FanHouse MikeFlynn

NFL Offseason Roadmap is a series focused on the needs of NFL teams as they begin the offseason.

The Baltimore Ravens have already taken their first step toward 2008. John Harbaugh is the new coach and brings with him the expectation of a more disciplined team that takes better advantage of its resources. Some have argued that this team is close to playoff position but, truthfully, change is needed to restore this team to the level of a contender. As it has for years, the major obstacle for the Ravens to overcome is at football's marquee position.

1. Quarterback – Elvis Grbac. Randall Cunningham. Jeff Blake. Chris Redman. Kyle Boller. Anthony Wright. Steve McNair. Those are the men who have started at quarterback for the Ravens since Trent Dilfer won Super Bowl XXXV in 2001. Other than McNair in 2006, not a one of them has done anything to earn a second season on the job, and McNair went down in flames in year two. Boller didn't embarrass himself at the end of this season but he didn't do anything to warm the cockles of your heart either.

Billick was Boller's biggest champion and we don't know who will be running the offense in 2008, so it's anybody's guess as to who will be under center.

No team likes to use injuries as an excuse for subpar play and few of us like to accept it as one but that doesn't mean hurt players don't have an effect on results. They certainly have for the Baltimore Ravens through the first seven games which means this week's practices have been full of good news.

Jonathan Ogden and Adam Terry, the opening day offensive tackles, have each participated in practice all week and appear set to reclaim their positions for Monday night's game with the Steelers. They will be joined on the frontline by starting center Mike Flynn, who played in the last game before the bye but wasn't quite 100% thanks to a sprained knee.

Having an intact offensive line can only help Steve McNair, returning from his own injury problems, and Willis McGahee against the fierce Steeler defense. Todd Heap, who has missed two of the last three games, isn't guaranteed to be back in action but if he plays the Ravens offense will be stronger than its been at any point this season. That doesn't make it a particularly dangerous unit but it is a much better one than the Ravens have been playing with thus far.