2006 Baltimore Ravens Preview

The Baltimore Ravens were one of the most disappointing teams in the NFL last season. From the quarterback troubles to the injury problems, nothing seemed to go right for Baltimore. With the return of Ray Lewis and Ed Reed, who both missed the better part of last season, the Ravens defense should be much improved and look more like the Ravens of old. However, the defense is still unproven and could struggle if they do not mature quickly. Safety Will Demps departed for the Giants, and while Chris McAlister is very talented, he has regressed over the past few seasons and has not been the shut down cornerback he is capable of. Along with the secondary, there is also some question on the defensive line, as it is very inexperienced and lacks depth. On the offensive side of the ball, the biggest change is at the quarterback position, where Steve McNair, who was acquired from Tennessee during the off-season, will run the show. McNair has some weapons to work with, as Derrick Mason, Todd Heap, and Mark Clayton are all capable of making big plays. McNair also has one of the best running backs in the game with Jamal Lewis. If the offense can show consistency and McNair can learn the offense quickly, they have potential to be one of the best offenses Baltimore has seen. And while the defense may not be the defense of old, they are capable of being one of the better defenses in the league and leading this team to the playoffs.

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