Ebony Bird
FanSided

Ravens are heading into most anticipated training camp in a decade

By Jake McDonnell

NASHVILLE, TN - NOVEMBER 05: Head coach John Harbaugh of the Baltimore Ravens yells at a referee against the Tennessee Titans during the second half at Nissan Stadium on November 5, 2017 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
NASHVILLE, TN - NOVEMBER 05: Head coach John Harbaugh of the Baltimore Ravens yells at a referee against the Tennessee Titans during the second half at Nissan Stadium on November 5, 2017 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /
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BALTIMORE, MD – OCTOBER 01: Quarterback Joe Flacco #5 of the Baltimore Ravens runs out of the way to try to complete a pass against the Pittsburgh Steelers in the fourth quarter at M&T Bank Stadium on October 1, 2017 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images)
BALTIMORE, MD – OCTOBER 01: Quarterback Joe Flacco #5 of the Baltimore Ravens runs out of the way to try to complete a pass against the Pittsburgh Steelers in the fourth quarter at M&T Bank Stadium on October 1, 2017 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images) /

Reason #2: The inevitable quarterback controversy

Yes, coach Harbaugh, Joe Flacco is the Ravens’ starting quarterback come week 1 against the Buffalo Bills. Indeed, Flacco has been running with the starters throughout the offseason. He performed really well through OTA’s and minicamp. Flacco has played in 15 postseason games with a Super Bowl MVP to show for it.

But the Ravens drafted Lamar Jackson #32 overall. What does that tell you?

What it tells us is that Flacco may be the starter for now, but it won’t be for long if his play continues to be mediocre. Flacco finished the 2017 season with a 46.0 quarterback rating. It was the second-lowest total of his career aside from his rookie season in 2008 (42.7). He’s thrown fewer than 20 touchdowns in two of the last three seasons. His deep ball is seemingly nonexistent. His average yards-per-completion dropped below 10 in the last two seasons.

Considering how Flacco has played since reaching the divisional round of the 2014 playoffs, it’s not shocking that Baltimore has not clinched a postseason berth since.

Pressure on Flacco is inevitable

When the Ravens play the Bills at M&T Bank Stadium on September 9, there’s going to be a lot of pressure on Flacco. There will be added pressure if Jackson has a good showing in the preseason. Even though the coaching staff repeatedly told the media that Flacco would be the starter this season, that doesn’t mean that plans won’t change.

If Flacco struggles week 1, the “we want Jackson” chants will begin. How will Harbaugh react with that gigantic elephant in the room (or in this case, stadium)? It’s a scenario that Flacco and Harbaugh’s staff have never dealt with to this magnitude. The Ravens can play off the quarterback saga all they want. But, a controversy of some sort will surely develop during the regular season, if not during the preseason.

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