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Daily Caw: Joe Flacco’s First Shot at 4,000 Yard Season Ruined by Drops

By Brett Foote

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Jan 3, 2015; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco (5) talks to Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh (R) during a stoppage in play against the Pittsburgh Steelers in the second half during the 2014 AFC Wild Card playoff football game at Heinz Field. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

Welcome to the Daily Caw, where we round up all the latest Baltimore Ravens news from around the web.  Turns out, Joe Flacco could have reached a new mark in 2014 but he was ruined by drops, which produced more lost yardage than any quarterback in the league.  We also name the team’s x-factor and why the Ravens can’t sneak up on anyone in 2015.

Drop cost Ravens’ Flacco shot at first 4,000 yard season in 2014 – Fox Sports

"Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco passed for a career-best 3,986 yards in 2014, but he would have easily croseed the 4,000-yard plateau if his receivers helped his cause a bit more.According to Pro Football Focus, Flacco lost out on 472 passing yards last season, the most in the NFL by a comfortable 82-yard cushion.So where did the drops come from? Steve Smith Sr. led the team (and the NFL) with 10 while Torrey Smithhad six, and Jacoby Jones and Owen Daniels had four and three, respectively. Of course, Flacco won’t have to worry about those last three names dropping his passes any longer. All together, the Ravens dropped 29 passes, tied for fifth-worst in the league, according to SportingCharts.com."

Who is the Ravens’ x-factor?  It isn’t Joe Flacco – Jeff Zrebiec, The Baltimore Sun

"During their media availability at the mandatory minicamp this month, both Terrell Suggs andElvis Dumervil cited cornerback Jimmy Smith’s healthy return as one of the primary reasons to be optimistic about the defense despite Haloti Ngata and Pernell McPhee’s departures.We’re still about 3 ½ weeks away from training camp, but if I had to name an X-factor for the 2015 Ravens, a player whose performance will go the longest toward determining whether the team has a successful season, I’d say it’s Smith, without hesitation."

2015 Ravens can’t sneak up on people – John Eisenberg, BaltimoreRavens.com

"Just a few months ago, they went into New England as major underdogs, telling themselves no one gave them much of a shot to win a playoff game. It wasn’t entirely true; the Patriots knew Baltimore was a dangerous opponent and sighed with relief after overcoming a pair of 14-point deficits to win. But the Ravens felt right at home in those conditions. They’ve won a pair of Super Bowls as a No. 4 seed.As a new season approaches, however, it appears they might have to find a new psychological tactic. Overlooked and under-appreciated isn’t an appropriate description of the Ravens heading into 2015."

Will Joe Flacco remain atop Ravens’ top 20 list in 2015? – Jamison Hensley, ESPN

"Flacco was the No. 1 player on the Ravens’ 2014 player rankings, and 21 Baltimore media members will decide if he repeats. This year’s top 20 list will be unveiled over the next four weeks, starting with No. 20 on Wednesday.The rankings are based on a poll of local media members that asked them to give their 20 players on the Ravens based on talent and not on how valuable they are to the team. It’s a simple tally system where a first-place vote is worth 20 points, a second-place one is 19 points, a third-place one is 18 points, etc."

Next: Lardarius Webb healthy, ready to return to form

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