No Shock and Awe With the Baltimore Ravens
Is it just me, or does anyone else not feel surprised by the Baltimore Ravens run for the playoffs? The biggest question throughout the season was if Joe Flacco would have the goods at quarterback, but its not like he had to compete against a glittering history at the position.
The defense was sharp. Were Willis McGahee disappointed, Le’Ron McClain and Ray Rice stepped up and into success. And even McGahee is getting back to the form that we all expected.
You always expect the Ravens to run the ball and play defense, but what you didn’t expect is for the forward pass to be the offensive weapon that, at last, wasn’t pointed at their own skulls. In a history of skilled drafting, Joe Flacco proved to be the guy that whited-out Ozzie Newsome’s biggest tragedy in Kyle Boller. Flacco is unflappable, sneakily charismatic, and way more athletic than people may know. Wait until next year when it all makes sense to him.
Cam Cameron and Rex Ryan’s schemes, combined with John Harbaugh’s disciplinarian style made for potent mix of fire and dedication this year. Ryan may be on his way out, but the ground work may be laid for a young coordinator that likes to attack on defense. Somebody like Brian Stewart of the Dallas Cowboys.
So who is genuinely stunned that the Ravens won 11 games and returned to the playoffs for the second time in three seasons? Was it easily forseeable from Week 1? No. But based on the personnel and the heart of the team, no one could really claim that a season like this was impossible.
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