Ravens-Rams Recap
The Ravens have so many unanswered questions going into to their final preseason game this week that it’s hard not to feel something close to despair.
Just when you think the quarterback issue is answered, Joe Flacco steps up and (sort of) delivers. Troy Smith had a tummy ache and Kyle Boller is still trying to put his shoulder back together after getting decked in last week’s preseason loss, which left an ill-prepared Flacco with the ball.
To say he started off rocky is an understatement. He didn’t really seem to put together anything of value until after halftime. All in all though, he did OK for a guy who was told he would only play a few series this week. 18 for 37 is a little hard to stomach in terms of accuracy but 152 yards and a touchdown for a rookie is not too shabby.
With that said, who starts in the season opener? We won’t learn anything on Thursday. First because we play Atlanta, a team that makes the Ravens’ problems seem insignificant at best, and secondly because the starters are only going to see a series or two, especially after the rash of injuries around the league over the weekend.
So who should be the Ravens’ leader? Smart money says it’s still going to be Troy Smith, but who knows? Does it matter? Let’s be honest — none of the options are great. I would almost say give Flacco the ball and let him learn on the job but they did that with Boller and I don’t think he ever mentally recovered.
I don’t know who the right guy is. In fact, I think I had more hardened opinions about this team as a whole before preseason began than I do now. It seems like every week the team molts into something else on both sides of the ball. I really can’t wait for Sept. 7. I’m sick of the enigma wrapped in a riddle that is this preseason. It’s been a long three weeks and there is nothing I can say about this team with any confidence anymore … except Frank Walker. Frank Walker is not a good cornerback. I am confident in that.
(Sun photo by Doug Kapustin)
I’m a little disappointed that “Matty” Ryan has been named the Falcons opening day starter BEFORE the Ravens have named Anyone to Anything.
That’s alarming to me…mostly because, as Justin clearly stated above, it’s a freakin’ wash thus far…
Holding out on making a decision like this (Cheers to the new coaching staff!) is not creating stability for this team.
Just pick someone and go from there. Even if you have to fix it later. At least that would be moving forward as the season approaches, instead of simply spinning the wheels.
While I agree that Flacco wasn’t half bad, you have to consider his efficiency. 18 of 37 is below 50% completion percentage and 152 yards on 37 attempts is about 4.1 yards per play. Not bad at all if your talking about a running back, but pretty piss poor for a quarterback. (and honestly, it’s definitely not screaming superstar for a running back either.)
Personally i think the coaching staff would be stupid not to at least start Troy Smith and give him a shot. Otherwise he’s a wasted draft pick. He may not be the answer, but if he’s not then I’m pretty certain the answer is not on this roster.
I’m not sure Troy Smith was ever supposed to be anything more than a backup QB for this squad. I think the removal of Kyle Boller has been in the works since Troy was drafted; Ozzie was waiting to find a QB he liked to be the starter.
From what I can tell, Flacco and Smith both have the same potential and perform at the same level as each other, but who do you start over the other? Sure Flacco and Smith have both looked bad, but it’s pretty early to start judging both.. combined they have a grand total of 5 games between them.