The Baltimore Ravens are preparing to start undrafted rookie quarterback Joe Fagnano against the Jacksonville Jaguars on Thursday night, and one of offensive coordinator Declan Doyle's biggest priorities should be getting the football into Zay Flowers' hands. Flowers was targeted five times but failed to record a reception during Sunday's 36-10 loss to the Buffalo Bills, marking the first catchless game of his four-year NFL career. The performance came one week after the former first-round pick caught eight passes for 137 yards and a touchdown against the Cincinnati Bengals.
Baltimore cannot afford another afternoon in which its most dynamic receiver is essentially removed from the offense, particularly with Lamar Jackson headed to injured reserve
and Tyler Huntley dealing with a turf toe injury.
Fagnano will make his first NFL start Thursday after completing 10 of 21 passes for 91 yards with an interception and a lost fumble against Buffalo. The rookie is also managing an ankle injury, making it even more important for Doyle to develop a passing game that doesn't require lengthy dropbacks or difficult throws.
Ravens must create easier opportunities for Zay Flowers
Flowers has demonstrated the ability to create explosive plays throughout his career, but the Ravens should not rely exclusively on traditional downfield routes to generate production. Doyle can use pre-snap motion, quick screens, shallow crossing routes, and designed touches to get Flowers involved early. Moving him between the slot and outside receiver positions would also give Baltimore opportunities to identify Jacksonville's coverage and create favorable matchups.
Those concepts would benefit Fagnano, who struggled to find consistent throwing windows after replacing Jackson and Huntley against Buffalo.
Rather than asking the rookie to make difficult throws into tight coverage, Baltimore should give Flowers opportunities to create yardage after the catch. The Ravens can also incorporate Flowers into jet-sweep action and misdirection concepts, using his speed to influence Jacksonville's linebackers and defensive backs while creating additional running opportunities for Derrick Henry.
Joe Fagnano needs dependable targets in first NFL start
Baltimore has struggled to find consistent production from its receiving corps outside Flowers, and his absence from the box score against Buffalo highlighted the offense's limitations. The Ravens finished with just 144 total yards and converted three of 13 third-down opportunities against the Bills. Fagnano was sacked three times, and the offense failed to establish a rhythm after losing its top two quarterbacks.
Flowers cannot solve those problems alone, but his versatility gives Doyle opportunities to manufacture offense without placing the entire burden on the rookie quarterback.
Mark Andrews and the tight ends should also factor into the passing game, giving Fagnano additional short and intermediate options when Jacksonville tries to take away Flowers.
The Ravens need to establish Henry and the running game, but becoming too predictable would only make Fagnano's assignment harder. Finding a balance between rushing attempts and efficient passes to Flowers could help Baltimore sustain drives and avoid obvious passing situations.
Declan Doyle faces important offensive test against Jaguars
The Ravens have averaged just 11 points over their last three games, and Thursday's matchup against Jacksonville presents another difficult challenge. The Jaguars are coming off a 42-7 win over Indianapolis, while Baltimore has lost three straight and is searching for offensive consistency.
With Jackson unavailable, the Ravens must adjust their approach rather than expect Fagnano to run the same offense designed around a two-time NFL MVP. That means identifying the players who can create offense without requiring perfect protection or exceptional quarterback play.
Flowers belongs at the top of that list.
The Ravens cannot guarantee that every designed touch will produce an explosive gain, but they can make sure their most dangerous receiver is consistently involved. If Fagnano is going to have a realistic chance to win his first NFL start, Baltimore needs Flowers to become part of the solution rather than another talented player struggling to find opportunities.
This article originally appeared on Ravens Wire: Ravens must make Zay Flowers a priority with Joe Fagnano starting
