For the first time in a few years, the Baltimore Ravens look to have a good offense. They invested heavily in the draft, taking eight players on that side of the ball. One of these players was the first tight end taken in the draft, Hayden Hurst. They also went out to get some weapons in the passing game via free agency, signing John Brown, Willie Snead IV, and Michael Crabtree. With the last pick in the first round, they drafted former Heisman winner Lamar Jackson. With Jackson waiting in the wings, have the Ravens done enough, and can the offense save Joe Flacco?
Can the Baltimore Ravens Offense Save Joe Flacco?
Protecting the Pocket
Arguably the most impactful area that is going to determine Flacco’s success this season is the offensive line. If Marshal Yanda can return and stay healthy, this will immediately improve his time in the pocket. With a couple of the 2017 draft picks coming back from season-ending injuries, things are looking better on the line. Alex Collins is coming into his own after a successful first year in Baltimore and looking to improve. With the year under his belt, he should help strengthen the pocket. He will also be able to keep defenses honest, averaging 4.6 yards per carry on over 200 carries in 2017. If the line can stay reasonably healthy, the depth and experience should provide more time in the pocket. This will help Flacco get away from the constant check down, and back to throwing the ball further down the field.
New Kids in Town
As mentioned above, Flacco has plenty of new toys to play with on offense. Regardless of the tight end who wins the starting job after camp, every starter at a pass catching position will be a new starter. Benjamin Watson is gone, as well as Jeremy Maclin and Mike Wallace. It seems as if every position has been given an upgrade, which is much needed. Watson was a serviceable tight end but was easily a step slower after the Achilles injury. If Hurst wins the job, the raw talent will be much higher at the position. At receiver, Brown looks to fill the role of the deep speed receiver, already impressing in camp. As long as Crabtree solves his drops issue, or at least cuts down on it, he will be an enormous improvement as well. Snead could be a steal, as he has shown great production in the past. With 141 catches and 1,879 yards combined in 2015 and 2016, the talent is there. Snead should be able to find a role in the new-look offense with multiple weapons surrounding him.
Last Word
There isn’t much more that could be done to put Flacco in a better position. He has shown in the past that he can be a great quarterback and even did enough to create a nationwide argument regarding whether or not he’s elite. After betting on himself in 2012, he showed he made the right decision in leading the team to a Super Bowl Victory, with the best stretch by a quarterback in playoff history.
However, Flacco is 33 years old, and can be cut after 2018 with only $16 million in dead money. This would save the team $63 million after the dead money. After taking Jackson in the draft, it leaves the team as well as the fans in a tough position. Yes, we want Flacco to succeed. We also want to see Jackson, who could be the most athletic quarterback to ever play the position in the NFL.
The best case scenario seems to be having Flacco regain his old form, toss the ball downfield, and bring the team back to the playoffs. This would let Jackson learn the system behind him, and take a couple years on the bench before coming in around 2020. A close second would be having Flacco struggle mightily, with Jackson taking his place after only a few games. It’s tough to know what to root for, but one thing coming into the 2018 season is a certainty. The quarterback position in Baltimore is going to be incredibly interesting to watch.
