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Team: Ravens
Projected Record: 10-6
Like their Super Bowl-winning year of 2000, the Ravens defense will dominate the league. Now though, they have an offense to go with it.
The defense starts with the linebackers. Adding to the core of Lewis, Hartwell, and Bowlware is first-round pick Terrel Suggs, who holds the NCAA sack record, set last season. Also added Corey Fuller, who can play CB and safety to go with CBs McAllister and Baxter, and safety Ed Reed. The D-line is the weak spot, but is strong with steadly improving NT Kelly Gregg, along with Ends Marquis Douglass and Adalious Thomas (who tackled Mike Vick on that now-infamous play).
The offense is looking as good as it ever has since the team came to town. RB Jamal Lewis is fully healed from his ACL injury two seasons ago and ready to bear the load of the offense again. WR Frank Sanders and Marcus Robinson join with Travis Taylor and the promising Ron Johnson and Randy Hymes to create a WR corps that will be servicable at the very least. TE Todd Heap is overshadowed by Jeremy Shocky, but had a better year last season and is still improving. The O-line is solid on the left with Ogden and Mulitallo. The right is a question mark, but RT Orlando Brown adds some immovable mass to that side, if anything.
The quarterback situation has gotten a lot of national publicity, and with good reason. Will Chris Redman, the veteran who played well for 6 games last year before his back injury start? Or will rookie Kyle Boller, who has plenty of tools, but only had one good year at Cal? My prediction is Redman to start the season, but Boller to keep practicing and learning at an accelorated pace to start if Redman struggles.
Overall, this team is a playoff contender. I can see the second-round in it's future, but if the offense performs well, then the sky is the limit.
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"Final thought: I just rented Michael Moore's Bowling for Columbine. Frankly, it was the worst sports movie I've ever seen."
--Peter Schmuck, The (Baltimore) Sun
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