Adrian Fedkiw
Each day leading up to the official start of the NFL football season, I will be providing you with player rankings, team previews, analysis, predictions, opinions and a whole lot more.
Following a 20-17 Week 16 win, Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh joked the Monday after that he had some really good news.
“We won the game and nobody’s getting an MRI today. First time that’s happened all year,” he said.
The Baltimore Ravens placed 20 players on injured reserve a year ago, an undesired franchise record, although it’s a stat that’s only been tracked since 2008. The Ravens finished 30th in Football Outsiders’ adjusted games lost due to injury statistic with 96.1.
The devastating blow came in Week 11 against the then-St. Louis Rams when star quarterback Joe Flacco was lost for the season with a torn ACL. It ended his 122 consecutive start streak to begin his career. Others who got bit by the injury bug included running back Justin Forsett, wide receivers Steve Smith Sr. and Breshad Perriman, tackle Eugene Monroe, center Jeremy Zuttah and outside linebacker Terrell Suggs.
What resulted was a 5-11 campaign, the first losing season during the Harbaugh era.
Grading the Roster
QBs- Joe Flacco (7.8), Ryan Mallett (7.2)
RBs- Justin Forsett (7.4), Kenneth Dixon (7.3), Javorius Allen (7.2)
WRs- Steve Smith (7.6), Kamar Aiken (7.4), Mike Wallace (7.3), Breshad Perriman (7.2)
TEs- Maxx Williams (7.5), Crockett Gillmore (7.3)
Ts- Ronnie Stanley (7.3), Ricky Wagner (7.3), James Hurst (7.2)
Gs- Marshal Yanda (8.2), John Urschel (7.3), Vladimir Ducasse (7.2)
Cs- Jeremy Zuttah (7.4), Ryan Jensen (7.2)
DEs- Tim Jernigan (7.5), Lawrence Guy (7.4), Brent Urban (7.2), Kapron Lewis-Moore (7.1)
NTs- Brandon Williams (7.7), Carl Davis (7.3)
OLBs- Elvis Dumervil (7.8), Terrell Suggs (7.4), Za’Darius Smith (7.2), Kamalei Correa (7.2)
ILBs- C.J. Mosley (7.9), Arthur Brown (7.2), Albert McClellan (7.2), Zach Orr (7.1)
CBs- Jimmy Smith (7.4), Kyle Arrington (7.3), Shareece Wright (7.2), Will Davis (7.2)
Ss- Eric Weddle (7.7), Lardarius Webb (7.3), Kendrick Lewis (7.3)
K- Justin Tucker (7.4)
P- Sam Koch (7.3)
KR- Kaelin Clay (7.3)
PR- Kaelin Clay (7.3)
Team Rankings
Team- 7.371 (20/32)
Offense- 7.393 (18/32)
Defense- 7.353 (20/32)
Quarterbacks- 7.5 (18/32)
Running Backs- 7.3 (23/32)
Receivers- 7.38 (21/32)
Offensive Line- 7.39 (13/32)
Defensive Line- 7.37 (8/16)
Linebackers- 7.35 (11/16)
Secondary- 7.34 (21/32)
Special Teams- 7.325
Coaches- 7.4
PREDICTION– 8-8 (3rd AFC North)
QUARTERBACKS
Nobody gets the “is he elite” question more than Flacco.
Quite frankly, he hasn’t played up to that level since getting his massive contract extension and had a sub-par 2015 prior to the injury. He posted 14 touchdowns to go with 12 interceptions.
Flacco possesses exceptional arm talent, there may not be another quarterback that throws the deep out with as much ease as Flacco does. He also puts a lot of arc on his deep ball and drops it into the bucket beautifully. He’s athletic and mobile enough to escape the pocket and throw on the move and makes good decisions for the most part, although that necessarily wasn’t the case last year.
Ryan Mallett was released by the Houston Texans in late October and found a new home in Baltimore after Matt Schaub suffered an injury. Mallett has a great arm, but it’s what is between the ears, which has always been Mallett’s downfall.
RUNNING BACKS
Justin Forsett broke out in 2014, rushing for 1,266 yards and eight touchdowns while averaging 5.4 yards per carry. That earned him a three-year extension, but Forsett’s yards per tote fell to 4.2 a year ago.
Forsett is a well-rounded back that doesn’t do anything exceptionally great. He’s not fast or strong, but is a smart runner. He’s very comfortable catching passes out of the backfield to go with good vision on the second level.
I’m a fan of fourth-round rookie Kenneth Dixon and thought Baltimore got a steal obtaining him that late. He has solid patience and vision and like Forsett, is a capable receiver coming out of the backfield.
Harbaugh normally likes to keep four backs, so expect Buck Allen to make the team along with either Lorenzo Taliaferro or Terrance West.
RECEIVERS
The 36-year-old Smith was going to retire last year prior to his torn Achilles in Week 8. He’s been undervalued his entire career and still gets the job done. Achilles injuries are very difficult to come back from, however, so we’ll see what type of production he’ll provide.
Smith’s injury opened the door for Kamar Aiken to become the team’s No. 1 receiver. He posted a career-high 75 receptions with 944 yards and five scores. He’s a solid route runner with good hands.
Baltimore took a flyer on deep threat Mike Wallace during the offseason and are hoping to get production out of last year’s first-rounder Breshad Perriman, who didn’t play last year due to a knee injury. He has reportedly impressed the coaches with improved hands to go along with his blazing speed.
The Ravens are stacked at tight end, with Maxx Williams having a productive season, Benjamin Watson still playing at a solid level, Crockett Gillmore being underrated and Dennis Pitta attempting to return to form following his injuries.
OFFENSIVE LINEMEN
Marshal Yanda is, in my opinion, the top guard in the game. General manager Ozzie Newsome found himself a gem in the third round of the 2007 NFL Draft.
He’s a devestating mauler in the run game and versatile enough to play a man-blocking scheme or the zone-blocking one he was in last season. He’s extremely quick off the snap and uses his great strength to lock up and dump defenders. He pulls and traps with very little effort. The Ravens’ offense goes through him in the run game, Yanda was a huge reason why JForsett had his career season two years ago.
As a pass protector, his technique is exceptional. His footwork, timing and punch are all outstanding. He is a bit small by today’s guard standards at 6’3, 305, but his strength makes up for it. The other guard spot will go to 2014 fifth-round pick John Urschel. Veteran Jeremy Zuttah will man the starting center position.
Following the Laremy Tunsil gas mask controversy, the Ravens decided to select Notre Dame product Ronnie Stanley over him. I don’t think Stanley is as smooth and athletic as Tunsil, but the potential is there. Ricky Wagner will start at the right tackle spot opposite of him. He had an outstanding 2014 campaign, but had his struggles last season.
DEFENSIVE LINEMAN
Newsome found himself another diamond in the rough with nose tackle Brandon Williams, a Missouri Southern State product taken in the third round of the 2013 draft. He shot up the draft boards that year after an impressive combine.
Williams has become the nose tackle that many Ravens fans hoped Terrence Cody would develop into. He’s Incredible Hulk-like strong and plays very low to the ground. He uses that incredible power to push lineman back not only in the run game, but as a pass rusher too, forcing pressure to allow his teammates to rack up sacks. Williams’ backup Carl Davis showed some glimpses as a rookie last year.
Tim Jernigan’s explosive 2014 rookie campaign was a big reason why Baltimore felt comfortable parting with Haloti Ngata. He uses his strength to bull rush and collapse the pocket and get into the backfield in the run game. He fits in perfectly as a two-gapper and has even seen some snaps as a nose tackle. Lawrence Guy is the starter at the other 3-4 defensive end spot.
LINEBACKERS
How much do Elvis Dumervil and Suggs have left in the tank?
The 32-year-old Dumervil saw his sack total dip to six after recording 17 in 2014. He still possesses solid speed despite his age. He understands angles and his intelligence helps him elude blockers. And he gets a really low center of gravity. Due to his diminutive size, however, Dumervil does struggle a bit in run defense.
Suggs is going to be 34 in October and coming off an Achilles tear. He had totaled double-digit sack totals in four of his past five seasons prior to last year.
He’s got a lot of moves in his repertoire as a pass rusher. He has the length, burst, strength and knows how to play with leverage. His IQ and instincts help him in run defense. He’s always in position and his length and strength make it difficult for a back to break free from his grasp.
The Ravens are hoping that second-rounder Kalamei Correa can seamlessly transition to starter in a few years when Suggs and Dumervil are ready to hang it up.
Nobody is going to replace Ray Lewis, but C.J. Mosley has been outstanding over his two years in Baltimore so far. Coming off a phenomenal rookie season, Mosley backed It up with a solid sophomore campaign.
Mosley’s run defense is his best asset and his tackling is among the best out of all the inside linebackers. He plays with great anticipation and has a high football IQ. He stacks up blockers, sheds them and finds the ball. Mosley’s pass coverage is solid too. Again it’s about his instincts and football IQ, he trusts his eyes. It appears that Zach Orr will be the starter alongside Mosley.
DEFENSIVE BACKS
Jimmy Smith is definitely one starter at cornerback, but the other is being fought between Kyle Arrington and Shareece Wright. Arrington was benched last season during the year despite all the injuries. Wright hasn’t been much better in recent seasons. Smith has a lot of talent, but needs to stay healthy.
Eric Weddle is now in Baltimore following a nine-year stint in San Diego. He’s one of the better coverage safeties in the NFL.
He can match up in man and survey the middle of the field in zone. He’s got great speed, instincts and size. He’s not as athletic as many of the safeties but his intelligence and instincts are what separates him. He didn’t allow a touchdown all season long. Weddle is pretty good in run defense too. He can play in the box, take on blockers, sift through traffic and find the ball carrier. He always takes the proper angle. He’s an instinctive big hitter.
Lardarius Webb has been a cornerback for many years in Baltimore, but is the latest in the NFL to make the transition to safety.
TEAM PREVIEWS
Buffalo Bills | New England Patriots | Miami Dolphins
NFL PLAYER RANKINGS