Ebony Bird
FanSided

Top question facing Ravens and each of their AFC North foes

By Chris Schisler

CLEVELAND, OHIO - SEPTEMBER 22: Wide receiver Odell Beckham #13 of the Cleveland Browns jumps off the line during the first quarter against the Los Angeles Rams at FirstEnergy Stadium on September 22, 2019 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)
CLEVELAND, OHIO - SEPTEMBER 22: Wide receiver Odell Beckham #13 of the Cleveland Browns jumps off the line during the first quarter against the Los Angeles Rams at FirstEnergy Stadium on September 22, 2019 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) /
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NEW ORLEANS, LA – JANUARY 13: Linebacker Patrick Queen #8 of the LSU Tigers celebrates after making a tackle during the College Football Playoff National Championship game against the Clemson Tigers at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on January 13, 2020 in New Orleans, Louisiana. LSU defeated Clemson 42 to 25. (Photo by Don Juan Moore/Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LA – JANUARY 13: Linebacker Patrick Queen #8 of the LSU Tigers celebrates after making a tackle during the College Football Playoff National Championship game against the Clemson Tigers at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on January 13, 2020 in New Orleans, Louisiana. LSU defeated Clemson 42 to 25. (Photo by Don Juan Moore/Getty Images) /

What are the top concerns for each AFC North rival of the Baltimore Ravens? What about the Ravens? These are the questions that will shape up the race for the division title:

Biggest question for the Baltimore Ravens: Are they too reliant on rookies?

The Baltimore Ravens figure to be a playoff team. They have the 2019 NFL MVP at quarterback. They had a 14-2 2019 season and the offseason went fairly well. The one big question mark for this team is inexperience at key positions. Are the Ravens too reliant on their rookies?

Offensively the purple and black are going to need rookies to step up. Looking at the receiver corps it’s clear that Devin Duvernay and James Proche are going to have to get involved in the passing game. There is a chance that the Ravens could start a rookie on the offensive line to replace Marshal Yanda at right guard. If a starting job doesn’t go to Tyre Phillips or Ben Bredeson, there is a good chance that Ben Powers could get one. Powers has one career start.

Defensively, Patrick Queen will be a starter at inside linebacker. Malik Harrison will be part of the rotation at the inside linebacker group. Justin Madubuike is going to be part of the rotation on the defensive line. Inexperience is a big question mark in an offseason that’s unlike other any other. It looks like there will be no preseason games. Training camp is going to be different and there will be no scrimmages with other teams. Preparing for the season is going to be more difficult for rookies than it ever has been.

The Ravens were already one of the youngest teams in the NFL. Their offense was mostly built out of the NFL Drafts of the past several years. They have four starters from the 2018 draft class. Counting Miles Boykin they have two starters from the 2019 draft class (three if Powers gets the right guard promotion). Ronnie Stanley is from the 2016 draft. Patrick Ricard was an undrafted free agent in 2017.

The Ravens are a young team all through the depth chart, especially on offense. One of the things highlighted by their early playoff exits has been that they may not have been ready to win a championship. There is some veteran leadership, and John Harbaugh is a very experienced coach at this point. Still the biggest concern is how young this team is. One way or another they are very dependent on young players, especially rookies working out.

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