All and all, going from 8-8 to 10-6 and a playoff victory is a big improvement. Some of the more ardent fans might still be upset that the team is not playing for another Lombardi trophy this year, but seriously, don't you think that expectation "now" is a little shortsighted based on what we were all talking about at the end of 2013? Some fans were actually calling for Harbaugh's head and Ozzie to retire. But after drafting what could arguably be the best class since 1996, signing Kubiak and bringing in Steve Smith, everyone is once again singing the praises of the Wizard of Oz.
The crown jewel of that class was of course CJ Mosley, who was not supposed to be available the Ravens were on the clock in round 1. Arch rival Pittsburgh passed on him to take Ryan Shazier, linebacker from Ohio State. And though that player had an impact on their season, CJ missed no games, and no starts for Baltimore, led the team in tackles and reminded everyone of a young Ray Lewis with some of the instinctive plays he made. He should be the hands down favorite to win Defensive Rookie Of the Year. Having a full professional weight training program to use this off season should make the kid even stronger and faster. The sky should be the limit for CJ and hopefully next season we fans should get a real chance to see 2013's drafted inside backer Arthur Brown get on the field and show why the Ravens drafted him in the second round. Speaking of draft class from 2013, Matt Elam continued to disappoint, whereas Brandon Williams came into HIS own and proved to be a real force up the middle. Playing alongside 2014 2nd round STEAL, Timmy Jernigan and perennial super star Haloti Ngata and very good players like De'Angelo Tyson, Williams proved to be a hard assignment for most opposing interior Offensive linemen. Every team in the NFC South found out that the Ravens D-Line was FOR REAL in 2014 as the Ravens dominated and swept every one of those teams while beating them up as well as beating them on the scoreboard.
Getting back to the Offensive side of the ball, the Ravens scored the major coupe of the year by getting former Texans Head Coach Gary Kubiak to replace the well intentioned but clearly ill suited Jim Caldwell as Offensive Coordinator. The results were a stunning improvement in wins as well as stats. With the late Sunday announcement from Coach Kubes that he is staying with the Ravens and not accepting invitations to even interview with other teams should make every true Ravens fan jump for joy and have real excitement for the future of the team as well as Joe Flacco's continued development.
Along with Joe doing bigger and better things how can we overlook "Little" Justin Forsett and how he came in here and made the entire league forget Ray Rice? The kid came in here to be a role player but ended up not only becoming the starting Running Back over incumbent Bernard Pierce, but leading the league in yards per carry, and most runs of 20 yards or more. Joining Forsett was fellow former Texan castoff Owen Daniels, who also came here to play a limited role but ended up starring after Flacco and fan favorite, Tight End Dennis Pitta re-injured his surgically repaired hip and once again landed on season ending IR. Where would the passing game have been without Daniels and rookie TE Crockett Gilmore to give Joe big, talented, solid targets to throw to?
"Ice Up Son!" That was the warning issued by Free Agent signee Steve Smith Sr to all opposing teams when he arrived in Baltimore. The persistently pissed off small framed receiver gave the Ravens that dependable yet determined attitude and work ethic missing from the team in 2013. Adding to that passing attack were solid performances from Torrey Smith, Marlon Brown and Kamaar (Klay) Aiken. Torrey was once again solid if not spectacular, and Brown and Aiken made enough splash plays to warrant larger roles in the game plan in 2015. 7th round pick rookie WR from Columbia, MD Michael Campanaro splashed in games too, making his NFL debut with a TD catch in Tampa Bay. That is a memory that can't ever be taken away.
Sure, there was plenty to cheer about in 2014, but the good came with a boat load of bad too. Training camp injuries to young D-linemen Kapron Lewis-Moore and Brent Urban foreshadowed what would become a trend for the Ravens in 2014, season ending injuries that would keep the team brass and us fans constantly looking for "the next man up". As I previously stated, 19 players went on IR for the Ravens during this season yet the boys never gave up, never "folded their tents", never got down on themselves. When Lardarius Webb was down recovering from from injuries, Jimmy Smith held down the Defensive backfield. When Webb came back, it seemed like the very next play Smith went down, though in truth it wasn't nearly as fast as that. But a position under a constant dark cloud was Corner. It seemed as though as soon as the Ravens found someone to come in and start, someone else would go down. No need to learn a guy's name, he was only going to play well for a game or 2 before he too would get hurt. Safeties became corners, players not expected to contribute in 2014 were pressed into service. The Ravens brought in Will Hill who was plagued by way too many off field issues to justify the Giants keeping him, and he came off of suspension exactly when needed and is looking like he could be a long term answer to replace the void left by Ed Reed. Another "comer" who was starting to impress was rookie 3rd round pick Terrance Brooks. Unless Matt Elam has a drastic turn around in 2015, I can definitely see Brooks and Hill becoming the starting Safety tandem, presupposing Hill's issues are a thing of the past.
Look, 2014 was an emotional roller coaster of a season for the Baltimore Ravens but that is Ravens football. If you don't like it, then you don't know or appreciate OUR team. This is what we do and how we do. Every year is exciting and no season is a slam dunk from start to finish. So as it is, so how it has always been. In 2012 the Ravens won the Super Bowl with a team that went 10-6 in the regular season, after going 12-4 the year before and losing the AFC Championship game in New England. If you think you are mad because this 10-6 team once again lost in playoffs to New England, imagine how Terrell Suggs, and Elvis Dumervil feel after being the league leading sack tandem and not going to the Super Bowl. I think you can bet your bottom dollar that they will come back stronger, madder, and hungrier next season to get the deal done and show the world that the Baltimore Ravens are still a great team even without Ray Lewis and Ed Reed.
Ice Up Son, the Ravens WILL BE BACK in 2015 and the league had better be prepared.
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