Baltimore Ravens 2014

Seven NFL teams will be employing new head coaches in 2014, with additional organizations making changes at the offensive coordinator position. Given the impact that coaching changes can have on fantasy football performance, Gridiron Experts will be providing an overview of the new offensive systems likely to be employed by affected teams during the upcoming season. This installment of the Offensive Overhaul series looks at the Baltimore Ravens.

2013 Year in Review

Offensive Coordinator : Jim Caldwell

: Jim Caldwell Total Offense : 307.4 yards per game (29th in the NFL)

: 307.4 yards per game (29th in the NFL) Passing : 224.4 yards per game (18th in the NFL)

: 224.4 yards per game (18th in the NFL) Rushing : 83.0 yards per game (30th in the NFL)

: 83.0 yards per game (30th in the NFL) Scoring : 20.0 points per game (25th in the NFL)

Jim Caldwell took over the offensive coordinating duties during the 2012 season and was at the helm of Baltimore’s impressive Super Bowl run that year. However, very little of the postseason success enjoyed by the Ravens’ offense two years ago carried over into 2013. Baltimore ranked in the top half of the league in total offense in 2012, but fell off considerably last season, with the most notable decline coming in the running game.

Changes on Offense

After Jim Caldwell accepted the head coaching job in Detroit, Gary Kubiak was hired as the Ravens new offensive coordinator. The former Texans head coach and Broncos offensive coordinator brings to Baltimore a West Coast system with a zone-blocking scheme, emphasizing the run and using the ground game to set up the pass. The Ravens previously incorporated aspects of zone blocking into their offense, but Kubiak will be implementing the full system in 2014.

Kubiak’s system has been a boon to NFL running backs for more than a decade. Before making an NFL star and elite fantasy option out of Arian Foster, Kubiak’s offense churned out a series of 1,000-yard rushers in Denver, including Terrell Davis, Clinton Portis, and Mike Anderson. In the 11 seasons that Kubiak served as the Broncos offensive coordinator, Denver amassed more rushing yards than any other team and scored almost 200 rushing touchdowns.

When it comes to the passing game, Kubiak’s system in Baltimore is expected to use a lot of play action, with an emphasis on bootlegs and roll outs designed to give the quarterback time to set his feet and throw. Kubiak’s offense requires wide receivers to make plays deep, but also includes a number of crossing patterns designed to create different passing levels down field. The system has also been beneficial to tight ends like Shannon Sharpe and Owen Daniels, because it regularly utilizes them as pass catchers and often splits them out to create mismatches.

Fantasy Impact

The arrival of Gary Kubiak in Baltimore should translate to improved fantasy performance for a number of the Ravens’ key position players. Kubiak’s history of success with a variety of running backs in the zone-blocking scheme bodes well for the primary ball carrier in Baltimore next season. While Ray Rice appeared to hit the runner’s wall in 2013 and currently has legal issues to deal with, Kubiak could help to revive his career if Rice returns to the Ravens this year. Bernard Pierce or Cierre Woods – a sleeper favorite of mine for 2014 – could also experience fantasy success if given the opportunity in Kubiak’s system. The running back situation in Baltimore will be one to monitor closely this summer.

In the passing game, Kubiak’s offensive scheme seems to be a good fit for Joe Flacco, who had a 90.7 passer rating when using play action in 2013, compared to a rating of just 70.3 without play action. Additionally, the well-timed deep ball that is prevalent in Kubiak’s system should be a good fit with Flacco’s renowned arm strength, and could boost the fantasy value of Torrey Smith and Steve Smith, as well. Finally, Dennis Pita could be poised for a big year in 2014, even with the arrival of Owen Daniels, Kubiak’s tight end for the last several seasons in Houston. Kubiak has successfully used two tight ends in the past, and Pita should be the primary option at the position when healthy, cementing himself as one of fantasy’s best tight ends in 2014.