Baltimore Ravens Season Grades: Joe Flacco
Jan 10, 2015; Foxborough, MA, USA; Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco (5) celebrates after the Ravens
With all the information we finally need in place, The Baltimore Wire will begin an in-depth analysis of each and every player to have played a snap in Baltimore this year. We will start where every NFL team starts, with the quarterbacks, particularly Joe Flacco.
B. . QB. Baltimore Ravens. JOE FLACCO
The way the national media talks, one would think Joe Flacco would require two grades. But no, one grade is sufficient, as his playoff performance actually mirrored his quality regular season.
In short, Flacco put on the kind of season expected of him, with some transcendent games and some true clunkers. The transcendent games: A five touchdown masterpiece against Tampa Bay; a 327 yard, three touchdown performance against Carolina; and an efficient 259 yard, two touchdown performance in the Wild Card round. The clunkers: A 43.1 passer rating game in Week 8 and a 41.7 passer rating against Houston in Week 16.
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Where Joe Flacco improved the most was in the minutiae of the NFL season. Everyone expects the highs and the lows from Flacco, yet this year his average game was much higher quality. With a season passer rating of 91 and eight games without an interception, Flacco was very efficient in almost all of his starts, even when he wasn’t asked to carry the team.
The reason for that improvement stems in Flacco’s improved pocket presence. An improved offensive line helped, but Flacco deserves much of the credit for the team’s remarkable ability to avoid sacks. Flacco took just 19 sacks this year, showing phenomenal ability to extend plays when necessary and a strong sense of when to get rid of the ball. This ability was something he had never shown in years past.
Flacco was a natural fit in Gary Kubiak‘s scheme in Year 1, so knowing that Kubiak will return next year is a huge boost for this offense.
Two clunkers aside, there is nothing bad to say about Flacco’s season, especially when compared to his 2013. The progression he made as a passer should last throughout his career and keep Ravens fans excited every time No. 5 takes the field.
Tyrod Taylor – D
Tyrod Taylor played six snaps this year and did nothing to inspire confidence. His contract is expiring, and it would be a surprise if Taylor is the Ravens’ backup next year.