Don't Overlook Bulger Pickup

By Author: JessK
Total Articles: 15
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The Baltimore Ravens did not make a big splash with any of the offseason moves that they made, other than the pick up of Anquan Boldin. The Ravens made another move today, along the lines of the Ken Hamlin pickup, that showcased the savvy ability of GM Ozzie Newsome to try and create a perfect football team, one that can compete for a championship, and the Ravens are definitely falling into that category. Today, the Ravens signed former Rams QB Marc Bulger to a one year contract to backup Joe Flacco.

While picking up a backup quarterback is not often considered a genius move, this one made by Newsome is absolutely brilliant, for numerous reasons, and is a signing that cannot be overlooked. The Ravens are a playoff team, without a doubt. But as the injury two seasons ago to Tom Brady showed everybody, quarterback is perhaps the most volitaile position to play in the National Football League. Flacco is the team's present and future. Bulger was not brought in to challenge the team leader for the starting role. However, if in the event, Flacco were to miss any amount of time, even if it was 2 or 3 games, due to injury, the ...
... Ravens now have a veteran quarterback, with a lot of experience on winning, playoff teams, that they can lean on without losing much in the lineup.

The Ravens did not have that in Troy Smith, not a prototypical quarterback. While Smith may be able to make plays on the ground, and make something out of nothing, he does not have the ability of Bulger in terms of game management, or in terms of getting the ball down the field. Smith was already disgruntled, looking to get his shot on another team, and the signing may signal the end to his days in Baltimore.

Bulger has had 27 300 yard passing games in his career, along with being the fifth fastest QB to throw for 20,000 yards. While Bulger's skills are diminishing, if he were to be thrust in to a starting role with the Ravens, he would fare a lot better success than with the Rams, if not anything else, due to the fact that the Ravens offensive line is not nearly as porous, and he would not be running for his life every play. Combining that with an effective running game, and solid weapons at wide receiver, if Bulger were to be forced to start, I see no reason why he would not perform admirably.
It also cannot be understated that Flacco is still a young quarterback, and it never hurts to have a veteran around to show him a few things or two that he did not yet know. That will only help to grow the Ravens franchise investment. While the signing of Bulger is not one that is breaking news, stop the presses worthy, it is one that we may look back on near the end of the season as being one of the most underrated pickups in the free agent period. Baltimore and Bulger are a perfect fit for each other.

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