Which Quarterbacks Threw Deep Least Often in 2017?
2. Joe Flacco, Baltimore Ravens
Deep Rate: 14.94% | Passing NEP per Attempt: 0.02 | Success Rate: 35.37%
Joe Flacco earned a fat paycheck in 2013 by torching opponents deep en route to a Super Bowl XLVII victory. It's safe to say those days are gone.
Not only did Flacco rarely go deep in 2017, but he was ineffective when he did so. He ranked 29th out of 30 in Passing NEP per attempt on deep passes, tossing a league-leading nine interceptions. There was nothing positive about this performance.
Flacco deserves blame for this treachery. It's impossible for him to escape from this unscathed. But his pass catchers outside of Mike Wallace certainly didn't help matters.
| Flacco's Deep Targets | Targets | Touchdowns | Interceptions | Passing NEP per Attempt |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mike Wallace | 30 | 2 | 2 | 0.71 |
| Jeremy Maclin | 14 | 1 | 2 | -0.13 |
| Chris Moore | 13 | 2 | 1 | -0.20 |
| Breshad Perriman | 11 | 0 | 2 | -1.50 |
Wallace's numbers do validate Flacco a bit, but they completely shred all integrity of the other receivers here. Flacco was 0-for-11 when targeting Perriman deep while throwing two picks. That's unfathomably bad.
Just like the Cowboys, it's clear the Baltimore Ravens need some upgrades at pass catcher. Flacco's entering his age-33 season, so expecting him to suddenly elevate his supporting cast is irrational. If they want to compete, they should do whatever they can to improve his surroundings and allow him to get back to the aerial attack that led them to a championship.
