Not saying they are bad moves on defense. Just not as impressed as others. People are acting like with the additions the Ravens made, the Ravens' defense is DEFINITELY better than last year. I just don't see it.
Obviously nothing is definite, especially considering the leadership loss. But I am fairly certain our defense will have better talent this year than last. It is Newsome's primary goal considering how far the defense dropped off last year compared to normal.
There weren't much better moves the Ravens could have made this offseason, but acting like Newsome has been a genius this offseason is way too premature. Yes, McClain is a low risk, high reward type of move, but he really hasn't shown that he is consistent or particularly good for most of his career thus far. Huff is decent, but a downgrade from Reed who I wasn't all that in love with. Canty and Spears are older veterans who the Ravens are hoping they can get one or possibly two good years out of after down years (much like the Pats are doing with Kelly).
I don't think Newsome has been a genius at all. Mainly because the FA market has been down, and some fairly cheap veterans fell into our lap at some positions of need. But he did avoid paying up for Kruger and Ellerbe; other GMs would have spent all their money to keep one of those guys, imo, though not Belchick of course (Pats and Ravens are similar in their ability to let overpriced but good players walk).
McClain, had 1 good year. Last year he basically quit on his team, and it showed. That is a character flaw (major), but I can write down some of last year's performance. The Raiders are a basket case. And McClain right now is as old as Spikes was after his rookie year. Plenty of guys haven't seen the field by 23, so clueless, uninspired, inconsistent performances with some rare flashes is not a big deal to me with a 23 year old. If he cannot turn his life around and get serious then nothing really lost.
Ray Lewis was slow and could not cover anymore. He also seemed weak and got ridden for 5 yards every tackle. Leadership loss, but not physical talent loss.
Dumervil is an upgrade to Kruger. They are similar, but Dumervil is more consistent and established and hungry (now).
As for Huff, I really think you are overrating Reed at this point. As a guy who watched every single play of the 2012 Ravens, I can assure you, it was like having 10 guys out there on running plays, and a handful of TDs were caused by a CB playing his assignment under the assumption he had help (from Reed) only to have Ed gamble for an INT and lose. I wouldn't say Ed was horrible, because his knowledge and experience is still great, but his physical condition and risk-taking have deteriorated.
I think Canty is a notch above Spears. And since they are effectively replacing a literally worthless Cody or old and worthless Kemoeatu (with Ngata moving to NT from DE and Canty taking DE) that is an upgrade no matter how one slices it. Spears is depth we didn't have last year. Art Jones came on and McPhee, who was injured a ton, was a force when he played. The DL absolutely will be better; that I can say definitively.
I do agree that the Ravens' concerns are on offense. I hate their WR situation. I think Torrey Smith is one of the more overrated players in the NFL. He show flashes of elite talent, but most of the time he is average to even below average. And the Ravens somehow got their o-line to work in the playoffs, but I don't know if they can re-create that magic this year.
Not just WR, and I agree with your assessment there (though Smith can and should improve somewhat with Cam Cameron gone). But OL as well. Right now I don't even know (neither do the Ravens) who is going to start and where. We could have as few as 1 player from the SB team starting in the position they played in that game (Yanda). Oher at LT is bad news and a possibility, Osemele at RT vs LG is also bad news and possible. Who knows who would play LG in that case. Untested Gradkowski replacing Birk is also a massive question mark.
And as I have said before, Flacco can actually be pretty good when he gets time (better than people give him credit for), but when rushed heavily and often, he is simply terrible. And I mean terrible. Some of that could have been Cam Cameron and his embarrassing schemes, but the deer-in-headlights look on Flacco's face when rushed indicates a ton of it is on him.
