The Ravens have an interesting dynamic at quarterback entering the season-opener against the Buffalo Bills.
Joe Flacco put to rest an questions that he is the starter with perhaps the most productive preseason of his career. The veteran quarterback showed up fully healthy and was adept at throwing passes deep downfield.
The team drafted Lamar Jackson as the potential heir to Flacco. While Jackson showed flashes of his big-play ability, he clearly is not ready to take the reigns as the starter.
Enter Robert Griffin III.
He was signed by the Ravens in April and played well enough in offseason workouts and training camp to earn a spot on the 53-man roster.
Howver, coach John Harbaugh is not tipping his cards on who will serve as the No. 2 quarterback behind Flacco or whether all three quarterbacks will be active on game day.
“Any given Sunday, we’ll have the 46 guys up that give us the best chance to be successful, and we’ll just see what that is every week,” Harbaugh said. “It won’t be any more than three [quarterbacks]. It won’t be any less than two. We’ll see. I really don’t know. Hey, it’s day-to-day. Any quarterback will tell you, any player, [that] you’re one play away. You’re one play away from being the guy. Those guys have to prepare just that way.”
It makes sense for the Ravens to carry three quarterbacks. RGIII has improved his accuracy and could start if Flacco is injured. This would also take some of the pressure off Jackson, who is still honing his skills as an NFL quarterback.
However, the Ravens have not shied away from giving Jackson opportunities. He could get an opportunity to play this weekend against Buffalo, especially inside the red zone. Jackson is a rare talent with explosive speed.
The onus, though, will be on Flacco and the revamped passing game.
Baltimore had the league’s 29th ranked passing attack last year. Flacco, 32, threw for 3,141 yards with 18 touchdowns and 13 interceptions.
The team added veteran wide receivers John Brown, Michael Crabtree and Willie Snead to help boost the offense. That trio was especially effective in the preseason and is poised to make an impact in Baltimore.
The Ravens also added pair of rookie tight ends — Hayden Hurst and Mark Andrews — in the first three rounds. Hurst was the more impressive of the two, but he suffered a fracture in his foot and is out for about a month. Andrews had some early struggles, but was impressive in the preseason finale against the Redskins, finishing with three catches for 61 yards.
The Ravens are determined to end a three-year playoff drought.
The pieces are in place to end that frustration.
