Flacco's Start

**Sports Steve** · 09-02-2008, 12:37 PM

I know that all fans will be fired up this Sunday with the start of a new season for our Ravens. We now learn that Joe Flacco will start. Like Mike Preston said I know and you know this is not what the Ravens wanted to do.
However they are forced into this move. All I ask of the fans please have patience with Flacco. He will be nervous and he most likely make some mistakes. Let's stay behind him and let his confidence grow and not destroy his confidence. Yeah we would all like to see 300 yards plus and throw for 4 TD's but that most likely won't happen.

So Sunday be a Ravens fan and let's all wish Joe a lot of luck not only for his futrure but our future.

See ya Sunday, you guys are the best

Go Ravens

Sports Steve

**RavenScallywag** · 09-02-2008, 12:43 PM

given the situation around him, I should hope we have a little bit of patience with him. Our receivers are shaky at best, our top flight TE is still injury recovering, our OL has exactly half a game of time together, and one of our RBs has missed most of the preseason.

As long as he looks competent out there and learns from mistakes, he's everything we could ask for.

**RavenTD** · 09-02-2008, 01:12 PM

I am not as worried at the thought of Flacco starting as I first was.Since seeing how he has progressed from the 1st to the last preseason game.
[But mid to end season would have been better,but the Ravens have no choice].He is going to learn quicker on the field than on the sideline.The question is, is he tough enough physically and mentally to take the pounding he is going to face.

Keep it simple and have a run heavy playbook vs the Bengals.Which is what you want anyway against their defense.Don't put Flacco in a position to fail.
Its going to be messy and he is going to see defenses coming at him from all angles.He just has to stay calm and not panic.Easier said than done with a 300 pound lineman bearing down on you I know.

If I was an opposing defensive co'ordinator I would be licking my lips at the thought of a rookie QB from Delaware.

We all just have to hold our breath and pray.

**Dade** · 09-02-2008, 01:12 PM

Yeah we should be behind him 100%, even in his mistakes.

Given this situation I think that the Ravens should start him the rest of the season. Nothing will crush his confidence more than being pulled after a few weeks when Troy is healthly. Unless he is completely God awfull, which I dont see happening.

He has progressed farely quickly since the 1st preseason game.

LETS GO BAZOOKA JOE!

**pyite32** · 09-02-2008, 01:34 PM

Good post Steve.

I will certainly be cheering from Sec 133

**Bez513** · 09-02-2008, 01:36 PM

People will still boo no matter what so be ready for that.

**camdenyard** · 09-02-2008, 01:49 PM

It's all about expectations. To me, this season is a lot like 2003. I didn't expect much after 2002. That's why 2003 was such a fun season...we got more than we expected. In brief,

I expect the defense to dominate, at least be a Top 10 unit.

I expect the offense to suck, somewhere in the Bottom 5.

**Mista T** · 09-02-2008, 01:56 PM

After puutting up with some of the morons disguised as Ravens fans in the stands, I would not be surprised to hear booing at his first mistake!

**RavenTD** · 09-02-2008, 01:56 PM

I think 2008 is all about watching the young guys grow up before our very eyes.
And lay roots for a new era of Raven football.Where the old guard slip slowly away into golden memories in years to come.

The foundation is laid here and now.May it be strong and grow into something to be proud of.

**Sports Steve** · 09-02-2008, 03:42 PM

Originally Posted by pyite32

Good post Steve.

I will certainly be cheering from Sec 133

Remember I get op on 3rd downs for the defense.
In Section 138
I want the entire endzone area getting loud.

Let's rock the house Sunday.

**f7eleven** · 09-02-2008, 04:51 PM

Originally Posted by Dade

Yeah we should be behind him 100%, even in his mistakes.

Given this situation I think that the Ravens should start him the rest of the season. Nothing will crush his confidence more than being pulled after a few weeks when Troy is healthly. Unless he is completely God awfull, which I dont see happening.

He has progressed farely quickly since the 1st preseason game.

LETS GO BAZOOKA JOE!

Even if he is "completely God awful" we should still start him every game, barring injury. It certainly wouldn't benefit him at all to bench him for his play. Peyton threw for less than 60% and 28 picks his first season, but he still started every game. I think this is the approach we need to take with Joe this season.

**WxKevin** · 09-02-2008, 06:07 PM

If there are people booing this Sunday because of the way Joe plays, then this is a good thing because then we know who the idiots are. I just have to make sure I keep my temper in line with these type of people or I am going to get thrown out one day.

**purplepoe** · 09-02-2008, 06:16 PM

Originally Posted by WxKevin

If there are people booing this Sunday because of the way Joe plays, then this is a good thing because then we know who the idiots are. I just have to make sure I keep my temper in line with these type of people or I am going to get thrown out one day.

Oh, there will be people booing.

There is a serious lack of knowledge that afflicts many fans at M&T.

You can hear it in the boos and the comments during every game.

It's embarrassing.

PP

**RAVENOUS52** · 09-03-2008, 05:59 PM

I just lament the fact that once again the Ravens have a well-regarded QB prospect who gets zero time to stand by and observe the game for a while before jumping into regular season action.

Nobody wants Flacco to succeed more than I do, so I'm definitely gonna be rooting hard for him to remain injury-free. That in itself would constitute success in my eyes.

**Losac** · 09-04-2008, 08:54 AM

I don't get this whole idea that a rookie QB has to sit for a year (ala Carson Palmer) to be successful. Palmer was a Heisman winner and #1 overall pick. I think he would have been fine starting right off the bat.

Plenty of QB's have started as rookies and have done pretty well. Look at Peyton Manning and Ben Roethlisberger.

Manning was horrible his rookie year. Even if Flacco doesn't light it up this season, he may still be fine. Boller has had 5 years to show what he can do. He wasn't ruined by starting as a rookie - his talent just is what it is.

**HoustonRaven** · 09-04-2008, 08:57 AM

I agree with Losac with one exception.

You cant compare Ben and Manning. Manning had a horrible first year while Ben had success right away.

**Fiesty Ravens Chic** · 09-04-2008, 09:52 AM

I can say our section will not be booing, they did not even do that crap to Boller last year when everyone else was. I for one have NEVER boo'd at a game in less it was at the ref's!

**RAVENOUS52** · 09-04-2008, 10:24 AM

Originally Posted by Losac

I don't get this whole idea that a rookie QB has to sit for a year (ala Carson Palmer) to be successful. Palmer was a Heisman winner and #1 overall pick. I think he would have been fine starting right off the bat.

Plenty of QB's have started as rookies and have done pretty well. Look at Peyton Manning and Ben Roethlisberger.

Manning was horrible his rookie year. Even if Flacco doesn't light it up this season, he may still be fine. Boller has had 5 years to show what he can do. He wasn't ruined by starting as a rookie - his talent just is what it is.

I'd rather err on the side of caution with Flacco, especially since there aren't any super expectations for him this year. Our bad luck with QBs is bordering on legendary status and I want to give Flacco every opportunity to absorb what he can as a bystander before he gets thrown into the fray.

Anything that will give him a mental edge when he does get inserted and allow him to remain injury free before then is a plus at this point. The risk of having the Big Yungin' get hurt in an 8 or 9 win season should be reduced as much as possible, IMHO. That's why I feel he should be groomed like Carson Palmer was and brought along slowly.

**hatepaste** · 09-04-2008, 10:28 AM

Originally Posted by Losac

I don't get this whole idea that a rookie QB has to sit for a year (ala Carson Palmer) to be successful. Palmer was a Heisman winner and #1 overall pick. I think he would have been fine starting right off the bat.

Plenty of QB's have started as rookies and have done pretty well. Look at Peyton Manning and Ben Roethlisberger.

Manning was horrible his rookie year. Even if Flacco doesn't light it up this season, he may still be fine. Boller has had 5 years to show what he can do. He wasn't ruined by starting as a rookie - his talent just is what it is.

I think I do agree with this. Now while sitting out a year may make the first year that they play, better. I do not think it affects them long term. Manning was going to be Manning. Maybe if he sat out a year, his first year wouldn't have been as brutal as it was. But I don't think he would be a better QB today cause of it.

**sailorsam** · 09-04-2008, 11:50 AM

Originally Posted by Losac

I don't get this whole idea that a rookie QB has to sit for a year (ala Carson Palmer) to be successful. Palmer was a Heisman winner and #1 overall pick. I think he would have been fine starting right off the bat.

Plenty of QB's have started as rookies and have done pretty well. Look at Peyton Manning and Ben Roethlisberger.

Manning was horrible his rookie year. Even if Flacco doesn't light it up this season, he may still be fine. Boller has had 5 years to show what he can do. He wasn't ruined by starting as a rookie - his talent just is what it is.

disagree. Peyton played well on an awful team. BRoth succeeded because the Squealers coaches kept the O simple and won with execution and the running game (and an easy sched).
I can't think of ANY other rookie qbs with much success.