Billick names Boller Starter. Who should start?

[Miller192]

You "try to win" because that is your job as a coach. Unless orders come from above (which from the deafening silence there hasn't) you play to win.

Personally, I would prefer them to play for next year. I started a thread on the subject a couple weeks ago with what I would do, and got torn to shreds for daring to suggest we not play Ogden full-time so other players could get playing time.

Besides, if Boller is the starter for next year he needs to get all the playing time he can with the players who will be around next year. I want to see Smith more then anyone, but it is just this side of impossible that he'll win a starting job next year with all of the variables both within and outside his control.

I don't think it's impossible at all for a couple of reasons:

A) Billick will be on the hot seat, he can't afford to have a long leash on Boller for too long. He'll probably make a move to another QB by weeks 4 or 5 if Boller regresses. He can't tie his fate to Kyle for much longer.

B) Smith will likely progress with more passing camps and another training camp. Billick and Co. will be much more comfortable turning over the keys to him once they feel he can grasp what they are trying to do. The Ravens don't buy the lack of height argument with Smith at all. He would be a Cleveland Brown if they did.

C) Don't be surprised to see another QB competition. Billick regretted doing that with Redman and Boller for the simple reason that Boller was a rookie and was thrown into the fire too soon. 08' is Boller's last season here. He won't be offered another extension. If you go on the assumption that Boller is here for just one year, than I'm sure we could find a better QB for a 1 year stint. Like Steve McNair who they are paying much more to. Kyle is not good enough to play the "mercenary" role and it's counter effective to have a lame duck QB while you are trying to win and build for the future.

The organization has faith in Troy Smith and so do his teammates. His opportunity is just months ahead.

What's the caveat to all of this? We could very well have a new offensive system and that will probably extend Smith's learning curve. However, working in his favor is the notion that Steve McNair is probably not going to put the time and effort into learning a new system.

[Old#5fan]

At this point in the season, why try to win? Have people play for their jobs. Answer your questions and put yourself in a better position for next year, both on the field and through the draft.

If Smith can't hold onto the ball and not knowing the playbook doesn't make him a better quarterback, we know he's not an option. As it stands right now, we don't know what he is.

Totally agree, and if Billick truly believes the nonsense he spouts about Boller needing more time to grow, the man must have flipped his gourd so to speak. After five years Boller has played a handful of truly good games and the rest he has shown major issues. This has not changed and more time on the field is not the cure.

[66-70-83-??]

Totally agree, and if Billick truly believes the nonsense he spouts about Boller needing more time to grow, the man must have flipped his gourd so to speak. After five years Boller has played a handful of truly good games and the rest he has shown major issues. This has not changed and more time on the field is not the cure.

One of Billick's faults is his extreme loyalty to his players.

That is also one of his strengths- he never throws any players under the bus.

Look how he allowed McNair to save face with a convenient injury after he was benched.

Do you really expect him or even want him to trash his player(s) publicly ?

[Old#5fan]

One of Billick's faults is his extreme loyalty to his players.

That is also one of his strengths- he never throws any players under the bus.

Look how he allowed McNair to save face with a convenient injury after he was benched.

Do you really expect him or even want him to trash his player(s) publicly ?

I understand loyalty but not at the expense of losing games. This team is mired in its worst losing streak in history and to continue to trot Boller out there espousing that it gives his team the best chance to win is nonsense. To me it is time to throw caution to the wind and do like George Costanza did on the old Seinfield show where his life was a mess so he decided to do the opposite of what he would do in the past. Billick is sticking with the same losing formula for no valid reason and either in denial or just being recalcitrant because that is his nature. Either way it appears to be crazy!

[66-70-83-??]

I understand loyalty but not at the expense of losing games. This team is mired in its worst losing streak in history and to continue to trot Boller out there espousing that it gives his team the best chance to win is nonsense. To me it is time to throw caution to the wind and do like George Costanza did on the old Seinfield show where his life was a mess so he decided to do the opposite of what he would do in the past. Billick is sticking with the same losing formula for no valid reason and either in denial or just being recalcitrant because that is his nature. Either way it appears to be crazy!

I didn't make myself clear.

I want Smith to start, not Boller.

Perhaps Billick does too- but he is NOT going to throw Boller under the bus.

"Boller will start, I support Boller" etc..... is for public consumption.

But, like he did with McNair, Billick will give BOller a way out gracefully (ie "ya know that injury is still lingering so Kyle can't start").

That is one of the reasons that players like and respect Billick. He takes the bullets for them in public.

Isn't that a good thing ?

[BaltimoreTerp]

I didn't make myself clear.

I want Smith to start, not Boller.

Perhaps Billick does too- but he is NOT going to throw Boller under the bus.

"Boller will start, I support Boller" etc..... is for public consumption.

But, like he did with McNair, Billick will give BOller a way out gracefully (ie "ya know that injury is still lingering so Kyle can't start").

That is one of the reasons that players like and respect Billick. He takes the bullets for them in public.

Isn't that a good thing ?

He'll answer once he and Tony are done reloading

[Art Wing]

How many starts do we have to give Boller before everyone comes to the logical conclusion that he cannot be a consistently good starting quarterback in the NFL. He's had his chance. Give Smith a shot.

P.S. I'm so over football already.

[RShack]

It makes no difference who starts the game. It matters who plays in the game. What matters is how much PT each guy gets. If it was me, I'd let each of them play half the game. Don't care how, just so they both play about half. You don't need to say a word about it being a competition between them. Not a word. The situation says that if you play each of them half the time.

If you play each of them half the time, you don't need to publicly embarrass Boller by naming the other guy the starter. That accomplishes less-than-zero. That accomplishes negative-value. That makes some things worse and zero things better. Just start Boller, and play'em both.

[Old#5fan]

It makes no difference who starts the game. It matters who plays in the game. What matters is how much PT each guy gets. If it was me, I'd let each of them play half the game. Don't care how, just so they both play about half. You don't need to say a word about it being a competition between them. Not a word. The situation says that if you play each of them half the time.

If you play each of them half the time, you don't need to publicly embarrass Boller by naming the other guy the starter. That accomplishes less-than-zero. That accomplishes negative-value. That makes some things worse and zero things better. Just start Boller, and play'em both.

Boller publicly embarasses himself practically every game he starts, especially a road game so why should anyone care? Do you think that the Bears were worried about publicly embarassing Rex Grossman when they benched him? How about the Broncos when they benched and then traded Plummer for Cutler? Your sentiment that this is something that is a concern is really no concern at all nor should it be in professional sports. These guys are getting paid huge money and if they fail they should be embarrassed. None of them earn the right not to be benched for bad performance in any sport. Furthermore do you think any employer is going to concern themselves by demoting or replacing an underachieving employee or one who is just not cutting it? Boller is an employee and is not cutting it. Football is a business, so maybe you need to look at it for what it is.