One and done [Archive] - Baltimore Ravens Forums and Message Boards

Sports Steve

01-15-2007, 10:34 AM

As much as we all want to say McNair is done. We had a wonderful season. Walking around the stadium I was able to meet a lot of you on the board . You are great people. I think another year for Boller to sit and learn might make him a better QB. We still have a defense that can keep us in games. Let's all enjoy the past year. I know your hurt I'm crushed. I was really looking forward to the trip to Miami. However we are some of the best fans on the NFL. Hang on there and get really for next year.:thumbup:

To all of you be careful in all of your travels.

:jester: :jester: :jester:

festivus

01-15-2007, 11:11 AM

This is not the first time this year McNair struggled against a Cover 2. Aaron Wilson described him on the BC Show as a qb who drops back and looks for who is open, with a lot of improvising to make things work.

I guess if that's true, then that might be why an extremely conservative defense would give him problems.

I expect next year we will see a lot of conservative defenses & we will have to make them pay somehow.

Running game, perhaps?

Anyway McNair screwed this game for us but at least he was man enough to admit it afterward. I was much more angry at the end of the '02 season when we lost at Pissburgh to blow a shot at the postseason, and Jeff Blake blamed Randy Hymes for the terrible pick he threw in the endzone. Plus that Blake went after the game to play grab-ass with Bill Cowher.

Yeah, in retrospect that was a much more painful way to end the season. At least this way we still have the things we want to believe in - up and coming youngsters and a stout defense. And McNair had the decency not to point fingers.

Hook

01-15-2007, 11:19 AM

McNair lost this game for us.
WOW, it took you until yesterday to figure that out. Nice post there scoop.

copenhaggard

01-15-2007, 01:59 PM

Bingo!:rolling:

Okay, fair enough. Now who on our roster was going to give us a better chance than McNair?

StingerNLG

01-15-2007, 02:09 PM

This is not the first time this year McNair struggled against a Cover 2. Aaron Wilson described him on the BC Show as a qb who drops back and looks for who is open, with a lot of improvising to make things work.

I guess if that's true, then that might be why an extremely conservative defense would give him problems.

I expect next year we will see a lot of conservative defenses & we will have to make them pay somehow.

You're going to need a QB with a CONSISTENT big arm. Not just one that can throw a ball downfield once in a while. Cover 2 opens up routes on the sidelines and seams and you need a QB that can get the ball down there, as well as the receivers to be there when the ball arrives.

You can only hope Demtrius Williams is ready to be more of a prominent WR next year, or we decide to take a shot at a Randy Moss, then find out which QB can chuck the ball downfield 4-5 times during the game. Because McNair, it ain't.

copenhaggard

01-15-2007, 02:17 PM

StingerNLG

01-15-2007, 02:25 PM

I completely agree Stinger, but we have a problem, who is going to do this for us? Boller has the tools to do it no doubt, but has he gotten over the struggles that plagued his career so far, and more importantly, since Billick is most likely staying here, is Billick going to trust Boller, and make a more explosive gameplan, say if he plans on Boller being the starter.

I'm not yet in the camp that Boller is staying here. But if he is, I say yes. The proof was in the difference in playcalling vs. Cleveland.

It's not just the tools Boller has in himself, but it's the tools that are now around him that could be a bigger difference. When he started he was throwing to guys like Frank Sanders, Clarence Moore, Travis Taylor, and Kevin Johnson.

Now he and McNair have had guys like Mark Clayton, Demetrius Williams and Mason to throw to. In 2004, Boller didn't even have Travis Taylor or Todd Heap for most of the season, was missing Jamal for 4 games and still got to 9-7 and had a lot of us watching the 4pm Denver game.

And in both games he played this year, he wasn't sacked nearly as much because the OL played better this year. And when the OL protects the quarterback, more often than not the QB will succeed.

It's all guesswork right now, and for nothing anyway. It's unrealistic to think unless he retires that McNair isn't coming back, and won't be the starter. So until that bridge comes, it's not even worth the discussion and the stress that comes along with it. :)

copenhaggard

01-15-2007, 02:33 PM

I don't mind the Boller discussion, as long as it stays as a discussion, and we don't have both sides of the extreme jumping and playing the "holier-than-thou, you're stupid for thinking that" type of games that were on the YBR for awhile.

crazyraven

01-15-2007, 03:01 PM

15 points we allowed to the Colts and yet we can't beat them.
Agreed. Why couldn't we score a TD , in our own F'in house?

People were shell shocked walking out of that staduim Saturday night. It was like night of the living dead.

Boller needs to claim his spot next season and be the 1st round pick the ravens wanted. After Saturday we need to look at all options. I still think our window is still open but its going to shut down real quick if we cant figure out how to win a playoff game. This season Mcnair became the starter because of his past. Now McNair needs to earn his spot and if boller beats him out so be it. At least there will be pressure for him to do better.

There should be some competion between Mcnair and Boller during the preseason. If there isn't then Billick is back to his old ways in catering to the certain players instead of the team.

T is right we spent way too much money on this guy and all he did was deliver a playoff loss.

Sorry for believing the hype.
--CR

Art-Florida

01-15-2007, 03:45 PM

Agreed. Why couldn't we score a TD , in our own F'in house?

People were shell shocked walking out of that staduim Saturday night. It was like night of the living dead.

Boller needs to claim his spot next season and be the 1st round pick the ravens wanted. After Saturday we need to look at all options. I still think our window is still open but its going to shut down real quick if we cant figure out how to win a playoff game. This season Mcnair became the starter because of his past. Now McNair needs to earn his spot and if boller beats him out so be it. At least there will be pressure for him to do better.

There should be some competion between Mcnair and Boller during the preseason. If there isn't then Billick is back to his old ways in catering to the certain players instead of the team.

T is right we spent way too much money on this guy and all he did was deliver a playoff loss.

Sorry for believing the hype.
--CR
I couldn't agree more. Let them fight it out. BB HAS to put the team first and egos last..

FHRaven

01-15-2007, 05:47 PM

I don't see McNair as the primary culprit for the loss. He threw two picks and had a 46 rating which was terrible, but so did Manning the supposed best QB in the league, and his rating was in the 30's! What lost that game was a combination of things but mainly the turnover battle. McNair was at fault for two of them but Heap and Clayton also cost this team this game by fumbling and give Indy three and taking at least three points away from us. That and a lucky bounce on a FG.

Are you joking or is this another game you didn't watch? :grbac: This loss is 100% at McNair's feet. He was as bad as Kyle has been in some of his worse games. Open your eyes and look at the stat line.

All McNair had to do was SOMETHING to win that game. The defense gave him the opportunity to win over and over and he couldn't do more than produce 2 FGs? One over 50yds!!!

Face it, your hero choked in the big game of the year. All of the deficiencies in his game that were pointed out to you for the last 16 weeks were borne out. Now you're trying to save face by blaming others for the loss? :eek: That's just weak. Not unexpected from you, but weak none the less.

FHRaven

01-15-2007, 06:48 PM

How many picks did Manning throw and what was his rating? He was very lucky none of his receivers turned the ball over like McNair's did. He also got a very lucky FG that could just as easily bounced backwards. Tom Brady also threw a lot of picks. It happens in the playoffs. So far Manning has 5 picks to ONE TD pass in two playoff games this season and he is thought by some to be the best NFL qB (at least statistically) ever to play. McNair made a bad decision with that goaline throw and also threw one other pick. If you watched Tom Brady play against the Colts in NE earlier this year I believe he had three or four picks. YOu act like the Colt secondary is weak and they are in the top two in the league! Instead of bashing a QB who helped us garner a 13-3 record how about giving the Colts some credit instead?:rolleyes:

Hmmm, I thought winning QBs won games? Manning generated enough offense, even with turnovers, to win the game for his team. On the road. If McNair can't muster more than 6 points at home for a playoff game he deserves the blame.

I'm sure if Kyle had played the exact same game as McNair did you'd be imploring everyone to give some credit to the Colt defense. Right? :rolleyes:

StingerNLG

01-15-2007, 07:12 PM

Damn, FH. Why did you have to quote him?

Sorry for believing the hype.
--CR

Now wait a sec Crazy. You weren't believing the hype. Other than maybe a couple of people here and scattered around, the fight has never been about McNair. It's always been about Boller.

McNair had 11 years of experience, an co-MVP, and was in a Super Bowl. Despite whether people think it was right or wrong to bench Boller, or whatever the circumstances are, it's hard to argue what the guy had on his resume coming in.

As for the game, enough other people made their share of mistakes that blame can go around. I liken this to the 2005 Cleveland game. I didn't blame Boller entirely for that loss and you can't blame McNair entirely for this one. Yes, McNair's 2 picks were shitty, and the one at the goalline was absolutely inexcusable for an 11 year vet. BUT, Heap fumbled a ball that led to points. Mark Clayton fumbled after a catch that should have netted us 40 yards and a possible score, but instead only got us 5 because luckily there was a penalty. Hell, even Ogden got called for a hold when we didn't need it. It's a pretty good offensive-team loss.

Bottom line is that nothing will change next year. McNair will be back, Boller will be back. McNair will be the starter, Boller will backup. That's not going to change until the following year, and who knows what's going to happen.

Anyway, you didn't fall for any hype Crazy. You bought into McNair's resume. I would think not many people will blame you for that.

copenhaggard

01-15-2007, 07:18 PM

Hmmm, I thought winning QBs won games? Manning generated enough offense, even with turnovers, to win the game for his team. On the road. If McNair can't muster more than 6 points at home for a playoff game he deserves the blame.

I'm sure if Kyle had played the exact same game as McNair did you'd be imploring everyone to give some credit to the Colt defense. Right? :rolleyes:

FHRaven, I have some advice for you:

EDIT: It was just a pic of me ignoring Tex Ritter, but it was too big to be hosted, damn...

skaybaltimore

01-15-2007, 11:54 PM

Hey Tex...do you think the Colts D would have made Boller look as bad as McNair?

GO RAVENS!!!

StingerNLG

01-16-2007, 12:40 AM

Hey Tex...do you think the Colts D would have made Boller look as bad as McNair?

GO RAVENS!!!

Oh skay. You're still kind of new here. :) You gotta stop setting them up like that. I have him on ignore and I already know what his answer is going to be.

I'm sure the words "Blunder", "tripping", "stumbling", and "anyone who thinks blah blah blah is stupid or needs their head examined".

Oh yeah, and :crazy: :laugh: :grbac: :nerd:

Just remember that you asked for it.

crazyraven

01-16-2007, 09:26 AM

Other than maybe a couple of people here and scattered around, the fight has never been about McNair. It's always been about Boller

My support for Mcnair has deminished after Saturdays game. McNair walked in here with a nice resume and was given the job. I have no problem with that decision but going forward things should be different. If Boller has learned something from Mcnair, with his athletic ability, we should see some serious results from him. Every Boller supporter has suggested that he needed at least a year under a Vet, and I agree, who else would be better than steve, to help Boller become a better qb.

Now as far as it always being about boller, why would it be? Mcnair was brought in to help guide us to the playoffs, He did that but we expected more and didnt get a win. And that's why I say Boller's chance has to come next season, especially since he is in his final year of his contract. At least get him some playing time with the First string in Training camp the same way Romo did with the Cowboys. We need to know if he has improved and if he has, we may need to keep him around and sign him to a new contract.

This is loss is a tough pill to swallow.I dont think I will ever get over this one.

FHRaven

01-16-2007, 09:46 AM

If Tom Brady loses to the Colts and gets picked several times next week will some of you be calling him a lousy QB? If so, you need to get your heads examined. The Colt defense has made virtually every QB look bad this season. When they lost it was to teams who ran the ball down their throat not passed against them. Some of you need to open your eyes to the reality that it is the Colts defense giving top QB's problems, not top QB's playing like crap!:rolleyes: :( :eek:

Yes, in the last few weeks the great Colts Defense somehow held McChoke to a worse performance than the great David Carr and Cleo Lemon. CLEO LEMON!!! Vince Young managed to put up 2 TDs against them. In fact, a quick scan of the Colt's season seems to show that almost EVERY QB played better against them than McChoke did. Don't you get tired of me always proving you wrong? :rolling:

Answer my other question, if Boller had put up the same game as McChoke would you begging everyone to consider how good the Colt's Defense was?

FHRaven

01-16-2007, 09:47 AM

FHRaven, I have some advice for you:

EDIT: It was just a pic of me ignoring Tex Ritter, but it was too big to be hosted, damn...

Thanks, but I like slapping him around every few weeks. :thumbup:

skaybaltimore

01-16-2007, 10:00 AM

Oh skay. You're still kind of new here. :) You gotta stop setting them up like that. I have him on ignore and I already know what his answer is going to be.

I'm sure the words "Blunder", "tripping", "stumbling", and "anyone who thinks blah blah blah is stupid or needs their head examined".

Oh yeah, and :crazy: :laugh: :grbac: :nerd:

Just remember that you asked for it.Gimme a LITTLE bit of credit, Stinger.

:D

I've been riding Tex/Old19/Spike Marlin up and down the Internet over his "I hate Boller" obsession. I was just checkin to see if he'd learned a little restraint -- to the extent that he'd ignore ME and MY COMMENT. LOL

GO RAVENS!!!

Gabrosin

01-16-2007, 10:58 AM

I've been pretty content to not have to deal with this mess all year. I think McNair has earned the right to be the starter next season, unless training camp shows otherwise. One bad (well, okay, miserably awful) game shouldn't take that away. At the same time, I hope we're not looking at Boller as a failure to be cast aside. We could still reap some positives from this investment.

That said, any situation that makes Boller a major player next year is bad for us. If he becomes the starter and sucks, then we're once again left without an answer at QB and we'll have spent another season losing. If he becomes the starter and is successful, we're going to have to renegotiate a big contract for him based off of some temporary positive results, and I don't think we have the space for that right now. For Boller to step in and succeed, anything less than the Super Bowl would still be bad news... because we might not be able to keep him at that point without sacrificing a big chunk of our cap room.

The best scenario? McNair should start for another year and get another chance to take us to a championship. Boller should remain the backup. In 2008, we should attempt to re-sign Boller to a very moderate, low-risk deal, then give him another shot at the starting job. We can either release McNair or attempt to get him into a backup's contract, which would be preferable. Then, if Boller is successful for a couple years, we can talk about renegotiating. If he's not, we'll be able to release him without any long-term implications, and start searching for a new "QB of the future".

The last thing we want is Boller to have one good year and be Scott Mitchell.

skaybaltimore

01-16-2007, 01:20 PM

The only thing I'd add to your post, Gabrosin, is that I'd like to keep an eye out for a possible 2nd/3rd round draft pick for a QB out of college. It's impossible to say, but I liked what I saw in Proctor (sp?) out of Clemson. I watched him in the Hula Bowl, and I thought he had a good "presence" on the field. He doesn't seem to appear on a lot of folk's "A" list, so that might mean he'd be available in the later rounds. But who knows...it's all speculation at this point.

GO RAVENS!!!

Gabrosin

01-16-2007, 01:41 PM

I'd be content with drafting a QB in the middle or late rounds, but I don't think this year's crop warrants a first-round selection, unless one of the projected top QBs suffers an Aaron Rodgers, which seems unlikely, especially considering the success of this year's rookie QB class, which will only increase demand for signal-callers. It seems like every year, fans want someone who can help their team RIGHT NOW, but in Baltimore, this is one of those years where it would make sense. It certainly appears that we have a talented team that's capable of contending for the Super Bowl, and we should do our best to provide young players at impact positions to get us there.

It's been really hard to assess what the Ravens need most right now, because we don't really NEED anything, as far as I can see. If we could swap this pick for a first-rounder next year, that would be an incredible success. We don't stand to lose much in free agency, even if the absolute worst happens and every single FA leaves. I like Mughelli and think he'll stay, but we can replace a fullback without much expense. Adalius Thomas is an outstanding player and I hope we can keep him, but we have several other good defenders that will still make an impact without him. BJ Sams is a good return man, but those can always be found through the draft. Jarret Johnson, Aubrayo Franklin, Musa Smith... all basically depth players. The one guy who might hurt the most to lose is Pashos, and only because there's not a lot out there in free agency to replace him, and playing a rookie in his spot would really be a step back for our O-line's chemistry.

The place we could find the most immediate improvement is probably running back. Running back is the easiest position to make an impact as a rookie, and replacing Jamal would give us some cap space to work with. Injuries have convinced backs like Peterson and Bush to apply to the draft, which increases the chances that a talented back will slip to us. Further, the run on RBs last year, and the relative stability of many RB situations around the league, will keep demand low.

The irony is, we may not even need to spend our first-round pick on a RB in order to get an impact player.

skaybaltimore

01-16-2007, 01:52 PM

I'd like to see the Ravens grab Turner from SD. I don't know the details or what we'd have to give up, but with Turner, Ovie, and Mike Anderson, I think we'd have an instant upgrade that would have a major impact and MIGHT be enough to get us over the hump.

GO RAVENS!!!

Gabrosin

01-16-2007, 02:11 PM

I don't see Turner as an instant upgrade for us. Some teams, maybe, but not here. He's basically Chester Taylor. Taylor went to Minnesota and had a solid season but wore down late in the year. That's not what we need. Even splitting time with Anderson might not prevent a guy like Turner from losing it as the season closes. Taylor looked awfully good breaking long runs on passing downs, but what we need is someone who can get five to six yards over two downs when we need it, AND someone with the potential to turn a few of those short runs into big gains. Anderson could help grind for us, especially when we're just killing the clock. But I don't think he can break big plays. Neither can Jamal; his breakaway speed is not there any more and it isn't coming back. We needs someone who hits the hole fast and decisively and gets at least a few almost every time, someone who every so often will make a LB miss and then race with the DBs for a big gain or TD. Unfortunately, I don't see Marshawn Lynch slipping to us, or he might be the guy. I like Michael Bush but his injury concerns me, and he's more in the mold of Jamal, which I think our team is moving away from. Other than that, we'll just have to wait for the Combine and Pro Day workouts and try to find the right mix.

festivus

01-16-2007, 02:33 PM

Skay it was reported on NST recently Turner is a RFA and we'd have to give up a 1st rounder. Interesting question whether he'd be worth it.

skaybaltimore

01-16-2007, 04:16 PM

Skay it was reported on NST recently Turner is a RFA and we'd have to give up a 1st rounder. Interesting question whether he'd be worth it.Tough call. I could think of better deals, and I could think of worse. Fortunately, there's still some time to sort all this out.

GO RAVENS!!!

LBoogy

01-17-2007, 10:56 AM

How pathetic is it that the only way Oldfan defends McNair is by pointing to other poor games that Peyton Manning & Tom Brady had?

Guess what Tex? It doesn't make any fucking difference! McNair played horribly and LOST the game for the Ravens. The other two guys are still in the dance. 2 interceptions at CRUCIAL times and a fumble at the end of the game. Even though Manning's numbers were worse, he still played the better game. He was getting his team downfield and putting together decent drives against the best defense in the NFL. McNair wasn't playing the best defense in the NFL--he was playing the f'ing Colts.

Now, if McNair had been playing lights out all season, I might be singing a different tune. He's contributed to the Ravens having a great TOP, but has also really played like shit at times. His arm is a freaking noodle, and his decision making has been questionable at times. I think most of the season the guy was hanging on by a thread, and now the thread has snapped. Physically, he just can't do it anymore.

skaybaltimore

01-17-2007, 11:17 AM

Physically, he just can't do it anymore.Just out of curiosity, how do you account for his 40 yard spot-on pass to Clayton?

GO RAVENS!!!

LBoogy

01-17-2007, 11:42 AM

Just out of curiosity, how do you account for his 40 yard spot-on pass to Clayton?

Does a 40 yard pass qualify a guy as being a gunslinger now? How do you account for his 2 interceptions and noodle-armed passes throughout the year?

That particular pass wasn't a bullet, or an out that required some zip on the ball. It was a bit of a lob that was over Claytons head; a fly route I believe. It was a pass that didn't require much arm-strength at all. A good, accurate pass, nonetheless, but not tremendously impressive. Sorry.

McNair can make some throws, but it seems that he's been unable to make the ones that count. He has a hard time throwing any medium to deep outs with any zip, and his accuracy has been struggling.

McNair definitely did some things well this season, but it seems that he's struggled more than he's played well. He did a great job with keeping the TOP on the Ravens side, and he's made some plays with his feet, as well as in the dink-and-dunk game. But, he's made too many throws that have had no zip and no accuracy.

Arm strength isn't about being able to throw 40 yard fly routes, it's about being able to throw the ball with some velocity while maintaining some accuracy. McNair RARELY did that this season. He was a good game manager, but I'm afraid we need more than that at this point because of our absent running game.

I loved Steve this season, but I think it's dishonest to say that he hasn't looked physically beat at times.

skaybaltimore

01-17-2007, 12:09 PM

Thanks for your response, LBoogy. Personally, I think arm strength is over-rated. When it comes to McNair, I think he has enough tools to get the job done, and that was my point about the 40 yarder to Clayton -- because people often say he can't go deep. He may not be able to toss the rock 60 yards in the air, but I don't think that's necessarily the key to a successful QB.

Unfortunately, Steve didn't show up with his "A" game against Indy. He also wasn't helped by Billick's insane game planning either. And I think both of them know that they stunk up the place. Also, McNair has had some other bad games during the year. But so have Manning, Brady, & Grossman. I'd like to see how McNair does next year after having gotten familiar with our system this year. Hopefully, he'll have a better RB and O-line, but that remains to be seen.

All in all, I didn't feel he was a "stick a fork in him, he's done" player, the way I did about Jamal Lewis for the first half of the season. By the end, Lewis showed more, and maybe if Billick had gone more to Lewis in the second half against Indy, we'd still be in the playoffs. But that notwithstanding, I'd like to see us beef up the running game via draft/FA in terms of a better RB to replace JL and compliment Anderson, along with some O-line changes/upgrades.

GO RAVENS!!!

Gabrosin

01-17-2007, 12:35 PM

Skay, I don't follow your call for an O-line upgrade. Our O-line is vastly improved from a year ago, and has good young depth behind a group of established veterans. I can see asking for Brown and Chester to overtake Mulitalo and Vincent (or maybe Flynn), but there's no reason to go pay big money to a star OL... if we add anyone it will be in the depth department. The line excelled in pass protection (few were better, and none were better after the bye week/OC change). The run blocking seemed adequate to poor, but how much of that was Jamal not hitting the line decisively?

I think a faster, more decisive running back is what we need... I don't think I'd make a single change to the group we have on O-line, barring a noticeable decline from one of the vets, which we could only assess in training camp. I think Brown and Chester should get every opportunity to take starting positions, but I don't think we desperately need to get rid of any of these guys.

It stuns me how much different Flynn looked this year. I'd say he was solid, not spectacular... but that's a huge upgrade over how he played the previous two. If we view Brown and Chester as guards, we could draft a center with an eye to taking Flynn's job in the near future, but not next season.

skaybaltimore

01-17-2007, 12:48 PM

FHRaven

01-17-2007, 01:02 PM

Tex, I noticed you still haven't answered my question. :p

FHRaven

01-17-2007, 01:05 PM

One other thing I want to point out. Tex and a few others have harped on how the Colts had the #2 ranked secondary. That's a bit, well more than a bit, deceiving. That ranking is by yards and since the run defense was so bad many teams just ran the ball down their throats.

highwater

01-17-2007, 01:16 PM

Tex, I noticed you still haven't answered my question. :p

Tex doesn't really answer questions that require thought (unless it's a question that can be answered with "Boller sucks").

FHRaven

01-17-2007, 09:11 PM

Or could it be their pass defense is so damn tough you have to run against them to have any chance to beat them. What teams quarterbacks had great games against the Colts passing wise this season. I didn't look it up, but I have a feeling not too many!:rolleyes: :eek:

Only in your dreams. No NFL coach is going to pass much when he can rack up 5+ yards a carry and break off TD runs at will. See the last JAX game. With every post you display you know less and less about the game.

Still waiting for you to answer my question, Tex. :thumbup:

skaybaltimore

01-17-2007, 09:48 PM

No NFL coach is going to pass much when he can rack up 5+ yards a carry and break off TD runs at will. Hmmmmm...so what you're saying is that Brian Billick (who, after a successful first half of running against Indy, decided to pass instead for the second half) isn't really an NFL coach? Cool...cause that's EXACTLY what I've been trying all day to teach these homers. But you just did it a LOT better than I was able to. THANKS!

:thumbup:

GO RAVENS!!!

LBoogy

01-18-2007, 11:30 AM

What the hell is a matter with some of you?

FH is right. The reason the Colts pass defense is so "strong" is because teams are running more than they are passing on them. There have only been 415 passing attempts against the Colts defense this season--second least in the NFL. The "best" passing defense in the NFL is supposedly the Oakland Raiders, with only 410 attempts.

Now, there have been 519 rushing attempts against the Colts (2nd most in the NFL) and 542 against Oakland (most in the NFL). See a pattern?

Same goes for when Boller lit up GB last year. GB supposedly had the best pass defense in the NFL, but the fact of the matter is that teams consistently ran on them either because (a) the could and/or (b) because they got an early lead. But, you don't see Tex giving Boller the benefit of the doubt like he is to McNair.

Hmmmmm...so what you're saying is that Brian Billick (who, after a successful first half of running against Indy, decided to pass instead for the second half) isn't really an NFL coach? Cool...cause that's EXACTLY what I've been trying all day to teach these homers. But you just did it a LOT better than I was able to. THANKS!

I don't think anyone is arguing that Billick isn't a real NFL coach, he's just a guy that makes questionable calls from time to time. Running the clock out with a minute left and two timeouts is one of them.

As it turns out, Billick's gameplan against the Colts was pretty ridiculous. Jamal (for once) was running the ball very well against the Colts; yet, with the game STILL in reach, Billick decides to stop running the fucking ball against the worst run defense in the NFL. The Ravens have a good record when Jamal has over 20 attempts a game, but our HC thought that it would be more effective to continue on with a passing game that wasn't working all day.

I think most of us can agree that Billick's biggest problem is his inability to adjust.

skaybaltimore

01-18-2007, 11:43 AM

I don't think anyone is arguing that Billick isn't a real NFL coach, he's just a guy that makes questionable calls from time to time. I know. It was :261695:

And no, he's not "just a guy who makes questionable calls from time to time. He's a HEAD COACH in the NFL who gets paid a LOT OF MONEY and who CONSISTENTLY makes BONEHEAD CALLS, and almost NEVER takes responsibility for them. There's a difference between "just a guy" and BB.

GO RAVENS!!!

LBoogy

01-18-2007, 12:41 PM

Consistently makes boneheaded calls?

What do you attribute to being 13-3?

skaybaltimore

01-18-2007, 12:57 PM

Consistently makes boneheaded calls?Getting nailed with a 15 yard unsportsmanlike penalty; NOT going for a simple, straight forward field goal against Cinci at home; wasting time in SEVERAL games right before the end of the half; general ineptitude running a 2 minute drill; total lack of prep for the Cinci game at Cinci; mismanagement of Mike Anderson; inability to respond in REAL TIME during games; and, of course, our gorgeous display of offensive genius: the Divisional game against Indy

What do you attribute to being 13-3?Rex Ryan and our entire #1 D, along with Steve McNair & Co.

LBoogy

01-18-2007, 02:57 PM

I think the key word here is "consistently". Billick is not "consistently" making bad calls. You don't take over OC duties midseason, take your team to 13-3, all while making "consistently bad calls" along the way. It doesn't work that way. He improved our pass offense to 11th in the league.

Rex Ryan is a huge part of making our defense the best, but is it a coincidence that we've had a great group of coaches and defensive minds under Billick? Billick is a great manager of people. He may make bad calls from time to time, but he generally does a good job at what he does.

I think the gameplan for the Colts game was awful, and I think BB's stubborness to adjust mid-game and bench players is a bit annoying to say the least. It seems that a lot of times he'll try to be either "too cute", or will be incredibly predictable. Although, despite his flaws, he's still a great coach. It seems that people like you will give him none of the credit and all of the blame.

My biggest problem with Billick is his clock management, but I can take the rest of his mistakes in stride.

He's a good coach, and I really don't know who would be a better alternative. We just need a better OC.

festivus

01-18-2007, 03:10 PM

is it a coincidence that we've had a great group of coaches and defensive minds under Billick?

No it is not, LBoogy with the excellent avatar, as I demonstrate in this thread (http://www.profootball24x7.com/forum/showthread.php?t=3887).

In all seriousness we have always had, since Billick has been here, an excellent defense. Some would give all the credit to the string of defensive coordinators and their assistants who have paraded through here, but those people have had at best mixed success coaching defenses before and after their stints with the Ravens.

Either (a) Billick is secretly coaching the defense, which I doubt, or (b) he is bringing the very best out in his staff. I am inclined to believe (b), because we see the same pattern with players. Anyone remember Qadry Ismail? Marcus Robinson? Ed Hartwell? Duane Starks? There is a looong list of players who played at the highest levels of their careers here, before or after being unimpressive with other teams.

Leon Searcy excepted, of course. . .

FadeToBlack

01-20-2007, 06:59 PM

McNair lost a game for us that Boller couldn't get us to. I can live with that.

FHRaven

01-21-2007, 09:53 AM

McNair lost a game for us that Boller couldn't get us to. I can live with that.

Nice losers attitude. :grbac: Besides that fact that it's not true.

I thought the Raven's goal was to "go to and win Super Bowls"? I guess now it's, "ignore QB limitations in the regular season and choke in the playoffs".

FHRaven

01-21-2007, 09:58 AM

I thought I answered it, but if you are referring would I have thought the Colt defense would have to be given a lions share of the credit if Boller had played that game with the identical performance as McNair. Probably not, because Boller does not have the track record, playoff experience, or proven ability of Steve McNair. I don't think that is hard to figure out. It's not like it is any great mystery here. LOL!:laugh:

Come back to me when you actually have a difficult question for once that is worth my time answering. That one was so easy it really didn't deserve an answer which is probably why I skipped it to begin with.:rolleyes:

Yeah, you never answered it. So basically you're a hypocrite, right? We all knew it but maybe you can see it now. :thumbup: If McChoke has a track record it's a track record of choking in big games. And if Boller was worse wouldn't he have put up even WORSE stats than McChoke did? Yeah, logic is a bitch isn't it Tex? But then again, logic isn't something you really employ.

After all, you're the same guy who tried to convince everyone that McChoke was playing with the exact same line Boller had last year. :insane:

Too easy.

FadeToBlack

01-23-2007, 09:25 PM

Nice losers attitude. :grbac: Besides that fact that it's not true.

I thought the Raven's goal was to "go to and win Super Bowls"? I guess now it's, "ignore QB limitations in the regular season and choke in the playoffs".

Boller may have snuck us in as a wildcard. Maybe. But if you're seriously going to argue with me that he'd have won us the division, let alone win 13 games, you should seriously consider stand-up comedy. Now we just need to work on your delivery and timing. Comedy is an art and apparently you've already got the natural skills, now you just need refinement.

darb72

01-23-2007, 09:55 PM

Boller may have snuck us in as a wildcard. Maybe. But if you're seriously going to argue with me that he'd have won us the division
So you don't think Boller could have beaten the Steelers twice with the defense giving up a grand total of 7 points?
Or perhaps the first Bengals game where our offense actually managed to be out-scored by our defense?
I'm pretty sure he could score more than 15 points against the Browns since, you know, he actually did it unlike McNoodle.

Not to mention that a WC team would have won this division seeing as how the closest team to us was 8-8.