Morning notes
Not sure if there was an underlying cause, but the performance of the offense clearly put the coaching staff in a foul mood this morning.
While offensive coordinator Cam Cameron was imploring the players to get better, offensive line coach John Matsko was getting on the case of rookie lineman David Hale. Said Matsko to Hale: "We need you to be a physical [expletive] today."
During full-team drills, the offense began to spin its wheels in the mud, drawing the ire of Cameron, Matsko and coach John Harbaugh. When linebacker Bart Scott broke up a Troy Smith pass to tight end Adam Bergen, Cameron bellowed, "Come on, Adam! Make the catch!"
When someone on the offensive line failed to open a bigger hole for rookie running back Ray Rice, Matsko yelled, "O-Line, we've got to cover! Let's go!" And when the drills seemed to end on a Smith incompletion intended for running back Cory Ross, Harbaugh called the first offense back onto the field. “The ones [first offense] back on the field. The offense decided not to come to practice today!” Harbaugh said, his voice rising. “We’re going to get this right.”
Other observations:
* Quarterbacks Troy Smith and rookie Joe Flacco split most of the reps during full-team drills today, and both faltered badly. Smith was intercepted three times (by linebacker Ray Lewis, free safety Ed Reed and strong safety Dawan Landry) in his first eight pass attempts, and cornerback Samari Rolle nearly squeezed in another one. The defense sniffed out a Flacco flea-flicker, and Flacco would have been sacked by linebacker Brendon Ayanbadejo and defensive tackle Salomon Solano. Kyle Boller took a few snaps and connected on short passes, while misfiring on his deep throws.
* In addition to the combined sack by Ayanbadejo and Solano, linebackers Jarret Johnson and Antwan Barnes and defensive end Trevor Pryce would have sacked Smith. The offense was also called for false start three times.
* Defensive tackles Haloti Ngata (sprained right medial collateral ligament), Kelly Gregg (left knee) and Kelly Talavou (sprained shoulder), linebackers Dan Cody (right foot), Prescott Burgess (broken left wrist), Robert McCune (undisclosed) and rookie Tavares Gooden (undisclosed), cornerbacks Chris McAlister (right knee) and Fabian Washington (undisclosed), running backs Willis McGahee (left knee) and P.J. Daniels (shoulder), offensive tackles Adam Terry (sprained left ankle) and Jared Gaither (right ankle) and tight end Todd Heap (right calf) did not practice.
* Wide receiver Matt Willis and rookie running back Allen Patrick botched an exchange on a reverse, allowing defensive tackle Justin Bannan to pounce on the fumble. When Willis and Patrick repeated the play with no problems, fans derisively cheered.
Comments
I'm glad the coaches are getting on them.
Posted by: Stevers | August 9, 2008 3:43 PM
Very rough today huh guys? Harbaugh mouthing off to his players will just fire these guys up for opening day I'm sure. Go Ravens!
Posted by: Josh | August 9, 2008 4:00 PM
it's going to be a miserable year. The offense will be atrocious and the D will be strong, but will get wasted because they'll be gassed during games because the O can't stay on the field. Hope all you "Fire Billick!" folks are happy--you hear Bisciotti?--because this is what you get when you bring in a new coach/system.
Posted by: Geof | August 9, 2008 4:08 PM
Just a thought. When both the first and second offense are messing up so bad in practice primarily for lack of focus, drive and desire - then send them to the locker room. Let them know that they are not worthy to be wearing High School uniforms and obviously there are no real leaders on the offensive side of the ball or they would not have embarrassed themselves and the coaching staff. All football fields (practice or stadiums) at any level are sacred places that deserve nothing but complete commitment, starting with a fire in your belly to fight the battle on every play to accomplish your mission. When players are simply going through the motions and their spirit is not in it; that is a waste of everyone's time; not to mention a recipe for injury. The last comment to them should be that someone on offense needs to step up become the true leader. That person should never let their teammates step foot on any football field without first standing face to face with each one of them and looking into their eyes and see the fire not just burning but raging to get going and hit somebody. If you don’t see that fire then ignite it and push him until you do see the flames of success burning behind his eyes.
Posted by: Bruce | August 9, 2008 6:08 PM
What will happen 1st. A good Ravens offensive team or a meteor wiping us off the planet. My bet goes to the meteor.
Posted by: Bob W | August 9, 2008 7:13 PM
I'm sure all the Billick supporters are just loving is. Regardless of how bad we are on offense, remember that most of the guys still on this offensive unit are players that Billcick brought in. Even though hes not here anymore, the decisions he made while coaching the team will still haunt us. He is not the only one to blame--Ozzie certainly didn't help in building the offense, but you can't expect a new coaching staff to fix everything in a few months. I'm sure Harbaugh would love to overhaul the offensive line and receiving corps, but all this can't be done as quickly as everyone would like. Harbaugh is one the right track. He is gettin in players faces and holding everyone accountable, even the veterans that Billick used to let run free.
Posted by: Matt | August 9, 2008 7:23 PM
I THOUGHT TROY SMITH COULD STEP IN AND PLAY THE TRENT DILFER ROLE---as THE DEFENSE CARRIES THE TEAM...3 INTERCEPTIONS IN HIS FIRST 8 PASSES???
OZZIE MAY LIVE TO REGRET PASSING ON THE FAVRE DEAL.
DO NOT FORGET FAVRE HAD 28 TD PASSES LAST YEAR---AND WAS 2ND IN THE MVP VOTING.
FLACCO MAY NEED 2 YEARS TO GET READY TO START...JUST MEANS FAVRE COULD HAVE STARTED AND TUTORED THE KID.
EX-BIRDMAN
Posted by: jesse morgan | August 9, 2008 7:33 PM
Favre doesn't want to be a tutor, I think he proved that in Green Bay. We don't need any more cry babies.
Posted by: Doc604 | August 10, 2008 11:34 AM
Don't blame Harbaugh, there is no personnel on Offense. We've invested everything in defense, even now discussing a rediculously large T-Sizzle contract, while we have to bring guys off the street to play left tackle.
Once again we will have the very best defense and still be 5-11. Yawn!
Posted by: Aman | August 10, 2008 11:35 AM
Josh, get real, this offense has been atrocious for a decade! Cameron has inserted the most progressive playbook I’ve ever seen from a Ravens team, it's going to take them months to get it right, and maybe a few different players than they have right now. This is wayyyy to soon to bail on the coaching staff.
Posted by: Ulmstead1 | August 10, 2008 12:08 PM