Competition For Ravens Backup Quarterback Heats Up

For the first time in his fledgling career, Tyrod Taylor's reign as the Ravens backup quarterback to Joe Flacco is being seriously challenged, Edward Lee of the Baltimore Sun reports, but rather than feel threatened by the presence of Curtis Painter, Taylor is embracing the test that should play out when training camp opens later this month. "There's always going to be competition, and I think that's how you step up your play," Taylor said during the team's mandatory three-day minicamp in June. "Both of us are competing, and by working together, we're getting better." When the Ravens elected to sign Painter on April 19 after the Colts had waived him, conventional thinking might have kept some distance between he and Taylor, but both players said they have enjoyed a good relationship. "When he first came in, it was just me and him working out in the offseason program," Taylor said. "He was eager to learn, and we're learning from each other. He's started for a team in the National Football League, and he's played around some great guys. A lot of the stuff we run here is some of the stuff that has carried over from there, and we're learning from each other. He's a great teammate, and it's always competition. Nothing's set in stone, and I think that makes the quarterback play better." Painter's experience as a starter figures to be an important benefit for the 27 year old. He completed 54.3 percent of his passes for 1,541 yards, six touchdowns and nine interceptions in Indianapolis. "I guess I've got a little bit of experience — for whatever that's worth," Painter said. "I think for me personally, it's been good just to get that experience and get some game time exposure. I don't know if it's an advantage, but it certainly helps me, I think." Quarterbacks coach Jim Caldwell, who is serving his first year in that capacity for the Ravens, said Taylor and Painter are taking advantage of the offseason workouts to refine their skills. "The guys are getting a lot of good work, a lot of good solid work that I think is extremely important, particularly at this time of year, working against one of the best defenses the league has ever seen," said Caldwell, who was the head coach with the Colts when Painter was the starter. "Getting an opportunity to work against them week in and week out, day in and day out is going to benefit them. So we'll see how things go. Tyrod's doing well. Curtis is working hard. So they'll keep their nose to the grindstone and see what happens."

Source: The Redzone
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