First Glance: The Ravens offense flipped the script quite a bit last season, turning their focus away from the power running game and towards a a more pass happy game plan, thanks in large part to the strengths displayed by quarterback Joe Flacco and running back Ray Rice. Combined with their always outstanding defense, Baltimore presents a formidable threat to any opponent they face.

2009 Record: 9-7 (2nd AFC North)

Key Additions: QB Marc Bulger, WR Anquan Boldin, WR Donte’ Stallworth, DE/DT Cory Redding, CB Walt Harris, FS Ken Hamlin, K Shayne Graham

Key Losses: WR Frank Walker, TE Quinn Sypniewski, OT Adam Terry, DE/DT Dwan Edwards, DE/DT Justin Bannan, CB Samari Rolle, CB Walt Harris

Draft Picks: DE/OLB Sergio Kindle, NT Terrence Cody, TE Ed Dickson, TE Dennis Pitta, DE/DT Arthur Jones, OT Ramon Harewood

Analysis: The Ravens did just about everything they could this off-season to upgrade their team to the point where they should be one of the favorites in the AFC to reach the Super Bowl. The first priority though will be to take care of business in their division, with Cincinnati and Pittsburgh both providing significant challenges, and Cleveland always being up to take on their hated rivals.

Adding All-Pro wide receiver Anquan Boldin to the mix offensively will be a huge boost this year, as he’ll provide the proven target opposite Derrick Mason, who truth be told is on the downslope of his career and isn’t likely to be a major threat. Boldin is a playmaker, especially in the middle of the field, and his presence will only help Flacco to have yet another stellar season.

In the running game, it’s all about the aforementioned Rice, who proved himself to be one of the league’s elite backs last season, and is poised to have another solid campaign this year, especially with his ability as a receiver out of the backfield.

Defensively, the Ravens are solid across the board, which comes as little surprise given what they’ve accomplished in recent years. Adding linebacker Sergio Kindle and defensive tackle Terrance Cody to rotate in off the bench was yet another outstanding decision by general manager Ozzie Newsome, as you can never have enough talent in the front seven.

The only real area of concern is Baltimore’s secondary, which is fairly weak as it’s currently constituted, especially after losing cornerback Dominique Foxworth to a season ending injury just a few days into training camp. If they can find a reasonable player or two that can step into the gap and play well, and get Pro Bowl safety Ed Reed back at or near 100%, things should work out well for the Ravens.

Baltimore is blessed to have one of the league’s better head coaches in John Harbaugh, and their coordinators aren’t that far behind, making it easy to focus on the task at hand as a player, instead of having to worry about the media scrutiny that can often cause trouble when things aren’t going so well.

Harbaugh does an outstanding job of getting the team ready every week, preparing them for almost every possibility on the field, and while there are other coaches around the league that are able to gameplan a bit better, he brings strength across the board to the job.

Overall, the Ravens should find themselves in a solid situation as the season progresses, and depending on the play of their defensive secondary and the health of their key players, they’ll likely be a significant threat to make their way through the playoffs and into the Super Bowl.

2010 Projection: 10-6 (1st AFC North)

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