As players get bigger, stronger and faster coupled with rules of the game
being in constant change, conventional wisdom suggests that players from
different eras cannot be compared. However, I have decided to defy that
notion.
Though the Baltimore Ravens have only existed since 1996, the NFL game
has still changed on some fronts in that short span. The Ravens were once
known as the Cleveland Browns before owner Art Modell moved them to
Baltimore. The Ravens have been to the postseason 12 times in their 25
years and have two Super Bowl titles. They might have even more if not
for the New England Patriots winning six Super Bowls since the turn of
the century.
Today, I unveil my Ravens Dream Team.
There are some rigid criteria in making this team. The player needed to have
played at least four seasons as a Raven. Since the free agency era began 30
years ago, that standard needs to be in place. Two-year rentals don’t make
this list. Personality or legal flaws are not a deterrent to making this team.
This is football, not the Boy Scouts. Being in the Hall of Fame is the
first consideration coupled with impact on the franchise. The number of
All-Pro seasons are a top consideration with longevity also helping
immensely.
Generational reminders
All eras matter. Being on a Ravens’ Super Bowl winning team does not
get you a hall pass on this team. Winning or losing eras, all high-level
performers get considered.
Since the Ravens have only existed for 25 years, there is not enough quality
for honorable mention at every position. To point, on offense, I’m taking
enough receivers to play four, enough running backs to have a change of
pace and enough tight ends to play two. On defense, I want enough
defensive linemen and linebackers to bounce between a 3-4 and 4-3 and
enough defensive backs to play dime coverage.
OFFENSE
QB -- Joe Flacco
Flacco, who recently completed his 12th NFL season in a Denver Broncos
uniform, had his detractors but he gave the Ravens 11 years of quarterback
stability. One of those seasons culminated with a Super Bowl title in 2012.
Flacco leads the franchise in virtually every passing category imaginable.
Flacco never earned any Pro Bowl accolades but was a proven postseason
performer. The Ravens were frequently good for a road playoff upset.
RB -- Jamal Lewis, Ray Rice
Though the Ravens defense gets a lot of notoriety, and rightfully so, but
with running backs like Lewis and Rice, the offense was blessed with two
bellcows. Lewis had a punishing running style while Rice was versatile
between his rushing prowess and ability as a receiver. Lewis played seven
seasons with his best campaign coming in 2003 when he was both an All
Pro and Pro Bowler. Lewis was a member of the 2000 Super Bowl
champions. Lewis is the franchise’s all-time leading rusher. The lasting
image of Rice is getting caught on camera punching his fiancee in an
elevator. However, performance matters more in getting on this team.
Rice was a three-time Pro Bowler, two-time second-team All Pro and
member of the 2012 Super Bowl champions. Rice is the franchise’s No. 2
all-time leading rusher and his 369 catches rank No. 3 in franchise history.
FB -- Le’Ron McClain.
McClain was a solid all-around fullback in his four seasons as a Raven.
McClain could open up holes for Rice, hammer the ball inside with the
running game and be an occasional threat in the passing game. McClain
was a Pro Bowler on two occasions and All Pro twice (once as a first-teamer).
WR -- Derek Mason, Torrey Smith, Mark Clayton, Travis Taylor
While Mason is well-known for his time as a Tennessee Titan (1997-2004),
he made a significant impact in his six seasons in Baltimore (2005-2010).
Mason is the franchise’s all-time leading receiver with 471 catches. Mason
made the Pro Bowl as an alternate in 2008 and also became the 13th player
in NFL history to catch at least 900 passes in his career. Smith is the sixth
leading pass catcher in franchise history. He never earned Pro Bowl honors
in his four seasons but his two touchdown catches in a 38-35 double
overtime win over Denver in the AFC Divisional playoffs that later led to
Baltimore’s Super Bowl win gets him on this list. Clayton and Taylor get
on this list by default as the fourth and seventh leading receivers in franchise
history.
TE -- Todd Heap, Dennis Pitta
Heap played for ten seasons with the Ravens and is the franchise’s No. 2
all-time leading receiver. Heap was a two-time Pro Bowl performer and
second-team All Pro in 2003. Most of all, he was a security blanket for
Ravens quarterbacks. After Heap was released, Pitta became the Ravens
starter at tight end. Though Shannon Sharpe was very impactful, he was
only a Raven for two seasons. Pitta recorded 224 career receptions and
was a member of the 2012 Super Bowl champions.
OT -- Jonathan Ogden, Orlando Brown
Ogden was the No. 4 overall pick in the 1997 draft. All he did was become
one of the best offensive lineman in NFL history. Ogden is in the Hall of
Fame. He was also an 11-time Pro Bowler and nine-time All Pro (four times
as a first-teamer). Brown had two stints with the Ravens (1996-1998;
2003-2005). Brown was not a Pro Bowl performer but he was a stalwart.
OG -- Marshall Yanda, Edwin Mulitalo
Yanda played for the Ravens for 13 seasons (2007-2019) and was a member
of the 2012 Super Bowl champions. Yanda was one of the best guards in
the business. He was an eight-time Pro Bowler and seven-time All Pro (two
as a first-team selection). Mulitalo played for the Ravens for eight seasons
(1999-2006), including the 2000 Super Bowl champions. While he was
not a Pro Bowl performer, he was a big reason for the Ravens dominant
running game.
C -- Mike Flynn
Flynn moved from guard to center and enjoyed an excellent 11 year career
with the Ravens. Though he did not earn Pro Bowl recognition, he was a
reliable start and member of the 2000 Super Bowl champions.
DEFENSE
DE -- Michael McCray, Elvis Dumervil, Rob Burnett
McCrary was a Raven for six seasons (1997-2002), including being a
member of the 2000 Super Bowl champions. McCrary was one of the
more unheralded members of the legendary 2000 defense but is third in
franchise history with 51.0 sacks. Dumervil was a Raven for four seasons
(2013-2016). In that span, he reached the Pro Bowl twice and was first-
team All Pro once. Burnett played six seasons as a Raven (1996-2001).
Like McCrary, he was an unsung member of the 2000 Super Bowl
champions. He was second-team All Pro in 2000.
DT -- Haloti Ngata, Trevor Pryce, Kelly Gregg, Tony Siragusa
In his prime, Ngata was one of the best defensive tackles in the business.
In his nine seasons as a Raven, he was a Pro Bowler five times and All
Pro five times as well, twice as a first-teamer. He was also a member of
the 2012 Super Bowl champions. Pryce was versatile enough to be a 3-4
end or 4-3 tackle. Though he was never a Pro Bowl selection as a Raven,
he was a stalwart. Gregg was a Raven for ten seasons (2001-2010). While
never a Pro Bowl level player, he was a solid starter for a decade. While
Siragusa was only a Raven for five seasons, he was hugely impactful in
more ways than one. He consumed double-teams to keep defenders off
the Ravens linebackers. Siragusa was a member of the 2000 Super Bowl
champions.
OLB -- Peter Boulware, Terrell Suggs, Adalius Thomas, Jamie Sharper
The Ravens had some ferocious pass rushers at this position that were
equally strong against the run. Boulware, Sharper and Thomas were
members of the legendary 2000 defense that led the team to a Super
Bowl title. Suggs was also a member of the 2012 champions. Boulware
burst on to the scene in 1997, earning NFL Defensive Rookie of the
Year honors. Boulware is No. 2 in franchise history in sacks with 70.
He was a Pro Bowler four times and second-team All Pro once. Suggs
is the franchise leader in career sacks with 132. Suggs was a seven-time
Pro Bowler, two-time All Pro, 2003 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year
in 2003 and NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 2011. Sharper was a
Raven for five seasons and while he was unheralded compared to other
stars on that defense, he was equally valuable. Thomas was a rookie on
the 2000 team but eventually evolved into a high-level player. Thomas
was a two-time Pro Bowler.
ILB -- Ray Lewis, Bart Scott, CJ Mosely, Ed Hartwell
You would have to look long and hard to find a more complete defensive
player in NFL history than Lewis. He was ferocious against the run and
could cover the entire field. Lewis was a member of both the 2000 and
2012 Super Bowl champions. Lewis is also a Hall of Famer, 13-time Pro
Bowler, ten-time All Pro (seven as a first-teamer) and two-time NFL
Defensive Player of the Year. Scott was a Raven for seven years (2002-
2008). He was a pro Bowler one time but an excellent linebacker
nonetheless. Mosley just completed his first season with the New York
Jets after five with the Ravens. Four of those seasons were Pro Bowl
campaigns. He was second-team All Pro as well. Hartwell was only a
Raven for four years (2001-2004) and the fact that he never missed a
single game counts for a lot.
CB -- Chris McAllister, Duane Starks, Jimmy Smith
As if the Ravens’ pass rush and run defense were not enough, good luck
completing passes against McAllister and Starks. Both played for the 2000
Super Bowl champions. McAllister was a rangy cover man and is No. 3 in
franchise history with 26 interceptions. McAllister was a Pro Bowler three
times, All Pro twice (one as a first-teamer) and led the NFL in interceptions
in 2000. Starks played ten years for four different teams but his best
football came with the Ravens from 1998-2001. Smith recently completed
his eighth season with the Ravens and was a member of the 2012 Super
Bowl champions.
S -- Ed Reed, Rod Woodson, Ladarius Webb
With Reed and Woodson, you get two of the best defensive players in the
history of the NFL. Both were incredibly knowledgeable and well-prepared.
Avoid throwing in their direction at all costs. Reed spent 11 seasons with
the Ravens before having a cup of coffee with the New York Jets and
Houston Texans. Reed is the franchise leader with 61 interceptions. Reed
is a Hall of Famer and member of the 2012 Super Bowl champions. He
was a nine-time Pro Bowler, eight-time All Pro (five as a first-teamer),
three-time NFL interceptions leader and Defensive Player of the Year in
2004. Like Reed, Woodson is a Hall of Famer but played 17 years for
four teams. Woodson was a Raven for four seasons (1998-2001)
including being a member of the 2000 Super Bowl champions. As a
Raven, he was a Pro Bowler three times and All Pro once. Webb played
nine seasons (2009-2017). Though never a Pro Bowler, he was versatile
enough to play both cornerback and safety.
SPECIAL TEAMS
K -- Matt Stover.
You could pick Stover or Justin Tucker and not be wrong but for now,
the pick is Stover. He is the franchise’s all-time leading point scorer,
which is significant because he bailed out numerous inept Ravens
offenses. Stover was a member of both Super Bowl champions.
P -- Sam Koch.
Koch recently completed his 15th season with the Ravens. Koch’s
punting coupled with a Ravens defense that has frequently been a
headache is a deadly combination. Koch was a member of the 2012
Super Bowl champions, 2015 Pro Bowl and possesses a career 45.4
career average.
RETURN -- Jermaine Lewis
Lewis was a pedestrian receiver but dangerous return specialist in his six
seasons as a Raven. He was a member of the 2000 Super Bowl champions.
Lewis was a two-time Pro Bowler and All Pro. He averaged 22.7 yards
on punts, 11.8 on punts and returned six punts for touchdowns.
HEAD COACH -- John Harbaugh.
The Ravens have had just three head coaches in their 25-year history.
Brian Billick and Harbaugh each have a Super Bowl title on their resume
but the tiebreaker goes to Harbaugh though it is like splitting hairs. You
could pick either and not go wrong. Billick coached nine seasons,
compiled an 80-64 record with four playoff appearances and two
division titles. Harbaugh has coached 12 seasons, compiled a 118-74
record with eight postseason appearances and four division titles.
TEAM -- 2000.
The 2012 team was not as feared defensively but more offensively
inclined. Both teams also took a similar path, winning a Wild Card game
at home, upset the AFC’s top-seeded team in the divisional round and
win another road game in the AFC title game. The 2000 team demolished
the New York Giants 34-7. The 2012 team held off the San Francisco
49ers 34-31. The 2000 team was 5-4 at one point and went five straight
games without scoring an offensive touchdown. They managed to win
two of those games. The 2012 team ended the regular season losing four
of their last five games. However, it’s hard to go against the 2000 team
with their legendary defense that ranks in the same conversation as the
1975 Steelers and 1985 Bears.
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