Written by 
Baltimore Ravens – 2017-18 NFL Season Analysis
Key’s To Success:
Defense - The Ravens are well known for having great defenses year in and year out. While they continue to be stout against the run, the Ravens pass defense was lacking in the 2016 season. While they were 5th best against the run, they were not as good against the pass, where they ranked 9th best in pass yards allowed. This deficiency against the pass caused them to be 9th best in points allowed. By bringing depth to the secondary via free agency and the draft, look for the Ravens to be better on the defensive end this year, as they should be a top 5 defense.
Ravens Defense Stats source
Joe Flacco - The Super Bowl XLVII MVP is currently injured with a back injury but states that he will be ready for the regular season opener against the Bengals. With a few new weapons on offense, Flacco will look to make his first pro-bowl. He is just 283 pass attempts away from having the most NFL pass attempts without making the Pro Bowl, making this season an important one for Flacco as he must prove he is worth all the money the Ravens are paying him after signing him in 2013 for, at the time, the NFL's highest paid QB contract.
Joe Flacco source
Running Game - The Ravens appear to still be going with a running back by committee approach between newly acquired Danny Woodhead, along with Lorenzo Taliaferro and Terrance West. Danny Woodhead will be an awesome addition to the pass and run game as he is known as one of the leagues best pass catching running backs. This will be good for the Raven's offensive scheme mainly because it makes the pass threat more potent and spreads out the field, allowing for Taliaferro and West to run between the tackles with more ferocity. The run game will have to excel in order to open up passing lanes for the Ravens to succeed on the offensive end this year.
Player’s To Watch:
RB Danny Woodhead
If the Ravens can find a way to incorporate Woodhead's skill set into the offensive scheme, they will be hoping they will be getting the same player that had 9 total touchdowns in 2015 with the San Diego Chargers. Danny finished with 80 receptions for 755 receiving yards and 6 receiving touchdowns along with 98 rush attempts for 336 yards and 3 rushing touchdowns in 2015, playing in all 16 regular season games. He was hindered by injury last year, only playing in two games. Danny Woodhead could be the most crucial piece on this offense.
Hopefully he can stay healthy.
Danny Woodhead Career Stats
image source
WR Jeremy Maclin
After spending the last two seasons with the Chiefs and his first five seasons with the Eagles, Jeremy Maclin has found a home in Baltimore after a hectic free agency period where he thought he may end up playing with the Bills. Maclin will add to the weapons that Joe Flacco has to throw to this season, giving the Ravens another excellent receiver with deep threat potential and the ability to stretch the field whether lining up in the slot, out wide, or even in the back field.
Jeremy Maclin Career Stats
image source
LB Terrell Suggs
Entering his 15th year in the league, the All-Pro linebacker is hungry to get back into the playoffs and back to the super bowl before its too late. Suggs turns 35 in October so the end of his career may be right around the corner. The Ravens should get as much as they can out of TSuggs as he is the only veteran left on the defense that was part of the legendary defensive era for Baltimore that included him as well as Ed Reed and Ray Lewis. His leadership will prove priceless for the young players on the team, as he is a true work horse and professional. He is the core of this defense and without him, they may find themselves in trouble.
Key Matchups:
Week 5: October 8 4:05 PM ET @ Oakland Raiders
Week 11: November 19 1:00 PM ET @ Green Bay Packers
Week 14: December 10 8:30 PM ET @ Pittsburgh Steelers
Week 17: December 31 1:00 PM ET vs. Cincinnati Bengals
Key Departures:
CB Kyle Arrington
OLB Elvis Dumervil
TE Dennis Pitta
LB Zachary Orr
Key Additions:
CB Brandon Carr
WR Jeremy Maclin
RB Danny Woodhead
T Austin Howard
CB Brandon Boykin
SS Tony Jefferson
Brandon Carr signed with the Ravens as a free agent this off-season to a deal with the potential to be worth $24 million over 4 years, after spending his last 5 seasons with the Dallas Cowboys, being know as one of the best corners in the league. This is a huge addition to Baltimore's secondary.
Brandon Carr Contract source
image source
2017 Draft Class:
Round 1, No. 16 overall: Marlon Humphrey, CB, Alabama
Round 2, No. 47: Tyus Bowser, OLB, Houston
Round 3, No. 74: Chris Wormley, DE, Michigan
Round 3, No. 78: Tim Williams, OLB, Alabama
Round 4, No. 122: Nico Siragusa, G, San Diego State
Round 5, No. 159: Jermaine Eluemunor, OT, Texas A&M
Round 6, No. 186: Chuck Clark, DB, Virginia Tech
2017 Ravens Draft Class source
1st Round, 16th overall pick, Marlon Humphrey, a CB out of Alabama, is bringing a lot of hype into his rookie season as he looks to play along side Brandon Carr and prove himself to be one of the teams top corners. The future is bright for this young stud, as his physical attributes and athletic talent should bring the Baltimore Ravens back to their smash-mouth defense reputation.
image source
Can the Ravens win the division and get back into the playoffs after two seasons as post-season no-shows. They will need some big division wins especially against their rivals; the Pittsburg Steelers.
Prediction:
Ravens go 9-7 and sneak into the playoffs as a wild card seed
Baltimore Ravens Website: http://www.baltimoreravens.com/