Our Boy Is Growing Up

by DT711 on Dec 1, 2008 12:43 PM EST Comment 27 comments

This is why we play the games. After week 13, Joe Flacco is now the AFC north's top rated passer with a QB rating of 82.3, good for 8th in the AFC (7th if you don't count Schaub). He overtook Big Ben this week whose INT and poor completion percentage dropped him to 80 for the season. Starting the season in Week 1, it was a Rookie from a small 1-AA school in Flacco, and three "Pro Bowl" Quarterbacks in Roethlisberger, Palmer, and Anderson. By mid season only two were left standing, Ben and Joe. Since then Joe has been steadily creeping up in passer rating, due to his stellar play down the stretch as evidenced by his zero turnovers in six (all wins) of his past seven games. He has finally managed to pull his rating above 80, which is used by many as the benchmark of a solid NFL QB. Flacco is only going to get better from here. I am so thrilled to have a franchise QB to build our team around. I believe that we finally have the piece we've been missing for the past 10 year forever. I think we can realistically compete this year, and have set ourselves up brilliantly for the future. If Mark Clayton continues to break out, and becomes a reliable #2, we are one big play WR away from having one of the most dynamic offense in the league for years to come. Passing Leaders
	NAME	COM	ATT	PCT	YDS	YPA	LNG	TD	TD%	INT	INT%	SK	SYD	RAT
1	P. Rivers QB, SDG	232	357	65.0	2955	8.28	67	23	6.4	10	2.8	19.0	119	100.5
2	C. Pennington QB, MIA	238	364	65.4	2881	7.92	80	11	3.0	6	1.6	21.0	107	92.8
3	M. Schaub QB, HOU	154	227	67.8	1762	7.76	61	10	4.4	8	3.5	16.0	106	91.0
4	B. Favre QB, NYJ	268	390	68.7	2708	6.94	56	20	5.1	14	3.6	23.0	162	90.4
5	Jay Cutler QB, DEN	273	449	60.8	3393	7.56	93	21	4.7	13	2.9	7.0	47	87.8
6	M. Cassel QB, NWE	257	398	64.6	2784	7.00	66	13	3.3	10	2.5	39.0	186	85.5
7	P. Manning QB, IND	281	445	63.1	2948	6.63	75	19	4.3	12	2.7	12.0	79	85.3
8	T. Edwards QB, BUF	214	324	66.0	2378	7.34	51	10	3.1	10	3.1	20.0	125	85.1
9	Joe Flacco QB, BAL	202	331	61.0	2276	6.88	70	12	3.6	9	2.7	23.0	208	82.3
10	K. Collins QB, TEN	192	328	58.5	2125	6.48	56	9	2.7	4	1.2	7.0	50	81.9
11	D. Garrard QB, JAC	228	363	62.8	2461	6.78	35	9	2.5	8	2.2	30.0	210	81.8
12	B. Roethlisberger QB, PIT	208	343	60.6	2412	7.03	65	13	3.8	12	3.5	33.0	194	80.0
13	T. Thigpen QB, KAN	155	283	54.8	1739	6.15	56	13	4.6	8	2.8	21.0	142	76.9
14	J. Russell QB, OAK	140	277	50.5	1729	6.24	84	7	2.5	4	1.4	26.0	170	72.6
15	R. Fitzpatrick QB, CIN	164	278	59.0	1342	4.83	46	6	2.2	7	2.5	31.0	161	68.1
16	D. Anderson QB, CLE	142	283	50.2	1615	5.71	70	9	3.2	8	2.8	14.0	87	66.5

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Did you know...

that Troy Smith has a perfect QB rating of 158.3!

2 completions for 57 yards and 1 td.

But go Joe!

by Mr MaLoR on Dec 1, 2008 12:57 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Look at Matt Cassel’s stats and he looked every bit the rookie even more so than Joe last night against the Steelers. But then again, Pittsburgh’s defense does that to you. For some reason, however, I don’t expect Flacco to have such a poor game when they come here in two weeks.

Rexx

by Rexx on Dec 1, 2008 1:05 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

You know what would be awesome? If a rookie QB could post stats like

196/295, 8.9YPA, 17TD, 11 INT, 98.1 rating.

Those stats would make that quarterback rated higher than tom brady for ever single year besides 2007. Just saying.

All joshing aside, Flacco has looked great and is indisputably playing the best football of any of the QBs in the AFC north right now, and right now is what counts the most.

by steelguy99 on Dec 1, 2008 1:05 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

regardless, Ben had an excellent rookie season

but, like you said, how a QB is performing this season is more significant. No need to compare Joe Flacco to Dan Marino. Also no need to compare the skill position players and offensive lines of the 2004 Steelers and 2008 Ravens.

I think the most important element of Joe Flacco’s performance was that it came from a player who really wasn’t considered ready for the NFL when he started playing. I know Ben was pressed into service when we knocked out Maddox, but Ben was still getting more snaps in Training Camp than Flacco got, and had way better chemistry with his receivers in the beginning.

Also exciting is how much Flacco has improved. Seven of Flacco’s 9 interceptions came in the first 5 weeks, and only 1 of his TDs came during that time. From week 6 onward, Joe has an incredible 11:2 TD:INT ratio. I think it’s not unreasonable to use that as a breaking point because watching the games, Joe looked completely different against Miami than he had in the first five games.

by math_geek on Dec 1, 2008 4:15 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I think we’ll need to revisit this at the end of the season. All indications point to Flacco finishing off with a very nice sheet, but I’m not going to base my assumptions on his accomplishments until he has accomplished them. The upward trend is obvious but its continuation I find far from guaranteed. We’ll just have to wait and see.

There aren’t many QBs who would start in their first year, even 1st round ones. It’s an accomplishment when any of them do halfway decent, let alone well. Cam seems to have done an awfully nice job of opening the game up to him.

Flacco looked awfully good this past sunday – even if the bengals secondary and some amazing catches helped him out this last game.

by steelguy99 on Dec 1, 2008 4:25 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I think we’ll need to revisit this at the end of the season. All indications point to Flacco finishing off with a very nice sheet, but I’m not going to base my assumptions on his accomplishments until he has accomplished them. The upward trend is obvious but its continuation I find far from guaranteed. We’ll just have to wait and see.

That seems fair enough. I’d be fairly surprised if the trend didn’t continue however. He’ll have his struggles in various games for sure, they won’t all be the Bengals. However, he showed great improvement in the game against Philly, and it was Flacco-to-Clayton that really broke the game open.

There aren’t many QBs who would start in their first year, even 1st round ones. It’s an accomplishment when any of them do halfway decent, let alone well. Cam seems to have done an awfully nice job of opening the game up to him.

I absolutely agree.

Flacco looked awfully good this past sunday – even if the bengals secondary and some amazing catches helped him out this last game.

Show me a QB that puts up great stats without amazing catches and/or a poorly performing opposing defense and I’ll show you chocalate cake that helps you lose weight. QBs of any caliber need help, and Flacco definitely got it on Sunday.

by math_geek on Dec 1, 2008 5:50 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

~~You need look no further than Matt Cassel for that last one.~~

by steelguy99 on Dec 1, 2008 5:56 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Hilarious

Unlike most Ravens fans, I emotionally hate the Patriots more than I do the Steelers. I couldn’t be as upset as I should have been by the Patriots melt-down in the 3rd quarter, although that WAS pass interference by Randy Moss in the end zone (followed by a dropped pass on the same play)

by math_geek on Dec 1, 2008 6:04 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

You don't think

that Randy Moss helped pad Tom Brady’s stats last year? SOme of those TD catches were toss ups and probably either incomplete or intercepted if it was anyone other than Moss on the receiving end!

Rexx

by Rexx on Dec 1, 2008 6:22 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

You guys are too sensitive and read negativity where there is none.

by steelguy99 on Dec 1, 2008 6:44 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Not being sensitive, just realistic

Totally agree with your statements and besides, great QB’s know when to just “throw” it up, based on knowing their receivers as well as the defense.

Rexx

by Rexx on Dec 2, 2008 9:06 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Ben "Talladega Nights" Rothlesberger

by raven on Dec 4, 2008 12:28 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

This is a Flacco topic

Not a Rufflesburger topic. Flacco will surpass Big Bens rookie season stats along with throwing fewer interceptions. Along with his 12 passing touchdowns, Joe also has 2 rushing touchdowns. That already is 1 one more than Big Ben had his rookie year. Yea, I know, you are going to throw out the 15-1 record, but you didnt get the ring that year, so none of that matters. That is crazy though that Ben had better rating than Tom Terrific, considering many people consider Brady the greatest QB to ever live. I think Brady would have been able to beat the steelers last night as well.

by Mr MaLoR on Dec 1, 2008 1:25 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

I’ll stop bringing up comparisons to other rookie QBs since this is a flacco lovefest, sorry.

Honestly, I think brady probably would have pulled it out as well, assuming his receivers would decide to catch the ball.

by steelguy99 on Dec 1, 2008 1:37 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Thank you for your cooperation.

Maybe T.O can catch the TDs this week unlike Moss.

We love our one eye brow Sasquatch looking Quarterback. It is beyond a lovefest.

by Mr MaLoR on Dec 1, 2008 1:44 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I doubt it – T.O. is a joke and will probably knife himself in the arm.

by steelguy99 on Dec 1, 2008 1:51 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

its Roethlisberger.

by iLL on Dec 2, 2008 2:18 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

its Roethlisberger.

by iLL on Dec 2, 2008 2:18 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I’m pretty sure he knows and it’s an amusing joke, not that anyone should be expected to spell ben’s name correctly.

by steelguy99 on Dec 2, 2008 2:53 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Dont buy into passer ratings

This is the one stat i always look at last when it comes to QBs. Passer ratings dont mean a thing to me. A guy could have a rating of 100.8 and his team could be 4-7. The most important stat is wins. If that QB can lead me to wins, then forget the passer rating. This was such a big deal with Michael Vick. He always had a very low Passer Rating but his team always did well. He even brought the Flacons to the NFC championship game back in 05 and that year, his P.R. was like 82.0 or somthing. Im Glad Flacco is now leading the AFC north in passer rating, but the steelers are leading the north in wins and thats what count most.

FEAR THE NEVERMORE DEFENSE!!!!!!!!!!!!

by Benji5203 on Dec 1, 2008 4:31 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Mike Vick is a special case because he helped his team score points with more than just his arm. I don’t think it’s fair to hold it against quarterbacks when their defenses, special teams, and/or running game are terrible. If we want to evaluate a QB as a player, we have to make an attempt to separate what he does from what everybody else does. Passer rating is one easy attempt to do that, although it’s flawed. Completing passes, moving the ball, scoring touchdowns, and not turning the ball over are important contributions a QB can make to his team. There’s more to it of course, but it’s a start. Drew Brees is a very good QB. His team is 6-6. It’s not fair to ask him to play safety so that his defense stops giving up buko points.

by math_geek on Dec 1, 2008 5:53 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Like math geek says

Vick is an exception. Based purely on his throwing statistics he was a poor NFL QB, but add in the most dynamic runner ever at that position and you have a play maker who can carry his team at times. This is why teams who could shut down Vick running, could shut down the Falcons, since he was not able to reliably beat teams with his arm.

QB rating is accurate in regards to passing ability, and factored in with winning %, can give a pretty good idea of a QB’s level of play.

For pocket oriented passers it is the best stat out there in regards to accurately portraying a QB’s skill.

by DT711 on Dec 2, 2008 11:25 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Having been stationed in Norfolk VA for a while

who would have thought that Marcus Vick wasn’t the biggest disappointment in that family…

"When they get drafted by the Baltimore Ravens, we expect them to play like that. Are we surprised? No."

by UMBC Oriole fan on Dec 2, 2008 12:41 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

QB Rating is a very accurate stat

and gives a good indication of the quality of the QB. Look at all the leaders in the league and whenever someone has a great or horrible game, the QB rating reflects that. Not too sure what it is all made up of, but it is a quality measuring tool by my standards.

Rexx

by Rexx on Dec 1, 2008 6:25 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Agreed.

by iLL on Dec 2, 2008 2:19 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Its a good stat

But not perfect. No where does it factor into when you need 15 yards on third down and the QB only throws for 10. He is rewarded for throwing those 10 yards but his team leaves the field. It also doesnt account for fumbling.

by archon095 on Dec 3, 2008 11:36 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs