Ravens 2015 Preview: Complete Baltimore Guide for Preseason, Season
It is finally time for the Baltimore Ravens' 2015 season to get underway. Training camp is in full swing and we are on the verge of six straight months of football. Life is good.
The Ravens are once again front-runners for the AFC North, but this is a team with significant roster and coaching changes from the 2014 incarnation.
Let this be your primer to everything you need to know for the preseason and regular season as it relates to the Ravens. Obviously, the season is fluid and a lot will change, but this should be a one-stop shop for what you need to know right now.
There are going to be lots of new faces in new places, a challenging schedule and some guys who really need to step up if this team wants to remain a contender in the AFC.
So without further ado, let’s dive right into your Ravens season primer.
2014 in Review
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The Ravens rebounded from an 8-8 season and missing the playoffs in 2013 to a postseason return in 2014.
Baltimore finished the year at 10-6 and secured a wild-card spot. After beating the Pittsburgh Steelers 30-17 in the first round of the playoffs, the Ravens lost a 35-31 heartbreaker to the New England Patriots in the divisional round.
Baltimore was led on offense by the strong arm of quarterback Joe Flacco and the fleet feet of running back Justin Forsett. Seemingly immortal wide receiver Steve Smith was once again steady and productive even when it looked like he was past his prime.
On defense, it was all about linebackers Elvis Dumervil and Terrell Suggs, who chipped in 17 and 12 sacks, respectively. Baltimore also got a tremendous rookie season from linebacker C.J. Mosley, who finished the season with 133 tackles and led the team with two interceptions.
Baltimore had a nice balance of offense and defense in 2014, ranking in the top eight in both yards and points allowed on defense, while finishing No. 8 and No. 12 in yards and points on offense.
New Impact Players
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There’s no better feeling than when your team has a successful season and can enter the following campaign with the core of its offense and defense intact. The NFL has tremendous turnover every year, so seeing seven or eight new starters year after year doesn’t even make a team blink.
Baltimore is going to count on a few new names in key roles to help this team win.
Breshad Perriman, WR
Baltimore recognized that with the loss of wide receiver Torrey Smith, there was no one on the roster who could fill that spot adequately, and it was not going to delve into the big-money world of NFL free agency. Instead, the Ravens didn’t hesitate to use their 2015 first-round pick to scoop up former UCF speed demon Breshad Perriman.
With veteran wide receiver Steve Smith seemingly able to do anything, Perriman is going to be that guy who can take the top off an opposing secondary.
Maxx Williams, TE
Speaking of adding offensive weapons, the Ravens kept with the theme when they got to their second-round pick. Baltimore was able to reel in an absolute steal with former Minnesota tight end Maxx Williams.
He (6'4", 250 lbs), along with fellow tight end Crockett Gillmore (6'6", 251 lbs), is going to give Flacco two massive targets in the middle of the field. The Ravens have never been shy about using the tight ends as receivers, so Williams is one to watch.
Brandon Williams, DT
How about going from a Division II star to having to fill the shoes of one of the best players in franchise history just over one year later?
That’s the position Ravens defensive tackle Brandon Williams finds himself in. Former starter Haloti Ngata took his talents to the Motor City, leaving a massive opening for Williams. Nevertheless, the former Missouri Southern State star is more than up to the task based on what we saw in limited action in 2014.
Kendrick Lewis, S
Safety Kendrick Lewis was perhaps the key free-agent addition for Baltimore this offseason. Lewis brings experience (66 career starts) and an excellent all-around skill set. The 6'0", 198-pounder should be an excellent complement to the physical Will Hill at strong safety.
Key Losses
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Any time a team adds in new talent, it is likely at the expense of a veteran player. The same can be said for Baltimore this year. Here’s a look at some of the top starters from 2014 who won’t be back in 2015:
- Owen Daniels, TE
- Torrey Smith, WR
- Haloti Ngata, DT
- Darian Stewart, S
- Matt Elam, S
Between tight end Owen Daniels, wide receiver Torrey Smith and defensive tackle Haloti Ngata, the Ravens are losing 210 career starts in a Baltimore uniform. Add in that Elam is out for the season with a torn bicep, according to Conor Orr of NFL.com, and there are some big shoes to fill this season.
Regardless, only having to plug in five new guys with the group already in place isn't nearly as dire a situation as that of some other teams.
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3 Big Questions for Preseason
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The NFL preseason is a time for player evaluation and setting a team’s final roster. Going from 90 players down to 53 in just a few weeks is a challenging exercise at best and almost certainly an unenviable task for coaches.
There are really three areas to keep a close eye on once preseason games begin.
Who Steps up at Safety?
Last season, the Ravens' primary starters at safety were Elam and Stewart. Both are gone, and so we have to keep a close eye on which two players come out on top of a deep and talented group.
The odds-on favorites to win the starting spots are Kendrick Lewis and Will Hill, and if both guys play up to their potential, this could make for a very special unit.
Which Wide Receivers Shine?
The only thing Ravens fans can be sure of right now is that if he’s healthy, wide receiver Steve Smith is the one constant at wide receiver they can count on. Smith came over from the Carolina Panthers in 2014 and finished the year with 79 receptions.
The rest of the wide receiver depth chart is something of a mystery.
According to Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun, the next two wide receivers on the projected depth chart, rookie Breshad Perriman and veteran Marlon Brown, are both nursing injuries and missing practice time.
This means that the rest of these young wide receivers are going to get plenty of reps in an attempt to fill out the rest of that depth chart.
Who Is the Backup Running Back?
The Baltimore rushing attack looks to be in excellent hands for 2015. Running back Justin Forsett is among the most productive and explosive backs in the NFL.
However, a team needs a platoon of backs, guys with different skills to not only keep your star running back healthy but keep defenses off balance. The guy to watch is rookie Javorius Allen. Of all the backs on the roster, his game meshes the best with Forsett's strengths.
Scheme Changes
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The most significant change to the Ravens' coaching staff this season is at offensive coordinator. Gary Kubiak is out, and Marc Trestman is in.
What will that mean for what was a solid offense? Honestly, probably not a whole lot. The Ravens will continue to utilize the zone-blocking scheme that was so successful rushing the football, and they'll utilize that success to set up safe passing concepts.
Perhaps the one big change to look for with Trestman in charge is a greater involvement from Forsett in the passing game. When Trestman had Matt Forte at running back, he targeted him in the passing game 225 times in two seasons. Forsett was only targeted 59 times last season.
Schedule Highlights
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Looking over the 2015 schedule, the league really gave the Ravens an interesting draw. Getting the AFC and NFC West is going to be a challenge, but the two worst games for distance (San Diego Chargers and Seattle Seahawks) are both home games.
The two games that are going to be the most influential are in Weeks 16 and 17. Baltimore gets its two chief rivals, the Cincinnati Bengals and Pittsburgh Steelers, to finish the season.
All three of these teams are going to be in the mix for the AFC North right to the wire, so getting them back-to-back is huge. Looking over their schedules, all three teams could have 10 or 11 wins at the end of the year, and an AFC North crown on the line.
You can check out the full schedule on the Ravens' official website.
Unless specified, all stats and player data courtesy of Pro-Football-Reference.com.
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