SB Nation User Blog: BAL_Hawk

BYE Week Observations

BAL_Hawk — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 14:25:44 -0000

Obviously, this loss really stung. Before we get too down, let's remember who has the dominate, young quarterback, the dominate, young running back and the dominate, young offensive line. The future is very bright. Yesterday proved that the Ravens have many issues but also showed that they have no quit in them. Right now, the Vikings are a better team. They came out firing on both sides of the ball and really deserved the win.

Offensively, the fact that the Viking's veterans dominated our young players early in the game shows immaturity. I don't believe that the Vikings "let up" or "let us back in it." Sure, they dominated early, but late in the game, the Ravens kicked the door in and blasted away with guns blazing. Rookie tackle Michael Oher dominated Jared Allen in the second half, and Joe Flacco and Ray Rice went off. The Vikings had no answer. The slow start hurt and shows immaturity. They will get better and need to start having success early. The Vikings had great field position during the entire first half, and Favre was given too many shots at the Ravens defense on short fields. 14-3 is hard to overcome on the road, but you do need to give the offense credit. They never quit and game the team a real chance to win.

Defensively, it's easy to panic. Statistically, there were no positives. Favre threw at will, and Peterson was making big plays. As hard as this is to believe right now, I actually believe that the Raven's defensive core is still very good. There are several players that are struggling and being picked on. The schemes are also very bad at times. However... when the Ravens can get a team to actually play against our entire defense instead of picking on one guy, the defense is still solid. Ultimately, that is what the Ravens need to do. They need to find ways/schemes to protect the guys who are struggling and lean on the guys that are solid. That is why our red zone defense is still fairly successful. It naturally covers one of our biggest weaknesses. I understand fundamental football and know that offenses are going to force one-on-one match-ups with our worst players. That's football, but there is not a defense in this league that is perfect at every position. That is where scheme comes in. It's all about playing to your strengths, and it seems to me that the Ravens aren't doing that. The secondary wasn't the Raven's strength last season either, but they made it work somehow. Greg Mattison needs to step up.

Positives:

Ray Rice is amazing! Everyone here knows that I love Willis McGahee, but Willis needs to take the back seat from now on. Rice is turning out to be one of the best backs in the NFL. I'm most impressed with the way that he ran between the tackles. His first touchdown was beautiful. When you watch it the first time, it almost looks like he ran through the hole untouched since he didn't really slow down, but if you watch closer, Rice actually gave E.J. Henderson a nasty stiff arm and ran through an arm tackle by Madieu Williams. He is running with power and vision now. Obviously, he has always been a great receiving threat, but after scoring two rushing touchdowns yesterday against a defense that hasn't allow one all season, Rice proved that he is a complete running back and one of the Raven's best weapons going forward.
Joe Flacco is a stud and truly unflappable. How many times is Flacco going to set career highs this season? We are witnessing the emergence of a great quarterback. It's almost too good to be true, and I've been waiting for Flacco to come crashing down to earth. His performance yesterday put all of those fears to rest. He is the real deal. Under pressure and hit all game, Flacco stood in the pocket and made every throw. He was injured and still led a comeback from seventeen points down. I know this is sounding like a homer-ish rant, but I can't help it. I think the guy deserves more credit than he's being given. Flacco really carried the team against the Vikings.
Michael Oher had a good game. He struggled early in the game, and the crowd noise seemed to give him trouble. Later in the game, he was a force and effectively shut out one of the league's best pass rushers. On the first touchdown drive, he sealed off Allen on the long pass to Heap, and on the touchdown run by Rice, he blew Allen off the ball and paved the way for Rice. Obviously, it wasn't a perfect performance, and the false starts come to mind. However, he flashed greatness in a tough game against an elite pass rusher.
Ray Lewis still has it. The Ravens defense was miserable, but it had nothing to do with the play of Ray Lewis. People, including myself, have criticized him recently, but Ray showed why he is still one of the great linebackers in the league. He stone-walled Peterson up the middle all game. All of Peterson's long runs were containment issues for the Ravens. Ray Lewis stayed home all game. On the goal line, Ray stopped Peterson twice and forced the team with the best running back in the league to score through the air. He did his job and played with an almost mystical anticipation all game.

Negatives:

The coverages in the secondary were terrible and terribly executed. I could go on and on about this because I really believe that this is the biggest problem with the Ravens defense. On the touchdown to Berrian, Washington was playing about eight yards off Berrian, and Carr was playing up on Harvin in the slot. How can you play off the receiver in the end zone? On that play, Harvin crossed and ran to Washington, and Favre threw the easiest touchdown of his career to Berrian on the inside slant. Meanwhile, Washington and Carr were tripping over each other's feet. On the slant to Sidney Rice that was taken into the red-zone, Reed actually bumped into Washington who was trying to cover Rice. That miscue gave Rice about four steps on Washington. Seriously? Our guys are actually bumping into each other now? These are not bad players either. Washington was at least decent last year, and we're talking about ED REED here. There are serious problems with the coverages that the Ravens are running. Something needs to change.
I hate to say it, but we may actually be missing Jim Leonard. I would usually flame someone for saying that, but let me explain. I saw Landry getting burned on several key plays all game. After Ray Lewis stopped Peterson twice on the goal line, the Vikings went to a play action pass. On that play, it was obvious that Landry was assigned to the strong side flat. No one was in the flat, so Landry stayed high. As Shiancoe ran to the back of the end zone behind him, Landry continued to gravitate toward the flat and let the tight end catch the touchdown. That was a simple play where Landry could have saved a touchdown if he had played with a little instinct. Instead, he simply stayed in his zone and allowed the play to be made. There was similar play to Rice in the red-zone. Landry had the underneath coverage, which is suppose to be played very aggressively, and Washington had the coverage over the top. Landry let the ball be throw right over his head and did not even contact the receiver on the play. The Vikings game was an embarrassment for Landry. Favre loves to move safeties with his eyes. That was a big part of it, but some of those plays were inexcusable. Landry is simply not playing with any instinct.
Every player, including Reed, in the secondary has not been effective this season. Obviously, the secondary woes are not all Landry's fault. I singled him out because I've seen him play poorly all year and wanted to mark a difference between last year and this year. The corners have obviously played poorly too. They just seem to get more blame than they deserve in my opinion. Foxworth actually played a respectable game and seemed to be more physical, especially in run support. Washington was unbelievably soft. He play off the receivers, and I did not see him fight for a pass all game. Walker gets alot of blame but shouldn't be covering Sidney Rice one-on-one in the first place. I tend to give the corners more grace since I honestly believe our scheme is bad and the pass rush has rarely pressured the quarterback this season. That brings me to my next point...
The Ravens defensive lineman cannot get off blocks. The interesting part is that they are still very good in run defense, but when they are rushing the passer, they are not effective. Trevor Pryce is a great lineman, but he has lost agility with age. It seems like all of the lineman are big run stuffers. The Ravens are trying to bring pressure with their front four but don't have a dominate pass rushing defensive end. Ngata is a great player but is only average at rushing the passer. Suggs and Johnson are also a great players, but they are not strong enough to challenge offensive tackles on every play. The Ravens do not have the players to effectively and consistently bring pressure with their front four. They need a defensive end like Vandenbosch, Allen or Peppers to effectively run 4-3 pressures and looks. To be successful right now, I believe that they need to start using more 3-4 looks.

From Yahoo Sport's Charles Robinson: Chargers nose tackle Jamal Williams goes to injured reserve...

BAL_Hawk — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 20:45:50 -0000

From Yahoo Sport's Charles Robinson:

Chargers nose tackle Jamal Williams goes to injured reserve with a triceps injury. Huge, huge loss for that defense.

The Final 53

BAL_Hawk — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 20:47:16 -0000

The Ravens, along with all other NFL teams, cut their roster to 75 players today. Between now and Saturday, September 5th, the Ravens will need to decide which players will make their final 53 man roster. Luckily, the coaching staff and scouts have one more preseason game that should help them make their final roster cuts. This process is extra important to the Ravens, who have one of the leagues best scouting departments. Many good NFL players have been picked up off the Raven's practice squad. The last thing that the Ravens want to do is let a hidden gem go to another team.

The following is a graphic that includes the current 75 man roster. Obviously, there are many players that are definitely going to make the final roster. Using that, we can narrow down the current roster and try to determine which players make the final roster. Obviously, it won't be long before the final roster is determined. However, watching the last preseason game versus the Atlanta Falcons will be more interesting if we know who's fighting for their job.

Purple indicates a player that will make the final roster. Yellow indicates a player that will probably make the final roster but could possibly lose their job if another player beats him out. Tan indicates a player that is on the roster bubble and fighting for a job in the final preseason game.

With an extra spot because Rolle is on the PUP list, the final roster should look something like this:

QB: Joe Flacco, Troy Smith, John Beck

RB: Willis McGahee, Ray Rice, Cedric Peerman

FB: Le'Ron McClain

WR: Derrick Mason, Mark Clayton, Demetrius Williams, Kelly Washington, Justin Harper, Yamon Figurs

TE: Todd Heap, L.J. Smith, Davon Drew

OT: Jared Gaither, Michael Oher, Oniel Cousins

OG: Ben Grubbs, Matt Birk, Marshal Yanda, David Hale, Chris Chester

DE: Trevor Pryce, Terrell Suggs, Paul Kruger

DT: Haloti Ngata, Kelly Gregg, Dwan Edwards, Justin Bannan, Brandon McKinney

LB: Ray Lewis, Tavares Gooden, Jarret Johnson, Jameel McClain, Antwan Barnes, Prescott Burgess, Brendon Ayanbadejo, Jason Phillips

DB: Domonique Foxworth, Fabian Washington, Lardarius Webb, Chris Carr, Frank Walker, K.J. Gerrard

S: Ed Reed, Dawan Landry, Haruki Nakamura, Tom Zbikowski

Specialists: Matt Katula, Sam Koch, Steve Hauschka

This is a very hard list to come up with. K.J. Gerard, Prescott Burgess, Yamon Figurs and Brandon McKinney could very easily miss the roster. K.J. Gerard is competing with Martin for Rolle's spot, and it could really go either way. I believe that Gerard has more upside, and that's why I picked him over Martin. Burgess has had an excellent preseason, but the Ravens have excellent depth at linebacker. I also kept Figurs on the roster since the Raven's receivers are banged up. The problem is that there are so many good players fighting for the last few spots on the roster.

Poll

Which player should make the Raven's roster?

Abdallah, Nadar

10 votes

Cook, Jason

11 votes

Ellerbe, Dannell

47 votes

VanDeSteeg, William

18 votes

Fein, Tony

6 votes

Felix, Robby

2 votes

Figurs, Yamon

67 votes

Foster, Jayson

22 votes

Gerard, K.J.

12 votes

Johnson, Will

8 votes

Jones, Edgar

22 votes

Lawrence, Matt

20 votes

Martin, Derrick

47 votes

Mattison, Bryan

4 votes

McKinney, Brandon

39 votes

Oglesby, Evan

33 votes

Parmele, Jalen

71 votes

Peerman, Cedric

66 votes

Reitz, Joe

11 votes

Rodgers, Stefan

0 votes

Smolko, Issac

5 votes

Stallings, Tre'

3 votes

Talavou, Kelly

47 votes

Wheelwright, Ernie

15 votes

586 votes | Poll has closed

Terrell Suggs: New Contract "Close"

BAL_Hawk — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 22:44:58 -0000

Over the last six seasons, Terrell "T-Sizzle" Suggs has made a name for himself on Baltimore's aggressive defense. During that span, he has more sacks than any other player on the Ravens roster. He has 53 sacks over his entire career, including an astounding 12 sacks in his rookie season. However, Suggs abilities go beyond rushing the passer. Last season, he intercepted two passes and returned both of them for touchdowns. He has perfected his game and become a complete linebacker. He can rush the passer, drop into coverage and stop the run. He has become an essential piece in the Ravens' defense and one of the elite outside linebackers in the NFL.

There is no doubting Suggs' abilities, and the Ravens have kept a tight grip on him. They placed the franchise tag on Terrell Suggs last off-season and hoped to sign a long term deal. They were ultimately unable to reach a deal and were forced to use the franchise tag on Suggs again this off-season. In fact, they had a disagreement because Suggs believed that he needed to be paid like a defensive end, a position that he often plays on the Ravens' hybrid defense and happens to pay more money, but the Ravens insisted that Suggs was still a linebacker and should be paid as such. In the end, they reached a compromise. The NFL created a special franchise tag for hybrid linebackers that splits the difference between a linebacker's pay and a defensive end's pay, and Suggs was the first recipient of the unique tag.

In recent interviews with BaltimoreRavens.com and the Baltimore Sun, Suggs said that a new contract is being discussed.

"I feel like we’re getting close," Suggs told BaltimoreRavens.com. "Negotiations are going on with the Ravens. Fans can be optimistic that I’ll be [at training camp]."

"We’ve talked," Suggs explained when asked about talks with Ozzie Newsome. "There are some minor things we’re working out."

"We are close to an agreement. We just have a few little things to work out," Suggs told The Baltimore Sun. "I don't want to go into great detail, but it's things like the years of the agreement and incentives, but the basic framework has been done."

This is good news for the Ravens and their fans, but one must wonder how much longer these negotiations will last. Last year, Ozzie Newsome tried to sign Suggs to a new long-term contract, but the deal never happened. Suggs briefly held out of training camp to show his displeasure with the franchise tag. This year, both parties seem to be more optimistic about a new contract. Furthermore, Ozzie Newsome has been very thrifty this off-season. He allowed Jason Brown and Bart Scott to walk and receive bigger contracts. He passed on Anquan Boldin and Brandon Marshall. He even allowed Ray Lewis to test the free agent market. He has been tight with the team's money. It's very possible that Newsome has saved a large portion for Suggs, who has been one of the team's most important and consistent players over the last six seasons. If the Ravens cannot sign Suggs by the July 15th deadline, they will be forced to pay him the $10.2 million required by the franchise tag.

"Our plan is to sign 'Sizzle' to a long-term contract," Ravens general manager Ozzie Newsome said in a statement. "We believe our history of keeping our best players for a long time speaks for itself."

Lardarius Webb Signs Three-Year Contract

BAL_Hawk — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 19:22:17 -0000

When the Ravens were scouting Lardarius Webb, they sent their secondary coach, Chuck Pagano, out to Nicholls State to watch him play. Pagano returned to Baltimore and raved about the 5'10" corner. At the combine, Webb put on an excellent showing and ran the fastest time in the forty yard dash at his position. The Ravens were impressed with Webb's combine performance and invited him to their Owings Mills headquarters to talk to him in person. They debated whether to take Webb in the third round. They believed that he would be available later, but in the end, they drafted Webb because they believed that he was the best player available and didn't want to risk him being taken before them.

Fast and explosive, Webb is the type of player that Ozzie Newsome loves to bring onto his defense. It goes without saying that Webb has excellent speed, but he also shows excellent ball skills. He is the only college player ever to win offensive, defensive and special teams awards in a single season. In coverage, Webb shows good hip transition. This allows him to play closer to the receiver and turn up field or drive inside if needed. As a player, he boasts excellent upside. DraftGuys.com did an interesting special on Lardarius Webb that shows off his talent.

In an interview before the draft, Lardarius said that he wanted to play for the Ravens. He also said that his favorite player was Ed Reed and that he dreamed of playing with Reed. I cannot blame him, but Webb is the only player that I've seen who has shown preference to a certain team before the draft. The Ravens must have told Webb that they wanted to draft him. Otherwise, I cannot imagine Webb going out on a limb like that. In the end, Webb recieved his wish and is now wearing purple and black. He did another interview with Coleman after the draft and was extremely happy to have been drafted by the Ravens. Ironically, Webb was interviewed by Jerry Coleman with Jason La Canforna, who now works for NFL.com and used Lardarius Webb's signing as his first blog entry. I provided the link to La Canfora's blog entry below.

Finally, I believe that Webb has tons of potential and may turn out to be the best corner on the Raven's roster in the long run. That's saying alot since the Ravens have one of the deepest secondaries in the league right now. Furthermore, Webb has experience at safety, a position that he play in college. That experience will add versatility to our secondary and help Webb perform multiple roles.

“[Lardarius Webb] showed a lot of quickness and has a good understanding of the defense for a rookie," said head coach John Harbaugh during Baltimore’s rookie camp. "The fact that he plays safety and corner is going to be helpful throughout his career. But it’s going to help us in camp, too.”

From NFL.com's Jason La Canfora:

The Baltimore Ravens have agreed to terms with third-round pick Lardarius Webb, with the rookie cornerback scheduled to sign his contract shortly, according to a league source. Webb’s athleticism and versatility drew him to several teams, along with his return skills, and he played both corner and safety during his college career.

Webb will sign a three-year contract, including a $530,000 signing bonus, and veteran-minimum base salaries. I had the chance to interview Webb before the draft on my buddy Jerry Coleman’s sports radio show back in Baltimore, and he was about as charming and humble as can be (all "Yes sirs" and "No sirs"). He had a rough patch off the field before transferring to Nicholls State, but finished strong and joins a Ravens secondary that was very much remade during the offseason.

Baltimore's Developing Offense

BAL_Hawk — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 00:36:05 -0000

Defense wins championships! That's been the mantra of Baltimore for over a decade, and it has been a necessity largely due to the constant uncertainty at quarterback and offensive coordinator. Another nagging problem was Brian Billick's controling personality. He did not like handing over the offensive play-calling. Ultimately, Billick was fired, and John Harbaugh was hired. Through a fortunate turn of events, the Harbaugh was able to recruit Cam Cameron, who coordinated one of the leagues most efficient offenses in San Diego and was fired after a 1-15 season with Miami, and draft Joe Flacco. In a single off-season, two of Baltimore's biggest offensive problems were solved.

The decision to hire Cameron proved to be a good one. Baltimore's offense made a surprising turn-around that was evident in the very first game when Mark Clayton scored on a double reverse and Joe Flacco scored on a naked bootleg. For the first time in team history, the Ravens had a bonafide offensive coordinator and a promising young quarterback. Cameron's strength is his creativity and his fundamental philosophy of putting his best players in positions to be successful. Sporting News said, "Cameron, despite his reputation taking a beating in his one year in Miami, is a great coach who took a Division I-AA quarterback and turned him into a productive NFL starter as a rookie" and voted him the NFL's best offensive coordinator. That is a high honor, especially since the Raven's offense was not flashy last season.

They may not have been flashy about it, but the Raven offense was efficient. Cameron played the Raven's personnel to their strengths and made every play-call count while staying unpredictable. Ultimately, Baltimore's offensive efficiency ranked 15th in the league by Football Outsiders. That's not amazing and not what you would expect from the NFL's best offensive coordinator. Cameron's offense has been criticized for being conservative, but if you look at what he was working with, his overall achievement is actually astounding.

With the league's 26th ranked offense in 2007, Cameron was forced to start a rookie quarterback in his first season with the Ravens. He was also trying to install a new offense at the same time, but many, including Cameron himself, remarked that it may have actually made the process easier. Every player, rookie and veteran alike, needed to work hard and learn a new system. Even so, Cameron quickly discovered that it's not easy to win in the NFL with a rookie quarterback. In a three game losing streak, Joe Flacco threw five interceptions and only one touchdown. The losing streak could have easily discouraged the offense, but Cameron held it together. During the rest of the season, Flacco threw thirteen touchdowns and only five interceptions.

Cameron developed a very strong game plan that ultimately helped Joe Flacco's progression. He would simply call running plays right up the middle. This simple but effective strategy is more complex than one would expect. The Raven's offensive line and LeRon McClain, who had converted from fullback, proved to be a bruising combination and very difficult to stop. By pounding the rock, Cameron's offense would force opposing defenses into zero coverage, which means that there's no deep safety. At that point, play action passes were deadly, and Flacco began to show off his arm strength by beating opposing defenses with the deep ball. This became a low-risk way to keep defenses off balance.

Cameron's offense was more impressive in its ingenuity than its production. It complimented the Raven defense perfectly and played to the overall strength of the team. Most of all, it helped the Ravens advance into the playoffs, a feat that most people wrote off. However, the Ravens cannot rest on their achievements from last year. They lost several key plays and drafted young talent. One concern is talent at the wide receiver position.

Since they did not draft a wide receiver, the Ravens will need to rely on the receivers currently on the roster. Derrick Mason had an amazing season but is getting older. Mark Clayton was emerging but needs to be more consistent if he's going to become a go-to guy. The two receivers that have the biggest opportunity to step up are Demetrius Williams and Marcus Smith. Williams has proven that he has the physical tools to be a NFL receiver and deep threat but has struggled to stay healthy. Marcus Smith is a player that has been raved about by coaches, saying that his improvement from his rookie season is remarkable. At a recent team activity, John Harbaugh said the following:

Comparing [Marcus Smith] to a year ago, it's night and day. We talk to our guys about making the most progress from their first to second year, but Marcus just goes to work. The thing about Marcus is you see a little bit of improvement everyday because he works as hard or harder than anyone on the team everyday. So, you start adding all of that up. You watch practice, and you're like, 'Wow! This guy's really playing well.'

We've always thought Marcus is going to be a really good player. He's physical. He's tough and a hard worker. That's a good place to start. He can run. He's a former running back. Once he gets the ball in his hands, he's a strong runner north and south. We think he's going to be that kind of receiver for us. I'm excited about Marcus.

Just like Flacco did last year, Smith may play a key role in next season's offense. Obviously, nothing's certain. That's the beauty of training camp. Every player gets a chance. Most people would expect a progression, but there are still many questions. How will the Ravens improve on offense? Will Joe Flacco improve in his second year? Which players will have the biggest impact? Which young receiver will step up?

The Most Exciting Player In The NFL

BAL_Hawk — Sun, 07 Jun 2009 03:42:25 -0000

In a recent "players roundtable" on the NFL Network, Jamie Dukes, Deion Sanders, Marshall Faulk and Warren Sapp discussed the most exciting player in the NFL. I was surprised to see two Baltimore Ravens make the list. The Ravens had an excellent showing versus the Cowboys that aired on the NFL Network. Therefore, it may natural for them to pick a few Ravens. However, it is saying something that they picked Ed Reed and Ray Lewis over guys like Larry Fitzgerald and Adrian Peterson. During the roundtable session, Jamie Dukes picked Ray Lewis, Deion Sanders picked Ed Reed, Marshall Faulk picked Peyton Manning and Warren Sapp picked Chris Johnson.

Could the Ravens finally be getting some recognition? Obviously, this is just the opinion of four former players. If a national poll were to be taken, I do not think that either Reed or Lewis would make the top ten. Even so, I had a very distinct sense of pride knowing that our current defense is so exciting to so many people. Our defense is very special. I'm sure that it will be remembered for years to come, but for right now, I'm going to enjoy watching them dismantle opposing offenses.

Anyway, I thought that this would be an excellent time to debate the most exciting player in the NFL. My vote is for Ed Reed. If voting had included the playoffs, he would have been the defensive player of the year. With our revamped secondary, he should be a terror next year as well. Who do you think is the NFL's most exciting player?

The All-Time Greatest Plays In Raven History

BAL_Hawk — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 15:04:43 -0000

Since Bruce Started the "All-Time" posts, I thought it would be appropriate to debate the "All-Time" greatest plays in Raven history. There are so many meaningful plays. It's hard to choose one that I would consider the greatest. I believe that it will be easier to deduce if many people throw in their opinions. Remember that we need to take the meaning of the play into account along with the overall meaning of the game. Therefore, I think that excellent plays made in the post season, especially the 2000 post season and Super Bowl, deserve the most consideration. I can think of three great plays off the top of my head. They all happened in the 2000 season, but this is not the only criteria for great plays. Feel free to nominate any play in any season, but be sure to provide your reasoning.

Anyway, I'll get the ball rolling. I'll name three plays and then nominate the play that I think is the best.

Shannon Sharpe's catch and touchdown versus the Raiders in the 2000 AFC Championship Game.

At the point in the game where this play happened, both teams were scoreless, and the Ravens offensive line was being dominated. This play literally set the tone of the game. Wih their defense that year, the Ravens would dominate if they had a lead. It is arguable that the Ravens would not have gotten to the Superbowl if this play was made. It sealed the game early on.

Jermaine Lewis' kickoff return for a touchdown in Super Bowl XXV. Watch the video from 3:00.

This play may be the weakest of my group, but it was still an amazing, game-breaking play. It was game-breaking because the Giants had just scored on a kickoff return. The Ravens had the game in hand, and this play officially sealed the Super Bowl victory. I would have liked to select more plays in the Super Bowl, but since the Ravens easily rolled over the Giants, there were not many better than this. Again, this play my be the weakest of my group, but I put it in here because of the inspirational factor. Jermaine Lewis had lost his unborn son, Geronimo, only days before the Super Bowl. His touchdown still gives me goose bumps.

Ray Lewis' interception and touchdown versus the Titans in the 2000 playoffs.

This play is my nomination. I believe that this may be the greatest play in Raven History. In the game, the Ravens had been going back and forth with the Titans. The Titans kicker had missed several field goals and kept the Ravens in the game. At the point where this play had happened, the Ravens had just returned a blocked field goal for a touchdown and taken the lead 17-10. The pressure was now on the Titans. They needed to score and stay in the game. On the next drive, Steve McNair passed the ball to Eddie George, and Ray Lewis was able to wrestle it from his arms and return it for a touchdown. This play embodied the Ravens 2000 season, and has been a good example of Raven football in the subsequent years.

These are just my nominations. Let's hear everyone's opinions and come up with a consensus.

Looking Back At The 2008 Ravens

BAL_Hawk — Fri, 29 May 2009 13:07:45 -0000

Last season was enjoyable and amazing. It was thoroughly enjoyable to Ravens fans because of the team’s success and amazing to the entire league because of what the team had to overcome. Ravens fans would say that they never lost faith in the team and that they knew the team had the talent, but there were still many questions. The team was only one season removed from the retirement of perennial Pro Bowler Jonathan Ogden. At the time, no one knew how Jared Gaither would fill in, and since the Ravens did not draft a left tackle, the only option was to start Gaither.

Of course, there was also the quarterback position, the most important in football. Steve McNair’s retirement was not a big surprise, but the Ravens did not have many options. Kyle Boller had never shown the ability to lead and the team did not seem to have faith in him. Troy Smith had been solid in two previous starts, but his technique and size left the coaches worried. Joe Flacco was the rookie, and rookie quarterbacks have very rarely been successful in the NFL. Because of injuries and illness, Flacco was forced into the starting lineup. We now know that this was good fortune, but at the time, it was a very big concern.

The Ravens came out of the gate strong and won their first two games against the Bengals and the Browns. However, the Ravens struggled over their next three games and lost to the Steelers, the Titans and the Colts. The three game losing streak reminded the team of the 2007 season when the they lost nine games in a row. Because of their stellar defense, the Ravens managed to pull off victories against the Dolphins and the Raiders, but everyone in the locker room felt like the team was on the brink. Joe Flacco was throwing interceptions that were costing games. Much like 2007, the defense was wearing thin, and injuries, particularly in the secondary, began to pile up.

November 2, 2008 - Ravens 37, Browns 27.

Going into Cleveland on November 2nd, the Ravens were 4-3. The Browns were 3-4 and had shocked the undefeated New York Giants two weeks before. There was a feeling that the Ravens and Browns were fighting for the same place in the division. The Ravens had the better record, but they also had the easier schedule. The Browns believe that they were going to take the Raven’s place in the division. This game proved to be a season-breaker for the Browns and a season-maker for the Ravens. The Ravens pulled together during this game, and everyone could feel the team coming together. Most surprising of all, Joe Flacco led the team, down by 14 points, to a victory. When asked about "the moment" where he saw the team come together and Flacco emerge, John Harbaugh said the following:

"Looking back on [Joe Flacco’s season], the moment where everybody knew that he could win a game for us, really on his own, was the Browns Game. We go down, all of the sudden, 27-13. In the middle of the third quarter, they score fast, and we are on the verge of getting blow out. [Flacco] takes us down the field twice. The next time you see the scoreboard, were right back up to 27. [Flacco] took the ball down and scored. We got a turnover, and he took it right back down and scored again. It was really just him throwing the ball down the field."

"This guy can take over a game! That’s what the players look for in a quarterback."

In reality, the Browns game did not make the team last season. The team had been carefully crafted by the Ravens front office and their owner, Steve Bisciotti. It all started with the firing of Brian Billick. The Ravens needed a new coach. They needed a motivator, and Bisciotti understood this. There were many speculated candidates. Marty Schottenheimer, Jason Garrett and Bill Cowher were all considered. Then the dark horse candidate appeared, John Harbaugh. Young, inexperienced and full of fire, Harbaugh was exactly what Bisciotti was looking for.

"Do I like a guy that has to earn his resume? Yeah. I kind of made a living on hiring people with thin resumes and it's worked out pretty well for me in the last 25 years," Bisciotti said. "I think that works to John's advantage. I said three weeks ago you have to take chances to be successful. You have to be willing to do things that the masses wouldn't do, or I don't think you will be able to separate yourself from the masses."

John Harbaugh immediately began to assemble one of the best coaching staffs in the NFL. The two biggest moves were hiring Cam Cameron as the offensive coordinator and keeping Rex Ryan as the defensive coordinator. As the off-season progressed, the new coaches and the front office started to gel. Harbaugh seemed to know how to make it work. He was born to be a head-coach.

"When you grow up in that [football family] environment, the thing you learn is that there are three important things [to] putting together a football team," said John Harbaugh "Number one is the team. The second most important thing is the team, and the third most important thing is the team. We'll stick with that through and through, beginning to end. That's what it's all about."

It became quickly apparent to everyone that the 2008 NFL draft was going to determine the Ravens immediate and long-term success. Ozzie Newsome and Eric DeCosta did not take the task lightly.

"This is probably the most critical draft we've ever had, based on our needs on this team, based on the future, our record last year and where we want to get to," said Eric DeCosta, Baltimore's director of college scouting. "I'm very excited. We've all talked, the three of us, about sleepless nights and waking up in the middle of the night."

"The wounds from last season are still fresh. That was a very trying season for me, personally. This draft is very strong in comparison to last year's draft. We've got nine picks, we hope to have some more at some point possibly, and I think we can really legitimize the roster for the next four, five, six years with an excellent draft this year."

Ultimately, the Ravens came out of the draft with Joe Flacco and Ray Rice. Both played an instrumental role in the victory over Cleveland, but even more than that, their ability to contribute in their first year shows the value of the Ravens front office. They understood the needs of the team and were able to select players that would help them win immediately while building for the future.

When asked if he was surprised by the performances of rookies Ray Rice and Joe Flacco in Cleveland, Harbaugh responded, "When they get drafted by the Baltimore Ravens, we expect them to play like that. Are we surprised? No."

The performance against Cleveland displayed a balanced team. It was a team win. The Ravens began to win games by any means necessary. If the defense needs a stop, they did their best to make it happen. If the offense needs to score, they did their best to make it happen.

"You’ve got to tip your hat to the offense," Terrell Suggs stated. "Amazing what they did. They put up 14 points fast when we were down 27-13. They scored twice, and you could feel the sense of team being formed, what we’ve been searching for all year."

"I couldn’t be more proud to be the coach of the Baltimore Ravens," Harbaugh said. "We talk about character and integrity and doing what’s right – to overcome the adversity that they did in the second half speaks about how big their hearts are."

It all goes back to what Harbaugh said the day he was hired. "The most important thing is the team." In the Raven’s system, no one player or coach is solely responsible for the team’s success or failure. The Raven’s success goes beyond the stats, the coaches or the players. It is a team effort, through and through.

"We're going to be a dynasty," John Harbaugh said boldly. "If you're not willing to say it out loud, how do you expect to get there?"

We all know the final outcome. Jared Gaither filled in remarkably for Jonathan Ogden and looked like a future Pro Bowler. Joe Flacco started the entire season and did what no other rookie quarterback has ever done. He won two playoff games. John Harbaugh took the team and starting in training camp, gave it a “hard-nosed” mentality. In his first season, he took the team to the AFC Championship game and came within minutes of the Super Bowl. Ravens fans could not have hoped for much better, and the rest of the league can hardly believe it. The future looks bright, and I will always remember the 2008 season as special. In particular, I will remember the game against the Browns where the team came together, and Flacco won his first come-back victory.

Which Ravens Will Make The Pro Bowl?

BAL_Hawk — Thu, 21 May 2009 13:20:48 -0000

I don't typically put much stock in the Pro Bowl. The Ravens are not a high profile team, and it always seems that there are several Ravens players who are snubbed. Obviously, there's no way that anyone could predict the Pro Bowl. We have no idea who's going to step up on our team or on other teams.

This is just meant to be a friendly discussion and debate. I'd like to know who you believe will be a big enough contributor and have big enough individual seasons. Remember that the Pro Bowl is a popularity contest. I would take many of our players over many other players at their position, but you need to keep the popularity of other teams and players in mind. The Pro Bowl does not take upside into account. As much as I love Joe Flacco, I don't think that he will be making the Pro Bowl over guys like Manning and Brady... this year. I hope he proves me wrong. Anyway, please pick the Ravens players who you think will make the Pro Bowl next season and provide a brief explanation. Also, I'd like everyone to make a sleeper pick. Pick a player that you think is flying under the radar. My picks are as follows:

Ed Reed, FS (First Team)

No one can argue with this. Reed is, far and away, the best safety in the NFL. He has the name recognition and the ability to back it up. If he stays healthy, Reed is a lock for the Pro Bowl, and I think that he's the pres-season favorite for defensive player of the year.

Ray Lewis, MLB (First Team)

Sadly, many people would probably disagree with this pick. They would say that Lewis is not dominate anymore, but Ravens fans know that Lewis still has a couple Pro Bowl seasons left in him. He still has the best instincts in the NFL and is still breaking opposing running back's collar bones. Most of all, he's still the best middle linebacker in the game. I'd like to see someone name a middle linebacker who's better right now.

Haloti Ngata, DT (First Team)

Ngata was snubbed last year. His humble demeanor doesn't attract much press, but since Ngata was drafted, the Ravens have been one of the toughest teams to run against. Ray Lewis is a big part of that, but Ngata eats up blockers and keeps our awesome linebackers free to make plays. Ngata is a stud, and if he fails to make the Pro Bowl next season, Ravens fans need to revolt.

Terrell Suggs, OLB (Alternate)

Suggs may be the most versatile and impactful player in the NFL. I put him as an alternate only because flashy players like Harrison and Ware will always get more votes. I believe that he deserves more credit. The Ravens defense would not be nearly as good without Suggs.

Matt Birk, C (First Team)

Sadly, Matt Birk is the only offensive lineman that I'm selecting from the Ravens. I'm sure that many of you would disagree, but again, I actually think that more of them should make it. I just don't see people voting for our offensive line... unless they have a record breaking season (which isn't outside the realm of possibilities). Birk going to the Pro Bowl makes sense. I expect our offensive line to be extremely successful next season, and the average fan will probably chalk it up to Birk instead of giving our entire line the credit they’re due.

Leron McClain, FB (First Team)

McClain will probably make the Pro Bowl for many years. His performance last season won him respect and recognition from the entire league. Even though he will be playing more FB next season, I still expect McClain to get plenty of touches. Cam Cameron uses his talented players.

SLEEPER PICK:

Willis McGahee, RB (First Team)

Bam! I know that many of you are laughing at this pick, but I honestly believe that McGahee is going to have a career year. Last season, he was banged up and lagging behind for many games, but in the games that he was healthy, he actually played very well. He still has great talent. He’s my sleeper pick because many people have forgotten about him or written him off. I believe that this will fuel his fire. McGahee has much to prove after last season, and with the emergence of our offensive line, I believe that he will have a dominate season.

Anyway, who do you think will make the Pro Bowl next season? Be objective.