Now I will say this, I'm not overly concerned about him scoring touchdowns - yet. I firmly believe that establishing the run game in the end zone sets up passing touchdowns down the road. It's a lot easier to score 10 or more yards out throwing than it is within 5 or less like we consistently were today.
I'd rather see no picks every week than touchdowns through the air every week. But if we keep establishing the run , especially as a scoring threat it'll open up passing touchdowns in the weeks ahead.
Flacco played smart, and calmed down and trusted his line to give him time, he didn't just check it down before the plays had time to develop. I'll hold off being comfortable and secure in his playing until we see consistency, but I'm also glad to call it like I see it and this was a classic , gritty and efficient Joe Flacco Sunday, something we used to see more often.
Joe used to have games like this on consistent basis is the problem. Game where despite not having flashy stats , he helped give his team the W , contributing zero or just occasional turnovers, great game management, and a downfield passing presence. That's the Joe Flacco formula. I've never liked Joe as a throw the ball 40 times , dink and dunk quarterback. It's not his game, and I don't mean that as a knock. Some call him slow or dumb but I think that's the lazy answer.
He actually historically excells in an up tempo two minute or hurry up offense play style , but we've just never been built as an offense to play that way all game or every game. I think it's more about his release , and ball placement. To play the short passing game you have to release the ball quickly and put the ball in very specific spots to lead your receiver in the direction you want them to go. You also have to have tons of play calls designed to get receivers open in space.
It's clear though that he can read defenses , but modern NFL defenses are good at hiding what they're doing. You also have to be completely on the same page as your receivers to know they are reading the defense the same way you are. The advantage of up tempo is that it simplifies the process - most of the time the same personell are staying out , and you get more time to read the defense because you're up at the line quicker and not having to take as much time identifying who's out there.
Despite it being a passing league, most successful offenses have an established rushing attack, you just have to have it 90% of the time unless your on Brady's level or close to it but even Brady relies on the run more than some realize.
Anyways, this long rant isn't me trying to say Joe hasn't played like shit so far this season. Heck, he's played like shit this season and most of the past two seasons , he had good games mixed in last season but ultimately I didn't like what I saw. 2009-2014 Joe though was always fine by me and easily defended, yes 2013 was a bad year but those happen. We also had injuries and a lot of dismantling of the offense that year coming right off the Super Bowl win so we had that to deal with as well. Honestly Marc Trestman was a mistake, he ruined our offense and it's taken a while to undo the damage he caused. Jury is still out on Marty but he's a heck of a lot better so far by my book. And I think he's beginning to understand the Joe Flacco formula - let Joe throw down the field , take his shots and then work in the short and intermediate pass plays in tandem with an effective running game. If Joe is in form he's still good for a couple stinkers a year, but he also would usually have two or more games where he would straight go off, and he always played well in the playoffs because his play just didn't dip because the stakes didn't phase him while everyone else for the most part was. Joe isn't intimidated by playing in New England or Pittsburgh.
We will see what happens. Was this a turning point? Maybe. I hope so. Maybe a return to what worked, to original 2009-2014 Joe Flacco. That guy, I would go to war defending him and many times I did. Haven't seen him in a while but yesterday , he might have been resurrected.
