After watching the dominating Ravens win Sunday, in addition to the earlier games this season, it really seems that Joe Flacco is continuing to improve. He looks better now than he did his rookie season, and that was a pretty impressive rookie campaign. After the game I couldn’t help but think how if things were different Flacco may not be advancing the way he is. In some ways I can see it being possible that he would not even be playing yet at this point.

Going into last season the Ravens had Kyle Boller, Troy Smith, and Joe Flacco as their QBs. While Coach John Harbaugh was quiet about his plans to name a starter most thought it was going to be Boller by default, and Boller did start the first preseason game. Some thought it was going to be Troy Smith. Most people I talked to or listened to did not think it was going to be or should be Flacco.

I think a lot of fans would not have been happy if at the start of training camp Flacco would have been named starter. A lot of fans, and some former players and coaches, worry about starting a rookie QB too soon. They say it is possible to ‘ruin’ them due to too much pressure and them not being ready to handle it. I don’t buy that myself, it’s a really tough position both mentally and physically so my thought is that if a QB starts his rookie year and doesn’t turn into a good QB than I don’t think he would have after sitting a year or so either.

Harbaugh’s choice as a starter was taken out of his hands when both Boller and Smith went down in the preseason and Flacco had to take most of the snaps. In Boller’s case he hurt his shoulder against the Vikings and was out for the year. Troy Smith had a rare and dangerous form of tonsillitis that hospitalized him and had him unable to practice for a while after that.

So the only logical choice left as a starter was Flacco. He started game one last season and for the most part, despite a few minor troubles here and there, made the most of it and had a very successful rookie season. With his rookie season over it seems like Flacco is getting better so he and the team are in a very good position.

The fact that Flacco started well last season really set up his and the Ravens entire season last year and allowed both to grow. Can you imagine if he would have started poorly looking out of place? Many eventually good QBs have done that in their first games. Would the Ravens have switched to Todd Bouman or rushed Troy Smith back? Or maybe brought someone else in? Perhaps Kordell again?

If Boller and/ or Troy Smith had remained healthy last preseason I think that it is possible that even now Flacco might not have seen playing time yet. I know Boller had more downs than ups here, but would he have benefited from a different head coach and offensive coordinator? Especially since the offense last season was more imaginative than any we had seen in years. I think his play would have been better. If you don’t think so do you think Flacco would be thriving the way he is now under Billick?

If Boller didn’t play well at some point the team may have pulled him and started Smith. From what I see of Smith he seems very capable so I would not be surprised if he had success with the team. Maybe even enough success to still be the starter which would have Flacco still standing on the sideline with the clipboard.

But as we all know Troy got sick and Kyle got hurt so Flacco got the opportunity to start. I feel bad for Boller and Smith, two good guys who missed an opportunity to help their careers but I can’t help but feel good for Flacco and the team. Flacco may have been given the opportunity to start by default but he really ran with it and from all accounts continues to work hard to improve his game. I feel someone with his skill, athleticism, and drive would be successful eventually but to have his rookie season, and playoff experience, out of the way at such a young age is tremendous. And exciting.

The sky seems to be the limit.

This entry was written by ExtremeRavens member Spen.