32 in 31: Baltimore Ravens

Another year of 32 for 31, Sports News on Tap takes the month of August to preview the National Football League. We spend every day of the month looking at a new team and how they will fare in 2013. 

The Super Bowl champs are back to try and defend their title with some familiar faces, but mostly a new
version of this team. With Ray Lewis retiring and Ed Reed going to Houston, the Ravens are now Joe Flacco's team without question. This is his squad and his opportunity to make his case for being one of the best quarterbacks in the National Football League. But as we have learned throughout the years, it is hard to defend the crown as Super Bowl champs.

In the last five years, there has been a true variety of how teams do after winning the Super Bowl. The Green Bay Packers nearly went undefeated, but suffered a loss in the divisional round to the eventful Super Bowl champions, New York Giants. Those same Giants missed the playoffs last year and the same fate happened to the 2009 Pittsburgh Steelers after their Super Bowl win.  A Super Bowl champion has not won a playoff game the year after since the New England Patriots repeated as champs in 2004 and 2005. It is not easy having the target squarely on your back.

OFFENSE
The Ravens were dealt a seismic blow when they lost Dennis Pitta for the season with an injury. Pitta became Flacco's go-to man in redzone situations as well as being a safety valve when he could not find someone deep. They lose Anquan Boldin meaning Torrey Smith and Jacoby Jones need to be more than just vertical receivers. For Jones, that is highly unlikely but people should expect Smith to be a fringe Pro Bowl player at his position.  While much is made about Flacco and how good he is, people forget about Ray Rice. He is a top-tier running back in the National Football League who can do it all on the football field. Sometimes the Ravens offense tends to bury Rice and that is still something they need to improve on this season. Baltimore is a better team when Rice and Flacco are working as duel threats, not just Flacco chucking deep balls down the field.

DEFENSE
Personally, I believe the defense will be at the same standards they were for many years now. There was statistical proof last season the Ravens were a better defense when Ray Lewis did not play a snap. While he certainly carried the emotions for the 2012-2013 Baltimore Ravens, he did not really have the same impact as he had before. It is likely rookie Arthur Brown will play a major role in Lewis' absence and they add Elvis Dumervil on the outside with Terrell Suggs which will be just plain scary. Ed Reed might be another story. He still made plays at his old age, and would always be good for a couple returns during the season. In other words, he is a playmaker.  The Ravens look to move on with free agent Michael Huff from Oakland and rookie Matt Elam from Florida whom seems to fit perfectly with Baltimore's tough nose defense.

SPECIAL TEAMS 
Jacoby Jones is obviously the highlight of this group. Jones is a complete threat to take it to the house every time he touches the ball. Justin Tucker succeeded as a rookie, but there is no guarantee he will be the same player this year. Sam Koch is solid as their punter.

KEY ADDITIONS 
LB Elvis Dumervil, DE Chris Canty, QB Caleb Hanie, S Michael Huff, DE Marcus Spears - They did not do much in the offseason yet Dumervil is still a very large fish that could have a huge impact.

KEY DEPARTURES
LB Ray Lewis, S Ed Reed, WR Anquan Boldin, C Matt Birk, LB Dannell Ellerbe, NT Ma'ke Kemoeatu, LB Paul Kruger, S Bernard Pollard, G Bobbie Williams, CB Cary Williams.

RAVENS DRAFT PICKS 
S Matt Elam, LB Arthur Brown, DT Brandon Williams, DE John Simon, FB Kyle Juszczyk, OT Ricky Wagner, DE Kapron Lews-Moore, OT Ryan Jensen, WR Aaron Mellette, CB Marc Anthony - I would keep my eye on Wagner and Simon. Wagner might have been a higher pick if he had better workouts.

GAME TO WATCH 
Thursday November 28th - vs. Pittsburgh 7:30 pm - We will get there tomorrow, but I expect Pittsburgh to be pretty damn good this year. This could decide the division and it is on Thanksgiving night. I love it so much.

PREDICTION
12 to 14 wins - I think the Ravens will be most like the Green Bay Packers after their Super Bowl win and take the top spot in the AFC. I worry a bit about the new parts on defense and Pitta's injury does not help their cause either although Flacco might be an MVP candidate this year. Yes I am going to drink battery acid for several days now.

Charlie.

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32 in 31: New England Patriots

Another year of 32 for 31, Sports News on Tap takes the month of August to preview the National Football League. We spend every day of the month looking at a new team and how they will fare in 2013. 

It is hard to remember if the New England Patriots had a rougher offseason in their time of being a powerhouse in the NFL. Usually, they mind their business, maybe Tom Brady gets caught dancing like a fool, but that is about it.  This year, things were completely different. The Patriots first signed Tim Tebow which went together for the national media like peanut butter and jelly. Give New England credit, the Tebow stuff has died down at least for the start of training camp; who knows what happens when he breaks a 48 yard run in preseason probably back to threat level over-excitement.  

Things went from just frantic to terrifying. In the late June, former New England Patriots tight end Aaron Hernandez was charged in the murder of Odin Lloyd. While the Patriots released Hernandez 90 minutes after his arrest, the black cloud hung over the team. They were the ones faced with a majority of the Hernandez questions, but as the Patriots usually do, they handled it like the utmost gentlemen. Bill Belichick, Tom Brady and Vince Wilfork all showed why they are leaders. Hernandez will probably be a discussion in correlation with this team for at least this year, but if anyone can handle a distraction in a orange jumpsuit, it's the Patriots. 

OFFENSE 

They have some real issues going on for the first time in a long while. The biggest problem is they will not have their top five receivers back from last season. Four of them are no longer on the team and the other will be battling injury to begin the year. They are definitely different quarterbacks by style, Brady and Brett Favre have some similarities in terms of personnel.  Favre never had many big name receivers and they all worked like a turnstile. Brady has had some notable names, but most have came and went. The one Brady does have going for him in the passing game is the offensive line should be pretty stacked. Nate Soldier is a beast along with Sebastian Vollmer plus their two mainstays at guard.  The running game will also be by committee to start as Steven Ridley still recovers from his injury suffered in the final game of the season.  

DEFENSE 

The Patriots are still looking for the days of Tedy Bruschi, Ty Law and others, but they will be improved this year.  I expect big years from Dont'a Hightower and Chandler Jones both entering their second season as professionals, to create some havoc in the front seven. Jared Mayo and Wilfork are the two more consistent players on this defense. They get a full year of Aqib Talib which will definitely help them in the secondary.  They also added Adrian Wilson from the Arizona Cardinals to help their secondary out which is probably their softest spot on defense.

SPECIAL TEAMS

One of the best in the business at both kicking and punting with Stephan Gostkowski who set a franchise record last year for his accuracy rate last season at 84.4.  Zoltan Mesko can boom punts with the best of them. They also got better in the return game adding Leon Washington who can break any kick or punt.  

KEY ADDITIONS 

WR Danny Amendola, RB LeGarrette Blount, WR Michael Jenkins DT Tommy Kelly, RB/KR Leon Washington, S Adrian Wilson - If the pressure was not enough for Amedola to replace Wes Welker, he will also try to make up for the Hernandez void as well. He must stay healthy and if he does, he will be a great addition to this team. 

KEY DEPARTURES 

WR Wes Welker, WR Deion Branch, S Patrick Chung, WR Brandon Lloyd, G Donald Thomas, RB Danny Woodhead, TE Aaron Hernandez 

PATRIOTS DRAFT PICKS 

DE/LB Jamie Collins, WR Aaron Dobson, CB Logan Ryan, S Duron Harmon, WR Josh Boyce, DE Michael Buchanan, LB Steve Beauharnais - Dobson is the one to watch in this group as he is a physical freak and will be asked to contribute right away.   

GAME TO WATCH

November 24th: vs. Denver 7:30 pm (NBC) - The annual Brady-Peyton Manning game will have a little more spice with Welker returning to Foxboro. Both teams will likely be healthy and trying to shape up for the postseason. It could also be a battle for gets homefield for the playoffs. 

PREDICTION 

10 to 12 wins - They have a tough schedule facing the AFC North and NFC South, two of the better divisions in football, but the Patriots are still the Patriots. I do not expect a significant drop-off especially in the weak AFC East.  

Charlie.  

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