For Flacco, only fault comes at ... wide receiver?
Joe Flacco is nobody’s prototype wide receiver. The lanky, 6-foot-6 Baltimore Ravens quarterback doesn’t exactly burst off the line of scrimmage. There are no quick-twitch moves in the open field.
Not only does he not look the part, he does a terrible job of selling it in those handful of instances when rookie quarterback Lamar Jackson takes snaps in the Wildcat formation – which forces Flacco to split out wide.
What bad body language. He goes about it as if lining up against a defensive back is the last place he’d want to be. Which, well, is probably what Flacco wants us to think.
He has heard all about it from inhouse critic Dana Flacco, his wife and the mother of their four children.
“She’s busted my balls about just kind of standing there, nonchalantly,” Flacco told USA TODAY Sports. “I’m like, ‘Listen, I’m just not getting hurt. I want to make it known that I’m not part of this play.’ I’m just alerting everybody. I’m not part of this play.
“But, oh, yeah, she was making fun of me.”
Flacco, 33, leads the 3-1 Ravens into Sunday’s game at Cleveland having passed for his most yards through four games (1,252) since 2012, the season that ended with him winning Super Bowl XLVII MVP honors.
There are several factors for this, including a clean bill of health (a year after he missed the entire preseason and virtually all of training camp while dealing with back issues) and GM Ozzie Newsome's remake of the wide receiver position.
Enter Michael Crabtree, Willie Snead IV and John Brown. And the offensive line is in a better place, too, aided by the return to health of all-pro right guard Marshal Yanda.
Then there’s the presence of Jackson, the multi-dimensional threat who might have been the most intriguing player in the 2018 NFL draft. The Ravens made a trade to get back into the first round to take the former Heisman Trophy winner.
Flacco doesn’t deny he was a bit miffed when Jackson was picked, but shoots down the suggestion that there’s extra fuel because his potential replacement is being groomed right in front of him.
“There’s obviously thoughts, the night they do it,” Flacco said. “But then you talk to people in the organization. It is what it is. You’d think anybody would have an initial reaction. But since then, I haven’t paid much attention to it. We always have a backup quarterback or two, so that’s the way I go about it.”
Maybe that’s the best spin for Flacco at this point. When Jackson was chosen, conditions seemed ripe for a QB controversy. Flacco refused to speak to the media – a message in itself – while at a team-sponsored draft event. A few days later, Jackson mentioned that the 11th-year veteran didn’t return his text messages.
Plus, competition is like the DNA of NFL culture. The last time Flacco was seemingly pressured to prove his worth came in 2012 when he turned down a contract offer and bet on himself. He won, with the Super Bowl triumph leading to a six-year, $120.6 million deal in 2013 that made him the highest-paid player at the time.
Now he looks like he’s being challenged again – with no excuses, given the supporting cast.
“My back wasn’t so much against the wall at that point and I don’t look at it like that right now, either,” he said, comparing his situation in 2012 with now. “I’m in my 11th year. Hopefully, I’ve got a lot of football to play. I expect to play well. It is what it is.”
Think Jackson’s presence sharpens Flacco’s edge?
“Competition means something to everybody,” Ravens coach John Harbaugh said. “I’m sure in some ways it does. Everybody in football faces that. Probably the franchise quarterback, not as much. That’s why it’s somewhat of a story. But I don’t think it’s changed Joe. He would have been competing hard, regardless. I think he would have had a great year, no matter what."
Flacco signed a three-year, $66.4 million extension in 2016, which guaranteed $44 million. Look down the road, though, and the Ravens could have a big decision in two years if they feel Jackson is ready to take over. If the Ravens part ways with Flacco in 2020, it would cost them just $8 million in dead money under the salary cap.
Sure, that’s a long way away ... or solid long-term planning.
In the meantime, the Ravens are being creative in trying to find spots for Jackson – an explosive runner, yet inconsistent passer – to make an impact. Offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg’s use of the Wildcat reflects that.
Flacco was brilliant in passing for a season-high 363 yards (2 TDs, 0 INTs), which included several tight throws to convert clutch third downs, at Pittsburgh on Sunday.
Early in the game, Flacco connected with Chris Moore on a 19-yard completion that set up first down at the Steelers’ 12-yard line. In came Jackson for the Wildcat. Later, it was a 71-yard strike to Brown, advancing to the 13. In came Jackson again, with Baltimore in the red zone.
“For me, I’m not looking at it in any way except turning around and handing the ball off, like calling a run play,” Flacco said. “It doesn’t interrupt my game in any way. And hopefully it gives us a good next down, so we’re not behind the 8-ball or anything like that.
“Basically, what I’m saying is when I hear those plays, my mindset doesn’t go from this to that. It’s like calling ’94 Power.’ “
Said Harbaugh: “What’s the difference between if Joe hands it off or Lamar takes the snap and runs it? And Lamar doesn’t have to run, he can also throw it. What’s the difference?”
Well, if you’re in the red zone you’d think you'd want the option of throwing ... and your chances are better with it coming from the best passer. If Jackson is going to run, then it gives the defense an advantage as it expects that.
Harbaugh has had the same reaction as Dana Flacco, telling his quarterback when lining up as a wide receiver, “Your stance is terrible.”
Maybe it’s going to take throwing it to the big fella.
“If they don’t cover him, we will throw it to him,” Harbaugh said. “You’ve got to put one guy on him. But they’re certainly not going to roll coverage to him.”