When I look at the Ravens 2009 schedule, one of the things I noted is the week-to-week strength of the opposing Quarterbacks.
Cassell
Rivers
Quinn (twice)
Brady
Palmer (twice)
Farve
Orton
P.Manning
Roethlisberger (twice)
Rogers
Culpepper/Stafford
Cutler
Russell / Garcia
To me, I break that list down into several-tiers:
HOF: Brady, Manning, Farve
All-Pro: Palmer, Roethlisberger, Cutler, Rivers
2nd-year starters: Cassell, Rogers, Russell
Experienced / accomplished vets: Culpepper, Garcia
Young talent: Quinn, Stafford
Caretaker: Orton
I was thinking this was a particularly strong group of QB’s to face in one-season, so I decided to directly compare that group, vs. the QB’s Baltimore faced in the 2008 regular-season.
2008
Palmer
Anderson (twice)
Roethlisberger (twice)
Collins
P.Manning
Pennington
Russell
Rosenfels
E.Manning
McNabb
Fitzpatrick
Campbell
Romo
Garrard
HOF: P. Manning
All-Pro: Palmer, Roethlisberger, E.Manning, McNabb, Romo
2nd-year starters: Campbell, Anderson
Experienced / accomplished vets: Collins, Pennington, Garrard
Young talent: Russell
Caretaker: Rosenfels, Fitzpatrick
After listing this out, it seems clear to me that the opposition will be better in 2009; but not quite as much of a disparity from last-year as I had anticipated.
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.