Preview of ‘07 Ravens
By Adam Kiefaber
AFC NORTH PREVIEW
The Defense
BALTIMORE RAVENS
2006 Record: 13-3 (lost in AFC Divisonal Playoff)
Last Year Summary: After going 6-10 in ’05, they signed QB Steve McNair and finished the ’06 season with the club’s best regular season record in their 11-year history as the Baltimore Ravens. McNair didn’t have the greatest season, but he threw for the most yards (3,050) in Ravens’ history since Vinny Testaverde in ’96. 
Running back Jamal Lewis played well rushing for 1,132 yards and nine touchdowns. However, Lewis didn’t blow anyone away like he did in ’03 when he rushed for 2,066 yards and 14 touchdowns. For Baltimore to be successful, the offense only has to average. The defense led the NFL in allowing the least amount of yards and points (264.1 yards and 12.6 points per game). LB Ray Lewis missed two games, but still led the defense with 103 total tackles. Lewis added five sacks, eight passes defended and two interceptions. LB Adalius Thomas had 83 total tackles and 11 sacks. DE Trevor Pryce added 13 sacks while LB Bart Scott and DE Terrell Suggs each had 9.5 sacks. The secondary helped out, safeties Dawan Landry and Ed Reed combined for 10 interceptions, two touchdowns and 20 passes defended. CB Chris McAlister added six interceptions. Baltimore had a challenging schedule and lost to only three teams: Denver (13-to-3) and Cincinnati (13-to-7) on the road; and Carolina at home (23-to-21).
Additions: RB Willis McGahee (Buffalo).
Subtractions: LB Adalius Thomas (to NE), RB Jamal Lewis (to CLE), DT Aubrayo Franklin (to SF), FB Ovie Mughelli (to ATL), OG Edwin Mulitalo (to DET) and OT Tony Pashos (to JAC).
2007 Season Prediction: The big knock on Baltimore is their age. Of their 22 starters this year nine are 30 or older, which include star players LB Ray Lewis (32), QB Steve McNair (34), WR Derrick Mason (33), CB Samari Rolle (30), CB Chris McAlister (30) and DE Trevor Pyrce (31). The Ravens upgraded their running back position when the team traded their third-round and seventh-round picks in the ’07 NFL Draft (and a third-round choice in the ’08 NFL Draft) for RB Willis McGahee. RB Jamal Lewis left to play in the team’s original home- Cleveland. Lewis looked as if he lost a step ever since he was indicted on federal drug conspiracy charges in ‘03. McGahee is all the team added this offseason and the only big loss was LB Adalius Thomas. The Ravens will still be the team to beat in the AFC North, but Cincinnati and Pittsburgh won’t be too far behind. Tough road games include Cincinnati (Sept. 10), San Francisco (Oct. 7), Pittsburgh (Nov. 5), San Diego (Nov. 25) and Seattle (Dec. 23). Tough home games include Cincinnati (Nov. 11), New England (Dec. 3), Indianapolis (Dec. 9) and Pittsburgh (Dec. 30). The toughest stretch is easy to see: The Ravens play the Chargers, Patriots and Colts in three consecutive weeks in late November into early December.
Best Rookie: WR/KR Yamon Figurs- Figurs moved up draft broads when he ran a 4.3 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine. Currently, he has to be in KR/PR plans, but the Ravens already have B.J. Sams. Also, Figurs will be the team’s fourth wide receiver behind Derrick Mason, Mark Clayton and Demetrius Williams. First-round pick OG Ben Grubbs could eventually start this season, but isn’t ready now. Sixth-round pick QB Troy Smith might turn out to be the best deal in the long run if he gets a chance to start after McNair is out of the picture. Figurs was one of the team’s third-round selections at 74th overall.
Big Games of the Year: at Cincinnati (Sept. 7- 7:00pm- Opening Monday), at San Diego (Nov. 25- 4:15pm), vs. New England (Dec. 3- 8:30pm- Monday), vs. Indianapolis (Dec. 9- 8:15pm) and vs. Pittsburgh (Dec. 30- 1:00pm- Last game of the year).
Projected Record: 11-5
Futures (Bets): The current odds for the Ravens to win the AFC North is 5/4. The win total betting is set at 10 games. Currently, the Ravens odds to win the Super Bowl are set at 10/1.
