The NFL off-season is in the books, training camp is upon us, and football is in the air in Baltimore. With the Orioles in the middle of a dreadful season, the excitement of the Purple and Black is just the cure for the dog days of summer here in Charm City. Much of the excitement amongst the fans is due to lofty expectations for the Ravens, not just locally, but nationally as well. I know you can never be certain of anything in the NFL, and that predictions aren’t even worth the breath you spent making them…but given everything that happened in this off-season, the AFC North is the Ravens to lose.
The Ravens were wildly inconsistent last season before finally making it into the playoffs at 9-7. One minute they looked like a Super Bowl contender (33-14 beat down of the Patriots on the road in the 1st round of the AFC Playoff, while other times the Ravens looked like a team that was over matched and undisciplined. The Ravens struggled against the elite teams in football last season, and were swept by the AFC North Champion Bengals (who swept every team in the AFC North). Unlike previous off-seasons, the Ravens went out and acquired legitimate weapons for Joe Flacco, sending a message to the rest of the division, and NFL, that they won’t accept anything short of the Super Bowl. In addition to the acquisitions of Boldin and Stallworth, the Ravens had what many, myself included, believe to be a stellar draft, giving them weapons on both the offensive and defensive side of the ball. The most important thing that they did, which is the difference between good and great teams, is solidify depth by acquiring Ken Hamlin and Walt Harris to bolster the secondary. Depth was a major problem last season, especially in the secondary, and while their better days are behind them, Harris and Hamlin should are a significant upgrade from some of the defensive backs the Ravens were forced to play at times last season.
Another reason for optimism is the fact that the Ravens look to have improved, while it’s a fact that the other teams in the division looked to have digressed off the field, as well as on it. I truly believe the Bengals are a legitimate contender ,but they keep bringing cancer and problems into the locker room and eventually that is going to catch up to them. Drafting Dunlap and Shipley definitely helped them on the field, but acquiring Matt Jones and his cocaine problem, should do more harm then good. The Bengals have no history of sustaining success for years, so given that and the fact that they have too many players with baggage that could come back to bite them, I think they will take a step back.
Meanwhile, the Ravens biggest rival, the Steelers will be without Big Ben( or little Ben depending which night club female you ask) for at least the first four games this season, handing the reins over to Byron Leftwich or Dennis Dixon. Once Roethlisberger returns, he is likely to return to a locker room that does not like him or support him. Some Steelers players have been very vocal in their disdain for Roethlisberger, and they are likely to rally around whoever is under center for the first four games of the season, leaving a divided locker room once Roethlisberger returns. To top it off, they traded away the former Super Bowl MVP and big player receiver Santonio Holmes and really did not make any significant strides in improving the team.
With training camp starting in just a few days, fans everywhere will be predicting 11-5, 12-4,10-6 or whatever they think the Ravens record will be. The NFL shows us that you can never assume or predict anything, but given the circumstances that transpired in Baltimore, Pittsburgh, Cincinnati and Cleveland this off-season, the AFC North looks to be the Ravens division to lose.
Many think the Ravens will be the last team standing in Dallas in February.
This is one prognostication that is alright with me. I just hope it holds true.
What time is it? What’s our name?- The Little Roman
Filed under: Football, NFL, Ravens Tagged: | Baltimore Ravens, Cincinatti Bengals, Pittsburgh Steelers
Little Roman,
Speaking of the Bengals adding combustible players to the roster in the offseason….you wrote this before they signed T.O! Powder keg ready to explode. I think the Ravens need to get off to a fast start in order to secure at least one home playoff game. Also, if the last few regular season games have little significance because the Ravens have already locked up a playoff berth, they can give needed rest to the 5th oldest roster in the league. Depth is key!! Go Cowboys!
I actually think the TO move was a good one for the Bengals. He’s on a one-year $2M contract with another $2M in incentives. TO is relatively well behaved for his first year on a new team and he’s going to want to earn that extra $2M, so I think he’ll work hard and keep his mouth shut. He also realizes that his demand in the NFL is much reduced. Plus the Bengals are a far better than the Bills, so that should help his stats. TO, Chad, Antonio Bryant, Gresham…that’s not a power house receiving unit, but nothing to scoff at.
The Ravens had a great off season, but a terrible week or so leading up to training camp. Ed Reed bitching, Kindle fracturing his skull, the comments circulating around Troy Smith and Marc Bulger. Ultimately these issues are not the end of the world, but I like to see the Ravens get things running smoothly again and have a great camp.
Ryan – we might have the fifth oldest roster in the league, but we have that mix of veterans and contributing young soon-to-be-stars that wins championships…hopefully we can stay relatively healthy this year (knock on wood).
I agree with Pat 100%…they got T.O. as their #2 at a premium rate…while I think the Ravens are the #1 team in the AFC North, I’m starting to look at the division as much more competitive.
I definitely don’t feel it’s a foregone conclusion that they are going to win the North and I definitely don’t feel the division is “theirs to lose”…
With injuries to Ed Reed and Kindle fracturing his skull (as Pat eluded to), this division has become much more of a 2 team race.
Now the Bengals, who were one of the league leaders in rushing last year, have added all the folks Pat talked about to add a passing attack to the run game. Let’s also not forget that, with decent players around him, Carson Palmer is still an elite QB in this league.
A few weeks ago I thought the Ravens would be the only team going to the playoffs from the North with 3 AFC East teams making it…now I’m saying the East and North each get a wild card and the 2 games between the Ravens and Bengals are going to be much bigger for both teams this year than matchups with the Steelers.
Finally, in regards to the Bengals upping the ante. Let’s also not forget that they have one of the Top 5 Defenses in the league…a great front 7 and, arguably the best CB tandem in the league (don’t get mad by that statement Jets fans, it may very well be true).
I agree that the AFC North Championship is not a given for the Ravens by any means. The Bengals will be tough and although they are down you can’t rule out the Steelers in July.
Going to Camp tomorrow…I can’t wait to see the lightly fast feet of Mt. Cody