2013 NFL Preview: Baltimore Ravens
Last Season: The Baltimore Ravens spent the 2012 regular season on a roller-coaster ride. On any week, they were capable of putting up 40+ points, but it was equally possible that they would be held under 20. Joe Flacco was particularly inconsistent, and seemed unable to get into a groove. On defense, they were solid, but injuries and age kept them from being at their best. Despite some bumps in the road, they finished 11-5, won the AFC North, and made the playoffs. That's when the fun began. After an opening round win over Indy and a miracle in Denver, they beat the Patriots before a thrilling Super Bowl that gave Ray Lewis a career-ending ring and the franchise its second championship.
Offense: All eyes will be on Joe Flacco in 2013 after his Super Bowl win and huge contract signing. He has all the tools to be an elite QB, but questions about his game will continue until he shows consistency during the season. His arm is fine, but he tends to make some questionable decisions that keep him from being in the top five QB discussions. He'll be missing one weapon this year with the trade of Anquan Boldin, who had a magical playoff run. Jacoby Jones, who also figured big into the Ravens playoff success, will pair with the speedy Torrey Smith at WR, while Dennis Pitta and Ed Dickson both return at TE. Ray Rice continues to be one of the NFL's best RBs, but Bernard Pierce showed last year that he could be the real deal and will get plenty of carries too. Up front, the offensive line has a few changes, but Bryant McKinnie at LT could be the key to keeping Flacco upright and throwing TDs.
Defense: There were big changes on the defensive side of the ball this offseason. The biggest is that the team won't have sure-fire Hall-of-Famer Ray Lewis roaming the field for the first time in franchise history. Ed Reed will also be missing from the lineup. Enter Arthur Brown and Michael Huff. Brown could be one of the steals of the entire draft and brings great instincts and ability to the team. Huff comes in as a free agent, bringing a veteran presence and athleticism to the safety position. Among plenty of youth in the secondary, Huff will be a leader and make an impact. Cornerback Lardarius Webb returns this season after missing most of 2012. He is a top corner in the NFL when healthy and will make a big difference. First round pick Matt Elam and last year's replacement starter Corey Graham or backup Jimmy Smith make up the rest of the secondary. The front seven is the strength of this year's roster, with what should be a much improved pass rush. Terrell Suggs is healthy and one of the league's best, and the addition of Elvis Dumervil adds another threat to opposing QBs. Haloti Ngata is one of the league's best linemen and makes the rest of the defense work.
Why the Ravens Will Repeat as Champs: The Ravens won the Super Bowl last season, but they were not the best team. This year, they could be. Flacco should be confident after the postseason he had and despite the loss of Boldin, still has plenty of great targets and Ray Rice to hand it to. On defense, the loss of Lewis and Reed isn't as big as it sounds. Both players, while great, were aging and slowing. The team brought in quality replacements for both on the field, and with the healthy return of Webb and Suggs, the defense should return to its place as one of the league's best. GM Ozzie Newsome continues to be a genius and Head Coach John Harbaugh has proven his worth as well. Unless injuries strike again, the Ravens are a contender again.
Why the Ravens Will Miss the Playoffs: Offensively, the team does have some work to do. Flacco had a great postseason, but still hasn't proven he can play at an elite level for a full season, and this year he'll be minus Boldin who just makes big plays. There are some valid questions on the O-line as well, with an aging Bryant McKinnie at LT and new starters at two other spots. Defensively, there's no doubting the talent, but they have several new starters, and integrating them into the system will be key. Also, while they may have effectively replaced the production of Lewis and Reed, there is no way to replace that kind of leadership and motivation. No player brings a fire like Ray Lewis and they lost more than just an aging inside linebacker.
Instant Impact: Elvis Dumervil's offseason story was one of the strangest in recent memory. A contract snafu led to him leaving the Denver Broncos and allowed him to wind up in Baltimore. With Ngata and Suggs commanding attention up front, Dumervil should have plenty of opportunity to make an impact, particularly on opposing QBs. Ravens fans will miss Lewis and Reed, but they will enjoy having a player like Dumervil around.
Questions I Have: Can Jacoby Jones thrive as a number two receiver? With all the changes in the secondary, can they hold up? Is Joe Flacco really elite?
Overall: The Ravens could be a bit unusual in that they won a Super Bowl, made a bunch of changes, and might have gotten better. The defense lost some key contributors, but added youth and speed, along with getting some key guys back to 100%. The offense bears watching just to see how Flacco performs after getting a ring and a new contract. The AFC North is one of the toughest divisions in the NFL and it won't be easy to repeat as the division winner, much less the Super Bowl winner. There hasn't been a repeat champion in almost a decade, but the Ravens have as good a shot as anybody.
Offense: All eyes will be on Joe Flacco in 2013 after his Super Bowl win and huge contract signing. He has all the tools to be an elite QB, but questions about his game will continue until he shows consistency during the season. His arm is fine, but he tends to make some questionable decisions that keep him from being in the top five QB discussions. He'll be missing one weapon this year with the trade of Anquan Boldin, who had a magical playoff run. Jacoby Jones, who also figured big into the Ravens playoff success, will pair with the speedy Torrey Smith at WR, while Dennis Pitta and Ed Dickson both return at TE. Ray Rice continues to be one of the NFL's best RBs, but Bernard Pierce showed last year that he could be the real deal and will get plenty of carries too. Up front, the offensive line has a few changes, but Bryant McKinnie at LT could be the key to keeping Flacco upright and throwing TDs.
Defense: There were big changes on the defensive side of the ball this offseason. The biggest is that the team won't have sure-fire Hall-of-Famer Ray Lewis roaming the field for the first time in franchise history. Ed Reed will also be missing from the lineup. Enter Arthur Brown and Michael Huff. Brown could be one of the steals of the entire draft and brings great instincts and ability to the team. Huff comes in as a free agent, bringing a veteran presence and athleticism to the safety position. Among plenty of youth in the secondary, Huff will be a leader and make an impact. Cornerback Lardarius Webb returns this season after missing most of 2012. He is a top corner in the NFL when healthy and will make a big difference. First round pick Matt Elam and last year's replacement starter Corey Graham or backup Jimmy Smith make up the rest of the secondary. The front seven is the strength of this year's roster, with what should be a much improved pass rush. Terrell Suggs is healthy and one of the league's best, and the addition of Elvis Dumervil adds another threat to opposing QBs. Haloti Ngata is one of the league's best linemen and makes the rest of the defense work.
Why the Ravens Will Repeat as Champs: The Ravens won the Super Bowl last season, but they were not the best team. This year, they could be. Flacco should be confident after the postseason he had and despite the loss of Boldin, still has plenty of great targets and Ray Rice to hand it to. On defense, the loss of Lewis and Reed isn't as big as it sounds. Both players, while great, were aging and slowing. The team brought in quality replacements for both on the field, and with the healthy return of Webb and Suggs, the defense should return to its place as one of the league's best. GM Ozzie Newsome continues to be a genius and Head Coach John Harbaugh has proven his worth as well. Unless injuries strike again, the Ravens are a contender again.
Why the Ravens Will Miss the Playoffs: Offensively, the team does have some work to do. Flacco had a great postseason, but still hasn't proven he can play at an elite level for a full season, and this year he'll be minus Boldin who just makes big plays. There are some valid questions on the O-line as well, with an aging Bryant McKinnie at LT and new starters at two other spots. Defensively, there's no doubting the talent, but they have several new starters, and integrating them into the system will be key. Also, while they may have effectively replaced the production of Lewis and Reed, there is no way to replace that kind of leadership and motivation. No player brings a fire like Ray Lewis and they lost more than just an aging inside linebacker.
Instant Impact: Elvis Dumervil's offseason story was one of the strangest in recent memory. A contract snafu led to him leaving the Denver Broncos and allowed him to wind up in Baltimore. With Ngata and Suggs commanding attention up front, Dumervil should have plenty of opportunity to make an impact, particularly on opposing QBs. Ravens fans will miss Lewis and Reed, but they will enjoy having a player like Dumervil around.
Questions I Have: Can Jacoby Jones thrive as a number two receiver? With all the changes in the secondary, can they hold up? Is Joe Flacco really elite?
Overall: The Ravens could be a bit unusual in that they won a Super Bowl, made a bunch of changes, and might have gotten better. The defense lost some key contributors, but added youth and speed, along with getting some key guys back to 100%. The offense bears watching just to see how Flacco performs after getting a ring and a new contract. The AFC North is one of the toughest divisions in the NFL and it won't be easy to repeat as the division winner, much less the Super Bowl winner. There hasn't been a repeat champion in almost a decade, but the Ravens have as good a shot as anybody.
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