Ebony Bird
FanSided

Baltimore Ravens yay or nay: Status of offensive line and more

By Darin McCann

ORLANDO, FLORIDA - JANUARY 26: The Baltimore Ravens pose during introductions before the 2020 NFL Pro Bowl at Camping World Stadium on January 26, 2020 in Orlando, Florida. (Photo by Mark Brown/Getty Images)
ORLANDO, FLORIDA - JANUARY 26: The Baltimore Ravens pose during introductions before the 2020 NFL Pro Bowl at Camping World Stadium on January 26, 2020 in Orlando, Florida. (Photo by Mark Brown/Getty Images) /
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BALTIMORE, MARYLAND – DECEMBER 01: Kicker Justin Tucker #9 of the Baltimore Ravens celebrates after hitting the game winning field goal against the San Francisco 49ers at M&T Bank Stadium on December 01, 2019 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
BALTIMORE, MARYLAND – DECEMBER 01: Kicker Justin Tucker #9 of the Baltimore Ravens celebrates after hitting the game winning field goal against the San Francisco 49ers at M&T Bank Stadium on December 01, 2019 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images) /

• Justin Tucker remains the best kicker in the NFL.

YAY. Um, yes.

• Rookies Patrick Queen and Malik Harrison instantly upgrade the middle of the Ravens’ defense, and will make the team one of the better defenses in the league.

NAY. Or, maybe more accurately, MAYBE. We just don’t know what these young cats will bring to the table yet, do we? I liked them both coming into the draft. I thought if the Ravens got one of those guys, that would be just fine and dandy. Both? Sign me up. But you know what? I once thought Tim Couch was the best quarterback prospect I ever saw and Matt Elam was destined for the Hall of Fame. I’ve seen Josh Bynes play before he came back to the Ravens, and limitations aside, he brought great play recognition and solid tackling to the spot. We will find out about these guys, but I don’t bet my mortgage on rookies. And neither should you.

• The running attack will be even better with the addition of JK Dobbins, allowing Mark Ingram to reduce some wear and tear, and giving the Ravens’ running backs table more depth and options. 

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YAY, with an asterisk. As I said for Queen and Harrison, I don’t trust rookies until they show something. But Dobbins is replacing nobody, so he is found money in the backfield, right? Let’s say they have more talent back there, but Yanda’s retirement and an expected increase in passing production makes me wonder if they could eclipse last season’s numbers.

• Calais Campbell might have been the perfect free-agent period trade acqusition  by the Ravens — the very best addition they could have made this season.

YAY. They didn’t really address pure edge, and that still concerns me. Make no mistake about it. But Campbell brings leadership, a proven track record and serious pass-rushing heat, from the inside or the edge. He is the perfect fit for Don Martindale’s defense in that he is the piece that can allow several other players to dart in and out of set positions, creating mismatches across the board. I love Campbell coming to the Ravens, in every possible way.

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