Questions Abound, as Another Season Unfolds

Posted by Matt Jergensen on July 21st, 2008 filed in Features, Opinions

It’s hard to believe that this is the thirteenth summer for the Ravens as they gear up for the 2008 season. It seems like only yesterday when I bought my first ticket to see the team play Da Raydahs at Memorial stadium. But,the team is so entrenched in the community and football so much a part of the city that it moves like clockwork. It’s July. Baltimore fans are done with the O’s as they sink to the bottom of the standings and all attention turns towards Westminster. Hope springs. Everyone can make the playoffs. Everyone has a chance. Can we release the magic of the 2000 campaign just one more time?

Training camp means so many things; old vets get run through the paces, new players get initiated into the fold, and change is natural part of the process. With all of that come questions. Questions that won’t have answers for maybe months. Here are some of the biggest that concern the Ravens:

Who’s the Quarterback : Steve McNair has retired to the Quarterback Rest Home. The team spends a first round selection on Joe Flacco. They still have former first rounder, Kyle Boller as well as, former Heisman winner, Troy Smith. So, who gets the shot? Early word was Flacco was quite impressive in mini-camp. I think he would have to blow away the competition in pre-season to be under center against Cincy Week One. I have a strong feeling that Smith will win out. He gained the respect of the vets and has shown the poise and leadership that Boller never has. But, if the season goes south early expect “Bazooka” Joe to take the snaps.

New Offensive Line : Hall of Fame monster and greatest Gebco dancer ever, Jonathan Ogden has retired and long time staple, Mike Flynn has left as well. That means a younger and hopefully more athletic line. Lots of shifting around. Jason Brown steadies this group and he has played well. Ben Grubbs should be able to live up to billing this season. But the biggest concerns are the tackles. Adam Terry has been spotty and Jared Gaither may look like Ogden but he’s still a baby in this league. Lines need time to gel and they should have growing pains.

Camp Harbaugh : First year coach, John Harbaugh leads his first training camp. One of the biggest complaints about Brian Billick was that his camps were more like summer retreats and that should change this season. Harbaugh has been saying all the right things and fans are anxious to see the hard work pay off in a more disciplined team than we have seen in the past. When you take over a 5-11 team, your hope is to simply get better. If they stay healthy they should top that, weather they are playoff ready remains to be seen.

Ray Lewis : This is the closest that the face of the franchise has ever gotten to free agency. He is in the final year of his contract and over the past several years hasn’t been able to put together a full season. His claim of wanting “Peyton Manning” money had most people confused. He is on the downside of his career but, when healthy no one plays harder and he is the unquestioned leader of the team. His play this season will determine if he can finish his career in the purple and black.