<span style="color:#000000"><div align="center"><span style="font-size:14pt;line-height:100%">2006 BALTIMORE RAVENS PREVIEW</span></div><div align="center"></div> The Baltimore Ravens enter the 2006 season hoping to rebound from a disappointing 2005 season. There are many factors in their favor to say they should greatly improve on the 6-10 record from last season. The Ravens were hampered by injuries and off the field issues in ?05. This is a new season, and the Ravens have alot of reason for high expectations in 2006. Head coach Brian Billick could be on the hot seat, and may need to make the playoffs to retain his job.Last season the Ravens struggled greatly on offense with quarterback Kyle Bollar at the helm. One obvious improvement to the team is the addition of veteran quarterback Steve McNair. McNair comes to Baltimore after a eleven stellar years with the Titans/Oilers. McNair will fill a void the team has had at the quarterback position as well as add veteran leadership to the locker room. McNair joins his old Titans counterpart Derrick Mason, who signed with Baltimore in 2005. Mason caught 86 passes for 1073 yards and 3 touchdowns last season. Opposite Mason will be first round draft pick in 2005 Mark Clayton. Clayton came on strong at the end of his rookie year and began to display the skills that made the Ravens select him 22nd overall in the ?05 draft. Clayton finished his rookie campaign with 44 catches for 441 yards and 2 touchdowns. In addition to the receiving core, McNair has always loved throwing to his tight ends. Baltimore has one of the best tight ends in the league in sixth year pro Todd Heap. Last season Heap put up impressive numbers by catching 75 passes for 855 yards to go along with 7 touchdowns. Expect big things from Heap this season. After a disappointing 2005 season, Jamal Lewis should be to full strength. Lewis did rush for 906 yards, but only averaged 3.4 yards per carry. Lewis was hampered by off season ankle surgery as well as an off season jail sentence. Lewis will be joined in the backfield by former Denver Bronco Mike Anderson, whom the Ravens signed as an unrestricted free agent during the off season. Anderson rushed for 1012 yards in 15 games last season for Denver. The two should form a solid one-two punch if they can both stay healthy. Defensively, the Ravens should be solid as usual. Led by middle linebacker Ray Lewis, the Ravens defense should easily finish the season ranked in the top five or six in the NFL. The unit was hampered by injuries last season, most notably by Lewis and safety Ed Reed. Despite the injuries they still finished in the top five in total defense in 2005. New additions to the 2006 defense will be first round selection in 2006 defensive tackle Haloti Ngata. Ngata is a tough wide body who will keep people off of Lewis. Another addition will be second round selection in ?05 outside linebacker/defensive end Dan Cody. Cody missed all of last season when he suffered a knee injury the first day of training camp. They still have Chris McCallister and Samari Rolle at the cornerback positions. Along with Reed and rookie safety Dawan Landry the Ravens should have a stingy pass defense. Defensive ends Terrell Suggs and Trevor Pryce know how to get to the quarterback. Suggs recorded 8 sacks last season while Pryce, a key off season addition recorded 4 sacks for the Denver Broncos. Outside linebacker Adalius Thomas added 9 sacks to lead the team.Overall the Ravens look good solid in my opinion, and I fully expect them to rebound from the trying 2005 season. They seem to have alot better balance that they dad a year ago. With the players they brought in along with guys they have back from injury a complete turn around should not be a total surprise. They do however play in a very competitive AFC North Division. Byarren Schilling (darnik44)</span>
