vmax Posted February 6, 2013 Posted February 6, 2013 at repeating as Super Bowl Champs. Here’s a look at the last seven Super Bowl winners and what they’ve done the year after winning: Year Team Following Season 2011 New York Giants Missed Playoffs 2010 Green Bay Packers Eliminated In First Round 2009 New Orleans Saints Eliminated In First Round 2008 Pittsburgh Steelers Missed Playoffs 2007 New York Giants Eliminated In First Round 2006 Indianapolis Colts Eliminated In First Round 2005 Pittsburgh Steelers Missed Playoffs http://www.baltimoreravens.com/news/article-1/Will-Ravens-Repeat-As-Champs/027b8f1b-2641-4244-8382-adfb5d70fbc4 Quote
OutsideRzAcE Posted February 7, 2013 Posted February 7, 2013 They go from being the hunters to being the hunted. It'll be interesting to see how they handle the pressure and expectations of being the defending champs. Quote
cravnravn Posted February 7, 2013 Posted February 7, 2013 WE would have been repeaters this year if....Refs, Evans, Cundiff Quote
vmax Posted February 8, 2013 Author Posted February 8, 2013 There are factors working in the Ravens favor to make the playoffs next year despite the tight cap situation and very tough schedule. 1. They made the playoffs this year despite a ton of injuries. Usually that many injuries kills a teams season. Just being healthy this year will make a big difference.2. Many back ups had extenisive playing time and experience as a result of the injuries....and proved they were quality football players.3. Win the division and they are in. It's do-able. The Steelers are hurting bad. They have to make massive cuts to just get under the cap. It's definately a rebuiilding year for them. The Brownies? So the Bengals will be their only competition.4. The Ravens front office will not mortgage the future for another Super Bowl...for a repeat. That's good. The coaching staff has done an excellent job developing players as evidenced this past season. When unknowns had to step up, they were ready and steped up big. Don't sell this team short on the existing talent on the roster...it's deep.5. As for the schedule....that's what you want. Compete with the best and you'll learn how to beat the best.6. The offense will be lights out with Caldwell. Special Teams will be damn good and the D????? We'll see. They have to get better and that can happen too. Quote
oldno82 Posted February 8, 2013 Posted February 8, 2013 They need, somehow, to have a very good draft: ILB, FS (assuming Ed's gone), DT, LT on O for starters. Joe won't perform well if he can't get protection---we all saw how good he was in the playoffs with McKinnie back in. Who played LT and RT in the Giants game? Anybody remember? If I remember right Joe had a good game that day and McKinnie wasn't in yet. I hope they can keep Boldin but I have a feeling he's going to be a cap casualty. We need somebody to step up there too. Suggs being healthy and hopefully fit will be great for our pass rush and having Webb back is priceless. They won't collapse next year but winning the division will be tough. Quote
OutsideRzAcE Posted February 9, 2013 Posted February 9, 2013 WE would have been repeaters this year if....Refs, Evans, Cundiff Losing in that fashion drove them to win this year. If they had beat NE I don't know if they would have had the drive to come back and fight through adversity like they did this year. The Ravens have already been good at taking failure and turning it into a driver for success. They blew the two TD lead @ Pittsburgh in the playoffs a two years ago, then came back and swept the Steelers the next year. Last year they blew it against NE and used it as motivation to come back beat NE and win the SB. Think about the Denver game...this team was just not going to lose no matter how many times they had to come back. Now there is no giant failure to drive them...it'll be interesting to see if they can find something else to motivate them. Quote
vmax Posted February 9, 2013 Author Posted February 9, 2013 Good points OTR.When they went into New England this year they were not intimidated. They were not nervous. They KNEW they would win and how to do it. It was not going to end like last year. Shutting out the Pats in the second half was an incredible statement on how determined all 53 were.Sometimes you have to climb the mountain, slid down some, come back and make that finaly push tothe summit.That's what they did for the 4 previous seasons.Hungry veteren leaders pushed the pack. They kept the team focused on knowing they could do it.Ozzie brought in the key players who pushed they over the top.The coaches coached their ass off developing players to fill the gaps because injuries should have sunk this team. I'm optimistic on the 2013 Ravens being competitive. I know we have perhaps a 50% knowledge of what the roster will look like opening day. So there is a lot of guess work but past organizational performance and history says they will field a solid team. Maybe not Super Bowl caliber but enough to stay overnight on the mountain. Quote
papasmurfbell Posted February 9, 2013 Posted February 9, 2013 Also winners have their bones picked. Quote
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