It didn't take the Baltimore Ravens long to debunk the theory that rookie coaches with rookie quarterbacks can't win immediately.
Nobody expected John Harbaugh to step right in and instantly make everyone forget Brian Billick, whose welcome had become worn in
Baltimore after a 5-11 season. Especially when both of Harbaugh's top quarterbacks were injured in preseason.
But Joe Flacco immediately made everyone forget about Kyle Boller and Troy Smith, and, just like that, the Ravens had a franchise quarterback. And a team that got all the way to the conference championship game.
The Ravens were one of the surprise teams of the NFL, going 11-5 with a tough schedule and earning an AFC wild-card spot. And they did it with a power running game that featured three backs, a defense that was as rejuvenated as Ray Lewis, and, of course, Flacco, who was unflappable for most of the season ... with the exception of two late losses to the Steelers.
Make no mistake, the Ravens won't sneak up on anybody in 2009.
What's New
Offense: This year, don't be surprised if coordinator Cam Cameron opens the attack up even more, a glimpse of which he gave in the postseason as Flacco became more and more comfortable with the offense. Still, the basic tenet of the offense remains to control the ball with Le'Ron McClain, Willis McGahee and Ray Rice.
Defense: The Ravens not only lost coordinator Rex Ryan (now head coach of the Jets), but linebacker Bart Scott and safety Jim Leonhard also followed him to New York. Plus, there was big turnover in the secondary, highlighted by the release of former Pro Bowl cornerback Chris McAlister.
New defensive coordinator Greg Mattison was promoted from linebackers coach, so he won't try to change the Ravens' approach. But he has to get the players to believe in him, just as they did Ryan.
Burning Question
What can we expect from Joe Flacco in Year 2?
"In Rex Ryan, they did lose a valuable part of their defense but the offense did more than its part last season, running the football, controlling the tempo. They've got to be careful in trying to take the so-called next step with Joe Flacco and try to open up the offense when they don't need to. They have a good formula working."
? CBS analyst Phil Simms
Opponents View
An opponent breaks down the Ravens
"Despite their overall success on defense, the Ravens are not a team that pressures the quarterback anymore. Sure, they still have Terrell Suggs, their hybrid defensive end/linebacker. But even he is symptomatic of what has happened the past couple years to the defense. After registering 60 sacks in 2006, second in the league, the Ravens have slipped to 32 in 2007 and 34 last season.
"For all the money spent on Suggs, the highest-paid linebacker in the NFL, he has not provided the return in terms of sacks or disruptive plays.
"The Ravens need some outside pressure on the pocket, something they used to get with Peter Boulware and Adalius Thomas. They tried that when they signed defensive end Trevor Pryce in 2006, and he responded with 13 sacks.
"Since then, however, the Ravens have not had a player register double-digit sacks in a season. That's an almost staggering statistic considering their overall defensive achievement.
"Pryce's decline has matched that of Suggs, who has only 13 sacks the past two seasons combined. Granted he was bothered by a shoulder injury last season, but 13 sacks is a total he should accumulate in one season, not two, given the freedom with which he is allowed to play in their defense."
Bottom Line
The Ravens staged one of the league's best turnarounds last season. But, in the end, they still weren't able to beat the team that stands above them in their own division and they had three chances to do so.
Baltimore tried to address some deficiencies in the offseason, particularly in the secondary. But the team didn't upgrade their wide receivers and give Flacco more downfield weapons. And it remains to be seen how the loss of Ryan will hurt the defense. Another wild-card spot is likely, at the least.
Projected Depth Chart
Offense
QB - Joe Flacco, Troy Smith
RB - Ray Rice, Willis McGahee
FB - Le'Ron McClain, Jason Cook
WR - Derrick Mason, Yamon Figurs
WR - Mark Clayton, Demetrius Williams
TE - Todd Heap, L.J. Smith
LT - Jared Gaither, Adam Terry
LG - Ben Grubbs, Chris Chester
C - Matt Birk, Chris Chester
RG - Marshal Yanda, Chris Chester
RT - Michael Oher, Adam Terry
Defense
DE - Trevor Pryce, Dwan Edwards
NT - Haloti Ngata, Brandon McKinney
DE - Kelly Gregg, Justin Bannan
OLB - Jarret Johnson, Antwan Barnes
ILB - Ray Lewis, Prescott Burgess
ILB - Tavares Gooden, Brendon Ayanbadejo
OLB - Terrell Suggs, Antwan Barnes
CB - Fabian Washington, Frank Walker
CB - Domonique Foxworth, Evan Oglesby
SS - Dawan Landry, Tom Zbikowski
FS - Ed Reed, Haruk Nakamura
Specialist
K - Steve Hauschka
P - Sam Koch
KR - Yamon Figurs
PR - Ray Rice
Nobody expected John Harbaugh to step right in and instantly make everyone forget Brian Billick, whose welcome had become worn in
Baltimore after a 5-11 season. Especially when both of Harbaugh's top quarterbacks were injured in preseason.
But Joe Flacco immediately made everyone forget about Kyle Boller and Troy Smith, and, just like that, the Ravens had a franchise quarterback. And a team that got all the way to the conference championship game.
The Ravens were one of the surprise teams of the NFL, going 11-5 with a tough schedule and earning an AFC wild-card spot. And they did it with a power running game that featured three backs, a defense that was as rejuvenated as Ray Lewis, and, of course, Flacco, who was unflappable for most of the season ... with the exception of two late losses to the Steelers.
Make no mistake, the Ravens won't sneak up on anybody in 2009.
What's New
Offense: This year, don't be surprised if coordinator Cam Cameron opens the attack up even more, a glimpse of which he gave in the postseason as Flacco became more and more comfortable with the offense. Still, the basic tenet of the offense remains to control the ball with Le'Ron McClain, Willis McGahee and Ray Rice.
Defense: The Ravens not only lost coordinator Rex Ryan (now head coach of the Jets), but linebacker Bart Scott and safety Jim Leonhard also followed him to New York. Plus, there was big turnover in the secondary, highlighted by the release of former Pro Bowl cornerback Chris McAlister.
New defensive coordinator Greg Mattison was promoted from linebackers coach, so he won't try to change the Ravens' approach. But he has to get the players to believe in him, just as they did Ryan.
Burning Question
What can we expect from Joe Flacco in Year 2?
"In Rex Ryan, they did lose a valuable part of their defense but the offense did more than its part last season, running the football, controlling the tempo. They've got to be careful in trying to take the so-called next step with Joe Flacco and try to open up the offense when they don't need to. They have a good formula working."
? CBS analyst Phil Simms
Opponents View
An opponent breaks down the Ravens
"Despite their overall success on defense, the Ravens are not a team that pressures the quarterback anymore. Sure, they still have Terrell Suggs, their hybrid defensive end/linebacker. But even he is symptomatic of what has happened the past couple years to the defense. After registering 60 sacks in 2006, second in the league, the Ravens have slipped to 32 in 2007 and 34 last season.
"For all the money spent on Suggs, the highest-paid linebacker in the NFL, he has not provided the return in terms of sacks or disruptive plays.
"The Ravens need some outside pressure on the pocket, something they used to get with Peter Boulware and Adalius Thomas. They tried that when they signed defensive end Trevor Pryce in 2006, and he responded with 13 sacks.
"Since then, however, the Ravens have not had a player register double-digit sacks in a season. That's an almost staggering statistic considering their overall defensive achievement.
"Pryce's decline has matched that of Suggs, who has only 13 sacks the past two seasons combined. Granted he was bothered by a shoulder injury last season, but 13 sacks is a total he should accumulate in one season, not two, given the freedom with which he is allowed to play in their defense."
Bottom Line
The Ravens staged one of the league's best turnarounds last season. But, in the end, they still weren't able to beat the team that stands above them in their own division and they had three chances to do so.
Baltimore tried to address some deficiencies in the offseason, particularly in the secondary. But the team didn't upgrade their wide receivers and give Flacco more downfield weapons. And it remains to be seen how the loss of Ryan will hurt the defense. Another wild-card spot is likely, at the least.
Projected Depth Chart
Offense
QB - Joe Flacco, Troy Smith
RB - Ray Rice, Willis McGahee
FB - Le'Ron McClain, Jason Cook
WR - Derrick Mason, Yamon Figurs
WR - Mark Clayton, Demetrius Williams
TE - Todd Heap, L.J. Smith
LT - Jared Gaither, Adam Terry
LG - Ben Grubbs, Chris Chester
C - Matt Birk, Chris Chester
RG - Marshal Yanda, Chris Chester
RT - Michael Oher, Adam Terry
Defense
DE - Trevor Pryce, Dwan Edwards
NT - Haloti Ngata, Brandon McKinney
DE - Kelly Gregg, Justin Bannan
OLB - Jarret Johnson, Antwan Barnes
ILB - Ray Lewis, Prescott Burgess
ILB - Tavares Gooden, Brendon Ayanbadejo
OLB - Terrell Suggs, Antwan Barnes
CB - Fabian Washington, Frank Walker
CB - Domonique Foxworth, Evan Oglesby
SS - Dawan Landry, Tom Zbikowski
FS - Ed Reed, Haruk Nakamura
Specialist
K - Steve Hauschka
P - Sam Koch
KR - Yamon Figurs
PR - Ray Rice
