What will it take to see Smith at QB?

[Camden_yardbird]

What will it take to see Smith at QB this season? I would like to see what he can do, and I am worried that the Ravens will dismiss his talent and let him go like they did Anderson. So what does it take?

Ineffectiveness of Boller?
Injury to Boller or McNair or both?

I am interested to see what people think.

[BaltiJo]

At this point, I would probably say injuries to Boller and McNair. Boller, for all of his criticisms, is at least familiar with our team's gameplan and experienced on the field of play. He also still has an ever-dwindling hope breaking out into a stable starter. Perhaps in a few years, Smith could surprise us, but for now it doesn't make sense to abandon the guys that we've had built our team upon.

[ravensd5255]

This week smith is listed at the number 2 QB so a injury to Boller.

[ScottieBaseball]

What will it take to see Smith at QB this season? I would like to see what he can do, and I am worried that the Ravens will dismiss his talent and let him go like they did Anderson. So what does it take?

Ineffectiveness of Boller?
Injury to Boller or McNair or both?

I am interested to see what people think.

What "talent" are you referring to when it comes to Smith? I mean, Anderson looked okay for us during the pre-season the year he was drafted, but he was a sixth round draft pick and regarded as a project at best. Short of owning a time machine, not even the Browns could have predicted his success. As a matter of fact, he barely came out of Browns camp as their backup.

So what did Smith do exactly that makes you refer to his talent? Is it simply because he's not Boller and not McNair?

[NewMarketSean]

Boller is going to play out the season as long as he is healthy. Only if he totally stinks up the place will Billick make a move, and if it comes to that, it'll probably be to McNair. I'd like to see Troy get a chance, he did have an excellent college career and completed more than 60% of his passes, but I just don't know how his talent translates to the NFL level.

[ravensd5255]

Well every QB is a true unknown until he gets the chance to prove himself.

[ScottieBaseball]

Well every QB is a true unknown until he gets the chance to prove himself.

Agreed. However, that chance is typically and optimally earned through feedback in team meetings and performance during practices. Unless the QB in question posesses freakishly-good instincts and ability at his position, ordinarily one must prove his knowledge of the game and understanding of the playbook before granted the opportunity to prove himself.

The other, more risky method is when the QB just above on the depth chart goes down with an injury or proves himself grossly ineffective.

It's easy to suggest Smith be given his opportunity, but when you look at the big picture there is far more to lose than there is to gain by taking the risk.

Trust me...if Smith was the answer, the savior of this offense, he'd be running with the first team offense in practice right now.

[MikeAD]

Thats easy, an injury to my perfect one.


Actually I think Smith and Boller will both be on the field at least three times on sunday. Maybe we can even see Clayton get a couple of snaps. Mix things up a little.

[Miller192]

What will it take to see Smith at QB this season? I would like to see what he can do, and I am worried that the Ravens will dismiss his talent and let him go like they did Anderson. So what does it take?

Ineffectiveness of Boller?
Injury to Boller or McNair or both?

I am interested to see what people think.

Show up in Owings Mills around 2:00pm on a Wednesday

[BaltimoreTerp]

What "talent" are you referring to when it comes to Smith? I mean, Anderson looked okay for us during the pre-season the year he was drafted, but he was a sixth round draft pick and regarded as a project at best. Short of owning a time machine, not even the Browns could have predicted his success. As a matter of fact, he barely came out of Browns camp as their backup.

So what did Smith do exactly that makes you refer to his talent? Is it simply because he's not Boller and not McNair?

Umm...how about 5700 passing and 1150 rushing yards in two-and-a-half seasons as a starter in college, 54 touchdowns and 13 interceptions, quarterbacking a team to the national championship game, and...oh, yeah...winning the Heisman Trophy. He probably has a little talent

Seriously though, I doubt he will be a good pro quarterback, and I seriously doubt he has a chance at playing outside of a Boller injury or us losing four of our next five games with Boller blowing chunks the size of Jon Ogden.

[biggsy]

Agreed. However, that chance is typically and optimally earned through feedback in team meetings and performance during practices. Unless the QB in question posesses freakishly-good instincts and ability at his position, ordinarily one must prove his knowledge of the game and understanding of the playbook before granted the opportunity to prove himself.

The other, more risky method is when the QB just above on the depth chart goes down with an injury or proves himself grossly ineffective.

It's easy to suggest Smith be given his opportunity, but when you look at the big picture there is far more to lose than there is to gain by taking the risk.

Trust me...if Smith was the answer, the savior of this offense, he'd be running with the first team offense in practice right now.

What do we have to lose other then a couple football games in a season thats pretty much gone anyway ? You see what he has and you can watch how his college talents translate in the NFL. If he shows potential to be a good starter in the league you go with Boller next year with Smith slowly taking over, if he shows nothing and its obvious he will never be the answer then you know you need to look elsewhere in the offseason for an answer at QB.

As for the comment on Smith being the answer, thats not completely true. There are plenty of times the savior of the team wasn't known untill he was forced into action, Tony Romo and Tom Brady are prefect examples. Truth is, we won't know what Smith is untill we see him perform on the field.

[Hank Scorpio]

Troy Smith would essentially be the equivalent of a September callup at this point. If you're going into next season with Boller as your starter (which is most likely going to be the case), then you get him the reps he needs right now.

[ScottieBaseball]

What do we have to lose other then a couple football games in a season thats pretty much gone anyway ? You see what he has and you can watch how his college talents translate in the NFL. If he shows potential to be a good starter in the league you go with Boller next year with Smith slowly taking over, if he shows nothing and its obvious he will never be the answer then you know you need to look elsewhere in the offseason for an answer at QB.

As for the comment on Smith being the answer, thats not completely true. There are plenty of times the savior of the team wasn't known untill he was forced into action, Tony Romo and Tom Brady are prefect examples. Truth is, we won't know what Smith is untill we see him perform on the field.

You have the players to lose, that's who. Moving to Smith as the quarterback without an injury of a blatant display of ineptitude from Boller would be symbolic of the coaching staff throwing in the towel for 2007. They're currently not eliminated from the post-season. While many of us feel like there's no hope, the players would vehemently disagree.

Your points about Romo and Brady confirm my position...both became QB's by default. Neither was the, "Heck, let's give the kid a shot! We've got nothin' to lose!"

"The fans think the season is over" is no reason to give Smith the ball. However, "he will help us win football games" is legit. Right now Boller fits the latter more than any of the QB's we have on the roster.

[biggsy]

You have the players to lose, that's who. Moving to Smith as the quarterback without an injury of a blatant display of ineptitude from Boller would be symbolic of the coaching staff throwing in the towel for 2007. They're currently not eliminated from the post-season. While many of us feel like there's no hope, the players would vehemently disagree.

Your points about Romo and Brady confirm my position...both became QB's by default. Neither was the, "Heck, let's give the kid a shot! We've got nothin' to lose!"

"The fans think the season is over" is no reason to give Smith the ball. However, "he will help us win football games" is legit. Right now Boller fits the latter more than any of the QB's we have on the roster.

I understand what you were saying. I kinda jumped ahead of myself. I was meaning it as if Boller doesn't pan out in the next couple of games, then you give Smith his shot. The players are smart enough to realize that the coaches and front office are just trying to see what he brings to the table for the future.

Your point about QBs being forced into action and turning out to be the future wasn't the point I was arguing. You said that if Smith were the answer he'd be getting reps with the first team, and that simply isn't true. Neither Romo or Brady were taking any reps with the first team before they were forced into action.

[Old#5fan]

I understand what you were saying. I kinda jumped ahead of myself. I was meaning it as if Boller doesn't pan out in the next couple of games, then you give Smith his shot. The players are smart enough to realize that the coaches and front office are just trying to see what he brings to the table for the future.

Your point about QBs being forced into action and turning out to be the future wasn't the point I was arguing. You said that if Smith were the answer he'd be getting reps with the first team, and that simply isn't true. Neither Romo or Brady were taking any reps with the first team before they were forced into action.

How will Boller pan out? He's going to be like he has always been and that is not good enough. Ergo, why not give the rookie a shot? A loss is a loss, is a loss isn't it? Smith can lose games just as easy as Boller but who knows he might show something that Boller hasn't or tank even worse. Either way, that is valuable information for next season and possibly beyond to be gained.