baltimore - superbowl

I think the Ravens have had a great off season. No major losses, drafted a couple of good tight ends but on the experienced side they also added Anquan Boldin and Dante Stallworth, so they've really backed up the WRs. I like what they're doing there - that's a stronger offense they've got now...fancy them to do well.

The last 2-3 seasons ive thought its Baltimore's time for good things but they always seem to have that missing link- great on defence with Ray Lewis the boss- a decent qb and running back in Ray Rice but for me they need another w/r Mason is very good but getting old- they should make the playoffs but thats about it

As an outside team to do very well this season imo is the Bengals, Palmer decent w/b,Cedric Benson very capable and should have a good year, new signing big T.O if he does what we know he can then wow- also Chad ochocinco is a beast and 3rd w/r Bryant- thats a great offence

OOps  i forgot about Boldin thanks RDB- lets hope he stays healthy cause he can be explosive- maybe that is the missing link

Ravens getting old on defense but have certainly upgraded on the other side of the ball,if Flacco can develop a rapport with his receiving corps and with their strong running game they are definitely a team to be reckoned with

Biggest Ravens fan on BF here :D

Offense *should/could* be explosive this year. The weapons we have are incredible at almost all positions.

Defense is an issue: front 7 will be fine, and are regarded as easily a top 5 unit in the NFL. The secondary is where we have issues, Foxworth is out for the year, Reed's status is unknown and the other two corners; Webb and Washington, are coming back from ACL tears. Which leaves the Chris Carr as a starter at the moment, which is terrifying.

Ozzie has signed some experienced guys as insurance policies - Ken Hamlin for example, but Reed must return imo.

Gazzy is pretty much right IMO. They have big secondary issues with Reed, Webb and Foxworth not fully 100% Lewis and Suggs have both lost a step as well. Still a great D but vulnerable than in the past few years... Cincy in a great position to repeat.

Gazzy, and ravens are defo the 2 biggest fans on here. I also agree defence is aging but ive said that last 2 years, Secondary is definatly a cause for concern this year. Should make them entertaining in some high scoring games.
Listen to these 2 guys thou if you want ravens advice as they will point you in the right direction, with an honest enough assesment.

I cant believe how good Ed Reed is considering his age

hey guys, i`m loving the off-season we`ve had so far!
Gazzy`s absolutely spot on.
Both of our lines are excellent, and mostly young and improving, keeping Gaither was a massive plus when it looked like he might be traded during the draft, himself and Oher are a formidable pairing book-ending the O-line.
We now have depth all over the offence, a stable of 3 RB`s, Rice/McGahee/McClain all capable starters. Options at WR with Mason/Bolden/Stallworth. A young imrpoving QB, one of the best back-ups in the league in Bulger. 2 new rookie TE`s renowned for their receiving prowess to add to the injury prone Heap.
The defensive like in superb, Ngata and Gregg are superb in the middle, add to them the rookie Cody. Pryce is still good albeit aging a little, then we have `Sugar` in the middle who`s still one of the best ILB`s in the game who runs our D, alongside him we`ve got various LB/DE hybrids, Suggs/Johnson/McClain to name just 3. It`s unfortunate that our top pick in this years draft, Kindle, got injured recently when he fell down 2 flights of stairs. It looks like he might be out for some time with head injuries but its not too bad as I don`t think he would have played much this year.
I worry that without Reed opposing QB`s are really gonna go after our depleted secondary, especially deep balls, that is unless we can create some QB pressure. The signs are good as, after apologising for his poor performance last year Suggs has come into camp significantly leaner and a motivated T-Sizzle is as disruptive a force as any DE out there. I do hope that they can blitz more and don`t attempt to drop more LB`s into coverage to try and compensate for the depleted Secondary especially Ray because as much as some, including himself say, he has lost a step.
All in all I`m confident but not overly so. We do appear to have improved but we play in a very tough and competative division, and have a very tough scedule.
As with ever year in the NFL injuries will play a huge role in any teams prospects and this of course cannot be accounted for at this early stage so i`d say wait until at least the end of camp and maybe even after the pre-season before placing any outright bets, as I don`t think our price will contract any further (22`s a couple of months ago)
Hope my ramblings help, best of luck whatever you decide

well worth a punt in my opinion

any of u guys backing baltimore this year then ?

I will be but not until after camp - the only news that can come from camp is bad news so odds are not going to shorten but can lengthen

Agree with all the sentiments about the Ravens on this thread. Best roster in the league if you take exclude the secondary.
The Raven's success this year hinges on how much pressure their front 7 can consistently get to help out a depleted secondary.

i'm the 3rd biggest fan
ravens going all the way this year
but agree eddie reed gotta play !!
LETS GO JOE FLACCO !!!

Nugget, I'd disagree with the best roster analogy (I'd say that honour probably belongs to the Jets or the Cowboys), but it terms of strength where it matters (on the lines) - the Ravens have probably the best set of starters in the league.  Games are won in the lines - look at the great Patriots teams of the last decade who were unbelievable up front especially defensively, the Cowboys team of the 90's who had the best offensive line of all time - it' no coincidence.

And that's why I believe the Ravens will win the big dance.  The only thing that hurt them last season was the ability to get the passing game going when teams managed to keep the run game in check - Boldin, Stallworth and both of those young TE's (especially Pitta who has the look of Dallas Clark about him) will really bolster the passing game.

I'm a huge Pats fan, but I can't wait to see the Ravens this year.