Ravens Look To Fly High At Mile High Against Broncos
By Kevin McGuire
The start of the 2015 NFL schedule is now just days away for the Baltimore Ravens. With the opener coming up in Denver, there are some last minute items of business that must be addressed before hitting the road. That includes setting the depth chart for the new year.
Ravens ready for road gauntlet
Few things are guaranteed in life, but an NFL team playing eight games on the road is one of them. The Baltimore Ravens will play eight games on the road this season, just like every other NFL franchise. The timing of those road games, however, is something that few teams around the league will have to deal with. Baltimore opens the 2015 season Sunday in Denver, and four of the next six games will also be played on the road, including four games on the west coast and one against AFC North division rival Pittsburgh. Who made this schedule anyway?
"It's challenging, certainly," Ravens head coach John Harbaugh said this week when discussing the road challenges at the start of the season. "But the whole league is challenging. I don't care where you go or when you play. It seems like some teams don't have to play on the road on Monday night or they don't have to travel after a Monday night home game.”
Of course, Baltimore should feel pretty good about their chances on the road in Denver in Week 1. The Ravens have put together an impressive winning mark of 5-1 in the Mile High City since the franchise relocated from Cleveland to Baltimore. Perhaps because of this you will not find Harbaugh looking for much pity with the road opener in Denver.
“I don't know how many teams are faced with those challenges, but I'm sure other teams have their complaints as well."
Depth chart released for opener
Before packing their bags for the flight to Denver later this week, the Ravens released its first depth chart of the season. Of note, Baltimore will go with wide receiver Michael Campanaro to handle primary kick return duties. He was the only listed returner on the depth chart. Offensive lineman John Urschel will provide some flexibility on the offensive line. The second-year lineman out of Penn State could really be used in Happy Valley this week after Penn State allowed 10 sacks last weekend at Temple. But now he is listed as a back-up center as well as a back-up guard on both sides of the line. His versatility could come in handy, and that appears to be the hope for Harbaugh and his staff.
Tight ends youth movement underway for Ravens
On offense the Ravens will look to get their young tight ends involved and become a key cog in the system. There is plenty of youth at the position, with second-year player Crockett Gillmore getting the starting job and rookies Maxx Williams and Nick Boyle backing him up on the depth chart. The youth at the position is a bit of a concern for Harbaugh as the season kicks off.
“Could there be a younger group of tight ends? How far back would you have to go to find a younger group of three tight ends in this league?”
Baltimore has used veteran tight ends over the years, so this is a bit of a change of pace at the position this season. How much of an impact these younger players play could tell how well things could go in Week 1 against the Broncos.
Kevin McGuire is a Philadelphia area sports writer covering the Philadelphia Eagles and college football. McGuire is a member of the FWAA and National Football Foundation. Follow McGuire on Twitter @KevinOnCFB. His work can be found on Examiner.com.
