2010 NFL Preview: Baltimore Ravens
The NFC East teams are complete on Technorati! For more information on these teams, click on their links below:
Dallas Cowboys
New York Giants
Philadelphia Eagles
Washington Redskins
Five of the eight NFL divisions are completed. We are now going to go to the AFC North, and continue on our I-95 tour with a look at the Baltimore Ravens.
The Baltimore Ravens looked like Super Bowl contenders throughout the 2009 season, only to have the season come to a halt in Indianapolis at the hands of the Colts. With a usually dominant defense, the Ravens never really had offensive fire power to complement the defense.
Until now.
With a few free agent moves, Baltimore looks loaded on offense now more than before. And with many people focused on the New York Jets, Indianapolis Colts, and New England Patriots, the Ravens are flying under the radar- and that is where they like it. How will a healthier Joe Flacco work with his added weapons? Can the defense keep up its intensity that it has had for years? Is a trip to Arlington in the team's future? Technorati goes inside the Baltimore Ravens.
Recap:
- 2009 Record: (9-7, 2nd AFC North, reached playoffs (Divisional Round))
- Key Additions: QB Marc Bulger (St. Louis Rams), WR Anquan Boldin (Arizona Cardinals), WR Donte' Stallworth (Cleveland Browns), DE/DT Cory Redding (Seattle Seahawks) , CB Walt Harris (San Francisco 49ers), FS Ken Hamlin (Dallas Cowboys), K Shayne Graham (Cincinnati Bengals).
- Key Departures: WR Frank Walker (free agency), TE Quinn Sypniewski (free agency), OT Adam Terry (Indianapolis Colts), DE/DT Dwan Edwards (Buffalo Bills), DE/DT Justin Bannan (Denver Broncos), CB Samari Rolle (retirement), CB Walt Harris (free agency).
Overview:
Offense: Joe Flacco should be healthy after a barrage of injuries hindered him down the stretch and eventually led to the Ravens' elimination from the playoffs at the hands of the Indianapolis Colts. Flacco had a good year last year, throwing for 3,613 yards and 21 touchdowns. In the first six games, he threw for 1,674 yards and 11 touchdowns. With the injury barrage he had in the final 10 games, he had only 1,939 yards and 10 touchdowns. According to many in the Ravens organization, the injuries really slowed him down and it took a lot for him to even get on the field and perform. Keep in mind Flacco only had two primary targets (Ray Rice and Derrick Mason) and threw for almost 4000 yards last season. Imagine what he can do with more weapons, which he now has. Should injuries hamper Flacco, they do have Marc Bulger at back up. However Bulger has not been the same for the past few seasons, so his reliability has to be put in question.
Continued on the next page
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