I don't argue that they were bad for the most part when they were here, but the one constant still remains Flacco. Someone else proposed this long ago, but what if these coordinators can't open up the offense like they want to and can't call plays the way they want because of Flacco? What if he really handicaps the offensive play calling to the point that even great minds look poor?
It isn't a good look when you've only found great success under 1 of 5 coordinators.
That argument would have a lot more merit if most of them were still employed as OCs and excelling. Context matters in that situation. Caldwell (again bad wrap imo) and Kubiak both got hired to be coaches elsewhere. Marty will likely be unemployed as a coordinator after this stint, and Trestman and Cam Cameron still don't look good. To the common fan I could see how this looks horrible(because without context it does), but anyone who's been paying attention knows that Flacco won a super bowl with one of them, and the two that were fired ultimately deserved to be fired. Cam Cameron was
way too conservative and it carried over into college(which was a surprise to me, the dude has helped develop two Super bowl winning Quarterbacks, and the most neglected QB in recent memory in Phillip Rivers), while Trestman is a pass happy guy who the game has clearly passed by and clearly belongs in the CFL. I do think had we kept Caldwell in 2014, we would have been successful because the oline was retooled that offseason and while he wouldn't have been as good as Kubiak he would've been servicable far moreso than Trestman, Cam, or even Marty. All three in which have obvious flaws.
With regards to Flacco I've accepted what he is a long time ago: he's a mediocre regular season QB who won't be the reason you win games, but used to not throw them for you either(fwiw, I do think at some point he reverts back to this. I think he's become well aware as of recently that his secure spot is dwindling and that if he keeps playing like jack shit we're gonna be in position to draft his replacement). But for whatever reason, when the playoffs roll around, he turns into very good quarterback who can win you big games. Is it frustrating as all fuck? Yes. I would obviously rather have an Aaron Rodgers or Tom Brady. But in his prime was he good enough to win a super bowl? Yeah... He did it. And he was the main reason why. And sure, we had a good team, but football is the ultimate team sport. The oline was good, the defense played well, he was on fire, and Anquan Boldin and Jacoby Jones had excellent postseasons. It was a team effort, he was just the catalyst. I do think we are missing a few pieces on offense and it's hurting everyone, which is a big reason I'm proprietor for next season. Even if we have to take Flacco's replacement at some point, there's enough talent in FA and the draft to get Flacco/the new guy a good supporting cast.
Even with the mediocre regular season play. Flacco's career overall has been a massive success. Hall of fame worthy? Fuck no. Ring of Honor Worthy? Yeah, for that super bowl run he's earned it. In his prime half of the league would have killed to have a guy like that. He's not elite(never was), but he was good enough to win you a super bowl. Those guys don't grow on trees.
Truth be told, I'd take the regular season "meh" of 2010, 2011, and 2012 again. All the good and bad that come with it. Just get him a good offensive line, another good RB and recieving option, and things just might work out. That Flacco was good enough to win a super bowl, which at the end of the day is all I care about.
As of right now, I'm worried about Joe. I do think the back injury plays a role in the regression(he looks uncomfortable as all hell whenever he's moving. He looked more comfortable coming off of the bum knee last year.. Which is saying something). But I think he understands that if he keeps this shit up his ass will be on the line. And once his back heals up I'm hoping something good comes out of it(and I'm not saying this about you Bmore, just a heads up). I'm just not one of those fans(and they exist. It's obvious. Those are the reasons why I come off as such a Flacco supporter. Those people piss me off) who wants to see him fail. I want us to go fix that oline and get us a good RB because I think it will go a long way in helping the team as a whole, which is ultimately what we need. The recieving corps is fine, and the Oline is in the middle of the road, and the run game isn't schemed bad.
At this moment, Flacco is the problem. He's weighing us down, but there is a chance he bounces back.That said, we could use some upgrades across the board. This run scheme works well with James Hurst in the lineup. Imagine what happens if we can upgrade him. Imagine what happens if we can get a stud RT in the draft? What happens when we put a bell cow like Wradley, or Chubb, or something of that kind back there. Get a big strong WR that Flacco loves. That's the offseason I think we're going to have.
Make no mistake. Flacco's the main issue. But I think retooling the offense and maybe finding a new OC would go a long way in helping him sort out the kinks. That won't solve everything, but it'll make it easier for him to hopefully fix his issues.
TLDR: I'm just hoping he can bounce back. Which I think he will do eventually. If not here, then somewhere else. I'm still rooting for him, but he needs to get his shit together.
