Kyle Boller is our Future! [Archive] - Baltimore Ravens Forums and Message Boards

ClericBlackDave

12-17-2006, 06:27 PM

Gee lets see . . .

McNair is 0-4 to start the game with what should have been an INT. But of course he gets a mulligan because he's steve mcnair.

Boller comes in cold, probably not many snaps in practice, and has a solid game.

2 TD, and an INT.

Lost a fumble, which wasn't so good. But like McNair hasn't lost a fumble this year?

Its incredible how people love to hate this guy.

Those throws to Demetrius and Clayton are throws that McNair can't make at this point. Boller is erratic, but shows flashes of brilliance when he gets the chance. He is probably top 5 backup coming off the bench. Look at the Panthers and the falloff from Delhomme to Weinke. Shit, look at Delhomme recently.

I honestly think Boller will be the starter in a year or two, but until then, its air mcnair.

but lets not pretend like McNair is the worldbeater with us that he was in tenessee. He isn't.

Art-Florida

12-17-2006, 06:38 PM

Kyle is a nice kid, is fearless, and has talent. I don't NEED any more reasons to like him. Period.

Evidently there are others who agree, but even if I were the only one, I still like him.

It infuriates me that certain...people, refuse to give him any kind words, no matter what he does.

darb72

12-17-2006, 06:40 PM

Dave, I've missed ya. You should hang out over here instead of the Crayon forum.

I actually checked in over there today to see how the Haters were arguing about how bad Boller is.

Reading their arguments is kind of like watching monkeys with a paint-by-numbers set. Sure it's colorful and often entertaining, but rarely does it make any sense.

Losac

12-17-2006, 06:44 PM

Boller scared the hell out of me today. I wouldn't say he had a "good game". The int, fumble, and tripping over his own 2 feet are things that brought back bad memories of the last 3 years. With McNair, I always have confidence our offense can march downfield anytime and score. With Boller, I just worry he doesn't fall down.

Good throws on the TD pass to Williams and the long pass to Clayton, but overall he's just too inconsistent for me. You take the bad with the good with Boller. I just hope McNair is ok for next week, because I don't think Kyle can lead us to a win in Pittsburgh.

darb72

12-17-2006, 07:00 PM

I wouldn't say he had a "good game".
Yeah, not real surprising there.
62% completion. 2 TDs/1 INT. 238 yards and a victory. Man that guy had a terrible game.

Good throws on the TD pass to Williams and the long pass to Clayton, but overall he's just too inconsistent for me.

Inconsistant? Funny I watched Boller all day and outside of the INT which happens to every QB (Boller got baited) I don't think he was inconsistant at all.

He had the ball for 13 possession. 7 ended in three or fewer plays.
Out of those 7;
Two were fumbles.
Two were TDs.
Two ended the half/game.

Mobtown

12-17-2006, 07:16 PM

McNair is 0-4 to start the game with what should have been an INT. But of course he gets a mulligan because he's steve mcnair.

To be fair, Mac went 1-5 to start the KC game and ended up with a 122 rating.

He gets a mulligan because he has earned it.

Hook

12-17-2006, 07:17 PM

Could be rust but I like to see a game where he plays without throwing a pick or fumbles the ball away. The Future needs to protect the ball better. Thats not too much to ask as a fan.

StingerNLG

12-17-2006, 07:19 PM

MY GOD!! A 112 QB rating and some people still say he didn't have a good game???

ravenwoman

12-17-2006, 07:26 PM

He won the game today for us. What more do you want?

I support him, because he is part of the team. Some of you people treat him like he is the enemy or something.

He has hardly played this year and practices with the second team during the week.

His play to Williams was featured on Sunday Night Football as one of the best plays of the day. They said "Boller steps in and steps up".

Being a backup and then expecting perfection is just unrealistic. I thought he did an admirable job.

PurpleRulz

12-17-2006, 07:37 PM

Two things:

1. I have nothing against Boller, but geez, the guy has a decent outing and you guys are ready to annoint him as Johnny U. Boller is NOT our future. Boller is exactly who we thought he was. He connected on two passes for TDs. That is fine and we won and are in the playoffs.

2. Boller played against....the Browns; a beat up, 2nd string defense.

Again, Boller did well, I will give him that, but let's not get it twisted. If this guy is our future, then I'd rather glory in the present, because the future is dim.

StingerNLG

12-17-2006, 07:40 PM

1. I have nothing against Boller, but geez, the guy has a decent outing and you guys are ready to annoint him as Johnny U. Boller is NOT our future. Boller is exactly who we thought he was. He connected on two passes for TDs. That is fine and we won and are in the playoffs.

PR, that's not fair. He completed 61% of his passes. It was more than just connecting for two passes for TD's. The 11 play 85 yard drive for the 2nd team touchdown meant nothing?

It's always things like this that frustrate me when we talk about Boller. Seriously, in 2 games he has 5 touchdowns and 2 interceptions. What more do you want from your backup QB?

As usual, anything Boller does gets marginalized. That's why he should go to another team. I imagine he could step in for an injured McNair in the Super Bowl, throw 3 TD's, win the game, and someone will say he didn't have a good game because he fumbled the ball.

duffybr

12-17-2006, 07:44 PM

He will be starting somewhere after his contract is up.

Give him adecent ol and some receivers and he is an average nfl qb with minimal injuries and has a great attitude.

Give him some ritalin or anti anxiety meds and he would be a top ten qb.

I dont know if they have addressed it but he has some type of anxiety or hyperactivity issues

StingerNLG

12-17-2006, 08:06 PM

The AP disagrees too:

http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/football/bal-ravens1217,0,5462532.story?coll=bal-sports-football

Kyle Boller finished what Steve McNair started.

With McNair watching from the sideline with an injured right hand, Boller carried the Ravens into the playoffs, throwing two touchdown passes in a 27-17 victory over the Cleveland Browns on Sunday.

Yes, he HAS TO stop fumbling the ball at the snap. I agree with everyone on this. But otherwise the dude played a good game coming off the bench with no practice reps ONCE AGAIN, and actually leading the team to a win that we needed.

I shudder to think if he lost the game. Some of you would be grabbing pitchforks.

ClericBlackDave

12-17-2006, 08:38 PM

Working out with the 2nd team, I'm sure he practices his exchange with Mike Flynn ALL the time.

Sike.

You expect a cold QB to not look great. But if a backup QB looks good, thats a huge compliment. Look at Weinke in Carolina. Really, backup performances turned in by QBs like Boller or Garcia are rare.

BTW, Garcia had a fumble, but won the game for the eagirls. A W is what matters. Its funny how that works for McNair but not for Boller.

Like I said, you look at what Boller does off the bench with what some other starters do and its obvious. he's not Johnny U but he should be the future.

All QBs make mistakes; ints or fumbles. The haters act like all other QBs not named boller dont' fumble or throw an occasional INT.

Losac

12-17-2006, 08:41 PM

He won the game today for us. What more do you want?
I want him to not fumble and slip over blades of grass when he's not even touched. He's clumsy and yes, while he will make good plays, he'll KILL us in the playoffs (if he has to play) with those mistakes. What do you think teams like the Chargers, Colts and Bengals will do when Boller gives them a short field after a bone-headed fumble?

The guy has me on pins and needles every time he takes a snap. He has always been inconsistent and I'd rather not risk him falling down in a playoff game.

I give him credit for the TD pass and the other big throws he made, but he has to stop with the stupid mistakes (mainly falling down) if he wants to be a good, consistent starter.

Drkraven

12-17-2006, 08:45 PM

Kyle did fine. I was cheering him and the people around me were giving me dirty looks.

darb72

12-17-2006, 09:17 PM

Kyle did fine. I was cheering him and the people around me were giving me dirty looks.

I can see that Drk. Look at the "Ravens" fans on this thread.

Boller comes in and gets 27 points in a game we needed to win to reach the play-offs. Against the exact same team that McNair needed a 52 yard field-goal from Stover to beat.

Losac and PR have gone out of their way to bash the guy AFTER WE WON and he put up a 100+ QB rating. Poe has done the same thing all over this forum (just not in this thread).

I promise you they would have rather had the Ravens lose than for Boller to do well. Just look at their post. They are not happy that we won.

darb72

12-17-2006, 09:35 PM

Can you prove that Boller wouldn't have beaten Pitt or SD, because I can prove that McNair couldn't put up 27 points on the Browns this year?

That's what I love about these... people... they can't prove anything they say but that won't stop them from saying it.

PurpleRulz

12-17-2006, 09:38 PM

Excellent synopsis by Mike Preston on Boller.

"Quarterback: C+

Kyle Boller made big-league throws, but at times he looked like he still belonged in Pop Warner. He's an asset as a backup but also showed why the Ravens struggled against quality teams when he was the starter. It wasn't bad for a player who has had limited repetitions."

This sums up my thoughts on Boller's play, today. Take away the 77 yard TD pass, and Boller was Boller. Tripping and fumbling. Fumbling and tripping.

We won today, yes, but we are NOT winning a SuperBowl with Kyle Boller as the QB. Period. To argue otherwise is just plain ignorance.

darb72

12-17-2006, 09:46 PM

Take away the 77 yard TD pass, and Boller was Boller. Tripping and fumbling. Fumbling and tripping.

Take away that pass and we still score 20 on the Browns. Want to go through McNairs games and start taking away seven points? I promise you we don't win 11 games.

Of course I'm not really surprised that one of these... people... have started using selective stats to try and prove Boller had a bad game.

PurpleRulz

12-17-2006, 09:50 PM

Take away that pass and we still score 20 on the Browns. Want to go through McNairs games and start taking away seven points? I promise you we don't win 11 games.

Of course I'm not really surprised that one of these... people... have started using selective stats to try and prove Boller had a bad game.

I never said once that Boller had a bad game. Let's quote accurately. I said Boller had a good/decent game. That does not mean, however, that we turn the keys over to Boller again. We've already been through that trainwreck. Boller's future is on the bench of another NFL team. He has no future here.

Ryan Fitzpatrick, Tim Rattay, Chris Weinke, Derek Anderson have had "good games" this year, too. I wouldn't want any of those guys as my "future" either.

postalworker

12-17-2006, 09:53 PM

This sums up my thoughts on Boller's play, today. Take away the 77 yard TD pass, and Boller was Boller. Tripping and fumbling. Fumbling and tripping.

What sense does it make to take away a player's best play? I can't stand that argument.

"Well, if you take away this absolutely perfect, amazing play, then really, he just had an average day."

Please. Give him credit for what he did today. He came off the bench, he threw the ball with some authority, and he won the game. Is he perfect? Absolutely not. Is he our future? I don't know, but I assume he'll get another shot.

You know, if you take away Jamal's 52 yard run...

darb72

12-17-2006, 09:59 PM

Kyle Boller made big-league throws, but at times he looked like he still belonged in Pop Warner. He's an asset as a backup but also showed why the Ravens struggled against quality teams when he was the starter. It wasn't bad for a player who has had limited repetitions."
That quote was of course from the Tub-O-Goo we're not supposed to be quoting in this forum.

This sums up my thoughts on Boller's play, today. Take away the 77 yard TD pass, and Boller was Boller. Tripping and fumbling. Fumbling and tripping.
That was a quote from you.

If you want accuracy, you said Boller had an "ok" game. You have yet to say Boller had a good/decent game. In every post I've read where you've dicussed Boller today you were making excuses as to why he played well.

The only one of you... people... to say Boller played well today is Mobtown.

Boller's future is on the bench of another NFL team. He has no future here.
Care to prove that... never mind.

What is Kyles rating for the year? How many points have we scored in the two games where Kyle has played more than 2 quarters?

Greg

12-17-2006, 10:04 PM

Here's a guy who beat the hapless Packers and Minn last year to fall flat on his face after that.
Uh, those hapless Vikings were a playoff team if they beat us and have a damn good pass defense.

If we can take away Boller's TD can we take away the pick as well? I thought he was jittery and frankly I think he needs to figure out some way to relax in the pocket. I understand why his detractors won't give him credit, he makes them nervous because he plays nervously. When he settles in he can play great. The team needs to work on his brain with somebody to help him keep calm. Maybe hypnosis would help. Seriously.

darb72

12-17-2006, 10:04 PM

No, Steve didn't put the points all up but he led the come back in the last couple of mins. Boller is still panicking at the los by dropping the ball, and not looking for his secondary and third receivers and is still inaccurate in part because his feet are set when he throws according to guys on radio today.
Wait a minute, you're saying that you listened to the game on the radio and are commenting on how Boller played because of that? Please tell me you watched the game.

Boller completed 62% of his passes today. That's not inaccurate. He averaged a little over 8 YPA so he wasn't dumping the ball of either.

He's still inconsistent which is why you don't want him starting long term.
Well in two games this year he's gone over 20 points both times. Not really sure if that's inconsistant...

I thought he was jittery and frankly I think he needs to figure out some way to relax in the pocket. I understand why his detractors won't give him credit, he makes them nervous because he plays nervously. When he settles in he can play great. The team needs to work on his brain with somebody to help him keep calm. Maybe hypnosis would help. Seriously.
I've already suggested making him run a mile before every game.

StingerNLG

12-17-2006, 10:09 PM

Take away the 77 yard TD pass, and Boller was 60% with a TD and and INT and an 88QB rating and we still win the game.

Fixed.

I mean come on. Take away Boller's 77 yard pass and you still have an 85 yard 11 play touchdown drive, 20 points, and a victory.

Hell, take away the long bomb, let's take away the pick then too.

What's amazing is that if I were Kyle I would have wanted out of this city since the fans here hated me so much. And yet all the guy wants to do is help this team win. He takes control of the offense today and does his part to CLINCH A PLAYOFF SPOT FOR THE RAVENS. How about we give the guy a little kudo?

darb72

12-17-2006, 10:17 PM

How about we give the guy a little kudo?

Ravens fans are giving Boller props. It's these... people... who don't seem very happy that we won the game and reached the play-offs.

PARavensJeff

12-17-2006, 10:20 PM

Boller will never, ever get credit for anything he ever does in this town. This kid has taken more than anyone should have to, & keeps coming back for more. His problem, thru no fault of his own, is he will always be tied to Billick, because he is seen as "Billick's Boy". The guy does what he is supposed to do & people find things to hate him for. After the light rail ride to Timonium today, I got in the car & heard that people just wanted to rip Boller on the radio. Why? He came off the bench & did his job people. I swear these people live to just rip Boller. They not only wish the Ravens will lose, but that McNair wil get hurt so not only will they have the team & Billick to rip, but also Boller. Boller led the Ravens to a playoff clinching win yoday & kept the momentu, going. The kid has obviously paid attention to McNair & Steve talked to Kyle thru the whole game. When Boller leaves here after next year, he will take with him the lessons he has learned from here, along with what he has learned from McNair, & go to a team & fans happy to have him, & be a successful QB. All these haters here will be screaming about how could we let this guy go. Get off his back & support him or get off the Ravens bandwagon & go get a new team to support. You either support the all the Ravens as a team or you don't support the Ravens. It's as simple as that.

purplepoe

12-17-2006, 10:25 PM

The most hilarious part of this whole thing is I haven't seen anyone say Kyle Boller sucks or he was horrible.

He played a decent game at home vs the Browns.

Some of us don't think he's good enough to lead us to victory in the playoffs.

Stinger said

"What more do you want from your backup QB?"

My answer is nothing.

He's a backup. What he did today is fine.

I just don't want him in when we're in a do or die situation in the playoffs.

What is so difficult to understand about that? And furthermore, why does it cause certain posters to freak out and start accusing others of wanting the Ravens to lose with Boller.

I'd certainly like "proof" of that.

PP

darb72

12-17-2006, 10:27 PM

An excellent summation of the reasoning behind my disdain for these... people...

Say Boller has a good game and the response is, "Well take away his 77 yard TD pass".

If you don't think Boller is a good QB, that's fine. I've never said he was and still don't know if he will be. Give him credit when he does something good though just like you would/should any other player.

It's the people like Trap and PR who bash the guy no matter how he plays that make us question their loyalty.

StingerNLG

12-17-2006, 10:30 PM

PP I also answered your question in the other thread about would I be ok with Boller in the playoffs. If the playoffs are here in Baltimore, Boller's home record clearly shows he could win here. On the road, who knows but the odds aren't in his favor. Of course, if we have to go to San Diego, I am not counting on many teams anyway. I want them to come here.

Excellent synopsis by Mike Preston on Boller.

Tell you what, PR. You take Preston. Lewis had a 100 yard day and a touchdown and Preston gave HIM a C+ too.

I'll take Boller's teammates:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/12/17/AR2006121700383_2.html

"He has played in this league long enough. He has seen enough. We're all going to make a few mistakes here and there, but when it's all said and done, Kyle is going to make a play for us with his arm or either tucking it down and running. I'm proud of what he did today."

http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/football/bal-ravens1217,0,5462532.story?coll=bal-sports-football

"The person I am most proud of today is Kyle. When he hit those plays, it makes me feel good for him because I know the adversity he went through."

You can have Preston.

52RAYVENS

12-17-2006, 10:39 PM

I can't believe I'm saying this --- but it's true!

:thumbup:

What ever you're smoking I'll take some. Either that or you are seriously F'd up in the head!:insane: :insane: :insane:

darb72

12-17-2006, 10:39 PM

Can everybody please just quit quoting El Lardo?

That guy brings down my Festivus Cheer.

Heap86

12-17-2006, 10:42 PM

Wow!!! Looks like the Madness has restarted.

Why do we need these types of threads anymore?

McNair is our current starter, and Boller is a great backup.

Boller may or may NOT be our future.

Lets see Boller win a meaningful game on the road before we label him our future. For every good game Boller has, a bad game is Forgotten.

Must we still have these Boller/McNair factions?

darb72

12-17-2006, 10:47 PM

StingerNLG

12-17-2006, 10:52 PM

That's just it Heap86. The only ones still in some "faction" are the ones spending this evening taking everything Kyle did today and pissing on it.

McNair is the starter. McNair is the one that led us to this point. He's the one that's going to lead us through the playoffs. No one is disputing that.

Seems to me as far as me, Darb, most of the other people here, Billick, Neuheisal, Mason, Clayton, Trevor Pryce, and others believe is that we have two QB's on this roster who have the ability to get us to Miami. McNair is the guy. Between the two of them, he gives us the best chance. But if we have to play a home playoff game, I'm not pissing in my pants if Boller has to play it. On the road? Yeah, I'm nervous.

Boller had to step in today and play the game that clenched us the playoffs. He did just that. But all of a sudden once again it's, "well he played the worst team in the league", or "Hey, take away his 2 touchdown passes and he had a horrible game.", and all the marginalizing that goes along with the typical Kyle Boller post-game critique.

That's what this arguement is about right now. No one is challenging Steve McNair here. That thought never even crossed my mind.

Some of us are just curious to see what Boller can do with a good QB to learn from and an offensive system that hasn't proven to be a QB killer in the past.

Listen to Kyle's post-game presser on the baltimoreravens.com website. He talks about what it means to have McNair here helping him. He also mentioned watching McNair set up that same throw to Williams early in the game, and it helped him to watch what to look for on the TD pass. And remember right before that throw, Boller actually shifted IN THE POCKET. Maybe McNair is really helping him on the field.

Ravens'N'Hoos

12-17-2006, 10:56 PM

Points on which all Ravens fans should be able to agree today:

(1) Boller did more than well enough to put us in a position to win and clinch a playoff berth. :thumbup:

(2) The game was too close for comfort for too long against a bad team at home, and part of that was due to Boller's clumsiness and mistakes, and part to the defense being off their game on a few drives and part to the other injuries. :(

(3) Any reasonable person would feel much more confident about our remaining regular season games and the playoffs if/when Steve is back compared to if Kyle is the starter. He is, after all, the backup. :hammer:

ClericBlackDave

12-17-2006, 10:57 PM

McNair is the starter.

But I only think he has one more year in him. I actually have that feeling from a lot of our vets.

Going into '08, this will be a younger team with guys like Heap, Ed Reed, Clayton, becoming the "veterans" of this team.

The question is whether or not Boller will be their QB.

The haters will spit the same shit that "anyone is better than Boller" or "McNair can play for 4 more years" but both those statements are so indicative of the extremism.

Boller can be our future, and I think he will be. I dont think Ozzie will find it better to sign another FA QB or draft a new QB rather than start Boller when McNair's time here is done.

Today, Boller hit some amazing plays. He also made a few mistakes. But all QBs do that.

McNair can fumble it away, throw bad passes, and get a mulligan. Kyle gets shat on.

Its funny because Preston said in his last article he's never seen a QB get away with so many bad passes as McNair has. But the minute Kyle gets in and makes 2 mistakes, the guy is a bum and we see why McNair is a gift from the gods.

Count me as someone who is happy McNair is our starter. But also count me as someone who doesn't think we'd be 6-10 without him. The defense and run game are our bread and butter, and we wouldn't have won the 1st 6 games without them. Only recently has the offense come alive, and I atrribute a lot of that to Billick's playcalling, not stellar play from McNair.

Losac

12-17-2006, 11:08 PM

OK darb. If you feel comfortable with your QB tripping and stumbling in a playoff game against a quality team, then fine. I am not. I gave Boller credit for the good throws and plays he made, but he is still a freaking spaz at times and it's just more of what we've seen for the past 3 years. Remember the reason we spent all that money to bring McNair in?

darb72

12-17-2006, 11:42 PM

Dang it Dave, quit talking about what Tubbs McFatty said.:mad:

If you feel comfortable with your QB tripping and stumbling in a playoff game against a quality team, then fine.
I feel comfortable with Boller at the helm at home, no matter who we play.

but he is still a freaking spaz at times and it's just more of what we've seen for the past 3 years.
And he probably will always be. Nobody is saying he doesn't need to calm down, but he's looked a lot calmer this year than in the past.

StingerNLG

12-18-2006, 01:01 AM

BTW, you'll find this interesting:

http://www.nbcsports.com/turningpoint/index.html

Boller wins NBC Sport's "Turning Point Play of the Day".

WINNER: Boller steps in, steps up
After replacing the injured Steve McNair, Kyle Boller threw two touchdowns, including a 77-yarder to Demetrius Williams that broke a 17-17 tie. The Ravens clinched a playoff berth with the 27-17 victory.
Total vote: 44 percent

Sephy

12-18-2006, 01:52 AM

He won? He was at like 15% when I voted before.

PurpleRulz

12-18-2006, 05:53 AM

Bottomline:

Did Boller come through for us yesterday? Yes.

Did Boller help to get us to the playoffs? Yes.

Did Boller make two big passes yesterday? Yes.

Is Boller our "future?" HELL NO!

Everyone's entitled to his/her opinion, but it is silly to think Boller has any kind of ability to lead us after McNair is gone. I guarantee that Boller will be an ex-Raven before McNair retires, so all of this "Boller is our future" stuff is moot. Good game Boller, but not our future.

Merlin

12-18-2006, 06:37 AM

Boller did clearly show where he stands yesterday

As I have said in other postings -- we completely played Kyle wrong in the past -- he CAN'T be a quarterback who manages the game, he has got to be someone who the coaches let go vertical so that he can make up for the occassional bad play with a few big ones. Ala Brett Favre. It is what it is -- if we let him go some other team will take advantage of it to the moanings of at least a commited minority on the fan base.

I was hoping that some of his frenetic energy would have gone down based on McNair's example, but no such luck yet. And no soft passes.

Its interesting how everyone gets so emotional -- think its lets based on Kyle than on the coaching staff clearly making the wrong move in developing him and the frustrations borne by not making the playoffs for many years. Well that's done so enjoy the ride. Leave the boy alone!

RavenDavey

12-18-2006, 07:50 AM

There are no McNair/Boller factions. Everybody thinks McNair should remain the starter.

Some of us are just curious to see what Boller can do with a good QB to learn from and an offensive system that hasn't proven to be a QB killer in the past.

The others hate Boller and will bash him no matter how well he plays.

I agree with this statement 100%. Give Boller credit where credit is due!! "if we take away that 77 yd TD........." WHAT KIND OF CRAP IS THAT?! On the other side, if McNair plays poorly...he can be criticized on this board just as the Boller haters criticize Kyle, but he is still our man! Difference is the Boller haters can't handle it, nor can they give Kyle credit when he is a RAVEN!:mad:

highwater

12-18-2006, 08:07 AM

I don't know if Boller is our future or not -- probably not -- but it's undeniable that he had a very solid game yesterday. It continues to amaze me how some people over-react to his poor plays and minimize his good ones.

LOL at the "take away his 77 yard TD pass" comments . . . you CAN"T take it away. Sounds like Butch Davis logic -- "Well, if you take away Jamal's three 80 yard runs, we contained him pretty well." That TD pass was the play of the game, you can't pretend it didn't happen, and why would you want to?

purplepoe

12-18-2006, 09:06 AM

http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/football/bal-sp.steele18dec18,0,1139628.column?coll=bal-home-headlines

I guess Steele will now be getting bashed.

This article sums up exactly how I feel.

"If you feel guilty about the terror you felt all day long, don't. You did, indeed, see the Ravens win. At home against a now-4-10 Browns team with a quarterback making his second career start, but it was still a win. With Kyle Boller under center, yet, and not always pulling away from him all that smoothly, either."

PP

Raveninwoodlawn

12-18-2006, 09:28 AM

Kyle definately had a good game.

He made a lot of passes McNair just can't make and it was prety ironic that the ddp pass to Williams was ran twice...McNair had him even more wide open and missed him by quite a lot, Kyle hit him in stride.

I like Kyle. I just wish he could play like this on the road and just eliminate those 2-3 "wtf are you doing Kyle" plays a game. If he could do without them, I don't think you'd have any worries about Kyle being a productive NFL QB.

He is still young...and McNair is who we should have had his first 3 years in the league.

I definately think Kyle is a "luxury" as a backup...would you rather have Anthony Wright, Mat Cassell, or Jim Sorgi?

ClericBlackDave

12-18-2006, 10:22 AM

The thing is, most QBs not named Peyton Manning or Carson Palmer have "wtf are you doing ------" moments.

Kyle is going to be a gunslinger. Whoever made the Brett Favre analogy is correct.

I think Kyle can, and will, be the future here. But when that happens this teams profile is going to have to change.

McNair has already helped change it. We are far better passing that we used to be.

But at this point, Mcnair can't complete anything longer than a 35 yard pass unless its a complete rainbow.

McNair is the starter. Boller is the backup. But you look around the league, and McNairs generation at QB is almost done, and I expect him to be done in a year or two.

When that happens, do you turn it over to another rookie, so we can have a Boller like crisis all over again? Or do you give Boller a shot?

I know there are disagreements on that, but I dont see how. I think Boller easily has the ability to be a Brett Favre type. And thats enough to be a sucessful starter in the NFL.

If you're waiting for Unitas again, you've got a long wait coming. Each city gets like one of those once in a lifetime.

And if you think McNair is the new Unitas, I'd have to laugh out loud at you. Some of the plays McNair has gotten away with are rediculous; pure luck. He should have had 3 Pick 6's against cinci alone, because he can't throw a deep out or comeback route.

Anyway, Kudos to Kyle, and get well soon Steve.

Raveninwoodlawn

12-18-2006, 10:53 AM

Most quality NFL starters don't have those WTF are you doing moments every single game.

Making a bad read or throw sometimes does not equate to not being able to plant your back foot under absolutely no pressure, or doing teh keystone cops fumble routine. And with Kyle, it's to the point were most of us expect plays like that...even if he has a good day actually throwing the ball.

If plays like those were so common to QB's not named Pyton Manning, then we wouldn't have had a reason to even think about getting a McNair or other competition in here because it would have been the norm. It's not.

RavenDavey

12-18-2006, 10:58 AM

As stated in a Sun article......

• 5:36: Boller cranks up 77-yard touchdown pass. Even better, someone catches it. I don't know why people are so down on this kid. Billick rushed him. He didn't have an offensive line. Longest play and touchdown of his NFL career.
:thumbup:

ClericBlackDave

12-18-2006, 11:09 AM

Most quality NFL starters don't have those WTF are you doing moments every single game.

Ok then, lets play. Apart from Manning, Palmer, and Brady, tell me the QB this week that didn't have a bad mistake or two.

RavenDavey

12-18-2006, 11:15 AM

How about the other Manning, boy he looked good yesterday didn't he?:laugh:

RavenDavey

12-18-2006, 11:30 AM

Phillip Rivers passer rating yesterday......12.4:179421:

Ravens'N'Hoos

12-18-2006, 11:42 AM

McNair can fumble it away, throw bad passes, and get a mulligan. Kyle gets shat on.

Because McNair has shown time and time again he will overcome mistakes and adversity and pull out a win. With Kyle, you just never know.

Raveninwoodlawn

12-18-2006, 11:43 AM

Again, I'm not talking about a bad play.

Bad plays are bad reads, bad throws etc.

Even Manning and Montana in thier primes have those.

I'm talking about dropping back and having your back foot completely miss the ground. I'm talking about Kyle being good for "being tripped by the yard markers or fubling and losing teh ball" at least once a game.

Those are "unforced errors" that are not common. His INT didn't bother me one freaking bit...he got baited and made a bad read...that happens all the time and the other team gets paid too. Those are "forced errors".

Quality NFL QB's do not habitually...routinely do things like trip over themselves and drop balls without being hit. Yeah it may happen to others every now and then, but with Kyle it happens virtualy EVERY GAME. And you cannot have that.

So no I cannot name QB's that have not made a mistake in a game.

Don't see what that has to do with my point of Kyle's inconsistancy with those STF moments. Again, if they were so common and the norm, we would never have even had to think about McNair or any other competition for him. Can you tell me why Ozzie and Billick...Bollers 2 biggest supporters...felt that they needed to bring somebody else in if Kyle's play was the norm for quality NFL starter?

As for McNair...a mulligan for bad play? Were you here during the bye week? Reading this board, you would think we were having a full blown QB controversy.

ClericBlackDave

12-18-2006, 12:05 PM

Players will make unforced errors. Its not uncommon for their to be a botched snap from Center to QB.

Boller tripping does scare me, but he's coming off the bench, a cold backup. What do you expect?

I didn't see those things during his stretch the end of last year. I don't know what he'd be like this year if he was the starter.

Qbs in general aren't that consistent if you let them actually play the game. They're usually going to have an INT or a lost fumble, but its where the turnover occurs and how your team responds that makes the big difference.

On the INT, it was a deep INT so it didn't make a large difference.

The fumble was worse as it should have given the browns points. But, the defense responded well.

In any case, we just have a fundamental difference of opinion about the normal level of QB play in the national football league. I look at other QBs out there not named Brady, Manning, or Palmer and I see them make their 2 mistakes a game, but no-one goes ape shit over those mistakes like baltimore fans do over Boller's.

I think that what you should expect from your QB is points. Boller got us that.

The games where McNair has had mistakes but gotten us the points to win, no-one complains. But with Boller its always a hate fest. 27 points and a hatefest.

Thats where I'm frustrated sometimes. Some fans would rather us lose to Cincinatti 13-0 playing mistake free football and putting up no points than play to win but make some mistakes.

our defense is the exact opposite: blitz 1st, bring pressure, ask questions later. Play to win. If they make a mistake, come out next time and do better.

Ravens'N'Hoos

12-18-2006, 12:19 PM

I didn't see those things during his stretch the end of last year.

@CLE last year?

Boller is OK-to-good at home and bad on the road. That's not going to cut it as a starter. Maybe he has learned or will learn enough from McNair to be consistently good at home and at least sometimes good on the road, but I hope not to find out anytime soon.

On the INT, it was a deep INT so it didn't make a large difference.

Took at least 3 points away from us.

The reason you perceive a double standard for Boller's mistakes is that no one can be sure if he's going to do well enough to overcome them in the rest of the game. So his mistakes seem like a bigger deal than McNair's.

Losac

12-18-2006, 12:23 PM

Boller tripping does scare me, but he's coming off the bench, a cold backup. What do you expect?
He did it even when he was the unrivaled starter and had full weeks of practice with the first team. The tripping is nothing new. Saying it's all from coming cold off the bench is just an excuse.

I didn't see those things during his stretch the end of last year.
Um, did you watch the Denver game last year? Boller single-handedly cost us that game with his bumbling. Or are you only referring to the "stretch" of the Green Bay and Minnesota games? But then he was right back to his old self against Cleveland. That's been his problem: no consistency. You never know which Boller is going to show up.

Raveninwoodlawn

12-18-2006, 01:05 PM

Kyle has been tripping over his own feet on a routine basis ever since he was named the starter as a rookie.

This isn't a once a season or once every 3 or 4 games thing with him...it's routine.

And I'm sorry, fumbling when nobody is around you, falling all over yourself is different IMHO than defenders making good plays on the ball. And that's because all QB's will suffer from quality defensive plays...not all suffer from the turf monsters or lubed footballs...at least nowhere near the rate that Boller does.

And I have never had a problem giving Boller credit when he does well. I also don't ignore pop warner type mistakes.

StingerNLG

12-18-2006, 04:34 PM

Bottomline:

Did Boller come through for us yesterday? Yes.

Did Boller help to get us to the playoffs? Yes.

Did Boller make two big passes yesterday? Yes.

Did Boller have an 85 yard 11 play touchdown drive? Yes.

Did Boller throw for 60% accuracy? Yes.

Did Boller convert 7 3rd downs? Yes.

You did forget a couple of things PR. I'm just helping you out. :)

Now, I am inclined to agree with RIW when it comes to these mental trip-ups. I find it had to believe that he can plant and throw 99% of the time, and not learn how not to stumble that one time. Same with fumbling the snap. He handled every other snap just fine. What broke his concentration on that one fumble? I can't believe he can't get over that. When he gets that under control, he's going to be good.

And anyone who hasn't seen McNair's influence rubbing off on him doesn't want to see it. That sidestep in the pocket on the D-Will TD pass was just what Boller needed to get the extra second to find Williams downfield. Wasn't that one of the big complaints about his pocket composure?

Personally, I think you're going to find Boller going out and starting, or competing to start on another team when his contract is up. Minnesota, KC, and Detroit for starters are going to need QB's by then.

And losac, once again, you don't get to pin that 2005 Cleveland game all on Boller. That was a pretty good team loss. Let's not get bogged down on that subject yet again.

Mista T

12-18-2006, 06:23 PM

T.

Answer me this.

Do you think Kyle Boller can lead this team to a playoff victory if need be?

Seriously.

PP

PP - two games with 60% completions, 5 TDs, several pretty long passes, QB rating of 104. Not a doubt in my mind. He looks as good as most starting NFL QBs, including McNair. He's good insurance. Especially if McNair's arm takes another vacation. If we don't get a first round bye to enable McNair adequate rest, I would like to see Kyle get a lot of snaps in practice to be ready to step in.

I think we're stuck with McNair for another year due to the way his contract is structured. But I would like to see McNair's expensive contract jettisoned after the 2007 season to help mitigate a housecleaning due to recent cap mismanagement, and Kyle re-signed at a more reasonable price.

purplepoe

12-18-2006, 06:29 PM

He looks as good as most starting NFL QBs, including McNair.

He's played almost 2 games at home. He's looked decent. Sorry if I don't buy that he can do this on the road with any consistency. This team lost 11 straight road games coming into this year. Yes, some with Wright along with Boller. We're now 5-2 on the road this season including winning in KC in December which hadn't been done by a road team in 10 years. You point to other factors and minimalize how much McNair has to do with that road record. I contend he's a major reason.

I think we're stuck with McNair for another year due to the way his contract is structured.

Good gracious.

Are we 11-3 or 3-11?

We're just gonna have to disagree about the impact McNair has had on this team.

You still seem to be resentful of the guy and I cannot figure out why.

PP

Raveninwoodlawn

12-18-2006, 06:42 PM

People have thier own opinions.

I need to see a lot more than 2 home games against 2 pretty mediocre/bad defenses, at home, and w/o the deflected TD's.

He has played well when he had to step in and done his part, but I'm not read to put him on McNair's level yet.

Mista T

12-18-2006, 06:46 PM

Good gracious.

Are we 11-3 or 3-11?

What does our record that have to do with the price of eggs? We have one of the NFL's best records primarily because of having the best defense. If we had an average defense, we'd be looking at a .500 team with either QB.

Good gracious.

We're just gonna have to disagree about the impact McNair has had on this team.

Agree to disagree. Media hype. Good story lines sell papers. His QB rating is 82.3, just about his 9 year average. 13 TDs, nine interceptions. I credit McNair with being the difference in two wins (Titans & Chiefs) and one loss (Bengals). I fail to see the "impact", especially considering Boller's continued progression, which may have gotten us to the same point, but $33 million cheaper. The bigger impact to the offense has been the protection provided by the OL and now having three quality WRs.

Good gracious.

You still seem to be resentful of the guy and I cannot figure out why.

PP

Why do you think I'm resentful of the guy? :229031_confused2: He wears purple, and therefore I support him as much as I do Billick, Ray, Jamal, Heap, etc.

If there's "resentment", it's towards the front office overspending for McNair in the face of the pending cap hit. This team may have to blow itself up in another year+. That $33 million was a ridiculous amount of $$$ for an average to slightly above average QB. I will be very pissed if we have to let Adalius Thomas go because we blew the cap.

StingerNLG

12-18-2006, 07:19 PM

I need to see a lot more than 2 home games against 2 pretty mediocre/bad defenses, at home, and w/o the deflected TD's.

In fairness, tipped passes for TD's aren't exclusive to Boller this year. :)

Now, again RIW, I agree with you that he's not Steve McNair. But McNair was a young guy too once, and his experience of course makes him the better QB. There is no disputing that.

I'm not for replacing McNair with Boller in the slightest. Just like I wouldn't depose Boller when he was the QB, McNair is my guy as long as he's in purple. And he IS the better choice of the two to win the Super Bowl.

But PP's question to me also was do I think Boller could step in and take us deep into the playoffs. My answer remains the same. Given the fact the Ravens on the offensive line and at receivers are far and away better than Boller had in 2004, and OL wise in 2005, and given Boller's home record? I would be ok with Boller having to come in for an injured McNair and getting the job done.

However, I don't think Boller will just be another Trent Dilfer. Dilfer's only claim to fame was 2000 Baltimore. From there Dilfer went on to Seattle and Cleveland, and couldn't hold a starting job either place, and now where is he?

There is going to be a coach that is going to look at Boller and believe they can work out his stumbling issue. I would say one definite would be Jim Fassel, but I believe the odds of him ever getting a head coaching job in the NFL is about -5.

Raveninwoodlawn

12-18-2006, 07:58 PM

Well, nobody gave up on Trent either. Remember, Trent was drafted higher than Boller and started for years in Tampa and even made the Pro-Bowl one year.

Boller is still young, and who knows when it comes to young guys, but it's not like people knew Dilfer was gonna stagnate as well...Dilfer...in his 3rd/4th year either.

Nobody knows...it's just my opinion. I just need to see him do it on the road and I'm not discounting those deflected TD's...they just don't happen every day ya know? It's sorta like I don't automatically blame the QB for INT's when the ball is deflected.

StingerNLG

12-18-2006, 08:31 PM

And I very much respect that opinion man. I don't begrude what you're saying at all.

The question to me has always been "CAN" he. Many people, including me, thinks he CAN. He's got a cannon, and wheels, and he's starting to gain that pocket presence that allows him to throw these 42 and 77 yard strikes, or get out of the pocket and know when to run or when to throw the ball away.

It's stuff I believe Steve McNair is teaching him, if nothing else just by watching. Boller said post-game he watched when McNair ran the same play to D-Will and took note of what the safety was doing on it so he could look for the same thing when they scored the TD. There is no way you learn that from Anthony Wright. :)

It's the matter of WILL he. I would like to see him succeed. I only know a couple of people that want him to fail. But that will always be in his hands.

darb72

12-19-2006, 12:33 AM

DARB said - people like PP and Trap bash Boller every day.
No I didn't. See.

It's the people like Trap and PR who bash the guy no matter how he plays that make us question their loyalty.

Wow, this is kind of awkward.

On the one hand I do admit a certain fiendish pleasure when I prove you... people... wrong yet again.

On the other hand it would be tacky of me to start mocking those with disabilites.

sailorsam

12-19-2006, 05:28 AM

agree with Cleric and Duffy. to whom has he been throwing to these last few years, Travis Taylor and Qadry Ismael? and the line has been awful. I'm happy for McNair's success, but he's been inconsistent and slow at the start. I would love to see McNair stay thru next year and gradually give way to Boller, who could be here the next 10 years or so. and don't think a lot of other teams wouldn't take him.
10 years from now Boller vs Anderson could be a perennial matchup.
and no, Boller isn't a finished work, but with this much help he should be able to get in a comfort zone and do well.

skaybaltimore

12-19-2006, 02:39 PM

DARB said - people like PP and Trap bash Boller every day.
______________________________________________________________

Ravens gave him more chances than Earl gave his ex wifeAaaah. The old "Alan Wiggins" line. (Earl Weaver, talking about Alan Wiggins: "I gave him more chances than my ex-wife".)

As far as Boller being the QB of the future, I honestly just don't see that. I wish he could figure out how to harness the power of his arm with the calm, poised leadership that Steve McNair brings to the table. In fact, in a way, I wish we could use BOTH of them at various times, but I'm a realist -- I know it's never going to happen. In lieu of that, what I sense is that Kyle Boller will ALWAYS show flashes of brilliance, tempered with bouts of clumsiness, nervous poor decisions, too happy feet, and too unhappy team mates, coaches, and fans. I wish him well wherever he ends up. I'm glad we have him now as a backup. But I see KB more like an Eli Manning rather than a Payton Manning.

GO RAVENS!!!

skaybaltimore

12-19-2006, 10:52 PM

Skaybaltimore: you got it right with your take on Boller. However, it won't make you very popular on this forum. They tend to put people who think that way on ignore like the majority have done to me.Aw, man...does that mean I won't be winning the Sally Fields "They like me...they really really like me" award? Dayam. I had such high hopes.

:rolling:

But seriously...thanks for the "buzz". It doesn't surprise me. But I've lived this long speaking my mind, whether it floated anybody else's boat or not. I figure, I'm not going to change now. I did think, however, that as long as opinions were expressed civilly, the back/forth exchanges were cool. If not, oh well...

Mista T...can't a neutral neither Boller Hater nor Boller Hugger get a big phat HELL YEAH?

(cuz if not, den I pitydafool)

:D

GO RAVENS!!!

skaybaltimore

12-19-2006, 10:55 PM

They also seem to disappear when McNair is kicking ass, only to resurface after he got hurt and their boy was able to help beat a patchwork Browns team which had nothing to play for but pride.OK, now we got a different problem here. Did you say "Browns team" and "pride" in the same sentence. Because if you did, then I totally missed that connection.

:rolling:

GO RAVENS!!!

StingerNLG

12-19-2006, 11:40 PM

But seriously...thanks for the "buzz". It doesn't surprise me. But I've lived this long speaking my mind, whether it floated anybody else's boat or not. I figure, I'm not going to change now. I did think, however, that as long as opinions were expressed civilly, the back/forth exchanges were cool. If not, oh well...

Just for the record there is a HUGE difference between your posting your opinions, pro or con, and Tex Ritter. There is a reason we all have him on ignore. There's a reason no one likes him.

Seriously, your best bet is not to emulate him. It's not about whether you like Boller or not. It's when you start to run it into the ground and hijack other threads that we'll start to rain down on you. Until then, you're all good skay. :)

skaybaltimore

12-19-2006, 11:51 PM

Thanks, sting. It's all good from my perspective too. (With the possible exception of those non-USA regular season games. LOL. I'm definitely NOT down with them at all. But that's an entirely different can of worms. Heheheheheh)

GO RAVENS!!!

skaybaltimore

12-19-2006, 11:55 PM

Actually, I thought the Browns (all things considered) did not play that badly. Derek Anderson actually showed me a lot of poise facing the number one defense in the NFL with so little game experience. The Browns actually played us tougher than the Steelers did. They must have been playing for pride (or maybe their jobs next season) as what other incentive did they have?

BTW, nice to have someone responding to my posts even if you do disagree with my comment on the Brownies!:happy:In truth, I have nothing agasint the Browns team at all. However, after hearing several Browns fans on their scout.com board talking up MORE Ravens' players getting hurt, I found their fanbase, in general, to be vile. But as for the team, I thought they put up a stronger fight that I expected. I was impressed at times with Anderson, and even more surprisingly, with KWII and JJ, especially after getting JACKED UP and still holding onto the ball. But honestly, they were no match for us this year, especially in our house.

GO RAVENS!!!

MikeinGlennDale

12-19-2006, 11:59 PM

Kyle Boller threw a couple of nice passes.

To proclaim that we are 'stuck' with the savior is asinine.

KB never led comebacks the way the savior did. Are you serious that you think KB is going to keep us in the playoff hunt? If so, did you also agree to keep Elvis in during the playoff game at PITT? How bout Redman...did you argue that he was the next coming? Stoney Case anyone?

Unbelievable...we finally get a true NFL starting QB and fans of the team are intoxicated by the guy who just plays one on tv.

Please ... please let 9 start Sunday. Let's knock the Steelers out of the playoffs.

skaybaltimore

12-20-2006, 12:12 AM

As long as the cut on his palm is healed, I'm 100% in favor of going with SM on Sunday against the Steelers. The only caveat for me is that if his hand is NOT healed, and it'll cause more problems down the road, I believe that's a trade-off that has to be taken into account and adequately addressed.

GO RAVENS!!!

skaybaltimore

12-20-2006, 12:51 AM

It all depends on the wound, Trap. And how SM heals. I didn't hear anything about stitches, but that doesn't mean anything. The only thing I read said he could throw fine, and could receive the ball in the shotgun, although I doubt that Billick would run everything from the shotgun just so as to not irritate the cut. We'll just have to see what they say when the injury reports come out.

GO RAVENS!!!

FadeToBlack

12-20-2006, 01:04 AM

Kyle Boller is our future...

...waterboy?

I'm still not sold on the guy and I've been watching him all the years you guys have. He's still the same inconsistent, stumbling, fumbling mess he was his rookie year, with very little in the way of development or improvement. Still staring those damn receivers down too. I'm grateful he was at least good enough to get us a 10 point victory against the Clowns.

darb72

12-20-2006, 03:04 AM

Man, I sure am glad McNair was good enough to get us a 1 point victory against the Clowns.

skaybaltimore

12-20-2006, 04:53 AM

LOL. Touche, darby72.

GO RAVENS!!!

FadeToBlack

12-20-2006, 08:03 AM

skaybaltimore

12-20-2006, 08:59 AM

The thing that never ceases to amaze me any time the topic of Boller arises is the extreme polarization that inevitably occurs. I refuse to buy into that, because as I've stated several times already, I'm neither a Boller hugger, nor a Boller hater. As far as I'm concerned, I'd like to see what, if anything, he's learned as far as how to win on the road. However, what I frequently hear some people saying is very different -- what I hear them saying is: "Let Boller start so he can prove he's a failure".

As far as I'm concerned, at least at this point, I have no more reason to asssume he's going to fail than he's going to succeed. THAT IN ITSELF is bothersome to me, because it always seems more like a crapshoot with KB than it does with SM. But to outright assume he's GOING to fail is, IMO, way too skewed, based upon what he's shown to date so far THIS YEAR. And to even begin to bring in stuff from years gone by just doesn't carry much weight with me, no matter which player is being discussed.

GO RAVENS!!!

skaybaltimore

12-20-2006, 10:08 AM

The point I see with you Tex is that you seem to like to argue, and frankly, I could care less about arguing. Furthermore, you seem to want to put words in my mouth, and I don't like that. So I'll respond here, and I think after that we'll be done. Obviously, past performance has SOME bearing on an athlete's current performance. However, with Boller, there are simply too many variables that are different now than in that past, to be able to draw any valid conclusions.

The only valid pursuit, as far as I'm concerned, is to determine NOW, as best as can be achieved, what can Boller DO...NOW, under THESE circumstances, with THIS CURRENT PERSONNEL. Period. End of story/debate. Beyond that, you'll just have to find a different audience with which to argue, because I'm not going to change my position until I'm satisfied I've seen enough CURRENT performance from Boller to alter the picture I now have, and which I've already expressed throughout various threads on this topic.

GO RAVENS!!!

StingerNLG

12-20-2006, 12:47 PM

The point I see with you Tex is that you seem to like to argue, and frankly, I could care less about arguing. Furthermore, you seem to want to put words in my mouth, and I don't like that. So I'll respond here, and I think after that we'll be done. Obviously, past performance has SOME bearing on an athlete's current performance. However, with Boller, there are simply too many variables that are different now than in that past, to be able to draw any valid conclusions.

And this, right here skay, is why no matter how much you disagree with people on a subject, you will have the respect of the people in this forum you debate with. And it's a prime reason Tex doesn't have anyone's respect.

You get the idea of being on the other side of an opinion, but knowing how to debate it. A few people on this forum lack that ability. And then they don't understand why they get put on everyone's ignore list.

And as long as what you say above is your attitude, we'll always respect your opinion, even if we don't agree with it; like the Pittsburgh discussion we had in the main forum.

Raveninwoodlawn

12-20-2006, 01:48 PM

I want to say I'm shocked that this thread is still going, but I'm not.

Tex, I am not a Boller fan yet I am on the verge of ignoring you.

It's really getting old and to the point where you will be debating with yourself.

You can debate your point without being condescending and instigating arguments that totally aren't necessary.

Please learn to mellow out...again, I'm not a Boller fan, but I can be objective when he plays well and he is far from the Ryan Leaf you are trying to make him out to be.

darb72

12-20-2006, 02:23 PM

Let's get real here. Kyle Boller would probably have us fighting for our playoff lives right now, if not completely out of playoffs altogether. So the "one point victory vs. Cleveland" point is pretty moot. And knowing KB's record on the road, a one point victory in Cleveland is pretty damn generous, if not outright unrealistic.

Funny, I can think of at least two games we would have lost if the defense failed to hold the other team under 17 points. How secure would we be about the play-offs if we were sitting at 9-5 right now? Remember we have to play in Pittsburgh this week and they're only two games behind us. The Bengals are one game behind us so the Steelers game starts to loom even larger.

See, I can play the "what if" game fairly well myself.

RavenDavey

12-20-2006, 03:23 PM

I'm grateful he was at least good enough to get us a 10 point victory against the Clowns.

Come on...he put up 27 points and Kyle did not squander a 14 point lead! That would be the defense. 27 points!!

Art-Florida

12-20-2006, 03:40 PM

I thought we had eradicated all those stupid 'reverse crystal balls'. Evidently a few survived. Must be one of those cheap second hand dollar bazaars on Rt. 301 still operating.

skaybaltimore

12-20-2006, 03:51 PM

I thought we had eradicated all those stupid 'reverse crystal balls'. Evidently a few survived. Must be one of those cheap second hand dollar bazaars on Rt. 301 still operating.My mom bought one on QVC; damn thing never worked right. She got her money back -- minus S&H.

Live & Learn.

;)

GO RAVENS!!!

FadeToBlack

12-20-2006, 04:54 PM

Funny, I can think of at least two games we would have lost if the defense failed to hold the other team under 17 points. How secure would we be about the play-offs if we were sitting at 9-5 right now? Remember we have to play in Pittsburgh this week and they're only two games behind us. The Bengals are one game behind us so the Steelers game starts to loom even larger.

See, I can play the "what if" game fairly well myself.

The defense is irrelevant, because no matter what the defense does or doesn't do, McNair will win you more games than Kyle Boller, and by no unsubstantial amount either.

skaybaltimore

12-20-2006, 05:05 PM

The defense is irrelevant, because no matter what the defense does or doesn't do, McNair will win you more games than Kyle Boller, and by no unsubstantial amount either.The only time I would even question that is if/when it rains or snows. McNair simply does NOT do well under those conditions, and that, as far as I'm concerned, is almost at the level of observable fact, not opinion. Combine that with JL's lack of "pop", and it adds up to a pending disaster.

Whether or not KB would do any better under those conditions is, like a lot of KB's ability, something that is yet to be fully determined, as far as I'm concerned. But when it comes to SM, he had demonstrated on at least two occasions -- Denver & Cincy -- that he simply cannot throw the ball well when it rains.

And that -- more than any team -- is what scares me when looking ahead to the post season: "What happens if it rains or snows?" It's for that reason that I think we would probably do better against Indy inside on their field, as opposed to playing them here at M&T in the rain/snow.

GO RAVENS!!!

purplepoe

12-20-2006, 05:22 PM

Kyle Boller's road record is 4-13. I didn't count the Rams game in '03 where he started and we lost. That loss goes on Redman and his pathetic display.

He's never won in Cleveland.

Steve McNair's road record this season is 5-2. He's won more road games this season then Boller has in his career.

PP

StingerNLG

12-20-2006, 07:22 PM

My mom bought one on QVC; damn thing never worked right. She got her money back -- minus S&H.

Live & Learn.

I always live and die by the Magic 8-Ball myself. 50% of the time it's accurate 100% of the time. :)

The defense is irrelevant, because no matter what the defense does or doesn't do, McNair will win you more games than Kyle Boller, and by no unsubstantial amount either.

I don't disagree with that statement FTB, but not for the same reasons. In all fairness there is a reason McNair was a co-MVP and a QB in the Super Bowl. So I more expect him to win more games.

And PP is right, Boller's road record is atrocious. But I will also submit that this year the Ravens on a whole are a different team. Yes, different with McNair, and you can't argue that at all.

But the offensive line play has been solid for the first time in years, our receivers at almost every level have been better than years past, Jamal all of a sudden is back to 4 YPC, and Billick is calling the plays for the first time in years. The team is not the same around the entire offense than it was last year at 6-10.

And while I AM NOT NOT NOT suggesting McNair sits on Sunday, I would like to see if Boller's improvements in the places we've seen it can be taken on the road. This is not the time for it though I realize. Unless we blow out the Steelers again, then you can give him a quarter or half to work.

darb72

12-20-2006, 10:38 PM

The defense is irrelevant, because no matter what the defense does or doesn't do, McNair will win you more games than Kyle Boller, and by no unsubstantial amount either.
So after you started fussing about how many points Boller won by, I don't get to point out how many McNair won by?

Can't say I'm really surprised, given the history of you... people...

Hypocrisy is a common trait among you.