Ravens Drafted Tyrod Taylor As Flacco's Backup

by Bruce Raffel on May 3, 2011 1:00 PM EDT

Even though Virginia Tech QB Tyrod Taylor set all sorts of records and earned a ton of honors, experts seem to feel that in order to make a career in the NFL he must learn to adapt to another position other than quarterback. However, Baltimore Ravens GM Ozzie Newsome seems to disagree with the masses and he has never been one to just go with the flow and just accept everyone else's opinions.

In 2010, Taylor was the ACC Player of the Year, ACC Offensive Player of the Year and ACC Championship Game MVP. Coming from the same school as the Philadelphia Eagles' Michael Vick, Taylor set Virginia Tech records in career total offense, career passing yards, career rushing yards by a quarterback, career wins by a starting quarterback, career rushing touchdowns by a quarterback and touchdown passes in a season.

While others may think that Taylor will need to make the transition from college quarterback to NFL receiver or kick returner, the Ravens GM thinks otherwise. "We drafted him as a quarterback, and he was evaluated as a quarterback," Newsome was reported as saying.

See the related story on NFL.com.

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Taylor is similar to Troy Smith...

Both have good arm strengh, good (to great) mobility, good leaders, similar height/ weight (both are “undersized” QB’s).

I had no doubt once the Ravens took him it was to be a QB first, and probably a QB only.

Wasn’t there some rumors about Troy Smith and Joe Flacco playing at the same time in some packages, or am I just imagining that? I know Troy’s health caused a lot of plans to fly out the window at the time, was this rumor potentially one of them?

I have not yet begun to procrastinate.

by NYSteelersFan4 on May 3, 2011 1:54 PM EDT reply actions

that wasnt a rumor back in 2009 the Ravens had a offense had a package called

the suggs package which sometimes had joe flacco as a wideout and troy smith as the quarterback and etc

by jazz20 on May 3, 2011 2:03 PM EDT up reply actions

typo offensive package called

by jazz20 on May 3, 2011 2:20 PM EDT up reply actions

I still remember when Joe caught that pass from Troy and almost took it for six, but ended up tripping over himself….good times.

"Really, all Americans want is cold beer, warm p***y, and someplace to take a s**t with a door on it."

by StuckInUtah on May 3, 2011 2:39 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

Against the Raiders

great throw, better catch. Run, not so good!

aka 'Rexx'

by Bruce Raffel on May 3, 2011 7:17 PM EDT up reply actions

Ahh, thanks Jazz.

I know that the OC has changed since then, but I wouldn’t be surprised to see those plays dug out of the archives for Tyrod and Joe.

I have not yet begun to procrastinate.

by NYSteelersFan4 on May 3, 2011 2:52 PM EDT up reply actions

Maybe. But I’d much rather see Flacco throwing Tyrod then the other way around. Joe’s not cut out to be a receiver.

"Really, all Americans want is cold beer, warm p***y, and someplace to take a s**t with a door on it."

by StuckInUtah on May 3, 2011 3:00 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

True, but if you want to catch people off guard or out of position...

Your best bet is to do it in a way that they would not expect.

I have not yet begun to procrastinate.

by NYSteelersFan4 on May 3, 2011 3:46 PM EDT up reply actions

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mah8jnCWtF0

"As far as nobody agreeing with me, how many people stood up to prevent the crucifixion of Jesus?" - The Shadow

by Mr MaLoR on May 3, 2011 3:52 PM EDT up reply actions

That's actually a pretty tough catch...

Flacco did a good job bringing it in over the shoulder like that. It’s a shame his momentum caused him to stumble and fall, had he caught it in a smooth stride that’s a sure thing TD.

Nice throw by Smith too, maybe a little far, but that’s no easy toss across a lot of field and down however many yards.

Wrong QB traded, hahaha.

I have not yet begun to procrastinate.

by NYSteelersFan4 on May 3, 2011 3:59 PM EDT up reply actions

You try stretching

to catch a pigskin and then running in size 16 shoes!

aka 'Rexx'

by Bruce Raffel on May 3, 2011 7:18 PM EDT up reply actions

Oh, I know.

The catch is the most important thing, and he did what he had to do to make it.

I have not yet begun to procrastinate.

by NYSteelersFan4 on May 4, 2011 9:01 AM EDT up reply actions

I was at that game. I laughed so hard after that play.

If he had scored there, he would have been the first QB in history to throw, run and catch TD’s in the same game.

by BAL_Hawk on May 3, 2011 4:50 PM EDT up reply actions

If he had pulled that off, that wouldve been absolutely amazing. That’s no simple thing to accomplish. Not even The Great Marc Bulger himself could do something like that.

"Really, all Americans want is cold beer, warm p***y, and someplace to take a s**t with a door on it."

by StuckInUtah on May 3, 2011 6:01 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions 1 recs

I think Taylor is a better all-around athlete and more accurate passer.

by E-ROC on May 3, 2011 4:16 PM EDT up reply actions

You may be right. It’s hard to judge since we haven’t seen Tyrod try to complete passes in the NFL where the window is generally 1 yard instead of 10 yards (like in college).

by MrPoopyPants on May 4, 2011 8:34 AM EDT up reply actions

I say give Tyrod a double-digit number, and use him as a decoy WR in some packages.

by JoshuaStein on May 3, 2011 2:35 PM EDT reply actions

I'll be glad when talent evaluators start having this line of thinking at the QB position

“We drafted him as a quarterback, and he was evaluated as a quarterback,”

Emphasis mine. Too often we hear extremely athletic quarterbacks need to switch positions.

by E-ROC on May 3, 2011 4:18 PM EDT reply actions

I really like Tyrod. I didn’t know much about him before they drafted him.

His win versus Nebraska was inspiring. Amazing clutch play.

by BAL_Hawk on May 3, 2011 4:54 PM EDT reply actions

How did you not know much about him? Did you not watch the VT Boise St. game? Man, that was one of the best football games I have seen in the last 5 years.

"As far as nobody agreeing with me, how many people stood up to prevent the crucifixion of Jesus?" - The Shadow

by Mr MaLoR on May 3, 2011 5:44 PM EDT up reply actions