At the start of the season, hopes were high in Baltimore.
The team had drafted well and filled positions of need, and fans were promised
a good look at Breshard Perriman within the week. Now here we are, 6 days into
2016, with the 6th pick in the 2016 Draft. Where did it all go
wrong?
The
obvious answer is injuries. Terrell Suggs, Steve Smith Sr., and Joe Flacco, the
unquestioned leaders and poster boys of one of the most successful franchises
of the past decade all went down with season-ending injuries. Sure Suggs is 33, and Smith is 37, but these are fearsome competitors, meanwhile Joe
Flacco didn’t miss a snap in 7 and a half years before succumbing to a freak
ACL/MCL tear. Even though these three injuries certainly contributed to the
demise of the 2015 Baltimore Ravens, it was arguably the others who landed on
Injured Reserve throughout the season who caused as much, if not more,
disruption as the three figureheads of the franchise. Starting C Jeremy Zuttah,
starting RB Justin Forsett, starting TEs Dennis Pitta and Crockett Gillmore all
had two things in common. All ended the season on IR or the Physically Unable
to Perform lists. All of them were also starters. Alongside them, impact names
like Michael Campanaro, Darren Waller, Marlon Brown, and Matt Elam also ended
on IR. In total there were 26 names on the list come the end of the season, the
highest number in the entire league.
Despite
all injuries, the performance of the team was admirable. The first 12 games
of the season were decided by 8 points or fewer, the longest such stretch to
begin a season in NFL history. Some players also stepped up big time,
continuing the Ravens’ log-held tradition of “next man up”. Punter Sam Koch had
a Pro Bowl year, as did G Marshal Yanda, one of the best in the business since
he was drafted in 2007. Outside of those two big performers, from whom fans at
M+T Bank Stadium have come to expect greatness, there were also glimmers of
light from less well-known names. 4th round draft pick Za’Darius
Smith gave fans déja vu. Wearing #90, and sporting dreadlocks, he looked just
like recently departed OLB Pernell McPhee as he racked up 30 tackles, 5.5 sacks, and 1 PD in his rookie. Could he be the long-term option once Suggs
and Dumervil leave Charm City? Another bright spot from this year was the play
of Kamar Aiken, who was thrust into the no. 1 WR slot after Smith Sr. went
down. Finishing the season with 75 receptions for 944 yards and 5 TDs, Aiken
took hit after hit and just jumped back up, made plays, and caught touchdowns
for 4 different QBs, an incredible feat for a 4th year veteran with only 14
starts in his NFL career.
Moving
forward, the Ravens’ front office personnel, widely considered one of the best
in the league, must make big decisions about numerous players, as well as
preparing for the Draft in April. Personally, I can forsee the team holding on
to perpetually injured TE Dennis Pitta for financial reasons. Kelechi Osemele,
who has played both LG and LT this season, is another player who needs a big
decision to be made about his future on the team, as he could command big money
in Free Agency if the Ravens’ don’t act fast. Meanwhile, Joe Flacco’s injury
should make it easier for the Ravens to reduce his hit on the salary cap in
their favour. With such a high draft pick, fans will expect and instant impact
to be made by at least the first and second round picks.
At
the end of the day though, there is only one man who can really right the ship
after this disastrous season, and as the old saying goes on that part of the
East Coast; “In Ozzie We Trust”.
No comments:
Post a Comment