Ebony Bird
FanSided

The Baltimore Ravens haven’t been surprising this preseason

By Chris Schisler

BALTIMORE, MD - AUGUST 10: Quarterback Ryan Mallett #15 of the Baltimore Ravens throws a first quarter pass against the Washington Redskins during a preseason game at M&T Bank Stadium on August 10, 2017 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
BALTIMORE, MD - AUGUST 10: Quarterback Ryan Mallett #15 of the Baltimore Ravens throws a first quarter pass against the Washington Redskins during a preseason game at M&T Bank Stadium on August 10, 2017 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images) /
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The Baltimore Ravens have done exactly what was expected in both of their preseason games so far:

With the Baltimore Ravens, you knew what to expect. All offseason long, Ravens fans watched Ozzie Newsome and company construct a great defense, while more or less neglecting the offense. Before Joe Flacco got injured, we knew the offense was a work in progress. Before Nico Siragusa and Alex Lewis went down for the year, the offensive line was facing a good bit of uncertainty.

The good news for the Ravens’ faithful is that nothing has really changed. The Ravens offense was a concern before a frustratingly long list of injuries occurred. Ryan Mallett has been leading some of the most unwatchable offense ever known to football fans. With all the injuries and lack of practice for key components of the offense, this was happening no matter what.

The defense has been stopping just about everything. The Ravens are so stacked defensively that the defense continues to dominate even after the starters leave the game. The defense looks strong on all three levels. This is  possibly the best defense the Ravens have seen for a decade.

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Every narrative that was constructed in the offseason is still in tact. If you were excited about the 2017 Ravens before training camp, you should still be excited. This defense looks incredible. Last Thursday the special teams units made big plays, blocking a punt and recovering a fumble.

The moral of the story is that two thirds of the Ravens roster is humming along like a songbird on a sunny day. The offense may be stuck under a dark and rainy cloud, but there could be a light at the end of the tunnel. When Flacco is under center, and he has all his weapons around him, the offense should manage to be functional.

The Bottom Line:

If the defense showed signs of trouble, it would be appropriate to panic. From the small sample of Ravens football that we have seen, it can be determined that this defense was not falsely advertised. When you look at the defensive line, you see boundless potential. Tyus Bowser, Matt Judon and Tim Williams are making the second level of the Ravens defense a lot of fun again.

Next: 5 Ravens who helped themselves against the Dolphins

The Ravens have an unbalanced team. The offense is lacking. Even at full strength, the defense will have to do the heaviest lifting. The good thing is that the defense looks like it is good enough to overcome this unbalance. There is still much reason for hope in Baltimore. Defense and quality special teams may provide a path back to the postseason.

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