Rate the 2009 Ravens Season

[vmax]

As we head into the off season I thought I'd wrap up my thoughts on the 2009 Ravens season while they are still fresh and I'd like to hear yours as well...with an A, B, C, D, and F rating.

 

I can't give them a 'C' because that's average and teams don't make the playoffs every year. An 'A' feels too high comming off of the 2008 season which was an over achieving 'A' in my book. So it looks like a 'B-' because the expectation was to make the playoffs and they did. They finished in the final 8 but the up and down, lack of consistency gives them the '-' in my book. The strong start and then the fumbling around middle part of the season taints the 'B'...getting swept by the Bengals does too. The coaching staff has to do better winning in the division.

 

 

Here's some of the highlights from the Ravens website...

 

The Ravens produced the top 3 offensive games in teamhistory: 548 yards vs. Detroit, 501 vs. Kansas City and 479 vs. Cleveland. Baltimore also tied the franchise record for points in a season (391) and set a new record for total TDs (47).

• For the 1st time in teamhistory, Baltimore had a 3,000-yard passer (Joe Flacco - 3,613), a 1,000-yard rusher (Ray Rice - 1,339) and a 1,000-yard receiver (DerrickMason - 1,028) in the same season.

• Here are other team records set by the offense: Flacco’s 88.9 QB rating and completion percentage (63.1), and Rice’s rushing yards per attempt (5.3). Three marks fell just short (2nd) of team records: Rice’s total yards fromscrimmage (2,041), Flacco’s completions (315) and his yards per attempt (7.24).

• Baltimore finished 5th in NFL rushing yards (2,200 for 137.5 ypg).

• Most impressive individuals included Rice, who finished 6th in the NFL in rushing and 1st among RBs in catches (78) and receiving yards (702); WR Derrick Mason caught 73 passes.

 

• The Ravens’ defense finished 3rd in the NFL in total yards (300.5) and 3rd in points allowed (16.3). (It was the 7th consecutive season Baltimore’s defense finished in the NFL’s top 6.)

• The Ravens finished 2nd in the NFL for fewest TDs allowed, including 4 games when the defense allowed no TDs, and 2 more when it gave up just 1.

• The defense was 1st in rushing yards per attempt (3.4) and 8th (tied) in passing yards per game (207.3). Baltimore also held opposing QBs to a passer rating of 71.9 (6th in NFL). The redzone “D” (41.9 %) was 4th best in the NFL.

 

• The Ravens were 1st in the NFL in kickoff return average (26.2), despite using 3 different returners: CB Chris Carr (24.2) started the season and was replaced by CB Lardarius Webb (26.2), who was placed on IR, and then RB Jalen Parmele (31.4) stepped in.

• Importantly, special teams provided the Ravens’ offense with the NFL’s 5th-best average starting field position (31.8).

 

 

There was the great playoff win over the Patriots...the big win over the Chargers, beating the Steelers in OT.

There were the heart breaking losses to the Colts, Vikings and the regular season Pats game...and the refusal to sign Stover is a lowlight in my book.

 

The Michael Oher story. Two Thumbs Up.

 

and... Ray Lewis continues to beat Father Time...

 

Let's add one future prediction because Joe is growing as a franchise QB...

 

One day it will be the other way around Joe.

[oldno82]

As we head into the off season I thought I'd wrap up my thoughts on the 2009 Ravens season while they are still fresh and I'd like to hear yours as well...with an A, B, C, D, and F rating.

 

I can't give them a 'C' because that's average and teams don't make the playoffs every year. An 'A' feels too high comming off of the 2008 season which was an over achieving 'A' in my book. So it looks like a 'B-' because the expectation was to make the playoffs and they did. They finished in the final 8 but the up and down, lack of consistency gives them the '-' in my book. The strong start and then the fumbling around middle part of the season taints the 'B'...getting swept by the Bengals does too. The coaching staff has to do better winning in the division.

 

 

Here's some of the highlights from the Ravens website...

 

 

 

 

There was the great playoff win over the Patriots...the big win over the Chargers, beating the Steelers in OT.

There were the heart breaking losses to the Colts, Vikings and the regular season Pats game...and the refusal to sign Stover is a lowlight in my book.

 

The Michael Oher story. Two Thumbs Up.

 

and... Ray Lewis continues to beat Father Time...

 

Let's add one future prediction because Joe is growing as a franchise QB...

 

One day it will be the other way around Joe.

 

 

I would agree, Max. A B- for the year. By the way, I disagree with Preston and would give Flacco a B- for the season as well. He started out hot but something with the offense floundered in mid-season and then he got hurt. I was out of the country during the losses to the Bengals and Pats so I don't really know what happened there and thats when things started to go south.

[geo]

I come to the same result B to B-. Nevermind The Pats game.. And I give a B.

 

It was a season with so many confusing signs. However we have to evaluate from where we came from. Was we the finalist in AFC Championship, yeah, the second best team last year in the AFC probably not.

 

We knew our offense was young and would give us mixed results, one game great another not that great, 3 vets and Mark Clayton from 2005 and then four starters from 07, two from 08 and a rookie.

 

Joe Flacco have a lot to do when we evaluate this season and it should be like that, and for me the best way to describe his season is the two Steelers games, both games where he as a player took revenge from last season, the games.. typical Steelers games we won one we lost one and it was close.

 

Our defense well if we read the preview for 2009, it would be like: Expect Ravens to take a step back, it will be strong but the loss of Rex, Bart.. + aging D. Was it like that?

 

Never, first our secondary struggled, well it was probably the entire D who struggled and the result was that our CBs looked terrible and then later it was pretty much business as usual, I think Mattison did the job, and that he started Ellerbe and Webb is a reason why I am feeling pretty good about our D today.

 

One thing though who was our 3 most valuable players on D in 2008? Ngata, Suggs and Reed if you ask me and it was not even close. Same question in 2009 who was the MVP on D in 2009? Ngata was still a beast and probably the closest to make the same effort still not quite. So who? Ray and JJ and then maybe one of the 3 from last season in strong competetion with Edwards and in the last ten games Fox and Landry.

 

Btw our first games in the season in the last four years have been pretty indicative, how our season become.

 

2006 Destroying Bucs.

2007 Injuries, heartbreaking loss and turnovers to Bungles.

2008 Run, run, run and strong D against Bungles.

2009 Vs KC with 5 minutes left after pure domination and mental mistakes still 24-24..

[cravnravn]

Im disapointed as the next guy, I really thought after the 08 season, that this "is it".

 

The mental letdowns vs The Bengals really destroyed me, Not resigning Stover was a "no biggie" to me at first..I figured father time caught up to Matt, now he is hours away from his 3rd Super Bowl ring..Boy was I wrong with that one.

 

I love stats, and seeing where the Ravens D finished at #3 is mind boggling, especially the Pass D. Ray will be Ray, I dont care if hes 45, if he has the umpf to get out there then let him get out there, he is a force any time he steps on the field.

 

If the FO cant see what we see every Sunday with our passing game or lack there of, They cant be satisfied of what is on the field. We will wear Ray Rice out, thers no way he can be Joes go to guy. We need 3 Kelly Washingtons, hes the only player besides Mason that gets any kind of seperation from the DB's..

 

But looking back, yes we did make the playoffs thats outstanding, considering that 50% of the teams from 08 failed to make the playoffs in 09, the only ones that are repeaters are the Colts, Bolts and Ravens. Thats an accomplishment in itself right there.

 

Overall I call this season a B-, we are only 1-2 players away from guaranteeing the Ravens as 10+ wins per season for years to come, that O Line is as good as it gets..

[dapetes]

Don't forget Matt is field goal kicker at this point in his career. He has no hang time on kickoffs. That being said. Stover could have taken Demetrius roster spot. Stover was about money. I think he wanted to much to be an exclusive field goal kicker and the Ravens would not pay him the money plus use a spot. The old saying being in the right place at the right time applies to Matt. If the colts hadn't have lost their kicker he would still be at home tonite. Better to be lucky than good.

[supaflysteeler]

I Would rate your season 68% out of 100.

 

You guys were really inconsistent this season.

 

But you also found a gem in Ray Rice.

[SpearSrai]

I Would rate your season 68% out of 100.

 

You guys were really inconsistent this season.

 

But you also found a gem in Ray Rice.

 

So our season was a D, even though we destroyed one of the AFC favorites, on the road, in the playoffs? Even though we played the AFC Champs (and possible Super Bowl champs) tough, twice, holding the Colts offense to 17 and 20 points?

 

No, that can't be right. Has to be in the 80's.

[varaven45]

I'd give us a B. I thought before the season began we would be between 7-9 and 9-7, esp w/o drafting a top flight CB and WR.

So, from my perspective, I thought we overachieved.

 

On a side note, we had a rather disfunctional team - world beaters one game, horrible the next. Smoked the Broncos one week, lay an egg against the Bungles on another week.

 

This next season is critical for the organization as we would make the postseason 3 times in a row. Dont think we have done that yet.

If we are going to take a step and join the NFL's elite, we have GOT to significantly improve our secondary, pass rush and WR corps.

Joe needs to elevate his game.

 

The future, with the right moves, could be very, very exciting