Baltimore Ravens Team Report by Clayton Gray
| Bal Projections (9/3) | Passing Stats | Rush Stats | Receiving Stats | Fantasy | |||||||||||
| Change | Name | Pos | Att | Comp | % | Yds | TD | Int | Att | Yds | TD | Rec | Yds | TD | Pts |
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#fname# #lname# | #pos# | #NumberFormat("#pts#", '__,_____')# | ||||||||||||
| Totals | #NumberFormat("#tot_patt#", '__,_____')# | #NumberFormat("#tot_pcmp#", '__,_____')# | #NumberFormat("#evaluate(100*tot_pcmp/tot_patt)#", '_____._')#% | #NumberFormat("#tot_pyds#", '__,_____')# | #NumberFormat("#tot_ptds#", '__,_____')# | #NumberFormat("#tot_int#", '__,_____')# | #NumberFormat("#tot_ratt#", '__,_____')# | #NumberFormat("#tot_ryds#", '__,_____')# | #NumberFormat("#tot_rtds#", '__,_____')# | #NumberFormat("#tot_rec#", '__,_____')# | #NumberFormat("#tot_cyds#", '__,_____')# | #NumberFormat("#tot_ctds#", '__,_____')# | #NumberFormat("#tot_pts#", '__,_____')# | ||
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Quarterbacks Starter - Chris Redman Backups - Jesse Palmer, Jason Garrett Starting Quarterback: Head Coach Brian Billick adamantly states the starting job is Chris Redman's without question. Of course there are few questions until the team starts losing. How quick will the hook be when/if the loses start to pile up? At the moment, it looks like Redman could be a mild sleeper at the QB position, but his less-than-stellar supporting cast will likely keep his numbers down. That said, if you're in a large league, having Redman as your 3rd QB wouldn't be too bad of a deal. Backup Quarterback(s): Blake obviously has the experience edge on Redman and would probably outperform the younger QB if given an shot this year. However, the Ravens have already stated they realize this is a rebuilding year. Unless the 3rd year Redman just completely falls flat, Blake will get very few reps. However, if Redman is lost for the year, it would not be surprising to see Jeff Blake come in and show some flashes. If an injury to Redman does occur, Blake would be a tantalizing option. Cleo Lemon sounds cool, but offers little more than zero fantasy potential. Running Backs Starter - Jamal Lewis Backups - Chester Taylor, Tellis Redmon, Derek Homer Starting Running Back: After tearing his ACL during the 2001 training camp, Jamal Lewis has to be chomping at the bit for 2002 to arrive. We've seen him in action exactly one time this preseason, and we're rightly impressed with his recovery. He appears to be running like the Lewis of 2000, but one must certain err on the side of caution with these knee injuries. To project a return of his 2000 numbers would be foolish. RBs just simply have a difficult time returning from knee injuries. Lewis will have a difficult time. It won't be any easier with the average talent that surrounds him. That said, we like Lewis to rank around the #25 RB. He's certainly worth having on your roster. Backup Running Back(s): It's obvious that Baltimore expected Lewis to return this season as Chester Taylor, Tellis Redmon, and Derek Homer aren't exactly a stable of thoroughbreds waiting in the wings. If Lewis can't make it, look for Taylor to get first crack. However, if Lewis can't make it, don't expect much production from anyone. Fullback(s): Alan Ricard, Sean Gregory, Marvin Brown: You know how at a college basketball game, when the opposing starting lineup is announced, the student body chants, "Who's he?" and similar phrases? That's what I'm thinking of here. Wide Receivers / Tight Ends Starters - Travis Taylor, Brandon Stokley Backups - Ron Johnson, Kenyon Hambrick, Lamont Brightful Starting Receiver(s): This season is obviously being looked at in Baltimore as a rebuilding year. It's now or never for Travis Taylor. Qadry Ismail is gone, and Brandon Stokley is certainly not a #1 WR. Taylor must step to the forefront. We think he will and have him down for 1000+ yards receiving to go with a half-dozen TDs. Look for Stokley to get about half that. Backup Receiver(s): With time, Ron Johnson could become a quality fantasy WR. Right now though there are only so many balls to go around (especially with Redman tossing them). Taylor will get his share, and there just won't much left over. Tight End(s): Todd Heap, John Jones Lately it seems, the draft produces the "next big thing" at TE. In 1999, it was Bubba Franks. Last year, it was Todd Heap. This year, it's Jeremy Shockey. After Franks' rookie season, many people wrote him off and looked at the new class of rookies. Franks rated as the #6 TE in his sophomore campaign. Now, after Heap's rookie season, many are writing him off and looking at Shockey (the new "next best thing"). Don't be those people. Heap will become the Ravens' security blanket this season. We have him ranked as the #6 TE this season. He will be available a little later than most TEs in the top 10 and will help you to a successful 2002 season. Place Kicker Matt Stover: Here's a case of an excellent NFL kicker being a poor fantasy kicker. Unless Chris Redman sets the world on fire this year, there simply won't be enough opportunities for Stover to shine. One thing's for sure though: he has no competition for the job. Stover will be the kicker all season barring injury. Defense Scheme can only get a team so far. To be a successful NFL defense, the talent has to be there. Michael McCrary, Ray Lewis, and Peter Boulware are certainly among the best at their respective positions, but the remainder of the defense is a (to put it mildly) a bit thin. Gone are Jamie Sharper, Rod Woodson, Rob Burnett, Tony Siragusa, Sam Adams, Duane Starks, and Corey Harris. In are the likes of Anthony Weaver, Kelly Gregg, Edgerton Hartwell, and Anthony Mitchell. That's not going to cut it. Ray Lewis will only will this group so far as they simply do not have the talent to be an upper tier fantasy defense. This is a perfect example of name recognition being greater than actual ability. Let someone else take the Ravens as a unit. On the other hand there are some excellent players here if you're into IDPs. LB Ray Lewis and DL Michael McCrary are among the elite at their respective position. Also, don't overlook LB Peter Boulware. Finally, the rookie S Ed Reed is one to watch as he'll likely have ample opportunity to collect good tackle numbers. Coaching Head man Brian Billick is considered to be an excellent teacher and should do well with this inexperienced unit. He realizes this is a different team and will be able to adjust his coaching style. The youngsters will learn a lot from him this year. Whether they have the talent to display the new knowledge is another question. The staff as a whole took a big hit with the departure of defensive coordinator Marvin Lewis to Washington. Intangibles Can you say Lowered Expectations? Fresh off a run at back-to-back titles, rebuilding is definitely the word of the day in Baltimore. There is a core body of experienced veterans. If the Ravens can pull off a couple of early-season wins, you never know what could happen. |