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Gresham is the star senior tight end for the Sooners, who elected to spend another year in Norman,OK, rather then enter last years NFL draft, where he would have been a 1st round pick.  How does this relate to the Ravens?

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We have all heard it time and time again.... "The Ravens D will fall off.  They lost Rex Ryan.  They lost key players in Bart Scott and Jim Leonhard who can't be replaced.  They are an aging defense.  Ray Lewis is done."

Of course, us knowledgeable guys at the Beatdown know the average fan just has no clue.  We have to disprove these falsities over and over and I think we are all getting tired of it.  So I have an idea....

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Baltimore Ravens

Position	Name	OVR
QB	J. Flacco	81
QB	T. Smith	59
QB	J. Beck	48
RB	W. McGahee	83
RB	R. Rice	78
RB	C. Peerman	68
FB	L. McClain	92
WR	D. Mason	88
WR	M. Clayton	77
WR	D. Williams	66
WR	M. Smith	49
WR	Y. Figurs	39
TE	T. Heap	84
TE	L.J. Smith	77
TE	Q. Sypniewski	65
OL	M. Birk	88
OL	B. Grubbs	84
OL	W. Anderson	82
OL	Jared Gaither	79
OL	C. Chester	78
OL	M. Oher	77
OL	M. Yanda	77
OL	A. Terry	72
OL	D. Hale	69
OL	O. Cousins	68
OL	T. Stallings	62
DL	H. Ngata	90
DL	T. Pryce	83
DL	K. Gregg	77
DL	J. Bannan	74
DL	D. Edwards	71
DL	B. McKinney	65
DL	L. Divens	64
LB	R. Lewis	97
LB	T. Suggs	90
LB	J. Johnson	79
LB	P. Kruger	71
LB	A. Barnes	70
LB	T. Gooden	65
LB	J. McClain	63
LB	B. Ayanbadejo	63
LB	P. Burgess	50
CB	D. Foxworth	82
CB	F. Washington	77
CB	S. Rolle	75
CB	L. Webb	71
CB	C. Carr	65
CB	F. Walker	49
S	E. Reed	99
S	D. Landry	71
S	T. Zbikowski	63
S	H. Nakamura	62
K	S. Hauschka	59
P	S. Koch	86

Link to all teams:

http://madden.easportsfans.com/?p=237

We have been debating who is the top Defensive Tackle in our division for some time now.  Obviously, the consensus from Beatdown regulars is that Ngata is the top DT, followed by Rogers, and Hampton.  I was on ESPN and saw James Walker was having the same debate, and after much campaigning by fans for each of the respective players, a consensus needed to be made.  Being the logical man that he is, Walker went with Ngata, as the only DT who brings the total package, along with upside to his team.  See below the jump for Walker's article.

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I came across a few interviews with Ladarius, pre and post draft, from Sports With Coleman on 1370.  I just gave them a listen and really like what I hear from Webb.  He is going to fit right in, in this city and on this team.  I like when Coleman asks him about playing with a chip on his shoulder.  Webb responds, "I already got a couple.  Add me one on my back.  One because of my size.  One because I love the game.  Now one because I'm on the Ravens defense and thats going to be the best part."

Check them out if you haven't already listened...

Pre Draft

http://sportswithcoleman.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/ladarius-webb.mp3

Post Draft

http://sportswithcoleman.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/ladarius-webb-4-28-09.mp3

Just heard from Bruce Cunningham that Aaron Wilson says Ozzie hates T.O. with a passion.

This is no surprise but its nice to hear.  Ozzie surely did not forget what T.O. did to Baltimore in the past.  T.O. insulted the team and Ozzie, even going as far as calling him "boy."

That's probably not a good thing to call a dignified African American man who grew up in Alabama during the civil rights movement.

Supposedly Oz put out feelers to Rosenhaus feigning interest for T.O. just to mess with him, since he disdains him so much, and would like nothing more then for him to be embarrassed.

The Oz has spoken.

Just say NO to T.O.

Everyone here knows that the Ravens need an upgrade at WR.  It's no secret.

What we also know is that the pickings are slim in FA, and adding a rookie WR, is risky, at best.  It is asking a lot of a rookie to come in and contribute immediately.  Most young WR's have a 2-3 year learning curve, and this is if they ever pan out.

In a perfect world we would add a big fast stud WR who can stretch the D to open up the running game, and who is a big target in the red zone.  Unfortunately, there are only a dozen or so guys who fit this description and are young enough to be paired with Flacco for the next 5+ years. 

Of course, it won't be easy to get one of these stud WR's, as we all have surely noticed from the huge bounty of picks the Cowboys traded for Roy Williams, as well as the Card's similar asking price for Boldin.

To make one of these deals worth it, we need a true #1, who is still young.  Other then Boldin I can think of one player who would fit....

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http://www.sportingnews.com/blog/real_scouts/entry/view/17462/

A very interesting 24 hours lies ahead for the Baltimore Ravens.

And the first domino has fallen. According to an NFL source, the club has informed center Jason Brown that he is not in their plans for the 2009 season.

Brown, who turns 26 in June, is expected to garner immediate, strong interest from four or five clubs when the NFL’s free-agency period opens at 12:01 a.m. Friday. Brown started in '06 and '07 at guard for the Ravens, before moving to center to replace Mike Flynn last season.

The move to let Brown leave allows Baltimore to focus on its two free-agent linebackers, Bart Scott and Ray Lewis.

Negotiations are ongoing with both players -- with the expectation that the Ravens will be able re-sign one, but not both -- and are expected to run up to midnight, when the club will lose exclusive negotiating rights.

The Cowboys continue to come up as a possible landing spot for Lewis, despite Dallas owner Jerry Jones’ insistence that his club will not be big players in free agency. Former Ravens defensive coordinator Rex Ryan’s presence with the Jets makes New York a possible suitor for either player.

I thought the Ravens should have made a play to pickup Chad after he was released.  Sure, I am happy we didn't, but how would things have been if Chad was the starter here instead of Miami?

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I was meaning to post this right after the game but things happen.  I jotted down a few thoughts during the game, so hopefully they still make sense after the fact....

• Jared Gaither - You don't realize how much we miss him until he's gone.  Thankfully he entered the game just after I wrote this.  I don't think his impact this year can be understated.  I don't think anyone could of dreamed of him performing better in J.O.'s absence.
• What a pick by Fabian.  Another steal by Ozzie in the off season.  Over the past two off seasons, Ozzie was able to fill in two of the most important positions (CB and LT) with potential 5+ year starters for the cost of a 4th and 5th round pick.  If anyone had any doubts that hes the best in the business, there ya go.  
• Jarrett Johnson is a beast.  No longer can be considered the "weak link" of the D.  Jarrett has become a force, and has basically given us what we lost with AD.
• Don't get too carried away with Flacco's lack of accuracy in the first half.  Give credit to Jim Johnson's D.  Joe had not seen anything like it to this point in his career.
• Why not run LeRon more early?  He was the only Raven having any early success (save for the failed 3rd down conversion), and with Bunkley banged up, why not let McClain punish the Eagles D. (Coach Harbaugh Agreed)
  
• Westbrook is not himself at all.  He is trying to play through the pain but at some point they need to let him get better.  That just got a whole lot more difficult with Buckhalter on the shelf for 2-4 weeks with a MCL sprain.
• Nice to have you back, Wilcox.  For all the talk of the Ravens needing a new TE, they have a nice stable with Heap, Wilcox, and Sypnewski.  Now if they could all stay healthy for a season we'd be set.
• Jameel McClain/ Antwan Barnes - Does anyone else think that when Ozzie retires from the NFL he could open a linebacker farm where he picks up undrafted LB's, trains them for a year, and sells them to NFL teams like the Browns and Bengals.  The man knows how to draft and develop LB's like no one else.  Seriously, I think it would work.
• Samari Rolle has been quietly very solid this year.  Take out his horrific 2006, when he was dealing with epilepsy issues unknown at the time, and he has been a great pick up, as we desperately need his veteran presence and saavy with out C-Mac in the lineup.
• Ed Reed is Back!!!  What a play maker.  Troy Polawho?  Ed looks like hes in a video game running down the sideline... Juke, Stiff Arm, Hurdle, Cut Back, Touchdown.  108 Yards.  Broke his own NFL Record.  He's just starting to get his confidence back.  There is no greater defensive playmaker in the NFL when hes playing well.  Just check out the attention he draws on punts. 
  
• Why would Andy Reid make a QB switch at halftime?  Sure, Donovan looked bad, but did he really think a rookie would come into the Ravens house and lead a second half comeback?  Get the F*ck out of here.

In the Thanksgiving spirit we all have a lot to be thankful for this season.

I'm thankful for Ed's health and return to prominence.

I'm also thankful our team is not the Browns or Bengals.  Sure, some of there fans are poor sports, but if you were a die hard Browns fan, you'd be bitter as well.

Use the comments to list yours......

HAPPY THANKSGIVING.

• Yamon Figurs explosiveness is slowly coming back. When Yamon is on his game he’s one of the few guys in the NFL who give the impression they were shot out of cannon every time they touch the ball. If he’s healthy he could be big for us in the second half of the season.
• There is no doubt we will lock Suggs up this off season.  He is shaping into one of the most dominant pass rushers in the NFL.  He can play the run and drop in coverage as well, a rare skill set, and a true franchise player.  Did I mention he's only 25?
  
• Speaking of franchise players, Haloti Ngata, has been superb this year.  The scary thing is he's just scratching the surface of his potential.  Like I've said many times, I'd take Ngata not only over Rogers, but over any other young DT in the NFL.
• How many teams have two true franchise players on their D, (Ray and Reed), yet are in a position to transition to two new franchise guys (Suggs and Ngata) as their careers wind down?
• While common knowledge (his age, wear and tear...) would lead one to believe Ray Lewis is winding down, my eyes tell me differently.  Ray is still a straight BEAST, as evidenced by his two INT's, and team leading eight tackles yesterday.
• Eight tackles may not seem like a lot, but when the opposing team only has the ball for 23 minutes, opportunities are scarce.
• I am convinced we have the best coaching staff in the league.  John Harbaugh has shown tremendous leadership ability.  He may botch a challenge every now and again, but overall, I'm thrilled with his progress.
• Cam is a breath of fresh air.  He managed to get everyone involved yesterday, and opened up the playbook like we haven't ever seen in Baltimore (At least not since Vinny).  Whens the last time we took so many shots down field?
• Joe Flacco is improving noticeably each week.  He repeatedly challenged the Houston DB's with deep passes, and boy, does he throw a beautiful deep ball.  His QB rating has been above 80 for four straight weeks, with three out of the past four weeks over 109.  His season QB  rating is now just under 80.  Yesterday was his best game in regards to getting everyone involved, completing 15 passes to seven different Ravens.
• Speaking of getting everyone involved, Todd Heap had his first big day of the season.  He had a team high five catches and caught TD's from Flacco and Troy Smith.
• Willis McGahee looked great yesterday.  Say what you will about his work ethic, but there is no doubt he is a gamer.  Moving forward he should be the quasi starter but they will continue to ride the hot back, as they should.
• Sure Ray Rice didn't have a great game yesterday with nine touches for 19 yards, but Willis was hot, so Rice's carries were limited.  I wouldn't read anything into this.  He is a huge part of our offense moving forward, and I believe he will be a pro bowl RB for the Ravens in the not too distant future.  
  
• I'm glad that the Skins signed MeAngelo Hall.  I don't think he is any more then an average corner at this point.  On top of that, I seriously doubt he'd fit in under the Harbaugh regime.
• It was great to see Samari Rolle out there yesterday.  He had a definite impact and made three tackles along with an INT.  At this point, factoring in chemistry, experience and play,  I'd rather have him over DeAngelo Hall for the remainder of the season, no contest.
• Does anyone miss Chris McAlsiter?  Depending on his cap number, he may have played his last game as a Raven.
• Speaking of last season as a Raven, Matt Stover's tenure as a Raven may be winding down.  13 Year Old Steven Hauschka drilled a 54 yarder, a kick Stover would not even attempt.  I'd still go with Stover for a 35 yard game winning field goal, but the writing is on the wall.  In today's ultra competitive NFL, your kicker must be able to make a 50 yard FG.  I'm not sure Hauschka is the answer long term, but Stover has become a liability in facets of the kicking game.
• One special teams player we won't have to worry about for a long time is Sam Koch.  No doubt he deserves pro bowl consideration this year.  
• What a beautiful thing to have a complete team. For years I was jealous of teams with franchise QB’s. Not any more. We finally have an offense to go with our all world defense. Stick around for a few more years Ray. I see another ring in your future. Like Harbaugh said…. Were trying to build a dynasty here.
• When your watching the Cardinal take on the 49er's tonight, make sure to keep your eye on Anquan Boldin.  If all goes well, he'll be wearing a purple jersey next year, and will be catching TD passes from Flacco for years to come.

I was expecting the announcement, and now its here.  C-Mac is out for the year.  Supposedly, the Ravens were considering Hall as a replacement, but he was only to be considered at Ozzie's mantra of "right player, right price."  I'm not a big MeAngelo Hall supporter but we could definitely use the depth for our possible playoff run.

All the speculation is for naught as NFL Network's Adam Schefter has reported this afternoon that Hall had reached a one-year agreement with the Washington Redskins.

I wonder how much this one cost Danny Boy.  So much for that idea....

McAlister Done for the Season

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Frank Walker - I have been defending this guy forever, it seems.  His play has steadily improved from the preseason.  Remember, he was brought here to be the dime back, not the starter.  Filling in as a starter though, he has done pretty well, and helped us roll off three straight victories.  Since C-Mac got burned for long touchdowns repeatedly against the Colts, how many big passing TD's have we given up?  I think the Frank Walker signing is starting to look like a huge pickup for the Ravens.  Where would we be without him?

John Harbaugh - Sure, he still makes the occasional gaffe on a challenge, but I think its clear to us all that Coach Harbaugh is going to be around for a long time.  His motivational and leadership skills are already in the top echelon of NFL coaches.  Mike Singletary anyone?

Cleveland Fans - If you want to be delusional about your team, go right ahead.  Nobody cares.  On the other hand, please stop making comments like, "you might have won the game but you have to live in Baltimore."  The thought that Cleveland, aka The Mistake By the Lake, is a better place to live then Baltimore is laughable.  My company is based near Cleveland, and I have been there many times.  Loyalty to your hometown is one thing, but Cleveland? Really?  I would go on but to do so diminishes Baltimore by comparison.

Ed Reed - Baltimore Beatdown poster Ravens, mentioned this in a fan post, but what Ed Reed is doing is going somewhat unnoticed.  He was forced to transform his game as result of his injury.  He is no longer as physical as he has been, but he has made up for it with smarts and leadership.  Not only is he always in position, he is also keeping our young, inexperienced guys in the right place as well.

Shaun Rodgers - He is a beast, when he is on the field, and has a chance to make the Pro Bowl.  Haloti has a chance to be the top player at his position for a long time.  For Dawgs By Nature to argue that he is far superior to Ngata is laughable.  I would bet that not one NFL GM would consider picking Rodgers over Ngata, even without the age difference.  *Mr.MaLOr, this illustrates "grasping at straws" by Browns fans*

Jason Brown - Dude deserves to be in the Pro Bowl this year.  Period.

Ray Rice - Last week I wrote that Willis should remain the starter, due to his experience and salary.  Scratch that thought.  This past game has unexpectedly thrust us into the Ray Rice era due to his stellar, all-around play.  Our unexpected introduction to the Joe Flacco era has been an unequivocal success, so I say roll with it.  Let the young guys grow together for the next, say, 8 years or so. 

Suggs - He needs to keep his mouth shut, that much is clear after the past few weeks spent prying his foot from his mouth.  On the other hand, if T-Sizzle keeps playing like he is, he can say whatever the hell he wants.  He's positioning himself to become a very rich man.  Can you say Dwight Freeney Money?

Ozzie -  Where is everyone who was calling for Ozzie's head this summer?  Whats that?  We found our QB of the future?  We might be set at RB/QB for the next 8 years?  Hopefully this past draft will silence his critics.  He one of the best in the biz, and has been since he came to Baltimore.

Joe Flacco - Do you think he'll have a Uni brow on his statue?

Sorry for the limited posting the last week or two, I had a lot going on with work. 

I want to make up for it by introducing a new feature.  I''ve been an avid Fantasy Football player for the past five years. This year I have three teams, and am currently in first place in two of the leagues (One League has 14 teams and one has 12 teams, none of that 8 team league B.S.).  If you don't believe me just ask Baltimore Beatdown poster  MaLor on Tuesday after I spank him this week  in our league(I can never pass up an opportunity to talk a lil' smack).

I'd like to start a new segment where readers can ask FF questions pertaining to trades, sit/start, waiver wire, Ravens players, roster evaluation or anything else you might need a second opinion on.  Other members can feel free to answer questions as well, because while I am a nice fantasy player, I'm not always right.  Hard to believe, I know, but true.   

If we get some good feedback we will make this a weekly feature for all the Fantasy players out there (who doesn't play at this point?).

I needed to take some time away after the past few games.  The last three weeks have been agonizingly painful to watch.  For us that bleed the Purple and Black, it's tough to be a Ravens fan.  It's not that we have the worst team.  That honor goes to teams like the Lions and Bengals, year in, year out.  They are awful and their fans know it.  Relative to expectations, a four win season may be seen as a success for them.  Not so much for the Ravens.  Our situation is far tougher on fans.  At least Lions and Bengals fans know better then to have hope.

Almost every year the Ravens show us enough to get excited.  As soon it looks like their turning the corner, the rug is pulled out from beneath them.  Us fans are crushed.  Again.

Being away from the team has allowed me to see our situation from a less biased perspective.  Things aren't ever as bad as they seem.  We have hope, which is more then many franchises can say .  

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I think we can all agree the Ravens have exceeded everyone's expectations and are now a legit contender to not only make the playoffs, but win a game or two.  I think we can also agree that the most glaring hole on this team is a big play WR.  Derrick Mason is playing at a Pro Bowl level, but to reach our full potential in Cam's offense, we need a strong, fast, big play receiver to pair next to him.  While Todd Heap helped fill that role somewhat in the past, he has been a non factor in the passing game this year.  Although we most likely will not make any additions until the off season, there is a chance Ozzie could decide that we are close enough to compete for a Super Bowl, and that he will explore adding a stud WR to put us over the top. 

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Looking ahead, how can we not be thrilled with were our Franchise is going?  I mean, less then a year ago we were a team in disarray, and many expected a multi year rebuilding plan to get back to contender status.  Not to say we are Super Bowl contenders now, but we are legit AFC North contenders, which no one short of Rexx predicted.  Once Ozzie gets Cam his big play receiver through free agency or the draft (possible options could be Boldin, Chad J, Roy Williams, or Draft) and our line has time to grow, I see a dominant offense in our future.  Between our talented young QB, RB's, and O-Line,  for the first time ever, I love where we are going on that side of the ball. 

Our defense will obviously need to restock, as Ray, Chris, Samari, Trevor etc. can't play forever, but I have total faith in Ozzie to rebuild the D quickly and efficiently.  I believe we are in a rare position to put a competitive squad out there even in so called "rebuilding years".   I feel we have one of the best, if not the best coaching staff in the league.  What team wouldn't kill to have Rex or Cam as their coordinators.  Sure, they will get head coaching gigs eventually but they will set the groundwork for years to come.  Add this to what we've seen out of John Harbaugh so far and the future looks very bright in Baltimore. 

Begin Rant
On a side note I find it laughable all the people who called in to talk radio this off season blaming Ozzie for the team, and calling for his job.  I even heard someone call a few days before week one, complaining that, "Billick is gone, and we still don't have a QB."  Ever thought of giving Flacco a chance to develop?  I feel Ozzie had a masterful summer picking up key pieces such as Lorenzo Neal, Willie Anderson, and Marquis Douglas.  I think some people love to play the blame game, since they hop right back on the bandwagon when things are going well.  I wish more people understood the game enough to know how lucky we are to have the management in place that we do, but I digress.  Sorry for the rant, but nothing pisses me off more the clueless fans more worried about placing blame then improving the team. (For clarification this is not direct at anyone here whatsoever)  End Rant

Quarterback – Joe Flacco showed the poise of a veteran in his first pro contest. He played a nearly flawless game, and the score would have represented this, if not for multiple drops and fumbles by the skill players. Cam Cameron deserves praise for his play calling, as he put the rookie Flacco in a great position to succeed throughout the entire game. He showed some exciting mobility for a player his size on his 38 yard TD run, and you have to love having a 6’6" QB out there. Granted, it was the Cincinnati D but you couldn’t have asked for more given the situation.
Grade – A-

Running Back – Willis McGahee was a game time decision and did not suit up. Ray Rice is a tough runner and picked up multiple first downs throughout the game. His drop of a potential touchdown, and his fumble when the Ravens were threatening in Bengal’s territory that was returned for a TD, are cause for concern, but overall he had a solid debut. The real star in the back field were the full backs. Lorenzo Neal punished the Bengal’s defenders, and LeRon McClain was a force with the rock. He had 86 yards on 19 carries and dominated the forth quarter with his power running style. With the return of Willis McGahee, the running game has the potential to be dominant this year.
Grade – B+

Receivers – Mark Clayton had an electrifying 41 Yard TD scamper for the Ravens first score, and showed flashes of the player we envisioned after his breakout sophmore season. Derrick Mason remains a very solid possession option, and the backs caught the ball well out of the back field. Todd Heap’s play was a major cause for concern. He had an awful fumble, and dropped an easy TD. He was shaken up when he took a hard hit late in the game, but Heap should be healthy enough to play next week. This group has potential but needs to help out their rookie Quarterback.
Grade – C+

Offensive Line: This group looked great in their first game together at their respective positions. The line gave the running backs a consistent push, and they opened up nice holes all game. They handled their most important task flawlessly, which was protecting their rookie quarterback, as Flacco barely was touched all game. Jared Gaither flashed massive potential with his seemingly effortless domination of the Bengal’s pass rush. If the lines keeps up this level of play, the Ravens could surprise a lot of people.
Grade – A

I heard this rumor on a Baltimore radio station by a so called "nba expert" so take it for what its worth.  They said Gil has left open the possibility to sign for less then $111 million if there is a player out there who Ernie and Gil feel can help them contend.  If a difference maker becomes available but would cost the full MLE, rumor is Gil would take even less to make it work under the luxury tax. 

I understand this is most likely BS, but it is an interesting scenario.  I for one, see an outside chance of this being true.  It's Gilbert, who knows?