Under offensive coordinator Cam Cameron, the Baltimore Ravens' offense fared much better in 2008 after a dismal showing in 2007.
Ranked only 18th in the league, the Ravens' offense centered much around its 4th-ranked rushing attack. Though Baltimore finished 28th in passing, rookie quarterback Joe Flacco played efficiently, averaging 7.1 yards per throw. Key third-down conversions helped the Ravens lead the league in time of possession, averaging 33:22 per game.
For the first time in franchise history, the Baltimore Ravens' defense now had an offensive counterpart that was no longer offensive to watch.
Quarterback (B-): Barring injury or elimination from playoff contention, rookie Joe Flacco was never expected to assume the starting role. But the season would turn out to be full of surprises, as the Ravens were also never expected to post 11 wins and advance to the AFC Championship game after a dismal 5-11 finish the previous year.
Though Flacco's TD to INT ratio was underwhelming (14 TDs to 12 INTs), his numbers improved dramatically after throwing only 1 TD to 7 INTs in his first five games. A breakout performance in Week 7 began a run of 13 TDs to only 5 INTs en route to the team's 9-2 stretch towards the playoffs.
An efficient showing in the AFC Wild Card round, however, was followed by a shaky performance in the AFC Divisional round. Despite Flacco's penchant for improving upon bad performances, the Pittsburgh Steelers' #1 defense proved to be too much for the rookie -- a recurring trend when Flacco faced consistent pressure in the pocket.
Regardless of the sour ending to an otherwise magical season, Flacco showed signs of promise that Baltimore has found its quarterback of the future.
Running Backs (A-): With LaDainian Tomlinson's multi-faceted role as the featured back in San Diego, it was assumed that Cam Cameron would have similar success with Willis McGahee in Baltimore.
However, nagging injuries to McGahee led to a change of plans -- plans which resulted in the surprising emergence of converted fullback Le'Ron McClain as the new starter in town.
Along with rookie Ray Rice, the aptly-named "Three-Headed Monster" became the centerpiece of a brand-new offense that hadn't had consistency since the days of Vinny Testaverde and Earnest Byner. Baltimore's ground attack pounded opposing defenses into submission and, by virtue of the three-man rotation, kept each rusher reasonably fresh into the final stretch of the season.
Save for a lackluster performance in the AFC Championship game, the Ravens' backfield rarely failed to find success against opposing defenses. With a year's experience under Cam Cameron's offense, the "Three-Headed Monster" will look to have a repeat performance in 2009.
Wide Receivers (C-): Veteran Derrick Mason was again the team's leading receiver and Joe Flacco's main target throughout the year. Despite a shoulder injury that greatly limited his mobility, Mason played valiantly in the season's final stretch and throughout the postseason.
Mason's fellow receivers, however, were largely underachieving. Former-1st round selection Mark Clayton showed signs of potential after an underwhelming 2007 campaign marred by injury and personal issues. Unfortunately, that potential was not enough, as Clayton disappeared often throughout the year. Yamon Figurs, drafted primarily for his return skills, did not develop into the speedy deep threat in which he was envisioned in the absence of the injured Demetrius Williams. Rookie Marcus Smith saw little playing time and was deactivated for much of the season.
Regardless of whether Derrick Mason chooses to retire this offseason, one of the team's top priorities remains at the WR position.
Tight Ends (D+): Once one of the premier tight ends in the league, Todd Heap had visibly lost a step. Although his role had changed into that of a blocker, his catches were limited both by his role and by his physical ability. In the first half of the season, Heap led the team in dropped passes and never returned to form as a threat over the middle and in the red zone. Daniel Wilcox was used more as a receiver than Heap, but also had a negligible impact on the passing attack.
With Todd Heap's skills and future in doubt, the Ravens may choose to pursue his eventual successor in the 2009 NFL Draft.
Offensive Line (B+): With the retirement of veteran stalwart Jonathan Ogden at left tackle and the release of veteran center Mike Flynn, fourth-year guard Jason Brown became the elder statesman of the NFL's youngest starting offensive line. With Brown's move to center came an opportunity for Cam Cameron to experiment with an unbalanced line, taking advantage of each lineman's flexibility and athleticism. The last-minute acquisition of former Cincinnati Bengals left tackle Willie Anderson provided veteran leadership for a unit already playing well beyond their years.
In spite of their youth, the unit performed admirably against the league's top defenses, although they had allowed 33 sacks, good for 18th in the league. Collectively, the offensive line was greatly responsible for the success of Baltimore's "Three-Headed Monster" as well as Joe Flacco's surprising rookie campaign. Despite injuries to key starters, the depth of the line proved to be a strength of the unit, and will prove to be a strength of the team for years to come.
