Boller Unavailable for Opener?

by Rexx on Aug 25, 2008 3:19 PM EDT Comment 5 comments

Rumor is that according to Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh, Kyle Boller's injured shoulder will definitely keep him out of Thursday's final preseason contest against the Falcons and could also prevent him from being under consideration to be the Ravens starting QB for the season opener on September 7th versus the Cincinnati Bengals.

All this means is that either Troy Smith wins the QB Derby by default if he plays at the very least half decent this Thursday. Or, perhaps there will be a one week competition between Smith and rookie Joe Flacco for the starting nod. Smith is apparently over the intestinal virus that prevented him from even leaving his hotel room on Sarturday night, and missed the entire exhibition contest in St. Louis. Flacco was thrust into the emergency starting role after Boller could not even lift his arm above his shoulder. Since Smith was named the game's starter earlier in the week, he took all the snaps with the first team, while Flacco was an afterthought. Suddenly, with just a few hours notice, he had to be ready to play all four quarters by default, and although his stats were mediocre at best, he did not embarrass himself at all. He had a miserable first half but settled down in the second half to throw his first professional TD pass in leading the Ravens to their only touchdown of the night in their 24-10 loss. Most of all, he didn't turn the ball over once and just missed a couple of throws that might have made a big difference in the game. Overall, his performance, combined with Smith and Boller's health issues, only put his name back up on the board to still be in contention for the starting QB job.

The Ravens are the only remaining NFL team not to have already named their opening day starter. My thoughts are that if Troy Smith even plays a little bit better than Flacco this Thursday, then he will be in a better overall position to start the season under center. Boller's shoulder may not only take him out of the running for game one, but based on Flacco's progress, it may take him out of the Ravens picture altogether.

Much, much more to follow.

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Boller's on his way out I think

I don’t think he’s going to get any starts this year. The Ravens really already know what they’re getting with him, and it isn’t much. They might as well see what they have with Troy Smith, until Flacco is truly ready to take over. I don’t forsee much from Smith, but they probably wouldn’t get much more from Boller.

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by MrNFL on Aug 25, 2008 5:42 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

We all seem to agree...

…that what we’ve seen from Boller is what we’ll get from him. Therefore, what have we got to lose by going w/ Smith. However, if he is not getting the reps or producing at this point then perhaps the Ravens have nothing to lose by inserting Flacco from the get-go. I’d like to see Smith get the nod, at least thru the Bye week, and then put Flacco in to finish out the season,…and the next 10 years!

Rexx

by Rexx on Aug 25, 2008 6:06 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Heisman Time

I think it’s time to start the undersized former Heisman and see what he can do. We know what (or what not) Boller can do so why not roll the dice with Smith??? Flacco in say week 6-8 but who knows maybe we have this years Derek Anderson and we pull a rabbit out of a hat and go far!

-Dave
http://www.eSellOut.com
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by esellout on Aug 26, 2008 12:03 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Boller out and gone?

I agree with you Rexx. Flacco’s 0 turnover performance looked as good as anything we have seen this year. Not backing down (yet, but close) off the comment I made recently saying the Ravens may have reached a little with Joe. That said, Flacco’s accelerated OJT seems like he is acclamating more quickly then one would have thought after weeks one and two and playing against modest talent at best in college.

Boller took that hit as always. I’d like to see some of these bashers at their jobs with no support around them and be successful. Guys ain’t fair and you know it. great fun to smear and gripe, but have a real reason, ya know. When has Kyle ever had anything good here? I will still defend Kyle. Sometime I think fans treat him personally, way worse the they should (see Doug Decinces).

If the guy was a complete dog, then I understand. He has always been tough and ready to answer the call. That’s a football player and a gamer regardless. No wonder that ball was picked…his shoulder was falling off (Vikings). Hell with it, blame that one on Kyle too. What a o-line.

I will say if Flacco plays well Thursday…even close to Smith, I’d start Flacco. Do the same to him as we did Boller. Get him in there and rest it on his shoulders. Right?

We do not look good at all. “D” looks old at times and slow to the ball. “O” has not been fixed due to lack of talent except for Mason, Ray Rice and a couple lineman. Cam has to be worried. Heap is a shell of his former self, injured so much he really is not a season long factor. John, I hope you can have these guys flip the switch and see things we have not seen on 9/7.

Yep, this sequence of events leads me to believe that if Flacco and Smith play pretty well against Atlanta, Boller may be cut. Yet if Smith shows no accuracy, that leaves the picture much more grey. Could he be regulated to #3? Maybe easier and more logical to do then Kyle? Can you base anything on a couple of starts against third stringers and a preseason game or two? We may have to.

You’re right, much more to come. Could the Flacco era really begin this year after all? But I’ll close with this, what have you seen that makes you think ANY QB could do well here…right now anyway?

by DTMAN on Aug 26, 2008 5:40 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Will any QB succeed here?

Our offense is beginning to shape up with the age old mantra, “brand new year, same old offense!” Not too sure what it is, the QB, receivers or o-line. However, what I always see is whether or not its related to the offense or defense, it’s always the interior line that sets the pace. The baseline for success on both sides of the ball rests with the lines. On offense, give the QB time to throw and he will pick you apart, regardless of who is catching the ball. On defense, harass the QB and the corners will look a heck of a lot better. Conversely, don’t do the aforementioned and you will see a team in distress. Wait, are we talking about the Ravens or what!?

Unless the pass rush returns to 2006 form, our corners will continue to look ridiculously bad and we will be pushed all over the field, Ray Lewis or not! Offensively, unless the o-line opens big holes for Ray Rice (and oh yeah, that McGahee guy) and doesn’t get our QB killed, we will be in for a long season and a high draft pick to grab an offensive tackle. Ouch!

Rexx

by Rexx on Aug 26, 2008 8:42 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs