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The Ravens will have to find a way to remain fresh for the remainder of the season. They have veterans at some key positions and looked extremely tired going into the bye week. There is a concern that they may not hold up for the remainder of the season. It's certainly something to keep an eye on. After a week off, they looked remarkably fresh against the Saints last Sunday.
Watching the Ravens showboating Sunday was a little difficult to swallow. Football is a very emotional game, and I understand some of the brief celebrations after touchdowns. But those episodes by Chad Johnson and Terrell Owens are a little too much. Quarterback Steve McNair went over the edge when he slammed the ball into the wall after scoring on the draw in the first quarter, and Dawan Landry could have just run across the goal line instead of diving across when he intercepted Drew Brees's pass. The worst, though, was watching Ray Lewis, Terrell Suggs, Ed Reed and a few others swaying and dancing on the sidelines after getting the big lead. It was not needed, and moments later New Orleans scored on the Ravens. Where was all the dancing then?
It's still a game, and sportsmanship should be encouraged. If I want theater, I can go on Broadway. If I want dancing, I can go to the Apollo. I just want to see a good, clean, hard fought football game. All the extra I can do without.
The team awarded head coach Brian Billick the game ball after Sunday's win against the Saints. The Ravens had 293 yards of offense and controlled the pace of the game in Billick's first game as the play-caller. The key will be building momentum for the future. The Ravens were organized and have some things they can build on. New Orleans doesn't have a strong defense, but there was an improvement in the Ravens' offense compared to the previous six games.
I just got back from touring several communities outside of downtown New Orleans. No TV, radio or newspaper accounts can actually tell what has transpired, what is happening or what needs to happen here. It's unbelievable. You run the full gamut of emotions from total disbelief to being overwhelmed by sadness to depression and then finally encouragement because the citizens here are staging a valiant comeback. It might take some time, but people here will persevere.
I've been to downtown New Orleans numerous times since my first visit here to cover the Sugar Bowl in 1987. That was my first major assignment, and what an exciting town, even in late January. But there are no bristling crowds here today on a sunny afternoon where the temperatures have reached the 70s. If I didn't know better, I'd think I was in downtown Cincinnati where everything closes at noon. This is a skeleton city compared to what New Orleans should be like on a gorgeous day like today. You travel to communities outside New Orleans, and there is so much devastation. A lot of the houses are still vacant. There are still numbers and letters spray painted on doors and homes where rescue workers went in to find any survivors of Hurricane Katrina. The numbers indicate the date the property was searched, how many people were rescued, and sometimes how many died. You see whole shopping centers abandoned and destroyed, and blocks of stores boarded up. You still see a lot of debris in the streets and homes where roofs and siding were blown off. In some of these areas, you don't see a lot of kids or pets on the streets. When you do see children playing, they're usually on streets littered with debris and glass. But at the same time, you see some families have come back to the neighborhoods. They are wearing work clothes, and you can hear the saws and see the electrical cords running from trees to generators as they try to get their lives and homes back together. Somewhere, there is always the constant sound of at least one hammer. In some areas, there are trailers where people live as they wait to get their homes repaired. One thing I noticed as I drove around, there weren't a lot of long faces. There was still a sense of pride, and you could see the resiliency. It's going to take some time, but they'll rebuild New Orleans.
Things get put in perspective here. Fans that are obsessed with their pro teams often amaze me. Their lives are shaped by if the Ravens win or lose on Sundays. I've always treated sports, especially on the pro level, as a game. It's a great escape from real life, and it's fun, but it's not life or death. It's not even close. After seeing some of the things I've seen in New Orleans today, I'm convinced even more to never change my mind.
New Orleans rookie running back Reggie Bush doesn't have to be a full-time starter to cause major problems for the Ravens. The Saints have different packages for Bush, who is used as a running back, receiver and punt returner. Even when he doesn't get the ball, you have to be aware of his presence any time he steps on the field. He is an impact player.
Backup Kyle Boller will get more extensive practice time, but it won't come until next week. Head coach Brian Billick said the Ravens are close to the point of the season where the backup gets more practice time, but starter Steve McNair will get more than usual because of the concussion he suffered against the Carolina Panthers. Next week, McNair will take the bulk of the practice snaps on Wednesday and Thursday, and Boller will get his on Friday.
The Ravens were cautiously optimistic about starting safety Dawan Landry playing Sunday against the Saints. Landry, bothered by a sprained knee, practiced Wednesday. According to head coach Brian Billick, Landry ran well and looked good. The key will be Thursday morning when Landry arrives at the training complex. The Ravens want to check on the amount of soreness or swelling around the knee to determine if he'll be ready for Sunday. Landry, a rookie, is fifth on the team in tackles with 33.
The Ravens may have defeated San Diego, but the Chargers delivered the game plan on how to beat the Ravens' defense. Since that game, which the Chargers should have won, both Denver and Carolina have used spread offenses to slow the Ravens' blitz. All three teams used a lot of short passes, along with crossing routs. Opposing teams have attacked cornerback Chris McAlister with short passes and have gone after fellow cornerback Samari Rolle with long ones. To counter, the Ravens need to get more pressure from their front four, instead of having to rely on the blitz.
The team that best used this strategy against the Ravens was Green Bay in 2001, the year after Baltimore won the Super Bowl. Brett Favre dissected the Ravens' defense in a near perfect game as Green Bay defeated Baltimore, 31-23.
After watching the New York Giants beat up on Dallas Monday night, the Cowboys look a lot like the Ravens. They have a good defense which will keep them in most games. They have really good skilled players, including the two receivers, tight end and running backs. The problem is the offensive line, an aging quarterback and a young quarterback who panics.
Sound familiar?
Cowboys quarterback Drew Bledsoe took a beating Monday night because his offensive line was terrible. Bledsoe, like Steve McNair, is a quarterback in decline, a shell of his former self. Third year quarterback Tony Romo came in to replace Bledsoe, and he looked really tight and panicked initially, just like My Man Kyle Boller. They're either the Baltimore Cowboys or the Dallas Ravens.
No one should be alarmed that quarterback Steve McNair only worked out lightly Monday. Coming off the bye week, the Ravens have more time to let him get back into the starting lineup. If McNair is not on the practice field by Wednesday or Thursday, then the Ravens might have trouble. By the way, missing practice is nothing new for McNair. Late in his career in Tennessee, McNair often missed practice and played on Sunday. McNair's absence will get backup Kyle Boller more reps during practice, which is good for the Ravens because Boller is going to be needed at some point during the rest of the season.
If the Ravens are going to run the ball, they might change up their game plan a little. This is not a powerful, straight ahead blocking offensive line, especially without left guard Edwin Mulitalo. The Ravens should take advantage of guards Jason Brown and Keydrick Vincent. Both are weak at the point of attack, but both pull and run well. The Ravens might want to add a few more sweeps, traps and tosses to get both of these guys outside and into space on linebackers and safeties.
Because the Ravens had a bye this weekend, I decided to fly up to Canton and visit the Pro Football Hall of Fame. I've been to the Hall of Fame numerous times and I'm way over the Colts move from Baltimore to Indianapolis. But I still get irritated every time I see the uniforms, helmets, autographed balls and all the other memorabilia from the greats like John Unitas, Lenny Moore, Art Donovan, John Mackey and Raymond Berry under the Indianapolis Colts. I'm not one of those warm, fuzzy romantics who can't get over the past, but the history of the Colts should be put in its proper place: right back in Baltimore.
It's great to see the Ravens are putting outside linebacker Peter Boulware into the Ring of Honor. Boulware was always a great player to watch, and was relentless especially when it came to running down quarterbacks. With Boulware, Jamie Sharper and Ray Lewis, the Ravens had the greatest trio of linebackers in the league at one time. Boulware always played with a passion, and I'll always remember the constant pain he endured on game days with his shoulders and knees. More importantly, he was a great guy off the field, a Christian who always gave back to his community. There was nothing phony about Boulware. He was a pro and is an honorable man.
We can assume the Ravens will try to improve their running game, but it will be more difficult than most believe. The Ravens have, at best, an average offensive line and running back Jamal Lewis isn't what he used to be when he was once the most feared power runner in the game. Even more importantly, the Ravens don't have a good lead blocking fullback on the roster. There are no Sam Gashs. Chuck Evans or Alan Ricards on the roster. Fullbacks Ovie Mughelli and Justin Green are good athletes, but not powerful blockers. Lewis has always run out of the I-formation, and has admitted that this year has been an adjustment with the Ravens using an H-back more instead of a true fullback. It's going to be just as tough trying to cut off a fullback who will have problems blocking linebackers at the point of attack.
I'm assuming the Ravens will start to buckle down on safety Ed Reed and some of his freelancing in the secondary. It was one of the plays that cost the Ravens Sunday against Carolina when Reed tried to anticipate a short pass to Keyshawn Johnson, and Jake Delhomme went over the top on the long pass to Steve Smith. Reed has gotten burned trying to make plays before, only Will Demps was the one who always looked like he was out of position. This time, it was cornerback Samari Rolle. A number of Ravens defensive players seemed agitated after the game and that might be the key to Reed staying in position. In the Ravens' scheme, especially since they blitz so often, you have to be extremely disciplined, and be where you're supposed to be.
There have to be a number of Ravens assistant coaches looking over their shoulders. Near the midway point last season, head coach Brian Billick virtually assured them that they would return for the 2006 season. Shortly thereafter, the Ravens announced Billick would return and five members of his staff either resigned or were fired.
There is speculation that Ravens offensive coordinator Jim Fassel resigned, but it was announced that he was fired because the club now has to pay him for the remainder of his contract. If Fassel quit, the club was not obligated to pay him.
If I was a Ravens assistant coach, I wouldn't go out on the highway anytime soon. A lot of coaches have been thrown under the bus during the past two years. Beep. Beep. Watch out.
Pro Bowl left offensive tackle Jonathan Ogden denied unconfirmed reports that he had an altercation with head coach Brian Billick on the sidelines Sunday. Ogden did say he expressed an opinion to Billick, but it was nothing new. Actually, Ogden, an extremely emotional player, has had about five of those animated discussions with Billick through the years.
"That never happened," said Ogden, of any fight with Billick. "People need to understand that Brian and I are a lot alike during a game. Both of us like to talk. We're both emotional, both excited about the game. I have never disrespected Brian at any time."
It's good to be heading into the bye week. The Ravens have looked tired in the fourth quarter of the past two games against Denver and Carolina. After six games, the Ravens appear to be slightly better than a .500 team. In other words, they are the best of the worst teams, and the worst of the good teams. The defense is good, but the offense has no identity. As far as clock management, the Ravens are one of the worst teams in the league. This team has been extremely lucky and might need a lot more luck to make the playoffs. The good news is that the Ravens won the first four games which has given them a cushion. Maybe they'll work some of the offensive kinks during the bye week.
The Ravens finally cut wide receiver Clarence Moore, making the move Saturday night. We don't know if head coach Brian Billick made the move to send a statement to the rest of the team, or if Moore had internal problems with some members of the coaching staff. Either way, Moore was way too soft and was afraid to take a hit over the middle. Another team will pick him up. He has too much size and speed. A change of scenery might do him good. Moore still has good potential, but he didn't receive very good coaching while here in Baltimore.
Actually, I'm surprised Steve McNair made it to the sixth game before getting hurt. He has taken some wicked shots this season and the Panthers were on him early. When McNair was injured, it looked like a jail break as Mike Flynn, Keydrick Vincent and Jason Brown all were beaten on the play. It looked as if the Panthers were having a defensive line meeting, and the meeting place was McNair's body. Hopefully, the Ravens address the offensive line in the offseason.
Of course this will never happen, but it would be interesting to see what a coach like Mike Shanahan or Mike Holmgren could do with the Ravens offense. They are two of the more creative offensive minds in the league. Despite the Ravens' No. 29 ranking, this offense has talent, especially at the receiver positions. The Ravens have a marginal to average offensive line, but it would be fun to see how Shanahan or Holmgren would run this offense to get the most out of the talent. If the Ravens' offense could get to as high as No. 15 or No. 16, we would be talking about a serious contender.
Now, on to right offensive tackle Tony Pashos. He may not have given up a sack this season, but he has given up quite a few hurries, where the quarterback has to step up in the pocket because of pressure. He has also been called for several illegal procedure penalties because he is trying to get into his pass set before the ball is snapped. He lacks quickness. Sometimes, a five yard penalty is just like a sack.
It will be an interesting match up Sunday when Ravens cornerbacks Samari Rolle and Chris McAlister take on receivers Keyshawn Johnson and Steve Smith. Word has it that Rolle will match up with Smith and McAlister takes on Johnson. It makes sense. Johnson is bigger and stronger than Smith, and McAlister has a very physical style. Smith is faster than Johnson, and Rolle is more of a pure cover corner than McAlister.
The problem is that Smith can also be very physical. He is deceivingly strong. Also, Rolle has given up two long passes this season, which could be attributed to an injured foot. Regardless, it's one of the game's intrguing matchups.
Also, if the Ravens can't pressure the quarterback, they could be in for a long day. Regardless of how good the corners may be, they can't cover these receivers if the quarterback has time.
Running back Jamal Lewis says he hasn't lost a step and would be more effective if he got more carries. Lewis said he isn't a 13 to 15 carry back, and said he needed the ball about 25 to 30 times a game. He thinks the key for the Ravens this season is to have a run-oriented offense that would wear most teams down in the second half.
"That's the way it was years ago," said Lewis. "Teams came in here fearing to play against our running game and offensive line. Those three and four yard gains you get in the first half turn into five and six yard gains in the third quarter, and eventually you might break a long one. We've gotten away from that. Why? That's not my call."
Mr. Shanahan, you owe me some money.
According to Rocky Mountain News, you passed around a copy of my one paragraph blog before Monday Night's game where I called the Broncos "soft" and stated that the Ravens always "manhandle" the Broncos.
I'm sure that played a major part in the Broncos beating the Ravens. I betcha Champ Bailey thought of that when he picked off Steve McNair's pass at the end of the half, and receiver Rod Smith had those thoughts etched in his mind when he caught that fourth quarter touchdown pass. Certainly, your team couldn't have been motivated by the fact that the Ravens were unbeaten and had started to become the darlings of the national media. Or that many of the so-called experts were praising the Ravens defense while downplaying the Broncos,' or that it was a home game on national TV.
So, since I helped you out, please send me my bonus. No cash, please. If not, I'm going to write that your next opponent, the Oakland Raiders, are soft and that their quarterback, Andrew Walter, can't hit the ground if he dropped the ball. I'm going to write that Art Shell has lost control of his team and that the Broncos should beat the Raiders by 30.
Sorry Mike S.
Regards, the other Mike
