ExtremeRavens. Baltimore Ravens Message Board and Fan Site

Season Preview: Part One

Written by Dan McGrain
Thursday, 04 September 2008
This is part one of a two-piece preview of the upcoming season. Part one will focus on the coaching staff and the rest of the division. Part two, published later this week, will break down the offense, defense, and special teams and provide a prediction of things to come for the Ravens. THE COACHING STAFF 2008 welcomes two new additions to the Ravens coaching staff and one familiar face. Overall, the staff is strong and uniquely balanced, pairing a first-time head coach (and really, we mean first time) with two, long-proven coordinators. Given enough time, the coordinators can surely strike gold. It will be interesting to see precisely what kind of system new head coach John Harbaugh brings to this team and how it meshes with his players and coordinators. John Harbaugh, Head Coach Harbaugh was a surprise pick over the winter, having no experience has a coordinator, let alone as a head coach. But Harbaugh brings with him a no-nonsense attitude and a reputation of being a players' coach. He has to find a delicate balance this year, between pleasing the team's veterans while simultaneously instilling his message of change. So far, so good—or at least, no issues ... yet. The real test will come when—or rather 'if'—this team starts losing games, especially if the offense is under-performing again. Cam Cameron, Offensive Coordinator In Miami as the head coach last year, Cameron's team won just one game—against his new team. But he had great success prior to Miami in San Diego as offensive coordinator—with LT, Antonio Gates and Drew Brees to work with. Cameron knows how to work a running game and knows how to develop quarterbacks. Between Willis McGahee and Ray Rice, Cameron should have Baltimore moving with a consistent running game. He will also be a great influence on Joe Flacco. Just don't expect results overnight. Rex Ryan, Defensive Coordinator Ryan is the only big piece of the Ravens' coaching staff returning from last year, and with good reason. We can expect to see Ryan bringing his same brand of 'organized chaos' each weekend. The question with Ryan this year is how does he handle being second fiddle to a coach he has never worked with, especially if veterans start to choose sides. THE DIVISION The AFC North is, in a word, weak. Look around and you'll find three teams in total disarray, with a fourth just barely clinging to its place atop the division. The Ravens are the outsiders in the division. The Bengals and Browns are both offense-only builds, and the Steelers are moving that direction. That presents three teams that play strength-against-strength with the Ravens every time they meet. If the Ravens' defense is up to snuff, the division could again provide some of the season's most interesting games. Pittsburgh Steelers The Steelers are the undeniable favorites in the division entering the season. Mike Tomlin took the reins from Bill Cowher without the slightest hesitation and last season, the Steelers battered the Ravens and the rest of the division, up and down the field. This year, Tomlin continues to shift the weight of this team onto the offense, namely Ben Roethlisberger. At the skill positions, the Steelers are strong as ever with Roethlisberger, running backWillie Parker and wide receivers Hines Ward and Santonio Holmes. But the real question for this team is the offensive line. Once the team's greatest strength, the line has struggled this preseason in providing protection in the rushing and passing attacks. Columnists all over Pittsburgh are worried as well because it doesn't seem to be an issue of skill. Rather, the Steelers linemen are just plain overpowered. Regardless of these woes, the AFC North still belongs to the Steelers. That doesn't mean they are going to run away with it. Prediction: 10-6 Cleveland Browns The Browns are an interesting team to examine. Last year, they shocked the world with a rolling offense and finished in a tie for the division lead with a 10-6 record. They made some good moves this off-season, acquiring some help on the defensive line and keeping the major pieces of their offensive unit. But something isn't quite right in Cleveland right now and no one is quite sure why. The Browns failed to win a game this preseason, but unlike the New England Patriots, the Browns had most of their starters on the field. Derek Anderson missed significant time after a concussion early in the preseason, and he is certainly a key piece. But his absence doesn't explain the team's inability to move the ball. The bottom line is that Cleveland's offense is supposed to be their strong suit, but I am not convinced. They have the pieces, but perhaps not the entire unit. On defense, they are still troubled. Despite picking up linemen, they are still short in the secondary. All-in-all, I think this team will be taking a step backward this year. Prediction: 8-8 Cincinnati Bengals (AKA Team in Disarray #1) The Bengals have been an offensive powerhouse since the arrival of quarterback Carson Palmer several years ago. Palmer, with receivers Chad Johnson and TJ Houshmandzadeh (the league's best receiving tandem), the Bengals have been able to score at will. But still, the Bengals have had trouble getting over the hump, so to speak. The defense has never quite found its way, even under the guidance of defensive wizard Marvin Lewis. And perhaps more upsetting, the team continues to be plagued by "behavior" issues. This season alone, receiver Chris Henry was cut for his unacceptable on- and off-field actions, and then brought him back just last week for added depth. In addition, the Bengals recently cut starting running back Rudi Johnson, who had not played all preseason. They are opting instead to go with Chris Perry who hasn't played since 2006. And we still haven't discussed what is going on with the defense. Honestly, no one knows. Couple all of this with Chad Johnson's—excuse me, Chad Ocho Cinco's—standard antics and we can honestly begin to question if this team will even make it through 17 weeks. Prediction: 6-10
Last Updated ( Thursday, 04 September 2008 )