2008 Baltimore Ravens season

Infobox NFL_season

team = Baltimore Ravens
year = 2008
record = 2-2
division_place = 2nd AFC North
coach = John Harbaugh
stadium = M&T Bank Stadium
playoffs = TBD

The 2008 Baltimore Ravens season is the 13th season for the team in the NFL. The Ravens, in addition to facing its AFC North counterparts, will face opponents from the AFC South Division and the NFC East Division. They will also face the Oakland Raiders from the AFC West Division and the Miami Dolphins from the AFC East Division based on the 2002 - 2009 NFL scheduling formula because of their fourth place finish in the AFC North Division. [ [http://www.footballinjuries.com/rotation.htm Explanation of 2002 - 2009 scheduling formula] ] The Ravens and Minnesota Vikings will have the fourth toughest strength of schedule in the NFL based on its aforementioned opponents' win to loss ratio from the 2007 season, with its opponents winning 55.1% of their scheduled games in 2007. The only three teams with tougher strength of schedules are the Jacksonville Jaguars (3rd) with a 55.9% opponents' winning percentage, the Indianapolis Colts (2nd) with a 59.4% opponents' winning percentage, and the Pittsburgh Steelers will have the toughest strength of schedule in the 2008 season with an opponents' winning percentage of 59.8%. [ [http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/08160/888352-66.stm?cmpid=sports.xml. Toughest Schedules in 2008 -- Steelers top the list] ]

Offseason

Coaching Staff

Head Coach

On December 31, 2007, Brian Billick was fired after coaching the team to a 5-11 record, finishing last overall in the AFC North Division. [ [http://www.baltimoresun.com/topic/sports/football/brian-billick-PESPT008384.topic Brian Billick fired as Ravens Head Coach following 9 seasons] ] Three weeks later, on January 18, 2008, John Harbaugh was hired to replace Brian Billick as the third head coach in the franchise's young history. Harbaugh was the defensive secondary coach for the Philadelphia Eagles, coaching such players as Pro Bowl cornerback Lito Sheppard and free safety Brian Dawkins. As the Baltimore Ravens Head Coach, he is scheduled to serve in that capacity until at least the end of the 2011 season, after signing a four year contract with the team. [ [http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=3203489 John Harbaugh becomes third Head Coach in Ravens history] ]

Coordinators

After not having a true offensive coordinator during the 2007 season because Billick had assumed those duties early in the 2006 season after firing Jim Fassel [ [http://www.usatoday.com/sports/football/nfl/ravens/2006-10-17-fassel-fired_x.htm Ravens fire offensive coordinator Jim Fassel] ] (although Rick Neuheisel had been listed on the coaching staff in that capacity) [ [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/01/15/AR2007011500798.html Ravens Promote Neuheisel To Offensive Coordinator - washingtonpost.com ] ] , addressing this position was as much of a priority for new Head Coach John Harbaugh as it was for owner Steve Bisciotti to find a new Head Coach for his team, at the time. Recently dismissed as head coach from the Miami Dolphins [ [http://www.usatoday.com/sports/football/nfl/dolphins/2008-01-03-cameron-fired_N.htm Dolphins fire Cam Cameron after 1-15 season - USATODAY.com ] ] , Malcolm 'Cam' Cameron was highly sought after for his offensive expertise from his time in San Diego with the Chargers. After some deliberation amongst offers he received from around the league, Cameron chose to come to the Ravens, and John Harbaugh announced him as the offensive coordinator on January 23, 2008. [ [http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=3210229 ESPN - Cameron joins Ravens as offensive coordinator - NFL ] ]

Rex Ryan was 'released from duty' as the team's defensive coordinator, but was still under contract to the Ravens as a defensive coordinator in name for one more year, should new Head Coach John Harbaugh decide to hire him onto his staff, thus making him ineligible to accept the same position with any other NFL football team. Ryan, at the time was applying for a head coaching position himself, but got no offers for any of the four head coaching vacancies in Atlanta, his own team in Baltimore, Miami, or in Washington. On January 28, 2008, Ryan was re-hired as the Ravens' Defensive Coordinator and was subsequently promoted to Assistant Head Coach/Defensive Coordinator after rumors of potential Redskins Head Coach Jim Fassel circulated that he wanted Ryan to coach the Redskins as its defensive coordinator. [ [http://www.baltimoreravens.com/News/Articles/2008/01/Rex_Ryan_Named_Assistant_Head_Coach_Defensive_Coordinator.aspx Baltimore Ravens | News | Rex Ryan Named Assistant Head Coach / Defensive Coordinator ] ] [ [http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/sports/football/blog/2008/01/report_redskins_pursuing_ryan.html baltimoresun.com - Moving the Chains: Report: Redskins pursuing Ryan ] ] [ [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/01/23/AR2008012302806.html Redskins, Zorn Talk Offense - washingtonpost.com ] ]

Personnel

Offseason / Free agency

During the 2008 Free Agency period, the Ravens acquired linebacker Brendan Ayanbadejo from the Chicago Bears [ [http://wbal.com/stories/templates/ravens.aspx?articleid=3098&zoneid=23 Brendan Ayanbadejo Talks Ravens With Steve - Baltimore Ravens on WBAL Radio - wbal.com ] ] and cornerback Frank Walker from the Green Bay Packers [ [http://www.baltimoreravens.com/News/Articles/2008/03/Ravens_Sign_CB_Frank_Walker.aspx Baltimore Ravens | News | Ravens Sign Cornerback Frank Walker; Kicker E.J. Cochrane Added ] ] . Both were added to the Ravens roster primarily for their special teams ability, but also to fulfill a pressing need for depth at two positions which were diminished by injuries as the 2007 season wore on. On February 28, 2008, center Mike Flynn was released after failing his annual physical. Flynn was one of the few players remaining from the team's Super Bowl championship season in 2000. [ [http://www.baltimoreravens.com/News/Articles/2008/02/Ravens_Release_Flynn.aspx Ravens Release Flynn] ] After suffering multiple injuries and having to be placed on injured reserve during the 2007 season, veteran quarterback Steve McNair announced his retirement from the NFL after 13 combined seasons with the Ravens and Titans on April 17, 2008. [ [http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=3351086 ESPN - McNair retires: 'Physically, I couldn't do it anymore' - NFL ] ] After being voted to 11 Pro Bowls in 12 seasons, (but only playing in 10 due to a hyperextended big toe [ [http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/wire?section=nfl&id=3221256 Chargers T McNeill heads to Pro Bowl after Ogden pulls out] ] ) veteran left tackle and the first ever draft selection by the newly created Baltimore Ravens franchise in 1996 [ [http://www.faniq.com/blog/Looking-back-on-past-NFL-Drafts1996-Blog-2317/last/ Looking back...1996 NFL Draft] ] , Jonathan Ogden announced his retirement on June 12, 2008 [ [http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/football/bal-ogden612,0,3252645.story Ogden - "I'm a Raven for life"] ] .

2008 NFL Draft

The Baltimore Ravens had nine selections going into in the 2008 NFL Draft, including four compensatory selections. The Ravens traded the eighth overall pick to the Jaguars for Jacksonville's first-round choice (26th overall) as well as two third-round selections (71st and 89th) and a fourth-round (125th) pick. The Ravens then traded the 26th overall pick as well as their third-round (89th) and sixth-round (173) picks to Houston for its first-round (18th) pick. [ [http://www.nfl.com/draft/tracker#tab:dt-by-team NFL Events: Draft Tracker ] ] The Ravens traded their 38th overall pick to the Seattle Seahawks for their second-round pick and gained another selection in the third-round, which were at 55 and 86, respectively. The Ravens then traded their second fourth-round pick (125th overall) to the Oakland Raiders for cornerback Fabian Washington [ [http://www.insidebayarea.com/raiders/ci_9074381 Raiders trade Fabian Washington to Ravens] ] .

Regular season schedule

[ [http://www.nfl.com/kickoff/story;jsessionid=700169BA6474B16A286958552D12CF29?id=09000d5d807c5bbe&template=with-video&confirm=true AFC team schedules ] ]

Linescore Amfootball
Road=Browns
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R2=10
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Home=Ravens
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H2=7
H3=21
H4=0

Coming off an unexpected bye week, the Ravens looked to improve their division standing in the AFC North, playing host to the 0-2 Cleveland Browns. Joe Flacco threw his first career interception in the first quarter, which was scoreless for both teams. The Browns, however, capitalized on the turnover by driving 52 yards for a touchdown, finishing the drive with Derek Anderson completing a 19 yard pass to Jerome Harrison. Baltimore would respond with Willis McGahee scoring on a 5 yard touchdown run, his first of the season. The Browns closed out the first half with a Phil Dawson Field goal to make the score 10 - 7, Browns, at the half. Strong Safety Dawan Landry suffered a mild spinal injury and was taken to the hospital, where X-rays were negative for damage. In the second half, Baltimore won the turnover battle and their defense proved to be the deciding factor in this contest. After Ray Lewis delivered a big hit on Browns' Tight End Kellen Winslow while deflecting a pass, Chris McAlister intercepted the tipped ball and returned the interception to the Browns 10 yard line. Four plays later, Fullback Le'Ron McClain would score on a 1 yard run. On the next possession, Ed Reed intercepted a Derek Anderson pass intended for Tight End Steve Heiden and returned it 32 yards for a touchdown. After forcing another 3-and-out, Baltimore would capitalize on a Browns personal foul from the 50 yard line, driving 35 yards for a touchdown, finishing the drive with a 1 yard run from Le'Ron McClain. The Browns tried to rally late in the game, but Samari Rolle intercepted Derek Anderson with less than two minutes to play, ensuring no chance of a comeback.

With the win, and the Pittsburgh Steelers losing 15 - 6 to the Philadelphia Eagles, the Ravens not only improve to 2-0; they now lead the AFC North after 3 weeks.

=Week 4: at Pittsburgh Steelers=

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=Week 7: at Miami Dolphins=

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=Week 10: at Houston Texans=

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Week 13: at Cincinnati Bengals

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Road=Steelers
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=Week 16: at Dallas Cowboys=

Roster

References

External links

* [http://www.baltimoreravens.com Baltimore Ravens Official Website]