The Baltimore Ravens aren’t exactly known as a strong passing team; they finished 19th among NFL teams in total passing yards last season with 213.9 yards per game. With All-Pro running back Ray Rice leading the offensive charge in Baltimore, Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco has taken a lot of flack (no pun intended) over his first four seasons for not being “great.” However, as www.RantSports.com‘s NFL Network Manager, Michael Collins, frequently points out, Flacco wins.
Flacco might be doing even more winning and passing in 2012 after the emergence of receiver Torrey Smith in 2011. Nobody had heard of the local rookie until his 5-catch, 152-yard, 3-touchdown performance in the Ravens’ Week 3 win over the St. Louis Rams last year. After that, he was an every-week starter and turned in a respectable 50-catch, 841-yard, 7-touchdown season.
With three-time Pro Bowler Anquan Boldin across from him, Smith should still see plenty of targets in 2012 because opposing defenses can’t just key on him. Now this doesn’t mean either player is in for 1,000-yard, 10-touchdown year, but the combo, along with a full off-season with Flacco, should be much more balanced in 2012.
That’s also not to say Flacco is in for a 5,000-yard season. Rice will still be the main man in Baltimore, but this new weapon in Smith could be what the Ravens need to get over the hump. Heck, they were one dropped pass away from the Super Bowl last year. Perhaps this is the season the Ravens finally get past the Pittsburgh Steelers and every other AFC powerhouse and get back to the big game.
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