This one’s for Vince Lombardi, John Madden, Dick Butkus, Mean Joe Greene, Jim Brown, Bronco Nagurski, Dick “Night Train” Lane, Ronnie Lott, Ray Nitschke and every other old-school football purist who ever walked the Earth. In an era dominated by spread offenses and speedy, fleet-footed finesse playmakers, the Baltimore Ravens are a refreshing relic. They’re a team that will line up and hit you in the mouth. As you’re wiping off the blood, they’ll hit you again. And should you gather enough courage to return a blow, they’ll take it on the chin, laught a little and strike you even harder.

How well does this formula work? Well enough for last year’s Ravens to go from 5-11 to the AFC Championship under the guidance of a first-year head coach (John Harbaugh), a rookie quarterback from Division 1-AA Delaware (Joe Flacco) and an offense that had exactly zero preeminent playmakers. The simple purity of Baltimore’s smashmouth style is almost as intriguing as the very success it produces. While teams were referring to the shotgun formation in record numbers last season, the Raven offense, under new coordinator Cam Cameron, lined up in a jumbo formation––which is to say, they replaced a wide receiver with a third offensive tackle––roughly 30 percent of the time. The jumbo formation is the equivalent of the stare-down in boxing. There’s nothing discreet or subtle about it. It’s a simple declaration of your intentions to ram the ball down your opponent’s throat. The Ravens rammed the ball a league-high 592 times.

Of course, let’s be fair: it isn’t the offense that makes this Ravens team go. It’s that vaunted defense. Baltimore’s offense might hit you in the mouth, but their defense will be what puts teeth in your throat. And, unlike with the offense, you’ll have no idea where the punch is coming from. The hybrid 3-4 defense is as deceptive as the offense is straightforward. The Ravens D registered a fairly average 34 sacks last season. But it regularly rattled opposing quarterbacks by destroying the pocket with only four––and you could never predict which four––rushers. This is what led to Baltimore’s league-best 26 interceptions.

Given the way it dictates field position, you could say that the Ravens defense is this team’s offense. Future Hall of Fame linebacker Ray Lewis is the quarterback. Front seven bruisers Haloti Ngata and Terrell Suggs are the workhorses. Luminous star safety Ed Reed is the playmaker. These guys are as smart as they are mean. And they’re as mean as they are gifted. And they’re all pretty damn gifted.

But it hasn’t been enough. Nasty as this team is, the evidence suggests that, right now, the Steelers are nastier. The AFC North foe, with its own throwback offense and aggressive, byzantine 3-4 defense, defeated this Baltimore team three teams last season. All three games––including the 23-14 AFC championship––had the disposition of Roman gladiator games. The intense vitriol of the one-sided rivalry has made Pittsburgh the Bad Boy Detroit Pistons to Baltimore’s Chicago Bulls. If the Ravens are to claim their second Lombardi Trophy, they must cross the three rivers.

Doing so could be even tougher in 2009. Three significant pieces in the Ravens D––inside linebacker Bart Scott, safety Jim Leonhard and coordinator Rex Ryan––joined the Jets over the offseason. In a test of the mettle and depth of GM Ozzie Newsome’s roster construction, Baltimore will fill all three holes with soldiers from within its own army. Second-year pro Tavares Gooden takes over for Scott at inside linebacker. Dawan Landry, back from the spinal contusion that ended his ’08 campaign in Week 3, reclaims his safety job. And Greg Mattison, the linebacker coach who came to this staff from the University of Florida just one year ago, assumes Ryan’s duties.

Of the three, Mattison is most critical. Few realize just how brilliant his predecessor was. The defense Ryan coached during last year’s playoff run was a battered unit contrived of nearly 50 percent backups. Of course, it helped having Lewis and Reed on the field. If Mattison is to match the excellent working relationship that Ryan had with his men, he must get on the same page as his two superstars from The U.

Continued defensive domination is not the key for getting over the hump, though. It’s merely the key for returning to the top of the hump. The Ravens had a superb defense last season and still fell short to a team with a slightly more superb defense. Thus, in order to climax their climb with an AFC title, Harbaugh’s club must become more electric offensively. The burden falls on the 24-year-old quarterback.

Offense

Let’s get one thing clear: Joe Flacco had a fine rookie season. Not fine as in “He did just fine”––fine as in he was a fine player. Not expected to sniff the field for at least a year or two, Flacco transitioned immediately from 1-AA Delaware to the NFL. He showed typical rookie flaws early on––shaky pocket awareness, limited in his progressions, careless with the ball at times––but earned a looser leash each week. But still, it was a leash. And if Ben Roethlisberger’s performance late in Super Bowl XLIII taught us anything, it’s that titles are won when a team can unleash its quarterback.

But quarterbacks are like puppies: unleash them too soon and they run all over and give you headaches. Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti is the ultimate master of Flacco’s leash, and he’s smart enough to entrust that power in John Harbaugh. In turn, Harbaugh, a special teams guru, is smart enough to entrust that power in Cam Cameron. The offensive coordinator has the most influence over Flacco, and given how elaborate Cameron’s system was in San Diego, it’s clear he’s nowhere close to letting his 6’6”, 230-pound quarterback run free right now.

But he’s getting there. Expect Cameron to expand Flacco’s post-snap responsibilities in 2009. What this means is, Flacco may not have unchecked freedom to audible, but he’ll have more opportunities to execute five-step drops and work through complex reads. And, he’ll probably throw on more running downs. Flacco, strong-armed and mobile both in and out of the pocket, has all the physical tools to excel. But he needs players to step up around him.

Perhaps no Raven is more important that wide receiver Derrick Mason. Or was more important. The 35-year-old abruptly retired despite remaining one of the premier possession receivers in the game today. His age and health concerns may have been a factor, as he was coming off scapula and labrum surgery.

The Ravens passing game is officially lethargic without Mason. The starters are now former No. 2 and 3 receivers Mark Clayton and Demetrius Williams, both in the final year of their contracts. Ozzie Newsome hasn’t felt compelled to lock up any of the wideouts long-term, which means Flacco––or, heaven forbid, backup Troy Smith…or, heaven really forbid, John Beck––could be dealing with a host of anxious targets this season. Perhaps a little angst will finally spur Clayton to get open on a regular basis. His top role is safe ahead of the lithe but unaccomplished Williams, though it’s Clayton who used to sit when Baltimore brought in swing tackle Adam Terry for the jumbo formation.

Considering that tight ends Todd Heap, L.J. Smith and Quinn Sypniewski are all injury magnets, the Ravens may have to refer to their jumbo formation more often in 2009. As important as Flacco’s maturation is, the Ravens will still be a run-first team (not unlike the Steelers are when Willie Parker is healthy). Baltimore’s rushing attack is more about the front five than the actual ballcarriers. That bodes well for this season, as monstrous 23-year-old left tackle Jared Gaither and mobile 25-year-old left guard Ben Grubbs should both break out. Both have been a tad inconsistent––Gaither in terms of exerting a regular domineering presence and Grubbs in terms of winning fist fights in phone booths––but both have survived their initial lumps as youthful starters.

At center, the loss of rising power-blocker Jason Brown was offset with the addition of noble six-time Pro Bowler Matt Birk. Brown was a leader, but not one with Birk’s veteran pedigree. Stability at center is vital because the right guard position is up in the air. The Ravens would like to see Marshal Yanda reclaim this spot, but he’s coming off a brutal knee injury. If he’s unable to go, agile backup center Chris Chester would be given the nod. Even more uncertain than the right guard spot could be right tackle. Twenty-third-overall pick Michael Oher is expected to be the long-term solution here, but some question whether the preternaturally gifted Ole Miss product is mentally ready for the NFL. If he’s not, then Adam Terry, a man who epitomizes mediocrity and struggles in pass protection, will start.

Running behind this nascent line will be Willis McGahee, Ray Rice and LeRon McClain. McGahee is the all-around featured back, but part of what makes him “all around” is the fact that he doesn’t do one thing particularly well. He’s not fast or quick and, because of poor conditioning in past years, he hasn’t been particularly powerful. He stuck around the Ravens facility this past offseason (for a change) but still fought injuries off and on.

Rice, unlike McGahee, has the ability to create his own space. He’s a fleet-footed third-down back (Rice played somewhat sparingly but led all Ravens tailbacks with 33 receptions last year) but, at 5’8”, 205, he’s not a workhorse. Baltimore’s hope is that McGahee and Rice play well enough for 260-pound Le’Ron McClain to confound his carries to short-yardage situations and settle into a fulltime lead-blocking role. If necessary, McClain can always carry the load. He led the team with 902 yards last season, showing surprising (yet not great) lateral mobility.

Defense

There’s no reason new coordinator Greg Mattison won’t continue the tradition of aggression and subterfuge that defines this hybrid 3-4. The players on the field are all innately familiar with the system, no doubt in part because of Ray Lewis’s leadership. At 34, Lewis’s decline is perceptible only to those watching for it closely. He’s still a demonic sideline-to-sideline thumper, and his prodigious film study gives him––and whoever listens to him––a noticeable mental edge.

Lewis, who signed a new contract over the offseason that should keep him hear for three more years, does benefit from rarely having to take on blockers. Defensive end Haloti Ngata headlines a three-man front that, through power and gyration, controls the trenches. In his fourth season, Ngata has become an object of requisite double teams. When he’s fresh, Trevor Pryce can be the same way. But in order to keep the edge on the 13^th-year-pro, Baltimore must make frequent use of backups Dwan Edwards and Justin Bannan.

Bannan actually did a splendid job filling in for an injured Kelly Gregg at nose tackle last season. If Gregg struggles in bouncing back from microfracture surgery, the Ravens could feel secure in once again calling on their eighth-year veteran backup. In addition to Bannan, coaches are also pleased with wide-bodied (though heavy-footed) fifth-year pro Brandon McKinney.

With Lewis and the commanding defensive line on his side, second-year pro Tavares Gooden should be able to replace Bart Scott. If he can’t, special teams ace Brendon Ayanbadejo could get a shot. Of course, it’s doubtful that whoever fills in will show Scott’s combination of instinct and burst, which is why outside linebackers Terrell Suggs and Jarrett Johnson may have to carry more weight in run defense. That won’t be a problem for Suggs. He’s a pass-rushing dynamo who’s much fiercer than his eight sacks last season suggest, but perhaps the main reason Baltimore has slapped him with an expensive franchise tag the last two years is that he’s arguably the best run-defending 3-4 outside linebacker in football.

Johnson can pressure the quarterback, though often this scheme asks him to cover the flats. With reserve linebacker Antwan Barnes being unable to penetrate in congested areas, the Ravens used a second-round pick on Utah defensive end (now a linebacker) Paul Kruger. He’ll likely see immediate action in passing situations.

Honestly, it’s not hard to be a defensive back in this scheme. If you’re a Raven defensive back, most of your coverages are zone-based, and so often, opposing quarterbacks are focusing on your front seven teammates instead of you. Also, it can’t be understated how helpful it is to work alongside Ed Reed. Reed’s range and awareness in coverage are simply stunning. The eighth-year veteran––by the way, eight years! Can you believe he’s 30 already?––has a preternatural nose for the football. Turnovers seem to find him. Last season, Reed, the NFL’s only unanimous All-Pro, led the league with nine picks, averaging 29.3 yards per return. (He added two more interceptions against Miami in the playoffs, where he also scored his fourth touchdown on the year.)

Cornerbacks Domonique Foxworth and Fabian Washington will both have opportunities to be aggressive on-ball defenders. Of the two, Foxworth is the better run defender though Washington, on one of his sharp days, is the more disruptive cover man. Neither is a veritable No. 1, but neither has to be. The nickel back is an important position in this scheme, and it’s doubtful that aging yet still viable veteran Samari Rolle has the wheels to perform the task. Should Rolle beat out diminutive but improving ex-Titan Chris Carr for nickel, he’ll likely flip spots with Washington and defend the outside.

Great as Ed Reed is in coverage, he’s only a pedestrian, drag-down tackler against the run. That’s okay, as long as strong safety Dawan Landry, a frequent run-stopper in the box, is fully recovered from the spinal contusion that ended his ’08 season in Week 3. Prior to the injury, Landry was one of the best kept secrets in football. If he doesn’t regain his form, Baltimore will have to call on special teams standout Tom Zbikowski.

Special Teams

Matt Stover is the only kicker this franchise has ever known, which is why it will be weird seeing either Steven Hauschka or Graham Gano lining up in 2009. Hauschka was the kickoff specialist a year ago, while Gano was winning the Lou Groza award as college football’s best kicker. Only the most compulsive of gamblers should wager on a winner in this competition. (A clever bet might be on Stover suddenly returning.)

Punter Sam Koch netted 39.9 yards per boot last year, thanks in part to having the NFL’s sixth-ranked cover unit. Chris Carr is likely to handle all returns. He’s good in this capacity though offers little breakaway speed. The hope was that former third-round pick Yamon Figurs would capture this role, but injuries––the latest requiring a surgical screw in a separated foot bone––have been an issue.

Bottom Line

This team is mildly less talented than a year ago, but they also could be better in the right places. The drop in talent stems from losing Bart Scott and Jim Leonhard on defense. Both players will be missed, but both can be replaced. The possible improvements are at quarterback, where Joe Flacco is a year wiser, and running back, where Ray Rice has matured and where Willis McGahee can’t be much worse than he was in ’08. Also, if rookie right tackle Michael Oher quickly adjusts to the pro game, this can be a bourgeoning front line. The gravest threat to John Harbaugh’s club is jumbled chemistry. Unlike last season, this is a club with high expectations. There are several players needing to prove themselves in 2009, something that can work for or against a team.

Predicted: 2nd AFC North

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