Steve Davis: Ravens Defense Is Question Mark
For all the talk about the referees and the offense, people need to take a look at the Ravens defense.
People need to be careful before they assume that it will be the Ravens defense of old. Remember, 2 starters left via free agency, Jarrett Johnson and Cory Redding. Then, Suggs went down. That's 3/7 of the front seven from last year not out there. Paul Kruger is a huge question mark, Kindle has been a disappointment and McClellan is an unproven, undrafted free agent with promise. There's a new defensive coordinator in Dean Pees. Ray Lewis dropped 30 pounds, and no one knows that impact. Cary Williams is coming off an injury.
You get the point. I'm not saying they won't be great, but there is reason to expect the defense to have a fall-off. It's hard to lose the Defensive Player of the Year and not be affected.
