ProFootballCentral.com

By PFC Ravens Writer Martin Steger

As the new offensive coordinator of the Baltimore Ravens, Cam Cameron has a mighty task on his hands: He must turn the perennial punch line that is Baltimore’s offense into a tougher, meaner, more explosive unit. Cameron has a long way to go—Baltimore has traditionally fielded offenses just ineffective enough to offset its stout defenses—but he does have some pieces to work with.

Pros:

The most consistent part of the Ravens offense last season was its running backs. Look for them to carry the load again this season. In 2007, starting halfback Willis McGahee totaled just over 1200 yards rushing and found the end zone on seven runs. He complemented his ground performance with 231 receiving yards and the first TD reception of his career. If he improves his conditioning (not a sure thing), those numbers could increase this season, as McGahee often came out of games to catch his breath.

But whenever McGahee does leave the field, rookie Ray Rice will be there to step in. He has been very impressive in the preseason, and ripped the Vikings for 77 yards and a touchdown on just eight carries. Rice is not overwhelmingly big or fast, but he gets it done.

Leading the way for McGahee and Rice will be second-year fullback Le’Ron McClain. After a poor first game, McClain improved throughout all of last season and became a solid NFL blocker. He should continue to improve this season, especially if he can pick some things up from his fellow fullback, new acquisition Lorenzo Neal.

Neal is near the end of his career, but fullbacks age well and he has long been one of the best in the league. He rejoins Cameron from their days in San Diego, giving him a comfort zone in his new home. McClain and Neal can both force paths open for their running backs, and they will probably be very busy doing just that as the young offensive line comes together.

It is difficult to guess how the team will implement two great fullbacks in an era that has seen the position used less and less, but Cameron had both of them on the field at the same time in the Vikings preseason game. It was, at the very least, quite intimidating.

Another pro for this offense is wide receiver Derrick Mason. He’s getting up there in age, but is smart and crafty enough to lead this team in receptions and yards once again. Mason is a veteran presence on a young group of receivers who can learn a lot from him.

The subtlest positive for this team is the interior of the offensive line. Left guard Ben Grubbs and center Jason Brown are now the best linemen on the team. Both of them played very well last season. Brown is the line’s leader, and ex-rookie Grubbs should make a large leap in his second year. Joining them on the interior is right guard Marshal Yanda. He spent last season as a tackle, but guard is a better fit for his skills and build.

These bright spots on offense will have to do a lot of work to make up for the questions that cloud the team.

Cons:

Just as the interior of the line will be a strength, the tackle spots could be a weakness. Jared Gaither and Adam Terry, the projected starting left and right tackles, both have been injured. The depth behind them includes a few rookies, journeyman Mike Kracalik, and an off-the-street signing in Chad Slaughter. Gaither and Terry both have potential, but any time they miss will hurt their development and, potentially, whichever quarterback they must protect.

The tight end and wide receiver positions could be in trouble as well, mainly because of injuries and inconsistent play. Demetrius Williams has the potential to be a deep threat, but injuries have held him back and he hasn’t been able to put a consistent season together yet. Though he has the talent to start, Mark Clayton has had similarly inconsistent outings. Yamon Figurs is a speedster, but needs to work on his hands.

Tight end Todd Heap is undoubtedly the most talented receiver on the team, but he needs to keep himself healthy this season to regain his elite status. A healthy Heap is a huge plus for this offense; however, the passing game will struggle if his injury problems continue. The depth behind him has already taken a hit, as Quinn Sypniewski is on injured reserve. The Ravens can’t afford to end another season with a bunch of injured tight ends.

This offense’s final con is an unsettled competition at the most important position on the field. The team’s three quarterbacks all bring different strengths, but they also bring weaknesses. Kyle Boller has experience and arm strength, but can’t put it together for more than two or three games at a time. Troy Smith is popular among fans and players, but he has accuracy problems. Finally, Joe Flacco brings all the intrigue and potential for error that comes with a rookie first-round quarterback.

Of the three, Troy Smith seems to be in the lead. Smith can scramble, which will be a valuable skill if the offensive tackles struggle. He still needs time to learn, and will make mistakes on the way; however, his leadership may be invaluable to a young offense that needs to learn with him. If Smith can compensate for his accuracy problems, the offense may actually be able to score. If not, it’s going to be a very long season.