Flacco's performance today

[3RDRowRaven]

In my opinion I thought Flacco performance was good today. Almost had a pick or two and fumbled the hand-off that he recovered but over all I thought he was good. His numbers were.. 17/23, 232yrds, 1-TD, 0-INT.

Thoughts??? :kewl:

[StingerNLG]

Agreed. Today you really could only point to about 2, MAYBE 3 bad throws.

Other than that he was crisp and sharp with his passes, very good stuff.

I still hope he will work on keeping his eyes downfield more, as he still missed a wide-open Heap in the endzone.

But you just can't argue with a QB rating of 120.1 and a 73% completion percentage. And on the road. I'll take that every week!

[Lee Van Cleef]

He's still holding the ball on those deep routes, and missed a wide open Heap on two consecutive plays. Have to take into account he was playing the, what is it... 28th?, worst pass defense. But a decent showing none-the-less.

[ravenfever_com]

It is a W for our Rookie ... So he did great!

[bmorebirds_24]

i thought he did ok but if i give a grade i give C- to a C.

the reason why is he needs to hold on to the ball better.2 fumbles is horrible it seems to happen every week in the same pattern.one to the running back and another on a sack.it HAS TO STOP.things like that will hurt in the long run.thats no rookie mistake it needs to stop and drives me nuts it leaves the defense in bad field position.then mason saved his ass on one in the end zone staying tough and making any kinda play he could so he could break up an interception.then twice he missed heap in the end zone heap was was as open as he has been all year.


but in the long run we won so it is better then worse and i still cant stand joey porter.

[RavensInBrazil]

The guy posts a 120 QB rating with no turnovers and people are bashing him? Every quarterback in the league makes bad throws. Every quarterback needs his WR to bail him out a couple of times. Every quarterback misses open receivers once in a while. Maybe this kind of thing doesn't really happen with Manning or Brees, but if you expect that level of play, then that's a bit sad

[Mr OC]

Stats can be misleading but I'll take a buck 20 every game.

[deuce]

The guy posts a 120 QB rating with no turnovers and people are bashing him? Every quarterback in the league makes bad throws. Every quarterback needs his WR to bail him out a couple of times. Every quarterback misses open receivers once in a while. Maybe this kind of thing doesn't really happen with Manning or Brees, but if you expect that level of play, then that's a bit sad

True. And how did Manning & Brees look today?

[F Angelos]

He's yet to have that bad 13-30 type game. Even when he throws picks like the last 2 weeks his completion % is close to 60. The key play of the game was the 3rd and 10 to Mason. Mia quit after that.

[Sephy]

The fumble on the "sack" was a play where Miami jumped offsides. The botched handoff was the RB's fault. Dunno how this stuff counts against Flacco.

[Merlin]

Solid game

I like that he's no longer locking onto Mason every time he throws

Still surprised that every long ball is into double or triple coverage -- can't tell whether that's the play calling or our bad receivers.

More screens to Ray Rice are in order

[ravenwoman]

He is going to have good days and bad days. Today was a very, very good day. Keep in mind he is still learning and growing. Next year, he will be better.

[psuasskicker]

I think he's showing signs of learning, that's for certain. He's gonna have good games and bad ones all season, this was a good one.

The two things I see him doing consistently that he needs to get a better handle on:
1) Learning when not to throw the ball down field. He's not very good at judging clowsing speed of center fielders yet. Understandable with two years starting at a DI-AA school, but he's got to learn this or else it's gonna be a lot of picks.
2) Putting touch on those short balls. He rifled at least two into his receivers that gave them no chance at catching them. Some touch and those would have been completed passes.

I like where he's headed. I think...THINK...he's gonna be a very good QB in this league if we can surround him with a little talent.

- C -

[RockyMRaven]

The guy posts a 120 QB rating with no turnovers and people are bashing him? Every quarterback in the league makes bad throws. Every quarterback needs his WR to bail him out a couple of times. Every quarterback misses open receivers once in a while. Maybe this kind of thing doesn't really happen with Manning or Brees, but if you expect that level of play, then that's a bit sad

Agree 100%. Also, he threw a beautiful long ball to Clayton, and it went right through his hands. Granted, there were 2 defenders around, but I think Clayton should have held on to that. Actually, I think the pass was slightly underthrown, because Clayton had to come back for it, but it should have been caught nevertheless. I think Joe did a great job today. He was steady and disciplined back there. The near-interception was really the only bad throw. He's getting better all the time.

[StingerNLG]

The guy posts a 120 QB rating with no turnovers and people are bashing him? Every quarterback in the league makes bad throws. Every quarterback needs his WR to bail him out a couple of times. Every quarterback misses open receivers once in a while. Maybe this kind of thing doesn't really happen with Manning or Brees, but if you expect that level of play, then that's a bit sad


Who's bashing him? We're just pointing out what we still see as things Flacco needs to learn and work on. For crying out loud no one here is bashing him today.

[Mikerobe]

The kid showed that he's going to be a good one, if not a great one. I don't see him making the same mistakes over and over. He seems to pick things up fairly quickly if you ask me.

Judge him at the end of the season, and if he isn't 100% better then when the season started I'll be surprised.

[highwater]

Also, he threw a beautiful long ball to Clayton, and it went right through his hands. Granted, there were 2 defenders around, but I think Clayton should have held on to that. Actually, I think the pass was slightly underthrown, because Clayton had to come back for it, but it should have been caught nevertheless.

You think the pass was "slightly underthrown?" It was way underthrown, seeing as how Clayton basically had to stop and wait for it, with two defenders practically hugging him. That was not a beautiful long ball.

However, that was just one play. I thought overall, Flacco played pretty well. He still hangs onto the ball too long and locks onto Mason too much, but those are problems that are correctable with more playing time. And he made some nice passes today. I think he's going to be really good.

[RavenFanatic2k6]

This was the best performance from a Raven QB and the Ravens offense as a group since mid-2006...

And on the road no less. He was very impressive.

Now get the man a receiver who can get open downfield and we'll have something.

[RavensInBrazil]

Who's bashing him? We're just pointing out what we still see as things Flacco needs to learn and work on. For crying out loud no one here is bashing him today.

Did you read the post above mine? Perhaps it wasn't bashing in the traditional way, but to whine like that after such a fine game, I'm not really ok with that

[Jeremiah W]

Still stugaling with the downfeild vison and accuracy, but you can see he is taking the coaching. He is almost not a rookie anymore since he was at OTAs, he has about a whole years worth of pro football practice and coaching from guys who know how to teach the game.

As he gets more comfortable tossing the ball around, the defenses will continure to have to back off and let the run game kill them slow.

[Tspot-D-Ravenator]

I don't know why we don't go to that run and gun, two-three step drop more often..That's what our receivers are good at doing...He also does well in the 2 minute drill..He did well with it in the second half of the Indy game too:thumbup:

[JimZipCode]

mason saved his ass on one in the end zone staying tough and making any kinda play he could so he could break up an interception.
Check out Derrick Mason's post-game press conference, he seems to say that he ran the wrong route on that play:

http://www.baltimoreravens.com/media_library/Videos/Media_Interviews_and_PCs/2008/10/10_19_Mason.aspx
I kinda threw Joe a curveball right there. ... I shoulda just hooked up and stayed right there. So that was kinda on me, so I had to do something to break the ball up.

[elland]

This was the best performance from a Raven QB and the Ravens offense as a group since mid-2006...

And on the road no less. He was very impressive.

Now get the man a receiver who can get open downfield and we'll have something.

I liked 24. of december that Year more than any games since our SB, and it is probably the best match I still have seen from any Ravens QB, despite some turnovers it just seemed like Steve had their number all day.

Anyway a very good production from Flacco, but against a very bad Phins defense. Hopefully they can learn while they are winning vs Raiders, then Joe and his OL hopefully is more ready when we are facing better teams.

[RavensDomination]

The Fins defense isn't very bad, they generate a very good pass rush which is always problematic for any QB. Stat wise they are about average, but it was on the road so that helps any defensive unit.

I love the way Flacco runs the no huddle. Scoring a TD before the end of the half was HUGE, he drove us right down the field like it was nothing, even when we scored a TD he didn't go to crazy. I really like his demeanor.

[deuce]

Still stugaling with the downfeild vison and accuracy, but you can see he is taking the coaching. He is almost not a rookie anymore since he was at OTAs, he has about a whole years worth of pro football practice and coaching from guys who know how to teach the game.

As he gets more comfortable tossing the ball around, the defenses will continure to have to back off and let the run game kill them slow.

I agree with most of this, but I am not sure it is his downfield vision as much as he needs to release the ball faster. I have no statistics to back it up (maybe filmstudy does) but it seems like every "deep" throw the receiver has to slow down or come back to the ball. Or the ball hangs too long giving time for a db to get across the field and make a play. Once Flacco recognizes what he is seeing faster and releases the ball a second earlier, he will start hitting on the big plays.

I am happy with Flacco's progress through 6 games and when the big play threat comes into play we will have a complete offense.

[HoustonRaven]

Someone before posted a grade of C and I cannot argue that.

A vanilla game for a rookie QB is always a good thing. But he didnt exactly instill fear in the hearts of the Miami secondary either.

Good step on the road of many steps.

[bmorebirds_24]

Did you read the post above mine? Perhaps it wasn't bashing in the traditional way, but to whine like that after such a fine game, I'm not really ok with that

yea i was the post above yours and what its called is knowing the game and what he needs to improve on.i wasnt bashing him i even gave him a grade and said it was very good with a win.chill out dude everybody has a nice smile and happy for the win today now relax and talk about how it can get better in the future thats what this board is for.

[bmorebirds_24]

Check out Derrick Mason's post-game press conference, he seems to say that he ran the wrong route on that play:

http://www.baltimoreravens.com/media_library/Videos/Media_Interviews_and_PCs/2008/10/10_19_Mason.aspx
I kinda threw Joe a curveball right there. ... I shoulda just hooked up and stayed right there. So that was kinda on me, so I had to do something to break the ball up.

i didnt see that but thanks for posting so i did get to read it.never said i was perfect but always like to see additional info....thanks!!

[bmorebirds_24]

"ravensinbrazil" i def. wasnmt bashing him was just stating some things that I think he needs to improve on.im sure you know football talk.as for stinger well he kinda has his head up his (you know what)he might get me in trouble so i have to watch what i say.over time you will see that his post are pointless and a waste of team board material......:banana:

[Dave Lap]

I agree with most of this, but I am not sure it is his downfield vision as much as he needs to release the ball faster. I have no statistics to back it up (maybe filmstudy does) but it seems like every "deep" throw the receiver has to slow down or come back to the ball. Or the ball hangs too long giving time for a db to get across the field and make a play. Once Flacco recognizes what he is seeing faster and releases the ball a second earlier, he will start hitting on the big plays.

I am happy with Flacco's progress through 6 games and when the big play threat comes into play we will have a complete offense.

I'm not worried too much about his ability to throw deep. Even though he has been off target so far, one of the biggest assets noted by scouts prior to the draft was that he can throw a very accurate deep ball.

It'll come.

[tjfires]

He is still a rookie, but yesterday he made fewer mistakes. He missed Heap in the endzone, but at least this week he saw him.

[psuasskicker]

He is almost not a rookie anymore since he was at OTAs, he has about a whole years worth of pro football practice and coaching from guys who know how to teach the game.

So, so not true...


I agree with most of this, but I am not sure it is his downfield vision as much as he needs to release the ball faster. I have no statistics to back it up (maybe filmstudy does) but it seems like every "deep" throw the receiver has to slow down or come back to the ball. Or the ball hangs too long giving time for a db to get across the field and make a play. Once Flacco recognizes what he is seeing faster and releases the ball a second earlier, he will start hitting on the big plays.

I don't think it's that. Honestly I think it's continued testament to how he doesn't have the speed of the NFL vs. the speed of DI-AA down yet. There's two things here that show it. One is the down-field throws. The other is when he's been rolling out and trying to fit a ball in with a crossing defender who picks it off.

Reality is that even the slowest WRs and DBs in the NFL are far, far faster than the WRs and DBs he played with and against at DE. So a 45 yard down-field route that we saw him underthrow to Clayton might actually have hit his DE receiver in stride a year ago. A year ago when he rolled out he probably could drop those balls into his receivers cause the LB couldn't jump high enough or the DB couldn't close fast enough to take it away.

He frankly just has to learn about these differences, I think. Once he does, he won't try fitting those balls in, and he'll be getting those deep throws out in front of his receivers. That should come with time...I think it will.

- C -

[RAVENOUS52]

Let's keep it real, y'all.

He was okay yesterday.

Not good or great, but passable.

He made mistakes that thankfully didn't come back to haunt us and now he has another road game under his belt and gets to try his hand at home against a team on the verge of packing it in for the season.

IDEAL. SCENARIO.

Advantage Flacco!

[darb72]

100 something QB rating, 230 yards and a TD with no interceptions.

As a starting QB in the NFL he gets a solid B. He missed Heap, twice, and threw the one bad pass that Mason broke up. It doesn't matter whose fault it was, it was a bad pass.

As a rookie QB from D-1AA he gets an A+. His accuracy and decision making are far beyond what I expected, plus we're starting to throw deep which means the playbook is opening up. He threw over the middle which I'm really happy to see.

[StingerNLG]

I agree with most of this, but I am not sure it is his downfield vision as much as he needs to release the ball faster. I have no statistics to back it up (maybe filmstudy does) but it seems like every "deep" throw the receiver has to slow down or come back to the ball. Or the ball hangs too long giving time for a db to get across the field and make a play. Once Flacco recognizes what he is seeing faster and releases the ball a second earlier, he will start hitting on the big plays.

I am happy with Flacco's progress through 6 games and when the big play threat comes into play we will have a complete offense.


I do think this is an "issue" right now, but not something that is inherent in his mechanics or tangibles. He can be coached in getting rid of the ball quicker. In College he had to hold that ball longer to let his WR's get downfield. He just needs to speed his internal clock up a little and he'll be fine.

Now, looking downfield he does REALLY need to work on. He is doing a lot of looking left and right and not letting his eyes always stay in the middle of the field. That's why he missed Heap in the endzone the first time when he checked down to Rice instead. Once he learns to scan the field a little better, those open recievers will start seeing balls come their way.

[Dave Lap]

I do think this is an "issue" right now, but not something that is inherent in his mechanics or tangibles. He can be coached in getting rid of the ball quicker. In College he had to hold that ball longer to let his WR's get downfield. He just needs to speed his internal clock up a little and he'll be fine.

Now, looking downfield he does REALLY need to work on. He is doing a lot of looking left and right and not letting his eyes always stay in the middle of the field. That's why he missed Heap in the endzone the first time when he checked down to Rice instead. Once he learns to scan the field a little better, those open recievers will start seeing balls come their way.

and I can't wait for that to happen. :D

[StingerNLG]

and I can't wait for that to happen. :D

Me too. What worries me though is that I've seen this in almost every game. I remember Heap being basically ignored near the endzone in the Cincy game, and Flacco never even looked his way. He could have underhand tossed the football to Heap before anyone could get to him.

I do think that comes in time though.

[psuasskicker]

Me too. What worries me though is that I've seen this in almost every game. I remember Heap being basically ignored near the endzone in the Cincy game, and Flacco never even looked his way.

By "basically ignored" you mean "hit him in the hands with a pass that he dropped", right?

- C -