Assessing the Ravens first half schedule
Looking at the Ravens schedule I can see them making the playoffs for a third straight
year. I would have to say that this years Ravens team is markedly better then either the 2008 or 2009 squads were, if for no other reason then the offensive line is coming into their prime and the team added numerous offensive weapons for Joe Flacco to target. Flacco should also make another huge stride this season if he continues to progress as he has thus far in his young career.
So, these are my picks on the Ravens first half of their schedule. If you happen to disagree please feel free to chime in.
year. I would have to say that this years Ravens team is markedly better then either the 2008 or 2009 squads were, if for no other reason then the offensive line is coming into their prime and the team added numerous offensive weapons for Joe Flacco to target. Flacco should also make another huge stride this season if he continues to progress as he has thus far in his young career.So, these are my picks on the Ravens first half of their schedule. If you happen to disagree please feel free to chime in.
Continue to Assessing the Ravens first half schedule
At the present time the Ravens are carrying 14 linebackers on their
roster, a number that won't work when the team finalizes their 53 man squad. Outside of Ray Lewis, Terrell Suggs, Jarret Johnson and Brendon Ayanbadejo there are a number of linebackers who aren't going to make the cut. The competition in training camp is going to be fierce and fast paced, and in the end the cream will rise to the top. 
necessary. After Vinnie Testeverde left the team never found an above average quarterback who could throw the ball with accuracy. Kyle Boller may have been the best of the lot but he never had the pass protection he needed and subsequently had his brains bashed in until you saw those deer in the headlight looks when the pocket started to collapse.
Baltimore Ravens and Pittsburgh Steelers go to war. These two teams have a common hatred of each other and it shows every time they meet. While the Ravens haven't been in the league for a long period of time by NFL standards they have become the team the Steelers hate to see line up against them. The two teams current record against each other has Pittsburgh with an edge, 19 wins to the Ravens 11, with two of those Raven losses coming in the playoffs in 2002 and 2009. During much of that span the Ravens were a defensive team first and foremost but that has now changed, and changed in a big way just this off season. Have the Ravens now moved past their hated rival? 
wasn't very flattering. It seems Gaither had problems getting motivated at times and certainly didn't enjoy practicing. His former coach at Maryland Ralph Friedgen told the Ravens front office that Gaither had motivation problems but thought he could overcome them with the right guidance. So, the Ravens looking at his size and the way he played (when motivated) decided to take a gamble on him and choose him in the 5th round of the NFL supplemental draft. From that point on it's been a roller coaster ride. 
to get pressure on opposing quarterbacks. Their season total of 32 sacks was tied for the lowest amount by any Raven team. It often exposed the Ravens mediocre secondary and cost the team a number of games, such as the high scoring affair against Brett Favre and the Minnesota Vikings. 
If you talk to people around Baltimore you'll find they are either ecstatic about the players the Ravens chose or they are shaking their heads in disbelief. It seems the Ravens can't please everyone but overall I believe they are a better team today then they were at the end of last season. 
each of them.While there is a chance that the team could trade a player or two, such as Mark Clayton or Willis McGahee for additional picks but that may not happen. 