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  • Baltimore Ravens

    Career Record: 82-126 (.394) in the Regular Season; 0-1 (.000) in the Playoffs

    Number of Division Titles: 0
    Number of Conference Championships: 0
    Number of Franchise Bowl Championships: 0

    History of GMs:
    crapmax (2010-present) 43-69 (.383)
    Jim Buskirk (jummyb) (2008-2009) 17-15 (.531); 0-1 (.000) in the Playoffs


    2004: 5-11 (4th)
    2005: 2-14 (4th)
    2006: 7-9 (4th)
    2007: 8-8 (3rd)
    2008: 9-7 (T-2nd, WildCard) lost in WildCard Round to PIT (26 to 55)
    2009: 8-8 (3rd)
    2010: 4-12 (4th)
    2011: 5-11 (T-3rd)
    2012: 7-9 (T-3rd)
    2013: 7-9 (T-3rd)
    2014: 8-8 (3rd)
    2015: 9-7 (2nd, WildCard)
    2016: 3-13 (3rd)
    AFC NORTH CHAMPS: 2006, 2007, 2008, 2012, 2013, 2016
    AFC CHAMPS: 2007, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2016
    FRANCHISE BOWL CHAMPS in 2011 and 2016


  • #2
    2013 Preview

    The History

    With just one winning season in the last nine years and without ever making the post season could it be this year that the Baltimore Ravens step up and get rid of that perennial tag of being under achievers and challenge the Steelers and Bengals who seem to have had the tough AFC North by the scruff of its neck for years or will the white flag of surrender be flying over the half empty M&T Bank Stadium by mid season as all ways seems to be the case for the long suffering Ravens fans.

    Quarterback

    Ten year veteran Quarterback Philip Rivers will lead the Baltimore offence for the 9th year, Rivers has always promised so much but with a career QB rating of 76.3 has never really delivered what his talent has suggested he would. With time now against Rivers the outspoken quarterback has promised the doubting Baltimore natives this year will be the year he leads the Ravens to the Post Season, so the question is what weapons does Rivers have on offence to help him succeed. Solevisions teams of experts visited the Owing Mills Training Facility to find out.

    Half Back

    Antoine Todd will start and look to add yet another 1000+ year to his very impressive career statistics, last year was the first year he missed the 1000 yard mark but that was only due to a foot injury incurred during week 7 which eventually finished his Season in week 13. Todd is blessed with exceptional pace and is as slippery as an eel so if his line can make the holes and Todd finds those seams this guy will be able to take it to the house from anywhere. You have been warned.

    Full Back

    Rondell Shanahan seems likely to get the starting role although his place seems to be under constant jeopardy, Rondell has great technique but his lack of power is not ideal for the Baltimore running game, expect the Ravens to look to Free Agency to find a foil for Half Back Antoine Todd.

    Tight End

    The Ravens are strong in this department; expect the emerging talent of Matt Spaeth to have a break out year. Spaeth can do it all, block for both the pass and the run, go deep, catch it across the middle and he’s a great target on third down and what’s worrying for everyone else is he’s just going to get better and better

    Wide Receiver

    Is not a great position for the Ravens with none of the five Receivers on the Roster having ever caught more than 50 passes in a season. The steadily improving Ryne Robinson seems to be the best of a poor bunch but the unit severely misses the presence of a deep threat or a player with the ability to catch the ball across the middle and break the play open for big yardage, so expect Rivers spread the receivers out using short timing routes.

    The Offensive Line

    The Ravens used the draft to strengthen the line in a number of positions; maybe the steal of the draft was Phil Coward the 6 foot 3 Centre out of Auburn who was picked 24th overall. Worryingly for the Ravens is Cowards holdout which seems certain to make him miss camp which many believed was to be used to move him Right Guard to partner the awesome Marvin Aldridge. Notorious Agent Glenn Armstrong said of the stalled negotiations, “hey would you play in Baltimore unless they where gonna make you rich !”. Also added to the line in the draft was dependable Cedric Byerly who was taken 15th overall, Byerly will compliment the dependable Adrian James and emerging James Marten at Tackle. With time to grow as a unit the Line looks like being phenomenal and with Antoine Todd running behind it the Ravens could run teams over for fun this year.

    Offensive Stategy

    Expect Baltimore to come out running, running and running some more, if they can control the clock, establish the run and force there mentality on the opposition then Quarterback Philip Rivers will have the chance to hit his receivers.

    Key to Success: Getting Coward into camp and quickly getting Cohesion into the Offensive Line

    Defence

    Defensive Line

    The Ravens will stay with there 3-4 defence this year with 2011 1st rounder Alan Branch the Pivotal player at Nose tackle, the Ravens ranked a poor 30th against the Run last year and some big improvement is needed. Branch seems to be growing as a player and will further nurturing he can become the big runs topper that the Ravens need to make the Defence work. Complimenting Branch at Left Defensive End is The Fresh Prince of Baltimore Will Smith who averages almost nine sacks a year. Four time All League Bad Boy Smith’s motto is “sacking the Quarterback is My Pursuit of Happiness”. The Hitch is the Men in Black don’t like me, but hey maybe this year his Independence Day will come. Who will play at Right End is undecided but it could be any of three in Karl Long, Bubby Alexander or Frankie Dermody. Who ever wins the starting role will have to help Smith and Branch stop the run.

    Line Backer

    The Ravens are OK here but lack depth, JJ O’Neil will continue to hit running backs hard on the weak side but the strong side of AJ Kramer and Quincy Black will need to do a much better job against the run than they did last year if Baltimore is going to start winning regularly. Playing a 3-4 defence Baltimore will be looking to get pressure on the quarterback from the Linebacking positions but only AJ Kremer seems to have the skills necessary to be able to do so which has to be a worry for Baltimore. The Linebacking quartet is pretty strong against the short pass but will get exposed if the opposition establishes the run and that’s looks like it could be the case yet again this year.

    The Secondary

    Tenth year Cornerback Derrick Strait comes in from Philadelphia to help a secondary that was ranked 15th last year against the Pass, Strait could be great for the Ravens Secondary if he keeps his concentration, Strait is renowned for being a world beater in Coverage one play and a liability on another. The other starting role at Cornerback is to be decided but one of Martinez or Joseph seems likely to win the race to partner Strait. 2008 1st Rounder Thomas Davis looks certain to have another great year at Free Safety, if he can start to use his immense talent to pick off one of two more stray passes then expect him to be a certainty for the Pro Bowl this year. TJ O’Neil is expected to win the starting role at Strong safety, the Ravens are expecting good things from O’Neil but he is very much a work in process and a potential weak spot in the secondary while he continues to learn his trade. The key to the Secondary will be to keep Strait and Davis healthy, if either or worse still both go down it will seem like the 4th of July every Sunday for Baltimore as the AFC North’s array of talent at Quarterback will be lighting up the Ravens Secondary at will.

    Defensive Strategy

    Expect to see the Ravens mixing up there coverage options and looking to play the pass more than the run. If the Ravens blitz expect to see them come in flocks.

    Key To Success: Stopping the run and making the opposition pass

    Special Teams

    The only thing you can say about Punter Karl Hooper is he can hold the ball well, Kicker Di Caprio may hit a few Field Goals if a strong gale blows in behind him from the Atlantic, expect changes in both positions before Cleveland comes to town on opening day. The Coverage units look good though and Wide Receiver Robinson will do a good job returning punts whilst opposition kickers will be looking to keep the ball as far away from Derrick Strait on kickoff returns.

    Draft Recap
    1.15 LT Cedric Byerly (LaFayette).
    1.24 C Phil Coward (Iowa).
    4.12 LDE Bobby Alexander (Auburn).
    4.24 RG Tyrus Grandon (Oklahoma State)
    5.11 HB Jackie Atteberry (Kansas)
    6.16 QB Paul Sellars (Purdue)
    7.15 RDE Jeffrey Hoover (Clemson)

    Trade
    AJ Kremer LB from Philadelphia
    Derrick Strait CB from Philadelphia

    Free Agency
    Billy Bajena TE
    Chris Kiwieski RG

    Prediction
    If the Ravens can stay reasonably injury free, find a Kicker and Punter and a few players make the step up from backup to starter then Baltimore has a fair chance of making the Playoffs as a wildcard with a 9-7 record in what looks like an average Division this year. If they can be 4-2 within the AFC North the Division is there’s for the taking. Are they serious contenders for the Bowl, the simple answer is no
    AFC NORTH CHAMPS: 2006, 2007, 2008, 2012, 2013, 2016
    AFC CHAMPS: 2007, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2016
    FRANCHISE BOWL CHAMPS in 2011 and 2016

    Comment


    • #3
      2016 Preview

      After learning the ropes on the bench last season from Philip Rivers, 2nd year first round pick QB Chad Henne looks to be ready to take over the starting position after Rivers was traded in the offseason. However there is still room for improvement, which is why I feel that the Ravens will struggle a bit offensively. However as Henne gains more experience and meshes with his recievers, we could see better offensive performances later in the year. RB Maurice Maloney is a great runner and since rookie running backs have a tendency to adjust quickly to the pros, his presence should greatly help the development of Henne. Not to mention veteran QB Preston McClellan who will act as a mentor on the sidelines. On defense, Baltimore is one of the few teams that runs a 3-4, and they certainly have the personnel to adequately do so. Secondary is a minor concern as there are a lot of young, inexperienced guys here.
      AFC NORTH CHAMPS: 2006, 2007, 2008, 2012, 2013, 2016
      AFC CHAMPS: 2007, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2016
      FRANCHISE BOWL CHAMPS in 2011 and 2016

      Comment

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