Ravens Q&A with Mike Preston

Chuck: What do you see as the Ravens' top three needs heading into the draft and free agency?

Mike Preston: Cornerback, wide receiver, offensive line.

Howard: I hate to think that Ray Lewis might not be in a Ravens uniform next year, but if he doesn't return, which player do you see stepping up as the leader of this team?

Mike Preston: First of all, I believe Lewis will return next season, even if the Ravens have to put the franchise tag on him. If Lewis doesn't return, then safety Ed Reed and outside linebacker Terrell Suggs have to take over on defense, and quarterback Joe Flacco has to become more assertive as a leader on offense. No more Joe Cool. He can't just blend in. Quarterbacks have to take charge; it's the nature of the position.

Rob: Do the Ravens have confidence that their young linebackers (Tavares Gooden, Jameel McClain, Antwan Barnes) will be able to step in and replace any of the three starters we may lose this offseason? If not, is this the draft to seriously start looking for Lewis' eventual replacement?

Mike Preston: Gooden might be Lewis' replacement, and McClain is excellent around the ball. The Ravens have some great young linebackers on the roster. They'll be fine at the position down the road.

Joe, Bangor, Maine: Do you think the Ravens would have beaten the Pittsburgh Steelers in the AFC championship game if Kelly Gregg, Chris McAlister and Samari Rolle had all been healthy and available?

Mike Preston: That's hard to say, but I doubt it. The Ravens played 18 straight games without a bye, and never physically recovered from the Tennessee Titans game. If Pittsburgh doesn't make some silly mistakes, the Ravens would have gotten blown out. The Steelers physically beat up on the Ravens, and that's why they won.

You can't count injuries, because the Steelers also had a lot this season, especially on the offensive line. Overall, the Ravens played well. There are no excuses. The better team won.

Rob: Of the Ravens players who went on injured reserve this year, who do you think will have the biggest impact coming back next season?

Mike Preston: That's hard to say. Gooden was playing well, and he should be even better with a year in the weight room to get bigger and stronger. Gregg will be even better next season because he had a year off to rest his body. I'd really like to see receiver Demetrius Williams become a deep outside threat. Linebacker Prescott Burgess has great potential and don't forget about guard Marshal Yanda. There was a lot of talent on that injured reserve list.

Rashaad: Rex Ryan utilized the 3-4 as well as the 4-3 defense. With our current roster, which defense is more effective in your opinion? I believe the 4-3 is more effective considering Suggs is a better defensive lineman than linebacker, and Lewis is more effective with four defensive linemen in front of him than three.

Mike Preston: Because the Ravens have a lot of linebackers on the roster and the outside linebackers can be used as defensive ends, they should use a 3-4. But we'll have to wait and see once the Ravens name a defensive coordinator replacement for Ryan.

Keith: Our pass rush was pretty bad this season when we didn't blitz. Do you think the Ravens will push to get a pass-rushing end in free agency to compliment Suggs?

Mike Preston: I think the Ravens will stay with the policy of taking the best player available when they pick. The Ravens really need to get more pressure up the middle from their defensive tackles. They need a player who can collapse the pocket.

Brian: Do you think Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Anquan Boldin is a good fit for the Ravens? If not, what should be their course of action to address the receiver position?

Mike Preston: I don't know much about Boldin, but he has been labeled as a "disgruntled" player by some in the media. His teammates, though, love the guy. John Harbaugh is trying to rid this team of the me-first players, and it appears Boldin wouldn't fit in. But the Ravens would do a lot of background work before bringing in Boldin. They had good team chemistry this year, and they won't risk disrupting it.

Chris, Greencastle, Pa.: How do you see the Ravens addressing the tight end position in the offseason? Todd Heap seems tired of being hit when going over the middle and no longer goes and gets the ball the way he used to. And what happens to Edgar Jones: Does he play tight end or defensive end?

Mike Preston: I think the Ravens will try to find a tight end in the draft. Remember, they get their best blocking tight end Quinn Sypniewski back off the injured reserve list, and that will help significantly. I think Jones goes back to playing defensive end/outside linebacker.

Mike: Who are you picking to win the Super Bowl?

Mike Preston: Pittsburgh will win because they can stop the run and run the ball against the Cardinals. If Arizona had a running game, the Cardinals would have blown out Philly but they couldn't control the clock.

When smash mouth meets finesse, smash mouth usually wins.