him everything and all that's making him look bad. I think this year will change Joe and he has no choice.