There has been some talk about Coach Flores trying to drag out the decision to have a competitive advantage for the 1st game of the season. Does that really matter?
Competitive Edge In Naming The Starter Late?
- Thread starter xSxPxHx
- Start date
Meh, seems like a double edged sword. It may cut down on the prep time for the Ravens staff to a small extent, but it also keeps our own team on edge as well.
I think it's more of a case where Flores doesn't see any benefit in announcing it, even if the staff has already made the decision.
I don't know if it's a huge advantage but for sure some. That's why I believe Flores already knows he's just not gonna say until he has to.
The days of leaks and a ton of info coming out of Miami are over. Flores comes from the most tight lip organizations over the past 20 years. Hell you can def sense it reading Mando especially that he has a stick up his azz bc nobody is leaking him info anymore *cough tannebaum*
The days of leaks and a ton of info coming out of Miami are over. Flores comes from the most tight lip organizations over the past 20 years. Hell you can def sense it reading Mando especially that he has a stick up his azz bc nobody is leaking him info anymore *cough tannebaum*
- Joined
- Feb 5, 2008
- Messages
- 11,484
- Reaction score
- 14,704
I've always liked the coaching tactic of not giving away your lineup or gameplan. While it does have potential for negative ripples amongst your own team, I think over time that fades away because the players understand that it is a universal approach, not just something that is QB specific.
But in our situation, I fully believe Fitzmagic will be the starter for games 1-4, and then when we go into the break at game week 5, we'll switch to Rosen, giving him two weeks preparation with the 1's (bye week + week 6 preparing for game 5). That amount of time should be about right for the rest of the offense to become competent with Coach Flo's systems and start being productive. Hopefully that means Rosen will have better execution around him and a more solid OL protecting him and generating a running game to take the pressure off him.
So, this tactic has the added bonus of clearly showing the coaching staff's support for Rosen even when they name Fitzmagic the starter. That instills confidence in both the team and Rosen when he takes over, whenever that is.
But in our situation, I fully believe Fitzmagic will be the starter for games 1-4, and then when we go into the break at game week 5, we'll switch to Rosen, giving him two weeks preparation with the 1's (bye week + week 6 preparing for game 5). That amount of time should be about right for the rest of the offense to become competent with Coach Flo's systems and start being productive. Hopefully that means Rosen will have better execution around him and a more solid OL protecting him and generating a running game to take the pressure off him.
So, this tactic has the added bonus of clearly showing the coaching staff's support for Rosen even when they name Fitzmagic the starter. That instills confidence in both the team and Rosen when he takes over, whenever that is.
gregorygrant83
Active Roster
- Joined
- Mar 23, 2009
- Messages
- 12,062
- Reaction score
- 13,429
When you're ranked 32nd in the preseason polls I don't think something like naming your starter late really matters. It's not like the Ravens are going to use a game plan designed on stopping Rosen or Fitzpatrick.
Dynastybuilder
Club Member
I wouldn't be surprised to both see them play week 4. Pre-season needs to be handled by different teams according to their needs. We have a new staff, with a bunch of new players. The D is coming along nicely, but I get the feeling we see guys play for starting time next week.
TX-FinFan
Seasoned Veteran
I trust Flores will pick the right time for Rosen to start. I think it comes after our bye week unless Fitzpatrick is lighting it up.
Jimi
The World Is Yours
I think the edge is a lot sharper on one side, it's a big advantage for us. Having to prepare for both QBs takes up a lot of extra time. Meanwhile both of them have been splitting reps with the 1s for most of the off-season, our guys won't need much time to adjust.
With that being said I don't think that's cIzinf the delay. I think Flores legitimately can't decide. There's pros and cons to both choices.
ANUFan
Club Member
- Joined
- Jul 31, 2010
- Messages
- 27,965
- Reaction score
- 37,444
There's a major flaw in your Fitzmagic starts games 1-4. What if the team is 3-2 or better? I know that's unlikely but that creates a huge problem. You can't just switch out QBs like that if the current QB is playing well and is generating wins.
- Joined
- Sep 17, 2012
- Messages
- 13,285
- Reaction score
- 32,034
Pretty obvious Flores has been well schooled in the Belicheck "control the message" discipline
and he's going to use every possible angle for his benefit as HC. That said I don't believe
the delay we're discussing is a competitive advantage -- but it does affirm the
fact Flores is in firmly in charge and all parties (including the media) will
deal with that core fact.
and he's going to use every possible angle for his benefit as HC. That said I don't believe
the delay we're discussing is a competitive advantage -- but it does affirm the
fact Flores is in firmly in charge and all parties (including the media) will
deal with that core fact.
ANUFan
Club Member
- Joined
- Jul 31, 2010
- Messages
- 27,965
- Reaction score
- 37,444
Honestly, I think the major hang-up is balancing truly trying to be competitive this year and also being fully aware of the future needs of this team. I think the GM knows with good, solid, coaching this steam can win 3-5 games this season. But, I'm sure the GM also is aware that could kick them out of the #1 overall pick and even top 5 selection.
- Joined
- Sep 17, 2012
- Messages
- 13,285
- Reaction score
- 32,034
Hard to know behind the scenes... But I believe Grier and Flores have so far been entirely consistent with
the core philosophy Grier articulated when he became the unquestioned overload (post Gase/TBum firing
and him starting the HC search).
I keep hearing (like an echo) how impressed Grier was by Flores plan and how that perfectly dovetailed with Grier's vision.
I think we've been seeing that play out -- and as long as they remain true to the course -- I'm 100% supportive.
The only reservation I have is a Ross intervention. But I think it was clear at the presser (when Grier really took over)
that Ross has finally seen the light and he's completely turned the operation over... No more show biz...
That said, we're NOT in a must win mode at all. But I also don't believe we're secretly scheming for the worst record
in the league either.
Maybe Flores can wait till game time to announce the starting O-line to give us an advantage.....lol
- Joined
- Feb 5, 2008
- Messages
- 11,484
- Reaction score
- 14,704
Well that's the beauty of it, the first 4 games the team will be suffering from learning new systems, so the chances of winning any are low. But, if we do, it'll most likely be because Fitzmagic is having a hot streak. And, as we know, Fitzmagic runs hot and cold, so he does have hot streaks … but he also has cold streaks just about every season.
When he starts having a cold streak, boom, in goes Rosen to save the season or at least show his wares. I'm just guessing that the changeover happens during the bye week because it takes about 4 or 5 games for a team to adjust to the new systems, and we learned that under Gase as well. Plus, having the bye week at week 5 means that will give Rosen two full weeks to prepare with the 1's after they've got the hang of our new systems. So, that gives Rosen the best possible platform to succeed … something he wasn't given in Arizona.
DolfanISS
Perennial All-Pro
I could totally see Flores doing this. Teams probably don't care about preseason game 4 and may be working on week 1. Then again I'm not sure the QB's are much different. I guess you roll out more looks and get after Rosen a little more. It's not like one QB is a passer and the other is mobile.