The Baltimore Ravens do enough in the off season to win the AFC North? The Baltimore Ravens in-depth analysis of the free agents signed and players lost for the 2014 NFL season. Will these additions help The Baltimore Ravens turn around their 2013 season and win the AFC North in 2014?
The Baltimore Ravens finished the 2013 season at 8-8. Not exactly a great finish for the defending Super Bowl Champs. Troubled by a terrible season from RB Ray Rice only producing 650 rushing yards and less than the 3 year a carry benchmark, this could be the end days of a once promising running back. Strapped by a terrible contract given to QB Joe Flacco prevented GM Ozzie Newsome from making a bigger splash in the free agent pool. They lost 8 players to free agency, the biggest losses by far were DE Arthur Jones, T Michael Oher and SS James Ihedigbo. Looks like the Ravens will be a 70/30 pass team with the signings of WR Steve Smith and TE Owen Daniels. The Ravens can now employ a two TE set with TE Dennis Pittman and have a veteran receiver to take some of the double teams that plagued WR Torrey Smith who still had a record season. I see a definite upgrade in the Ravens passing game and the additions of LB C.J. Mosley and NT Timmy Jernigan upgrading an already dominant defense. Signing RB Justin Forsett and drafting RB Lorenzo Taliaferro signals he future of RB Ray Rice may be drawing to a close especially with his off season one punch knock out of his fiancee captured by a video camera in an Atlantic City casino. Read my article, 2014 Baltimore Ravens NFL Draft Report Card and Player Analysis and see why I think GM Newsome had an average draft day.
Players lost in the off season to other teams
- Ed Dickson, TE--4th season, signed by The Carolina Panthers
- Tandon Doss, WR--3rd season, signed by The Jacksonville Jaguars
- Shaun Draughn, RB--2nd season, signed by The Chicago Bears
- Corey Graham, CB--7th season, signed by The Buffalo Bills
- James Ihedigbo, SS--7th season, signed by The Detroit Lions
- Arthur Jones, DE--4th season, signed by The Indianapolis Colts
- Jameel McClain, ILB--6th season, signed by The New York Giants
- Michael Oher, T--5th season, signed by The Tennessee Titans
Players signed in free agency from other teams
- Owen Daniels, TE--8th season, signed from The Houston Texans
- Justin Forsett, RB--6th season, signed from The Jacksonville Jaguars
- Steve Smith, WR--13th season, signed from The Carolina Panthers
- Darian Stewart, SS--4th season, signed from The St. Louis Rams
Can The Baltimore Ravens make it to the playoffs in 2014?
Yes, they have two new weapons that can make them an offensive threat on any possession and with the additions of LB Mosley and NT Jernigan, they have the ability to bottle up the middle and stunt blitz from lots of defensive sets and that spells trouble for the Bengals, Steelers and Browns. Cincinnati is troubled by inconsistent QB play and I can definitely see the Ravens dominating the AFC North. The Steelers or Browns don't look like they will be much of a threat contending in 2014.
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