The Baltimore Ravens are not an organization that is used to losing and they certainly aren’t about to make a habit out of it. All the way from owner Steve Bisciotti, to the coaches and players, the Ravens demand a lot from themselves. The Ravens aren’t making any major changes going into 2016. They are going about the offseason like they always do, committing to making the roster as good as humanly possible. This isn’t a 5-11 team that is just looking to rebound into a winning season; the Purple and Black have their eyes on the Lombardi Trophy.
One of the reasons the Ravens can have this focus is the leadership of John Harbaugh. The Ravens head coach has taken his team to the playoffs six times in eight seasons. He has won a playoff game in each playoff appearance. The Harbaugh era has seen three AFC Championship games and one very special Super Bowl championship. He has won before and the Ravens believe he can win again.
To have a good season though it takes a special group in the locker room. It will take more than just the guidance of one of football’s best coaches. It will take these five key players leading the way on the field.
Next: 5. Steve Smith Sr.
5. Steve Smith Sr.
The Baltimore Ravens must be thrilled that Steve Smith Sr. decided to end his career on a higher note than 2015’s misery. Smith Sr. literally broke his back for this team and after playing with the severe back injury, he tore his ACL. No competitor wants to go out like that so it is far from shocking that Smith Sr. is coming back with the Ravens next year. The Ravens need his heart and leadership next season.
Smith Sr. is the new emotional leader of the team. He is as fiery as any person in football. With him on the field, you can tell the difference. There is more energy and more excitement. Smith Sr. keeps defying his age, the 36 year old receiver has an uncanny knack for the big plays. He demands so much from himself that he leads by example. The players love him because he will do anything for the team and so he elevates the play of those around him.
The Ravens are a very different team with Smith Sr. on the field than with him on the sidelines. Flacco trusts him to be his go to receiver. The Ravens feed off of his drive and determination.
Next: 4. Jimmy Smith
4. Jimmy Smith
Jimmy Smith needs to be the leader of the defensive secondary. He needs to be the consistent superstar we know he can be. The Ravens secondary has been a problematic area of the roster for the past couple of seasons. In 2014 everything went downhill when Jimmy Smith was lost to an injury. That season showed his importance. In 2015 the Ravens secondary struggled, and Smith was inconsistent. To be fair however, one could argue that Smith was the only solid player the Ravens had in the back-end of their defense.
Smith is the known commodity in the Ravens defensive backfield. He at times has looked like a superstar, on par with the Darrelle Revis and Richard Sherman type players. At times he has struggled but he has never been bad. With a full season removed from his injury, Smith could be back to his elite play. The Ravens have to hope for that at least.
Smith’s play will be critical this coming season. If he can be a consistent shut down corner he will take a ton of pressure off the secondary. If he can shut down the best player that the Ravens opponents’ have to offer than the Ravens can take a step forward defensively.
Next: 3. Eugune Monroe
![Oct 18, 2015; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers outside linebacker Ahmad Brooks (55) rushes against Baltimore Ravens tackle Eugene Monroe (60) during the second quarter at Levi\](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_16,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/https-3A-2F-2Febonybird-com-2Ffiles-2F2016-2F01-2Fahmad-brooks-eugene-monroe-nfl-baltimore-ravens-san-francisco-49ers-590x900-f7ca3bfc2e8fb465fb5f9d53643c156d21b42d4950124a1e38b8a653995fe850.jpg "Oct 18, 2015; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers outside linebacker Ahmad Brooks (55) rushes against Baltimore Ravens tackle Eugene Monroe (60) during the second quarter at Levi\")
3. Eugene Monroe
There has been a lot of talk about replacing Eugene Monroe as the Ravens left tackle. The thing is that it doesn’t make much sense to get rid of Monroe. I expect he will be back as the Ravens starting left tackle next season whether you like it or not. If Monroe can play his best than the Ravens offensive line looks pretty solid. It would hurt dramatically to lose the services of Kelechi Osemele, but John Urschel is a competent guard just in case. With a healthy Monroe the Ravens offensive line is set into place no matter what.
Monroe is not a great left tackle when he is healthy but there are many worse options than Monroe at his position. Monroe is a good run blocker and a decent pass protector that the Ravens are already financially committed to. The Ravens would be foolish not to get a quality back up plan, in the contingency that Monroe gets hurt again. That being said Monroe is the safest bet at left tackle going into next season.
The Ravens would not get enough to make cutting Monroe worth their while. Drafting his replacement with the sixth overall pick could backfire. What if the rookie tackle wasn’t ready or what if he were to be a draft bust? Besides the Ravens have larger needs than left tackle especially when they have a competent one under contract in Monroe.
Next: 2. Breshad Perriman
2. Breshad Perriman
Remember Breshad Perriman? The Ravens have to hope that Perriman can finally get on the football field and make a difference. When the Ravens drafted Perriman there was rightfully a lot of excitement. Perriman was the fastest receiving prospect in the draft and he was the perfect player to catch the signature Joe Flacco deep bomb. Perriman could very well change the offense in the 2016 season.
With Perriman on the field the Ravens would have somebody to stretch the field vertically with. Too often the Ravens relied on the short passing game because they had nobody they could throw the ball deep down the field to. Once Smith Sr. was helped off the field for good in 2015, the Ravens had to throw it to their many possession receivers. If Perriman can make the impact the Ravens envisioned when they drafted him in the first round last year, than the offensive attack will have an added component.
Whether or not the Ravens get a key contribution from Perriman the Ravens would be wise to add another superstar receiver. In the NFL you can never have enough weapons and it would be nice to spoil Flacco for once.
Next: 1. Joe Flacco
1. Joe Flacco
Coming off his first major injury, Joe Flacco is the most important player going into the 2016 season. In the NFL the quarterback is half the battle. The Ravens have one of the best quarterbacks in football in Flacco, but Flacco surely has to take steps forward in the 2016 season. While he had plenty of built in excuses around him, Flacco didn’t have a wonderful campaign before his season ending injury.
Flacco was throwing too many passes off his back foot. He was throwing too many interceptions and he missed some big throws that could have helped win the Ravens the game. In 2014 it looked like Flacco was reborn, like he was starting to become even better than he was in the past. In 2015 he was still a good quarterback but he didn’t seem as sharp or as confident in the players around him.
Next: NFL Draft Profile: Josh Doctson, WR TCU
The Ravens need the very best of Flacco next season if they are going to have a great season. The Ravens need all five of these key players to play their best if they are going to be contenders once again this season.