The Baltimore Ravens have done quite a lot this offseason in an effort to get better. After reaching the postseason for the first time since 2014, Baltimore got a taste of what they could be this season and beyond. With the Ravens’ rookies arriving at training camp in two weeks, it’s as good a time as any to get Baltimore fans pumped about this season
Here are the five things Ravens fans should be excited about in 2019.
Lack of continuity
Baltimore has always preached continuity under coach John Harbaugh and have often stuck by some pretty terrible players and coaches in an effort to keep working forward. But this offseason, the Ravens made sweeping changes — whether they wanted to or not.
Several impact defensive players are gone — Terrell Suggs, Eric Weddle, Za’Darius Smith, C.J. Mosley all left through free agency. Franchise quarterback Joe Flacco was traded to the Denver Broncos. Baltimore made a much-needed switch at offensive coordinator. The basic building blocks of this team are very much the same as 2018 but we’ll see a lot of new faces and new wrinkles in 2019 . . . and that’s a good thing.
While the Ravens reached the postseason last year, they essentially stumbled into it. Some other teams vying for a playoff spot suddenly tanked and Baltimore’s switch to quarterback Lamar Jackson took advantage of some really weak run defenses in the second half of the season.
This year, we’ll see some younger players start in important roles after having a full offseason to prepare. We’ll see a completely new offensive scheme. There’s more offensive talent on this roster than arguably any Baltimore team over the last decade. If you aren’t excited by all that, check your heartbeat.
Lamar Jackson
Regardless of if you think Jackson can develop into an elite quarterback or not, you have to be excited by what you see on the field. Jackson is a unique talent that can carve up any defense in the league with his feet. Add in a robust running back corps and you have an offense that should be able to “float like a butterfly and sting like a bee” this season.
The real excitement, for me, comes with Jackson’s development. We already know what he can do on the ground and that’s pretty awesome. But if Jackson can improve his mechanics — something he’s been working on all offseason — and become more consistent as a passer, that growth will do wonders for a Baltimore offense that has routinely struggled.
With every pinpoint throw, every bomb and ever run from Jackson, the Ravens’ offense should be exciting. Which brings me to my next point.
New offensive scheme
With a change in offensive coordinator comes a new scheme. Greg Roman has talked extensively about how he scrapped the entire playbook and has developed his own scheme to take advantage of Jackson’s skill set.
We don’t entirely know what that looks like quite yet but it’s bound to be a variation on the west coast offense. It’s expected we’ll see plenty of option plays, heavy inside runs, play action and quick throws that take advantage of indecision in the defense.
Jackson already causes defensive players to pause and keep eyes on the backfield. But Roman knows that too and we should see plays designed to maximize that confusion. On a conference call with season ticket owners, owner Steve Bisciotti said Jackson won’t be running as often as last year. While Roman will likely limit Jackson getting hit as much as possible, there will be more designed hot reads for the young quarterback to utilize his acceleration and video game-like agility to pick up large chunks of yards if defenses give it to him.
With Jackson handed the keys to the offense officially, Roman can design a scheme that limits his weaknesses and plays on what the roster does well. That should mean a more efficient and capable offense in 2019. And any improvements in putting points on the board when teamed up with Baltimore’s great defense is exciting.
Weak AFC North
This offseason, all the talk has been about the Cleveland Browns. Though they’ve made huge strides in acquiring talent, that’s not an uncommon thing for them every offseason. And a quick look at their recent records should quickly dampen any expectations that they’re suddenly a championship-caliber team.
But the real story is the rest of the AFC North. While Cleveland and Baltimore have decided to retool or rebuild completely around their young quarterbacks, the rest of the division isn’t ready for the next era.
The Pittsburgh Steelers still have Ben Roethlisberger, but without wide receiver Antonio Brown and running back Le’Veon Bell. They’ll undoubtedly still be dangerous but so much of their sting left this offseason and made headlines doing it.
The Cincinnati Bengals still have Andy Dalton at quarterback in spite of pretty lackluster results in the face of a talented roster around him. They’re another team that has always looked good on paper but haven’t ever really fulfilled their promise. The Bengals finished 6-10 last year and haven’t really done anything to improve their roster this offseason. Even if new coach Zac Taylor boosts Cincinnati this season, they’re likely still eyeing up a last-place finish in the division.
Considering six of the Ravens’ 16 games come within the division, it should be an easier road to the postseason than in previous years.
Exciting young players
I’ve talked about it extensively but the Ravens are entering a golden age thanks to their youth. That thought alone is exciting but it only gets better when you go over specific players.
The Ravens’ defense will feature a bunch of new, young faces. Patrick Onwuasor is going to be expected to step up and fill Mosley’s shoes at inside linebacker. He’s done well as a rotational player and stepped up in a big way last year alongside Mosley. Kenny Young and Chris Board are in a fight for the starting job right next to Onwuasor.
Safety DeShon Elliott has been earning rave reviews during Baltimore’s OTAs and minicamp. He’s healthy after breaking his forearm last preseason and making big plays. He was an exciting prospect after being selected in the sixth round of the 2018 NFL draft. But a year in and the Ravens are going to have to figure out how to get his playmaking ability on the field more often.
Rookie outside linebacker Jaylon Ferguson beat Suggs’ NCAA sacks record. He’ll have a chance to start this season to help replace Suggs’ production in Baltimore’s defense. Shane Ray was a first-round pick in the 2015 NFL draft that just couldn’t stay consistent with Denver thanks to injuries — he’ll be in the mix at outside linebacker too. Though they haven’t lived up to their potential, it’d be a shame to forget about Tim Williams and Tyus Bowser as Ravens defensive players ready to break out in 2019 too.
On offense, Baltimore has invested quite a bit in their wide receiver corps. Marquise Brown and Miles Boykin were the selections in the 2019 NFL draft and both bring their own facets to the group — Brown has electric speed and Boykin is a great combination of speed and size. They’ll match up with last year’s picks at wide receiver, Jordan Lasley and Jaleel Scott. Add in Willie Snead and there’s a great deal of talent at wide receiver.
But don’t forget the tight ends. Nick Boyle leads the young group but Mark Andrews is a fast-rising star that put up solid numbers as a rookie. Hayden Hurst is healthy after a rough rookie season and hungry to prove himself. Those three will find their niche on the field this season and should create mismatches.
And Jackson deserves another mention here. His rookie highlight reel was filled to the brim with excitement. With another offseason down and getting the starting nod from the outset, we should see a more polished quarterback in 2019.
Even if not for this season, Baltimore’s youth movement offers pretty exciting possibilities for the future. They’re young, cheap and have so much potential.
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