Is Curtis Painter Pushing For The Number Two Spot?

Tyrod Taylor can be an explosive, play-making quarterback for his entire career. Most thought that his skills would only go as far as the college level but the Baltimore Ravens saw more in the young play-caller. They used a sixth round pick on him in hopes that his skills could further be developed at the NFL level.

Once the Ravens got Taylor in camp the were quickly impressed with his big play ability and the speed in which he picked up the game. The Ravens thought so highly of Taylor that they kept him as the primary back up to starter Joe Flacco. That is a lot of confidence to put on a late round draft pick on a team considered to be a Super Bowl contender.

Last season Flacco never got hurt and there was not much of a training camp to get a good look at Taylor so the Ravens never got a chance to see if the choice to keep only Taylor as their back up QB was the right one.

This season however, the Ravens have brought in veteran quarterback Curtis Painter w\to compete with Taylor. Painter is fresh off of starting almost an entire season with the Indianapolis Colts. He had his moments in 2011 with the Colts dynamic receiving core but was mostly unimpressive. Let's be honest, just about everyone on the Colts 2011 squad was unimpressive. By no means am I saying that Painter got a raw deal in Indy but once starter Peyton Manning went down there wasn't much hope in him carrying the team to the playoffs from the players or the fans.

In Ravens camp Painter has not been half bad so far. Actually he has looked a bit sharper than Taylor in some passing situations. He definitely looks more decisive in picking his targets and more accurate from the pocket. Taylor does however have that undeniable big play ability in extending plays with his legs and running for big first downs on busted plays.

What do you think? who should be ranked second on the Ravens quarterback depth chart?