Baltimore Ravens: Gary Kubiak Behind Ravens’ Success

Does the Ravens offense look different to you? Do you feel more confident about their ability to consistently move the ball down the field and put points on the board? What’s going on here?

This isn’t a one season trick we saw in 2012 when Baltimore tried going no huddle. Joe Flacco has been playing smart and consistently for a while now, so it’s not that. They seem to have not missed a beat in the running game moving towards a two-back system with Justin Forsett and Kyle Juszczyk. Not that either. Ageless wonder Steve Smith revitalizing his career can’t be the reason. What’s going on here? Why is the Baltimore offense all of sudden a well-oiled machine?

Oh, hello Gary Kubiak.

Gary Kubiak came to the Baltimore Ravens in 2014 to serve as offensive coordinator after a seven-year tenure as head coach of the Houston Texans. Kubiak has competed in six Super Bowls losing three as a player and winning three as an assistant head coach. Quite the place to be coming from.

Kubiak played his entire career in Denver as a backup to John Elway. And that’s where his priceless offense and quarterback expertise comes from. It’s only fitting he helped coach John Elway to his two Super Bowl victories.

If that isn’t enough, former San Francisco quarterback Steve Young owes a great deal of thanks to Gary Kubiak for his second league MVP title, which he earned on his way to a Super Bowl victory in 1994. Young threw six touchdowns in that game. Not bad at all, Kubiak.

So what can we expect from Kubiak and Flacco together? Big things.

Kubiak was definitely not the reason Houston couldn’t get over the hump. At the center of the team was a mediocre-at-best  quarterback that Kubiak couldn’t bring to the next level. Take guy like Young or Elway, quarterbacks with enough confidence and skills, and Gary will bring the best out of them.

Now I’m not saying Joe Flacco is a Steve Young or anything. Not at all. But I am suggesting that given Flacco’s impressive skill set and proven ability to win big games, expect Gary Kubiak to create some of that magic we’ve seen before.