Nice balanced summary of the Ravens situation. Two things I’d like to add.

First, I give a lot of credit to John Harbaugh for what went on in Baltimore last year. Much like what Tomlin has done with our defense, Harbaugh took a defense that was focused on being tough to a fault and turned them into a legitimately great defense that can complement toughness with intelligence. Our defense got all the credit last year, but Baltimore’s defense was a close second to an historically good unit. I think the days of them accepting a 38-7 loss because they shut down the running game are gone. Honestly the thought of a disciplined and consistent Ravens team frightens me a little, and I have a feeling that that’s what we’re going to see over the next few years. Losing Rex Ryan will be a big blow, but my gut tells me they’ll be fine.

Second, Flacco. I think he did well for himself: he was an average game manager on an outstanding team. To be average as a rookie QB is an accomplishment, and it suggests that the chance of him being a complete bust is low. However, I disagree that he has an “amazing deep ball” like everyone has given him credit for; he has great arm strength, but from what I’ve seen, his downfield accuracy is rather poor. He also still only put up his average stats with a very good offensive coordinator, defense, and running game. Ben had those things as a rookie and he finished in the top 5 in passer rating. Flacco finished 22nd. Flacco’s performance shouldn’t be held against him, but he hardly showed the makings of a top 5 QB either. Still, he looks better than Kyle Boller and he doesn’t completely melt under pressure. The Ravens have enough talent on their team to compete for a Super Bowl if they can just get decent, non-choking play out of their QB. Flacco may very well provide that for them for a number of years to come, which sets them up to be a Steeler-esque perennial contender.

The Ravens don’t have me shaking in my boots or anything, but I don’t think they’re “aging” or in cap trouble or on the verge of collapse. They had a lot of turnover this year, so I could change my tune, but I think they are pretty well set up to sustain the level of play they showed this year.

This is only slightly related, but James Walker recently said this: “Only time will tell. But going into the season, I feel Pittsburgh is better prepared to repeat than any team in the past four years.” I’ve been getting a pretty good vibe from the team, but it’s nice to hear a somewhat objective media source say the same thing.

I think they BrownRavens could beat the Steelers to the division title if Pittsburgh slips. My prediction (and vote) is that the Steelers win the AFCN and the BrownRavens take a wild card. I see Tennessee with the other wild card.

By the way, I like NE*, SD and Indy to take their AFC divisions with NYG, AZ, Carolina and Minnesota (if Favre plays) or Chicago (much improved with Cutler) in the NFC. Wild card teams will come from Philly, Dallas, NO or Atlanta.

You have to respect/hate the Ravens, especially after last year. Playing each other twice a year has some interesting effects, for example the number of “dirty” hits that get thrown around in flame wars that happen between these teams.

Like Tomlin says, Iron Sharpens Iron, so I’m all for the Ravens being great again this year. The tougher we make each other the better we both get, and it spirals upward from there.

I hope Cincy is tough this year too, otherwise our schedule is a little too easy for my taste. I nice safe trip to the playoffs is not how the Steelers win Super Bowls.

As for Flacco, he’s in the AFC, so he’ll get judged against Brady, BB, Manning and Palmer, so he’ll have a tough time getting credit since he’s not a rookie. I don’t see him being a top 5 QB, but he can be the just out of Pro-Bowl caliber QB that is all the Ravens need to be a force.

Let’s see how the Ravens replace Ryan, that will determine a lot, a slightly lesser DC can mean a world of difference for the Ravens or Steelers. Like after DL left, we were still good, but nothing like the big game dominance after he came back.

Don’t mind the “just for fun” threads, but it’s better to discuss the football that happens on the field, rather than the stats that result from it. The Ravens are a team that make their mark on the turf.

Anyway, I voted ‘em out of the playoffs. Great team, easy schedule, but I think the Steelers take the division. I think the wildcards come from somewhere else this year. At least one should come from the AFC South. Two of those teams will steamroll the others. (Just don’t ask me which!) The Jets or the Phins will have a hard time with their schedules, but I think one of them proves dominant over the other and follows NE into the playoffs.

I think you nailed pretty much everything except for a few parts.

- John Beck, not Jordan Beck. But I have heard some good things about Beck and that he could really make a push towards the 2nd QB spot. But I think that is Troy’s since he knows this team and knows this offense with this team better then Beck will by September. But it is going to be a lot of fun seeing both those guys battle it out in pre-season and training camp, which I will make sure to be at.

- The WR I thought you broke down very nicely. Not too harsh, but didn’t back down from exploiting our weakness. The only position that worries me this year is WR. It is going to be tough if Mason goes down and I think that could very well happen given his age. I expect big things from out other guys though. Clayton really shined in the final half of the season last year and a healthy Williams is going to be nice. That dude can catch any ball, just can’t stay healthy. I know its not your fault, but you forgot about 2nd year WR, Marcus Smith. This guy can ball and has been one of the one of the hottest stories throughout OTA’s. If you do not know too much about him, he was our 4th round draft choice last year out of New Mexico. He was originally recruited as a Running Back, but made the switch to WR. This is why I like the guy. He is 6’1" about 220 and is not afraid of taking a hit. Look for him to see a good amount of passes. F*** Yamon Figurs!

- I am really surprised you did not talk of Tavares Gooden taking Bart Scott’s place. He was a 3rd round pick out of the one and only U of Miami. This guy is a athletic freak and is going to be a better player then Bart was. He has all the physical tools to be the next great Ravens LB and is learning from his mentor, Ray Lewis. Ray has taken “T-Good” under his wing and has only great things to say about him. We replaced Jamie Sharper with Ed Hartwell. We replaced Ed Hartwell with Bart Scott. We replace Bart Scott with Gooden. And thank you for noticing that Leonhard was OUR BACK-UP last year and Landry is the starter. I am sick and tired of hearing everyone say, especially the “experts,” that losing Leonhard is going to be so hard to overcome when he wasn’t even the starter. Landry brings more to the table and is a better tackler then Leonhard will ever be. He was a product of the great system we have in B-More and will perish just like all the other Ravens who have left have perished in the past.

- Another spot that people think we will hurt at is the D. Cor area. Rex Ryan is one of the best DC in the game and one of the best coaches my Ravens ever had. Some say it will be tough to replace him, which it will, but not to the point where it is going to cost us games. We replaced Marvin Lewis with Mike Nolan. We replaced Mike Nolan with Rex Ryan. We now replace Rex Ryan with Greg Mattison and I have full confidence we will show little to no signs of weakness.

- In Special Teams, you forgot about THE BEST Punter in the league, Sam Koch. That man is very important to our team because of the field position battle we like to play in every week. I see Koch having a pro-bowl year this year. I am also excited about Graham Gano as well. Not really big on the Steve Hauschka stuff, I just don’t see any “clutch” in him when it is a game winning kick. Gano has a swagger about him and was the best kicker in college for a reason. It has been reported that he has hit numerous kicks that were 60+ yards with room to spare. Excited to see this kid get a shot.

Thanks for the write-up and if you would like me to elaborate on any other parts, please ask and I will be happy to.

I can’t imagine the posts for the Browns when it comes their turn. We already know what kind of franchise they are and where they will be going next year.

……………..Alonzo Jackson……………