Baltimore Ravens 2010 Season Preview, Predictions Picks & Odds
With the NFL Football season just around the corner, we are providing season previews for all 32 teams to give you the betting edge. Follow the best NFL Football Handicappers as they analyze the the Baltimore Ravens in this 2010 season preview. Use our comprehensive and insider info to bet successfully on the NFL in our recommend sportsbooks.View the rest of our 2010 NFL Season Previews here.
Baltimore Ravens 2009 NFL Record: 6-2 Home: 4-4 Away: 3-5
Baltimore Ravens 2010 Preview
Baltimore Ravens general manager Ozzie Newsome couldn’t stop smiling. He had acquired Anquan Boldin, ending a long quest for a star wide receiver and, at least to an extent, redeeming a rare mistake he has regretted for years. It was a pedestrian 40 time that scared him off from drafting Boldin in 2003. But after landing the threetime Pro Bowl selection in a trade with Arizona, Newsome doesn’t have to lament that decision any longer. In addition to landing Boldin, Newsome retained veteran possession receiver Derrick Mason and signed deep threat Donte Stallworth. And just like that, Newsome had overhauled one of the worst groups of receivers in the league to create a viable unit that should help Baltimore gain traction as a potential Super Bowl contender. In addition to landing Boldin, Newsome retained veteran possession receiver Derrick Mason and signed deep threat Donte Stallworth. And just like that, Newsome had overhauled one of the worst groups of receivers in the league to create a viable unit that should help Baltimore gain traction as a potential Super Bowl contender.
2010 Baltimore Ravens Quarterbacks
Equipped with every tool a passer could need, towering starter Joe FIacco has won three of five career playoff starts. He spent the offseason building chemistry with his new targets, and the Ravens also want him to gain strength and keep refining his mechanics. They hired Jim Zorn as quarterbacks coach to help him achieve some rather high standards. Former Heisman winner Troy Smith badly wants an exit ticket out of town, but the Ravens aren’t inclined to trade him, and no suitors have emerged. He’s a competent backup with a lot more swagger than the usual second-stringer. Although he’s slated to compete with John Beck, Smith has little to worry about.
2010 Baltimore Ravens Running Backs
Rice busted out in 2009, a season that ended with Pro Bowl recognition. He rushed for 1,339 yards and caught 78 passes for another 702 yards, giving him 2,041 yards from scrimmage to rank second in the NFL behind Chris Johnson. The Ravens’ backfield is loaded. Willis McGahee is a powerful fornler Pro Bowler and one of the top backups in the NFL. He rushed for a dozen touchdowns last year and was retained despite his hefty $3.45 million salary. He has accepted his complementary role and busts through arm tackles. Rice’s bodyguard is Pro Bowl fullback Le’Ron McClain, a 260-pounder who delivers bruising lead blocks. He can also grind out tough yards and has enough moves to make people miss in the open field.
2010 Baltimore Ravens Receivers
Boldin rejuvenates a dormant passing game with his toughness, imposing size and ability to run after the catch. Watch for Boldin on the post, slant and out patterns. His presence should allow FIacco to evolve beyond his old habits of throwing almost exclusively to Mason and Rice. Mason, 36, remains in outstanding condition and has a knack for finding the hole in the defense. Stallworth is a burner but has been dogged by durability issues and off-field problems. He was suspended from the Browns last season following a DUI manslaughter conviction. Former first-round pick Mark Clayton has been a disappointment, and Demetrius Williams might struggle to make the roster after the team drafted David Reed, an ultra-productive slot receiver who draws high rnarks for his shiftiness and grit. Todd Heap played more snaps than any tight end in the league last year. Not as explosive as he used to be, he’s still a sound passcatching tight end with solid blocking skills. The Ravens drafted two potential successors for Heap, Ed Dickson and Dennis Pitta. Dickson is suited to play immediately with his speed and soft hands. Pitta could contribute as an athletic H-back
2010 Baltimore Ravens Offensive Line
Baltimore boasts one of the best sets of runblockers around in the form of tackles Michael Oher and Jared Gaither. Oher is an aggressive, versatile lineman who is making the move to left tackle after playing on the right side as rookie last season. Gaither, who will now move to right tackle, has occasional concentration lapses and injury issues, but at 6’9″, 340, he is capable of engulfing smaller defenders. His agility is hard to counteract. Ben Grubbs sometimes struggles at the point of attack but is still regarded as one of the league’s top young guards. Right guard Marshal Yanda is all intensity and hand punch. He plays the game in an angry mood. Veteran center Matt Birk’s leadership and technique galvanized the line last year. He controls bigger noseguards. Chris Chester is a valuable swingman as the primary backup at center and both guard spots.
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2010 Baltimore Ravens Defense
Pro Bowl tackle Haloti Ngata is a disruptive, mobile presence inside. He is a massive lineman who collapses the pocket but isn’t much of a pass-rusher. A former heavyweight wrestler, noseguard Kelly Gregg plays with outstanding leverage. Fully recovered from microfracture knee surgery two years ago, he should be able to hold off massive rookie Terrence Cody, who is slated for rotation duty. Cory Redding is coming off a subpar season in Seattle but has been installed as the starting left end, where he replaces Dwan Edwards. He has something to prove. Four-time Pro Bowler Trevor Pryce led the team in sacks last year and is set for a situational passrushing role.
Middle linebacker Ray Lewis remains an active, intimidating tackler. Just ask Darren Sproles, whom Lewis decked on a crucial fourth down stop to preserve a win over San Diego last year. The key to the defense is the ability of outside linebacker Terrell Suggs to get back in shape after reporting to training camp way too heavy last season at 280 pounds. He was an enigma for much of the 2009 season. Suggs has already shed a lot of weight and has recovered from a sprained knee. Suggs’ backup, Paul Kruger, has bulked up to 274 pounds to be more effective with his hand on the ground. Undrafted gem Dannell Ellerbe seized the inside linebacker job next to Lewis and displayed a lot of instincts and hitting ability. He consistently outperformed former third-round pick Tavares Gooden, who is usually battling injuries. One of the most reliable, underrated players on the team is strong-side linebacker Jarret Johnson. The Ravens drafted hybrid pass-rusher Sergio Kindle out ofTexas, and he’ll back up Johnson and get after the quarterback on third down.
Former NFL Defensive Player of the Year Ed Reed is a pure center fielder who sets up quarterbacks for mistakes. He contemplated retirement but is expected to return despite a painful pinched nerve in his neck that prevents him from being utilized much on blitzes and run support. Tom Zbikowski is a good backup to Reed.
Strong safety Dawan Landry made an outstanding comeback from neck surgery and is a fearless hitter. He regained his old form by the end of the season. At cornerback, Fabian Washington and Lardarius Webb are recovering from torn ACLs. Washington is on target to make it back for the start of the season, but Webb will likely begin the season on the physically unable to perform list. Domonique Foxworth isn’t a true shutdown cornerback, but he played much better in the second half of last season. He’s a willing tackler and can run but doesn’t make enough plays on the football.
Baltimore Ravens 2010 Season Prediction
The Ravens have the look of a legitimate Super Bowl contender, with most of the pieces in place for a deep run. They have a stingy defense, a bulldozing running game, an above-average quarterback and, finally, a viable No.1 wide receiver. The one concern is the lack of a shutdown corner, which could be a problem against some of the elite passing attacks. Still, this team has more than enough to get back to the Super Bowl for the first time in 10 years.
We predict that the Baltimore Ravens will finish 1st in the AFC North, with a record of 11-5.
Baltimore Ravens Betting
AFC North Odds: 10-11 AFC Conference Odds: 7-1 Super Bowl Odds: 14-1
Baltimore Ravens Five-Year Win Betting Trends
2005: 6 2006: 13 2007: 5 2008: 11 2009: 9
Bet on the Baltimore Ravens
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