A "C" for Flacco?

[HoustonRaven]

The Setting Sun posted a poll and the readers are giving Flacco a C for his efforts last night.

I could not see the game for obvious reasons. What did all of you think of his performance?

I think the "C" grade is a tad harsh. Granted, I didnt see one snap. But putting together what I have read this morning, it seems his work last night should have got a "B-", considering he didnt really prepare for this game, didnt have a turnover AND seemed to pull it together in the second half.

[The Fanatic]

I'd say a "C" is about right.
He most certainly didn't light up the score board with an air assault, nor did we win the game.
At no point did we really look like an offense that had any rythym or sense of what an offense is supposed to look like.
Several of his throws were off the mark by being thrown too hard, over thrown, etc.
He never threw a pick, and clearly in the second half he appeared to be getting a little more comfortable with what he was doing.

First half he was holding the ball too long, etc.
Second half were more quick throws, etc. to get the ball out.
One time he called a good audible at the line which was a real good thing to see.
I've seen 1st time starting rookies look much better, ad seen them look much worse.
Couple this teams offensive ineptitude in general, and it ain't all Flaccos fault.
Same could be said for the way Boller and Smith look as well.
That shit has been going on for years though.
All things considered, Joe did alright and I'd say an average grade of "C" is about right.


Quite frankly, I think David Steele sums it up pretty well in his article today.

[WinRavensWin]

I graded Flacco a solid C
-If you are a QB on any roster depth chart, you need to be prepared to play on game day
-The first half he was amped up and over threw several receivers
-They made very good halftime adjustments
-Joe settled down and drove the team downfield for our first thrown TD of the preseason
-Marcus Smith dropped a perfect pass on 4th down that would have kept a drive alive. We would have had at least a fieldgoal, if not another TD out of that drive. The ball literally hit Smith between his numbers, and he dropped it...
-Unfortunately, we only have one true NFL quality starter at WR - Derrick Mason. The rest of them.... we will have to wait for them to step up on game day and make plays
-Overall, I thought a solid C was fair for Joe... but everyone has their own opinion...

[HoustonRaven]

Steele's article is good and provided me with a little more insight to the game last night.

C sounds about right.

[PurpleRulz]

I graded Flacco a solid C
-If you are a QB on any roster depth chart, you need to be prepared to play on game day
-The first half he was amped up and over threw several receivers
-They made very good halftime adjustments
-Joe settled down and drove the team downfield for our first thrown TD of the preseason
-Marcus Smith dropped a perfect pass on 4th down that would have kept a drive alive. We would have had at least a fieldgoal, if not another TD out of that drive. The ball literally hit Smith between his numbers, and he dropped it...
-Unfortunately, we only have one true NFL quality starter at WR - Derrick Mason. The rest of them.... we will have to wait for them to step up on game day and make plays
-Overall, I thought a solid C was fair for Joe... but everyone has their own opinion...


If Marcus Smith catches that pass, then who knows what would have happened. Could have led to another TD or a FG. Another pass is the one that Clayton could not catch up to. It was a catchable and nicely thrown ball by Flacco. A faster true number WR catches that ball and takes it to the house. Had those two catches been made, then we are talking 20 of 37, 200+ yards passing, and 2 TDs. Flacco needs a true number one WR and a franchise LT to go with Brown, Yanda and Grubbs.

[highwater]

I'm not a fan of giving grades to players, like Preston's asinine report cards, and especially in a case like this -- Flacco was apparently not expecting to start. So I think he should get a pass on this, especially with both Boller and Smith unavailable.

Having said that, his stats were not impressive, but although he wasn't expecting to play this much, it's good that he got out there and got some playing time. You could see flashes of his potential.

[purplepoe]

I'm tryin to watch this game but the picture is embarrassingly bad.

My god MASN.

PP

[jonboy79]

C is pretty fair. D first half, B second half.

[The Fanatic]

I keep seeing people use the excuse that he didn't know he was going to play until earlier that day.

That is no excuse!!
This is the NFL, and everyday needs to be approached as if you are the lead dog.
Regardless of how good or bad Boller is, he seems to always take that approach at least when he speaks when asked questions.

Yesterday was actually a real valuable lesson for Flacco in the way it went down.
Be ready, because you never know what can happen.


All things considered, he did alright, and definitely didn't look like a deer in the headlights.

Certainly alot better showing then the last time the starting QB went down in St. Louis!!:thumbup:

[RavenTD]

I keep seeing people use the excuse that he didn't know he was going to play until earlier that day.

That is no excuse!!
This is the NFL, and everyday needs to be approached as if you are the lead dog.


Exactly he is a 1st round pick.If he isn't ready to be thrown in there.Then why the hell did we pick a small school QB?

And that is one thing I have liked about Boller.He wanted to be the starter from the get go.

Like someone said D 1st half C+ to B- 2nd half.

[Rayvens52]

I would have graded him a B do tot he fact that he made some really good throws that should have been caught 1 that was an easy 7 on the board. His first half is about what you expect for a kid to do on his first half of football, and he did settle down nice, made a couple good adjustments at the line and did seem to see the field nicely in the second half. It really is a shame that Clayton is such a bust, we need a 1 wr here in the worst way.

[bmorebirds_24]

im gonna piss a few people off here.but i am totally pissed off about this whole situation.


first-troy smith,this man has the chance to make a name for himself and he has a stomach virus.man up and go play.i think he knows he has the job in his back pocket and his sorry ass knows he will lose it.given the chance to go out there and play.he knows he will never make it in the NFL so he is just buying time.


second-did anybody even know kyle boller didnt practice all week?i didnt!he is another one who could have played.i hate to say this but i am starting to think anita marks could start for this team.

i have hit the panic buttom.i am worried to death i really didnt think this season was gonna be THAT bad.but from the looks of it.it aint good.i know everybodsy will have something to say cause i just bashed the hell out of the 2 sorry asses that call themselves QB'S.but i dont care.


all this leads to my point.call culpepper's agent get his ass in here A.S.A.P.pay him for one year and let him start.i dont care if they have to draw up plays in the dirt like you do in your back yard.this team was 13 and 3 2 years ago and was so close.then last year injuries hurt us.i know thats life.but how many years will we have to go with no QB?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!??!?!?!yes i understand flacco is here and the future but 2 years removed from the playoffs and the team still in tact for the most part.


i had to vent because i am so sick of the same old story with this offense.its the same thing every year.its old and something has to be done.

[bmorebirds_24]

as for flacco's night i say a c+.i agree he came out excited then settled down i ended up getting drunk and so frusterated with other things that was going on so i didnt enjoy the game

[StingerNLG]

C is a fair score, and I would even say a little high. You can't grade him on what his potential is. You have to grade him on the work he did.

That's not to say his next game won't be better, or that he's always going to be this way, or anything.

But for THIS GAME, it's a fair grade.

[Dont Know]

second-did anybody even know kyle boller didnt practice all week?i didnt!he is another one who could have played.

No, and the team didn't want anyone to find out either, but guessing that Boller had been injured vs the vikings wasn't that difficult (http://www.profootball24x7.com/forum/showpost.php?p=90241&postcount=42). Had Smith played as they had intended we wouldn't have found out just yet anyway.

But the spin they put on naming their starter for week 3 was very creative. If they are that creative when it comes to actual on the field offense, it's going to be a lot of fun down the road.

[bmorebirds_24]

well good call on that wise guy.but did he get up and continue playing after that?and why didnt they want anyone to know?its preseason who gives a rats ass who plays and who dont?you think the ed reed injury and kelly gregg injury is baiting the bengals come sept.7????

[Mike B]

The Setting Sun posted a poll and the readers are giving Flacco a C for his efforts last night.

I could not see the game for obvious reasons. What did all of you think of his performance?

I think the "C" grade is a tad harsh. Granted, I didnt see one snap. But putting together what I have read this morning, it seems his work last night should have got a "B-", considering he didnt really prepare for this game, didnt have a turnover AND seemed to pull it together in the second half.

I think a C is fair. He ws not very good in the first half but in the second half he checked off, made some throws and started to look to second recievers. He looked like he was gaining confidence as the game went on. I have a hunch that last night may be a blessing for young Mr. Flacco down the road.

[Mike B]

im gonna piss a few people off here.but i am totally pissed off about this whole situation.


first-troy smith,this man has the chance to make a name for himself and he has a stomach virus.man up and go play.i think he knows he has the job in his back pocket and his sorry ass knows he will lose it.given the chance to go out there and play.he knows he will never make it in the NFL so he is just buying time.


second-did anybody even know kyle boller didnt practice all week?i didnt!he is another one who could have played.i hate to say this but i am starting to think anita marks could start for this team.

i have hit the panic buttom.i am worried to death i really didnt think this season was gonna be THAT bad.but from the looks of it.it aint good.i know everybodsy will have something to say cause i just bashed the hell out of the 2 sorry asses that call themselves QB'S.but i dont care.


all this leads to my point.call culpepper's agent get his ass in here A.S.A.P.pay him for one year and let him start.i dont care if they have to draw up plays in the dirt like you do in your back yard.this team was 13 and 3 2 years ago and was so close.then last year injuries hurt us.i know thats life.but how many years will we have to go with no QB?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!??!?!?!yes i understand flacco is here and the future but 2 years removed from the playoffs and the team still in tact for the most part.


i had to vent because i am so sick of the same old story with this offense.its the same thing every year.its old and something has to be done.

Let's wait till we get to the regular season before you take off from that bridge. I do not want to see Troy Smith start but give me a brake. man up?? Were you around him before the game??
As for all you Brian Billick and camp cream puff haters. Maybe young Mr. Harbaugh should rethink the hitting everyday in practice. Let's see both starting tackles, 2of our top 3 recievers, tight end, running back. On the other side both starting DT the back up, starting CB's etc. Mike Preston had it right. Camp Cream Puff was hurting us. Camp Hard Ball is killing us.

[StingerNLG]

^^^ I agree.

There is only one thing that scares me though. That sidearm delivery of his just begs to have lineman bat his passes down at the line when they penetrate. And it seems like he has to compensate for it a little by putting more on the ball, which could explain the overthrowing. I hope they can work him into a more conventional throw.

Otherwise, I liked his poise staying in the pocket. He was staring receivers down at times, but then he'd pump and go elsewhere. Things he can develop in a short time.

[HoustonRaven]

^^^ I agree.

There is only one thing that scares me though. That sidearm delivery of his just begs to have lineman bat his passes down at the line when they penetrate. And it seems like he has to compensate for it a little by putting more on the ball, which could explain the overthrowing. I hope they can work him into a more conventional throw.

Otherwise, I liked his poise staying in the pocket. He was staring receivers down at times, but then he'd pump and go elsewhere. Things he can develop in a short time.

A 6'6" side arm throw is still higher then you or I throwing over the top.

If the sidearm is all he knows, let him use it. If you go messing with his mechanics early in his career he never gets comfortable.

Let him win or lose on what he knows. You dont go fucking with the pie when it's already out of the oven.

[ravenjoe]

Camp Cream Puff was hurting us. Camp Hard Ball is killing us.
I disagree; these players seem to have a real aversion to the football playing field. Man up guys, or find some other profession. Our team is an embarrassment from the standpoint of being able to field a full complement of players. They seem to have been spoiled by the 'soft' approach taken over the last eight years. And a stomach virus kept you out of a game that could've secured your start this season - you should be ashamed of yourself.

[StingerNLG]

A 6'6" side arm throw is still higher then you or I throwing over the top.

If the sidearm is all he knows, let him use it. If you go messing with his mechanics early in his career he never gets comfortable.

Let him win or lose on what he knows. You dont go fucking with the pie when it's already out of the oven.


But if that pie keeps overthrowing receivers to compensate for the delivery, then you fuck with the pie. :)

[HoustonRaven]

But if that pie keeps overthrowing receivers to compensate for the delivery, then you fuck with the pie. :)

Agreed. But other then 1st game gitters, I didnt see anything from Flacco that warrants a change in his mechanics.

Now if we're having this conversation next year, I am sold on the idea.