Reed: Ravens O-Line Needs To Block Better For "Rattled" Flacco
FOXBORO (CBS) - Ravens safety Ed Reed called out quarterback Joe Flacco and the team's offensive line ahead of the team's clash with the Patriots in Sunday's AFC Championship Game.
Appearing on Sirius XM NFL radio on Tuesday, Reed said he thought Flacco was "rattled a little bit" during Sunday's win over the Texans.
"They had a lot of guys in the box on him. And, I mean, they were getting to him. I think a couple times he needed to get rid of the ball," said Reed. "I don't know how much of the play calling, he could have made audibles or anything like that, checks or whatnot, man, but it just didn't look like he had a hold on the offense, you know, of times past. You know, it was just kind of like they was telling him to do, throw the ball or get it here, you know, get it to certain guys. And he can't play like that."
Reed also said that the offensive line needs to better protect Flacco.
'(The) offensive line gotta block better," Reed said. "You know, they gotta communicate better, gotta pick up blocks, Joe's gotta get the ball out of his hand."
During a conference call Tuesday, Patriots coach Bill Belichick did his best to praise the young Baltimore QB, despite Reed's comments.
"They've won a lot of games and I think that's the big thing. A quarterback has to do what his team needs him to do to win and Joe has done that. I don't know how improve much on 11-5 and 12-4 and they just keep doing it. He's been a solid guy since his rookie year in terms of managing the game and using the clock and making good decisions and those types of things," Belichick said.
Tune in to the AFC Championship game between the New England Patriots and Baltimore Ravens Sunday, January 22 at 3pm on 98.5 The Sports Hub and WBZ-TV. Pregame coverage begins with a special hour-long edition of Patriots GameDay at 11am, with Patriots Preview beginning at noon on the Hub!
