Baltimore Ravens
Key Additions: WR Anquan Boldin, QB Marc Bulger, K Shayne Graham, WR Donte’ Stallworth, LB Sergio Kindle, DT Terrence Cody, Ken Hamlin
Key Subtractions: WR Kelley Washington, DE Dwan Edwards
The Baltimore Ravens come into the 2010 after two very good years, but failing to reach the big game with QB Joe Flacco. Flacco has lead his team well in his young career, and with the addition of QB coach Jim Zorn, Flacco will take even bigger steps with the additions made in the offseason. Anquon Bolidin was acquired from the Cardinals in the off season to give Flacco the big target hes lacked since he started. Derrick Mason and Mark Clayton are good receivers, but do not bring the presence Boldin does do opposing defenses. Now that Boldin is here, both Mason and Clayton should see more room down field to make catches. Ray Rice ran for over 1,300 yards last season earning a spot in the Pro Bowl. With McGahee as his backup and a solid offensive line up front, the Ravens are prime for a deep run into the playoffs this season.
The Ravens were ranked third in the NFL last season in total defense lead by their long time leader Ray Lewis. With the addition of Sergio Kindle to the defense, the Ravens defense gets a lot better. Kindle will play alongside Lewis and Terell Suggs. Up front, Mount Cody will be groomed into action by Lewis and Pro Bowler Haloti Ngata. The Ravens were number one in the NFL last season in yards per carry against, 3.4. In the secondary, Ed Reed always provides the opportunity to take an interception and turn it into 6 points. But beyond the aging Reed, the Ravens are facing questions in the secondary. Corners Fabian Washington and Lardarius Webb are recovering from injuries, and Domonique Foxworth has not been consistent. If the Ravens have a weakness, its in pass coverage. They may be vulnerable to the big play if their are inconsistencies in the secondary. And come playoff time, receivers seem to show up a lot more than they do in the regular season, leaving them exposed. This is the biggest obstacle to overcome if they are to make it to Dallas in February.
Schedule:
1 Mon, Sep 13 at NY Jets
2 Sun, Sep 19 at Cincinnati
3 Sun, Sep 26 Cleveland
4 Sun, Oct 3 at Pittsburgh
5 Sun, Oct 10 Denver
6 Sun, Oct 17 at New England
7 Sun, Oct 24 Buffalo
8 BYE
9 Sun, Nov 7 Miami 1:00 PM
10 Thu, Nov 11 at Atlanta
11 Sun, Nov 21 at Carolina
12 Sun, Nov 28 Tampa Bay
13 Sun, Dec 5 Pittsburgh
14 Mon, Dec 13 at Houston
15 Sun, Dec 19 New Orleans
16 Sun, Dec 26 at Cleveland
17 Sun, Jan 2 Cincinnati
The Ravens have the 12th hardest schedule and opponents were 130-126 last season. They catch the AFC East and NFC South this year. The Ravens open up with against two playoff teams and two tough road games at New England and Pittsburgh. Their schedule doesn't get much better after the Bye either, traveling to the pass happy Texans and then at home against the Super Bowl Champs. A tough schedule, but look for the Ravens to be prime for a deep run this year.
Arizona Cardinals
Key Additions: QB Derek Anderson, G Alan Faneca, K Jay Feely, OLB Joey Porter, S Kerry Rhodes, NT Dan Williams
Key Losses: WR Anquan Boldin, QB Kurt Warner, S Antrel Rolle, OLB Bertrand Berry, LB Karlos Dansby, CB Bryant McFadden, LB Chike Okeafor, K Neil Rackers
The Cardinals enter the 2010 season two years removed from a Super Bowl, but huge question marks surrounding their offense. With Kurt Warner announcing his retirement and Anquan Boldin being traded to the Ravens, the Cards have some questions that so far have gone unanswered. The most critical one is who is going to be the quarterback. With the inconsistent play of Matt Leinart so far in the preseason, the Cards have began exploring the possibility of trading Leinart, according to reports. Leinart has appeared visibly frustrated with his receivers and the coaching staff so far in the preseason. It might be best for both parties for Leinart to move somewhere else and for Derek Anderson to start for the Cards. Anderson has done well in the snaps he has gotten. Regardless of who starts at quarterback, the Cards lost one of the most physical receivers in the NFL. What Boldin brought to the team not only made him look good, but cleared space for WR Larry Fitzgerald to work over secondaries, giving defensive coaches nightmares. Now WR Steve Breaston will be asked to fill his shoes, and he has the capability to do so. Early Doucet also gives the Cards good depth. The two headed monster of RB Beanie Wells, who had an excellent rookie season, and Tim Hightower will keep defenses honest. Receivers and RB will not be as big a problem as the QB situation will be if the Leinart situation isn't handled quickly.
The Cardinals have a lot of stars to replace on defense this season. Karlos Dansby and S Antrel Rolle left as free agents in the offseason, and the team traded CB Bryant McFadden. They traded for S Kerry Rhodes, a former Pro Bowler, but failed to replace Dansby. Joey Porter, 33, is not a viable replacement for a Pro Bowler with 109 and 119 tackles the previous two seasons. Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie is their top corner, but the team traded Bryant McFadden in the offseason, and his expected replacements have limited experience. Luckily, the AFC West does not house any high flying offenses.
Schedule:
1 Sun, Sep 12 at St. Louis
2 Sun, Sep 19 at Atlanta
3 Sun, Sep 26 Oakland
4 Sun, Oct 3 at San Diego
5 Sun, Oct 10 New Orleans
7 Sun, Oct 24 at Seattle
8 BYE
8 Sun, Oct 31 Tampa Bay
9 Sun, Nov 7 at Minnesota
10 Sun, Nov 14 Seattle
11 Sun, Nov 21 at Kansas City
12 Mon, Nov 29 San Francisco
13 Sun, Dec 5 St. Louis
14 Sun, Dec 12 Denver
15 Sun, Dec 19 at Carolina
16 Sat, Dec 25 Dallas
17 Sun, Jan 2 at San Francisco
The Cardinals have the easiest schedule in the NFL and opponents were 114-142 last season. They catch the AFC West and NFC South this season. Their schedule could not be any more favorable as they catch the Super Bowl Champs and Dallas at home. They do have two tough road games at Minnesota and at San Diego. Look for the Cards to contend in what I consider the weakest division in the NFL, But do not be shocked if they miss the playoffs.
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