Burning Questions for the Baltimore Ravens This Offseason

The 2008 Baltimore Ravens season definitely went better than expected for most.

However, many fans were still disappointed that the Ravens did not make the Super Bowl. The feeling was that the team had many players left over from the 2006 team that went 13-3 and could go the distance. Regardless, the 2008 Ravens basically topped their best potential ceiling and should be proud of the way they played.

With a few key additions, the 2009 Baltimore Ravens could definitely be looking at an appearance in Super Bowl XLIV. Here are the biggest questions facing the team this offseason and how they can/will answer them:

Q: Can the Ravens get a big-play receiver?

A: Now that they have the QB of the future in Joe Flacco, the Ravens’ next big offensive challenge is getting the elusive big play guy that they have missed since Shannon Sharpe signed back with Denver and Terrell Owens refused to come to Baltimore.

Many people have kept telling me “All they need to do is get a Larry Fitzgerald-type guy.” Easier said then done. How many quality receivers are out there this spring?

There’s TJ Houshmandzadeh, legendary Ravens killer but more in the mold of what they already have in Derrick Mason and Mark Clayton.

Anquan Boldin might be available for trade, but who knows if the Ravens can get him for sure? Notorious malcontents TO and Plaxico might also be on the market.

I can’t see Owens coming here but I wouldn’t mind Burress, assuming he doesn’t go to jail. He’s had his episodes but he’s not a TO-level cancer. It was easy to see how much the Giants missed him this year.

The draft is pretty slim pickings too. They might grab local guy Darius Howard-Bey, he’s got the size and the world class speed. Many think he could fall down to the Ravens too. That would be the way I’d like to see them go rather than throw away money.

They could also trade up for Michael Crabtree or Jeremy Maclin but it’s not Ozzie Newsome’s nature to do so and I’d be content with Howard-Bey, who was a big playmaker at Maryland. Either way, it’s a position that definitely needs upgrading.

Q: What’s going to happen to Willis McGahee?

A: Willis caught a lot of flack for not participating in offseason workouts, then showing up for camp out of shape. He also criticized the coaches the week of the Dolphins playoff game for not using him properly.

Keeping all of that in mind, McGahee probably isn’t going anywhere. He has a huge cap number, so if the Ravens were to cut him just to prove a point, it would hurt them.

When healthy and focused, he’s the most talented of the three running backs. Hopefully for everyone’s sake, Willis can use the offseason to participate in the workouts, keep in John Harbaugh’s good graces and start 2009 as the Ravens lead back.

Q: How do the Ravens replace Rex Ryan?

A: They are probably going to promote within and keep the same scheme that has been effective since 2003. Assistant Vic Fangio has been an early front-runner with his experience as a coordinator, but the team is also looking at linebackers coach Greg Mattison, secondary coach Chuck Pagano and defensive backs coach Clarence Brooks.

The problem with replacing Rex Ryan is he got the most out of that defense because he knew his players so well. He knew the best way to attack the offense using the players as chess pieces.

Although the scheme will remain the same, one has to be concerned that his successor will be as effective calling the plays without Ryan’s deep knowledge of his players and his pedigree. Either way, the legendary Ravens D will hopefully not miss too much of a beat in 2009.

Q: What do the Ravens do about the secondary?

A: It’s pretty obvious that Chris McAlister is out the door. While this doesn’t bother many Ravens fans, it annoys me. McAlister is one of the best, if not the best, shut down corners in the league when focused.

Sure last year he put the team through a lot of his petty bullcrap and they’re probably sick of it. But I’m worried that Ravens fans don’t know the caliber of a player McAlister is and how much they might wind up missing him when he’s gone.

Samari Rolle had his best season since he’s been here but he’s getting up there in age. It is unclear if he’ll be back next year for a farewell tour or not. Regardless, the Ravens probably need another corner, either in the draft or through free agency.

The Fabien Washington trade turned out great for them, but they need someone to compliment him. Corey Ivy is good as a nickelback but not the best cover corner and might walk in free agency. This should probably be the number two priority for addition right after receiver.

The other aspect with the secondary is what to do with Jim Leonhard. A Buffalo retread, he came here and had a shockingly great season at strong safety when Dawan Landry went down.

The dilemma for him, especially since he’s a free agent, is can the Ravens get him back at a reduced price. Leonhard says he wants to be here, but will Ryan, who was clearly a huge fan of his, lure him to New York?

If Leonhard goes, I’m actually not too nervous, as strong safety is a pretty solid position for the Ravens. They already have Landry, and back-ups Tom Zbikowski and Haruki Nakamura both made great plays last year in limited time. I’d like to see Leonhard back but I don’t think the Ravens should, or will, overpay for him.

Q: The big one...will the Ravens keep Ray Lewis, Bart Scott or Terrell Suggs? Two of them? All three?

A: All three joked earlier in the year that they were trying to find a way to make it work financially. Joking aside, the Ravens will probably keep two. The dilemma is, which two?

Ray Lewis will be the top priority. Even though he’s getting older, he’s the heart and soul of the team and the face of the Ravens franchise. Both are clichés, but they’re really true in Lewis’ case.

I agreed with columnist Mike Preston of the Baltimore Sun, who criticized owner Steve Biscotti for tipping his hand and saying that they wouldn’t franchise Lewis. Those kinds of comments will hurt the team in negotiations.

If the Ravens indeed don’t plan to franchise Lewis, then they will probably have to overpay to keep him. The Cowboys and Jets are waiting in the wings to sign him and it makes any Ravens fan cringe at the thought of him finishing his career on either of those two teams.

I think the Ravens will do what they can to keep him, but if his demands are too outrageous, they will have to let him go. And as much as it kills me to say it, given his age (33), and their depth at the position, that’s probably the right thing to do. But I see him staying.

Suggs and Scott are different stories. Suggs is probably right behind Lewis on the priority list because of his versatility. I think they’ll also do what they can to keep him, even if it means franchising him again.

That leaves Scott as the odd man out. It is unfortunate considering how well he’s played the past three years, but it’s just a fluke year to be a free agent.

The issue with Scott is what team will sign him. I don’t know if he’ll get the money he wants considering that many teams probably see him as a product of the Ravens system. Still, he’s a hard hitter and he covers a lot of ground. Any 3-4 defensive team would be lucky to have him. It probably won’t be the Ravens.

Q: What about original Raven Matt Stover?

A: Stover finally looks like the years have caught up to him as a kicker. He may resign with the Ravens, however it appears that they want to go in a different direction.

It's a shame because he is probably the most clutch kicker in the league (Save it Vinatieri fans, Stover never botched one as badly as Vinatieri did in that San Diego game last year).

But they probably want someone with a bigger leg who is more consistent, whether that is kickoff man Steve Hauschka or someone else. It’ll be interesting to see what happens to him, but I think he’s playing somewhere else in 2009.