4-Down Territory: Baltimore Ravens

The Baltimore Ravens are usually a team built from its defense. 2017 was no different for the Ravens, as they finished sixth in the NFL in scoring defense (303 against) and 12th in total yards allowed (5,201). Offensively, the Ravens were dreadful when it came to yardage in 2017. Baltimore ranked 27th in total yards (4,886), 29th in passing yards (3,030).

To make the playoffs, the Ravens just needed to stop the Cincinnati Bengals on fourth and 12. They couldn’t do it, with cornerback Maurice Canady being left out of position and safety Eric Weddle having to cheat up to attempt to salvage the play. With that loss, Baltimore ended their season at 9-7 with a sour taste in their mouths. Would they allow things to stay the same or would they go in a completely different direction this offseason?

They would choose the later.

First Down: Will Joe Flacco start for the entire season?

With the drafting of rookie quarterback Lamar Jackson during this offseason in the first round, some outsiders believe that he has the chance to start day one. Flacco had an extremely poor season in 2017, passing for 3,141 yards, 18 touchdowns and 13 interceptions over 16 games. Despite that, he is penciled in as the starter for the present and the near future.

The 10-year veteran hasn’t had a healthy offseason since 2015, dealing with a knee injury during the 2016 offseason and a back injury in 2017. Baltimore has also brought in three new receivers in free agency (Michael Crabtree, John Brown and Willie Snead IV), drafted two receivers (Jaleel Scott and Jordan Lasley) and two tight ends (Hayden Hurst and Mark Andrews). Flacco hasn’t had that quantity of offensive firepower in years and with that new bevy of receivers on the team, he will be more open to change down the line.

“I think Joe as a person is just open to change, very open to new ideas,” Snead IV said of Flacco. “I think that’s one of the things that I’ve realized working with him the past couple months. He’s always open, and I can tell him something or speak what I’m feeling, and he takes it with a positive energy.”

In addition to Flacco’s willingness to adapt, Jackson hasn’t looked very crisp in camp, missing multiple passes and having issues with his throwing mechanics. Robert Griffin III has actually looked like the number two quarterback. If Griffin is ahead of Jackson in the depth chart right now, that bodes well for Flacco to keep his job for the entire year.

Second Down: Who will the starting center in Week 1?

It all depends on the health and play of multiple people on the offensive line. With right guard Marshal Yanda out, James Hurst has been starting a right guard. Ronnie Stanley will be the starter at left tackle, as long as he stays healthy. Alex Lewis has been taking snaps at center and left guard. Matt Skura has been taking the majority of his snaps at center.

Particularly with the Ravens, they’ve looked for beef at the center position over the last few seasons. With Jeremy Zuttah (6’4, 303) being pushed around and being primarily effective in only a zone blocking scheme, the Ravens went with Ryan Jensen (6’4, 319) as their starting center in 2017. Lewis is the taller man (6’6, 305), with the ability to add extra weight to his frame. Skura (6’3, 313) is a more compact frame and has the experience playing center in college.

Offensive guard Marshal Yanda #73 of the Baltimore Ravens holds in ankle before exiting the game with an injury against the Cleveland Browns at M&T Bank Stadium on September 17, 2017 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Sept. 16, 2017 - Source: Patrick Smith/Getty Images North America)

Though the two have been trading snaps at center during camp, it is believed that they could be preparing for life without Yanda for an extended period of time. He is currently on the PUP list after receiving shoulder surgery during the offseason, the same shoulder that caused him to swap guard positions. It was initially believed that Yanda was on the PUP list for his ankle injury, that he suffered early last season against the Cleveland Browns. This could mean an extended period of time that the Ravens don’t get their future Hall of Fame offensive lineman back.

If they don’t get Yanda back for the first six weeks of the regular season, they have both Skura and Lewis who can play center. Lewis has drawn a lot of praise from his coaches as well.

“The good news is, I think he [Lewis] can [play center],” offensive line coach Joe D’Alessandris said on Saturday. “I think he’s smart enough to do it. He likes to do it, he wants to do it. So that’s encouraging, because some people rebel. He doesn’t. He’s grasped every opportunity and said, ‘You know what, give me a chance and let’s see what I can do with this.’ So that’s good and that’s a good thing for all of them. And really, all of them have that same mindset.”

Though it is important to note that Lewis is versatile and can play all five positions, he is currently best as a left guard. Even when Yanda does return, Skura and Lewis could be penned-in together at the starting left guard and center position. For continuity’s sake, Skura will most likely be Baltimore’s starter because the team doesn’t have a left guard that is as quality as Lewis, though placing him at center would be a plus if they had someone better at the position.

Third Down: How deep is Baltimore’s secondary?

Cornerback Jimmy Smith has been far ahead of schedule for Baltimore. The 29-year old corner stepped onto the field during the first day of minicamp and hasn’t looked back since. Smith had three interceptions and nine interception before his Achilles in December and less than one year later, he’s back practicing in full pads. That bodes well for a Ravens defense that has added a young corner in the draft and a young safety to go with him.

Anthony Averett and DeShon Elliott have been logging many reps in practice. When the pads have come on, both rookies have shown why they were coveted by the Ravens. Averett has good ball skills and has a knack for tipping passes in the air. On a few plays against Baltimore’s top receivers, Averett has been able be a pest and cause trouble for receivers. Elliott has made big hit after big hit from the free safety position, lowering the boom in Saturday’s practice on wide receiver Andre Levrone. He has done the same to tight ends and other receivers too.

Baltimore also gets back slot man Tavon Young. Young tore his ACL before the 2017 season, but was primed to get a heavy dosage of time after having a strong rookie campaign. In 2016, Young had the

“I think the only challenge is his confidence, and he’s confident,” said Ravens defensive coordinator Don “Wink” Martindale. “He’s a pit bull out there. He’s the epitome of Raven defense, when you’re talking about attitude. I know he’s smaller size, but he’s fun to watch.”

With cornerbacks Marlon Humphrey, Brandon Carr and Maurice Canady, plus safeties Eric Weddle and Tony Jefferson returning for another season, Baltimore should be able to add to an already vicious defense. Baltimore led the NFL in takeaways last season (34), had the fourth-most fumbles recovered (12) and had the most interceptions (22). It sounds like a recipe for success with a new defensive coordinator, who likes to put as much pressure on the quarterback as possible and will return players to their natural positions.

This is the deepest secondary in the NFL if they can stay healthy.

Fourth Down: Will the Ravens return to the playoffs?

Watching the Ravens from camp, it looks as if the team is raring to go. They have added more pieces at wide receiver, with all three building a rapport with Flacco. The offensive line isn’t a finished product, but players look more lean and versatile than ever. Baltimore’s running back group isn’t a question mark, with the emergence of Alex Collins and the sturdy Javorius Allen. Their tight end group is impressive, even with their first-round pick Hayden Hurst dropping passes — Maxx Williams and Nick Boyle look like they belong.

That’s just the offense.

For another year, the Ravens have outside linebacker Terrell Suggs. Matt Judon looks to keep churning away, after having a breakout eight-sack season last year. Baltimore has added inside linebacker Kenny Young in the draft, to pair with All-Pro middle linebacker C.J. Mosley. Lining up at defensive tackle is Brandon Williams, with Michael Pierce at nose tackle and Brent Urban lining up at defensive end. What’s even more eye-opening is that defensive linemen Carl Davis, Willie Henry and Chris Wormley sit behind all three players and are all in good shape.

On paper and without outside factors such as injuries to other clubs that they play or suspensions, Baltimore looks like an 11-5 team. That would be good enough for them to make it to the playoffs in most years and have opportunity to even compete for an AFC North title. If Baltimore stays healthy, they finally have the most pieces that they’ve had on both sides of the football since 2011 — the year a Billy Cundiff kick ruined their chances at going to the Super Bowl.

It’s just training camp though and no one knows how the team will look against live hitting. Thursday will make the difference, as they take on the Chicago Bears in the Pro Football Hall of Fame Game.

Follow Kyle on Twitter @KyleAndrews1994