[News] Ravens Have Most Important Piece: Championship-Caliber Quarterback

[BR News]

Head Coach John Harbaugh said quarterback Joe Flacco is capable of carrying a football team, as he’s shown in the past. Now the Ravens ‘need to do everything we can to put a football team around’ him.

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[Chuckx999]

"There is no doubt in my mind that we will contend for a championship next year," coach John Harbaugh said Wednesday in Indianapolis. Why is Harbaugh so optimistic following an 8-8 season? "The biggest thing in terms of where we are as a football team is the fact that we have a quarterback," Harbaugh said. "We have a championship-caliber quarterback. We have a guy who is capable of carrying a football team and has done it in the past.

Harbaugh needs to wake up and smell his own stink. "old 3 and out Flacco" hasn't carried this team anywhere but DOWN!!!!!

Time for Harbaugh to admin that without Ray Lewis, Ed Reed and a few other "D" players who played with attitude he would have been fired years ago.

We are lucky to have been 8 and 8 this year, but I don't think we will be that lucky in 2017 or 2018 with our present QB and coach.

[Raven in ATL]

Flacco’s 2012 championship run, in which he threw 11 touchdowns to zero interceptions in route to the Super Bowl XLVII MVP, proved what Flacco is capable of.

that is whats called an anomaly, i wouldnt bank on it occurring again. im grateful for witnessing that once in a lifetime anomaly.

[Bob21043]

How bout we build the team around Tucker, since he is the best kicker in the league?

[Bob21043]

In all seriousness, Flacco can be very good - when he has the time and targets that can catch. He needs a better O-line and more reliable receivers.

[The Beak]

Joe's 2012 Season had a lot to do with Ray Lewis coaching the team up, he would not let players get away with less than 100% effort, since then ,, well John Harbaugh and his cronies have sucked the life out of this team , I am Hoping G Romans can light a fire, god knows Marty Wig is plain AWFUL, cant wait for E Decosta to take over Football operations ,...

[J.O.14]

Great, another article about Flacco that fans think bashing him will help change the fact that we are stuck with him for the next 3 years at least...

Flacco is a good QB. We are lucky to have a starter capable of winning big games like Flacco can. We could be in a much worse position. And in all honesty, Flacco does give us a chance to win every game. We very rarely ever get blown out, regardless of who we play.

[jsarrocohome@yahoo.com]

I like flacco but he has only played like a champion 1 time in his career for a stretch of about 4 games on the super bowl run for the money he makes he needs to play Much better consistently and make players around him better

[The Greek]

flacco is good enough with a strong d as long as pees does not go into prevent and blows it which has happened enough to get him fired imo), he needs a consistent running game and some time to throw. if he has all 3 than the offense will be successful but still not worth $24 million.

[J.O.14]

Joe's 2012 Season had a lot to do with Ray Lewis coaching the team up, he would not let players get away with less than 100% effort, since then ,, well John Harbaugh and his cronies have sucked the life out of this team , I am Hoping G Romans can light a fire, god knows Marty Wig is plain AWFUL, cant wait for E Decosta to take over Football operations ,...

I have never questioned the effort of this team since 2012 regardless of our record. I feel the Ravens always come out and play hard, always. I think any fan can see that. We just haven't had the talent we needed...

[erick2881]

Flacco isn't a bad qb. He can win us games. He can get us to the playoffs. He can win playoff games. But he will not carry a team. He is not elite. He needs a running game and a offensive play-calling that plays toward his strengths. He looked really bad last year. But the play calling I think contributed to it a bit and no run game. I actually do not think our run game is that bad. Just did not have a OC who uses it effectively.

We should draft a qb or get a young qb for development just to have options. Flacco is our only option right now. Maybe some heat behind him will make him play better. Helped during his contract year.

[erick2881]

  28 minutes ago, The Beak said:

Joe's 2012 Season had a lot to do with Ray Lewis coaching the team up, he would not let players get away with less than 100% effort, since then ,, well John Harbaugh and his cronies have sucked the life out of this team , I am Hoping G Romans can light a fire, god knows Marty Wig is plain AWFUL, cant wait for E Decosta to take over Football operations ,...

I have never questioned the effort of this team since 2012 regardless of our record. I feel the Ravens always come out and play hard, always. I think any fan can see that. We just haven't had the talent we needed...

agree

[The Beak]

7 minutes ago, J.O.14 said:

I have never questioned the effort of this team since 2012 regardless of our record. I feel the Ravens always come out and play hard, always. I think any fan can see that. We just haven't had the talent we needed...

JHarbaugh doesn't hold anyone accountable, its always the same, yes they play hard most of the time , but that's not enough,  the desire to be great and the ability for a staff to coach players up is what separates the good teams from the great teams (see NE) I can count at least three games where Harbaugh and Wigs either cost us the game, or made the game closer that it should have been. This staff has been stagnant , from player evaluations to on the field adjustments , John Harbaugh seems to be a fine Man, but lets hope he can become a great coach, and right this ship,  this may be his last opportunity as a Raven....

[TheRavengers]

He's about a year and a half removed from his first major injury, so he's got no excuse to play better this year. I understand him throwing caution into the wind since the ACL tear. 

Since the 2012 year has been mentioned quite a few times here, I'd like to point out that his playing that year in the postseason and his postseason gameplay in general is exceedingly well. His total playoff record is 10-5 and he's thrown 25 TDs to just 10 INTs in that time, with 1 rushing TD, so I wouldn't really call his great run in 2012 an anomaly.

[whobilly]

Joe's 2012 Season had a lot to do with Ray Lewis coaching the team up, he would not let players get away with less than 100% effort, since then ,, well John Harbaugh and his cronies have sucked the life out of this team , I am Hoping G Romans can light a fire, god knows Marty Wig is plain AWFUL, cant wait for E Decosta to take over Football operations ,...

how come Ray didn't "coach the team up" in 2007 when Billick got canned?

[The Negotiator]

Flacco is not a Franchise QB, no where near Elite. He is holding this team hostage with his contract. The Playmakers are lacking and thats whats holding the Ravens back.

[rmcjacket23]

Joe's 2012 Season had a lot to do with Ray Lewis coaching the team up, he would not let players get away with less than 100% effort, since then ,, well John Harbaugh and his cronies have sucked the life out of this team , I am Hoping G Romans can light a fire, god knows Marty Wig is plain AWFUL, cant wait for E Decosta to take over Football operations ,...

Well, that team might have given 100% effort, but that defense wasn't particularly good.

Last years defense at 80% effort was a lot better than the 2012 Ravens defense at 100%.

Effort is only part of the equation.

[rmcjacket23]

Flacco isn't a bad qb. He can win us games. He can get us to the playoffs. He can win playoff games. But he will not carry a team. He is not elite. He needs a running game and a offensive play-calling that plays toward his strengths. He looked really bad last year. But the play calling I think contributed to it a bit and no run game. I actually do not think our run game is that bad. Just did not have a OC who uses it effectively.

We should draft a qb or get a young qb for development just to have options. Flacco is our only option right now. Maybe some heat behind him will make him play better. Helped during his contract year.

You can use the first overall pick on a QB, and Joe isn't going to feel any heat. He's got a contract that he justifiably earned that will keep him well paid and the starter through 2018, regardless of who's in camp with him.

You're basically just wasting a pick at that point.

[b93333]

Unless the FO nails the draft this year and makes some really good decisions concerning the free agent market I'm worried that last year's 8-8 record may be hard to repeat without such an easy schedule.

[b93333]

1 hour ago, TheRavengers said:

He's about a year and a half removed from his first major injury, so he's got no excuse to play better this year. I understand him throwing caution into the wind since the ACL tear. 

Since the 2012 year has been mentioned quite a few times here, I'd like to point out that his playing that year in the postseason and his postseason gameplay in general is exceedingly well. His total playoff record is 10-5 and he's thrown 25 TDs to just 10 INTs in that time, with 1 rushing TD, so I wouldn't really call his great run in 2012 an anomaly.

Check his 2015 stats prior to his injury... he was having a bad year before he got hurt.  Much the same as the 2016 season.

[hen826957]

Flacco is not a Franchise QB, no where near Elite. He is holding this team hostage with his contract. The Playmakers are lacking and thats whats holding the Ravens back.

The thing about it is don't blame Joe for his contract blame the front office. Joe could've accepted less that he was offered. Joe was probably flattered that they gave him more than he wanted.

[JD08]

Anybody that watched the Superbowl run knows, Flacco's success was because of Boldin always winning the 50/50 matchups, Jacoby's playmaking, and defensive leadership, Joe did throw a beauty to knock of Denver though

[TheConquerorWorm]

Flacco is not a Franchise QB, no where near Elite. He is holding this team hostage with his contract. The Playmakers are lacking and thats whats holding the Ravens back.

Better than that $100 million CHOKE artist NFL MVP Matt Ryan who has NEVER won a clutch game EVER including college.....I'll spend $20 million more for a guy that wins over a guy that never wins.

And the going rate for a starting QB is $20 million per (about to be $25-30 million per year once Stafford, Carr, Ryan, Mariota sign their new contracts).

[OUravensfan]

It's almost not even worth coming on here anymore with all the negativity.

I'll brace for the, "Are we not allowed to be critical must we be blindly optimistic" rebuttal. 

I should elaborate, it's not so much negativity but downright hate for the coach and QB coupled with ridiculous alternative plans.

[Maurice0094]

Get Flacco some offensive linemen upgrades Mangold and in the draft. Then I don't wanna hear no excuses. Because between the knee and this patchwork line I want to see what Flacco really can do if he is legit.

[robbie29]

  1 hour ago, The Negotiator said:

Flacco is not a Franchise QB, no where near Elite. He is holding this team hostage with his contract. The Playmakers are lacking and thats whats holding the Ravens back.

The thing about it is don't blame Joe for his contract blame the front office. Joe could've accepted less that he was offered. Joe was probably flattered that they gave him more than he wanted.

I agree- it is the front office's fault for Joe's ridiculous contract. They got completely caught up in SB euphoria and handed a ridiculous amount of cash over to Joe. That's just one part of the problem since 2012. I mean for several years we managed to keep guys like R. Lewis, Ogden, Suggs, Ed Reed, Ngata and several other Pro Bowl calibre players past their rookie contract. Now, thanks in large part to dumb decisions like overpaying Flacco and aging/injured veterans, we are unable to keep any of our young talent past their rookie contract.
Especially with Suggs and Yanda entering their twilight years, it is pretty difficult to imagine many scenarios where the Ravens can finish much better than 8-8, at least not for the next few years.

[law215]

Joe has not looked like a championship QB in about 3 years. Sure the receivers could be better, the line could be better, play-calling etc...

However, Joe had those things before he got paid the $120M contract. The expectation was for him to become a guy to make others better. He has not. The Ravens can not afford his contract and a top 5 defense, and pro bowl talent around him at the same time.

If NE can draft QBs then the Ravens should take one if they are available in the middle rounds to develop.

[ByTheBay]

1 hour ago, OUravensfan said:

It's almost not even worth coming on here anymore with all the negativity.

I'll brace for the, "Are we not allowed to be critical must we be blindly optimistic" rebuttal. 

I should elaborate, it's not so much negativity but downright hate for the coach and QB coupled with ridiculous alternative plans.

You know it's bad when you get neg'd for saying to stay positive. Haha

Fixed it for you

Edited March 3 by ByTheBay

[Purple Dawg 96]

"The Ravens have the weaponry it's the QB that is suspect " this is what people are saying about The Ravens around the league! Heard this on Espn or NFL Network but it's a fact and blaming the O line, coaching, draft picks etc is not what's hurting this team the QB is the motor like what Brady and Big Ben are to their teams take them away they are done especially the way Bellichick puts his team together! Joe needs to step up and make this team follow him like Ray Ray did or does he think all that motivation before and during the game is a waste of time?! Brady brings Fire Big ben is the leader what is Joe?! He won MVP slinging that Rock and now he needs a running game to be successful! Smh

[Purple Dawg 96]

For the haters look at the 1st half of the Super Bowl against the 49ers and count the runs and count the passes! "LIGHTS OUT" when Joe was slings that Rock! Defense was spread out all over the field and Joe walked them up and down the field and you can't win MVP handing the ball off! In this division the QB jersey will get grass stains on it and if he can't handle that maybe a softer division is best!