Guest Post by Judd Bleser.
The suddenly depleted Ravens offense will gain back another piece from last year: fullback Vonta Leach.
The three-time All-Pro was released in mid-June after he and the team were at odds over a proposed pay cut, but both camps were able to agree upon a two-year deal on Monday.
Although his role diminished slightly with the insertion of Jim Caldwell as the offensive coordinator, there is no doubt that Leach is both a team leader and an asset to the run game.
Rookie fullback Kyle Juszczyk was slated to take over the duties in front of Ray Rice and Bernard Pierce, but concerns over his effectiveness in lead blocking situations pushed the Ravens to bring back the seasoned veteran.
With or without Vonta, the Ravens are still one of the contenders in the AFC. Who’s better than them? Cincy? Pittsburgh? NE? Denver? I can’t see it. I think they will be fighting for another title come January.
Hey Vegas, I love your hometown optimism but the odds makers do not feel the same way with Denver, NE and Houston ahead of the Birds. Here’s hoping your homerism wins out over the stats guys. I honestly think it is the 49ers year regardless of who represents the AFC.
Hey Willo and MGW,,,,,,,,,that’s why they play the game,,,,enjoy…………..
I think the 49ers have a great chance at making a return to the Superbowl, but they still have play the game and PROVE that they are NFC champs first. That’s as far as I go, as long as the Ravens appear to have a reasonable shot at the post season, I’ll never count them out. None-the-less, whatever Vegas thinks, whatever the fans think, commentators, the beautiful thing is that when it boils down to it, the only thing that matters is the field of play. This is why you have upsets like Giants against Pats (first time), and maybe superbowl match-ups that didn’t appear to be likely from the outlook of the pre-season.
They can treat him as a toght end , give him a number in the eighties so he doesn’t have to report to the ref all the time , use him as a blocking tight end,,,,,who knows , the Ravens are short handed here and he could be the best blocking tight end they have,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,just saying , be creative John……………….