Over the course of his seven-year NFL career, Joe Flacco has won an average of 10 games per season, thrown 58 more touchdown passes than interceptions and has led his team to six playoff berths, 10 playoff wins and a Super Bowl championship.
Despite all of these achievements, Flacco has never truly been perceived as an elite quarterback. It's even hard to argue that he has been seen as one of best field generals in the NFL, as his only Pro Bowl selection occurred when he was chosen as one of four alternates to fill in for quarterbacks who could not make it to this year's game.
That perception may be on its way to changing due to the hiring of Marc Trestman as the Baltimore Ravens' offensive coordinator. Trestman worked wonders with Jay Cutler in their first season together, a campaign that looks even better now that Cutler has regressed to his former inconsistent ways.
Trestman won't have the negative issues from last season in Chicago this time around, and a closer look at Baltimore's offensive situation will illustrate why he should be able to have the kind of impact that vaults Flacco into the ranks of elite NFL passers.