What Went Wrong, Right For Baltimore Ravens In 2015
By Samuel Njoku
The 2015 season has come to a close for the Baltimore Ravens; there will be no postseason for the purple and black. No late playoff run by Joe Flacco. No Super Bowl trophy. It was thought early on that Baltimore could be destined for greatness, but little is ever so certain in the NFL.
What Went Wrong In 2015
The Ravens had high hopes entering the 2015 season. So what went wrong? For starters, injuries were a big part of the team this season. The Ravens led the NFL with 20 players sent to the IR. Those players include Joe Flacco, Terrell Suggs, Steve Smith, Eugene Monroe, and Dennis Pitta. There's no way a team can succeed when they suffer those kind of casualties. Baltimore did an admirable job trying to plug in holes, but there's only so much a team can do given the salary cap.
That's not to say Baltimore's struggles were solely due to injuries—their roster was far from perfect to begin with. The Ravens were missing speed on both sides of the ball and lacked any kind of pass rush. Those two factors don't bode well for any team. Expect them to attack both of these deficiencies diligently in the offseason.
What Went Right In 2015
When a team goes 5-11, there isn't much that can go right in a season, but Baltimore had a few good moments in 2015. For starters, they swept their arch rivals in the Pittsburgh Steelers. The fans responded well to that and it turned out to be the defining positive moment of the season for the team. Sam Koch was finally recognized for his continued success as he was selected to his first Pro Bowl. And more importantly than anything else, the Ravens fought in almost every game they played this season. Despite the harsh circumstances, Baltimore played every team tough. In fact, 14 of the Ravens 16 games were decided by 8 points or less. That's unheard of in today's NFL.
Last Time In Baltimore
Steve Smith has already confirmed that he will forgo his retirement and return in 2016. But that doesn't mean that there aren't players set to leave Baltimore in the offseason. Chances are Chris Canty has played his last year in Baltimore. Justin Forsett could also be a cap casualty, though his exceptional play may warrant another season with the purple and black. Kendrick Lewis, Eugene Monroe, and Kyle Arrington are all candidates to be let go due to poor play and cap relief. Kelechi Osemele is a player that many will keep an eye on but could be looking for work elsewhere due to his high price tag.
Onward To 2016
This season was tough for players, fans, and coaches. Many don't expect to see the Ravens among one of the worst in the league when the dust settles, but that was the way things ended up for Baltimore. Now the front office will begin to work tirelessly to ensure the team doesn't suffer the same result in 2016. The Ravens will begin to prepare for free agency as well as one of the most crucial NFL Drafts in the franchise's short history.
Samuel Njoku was born and raised in Baltimore, MD and is a graduate of the University of Maryland Eastern Shore. Samuel has covered the Ravens for Examiner.com since 2010. Prior to 2010, Samuel was an avid blogger and radio personality in Salisbury, MD. Samuel Njoku is a freelance writer covering all things NFL. His work can be found on Examiner.com. You can also follow him on Twitter @Ravens_Examiner.
