GDHQNFL14_Baltimore Ravens3

Baltimore Ravens Gameday HQ

Three Questions 1. Can the Ravens find their Super Bowl form? Not this season. The Ravens will surely be better, but they’re a long way away from the team which won the Super Bowl two seasons ago. The offensive line is weaker. The defensive line is not as good. The offensive line allows way too many sacks. There are simply too many holes to plug. 2. Is the running game good enough? Rice will be suspended for two games and it’s not easy to return after an absence and rack up yardage and touchdowns. Pierce has played well in stretches, but hasn’t shown the consistency that’s needed in the NFL. Rice can be a dominant running back when healthy. If he can come back mentally and physically strong, the Ravens will be better than expected. 3. Are the Ravens an aging team? Yes. Suggs and Smith are examples on both sides of the football. There are a number of other key players approaching 30 or north of 30. That’s the case on many teams, but the Ravens need to get younger. Their overall draft class will help immensely yet rookies don’t always step in and make plays right away. The veterans must stay on the field and provide valuable leadership to the younger players. the playoffs—they’ll need to find their identity on defense. Defensive coordinator Dean Pees has a daunting challenge ahead without the big names from the past. But there’s enough talent to spread around to help the Ravens win plenty of games this season. Defensive leader Terrell Suggs will be back to carry the leadership role and the young players will surely feed off his aggressive play. If the Ravens can avoid giving up chunks of yardage, they’ll likely be back in the playoffs. Coach John Harbaugh is never afraid of change and that has made him one of the most successful coaches in the league. Expect a tweaked and improved defense in 2014. Defensive Player to Watch Linebacker Terrell Suggs is competing in his 12th training camp. But Suggs missed the playoffs last season, the first time since 2007 that has happened. Finishing 12th in the league in total yards allowed had to bother Suggs, one of the most emotional and passionate players in the league. The 31-year-old Suggs had 80 total tackles and 10 sacks last season. For his career, Suggs has 668 tackles and 94.5 sacks. Individual statistics don’t drive Suggs. Rather, he’ll be motivated by missing the playoffs and how much work and dedication it will take to get back to the postseason. The Ravens’ first-round pick in 2003, Suggs is used to competing in the playoffs. Missing the postseason two seasons in a row would be devastating to a proud player such as Suggs. The difficult task will be mentoring a number of young players, who haven’t been through a grueling 16-game season. Ravens Special Teams The Ravens feature one of the most dynamic kickers in the league in Justin Tucker. With six game-winning field goals in the last two seasons, Tucker has proven to be extremely valuable. Tucker has been clutch, making 22 of his 24 field goals in the fourth quarter. Tucker was 38-for-41 (92.3 percent) last season. Punter Sam Koch and long snapper Morgan Cox are back and should provide consistency on special teams. Harbaugh has always TEAM ROSTER RAVENS DEPTH CHART OFFENSE QB Joe Flacco Tyrod Taylor RB Ray Rice Bernard Pierce FB Kyle Juszczyk WR Steve Smith, Torrey Smith Marlon Brown, Jacoby Jones TE Dennis Pitta Owen Daniels C Jeremy Zuttah Gino Gradkowski DEFENSE RG Marshal Yanda John Urschel LG Kelechi Osemele A.Q Shipley RT Ricky Wagner Jah Reid LT Eugene Monroe James Hurst LDE Chris Canty Brent Urban RDE Brandon Williams Terrence Cody LOLB Terrell Suggs Pernell McPhee ROLB Courtney Upshaw Elvis Dumervil LILB C.J. Mosley Arthur Brown RILB Daryl Smith Albert McClellan CB Jimmy Smith, Lardarius Webb Chykie Brown, Asa Jackson S Matt Elam, Terrence Brooks Anthony Levine, Darian Stewart SPECIAL TEAMS K Justin Tucker P Sam Koch KR Jacoby Jones


Baltimore Ravens Gameday HQ
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