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Are You Comfortable With Kyle Boller As A Capable Back-Up?

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  • #1

    Are You Comfortable With Kyle Boller As A Capable Back-Up?

    There's already been a lot of discussion on this subject scattered throughout the forums, but I can't help thinking about just how effective Boller might be if called upon.

    I like the guy, but I don't think he'll be any different from his days as a Raven. I wasn't thrilled when we signed him, but I thought as a back-up, he might be serviceable. He certainly hasn't given me much confidence so far.

    He's always had the tools. Great arm, good mobility, nice size and strength. The problem is, while he has at times translated all those positives into success on the field, he eventually exposes a lack of poise, inconsistency and questionable decision making, as he did against Atlanta. His center in Baltimore and now with the Rams, Jason Brown, made a statement to that effect when he (Brown) was first signed.

    We could do worse than Boller and I realize that he is still getting used to a new system, but I hope we don't have to find out how effective Boller can be during the regular season.

    That said, he still has two games to make me feel a little more comfortable with him.
    Tags: None
  • #2
    Re: Are You Comfortable With Kyle Boller As A Capable Back-Up?

    He did have the time in Baltimore to show what he could do and didn't. Second time around he is a veteran and looks at things a bit different now. It is tough for any QB to come in and run a new system with all new players on offense. He didn't play with the ONES much if at all in camp, now he must show in a short period of time if he is the man to take over for Marc if he goes down in the regular season. I'll wait to hold judgment until the preseason is over and see how he does.

    He can't do any worse than Gus, who they were begging to sign !!!!

    If he does stink up the joint in the next two preseason games, why not just promote whomever wins the third QB spot, what would we have to lose ??? At least they know the system, instead of bringing someone else in the would be starting from the beginning.

    Null, Null, Null !!

    Maineram -

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    • #3
      Re: Are You Comfortable With Kyle Boller As A Capable Back-Up?

      Both of you guys make good observations. The 2nd string QB position has become very important over the past 10-15 years, and a team must have a capable guy in place if tragedy befalls your starter. I think Boller is good enough to do OK for the short term. Heaven forbid, but if he starts due to injury, look for the Rams to have Boller throw 15-17 times a game and Steven Jackson to run the ball about 30 times.

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      • #4
        Re: Are You Comfortable With Kyle Boller As A Capable Back-Up?

        I view Boller as a mere stopgap. This year's QB class was pretty shallow, so the Rams had the choice of either devoting their first pick to a QB or waiting until 2010 to get the "QB of the future." I'm fine with the choice the team made for 2009. I doubt we'll see Boller back in 2010.

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        • #5
          Re: Are You Comfortable With Kyle Boller As A Capable Back-Up?

          Good point AV, clearly looking to the future !!

          The question is, how much better is Boller than Berlin or Null at this point in the preseason !!!

          Maineram -

          Comment

          • #6
            Re: Are You Comfortable With Kyle Boller As A Capable Back-Up?

            Originally posted by AvengerRam View Post
            I view Boller as a mere stopgap. This year's QB class was pretty shallow, so the Rams had the choice of either devoting their first pick to a QB or waiting until 2010 to get the "QB of the future." I'm fine with the choice the team made for 2009. I doubt we'll see Boller back in 2010.
            I totally agree, great response!

            Comment

            • #7
              Re: Are You Comfortable With Kyle Boller As A Capable Back-Up?

              Good question Mike and Maine. :ram:

              The question is, how much better is Boller than Berlin or Null at this point in the preseason !!! -- Mainram
              Of course, a mild fear of the unknown might play a role here regarding Boller (as a Rams QB). So far I agree with all the above observations, thus my feeling and reply: YES, at this point I feel KB is a good fit as a backup-in-progress that should be ready by 1st game.

              Comment

              • #8
                Re: Are You Comfortable With Kyle Boller As A Capable Back-Up?

                I'd be interested to hear what a Baltimore fan might have to say on the subject. I've seen plenty of Ravens games with Boller at QB and I'll admit that he can be very exciting to watch and can carry a team down the field, but too often he let things slip away at the end in crunch time with a bad decision.

                Again, I like him and I like watching him, but he hasn't done anything to change my opinion of his play.

                Comment

                • #9
                  Re: Are You Comfortable With Kyle Boller As A Capable Back-Up?

                  Originally posted by r8rh8rmike View Post
                  I'd be interested to hear what a Baltimore fan might have to say on the subject. I've seen plenty of Ravens games with Boller at QB and I'll admit that he can be very exciting to watch and can carry a team down the field, but too often he let things slip away at the end in crunch time with a bad decision.

                  Again, I like him and I like watching him, but he hasn't done anything to change my opinion of his play.
                  I agree, being from Maryland, I have been to a few Ravens games, & he is very up & down. He will look really good on a drive and then the wheels come off. In his entire career, he has never been consistent.

                  Comment

                  • #10
                    Re: Are You Comfortable With Kyle Boller As A Capable Back-Up?

                    Originally posted by AvengerRam View Post
                    I view Boller as a mere stopgap. This year's QB class was pretty shallow, so the Rams had the choice of either devoting their first pick to a QB or waiting until 2010 to get the "QB of the future." I'm fine with the choice the team made for 2009. I doubt we'll see Boller back in 2010.
                    And when the time comes when we do draft a QB of the future (I wouldn't be surprised if it's in 2010.), at least Bulger and Null will have a year under this system and they can help out the rookie.
                    Always and Forever a fan of the St. Louis Rams

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                    • #11
                      Re: Are You Comfortable With Kyle Boller As A Capable Back-Up?

                      I really believe that Keith null will be our starter in 3 years.. I just have a feeling.. as for boller... nahhh not so much

                      Comment

                      • #12
                        Re: Are You Comfortable With Kyle Boller As A Capable Back-Up?

                        If a guy like Tavaris Jackson were to become a available I would definately take a long look. If Bulger were to go down with an even more significant injury (God forbid) I have verry little confidence in Boller

                        Comment

                        • #13
                          Re: Are You Comfortable With Kyle Boller As A Capable Back-Up?

                          Sorry, I don't have an faith in Boeller, not even as a good backup.

                          Comment

                          • #14
                            Re: Are You Comfortable With Kyle Boller As A Capable Back-Up?

                            Originally posted by rams#1 View Post
                            I really believe that Keith null will be our starter in 3 years.. I just have a feeling.. as for boller... nahhh not so much

                            Ya know, I have that same feeling that Null has "it". I don't know why, but I think the kid can get it done. Did he bag groceries at one time?

                            I am sure that Null will win out the number three quarterback position because of his youth. With Berlin, you know what you get, and what you now get, is about all you will get. With Null, there is a chance he can become more than a #3 QB, and he has a few years to prove it. That will make the difference in him winning the #3 position.

                            ...as for Boller. I agree with Av in that the guy was brought in as a stop-gap and his time in Stl. will last exactly, ...one season. I've watched a few of his games, and he is as Mike said, "up and down". One series he looks great, big arm, blah, blah blah. But then he does something stupid that makes you go... hmmm?

                            Comment

                            • #15
                              Re: Are You Comfortable With Kyle Boller As A Capable Back-Up?

                              Boller is a talented guy with a lack of focus.Apart from the injuries and playing in the QB blackhole of Baltimore, he has been a bit of a playboy a la Leinart. I think his lack of commitment in a league where all are super-talented and hardwork separates the Tom Bradys from the rest at crunchtime is a big problem. If Spags can change that, I think he will be a very solid back-up. I also like the added mobility and arm strength that he brings to the table.

                              His first start in forever last week was hardly a disaster.He was getting a rhythm ,I thought, when Gado fumbled. With a run game, I'm much more comfortable with him managing the offense than Green last year or the prospect of Null thrown in the deep end this season.

                              I also think he's a good example of a common profile on this team; disappointing career to date because of maturity, injuries, bad support, personnel shuffles/team politics.

                              The 2009 Rams are becoming a little like a kind of G-rated version of the 70s Raiders. Second chances galore.Since we already had a passel of underachievers to begin with...lol...let the bonding begin!


                              Obviously,for The Rams to have a successful season ,I think a bunch of these guys need to come through for DeSpags. I'd say Boller could well be a key retread.

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                              • RamFan_Til_I_Die
                                Kyle Boller is comfortable as a backup for Rams
                                by RamFan_Til_I_Die
                                Kyle Boller is comfortable as a backup for Rams
                                Veteran still feels capable of being starting NFL QB
                                BY STEVE KORTE - News-Democrat

                                ST. LOUIS -- When center Jason Brown was signed by the St. Louis Rams, he matter-of-factly accused his former teammate, Baltimore Ravens quarterback Kyle Boller, of becoming gun shy.

                                Now that Boller also has joined the Rams, how are the two players getting along?

                                For a few seconds, Boller tried to act like a rift existed between himself and Brown.

                                Boller jokingly told reporters that Brown refused to snap him the ball during practice, but then quickly fessed up.

                                "No, I'm just kidding," Boller said. "I'm good with Jason. Jason was trying to make a point, and I've talked with Jason about that. It took us maybe five seconds to get over.

                                "I've been with him at Baltimore for four years. We have a great relationship. He's a great player, a great person and that's not going to be an issue at all."

                                Brown seemed apologetic as he talked about his relationship with Boller.

                                "Kyle and I are great friends," Brown said. "Of course, everybody, they might have tendencies or some type of flaws in their game. I have flaws in my game. I live in a glass house. I cannot cast any stones. I really can't.

                                "Kyle, (we're) best of friends. We still go out together, went out just the other night."

                                Back in March, Brown was using Boller as an example of what happens when an offensive line consistently fails to protect the quarterback.

                                Brown said, "Kyle Boller with the Ravens, I love him to death. But you see what getting hit one too many times early in your career can do to you. He became gun shy. Instead of getting the ball and standing back there with poise and then being able to step up, if there was a flash of anything, something, it might have been far on the edge, he started to scramble.

                                "You have to have the faith in your offensive line."

                                Even Boller, a first-round pick by the Ravens in the 2003 NFL Draft, admitted that he was thrown into the fire too quickly.

                                "I got thrown in pretty early," said Boller, who started nine games as a rookie in 2003. "It is tough learning a playbook, learning defenses, then you are starting in Pittsburgh this week.

                                "You want to think that you are ready but I took some valuable lessons from that."

                                Injuries also have been a major factor in Boller's career. He missed the entire 2008 season because of a shoulder injury suffered in the preseason.

                                Boller's injury cleared the way for rookie Joe Flacco to lead the Ravens to the AFC Championship game.

                                "Injuries have prohibited me a little bit," Boller said. "Actually my rookie year playing...
                                -05-04-2009, 09:40 AM
                              • rammiser
                                No one is blaming Boller?
                                by rammiser
                                Man if that was Bulger throwing those int's he would be getting ripped to shreds right now. Can Null possibly be that much worse than Boller at this point? Boller is the same guy he has always been. Inaccurate,inconsistant, but can scramble. Well Bulger haters wanted a qb who can scramble how is that working out for us? We only lost by 10 points to a terrible team. Boller throws a pic when he has a wr wide open and he under throws him. I thought boller was the strong armed qb? Sorry to say put Bulger in that same situation and that's a td not an int. Bulger is so much more accurate than Boller it's obvious.

                                I just find it funny no matter who is behind center the results are pretty much the same. This tells me the Rams woes are not solely on the qb. We managed to make Justing Forsett look like Barry Sanders. Our o-line is once again so banged up Boller was being hit before he could even set up in the pocket. Those sacks are his fault though he should be able to get out of the way of those big lineman (sarcasm off). Boller has heart, not any more or less than Bulger but he has less talent then Bulger.

                                I say throw Null in at qb if we can't beat Seattle with Boller there isnt a game left on the schedule that is winable. So why not give the kid a shot? I dont care if Boller gives us the best chance to win he has no future as a starting qb in this league. Null on the other hand can at least show us what he can or cant do. Starting Boller anymore is a complete waste of the fans time. Boller has not changed one bit since his days in Baltimore, and will not lead this team to victory. So that being said lets start Null PLEASE!
                                -11-29-2009, 10:14 PM
                              • r8rh8rmike
                                Backup QB Boller Aims To Eliminate Mistakes
                                by r8rh8rmike
                                Backup QB Boller aims to eliminate mistakes
                                By R.B. FALLSTROM, AP Sports Writer
                                4 hours, 43 minutes ago

                                ST. LOUIS (AP)—If Kyle Boller is auditioning for a new deal with the St. Louis Rams, he has yet to impress.

                                The backup quarterback is getting extended playing opportunity, perhaps the rest of the season, given that Marc Bulger(notes) is on crutches with a fractured left shin bone. But Boller realizes the game-changing mistakes that have marred his play must be weeded out.

                                Boller threw two interceptions last week, including one on a tipped pass that was returned for the go-ahead touchdown in last weekend’s 27-17 loss to the Seahawks, and is responsible for seven turnovers in only 14 quarters. His other pick Sunday was in the end zone, negating a scoring opportunity.

                                “I wish a ball would pop 10 feet in the air and hit the guy in stride for a touchdown,” Boller said Wednesday. “That’s the way it goes. You have to protect the ball but I’m still going to go out there and try to make plays.”

                                Boller, who landed with a one-year free agent contract after sitting out 2008 with a shoulder injury in Baltimore, isn’t going to change. Despite the mounting mistakes, he said there’s no way he’ll go conservative this weekend at Chicago when he makes his second straight start.

                                “I’m not going to play scared, that’s when you do turn the ball over,” he said. “I don’t foresee that being a problem.”

                                The Rams (1-10) pretty much have to count on Boller improving, since rookie Keith Null is the only other quarterback on the roster. Coach Steve Spagnuolo doesn’t believe Null, a sixth-round pick, is ready and would just as soon he not play this season.

                                “I’m sure if you ask Kyle, certainly the second one, he’d like to have a better throw,” Spagnuolo said of the interceptions by Seattle. “I know Kyle would like to have both of them back.”

                                The coach has been able to say that a lot. Four of Boller’s turnovers have been returned for touchdowns, and two came in the red zone.

                                Of course, it’s not all the quarterback’s fault. The Rams have been inexperienced at wide receiver all season and the offensive line was minus three starters much of the game against Seattle. Boller was constantly on the run and was sacked four times, so he’s had to work through more than the usual soreness.

                                “Sometimes your best throws are when you get hit and you lay on the ground and hopefully they’re applauding when you play at home,” Boller said. “It was a little harder this week, definitely.”

                                Center Jason Brown is expected to make his 56th consecutive start, although he grudgingly missed the first practice of his career on Wednesday with a sprained right knee.

                                “It’s a humbling experience,” Brown said. “I did not want to miss this practice, not at all, but it’s all about doing the smart thing.”...
                                -12-02-2009, 08:04 PM
                              • r8rh8rmike
                                Boller Back To Familiar Role
                                by r8rh8rmike
                                Boller Back to Familiar Role
                                Wednesday, November 25, 2009


                                By Nick Wagoner
                                Senior Writer

                                In the past five weeks, Kyle Boller has taken on some ambitious roles on the Rams’ practice field.

                                One week, Boller took on the task of impersonating Indianapolis quarterback Peyton Manning, performing the many gesticulations and barking signals as the team’s scout team quarterback.

                                Last week, Boller put on the wrist band and gloves to mimic Arizona quarterback Kurt Warner. He’s also been Drew Brees, Matthew Stafford and David Garrard not to mention the first two games of the season when he handled Matt Hasselbeck and Jason Campbell duties.

                                With the news coming late Monday afternoon that starting quarterback Marc Bulger would miss three to six weeks with a fractured tibia in his leg, Boller returned to practice Wednesday in the role he knows the best.

                                “I am Kyle Boller this week,” Boller said. “I will be myself.”

                                As the backup to Bulger, repetitions with the first team offense have been few and far between for Boller. Instead, it’s been Boller’s job to lead the scout team offense in an effort to give the first team defense the closest approximation possible to the various opposing quarterbacks they will face that week.

                                But just because Boller has been out of action for the past month-plus doesn’t mean he isn’t prepared to step in and lead the Rams’ offense.

                                In fact, Boller has had plenty of experience doing that in this, his first year with the team.

                                “I think that helps,” coach Steve Spagnuolo said. “I do. If you went a three, four month stretch with one quarterback and you hear the same voice the whole time, there’s kind of a natural learning curve there. I think they are used to Kyle. It was two weeks or so ago somebody asked me if we got Kyle some reps and that’s why we do it, to keep guys oiled up. He’ll be ready to step in there.”

                                Actually, Boller is going on his third stint this year as the team’s starting quarterback. When Bulger suffered a broken pinkie in a training camp practice, Boller stepped in and started the bulk of the exhibition contests.

                                Bulger returned in time for the season opener against Seattle and played the first two contests plus the opening quarter or so against Green Bay on Sept. 27.

                                But when Bulger took a shot that caused him to land on his right shoulder, Boller entered that contest against the Packers and proceeded to immediately lead the Rams on three scoring drives, including two touchdown tosses to tight end Daniel Fells.

                                Bulger missed the next two games and Boller started those in his place, leaving Boller plenty comfortable with his knowledge of the offense and the players in place.

                                In his three games with two starts this season, Boller has thrown for 481 yards with two touchdowns...
                                -11-25-2009, 05:15 PM
                              • eldfan
                                St. Louis Rams QB Kyle Boller has another opportunity
                                by eldfan
                                St. Louis Rams QB Kyle Boller has another opportunity

                                Sports Columnist Bryan Burwell
                                [More columns]Bryan Burwell
                                ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
                                09/29/2009

                                This was all too familiar territory to him, so Kyle Boller knew exactly what to do. The moment reporters streamed toward him Monday afternoon inside the Rams' locker room, the freshly anointed most popular man in St. Louis flashed a 100-watt grin, confidently placed his hands on his hips and gave the on-rushing horde his best "come hither" look.

                                "So do you need me, guys?"

                                Of course we needed him.

                                Barring some major medical miracle that will heal Marc Bulger's damaged throwing shoulder overnight, Boller will be the starting quarterback for the Rams this Sunday in San Francisco, and perhaps the foreseeable future.

                                "You know you're the most popular man in town right now," someone told him.

                                Boller laughed.

                                "Oh yeah, I know, I know."

                                So how exactly did he get to be so popular?

                                A.) He's not Marc Bulger.

                                B.) He's the backup quarterback.

                                C.) Did I already say he's not Marc Bulger?

                                Boller stood in the middle of the locker room, ready to take on his role — no matter how temporary it might be — with his normal hell-on-wheels enthusiasm. As for the angry legions on the Internet message boards and radio airwaves who have held endless anti-Marc Bulger vigils since the day he first committed the unforgivable sin of not being Kurt Warner, you could almost hear their voices rise in unison to say, "Be still my heart."

                                These folks look at Boller as the answer to their long-overdue prayers ("Dear Football Gods: Anyone But Bulger.") Boller, who has been around the NFL block a few times, isn't necessarily fooled by this outpouring of love because he's already quite familiar with the standard love 'em, hate 'em world of an NFL quarterback.

                                "Oh yeah, I've been on both sides of it," Boller said with slight amusement. "And I can tell you this: Usually it's not fair."

                                Six years ago, he was a Golden Child first-round pick (19th overall by the Baltimore Ravens) who was supposed to be the answer to all the prayers of a salivating fan base.

                                A few years later, he felt the full brunt of their hostility and impatience, as the Ravens faithful began saying their own ABB prayers (Anyone But Boller) when he turned out to be an injury-prone passer who only teased Baltimore with flashes of promise between too many long stretches of un-franchise-like QB play.

                                After investing nearly $7 million on him as a franchise No. 1 pick, the Ravens seemed to spend the next few years trying to find someone who could replace him. They drafted a Heisman Trophy winner (Troy Smith) and signed...
                                -09-29-2009, 08:18 AM
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