Can The Baltimore Ravens be a better team next season?

[Ravenseconbeast]

I think the answer lies in whether our locker can be as strong as last year. We already know that we didn't exactly had the best roster in NFL. There's certainty teams with better talents, but unlike them we had a locker room that refused to waiver.

We had ton of problems to deal with last year(injuries, media), and players & coaches found a way to just get better despite those obstacles. Key vets like Ray Lewis, Boldin, Reed probably kept the locker motivated and tight.

When the going gets tough(and it will), can players & coaches man up and play great football? That is what needs to be done in order for Ravens to keep moving forward.

[Ravenseconbeast]

[color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]I think the answer lies in whether our locker can be as strong as last year. We already know that we didn't exactly had the best roster in NFL. There's certainty teams with better talents, but unlike them we had a locker room that refused to waiver. [/font][/color]

[color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]We had ton of problems to deal with last year(injuries, media), and players & coaches found a way to just get better despite those obstacles. Key vets like Ray Lewis, Boldin, Reed probably kept the locker motivated and tight. [/font][/color]

[color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]When the going gets tough(and it will), can players & coaches man up and play great football? That is what needs to be done in order for Ravens to keep moving forward.[/font][/color]

[bravensfan52]

[quote name='PurpleCityLights' timestamp='1365254055' post='1426456']
Can you say "Repeat".....
[/quote]

Nope... Cause its bad luck

[ClintLB8]

[quote name='Ravenseconbeast' timestamp='1365570583' post='1429234']
[color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]I think the answer lies in whether our locker can be as strong as last year. We already know that we didn't exactly had the best roster in NFL. There's certainty teams with better talents, but unlike them we had a locker room that refused to waiver. [/font][/color]

[color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]We had ton of problems to deal with last year(injuries, media), and players & coaches found a way to just get better despite those obstacles. Key vets like Ray Lewis, Boldin, Reed probably kept the locker motivated and tight. [/font][/color]

[color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]When the going gets tough(and it will), can players & coaches man up and play great football? That is what needs to be done in order for Ravens to keep moving forward.[/font][/color]
[/quote]

You are 100% correct. New leaders who I believe will emerge are Courtney Upshaw, Pernell McPhee, and Ladarius Webb on defense and I also believe Dennis Pitta and Torrey Smith are going to really step up as well. I believe we have addressed several areas we needed to since free agency began.

- We upgraded to defensive line with adding Canty and Spears to the rotation.
- We upgraded outside linebacker going from Kruger in the rotation to Dumervil.
- We upgraded the free safety position as far as Ed Reed's play last year and the ability that Huff can bring to a defense that should be able to get a lot of pressure.
- The main one people won't agree with but I am sticking to it, IF we did sign Rolando McClain last night and we are able to get his head straight then I believe he will be an upgrade over Dannell Ellerbe.

[beanfigger]

[quote name='ClintLB8' timestamp='1365597167' post='1429315']
You are 100% correct. New leaders who I believe will emerge are Courtney Upshaw, Pernell McPhee, and Ladarius Webb on defense and I also believe Dennis Pitta and Torrey Smith are going to really step up as well. I believe we have addressed several areas we needed to since free agency began.

- We upgraded to defensive line with adding Canty and Spears to the rotation.
- We upgraded outside linebacker going from Kruger in the rotation to Dumervil.
- We upgraded the free safety position as far as Ed Reed's play last year and the ability that Huff can bring to a defense that should be able to get a lot of pressure.
- The main one people won't agree with but I am sticking to it, IF we did sign Rolando McClain last night and we are able to get his head straight then I believe he will be an upgrade over Dannell Ellerbe.
[/quote]

I agree those are all upgrades in terms of ability and skill. I even agree with McClain over Ellerbe, though I think Dansby is better (but older). What we don't know is if they can all make up for the intangibles and leadership we lost. On the field, I think we're better, and that should carry us to a better regular season. My worry would be if we hit another slide like we did last season and also how we got ready for the postseason. I'm not saying we won't be fine; I'm just saying it's a little more of an unknown. This worry can be eased quickly as soon as I see us work together on the field in a tough situation and come through, so I hope that happens early in the season.

[ClintLB8]

[quote name='beanfigger' timestamp='1365599445' post='1429356']
I agree those are all upgrades in terms of ability and skill. I even agree with McClain over Ellerbe, though I think Dansby is better (but older). What we don't know is if they can all make up for the intangibles and leadership we lost. On the field, I think we're better, and that should carry us to a better regular season. My worry would be if we hit another slide like we did last season and also how we got ready for the postseason. I'm not saying we won't be fine; I'm just saying it's a little more of an unknown. This worry can be eased quickly as soon as I see us work together on the field in a tough situation and come through, so I hope that happens early in the season.
[/quote]

I agree with you completely. Replacing Boldin, Lewis, Reed, Pollard, and Birk as locker room leaders is no doubt going to be tough. My hope is that some of the following can step up even more and take over that void: Joe Flacco, Ray Rice, Michael Oher, Torrey Smith, Dennis Pitta, Haloti Ngata, Terrell Suggs, Courtney Upshaw, Ladarius Webb, and Michael Huff. All of these guys have the ability to take over serious leadership roles.

[runamuk]

Both sides of the ball is better with the free agent signings on defense and a full offseason with caldwell.

[izvoodoo]

[quote name='flynismo' timestamp='1365045571' post='1424385']
I think we may already be better.

Ray Lewis gone, but a returning Webb more than cancels that out.
Reed gone, Huff in. Call it a wash.
Replace Kruger with Doom. Big win there.
Canty and Spears added to the line. Win.
Suggs is back all year at 100%.
Birk gone, Gino in. Slight loss, unless Gino plays out of his mind in his first year as a starter.

The other important losses like Pollard, McKinnie and Boldin will almost certainly be addressed in the draft..

Essentially, I think our defense is going to be playing at the level that it used to before the 2012 season.
Offensively, depending on the draft and other FA moves, we'll either be slightly worse to slightly better.

Overall, a better team.
[/quote]
I'm fairly certain Gino will be better in the run, worse vs. the pass. But Gino is an impressive prospect, he may go down as one of those "Ozzie picks."

[black blood purple passion]

I think the defence is going to be world's better this season. offence will depend on how we draft, we've lost more than we know with the release of Boldin, but his release allowed us to secure some major pieces for the defence.

[Marcus]

Our defense is already better and the draft hasn't even come yet. Now for the offense...

[ravensfan2430]

[quote name='PurpleCityLights' timestamp='1365254055' post='1426456'] Can you say "Repeat"..... [/quote] [quote name='bravensfan52' timestamp='1365596369' post='1429308'] Nope... Cause its bad luck [/quote]

Repeat!... It is almost guaranteed!

[ravensfan2430]

[quote name='Marcus' timestamp='1365615812' post='1429722']
Our defense is already better and the draft hasn't even come yet. Now for the offense...
[/quote]

Agreed. I'd feel much more confortable once the LT situation is cleared up.

[frozen joe flacco fan]

Yes.

[Gordo52]

Defense is already ALOT better than last years IMO. If everyone shows up in shape, and stays healthy, I think we could have Top 5-10 defense. And we still have the draft to go.

[Gordo52]

On offense the biggest glaring needs in order, IMO are LT, WR, TE.

But I think our offense can only get better then last years if Joe is protected.

[The Raven]

[quote name='Ravens<3' timestamp='1365636981' post='1430167']
Defense is already ALOT better than last years IMO. If everyone shows up in shape, and stays healthy, I think we could have Top 5-10 defense. And we still have the draft to go.
[/quote]

Bold prediction: Number one defense, and we break the single season team sack record.

[Gordo52]

[quote name='The Raven' timestamp='1365637166' post='1430174']


Bold prediction: Number one defense, and we break the single season team sack record.
[/quote]
Best case scenario for our defense is a 2006 type of year. I could definitely see something similar.

[The Raven]

[quote name='Ravens<3' timestamp='1365637284' post='1430176']
Best case scenario for our defense is a 2006 type of year. I could definitely see something similar.
[/quote]

I can see it, for sure. If Canty, Spears, and Jones lock down the DE spots, if Ngata stays healthy at NT, if Webb comes back anywhere remotely close to his prior level, and if we can find a competent ILB, we will be a Top 3 defense. No doubt!

[Gordo52]

[quote name='The Raven' timestamp='1365637453' post='1430180']


I can see it, for sure. If Canty, Spears, and Jones lock down the DE spots, if Ngata stays healthy at NT, if Webb comes back anywhere remotely close to his prior level, and if we can find a competent ILB, we will be a Top 3 defense. No doubt!
[/quote]
Also if McPhee could stay healthy he could be in for a 5-6 sack season.

And there's always that little slither of hope Cody plays well this season because he's in a contract year.

[The Raven]

[quote name='Ravens<3' timestamp='1365638239' post='1430198']
Also if McPhee could stay healthy he could be in for a 5-6 sack season.

And there's always that little slither of hope Cody plays well this season because he's in a contract year.
[/quote]

True as well! If Ngata and Cody stay healthy and play well, our defense will look worlds better.

[Yatagarasu]

With the way the offseason has been unfolding for us, I like our chances at the draft in drafting a very good class.

Ozzie has set this team up for not only the present, but also 3, 4 even 5 years down the road. Flacco was expensive, but I think these low priced acquisitions and quality draft picks can keep us competitive. At least, we won't have to invest our early picks on finding a QB for a while.

[Ray Ray Ravens]

I think that we are the world champs and nothing is better than that unless you can do it with a dominance through the whole season and a attitude that makes you the best. Statistically I believe we will be better on both ends of the ball but will we win another Lombardi against the top seeds or will we be the top seed is the question I ask.

[K-Dog]

can you imagine if this team jells in training camp ?

Its going to be a crazy fun next few years.

[BallHawker]

As long as we have the following......

1. Health
2. Same or better O-Line as our playoff run. We need Gino to play well, obviously, but Oher needs to stay on the right with KO at LG with a FA LT or Big Mac
3. Draft or sign a great route running, big-bodied WR to go along with Torrey, Pitta, and Jacoby.

... we will repeat.

[K-Dog]

[quote name='BallHawker' timestamp='1365650247' post='1430478']
As long as we have the following......

1. Health
2. Same or better O-Line as our playoff run. We need Gino to play well, obviously, but Oher needs to stay on the right with KO at LG with a FA LT or Big Mac
3. Draft or sign a great route running, big-bodied WR to go along with Torrey, Pitta, and Jacoby.

... we will repeat.
[/quote]

You forgot black uniforms every game ;-)

[GrimCoconut]

I think we already are a better team, even with the significant losses of Ed Reed, Ray Lewis, Matt Birk & Anquan Boldin.

1. Cam Cameron Free!
2. Joe Flacco seems to have turned on the light bulb!
3. Ray Rice has an excellent relief runner!
4. Lardarius Webb Strikes Back!
5. Terrell Suggs healthy again!
6. Elvis Dumervil Heartbreak Hotel!
7. Ngata 'nother Nose Tackle!
8. Can't Run on Chris Canty!

Those are just some of my favorites. We have a lot of unproven depth at WR. I like it. We have a lot of unproven depth at LB. I find it interesting. We have a center who studied a year under Birk. I think he looked great against CIN. I love this team. Just a few pieces added in the draft & we are G2G!

[SecretAgentMan]

[quote name='GrimCoconut' timestamp='1365651370' post='1430495']
I think we already are a better team, even with the significant losses of Ed Reed, Ray Lewis, Matt Birk & Anquan Boldin.

1. Cam Cameron Free!
2. Joe Flacco seems to have turned on the light bulb!
3. Ray Rice has an excellent relief runner!
4. Lardarius Webb Strikes Back!
5. Terrell Suggs healthy again!
6. Elvis Dumervil Heartbreak Hotel!
7. Ngata 'nother Nose Tackle!
8. Can't Run on Chris Canty!

Those are just some of my favorites. We have a lot of unproven depth at WR. I like it. We have a lot of unproven depth at LB. I find it interesting. We have a center who studied a year under Birk. I think he looked great against CIN. I love this team. Just a few pieces added in the draft & we are G2G!
[/quote]
Can't hold back on Huff

[usmccharles]

I think we will be a better team, but that doesn't mean we will win the superbowl. I think the additions we have picked up we will overall be a better team, defense will improve for sure.

[Ravensfan23]

One word yes. The Defense is better and Pees has another year. The Ravens got themselves in trouble last years because they couldntstop the run consistently and it allowed teams to stay out of 3rd and long. Now with Canty, Spears, Ngata, Cody, Upshaw, Suggs and McClain the run defense should be much better. If the Ravens can get teams into obvious passing down, they'll rack up huge sack totals.

On Offense LT is my only concern and it's not even a big one imo. Big Mac is good but not great, Caldwell's play calling help him a lot. I think we are fine with or without Mac. Castillo will do wonders for the running game and allow Rice/Peirce to operate in space more. Flacco will get back to what he's comfortable with, which is the spread offense. Put the guy in Shotgun with 4-5 options each play and watch him work. I think people will be pleasantly suprised with David Reed in the slot.

Special Teams will be just as good if not better. Tucker is a stud, Koch won't punt nearly as much and get back to being a weapon. Jacoby will continue to be dangerous in the Kick Return game and I think AJax forces his way onto the field as Punt Retuner.

The biggest reason I feel this team will be better is because despite the Super Bowl win, this team still have a chip and is out for respect. It's not a single player on the team who doesn't have anything to prove or fight for.

[ravens533]

This article I found on NFL.com shows that at least a few others are beginning to think we might be dominate next year. I have been saying for a while that we will be the most balanced and strong team in 2013.

[url="http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap1000000159219/article/baltimore-ravens-gm-ozzie-newsome-making-all-the-right-moves"]http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap1000000159219/article/baltimore-ravens-gm-ozzie-newsome-making-all-the-right-moves[/url]