STEELERS BLACK -N- GOLD POST A Pittsburgh Steelers Blog from the heart of Steelers Nation.

By Ramona Dye

Ravens fans and coaches seem to be pleased with their quarterback Joe Flacco and his play last season as a rookie.  With the 2009 season upon us, Ravens fans expect an increase in their passing game.

Can Flacco become a sophomore sensation like Ben when he led our Steelers to a wild card playoff and Super Bowl win? pffft!

Sure, Flacco has the arm to air the ball out. However, lacking speedy receivers, Flacco must become a better at throwing shorter pass routes. Yet, if something were to happen to Joe Flacco such as "sophmore slump" then he Ravens would be forced to play unknown back-up Troy Smith.

Receivers, Where Are You?

Earlier this month, wide receiver Derrick Mason surprised and shocked Ravensland with his unexpected retirement. To replace Mason, the Ravens signed 30-year old Drew Bennet to a 1-year deal worth $745,000. Two days later, Bennet retired blaming a nagging injury.

Bennett's decision not to play and Mason's retirement have left the Ravens lacking a threat at wide out .

The Ravens fans and coaches believe Mason's retirement is a ploy to get more money since Mason had asked to renegotiate his deal earlier this offseason.

Now that the Raven's receiving core is looking thin, the Ravens may be setting sights on Broncos' receiver Brandon Marshall. NFL sources say the Ravens might try to trade for the disgruntled Denver Broncos receiver, if veteran Derrick Mason doesn't return to the fold from his sudden retirement.

The Ravens have dire need for a real receiver. The Ravens slipped by last season with Mason and Mark Clayton because their running game was good and their #2 NFL ranked defense. Now they must get a receiver for Flacco ball to before the end of the Ray Lewis Era.

Looking back at Ravens' team history, they are not likely to make the deal for Marshall. GM Ozzie Newsome does not like to give up high draft picks, not to mention the Ravens should be a little more concerned with Marshall's history of off-field problems and the amount of money they would have to come across with to satisfy a Marshall contract signing.

Ravens Running Game

Already deep with running backs, the  Ravens drafted running back Cedric Peerman of Virginia known as a special teams stand-out.

Ravens Defense, Never More?

Along with defensive coordinator Rex Ryan, the Ravens lost play-making safety Jim Leonhard and linebacker Bart Scott to the New York Jets through free agency. Ryan becomes the latest head coach in New York.

Ryan joined the Ravens as a defensive line coach in 1999, earning a Super Bowl XXXV ring with the 2000 team. He was promoted to defensive coordinator in 2005.

Can Greg Mattison, the newly hired defensive coordinator, make the jump from college to NFL play? Most of us Steelers' fans have our doubts as to how well this replacement can be after fighting Ryan's defense twice a year.

The Ravens have acquired Tavares Gooden. Although Gooden has received the most publicity for filling the starting role of departed Bart Scott, Jameel McClain, the last season back-up to Scott, figures to be a key contributor. An undrafted rookie last year, McClain beat the odds and made the fifty-three-man roster as a special teams contributor. He played his way into spot pass rushing duty on defense, and ended up with two and a half sacks and two safeties.

One of the the Ravens' best pass rushers, Terrell Suggs has been  still absent from off-season workouts as the Ravens try to work out a long-term contract with him before the season begins. No doubt that Suggs will report to the team as soon as he has a new deal. How much second-round draft pick Paul Kruger can offer the rush?

Defensive tackle Haloti Ngata didn't attend any voluntary OTAs until last Wednesday. There might be a little rust on Ngata as he gets back into shape.

Baltimore started the 2008 season with Dawan Landry at safety opposite Ed Reed, not the little-known Leonhard. Landry took a crushing shot to the top of his helmet in Week Two and had to be removed from the field due to a spinal cord concussion. Landry missed the rest of the 2008-09 season.

Landry will be back in his starting position and playing with confidence. Landry's size and hitting ability lets him help against the run and take on tight ends in coverage, thus allowing Ed Reed to roam the field like a center fielder.

Aside from Domonique Foxworth, the Ravens  top cornerbacks have not been able to practice.

All in all, Greg Mattison's performance as he steps into the shoes of Ryan as the Ravens defensive coordinator will be under intense scrutiny throughout the season.

Should Ravens fans be worried? Can Mattison get the respect of his players like Rex Ryan had?

Our Steelers do not face the Ravens until late in the season -- November 29 and December 27. By then the AFC North title could be on the line.

Stay tuned as I track what happens with the Ravens in the build up to November.

As always, Here We Go!!!