Billick: "Suck it fans. I'll be back next year, and Kyle is starting next week."

[Greg]

If he completely folds, he folds. Then we KNOW we need to draft a QB.

We wouldn't find enough out about Troy Smith if he played every minute to the end of the season that would stop us from drafting a QB. WE WILL DRAFT A QB, Troy Smith isn't going to show enough in a few games to stop that.

I have to agree with MistaT on one thing, Troy Smith probably isn't talented enough or big enough to make it in the NFL. That said, I wouldn't just cut the guy without getting him some work this year and next as I outlined above.

But we WILL draft another QB. There is no way this team will go into next season with Troy Smith and Boller as its only prospects at QB for the future.

And of course Billick is trying to win against Miami, do you want the Ravens to be THE ONE TEAM they beat? I want a few more wins to get us down a few more picks in the draft. Drafting top 5 is a cap killer, the chance of a bust killing you cap-wise for a few seasons is very high. Ask a few Browns fans about busts at that level.

[RustonRifle]

Our QB play is about average.

Though our QB play is south of average, if you're satisfied with being average at the NFLs most important position you're a loser.

[purple bird]

"I don't think that Smith is big enough or talented enough to start in the NFL. So I don't buy into the hoopla about starting him. (And I did see him up close in the last minute of the game last night, lined up with scrubs and playing against scrubs who just wanted the game to end with no injuries.)"
-Mista T


Smith played horribly - IN THE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME!!!


Boller played horribly in regular season NFL games and had mediocre seasons in a weak pac-10.

How many more games to we have to give up on seeing if Boller is "it"- HE ISN'T THE GUY!!!

How do I know? Watch the 40 or so NFL games he has played in.

Is Troy Smith the second coming of Joe Montana? HE ACTUALLY COULD BE...BUT WE WILL NEVER KNOW UNLESS WE GIVE HIM A CHANCE!!

Do I honestly think he will be? NO - BUT AT LEAST GIVE THE GUY A CHANCE!!!


Boller hasn't earned any more chances, Troy has.

Even if he screws up against the Dolphins, at least give the Heisman trophy winner and National Champion runner-up qb 3/40 of the chances THAT WERE GIVEN TO THE QB BUST KYLE BOLLER!!!

Once he really shows he has no chance of getting better, then you give up on him.

[StingerNLG]

What do we gain by watching Boller suck as usual? Do you and Dave get wood watching him or something?

So, I want you to tell me honestly, how much does Boller have to suck before you realize he isn't the QB of the future? Do we need Pro Bowlers at every offensive position for Boller to succeed? Does he need another 5 years for the game to slow down enough for him?

Oh yeah, I like how "Boller threw 3 picks, albeit down by 3 scores"...
So I guess it's okay for the QB to throw picks when down big (or down for that matter), THEN TO HAVE A QB THAT WILL GET US BACK IN THE FUCKING GAME!!!

Oh yeah, T, I am wondering, where is one of your legendary QB threads, bashing horrible QB performance from the last game? Can you say BIASED???

So Crows, did you come back to this forum just to be a jerk? Judging by this post and your joke of a thread in the QB forum, I'm going to say yes. And that is a shame from what I remember of you.

And if so, I'll be the first to ask you to please head back to YBR because especially at this point in our very rough season it is NOT welcome here I assure you.

Now, to your post. It's real hard to defend Boller's play Sunday. It was shit, pure and simple. Frustrating to a level I hadn't felt since Denver 2005.

But let's not for a second pretend Mason and Clayton and Darling were just getting wide open all over the place. BTW, remind me again which one of those is a legitimate #1 receiver? Didn't think so.

And let's not pretend for a second that Willis McGahee was running all over the Colts DB's like he did against the Pats. Anyone call any sweeps or draws for Willis to run? Could Willis hit any holes with authority?

That entire team packed it in before the first quarter even fucking ended. Enough for me to leave the stadium and waste $50 on parking and food before the second quarter even started. Pissed isn't the word I can use to tell you how I feel right now. Numb is a good word.

Boller is done here. No matter what the reason, fair or unfair, he's here out of contract alone. Doesn't matter whether he's just never latched on, or the team never built around him correctly. He's not the answer here.

But guess what else? No one is the answer here as long as Brian Billick is the offensive coordinator, but it's going to take another 2-3 QB failures for people to finally catch on. As much as I would like to see what Troy Smith has, we won't really know. He'll be forced to run this same offense that has ruined QB after QB. Troy Smith, and whatever draft pick we use, will just be the next casulty in the Billick system.


And what the Ravens FO better figure out and quick, is that as a PSL owner and season ticket holder, I am NOT one of those that they want to stop caring about this team. That is $1,000 I can easily spend elsewhere.

[purple bird]

Lets examine the qb development of a playoff-bound team - the Cleveland Browns.

Their opening day starting qb had a couple chances - after not being successful he was gone because he hadn't shown any success in the past so he received no more "benefit of the doubt" from the coaches.


On the bench was a highly touted first round draft pick out of Notre Dame who was mediocre in college at best but.....was a first round pick.

So what does Crennell do? Does he go right to the first round pick? No, he goes to the nest guy in the "rotation" - Derek Anderson.

Crennell didn't play favorites - he gave everyone an honest shot. Now the Browns are in a very enviable position.

Actually not everyone has recieved their shot yet (Brady Quinn)- Anderson is productive and valuable and now by avoiding the hype of immediately going with the 1st round pick from Notre Dame they found a gem right under their noses for a much cheaper price.

The lesson learned? You can't negate qb's abilities based purely on where they were drafted and how highly touted they were on draft day. You have to give everyone an equal shot in training camp (jut the opposite of Brian Billick in 2003) and base the starters on their actual production in camp and gametime.

Maybe Smith really sucked in practice and in camp, but in 2 minutes against scrubs in a real game, he looked much better than the high draft pick who had 40 games under his belt against the same scrubs.

[Mista T]

if you're satisfied with being average at the NFLs most important position you're a loser.

Stuff it. Losers are those who come onto to message boards to personally insult others for expressing their positions.

QB is one of 22 starting positions. We haven't had quality QB play since 1977 - 30 years. That's not about to start by playing an undersized 5th rounder who belongs in the CFL. I don't see another Bert Jones in the 2008 draft. Wasting a first or 2nd rounder on another average QB, or trying to make something out of nothing with Troy Smith, will wind us up exactly where we are.

I like winning. Our team has 1/2 dozen major holes to fill. Higher priorities than QB. No NFL QB can survive behind our porous OL, and no NFL QB can win games when the Defense easily gives up 44 points.

[StingerNLG]

Lets examine the qb development of a playoff-bound team - the Cleveland Browns.

Their opening day starting qb had a couple chances - after not being successful he was gone because he hadn't shown any success in the past so he received no more "benefit of the doubt" from the coaches.


On the bench was a highly touted first round draft pick out of Notre Dame who was mediocre in college at best but.....was a first round pick.

So what does Crennell do? Does he go right to the first round pick? No, he goes to the nest guy in the "rotation" - Derek Anderson.

Gotta stop you right there. Derek Anderson was NOT the next guy in the rotation. The ONLY reason Anderson got to play was because Brady Quinn held out of nearly ALL of training camp while trying to get money he didn't earn via. his draft position from the Browns.

If Quinn goes through camp with everyone else, he would have been the QB that went into the game when Frye was pulled, NOT Anderson.

Maybe Smith really sucked in practice and in camp, but in 2 minutes against scrubs in a real game, he looked much better than the high draft pick who had 40 games under his belt against the same scrubs.

Minus the fact that Sunday was more than just Boller's play you may just be right. But then why does nobody in this entire city, including people here who want him to start, believe he's the long term answer to the team?

[TTRaven]

Stuff it. Losers are those who come onto to message boards to personally insult others for expressing their positions.

QB is one of 22 starting positions. We haven't had quality QB play since 1977 - 30 years. That's not about to start by playing an undersized 5th rounder who belongs in the CFL. I don't see another Bert Jones in the 2008 draft. Wasting a first or 2nd rounder on another average QB, or trying to make something out of nothing with Troy Smith, will wind us up exactly where we are.

I like winning. Our team has 1/2 dozen major holes to fill. Higher priorities than QB. No NFL QB can survive behind our porous OL, and no NFL QB can win games when the Defense easily gives up 44 points.

Why are you willing to write Smith off before he's even had a chance to show what he has? Boller has been given 5 years, why should a 5th round QB not be given a chance to grow?

I'm not picking on you T, but it seems that you really don't want any competition at the QB position. That way we would have to stick with Boller. We all talk about winning, but what makes you think we can win with Boller as our starter?

[copenhaggard]

So Crows, did you come back to this forum just to be a jerk? Judging by this post and your joke of a thread in the QB forum, I'm going to say yes. And that is a shame from what I remember of you.

And if so, I'll be the first to ask you to please head back to YBR because especially at this point in our very rough season it is NOT welcome here I assure you.

Now, to your post. It's real hard to defend Boller's play Sunday. It was shit, pure and simple. Frustrating to a level I hadn't felt since Denver 2005........
.....

etc.....
.....

Again, when McNair set the NFL record for lowest yards per completion, and other shitty performances, there was a collective shit taken on him on THIS message board from a number of posters.

Maybe if people weren't BLAMING JUST McNair ALL the time, and took a look at the WHOLE picture, they wouldn't have said the same shit. It's just funny to me how all of the sudden our OLINE, receivers, etc need to be upgraded when Boller has been playing like crap. That's been a fact for awhile, but certain people are only saying that now when McNair cannot be shit on any longer.

Believe me, I thought he sucked since the PO game last year, but you didn't hear see myself and other posters starting tons of threads about him w/o looking at the whole picture. Our QBs suck, system sucks, our receiving corps lack a deep threat, and the OLINE needs time to develop.

Anyway, I agree with the Billick take, and I've never really been too impressed with his joke of a system. I really am not going to argue that, because I've said the exact same thing to other people.

[purple bird]

[QUOTE=StingerNLG;64278]Gotta stop you right there. Derek Anderson was NOT the next guy in the rotation. The ONLY reason Anderson got to play was because Brady Quinn held out of nearly ALL of training camp while trying to get money he didn't earn via. his draft position from the Browns.

If Quinn goes through camp with everyone else, he would have been the QB that went into the game when Frye was pulled, NOT Anderson.


-
Quinn did not, however, go through camp with everyone else, which is why Anderson was next in the "rotation".

[xmradiodave]

I personally think this season is a bust. PLay Troy Smith. I am not saying hand the team over to him just yet, but at least let us see what the kid has against starters. At this point in the season, we should be experimenting. Mix things up a bit. Let's see what talent we have waiting in the wings.

[TTRaven]

I personally think this season is a bust. PLay Troy Smith. I am not saying hand the team over to him just yet, but at least let us see what the kid has against starters. At this point in the season, we should be experimenting. Mix things up a bit. Let's see what talent we have waiting in the wings.

Most of Baltimore agrees with you. The only thing that's stopping it from happening is the embarrassment that this franchise would face if we lost to the Dolphins. It's a tough situation but you have to do what is best for the future of this team. Personally I would say start Smith. A loss is a loss regardless. Doesn't matter if your a teams first win our not. This would be the perfect opportunity for Smith to get his first start.

[OwingsMillsAlex]

We know what Kyle can and can't do. BUT you have to start him on Sunday as he is the starter no matter how bad of a season we are having. Would I, as a fan, like to see Troy Smith given a shot and the start based on this season and where we are in the standings? Yes. But I understand why Kyle is getting the start. I say bring in Smith and let him play the entire fourth quarter based on the score - either good score of us winning or bad score of us losing. He needs the chance to get some work as he'll be the backup next season to Kyle. I just want the "fans" to stop with the Matt Ryan talk as we have a young QB on the side right now. Let's give him a shot or see what he can or can't do before we move on to the next starter.

As was mentioned all day yesterday on various shows (minus Anita Marks due her stupidity) we haven't had a true franchise QB since Vinnie in 96 and 97.

[RustonRifle]

No one is the answer here as long as Brian Billick is the offensive coordinator, but it's going to take another 2-3 QB failures for people to finally catch on. As much as I would like to see what Troy Smith has, we won't really know. He'll be forced to run this same offense that has ruined QB after QB. Troy Smith, and whatever draft pick we use, will just be the next casulty in the Billick system

I'd bet 95% or more of Raven fans agree with this.
Whatever quarterback Billick has is doomed to failure or if he's a quality passer much lesser numbers.

Again, when McNair set the NFL record for lowest yards per completion, and other shitty performances, there was a collective shit taken on him on THIS message board from a number of posters.

Maybe if people weren't BLAMING JUST McNair ALL the time, and took a look at the WHOLE picture, they wouldn't have said the same shit. It's just funny to me how all of the sudden our OLINE, receivers, etc need to be upgraded when Boller has been playing like crap. That's been a fact for awhile, but certain people are only saying that now when McNair cannot be shit on any longer.

I hear what you're saying. It's almost comical.

[highwater]

The man is delusional. Unless he has discussed this personally with Bisciotti, there's no way he can know for sure if he'll be fired.

Returning to the original topic, isn't it possible that Billick was simply answering a question when this came up? And what is so amazing about the possibility that he has talked to Bisciotti about his status? With the way this season has gone, I don't think it's out of the question that they have had some conversations.

If I were Billick, and had been asked by a reporter about his status for next year, I would have probably dodged the question with some wishy-washy "We'll see what happens" answer, but that is obviously not Billick's style. Maybe this is his way of letting the players know "I'll be back." I don't think that's arrogant, it might in fact be the best way to get the attention of those players that have tuned him out.

[RustonRifle]

Stuff it. Losers are those who come onto to message boards to personally insult others for expressing their positions.

QB is one of 22 starting positions. We haven't had quality QB play since 1977 - 30 years. That's not about to start by playing an undersized 5th rounder who belongs in the CFL. I don't see another Bert Jones in the 2008 draft. Wasting a first or 2nd rounder on another average QB, or trying to make something out of nothing with Troy Smith, will wind us up exactly where we are.

I like winning. Our team has 1/2 dozen major holes to fill. Higher priorities than QB. No NFL QB can survive behind our porous OL, and no NFL QB can win games when the Defense easily gives up 44 points.

T - I didn't insult you personally. However if you enjoy playing victim keep it up.

[highwater]

T - I didn't insult you personally. However if you enjoy playing victim keep it up.

LOL -- You not only insulted him, now you're lying about it. How is "You're a loser" not insulting someone?

Most pitiful backtracking I've ever seen on this board.

[xmradiodave]

No NFL QB can survive behind our porous OL, and no NFL QB can win games when the Defense easily gives up 44 points.

This is true. However, not everyone if hardly anyone is solely blaming the QB play. It is fact though that as good as Boller can be at times, he has shown over and over again that he is very inconsistent. Missing open receivers, poor ball control, unawareness of pocket collapse, devfensive pursuit, et al.

Sure there are many problems with the current Offensive and defensive schemes and it is very difficult to pinpoint one single thing. The QB role is just piss poor. I want Boller to be a success just like you and many people here. How long do we give the guy though? There was a reason we brought in a vet like McNair to being with. Boller was simply NOT the answer, and at this time, still appears to NOT be the answer.

[Mista T]

I'm not picking on you T, but it seems that you really don't want any competition at the QB position. That way we would have to stick with Boller. We all talk about winning, but what makes you think we can win with Boller as our starter?

To the contrary, I believe we should have QB competition every season until we establish a viable passing offense (which we haven't seen since late in the 1999 season). I never believed that the 2003 "competition" was real. I have consistently advocated getting some fresh blood to compete with and push Boller: Griese, Schaub, Volek, Delhomme, etc -- I took a lot of gas on the message boards for taking that position. I would have loved to see one of them in purple.

And there should certainly be a bona fide QB competition next season. But let's see one or two true competitors out there. Not Division III Finnerty, or the washed up & weak-armed McNair, or the undersized Smith. I'd like to see a decent FA backup in his late twenties and a mid to low round rookie at Westminster next summer competing with Boller for the top job.

[AZRAVEN]

We know what Kyle can and can't do. BUT you have to start him on Sunday as he is the starter no matter how bad of a season we are having. Would I, as a fan, like to see Troy Smith given a shot and the start based on this season and where we are in the standings? Yes. But I understand why Kyle is getting the start. I say bring in Smith and let him play the entire fourth quarter based on the score - either good score of us winning or bad score of us losing. He needs the chance to get some work as he'll be the backup next season to Kyle. I just want the "fans" to stop with the Matt Ryan talk as we have a young QB on the side right now. Let's give him a shot or see what he can or can't do before we move on to the next starter.

As was mentioned all day yesterday on various shows (minus Anita Marks due her stupidity) we haven't had a true franchise QB since Vinnie in 96 and 97.

This is an argument I simply do not understand. If the entire civilized world, and probably the uncivilized world as well, already know Kyle Boller stinks and can't win consistently why in hell do we have to keep starting him simply "because he's the starter". Yes he's the starter, by virtue of injury, we all know he wouldn't have sniffed the field this season if McNair had been able to hold his aging body together. If he can't do the job why does he get to keep it? I'm well aware that Troy Smith may not be the answer but frankly I don't care if he's a little blue smurf. At this point he can't be much worse than what we already know about Boller so throw him out there and see what happens. Continuing down the same path is going to get the same result. I'm sick of that result and am willing to face the ultimate humiliation of being Miami's first victim to see a change.