Troubles in Baltimore

The Baltimore Ravens made an amazing leap this past year. Much is to the credit of rookie QB Joe Flacco, rookie coach John Harbaugh, and the second-best defense in the league.

From 5-11 in 2007, to 11-5 in 2008, the Ravens challenged the Steelers until the final week of the season for the AFC North crown.

Impressive playoff wins in Miami and Tennessee gave the Ravens hopes of making it to their second Super Bowl, only to have them dashed in the AFC Championship to the eventual Super Bowl champions, the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Most teams that come so far, so fast, have many reasons to be optimistic for the upcoming season. And the Ravens should be optimistic, if they can keep their key defensive components in place.

Gone already is defensive coordinator Rex Ryan, who went to the New York Jets, along with linebackers coach Mike Pettine, who is now D-coordinator in NY. Many say that it is the players that make the coaches, not the other way around.  But how many of those players are going to be back in Baltimore, and how many are already out the door?

MLB—Ray Lewis. Though Lewis is an animal in the middle of the field, he is going to be 34 come next year. Lewis has already stated that he has no plans to give the Ravens a hometown discount; Can the Ravens afford to let their leader just walk away? Lewis has already shown interest in reuniting with Ryan in New York, or possibly going to Dallas to join the circus.

OLB/DE—Terrell Suggs. The franchise tender was used on Suggs last year, and he said that he would like to be back. It was his idea that Lewis, Bart Scott, and himself should give the team a home town discount. Odds are that unless a deal is met, the tag may be used on Suggs again. 

LB—Bart Scott. At 28, if the Ravens let Lewis leave, Scott should be the top priority for the Ravens this off-season. If all three leave Baltimore, the vaunted Ravens D may not be able to recover.

S—Jim Leonhard.  Filled in fantastically for the injured Dawan Landry. Excelled on special teams as well. Rumor has it Rex Ryan is going to try to bring Leonhard to New York. If he leaves, more than on D, Leonhard will be missed on special teams.

As much as the offense has improved, the Ravens have always been a defensive team.  If any combination of two of more of these players are no longer with the team at the start of the 2009 season, Baltimore could slip to the caliber team as the Browns.