Baltimore Ravens Capsule
BALTIMORE RAVENS (11-7)
OPEN CAMP: July 29, Owings Mills, Maryland.
LAST YEAR: Despite distraction created by arrest and subsequent suspension of Ray Rice for domestic violence, Ravens reached playoffs for sixth time in seven years under coach John Harbaugh. Justin Forsett stepped in for Rice and had career year with 1,266 yards rushing, and Joe Flacco set personal high with 3,986 yards passing. After winning at Pittsburgh in postseason opener, Baltimore traveled to New England and lost 35-31 to eventual Super Bowl champions.
IMPORTANT ADDITIONS: QB Matt Schaub; FS Kendrick Lewis; WR Breshad Perriman; offensive coordinator Marc Trestman.
IMPORTANT LOSSES: DT Haloti Ngata; WRs Torrey Smith and Jacoby Jones; LB Pernell McPhee; TE Owen Daniels; C Gino Gradkowski; RB Bernard Pierce.
CAMP NEEDS: Replace Smith and Jones, who provided Flacco with deep threats he needed to make short passing game click. Ravens hope Perriman, team's top draft pick, can help fill void. Harbaugh also needs to find tight ends to take over for Daniels and injured Dennis Pitta. Defensively, Baltimore will seek to fill out front line that's sure to miss Ngata, and cornerbacks and safeties need to get on same page to avoid miscues that plagued unit in 2014.
EXPECTATIONS: Ravens intend to make playoffs again, and this time they'd like to do so as AFC North champions. For this to happen, Baltimore must adjust quickly to Trestman's offensive scheme and get most out of Flacco and offensive line that is unchanged from a year ago. Ravens also expect rookies, most notably Perriman, TE Maxx Williams and DT Carl Davis, to contribute immediately.
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Copyright 2015 by The Associated Press
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