Flacco may not be ready but he’s starting

Joe Flacco might not be ready to start at quarterback for the Baltimore Ravens when the season starts this Sunday but it looks as though he’s going to be the guy by default.

Troy Smith and Kyle Boller have been fighting injuries leaving Flacco to take the helm. Mike Preston, a veteran columnist for the Baltimore Sun, says the rookie is getting more acclimated to the speed of the game but still isn’t ready to start in a real game.

On the upside, Preston reports that the team’s young offensive line and running back Ray Rice have been improving, looking more and more ready. Still, for a rookie quarterback from Delaware to be ready to start in his first real pro game is a stretch. It brings back memories of guys like Tim Couch and David Carr, who started early, got killed and never became the quarterbacks they were projected to be.

The two saving graces might be overall low expectations for the offense and an opener against the Cincinnati Bengals, who seem to be more in money-saving mode than winning-mode these days.

Best of luck to Flacco. But also, get well soon to Troy Smith.