I win $20!

[psuasskicker]

Thanks Jim!

Joe Flacco: 21 passing TDs on the season.

Nice season overall by Joe, in general. Over 60% passing, over 7 YPA and a 21:12 TD:INT ratio. Solid improvement over last year, and I look forward to seeing how well he can grow over the next two years, particularly if we can finally find him a receiver.

- C -

[baltimore_hokie]

How about all the crap I got when the Broncos were 6-0 and I said they wouldn't win more than 9 games??

[Everything_Ravens]

How about all the crap I got when the Broncos were 6-0 and I said they wouldn't win more than 9 games??

nice!

[purplepoe]

How about all the crap I got when the Broncos were 6-0 and I said they wouldn't win more than 9 games??

I know I wasn't giving it to you.

Denver finishing up the season strong with a 20 point home loss!

PP

[Losac]

Pretty amazing Denver starts 6-0 and Giants 5-0 and neither make the playoffs.

[CRZA938]

Thanks Jim!

Joe Flacco: 21 passing TDs on the season.

Nice season overall by Joe, in general. Over 60% passing, over 7 YPA and a 21:12 TD:INT ratio. Solid improvement over last year, and I look forward to seeing how well he can grow over the next two years, particularly if we can finally find him a receiver.

- C -

I agree with you. While he struggled at times (even in this game) overall he has progressed. I'd like your take though about when he struggles. Is it a lack of confidence? The O-line? The receivers? Joe just being a 2nd year QB? I mean, how many times can we run a solid play action pass, hold the ball for 4 or 5 seconds, and either take a sack or throw it away?

[psuasskicker]

I'd like your take though about when he struggles. Is it a lack of confidence? The O-line? The receivers? Joe just being a 2nd year QB? I mean, how many times can we run a solid play action pass, hold the ball for 4 or 5 seconds, and either take a sack or throw it away?

I wrote some here (http://www.footballoutsiders.com/ramblings/2009/game-charters-speak-2009) about my thoughts on Flacco. I wrote a similar article on this site about giving Flacco the weapons. I feel strongly that many of Flacco's issues are related to his receivers. If you watch closely, you'll see that many of his sacks and other pressures are due to coverage issues...he can't find a receiver. And I don't believe it's because he's not going through progressions...I see him going through two or three most plays.

Another problem is a young OL that isn't really that great yet. There's talent on that line, and they do a pretty good job. But there isn't a world-beater on that line (despite what some seem to think), and it looks to me like teams are blitzing us a lot. I have a small sample, but in that sample, I see teams blitzing us over 60% of the time on pass plays. I don't think they're actually doing it at that rate, like I said, I have a small sample size. But I do believe they're blitzing a lot; and I also believe that a big reason for WHY they're blitzing a lot is due to the fact that we don't have a single receiver that requires double coverage ever. When you can man-up on everyone on every play, you tend to have an extra guy to throw at the QB, and that leads to more pressures. I'd really be interested in seeing the rate at which the Ravens are blitzed vs. everyone else...it wouldn't shock me if we were top five in percent that opponents blitz us.

Another big part frankly is that he's not the best QB in the league by any stretch. He's not a top 10, at least not yet. He's good, but he's not terrific, and he's going to have off-days, and he's probably going to have them when he plays against tough defenses. Take his worst games this year. Cinci 2x, NE, GB and Indi...his only games with < 80 QB rating. All except Indi are top 10 defenses. GB and Cinci are top five.

He's young, chances are good he'll get better next year and maybe again the year after that. I don't think he'll ever become Peyton Manning great. But give the guy another year and a couple decent receivers, and he's almost without question a franchise quarterback who I would guess will finish his career with a QB rating in the high 80s or maybe higher.

- C -

[Galen Sevinne]

I wrote some here (http://www.footballoutsiders.com/ramblings/2009/game-charters-speak-2009) about my thoughts on Flacco. I wrote a similar article on this site about giving Flacco the weapons. I feel strongly that many of Flacco's issues are related to his receivers. If you watch closely, you'll see that many of his sacks and other pressures are due to coverage issues...he can't find a receiver. And I don't believe it's because he's not going through progressions...I see him going through two or three most plays.

Another problem is a young OL that isn't really that great yet. There's talent on that line, and they do a pretty good job. But there isn't a world-beater on that line (despite what some seem to think), and it looks to me like teams are blitzing us a lot. I have a small sample, but in that sample, I see teams blitzing us over 60% of the time on pass plays. I don't think they're actually doing it at that rate, like I said, I have a small sample size. But I do believe they're blitzing a lot; and I also believe that a big reason for WHY they're blitzing a lot is due to the fact that we don't have a single receiver that requires double coverage ever. When you can man-up on everyone on every play, you tend to have an extra guy to throw at the QB, and that leads to more pressures. I'd really be interested in seeing the rate at which the Ravens are blitzed vs. everyone else...it wouldn't shock me if we were top five in percent that opponents blitz us.

Another big part frankly is that he's not the best QB in the league by any stretch. He's not a top 10, at least not yet. He's good, but he's not terrific, and he's going to have off-days, and he's probably going to have them when he plays against tough defenses. Take his worst games this year. Cinci 2x, NE, GB and Indi...his only games with < 80 QB rating. All except Indi are top 10 defenses. GB and Cinci are top five.

He's young, chances are good he'll get better next year and maybe again the year after that. I don't think he'll ever become Peyton Manning great. But give the guy another year and a couple decent receivers, and he's almost without question a franchise quarterback who I would guess will finish his career with a QB rating in the high 80s or maybe higher.

- C -

I still think Cam got ahead on the learning curve with Flacco this year. Trying to put the offense soley on his shoulders early in the year was detrimental to his development. All of sudden, Flacco was seen as a top 7 QB in the league when he still only had one year in the NFl coming from a small college program. His true development will probably take 4 years or so not unlike many of the other top 10 QBs.

I think Flacco is still in the "just mange the game" phase and Cam should be relying on the run...just like we saw today. Today's gameplan should be what we take into the playoffs. Of course, if necessary - if we get behind - Flacco has shown some promise in being able to throw the ball around a bit much more than say a Dilfer could do. That is a good thing.

[psuasskicker]

I still think Cam got ahead on the learning curve with Flacco this year. Trying to put the offense soley on his shoulders early in the year was detrimental to his development. All of sudden, Flacco was seen as a top 7 QB in the league when he still only had one year in the NFl coming from a small college program. His true development will probably take 4 years or so not unlike many of the other top 10 QBs.

Results wouldn't have been any different had they let up on the gas, though. Flacco handled it well and had a very good year. He's clearly in the top half of the league at QB in only his second year and should get better. He'll be top ten for many years most likely. There's nothing wrong with what happened there.

- C -

[Carey]

I wrote some here (http://www.footballoutsiders.com/ramblings/2009/game-charters-speak-2009) about my thoughts on Flacco. I wrote a similar article on this site about giving Flacco the weapons. I feel strongly that many of Flacco's issues are related to his receivers. If you watch closely, you'll see that many of his sacks and other pressures are due to coverage issues...he can't find a receiver. And I don't believe it's because he's not going through progressions...I see him going through two or three most plays.

Another problem is a young OL that isn't really that great yet. There's talent on that line, and they do a pretty good job. But there isn't a world-beater on that line (despite what some seem to think), and it looks to me like teams are blitzing us a lot. I have a small sample, but in that sample, I see teams blitzing us over 60% of the time on pass plays. I don't think they're actually doing it at that rate, like I said, I have a small sample size. But I do believe they're blitzing a lot; and I also believe that a big reason for WHY they're blitzing a lot is due to the fact that we don't have a single receiver that requires double coverage ever. When you can man-up on everyone on every play, you tend to have an extra guy to throw at the QB, and that leads to more pressures. I'd really be interested in seeing the rate at which the Ravens are blitzed vs. everyone else...it wouldn't shock me if we were top five in percent that opponents blitz us.

Another big part frankly is that he's not the best QB in the league by any stretch. He's not a top 10, at least not yet. He's good, but he's not terrific, and he's going to have off-days, and he's probably going to have them when he plays against tough defenses. Take his worst games this year. Cinci 2x, NE, GB and Indi...his only games with < 80 QB rating. All except Indi are top 10 defenses. GB and Cinci are top five.

He's young, chances are good he'll get better next year and maybe again the year after that. I don't think he'll ever become Peyton Manning great. But give the guy another year and a couple decent receivers, and he's almost without question a franchise quarterback who I would guess will finish his career with a QB rating in the high 80s or maybe higher.

- C -

Couldnt agree more! Oakland was ultra aggressive, they sent multiple corner and safety blitzes. Once Mason was neutralized they just said screw Washington and Clayton, they cant beat us downfield. Once we can challenge the entire field on a regular basis the sky is the limit for Joe.

[RavensDomination]

Thanks Jim!

Joe Flacco: 21 passing TDs on the season.

Should have been 22 if Mason could catch.

Great year by Joe. Give him some weapons we'll see 30+ TD's.

[psuasskicker]

Should have been 22 if Mason could catch.

Woulda been 20 had Mason dropped one of his other 7. :crazy:

- C -