Ravens - what controversy?

backrow

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http://www.nfl.com/teams/story/BAL/9733492

OWINGS MILLS, Md. (Oct. 16, 2006) -- Steve McNair is expected to recover from a concussion and neck sprain sustained OCt. 15 in time for Baltimore's next game. When he returns, it will be as the starting quarterback.

The Ravens have a bye this week, which means McNair will have additional time to bounce back from the injuries he received in a 23-21 loss to Carolina. He was helped off the field after being sacked in the first quarter by Mike Rucker and Chris Draft.

"Steve is here today, and he's doing pretty good," coach Brian Billick said at the team's practice facility. "He's groggy. He went through the full gauntlet of tests. He seems to be OK, and right now there's no reason to believe he won't be available for us in two weeks when we go to New Orleans."

McNair was replaced by Kyle Boller, who started for three seasons but was relegated to the bench when Baltimore obtained McNair in an offseason trade with Tennessee. Playing for the first time since serving mop-up duty in the season opener, Boller went 17 for 31 for 226 yards and three touchdowns.

With Boller leading the way, the Ravens scored more points than in the previous two weeks combined. Boller's 97.0 quarterback rating is vastly superior to that of McNair, who has thrown seven interceptions against five touchdowns and has a rating of 64.1.

But the Ravens didn't get McNair, a three-time Pro Bowler, to sit on the bench.

"Steve's our starting quarterback," Billick declared. "We feel fortunate to have two good quarterbacks. We think Kyle Boller is an excellent quarterback. He's a guy with 30-plus starts, is very athletic, has a great arm, is very intelligent. ... But Steve is clearly the starting quarterback, and we're all relieved that it doesn't look this is going to have any lingering effects."

Although McNair helped the Ravens (4-2) win their first four games, he has been inconsistent. He was intercepted three times in a loss to Denver, and the last of his four passes against Carolina was picked off by Colin Branch.

Before that, however, McNair directed two blowout wins against Tampa Bay and Oakland and brought the Ravens back in late wins over Cleveland and San Diego.

The two-week break will enable McNair to shake off the effects of the concussion and further acclimate himself to the Baltimore offense. His teammates could probably use a breather, too. Although the Ravens remain atop the AFC North, their confidence has been shaken over the past two weeks.

"These guys need a rest," Billick said. "There's nothing we could get out of this week, physically or mentally, that would help us more than the rest that we need right now."

That might be true, but the Ravens aren't happy about the prospect of waiting two weeks to end their current skid.

"Just from the mental aspect of things, we'd like to go into this bye week on a high note," tight end Todd Heap said. "Sitting for two weeks with the taste of a loss in your mouth is not going to be fun. Hopefully we can all reflect and figure out what we need to do to get better as a team."


wow... i am all out of words here
 

Don Wassall

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Despite Billick's words of praise, Boller has been universally proclaimed a busteven though he hadthe highest QB rating in the entire league over the last quarter of last season. McNair has been universally proclaimed a great quarterback and leader and a magic cure-all for any and all problems of Baltimore's offense, and there have been plenty the entire time Billick has been the head coach there. In fact, Billick is unsurpassed at screwing up the heads of white quarterbacks on his gangsta-laden team. Remember Chris Redman? Another first round draft pick by Billick who was quickly run out of town after being given very little opportunity. Elvis Grbac? He retired prematurely rather than endure the situation in Baltimore under Billick.


There's no way there can be a quarterback controversy this early on in Baltimore despite the obvious difference in talent levels between McNair and Boller. This is a classic Caste System situation and I hope McNair comes back after the bye and continues to play like someone who should have retired two years ago.
 
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What were Baltimore's last four games last season? I might not think he's a bust, but he fumbles the snap way too often for me. And that's under center, not the shotgun.
 

White Shogun

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Matt_Bowen_Fan said:
What were Baltimore's last four games last season? I might not think he's a bust, but he fumbles the snap way too often for me. And that's under center, not the shotgun.

There last four games were against Houston, Denver, Green Bay, and Minnesota - two of which were playoff teams.

Boller had a completion percentage of 62.4%, throwing 7 TD's to 3 INT's, with an overall QB rating of 93.3. He added a rushing TD as well. He did have 4 fumbles those 4 games, losing 2, as you pointed out.

They could do a lot worse than Boller.

Well... as a matter of fact they did.

Over his last four games, McNair had a completion percentage of 59.6, throwing only 2 TD's, with 2 INT's. His quarterback rating was 78.5. He did not have a rushing TD, but only had 1 fumble which they recovered.

The Ravens benched a guy who had 4x as many TD's, with only 1 more INT, than the guy they replaced him with. His completion percentage was better. Oh, and did I mention that he also threw for 220 more yards than McNair in that same time frame?
 

Don Wassall

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SVcabron said:
Didn't Redman retire due to a back injury?


He may have as he did have injury problems, but he had been pushed aside before that. He did pretty well the one season he started some which was 2002 -- 1,034 yards in 6 games, 7 TD passes to 3 interceptions. He wasn't setting the world on fire, but then again the Ravens during the Billick era have had a poor o-line when it comes to pass protection, and a lousy group of wide receivers.


In '03, after Boller got hurt in his rookie season, Billick turned not to Redman but to Anthony Wright, journeyman par excellence. Redman's career was essentially over at that point.


As for Boller, he's still a work in progress but undeniably has talent. Billick, the self-styled "offensive genius," has been a (white) quarterback killer in Baltimore.
 

White Shogun

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Don Wassall said:
Billick, the self-styled "offensive genius," has been a (white) quarterback killer in Baltimore.

Where did he pick up that reputation anyway? Didn't Billick get his rep as an 'offensive genius' when he had Randy Moss at the height of his career in Minnesota? He's been in Baltimore more than long enough to establish his 'offensive guru' presence, but continues to fail miserably.
 

white is right

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If he is a guru I am leaving the cult...
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Baltimore won their superbowl because of defense. They had an anemic offense that year. There best move was handing the ball of to Jamal"Scar Face" Lewis.
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Edited by: white is right
 

Jimmy Chitwood

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white is right, you need to drink some more of his special kool-aid before you go.
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Quiet Speed

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Don't know what to make of this yet. Billick fired OC Jim Fassel. This article says Billick "could no longer tolerate his team's sputtering offence". What apt way to describe Billick's whole reign at Baltimore.

article
 

Gary

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Steve McNair always played like he had a concussion!Boller is not great but he's better then McNair.
 

White Shogun

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Quiet Speed said:
Don't know what to make of this yet. Billick fired OC Jim Fassel. This article says Billick "could no longer tolerate his team's sputtering offence". What apt way to describe Billick's whole reign at Baltimore.

article

LOL @ Billick.

His offense has been sputtering for years. Guess he finally found someone to blame it on. I'm sure his anemic offense has nothing to do with McNair.
 
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