Ravens Hope For Continuity on Defense, Balance on Offense in 2009

There’s a line in The Who’s “We Won’t Get Fooled Again” that pretty much sums up the Baltimore Ravens’ handling of their search for a new defensive coordinator.  It goes “Meet the new boss… same as the old boss.”

Despite losing Rex Ryan to the New York Jets, the Ravens’ vaunted defense should not miss a beat under new boss Greg Mattison.  That’s because Mattison, Baltimore’s linebackers coach last season, was already an integral part of the team’s game-planning and will be employing the same multi-dimensional 3-4 system the squad used under Ryan with great success.

“We don’t plan on changing a great deal,” said Mattison at his introductory news conference earlier this year.  “It’s not broken, by any means.”

That means opponents will continue to see a steady diet of cover-2 defenses designed to maximize pressure on the quarterback and force turnovers.   

Where the Ravens’ opponents will see a difference is on the offensive side of the ball.

The coaching staff, specifically offensive coordinator Cam Cameron’s play-calling, was somewhat conservative last season in an effort to protect rookie quarterback Joe Flacco.  Whether it was keeping an extra man in to block, or having Flacco go to the check-down receiver earlier than designed, the Ravens did not take many chances last season against quality defensive teams like Pittsburgh or the New York Giants.

Look for that to change in 2009.

Last year Flacco averaged 6.94 yards per pass attempt, 18^th in the league.  Cameron’s former pupil, San Diego’s Phillip Rivers, led the league at 8.39.  If Flacco progresses as expected, he will be making his reads quicker, which could mean more opportunities for him downfield instead of having to dump the ball off to a running back for a short gain, which he often did last year.

Flacco’s continued development will also allow Cameron to utilize more of his playbook as well, particularly by using more three and four receiver sets.  That’s assuming the team can find three or four quality receivers, a feat that is proving challenging at the moment.  (The team recently signed six-year veteran Kelly Washington to a one-year deal.)  At least with the addition of tight end L.J. Smith, the offense now has one more weapon at its disposal, provided he can stay healthy.        

That doesn’t mean the Ravens are ready to scrap what worked so well for them last season, when the team led the league with 592 rushing attempts while finishing 30^th in passing attempts with 433.  Running the ball will continue to be an integral part of the offense.  Just look for more balance and less predictability in 2009, a novel concept in Baltimore and something that should have Ravens fans excited and opposing defenses worried.