NFL: Baltimore Ravens Review

2008-11-26T10:57:00.000-08:00

In case you don't want elections to be over, you can still vote for 2 Ravens players here!

2008-10-30T06:50:00.001-07:00

Get to the polls next Tuesday, November 4th, to vote!

2008-10-16T12:07:00.000-07:00

Next game: @ Miami Dolphins, Oct 19 1:00pm ET....Go Ravens!!!

2008-07-07T19:03:00.001-07:00

You know how some days you just don't want to know all the bad things that happened? That's when fluff news like this is just right. I had one of those days today. From the number of listed nicknames, I wasn't the only one. haha.

Brrr! Did I say Brrr? Brrr!

2008-02-14T13:53:00.000-08:00

Okay, I have only one thing to say about these photos of the Baltimore Ravens jumping into the Chesapeake Bay.

Holy crap that looks cold!

Reading about quarterbacks

2007-07-25T10:09:00.001-07:00

The news is a couple weeks old, but I find I enjoy reading about quarterbacks more than just about any other spot. That's where I'd have been in my younger days... if I could, you know, throw and run and stuff.

Anyway, here's a good write-up to fill the time from BaltimoreRavens.com on The Competition: Quarterbacks.

Some not-so-new new faces

2007-05-10T09:41:00.000-07:00

Well, the first rookie camp's done, and the roster is looking strong. Long-snapper Matt Katula, offensive tackle Mike Kracalik and linebacker Mike Smith have all been re-signed within a single week, which is great for the Baltimore Ravens' special teams line-up.

Eeny, meeny, miny, moe

2007-03-09T14:22:00.000-08:00

Will Newsome pick Lewis, Dillon, Rhodes, or Brown. Considering the salary cap has risen to $109 million, Newsome expects the price for their next starting running back will be ... well he didn't actually say, but assume that most of us could live very comfortably with 10% of the final amount.

2007-01-16T14:07:00.000-08:00

Jonathan Ogden, Offensive Tackle for the Baltimore Ravens, said there's a "possibility" that he may retire and end his NFL career. The cause? An injured toe.

THE RAVENS ARE HEADING FOR THE PLAYOFFS!

2006-12-18T11:39:00.000-08:00

The Baltimore Ravens are headed for the playoffs! After Steve McNair injuring his hand in the first quarter, relief quarterback Kyle Boller helped the Ravens officially clinch a playoff spot when he threw two touchdowns giving them a 27-17 victory against the Cleveland Browns. McNair said that he expects to play next Sunday, but my question is...Why? If you've already clinched a playoff spot, why risk further injury to your starting quarterback? Maybe in the last game of the season give him a few snaps to work any rust out, but let the man watch a game from the sidelines, backup quarterback Mark Boller has shown that he can hold down the fort.

BALTIMORE BREAKING RECORDS

2006-12-11T15:19:00.000-08:00

The Baltimore Ravens win this last weekend was the first time since 1995 that anyone has beat the Chiefs at home in December. It also put Baltimore in a better position to clinch the AFC North title. The Chiefs didn't give up too many big plays, but the ones that they did really hurt them. One was the 87-yart touchdown pass to Mark Clayton. Another was a 33-yard pass to Demetrius Williams in the 4th quarter. I'm rooting for the Ravens all the way. BTW, has anyone seen what SuperBowl tickets are going for?

MATT STOVER'S ATTEMPTED FIELDGOAL BREAKER

2006-12-04T12:04:00.000-08:00

So I know this happened a few weeks ago, but when Matt Stover's streak of consecutive successful field goals ended, was there any kicker left with a no attempts missed? Does some kicker come close every year to the record held by Mike Vanderjagt. If Stover hadn't missed that would have been a cool record to break for the Baltimore Ravens. Oh well...

TONIGHT'S BIG GAME

2006-11-30T10:56:00.000-08:00

If the Baltimore Ravens can win the AFC North title tonight, it will be their 2nd in an 11 year run. The Cinncinati Bengal's wide receiver, T.J. Houshmandzadeh, has claimed the Bengals are a better team, but just look who's got the better record. If the Ravens can beat the Bengals tonight, they will be able to focus their pursuit on securing one of the conference's two first round byes. It will also give them home field advantage during the playoff's.

Ravens Have Been Soaring

2006-11-16T14:57:00.000-08:00

I'm figuring the Baltimore Ravens will continue their flight, swooping over the hapless Atlanta Falcons when they get to M&T Bank Stadium Sunday. True, we had a bit of a scare from the Tennessee Titans last week, but Steve McNair kept his cool and the Ravens kept their three-game winning streak going.

Meanwhile, Atlanta's Michael Vick has had a couple of disheartening fumbles that have to be bugging him as much as they bugged Falcon fans. All in all, the Ravens seem poised to...well, they just seem poised.

We'll take an undramatic win.

2006-11-06T17:49:00.000-08:00

The Baltimore Ravens led all the way over the Cincinnati Bengals yesterday. The first couple of TDs came on the heels of turnovers, but there was some very fine offensive play, including Steve McNair passing for 245 yards. Cinci's QB, Carson Palmer, threw for 195 yards, but a couple of interceptions, one early and one late, kept the score in favor of the Ravens.

Nice to be two games up in our division here in mid-season.

They’re Not Really Saints, Ravens Aren’t Devils

2006-10-26T16:18:00.000-07:00

As Jamison Hensley reported in the Sun, the Ravens get to be the Bad Guys this coming weekend. That's because we're heading for New Orleans to play the the team that has the nation's emotional support as they and their city continue the struggle to bounce back from Hurricane Katrina.

"Everybody loves them, and deservedly so. You go in and beat them, you might as well go and beat up Mother Teresa - you know, 'You scums, what are you doing here?' " [Coach Brian] Billick said. "But that is what we are going to try to do, because there is a great deal of energy and emotion there right now."

Did you know the Ravens have six players who hail from the New Orleans area? David Pittmann, Ronnie Prude, Ed Reed, Dawan Landry, B.J. Sams, and, oh yeah, Steve McNair.

Tale of Two Steves

2006-10-15T19:18:00.000-07:00

Okay, the Ravens weren't destined for a flawless season, but I had hoped we got our token loss out the way last week and were going to handle the Carolina Panthers successfully even though they are tough. It was close (23-21), but when our QB Steve McNair was out of the game with a concussion and neck sprain in the first quarter, we were lucky to keep it that way. Especially because Panthers' QB Jake Delhomme started passing to Steve Smith every chance he got; they started the season out of whack without him, but Carolina has gotten in their groove ever since he's been in the lineup.

Good news is that our Steve's scans and X-rays were all negative. We've got a bye for Week 7, so rest up, McNair.

Baltimore Ravens Roll Up Their Sleeves to give back!

2006-10-05T14:09:00.000-07:00

The Baltimore Ravens admirably give back with consistency! Each week during the season, a Baltimore-area high school football coach is honored by the Ravens. The coach who has the most significant impact on his althetes will recieve a $2,000 donation for the schools football program, a specially-designed hat and several other prizes. The cool thing about this generous act from the Ravens, is that they've been doing it for TEN YEARS now! Whoa, thats big!

Baltimore Ravens Streak Past San Diego Chargers

2006-10-01T14:54:00.000-07:00

Nice to finally get back to blogging about my Baltimore Ravens after a summer break I didn't really want to take! But hey, the Ravens have been doing great without any help from me! How about that 4 and 0 win streak!

It was nice to boot San Diego off the undefeated list, although their streak was all of two games. Our guys made it dramatic, letting them hang onto the lead well past the 2-minute warning! Way to go Steve McNair! But that's why the NFL games keep me glued to my screen, like I will be when we play the Denver Broncos on Monday night (the 9th)--or better yet, why I want Baltimore Ravens tickets to be there in M&T Bank Stadium when the Carolina Panthers come to town!

Steve McNair Joins the Baltimore Ravens

2006-06-12T15:04:00.000-07:00

They took their time getting the deal in place, but Steve McNair is gonna be a Raven, not a Titan. He was the quarterback who took Tennessee to their only Super Bowl. Does he have a shot at doing that for the Ravens? For sure he has a chance to get us past the 6 and 10 mark.

San Francisco Courts Ravens Safety

2006-05-15T17:34:00.000-07:00

The San Francisco 49ers have lured Chad Williams off the Baltimore Ravens to fill their rather large hole at the safety position. They failed to pick anyone for the position in the NFL Draft so they had to turn to a free agent signing to meet their needs. Hopefully this is just a precursor to some of the same from the Baltimore Ravens. Who will we sign this summer?

Let’s Do It! Let’s run and Hide!

2006-04-18T18:27:00.000-07:00

If you look on the Baltimore Ravens official site you can see a breakdown of the draft prospects listed by position and evaluated by their staff writers. I like reading all this stuff but enough is enough. There is only so much speculating I can handle and I’ve had it. I think I am going to put my head in a hole and not come out until the draft is upon us. Good night all!

Could you guys at least put your bottles in the trash?

2006-03-27T20:26:00.000-08:00

The Men’s Final Four are official. LSU, UCLA, George Mason and the Florida Gators will be competing for the championship. Of course all of my picks got eliminated a long time ago. I had hoped to see Texas advance further but I am just glad it’s going o be over really. Why? My couch can’t take another weekend of abusive bouncing and beer spilling. We got pretty rowdy last weekend and nobody stayed to clean up.

Ravens Fan Sees Texans Prospects as Bleek

2006-03-10T10:41:00.000-08:00

With the NFL Draft approaching many are wondering if the Houston Texans are going to take Reggie Bush. I am of the opinion that they would be making a mistake to take him because they have just signed a big deal with running back Domanick Davis. Bush would be underused on a team that has a ton of building to do and a host of problems I can’t even go into here.

Rock and Roll and the Super Bowl

2006-02-10T15:48:00.000-08:00

I finally decided before the game that I was not going to take sides at all when watching the Super Bowl. I just wanted to enjoy gridiron football and stay loyal to my Baltimore Ravens. The game was great and the halftime show proved why the Rolling Stones are still selling so many concert tickets all around the world.

Protesters Steal Olympic Torch in Transit

2006-01-23T14:51:00.000-08:00

Protesters of the globalization movement briefly nabbed the Olympic Torch from runner Eleanora Berlanda as she carried it through northern Italy on Monday. Berlanda admitted the protesters were aggressive but not towards her. It appeared that they just wanted to steal the torch and not to hurt anyone.

Ben and Eli in Love

2006-01-21T21:34:00.000-08:00

There are rumors that Pittsburgh Steelers rookie quarterback Ben Roethlisberger is dating Natalie Gulbis, an LPGA golfer. My favorite gossip is the rumor that Eli Manning exchanged digits with Lindsay Lohan. Eli and Ben are such sweet men; I hope they find happiness with their lovely lady friends.

The Stats Don’t Lie

2006-01-09T16:37:00.000-08:00

The Baltimore Ravens season fell below expectations and was disappointing for us fans. I want to point out though that the Ravens broke a lot of records and racked up some pretty impressive statistics in 2005. Todd Heap gained more receiving yards this season than any other player in Ravens history with 2,893 total yards. He was third in the running for the most catches with 75. Kyle Boller tied for second most completions in franchise history with 335. Todd Heap and Derrick Mason were first in the NFL for wide receiver and tight end combos with 161 catches combined. Looking at the stats I see a Ravens team that can build on their performance and shine brightly in 2006.

Boller Makes Mistakes We Can’t Afford

2006-01-02T14:43:00.000-08:00

This Baltimore Ravens season has been disappointing at best. Kyle Boller is not a bad quarterback but he makes mistakes and doesn’t complete enough passes. I can’t say he is the sole reason for our poor play this year but the team does need a strong leader. Kyle Boller is not a bad leader but as we saw in their last game of the season, he makes bad decisions. With minutes left in our game against the Cleveland Browns, Kyle Boller threw into double coverage and the ball was inevitably intercepted and the Browns won the game. Our whole season was summed up in that one bad move.

Boller Not a Bad Guy

2005-12-27T16:51:00.000-08:00

The Baltimore Ravens shined brightly against the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday. They outscored the opposition 30-23. Kyle Boller topped his grand performance against the Packers one week ago and that’s saying something. He completed three touchdown passes, threw for a total of 289 yards and the only negative moment of the game was a fourth quarter interception. There has been a lot of bad talk about Boller since the game against Denver and many people jumped on the “get rid of Boller” band-wagon. Hopefully the last few games have shown those people that he is a good quarterback and not the sole reason for our mediocre season.

Ravens Leave Packers Behind

2005-12-20T16:43:00.000-08:00

This Monday was not a good day for Brett Favre and the Green Bay Packers. The Baltimore Ravens blew them out 48-3. There was no question as to who would be victorious from the first quarter on. The Ravens defense was on their game that night and allowed the Green Bay Packers very few yards. This was possibly Kyle Boller’s best game of record and this was our highest scoring game historically. Todd Heap was Boller’s go to guy with 110 yards and two catches for touchdowns. Monday night match ups aren’t usually so unbalanced but the Ravens had no trouble dominating the Packers offense.

Ravens Put up a Good Fight

2005-12-12T15:23:00.000-08:00

The Denver Broncos offense had a below average game against the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday, yet they were effective enough to secure the win. The Ravens defense proved they could dominate a team as good as the Broncos and almost pulled it off. But in a series of wild plays the Broncos sealed the Ravens fate. This is the first time in nine years that the Broncos have beat the Ravens in their home town Invesco Field and they didn’t give it up without a fight. But the Broncos defense shined at all the right moments and won 12-10. I was surprised by how physical the game became and at the Ravens ability to stop our running game.

Boller Performs Flawless Under Pressure

2005-12-05T15:33:00.000-08:00

The Baltimore Ravens won against the Houston Texans on Sunday 16-15. Kyle Boller put up a great fight against the boys from Houston. His pass to Clayton in the final seconds was the miracle the Ravens were hoping for. It allowed a 38-yard field goal by Matt Stover that won us the game when things were really looking bleak for this team. We pulled it off and beat a team we had no business losing to. Boller had never brought his Ravens team back from a deficit to win in the final seconds of the game before and he performed like a pro.

Ravens Comeback Not Enough for Win

2005-11-30T15:17:00.000-08:00

The Baltimore Ravens played surprisingly well against the Cincinnati Bengals in their 42-29 loss. Jamal Lewis had over one hundred yards rushing. He finally found the holes he had been missing all year and our offense looked good in the third and fourth quarters. Kyle Boller kept handing Lewis the ball in the first quarter even though he couldn’t get any yards, but Boller’s persistence (and good coaching) led to some great running plays in the second half. The Bengals scored quickly on short drives and lead 31-0 at one point. The Ravens defense is to blame primarily for the Bengals lead, but until the third quarter the offense wasn’t doing much better.

What do we need to do to beat the Texans this Sunday?

Ravens Steal Win Over Pittsburgh

2005-11-22T09:12:00.000-08:00

The Baltimore Ravens exacted their revenge on the Pittsburgh Steelers for beating them only a few weeks ago. Just as the Steelers had done, the Ravens pulled out a last minute field goal to win the day. In overtime Matt Stover came through with a 44 yard kick to break the Ravens losing streak. We broke the Steelers four game winning streak but it won’t be enough to get us to the playoffs this year. The Ravens defensive pass rush looked great though, breaking the Steelers offensive line like it was made of crackers. The Steelers crumbling offense allowed Tommy Maddox to be sacked six times. Bart Scott was responsible for two of them and he got a fumble recovery as well. If we can play this well against the Steelers why have we lost 7 games?

Interceptions Plague the Ravens

2005-11-16T11:32:00.000-08:00

Monday night was stressful for Dallas Cowboys fans. Julius Jones was playing but not starting and the Eagles had our offense pegged. We couldn’t get any third down conversions. After the half we couldn’t get a running game going nor could Drew Bledsoe get enough protection to find a receiver. In the last three minutes of the game Terry Glenn scored a TD. Trailing by 6 with minutes left, Roy Williams picked off bad lob by McNabb and stole the game for the Cowboys. McNabb suffered a possible season ending injury and the Boys are pretty much playoff material now.

Glass Toe

2005-06-14T07:49:00.000-07:00

Deion Sanders passed his physical and re-signed with the Ravens. This soon to be Hall of Famer is now expected to attend the Ravens mini-camps soon. He would have been to earlier work out sessions but his toe prevented that from happening. For as long as I know Deion to play he has always had problems with his toe. I doubt Sanders’ toe will let him participate in some contact drills when training camp comes around. His toe is like glass.

Corner Tandem

2005-06-01T14:54:00.000-07:00

The best tandem of corner backs in the league right now has to belong to the Baltimore Ravens. The starting corners they have can cover, play bump and run, they can play zone, and they can come up and make the tackle behind the line of scrimmage. Chris McAlister and newly acquired Samari Rolle will cause a lot of problems for opposing offenses.

Mo' Money

2005-05-29T13:46:00.000-07:00

With out a doubt, Ray Lewis is the best at his position and is worth every penny of money they give to him, but just recently, Lewis said he wanted a $50 million dollar signing bonus. Sorry Ray that is just being a little greedy there.

The Ravens still have to re-sign other key players such as tight end Todd Heap, break-out safety Ed Reed, and running back Jamal Lewis. Does Ray Lewis really need a $50 million dollar signing bonus? That is just too much money. He is one of the best and dominates always, but what ever happen to taking one for the team. And why can’t he be happy with the money he has?

Desicion Time

2005-05-24T13:28:00.000-07:00

What is a team supposed to do with a player who has some troubled history that follows him? Well that is the case with Baltimore Ravens running back Jamal Lewis. Lewis will be a free agent at the end of the 2005-06 season.

The question in the front office that stands is whether to give Lewis a contract extension, which could be a risk or play it safe by throwing a franchise tag on him. I just don’t know if Lewis is worth a singing bonus that the team could use on rookie draft picks or a free agent next year.

Linebacker Shuffle

2005-05-18T14:25:00.000-07:00

from Foxsports.com

The team waived Pro Bowl OLB Peter Boulware, a move not totally unexpected. Boulware was expected to make around $6 million in 2005, but didn't play last season because of knee and toe injuries. The Ravens didn't believe he could recover 100 percent. They tried to restructure his contract and apparently wanted to make him a situational player, but Boulware wanted to play full time for another team.

The move puts additional pressure on Adalius Thomas and rookie Dan Cody. Thomas was expected to play on running situations, but he'll now become full time. The game plan for Cody was to bring him along slowly, but the pace has to quicken now because the Ravens need a pass rusher to complement Terrell Suggs on the other side. Look for Cody to become the third down pass rushing specialist by the middle of the season.

As Expected

2005-05-11T10:40:00.000-07:00

from foxsports.com

Clayton performed like an old pro at the Ravens rookie camp. His routes were crisp and he caught every pass thrown to him. He got in and out of breaks and cuts with relative ease. Of course, he was competing against other rookies, but it was still an impressive start. Clayton did have a slight hamstring pull, but nothing that concerned the Ravens.

At this time of season, rookies are still going through an adjustment in their training regiments. They really have rested their bodies since they began training for their last season in college. The Ravens expect him to participate in several offseason minicamps, and to be at full tilt during training camp.

A+

2005-04-27T16:45:00.000-07:00

Just look at these draft choices... Good job Ravens!

1-22 M. Clayton WR Oklahoma

2-53 D. Cody DE Oklahoma

2-64 A. Terry T Syracuse

4-124 J. Brown C North Carolina

5-158 J. Green RB Montana

6-213 D. Anderson QB Oregon State

7-234 M. Smith LB Texas Tech

Schedule

2005-04-13T11:37:00.000-07:00

Here is a look at the up coming schedule in the 2005 season for your Baltimore Ravens

PRESEASON
Sat., Aug. 13 at Atlanta Falcons Georgia Dome 8 p.m.
Sat., Aug. 20 PHILADELPHIA EAGLES M&T BANK STADIUM 8 p.m.
Fri., Aug. 26 at New Orleans Louisiana Superdome 8 p.m.
Thu., Sept. 1 WASHINGTON REDSKINS M&T BANK STADIUM 8 p.m.

REGULAR SEASON
Sun., Sept. 11 INDIANAPOLIS COLTS M&T BANK STADIUM 8:30 p.m. (ESPN)
Sun., Sept. 18 at Tennessee Titans The Coliseum 1 p.m.

Sun., Sept. 25 BYE

Sun., Oct. 2 NEW YORK JETS M&T BANK STADIUM 4:05 p.m.
Sun., Oct. 9 at Detroit Lions Ford Field 1 p.m.
Sun., Oct. 16 CLEVELAND BROWNS M&T BANK STADIUM 1 p.m.
Sun., Oct. 23 at Chicago Bears Soldier Field 4:15 p.m.
Mon., Oct. 31 at Pittsburgh Steelers Heinz Field 9 p.m. (ABC)

Sun., Nov. 6 CINCINNATI BENGALS M&T BANK STADIUM 1 p.m.
Sun., Nov. 13 at Jacksonville Jaguars ALLTEL Stadium 1 p.m.
Sun., Nov. 20 PITTSBURGH STEELERS M&T BANK STADIUM 4:15 p.m.
Sun., Nov. 27 at Cincinnati Bengals Paul Brown Stadium 1 p.m.

Sun., Dec. 4 HOUSTON TEXANS M&T BANK STADIUM 1 p.m.
Sun., Dec. 11 at Denver Broncos INVESCO Field at Mile High 4:15 p.m.
Mon., Dec. 19 GREEN BAY PACKERS M&T BANK STADIUM 9 p.m. (ABC)
Sun., Dec. 25 MINNESOTA VIKINGS M&T BANK STADIUM 8:30 p.m. (ESPN)

Sun., Jan. 1 at Cleveland Browns Cleveland Browns Stadium 1 p.m.

Taylor to remain backup to Jamal Lewis

2005-03-30T15:30:00.000-08:00

by the Associated Press, from ESPN.com

The Baltimore Ravens have matched the one-year, $3 million offer sheet running Chester Taylor signed last week with the Cleveland Browns.

The Ravens had until Wednesday to match the offer for free agent Taylor, the primary backup to Pro Bowler Jamal Lewis, but opted to act Monday.

The deal includes a $2 million base salary, a $1 million signing bonus and a pair of $100,000 incentive clauses.

"This shows the continued commitment of Steve Bisciotti to win and the flexibility of our cap that we can retain a player like Chester," Baltimore general manager Ozzie Newsome said. "Over the last three years, Chester has been productive both when spelling Jamal Lewis and when he has started for him. Keeping Chester makes us a stronger and deeper team."

Taylor, slated to compete with Lee Suggs for the Browns' starting running back job, would receive $100,000 if he makes the Pro Bowl and $100,000 if he rushes for 1,000 yards. It's unlikely that those incentives will be triggered in 2005 because of Lewis' presence. Taylor rushed for 714 yards and two touchdowns last season while catching 30 passes.

"He looks forward to helping the Ravens compete for a Super Bowl ring in 2005," agent Ken Sarnoff said of Taylor.

Taylor's contract will count approximately $3 million against the Ravens' 2005 salary cap. He is still slated to be an unrestricted free agent in 2006, when he would be free to sign with any franchise. Taylor was drafted in the sixth round out of Toledo in 2002.

If the Ravens hadn't opted matched the offer, they would have received the Browns' sixth-round draft pick as compensation.

Key Issues

2005-02-14T09:56:00.000-08:00

from Foxsports.com

Former defensive coordinator Mike Nolan couldn't reach cornerback Chris McAlister, but the Ravens are hoping his replacement Rex Ryan can. McAlister, a Pro Bowl player the past two seasons, didn't play particularly well last season, and his production fell off after he signed a new contract after a long, bitter dispute. The only other Ravens coaches who could motivate McAlister were the Bengals' Marvin Lewis and Donnie Henderson, who is now the Jets' defensive coordinator. Ryan, the team's former defensive line coach, has a reputation of being a players' coach. He has had success coaching a position that traditionally has some of league's laziest and most egotistical players. The Ravens hope Ryan can somehow reach McAlister, who, in top form, might just be the best cornerback in the league.

Moss to Baltimore?

2005-02-02T15:19:00.000-08:00

The hard truth about the Ravens is that their offense has seen better days. If the Ravens expect to ever make it back to the Super bowl, they will need some more weapons on offensive to help get them there.

And what most people have been hearing is that Randy Moss could be a possibility, which is not a bad idea (from one purple uniform to another). Seriously, if this was to happen the Ravens still wouldn’t get the numbers they want. They need dynamic offensive line-men that can give Boller time to throw the ball. Unless he is just used to handing it off to Jamal Lewis.

Goodbye Nolan, Singletary

2005-01-23T13:29:00.000-08:00

Was Nolan that big of a factor For the Baltimore Ravens defense?

Did Nolan have a part in the development of saftey Ed Reed?

Are the Baltimore Ravens Linebacking core the best because of Nolan?

Nolan had been the defensive Coordinator for the Ravens for the past two season. The Ravens defense has always been top 10 for the past 5 years. I think Nolan had is hand in on the development of certain players, but I don't think he was the x-factor, that title belongs to a man named Ray Lewis.

As far as Ed Reed goes, I think through Nolan coaching ability he can take the credit for the development of Reed, after all Reed was his draft choice.

Then there is the best group of line backers in league that are indirectly the best of because Nolan. Give credit to Nolan for picking x-all-pro Singletary for coaching the line backers. Singletary is where the credit really goes too for the Ravens Line backers of the past two years.

Lets start anew

2005-01-05T10:33:00.000-08:00

Matt Cavanaugh the Ravens offensive coordinator was let go this past Monday sending a message to the team that the offensive in 2005 well be revamped.

Kyle Boller had a decent outing this year, but with the release of Cavanuagh maybe Boller will get some actually targets, with the exception of Todd Heap, to throw to next year.

The Ravens finished 9 - 7.

5 to Pro Browl

2004-12-22T17:06:00.000-08:00

By Adam H. Beasley, from the official site of the Baltimore Raves

Ravens sacks leader Terrell Suggs earned his first trip to the Pro Bowl Wednesday, where he will join four teammates that represented the AFC a year ago.

Suggs, fellow linebacker Ray Lewis, offensive tackle Jonathan Ogden, safety Ed Reed and cornerback Chris McAlister were all named to the 2004 Pro Bowl.

When head coach Brian Billick announced the selections to his team following its Wednesday walk-through, Suggs got the biggest cheer.

“I didn’t think I was going to go this year, for the simple fact that I didn’t go last year,” Suggs said. “I thought it was just a popularity contest, and I didn’t think I was that popular yet. I get to go over there and play with Ray and Ed and Chris and JO and the other Pro Bowl players, so I’m happy.”

Suggs has recorded 9½ sacks this year, tied for third in the AFC. He has also become a complete player in his second NFL season, playing the entire year as an outside linebacker.

Suggs won Defensive Rookie of the Year honors a year ago, but played solely in passing situations for most of the season. This year, he has 61 tackles, recovered two fumbles and forced another.

For Ogden and Lewis, an invitation to the Pro Bowl has become an annual tradition. Ogden is making his eighth consecutive visit, a team record, while Lewis is going for the seventh time.

“We like to refer to it as the Jonathan Ogden Invitation, as opposed to the Pro Bowl,” said Ravens coach Brian Billick. “As we know, the Pro Bowl also has sort of a cumulative presence, which is right, to a degree. [We are] well represented.”

Ogden earned a berth despite missing four games due to various injures. In the 10 games he has started, the Ravens have averaged 141.9 rushing yards per game. In those he has missed, they have gained just 95.8 per contest.

Lewis again leads the Ravens in tackles with 184, has recovered two fumbles and forced another. While Lewis has not made as many game-changing plays as he did a year ago, he has consistently played at a high level, helping the Ravens rank sixth in total defense and fourth in points allowed per game.

“It’s the same feeling now [as it was the first time],” Lewis said. “Every year you go out and you always want the respect of your peers, the respect of your fans, the respect of your coaches and opposing coaches. Anytime you gain that respect from all three aspects, you have to be overwhelmed.”

Reed, who leads the league with eight interceptions and is a candidate for NFL Defensive Player of the Year, and McAlister are both making their second visit to Honolulu.

Reed also has two defensive touchdowns, including the NFL-record 106-yard interception return against the Browns on national television.

McAlister’s stats are not as gaudy as some of his teammates, but that is due in large part to the fact that teams do not throw on him very often. McAlister has an interception, two fumble recoveries, seven pass defenses and 39 tackles.

The corner also has a pair of defensive touchdowns, but he was not sure if that was enough to get picked.

“I didn’t know. I didn’t think so,” McAlister said. “You never know what’s going to happen. It is what it is. You see guys that get in, they stay in. It’s hard to kick guys out.”

Kicker Matt Stover was selected as a first alternate. Stover, a Pro Bowler in 2000, ranks second in the AFC in field goal percentage (92.9) and third in points (104).

Suggs was interviewed by NFL Network’s Rich Eisen shortly after he got the news, which will appear on “Total Access” at 7 p.m. Wednesday. Also, Lewis will appear on ESPN’s NFL Pro Bowl special Wednesday night.

PATRIOTS GAME

2004-11-30T13:49:00.000-08:00

By Adam H. Beasley, from Ravens.com

After standing toe-to-toe with the defending World Champions for 30 minutes, the Ravens saw first-hand what is needed to take the next step.

In the Patriots’ 24-3 home victory Sunday, as Gillette Stadium was swamped in a heavy rain storm, the Patriots’ momentum overtook Baltimore like a tidal wave.

New England capitalized on good defense, a big turnover and made virtually no mistakes in the game’s final half to win for the 17th straight time at home.

“We just clearly weren’t a good enough football team today to come in and challenge the World Champions,” said Ravens coach Brian Billick, whose team dropped to 7-4 with the loss. “We’ve got five weeks to…improve to the point that we can come in here and play with a championship-caliber team.”

With a top-heavy AFC, the Ravens need to play at a playoff level for the next five weeks if they want to return to the postseason for the fourth time in five years.

The loss put Baltimore three full games behind Pittsburgh in the AFC North with five to play, making a Wild Card berth the most likely path to the playoffs. Currently, the Ravens are tied with Denver for the conference’s 6th-best record, but only six make the playoffs.

If they do return to the postseason, they will face teams like the Patriots (10-1), who minimize their opponent’s strengths and exploit any weaknesses.

The second half of Sunday’s game was a perfect case study. By most accounts, the two teams played an even first half, but in the third quarter, New England hit on all cylinders.

The Patriots scored on three consecutive possessions – two long Adam Vinatieri field goals and a 1-yard touchdown run by Corey Dillon – to stake to a 14-point lead.

A comeback of that magnitude, against that team, in that stadium, would be difficult for any team.

But for a Ravens outfit that was without three offensive starters – including two Pro Bowlers – it was a task too tall.

Right tackle Orlando Brown was a game-day scratch due to a lingering knee injury, and so he joined running back Jamal Lewis and tight end Todd Heap, both of whom have ankle ailments, on the inactive list.

Without these players, the Ravens’ offense stalled in the sludge, generating just 29 yards and no points in the second half.

“We really couldn’t get that good drive going,” said quarterback Kyle Boller, who threw his first interception in a month and lost a fumble that resulted in a Patriots touchdown. “It was pretty much a mud fest out there, in the middle [of the field].”

The torrential rain storm – which converted Foxboro into a Woodstock-like mud pit – surely limited both teams’ ability to throw the ball, as neither Boller nor Tom Brady went over 200 yards or threw a touchdown.

When the elements are at their worst, teams rely on their running backs the most. With Lewis, the NFL’s rushing champion a year ago, sidelined, Chester Taylor filled in admirably against a stout Patriots defense. However, he was out-dueled by Dillon, who went over 100 yards against his longtime rivals for the first time in three years.

The former Bengals back churned out 123 yards and the score on 30 carries, with the bulk of his production coming in the decisive second half.

“They came out and executed their game-plan in the second half,” said defensive end Anthony Weaver. “Unfortunately, we weren’t able to execute ours.

“We’ve got to play a 60-minute game if you play a team like that,” Weaver added. “We didn’t do that today.”

The Ravens’ defense had the disadvantage of fighting uphill for the first three drives of the second half.

New England took over on its own 41, 48 and Baltimore’s 48-yard line on those possessions. Thus, they had to go only 30 yards on each of those drives to move into scoring range. In a game that field goals were as valuable as touchdowns, that field position was crucial.

Conversely, the Ravens were never able to get out of their own end. New England protected its banged up secondary by giving the Ravens the short passes, but doubling up on the intermediate and long routes.

That’s what fooled Boller in the first quarter, when he threw his first interception in 124 attempts. Cornerback Randall Gay, who was thrust into action due to injuries to the Patriots’ top three corners, stepped in front of a sideline pass and made the pick.

“We’re not built to come out in three-wides and four-wides all the time to take advantage of some of those mismatches,” said Ravens offensive coordinator Matt Cavanaugh. “Until we turned the ball over, it was a relative close game.”

Boller’s second turnover – a fumble on a sack that was recovered by Jarvis Green in the end zone – gave the Patriots a 24-3 lead and put the game away.

With the loss, the Ravens’ margin for error the rest of the way is tiny. They have three home games against sub-.500 teams, but 10 wins will not necessarily get them into the postseason.

They might have to beat either Indianapolis or Pittsburgh on the road just to earn the conference’s sixth playoff spot.

“We’ve got five more weeks left and anything can happen,” said cornerback Gary Baxter. “Our hopes are still high. We’ve just got to take care of business."

Reeds Ability

2004-11-08T10:32:00.000-08:00

By Adam H. Beasley, from NFL.com

Ed Reed took a special game and made it unforgettable.

The walking highlight reel of a safety made the Ravens’ biggest play at the most critical time, returning a last-second interception for a touchdown to preserve the Ravens’ 27-13 victory over Cleveland.

Don’t let the score fool you. It may have been the closest 14-point game in team history.

Down a touchdown with less than 30 seconds remaining, the Browns (3-5) had the ball on the Ravens’ (5-3) 5-yard line, facing second-and-goal.

Browns quarterback Jeff Garcia, who had rallied his team and put them in a position to win the game, saw tight end Aaron Shea streaking across the middle of the field at the goal line.

He threw a perfect pass, but Shea, who was covered closely by Ray Lewis, had it bounce off his hands and into the grasp of Reed. An NFL-record 106 yards later, Reed was celebrating in the end zone. His play saved the game, and possibly the Ravens’ playoff hopes.

“It was definitely a blessing and a miracle if you knew what happened the whole play,” said Reed. “Ray tells me where I’m supposed to [be]…to get the ball. It was a great tip by Ray, and I just caught it.”

Reed could have downed the ball and the Ravens would have won just the same, but he saw an opening on the right side, beat the Browns to the edge and outran everyone to the end zone.

According to cornerback Gary Baxter, since Reed decided to take it out, he sure had better go the whole way.

“He scared me a little bit,” Baxter said with a laugh. “I wanted him to take a knee, but he took it out. If he had dropped that ball, I would have skinned him alive.”

Thanks to a sterling special teams performance in the game’s final 59 minutes, 46 seconds, the Ravens were in position to win, even if it was by the skin of their teeth.

The unit had bad start – giving up a 93-yard return for a touchdown to Richard Alston on the game’s opening kickoff – but finished strong and kept the Ravens in the game.

Kicker Matt Stover kicked four field goals – all in the first half – and punter Dave Zastudil had the play of the game, until Reed stole the show.

With the Ravens trailing 13-12 early in the fourth quarter, Zastudil placed a punt inside the Browns’ 5-yard line. Playmaker B.J. Sams made a diving save, throwing the ball out of the end zone before he or it hit the ground, and Chad Williams downed it at the 1.

The Browns challenged the ruling, but it stood.

On the ensuing possession, the Ravens’ defense was tenacious, allowing just one yard on three plays, and the Browns had to punt from their own end zone.

Then, with the pressure of the end line behind him and the Ravens’ punt block team closing around him, Browns punter Derrick Frost had the ultimate shank – kicking it just seven yards.

Three Jamal Lewis runs later, the Ravens were in the end zone. Lewis, who was playing in his first game in nearly a month, lowered his shoulder on third-and-goal from the 2 and powered his way in.

“It was nice to get the ball three times in a row,” said Lewis, who had 81 yards on 22 carries. “It showed we have confidence in the run. We punched it in the end zone.”

After a two point conversion – in which Kyle Boller connected on a perfectly-thrown jump-ball to Clarence Moore – the Ravens put the game in the hands of their defense, which turned in another stellar game.

Entering the game, the Ravens’ defense ranked first in the NFL in scoring (14.3 points per game). They allowed 13.

They ranked seventh in the NFL in yards allowed (290). They gave up 217.

“The thing we do is trust,” Lewis said. “We really just trust each other. That’s really our philosophy. It doesn’t get any more complicated than that.”

With each passing game, Boller earns more trust from his teammates. He turned in another solid game that will never get the headlines, but put his team in position to win.

Boller completed 57 percent of his passes for 142 yards, but did not throw an interception for the fifth time in eight games and led the Ravens on three consecutive scoring drives to end the first half.

“You want to score touchdowns, but to get those three points is awful huge,” Boller said. “We kind of started out a little bit slow, but as the game went, we went better.”

The same can be said about their season. Since a season-opening loss to Cleveland, the Ravens have won five of their last seven contests, even with Pro Bowlers Todd Heap and Jonathan Ogden missing multiple games.

At the halfway mark, they trail Pittsburgh (7-1) by two games, but with a head-to-head still looming next month, the Ravens want to stay within shouting distance to make a move when their principals return.

“Hopefully we just keep going,” said head coach Brian Billick. “Hopefully we don’t have to do that too much longer.”

I must say that Ed Reed and Ben Roethlisberger are should have been the first two draft picks.

Ed Reed has opened up many eyes as rookie. Weather it is on defensive or on special teams. Reed is playing with flashes of pro bowl ability.

Expect great things from this kid.

Starting Fresh

2004-10-18T07:22:00.000-07:00

By Adam H. Beasley, NFL.com

Brian Billick called it a new season.

But for Edwin Mulitalo, it was the difference between sardines and caviar.

“It’s like going from the Holiday Inn to the Ritz,” the Ravens’ starting left guard said after Sunday afternoon’s practice, their first in more than a week. “This is what it’s all about. It’s like you have brand new shoes. You don’t want to mess them up, but you definitely have to break them in and make them feel comfortable.

”While every first practice after a bye brings a little extra jolt of adrenaline, nothing in the team’s nine-year history has been like this. The Ravens moved into their brand new, 200,000 square-foot training facility this past week, and Sunday, practiced for the first time on their recently-planted outdoor fields.

Players toured their new home Saturday afternoon, and following a short meeting, nearly a dozen Ravens camped out in their lounge, playing pool and watching college football.

Owner Steve Bisciotti wanted the $31 million building to be a place where players wanted to work and play, and they were back in their rec room before Sunday morning meetings.

Cornerback Chris McAlister and wide receiver Clarence Moore shot pool, while safety Chad Williams hung out by the team’s personalized pinball machine.

The newness of the Ravens’ surroundings created renewed excitement about the season in general, Billick said after the team’s hour-long practice Sunday.

“This all feels new, so it does feel like a new season,” Billick said. “Obviously, there’s some familiarity. We’ve already gotten over that. It’s not like we’re literally having to start over, but the energy, in the sense that it’s a new season, that’s a good thing.”

For Travis Taylor and Mike Flynn, returning to the practice field Sunday meant that their seasons could start in earnest. Flynn, the Ravens’ center, has missed the entire season thus far due to a broken clavicle, while Taylor has been held out since the season opener with a groin injury.

However, both players practiced Sunday and are expected to play when the Ravens host Buffalo next week.

“I’m definitely ready,” said Taylor, who worked some with the scout team last week, but is preparing as if he will play this week. “We haven’t talked about [my role].

It’s like Brian says. We can never have too many good receivers. I’m not worried about that. When I get my chance to go back out there and play, that’s what I’m going to do.”It’s been a long road back for Flynn, who injured his shoulder during a blocking drill in training camp. After weeks of rehabilitation, he was back on the field on Sunday.

The same could not be said for tight end Todd Heap, the Pro Bowler who has missed three games due to a sprained ankle. Heap worked out separately Sunday, but Billick would not rule him out for the Bills game.

“Our plan is to run him through, as we did today, and to see how he comes out on Wednesday,” Billick said. “Todd’s the one that I’m least optimistic about, but I don’t know that yet. We’ll have to see what Wednesday shows.”

Ravens Tame Cats

2004-09-27T11:58:00.000-07:00

From the Ranves offical website

CINCINNATI – To beat the new-look Bengals, the Ravens once again relied on their Old School persona.

Running back Jamal Lewis was dominant. The Ravens’ defense was stingy. And the special teams were special, all contributing to a 23-9 victory at Paul Brown Stadium.
Lewis, the 2003 rushing champion, capped a historic day with a 75-yard touchdown run midway through the fourth quarter, blowing open a close game.

Lewis broke through a slow start to the 2004 season by churning out 186 yards on 18 carries Sunday, putting him over 5,000 yards in his young career.

Lewis, 25, is the fifth-fastest to that milestone; he also tied an NFL record by eclipsing 100 yards seven straight times against the Bengals.

For the Bengals, who surrendered 254 rushing yards Sunday, Lewis looked like he moved at the speed of light.

His touchdown run could not have come at a better time. Shayne Graham kicked his third field goal of the game to draw the Bengals to within eight points with 9 minutes, 3 seconds remaining in regulation.

But on the first play of the Ravens’ ensuing possession, Lewis broke through a trio of arm-tackles and sprinted to the end zone. In fact, he was so far clear of the Bengals’ defense, he slowed down and trotted for the final 10 yards.

The touchdown was more than enough for the Ravens’ defense, which did not allow a touchdown for the first time this season, despite surrendering 398 yards.
In the football version of rope-a-dope, the Ravens (2-1) allowed young quarterback Carson Palmer to move the Bengals (1-2) into Ravens territory on eight straight possessions, only to force a turnover or hold the Bengals to three points.

Pro Bowl safety Ed Reed intercepted Palmer twice, including once in the end zone on a pass to standout receiver Chad Johnson. Palmer saw that Johnson had inside position on the Ravens’ defense, but apparently did not account for Reed.

What Happened?

2004-09-14T13:05:00.000-07:00

A question is on the mind of all Ravens fans. What happened? I heard before the game, the Ravens were Super Bowl bound or at least talk of the Super bowl. Just seems odd when the Offensive MVP of 2003 was held to 57 yards. Especially since last year Jamal Lewis rushed for a combination of 500 yards both times the Ravens played against the Browns.

For 3/4 of the game, the Ravens defense seemed like the Ravens defense. With 24 seconds left in the 3rd quarter, the Browns started a series of scoring. The Browns produced 17 unanswered points and dropped our Ravens in there season opener. It is only the first game of the season. But that is no excuse. Lets see our stout defense take field against the Pittsburgh Steelers this coming Sunday. See how the Ravens fair then.

Notes

Deion Sanders played his first game since the 2000 season with the Redskins.

Kyle Boller has started to consecutive season openers for the Ravens.

Ogden Injured

2004-09-03T16:45:00.000-07:00

from baltimoreravens.com:

Late in the first quarter of Thursday night’s preseason affair, the Ravens went ahead of the New York Giants for good.

The celebration was muted, however. The team’s mind was not on the present, but the future.

Relief swept through the organization when the team learned that all-world tackle Jonathan Ogden, who had limped off the field just moments earlier with a knee injury, had merely suffered an MCL sprain. Had he torn the ligament, his season likely would have ended in the Meadowlands.

Rather, Ogden, the seven-time Pro Bowler, is questionable for the season opener against the Cleveland Browns on Sept. 12.

Thank goodness. Get well soon Ogden!

Deion Sanders Joins the Ravens

2004-09-01T16:34:00.000-07:00

from baltimoreravens.com:

As the third cornerback on a Ravens defense that has its sights set on history, Sanders believes there is no better place for him. Had it not been for Dale Carter, who was supposed to be the team’s corner this season, developing a blood clot and Sanders falling out with CBS, where he was an on-air personality, this situation would have never materialized.

“As I went through the first two weeks of the conversation, and I had to think about why a player would want to come back and play, I had to think about myself in the last two years in my career, and why I wanted to continue to play the game of football,” said Ravens general manager Ozzie Newsome, a Hall of Fame tight end. “I think the one driving factor that led me to play the last two years, and I think the a driving factor that Deion had put in the forefront of his own mind is the opportunity to play in the Super Bowl.

“If you can wake up everyday and go out there and work out, knowing that you have the chance to go out and play in the ultimate game, then it really gives you an incentive to do it.,” Newsome added.

Let's hope that Sanders gets a chance to play in the Superbowl this year!!

Ravens Face the Lions!

2004-08-27T15:48:00.000-07:00

from baltimoreravens.com:

Edwards, the second-round pick out of Oregon State, will likely start at left defensive end against the Lions. If so, he will battle stout right tackle Stockar McDougle, who in tandem with Jeff Backus, gives Detroit a set of first-round bookends.

Edwards will likely start in place of Anthony Weaver, who suffered a high ankle sprain in last week’s preseason game against the Eagles. With both McDougle and 2002 Pro Bowl guard Damien Woody on his side, Edwards is in for a demanding first NFL start.

Go Ravens! Be sure to watch the game on Saturday!

Training Camp Is Over!

2004-08-25T13:11:00.000-07:00

So, training camp is over (a day early) and things went pretty well. Here's how the Raven's homepage characterized their progress and Kyle Boller's progress in particular...

The camp was also largely about continuing the development of second-year quarterback Kyle Boller, who will start against the Browns.

Boller progressed “very, very well” over the past four weeks, Billick said. Boller’s improvement was most noticeable in how he handles difficult situations, like protection breakdowns or when a receiver runs a wrong route.

If Boller can make two additional completions per game, the Ravens’ passing attack, which ranked last in 2003, can jump to the middle of the pack this season. A productive aerial attack, combined with their dominant running game, would result in a more efficient and balanced offense.

“[The passing game] has a lot of potential,” said wide receiver Kevin Johnson. “With Jamal back there running the ball and knowing what the defense is going to give you, I think it gives us a lot of one-on-one opportunities on the outside. It gives us the freedom to make a lot of plays. So, if the quarterback and the receiver get on the same page, I think the sky is the limit.”

Now it's about time for the season to begin. GO RAVENS!!!

Get Well Soon!

2004-08-18T10:51:00.000-07:00

from baltimoreravens.com

A knee injury has temporarily sidelined Casey Rabach and, consequently, the competition for the Ravens’ starting right guard job.

Rabach, who is battling incumbent starter Bennie Anderson during training camp, was scheduled to start in Friday’s preseason game against the Eagles. However, he will likely not return until the Aug. 28 affair against the Lions, at the earliest.

“It definitely hurts [my chances],” said Rabach, who has tried to consistently crack the Ravens’ starting lineup since entering the league as a third-round pick in 2001. “There’s no doubt about it. Anytime I’m not out there, Bennie’s getting more reps and more looks for the coaches.”

Rabach sprained his MCL during goal line action in last Saturday’s practice and has been limited ever since. Rabach said that center Mike Flynn accidentally rolled on the leg during a repetition, but he was able to walk off the field under his own power, usually a good sign.

Get well soon Rabach!

Training Camp Updates

2004-08-03T10:03:00.000-07:00

During the first few days of camp, Jamal Lewis has been stealing the show! He's definately going to be a factor in the Ravens making it to the Superbowl this year. Here's the update about what's been going on off of the playing field:

Baltimore placed injured players Peter Boulware, Trent Smith and Anthony Wright on the Physically Unable to Perform list, which is far less ominous than it sounds. All it means is that these players cannot practice or play in preseason games before they’re removed from the list, which can happen at any time. While on the PUP, the players do not count on the active roster.The Ravens also waived long snapper Mike Solwold and placed cornerback Dale Carter on the non-football illness list.Baltimore also signed a pair of veteran corners, Rashad Holman and Fred Weary, to compete for Carter’s spot. Holman, No. 25, spent three years with the 49ers, amassing 78 tackles and two interceptions.Weary, a seventh-year pro out of Florida, will wear No. 23. He last played for the St. Louis Rams.

More info as it comes...

Welcome New Ravens Members!

2004-07-27T09:09:00.000-07:00

From BaltimoreRavens.com:

The Ravens took a big step toward securing all of their rookies before training camp Monday, reaching contract agreements with three of their seven draft picks, including both first-day selections.Second-round pick Dwan Edwards agreed to a five-year deal and third-rounder Devard Darling signed a three-year contact; linebacker Roderick Green, a fifth-round pick, agreed to a three-year deal.Add in Josh Harris and Brian Rimpf, who agreed in principle to three-year deals last week, contractual agreements with just two draft picks remain unsettled – wide receiver Clarence Moore (sixth round) and kick returner Derek Abney (seventh round).

Welcome, Welcome, Welcome!!!! I can't wait to see all of the new guys in action on the team!

2004-07-20T09:04:00.000-07:00

The Baltimore Ravens begin their ninth training camp with two practices (8:45 a.m. and 4 p.m.) at McDaniel College on Friday, July 30. All players will report to the Best Western (451 WMC Drive) Westminster on Thursday, July 29, for a 5 p.m. meeting. Baltimore will break camp on Tuesday, Aug. 24 following a morning practice.There will be 29 practices over the 26-day training camp, including the Ravens yearly intra-squad scrimmage on Friday, Aug. 6 at 6 p.m., at Bair Stadium on the McDaniel College campus. Following the scrimmage, players will be available for a half-hour autograph session along the fence-line of the Stadium.

So, is anyone else excited??? I can't wait for everything to begin!!!

2004-07-16T07:44:00.000-07:00

As training camp gets closer, I thought it would be good to look at the Ravens new members that contribute to their effectiveness as a team in general.

The Ravens drafted 6'1" Devard Darling from Washington State and 5'11" Kevin Johnson from the National Football League back in April. This is part of the Ravens strategy to be smaller, faster and more dependable.

According to the Ravens homepage, receivers coach David Shaw said:

"We want to get more dependable. We want to give a young quarterback (Kyle Boller) someone who’s going to be there every week and have them build a relationship to where they can play off of each other. What a young quarterback needs is defense, a running game, consistent receivers."

So what do you think? Do you think that this new strategy will work well for the Ravens? Personally, I hope so.

Welcome to my Ravens Blog!

2004-07-15T11:29:00.000-07:00

Thanks for stopping by to visit! This blog is dedicated to the Baltimore Ravens football team and football in general. Please come back soon for more content once I get this off the ground!