Flacco's Play Like a Fart in a Phone Booth

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Lombardi's Way - Flacco's Play Like a Fart in a Phone Booth

Posted On: 10/25/11

Written By:

Tony Lombardi

Flacco's Play Like a Fart in a Phone Booth

The Baltimore Ravens won’t admit it but they are so hard up to have a franchise quarterback that as an organization they are willing to look away and away and away from the inefficiencies of Joe Flacco. They will stick their heads so deep in the dirt hoping that when they shrug off the topsoil and raise their collective head that Flacco actually has a game face of confidence.

Dive back in the dirt – Flacco looks like he’s seen a ghost.

Who you gonna call?

The guy just doesn’t have “it”. After 3 plus seasons isn’t it painfully obvious that he will never be a Top 10 QB in the NFL?

When all is right in the world and the Ravens have a lead, are at home and they are running the ball ok, Flacco can do some damage. But when things unfold as they did in Jacksonville, Flacco is like a ship without a rudder. He’s lost in space and possesses the poise of Rainman when he’s about to miss the next episode of “Wheel of Fortune” or heaven forbid, he farts in a phone booth.

Maybe that should be the name of the team’s offense – Farts in a Phone Booth.

I mean why not, they stink!

How many Super Bowl caliber teams have ever said, “Hey remember in Week 7 it took us almost 2 ½ quarters to get a first down against a 1-5 football team?”

Yes that’s a rhetorical question.

Look, there is no redeeming quality, silver lining or something to build on in this Debacle by the Landing. Going forward it will be all about will, determination and desire. I have no doubt that the defense is willing to suck it up and respond to this adversity.

As for the offense, let’s just say they might be Pittsburgh’s favorite unit in the NFL. Is there any doubt that Steelers’ fans were dancing in the street and rejoicing in their new position atop the AFC North as a result of the inept performances of Joe Flacco, Ray Rice & Cam Cameron?

I can’t help but think back to Steve Bisciotti’s comments pertaining to the team’s offensive coordinator -- “we like Cam under fire.”

Really?

Maybe it's time to shoot, aim and FIRE!

Post your comment

dave
Posted On: 10/26/11 1:06 am

@LouieN'Canton
Posted On: 10/25/11 8:15 pm

"blank, vacant, empty stares into oblivion ... outer space moments ... appears to be overwhelmed ... unable to respond emotionally."

"...a leader when things are going the Ravens way, but he goes into an emotional shell when things aren't and totally abdicates any leadership responsibility and leaves an empty vacuum instead. ... Robotic and unable to emotionally lead his team."

Well said !! I use to believe that we could get to a SB despite Flacco (i didn't say "win"). Last yr's 2nd half of the playoff game vs Pgh & yesterday have changed my mind.

The Goodell era has legislated changes that require a QB that can win you the game (and certainly not bury the team as in that 2nd half vs Pgh).

LouieN'Canton
Posted On: 10/25/11 8:15 pm

I've been an ardent Flacco supporter and will continue to support him, but I'm starting to believe he doesn't have the personality to be truly successful in this league.....watching his blank, vacant, empty stares into oblivion is getting a bit to much. TV producers lock in on Flacco in his "outer space" moments and he just appears to be overwhelmed and unable to respond emotionally.

As Tony pointed out, Joe is a leader when things are going the Ravens way, but he goes into an emotional shell when things aren't and totally abdicates any leadership responsibility and leaves an empty vacuum instead. Flacco looked like an empty shell of a person on the field Monday. Robotic and unable to emotionally lead his team.

Uli2001
Posted On: 10/25/11 6:01 pm

Dilfer does not have the same physical ability of Flacco, but he had heart. During that SB run, he won a game in Tennessee in the regular season on pure guts. He wanted to win, not numbers, and if he could not win the game, he did not lose it either. That's the main difference. I was a Flacco apologist for the longest while, but I have to finally admit that he looks like a robot out there. No inspiration, no display of anger when things go bad, no real jubilation when things go well. And before, he had the numbers, but the numbers are starting to drop off as well, look at completion percentage.

Scott
Posted On: 10/25/11 4:03 pm

Sure Flacco didn't help himself last night but with the horrible line play + game plan last night. Tell me which QB outside of Brady, Brees,Rodgers, would have done better. Vick probably but he's not a traditional QB so can't compare to Flacco. Maybe Rivers, Romo - maybe. Eli probably not. Big Ben - maybe but did you see what happened week 1 when he was pressured. It's always easy to say the grass is greener on the other side until you find out the other side is occuppied by Tavaris Jackson.

Shuds
Posted On: 10/25/11 3:31 pm

I seem to recall the 2000 Ravens having some trouble right around this point in the season with scoring on offense. Granted they had arguably the best DEFENSE in NFL history, but we are back to number 1 in the defensive rankings, and as bad as we played last night on offense, maybe the worst in this teams history, we are better offensively as a whole than that 2000 team. Trent Dilfer's own admission that Flacco is better than he...lets hope/pray they can figure out some sort of insprired, higher tempo offense that works.

Luigi
Posted On: 10/25/11 3:15 pm

Maybe we should let the winner of the high school QB challenge at halftime quarterback the second half.

kBubbak
Posted On: 10/25/11 3:07 pm

Yeah, always said Flacco doesn't have "it". And why does he never seem to find an open receiver when he scrambles. And I mean NEVER! Soooooooooooooo frustrating. But Joe seems to think he's a top five QB.

Uli2001
Posted On: 10/25/11 2:49 pm

Now watch them pound mighty Arizona at home, score 50 points, and prove to everyone how good of an offense they really are.

Alonzo
Posted On: 10/25/11 2:23 pm

Your article was SOOOOO money, Tony. Flacco can't fight through adversity at all. And the entire offensive "tempo" is ridiculous. 2 Minute Offense? Puh-Leeze, you're insulting all the other legit 2-minute offenses. We not only lost the game, we looked like a kiddie team without a coach. And to make ZERO "adjustments" at halftime---oh, that's right----that's exactly what we made ZERO ADJUSTMENTS. No motion, deception & nothing that says "smart". These are the basics of running an NFL offense. Harbaught can talk all he wants about "getting back to work," but we know what that means. We'll look exactly the same. Our offense is exactly the opposite of our defense. They shrink, and shrink and shrink. It's pathetic to watch. And heaven forbid we bring in a new coordinator because they'd have to learn a new system. No they wouldn't, we don't have a system now.

And Harbaugh must think the hurry-up offense is something over-rated, since it's so clear they NEVER practice it. Our hurry-up offense consists of Flacco looking over at the bench and walking to the line of scrimmage.

OriAl
Posted On: 10/25/11 1:29 pm

Flacco had little help last night. Pass blocking was nonexistent, as were open receivers, and Cam's play calling was, as usual, unimaginative and easily defended. Flacco didn't help himself on the few plays where he could have made something happen himself. I'd like to see Flacco with a real OC before we give up on him.

Cundiff should have been able to hit a 52 yard field goal (he was signed for his strong and accurate leg.)

Gerry Wienholt
Posted On: 10/25/11 1:01 pm

Tony, right on! Well said. Well written. Love it!

I really enjoy the articles! Witty and excellent insight....thanks!

Jim
Posted On: 10/25/11 12:32 pm

Hey - a truthful article about Flacco. How about that!

dave
Posted On: 10/25/11 12:23 pm

“we like Cam under fire.” Reminds me of that bumper sticker - "We love animals; they taste good"

If we can't get rid of Cam, maybe Boog could ...

Btw, last nights offense was vegan... vegan lite.