By Zach Wilt, on October 4th, 2009 As I’m watching the final minute of the Ravens vs. Patriots, I’m hoping to write about how despite incredibly sloppy play the Ravens squeaked out another win. That wasn’t the case.
Here are a few things I noticed about Baltimore’s first loss of the year.
- Chris Carr hurt us all around - Whether it was his fumble to start the game, his illegal contact call, or poor secondary play, Chris Carr was a huge weakness for the Ravens in this game.
- Offensive Rollercoaster - The Ravens offensive took the field with swagger and scored in their first possession with a 20 yard TD pass to Derrick Mason. Things seemed to go downhill from there and didn’t recover until their final drive with under two minutes. The play calls were dumbed down and didn’t recover until it was two late. Example: 4th and 1 on the Baltimore 45, 5:17 to go and you hand the ball off to Willis McGahee in an empty backfield? Bad play call, our offense is too good not to convert.
- Don’t look the wrong way at Tom Brady, it’s a penalty – The refs didn’t want Brady to have another season ending injury and they made sure of it. Haloti Ngata and Terrell Suggs had questionable late hits on Brady and whistles were blown pretty early on sacks throughout the game.
- The Ravens D was exposed - I’m no football genius, but I know the Ravens secondary is their weakness. The Pats exposed this all day and the Ravens hardly adjusted. They put some pressure on Brady throughout the day, but it was spotty at best. Domonique Foxworth got schooled on a quick, short, wide open pass to Randy Moss to give the Pats a 10 point lead.
- “You can’t let that happen” – I was saying that all day. Whether it was Kelley Washington‘s dropped pass in the first half, an unsportsmanlike conduct call on the “Baltimore Bench”, an intentional grounding call on Joe Flacco, or Mark Clayton missing that 4th down pass that ended the game. There were too many “You can’t let that happen” moments.
- On the bright side – Ray Rice had an outstanding day. He’s been quiet in the first three weeks, but he tore the Pats defense apart with 11 carries for 103 yards and 5 receptions for 49 yards. Derrick Mason had a good game too, a touchdown and 88 yards receiving.
By Steve Giles, on September 16th, 2009 This is the first inscription in a series of articles called the Purple and Black Awards. The awards will be given out to the Ravens’ players and coaches and will contain certain moments that changed the course of the game, for better or for worse. The awards will vary from week-to-week but they will all be sure to capture the essence of the game in one way or another.
Week 1 Award Winners
The POG (aka the Player of the Game, for the acronymically challenged)
This award goes to none other than Joe “Cool” Flacco. Not only did Flacco go 26-for-43 for 307 yards and three touchdowns, but he also came up big when the game was on the line. He connected with Mark Clayton on a 31-yard strike to seal the deal and finally put the Chiefs were they should’ve been the whole game, on the wrong end of a Ravens beat down. It may seem strange that Flacco threw the ball 43 times considering the Ravens’ usual run-first philosophy, but it didn’t seem to bother him one bit. What it did do was prove to John Harbaugh and Cam Cameron that he doesn’t mind putting the team on his back and making the big plays when it matter most, which is a very good sign for Ravens fans. He did make one mistake on the interception by Derrick Johnson, but he bounced back nicely to get the Ravens off to a fast 1-0 start.
The “Oh, S***” Moment(s)
Yes, there are two and I’m sure we all know what they are. First up is the blocked punt that resulted in a Chiefs touchdown. This simply cannot happen, especially that deep in your own territory. The Ravens are usually solid when it comes to special teams and should be even better with Coach Harbaugh, who is supposed to be a guru when it comes to that part of the game. I know it’s just one play, but it gave life to a Chiefs team that was struggling to find any rhythm at all up to that point. The other moment that made us squirm in our seats was when Johnson turned a Flacco mistake into a 1st-and-goal from the 6-yard line, which ended with a Croyle to Bowe touchdown pass. Granted, it is the first game of the season and you expect teams to make some mistakes. The Ravens, however, made two costly mistakes that resulted in touchdowns and are lucky they were playing the Chiefs or else they would be 0-1 going into San Diego next week.
The “Man, I’m Glad That Happened” Moment
Flacco to Clayton, 31 yards, game over. Well, not quite but that score put the Ravens up 31-24 with just over two minutes to go, and we all know the defense would keep the Chiefs from inching any closer to a victory. A perfect throw from Flacco off his back foot made Raven’s fans rest a little easier after the Chiefs just wouldn’t seem to go away. Then Willis McGahee really sealed the deal with a 1-yard touchdown run with just 31 seconds to go after Jarret Johnson forced Croyle to fumble on the Chiefs’ last chance drive.
“Let’s Work on that for Next Week…”
Mental errors. If the Ravens keep the Chargers in the game with costly mistakes like they did with the Chiefs, the result may be a bit different than it was last week. The special teams unit needs to be more aware of rushers coming through on punts and the kickoff coverage needs to be almost perfect considering the Chargers have the small but speedy Darren Sproles to try and stop. He’s liable to break one for a touchdown at any moment, and I’m sure the Ravens are aware of that. Also, Flacco needs to be careful with the ball and not make ill-advised throws. The Chargers secondary was ranked almost last in the league in 2008 mostly because they had no pass rush. Well, Shawne Merriman is back and healthy so you better believe they will put Flacco under some pressure and force him to make quick decisions with the football.
I hope everyone liked this week’s winners. And for those of you who didn’t, you’ll just have to wait until next week to see if I do any better!
Submitted by Steve Giles
By Zach Wilt, on September 3rd, 2009
By Zach Wilt, on August 25th, 2009 Now that Ravens’ training camp has wrapped up and we’re half way through the preseason, BSR decided to get the inside scoop on the team by an expert and fellow blogger.
We decided to ask Joe Barnes of EbonyBird.com to fill us in on the 2009 Ravens…
Image Courtesy of the Baltimore Sun
With training camp coming to a close, what are your expectations of the 2009 Ravens based on their camp performance?
I see a season similar to last year’s campaign. Joe Flacco looks solid, the defense looks solid, every position is pretty deep, and things are looking good. With that said, it is possible that the loss of Bart Scott dooms the defense, but when has the team not replaced a linebacker well? If you want a record, I’d say that looking at the schedule, anywhere from 9-7 to 12-4 seems possible, and most likely with playoffs.
Who were you impressed with?
I was most impressed with rookie Lardarius Webb. He was always buzzing around the field, whether it was rushing the quarterback, picking off a pass or making a tackle in between the trenches on a running play. At the beginning of camp, I thought that the secondary might not be good enough to survive against some QBs like Peyton Manning, Tom Brady, Phillip Rivers, etc. but seeing the depth behind Fabian Washington and Dominique Foxworth, including Webb, has made me think otherwise.
Who were you disappointed with?
I was disappointed with Mark Clayton more than any other player. He just never was on the field. While I understand that they don’t want to risk an aggravation of the injury, it seems like he could be more involved with the team and have a bigger presence in camp. At least he was running routes the last week of camp, but it seems like he might not be in good enough shape, like McGahee last year, and Joe Flacco needs him to have a very good season this year.
What is the team’s biggest flaw?
For me, the team’s biggest flaw is the lack of speed with their top receivers. Flacco’s got an arm, we have all seen that, and Yamon Figurs, Jayson Foster and Justin Harper all have breakaway speed. The issue is getting them on the field enough to have them make an impact with their speed. Derrick Mason, Mark Clayton, Demetrius Williams and Kelley Washington will probably get most of the time on gameday, and none of them have exceptional speed. Mason is great on cutbacks, Clayton great with mid-distance passes, but none could beat a safety 40 yards deep. It’s not a huge flaw, but it’s important for the offense to figure out how to get the speedsters on the field.
What is their strongest point?
The strong point of the team is the defense, in general. The line is great, led by Haloti Ngata. Rookie Paul Kruger looks good enough to start for a lot of teams at DE, but the Ravens’ line is good enough that he’s just depth. The linebackers should be one of the best groups in the league, yet again. And the secondary, led by Ed Reed and strengthened by the return of Dawan Landry and signing of Domonique Foxworth looks to be great as always. This defense is just too good.
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By Zach Wilt, on August 3rd, 2009 It was quite an eventful weekend for the Ravens, their wide receiver wishes have been answered. But today, they’re in business.
- Brandon Marshall Talks Cease – Naturally, now that Derrick Mason has returned to the purple and black the Ravens are no longer interested in acquiring Brandon Marshall from the Broncos.
- Injury Updates: Terrell Suggs (strained left heel), Mark Clayton (left hamstring), Thomas White (unknown), Justin Bannan (day off) Lamar Divens (unknown) and Davon Drew (right ankle) did not practice in the morning session. Reportedly, Suggs injury is minor. In my opinion it’s a nice way to get out of a few days of training camp.
- McGahee and Rice continue to impress – While everyone may think that Willis McGahee is on the way out, he continues to prove everyone wrong and Ray Rice provides great competition for the starting job.
- VIDEO – Ray Lewis looks back on 14 years of training camp.
By Zach Wilt, on May 12th, 2009 2009 Baltimore Ravens Preview
Prediction: 11-5 (Second AFC North)
Head coach: John Harbaugh (Second year)
Offense
QB Joe Flacco: At 24, he’s one of the bright quarterbacks in the NFL.
RB Willis McGahee: Was hurt all of 2008, and returns healthy in 2009. If he can shine in 2009, he may play out his entire contract.
FB Le’Ron McClain: After an All Pro season in 2008, it’ll be difficult for McClain to repeat.
WR Derrick Mason: One of the most consistent receivers in the NFL.
WR Mark Clayton: At 5’10”, he’s small, but can make an impact.
TE Todd Heap: The team drafted OT Michael Oher, so Heap will have more of an impact on the passing game.
LT Jared Gaither: The 22-year old had a good season last year and has All-Pro potential.
LG Ben Grubbs: The 2007 first-round pick has shown durability the last two seasons.
C Matt Birk: At 32, he’s aging. But six Pro Bowls speak for themselves.
RG Marshal Yanda: He’s underappreciated, but makes an impact on the line.
RT Michael Oher: There is a battle between Anderson and Oher, and due to youth and versatilty, the rookie takes it.
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By Zach Wilt, on February 27th, 2009 For years in Baltimore, the purple and black clad faithful have clamored for one thing: a quarterback whose jersey they can feel safe purchasing. After years of amending Zeier, Grbac, Banks and Boller jerseys with duct tape and magic marker, Ravens fans have found their man in Joe Flacco.
“Now get ‘im some weapons!” their cries echo through the talk radio and message boards.
Don’t get me wrong, the Ravens have never had a wideout even worth sniffing the early rounds of any fantasy draft. It would be nice to see a Reggie Wayne or Andre Johnson streaking down the sidelines of M&T Bank Stadium, surely. However, when you take a look at the AFC North in 2008, it seems apparent that sticking to their guns may be what keeps the momentum of the surprising 11-5 2008 season going.
In an interesting case of perception vs. reality, regardless of its reputation of a hard-nosed, mud-faced, cold weather division, the AFC North is pass-happy.
In 2008, despite an injured Carson Palmer and a no-show season from Chad Johnson, the Bengals still threw the ball 55% of the time. The Browns chucked it on 54% of their snaps. The Super Bowl champs? Well, even though their reputation, like the Ravens, speaks to three yards and a cloud of dust, the Steelers actually passed the ball 52% of the time.
The Ravens, in fact, are the only team honoring the North’s reputation as The Other Black and Blue (with the original mantle going to the NFC North, naturally). Baltimore passed the ball just 42% of the time, which is remarkably low not just for the AFC North but for the modern era of the NFL. Granted, this is largely in part to having a rookie quarterback at the helm (by comparison, the Atlanta Falcons’ rookie Matt Ryan and threw the ball 46% of the time, which also can be traced to having one of the best rushers in the game in Michael Turner). Still, the Ravens’ meal ticket was the three-headed monster of McClain, McGahee and Rice. Now, in ’09 the attack may break down differently (I’d like to see more touches for Rice), but philosophically, the Ravens are the lone wolf (or bird) in their division when it comes to old school football.
So what does this all mean? Well, for one, Cam Cameron might as well be using be using Brian Billick’s old stationary, which reads “Former Offensive Pass Guru Turned Woody Hayes Enthusiast.” Secondly, and more importantly, it means that in the AFC North there is a clear rift in the economics of moving the chains.
While this year’s free agent market is a thin one, there are still going to be pass-catchers on the market. The temptation, and the pressure, will be there to ink a commodity name wearing a number in the 80s. If the Ravens are unable to sway a receiver from the open market, the pressure will intensify to grab one in April’s draft. With an especially deep receiver class the temptation will certainly be there to select one in the first two rounds. But we’ve been there before. Taking receivers early means big money, and more importantly big expectations (anyone seen Travis Taylor lately?)
Nobody is claiming that Derrick Mason is a spring chicken, but he is extremely reliable. Like Marvin Harrison before him, the man has made a heck of a career of turning around and catching the football consistently. His ability to stay healthy and limit drops on the safe routes has been and will be crucial in Flacco’s development. For now, the inconsistently explosive Mark Clayton will have to be the Big Play Guy. There may be better number three guys in the league than Demetrius Williams, but there are certainly worse. All in all, it’s not an outstanding corps of receivers, but one you could survive on. Throw a late round pick into the mix, a dollop of Heap and a dash of Yamon Figurs for good measure, and you have a pretty good pass-catching group for a team that never passes. You can’t get A’s in every subject in the NFL. Somewhere, you have to sacrifice resources. With the Browns and Bengals, hopelessly trying to pass their way to the top of the North, they are sacrificing not only their ability to control the clock by running the football, they are exposing themselves defensively.
The other thing that this lopsided offensive mindset in the AFC North means is that there is an absolute premium on the ability to defend the pass. The priority on inking Terrell Suggs, Ray Lewis, and/or Bart Scott is noble, but it is clear that to win in this division you had better be ready to defend the past. With Chris McAlister unceremoniously shuffled out the back door and Samari Rolle not far behind, the Ravens most pressing rebuilding needs to happen in the secondary. The amount of free agent d-backs worth their salt will not be great, and rookie corners have a hit-and-miss record. This makes the decision to let breakout safety Jim Leonhard slide into the free agent pool a frustrating one. Granted, there won’t be a penny leftover if the Ravens are able to re-sign Lewis, but with everyone else attempting to air it out, wouldn’t it make sense to specialize in stopping the pass?
Warren Buffet once said, “You cannot buy what is popular and do well.” In a division where teams are overpaying due to demand for receiving, I’d heed Mr. Buffet’s advice.
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