The hypothetical quarterback
So, now we know who's starting at quarterback Sunday, because the head coach told us yesterday. What we don't know is what will happen when, or if, Steve McNair's non-throwing shoulder gets un-subluxated - that is, when he gets healthy.
Brian Billick wasn't exactly clear on that yesterday. And I threw out the idea that now, Kyle Boller can actually earn the job, or at least some respectability and faith from the organization and fan base, by stepping up the rest of the season.
But what if Boller doesn't? What if he stinks it up the next few weeks, and the losing streak grows to five, six, seven games? (That would mean losing this week to Cleveland, then all three on the infamous black hole of the schedule: at San Diego, home for New England, home for Indy.)
And what if then, after four weeks of sitting, McNair is able to play? The final three weeks, that is, in a season that at that point would officially be lost.
That's pretty much an absolutely worst-case scenario, true. But ... what would you do?
And no fair saying, "Start Troy Smith.'' (But a lot of you will say it anyway.)
Comments
David,
Even in your worst case scenario Kyle Boller needs to start the rest of this season- if healthy, not exactly a given with our O line. Assuming McNair recovers even to last years form, he's not the long term answer at QB, a 2- 3 year fix at best- we knew that when we traded for him. He was a shot in the arm to get us to the playoffs, which he did last year. If the Ravens lose the next 3 to 4 games under Boller, playoffs will be officially out of reach and we need to see what, if anything, Boller has learned during his time under McNair in order to evaluate off-season priorities. Boller may be a late bloomer whose ready to fulfill his potential or he could be the bust most think he is. He, and the Ravens, need the next 7 games to prove one or the other.
Posted by: Carl | November 15, 2007 11:00 AM
start troy smith
Posted by: mo | November 15, 2007 12:30 PM
Is jumping out of a window one of the options?
Posted by: Sean | November 15, 2007 12:32 PM
How about Mike Preston? He could be an on the field O.C. The chemistry between him and Billick would make for great television.
Posted by: Wade | November 15, 2007 12:45 PM
I would start ED REED at QB!
Posted by: Frank Henneman | November 15, 2007 1:49 PM
In such a horrific circumstance I would have to say..............Start Troy Smith it would be more fun watching a guy who can run.
Posted by: Anonymous | November 15, 2007 2:55 PM
Give Boller the next 4 games to see what he's got. When he loses those games, which I'm pretty confident he will, start Troy Smith against Miami in 5 weeks. McNair isn't the answer, Boller has never been the answer, and Troy Smith is probably not the answer. If Billick doesn't have confidence in Smith, maybe he'll at least run the ball more.
By then you should have a pretty clear idea of exactly what this team doesn't have and can start looking to make some moves. There may be some interesting free agent QBs this year and it's a QB heavy draft. Ditch Billick and a couple of the more... "entitled"... vets and rebuild. Do it well and the team could be back on top in short order. There is a LOT of young talent on the team including the defensive front 7 and safeties, the O line, and at reciever.
Posted by: Matt | November 15, 2007 3:36 PM
If healthy, play Boller the rest of the year. McNair can no longer get it done. Only then can the Ravens determine if Boller is ready for prime time.
Posted by: George Samryk | November 15, 2007 5:39 PM
Boller has never had the luxury of a strong and healthy offensive line. Again he's being put in an almost impossible situation and being told by some that if the Ravens don't win against San Diego, Indy and New England he's not the quarterback of the future. I don't care who is the quarterback it's unlikely the Ravens will win any of those games. Boller should be judged by his performance in spite of the overwhelming odds he faces. If he plays well and isn't beaten up by an unobstructed pass rush, he should be considered for the future. McNair is only 34 (remember Vinnie Testeverde and George Blanda?) It's premature to declare his career over because he ( and the rest of the team) is in a slump.
Posted by: Charles Russell | November 16, 2007 3:19 AM
I would start Boller until he kills the team with rookie looking mistakes. If that happens, let Troy get some work to earn some of all that money. Bench McNair, if the season is lost anyway, there would be no need for him to come bach in 07. Let him heal whateva the heck is wrong with him this year, and get him ready to start or back up in 08. If Boller looks good the next few weeks he should start 08. We go through this QB stuff every year huh? One last thing for my true Ravens fans. I would get us a guy who knows how to run the O, because it's been missing every since we found Billick. Either Billick can't teach or our players can't learn.
Posted by: B | November 16, 2007 4:48 PM