things that need to go right and ....
1
All the signs are promising for the Ravens quarterback as he enters his 11th season. After missing the entire 2017 preseason with a back injury, Flacco was healthy throughout 2018 offseason workouts and training camp. He moved and threw well, rapidly finding chemistry with the team’s new wide receivers. But he needs to do it over a 16-game schedule after three seasons of subpar performance.
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2
Flacco’s decline has coincided with the team’s difficulties in finding him dynamic targets. General manager Ozzie Newsome wiped the slate clean in the offseason, signing veteran wide receiver Michael Crabtree, deep threat John Brown and slot specialist Willie Snead IV, each seeking redemption after a difficult 2017. All three played well in training camp, but fans will remain skeptical until they see the receivers produce in games.
3
The Ravens played most of 2017 without starting guards Alex Lewis and Marshal Yanda, meaning an area of expected strength instead became a source of weekly uncertainty. Yanda and Lewis are back. But if the preseason is any indication, the Ravens will struggle, especially against pass rushers, if their reserves are forced to play. On the positive side, rookie Orlando Brown quickly emerged as a candidate to start at right tackle.
4
The defense has faltered on key late-season drives in recent seasons, partially because of a thin secondary, but also because the Ravens have failed to generate a consistent rush. Though Suggs remains the team’s greatest sack threat going into his 16th season, he needs help. Second-year linebacker Tim Williams played like a new man in the preseason, giving the team hope he can contribute. The Ravens need production from either Williams or fellow second-year linebacker Tyus Bowser.
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5
Smith has been the team’s most indispensable defender because he’s the best cover corner on the roster by leaps and bounds. He’ll be suspended the first four games for violating the league’s personal conduct policy, and the Ravens need second-year cornerback Marlon Humphrey to step forward as an immediate replacement and eventual successor. Their pass defense has faltered with Smith on the sideline in previous years, and they’ll struggle to jump to a fast start if that’s the case again in 2018.
1
For all the hype around rookie Lamar Jackson, the Ravens are still pinning their offensive hopes on Flacco as he enters his 11th season. He played well in training camp, but he hasn’t been an above-average quarterback over a full season since 2014. If that trend continues, the offense will again struggle to get off the ground and the Ravens will fight to stay above water in the playoff race.
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2
With guards Alex Lewis and Marshal Yanda injured for most of last season, the Ravens never found true stability along the offensive front. They were hoping that would change this season, with Yanda and Lewis ready for Week 1 and rookie tackle Orlando Brown Jr. on hand to provide depth. But when left tackle Ronnie Stanley strained his knee in the third preseason game, the Ravens again faced the prospect of playing without one of their essential blockers. The injury turned out not to be serious, but it was a reminder of the uncertainty around this group. The team’s backups have struggled with pass blocking throughout the preseason, making the health of the starters that much more essential.
3
As good as Michael Crabtree, John Brown and Willie Snead IV looked in training camp, all are coming off disappointing performances in 2017. Crabtree hasn’t averaged more than 11.3 yards a catch since 2013. Brown coped with health woes so persistent that he contemplated retirement. Snead was suspended three games for a drunken-driving arrest, and his production plummeted when he returned to the field. The Ravens expect them to put Jeremy Maclin, Mike Wallace and Danny Woodhead to shame, but that’s no sure thing.
4
Jimmy Smith’s four-game suspension is the headliner, because the Ravens have traditionally struggled in pass coverage without him locking down the other team’s top receiver. But defensive tackle Willie Henry’s hernia surgery could also leave the Ravens soft in the middle. Henry, who’s expected to miss the first few weeks, is the team’s best interior pass rusher and a natural complement to run-stuffing nose tackle Brandon Williams.
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5
The young tight end opened a lot of eyes this summer, demonstrating athleticism and a gift for catching passes in traffic. He seemed on track to become a favorite target for Flacco in the mold of a young Dennis Pitta. But tight end is a difficult position for rookies to master under the best circumstances, and Hurst’s surgery to correct a foot fracture will likely keep him out of action until at least Week 3.
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