Originally Posted by
Crow-Magnon
I've thought on this long and hard (no snickering!) over the past few weeks. Here's my take.
Flacco is likely a better pure pocket passer. Yes, regardless of his own thoughts on the subject, he is not an elite Top 5 (or Top 10) QB. Maybe 14 or 15, but not Top 10. When he's on his game, he can light it up. But that's not every game. Most of this year he's been pedestrian at best. He started off well, but cooled off quickly. Flacco can run faster than expected, but he is not very mobile. While behind center, the running game languished and the OL was questionable at times.
Jackson? As a passer he needs polishing. Some throws look great, even difficult passes. Yet simple one-step drops to a stationary WR fall well short. It's a concern. But his ability to evade the pass rush, his raw speed to gain chunks of yardage and his ability to throw on the run has created opportunities that Flacco cannot create. Defenses must react to what Jackson can do, which has created vast opportunities for RB's and rejuvenated the OL.
Steeler fans can laugh at Flacco's career. I get that. But as a Ravens fan, I remember such sterling QB's as Tony Banks, Kyle Boller and Stoney Case lol. Other than <gulp!> Trent Dilfer and/or Vinny Testaverde, the Ravens had 10 lbs of shit in a 5 lb bag at QB until Flacco came along. He got the Ravens into the post-season many years and in 2012 he played lights out throughout the playoffs and brought home the Lombardi. I will always thank Joe for that.
But this is 2018, not 2012. Four years of sitting home in January is enough. The past four games with Jackson at QB, with a 3-1 record and almost 4-0 after coming close to taking down a high-powered Chiefs offense, tells me now is NOT the time to bench Jackson in lieu of Flacco. The running game is the best in the league right now, and defenses need to plan against it. The Ravens are now Jackson's team.
Besides, better for Flacco to sit and hope for a good contract for 2019 after he's cut (unless a trade is worked out, which I find doubtful), then risk reinjury, or to suck badly the next two or three games and watch his value drop. I was very skeptical when Jackson started against the Bengals a few weeks ago. I still have some lingering doubts, but I think Iackson is Baltimore's best chance at a WC spot at a minimum, or a AFCN title at the most.