Ravens' roster offers little hope

Sporting News, The, July 15, 2002 by Gary Horton

As a former scout for the franchise formerly known as the Browns and a one-time employee of Art Modell, I was looking forward to analyzing the Ravens when it was their turn under The War Room microscope.

My eagerness deteriorated quickly into disbelief as I studied Baltimore's preseason roster, which seems woefully short of the talent necessary to compete against the other rosters of the AFC North.

The Ravens still have some quality stars, but there is a significant drop-off of talent on the bottom third of their roster. The Ravens have 39 players who have the barest minimum of NFL skills. By comparison, the Steelers' roster goes 60 to 65 deep with such talent. Over the course of a season, quantity is just as important as quality.

After scrutinizing Baltimore's lack of depth and other factors influencing the three major components to every football team, success shouldn't be an issue for the Ravens in 2002 as much as avoiding embarrassment:

Offense. Running back Jamal Lewis still is not completely recovered from the knee injury that took him out of the mix for all of last season. His backups last season, Moe Williams and Jason Brookins, are gone. If Lewis can't go, the Ravens' running game is in the hands of rookie Chester Taylor, a sixth-round pick.

A quarterback was more caretaker than creator in this offense the past two seasons because of the strong running game and sturdy defense. Both the defense and the running game appear shaky, which means Chris Redman must make some big plays for the team to win games. That's a lot to ask of a first-time starter who has thrown only three NFL passes and is working with a watered-down unit of receivers.

Defense. This once-feared unit lost coordinator Marvin Lewis and many of the personnel who made it dominant for two seasons. Looking at a defensive line that lacks both talent and depth, new coordinator Mike Nolan is shifting the Ravens from a 4-3 base to a 3-4 scheme. On paper, this seems like the right move. However, it could minimize the talents of linebacker Ray Lewis and defensive end Michael McCrary, two of the team's best defensive players.

Lewis, who was a solitary and sensational force in the middle of the former system, now must share the inside territory with another linebacker. To add to the confusion, he must deal with more blockers coming his way because of new responsibilities along the line.

McCrary (6-4, 260) simply is too small to hold up in this two-gap scheme. So, though the new scheme might benefit some Ravens--outside linebacker Peter Boulware should do well--and help hide the lack of depth along the line, it is not ideal for this team.

Special teams. The Ravens' potentially anemic offense needs a short field between it and points on the scoreboard. The no longer intimidating defense could benefit from a cushion provided by the special teams. Yet the Ravens are counting on a pair of rookies--return specialist Lamont Brightful and punter Dave Zastudil--to make this happen, along with a supporting cast of flotsam and jetsam out of NFL Europe.

Brightful is perhaps the best example of the Ravens' desperation. He is expected to do for Baltimore what one of the league's top return specialists, Jermaine Lewis, did the past six seasons. That's a heavy burden for a sixth-round pick. Field position is crucial to this team, yet that is the realm of special teams units, which will reflect the Ravens' lack of depth more than any other area.

I have a great deal of respect for coach Brian Billick and senior vice president of football operations Ozzie Newsome, and both men expressed a great deal confidence to me in their roster. They better know more about their players than I do because I just don't see what they say they see right now.

INSIDE DISH

When Browns LB Jamir Miller skipped the team's quarterback school last month in a snit over his contract, it didn't take long for him to hear from coach Butch Davis. Davis told Miller to get with the program--or get out. The coach didn't want Miller's situation to become a distraction for the team. Davis knows Miller played very well last year, but he believes Miller can't come close to doing it again. That's why Davis tried to trade him just before the draft.... Don't be surprised if the Eagles bring RB Dorsey Levens into their camp. Levens had a nice visit with coach Andy Reid earlier in the offseason, but both sides decided to wait before an offer would be made. Reid wants to get a look at young RBs Brian Westbrook and Rod Smart, but a veteran such as Levens could have a big impact as a backup to Duce Staley.... The Vikings are excited about undrafted WR Kelly Campbell of Georgia Tech. Campbell was projected as a first-day draft choice, but his stock fell because of his drug test at the combine. On the recommendation of Vikings defensive line coach George O'Leary, who was Campbell's college coach, Minnesota took a flyer on Campbell and so far is pleased with him.... A lot of jokes were made about QB Brian Griese's collision with a driveway at RB Terrell Davis' house last month. Despite his fall, the Broncos' brass was happy that Griese attended the party. Griese is a loner, but he's making a real effort to reach out to his teammates, on and off the field.--TSN correspondents