Joe Flacco and the Ravens offense are looking to build off of their success from 2014. In a year where the Ravens set a franchise record with 409 points, Flacco enjoyed his best season since entering the league. He finished with a career high 27 touchdowns and 3,986 yards.
Flacco and the offense will have their challenges in 2015 if it hopes to have an encore performance. Flacco will be working with his fourth coordinator in as many seasons in Marc Trestman. The departure of Torrey Smith will have to be overcome, and the uncertain health of Dennis Pitta leaves a big question mark. However, even with all of the transitions and challenges, Flacco might not just replicate his 2014 success, he might blow it out of the water.
Despite a lot of new faces at the playmaker positions, the Ravens will have some continuity at one of the most important position groups for a quarterback’s success, the offensive line. Juan Castillo’s group is arguably the most talented in the NFL, and they excelled in 2014. Flacco was the second least sacked quarterback behind Peyton Manning. After a full year together in 2014, the unit has the potential to be even better this upcoming season.
The offensive line thrived despite Eugene Monroe struggling with injuries and not living up to expectations after signing a long term deal. Early reports from minicamp on Monroe have been positive. According to Garrett Downing of the Ravens official website, Monroe is healthy and in great shape, carrying even less body fat. If he returns to form, the offensive line could be even more dominant than they were a year ago.
Even with the departure of Torrey Smith and the uncertainty surrounding Dennis Pitta, Flacco has possibly the most athletic and talented group of playmakers he has had in his seven year career. After dedicating a lot of recent early draft picks to the defensive side of the ball, Ozzie Newsome upgraded Flacco’s weapons with three of his first four picks in this year’s draft. Breshad Perriman will have to work on his drops, but his size and speed gives Flacco a weapon that he has never had in his previous six seasons, a potentially true number one receiver.
Even if Dennis Pitta can’t play in 2015, the Ravens will be set at tight end. Maxx Williams provides the Ravens with an athletic pass-catching tight end, and Crockett Gillmore has drawn heavy praise after OTA’s and minicamp. Having both Gillmore and Williams on the field could be a nightmare for opposing defenses.
With all this talent around Flacco there is one additional factor that maybe even be more influential to him having a big year, his contract situation.
While Flacco is currently locked up through 2018, both the Ravens and Joe Linta, Flacco’s agent, have acknowledged they will likely be back at the negotiating table following the 2015 season. With Flacco’s cap number escalating to an eye popping $28.5 million in 2016, his deal was in large part viewed as a three-year deal when it was signed following the Ravens Super Bowl win in 2012.
So, as John Eisenberg put it earlier this month, 2015 is a “mini” contract year for Flacco. While the situation is certainly different than the one Flacco faced heading into the 2012 season, there is no doubt that his play this upcoming year will have an impact on who has the most leverage entering negotiations prior to next season.
To say that Joe seized the opportunity in 2012 would be an understatement. It wouldn’t be surprising to see him do the same in 2015. In a way, it’s a win-win for the Ravens. If 2015 has the same outcome as 2012, Steve Bisciotti would happily break the bank again.
Joe Flacco had a great year in 2014, and the Ravens would be thrilled if he replicated that success. But with continuity on the offensive line, an arsenal of playmakers and some financial motivation, don’t be surprised if he has an even bigger year in 2015.