Joe Flacco has taken a lot of scrutiny in recent years for is less than stellar play on the field and it has forced the Baltimore Ravens hand in finding alternative options in case Flacco continues to struggle this year. The Ravens starting Quarterback has played in the league for 11 years and has a Super Bowl ring to show off his quality of work.
But in the NFL, it is a league of “what have you done for me lately” and Flacco has truly struggled over the past few seasons. Last year, Flacco started 16 games and threw for just 3141 yards with 18 touchdowns and 13 interceptions.
This year, unlike many other, Flacco is coming into the season healthy and that is a big positive for Flacco as he has been injured for the past few years with a Torn ACL and numerous back issues. Flacco missed the entire training camp last year, due to his back issue and that meant not being able to practice or play in the preseason heading into last year.
That is what makes this year so interesting for Flacco, the fact that he is finally coming into the training camp healthy and with some new weapons on the offense. The Ravens signed Wide Receivers Michael Crabtree, Willie Snead and John Brown in the offseason, which will give them a much needed boost in the receiving game.
The Ravens however have began taking alternative measures in case Flacco isn’t able to progress this season. The Ravens signed former Washington Redskins QB and #2 overall pick in the 2012 draft, Robert Griffin III. Griffin took the Redskins to the playoffs in 2012 in his rookie year and posted spectacular numbers throwing for 3200 yards, 20 touchdowns and 5 interceptions. RGIII’s numbers went down from there, competing in only 13 games for the Redskins in 2013, 7 games in 2014 and sitting out the entire 2015 season with injury. RGIII returned to the league in 2016 with the Cleveland Browns, before being cut after just 5 games. RGIII did not play last year and it is still uncertain that he will make the Ravens squad.
In addition to having RGIII and Flacco on roster, the Ravens really threw a curveball in the NFL draft by picking up Quarterback Lamar Jackson. Jackson has looked phenomenal in OTA’s and minicamps and many people have said he looks like a young Michael Vick. The Ravens have been trying out some two quarterback sets with Flacco and Jackson on the field at the same time.
There is plenty to be excited for in Baltimore this year and if the season begins to play out how they do not expect, they have options to replace Flacco under center. This could leave for a tentious position battle or at least place added pressure on Flacco to succeed or be replaced by either RGIII or Lamar Jackson.
In a post practice media conference, Baltimore Ravens Safety Eric Weddle has stated that he has seen a big change in Joe Flacco. Weddle described Flacco as having a fire lit under him and said that he is working extremely hard to make sure he retains his job succeeds with the Ravens in 2018.
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