(My Sportsbook) - Last season was supposed to be one of change and adjustment for the Baltimore Ravens. So much for modest expectations.

A 2007 campaign that saw the Ravens go just 5-11 led to the firing of long- time head coach Brian Billick, and Baltimore's subsequent selection of quarterback Joe Flacco in the first round of the 2008 draft signaled the beginning of a transition period in Charm City.

Sure, the Ravens came out and won their first two contests of '08, but an ensuing three-game losing streak that began with a tough overtime loss to the Steelers and ended with a 31-3 thrashing at the hands of the Colts figured to have Maryland residents more interested in catching up on re-runs of "The Wire" than checking out football on Sundays.

However, behind first-year head coach John Harbaugh and the surprising Flacco, the Ravens won their next four games as well as nine of their final 11 contests on the way to a shocking march to the AFC Championship Game that ended with a loss to the Steelers.

In all, Harbaugh and Flacco set a record for the most wins ever by a rookie head coach and quarterback (13), and the club's six-win turnaround was enough to set the bar high again this year.

But don't hand the Ravens the AFC North title just yet. After all, there are those pesky Steelers, who won the Super Bowl a season ago while defeating the Ravens all three times the clubs met. And don't forget that Flacco has just 19 total games of NFL experience, a factor that certainly played a part in his four-turnover performance in the conference championship game.

While Baltimore's defense ranked second against the pass and third versus the run last year, the Ravens' passing offense came in at just 28th. That is something Flacco would love to improve on this year.

"We've got to go out there and put more points on the board," said Flacco, "And that means score more touchdowns. When we get in the red zone, we've got to convert those to touchdowns."

That is something Baltimore might need to do since defensive coordinator Rex Ryan left town to become the head coach of the Jets. The Ravens hope that ex- linebackers coach Greg Mattison can keep the successful system intact as the new defensive coordinator, but this is his first time holding the position in the NFL after solid college stints with Michigan, Notre Dame and Florida.

However, with the likes of Ray Lewis, Terrell Suggs and Ed Reed still in town, the Ravens defense figures to be a hard-hitting and game-changing unit once again.

"We've seen coordinators come in and out," said Lewis, who inked a seven-year contract extension this offseason. "Who we are is who we are, bottom line. We're going to always stick to our identity with who we are. Congratulations to Rex. Go ahead and do your thing at the Jets, but we're Ravens. We're Ravens for life, and that's an honor.

"The bottom line is, the way we play defense is our mentality -- it's not a coach's mentality -- it's the way we play. Whoever comes and goes, it was good playing with you, but it's time to go on."

Below we take a capsule look at the 2009 edition of the Baltimore Ravens, with a personnel evaluation and prognosis included therein:

2008 RECORD: 11-5 (2nd, AFC North)

LAST PLAYOFF APPEARANCE: 2008, lost to Pittsburgh, 23-14, in AFC Championship

COACH (RECORD): John Harbaugh (11-5 in one season with Ravens, 11-5 overall)

OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR: Cam Cameron

DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR: Greg Mattison

OFFENSIVE STAR: Joe Flacco, QB (2971 passing yards, 14 TD, 12 INT)

DEFENSIVE STAR: Ed Reed, S (41 tackles, 9 INT, 2 sacks)

OFFENSIVE TEAM RANKS: 4th rushing, 28th passing, 11th scoring

DEFENSIVE TEAM RANKS: 3rd rushing, 2nd passing, 3rd scoring

KEY ADDITIONS: QB John Beck (from Dolphins), TE L.J. Smith (from Eagles), T Michael Oher (1st Round, Ole Miss), C Matt Birk (from Vikings), OLB Paul Kruger (2nd Round, Utah), CB Domonique Foxworth (from Falcons), CB Lardarius Webb (3rd Round, Nicholls State), CB/RS Chris Carr (from Titans)

KEY DEPARTURES: QB Kyle Boller (to Rams), QB Todd Bouman (to Jaguars), FB Lorenzo Neal (to Raiders) WR Terrance Copper (to Chiefs), TE Daniel Wilcox (not tendered), T Chad Slaughter (not tendered), C Jason Brown (to Rams), DE Marques Douglas (to Jets), LB Bart Scott (to Jets), CB Corey Ivy (to Browns), CB Chris McAlister (released), S Jim Leonhard (to Jets), K Matt Stover (not tendered)

QB: While learning the style and pace of the NFL, Flacco did enough not to cost his team games. He threw for 2,971 yards while starting all 16 games and completed 14 touchdown passes to 12 interceptions. Though he did not have a 300-yard passing game as a rookie, he also finished 10 contests without throwing an interception. He then became the first rookie quarterback in NFL history to win two playoff games before falling to the pressure of Pittsburgh's defense. After making 42 starts with Baltimore from 2003-07, Kyle Boller moved on as a free agent. Backup Troy Smith threw just four passes last year, but offers value as a mobile QB who could make plays in a Wildcat offense. Former Dolphin John Beck was also brought in this offseason, but suffered an injury in the first preseason that could knock him out for the season.

RB: Flacco was allowed to grow during meaningful minutes thanks to a run attack that featured the three-headed monster of Willis McGahee, Ray Rice and Le'Ron McClain and finished fourth in the NFL. Baltimore as a team ran for over 2,300 yards last year, getting 902 of those from McClain. The 260-pound Pro Bowl selection scored 10 touchdowns last year on 232 carries, but will serve as fullback and short-yardage pounder due to Lorenzo Neal's departure, as long as McGahee and Rice can stay healthy. McGahee (671 rushing yards, 7 TD) was slowed in training camp last year because of a knee injury and had trouble getting his wheels going while posting the lowest rushing yards total of his career. He was active for three games last year that he did not play in, as McClain and Rice (454 rushing yards, 0 TD) worked their way into the rotation. Even if McGahee stays completely healthy, the shifty Rice could see his workload increased.

WR/TE: The Ravens are thin at wideout even after Derrick Mason reversed course on his sudden retirement right at the start of training camp. Having Mason (80 receptions, 1,037 yards, 5 TD) back will help Flacco, but the 35- year-old is coming off shoulder surgery and a seventh straight 16-game season might be expecting a lot. In that regard, the Ravens will need 2005 first- round pick Mark Clayton (41 receptions, 695 yards, 3 TD) to step up his role. Clayton had just two 100-yard receiving games last year and has yet to top the 1,000 receiving-yard mark in any of his first four seasons. He also suffered a hamstring injury in training camp that the club hopes won't affect his regular season start. Demetrius Williams is Baltimore's deep threat, but an ankle injury limited him to just seven games a year ago. The corps behind that trio is unknown. Tight end Todd Heap made 148 catches and scored 13 touchdowns in 2005-06, but after an injury-plagued 2007 season, the former Pro Bowl selection made just 35 catches for 403 yards and three TDs last year. The writing could be on the wall for Heap after the Ravens signed former Eagle tight end L.J. Smith (37 receptions, 3 TD).

OL: The Ravens offensive line could feature a pair of changes this year. One that is definite is at the center position, where six-time Pro Bowl selection and former Viking Matt Birk replaces departed free agent Jason Brown. Birk knows how to create space for playmakers, having paved a path last season for Minnesota's Adrian Peterson. Baltimore also traded up in the 2009 draft to select Ole Miss product Michael Oher 23rd overall. The 23-year-old can play guard or tackle, but is slotted in at the right tackle spot. Left tackle Jared Gaither and left guard Ben Grubbs started 15 and 16 games last year, respectively, with the 340-pound Gaither filling the shoes of former Raven star Jonathan Ogden. Marshal Yanda started the first five games at right guard last year before suffering a season-ending knee injury, with Chris Chester taking over. The two will battle for the spot this season. Baltimore lost a little depth when tackle Adam Terry, who started seven games last year, landed on injured reserve due to a knee injury.

DL: Nose tackle Kelly Gregg will aim to return to the middle spot this year after missing all of 2008 because of microfracture knee surgery. He notched a career-high 111 tackles in 2007. Justin Bannan (56 tackles) saw a bulk of the work at the left tackle spot last year but should slide into a reserve role behind 345-pound space eater Haloti Ngata, who led the line with 77 tackles a year ago. Trevor Pryce is on the other side and is a four-time Pro Bowler, but his 4 1/2 sacks last year were a far cry from the 13 he had in 2006. That could be why the Ravens selected Paul Kruger from Utah in the second round. Kruger is currently slotted as a backup linebacker, but could shift to the defensive line if he bulks up. For now, Dwan Edwards will serve as a backup to Pryce, as he attempts to return from a back injury that cost him all of 2008.

LB: Lewis (160 tackles, 3.5 sacks, 3 INT) lost 15 pounds this offseason to show the Ravens that they did not make a mistake when they decided to re-sign him in the offseason to a seven-year contract that should take him to the end of his career. Coupled with a longer deal for Terrell Suggs, Baltimore was forced to let Bart Scott walk to the Jets as a free agent. Even at 34 years old, the two-time Defensive Player of the Year and Super Bowl MVP Lewis brings leadership and energy to the unit that is hard to find and even tougher to replace. Suggs (102 tackles, 8 sacks) will make things easier for Lewis on the field while the Ravens hope that second-year LB Tavares Gooden can replace Scott after missing all but four games last year due to a hip injury. Should he struggle, both Jameel McClain or Brendon Ayanbadejo will be ready to step in. Jarret Johnson (82 tackles) is coming off a solid 2008 season and returns to the outside spot on the left side, where he started all 16 games and notched a career-high with five sacks.

DB: Though 30 years old and dealing with nagging injuries, Ed Reed is still one of the best at the free safety spot. He picked off nine passes last year to go along with 40 tackles, taking one pick 107 yards for a touchdown. Reed will have a different partner in crime at the strong safety spot this year, as Jim Leonhard took his 85 tackles to the Jets and will be replaced by Dawan Landry, who can deliver some punishing hits but is also returning from a spinal-cord concussion suffered in Week 2 last year. Haruki Nakamura and Tom Zbikowski back up the safety spots. Corner Domonique Foxworth was added to replace Chris McAlister, who the Ravens parted ways with this offseason. Foxworth notched 38 tackles and one interception with the Falcons last year. Fabian Washington returns to the left corner spot and he defended a team-best 19 passes last year. Samari Rolle (3 INT) and Frank Walker add depth to the secondary, as does third-round pick Lardarius Webb.

SPECIAL TEAMS: Gone is veteran Matt Stover, who connected on 27 of his 33 field goal tries last year but struggled from 40 yards and beyond. That makes it a competition between Steve Hauschka and Graham Gano to replace him. Punter Sam Koch thrives on putting opponents deep in their own territory, as he led the NFL with 18 punts inside the 10-yard line and was tops in the AFC with 34 punts inside the 20. Chris Carr was signed this offseason to return kicks and the four-year vet averaged 28.1 return yards on kickoffs and 10.1 yards on punts with the Titans last year, though he has yet to take one to the end zone. Yamon Figurs returned kicks last year, but will have a difficult time making the roster with Carr now a Raven. Matt Katula returns as long snapper after snapping 158 times last year without incident.

PROGNOSIS: While there is no doubt that the Steelers have set the bar in the AFC, it is a mark the Ravens are quickly ready to challenge. While some might think that Baltimore, and especially Flacco, overachieved last year, it is up to the Delaware product to avoid the sophomore jinx and prove doubters wrong. As long as Flacco continues to play safe football and the Ravens utilize their weapons in the ground game, the offense should be fine. Instead, it is on Harbaugh and Mattison to keep the Ravens' heart -- their defense -- beating at all times. Lewis, Reed and Pryce aren't getting any younger, but the leadership that coats Baltimore's "D" is unmatchable, and it will need to be if the Ravens are going to get over the hump known as Pittsburgh.