Ravens 2018 season outlook
Funny that i say this. Despite the Ravens not making the playoffs a third straight time or 4 out of the last 5 seasons, their championship window is closing. You need a good mix of old veterans and young hungry talent to win the big game. The Eagles are definitely proof of this. 6 of their players had won a Super Bowl before. The Ravens still have that mix but the young talent has been somewhat questionable. Also Flacco, Suggs and Yanda from the 2012 SB team arent getting any younger now. Weddle too is starting to show his age. This team is already one foot in the grave and one more foot away from going into full rebuild mode soon if this keeps up.
things havent been the same since Ed Reed and Ray Lewis left the building. Ravens had one true winning season since the post-Lewis era that showed potential that they could make some noise in the playoffs if given the chance, but getting in has been the problem. Finishing out games has been the Ravens achilles heel the past 3 years. Also the Ravens bad luck with injuries, draft and free agent signings have mostly been a bust. that being said...
After watching owner Steve Bisciotti's honestly tense but insightful end of the season press conference.. this is going to be one stressful offseason for the Ravens. Owner considered firing Harbaugh after the way they lost at home. The pressure to perform well and win back some of their fans will be the focus for the 2018 Ravens. obviously that means making the playoffs... but it won't be easy
The Ravens have a tougher schedule next season. They will play 7 of this year's playoff teams(easy to say Bills and Titans shouldnt have got in) but that isnt to say some of these teams wont regress. Ravens will play more established QBs including Brees, Ryan, Rivers, Newton most of them on the road. Carr might have a bounce back year. The biggest knock on Ravens this season is that had an easy schedule full of rookie and backup QBs and still couldnt make the playoffs so how are the Ravens going to make the playoffs next year if they couldnt then? DK this is a bad futures bet.
Well, you are probably right about that but i like it when the pressure is on! In order to be the best you have to beat the best so bring on the tough schedule. If the Ravens had made it this year it would have been unfulfilling how they got there and would have an asterisk next to their name
Next year they really will have to prove it that they do belong there. No what ifs, ands or buts. No excuses.
Here is what they need to do and need to model themselves after: the New Orlean Saints and the Philadelphia Eagles. The Saints had three straight 7-9 seasons of not making the playoffs and took that opportunity to rebuild their defense through the draft. The Ravens need to do the same for their offense. Their defense is stocked up but maybe they could use one more inside linebacker to pair up with Mosley whether its a free agent or draft pick they have an obvious weakness in defending the middle of the field. Most of all that offense needs to be fixed. Get a WR in the 1st round. This will also be Ozzie Newsome's last season as GM before stepping down so he needs to hit a homerun with this upcoming draft.
Secondly, Dean Pees is no longer the DC. Good coach but too conservative playcalling with the lead. Don Wink Martindale hasnt had a good track record in his brief stint at DC for another team but im a believer of giving guys a 2nd chance. Word is he is going to bring a more aggressive style of defense to the table. The Ravens have the personnel to do it so yes im glad Pees stepped down and they promoted Wink which is traditional. Chances were we probably werent going to get Vic Fangio or Chuck Pagano(he wanted to spend time off) anyway. That being said the Ravens should take a page from the Eagles aggressive and smart playcalling. Either the Ravens play aggressive and dumb or conservative and scared. Ravens need better balance and talent. Ravens should feel inspired to see some ex-Ravens winning another title and by the Eagles underdog playoff run. start playing with a dog mentality because im almost certain now that nobody will give the Ravens a chance next year. They will probably be picked 3rd in the division which is like 4th for other divisions, the Browns dont count.
I wouldnt be surprised if my team goes 4-12 but if thats the case then its time to clean house and draft the next franchise QB. i'm giving my team one more chance...
Sorry that was long /endrant
Ravens +5000 (it just went up as i write this)