Breaking Down Baltimore Ravens' Likely Opening-Game Starting Lineup
At this point, the Baltimore Ravens seem to be settling into several positions in terms of their starting lineup. Even with only one preseason game in the books, the Ravens coaches have a pretty solid understanding of which guys give this team the best chance to win. Most of what happens in preseason pertains to the reserves' future and their place on this team.
Now having said that, there is nothing to say that over the course of the next three weeks there won't players who emerge to a point that they earn a starting spot. In fact, there are still a couple of starting spots that are very much up in the air. However, it never hurts to partake in a bit of prognostication and see if we can predict this team’s starting lineup.
Quarterback
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Starter: Joe Flacco
In a league where having a top-flight starting quarterback is beyond challenging, the Ravens are in good hands. Quarterback Joe Flacco has been entrenched as the starter since he arrived in 2008 and has started 112 out of a possible 112 games since.
Flacco has led this team to the playoffs six of seven years and won a Super Bowl in 2012. The only dig on him has always been whether or not he is considered an elite quarterback based on statistics. No, he’s never thrown for 4,000 yards and only thrown for more than 20 touchdowns once.
Regardless of that, the Ravens have a quarterback who wins football games, and at the end of the day, this team winning is all that matters. While other teams spend their preseason trying to sort out which guy is going to run their team, Baltimore can focus on Flacco building a rhythm with his skill players and prepping for the year.
Running Back
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Starter: Justin Forsett
One of the highlights of the 2014 season was the emergence of running back Justin Forsett. Anyone who predicted Forsett’s 1,266-yard season needs to email me the lotto numbers. Keep in mind that Forsett has been on four teams prior to Baltimore in six seasons, and even upon coming to the Ravens wasn’t supposed to be the starter.
Nevertheless, circumstances put him into the driver’s seat, and he responded in a big way. The Ravens' zone-blocking scheme fits Forsett’s rushing style perfectly. His quickness and cutback ability allow him to find creases and gash opposing defenses.
One caveat to this is Forsett isn’t going to have to do it alone. He’s going to be listed as the starter, but Baltimore has three very capable running backs. Both Lorenzo Taliaferro and Javorius Allen have impressive skill sets and should be able to spell Forsett on a regular basis and keep his legs fresh.
Wide Receivers
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Starters: Steve Smith, Michael Campanaro, Marlon Brown
Key Reserves: Breshad Perriman, Kamar Aiken
At this point the only thing we know for sure is that wide receiver Steve Smith is ready to roll. Smith continues to be one of the league's most productive and fascinating wide receivers. His starting spot with Baltimore is written firmly in pen as long as he stays healthy.
Unfortunately, beyond Smith, there are far more questions than answers. At the beginning of the offseason, the plan was to use their first-round pick Breshad Perriman in that spot opposite Smith. Perriman is a burner in the same vein as former Ravens wide receiver Torrey Smith. Unfortunately, with Perriman unavailable, along with the slow return of wide receiver Marlon Brown, things become even more complicated.
If the season started tomorrow, it looks like it could be second-year wide receiver Michael Campanaro who would get the other starting nod. With his lack of ideal size, he would probably be better suited to play in the slot, but desperate times call for desperate measures. There’s always a chance that if wide receiver Marlon Brown can get back to full health, he will start on the outside and kick Campanaro into the slot.
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Tight Ends
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Starters: Crockett Gillmore, Maxx Williams
You can bet that every opportunity Baltimore can trot out co-starting tight ends they will. This is an offense built around running the football and then attacking defenses off play-action passing. Tight ends Crockett Gillmore and rookie Maxx Williams are a formidable duo in terms of their dual-threat ability.
Gillmore is a second-year player out of Colorado State. At 6’6” and 270 pounds, he has the size to hold up as a run-blocker, but he has a natural knack for finding voids in zone defenses and using his body to shield defenders so he can haul in catches.
Williams was the top tight end in the 2015 NFL draft out of the University of Minnesota. While he’s a bit smaller than Gillmore, he is a much more polished receiver and better all-around athlete. Williams never caught more than 36 passes in a season, but this was more about Minnesota’s run-heavy offense than a lack of ability. Williams can work the seams and be a real red-zone threat.
Offensive Line
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Starters
Eugene Monroe, Left Tackle
Kelechi Osemele, Left Guard
Jeremy Zuttah, Center
Marshal Yanda, Right Guard
Rick Wagner, Right Tackle
There isn’t much that helps an NFL head coach sleep at night like knowing you have an elite offensive line. Ravens head coach John Harbaugh must sleep like a baby, because this offensive line is absolutely loaded. This group boasts two guards Pro Football Focus ranked among the very best, per PFF's Gordon McGuiness, and right tackle Rick Wagner makes the PFF list for his position as well (via Gordon Downing of the team's digital media team).
One of the best parts of this line is the fact that whatever the task, it appears to be up for it. In 2014, this group was second in the league, only allowing 19 sacks on the season. In addition, this group paved the way for a rushing attack that netted 4.5 yards per carry.
Getting the entirety of the 2013 starting lineup back for a second straight season is a huge plus for this team. According to Ravens writer Ryan Mink, this is the first time this has happened in franchise history. Great teams win in the trenches, and that puts Baltimore in a very good position.
Defensive Line
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Starters: Chris Canty, Timmy Jernigan, Brandon Williams, Carl Davis
A Ravens tradition has been boasting a big, physical defensive front. For the last nine seasons that has meant having defensive tackle Haloti Ngata anchoring the middle. However, there is a new era in Baltimore and a changing of the guard.
There are four starters listed here, mainly because, although the Ravens run a base 3-4 defense, the number of fronts utilized create multiple defensive line formations. There will be times when the look is Chris Canty and Timmy Jernigan on the outside, with Brandon Williams manning the nose. For others, Jernigan might kick inside, and rookie Carl Davis will play defensive end.
The key to this group is its ability to move all along the line and still be effective. This group is going to be called on to anchor the run defense as well as allow the talented group of linebackers behind to make plays.
Linebackers
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Starters
Terrell Suggs, Outside Linebacker
C.J. Mosley, Inside Linebacker
Daryl Smith, Inside Linebacker
Elvis Dumervil, Outside Linebacker
Courtney Upshaw, Linebacker
It’s a pretty good problem to have when linebacker Courtney Upshaw is probably going to be on the outside looking in among the starters. However, he makes this list because Baltimore is almost certain to use a linebacker rotation, and he will be in on plenty of plays. However, the rest of this group is among the league's top players.
On the outside, Terrell Suggs and Elvis Dumervil make up one of the most potent pass-rushing tandems in the NFL. In 2014, the two of them accounted for 29 total sacks. There's no reason to doubt they can do something similar in 2015. Upshaw will be worked in as more of a run-stuffing outside linebacker as well.
C.J. Mosley and Daryl Smith will be the inside linebackers. Mosley was a rookie in 2014 and one of the league's best defensive rookies. He led the team in tackles, with 133, and even threw in three sacks. His all-around game is truly special. It took him no time to get up to speed in the NFL.
Next to Mosley will be the ageless Daryl Smith. He came over from the Jacksonville Jaguars two season ago and has started every game since he got to Baltimore. At 33 years old you assume he is going to slow down at some point, but right now none of the young talent on this roster is going to outplay him.
Defensive Backs
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Starters
Lardarius Webb, Cornerback
Jimmy Smith, Cornerback
Kendrick Lewis, Free Safety
Will Hill, Strong Safety
Kyle Arrington, Nickel Cornerback
As we move on to the secondary, we see another unit that has some impressive talent at the top and an excellent mix of young talent and veteran leadership. The leader of this group is cornerback Jimmy Smith is this group's leader. If you were building a cornerback in a lab, he’d likely look a lot like Smith.
At 6’2” and 202 pounds, he can actually match up with the league's biggest wide receivers. His goal this season must be to take his coverage skills to that next level and be among the league's elite.
At safety, veteran Kendrick Lewis is the man. After spending four seasons with the Kansas City Chiefs and one with the Houston Texans, Lewis has landed in Baltimore and is ready to be this group's leader. With strong safety Will Hill as the hammer, Lewis can play deep and be the ball-hawking free safety this team needs.
Special Teams
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Starters
Justin Tucker, Kicker
Sam Koch, Punter
Morgan Cox, Long Snapper
Kick Returner, Asa Jackson
Punt Returner, Michael Campanaro
No big surprises here as we see most of the usual suspects starting. Kicker Justin Tucker and punter Sam Koch both return from last season, and both are among the league's best at their respective positions.
Trying to predict the starting return jobs is a bit more challenging. Based on what’s happened to this point, wide receiver Michael Campanaro and cornerback Asa Jackson are the only guys who have seen enough reps to be in consideration. Both guys are dynamic and explosive, and they work well in the open field.
Unless specified, all player data courtesy of NFL.com.
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