OWINGS MILLS, Md. — Following a disappointing season where they finished 8-8 and failed to make the playoffs, the Baltimore Ravens are huddling up and trying to construct a new plan to upgrade the roster.
First and foremost on their agenda: Improving an offense that ranked 29th in the NFL in total offense as quarterback Joe Flacco threw a franchise-record 22 interceptions as running back Ray Rice rushed for only 660 yards.
This marked the first time the Ravens didn’t qualify for the playoffs since hiring coach John Harbaugh in 2008.
“When you have a short window of failure that comes out of the blue, the key is not to make wholesale changes,” owner Steve Bisciotti said. “To find yourself in the bottom five in offense in almost every category is again something that, had we not had a history in the last five year, I would probably demand wholesale changes.
“But I think you have to be careful to not to look in a vacuum and throw out the baby with the bathwater, and let people get healthy, let these guys work together for another year, add some people to the team in the draft and free agency.”
The Ravens finished 30th in rushing offense, last in yards per carry.
Harbaugh announced that offensive line coach Juan Castillo will return, but will no longer hold the title of run-game coordinator. Other changes to the staff could be in the offing depending on what happens with offensive coordinator Jim Caldwell, who has interviewed with the Tennessee Titans, Detroit Lions and Washington Redskins.
The Ravens parted ways last week with running backs coach Wilbert Montgomery.
“Juan will be the offensive line coach next year,” Harbaugh said. “The rest of it is a little bit in flux right now. Juan functioned as the lead offensive line coach last year. That was his job. The title was a way to have three great offensive line coaches in our mix right there. We didn’t get the results we wanted to get.”
Are more changes coming to the staff?
“I never demand,” Bisciotti said. “I do suggest, but right now, I haven’t suggested to John to revamp his coaching staff.”
The Ravens want to retain offensive tackle Eugene Monroe and tight end Dennis Pitta.
They want to have a bigger interior offensive line.
And they are seeking a reliable target for Flacco to throw to downfield.
“Is it going to be bringing in some additional talent? Probably, yes,” general manager Ozzie Newsome said. “Is it going to be expecting some of our guys to develop and get better? We will need that, too.”
The running game must get better.
“Especially in the AFC North with the type of defenses that you face, you have to have the ability to run the football,” Newsome said. “Everybody understands that in 2014, we will do everything we can to be a better run team, because it will make us a better football team.”
Running back Ray Rice rushed for 660 yards and averaged 3.1 yards per carry. He repeatedly vowed to rededicate himself to regaining his old form, but played at a heavier weight this season and dealt with hip flexor and quadriceps injuries that robbed him of explosiveness and tackle-breaking ability.
Newsome is convinced Rice will bounce back in 2014.
“I think Ray is committed to being as good a football player as he has been,” Newsome said. “We had great dialogue yesterday on what we think we can do to help Ray to get there. But that combination of us having an understanding and a willingness to provide some help to him, and him having a willingness to work his butt off, we will again have a Pro Bowl running back in Ray Rice next year.”
Newsome was noncommittal when asked if Pro Bowl outside linebacker Terrell Suggs will definitely return for next season. Suggs is due a $7.8 million base salary and carries a $12.4 million salary-cap in 2014.Suggs had 10 sacks, but only one in the final eight games.
“I’ve had the opportunity to talk to Suggs every day, he kind of makes sure of that,” Newsome said. “That’s a decision that we’ll talk about. Terrell is a really good football player. He not only shows up in the pass game, but he shows up in the run game.”That being said, we let a good football player go last year (trading WR Anquan Boldin). So, we’re not afraid. I’m not a virgin when it comes to letting guys walk out the door. What we’ll do is we’ll look at every aspect of it and see what’s best for 2014, 2015 and 2016 Ravens and then make that decision once we get to it.”