When Joe Flacco is away, Kyle Boller and Troy Smith will play.
Boller and Smith had their latest chance to prove one of them should be the Ravens starting quarterback in 2008 during the team?s passing camp this week. They got to do so without the presence of Flacco, the 18th pick of the NFL Draft, who was forced to miss the workouts due to league rules which prohibit rookies from participating in more than one mini-camp until after their respective school?s graduation.
But, both Boller and Smith were erratic during Wednesday?s practice in Owings Mills. Boller threw behind his intended targets a number of times while Smith ? the 2006 Heisman Trophy winner ? underthrew a number of passes as well. Still, Ravens coach John Harbaugh said both signal-callers have a lot to offer the team and no decision on who will start has been made yet.
“Troy is a leader,” Harbaugh said. “Anytime you?ve won the Heisman Trophy, anytime you?ve been in a national championship game, you obviously know how to lead an offense and lead a team. He likes football, he likes being out there, he?s around the building. I?d say the same thing for Kyle [Boller]. Both those guys have done a great job of studying Cam?s [Cameron] offense and they?re getting better every day.”
Flacco will next appear at the Ravens facility during next month?s rookie and free agent camp. Harbaugh said he expects Flacco, who played at the University of Delaware, to be up to speed on the offensive schemes, but it will take time for him to make up for the on-the-field work he missed. The Ravens moved the rookie camp back from this month to June 16-18 so Flacco could participate in it.
“We?re going to have to try and incorporate as many reps as we can for him,” Harbaugh said. “One of the reasons we moved the rookie camp back to after the three passing camps was because he couldn?t be here for the first three days and now [he can]. Basically, our guys have dubbed it the ?Flacco Camp.? So, the rookies are here after the passing camps. You?ve got the whole team here, running routes and covering and doing all that, and he?s not here. That?s something that he missed.”
Ravens tight end Todd Heap went through a similar experience as Flacco in 2001 when he missed some mini-camps after being drafted in the first round out of Arizona State. Until then, Heap is enjoying seeing what he feels is significant progress being made by Smith and Boller.
“Obviously, [Smith]?s more confident,” Heap said. “He?s got a little bit better ability to lead because he knows what?s going on and he?s got some experience. So guys can draw from it. All the other guys have something to draw from and [can] say, ?OK he?s done this a little bit,? whereas, last year he was unproven.
“In the NFL it?s the toughest part to come in and lead when you?re unproven. That?s what I see so far. Those guys have put in a lot of time, both Kyle [Boller] and Troy, and it?s good competitive competition. They?re really getting after it. They?re having to work until they drop and that?s only going to be healthy.”
Ravens linebacker Bart Scott also enjoys watching the quarterback competition and believes Smith?s chances of starting are as good as anyone?s.
“I think he did an admirable job last year,” Scott said. “He?s just trying take the next step forward. There?s always the next tier. It?s going to be a competition. I think this thing is wide open and he has a tremendous opportunity to start at quarterback for the Baltimore Ravens.”
