One thing I will always thank the front office for....

**The Excellector** · 03-05-2013, 02:32 PM

If they hadn't talked Steve Bisciotti out of what he wanted to do, the Ravens would have ended up with.......................Matt Ryan!!!

Oh no!!!!

**BcRaven** · 03-05-2013, 02:34 PM

Originally Posted by The Excellector

If they hadn't talked Steve Bisciotti out of what he wanted to do, the Ravens would have ended up with.......................Matt Ryan!!!

Oh no!!!!

C'mon he's won a total of ONE playoff game, hasn't he?

... Bc

**esmd** · 03-05-2013, 02:41 PM

I'll cut Ryan some slack. That is a flawed team around him. He's got some weapons at WR and TE yes, but they have no running game and their defense is highly suspect. They're actually a lot like the Saints. Switch Ryan and Flacco and I think we still get our ring this year (although I suppose you could make the argument that doing that would've cost us some of the assets that helped us win the SB due to the cost of trading up to get him).

**NCRAVEN** · 03-05-2013, 02:44 PM

Originally Posted by esmd

I'll cut Ryan some slack. That is a flawed team around him. He's got some weapons at WR and TE yes, but they have no running game and their defense is highly suspect. They're actually a lot like the Saints. Switch Ryan and Flacco and I think we still get our ring this year (although I suppose you could make the argument that doing that would've cost us some of the assets that helped us win the SB due to the cost of trading up to get him).

I disagree. Ryan is good but I don't think he is tough enough o has a strong enough arm to make the plays downfield Joe does.

No way I see him making the two long Bombs in the Denver game (first and last TD's)

**esmd** · 03-05-2013, 02:55 PM

Originally Posted by NCRAVEN

I disagree. Ryan is good but I don't think he is tough enough o has a strong enough arm to make the plays downfield Joe does.

No way I see him making the two long Bombs in the Denver game (first and last TD's)

Fair enough. I think it's debatable, but I'm certainly not sorry we have Joe. I just think Ryan gets piled on a bit too much. Take him away and the Falcons are a 3-13 or 4-12 team. Take Flacco away and I think we could still fight for 7-9 wins.

**Iscull** · 03-05-2013, 03:04 PM

Originally Posted by esmd

I'll cut Ryan some slack. That is a flawed team around him. He's got some weapons at WR and TE yes, but they have no running game and their defense is highly suspect. They're actually a lot like the Saints. Switch Ryan and Flacco and I think we still get our ring this year (although I suppose you could make the argument that doing that would've cost us some of the assets that helped us win the SB due to the cost of trading up to get him).

Probably wouldn't have gotten Rice, so I say you can't make that assumption.

**srobert96** · 03-05-2013, 03:10 PM

Originally Posted by esmd

I'll cut Ryan some slack. That is a flawed team around him. He's got some weapons at WR and TE yes, but they have no running game and their defense is highly suspect. They're actually a lot like the Saints. Switch Ryan and Flacco and I think we still get our ring this year (although I suppose you could make the argument that doing that would've cost us some of the assets that helped us win the SB due to the cost of trading up to get him).

I am going to have to go ahead and disagree with you. Matt Ryan wilted down the stretch against the 49ers. The fumble at the end of the third took 3 points off the board. Had Flacco had a turnover in the 4th quarter versus the 49ers and it may very well have ended the same way for the Ravens. Flacco came up big.

**Justlovemybirds** · 03-05-2013, 03:11 PM

Ryan would have been fine, coming out of BC he was known as the more Pro-Ready QB so I think we'd have been successful right off the back. I think,however, he's probably as good as he ever going to be (which is really good) while Flacco still has a chance to become even better. Flacco's ceiling is definitely higher than Ryans.

**Mista T** · 03-05-2013, 03:17 PM

I had the fortunate experience of watching both Ryan and Flacco in their senior seasons playing at College Park and Annapolis. Plus a few TV games for each guy. I concluded that Ryan was a lot of hype, but would become a run-of-the-mill former ACC QB in the NFL, while Flacco's arm and size/speed made him look like the next QB superstar, potentially in the league with Unitas, Montana, Elway etc.

My opinion hasn't changed, much. Ryan's regular season performance has been better than I thought it would be, but not close to top tier.

Ryan is blessed with a pair of outstanding WRs and TE, who make him appear better than he really is in regular season. When it counts: his playoff record has been downright embarrassing.

**lovefootball** · 03-05-2013, 03:25 PM

Glad the front office doesn't pay attention to the haters and posters who know it all. Ryan will have to put his tean in the no 1 spot in order to get to the SB. Flacco has done it as a wild card and division winner. Ryan needs to stop choking and turning the ball over. I predict the falcons make post season, but as a wild card if they are lucky enough. Ryan will get hit more this year and gonzalez coming back won't help.
Flacco is going to get better with Caldwell and the new Oline coach. Having another year with the same receivers and TEs will be awesome. Don't be surprised if the fantasy guys get shocked this year. Watch how many talking heads proclaim they knew Flacco was elite and is going to be a future HOF member.

**Paintballguy** · 03-05-2013, 03:32 PM

Originally Posted by Mista T

I had the fortunate experience of watching both Ryan and Flacco in their senior seasons playing at College Park and Annapolis. Plus a few TV games for each guy. I concluded that Ryan was a lot of hype, but would become a run-of-the-mill former ACC QB in the NFL, while Flacco's arm and size/speed made him look like the next QB superstar, potentially in the league with Unitas, Montana, Elway etc.

My opinion hasn't changed, much. Ryan's regular season performance has been better than I thought it would be, but not close to top tier.

Ryan is blessed with a pair of outstanding WRs and TE, who make him appear better than he really is in regular season. When it counts: his playoff record has been downright embarrassing.

The first time that I saw Flacco in person at the Vikings preseason game at M&T in 08, I was amazed by Joe's arm and his throws in general. I was telling people that we finally found our QB. Of course everyone laughed at me. Well who's laughing now? muhahaha

**alienrace** · 03-05-2013, 03:32 PM

Originally Posted by esmd

I'll cut Ryan some slack. That is a flawed team around him. He's got some weapons at WR and TE yes, but they have no running game and their defense is highly suspect. They're actually a lot like the Saints. Switch Ryan and Flacco and I think we still get our ring this year (although I suppose you could make the argument that doing that would've cost us some of the assets that helped us win the SB due to the cost of trading up to get him).

But, it wasn't Ryans defense that threw an ill advised interception. Nor was it his lack of a running game that caused him to fumble a shotgun snap.

IMO, the guy just seems to make the biggest mistakes in the biggest moments.

**Ash55** · 03-05-2013, 03:36 PM

Off subject but I wish I could find a t shirt that supports the front office. I know they cant use wizard of oz because of infringment. But I would love a shirt that gives our front office some love with how many pro bowl apperances our players have had, mvps, awards, etc.

I dont know maybe its me. Me and my buddies go up to the mountains to a friends cabin and watch the draft every year. Just the guys and it is an amazing year tradition. I wish I had something to wear to support the front office

**Coastergenius** · 03-05-2013, 03:52 PM

You'd have to admit that Matt Ryan had a hotter start than Flacco. Who knows, maybe we win the Super Bowl in one of the earlier seasons if he's our QB. But, I think that Flacco is better now. He's always had rare one of a kind physical gifts, but now he has the football acumen, poise, and accuracy to be an elite passer. Matt Ryan has always been a master at the short routes, but he'll never have the deep ball that Flacco has, or the speed.

**Losac** · 03-05-2013, 04:04 PM

Originally Posted by Mista T

I had the fortunate experience of watching both Ryan and Flacco in their senior seasons playing at College Park and Annapolis. Plus a few TV games for each guy. I concluded that Ryan was a lot of hype, but would become a run-of-the-mill former ACC QB in the NFL, while Flacco's arm and size/speed made him look like the next QB superstar, potentially in the league with Unitas, Montana, Elway etc.

My opinion hasn't changed, much. Ryan's regular season performance has been better than I thought it would be, but not close to top tier.

Ryan is blessed with a pair of outstanding WRs and TE, who make him appear better than he really is in regular season. When it counts: his playoff record has been downright embarrassing.

I'll vouch for this. I do remember you talking up Flacco before the 08 draft, saying you wanted him when most had never even heard of the guy.

**leachisabeast** · 03-05-2013, 04:10 PM

Matt Ryan is right in the tier I originally though Joe Flacco was in, the 2nd tier of very good QBs who can potentially win you SBs with the right supporting cast, but wont take over big games put the team on his back. Flacco has proven me wrong about that, and is in my eyes now in the deluxe group of QBs (there my new replacement word for that dated "elite" crap.

). That's fine, Atlanta are always going to be contenders with him at QB, and with the weapons they have. They are going to have to draft some nice prospects to improve that defense though. I'm not sure if Matt Ryan eating up all the cap as one of the top paid players in the game will give you much value however, they will likely not be able to re-sign Roddy White pretty soon, and would probably have a 50/50 chance with Julio Jones in a few years without using the tag, because I think Julio is going to have a real shot at becoming the best paid WR in the history of the NFL. There is no way you can invest that much cap space into one area of the game.

**ballhawk** · 03-05-2013, 05:33 PM

Originally Posted by esmd

I'll cut Ryan some slack. That is a flawed team around him. He's got some weapons at WR and TE yes, but they have no running game and their defense is highly suspect. They're actually a lot like the Saints. Switch Ryan and Flacco and I think we still get our ring this year (although I suppose you could make the argument that doing that would've cost us some of the assets that helped us win the SB due to the cost of trading up to get him).

I might be wrong about this, but had we not gotten extra picks by trading back in the first to select Flacco, we probably wouldn't have ended up with Ray Rice. No 4th and 29, prob no SB.

EDIT: I now see Iscull already brought this up.

**ballhawk** · 03-05-2013, 05:41 PM

Originally Posted by Ash55

Off subject but I wish I could find a t shirt that supports the front office. I know they cant use wizard of oz because of infringment. But I would love a shirt that gives our front office some love with how many pro bowl apperances our players have had, mvps, awards, etc.

I dont know maybe its me. Me and my buddies go up to the mountains to a friends cabin and watch the draft every year. Just the guys and it is an amazing year tradition. I wish I had something to wear to support the front office

I been thinking about getting an Ozzie Newsome Ravens jersey. I'd have to get it custom made though, not sure how much that cost.

**The Excellector** · 03-05-2013, 05:46 PM

Yeah, I wonder what Matt Ryan would have done, having to deal with Pittsburgh twice a year.

I remember what happened the first time he played Pittsburgh. It didn't go so well.

**pslholder96** · 03-05-2013, 07:03 PM

Originally Posted by esmd

Fair enough. I think it's debatable, but I'm certainly not sorry we have Joe. I just think Ryan gets piled on a bit too much. Take him away and the Falcons are a 3-13 or 4-12 team. Take Flacco away and I think we could still fight for 7-9 wins.

So you honestly think Troy Smith would have led us to 7-9 wins??? If anyone gets piled on too much it's Flacco. The expectations for Matt Ryan were much higher, so far he's underachieved. I do think it's only a matter of time before he turns the corner gets his team to the superbowl.