2015 Season Predictions: AFC North Preview

Apr 30, 2015; Chicago, IL, USA; Breshad Perriman (Central Florida) is selected as the number twenty-six overall pick to the Baltimore Ravens in the first round of the 2015 NFL Draft at the Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports

Baltimore Ravens: 

Key Additions: QB Matt Schaub, FS Kendrick Lewis, WR Breshad Perriman, TE Maxx Williams

The only reason Matt Schaub is on this list is because the Ravens really barely did anything in free agency. He will back up Joe Flacco this year. Kendrick Lewis was a good signing that filled a void on defense. That is basically all Baltimore did in free agency. In the draft they drafted Perriman and Williams in an attempt to give Flacco two more quality targets. Perriman has amazing speed and very good size, but the rest of his game really needs to improve. Williams also really filled a need because of the departure of Daniels and Pitta. Williams could develop into a solid tight end in the NFL.

Oct 26, 2014; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Baltimore Ravens nose tackle

(92) against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paul Brown Stadium. The Bengals won 27-24. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports

Key Losses: WR Torrey Smith,WR Jacoby Jones, TE Owen Daniels, DT Haloti Ngata LB Pernell McPhee, FS Darien Stewart 

While the Ravens didn’t add many players, they did lose some big names this offseason which isn’t a recipe for improvement. Losing Smith will hurt the Ravens because their depth at wide receiver is not very good. Perriman will be a replacement, but won’t be able to have as big of an impact as Smith had.

Still I believe that Smith was very overrated. He is a solid downfield threat but wasn’t worth the money they would have to spend to keep him. Losing Jones will hurt only on special teams as he wasn’t more than a No. 4 wide receiver.  Owen Daniels seems to go anywhere Gary Kubiak goes and will leave a bit of a void at the tight end position.

On defense losing McPhee will hurt, but they are very deep at the pass rusher position so they will miss the depth, so they definitely have enough skilled pass rushers to make up for the loss. Stewart leaving will not be a big issue for the Ravens as well as they added Lewis to fill his void, though neither of them is better than mediocre. Losing Ngata is probably the biggest blow to this defense, and this will put a lot of pressure on Brandon Williams and Timmy Jernigan, though Williams already showed last year that he can be an elite defensive tackle.

Verdict: 

I think based on their acquisitions and losses one can’t say the Ravens got better as they did lose a few important players and they were only replaced through rookies. Still I don’t think that any of the losses will be detrimental. The offense will have to rely on their strong offensive line again. With their strong line Forsett will have another strong year. Flacco will have to show that he is worth the large contract that he has, especially with the lack of talent of his receivers. Steve Smith used to be great, but that greatness is fading with age and the rest of receivers are young and unexperienced.

The defense will be the key to this team. Despite losing Ngata, Williams is very good and Jernigan also has a lot of upside that the Ravens hope he will show more of this year. The front seven is completed with very good group of linebackers led by the dangerous pair of pass rushers Terrell Suggs and Elvis Dumervil and it also features the young but extremely good inside linebacker C.J. Mosley.

Their weakness is the secondary. Webb is a solid No.1 cornerback but definitely not a lock-down corner and Jimmy Smith is not more than a decent No.2. The Ravens have also been very disappointed in Matt Elam‘s play. This team seems very similar to last years squad.

Dec 28, 2014; Baltimore, MD, USA; Cleveland Browns quarterback

(9) is sacked by Baltimore Ravens linebackers

(55) and

(57) and defensive tackle

(97) in the second quarter at M&T Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Evan Habeeb-USA TODAY Sports

Predictions:

Best Case Record: 10-6

Worst Case Record: 5-11

Prediction: 7-9

Team’s Offensive MVP: RB Justin Forsett

Team’s Defensive MVP: NT Brandon Williams 

Rookie Standout: TE Maxx Williams

I think it will be a disappointing season  for Ravens. One reason for that will be a very difficult schedule and the other will be a struggling offense.  I think they will be able to beat some of the worse teams in the NFL and maybe go 3-3 in division.

Best case scenario is that their rookies on offense have a big impact right away and they actually have success on both sides of the football. Worst case is that Perriman is a total bust and Williams doesn’t have large impact, leaving Steve Smith and Forsett as the only viable targets for Flacco. Also that the Trestman offense doesn’t have much success and the secondary struggles.

Next: Will second place make the playoffs?