2015 Baltimore Ravens Expectations

[Bmore#410]

Well lets say I hope it doesnt end with a 14 point collapse in foxborough. Honestly we have a young physical fast football team. A good mix of vets and youngsters quality depth at most positions. Starting O-line is back re signed forsett got buck allen and a slimmer LT, not to mention a new OC that loves throwing screens out of the backfield. WR Breshard perriman TE Maxx Williams and Zadarios Smith aka Mcphee 2.0, basically a strong draft. Marc tressman is the biggest question ozzie builds the roster year after year harbaugh coaches now tressman will call plays and impliment his scheme. So what will the expectations for this team in 2015. Mine are go win the north hopefully go 11-5 and let joe do his thing with our tallent it is superbowl or bust to me.

[January J]

12-4. Win afc north. Playoffs run through the bank. Then off to san fran. Call me a homer all you want- i call it how i see it.

[Crabcakes&Football]

Superbowl!!

[lgcs27288]

The Bengals will put up a good fight for the North. Regardless, (barring injuries for any team, they always play a pivotal role imo), the Ravens will at least grab a wildcard. I could see us playing the Bengals, Colts, or Chargers for the conference title.

[Dr. Kelley]

Everyone is writing off the Steelers, but they do have a legit offense now to compensate for their shredded defense. I could see them still managing a playoff spot even with a terrible defense, a la the colts last year

[Cillmatic]

Everyone is writing off the Steelers, but they do have a legit offense now to compensate for their shredded defense. I could see them still managing a playoff spot even with a terrible defense, a la the colts last year

When our Defense is healthy we destroy their offense(week 2 of last year) and their defense sucks. Not to mention how insanely inconsistent they are(losing the the bucs at home is embarrassing). I just don't see them as a threat.

Edited June 2, 2015 by Cillmatic

[Dr. Kelley]

When our Defense is healthy we destroy their offense(week 2 of last year) and their defense sucks. Not to mention how insanely inconsistent they are(losing the the bucs at home is embarrassing). I just don't see them as a threat.

Maybe not necessarily a threat to us, but I think they could be in the playoff hunt. Their offense might just be too potent to write off from the postseason, especially it has become routine for the acfn to sens multiple teams to the playoffs

[Ravensfan23]

12-4. Win afc north. Playoffs run through the bank. Then off to san fran. Call me a homer all you want- i call it how i see it.

 

I can see this. Typically i'd look at the schedule and say 4 losses might be a little too optimistic, because we tend to allow at least 2 games we should we get away from us.  But honestly I don't feel it this year. I think it will be hard for Harbs to tame the aggressiveness of Trestman's style and he won't want to once he sees the success of the offense. I think we will see Flacco finally get his wish of keeping their foot on the peddle when they are up by 10-14 points in the 3rd quarter of games.

 

Also I think the teams in the East and West have gained enough ground that the Pats nor Broncos will have their usual cake walk and that'll be enough to get the Ravens that #1 seed. The scariest part about the Ravens is that we are young with Flacco right in his prime. It's time the NFL has an honest hard working Dynasty it can be proud of, not that I care what the NFL world thinks but the Ravens will be in position to win a few Super Bowl on the next 5+ years. 

[ALSKAN RAVEN FAN]

I am hoping for another Super Bowl win!!!

I am expecting at least a playoff berth for the Ravens.

I know our guys will come out to compete every week a lot is going to come down to how our younger guys progress but With the veterans and coaches we have I really dont think we have too much to worry about.

[K-Dog]

I expect them all to take their vitamins every day.  Get plenty of rest.  Stay in tip top shape.   Eat good and healthy foods. Drink lots of milk and lots of water.

Basically stay very very healthy.   If we avoid the injury bug, I cant think of a reason we dont play in the Super Bowl.

[Ravensfan23]

Maybe not necessarily a threat to us, but I think they could be in the playoff hunt. Their offense might just be too potent to write off from the postseason, especially it has become routine for the acfn to sens multiple teams to the playoffs

 

I think the AFC is wide open to any team with a decent enough QB. I personally think Peyton is done, i mean he'll still put up numbers but I don't see the Broncos being able to compete with KC and SD down the stretch. That Pats no long have a cupcake division, but it's still pretty weak just because the Bills nor Jets have a steady QB. But their defenses will be very tough. I like the Colts but the Texans will be though on them. The only reason I can't see the Ravens running away with the AFC is because the North is so damn tough. Even the Browns will be tough on teams, but they don't seem to have a pass game to go alone with a good run game and defense. I think at some point Andy Dalton either has to get better or his luck just runs out. I think the Steelers will be tough but I don't see them as much of a threat honestly. I think they'll continue to hang around the top of the AFC and will probably be a wildcard. I think 1 game or 2 will separate teams 3-6 this year. It'll be a matter of who wins their division. 

[Bruce_Almty]

The wishful thinking thread......GREAT! Okay then,,,,,,,, 19-0 

 

I agree with all the previous posters....Ravens are kicking butt in the off-season. Let's not jinx this team with talk of dynasty and the like.

Edited June 2, 2015 by Bruce_Almty

[baltimorefan328]

I had no idea where to put this so Ill say I expect Flacco to add to . . . being number 9 ALL TIME in total career postseason touchdown passes. And he's only 30. He's ahead of some pretty impressive guys on too like Big Ben and Rodgers. He's only two behind Elway and 5 behind Bradshaw. If the Ravens play like we all expect this year I can see Flacco getting as high as #7 after the year

[Ravenslifer]

If the young players step up, this is a Superbowl team.  The talent is there, no question.  But guys like Perriman and Williams are rookies, and they're going to be expected to carry a heavy workload.  Young players can do some special things, but they can also make easy mistakes that are costly to the team as they continue to grow and learn.  And mistakes are what have killed us in previous playoffs - interceptions, fumbles, penalties, etc. - if we'd cleaned up our own mistakes, we might have made 3 superbowls the last 5 years.  That's what I see as the biggest challenge - how to give these young rookies the best chance to succeed while trying to make sure that they, and the rest of the team, avoid costly mental mistakes.

[Edgar]

I expect our secondary to tackle better.

[beasy2487]

If the young players step up, this is a Superbowl team.  The talent is there, no question.  But guys like Perriman and Williams are rookies, and they're going to be expected to carry a heavy workload.  Young players can do some special things, but they can also make easy mistakes that are costly to the team as they continue to grow and learn.  And mistakes are what have killed us in previous playoffs - interceptions, fumbles, penalties, etc. - if we'd cleaned up our own mistakes, we might have made 3 superbowls the last 5 years.  That's what I see as the biggest challenge - how to give these young rookies the best chance to succeed while trying to make sure that they, and the rest of the team, avoid costly mental mistakes.

 

I agree except about the rookies needing to carry the load. I think guys that have been given chances the past couple of years need to step up into that WR2 spot early in the season and let Perriman develop at WR3. I think Williams will be the second or third TE depending on Pitta's status. Honestly I think Williams is facing an Arthur Brown-like risk of getting buried in the depth chart in year 1 if Pitta is a go. He's a good receiver but not better than Pitta and an OK blocker but not better than Boyle or Gilmore. With Juice in the mix as well, Williams is going to need a little bit of luck along with stellar offensive and special teams play to see the field. 

 

So I agree that this team has Super Bowl talent, but that's because the guys that will carry the load have been meticulously added to the roster over the past two seasons. The rookies, even the high round ones, have been brought in as depth and that's an amazing position to be in.

[Bruce_Almty]

.... With Juice in the mix ....

 

You bring up an interesting point...what exactly is Juice's role in this offense? Don't really need him to block, we got Crockett. Don't need him as a pass-catcher out of the backfield, we got Allen. He's the smallest of our TEs. He is good on STs but Juice needs a niche to fill.

[PurpleCity5]

I think we'll be a very balanced team. Arguably the most balanced. As far as WRs go, I think Steve Smith Sr. will be the #1 guy with Perriman as the #2. As the season progresses I think Perriman will take over as the #1 guy with Brown, Carter, Aiken, and Camp sharing the slot/#3 option.

I think Maxx will be the starting TE with Gilmore being the #2. Forsett will start and Tali and Allen will share snaps as back ups.

The defense will be top 5, yes, I think this will be a top 5 defense. The secondary will be stable and the defensive line should benifit with the extra time the secondary buys them.

The entire OL returns with Urschel being the staring Center over Zuttah.

Flacco breaks him mark with Trestman and has an even better year.

Overall, I say 12-4. I think the 3rd place schedual will give us some help as opposed to Pitt who has the toughest schedual and it feels like this will be a drop off year for Cincy. They haven't improved to me.

[K-Dog]

You bring up an interesting point...what exactly is Juice's role in this offense? Don't really need him to block, we got Crockett. Don't need him as a pass-catcher out of the backfield, we got Allen. He's the smallest of our TEs. He is good on STs but Juice needs a niche to fill.

I agree. I am a fan of Juice but I think the draft might of hurt his opportunities.

[Sami84]

I think we'll be a very balanced team. Arguably the most balanced. As far as WRs go, I think Steve Smith Sr. will be the #1 guy with Perriman as the #2. As the season progresses I think Perriman will take over as the #1 guy with Brown, Carter, Aiken, and Camp sharing the slot/#3 option.

I think Maxx will be the starting TE with Gilmore being the #2. Forsett will start and Tali and Allen will share snaps as back ups.

The defense will be top 5, yes, I think this will be a top 5 defense. The secondary will be stable and the defensive line should benifit with the extra time the secondary buys them.

The entire OL returns with Urschel being the staring Center over Zuttah.

Flacco breaks him mark with Trestman and has an even better year.

Overall, I say 12-4. I think the 3rd place schedual will give us some help as opposed to Pitt who has the toughest schedual and it feels like this will be a drop off year for Cincy. They haven't improved to me.

Dont see buck allen replacing forsett as no 1 nor perriman replacing smith sr

[PurpleCity5]

Dont see buck allen replacing forsett as no 1 nor perriman replacing smith sr

Didn't say Allen will replace him. I said Allen and Tali will share the back up role. As far as Smith Sr. goes, we saw what happened near the end of the season, he slowed down. The Ravens also made it known the he'll have a smaller role and with no other guy that seems to be the guy who can fit the #1 role, Perriman feels like logical fit to take that role as the season progresses.

[codizzle]

Expectations?

Win

[Sami84]

Didn't say Allen will replace him. I said Allen and Tali will share the back up role. As far as Smith Sr. goes, we saw what happened near the end of the season, he slowed down. The Ravens also made it known the he'll have a smaller role and with no other guy that seems to be the guy who can fit the #1 role, Perriman feels like logical fit to take that role as the season progresses.

 

I think our combination of TE's will take up a lot of the yards. If pitta is indeed healthy i think crockett and maxx will be very influential along with him. Crockett is now 275 pounds and apparently looking way more athletic..

 

we probably have the best TE depth in the league..esp if pitta is healthy

[Bruce_Almty]

I have zero expectations of Pitta seeing the field this season. He doesn't even enter into my "what ifs."

[stampedehero]

12-4. Win afc north. Playoffs run through the bank. Then off to san fran. Call me a homer all you want- i call it how i see it.

Homer.  We all are Homers

[stampedehero]

I have zero expectations of Pitta seeing the field this season. He doesn't even enter into my "what ifs."

He may surprise all of us. The season opener is the date to circle. He has pride and I believe he wants his spot.

[stampedehero]

Didn't say Allen will replace him. I said Allen and Tali will share the back up role. As far as Smith Sr. goes, we saw what happened near the end of the season, he slowed down. The Ravens also made it known the he'll have a smaller role and with no other guy that seems to be the guy who can fit the #1 role, Perriman feels like logical fit to take that role as the season progresses.

I vote for Waller or the Waller-Perriman players with season accomplishments. SSS will get his but won't need to carry the team.   DeAngelo Carter will be the punt returner and a slot reciever.

[Purple_City39]

I agree except about the rookies needing to carry the load. I think guys that have been given chances the past couple of years need to step up into that WR2 spot early in the season and let Perriman develop at WR3. I think Williams will be the second or third TE depending on Pitta's status. Honestly I think Williams is facing an Arthur Brown-like risk of getting buried in the depth chart in year 1 if Pitta is a go. He's a good receiver but not better than Pitta and an OK blocker but not better than Boyle or Gilmore. With Juice in the mix as well, Williams is going to need a little bit of luck along with stellar offensive and special teams play to see the field. 

 

So I agree that this team has Super Bowl talent, but that's because the guys that will carry the load have been meticulously added to the roster over the past two seasons. The rookies, even the high round ones, have been brought in as depth and that's an amazing position to be in.

The Ravens have a history.  Their #1 pick may not always start week one but he more than likely starts by week 4.  

And Williams is already ahead of Gilmore and Boyle.  They traded up in the second round for him.  Arthur Brown took an entire season to grasp the playbook if I'm not mistaken.  Unless Maxx shows he doesn't understand the play calling on a similar level, I severely doubt he starts the season any lower than 2nd on the depth chart.  

[757RavensFan]

@DEN

@OAK

CIN

@PIT

CLE

@SF

@AZ

SD

JAX

STL

@CLE

@MIA

SEA

KC

PIT

@CIN

 

 

12- 4 Divsion Champ.

[xxhighriser]

Good depth at CB and WR, our most banged up positions.  If we can get consistent play from there I'm very confident going into the season.