Holmes: Ravens Appease Flacco With Weapons Of Late
Way back on Jan. 4, when 2016 started and the Ravens' very disappointing season had come to a close, during the team's locker "clean-out day," Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco was discussing what all went wrong during the season, while also giving his two cents regarding what the team could do to improve in the offseason.
Flacco emphasized speed on the field. The Ravens clearly lacked it, both offensively and defensively, and the veteran quarterback noticed the weakness, while at the same time noticed it was a strength of Baltimore's biggest rival.
"You see what speed does. You see what the Steelers are doing with the speed they've had over the last couple years and what they've been able to do. I'm not saying it's something that we need but when we've had it here it definitely helps," said Flacco.
History would suggest that the Ravens' organization does not choose the direction in which they build the team based on a player's desires. Baltimore's willfulness to stay strong within their front-office-first-priority structure is a major factor toward the clubs years of consistent success.
Complicating this philosophy a bit is the clear parallel trait among all successful NFL teams over the last decade or so--a necessity for high comfort level at the quarterback position. Simply put, outliers aside (Denver of 2016 is arguably one of the few), teams need their leaders to feel content and comfortable behind their line and weaponry in order to win.
While the Ravens have always gone by the lead of General Manager Ozzie Newsome's direction and ultimate say, they've become comfortable and flexible enough to turn to not just their head coach, but their quarterback for input on whom they would be best served building around in the offseason. It's been well documented that several recently drafted Ravens have been "Harbaugh guys," whether it's a drafted Lardarius Webb from Nichol State or the recently signed free agent safety, Eric Weddle, Baltimore's head coach clearly has input in the war room and in month of March. For the most part, that has worked out to the organization's advantage.
However, for all the hands in the pot contributing to the Ravens roster moves and decision making, quarterback Joe Flacco has had little say in direction. That is not to say the veteran quarterback has ever asked for more power--by all accounts, he never has, nor does it seem within his temperament or desire to do so. The exception to the apparent trend was when Baltimore consulted Flacco before the 2011 NFL draft, giving Flacco a group of players to choose from based on their play on tape. Flacco gave his feedback and preferred they draft Indiana wide receiver Tandon Doss. A fourth-round selection in 2011, Doss showed signs of potential, but never panned out as a prospect for Baltimore. Injuries and fumbles hurt his chances, as well as an ironic, yet apparent struggle to create a chemistry with Flacco on the field.
Given the fact that Flacco was viewed as 0-1 as a player scout from that point on, combined with the organization relieving the quarterback's favorite coach of his duties after Flacco's best statistical season to date, it doesn't seem as though the Ravens are ever hard-pressed to consider a player's input on final decisions of roster or staffing spots. It's not a right or wrong way of doing things--It's just been the way the Baltimore has run it's team. Results, though mixed, are on-the-whole positive.
Flacco's desire to put more speed on the field offensively is not a revelation of any sort--Ozzie Newsome felt the same way in 2011 after a loss in the playoffs to Pittsburgh. Newsome knew the team needed speed and drafted Torrey Smith with his second-round choice. While the club hopes drafting Perriman produces a similar result of winning, Flacco's outspoken desire for more vertical threats is not only reasonable, but the Ravens brass have seemingly shared the sentiment in 2016.
Signing speedy, yet troubled wide receiver Mike Wallace in free agency is certainly a nice start toward building the offense Flacco wants. At the very least, Kamar Aiken won't have to be the deep ball target as a possession receiver this season, regardless of Breshad Perriman's health. However, the Ravens shouldn't be satisfied with just Wallace and Perriman at speed upgrades. Baltimore has early selections in each round this season--much earlier than previous drafts. That should put the team in position to take a chance on a dynamic skill player in late April. Not often have Newsome and the Ravens seen such a player as a priority enough to choose before the fourth round or so.
While prospects such as Oregon's Demetrius Williams and the aforementioned Tandon Doss fell flat in the pros after numerous chances, the Ravens have been hit and miss of late. They can't afford to be gunshy, particularly if the franchise player thinks they still need improvement in the department.
Ben Holmes is a sports reporter and producer for CBS Sports Radio in Baltimore MD. He covers Maryland Terrapins Basketball and Football for Baltimore's 105.7 The Fan. You can follow Ben on twitter@HolmesOnSports.
