Any of the Ravens’ QBs on the roster could win the starting job this season.  Kyle Boller is the veteran of the bunch but he has not stepped up when given the chance to play.  Boller has a strong arm but he oftens throws the ball where he shouldn’t and it often costs the team.  He played in 12 games (8 starts) for the Ravens last season and he completed 168 of 275 passes (61.1%) for 1,743 yards with 9 TD passes and 10 interceptions (75.2 QB Rating).  He also carried the ball 19 times for 89 yards (4.7 ypc).  Boller has never improved as he once was thought as the QB of the future for the Ravens but this could be his last season in purple.  Boller has now played in 53 games (42 starts) in his NFL career and he has completed 746 of 1,311 passes (56.9%) for 7,846 yards with 45 TD passes and 44 interceptions (81.9 QB Rating).  He also has carried the ball 147 times for 440 yards (3.0 ypc) with 2 TD runs.

2nd year man Troy Smith had an audition late last season and he showed some promise.  He is short but the Ravens rolled the pocket often to give Smith better sightlines.  He also is a good runner and he showed that last season.  Smith played in 4 games (2 starts) for the Ravens last season and he completed 40 of 76 passes (52.6%) for 452 yards with 2 TD passes and 0 interceptions (79.5 QB Rating).  He also carried the football 12 times for 54 yards (4.5 ypc) with 1 TD run.  Smith will battle rookie Joe Flacco both now and in the future for the starting QB job of the Ravens and it will be interesting to see how he does in the competition.  He will have a good chance to unseat Boller this year.

1st round pick Joe Flacco of Delaware will have an uphill battle in trying to beat out Boller and Smith this season.  Flacco might have the most talent of this bunch but he played in a shotgun offense and it will take him some time to adjust being back under a center.  Still, Flacco projects to be the starter down the road for the Ravens based on his big time arm strength.

 PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE 2008 SEASON:  C-