Kirby Lee – USA TODAY Sports
The one thing Joe Flacco is most known for is his cannon arm. Thought by many to be the best deep thrower in the NFL, the Baltimore Ravens rely regularly on their starting quarterback’s ability to connect with downfield targets. It always seemed hit-or-miss, though. As soon as Torrey Smith emerged as a downfield threat early in 2011, former offensive coordinator Cam Cameron tried to shoehorn in as many deep throws as he could throughout the rest of the season, leading to a lot of incomplete passes and forth downs. Since Jim Caldwell took over his position in late 2012, however, Flacco’s deep ball has looked cleaner and more consistent. In fact, the deep ball was integral to the Ravens’ recent postseason success.
Flacco hit Smith with a 59-yard bomb in the Divisional Round against the Denver Broncos to tie the game not even two minutes into regulation, then hooked up with him again on a 32-yard touchdown toss with 40 seconds left in the first half. The one everyone remembers, of course, is the Rocky Mountain Rainbow — a last-minute, 70-yard touchdown heave to Jacoby Jones that tied the game and ultimately led to the Ravens’ stunning victory.
Flacco’s bazooka arm came up big in Super Bowl XLVII, as well. With 22 seconds left in the first half, Flacco stepped up, chucked the ball downfield and connected with Jacoby Jones once again, this time for a 56-yard touchdown that extended the Ravens’ 11-point lead by six points.
So, is it safe to say opposing defenses can expect more deep passes from Flacco in 2013?
Definitely. With Anquan Boldin gone, the Ravens are short one possession receiver. Dennis Pitta will become Flacco’s go-to guy for the tough catches, but the deep ball could be used more often to eat up chunks of yardage with less time on the field. There are multiple burners on the roster who can serve as potential deep threats, and Caldwell has had an entire offseason to tinker with his toys. Smith and Jones are already known for their speed. Deonte Thompson and David Reed are other exciting prospects. If they manage to find their way onto the field this season, the Ravens could wind up winning a lot of games because of Flacco’s arm.
