A look at who brings hope in the new year and who should be left behind in 2018.
The Future
Orlando Brown
The poster boy for the futility of the NFL combine, Orlando Brown, put together a stellar year after being lambasted by the national media for a record low combine performance.
Although he can't run a dead sprint for 40 yards with the rest of the big boys, Brown's size and disciplined play set up up two pillars of his game that could help him stick around in the league for a long time to come. Brown quickly answered questions about his work ethic after logging a team-high snap count throughout the pre-season and eventually earning a starting role in week 7. From there, Brown didn't surrender a single sack throughout the rest of the regular season and only committed 4 penalties (only 2 of which were holding calls). A hulking 6'8, 345 pound frame gives him the build of an absolute mauler at the right tackle position. The addition of Orlando Brown combined with quality 3-year veteran Ronnie Stanley sures up the edges of the offensive line for the foreseeable future and allows Ravens brass to focus on reinforcing the interior line.
Mark Andrews
Brown's college teammate and fellow graduate of the Baker Mayfield football experience, Mark Andrews was probably the most surprising piece of the offense this season. Coming out of the draft, Andrews was overshadowed by first round tight end pick Hayden Hurst who was slotted to be the week 1 starter. However, Andrews made his name by being a downfield receiving threat with capable, strong hands and solid route running. He looks to be the offensive play-maker the Ravens have been longing for since Joe Flacco hoisted the Lombardi Trophy.
Andrews burst onto the scene once Lamar Jackson took the starting role under center and capped his season with 552 yards and 3 touchdowns, which is a pretty good stat-line for a rookie tight end in a run-heavy offense. The rapport between Jackson and Andrews was evident as he looked to be Lamar's go-to-guy on crucial downs and extended plays. Could I be seeing Flacco-Pitta-esque dynamic between the two? I wonder if they'll get matching mustaches?
Willie Snead
The Ravens have a need...a need for Snead. His signing over the past off-season didn't seem to add much value to the team with Joe Flacco at quarterback. Michael Crabtree and John Brown garnered most of the attention as the possession and speed guys that fit the Joe Flacco system. However, Snead stood out as a consistent receiving presence in each game because of his ability to move in traffic and take on contact where Crabtree and Brown often disappeared at times. His ability to earn tough physical yards out of the slot by working the underneath routes earned him looks by both Flacco and Jackson.
Snead put together 448 yards and a touchdown with Flacco under center and 253 yards in the 8 game stretch with Lamar Jackson. Snead showed immense flexibility by putting together similar receiving yards per game numbers within two completely different offenses while his other veteran counterparts failed to transition once the reigns were handed over to Lamar. The Ravens should commit to keeping Snead around not only because he knows the system but because it will be a tough sell for veteran receivers to sign with an offense that is so run-heavy compounded with the fact that the Ravens have struggled to scout or develop valuable receivers through the draft.
Kenneth Dixon
Dixon has largely been forgotten as the start of his NFL career has been marked with injuries and suspension. A former 4th round pick in 2016, Dixon still has potential to be an effective runner and he showed that in his return to form this year in the Lamar Jackson offense. Even as rookie Gus Edwards received the majority of carries down the stretch, Kenneth Dixon brought an important dynamic to the offense as he has the extra gear and pass catching ability to rip off big plays against a defense that gets battered by Edwards's power-style running.
Although his short and stocky build looks more suitable for popping back cheeseburger sliders on Super Bowl Sunday, I believe he still has the tools to help the offense play some February football. Despite his unconventional size, Dixon still shows the ability to cut through holes and push the ball down field by fighting through tackles and picking up extra yardage with his shifty style. However, his aggressive run style has made him prone to fumbling which is a fine way to end up exiled in the John Harbaugh doghouse for football eternity. His impressive college resume of over 4,000 yards rushing and 72 touchdowns coupled with sharing the backfield with an electric runner like Lamar Jackson creates a dangerous NFL tandem that could torment defenses if it has a reliable passing attack to balance it out.
Chuck Clark
Chuck Clark has long been seen as only a special-teamer and deep back-up within Baltimore's defense. As the last pick of the Ravens 2017 draft class many thought he would not even secure a roster spot. Surprising, coming from what is looking like Ozzie's most disappointing class that has gotten us defensive bench warmers Tyus Bowser, Tim Williams and Chris Wormley....wow when I write it out loud it sounds really bad. Well...I'm sure Oz got us some good offensive pieces...oh right... Nico Siragusa and Jermaine Eluemunor. If those sound like fake names to you I promise they aren't. However, they do have some distinct achievements and frankly the only information that anybody knows about them which includes sharing a last name with a Raven great that he is not related to and being born in England respectively.
Wow...I digress. Outside of first round pick Marlon Humphrey, Clark is the only one with any sign of promise. Like Humphrey, he plays with physicality and attentiveness. His special teams ability has strung him along in the NFL but now I believe its time for a promotion to the starting defense.
Clark brings a change of pace to the back-end of the defense as a younger back who is rangier and more athletic than starters Eric Weddle and Tony Jefferson, both simply can't keep pace with premier NFL receivers.
Clark delivered big for the Ravens by filling in for Tony Jefferson against two of the NFL's most prolific offenses. In Atlanta the secondary completely shut down the Falcons passing attack for most of the game where Clark tallied 4 tackles and held Julio Jones to 18 yards and 2 receptions.
In his second start in Kansas City, Clark recorded 4 tackles, a pass deflection and a crucial interception in the second half. Clark's play has warranted him more time on the starting defense and provides an insurance plan if the Ravens were to part from their veteran safeties going into next season.
....Which leads to the next part of this article.
The Past
Jimmy Smith
Its time for the Ravens to take a page out of Jimmy Smith's book and turn their heads and run in the opposite direction without looking back. The eighth year veteran is showing visible signs of slowing down. Cornerback is a young man's position and Smith has accrued far too many injuries. His most recent Achilles injury has reduced his burst and speed when it comes to closing the distance between himself and the receiver. Playing catch-up with his back toward the ball and his 10 yard buffer coverage zones make Jimmy Smith a huge liability going forward if the Ravens hope to have a championship winning defense.
Marlon Humphrey has quickly risen to the occasion to be the team's number one corner and Brandon Carr can be a reliable stop-gap veteran if the team is unable to find an immediate replacement through the draft or free agency. Cutting Smith after the June 1st deadline would result in 6.4 million dollars of dead cap and 9.5 million in cap savings.
Eric Weddle
Weddle falls into a similar category as Smith as an older defensive back who is experiencing reduced range and speed. He is prone to getting beat over the top and serves mainly as a leader through his football IQ rather than his physical capabilities.
Unlike Jimmy Smith, Weddle's contract has expired and the team can let him walk with no strings attached. Weddle claimed that 2018 would be his last season playing football if the Ravens were to not to offer him a contract. However, since he is a John Harbaugh loyalist, this might prompt a deal between the two parties or he could assume a coaching role going forward.
I mean look at the moxy he has in this press conference...and what's up with that grimace on Harbaugh's face? Lets leave these two here and move on.
Tony Jefferson
Like a tight end going down the field on a seam route, Tony Jefferson's time with the Ravens may have come and passed us by. In the box safeties are not the norm anymore in attacking an NFL offense and that is exactly where Jefferson is most effective. Jefferson is a safety that excels at crashing down and making tackles but if he is backpedaling with the ball coming down you are holding your breath as a Ravens fan.
The Ravens safeties are their biggest area of concern and the team has been suffering from having a true coverage safety since the days of Ed Reed. Although I believe he will stick around, I don't know if my heart is equipped to watch a safety get repeatedly burned by tight ends for much longer.
Also you just can't stare into the dreamy gaze of Baker Mayfield and let Breshad Perriman run right by you for a score in what is essentially a playoff game in your home stadium. For that reason (to quote shark tank) I'm out.
Phew! Wasn't purging our secondary fun? These final two will be a little less scathing and more sentimental.
CJ Mosley
Mosley will make a sad departing as someone who was the defensive anchor over the last four years. The 26 year old linebacker is set to receive a contract of 5 years and just under 50 million dollars.
I always felt Mosley received excess criticism and was held to closely to the Ray Lewis standard. Mosley excelled at plugging the run and solidifying the middle level of the defense. However, the Ravens will be better off saving the 50 million for other areas, especially since the team has a knack for developing inside backers whether they come from the draft or if they are undrafted rookie free agents.
In the unlikely event they do not find any talent that way, they currently have two young linebackers with potential in Patrick Owuasor and Kenny Young whose play-styles compliment each other nicely. It remains to be seen whether they will be the centerpiece of the defense that Mosley was but they are both upgrades in the passing game.
Terrell Suggs
It might be time the Ravens finally part with the last remaining relic from their days of defensive supremacy. The era when defenses were actually feared and you could break a quarterback's nose and get away with it. At 36 years old Suggs is still an incredibly valuable part of the team. He was second only to Za'Darius Smith who will be set to leave following the footsteps of former Ravens rushers like Paul Kruger and Pernell McPhee who received big contracts from other teams splurging on pass rushers. It would be a big win for the Ravens to reach a deal that keeps Suggs around for the next few years as they work on developing some young pass rushers. As for now Matt Judon is the only one capable of taking on the starting role on the outside edge and Tyus Bowser and Tim Williams have been progressing slowly. For now we hold our breath and see if we get a few bonus years of T-Sizzle. If not, the defense could be in trouble in 2019.
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