Season 62 Power Ranking Preview - #3
by adelfish | 4 years ago | 1 Comments
Season 62 Power Ranking Preview - #3
Welcome to the 2020 Red Zone Power Ranking Preview. In this long-running preview, I will be going team at a time, ranking them 32-1, discussing the user, the team, the schedule, etc.
COVERED TEAMS: Lions, Jaguars, Bengals, Patriots, Bears, Vikings, Dolphins, Seahawks, Rams, Giants, Cowboys, Saints, Steelers, Panthers, Raiders, Browns, Texans, Jets, Cardinals, Falcons, Bills, Washington Football Team, Chargers, Chiefs, Colts, Broncos, 49ers, Eagles, Packers
The final team before we get to our RZ Bowl 62 preview, once again thank you to everyone who has continued reading this lengthy preview, we only have 3 remaining!
#3 - Baltimore Ravens (Blueprint)
(13-3 Projected Record)
1st Seed, Loss in AFC Championship Game
There should be little surprise that this team has lasted this long.
An organization that has been running so well for so long and has consistently built their rosters the right way, without surprise ends up near the top of the league and their conference. The emergence of young quarterback Lamar Jackson into a MVP winner, and this defense into an elite one, has catapulted them into the conversation of best team in the league.
Enter the Blueprint era, quite an interesting fit. A coach known for his longevity in Red Zone, but one that has yet to result in a championship. With stints in Seattle, New York, and Oakland, Blueprint has consistently been competitive, but unable to take the step into stardom and cement his legacy as a champion.
This is easily his best chance, a roster loaded with talent, a quarterback who is already a star, and a division that doesn't have anywhere near the resume he does.
Is this finally it for Blueprint? Let's take a look....
One Big Question
With one of the top rosters in all of football, and a superstar in Lamar Jackson, is Blueprint and his coaching staff the right group for this job?
It's easy to dismiss Blueprint right away as a contender right? Just because he has never won, his headscratching GM moves that he completes from time to time, and the narratives that seem to have been attached to his hip. He has never appeared in a Super Bowl, despite having success winning divisions and double digit wins.
Now he heads to Baltimore where the roster is set up for success now, and for years to come. Seriously, the way this roster is constructed is amazing, with the financial stability, the draft capital, the talent...it's a dream for anyone.
The big question looming over Blueprint all cycle will be can he win a title. Podcast hosts around Red Zone have already pinnned this cycle as 'championship or bust', something that this regime has never been expected of before. Is it truly championship or bust? Is this roster that good that anyone coaching it should be expected to win a title?
No, but a coach of Blueprint's caliber should be in the mix. There's no doubt about that, he has been around the league for so long that he should have a competitive advantage. So, why do I have doubts?
It seems every cycle Blueprint manages to make a few moves that really derail his cycle. Trades, signings, lack of effort...I could go on. With the current roster he has, Blueprint doesn't have to worry about rebuilding, making a splash. He can stick to the status quo, and add pieces to an already loaded core.
He is a great coach, and if he can stay out of his own way and stay disciplined, this is his best chance to win a title since he joined Red Zone.
One Big Schedule Issue
Starting with the AFC North, based on the talent of roster and Blueprint's resume as a coach compared to the rest, I have him going 5-1 in the division, splitting with Cleveland (a loss in Week 14). I think Prewitt will have figured out a winning formula in the back half of the season, and a road game against a divisional opponent is always difficult.
The start to their schedule is actually really difficult.
Week 1 - vs Browns (Prewitt)
Week 2 - @ Texans (Metal)
Week 3 - vs Chiefs (Terry)
Week 4 @ Washington (Weed)
He has the better roster in 3 of those 4 games, and the Chiefs game is a total toss-up. After these four games, in the next four the Ravens face the Eagles and Colts, two more difficult opponents.
The Ravens schedule is full of very winnable games for them (Cincy 2x, Jacksonville, Dallas, New York), but is sandwiched with very difficult playoff opponents, especially late in the year (Tennessee, Indy).
Overall, I have them finishing 4-2 against teams with winning records, and the 3rd aforementioned loss against Cleveland.
Reasons for Optimism
Obviously it starts with quarterback Lamar Jackson, currently one of the three best quarterbacks in the league, with Wilson and Mahomes, coming off a MVP season. He is arguably the most dangerous dual-threat in the league, and is just 23 years old. The Ravens get to enjoy him for two more years at a 1st round pick friendly contract.
The weapons around Jackson are great, with running back Mark Ingram leading a room with tons of depth, rookie JK Dobbins will compete for snaps with Justice Hill and Gus Edwards. Honestly the Ravens could roster 4 running backs.
Second year wideout Marquise Brown is one of the most explosive threats in the league, and the Ravens just drafted another speedster in Devin Duvernay, a guy Blueprint will look to develop. Add in elite tight end Mark Andrews, and veterans like Willie Snead, you have a really solid group of pass catchers.
The protection around Jackson is great as well, with left tackle Ronnie Stanley developing into one of the best in the league, and right tackle Orlando Brown Jr continuing to grow.
Defensively the Ravens are stacked, the front just added superstar rusher Calais Campbell, who figures to be their dominant pass rusher. He'll line up next to defensive tackle Brandon Williams, one of the better run defenders, and newcomer Derek Wolfe.
Matt Judon and Tyus Bowser are two young linebakers who have been developing nicely, while 1st round rookie Patrick Queen is the middle linebacker of the future in Baltimore. This linebacker group is athletic and has a ton of upside.
The duo of Marcus Peters and Marcus Humphrey at cornerback is one of the better ones in the league, and even veteran Jimmy Smith is still a really solid third option. Despite the departure of Earl Thomas, I still like the safety group, especially Chuck Clark.
Reasons for Negativity
There aren't a ton, so bear with me.
The interior of the Ravens offensive line does need some work, especially with the loss of Marshall Yanda to retirement. I'm not particularly excited about Matt Skura ar center, or D.J. Fluker at right guard. The interior will definitely be something to upgrade with the two stout tackles they already have.
Although I said I like Chuck Clark, the Ravens will definitely miss Earl Thomas. Guys like Deshone Elliott and Anthony Levine will be competing for snaps with Chuck Clark. Thankfully the cornerback room is so deep that it likely won't matter.
Financially the Ravens are freeing up almost $40 million in cap space, but have some decisions to make. Willie Snead, Ronnie Stanley, Matt Skura, Matt Judon, Tyus Bowser...a lot of contributors to this team are up for contract.
Last Word
This team is very good, was built the right way, and kept all of their assets. Blueprint will be able to keep the core of Jackson, Brown, the o-line, and this secondary together for a long time. Using the picks, and the boatload of cap coming over the next two seasons, he needs to retain and add.
If Blueprint doesn't make any gigantic errors in terms of roster building, or any kneejerk reaction moves, he is going to be just fine. I don't see how the AFC North can compete with him at this current stage, and the real threats to him in the AFC have inferior rosters to his.
I'm rooting for Blue. It has been a long time coming for him, and now the path to a title is real. Can he do it? I'm sure most of the league hopes so, but I am worried the pressure will become too much for him, especially as the postseason rolls on...