I’m very glad that the NFL Draft has come to a conclusion for this year.
Not because I know exactly what my Indianapolis Colts have to work with next season, but because I can finally turn on ESPN without hearing from Mel Kiper and Todd McShay.
It’s not that I disagreed with everything they had to say. On the contrary, I enjoyed most of their analysis, but the one thing I couldn’t stand was seeing Matt Ryan at number one on both of their quarterback lists along with every other “expert” in America.
Even more than that, McShay saying that the Baltimore Ravens taking Joe Flacco in the first round was a “reach,” angered me to no end.
Flacco was the best quarterback in the draft. The only competition Ryan has proven he can beat Flacco in is the one for most generic name.
The 6’6”, 230-pound Flacco was underrated and should’ve been taken third overall by the Atlanta Falcons. The Ravens have a gem of a player to end their quarterback woes.
In their senior seasons, Flacco had a better completion percentage and a better rating than Ryan. Ryan threw 19 interceptions over the course of the season while Flacco threw a grand total of five.
- B/R Ticket Guide
Ryan was better than Flacco in some statistical aspects. The Boston College Eagle threw for more yards and more touchdowns than Flacco. However, ESPN’s College Football Challenge was a showcase of Flacco’s supremacy.
He won two of three competitions at the College Football Challenge including the the Taco Bell Quarterback Scramble and the Long Distance Throw, where he accurately threw the ball 74 yards, 12 longer than Ryan’s best throw.
“I was just disappointed that I couldn’t get a spiral,” Flacco told ESPN. “If I got a spiral I was trying to get it close up to 80 (yards).
“I hope they already know that from game film,” Flacco said of NFL scouts knowing that he has the ability to hang with the rest of the quarterbacks in the draft class.
Apparently those NFL scouts haven’t seen the same things out of Flacco that I’m seeing.
Or maybe they are blinded by the fact that Flacco, of the University of Delaware, played FCS football while Ryan played in the much-respected Atlantic Coast Conference.
The truth, though, is that Flacco has proven he can compete with, and beat, tough competition. Just ask the 8-5 Navy Midshipmen who fell 59-52 to Flacco’s Blue Hens. In that game, Flacco threw for four touchdowns and a season-high 434 yards on 30 completions, while earning a rating of 194.28.
The Blue Hens also reached the FCS National Championship before losing to Appalachian State 49-21. Flacco had 334 yards and a touchdown against the Mountaineers, who were perhaps better known for beating the Michigan Wolverines earlier in the year.
The NFL has had a history of great players drafted out of the FCS (previously Division I-AA). Do Howie Long and Jerry Rice ring a bell? Or how about Brandon Jacobs, who was a big factor in the New York Giants' quest for the Lombardi Trophy?
Flacco will be no different. The Ravens have a class ‘A’ prospect on their hands.
But fear not, Ryan will also have his own little chunk of status quo. Just like the over-hyped JaMarcus Russell and Brady Quinn before him, I wouldn’t be surprised if Ryan spends the majority of his rookie year on the bench behind Joey Harrington.
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8 months ago
good article....u win my pick of the day
8 months ago
and 5 stars
8 months ago
The problem is that there are no 80 pass plays. so what does it matter how far you can throw it.
Playing QB is about making quick reads under pressure. Having said that I think the kid will make it.
8 months ago
I Agree. I think Ryan might make more of an impact in his first couple of seasons but in the long run, Flacco definitley has the tools to be a better quarterback.
8 months ago
Nice article, I agree Flacco will be better in the end.
8 months ago
LOL -- I hope you're wrong, because I'm a Steelers fan and would prefer that the Ravens not have a great QB! Seriously, though -- I'm not that familiar with Flacco perhaps, like you said, because he played in the FCS. Nice article.
8 months ago
Good article - I'm not sure Flacco will make it (although he certainly has a ton of talent) but he certainly has at least as good of a shot as the overrated Matt Ryan does.
8 months ago
I think that Matt Ryan was ranked so high because of his comeback performance against Virginia Tech. I watched that entire game, and I saw Kyle Boller in Matt Ryan so I prayed Ryan did not fall to the Ravens. Ryan would drop back, feel pressure, and scramble out of the pocket, just like Boller with his happy feet. The only difference was that Ryan found some open receivers. In the NFL, the D ends will hunt Ryan down--he won't be able to scramble like he did in college.
8 months ago
Flacco did not face anywhere near the caliber of defense in FCS that he will in the NFL. He struggled with the Villanova zone blitz defense and will see that a lot in the NFL. That is what scared many teams away. And rightfully so.
8 months ago
Flacco had two very goor WR's and a back who ran for nearly 2K yards. No question he is a very good QB, but he is not Ryan who had no player other than one lineman with any shot at the NFL. Don't ofrget nearly a third of his picks were fourth down conversion attempts and (another six were drops) b/c his kicker couldn't ht outside of 30 and BC consistently went for it with no other choice. I doubt all those "experts" are leaning on heresay. Go to You Tube and watch Va Tech, Clemson, and Wake Forest two seasons ago. These are three clear examples of why Ryan went high....he wins. I am OK with a QB who throws a good pass for only 64 yards. Flacco can have his spiral 80....but can he win?
8 months ago
I'm very happy to read an article that recognizes that there is talent in FCS football. Yes, FCS d-backs on average are not as quick or as fast as 1A, but in 1A games that I've seen, it is a rear 1A d-back that closes to an accurately thrown ball any faster the a top level FCS d-back. In the last 5 years, I followed University of New Hampshire football. They beat Rutgers, Northwestern, and Marshall in games that were decisive and at times not competitive. OK, Northwestern and Marshall were not good in their own leagues, but the predictions before every game was that the FCS team didn't have a chance and shouldn't even breathe the same air. Joe Flacco is getting the same treatment. I think he will surprise a lot of NFL fans. By the way, Terrell Owens, Tony Romo, Mike Flynn, Marques Colston, and Randy Moss all played 1AA for at least 2 years. I consider them successful NFL players. I bet they were considered reaches by the experts. My advice to fans is to look at the FCS playoffs. It is good football played by teams that I believe could beat most 1A teams. I will admit, 1A teams in the top 15 should be superior. The Appalachian St. / Michigan game last year was no fluke. Appalachian St. was a little smaller, but faster and in better condition physically and mentally. They will test LSU this year.
8 months ago
I think a lot of people are putting down Flacco's abilities without ever watching film. Just because the guy played FCS football does not mean that he doesn't have the skill-set needed to succeed in the NFL. Like you said John. . . Romo, Owens, Moss, etc. all played 1AA ball. Flacco would not have been rated so high on the expert's boards if the skills, and potential were not there.
7 days ago
What do you think of Ryan now??
from 7 days ago
Not overrated like I thought. But how about Flacco?
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