Ravens Round Table: The One Thing We Want To See Change
Connor Brooks: Contributor
The biggest change I think the Ravens must have this season is a better Joe Flacco. He is the highest paid player on the team by a significant amount. Not only that, he is one of the highest paid players in the whole NFL. But it is time for him to play like it. Since he got the big money, the team has failed to make the playoffs 3 out of the past 4 seasons. With this organization, that is unacceptable.
One thing that will help is a more balanced offense. Throwing the ball over 600 times isn’t ideal for Flacco. He isn’t Aaron Rogers, so don’t expect him to be. However, it really doesn’t matter if they throw it 800 times. Flacco has to be better and more aggressive. He was too reliant on his check-downs and didn’t hardly ever look defenders off. He didn’t really go through all his progressions and that is why Dennis Pitta had the most receptions on the team and the running backs ranked in the top of the league in total receptions.
During his earlier seasons, Flacco was actually pretty good. The best thing about Flacco is he shows up when things are on the line. When they need Joe to be clutch, he usually comes through for the team. But Flacco needs to play better throughout the season in order to get to those games. The Ravens need him to be good, because as Flacco goes, so do the Ravens.
He has got the offensive coordinator he wants, and the Ravens will supply him with plenty of weapons. Now it is his job to produce how the Ravens need him to. In order to be the best they can be, Flacco needs to be excellent. Like he was in 2014, or 2011 seasons. He has to step up. It is his team. No more excuses.