ravens injury report

ravens injury report

The Impact of Injuries on the Baltimore Ravens

1. Introduction

The Ravens, for some mysterious reason, seem especially susceptible to injuries. More particularly, they seem susceptible to a run of one type of injury, one year, and then another type of injury the next. In some cases, the type of injury has remained consistent throughout a number of years. The 2005 and 2006 seasons are a perfect example. 2005 was the Ravens’ first encounter with what would become a consistent and unwelcome injury: the muscle tear/avulsion. This was best exemplified by Ed Reed’s groin injury in 2005. It was just the beginning of what would be a run of muscle-related injuries, in particular hamstring and adductor tears. Then came the ACL injuries. A very common NFL injury, and one that frequently plagues the Ravens’ players. Staying consistent with their reputation for missing the playoffs with a loss, it was the 2007 playoff game at the Miami Dolphins that Todd Heap suffered a season-ending ACL tear. This began a run of ACL injuries which would become consistent across multiple seasons. The variety of season-specific injuries that the Ravens have encountered since 2005 is outlined in Table 1. Note that only player games lost due to injury were counted toward the injury rate.

2. The Importance of a Healthy Roster

When teams have their full roster available to them, they are generally much more successful than when they are missing a lot of players. Injuries can be a difference between a win and a loss. In the NFL, losing a key player can be the difference in a team making or not making the playoffs. One of the many reasons that the Baltimore Ravens have been so successful is because of their depth even when injury hits them hard. Last season, they finished the year with a 12-4 record even though they did not have their starting quarterback or running back for the entire season. At some points during the season, they were missing up to 2 out of the 3 starting wide receivers and their starting tight end. They succeeded because they have quality backups who were able to fill the void of missing starters. An example of this would be when the undrafted rookie Prince Miller had to fill in for the injured Lardarius Webb and Fabian Washington in week 15 versus the New Orleans Saints. Miller had minimal playing time at cornerback even in college, yet he was able to do a sufficient enough job to hold the fort down until Washington returned. If the NFL had relegation like most other sports, the Buffalo Bills would be the prime example of a team heavily affected by injuries. Although they finished with the same record as the Ravens, the Bills had lost 7 more games. An earlier article I wrote suggests that the 2010 Bills lost at least 3 of those games due to missing key players on the offensive line.

3. Analysis of Current Injuries

The Baltimore Ravens are under great scrutiny to perform up to standard, for a recent ESPN insider article states that the Ravens have fallen from a legitimate Super Bowl contender in 2012 to a subpar team that has barely upheld a .500 record. The blame for this is purportedly due to the injuries that have affected the team and its players. This statement will be backed up when researching different player injuries and comparing team performance over the years of injury. In doing this, we are striving to discover the truth behind the fall of the mighty Ravens and the injury woes they have suffered. This will also act as sufficient evidence for the effects of injuries on any NFL team. The evidence may also act as a harsh warning for any team who believe that they are immune to such issues.

Several world-class teams are recognised to be some of the most iconic and successful in their sporting areas, for instance Manchester United in football and Ferrari in Formula 1. However, for the purpose of this study, the team we will be focusing on is the Baltimore Ravens. Establishing their roots in 1996, the team has only seen success since its inception into the NFL, winning Super Bowl XLVII at the end of the 2012 season. However, as we are going to investigate, the recent slew of injuries plaguing the team has severely hindered its progress and success at the top level.

4. Strategies to Minimize Injuries

Every season, thousands of players suffer career-ending injuries resulting in diminished fan bases and worldwide disappointment. Football is still one of the nation’s most beloved sports; however, it has only recently been discovered just how dangerous the game can be. The National Football League has borne the brunt of the responsibility due to the massive influx of lawsuits and media attention focusing on how the NFL could have made the game safer. Despite the heightened concern for player safety, there is no surefire way to prevent injuries at this point in the game. However, teams are developing systems and strategies to put their players in the best position to avoid injury. For the Baltimore Ravens, a team that has been plagued with injuries in recent years, the problem is deeply rooted and will take time to fix. While there is no definitive information about how the Ravens are preventing injuries, there are several strategies to use as ideas moving forward.

5. Conclusion: Overcoming Adversity and Succeeding

In conclusion, adversity is something that cannot destroy a team’s season. The 2002 and 2003 seasons for the Baltimore Ravens are a prime example of that statement. In those two seasons, huge amounts of injuries plagued the team, but through the leadership of coach Brian Billick and strong will from the players, the team was able to combat the injuries and put together an impressive team. In 2002, the team lost a number of starters including Peter Boulware, Jamal Lewis, Matt Stover, and Rob Burnett to name a few. This led to a 7-9 season, but considering the circumstances, that record is truly commendable. In the 2003 season, the team was hit again with injuries, including a season-ending injury to Jamal Lewis before the season even began. The Ravens were able to bounce back from a few early losses due to the injuries and finished the season with a 10-6 record, making the playoffs for the first time since their Super Bowl victory, despite that many considered them not to be a serious contender due to the losses from the previous year.