National Football League

Ravens hope to parlay balance into Super Bowl run

Published Aug. 25, 2010 5:09 p.m. ET

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Ray Lewis and the Ravens' defensive unit expect to get some help this season from an unlikely source: the Baltimore offense.

Lewis, an 11-time Pro Bowl middle linebacker, has been the anchor of the prolific Ravens defense for 14 years. For much of that time, the main objective of the offense was to hold onto the ball long enough to give Lewis and Co. a chance to rest on the sideline.

That formula produced a Super Bowl victory after the 2000 season. Now, a decade later, the Ravens intend to use a more balanced attack to win another championship.

In an effort to improve an offense that last year relied heavily on the elusiveness and pass-catching ability of running back Ray Rice, general manager Ozzie Newsome traded for wide receiver Anquan Boldin and signed free agent Donte' Stallworth. He also drafted tight ends Ed Dickson and Dennis Pitta.

Add that to the experience quarterback Joe Flacco gained over his first two NFL seasons, and suddenly Baltimore has a passing attack that can strike quickly and effectively from anywhere on the field.

''I think it's huge that Joe's coming into his third year and has those veteran pieces around him. And we drafted two young tight ends who I really like,'' Lewis said. ''Everything still has to fall in place, but I think we have the pieces to go make a run on offense.''

Flacco, Ben Roethlisberger, Bernie Kosar and Dan Marino are only the starting quarterbacks since 1970 to reach the playoffs in each of their first two NFL seasons. Flacco was content last season to either hand off or dump the football to Rice, but now he has plenty of options, including tight end Todd Heap and 36-year-old Derrick Mason - the only wideout on last year's team with more than 34 catches.

The effectiveness of the Baltimore offense will depend heavily on Flacco, who already ranks third in team history in attempts, completions, yards passing and touchdowns.

''It's not just one guy's offense, but when you're the quarterback, it's really your ability to run the show and to make plays. You'd hope he'd be growing into that,'' coach John Harbaugh said.

Flacco agrees.

''As a quarterback, it has to be your offense,'' he said. ''We added guys that are going to make us better. I want to be able to just run the show and go up and down the field, blow out points on the board and come out successful.''

The potential is there. Boldin was a star with Arizona, Stallworth is rested and eager to impress after missing last season, and Rice is coming off a year in which he had a team-high 78 catches and amassed 2,041 yards in offense.

The offensive line is sound, although the health of right tackle Jared Gaither remains a concern.

And the defense? The loss of cornerback Domonique Foxworth (knee) weakens a position at which the Ravens are already thin, and the health of safety Ed Reed remains a concern. But if Lewis, Terrell Suggs, Jarret Johnson and Trevor Pryce put the pressure on opposing quarterbacks, the backfield won't have to be perfect to maintain coverage.

Somehow, the Baltimore defense always seems to find a way to overcome injuries.

''I think our defense is going to continue to be great. I mean, that's what this team is built off of,'' Boldin said. ''Ever since I've known the Ravens, it's been a defensive football team. And that won't change because we brought in some offensive weapons. We're just going to try to make their jobs as easy as possible by putting up some points.''

The addition of second-round draft choice Terrence Cody in the middle of the line makes a tough run defense even better. If top pick Sergio Kindle can return from a fractured skull, that will help, too.

But Baltimore defense is usually more about toughness than star power.

''I love the attitude of this defense. I think they have great confidence,'' coordinator Greg Mattison said. ''When you go into a Ravens defensive room, you know you have an obligation to play up to the standard that's been set over the years. Nothing is different this year.''

The weapons Baltimore added on offense has some football publications predicting a Super Bowl run in Harbaugh's third season. Although he acknowledges that is the goal, he doesn't put much stock in the prognastication of outsiders.

''It's more fun to read the articles. That's about it. Two years ago they were predicting us to go 3-13, and I got a little offended by that,'' he said. ''You feel like you don't listen to them then, why would we pay attention to them now?

''It's irrelevant where you're picked, or what people think you should do or shouldn't do. That's the beauty of this league. You have to go out and actually do it.''

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