You win a Super Bowl with Trent Dilfer, and decide that if that guy could get you to the big game, your quarterback in the waiting… well, shouldn’t be waiting any longer.  So, you dump the play-caller that got you there, and bring in Kyle Boller.  Your defense has won you several games, you even bring in a Pro-Bowl wide receiver in Derrick Mason, and you have a 2000 yard running back.  What could go wrong?

Eight in the box, is what can go wrong.  A commentator once said that Kyle Boller had the body of Mr. Universe, and the arm of an accountant.  I think accountants all over the world have a beef with that statement. 

Enter Steve McNair.

Of all the free agent signings this offseason, none may have been bigger than the signing of the former Alcorn State star.  Pairing an already stellar defense (featuring Ray Lewis, Ed Reed and Terrell Suggs) with an All-Pro quarterback and you could have yourself quite a team.

Mason and McNair had quite the history when both played in Tennessee.  Second-year wide receiver Mark Clayton had a solid finish last season, and has a lot of fans waiting to see what he can do this season with an actual quarterback under center.  Add in one of the best tight ends in the game, Todd Heap, and this offense may be surprising a lot of teams this season.

One big question mark is the ability of Jamal Lewis to bounce back from a horrid campaign last season, which started with him behind bars.  The Ravens added backs Mike Anderson and Musa Smith (with Chester Taylor heading to Minnesota) for insurance, but the ball is Lewis’ for now.  What he chooses to do with it is up to him.

Also, the age of the defense is starting to be a concern.  Is the addition of McNair too late?  Many key contributors struggled to stay healthy last season, and it could be a foreshadowing of what’s to come.  If Reed, Lewis and Suggs stay together, they could be a force to be reckoned with.  But this remains to be seen.

While their road schedule isn’t too bad, home games against the Broncos, Panthers and Falcons, on top of the already-tough AFC North opponents, and you have a team that needs to win the “winnable” games to be in contention to go anywhere in the postseason.