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Thread: Ravens starting rookies
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08-19-2012, 06:36 PM #1
Ravens starting rookies
Claim from another thread about the Ravens not being willing to start rookies, and I thought that deserved its own thread...
I totally don't understand where this claim comes from. It's flat out not true. Nevermind the "Smith wouldn't be starting if Evans didn't get hurt," which is at best an impossible to prove claim. It's easily arguable that with how poorly Evans played and how well Smith was playing, he'd have been starting after four or five games.
But beyond that, the rest of it just isn't based on anything factual. In the Harbaugh era:
- Flacco has started every game in his career. Again, he got in due to injury early in the year, but he still would have seen playing time as a rookie.
- Rice got over 100 rushes and 30 catches as a rookie, despite having signed McGahee to a huge contract the year before.
- Nakamura may not have started, but he played in every game as a rookie.
- Same with Zibikowski.
- Oher started every game as a rookie.
- Webb played 14 games as a rookie and started four.
- Dickson played 15 games as a rookie and started three.
- McPhee didn't start any, but he had serious playing time in all 16 games last year.
- Jimmy Smith played 12 games and started three, missing four due to injury.
In every single case of players not playing their rookie season, you can point to a player or players in front of them who were either great players (say, Webb and Williams in front of Smith last year) or had just signed huge contracts when it comes to first or second round players not starting. But not getting playing time? Harbaugh having an aversion to playing rookies? I don't think this is even debatable that it's not true...
- C ----------------------------------------------------
www.oblongspheroid.com
A blog about any and everything football.
Twitter: oblong_spheroid
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Re: Ravens starting rookies
Yea..its a myth that started in 2009 when it took Webb until around december to crack the starting lineup after proving to be a playmaker much earlier that season. If the guy is ready, Harbs will put him in there.
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08-20-2012, 10:54 AM #3Regular 1st Stringer
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Re: Ravens starting rookies
+1
Forgetting our tradition with undrafted rookie linebackers.
In 2008 rookie Jameel McClain.. heck just like Joe he has played 64 games, just not starting in his rookie season..
And in 2009 rookie Dannell Ellerbe played 13 games started 3 + both PO games!
Bart Scott, Edgar Jones, Albert McClelland.. This list goes on... Probably another a tribut to 52.
Anyway we migth not have the records in starting rookies, winning teams seldom plays with a lot of rookies.
I believe Harbaugh and our FO believe in their rookies more than most team. Do they use rookie like crazy.. No thats why we are a winning team.
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08-20-2012, 11:03 AM #4
Re: Ravens starting rookies
Torrey Smith?
EDIT: Sorry... lol. I see the attached thread. I just skipped down to you list. Hahaha.... Move along, nothing to see here.
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Re: Ravens starting rookies
Just to play devil's advocate...
They were fully willing to let Flacco ride the pine while they went with Troy Smith and/or Kyle Boller that year. Would Flacco have seen time? Probably, but we can't possibly know that because it didn't happen. Saying he still would have seen time as a rookie is about as unprovable of a theory as you can get.
- Rice got over 100 rushes and 30 catches as a rookie, despite having signed McGahee to a huge contract the year before.
- Nakamura may not have started, but he played in every game as a rookie.
- Same with Zibikowski.
- Oher started every game as a rookie.
- Webb played 14 games as a rookie and started four.
- Dickson played 15 games as a rookie and started three.
- McPhee didn't start any, but he had serious playing time in all 16 games last year.
- Jimmy Smith played 12 games and started three, missing four due to injury.
Regardless, I do think the whole "Harbaugh doesn't play rookies" thing is a bit overblown. Most head coaches don't play rookies unless they have to or are an overly special player. Just look at the uproar down in Miami regarding their QB situation. They took Ryan Tannehill in the top 10, which means they clearly think that he is capable of playing at a very high level for them and for a long time, yet there is a distinct possibility that Garrard may be the starter. Harbs is a risk-averse kind of coach, so if he thinks it is less risky to go with a vet over a rookie, then that's probably what he is going to do.Disclaimer: The content posted is of my own opinion.
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08-20-2012, 05:24 PM #6
Re: Ravens starting rookies
I understand the devil's advocate view and appreciate that, but I will say that it's worth noting that most teams which start rookies on a regular basis are bad teams. They start rookies for three reasons:
1) The rookies are really high draft picks, because they're bad teams drafting high in the early rounds.
2) The bad teams have lots of holes to fill and thus rookies can break into the starting rotation easily.
3) The bad teams tend to draft for need, so they draft guys that can fill holes where they need starters.
I would bet if we looked at the Colts, Eagles, Patriots and Steelers over the last decade, we'd see about a similar rate of rookie starters as the Ravens have had.
- C -Last edited by psuasskicker; 08-21-2012 at 01:24 PM.
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www.oblongspheroid.com
A blog about any and everything football.
Twitter: oblong_spheroid
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Re: Ravens starting rookies
I dont think its a myth based on the same things wickeds saying. Yes they play, most of the time due to injury, and usually contribute but no they arent starters either. Like you said PSU it comes down to our draft style. You still want your 1 and 2 rounders to start right away in theory but in our case you just want them to contribute at the very least. Guys like webb certainly fueled the "they need to start rookies" since he was used sparingly until injuries made him start and he shined. I think it comes down to how its said. Unwillingness to play rookies is wrong, unwillingness to start rookies is debatable, unwillingness to throw them in before theyre ready and/or needed, id say is true.
Last edited by JAB1985; 08-21-2012 at 07:14 AM.
-JAB
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Re: Ravens starting rookies
The Ravens have been a SB contender ever since Harbs has been here. And like PSU alluded to, there isnt the same kind of pressure here to start rookies as there is with the perennial losers.
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Re: Ravens starting rookies
Disclaimer: The content posted is of my own opinion.
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Re: Ravens starting rookies
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