Ravens Q&A w/ Clifton Brown, Sporting News

Clifton Brown covers the National Football League for Sporting News. You can find Brown’s archived work for the Sporting News at: http://aol.sportingnews.com/author/clifton-brown

You can find Brown on Twitter at:
https://twitter.com/#!/CliftonBrownSN

Roughly a Month away from what should be the start of Training Camp, Baltimore Sports and Life has thanks Mr. Brown for taking the time to share his thoughts on the Baltimore Ravens.

Baltimore Sports and Life: “The Ravens were tied for 27th in the league with just 27 sacks on the year. The drafting of Jimmy Smith gives Baltimore a CB they can leave out on an Island, allowing more pressure to be brought from the Front 7. Sergio Kindle has told the San Antonio Express-News that he received clearance to play in March. Obviously after missing all of last year, Kindle never began the transition to OLB from DE. If Training Camp is delayed, should the Ravens plan on using Kindle as a 3rd down pass-rusher only? Would you consider it a ‘bonus’ if Kindle can contribute at all?”

Brown: “Whatever the Ravens get from Kindle next season should be considered bonus. If Kindle plays, I’m sure they will bring him along slowly, and be happy with whatever contribution he gives. If he helps their pass rush, that would be a plus. But after missing his entire rookie season, and getting a late start to this season, Kindle has a lot working against him. I hope he recovers from his serious injury and has a long, productive career.”

Baltimore Sports and Life: “After the Week 8 bye, Anquan Boldin had just 26 catches for 319 yards. Why that happened is a question for me as the Ravens head into 2011. My guess of part of the reason Boldin was a non-factor in the 2nd half, was that defenses had a lot of guys in the box to limit Rice, and that the Ravens lacked a deep threat in the receiving core. With both Mason, and Houshmandzadeh on the field next to Boldin, Baltimore offense was running a lot shorter routes (also because of the lack of blocking up-front). With those shorter routes, it was my sense that Flacco was most comfortable with Mason – the receiver he had the most experience with. With greater familiarity between Flacco and Boldin (and the addition of Torrey Smith as a WR capable of stretching the field), should Boldin’s production increase in 2011?”

Brown: “It would not surprise me to see Boldin’s production increase. He’s still a quality receiver, and he will benefit from having another season to work with Flacco. However, I think it’s important for the Ravens’ passing game to produce more big plays, regardless of which receiver makes them. The Ravens’ offense has been pretty methodical the past two seasons. That may have to change for them to get over the hump and reach the Super Bowl.”

Baltimore Sports and Life: “I think Marshall Yanda was overrated at RT last year, but he was also better than I expected him to be. Sports Illustrated’s Peter King had Yanda on his All-Pro team. Coach Harbaugh is on the record as saying Yanda is one of his favorite players. I’ll certainly concede the obvious that both King, and Harbaugh know more than I do. It is my thinking that Yanda was ok (not great) against speed rushers from the outside, and that the move of Yanda to RT, Oher to LT, and Chester to RG was part of the reason that Rice’s yards per carry fell. While I’d like Gaither to be part of this team long-term, I do not see that as something likely to happen. The Ravens want to extend Yanda, the question will be do they pay him as a Tackle, or as a RG?
What type of contract do you think is fair for Yanda? The Ravens have drafted Jah Reid, and believe his future is at RT. How limiting is it for Baltimore if Reid has to start this year?”

Brown: “The offensive line is crucial to any offense’s success. I think Yanda is a very solid player, and I think he’ll sign a deal that will keep him with the Ravens for years to come. Oher will also be a long-term fixture on their offensive line. It’s too early for me to know what kind of NFL player Reid is going to be. But he’ll have to earn whatever time he gets, particularly as a rookie.”

Baltimore Sports and Life: “Joining Smith at CB will be the returning Foxworth, and Webb. Foxworth won’t ever aid the running game, but he has good speed, cover skills, and has shown leadership abilities. Webb will be in his 2nd year after the ACL injury, and has flashed some elite ability. Will the Ravens be able to also retain either Josh Wilson, or Chris Carr?”

Brown: “I still think the Ravens will be looking to upgrade their secondary, either via free agency or trade. But how Smith performs will be critical. He has the talent to be a difference-maker as a rookie, at a position where the Ravens need help. If Smith plays up to his potential, the Ravens’ secondary should be better than last season.”

Baltimore Sports and Life: “By nearly all accounts, the Ravens will trade or release McGahee once the labor situation is settled. With that assumption, I would think the Ravens could sell McClain on receiving additional carries. Baltimore had also added Jason McKie at FB. Do you see McClain returning?”

Brown: “I do see McClain returning, and I believe he could have an increased role. I’ve always liked the physical, inside running dynamic that he brings to the Ravens’ offense.”

Baltimore Sports and Life: “The three primary issues of criticism for Flacco’s play are his limitations over the middle of the field, his propensity for checking down, and that he does not get rid of the ball quick enough. All of those critiques might be fair, and I myself have regularly spoken about the need for Flacco to improve against the Cover 2 zones over the middle. That said, I think there is often not enough focus on all of the positives Flacco brings to the table. For the 2nd consecutive year, he threw for 3,600+ yards. He had a QB Rating of 93.6%, and had 25 TD’s against just 10 picks. He has also now won 4 playoff games (all on the road). If he is not in that elite group of P. Manning, Brady, Brees, Rivers, Rodgers and Roethlisberger; I would argue he is at the top of that next tier. Do you agree?”

Brown: “I don’t think Flacco is an elite quarterback. But he has the potential to become one. His positives far outweigh the negatives. I’d agree that he should be more aggressive throwing downfield in certain situations. He has the arm to squeeze throws into tight windows. When the game’s on the line, great quarterbacks do more than avoid making the big mistake. They make big plays. That’s the next step for Flacco.”

Baltimore Sports and Life: “Coach Harbaugh has stated Flacco will have further input into the offense this year, and greater ability to audible at the line, and call his own plays. It appears the Ravens want Flacco to improve his leadership abilities. What is the downside to an extension now (again, once the CBA is addressed)?”

Brown: “Do you mean what’s the downside to giving Flacco more freedom?  I’d say there’s a chance that more freedom could lead to more mistakes. However, giving Flacco more authority is part of the process of him taking more control of the offense. The more quarterback can handle on the field, on his own, without help from the coaching staff, the better.’’

Baltimore Sports and Life: “I’m very high on a pair of 2010 Draft picks (Terrence Cody, and Ed Dickson) both emerging in the near-term. Your thoughts on them?”

Brown: “I agree that both players have plenty of talent, and plenty of upside. Cody, of course, must keep his weight in check. But he should have a long, productive career if he wins the battle of the bulge.”

Baltimore Sports and Life: “What is your biggest question about the Ravens heading into the year?”

Brown: “I guess my biggest question would be how the age of some of their key players – Ray Lewis, Ed Reed, and Derrick Mason, and whether they can continue to play at such a high level. But overall, I’d say the Ravens will be a very solid team again, a legitimate Super Bowl contender.”

Baltimore Sports and Life: “Where do you rank the Ravens within the AFC? Have they closed the gap on Pittsburgh?”

Brown: “I think the Ravens have already closed the gap on Pittsburgh. I think the Ravens were the better team last season, and should have beaten the Steelers in the playoffs. However, the Ravens made too many mistakes, and they didn’t deserve to go further. I still think it’s critical for the Ravens to win the AFC North, and to play at least one home playoff game. Winning a Super Bowl as a Wild Card can obviously be done, as the Packers showed last season. But it’s definitely an advantage to have at least one home game, or better yet, a home game and a bye week.”

Baltimore Sports and Life: “Your initial impressions of the Baltimore schedule? Clearly the hype machine would be in full-swing prior to Week 1 against the Steelers. Potentially a challenging home-schedule with games against Houston, Indianapolis, Arizona, San Francisco, and the New York Jets. On the road St. Louis and Jacksonville are improving, Tennessee is typically a difficult road game, and two West Coast trips could be tough.”

9/11 vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
9/18 @ Tennessee Titans
9/24 @ St. Louis Rams
10/2 vs. New York Jets
10/9 BYE
10/16 vs. Houston Texans
10/24 @ Jacksonville Jaguars
10/30 vs. Arizona Cardinals
11/6 @ Pittsburgh Steelers
11/13 @ Seattle Seahawks
11/20 vs. Cincinnati Bengals
11/24 vs. San Francisco 49ers
12/4 @ Cleveland Browns
12/11 Indianapolis Colts
12/18 @ San Diego Chargers
12/24 vs. Cleveland Browns
1/1 @ Cincinnati Bengals

Brown: “Any NFL game is potentially dangerous, but this schedule does not look overly intimidating. The two trips to the West coast are far apart. They never play more than two consecutive road games. Two of their toughest non-division games (Jets and Colts) are at home. The Ravens should not have many complaints about this schedule.”