Week 1 of any Baltimore Ravens season brings both excitement and curiosity. Offseason questions are often answered. Last week's rumors become this week's talking points.
Regular-season openers confirm fears. They tell us if we worried unnecessarily.Sunday's matchup against the Indianapolis Colts will verify or contradict early-season Super Bowl aspirations. They also enter it with a new coaching staff, new schemes on both sides of the ball, and several players stepping into larger roles than they occupied a year ago.
If Baltimore is going to leave Indianapolis with a victory, these six Ravens may need to carry more than their share of the burden.
Marlon Humphrey must remind everyone who he is
Few Ravens endured a stranger offseason than Marlon Humphrey. At various points, questions surfaced
about whether Baltimore could move on from the veteran cornerback. Others wondered whether a transition to safety might eventually be in his future.
Through it all, Humphrey remained one of the defense's most important pieces. Week 1 presents an immediate challenge. Alec Pierce remains one of the NFL's better vertical threats, while Josh Downs can stress defenses underneath from the slot. Indianapolis has enough weapons to test every level of the secondary.
The Ravens need Humphrey to be more than a respected veteran. They need him to be a shutdown presence who can stabilize the entire defensive backfield.
Malaki Starks must take the next step.
There may not be a bigger breakout candidate on Baltimore's roster. The Ravens have spent months talking about Malaki Starks' development, and the expectation entering Year 2 is clear.
Baltimore believes he is ready for a larger role and greater responsibility. The Colts create explosive plays through play-action, crossing routes, and opportunities generated by Jonathan Taylor's presence in the backfield. Safeties must process quickly and eliminate mistakes. Starks does not need to be perfect, but the Ravens need him to look like a player ascending toward stardom.
Travis Jones must control the line of scrimmage.
Everything Indianapolis wants to do offensively begins with Jonathan Taylor. The Ravens have spoken repeatedly this week about tackling, run fits, and preventing Taylor from reaching the second level. Those goals become much easier if Travis Jones consistently wins at the point of attack.
Baltimore needs its massive defensive tackle to collapse running lanes, occupy blockers, and create clean paths for Roquan Smith and the linebackers behind him. If Jones controls the middle, the entire defense becomes more effective.
Tyler Loop must capitalize on every opportunity.
Division races and playoff races often begin with games decided by a handful of plays. That reality places significant pressure on Tyler Loop.
The Ravens expect to move the football, but red-zone possessions do not always end in touchdowns. Baltimore cannot afford missed points in a game that could be tighter than many expect. Week 1 may provide yet another glimpse into how the young kicker handles pressure when every kick matters.
Rashod Bateman must punish defenses for focusing elsewhere
Defenses already know what they must account for. Lamar Jackson. Derrick Henry. Zay Flowers. Mark Andrews. That attention creates opportunities for Rashod Bateman.
Kyle Hamilton recently described an offense built around the run game before opening up explosive opportunities through play-action and misdirection. Bateman is one of the players most likely to benefit when defenses become overly focused on stopping Baltimore's rushing attack.
The Ravens do not need ten catches from him, but they'll take it. What they may need is one or two game-changing plays.
John Simpson must help settle a rebuilt interior.
Much of the attention has centered on Jovaughn Gwyn's emergence at center, but the guard play around him may be equally important. John Simpson enters Week 1 as one of the veterans expected to help stabilize a reconfigured interior offensive line.
Communication, pass protection and handling Indianapolis' interior pressure will all be critical responsibilities. The Ravens have confidence in their offensive line, but confidence becomes reality only when the games begin. Simpson's consistency could go a long way toward helping Baltimore's offense find its footing early in the season.
Week 1 will not define Baltimore's season. It will, however, provide the first meaningful test of whether several offseason questions have already started to find answers. If these six players perform at a high level, the Ravens will be in an excellent position to start the year with a road victory.
This article originally appeared on Ravens Wire: Six Ravens who must deliver against the Colts in Week 1
