Baltimore Ravens
HISTORY
Founded as the Cleveland Browns of the AAFC in 1946. Joined the NFL in 1950. Moved to the AFC in 1970 as part of the AFL/NFL merger. Relocated and changed name to Baltimore Ravens in 1996.
CHAMPIONSHIP SUMMARY
League Championships: 9 - 1946 (AAFC), 1947 (AAFC), 1948 (AAFC), 1949 (AAFC), 1950 (NFL), 1954 (NFL), 1955 (NFL), 1956 (NFL), 1964 (NFL), 2000 (Super Bowl)
Conference Championships: 12 - 1950 (AFC), 1951 (AFC), 1952 (AFC), 1953 (EFC), 1954 (EFC), 1955 (EFC), 1957 (EFC), 1964 (EFC), 1965 (EFC), 1968 (EFC), 1969 (EFC), 2000 (AFC)
Division Championships: 11 - 1967 (NFL Century), 1968 (NFL Century), 1969 (NFL Century), 1971 (AFC Central), 1980 (AFC Central), 1981 (AFC Central), 1985 (AFC Central), 1986 (AFC Central), 1987 (AFC Central), 1989 (AFC Central), 2003 (AFC North)
Playoff Appearances: 31 - 1946, 1947, 1948, 1949, 1950, 1951, 1952, 1953, 1954, 1955, 1957, 1958, 1964, 1965, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1971, 1972, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1994, 2000, 2001, 2003
2005 Finish: 6-10, 3 rd Place AFC North
2006 Finish: 13-3
Recent Records:
2004: 9-7 2005: 7-9 2006: 13-3
2008 NFL DRAFT GRADES
Baltimore Ravens: B+
Aside from a couple picks, most of this draft had good value. A nice job for a Ravens team looking to get back to the playoffs. Will Might Joe be the answer?
The Ravens traded down and added a couple picks before picking up Joe Flacco, a kid I really like. Flacco seems to have that cool confidence that is always a plus with the most noticed position on the field. At 18, I think he’s a much safer, and possibly a bigger upside pick than Matt Ryan. But quarterbacks are weird, and I didn’t think Peyton was going to be great - so what do I know?
I thought Ray Rice was a bit of a stretch here. Don’t get me wrong, I like the kid, and he’ll be solid insurance for Willis McGahee, and could end up being a great player, but I thought there was more value for this team left on the board. I liked Kevin Smith here if they really went running back, but thought Reggie Smith would be a great pick up for this aging secondary. Also, Pat Sims, with some tough leaders getting him ready to play, would have been a smooth pick up. This isn’t a bad pick, like I said, I just think it was a reach.
Tavares Gooden will help this team on special teams now, and has the raw ability to become a defensive player for them in the future. I like this pick.
Tim Zbikowski doesn’t have the numbers to be an NFL star, but I watched this guy play plenty of big games and make plenty of big plays. He’s a football player through and through, and I always like that kind of pick.
Oniel Cousins was a good value pick. He hasn’t played much O-Line, but he has the skills and strength to be a good one. Good work by the Ravens on this one.
Marcus Smith has very nice size, runs good routes, and uses his hands well. He doesn’t have sprinter speed, but neither does Derick Mason and he’s still doing work for the Ravens well into his mid 30s.
David Hale did good work in the post-season games, and while he’s not a stellar athlete, this is a big offensive lineman that is willing to learn. A lot of the time, it’s better to grab size with will over size with skill and laziness.
I don’t really see Nakamura doing much for the Ravens, but who knows. I know he’s really fast and played for a pretty good defense at Cinci. I also know that he’s a good kick returner, but I doubt he’s better than Yaman Figurs.
Justin Harper must be missing something because his hands seemed solid, he’s 6′4″, and he ran with good speed at the combine. Either VaTech missed something or there was a good reason to limit his play in college.
I don’t think Allen Patrick will make the team unless he shows solid play on special teams. He’s a small running back without elite speed or vision. He’s capable of running the ball a little, but that’s it.
2007 Baltimore Ravens
After two seasons of relative mediocrity, the Ravens fought and battled their way back to the playoffs with an awesome regular season record of 13-3. Obviously a loss to the Colts in their first playoff game wasn’t how the Ravens wanted to finish, especially the way it crumbled. Adding Steve McNair was supposed to quell their quarterback deficiencies, but against one of the league’s more porous defenses, the Ravens only managed 6 points, committing 4 turnovers, 2 McNair interceptions, one McNair Fumble, and a Todd Heap fumble as well. I’m not saying Peyton Manning’s numbers weren’t more pathetic, but he won, and eventually got to the Super Bowl. Steve just followed Kyle Boller’s mold, and the Ravens lost another big game because of poor quarterbacking. This off-season will all but definitely see Steve back at the reigns, and most of the 13-3 Ravens back in uniform. But some questions definitely have to be answered. At running back, Jamal Lewis could very well be let go, leaving room for the Ravens to draft a young back, or possibly go hunting in free agency or a draft day trade. The receiver position is looking pretty decent. Mark Clayton came on strong toward the end of the season, and Todd Heap is always solid. Defensively, so free agents loom, but I wouldn’t be surprised if Baltimore’s defense was stout once again.
2007 Off-Season Plans:
First things first for the Ravens, and that’s dealing with their free agents. On the offensive side of the ball, that means making a decision on Jamal Lewis. On the defensive side of the ball, top priority has to be Adalius Thomas, who could be the most athletic player in football. Youngster can do anything. In a season of coaching vacancies, the Ravens resigned Brian Billick, after he took the offensive and pounded the ball to the best season in franchise history. All in all, the Ravens have to figure out what they are going to do with the guys they have, either resigning some longtime players, or cutting ties and going in another direction. The Draft has plenty of defensive end, outside linebacker possibilities, and although the running back class is relatively light, someone like Mike Bush, Kenny Irons, or Lorenzo Booker could end up being a steal after Round 1. Lots of options.
See the Ravens draft situation at Lucky’s Mock Draft!
