[News] Ravens' Top Offseason Job: Help Joe Flacco Play At Top-Tier Level

[JamesA119]

John Harbaugh error number 1, Know your players and know what works.

1, The Ravens organization Identity didnt change from Smashmouth Running&Defense to Wide open chuck&Duck offense just because Flacco makes 20million a year.

2. Yes, Brady is a legendary qb and gets loads of credit. But every sb run Brady has had a top 10 Defense, (whether Revis&Browner, Bruski,Vrabel,Lawetc) and hes had a running game Corey Dillion, this year he has Blount going for 1200 yrds and 18tds.
So Brady isnt this 1 man band. Their runs have been built on running&defense more then Brady believe it or not.

So with that said, most important thing is remember Joe is a playaction deep bomb qb. You have Perriman&Wallace if you keep him both were underutilized all year, because the run game was not committed too.

Run the dang ball, and use playaction..
Bolster the defense. Pass rush is must.
CB Must, and Safety must after Webby gets cut

I didn't know that there was such a thing as a play action deep bomb QB. So this is the new crotch for Flacco. SMH. How about just a decent QB that can play the game of football.

[outkast1]

13 minutes ago, mearzunkies said:

I prefer the playoff game wins and SB victory myself;)

You could have it but you won't see that again with Joe Flacco

[outkast1]

3 minutes ago, JamesA119 said:

I didn't know that there was such a thing as a play action deep bomb QB. So this is the new crotch for Flacco. SMH. How about just a decent QB that can play the game of football.

Luke Falk ,Washington State

[JamesA119]

Problem 1. Flacco's salary divided by his ability - He's a little better than average when he has a good D and special teams. He also has the ability to stay calm and win some games in the clutch. However with the way the salaries are for QB's (Not his fault) you simply can't tie up this much money on a guy who doesn't read defenses well, doesn't seem to know when to audible, doesn't seem to understand the concepts of a hard count etc. Do you see how many 1st downs and big plays the truly elite QB's get by using their mind? Rodgers hard count, draw you offsides, and then throw a bomb since he has a free play. Brady QB sneak on a hurry up snap count so the defense isn't settled for the 1st down.

These are the types of nuances that an elite QB carries in his toolbox, and Jo after this many years simply doesn't possess ANY single attribute that leads me to believe he gets it between the ears.

Problem 2- We don't draft enough DOGS anymore or superstar upside type players. Which is why we don't have any real IMPACT players or the old fashion Raven tough guy types. This post seems cynical and I love my Ravens but I just miss the days of Ray, Ed, Suggs, Ngata, Mccaliste r= Superstars and
Tough Guys = Kelly Gregg, Bart Scott, Bernard Pollard... I feel these types of players make Harbaugh feel threatened and that's why we continue being nice guys who finish last ( Not last but you get my meaning)....

Agree! But Flacco is way below average

[ellicottraven]

What it will take for Flacco to be successful is a lot of stud players surrounding him and protecting him and catching ball from him and running the ball for him. Now all that is possible but where is the 'money'? So this is a catch 22 the Ravens have put themselves into by making Flacco the top paid QB with not a lot left over in cap space to add major pieces in free agency to help him succeed. Unless of course Flacco does a Brady and restructures his contract and makes his salary cap friendly. But that isn't happening so where do we go from here??

[ellicottraven]

  2 hours ago, Tim Wilson said:

Problem 1. Flacco's salary divided by his ability - He's a little better than average when he has a good D and special teams. He also has the ability to stay calm and win some games in the clutch. However with the way the salaries are for QB's (Not his fault) you simply can't tie up this much money on a guy who doesn't read defenses well, doesn't seem to know when to audible, doesn't seem to understand the concepts of a hard count etc. Do you see how many 1st downs and big plays the truly elite QB's get by using their mind? Rodgers hard count, draw you offsides, and then throw a bomb since he has a free play. Brady QB sneak on a hurry up snap count so the defense isn't settled for the 1st down.

These are the types of nuances that an elite QB carries in his toolbox, and Jo after this many years simply doesn't possess ANY single attribute that leads me to believe he gets it between the ears.

Problem 2- We don't draft enough DOGS anymore or superstar upside type players. Which is why we don't have any real IMPACT players or the old fashion Raven tough guy types. This post seems cynical and I love my Ravens but I just miss the days of Ray, Ed, Suggs, Ngata, Mccaliste r= Superstars and
Tough Guys = Kelly Gregg, Bart Scott, Bernard Pollard... I feel these types of players make Harbaugh feel threatened and that's why we continue being nice guys who finish last ( Not last but you get my meaning)....

Agree! But Flacco is way below average

That is unfair. He has above average talent but wildly inconsistent. You can do a lot if you have an average QB that is consistent because you won't pay him elite money. But, with Joe he's been given top dollar but his inconsistency will never get us there unless he is surrounded by talent to make up his deficiencies when he's not on his best game. He can be downright atrocious sometimes and that is a problem too.

[JamesA119]

What it will take for Flacco to be successful is a lot of stud players surrounding him and protecting him and catching ball from him and running the ball for him. Now all that is possible but where is the 'money'? So this is a catch 22 the Ravens have put themselves into by making Flacco the top paid QB with not a lot left over in cap space to add major pieces in free agency to help him succeed. Unless of course Flacco does a Brady and restructures his contract and makes his salary cap friendly. But that isn't happening so where do we go from here??

Agree, and I don't see Flacco agreeing to restructure. However how come all these so called expert in the FO couldn't see that he doesn't really have it, 2012 playoff run or not. But we're supposed trust in Ozzie.

[ravensnj]

Corey Davis the wide receiver out of Western Michigan could help Joe. Check out his career stats: 300 catches, 5,000 yards and 50 touchdowns. 

[Zeus]

Ozzy needs to do a better job! Last seasons draft Harbs rambled on about getting a difference maker a impact player. Where is he?

[Crusader]

Ozzy needs to do a better job! Last seasons draft Harbs rambled on about getting a difference maker a impact player. Where is he?

Honestly, these guys would not use them. SSS last game and he throws to Pitta?

[OzzieBisciotti]

I told you all that Flacco isn't elite- if he was, then he'd elevate the players around him (e.g. Rogers, Brady, etc..). Anyhow, I do give a ton of credit for being able to get two huge contracts from the Ravens FO considering that he's an above avg qb at best- I mean that's what he excelled at- taking it to the bank.

[Ravensfolyfe]

Mr. Elite NOT! Flacco is stuck on stupid and we should get a serious back up to test him,push him even though we know Flukkoooo is our starter. :(

[Ravensfolyfe]

I told you all that Flacco isn't elite- if he was, then he'd elevate the players around him (e.g. Rogers, Brady, etc..). Anyhow, I do give a ton of credit for being able to get two huge contracts from the Ravens FO considering that he's an above avg qb at best- I mean that's what he excelled at- taking it to the bank.

Yeah! Like after signing that ridiculously over paid contract Flacco goes to Mickey D's. Above average thinking Flacco at his best!

[Ugly Ball]

One word: Ritalin !

[TheConquerorWorm]

I told you all that Flacco isn't elite- if he was, then he'd elevate the players around him (e.g. Rogers, Brady, etc..). Anyhow, I do give a ton of credit for being able to get two huge contracts from the Ravens FO considering that he's an above avg qb at best- I mean that's what he excelled at- taking it to the bank.

Flacco has won a Super Bowl more recent than Aaron Rodgers. Rodgers has pretty much choked in every play-off game since his Super Bowl.

[PersianRaven]

  3 hours ago, ellicottraven said:

Not happening unless a new coordinator is brought in that can force him into not committing idiotic mistakes.

I think you mean new head coach.

lol

[callahan09]

41 minutes ago, OzzieBisciotti said:

I told you all that Flacco isn't elite- if he was, then he'd elevate the players around him (e.g. Rogers, Brady, etc..). Anyhow, I do give a ton of credit for being able to get two huge contracts from the Ravens FO considering that he's an above avg qb at best- I mean that's what he excelled at- taking it to the bank.

Steve Smith Sr

Yards Per Game: 68.5 with Flacco, 67.0 with all other QBs

Catches Per Game: 5.3 with Flacco vs 4.6 with all other QBs

Catch Rate: 63.3% with Flacco vs 58.1% with all other QBs

TDs Per Game: .378 with Flacco vs .368 with all other QBs

...

Mike Wallace

Yards Per Game: 63.6 with Flacco, 56.8 with all other QBs

Catches Per Game: 4.5 with Flacco vs 3.7 with all other QBs

Catch Rate: 62.1% with Flacco vs 56.6% with all other QBs

TDs Per Game: .250 with Flacco vs .441 with all other QBs

...

Torrey Smith

Yards Per Game: 56.1 with Flacco, 33.2 with all other QBs

Catches Per Game: 3.3 with Flacco vs 1.9 with all other QBs

Catch Rate: 49.1% with Flacco vs 47.7% with all other QBs

TDs Per Game: .467 with Flacco vs .250 with all other QBs

...

Does any of that count as "elevating the players around him"?  These have been his three most primary receivers since the Super Bowl.  Torrey Smith has fallen off a cliff in San Francisco.  Mike Wallace was awful last year and many thought he was washed up; but he just had his best season this year since his 2011 Pro Bowl campaign when Roethlisberger was throwing to him.  Steve Smith Sr had better career averages in most categories with Flacco throwing him the ball than the rest of his career.  And that's in his age 35+ seasons after the franchise he built his Hall of Fame career on thought he was done and they kicked him to the curb.

So Flacco's got his guys putting up career best type numbers with him at QB, despite either being washed up or old when coming here or falling off a cliff when leaving him.

What are you basing YOUR statement on, then?

[sp3ctor]

I just want to take this opportunity to say Mike Williams, WR, Clemson.
Let's begin the petition now

[sizzlingdoom]

One thing I have to ask, is why on earth do people, including our fans, compare Flacco and Matt Ryan??? Matt Ryan was chosen 3rd OVERALL people? Big difference

[Halshayeji]

10 hours ago, ravens4life86 said:

John Harbaugh error number 1, Know your players and know what works.

1, The Ravens organization Identity didnt change from Smashmouth Running&Defense to Wide open chuck&Duck offense just because Flacco makes 20million a year.

2. Yes, Brady is a legendary qb and gets loads of credit. But every sb run Brady has had a top 10 Defense, (whether Revis&Browner, Bruski,Vrabel,Lawetc) and hes had a running game Corey Dillion, this year he has Blount going for 1200 yrds and 18tds.
So Brady isnt this 1 man band. Their runs have been built on running&defense more then Brady believe it or not.

So with that said, most important thing is remember Joe is a playaction deep bomb qb. You have Perriman&Wallace if you keep him both were underutilized all year, because the run game was not committed too.

Run the dang ball, and use playaction..
Bolster the defense. Pass rush is must.
CB Must, and Safety must after Webby gets cut

I absolutely agree. Just because Flacco makes 20 mil, doesn't mean that you force him into becoming A.Rodgers. Just play to his strength and win games. We don't care about meaningless stats but we do care about Ws!

I also agree with pass rush. Suggs can handle one side for the most part but we need someone like Doom a few years back who just a rushes the passer all game every game. I don't think it's realistic to expect much more out of Doom. Thank you for a few great years and thank you for playing hurt this year. I think he's a prime candidate to being cut.

webb on the other hand has 1 year left on his deal worth 7.5mil mostly not guaranteed. I think he's a prime candidate for an extension at around 5 mil per year. Elam, Lewis, Arrington, should have been cut yesterday!

when it comes to CBs. Yes we need to draft someone early! Tavon was a pleasant surprise and Jimmy is great when healthy. We need a third quality CB because we play with 3 66% of the time and because he's probably gonna get starting time when Jimmy goes down.

[Rav'n Maniac]

All this coach speak is great and all but, before they can do anything to help Flacco, he first needs to help himself. The dude needs to take a hard look in the mirror and he needs to realize he is not great. Then he needs to fix all the issues in himself that are holding him back from being great.

[jar2260]

The biggest need is OL, not only did they not protect Joe as they should have they struggled to open holes for the running game! We have a few young good running backs, but no one can run through walls! The running game complements the passing game and we need both!
My second wish would be more depth at defensive backs, we are just to thin, and when Smith is out were in trouble!

[whobilly]

Harbs wants to put together a strong O Line and get more playmakers. More playmakers? Lets start with getting ONE PLAYMAKER.

[whobilly]

As a #1 Pick Perriman better bring more than potential. I can live with his mediocre stats if he was a 6th Round Pick.

[Raven1995]

The comparison still applies. Joe is like another Alex Smith.

Alex Smith can't win playoff games, Joe has 10.

[Raven1995]

I have to laugh. Coachspeak between now and when the season starts is just intolerable.

Don't tell me about coaching changes when you kept the guy who made the worst call in the history of the Ravens. You're not serious. No, seriously, they are not serious about that. This guy ran less than Trestman and threw more short passes which I didn't think was humanly possible.

Better O-line. You can't put out turnstiles like DuCasse and Zuttah and have defenses take you serious. Talent evaluation on the front line is pathetic but don't get me started on Castillo.

Healthier knee better chemistry? First I will buy the knee thing as it was obvious he was moving better. So let's see his butt out there with Perriman, Wallace, Campanaro, etc... During the off-season. That's how you build chemistry. Keep Pitta away, he gets too much of Joe"s attention. Time at practice is too limited with ALL the receivers and when you are up the butt of your TE its hard to build chemistry with anyone else.

Joe needs to study defenses more as his football IQ is poor and I'm being nice. He needs to realize when you make 120 mil. Your job starts earlier than everyone else, it lasts longer than anyone else, it is on off days and the off-season something you need to devote time to constantly. When Flacco says after the season is over he puts football aside for a couple months and about a month before going back he starts throwing again. That is not an acceptable attitude or expected work ethic for a 120 mil. player.

Playmakers. We had playmakers this year. Our RB are very good. 5+ yards averages in most games, we just don't give them the ball. SSS is a playmaker, Wallace was dynamite under Trestman, Perriman didn't have enough targets to develop because Joe checked his #1 reciever and if he wasn't open he just dumped it off. Joe was horrible in the pocket this year, really bad. No awareness, no movement, just really pathetic looking at times when he just folded into a fetal position even when no one was close.

Perriman had targets, but he turned the wrong way or was out of position. Even his touchdown against Cleveland looked awkward. He needs to get In sync with his routes if he wants more catches.

[Crusader]

MATT BURK not directing the offense is whats hurting Joe. Joe's not the brightest bulb in the room. Accept that and work around it.

[Puddinhead]

We're not in the playoffs this year because the defense faltered in the 4th qtr. Problems began when we filled the Reed vacancy with Ellam, and failed to still on the later board draft Mathieu (now one of the best). Then we moved our SB winning left tackle to unemployed for a rookie who missed 4 games, and we lost all of those games. Then we failed to draft a top running back. We passed on Talib in 2016. And how could Riddle and Monroe allow that last seconds Pittsburgh completion ? One of the two should have broken that play up; like Jimmy did in the SB in the end-zone, what ref would have thrown the flag ? Instead they watched him catch the ball and then they failed to grasp his arms. Bottom line this season failed not because of Joe but because of the D; we simply cannot rush opposing QBs. On that last Pittsburgh catch, Ben had all day.

[Estbmoresfnst]

I disagree... number one priority is to get a starting caliber corner... the offense didnt get toasted by Crabtree on a game winning drive... the offense didn't let OBJ fry them for over 200 yrds AND a game winning drive... the offense didn't let Big Ben score a td in less than 90 seconds

[EdTheMythicalOne]

5 hours ago, sizzlingdoom said:

One thing I have to ask, is why on earth do people, including our fans, compare Flacco and Matt Ryan??? Matt Ryan was chosen 3rd OVERALL people? Big difference

Because Steve Bisciotti was telling his front office that they should, "...stop being draft pick [profanity deleted]s." (and moderators, that was a direct quote from him, his words, not mine), and essentially do whatever it takes to trade up to #2 to draft Matt Ryan. He said they better be SO sure that Flacco was the man.