From the same article
Flacco was viewed as a product of draft hype. He was not a prized recruit out of high school, originally enrolling at Pittsburgh. He played for an FCS school, Delaware. Sports Illustrated termed his Senior Bowl performance “disastrous.” Many were skeptical. Some felt he was a product of playing against inferior competition. Some were willing to grant him the benefit of the doubt on that, but were concerned about his experience being primarily out of the shotgun (which feels sooo 2008). Roch Kubatko wrote the following: [Baltimore Sun Apr. 29, 2008]
If there’s a greater concern about Flacco, it’s how he took his snaps primarily out of the shotgun. Because the Ravens aren’t likely to move him away from center most of the time, he’ll be the one making the adjustment. Dropping back can’t be followed by falling down, or that’ll become an issue real fast. But it’s not like he’s never done it.
Some viewed Flacco as a project, unable to help the Ravens immediately. Toni Grossi wrote the following in his immediate assessment of the Ravens’ 2008 Draft. [Cleveland Plain Dealer, Apr. 29, 2008]
By the time Flacco is ready to win – not just play – Ray Lewis, Ed Reed and other Ravens star defensive players may be sitting in the NFL Network studio chairs.
Bob McGinn of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel felt Flacco could not be a success because he was tall, taller than almost any other “above average” quarterback. Here’s your gem quote from that article. [Milwaukee Journal Sentinal, Apr. 19, 2008]
“I’ve got a problem with Flacco,” a personnel director for an AFC team said. “You know why? He’s 6-6. I don’t know why it is but history tells you they’re not going to be any good.”