The Baltimore Ravens bounced back into the division picture when they added QB Steve McNair during the offseason. Despite battling injuries the past couple of years, he adds veteran leadership and stability to the position that wasn‘t there under Kyle Boller. His addition to the team is as big off the field as it is on, and although he‘s not the player he was two years ago, he still has the experience and ability to get the Ravens back into the playoffs. Keeping McNair healthy, however, will be paramount to the Ravens’ success this year.
The problem is, the offensive line is probably the biggest concern on the team. The group played poorly last year, but the front office brought back the entire starting unit anyway. The play of LG Edwin Mulitalo and LT Jonathan Ogden has dropped off in recent years, and the right side of the line needs to make big strides this year. The trio of Brian Rimpf, Tony Pashos and Keydrick Vincent simply didn’t get the job done, and the team may lean heavily on rookie guard Chris Chester to help rectify the problem. Regardless of who plays on the line, however, if these guys can’t protect the quarterback consistently, it won’t matter who’s taking the snaps from center.
Assuming the offensive line can open some holes, the Ravens should have a strong running game. Jamal Lewis is healthy again and former Broncos veteran Mike Anderson, who was acquired during the off season, will fill the role vacated by Chester Taylor, who signed with the Vikings.
McNair is also being reunited with former teammate Derrick Mason, and he also has weapons in last year’s first-round draft pick Mark Clayton and third-year player Devard Darling. Look for tight end Todd Heap to have a resurgence in production as well with an experienced signal caller dishing out the footballs.
On defense, the club lost free-agent DE Anthony Weaver and DT Maake Kemoeatu during the offseason. Both were solid players, but the Ravens did a nice job replacing them. Weaver was replaced by Trevor Pryce, who may be on the downside of his career, but is still an effective pass rusher. The Ravens then used their top pick in this year’s draft on Oregon DT Haloti Ngata, who should be effective at occupying lineman so the face of the franchise, Ray Lewis, is free to roam from sideline to sideline.
Lewis, who was hampered by injuries in ’05, is still the heart of what should again be a very good defense. Safety Ed Reed may actually be the best defender on this unit, but Lewis still has the ability to intimidate opposing offenses. Overall, the defense shouldn’t miss a beat this year despite the defections. In fact, they could actually be better if the rookie DT plays up to expectations.
As a team, the Ravens chances depend heavily on improved play out of the offensive line. Unfortunately, the team didn’t do much to correct the problem. The addition of McNair is huge, but with his medical history, this team is going nowhere if they don’t keep him off his back. In a tough AFC North division, there’s not much room for this team to struggle or they will get buried in the standings early.
I like the addition of McNair, but it may have come a year or two late. The Ravens window of opportunity may still be open a crack, but it’s closing fast.
