Breaking It Down - Baltimore Ravens
Chris Dunne
angryfans.ca
This week we hit up the AFC North to take a look at an underestimated Baltimore Ravens squad. If there has been one division of inconsistencies over the past few seasons it has to be the AFC North. Three different teams - Cincinnati, Pittsburgh and Baltimore - have taken the AFC North Division crown in the past four years. Therefore, the parity of this division is unmatched by any other in the NFL but it looks as though this year Baltimore is the favourite to take it home.
Never a team to make a big splash in the offseason, the Ravens went about their business this offseason by acquiring the pieces that they felt were needed to contend. Joe Flacco, the man of the future for the Ravens, is entering his 3rd season as Ravens QB and is looking to improve on last season’s performance. Flacco isn’t a flashy guy but he gets the job done and protects the ball extremely well. He is exactly the type of quarterback that fits the Ravens game and he’s only getting better as the years go by. On top of that, the signing of Marc Bulger as his back up is a great move for the Ravens. The veteran presence will provide some guidance for Flacco and gives the Ravens a reliable back up in case of injury.
Outstanding running back Ray Rice should see the bulk of the carries once again this season. He is a work horse and his fantasy value will undoubtedly skyrocket this season because you can be assured he will be getting at least fifteen touches every game. Willis McGahee will be backing up Rice and will be the guy stealing most of his touchdowns. McGahee is a great goal lineback and he has the ability to move the line like no other back in the game. Look for him to get six or seven touches a game, the majority in the red zone. You also can’t forget the presence of Le’Ron McClain when discussing the Ravens back field. This guy is far more than your standard full back and makes for a great short yardage option as one of the best receiving full backs out of the back field. Many forget that this guy ran for over 900 yards and had seven touchdowns just two years ago. I’m hoping the Ravens coaching staff does a better job of getting him involved this season.
The Receiver position is where the Ravens made the biggest changes, adding a couple of great options. The acquisition of Anquan Boldin was one of the biggest moves in the league this offseason and it adds a whole new dimension to what was once a less than stellar receiving core. Boldin offers Flacco a great option in every situation which is something he has never really had. This could be enough to put Flacco over the top and find his way into the top tier of QB’s in the league. As if Boldin wasn’t enough, the Ravens also added speedy wideout Daunte Stallworth. Stallworth offers outstanding speed over the top but has been on a steady decline since his departure from the Philadelphia Eagles. I question this signing because Stallworth is only really known for his deep ball ability, an ability that Flacco doesn’t really have or use. I can’t see Stallworth putting up huge numbers but nevertheless he is a great decoy in the slot to open things up underneath. In addition to the two new guys, The Ravens still have Mark Clayton and Derrick Mason which makes for one of the deepest receiving cores in the league. Throw in one of the league’s best Tight Ends in Todd Heap and rookie Ed Dickson, who has been getting plenty of praise at camp, and the offence seems as close to unstoppable as possible. But the question still remains: can Flacco get them the ball?
I believe he can. Flacco not only has a great variety of weapons to look for but he is going to have the time to do so with a great offensive line. With Michael Oher making the move to right tackle this season to protect Flacco’s blind side it gives Flacco even more ability to go to work. Oher is going to be one of the league’s best tackles, if he isn’t already, and Flacco has a lot of trust in this guy. Another first rounder in Ben Grubbs will play along side of him which adds depth as Grubbs is strong as an ox and loves getting down and dirty with opposing defensive tackles. Veteran Matt Birk will handle center and he is a guy that you can count on for bringing it every game. Birk has been a man of consistency for years now down in Minnesota and after making the move to Baltimore last season he continued where he left off. No question this guy will get the job done again this season. Lastly, the right side is where there could be some question marks this year with Marshal Yanda and Jared Gaither playing RG and RT receptively. Gaither was beat around last season at LT but I think this move will do wonders for him. He is better suited for the right side and Flacco will enjoy having him where he can see him.
Not much has changed on the defensive side of the ball for Baltimore this season but they did lose some key pieces in Justin Bannan and Dwan Edwards. Up front Trevor Price will be rushing off the left edge. Despite getting older and people questioning his ability to still bring it, he managed to shun the critics last season by posting up 6.5 sacks and by always finding a way to get pressure on the opposing QB. Veteran space eater Kelly Gregg remains in the nose tackle position to eat up opposing running games. This guy isn’t going to collapse the pocket like some Nose Tackles but he surely is a pain in the side for the opponents running game and he will continue to be this season. Haloti Ngata will be rushing off the right side but if Baltimore finds that this year’s first round pick Authur Jones fits in at the defensive end position, Ngata’s starting job could be in jeopardy after a dismal 2009 campaign. The front three has certainly taken a hit with the departure of Bannan and Edwards but it’s up to the remaining guys to find a way to step it up.
An exceptional line backing core has always been a staple for the Ravens and this season will be no different. Pro Bowlers Terrell Suggs and Ray Lewis will act as leaders for this defensive unit. These guys have to bring their ‘A’ game as the whole team relies on them to provide direction and leadership. Jarrett Johnson will be playing the right outside LB position but he is going to have a battle on his hands in camp with the Ravens 2nd round pick Sergio Kindle. Kindle fits the Ravens system perfectly because he has the ability to play defensive end as well. He was an absolute treat to watch in the BCS Championship game as he showed the world how he can wreak havoc in the back field. I personally hope he takes the starting role from Johnson because he will bring speed and excitement to this unit. Tavares Gooden will be playing the right inside LB position between Suggs and Lewis and after a great sophomore season, Gooden is looking to build on last season’s performance.
With a good set of linebackers comes a great secondary. The loss of Samari Rolle hurts the depth of the Ravens at cornerback however they have other guys to pick up the slack. Domonique Foxworth will be seeing every team’s number one and he proved he can handle the role last season. I love this guy and I would probably put him in my Top 10 cornerbacks in the league. Behind Foxworth you will find three guys all battling for the #2 position. Chris Carr, Fabien Washington and Ladarius Webb all have a shot at #2 but I like Carr’s chances of scooping up the spot.
A great duo of safeties will provide the security blanket for these cornerbacks. Dawan Landry and Ed Reed will be lurking in the backfield for the Ravens. The biggest question mark for the Ravens will rest on how well Reed recovers from surgery. It’s no question Baltimore needs him in the lineup but the addition of veteran Ken Hamlin provides a reliable back up for Reed. Landry has exceeded expectations in every way since the Ravens drafted him in 2006 and he is only getting better.
There are two major questions for the Ravens heading into this season. Can Flacco find a way to get the ball to his new set of receivers and will this new look defensive line be able to find a way to get pressure? Flacco has improved by leaps and bounds over the past two seasons and if he can carry this over into this season then the Ravens should be hoisting a divisional championship come January.
Here’s the complete ‘Breaking It Down’ schedule leading into the start of the 2010 season:
July 4th – New England Patriots (AFC East)
July 11th – New York Jets (AFC Wild Card)
July 18th – Baltimore Ravens (AFC North)
July 25th – Tennessee Titans (AFC South)
August 1st – San Diego Chargers (AFC West)
August 8th – Dallas Cowboys (NFC East)
August 15th – Green Bay Packers (NFC North)
August 22nd – Atlanta Falcons (NFC South)
August 29th – Arizona Cardinals (NFC West)
September 5th – Minnesota Vikings (NFC Wild Card)
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