For the fourth straight year, the Baltimore Ravens have begun their season with a 3-1 record. It’s not just 2012 that’s been good to the Ravens, as they have won 10 straight divisional games (12 out of 13) and 14 straight home games (22 of 23). They’ve begun to establish their ideal offensive pace, mostly with the no-huddle offense, which has worked beautifully. Baltimore ranks fourth in total offense and is gaining an average of 424 yards per game (third in passing, 11th in rushing).
Defensively is where the weakness is. Currently Baltimore has the 25th overall defense (390.2 yards allowed per game), although its scoring defense is 10th (20.8 points allowed per game). Even though points allowed is the only stat that matters, that is subpar for a traditional Ravens defense. Sure they’ve played some explosive offenses, but this group isn’t one for excuses. They know they can and need to play better.
All that said, Baltimore is 3-1 (2-0 in division) and in sole possession of first place. In essence, the Ravens are two points away from being undefeated. Like we knew, this is a talented, diversely skilled team that is built to peak in December and January.
For now, here are my grades for each position:
Quarterback
Grade: A+
Key Player: Joe Flacco
Courtesy: sports.yahoo.com
Analysis: Flacco is on pace to set career marks in every major category. Before Week 4 began, he was second in the NFL in passing yards.
After four games, Flacco is easily on the short list for AFC Pro Bowl quarterbacks. He’s also on a list for the league MVP award. Flacco is unquestionably playing the best football of his life—of course, that’s due in part to all of his offensive weapons. Still, someone needs to command and adjust the offense, and execute the play-calls, which Flacco has done very well so far.
In Weeks 6 and 7, he will face the first- and second-best defenses in the league (Dallas, at Houston), which will be a good evaluator of his early success. At least for now the Ravens are winning because of Flacco, and not in spite of him.
Running Back
Grade: A
Key Player: Ray Rice
Analysis: Rice is yet again off to his usual blistering start. He’s averaging five yards per carry and 7.9 yards per reception. He’s also averaging 123 total yards of offense per game, despite the team throwing on 62.1 percent of their plays. Rice’s protection is solid, and he continues to display rare elusiveness in the open field.
Bernard Pierce has been a pleasant addition to the Baltimore backfield. In 17 rushing attempts, he’s gained 88 yards (5.2 per carry). When you see him giving a good effort when not much is expected of him, you know Baltimore has the right player. Vonta Leach is leading the charge for the Ravens’ 11th-ranked rushing offense and has contributed eight receptions for 56 yards on his own. As the fullback position is fading away, Leach remains a force that few opposing players (if any) want to deal with.
Receivers/Tight Ends
Grade: A+
Key Player: Torrey Smith
Analysis: Of the 21 wide receivers who have at least 15 receptions this season, Smith leads them all with an average of 20.8 yards per reception. Of that same group, only Julio Jones (Atlanta) and Mike Wallace (Pittsburgh) have three receiving touchdowns like Smith does. So far, we’ve seen what Smith worked on in the offseason: not being just a deep threat. He’s running more types of routes, and his yards after the catch are piling up. Right now, Smith has 332 receiving yards. This time last year, he had less than half that (153 yards receiving). It wasn’t until his eighth game last year that he eclipsed his current mark.
Anquan Boldin (eighth in NFL with 19 receptions), Jacoby Jones (18.9 yards per reception) and Dennis Pitta (the second-best receiving tight end in the league with 18 receptions and 188 yards) also have shined through these first four games. With Smith and Jones taking the tops off coverages on the outside and with Boldin and Pitta working the soft spots in zones on the inside, this passing attack is quickly becoming one of the very best in the league.
Offensive Line
Grade: B-
Key Player: Kelechi Osemele
Analysis: If you followed this group in training camp, you’d be really surprised to see how well they’ve played together this early, considering they mixed and matched first-team units on almost a daily basis. Osemele has been just what the Ravens thought he would be: physical, mean, versatile and a finisher of blocks.
Courtesy: Lloyd Fox/Baltimore Sun
Ramon Harewood, who had yet to take a single NFL snap before this his third season, has started at left guard and played well throughout these first four games against some elite pass-rushers. Baltimore’s offensive front is 24th in sacks allowed (nine), but has only allowed five negative rushes in 97 attempts. For an offensive line whose starters’ average size is 6’4″ and 321 pounds and hasn’t played but four games together, I’d say the best is yet to come.
