[News] Josh Johnson Continues To Make A Case For Backup Job Over Ryan Mallett

[BR News]

The Ravens’ third-string quarterback spearheaded an efficient two-minute touchdown drive to end the first half, then closed the game out with some first-down scrambles.

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[Ravens07]

I don't think Mallett has done anything to hurt his spot. He has a 99 QB rating in the first two preseason games and that's going against mostly starters. Johnson has played well, but it's been against 2nd and 3rd stringers. That 2-minute drive was mainly a result of the Colts playing soft defense. I like Johnson, though. It'll be interesting to see if the Ravens choose to keep 3 QBs this year.

[Raven552]

I like both Mallett and Josh Johnson, but I lean toward Johnson, he looked good in both pre-season games.  I'd also hate to see him go to another team. 

Jerrod Johnson will probably be gone this week.

[RRRRRavens]

I like both Mallett and Josh Johnson, but I lean toward Johnson, he looked good in both pre-season games.  I'd also hate to see him go to another team. 

Jerrod Johnson will probably be gone this week.

I favor Mallett. I like his accuracy and I really like his quick release.

[law215]

Josh is facing guys they may not be in the NFL by September. He makes plays with his legs more than his arm. Mallett has been steady and has more experience. I like Mallett.

[dirtybird66]

this would be the smartest thing the RAVENS could do,just from the standpoint that he see's things quicker than MALLET,non the less that he's got wheels if things break down in the pocket,this guy is like read,then spot on or read,nope i'm out of here.

[balfan23]

It just feels like the classic case of over-reacting to a performance or two in the preseason. Mallet playing against the other team's 1s and Josh playing against the 2s and 3s. Yes he looked good, but here is the question you need to ask yourself. This season, if Flacco goes out for a couple games which QB can come in and give us the best chance of pulling out a win? I don't know that the answer has changed from Mallett based on the preseason so far. 

[Ravenous_Ravens]

It just feels like the classic case of over-reacting to a performance or two in the preseason. Mallet playing against the other team's 1s and Josh playing against the 2s and 3s. Yes he looked good, but here is the question you need to ask yourself. This season, if Flacco goes out for a couple games which QB can come in and give us the best chance of pulling out a win? I don't know that the answer has changed from Mallett based on the preseason so far. 

I am thinking Harbs will give Josh Johnson a chance to start over Mallet in one of the two final games to get a better look. Not sure if Flacco will play in game #3 but I cannot imagine them going into the season and not getting his feet wet again.

[ellicottraven]

I really liked Josh Johnson's calm in the huddle and the way he dissected the opposing defense with crisp throws on that 1 1/2 minute drive. That was clinical display of QB play imo. I see Josh as more calm when pressured than Mallet frankly. Now one game isn't obviously enough to uproot Ryan's position as a back up to Joe, but I don't think we can go wrong if Josh backs Joe up all season long. I feel comfortable in Josh being back up. Also, his personality is very laid back and calm and you can tell by his responses in the presser, he doesn't get too excited or down about anything. Pretty happy with our back up QBs.

[bioLarzen]

I don't think at all that Mallett's spot is in any kind of danger. Yep, Josh Johnson has indeed been looking promising - especially that two-minute drive - but Mallett hasn't been any worse in thse two games.

Mallett: 17/23, 138, 2/1 (the INT being not his fault)
Johnson: 19/27, 155, 1/0

... and Mallett was on against the starters.

So, yep, Johnson hads been intriguing, but I don't see Mallett's spot in any kind of danger.

[bioLarzen]

2 hours ago, Raven552 said:

I like both Mallett and Josh Johnson, but I lean toward Johnson, he looked good in both pre-season games.  I'd also hate to see him go to another team. 

Jerrod Johnson will probably be gone this week.

Mallett was just as good - against better guys.

[bioLarzen]

What looks obvious from the stats is that so far neither Mallett nor Johnson was asked to (or let?) hurl it downfield. Both guys' yards-per-pass figure is single-digit - but it looks they are suited well to operate mainly with mid-range and screen passes - similar to Brady. Malett's completion average for that great steelers game last season was just under 10 yards, so that's what i guess we should expect if Flacco goes down agan and the replacement QB (probably Mallett) comes into play.

[Maurice0094]

Give Josh the start in the next game. It will be a lot of starters playing in the third preseason game. I really haven't been impressed with Mallett but he has played against guys who will be contributing in the regular season vs. Josh who plays against 2nd/3rd stringers so give him the start. Josh has been a starter early in his career and bounced around but maybe he has figured it out. Malletts game looks like something is always missing.

[CQ1]

I do not know enough of Josh Johnson- but the man deserves a start (or at least more reps) than Mallett

[FloridalovesRavens]

Three QBs might be the way to go this season.

[bioLarzen]

Three QBs might be the way to go this season.

Hardly. Even with two QB's Harbaugh will have some very hard decisions to make regarding who to cut at WR or TE...

[letitgosometimes]

Josh Johnson made a better case for STARTING for several other teams! Worth trading Johnson for veteran defensive back or pass rusher rather than being on practice squad.

[stixfix69]

Flacco has to play next week, we cant go into the season not knowing how the real starting offense plays....Sorry the slow starts just don't warrant sitting Flacco out the entire pre-season....Lets get Suggs in next week also, and see if he can pick the defensive intensity during a game, Mosley is nice guy but not the kind of leader we need on the D side of the ball....

[EdTheMythicalOne]

Ryan Mallett and Josh Johnson have both looked pretty decent in their playing time for the Ravens so far. To me the offense just seems to flow better and look smoother with Johnson. He also brings his legs to the table which has been able to extend drives for this team rather than going three and out.

That all has to be couched with the fact that Johnson isn't going up against the ones. Mallett is getting the starts against other teams' ones for as long as they play them, but no team is running their actual offense or defense. You'd hope your guys would be able to pick apart vanilla defenses like they have so far.

No team is going to trade for Josh Johnson because they figure he'd be the guy we cut. The best chance for a trade I see is if somebody really wanted Mallett and right now I don't see too many teams that would think he's better than what they got in house right now. Now, injuries can and do happen, but you can't wait around all day for that to happen. First round of cuts are coming up soon.

There's no way we carry three QB's on the 53 man roster...unless one of them is Keenan Reynolds.

[January J]

1 hour ago, letitgosometimes said:

Josh Johnson made a better case for STARTING for several other teams! Worth trading Johnson for veteran defensive back or pass rusher rather than being on practice squad.

Or they could just wait until we release him and pick him up for nothing Bc teams know we won't carry 3. I'm not even sure about his ps eligibility.

one good thing about keeping Johnson is that it would be good preparation for week one and two. We face tyrod Taylor and then rg3...would really help our defense to practice and game plan against a mobile qb.

[stixfix69]

can't keep 3 QB's as we will be keeping 4 TE's, and things are going to get really weird at that position when Waller, and Boyle come back, as they both have had solid camps....

[ALSKAN RAVEN FAN]

So long as it's the best 53 we keep it does not matter so be it.

[ravenscavecreek]

Josh Johnson made a better case for STARTING for several other teams! Worth trading Johnson for veteran defensive back or pass rusher rather than being on practice squad.

LOL

[JamesA119]

I do not know enough of Josh Johnson- but the man deserves a start (or at least more reps) than Mallett

Agreed

[Zeus]

I was impressed and he deserves more playing time.

[Maryland]

I wonder if we can trade one for a conditional 7th, since both are on very good/cheap contracts for a backup. Going rate for a good backup is ~3mil/year; Mallett is getting 1.5mil and Johnson 800k. Regardless, I really like Johnson and would like to see him get in the game ahead of Mallett in games 3 and 4. I value running ability in a backup QB since it brings a different element to the game if your starter goes down, basically expanding their limited playbook. I'm not sure if the coaching staff will give Johnson a legitimate chance to beat Mallett though; my guess is they want Mallett to win the job.

[trevorsteadman]

5 hours ago, Maryland said:

I wonder if we can trade one for a conditional 7th, since both are on very good/cheap contracts for a backup. Going rate for a good backup is ~3mil/year; Mallett is getting 1.5mil and Johnson 800k. Regardless, I really like Johnson and would like to see him get in the game ahead of Mallett in games 3 and 4. I value running ability in a backup QB since it brings a different element to the game if your starter goes down, basically expanding their limited playbook. I'm not sure if the coaching staff will give Johnson a legitimate chance to beat Mallett though; my guess is they want Mallett to win the job.

Mallett is the closest thing you will get to a Joe Flacco clone. If Flacco went down you don't want to change your entire offense. Yes Johnson has played well but the Panthers and Colts 2nd and 3rd string defenses haven't looked the best either... His running to get yards is valuable but it is like when we put Tyrod in games after Flacco went out. Johnson cannot really stretch the field and use the entire field like Flacco/Mallett can. 

[January J]

Let's see what johnson can do against the ones in the fourth game. I will reserve judgment until then. That would probably be a smart move not only for us to evaluate him but to let mallet know nothing is set in stone. Like I said before- it would be really nice to have him for our defense to practice against since our first two weeks are vs. Tyrod and rg3. Would be great practice for our defense to keep him contained. Also sucks I'm fairly certain he's not eligible for the P.S

[purpledown]

i like Johnsons poise and he seems to be under control at all times. The Ravens may have to think about keeping 3 qbs.

[Purple Dawg 96]

Ryan Mallet beat the squeelers or does some of you have "Convenient Amnesia"! Smh Johnson looked good but getting rid of Mallet will kill our SB hopes and Triple " S "! He had one coming but a bad pass cost him his ring so don't blow it getting rid of Mallet, teams know Joe is recovering and will attack him with no mercy and I'm not going for him playing on one leg like he did against the pats and the Ravens could of let Tyrod start but they didn't and Joe was a sitting duck! Oh yeah I bet Tyrod remember that game and will try to torch our secondary so don't waste time running up the middle, hit them before he hits us or its ova! # THIS OUR YEAR!