Kyle Boller

Kyle Boller

Kyle Boller during the Ravens 2008 Training Camp.
Baltimore Ravens
Career information
College:	California
NFL draft:	2003 / round: 1 / pick: 19
Career history
Baltimore Ravens (2003-Present)
Career NFL statistics as of Week 17, 2007
TD-INT: 45-44 Passing yards: 7,846 QB Rating: 71.9 Stats at Pro Football Reference

Kyle Bryan Boller (born June 17 1981 in Template:City-state) is an American football quarterback who plays for the Baltimore Ravens of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Ravens in the first round of the 2003 NFL Draft out of California.

High school

Boller earned the 1998 California State Player of the Year honors after an outstanding senior season at Hart High School. He led Hart to the CIF Southern Section Division IV title with a 13-1 record. He passed for California prep record of 4,838 yards and threw for 59 TDs, the 2nd-best mark in California prep history, and ended the season completing 290 of 454 passes (63.9%). Because of this, he was considered by many to be the best prospect to emerge from The Valley Region of Los Angeles since John Elway came out of Granada Hills High School in 1979. During the 1998 season, Kyle also played the position of safety on defense, and intercepted a pass in the final minute of the sectional championship game. He was rated the number one QB prospect in the nation by PrepStar and was that publication's national Offensive Co-Player of the Year.

College

He was introduced as "Jesus in Cleats" by the school newspaper when he arrived at University of California, Berkeley and over his 42-game college career, he completed 622 of 1,301 passes (47.8%) for 7,980 yards, 64 TDs and 48 INTs. Only Troy Taylor (8,126 yards, 1986-89) threw for more yards in Cal history. Additionally, Boller’s 64 TDs topped the previous school career-record of 54 by Pat Barnes (1993-96). Boller experienced a breakout in 2002, throwing for 2,815 yards, 28 TDs and only 10 INTs for a 126.8 QB rating. Although Kyle, and the team as a whole, struggled in his first three seasons, he had the advantage of working with new head coach Jeff Tedford and offensive coordinator George Cortez in 2002, who are recognized as two of the top QB technicians in football. As a direct result, he showed tremendous improvement during his final season, especially in his footwork, fundamentals and accuracy. Overall, in his senior season he showed maturity and experience, and emerged as one of the top QB prospects in the nation leading into the 2003 NFL Draft.

Professional career

2003 season

Boller became the Ravens' first round draft pick in 2003 NFL Draft (19th overall pick). He was the second quarterback selected from the Pac-10 conference after the Cincinnati Bengals selected Carson Palmer from USC with the first overall pick. He started the first 9 games of the season, going 5-3, before being injured (thigh) in a game against the St. Louis Rams. He was inactive for most of the rest of the season, being replaced by backup Anthony Wright, as he also had to have surgery to repair a muscle in his quadriceps. Boller rushed 30 times for 62 yards, and completed 116 of 224 passes for 1,260 yards with 7 TDs and 9 INTs. Before his injury, he was showing improvements on a game to game basis.

2004 season

Boller started all 16 games in 2004, He set career highs, completing 258-of-464 (55.6%) for 2,559 yards with 13 TDs and 11 INTs. He also rushed 53 times for 189 yards and his 1st-career rushing TD. He had 4 games with QB ratings over 100, including a career-high 112.3 rating while going 18-of-34 for 219 yards, with a career-high 4 TDs and 0 INTs against the Giants. He once again showed improvement, and was starting to settle into his role as a starting QB in the NFL.

2005 season

It would seem that 2005 will be remembered as nothing more than the season that "could have been". Despite not making the playoffs the previous year, The Baltimore Ravens were seen by the NFL and the sports media as being contenders for the Super Bowl, resulting in four primetime games, two Sunday night games, and two spots featured on Monday Night Football. A factor in this was Boller's perceived status of "coming into his own", and so the Ravens were poised to start what would be a great season by taking on the Indianapolis Colts on the first primetime Sunday Night game of the season. The Ravens held their own in the first half, limiting the Colts to only 3 points, and Boller looked solid in the pocket, leading the offense down the field to the red zone several times. But it didn't last, as Boller was injured in the third quarter, suffering a bad case of "turf toe", that would wind up keeping him out of action for 7 games. The Ravens season went downhill after that, even going four games without a single passing TD. However, despite this, he still finished 2005 completing a career-high 58.4% of his passes (171-of-293) for 1,799 yards with 11 TDs and 12 INTs despite missing almost 8 games due to injury. After posting an 8.0 QB rating (4-of-12 [33%] for 37 yards and 1 INT) in the 1st half, Boller exploded in the 2nd half, going 14-of-20 [70%] for 174 yards, 3 TDs and 1 INT for a 115.4 QB rating in the final 2 quarters against the Bengals. In back to back games, he (and the entire team) finally seemed to come alive and show the promise everyone had been expecting, as he completed 19-of-27 passes (70.4%) for 253 yards, 3 TDs and no INTs for a career-high 136.8 QB rating in the 48-3 victory in game 14 vs. Green Bay. Then against Minnesota, he posted a career-high 70.6 completion percentage (24-of-34) for 289 yards, 3 TDs and 1 INT for a 113.5 QB rating. With these performances, he became the 1st QB in franchise history to post 110+ QB rating in consecutive games.

2006 season

Steve McNair, former Tennessee Titans QB, was traded to Baltimore in 2006. Coach Brian Billick declared McNair the starter instead of having the two compete for the job, citing McNair's credentials including 2003 NFL CO-MVP. In week 6 of the 2006 season, McNair was sacked by Carolina Panthers defenders Mike Rucker and Chris Draft. The result of that play was a mild concussion and a neck injury. McNair left the game and would not return. Boller came in to replace him in the final seconds of the first quarter, and completed 17 of 31 passes for a 58% completion percentage, 3 touchdowns, 226 yards, and one interception. Faced with a 9-point deficit with 5:10 remaining, Kyle Boller connected with Mark Jermain Clayton for a 62-yard TD pass to start a come-back attempt. When the Ravens defense gave up their second touchdown of the day, Boller was called upon to score again. This time, he faced 68 yards and was given 4:08 to score a touchdown. He drove down the field for 68 yards and capped off his drive with a 7-yard touchdown pass to tight end Todd Heap. The Panthers were then able to run out the clock before Boller could get back on the field, and the Ravens lost 23 - 21. Then, after McNair's throwing hand was stepped on against Cleveland on Dec. 17, Boller led the Ravens to victory with a 13-of-21, 238-yard and two-touchdown performance (112.3 passer rating), one touchdown being the game highlight, when he connected with explosive rookie receiver Demetrius Williams for the 77 yard score. That victory clinched a playoff berth for the Ravens, who had already all but locked up their division. Boller's solid off-the-bench performance is evidence to some that he might eventually emerge from under McNair's guidance as a successful starting NFL quarterback.

2007 season

After Steve McNair was injured in the first game of the season against the Cincinnati Bengals, Boller was given the opportunity to start. He came in late in the game and drove the team downfield. Due to some questionable refereeing a touchdown pass was reversed ending the game. Boller was then named the interim starter in Week 2, in a home game against the New York Jets. He had a strong showing, throwing two touchdowns and no interceptions for 185 yds and a QB rating of 97.9. In Week 3, McNair retook the reigns of the team, facing the Arizona Cardinals. The team was up in the 4th, and they switched Boller in to rest McNair, and in spite of a late comeback effort by Kurt Warner, Boller managed to get the team in position for a game winning field goal. The following 2 games Boller was back on the bench. In weeks 6 and 7, Boller was once again named the interim starter.

Following the Week 8 Bye, the Ravens once again decided to go with Steve McNair as their starter. It was decided before Week 11, that Boller would officially be the starting QB for the remainder of the season. This initially paid off, as he led the Ravens in a hard fought game against the Browns, in which Boller led the team to a late comeback, which ended in what seemed to be a win, after a missed field goal attempt by Cleveland. However, the refs reviewed the play and found that it was in fact a good field goal, and the game went into overtime. The Ravens lost 33-30.

In what might be viewed as the 2007 Ravens' finest moment they faced the New England Patriots on Monday Night Football. Boller, behind an unusually steady offensive line, ended the game with 2 TDs and 1 INT. It was arguably the best game of his career. The Ravens ultimately lost 27-24.

The Ravens next traveled to Miami to face off against the winless Miami Dolphins. Boller took one too many hard hits, and had his season end with a mild concussion. Backup rookie QB Troy Smith played the remainder of the game, leading the team into overtime, where they eventually lost, 22-16, giving the Dolphins their sole win of the season.

The 2007 Ravens ended their season with a record of 5-11, which led to Head Coach Brian Billick being fired. Under new coach John Harbaugh, along with new Offensive Coordinator Cam Cameron, who is known for developing QBs, it is unknown whether or not Boller will get a chance to compete for the starting job again in 2008. With one year remaining on his contract, it remains to be seen whether or not the team will sign him to another extension.

2008 Season

Following the retirement of Steve McNair, Kyle will be facing a three way battle for the starting job between himself, former Heisman winner Troy Smith, and the Ravens 2008 First Round Draft choice, Joe Flacco. Kyle Boller was given the starting job against the New England Patriots in the 2008 pre-season opener.

Notable

• • Boller's total yards his senior year under Tedford were greater than his first three years as a starting quarterback combined.
• The Ravens initially attempted to trade up to draft Marshall quarterback Byron Leftwich, but instead traded two picks (2003 2nd round pick and 2004 1st round pick) to the New England Patriots for their 2003 1st round pick (#19 overall) which the Ravens used to draft Boller.
• Boller wore uniform #8 in 2003, as incumbent quarterback Chris Redman wore #7, but when Redman left following the '03 season, Boller switched back to #7, which he wore in college. His favorite quarterback growing up also wore #7 - John Elway.
• Before being injured, his win-loss record as a rookie (5-3) was the third best in NFL history.
• As of the end of the 2007 NFL season, Kyle Boller is now the Baltimore Ravens franchise leader in passing yards, passing attempts, and passing completions.
• Boller's father, three uncles, grandfather, and great-grandfather were all firefighters.
• Majored in American Studies while at UC Berkeley.
• Part-owner of the Hollywood Fame, a 2006 expansion franchise of the American Basketball Association.
• Kyle has joined with the Baltimore City Fire Department to promote fire safety to local school children.

External links

• NFL.com - Kyle Boller
• Baltimore Ravens official site - Kyle Boller