Ebony Bird
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Baltimore Ravens Round table: The best what if scenarios in team lore

By Richard Bradshaw

BALTIMORE, MD - AUGUST 25: Wide receiver Lee Evans #83 of the Baltimore Ravens celebrates after scoring a touchdown against the Washington Redskins during the first half of a preseason game at M&T Bank Stadium on August 25, 2011 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
BALTIMORE, MD - AUGUST 25: Wide receiver Lee Evans #83 of the Baltimore Ravens celebrates after scoring a touchdown against the Washington Redskins during the first half of a preseason game at M&T Bank Stadium on August 25, 2011 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images) /
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NEW ORLEANS, LA – NOVEMBER 24: Joe Flacco #5 of the Baltimore Ravens speaks with offensive coordinator Gary Kubiak during the first quarter of a game against the New Orleans Saints at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on November 24, 2014 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LA – NOVEMBER 24: Joe Flacco #5 of the Baltimore Ravens speaks with offensive coordinator Gary Kubiak during the first quarter of a game against the New Orleans Saints at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on November 24, 2014 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images) /

Isaiah Stumpf:

“What if…” Gary Kubiak never left Baltimore?

In 2014, the Ravens signed Gary Kubiak as their offensive coordinator to replace then-new Lions head coach, Jim Caldwell. In his only season in Baltimore, Kubiak made his presence felt as he immediately turned the offense around.

During that season, the Ravens ranked eighth in scoring, a major jump from 25th the previous season. Kubiak’s offense also arguably provided quarterback, Joe Flacco’s  best season in the NFL. Joe threw for almost 4,000-yards and 27 touchdowns, a career high, to only 12 interceptions.

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Kubiak also vastly improved the running game, with journeyman Justin Forsett leading the attack. Forsett gained over 1,200 yards to go along with eight touchdowns. The team as a whole rushed for over 2,000-yards and 16 touchdowns. The offensive line also thrived from Kubiak’s scheme, as they only allowed 19 total sacks on the season, a career low for Flacco.

As we know, Gary Kubiak left for the Denver Broncos Head Coaching position just one-year into his role in Baltimore. Now, what if Gary Kubiak remained with Baltimore? Do the Ravens return to the playoffs again, rather than missing out the last three seasons? The Ravens most certainly never hire Marc Trestman and possibly avoid two seasons of terrible offensive play calling by both Trestman and current Ravens offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg.

Joe Flacco more than likely would have continued to thrive under Kubiak’s scheme. The Ravens offense as a whole would have continued to be in the top half of the NFL, instead of the bottom. Many games could have been won in Kubiak’s game plans alone, unlike his successors in which they went safe in their play calling when they should have stepped on the pedal. An aggressive coordinator that liked to stretch the field could have been the game changer in many of the Ravens losses since his departure.

Who knows what kind of success the Ravens could of had with Kubiak running the offense the way he did in 2014. I’d like to out on a limb and say there would have been a lot less heartbreak within this in recent years if he would have stuck around and kept his word.

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