Baltimore Ravens: Predicting the Offensive Numbers
By Joe Serpico
Jan 3, 2015; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco (5) throws the ball in front of Pittsburgh Steelers defensive end
Cameron Heyward(97) during the second quarter in the 2014 AFC Wild Card playoff football game at Heinz Field. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
Passing Offense
The Ravens passing game might be the biggest question mark entering the season. They know what to expect from Steve Smith Sr. He’s going to work his tail off and do everything he can to help this team win. Outside of Smith, however, there is a lot of unknown. Who starts next to Smith? Who mans the slot? Who is going to start at tight end? These are all questions we currently do not have an answer to.
It’s tough to compare the Ravens passing offense with that of the Bears. The Bears were blessed to have two terrific wide receivers in Brandon Marshall and Alshon Jeffery. You can argue that Baltimore has never had a receiver of that caliber. That is not to say they do not have players on the team who can become stars. Trestman likely had a say in drafting Breshad Perriman and Darren Waller, both “big” receivers that Trestman has been known to covet. We also have no idea how the wide receiver situation is going to play out. There are so many guys battling for as many as three spots that it is hard to predict how the numbers will pan out.
For the sake of this piece, we are going to assume that Dennis Pitta will not play this season. He has said that he wants to return, but doctors have not given him the green light to return to action. The Ravens selected two tight ends in the draft which gives us an indication that they do not think he will be back either. Kubiak is known for having a tight end friendly offense, and Trestman likes to use his tight ends as well. Martellus Bennett had his best two seasons under Trestman with an average of 77 catches on 111 targets in those years.
It is tough to assume that a second-year player in Crockett Gillmore and rookies Maxx Williams and Nick Boyle will put up those kind of numbers. The transition from college to the professional level is one of the most difficult at the position. Each will get an opportunity to make plays, and the team is hopeful that someone can run away with the job.
Jay Cutler is similar to Flacco in the sense that both have elite arms to push the ball down the field. The comparison ends there. Flacco has proven that he is a winner, something Cutler has yet to prove in his nine-year career. Cutler won just 10 games with Trestman as his head coach, but also posted some of his best numbers in that same time span. Flacco is coming off a career year in which he threw for 3,986 yards and 27 touchdowns. Since he has entered the league, Flacco has played in every game as a starter and seen his number climb year after year. Is this the year he breaks 4,000 yards? It is definitely possible in this offense.
When it is all said and done, Trestman will likely make the Ravens offense break the record numbers from last season. The prolific numbers might not have gotten the Bears many wins, but the Ravens are historically a winning franchise. With Flacco running the show, the Ravens could be a top-10 passing team. That would be something new for Ravens fans.
Predictions:
Joe Flacco: 340/545, 4,035 yards, 28 TD, 10 INT
Steve Smith: 72 receptions, 990 yards, 6 TD
Marlon Brown: 45 receptions, 440 yards, 4 TD
Breshad Perriman: 42 receptions, 530 yards, 5 TD
Crockett Gillmore: 30 receptions, 307 yards, 3 TD
Maxx Williams: 27 receptions, 296 yards, 4 TD