Go With Smith!!!!!

[HoustonRaven]

It's either the 12 Jameson's or I think I've seen the future QB for the Ravens in the near future.

In 4 plays, Smith has shown he has more desire then McBoller combined. And thats enough for me the rest of the way this year.

[TTRaven]

Yes Smith looked good, but it was against 3rd stringers. I'm all for letting the guy start the rest of the season, but not even close to calling him our QB of the future. He still has a long way to go.

[Sephy]

Honestly, you might as well. We play Miami next week, there will not be a better opponent to cut his teeth on.

[Bez513]

Boller just doesn't have it. Let Smith start and see what he can do.

[Sephy]

Oh, and Billick will never do it.

[StingerNLG]

I'm all for it at this point. We need to see what this guy has.

Here's the problem, Billick hasn't been able to design an offense to work with any QB in the last 9 years. He is just going to send Troy Smith out there with the same old plays.

[purplepoe]

But what about all the things working against Boller?

I mean, it was a bit chilly.

And it was a little rainy.

And of course the OL let him down along with the receivers.

His horrendous play wasn't really his fault.

It's someone else's.

It's over.

Troy Smith is FAR from ready and last week I said it would be a bad idea to start him.

After the atrocious crap I witnessed tonight?

Start him.

And to anyone who wants to try to explain the horrendous play Boller showed tonight.....save it.

PP

[HoustonRaven]

Sting,

I agree, but I think we need a change of perspective here.

Im starting to think we have been looking at our team wrong all this time. We (including me) have been looking at this team in a vacuum. For whatever reason, BB has been getting pass after pass for his shortcomings.

Is our D good because of Billick? Or have they been good all this time in spite of Billick? Is our offense bad because of chemistry? Or has Billick been the reason we have been this bad?

If I was in a job and I was only effective 50% of the time, I'd be fired in a heart beat. So, with Billick only being effective with half of his job (the Defense) is there any reason to keep him at this point?

Im drunk so I may not be making any sense, but how far off am I???

[Dont Know]

And of course the OL let him down along with the receivers.

Well, I would say they did, as they did for Troy.

Troy WAS running for his life and when he didn't run it in himself, Figurs couldn't catch it in the end zone.

But none of those things are fixable in the remaining season, but rather for the off season so ...


Go Troy!

[purplepoe]

Well, I would say they did, as they did for Troy.

Troy WAS running for his life and when he didn't run it in himself, Figurs couldn't catch it in the end zone.

But none of those things are fixable in the remaining season, but rather for the off season so ...


Go Troy!

The OL didn't force him to make horrendous decisions.

Look, I get that the OL lacks consistency etc....

But what we saw tonight should convince everyone that this team is in DIRE need of a young, talented QB that can be groomed.

Period.

PP

[StingerNLG]

Sting,

I agree, but I think we need a change of perspective here.

Im starting to think we have been looking at our team wrong all this time. We (including me) have been looking at this team in a vacuum. For whatever reason, BB has been getting pass after pass for his shortcomings.

Is our D good because of Billick? Or have they been good all this time in spite of Billick? Is our offense bad because of chemistry? Or has Billick been the reason we have been this bad?

If I was in a job and I was only effective 50% of the time, I'd be fired in a heart beat. So, with Billick only being effective with half of his job (the Defense) is there any reason to keep him at this point?

Im drunk so I may not be making any sense, but how far off am I???

I don't think Billick has gotten any passes for his shortcomings from the fans. The pass has come from above.

Our defense is good because of Rex Ryan. Not because of Brian Billick. But now you see how bad our secondary is when you have to rely on backups who can't play in the NFL. Pittman, Martin, and Ivy are simply not going to cut it. They can NOT play. You saw it tonight.

Our offense is bad for a number of reasons. Bad QB play, bad OL play, no #1 wide receiver on the roster, injuries all over the place, total lack of imagination in playcalling. The offense is a shit sangwich that has a ton of ingredients.

What in the hell do you do? Where do you even start? What the fuck?

It starts with Billick. Bottom line. Billick has ZERO playcalling imagination.

[HoustonRaven]

The OL didn't force him to make horrendous decisions.

Look, I get that the OL lacks consistency etc....

But what we saw tonight should convince everyone that this team is in DIRE need of a young, talented QB that can be groomed.

Period.

PP

So Agreed ....

And with that we will also need PATIENCE! He will be raw and will make mistakes so I will hate it when I hear people calling for his head the second he fucks up.

[StingerNLG]

The OL didn't force him to make horrendous decisions.

Look, I get that the OL lacks consistency etc....

But what we saw tonight should convince everyone that this team is in DIRE need of a young, talented QB that can be groomed.

Period.

PP

What good is another QB without an offense to build around? I'm ALL for starting Troy Smith now. But the bottom line is that EVERY SNAP Troy had to break containment and run for his life, and that was against 3rd stringers.

With all due respect to Troy, you think if Bob Sanders was still in the game Smith would have done anything?

We are in DIRE need of a LOT of things right now. QB, CB, DE. And I still am not convinced in that order after watching Pittman and Martin play tonight.


But most importantly:
NO QB is the answer for the Baltimore Ravens as long as Brian Billick has his hands on the offense. Bottom line.

[RavenFanatic2k6]

We are in DIRE need of a LOT of things right now. QB, CB, DE. And I still am not convinced in that order after watching Pittman and Martin play tonight.

If you aren't convinced of that order after watching Kyle Boller play tonight, then you need to have your eyes checked.

We will have McAlister and probably Rolle back next year. I am willing to take the chance that they will stay healthy, and draft a CB in the second. We are quite likely going to pick in the top 5, we can not pass on the opportunity to draft Matt Ryan or Brian Brohm. I have said before and I will say it again, getting a franchise QB and getting the right one is the quickest way to turn around the franchise.

And you know what else, it doesn't really matter if McAlister and Rolle stay healthy or not. Next season is going to be a rebuilding year, unless we go out and get a veteran QB on the level of McNabb, there is no reason to believe the Ravens will compete next year. Next year will about getting young guys experience, letting Boller keep the seat warm for our top pick. 2009 and beyond is what we should be looking toward.

As for the topic of the thread, there is no reason not to start Smith. Boller shown everyone what he is, a mediocre backup at best. See what Smith can do.

[ExiledRaven]

At this point...what is there to lose? He looked good in the game...he moved around well. He made plays on the run and while he moved around he looked downfield.

The "miss" to figurs....can't really call that a miss as if he puts it anywhere else it's a pick, figurs is 1 foot closer to the ball, that's a big TD.

The throw to Willis also impressed me....rather than keep running Smith looked downfield, saw a man open that could get the first down and hit him on the run.

Heck, if Smith plays well against Miami then see what happens with the 'Hawks and Steelers. If Smith works out, then you can grab a guy like Dixon in round 4-6 to be the #3, drop Mac9, Boller is the #2.

Smith works, then you can go after Cason, Campbell, Long, or Malcolm Jenkins in the first round. A guy like Mario Manningham might be just what the Dr. ordered in the second if smith is really "the man."

I hope the country can see what the kid can do. Madden might be crazy, but he knows players when he seems them. Hearing him talk about smith in that manner after hearing these "waste of a pick" rumblings from the Ravens organization....really makes me wonder if this team can evaluate QB talent AT ALL.

[GreenWave52]

It is time to ride Troy Smith for the rest of the season. Lets see what he has, because what he shows us could potentially drastically alter our draft strategy (QB vs CB in the first).

Kyle is an ok back-up but he doesn't have a high enough football IQ to succeed consistently. Therefore we cannot win with him as a starter. McNair may be done depending on how he feels this offseason. We need to see if anyone on this team is viable long term at the most important position in football.

I made a prediction before the draft that Troy Smith would end up with a better pro career than Brady Quinn. I still stand by that.

[StingerNLG]

If you aren't convinced of that order after watching Kyle Boller play tonight, then you need to have your eyes checked.

We will have McAlister and probably Rolle back next year. I am willing to take the chance that they will stay healthy, and draft a CB in the second. We are quite likely going to pick in the top 5, we can not pass on the opportunity to draft Matt Ryan or Brian Brohm. I have said before and I will say it again, getting a franchise QB and getting the right one is the quickest way to turn around the franchise.

And you know what else, it doesn't really matter if McAlister and Rolle stay healthy or not. Next season is going to be a rebuilding year, unless we go out and get a veteran QB on the level of McNabb, there is no reason to believe the Ravens will compete next year. Next year will about getting young guys experience, letting Boller keep the seat warm for our top pick. 2009 and beyond is what we should be looking toward.

As for the topic of the thread, there is no reason not to start Smith. Boller shown everyone what he is, a mediocre backup at best. See what Smith can do.

Well, that's all fine and dandy dude. Apparently you skipped over the part where I said I was all for putting Troy Smith in. But if you can't see that simply throwing another QB at the situation and crossing your fingers he doesn't get beat to shit, hurt, or put in situations where he can't play to win, then I think you also need to be sitting in the same seat getting your eyes checked.

Answer these questions for me:

1) Demetrius Williams, Mark Clayton, Devard Darling, Derrick Mason right now would be a #1 receiver on what other team right now that has a winning record?

2) Dan Wilcox is a #1 Tight End on what team currently in contention?

3) How many sweeps, draws, traps, or swing/screen passes have we thrown to our RB's this year? Both Boller and McNair combined?

4) How many times did Troy Smith against a backup defense had to scramble and run to make a play?

5) How many defensive coordinators do you think have stayed up extra nights to prepare for a Brian Billick offensive?

Let's get a dose of reality for just a second. Outside of the fact that the QB play sucks, and now we're probably going after our 11th QB in 10 years now, tell me exactly what on offense you DO see that says "respect me" to any other coach in the league? T'aint much.

Seriously, we've seen the answer isn't Boller, McNair, Grbac, Banks, Blake, Wright, Cunningham, etc. And it seems no one on the planet thinks Troy Smith is the answer either although these were his first snaps in the NFL tonight. You guys aren't really stirring any confidence in me that in the end Smith will be any better than any of the guys above if you don't think he's the long term solution before even seeing him play against a real NFL defense.

Not that I have any expectations for Troy Smith. He would be trying to run a Brian Billick I-Formation offense you know.

So tell me exactly what confidence you have that just plugging in a Matt Ryan or Colt Brennan into this system is going to give you the instant results that 11 other guys couldn't. I need to know, because I am at a complete loss right now.

[purple bird]

Plugging a new qb will effectively give the new coordinator (that we can be almost assured will be forced upon Billick by Biscotti) a "fresh start". Even if the coordinator is Neuheisel (where Neuheisel actually has control of the offense, unlike this year), I think that Boller has been mentally screwed by the way Billick threw him into the fire too soon and so his career is pretty much destroyed. I think both Billick (I am NOT at all saying he should be offensive coordinator next year) and/or Neuheisel would defnitely handle the "new blood" differently than how Boller was handled because (at least Billick) would have the mistaken experience of throwing someone in too early as he did with Boller.

Let me repeat, I am in NO WAY saying I endorse Billick as offensive coordinator.

[purple bird]

Yes it looks bad when your qb has to worry about the pressure of third stringers; but the real point is that Smith handled the pressure pretty well and manufactured plays behind the same atrocious line play that Boller couldn't muster anything out of.
Smith seems like a player, Boller is more of a robot.

[TTRaven]

It's simple, we would hopefully be plugging in a QB who knows what the hell he is doing! I get so tired of the offensive line excuse. Every NFL QB has their protection break down. It's what they do when that happens that makes them a legit NFL QB. Kyle Boller simply has no clue of what to do when under pressure. Go back and watch what Manning did when he was under pressure. He stepped up in the pocket and made something happen. Boller has no pocket awareness. It's either drop back and throw, or tuck and run the second protection begins to break down. He just doesn't have what it takes. It's time to take a chance on another young QB who has the intangibles that Boller doesn't have.

Yes it looks bad when your qb has to worry about the pressure of third stringers; but the real point is that Smith handled the pressure pretty well and manufactured plays behind the same atrocious line play that Boller couldn't muster anything out of.
Smith seems like a player, Boller is more of a robot.

Exactly! It's what the QB does when under pressure. Some simply melt(Boller) while others move around and make something happen. One thing that I noticed tonight was the way that Smith was looking down the field when he was scrambling. I can count the number of times I have seen Boller do that on one hand. It's pretty sad when a rookie can handle that type of stuff but your 5th year QB can't.