Is Joe Flacco A Franchise Qb?

[21isSuperman]

They say the best time to judge a player is 3 years after he has been drafted into the NFL. Flacco has been in the league for 3 years, and has a number of different achievements under his belt. He has been able to increase his pass yards and his TDs each season, while also managing to decrease his INTs each year. He has made the playoffs every year and has started every regular season and playoff game for the Ravens since joining the league.

This offseason however, I remember hearing some things about how Flacco is not a very hard worker. Ozzie Newsome has tried very hard to get Flacco an elite WR and he brought in Boldin which many people thought would be an excellent move, but Boldin's numbers dropped in his first year in Baltimore. He had 20 less receptions for about 200 less yards while playing 1 more game than he did the year before. Boldin has history on his side; he has shown that he is a very good, 1000 yard receiving WR, even with a guy like Fitzgerald being the main receiver on the team. Is his drop in numbers due to Flacco's QB play or his poor work ethic? Is it because the Ravens are a run-first offense? Is it because teams would cover Fitz when he was in Arizona, so Boldin had worse players covering him?

While Flacco has made it to the playoffs and won many games during his career, he has had a very strong defense led by Ray Lewis and Ed Reed to back him up, as well as a very strong running game and a good O-line. Is Flacco a franchise QB or is he just a very good player? Or is he just a decent player who is in a good situation?

[you know]

They say the best time to judge a player is 3 years after he has been drafted into the NFL. Flacco has been in the league for 3 years, and has a number of different achievements under his belt. He has been able to increase his pass yards and his TDs each season, while also managing to decrease his INTs each year. He has made the playoffs every year and has started every regular season and playoff game for the Ravens since joining the league.

This offseason however, I remember hearing some things about how Flacco is not a very hard worker. Ozzie Newsome has tried very hard to get Flacco an elite WR and he brought in Boldin which many people thought would be an excellent move, but Boldin's numbers dropped in his first year in Baltimore. He had 20 less receptions for about 200 less yards while playing 1 more game than he did the year before. Boldin has history on his side; he has shown that he is a very good, 1000 yard receiving WR, even with a guy like Fitzgerald being the main receiver on the team. Is his drop in numbers due to Flacco's QB play or his poor work ethic? Is it because the Ravens are a run-first offense? Is it because teams would cover Fitz when he was in Arizona, so Boldin had worse players covering him?

While Flacco has made it to the playoffs and won many games during his career, he has had a very strong defense led by Ray Lewis and Ed Reed to back him up, as well as a very strong running game and a good O-line. Is Flacco a franchise QB or is he just a very good player? Or is he just a decent player who is in a good situation?

boldins numbers would drop from leaving a pass happy cards team to a run first ravens off. i do consider him a franchise qb. if you were the owner would you go into the draft room saying we need a qb? no. cb? yes. tightend? yes.

[Andy]

Boldin is the most overrated Wr in the league. Thought I should get that off my chest. Now to answer your question, he is not right now, but he could be in the future.

[eaglejoe8]

While Flacco has made it to the playoffs and won many games during his career, he has had a very strong defense led by Ray Lewis and Ed Reed to back him up, as well as a very strong running game and a good O-line. Is Flacco a franchise QB or is he just a very good player? Or is he just a decent player who is in a good situation?

While I haven't looked up stats, based on what I've seen, and what the team has done since he's been there, I wouldn't put him in the "Franchise QB" group, but I'd say he's a good to decent player in a good situation. I think the same way about Sanchez. Both have good run games, and good to great defenses. Whether either could put a team on their back and carry them is another story.

[21isSuperman]

While I haven't looked up stats, based on what I've seen, and what the team has done since he's been there, I wouldn't put him in the "Franchise QB" group, but I'd say he's a good to decent player in a good situation. I think the same way about Sanchez. Both have good run games, and good to great defenses. Whether either could put a team on their back and carry them is another story.

I was thinking that too. As I was writing this, I thought "you could say this exact same stuff about Sanchez"

[eaglejoe8]

I was thinking that too. As I was writing this, I thought "you could say this exact same stuff about Sanchez"

Great minds think alike. ;)

[21isSuperman]

Great minds think alike. ;)

:highfive:

[ViriLudant]

I put him at the 3rd tier of NFL QBs:

First tier: Tom Brady, Peyton Manning

Second Tier: Brees, Rivers, Roethlisberger, etc.

Third Tier: Flacco, Stafford, etc.

[-JJ-]

Well a franchise QB isn't so much how good vs PM,TB, etc as it is this is the organization's

QB for the long haul.

Not sure what Flacco's contract is but if he's the franchise they can have him:)

OTOH I would call Sanchez a franchise QB. They traded to draft him high, they paid him, and they started him. How good he'll eventually be we'll see but he's not a bust at this point. You usually see a bust the first year ala Russel,Leaf..etc

[jcdavey]

i consider a qb a franchise qb if you feel the only way they're going to quickly lose the #1 spot is via injury

so right now i'd say that makes flacco a franchise qb

some people have different definition, and confuse it with the word "elite" or the term "very good" or even "good"

those are really just rungs on the ladder, but if you've drafted a qb who you're grooming for the top spot (cam newton, andy dalton, christian ponder) or even one you've just traded for who you are handing the top spot to (kolb) then that is the true definition of a franchise qb IMO (the team believes he is the clear present, or future #1 guy

[jcdavey]

boldins numbers would drop from leaving a pass happy cards team to a run first ravens off. i do consider him a franchise qb. if you were the owner would you go into the draft room saying we need a qb? no. cb? yes. tightend? yes.

exactly...i consider this the true and correct answer

[12>18]

He completely is a franchise QB. They are building the team around him, and why shouldn't they? They made moves last off-season, and this one, to improve their offense both in the rushing and the passing realm. If he wasn't a franchise QB, they wouldn't have done the receiver shuffle the past two years. They are looking to get faster so they can have a deep threat, hence Evans. As for Boldin, his numbers were bound to decrease for several reasons. I wouldn't say he was overrated, just improperly rated, based off of what kind of team he was on previously.

[Guest BlueShoe]

Absolutely!

He is not Peyton, Brady, Rivers, or Brees; but he is a very good quarterback who is capable of taking his team all the way. He took his team into New England a few years back and beat the brakes off of them in the playoffs.

[chad72]

The problem is that their D is aging and do not produce enough defensive plays and scores like they used to. If Joe Flacco has to carry that team, he will not be able to. If he has to reduce his mistakes and give a chance for his team to win at the end, he is very well capable of that, IMO, if they have some defensive youth and firepower injected back into their team.

[CCH]

He'll never lead the Ravens like Peyton Manning, Tom Brady, Aaron Rodgers, etc. lead their team. But he is a very solid QB, and he can lead a solid team to a Super Bowl imo. So yes, he is a franchise QB.

[21isSuperman]

A couple of notes from NFL Total Access:

Sapp said Flacco is currently not ready to put the team on his shoulders and lead them. I don't think many would disagree with this.

Jamie Dukes said Flacco could lead the Ravens to a Super Bowl because he has good pieces around him, especially on the defensive side. He also said that the Ravens need to get someone to be a deep threat because Flacco has a big arm and they need to take advantage of his talents. They did sign Lee Evans and Torrey Smith could be solid, but they don't utilize his talents well when they run the short passing game.

[patsallday]

flacco is an above average QB during the regular season.

if baltimore needs him to win a game in the playoffs, i just don't think he has it in him.

[Guest BlueShoe]

flacco is an above average QB during the regular season.

if baltimore needs him to win a game in the playoffs, i just don't think he has it in him.

Uh? He did go into New England (In The Playoffs) and beat the brakes off of the Pats a few years back.

He didn't have to do much, but for those keeping score on QB wins and losses (as if they do it all by themselves), I guess it counts for something.

[21isSuperman]

If you were Ozzie Newsome and Flacco's contract had expired today for some reason, would you be comfortable signing him to a 6 or 7 year deal?

[FairleySuhper]

Yes. B-more's shortcomings have been poor play calling from Cameron and o-line problems. And, they have been a run-first team since Joe has been there. But, look at the success Joe is having with Lee Evans in the short time they've been together. Evans is going to be HUGE for B-more this year. He was a huge pickup for them. Joe finally has someone who can stretch the field and has good hands. He can now show off that cannon of an arm. I have no knowledge of his work ethic though.

[patsallday]

Uh? He did go into New England (In The Playoffs) and beat the brakes off of the Pats a few years back.

He didn't have to do much, but for those keeping score on QB wins and losses (as if they do it all by themselves), I guess it counts for something.

thanks for proving my point.

flacco was 4-10 for 34 yards and a pick in that game. ravens won, like usual, because of defense and running game.

i'm guessing the gameplan for any team playing the ravens is: 1. stop the run 2. don't turn the ball over 3. make flacco beat you

again, if they need flacco to win a game with his arm in the playoffs, i don't think he can do it.