The Baltimore Ravens will turn to undrafted rookie Joe Fagnano against the Jacksonville Jaguars on Thursday night, but the responsibility for turning around their struggling offense cannot fall entirely on a quarterback preparing for his first NFL start.
Ravens coach Jesse Minter officially named Fagnano the starter Tuesday after Lamar Jackson and Tyler Huntley suffered injuries during Sunday's 36-10 loss to the Buffalo Bills. With Jackson headed to injured reserve after a right thumb injury and Huntley dealing with turf toe, offensive coordinator Declan Doyle must develop a game plan that gives the rookie a chance to succeed.
Fagnano's NFL debut provided a glimpse of his potential, but it also highlighted the problems Baltimore must address before
Thursday's matchup.
The former UConn quarterback completed 10 of 21 passes for 91 yards with an interception and a lost fumble against Buffalo. He was sacked three times, and the Ravens finished with only 144 yards of total offense while converting three of 13 third-down opportunities.
Those struggles cannot be attributed entirely to Fagnano, who entered the game unexpectedly after injuries forced Baltimore to use three quarterbacks.
Ravens must establish Derrick Henry and running game
Doyle's first priority should be establishing a dependable rushing attack behind Derrick Henry.
The veteran running back finished with 53 yards and a touchdown on 11 carries against Buffalo, averaging 4.8 yards per attempt. Baltimore had only 19 rushing attempts overall, leaving its inexperienced quarterback in difficult passing situations as the game slipped away.
The Ravens cannot simply commit to running regardless of the scoreboard, but Henry should remain central to their offensive approach. A productive rushing attack would help Baltimore control possession, create manageable third downs and prevent Jacksonville from concentrating exclusively on pressuring Fagnano.
Doyle also can use play-action concepts built around Henry to create defined throwing opportunities rather than asking Fagnano to consistently work through multiple progressions.
Declan Doyle must simplify reads and protect Fagnano
Pass protection represents another significant concern after Buffalo recorded four sacks and 12 quarterback hits against Baltimore.
Fagnano was frequently forced to operate under pressure, and the Ravens cannot afford a similar performance against Jacksonville.
Doyle should emphasize quick throws, screens and designed rollouts when appropriate, allowing Fagnano to distribute the football without holding it through lengthy developing routes. Zay Flowers can provide opportunities for yards after the catch, while Mark Andrews and the tight ends can serve as dependable targets in the short and intermediate passing game.
The Ravens also need to avoid predictable passing situations near the goal line. Against Buffalo, Baltimore reached the 7-yard line while trailing 13-7 but called three consecutive passing plays with Fagnano. The possession ended with a missed field goal after a sack and two incompletions.
That sequence illustrated the difficulty of asking an inexperienced quarterback to carry an offense when the running game remains available.
Fagnano's first start will test Baltimore's offensive identity
Fagnano demonstrated promise during the preseason, leading NFL quarterbacks with 509 passing yards while throwing three touchdowns and one interception. He also showed composure by finishing Sunday's game despite dealing with an ankle injury.
Still, preseason success does not guarantee regular-season production, particularly against a Jacksonville team entering Thursday's matchup at 5-2.
Baltimore has scored just 33 points over its last three games, and the offensive struggles existed before Fagnano was forced into action.
The Ravens need Doyle to adjust his approach, maximize Henry's impact and protect a quarterback working through his own injury.
Fagnano does not need to reproduce Jackson's playmaking ability to give Baltimore a chance Thursday night. He needs a manageable game plan, dependable protection and enough support to avoid having every possession depend on his arm.
If the Ravens cannot provide those things, the responsibility for another offensive failure will extend well beyond their rookie quarterback.
This article originally appeared on Ravens Wire: How Ravens can set Joe Fagnano up for success against Jaguars
