The Ravens returned to the playoffs however crashed out after one spherical, with franchise quarterback Lamar Jackson nowhere to be seen due to a knee damage that stored him out the final six video games of the season.
They have been a goal-line fumble away from doubtlessly knocking off the Cincinnati Bengals, who reached their second consecutive AFC championship sport. Will that slim postseason defeat give them hope for 2023 or function a what-could-have-been epitaph for a yr outlined by missed alternatives?
Next up is a franchise-defining negotiation with Jackson, who might signal an extension, play subsequent season beneath the franchise tag or change into the centerpiece of a commerce that might drown out all different NFL headlines. As we glance again and look ahead, right here’s what Baltimore Sun reporter Childs Walker and editor C.J. Doon need to say in regards to the state of the Ravens:
How a lot optimism ought to the Ravens really feel primarily based on their near-miss towards the Bengals?
Walker: On a scale of 1 to 10, name it a six. The Ravens’ wild-card loss in Cincinnati confirmed what we knew all season: they might compete with anybody for 60 minutes. It additionally confirmed that even with an honest offensive efficiency, they’d battle to attain sufficient factors to knock off the league’s greatest. But the Ravens will spend the offseason figuring out they got here as shut as anybody to shutting down one of many NFL’s hottest groups.
That’s the important thing level. For all their struggles on offense and all of the uncertainty round Jackson’s future, the Ravens constructed a championship-caliber protection in 2022. With the addition of Roquan Smith, they’ve an elite pair of linebackers within the center to go together with their star-studded secondary and deep assortment of inside run crushers. If they discover a long-term associate for Marlon Humphrey at cornerback and if coordinator Mike Macdonald coaxes a breakout from both Odafe Oweh or David Ojabo, they might have the league’s greatest protection. We noticed this potential towards the Bengals, and it’s fairly a basis for subsequent yr.
Doon: They have been a 98-yard fumble return away from beating the crew that just about returned to the Super Bowl. I’d say that’s a fairly good motive to be optimistic about subsequent season. Macdonald would possibly already be among the best defensive coordinators within the league, and the Ravens might have a extra balanced assault subsequent season with a wholesome Jackson and a brand new offensive coordinator. Nobody is keen on ethical victories in January, however on the finish of the day, the Ravens went punch-for-punch towards an elite crew with their backup quarterback.
If Eric DeCosta can’t make progress in negotiations with Lamar Jackson over the following two months, how aggressively ought to he discover a commerce?
Walker: At his postseason information convention, DeCosta refused to entertain speak of a Jackson commerce. He stated his complete focus is on negotiating an extension with the quarterback he known as “a fantastic competitor, one of the most infectious personalities you’ll ever see, one of the most talented players in the league.” He showered followers with optimism, whilst nationwide commentators predicted Jackson’s exit from Baltimore.
In actuality, all prospects need to be on the desk as DeCosta, Harbaugh and proprietor Steve Bisciotti plot their future. If there isn’t a monetary compromise to be discovered — and it doesn’t appear Jackson and the Ravens have come shut at this level — DeCosta might use the franchise tag to bide time. This wouldn’t be the worst factor; he has budgeted for the chance, and the Ravens would stay a contender in 2023 with Jackson at quarterback. If DeCosta involves consider Jackson won’t ever conform to the Ravens’ value, nonetheless, a commerce would make sense. If the Ravens are going to begin over at quarterback, they may as effectively do it on the identical time a brand new offensive coordinator is implementing his imaginative and prescient. But they need to solely commerce Jackson if the draft capital obtained in return would put them in place to draft a prime prospect. Think Alabama’s Bryce Young or Ohio State’s C.J. Stroud. Their roster is just too good for DeCosta to ship Jackson packing with out seeing a direct path to selecting his substitute.
Doon: As former agent and present CBS Sports analyst Joel Corry not too long ago stated on the “Ross Tucker Podcast,” 2024 is when the rubber meets the highway for the Ravens and Jackson. If they will’t attain a deal this offseason, making use of the unique franchise tag at the price of roughly $45 million is price it for the Ravens to see if they will rebuild this offense across the 2019 MVP. If Jackson threatens to carry out and never signal the tag, then a commerce may be inevitable. But the Ravens must be affected person and see what Jackson thinks about enjoying one other season on a one-year deal earlier than parting with their largest star.
Aside from Jackson’s extension, what’s the Ravens’ most urgent piece of enterprise this offseason?
Walker: They want a large receiver. Again. But DeCosta additionally must discover a younger starter at cornerback, the place the Ravens have but to develop an apparent successor to Marcus Peters. They might convey the 30-yard-old Peters again as a short-term resolution if he’s keen to conform to a modest deal. But they need to assume Peters’ days as an elite turnover creator are behind him and look to draft Humphrey’s subsequent associate. The Ravens should not devoid of younger expertise on the place. Brandon Stephens made some essential performs late within the season along with his rugged type. Jalyn Armour-Davis is a brilliant man with Alabama pedigree and standout bodily instruments. Damarion “Pepe” Williams might earn snaps as a slot nook. But none of them seized the chance introduced by Peters’ accidents. DeCosta might discover a starter with the twenty second choose within the first spherical, and that must be his objective.
Doon: Figuring out their offensive identification. That’s portray with a broad brush, however it’s a real inflection level contemplating contract negotiations with Jackson and the arrival of a brand new offensive coordinator. The Ravens have to strike a steadiness between a punishing working sport and an environment friendly passing assault, one thing they’ve accomplished spectacularly in a number of video games however by no means constantly throughout a complete season. Only then can they be thought of true contenders in a convention that’s solely getting stronger.
As John Harbaugh searches for Greg Roman’s substitute, which traits ought to he prioritize?
Walker: So a lot of this will depend on Jackson. Will the brand new coordinator be charged with serving to him attain the following stage or with coaching his substitute? Either approach, Harbaugh doesn’t appear inclined to throw out all of the Ravens constructed beneath Roman. He must discover a coordinator who excels at connecting with quarterbacks whereas additionally holding the working sport central. Minnesota Vikings passing sport coordinator Brian Angelichio, Philadelphia Eagles quarterbacks coach Brian Johnson or San Francisco 49ers passing sport coordinator Bobby Slowik would convey this desired steadiness. Harbaugh promised to contemplate inner candidates equivalent to tight ends coach George Godsey, large receivers coach Tee Martin and quarterbacks coach James Urban, however an out of doors perspective could be higher given the Ravens’ lack of progress over the past two seasons.
Doon: Someone who appears for the straightforward stuff. According to the NFL’s Next Gen Stats, Jackson’s common supposed air yards per try — that means how honest he threw the ball downfield — was 8.8 in 2022, one of many highest within the league. His common time to throw of three.0 seconds additionally ranked fourth, partly due to his potential to scramble. The Ravens shouldn’t take away the deep passing sport from Jackson’s arsenal, however they should get the ball out of his arms faster and incorporate extra brief passes. It additionally wouldn’t damage to depend on extra play-action, which has confirmed to be one of the crucial efficient instruments in soccer. According to TruMedia, the Ravens ranked simply twenty fifth in anticipated factors added per play-action play this previous season.
Which Raven are you most keen to look at when the crew reassembles subsequent summer season?
Walker: Rashod Bateman. So a lot of the Ravens’ hope for his or her passing offense hinged on a breakout season from their 2021 first-round choose. They and he jumped to a scorching begin, however a Lisfranc damage shut Bateman down, and he was sorely missed because the Ravens scrounged for touchdowns within the second half of the season. Bateman bristles on the notion he’s injury-prone, noting that was by no means the case in school. But he must play a full NFL season and carry out extra constantly than he did when energetic in 2022. He has flashed elite expertise, beating cornerbacks with sharp strikes off the road of scrimmage and snatching balls out of the air in site visitors. He has additionally dropped passes at essential moments and has performed simply 18 video games over his first two seasons. Harbaugh stated Bateman will quickly be wholesome sufficient to run at full pace and can have a full offseason to organize for coaching camp. He desires to be nice, and the Ravens desperately want him to get there.
Doon: J.Okay. Dobbins. We noticed how good he might be as a rookie in 2020, when he led the league with 6.0 yards per carry. While nonetheless recovering from a significant knee damage, which ultimately required a second surgical procedure, he averaged 5.7 yards per carry this previous season. If Dobbins can regain the burst and steadiness that makes him almost inconceivable to convey down, the Ravens can have among the best working backs within the league on the middle of their offense.
Come subsequent fall, will the Ravens be a Super Bowl contender or a rebuilding venture?
Walker: They gained’t be within the interior circle of contenders however will likely be nearer to the highest of the league than the center. Harbaugh and DeCosta made it clear they’ve little interest in rebuilding. They have the protection, offensive line and working sport to win now. Jackson is the good unknown. Will he be the crew’s quarterback in 2023? Will his manufacturing rise within the context of a refreshed passing sport? Can he make it to the tip of a season after accidents minimize brief his final two? Will he present up joyful and on time if the Ravens use the franchise tag to maintain him in place? The guess right here is that he will likely be round for no less than yet one more season and that the Ravens’ 2022 efficiency would be the flooring for what they will accomplish in 2023.
Doon: It’s onerous to examine Harbaugh main a rebuild, as a result of we’ve by no means seen it. Even his most disappointing seasons — except for a 5-11 marketing campaign in 2015 after quarterback Joe Flacco obtained damage — hovered round .500 and carried playoff aspirations a lot of the approach. It’s additionally onerous to see the Ravens lifting the Lombardi Trophy given how troublesome a highway it’s within the AFC. Assuming Jackson returns and jells along with his new offensive coordinator, the Ravens can have a combating probability towards the Bengals, Chiefs and Bills. But they may be extra akin to the Jaguars, Chargers and Dolphins within the second tier of contenders than they need to admit.
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Source: www.bostonherald.com