A sinking feeling for Ravens

[bigherb]

Josh wrote:

<quoted text>
come on now, how many games has this guy played in the nfl? zero. how about you give the guy a chance. think about it. this guy would have been a 1st rounder if he played good in the champinship game. this guy has heart and have been proveing people wrong. people didn't want to give a guy like tom brady a chance look at him now. smith is a winner. im not saying he is ready now to lead a team to the superbowl. but what i am saying when your season is over do what anyother club would do put your young qb in there to get his feet under him.
and this whole billick thing and people calling for his job. he has messed up alot. from play calling to coaching. but you cant put it all on him. at the end of the day the players have to play. and the fact that is they have been out played by better teams. i thought this was a really good team. but just because it looks good on paper doesn't mean it will be good.

Come on, Josh, your argument about T. Smith doesn't hold water. He was at best a middlin QB even at OSU and his shortcomings were amply exposed by U of Fla. What do you think would happen to him if and when he faces NFL defenses? Cut Smith so he can join some other team. That way the Ravens can draft one of the better QB's coming out next year or go the free agent route. In any event, the Ravens has a pretty good nucleus of players to have a good start on the rebuilding trail that may only be two years to accomplish a winning tradition again in dear old Baltimore.

[RavenKen]

Joe M wrote:

Anyone see Norv Turner covering his face to mock our ineptitude on the sidelines? If that doesn't signal the need for change at the top, nothing will.

We really are becoming a laughing stock of the NFL. All because of coaching. Sad.

[RavenKen]

I don't know what I am going to do if Biscotti keeps billick around. That is so depressing. I guess I will take up cutting myself to relieve the pain.

[RavenKen]

Lord knows I will save my money for things other than Raven.

[GHT]

I get tired of watching games where the line is stacked by the opposing defense in a way that you coudln't slide a piece of paper through it sideways. This closes down running lanes. Until we can open up the arial (arial, that's rich!! arial in Baltimore??!!) attack, this team is doomed on offense. Many say the run opens up the pass but it's possible the pass will open up our run. We've got a coach who won't run even when the run is, at times, our best option and continues to pass when we don't have the O line, QB or receivers. Give McGahee his dues, he makes yards out of nothing at times. If a TD isn;t handed to us, like a nice run back by Figurs yesterday, we simply don't typically score. God knows we are not scoring on defense anymore.

[GHT]

RavenKen wrote:

<quoted text>
We really are becoming a laughing stock of the NFL. All because of coaching. Sad.

If we are not the #1 laughing stock now, we will be after next Monday night. Our 3 Stooge reunion tour continues on ESPN December 3. I'll let you guys decide who the 3 stooges are.

[91lespaul]

The rest of the AFC North hopes BB gets another 10 year extension!

[Richard H]

At this point there is definately something wrong. Boller has been in the league for over 5 years. I know it is hard to blame him when receivers drop balls and he is on his back often. It is the little things that concern me about him. Boller throws a nice sprial, but has little touch around the greens. Translation you drive for show and putt for the dough. Unfortunately until boller gets some touch around the greens short passes he will not be effective keeping drives alive. Translation 3 and out.

[phil]

Also disconcerting (what isn't at this juncture) is you can see why their passing game has little hope of success. Boller takes too many steps backward, never changing his routine. As a result, the defense can just rear back with the same angles and pursuit to the QB. Also, since he takes so long to set, the slant patterns will not work because these patterns do not take that long to run, and would thus need a 3 step drop. So, Boller is typically faced with a checkdown, and 1 or two receivers running intermediate routes. However, since these routes are usually curls or tight out patterns to the sideline, WR's hate these routes becasue they know they will be clocked from behing without even having a chance to avoid the defender. Consequently, the routes are often run without conviction.

The rush is rarely slowed down by convincing draws, play action or screen plays, so the QB usually ends up being mauled. On top of that, you have an obstinate cannot'be'wrong coach, so any QB is faced with calling idiotic plays with the defense fully braced to stop the play. The predictability of the playcalling just inflames the rush even more, and the slaughter continues.

Clearly, Boller likes the no-huddle and the shotgun. It gives Boller immediate vision without him having to worry about his footwork, and the no-huddle allows him to get in the flow of the game. But, as many have pointed out, Billick is the "Professional", and his genius has enabled us to be last in the league in red zone offense, 26 th in total offense, and last in points scored in the first quarter. But I'm really frightened now - if you get rid of Billick, we could "really" go downhill offensively (sarcasm).

[phil]

As for those calling for Troy smith to come in, I think you are delusional. Being a QB in this offense now is like storming Omaha beach on DDay - you may survive, but you'll probably be scarred for life.

QB's are imprinted, much like ducks, based on their earlier experiences. David Carr was ruined with his experience in Houston and his million sacks, and he has been gun shy ever since. If we throw Trou Smith on Omaha beach, he will never learn what he needs to succeed as an NFL QB. Instead of looking for receivers, and being patient, he will look to escape, to run for his life.

I know it's frustrating, but does Troy Smith deserve this kind of an opportunity, to get him in a system where he's doomed for failure, when we're running weekly tryout for the offensive line?

I don't think Boller has completely recovered from those shellshocked days - do you think Troy can?

[Art Modellsucks]

Some time has passed, and you're finally experiencing the bad karma from stealing our team. Enjoy your next two losses against New England and Indy. Bob Irsay for the Hall of Fame!!!!!!

[Bob]

My .0 2cents..
McNair will probably be back Monday night, it's been 3 games since he was pulled, and we were told it was a 2-3 game injury stint. Smith won't get any closer to the field then the team box the rest of the year unless injury forces him into the game. They took a flyer on him in the draft and it didn't work out. But instead of cutting a Heisman winner they let go another prospect in Olsen. Heard in a pre-game show that Mississippi is interested in Rick Neuhiesel for their open HC job, so if given the chance he will probably fly the coop. Who can blame him, I mean he's the OC but has no play calling responsibility. This years a bust and we are looking at 5-11 tops, but we do have next year to look forward to and a more favorable draft position.

[Richard H]

Art Modellsucks wrote:

Some time has passed, and you're finally experiencing the bad karma from stealing our team. Enjoy your next two losses against New England and Indy. Bob Irsay for the Hall of Fame!!!!!!

dude you need mental help. Move on charlie brown and oh by the way thanks for the ring. You said cleveland has how many rings now. Thats right a big phat goose egg

[Don]

Art Modellsucks wrote:

Some time has passed, and you're finally experiencing the bad karma from stealing our team. Enjoy your next two losses against New England and Indy. Bob Irsay for the Hall of Fame!!!!!!

Stealing your team? The last time I checked, Cleveland had a football team called the Browns. Art Modell For the Hall of Fame!!!!!!