Ravens Roll Over Browns with Second Half Surge

The more things change, the more they stay the same for the Baltimore Ravens.

With a new coach and a new quarterback, the Ravens (2-0) continue to win with a frightening defense and a dominant running game after a 28-10 victory over the division-rival Cleveland Browns (0-3) on Sunday.

The Ravens trailed 10-7 at the half but turned two Derrick Anderson interceptions into 14 points in less than a minute to claim a commanding 21-10 lead early in the third quarter.

The offense used a bruising running game to dominate a tired Cleveland defense to close out the victory.

Here’s a final look at the Ravens’ convincing win as they assume first place in the AFC North.

The Good

Ball Control

Much as they did against the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 1, the offense dominated the time of possession by a margin of over 15 minutes. The Ravens controlled the ball an astounding 13:18 to the Browns’ 1:42 in the fourth quarter. This is a formula for overwhelming success in the NFL. It will keep a dominant, but veteran-heavy, defense fresh as the season progresses.

Running Backs

Running backs Willis McGahee, Le’Ron McClain, and Ray Rice wore down the Cleveland defense in the second half. The trio combined for 157 yards on 37 carries.

McGahee looked impressive in his first live-game action of the year. Coach John Harbaugh and offensive coordination Cam Cameron hinted that McGahee would see limited action, but he carried 15 times and was a focal point of the offensive game plan.

McClain continues to be the bruising back that wears down the opposing defense. He has deceptive speed and runs with a downhill style that opposing defenders hate to challenge. McClain’s second touchdown of the third quarter slammed the door on Cleveland’s hope for a comeback. Cameron’s decision to use McClain is much like a manager using the closer in baseball, finishing off the opposition and sealing the victory.

Rice carried only five times but was a good complement to the more bruising styles of McGahee and McClain.

Veteran fullback Lorenzo Neal continued to make the tough blocks and has been a welcome addition to the Ravens’ physical style of play on offense. When lined up in the same backfield, the combination of Neal and McClain is a frightening tandem to face.

Offensive Line

The offensive line that struggled heavily during training camp and the preseason schedule has morphed into a strength in the first two games of the season.

Four of the five starters are new or playing a different position from last season. Offensive lines historically need time to gel as a collective unit, and this line appears to be moving in that direction.

The interior line of Ben Grubbs, Jason Brown, and Marshal Yanda was projected to play well, but the dominating play of tackles Jared Gaither and Adam Terry has been surprising.

Cameron even used veteran Willie Anderson as an extra tackle in some offensive sets. This sends a strong message to opposing teams that the Ravens are going to run and are daring the other team to stop them.

The group controlled the line of scrimmage throughout the game and allowed only one sack of quarterback Joe Flacco. Standout defensive tackle Shaun Rogers made four insignificant tackles for the Cleveland defense and caused little disruption.

The offensive line figures only to improve as Anderson continues to work his way into the rotation more frequently.

Ed Reed

Despite the pain of a nerve impingement in his shoulder and neck, Ed Reed provided the big play as he has so many times throughout his career. Reed read a Derek Anderson pass perfectly to intercept a pass and return it the other way for a 32-yard touchdown, giving the Ravens a 21-10 lead in the third quarter.

Reed appeared to know what was coming, as he broke on the route before Anderson even released the pass intended for Steve Heiden.

Jim Leonhard

Filling in to return punts and kicks for the injured Yamon Figurs, Leonhard performed admirably; averaging 26.0 yards per return on three kick returns and returning a punt for 21 yards.

What Leonhard did not expect was having to replace the injured Dawan Landry at safety late in the first half. Leonhard sacked Anderson and played well in pass coverage.

The signing of Leonhard was considered an afterthought when the organization drafted safeties Tom Zbikowski and Haruki Nakamura, but Leonhard has emerged as a strong complementary player in the Ravens’ pass defense.

Leonhard may lack the physical presence of Landry or the playmaking ability of Reed, but he fits the profile of a strong blue-collar role player for the Baltimore defense. He won’t astonish you, but he’ll help you win some football games.

Terrell Suggs

Suggs sacked Anderson twice on his way to a big day. He gave tackle Joe Thomas trouble throughout the day, providing consistent pressure on Anderson.

Suggs has definitely benefited from the return of Trevor Pryce, as opposing offenses cannot devote double-teams to Suggs as often.

Special Teams

In addition to Leonhard’s returns, the special teams came up big throughout the game. The directional kicking of Matt Stover and punter Sam Koch limited the dangerous returner Josh Cribbs to only 76 yards on three kick returns and two punt returns. Cribs destroyed the Ravens’ special teams in two games last season.

John Harbaugh

Harbaugh continued to impress the home crowd with his fearless decision-making. The offense converted two fourth downs, including a 4th and 2 from the Cleveland 49 in the first quarter. Harbaugh also won his first challenge of the season, overturning a Rice fumble in the fourth quarter.

Harbaugh makes observers forget he’s a rookie coach with his confident decision-making and attention to detail. The players appear to be buying into his program, given the early success.


The Bad

Frank Walker

After a rough preseason, Walker continued to draw the disdain of the Baltimore crowd for his personal foul in the third quarter.

Walker appeared to be talking trash to the Cleveland offense, but he really should focus on improving his play in the secondary.

To his credit, Walker is a strong special teams player.

Joe Flacco

While Flacco moved the offense effectively for much of the game, he threw two interceptions and had another negated by a defensive holding penalty.

Flacco’s first interception came in the first quarter when he failed to see linebacker D’Qwell Jackson dropping into coverage, a mistake every rookie quarterback has made at some point. The key will be whether Flacco learns from the mistake and does not repeat it.

His second interception came in the second quarter on a long pass intended for Derrick Mason. The gadget play was too slow developing, and Flacco should have thrown the ball away instead of throwing into heavy coverage. Neither interception resulted in Cleveland points.

While the Ravens are currently relying heavily on the running game, Flacco will eventually need to make more plays with his arm. He was unable to throw to a wide-open Todd Heap on one play, but he did not have many opportunities to throw in the second half, as the Ravens controlled the game on the ground.

Despite the interceptions, Flacco continued to show confidence and an ability to operate Cameron’s offensive system. Considering he was a rookie making his second career start, his performance was not as bad as it looked statistically.

The Ugly

Dawan Landry’s Injury

The only real damper on an otherwise thrilling game was the neck injury to Landry in the closing moments of the first half. After his helmet made contact with Cleveland running back Jamal Lewis’ knee, Landry was motionless on the ground for several minutes as a silent crowd at M&T Bank Stadium looked on.

The scene was quite scary as several Ravens and Browns knelt in prayer as medical personnel tended to Landry.

Luckily, Landry only sustained a spinal concussion and had movement in all extremities after the game. He is expected to return this season, according to Harbaugh. Though Leonhard filled in nicely in the second half, the defense will miss Landry’s physical presence in the secondary.

"Rantin' and Raven" - Week 1

In addition to providing “The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly” for each game (which will return next week after a brief hiatus), I bring to you a new weekly piece, offering analysis with a fan’s touch, called “Rantin’ and Raven.”

Here's a final look at the Ravens' 17-10 victory over Cincinnati.

Ray-Ray

Ray Lewis’ pre-game dance to the Nelly song “Hot in Herre” creates unparalleled electricity in M&T Bank Stadium that is sustained through the opening minutes of the game. Despite the critics that say it’s self-promotion and is a distraction for the rest of the team, no one can deny its profound effect on the home crowd.

Lewis’ moves and swagger may not be loved by everyone, but the end result of a frenzied crowd and a stronger home-field advantage is a major plus.

Black Birds

The new look of wearing black pants, in addition to the white jerseys that have previously been worn in early-season home games, was a sharp, menacing way to ring in a new era of Baltimore football.

Old-School

The Baltimore defense, decimated by injuries last season, proved it still has the personnel to dominate even the best of offenses in the NFL. The unit was relentless in all aspects of the game and made a talented Cincinnati offense look like the “Bungles” of the past.

Defensive coordinator Rex Ryan’s schemes are as complex and confusing to opposing offenses as any in the league. Ryan employed packages that sometimes included eight defensive backs and even exotic looks such as linebacker Terrell Suggs lining up at corner to bump Bengals wide receiver Chad Johnson (or Chad Ocho Cinco or The Artist formerly known as Number 85 or whatever he’s calling himself this week).

Rumbling Raven

Fullback Le’Ron McClain runs with a downhill style reminding fans of Bam Morris (and unlike Morris, McClain’s not running from the law) or even the hated Jerome Bettis in his early days.

McClain’s running in the fourth quarter was the nail in the coffin for a Cincinnati team that completely quit or had never really shown up, depending on who you ask.

Veteran Lorenzo Neal’s influence may be able to transform McClain into one of the best fullbacks in the league.

Joe Cool

Joe Flacco looked as calm as any quarterback seen in Baltimore since the days of Johnny Unitas and Bert Jones.

While no one knows how good Flacco will eventually be, his calm demeanor has a soothing effect on a team that would otherwise be holding its breath with a rookie at the helm.

The sight of Lewis encouraging Flacco and the rookie staring back at him confidently was a stirring image.

Heeeeaaaappp (Eeeeek?)

Todd Heap had one of his worst games in recent memory, losing a fumble in the first quarter and dropping a touchdown pass in the second.

Heap needs to get more reps in practice to improve his timing with Flacco and get back into game-playing shape. Once this happens, Flacco and the Ravens will once again have a dangerous red zone option to utilize.

F-16 becomes A.D. the II?

Yamon Figurs is known for his return ability but is quickly becoming a force on the coverage units.

Figurs has the potential to become the team’s best punt team gunner since Adalius Thomas made the Pro Bowl in 2003 as a special teams player.

He has blazing speed and continues to improve his tackling every week.

Déjà Vu?

When running back Ray Rice put the ball on the ground, and Cincinnati's Johnathan Joseph scooped it up for a 65-yard touchdown, Ravens fans could not help but think back to last season and the many debacles that plagued a 5-11 season.

The play cut the Ravens’ lead to 17-10 with over 10 minutes to play in the game.

Was the start of the 2008 season going to look exactly like 2007?

The suffocating defense and the punishing running game clearly answered that question and put the fears to rest. Cincinnati didn’t threaten again.

Offense Offensive, Nevermore?

Though it only managed to score 17 points, the Baltimore offense played with good tempo and confidence.

The double-reverse call that led to a 42-yard touchdown run by wide receiver Mark Clayton was executed brilliantly with a key block by Flacco to spring him.

The no-huddle offense kept the Cincinnati defense from substituting and maintained a quicker pace than what was typically seen in the past.

It will be interesting to see what offensive coordinator Cam Cameron does with this offense as Flacco continues to grow into the system.

Wacko for Flacco

The rhythmic chants of “Let’s Go, Flacco” echoing from nearly 71,000 fans symbolically marked the beginning of Flacco’s reign. It was difficult to listen to the chants without thinking this could be the start of something special in Baltimore.

Will Flacco be the next Johnny Unitas? That’s an unfair and unreasonable question to ask of anyone.

But maybe, he’ll be the man to stop the revolving door of quarterbacks that has plagued this franchise since its beginning.

Time will tell, but the crowd’s display of love was enough to get even the most skeptical fan excited about the debut of Baltimore Joe.

Ravens Stare into Uncertain Future: 2008 Season Preview

The Baltimore Ravens begin the 2008 season with the same theme resonating wherever they look. Uncertainty.

From new head coach John Harbaugh’s effect on a veteran-laden team to the health of free safety Ed Reed, the Ravens face many questions and can provide few answers as they prepare for the season opener against the Cincinnati Bengals on Sept. 7.

Will Harbaugh be able to turn around a team that finished 5-11 a year ago and seemingly tuned out former coach Brian Billick?

Can rookie quarterback Joe Flacco help improve the offense and become the franchise quarterback the team has lacked in its 13-year history?

Will Reed’s injured shoulder prevent him from leading an aging secondary that battled injuries last season and finished 20^th in passing defense?

Despite these questions, the Ravens believe they are much more like the team that finished 13-3 in 2006 than the injury-plagued group that collapsed last season.

The AFC North looks to be a competitive division in which a 9-7 or 10-6 record could potentially win the division crown.

One thing is certain. The Ravens are a team in transition as the defense continues to age and the offense must overcome the retirement of left tackle Jonathan Ogden.

More changes are likely to come, as several veterans will be free agents after the season, including Ray Lewis, Bart Scott, Terrell Suggs, and Kyle Boller.

The team’s veterans will play with a sense of urgency, as they see their window for winning a championship continuing to fade. The Ravens will try to prove the window has not already closed by making another playoff push.

Here is a look at the 2008 Baltimore Ravens.

Coaching

Harbaugh brings a passion and intensity that had been missing from the coaching staff in recent years. His enthusiasm for football was apparent to his players from the moment he was hired.

Veterans faced a more difficult training camp and had to stay in Westminster instead of being able to commute, departures from what the players experienced under Billick.

The early reviews on Harbaugh have been positive, but how the team responds to adversity during the season remains to be seen.

In addition to lacking head coaching experience, Harbaugh never held an offensive or defensive coordinator position, the common progression for most head coaches. Harbaugh made the jump to head coach after being the secondary coach for the Philadelphia Eagles in 2007 and spending the nine previous seasons as the Eagles’ special teams coach.

With his own inexperience in mind, Harbaugh hired former Miami Dolphins head coach Cam Cameron as his offensive coordinator. Cameron will try to improve an offense that has chronically finished in the lower half of the league for much of the team’s existence. Harbaugh hopes that Cameron can bring production to the Baltimore offense much like he did with the San Diego Chargers a few seasons ago.

Once again, Rex Ryan will call the defensive signals after choosing to remain with the organization despite being passed over for the head coaching position. Ryan is known for his complex, blitz-heavy schemes that cause confusion to opposing offenses.

Quarterback

The Ravens entered training camp expecting the veteran Boller or second-year player Troy Smith to seize the starting quarterback position while the first-round pick Flacco would be brought along slowly as he learns the offense.

These plans changed dramatically in an Aug. 23 game against the St. Louis Rams when Flacco was given the emergency start, with Boller nursing a shoulder injury and Smith suffering from a viral infection.

Flacco played with confidence and did not turn the ball over in the team’s final two preseason games. This caused Harbaugh to name him the starting quarterback.

Flacco has great size, standing at 6’6”, and a strong throwing arm. The coaching staff is impressed with his intelligence and calm demeanor in the huddle

The biggest question will be his ability to adjust to the speed of the NFL after spending his college career at the University of Delaware, an FCS (Division 1-AA) school.

Cameron will likely implement a conservative game plan to nurture Flacco’s development and allow him to continue growing into the offense. Flacco looked most comfortable using three-step drops and throwing quicker passes in the preseason.

Depth is a major concern, as Boller could miss the entire season with a partially torn labrum and Smith continues to recover from illness.

The Ravens looked to sign a veteran to use as the backup quarterback until Smith returns to form.

The quarterback position will continue to be an area of concern until Flacco can prove that he is ready to lead the offense. The coaching staff will ask Flacco to manage the offense and protect the football as he enters the season as the starter.

Running Back

Starter Willis McGahee (1,207 rushing yards in 2007) missed the entire preseason after undergoing arthroscopic knee surgery and remains a question mark for opening day.

The new coaching staff was disappointed with his absence from off-season activities and his struggles with learning the new offensive system.

These circumstances have led to the emergence of rookie Ray Rice as a viable threat in the offense.

Rice had an impressive career at Rutgers, leading the Ravens to draft him in the second round.

Standing only 5’8”, Rice presents a problem to opposing defenses as he often seems to disappear behind offensive linemen while he finds the hole.

Starting fullback Le’Ron McClain was a bigger part of the offense in the preseason and will occasionally be used at tailback with veteran Lorenzo Neal lining up in front of him in a big-back set.

The experienced Neal will also act as a mentor to the younger McClain.

The Ravens will need to have a strong rushing attack to support the inexperienced Flacco.

Wide Receiver

The wide receiving unit is led by veteran Derrick Mason (103 catches and 1,087 yards in 2007). While Mason is not a deep threat, he remains one of the best possession receivers in the league. Flacco looked his way regularly in the preseason and will need his consistent production.

Starting opposite of Mason, Mark Clayton hopes to rebound from a disappointing 2007 season in which he did not score a touchdown. Much like Mason, Clayton lacks size and breakaway speed.

The offense will look to Demetrius Williams to be the deep threat in the passing game. Williams has good size at 6’2” and shows good speed in deep routes. He will need to remain healthy, as a sore Achilles’ tendon sidelined him for most of the preseason.

Rookie Marcus Smith showed promise in the preseason but needs to catch the football more consistently to make an impact.

The Ravens lack a big-play receiver and need production from receivers other than just Mason. Clayton has failed to live up to expectations after being the team’s first-round pick in 2005.

The receivers will need to show more consistency since the team lacks an experienced quarterback.

Tight End

Heap continues to struggle to remain on the field. He missed most of last season with a torn hamstring and was slowed by a sore calf during training camp.

Heap is still capable of being one of the top tight ends in the league.

Flacco will desperately need Heap to anchor the short passing game and provide a security blanket for the rookie quarterback.

Dan Wilcox is still feeling the effects from off-season toe surgery but is ready to go for the start of the season. His versatility is useful, as he can line up at tight end or in the backfield as an H-back.

Converted linebacker Edgar Jones will be the third tight end and is an intriguing story. Jones possesses good speed and blocked well after moving to tight end during the preseason.

Offensive Line

Replacing a future Hall of Fame tackle is never an enviable position, but Jared Gaither will attempt to fill Ogden’s large shoes at left tackle.

Gaither has great size (6’9” and 330 pounds), but his work ethic and immaturity are concerns. In addition, Gaither missed most of training camp with an ankle injury.

Starting at right tackle will be veteran Adam Terry. Mostly backing up Ogden at left tackle the past few seasons, there are questions as to whether Terry can play on the right side.

Like Gaither, Terry was slowed by an ankle injury in training camp after undergoing surgery on the same ankle in the off-season.

The interior line looks strong with second-year players Ben Grubbs and Marshal Yanda lining up at left and right guard respectively.

Grubbs was the team’s first round pick a year ago, and Yanda plays with a mean streak.

The team’s most consistent offensive lineman is center Jason Brown. Brown moves from guard to center, where he played in college.

Brown will need to show more leadership after the retirement of Ogden and the departure of long-time center Mike Flynn.

Defensive Line

The starting defensive line is as good as any other in the AFC.

Trevor Pryce missed most of 2007 with injuries and is key to the team’s pass rush. The coaching staff is hopeful that Pryce can regain his 2006 form when he led the team with 13 sacks.

Nose tackle Kelly Gregg continues to be a productive player that goes unnoticed around the league.

Gregg underwent arthroscopic knee surgery during training camp, so his status at the beginning of the season remains uncertain. However, Gregg’s health is not expected to be a long-term concern.

Haloti Ngata is one of the most dominating tackles in the league, often taking on two blockers and protecting the inside linebacker Lewis. Ngata suffered a sprained knee in training camp but returned for the final preseason game.

Ngata should receive strong consideration for the Pro Bowl.

Backups Justin Bannan and Marques Douglas provide solid depth and are strong against the run.

The health of Gregg and Ngata is a concern entering the season, but if they prove to be 100 percent, the defensive line will be one of the team’s strongest units.

Linebacker

Linebacker is easily the team’s best unit and has strong depth from top to bottom.

As usual, Lewis is the heart and soul of the linebacker corps and the entire defense. While Lewis has lost a step or two from his best years earlier in the decade, he is still one of the better inside linebackers in the league.

Next to Lewis on the inside is Scott, hoping to rebound from a disappointing 2007 campaign.

Scott exploded onto the scene in 2006, posting 9.5 sacks and earning a trip to the Pro Bowl but struggled last season after the departure of linebacker Adalius Thomas.

Lewis and Scott are both in the final year of their contracts, so they will be looking to earn a big payday with strong performances this season. The team will likely only be able to afford one, so Scott could be moving on after the season.

Outside linebacker Suggs is the team’s franchise player. Suggs skipped training camp after receiving the franchise tag but reported to camp in time to play in the final two preseason games.

Suggs is depending on Pryce to remain healthy and take away double-teams that Suggs routinely faced last season, limiting him to only five sacks.

The starting unit’s most unheralded player is dependable veteran Jarret Johnson. Johnson is one of the team’s most consistent tacklers.

The Ravens have quality backups on the inside with Nick Greisen, rookie Tavares Gooden, and special teams ace Brendon Ayanbadejo.

Antwan Barnes and Jameel McClain will provide good speed as backups on the outside.

A name to remember is the third tight end Jones, who could be moved back to linebacker if injuries become a reality at linebacker.

Cornerback

While the Ravens possess well-known names in veterans Chris McAlister and Samari Rolle, cornerback is an area of concern entering the season.

McAlister and Rolle are both on the wrong side of 30 and were slowed by injuries last season. McAlister’s injured knee continues to be a concern, as he missed large portions of training camp due to continued swelling.

The Ravens acquired Fabian Washington from the Oakland Raiders during April’s draft and will look for him to be the team’s third corner. Washington could challenge Rolle for his starting position as the season progresses.

Veterans Corey Ivy and Frank Walker struggled in the preseason as injuries forced them into the starting lineup.

Ivy is better suited to play the nickel position, and Walker is slow in reacting to the ball.

Derrick Martin started three games in 2007 and grabbed two interceptions. He figures to earn more playing time should Ivy and Walker continue to struggle.

Cornerback will continue to be an area of concern with Rex Ryan’s tendency to use blitz packages that leave the secondary in one-on-one situations.

Safety

Free safety Reed is the team’s best player, but serious concerns remain over his status for the entire season. A nerve impingement in his neck and shoulder continues to limit him in practice.

Reed has not been cleared for live contact by the medical staff. The Ravens and Reed continue to be in a holding pattern, waiting for his shoulder to improve.

Reed has told media that the injury could eventually require surgery that would potentially end his career, but this is only being discussed as an option several years from now.

The absence of Reed will severely hinder the defense’s ability to defend the pass, as Reed is known for his instincts to read the quarterback and create turnovers.

The coaching staff will continue to hold their breath and hope that Reed is able to return to the field as soon as possible.

Veteran newcomer Jim Leonhard played well in the preseason and is expected to start in Reed’s place in the early stages of the season.

Starting at strong safety will again be Dawan Landry. Landry improved his strength and speed in the off-season and will be counted upon to hold more responsibility with the absence of Reed.

Rookies Tom Zbikowski and Haruki Nakamura played well in the preseason and figure to be strong contributors on special teams.

Both players seem to have a sixth sense for finding the football and making plays.

The selection of these two in April’s draft looks even better with the unclear status of Reed.

Special Teams

With Harbaugh’s reputation for strong special teams in Philadelphia, the Ravens expect to have good coverage units.

Ayanbadejo was signed to lead the special teams, leading the team to release veteran linebacker Gary Stills.

Zbikowski, Nakamura, and Leonhard also showed strong ability on kick coverage in the preseason.

Return man Yamon Figurs is a threat to take the football all the way as long as he is able to catch it consistently.

Figurs possesses explosive speed, and the Ravens will count on him to give the offense better field position.

The reliable veteran Matt Stover will once again be the team’s kicker. Stover may not have much range beyond 47 yards, but he is still one of the better kickers in the league from inside that distance.

Stover struggles to get distance on kickoffs, so the team signed Steven Hauschka to aid in this area if the roster flexibility will allow it.

Punter Sam Koch punted very well in the preseason, specifically with punts inside the 20. He will be counted upon to provide favorable field position for the defense.

Matt Katula is one of the league’s most reliable long snappers.

How the Ravens will make the playoffs…

1. Flacco blossoms in his first year, managing the game effectively and posting similar numbers to Ben Roethlisberger’s rookie season for Pittsburgh in 2004.
2. The defense returns to its dominant form of a couple seasons ago, and Reed and McAlister return to lead the secondary.
3. McGahee and Rice become the Baltimore version of Fred Taylor and Maurice Jones-Drew, providing a dominant running game for the offense.

How the Ravens will miss the playoffs…

1. The secondary battles injuries throughout the season, and the defense struggles to get off the field on third down.
2. The offensive line fails to protect Flacco consistently, and the rookie struggles in his first season in the league.
3. Heap, Clayton, and Williams are unable to provide the big-play ability needed to pump life into the passing attack and aid in Flacco’s development.

Outlook: 6-10, 3rd place in the AFC North

The Ravens will have a difficult time moving the football with an inexperienced quarterback in the rookie Flacco. The organization hoped to refrain from playing Flacco early in the season, but injuries have forced him into the starting role.

In addition, the inexperience at offensive tackle creates doubt in the offensive line's ability to provide sufficient protection for Flacco.

McGahee and Rice will have to carry the load offensively, as the team lacks the big-play receivers necessary to scare opposing defenses.

While the defense can still be a dominant unit, the health problems of McAlister and Reed leave the secondary very unstable.

Ryan may have to refrain from blitzing as much as he would like to provide more help to the secondary.

The defensive line will need to provide more pressure on the quarterback than they did a season ago.

Overall, the Ravens simply lack the offensive talent and depth in the secondary to pose a serious threat in the competitive AFC North.

A brutal road schedule, with games at Indianapolis, the New York Giants, Dallas, and division rivals Cleveland and Pittsburgh, will prevent the Ravens from making the playoffs.

The Ravens are likely looking at a 6-10 season, as the team will look to acquire younger talent at several positions, including defensive end, cornerback, and wide receiver, following the season.

The Ravens will take some positives from the 2008 season as Flacco will continue to improve as the season progresses and other rookies such as Rice will make strong contributions.