With the season starting, it is time to make some final predictions on the 2009 Ravens season.
Obviously the Ravens are guaranteed to play 16 Regular-season games, so 16 seems like a good number of predictions to provide.
1) I think Todd Heap is going to prove a lot of people in Baltimore wrong. Everywhere I go, all I hear is Raven fans talking about Heap being a broken-down player, that is always hurt. I do not get it. Heap has played 8 years in the NFL. In 5 of those seasons (including 2008) Heap has played in every-game. All players in the NFL have bumps, bruises, and other injuries. You do not deserve the charge of being injury-riddled, when you find a way to usually staying in the lineup. As far as the other-charge that his days as an offensive weapon are behind him; I disagree. Flacco was not able to work the middle of the field last year, and the issues at RT, forced Heap to stay at the line blocking. With Oher at RT, and Flacco another year older; Heap will be able to get off the line and again make plays. Heap has caught 58 balls combined the past 2 seasons, I think he catches nearly that many this year, even with Smith now joining him at TE.
2) The Ravens are going to regret not being more proactive about signing long-term deals for Ngata, and Gaither this summer. These two imposing physical specimens, are going to have seasons that will only make resigning (or extending) them more difficult. Ngata is just starting to get known nationally, and will end 2009 as the best DT in the game. Gaither will still have moments of learning, but if he is able to play with both-arms this year; he can finish 2009 with a Pro Bowl invitation.
3)I think Matt Birk will probably miss parts of a game, or a whole-game due to injury. I would expect at that point, Chester will slide over to Center; with Yanda being inserted at RG.
4) I think the Ravens are going to have to win the AFC North, if they want to advance in the playoffs. The Ravens were able to win road playoff games in Miami, and Tennessee last year; because a defense and a running-game always travel. Obviously this year, they will still have their defense, a running-game, and can now leverage that experience. Still, I do not like the Ravens chances of going on the road and winning 3 games, if they were the Wild Card and 5th or 6th seed. You need to win the division, and at-least get 1 home playoff game.
5) This should be the best Raven defensive-line ever, even over Goose, Adams, and Burnett. When you can bring the talents of Edwards, Bannan, Talavou, and McKinney off the bench, you are just scary deep. The best thing that could happen for Pryce is to use that DL depth to keep him extremely fresh. I think there is an excellent chance that Edwards replaces him as the starting DE by the end of the season.
6) I think the Raven defense will have less exotic looks under Mattison vs. Ryan, but I think they could be more effective. For all of Ryan’s bravado, he routinely had trouble with opposing teams initial drives, and often used a passive-prevent defense late in-games against passing teams. I think Mattison will be more conventional, and I expect the defense to be aided with a better and more consistent pass-rush. Barnes opposite of Suggs, seems ready to make some plays, and Kruger on the same-side as Suggs will be difficult to defend. Add the fresh legs of Gooden, and I think the defense will also appear more athletic than in 2008.
7) Washington and Foxworth will be very solid most weeks at CB, but exposed at-times against bigger, more physical WR’s.
8) Webb will emerge as the Nickle back as the season progresses. The ability of Rolle to get off the PUP list, and become the Dime back after Week 6 could prove to be important.
9) This is an excellent Ravens team, but it will be difficult to be better than 10-6. Having to play at San Diego, at New England, at Minnesota, at Green Bay, plus the division battles, make winning 12-13 games hard to imagine.
10) Flacco did not reach 300 yards passing in any game during his rookie season. I expect he will hit that mark 3 or 4 times in 2009.
11) I think Troy Smith will see plenty of action. Knowing Beck is there as the 3rd-string will give the Ravens the confidence needed to use Smith in the Suggs package.
12) I am not sure Clayton will again have the 17 yards per reception he had in 2008, but I think he will have more than the 41 receptions he hauled in last-year. Williams will probably miss some-time, but if he can play 14 games, 45 catches are possible.
13) When the Ravens use McClain as the lead-blocker with Rice, and McGhaee in the back-field, that is going to cause problems for the opposition. As great a blocking full-back as Neal was (and might be again?), teams did not have to respect his running ability.
14) Most of the Special Teams talk leading up to the Opener has been about Hauschka. I think the addition of Carr to the return game is just as important.
15) Things would get ugly very quick, if this Ravens team does not play to expectations. The reality is that while the schedule is certainly formidable, this team is deep, and experienced. There is good reason for the existing expectations. If for whatever-reason things go wrong, look-out. The most likely culprit would be an untimely injury, the thing to watch would be how that adversity is handled with Coach Harbaugh and the locker-room.
16) I think the Ravens will again have 3 games against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Owner
Chris Stoner founded Baltimore Sports and Life in 2009. He has appeared as a radio guest with 1090 WBAL, 105.7 The Fan, CBS 1300, Q1370, WOYK 1350, WKAV 1400, and WNST 1570. He has also been interviewed by The Baltimore Sun, Baltimore Business Journal, and PressBox (TV). As Owner, his responsibilities include serving as the Managing Editor, Publicist, & Sales Director.