A Look Ahead

I am in no rush to put this weekend's football excitement behind me but it is getting to be that time that we start to look ahead to the coming weekend and what is in store for us as we travel to Tennessee. 


Bleacher Report released their picks for Week 2 of the NFL and here are some of the highlights of what they had to say about the Ravens versus the Titans:


"If last week's win over the Pittsburgh Steelers taught us anything, it's that the Ravens will be able to do whatever they damn well please against Tennessee. The Ravens executed well in every aspect of the game in a dominating performance over Pittsburgh.

If Baltimore can beat up on the defending AFC champions, what will they do to one of the worst teams in the NFL?

Tennessee can hope to play solid base football, but even that is a stretch. The Ravens are too big, too strong and too well coached right now."

The prediction for the outcome of this game is that the Ravens will beat the Titans 48 to 3. That seems like an awfully large win, what do you think? Can the Ravens deliver another pounding this weekend?

AFC North Power Rankings

According to ESPN's AFC North Blogger James Walker, after the Week 1 games, we can expect some significant changes in the new NFL power rankings out Tuesday. 

Here are some of the big changes to look for in the rankings with particular attention to our AFC North competition:

The Ravens were ranked No. 8 going into the opening weekend, and Walker personally ranked them No. 5 (the highest rating he recieved.) Following yesterday's game, Walker had this to say:

"Analysis: I voted the Ravens the highest last week at No. 5. I believe they're the best team in the AFC North this season. Baltimore thoroughly outplayed the Steelers to add confirmation to that prediction. If the offensive line continues to protect the way it did against Pittsburgh, Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco could make major strides this year. "

Ravens projected position in tomorrow's NFL Power Rankings: 4-7

The Steelers were ranked No. 3 going into the opening weekend. Following yesterday's game Walker had this to say:

"Analysis: The Steelers were one of the NFL's most surprising teams in Week 1 -- and not in a good way. Pittsburgh was dominated by Baltimore and looked like a shell of last year's team. Most likely Sunday's showing was just a horrible outing. But you wonder if Pittsburgh is getting old fast. I expect the Steelers to get back on track. But they could have one of the biggest drops this week."

Steelers projected position in tomorrow's NFL Power Rankings: 8-11

Check out the original post to see what he had to say about the other two AFC North competitors, the Browns and the Bengals!

Still Riding the High From Yesterday's Win

Waking up on a rainy, muggy Monday morning certainly wasn't as bad as it could have been as I found myself reflecting on the events of the Ravens performance yesterday. It certainly is a good feeling to be on a college campus full of Steelers fans and know how that they aren't waking up today with the similar excitement.

I thought I'd share some of the post-game coverage that I've most enjoyed reading with any other fans who may want to continue to relive yesterday's epic moments!

Possibly one of the most exciting headlines in my opinion, was that of this AFC North ESPN blog post written by James Walker in which he boldly states; "Confirmed: Ravens AFC North Favorites." This is exciting because Walker seems to favor the Steelers in most of his AFC North coverage. He has been particularly hard on Flacco at times and enjoys doting on the Steelers when making comparisons between the two teams. Check out his full post to see just how impressed he was with the Ravens play yesterday!

The Baltimore Ravens website's post-game article reminds us all the significance of this win for Joe Flacco and his career history. This was his first defeat of Big Ben and an impressive one to say the least. For all the insider coverage from locker room video to quotes from Flacco and teammates, check out the full post from Ryan Mink.

A favorite sportswriter of mine, Aaron Wilson, covers the Ravens win in this article from the Carroll County Times Online. He doles out grades to the various team components with his Ravens report card and offers some great analysis on things that didn't sway in their favor yesterday.

In his post game report, MASN's Dan Kolko poses the question, is this win more significant than any other? To most fans the answer would be a resounding YES but players seemed to express opposite sentiments claiming that it's a new season and the past is the past. Check out his full article to see what he thinks and to hear from some of the players.

I will leave you all with this video that will probably leave me smiling for days! Maybe Hines Ward should have focused a little less on his dancing career in the off-season...

Ray Lewis not shocked at all by today's outcome

"This is just game one, its a long season" - Ed Reed on today's win

"I felt comfortable back there all day" - Flacco on new additions to the O-line

Most satisfying win ever for the Ravens? Harbaugh's answer!

"Ravens vented eight months of frustration within the span of three incredibly satisfying hours."

"The Baltimore Ravens vented eight months of frustration within the span of three incredibly satisfying hours.

Joe Flacco threw three touchdown passes, Haloti Ngata led an inspired defense that forced a team-record seven turnovers, and the Ravens defeated the defending AFC champion Pittsburgh Steelers 35-7 Sunday."


Check out the whole recap from Sports Illustrated!

Rapid Reaction from James Walker - ESPN AFC North Blogger

As I try to compose myself in the wake of such an exciting and historical win for the Ravens, check out a quick summary of some of today's key moments from ESPN's James Walker.

I'm not sure that is has ever felt this good to be a Ravens fan!

Ed Reed Interception Video: Watch Ravens' Star Safety Pick Big Ben

Ravens vs. Steelers Video: Watch Ngata Blow Up Mendenhall in Backfield

Terrell Suggs Sack Video: Watch Ravens' Pro Bowl LB Level Ben Roethlisberger

Ravens vs. Steelers Game One Preview

The day that every Baltimore fan has been waiting for since January's loss in the post season is here at last, the chance to redeem ourselves against our most heated rivals on OUR own turf. This game is more than a home opener for the Ravens, it is an opportunity to take back everything that the Steelers have taken from us and prove that the 2011-12 season will not end the way that it did last year.

I hate to revisit the memory of our last meeting with the Steelers during which they rallied from a 21-7 deficit to advance to the AFC Championships with a 31-24 win over our beloved Ravens. It was a heartbreaking loss to say the least.

Today, we start with a clean slate. While pre-season had its fair share of frustrating moments, fans know that it is a time for the team to learn and grow. I found it difficult to blog about these games because it seemed like there was more to criticize that to celebrate. Would we be plagued again by sloppy play on the offensive line? Should we worry about not having a veteran back up quarterback? Even though the Ravens enter today's game leaving some of these pre-season questions unanswered, I believe from the bottom of my heart that we have what it takes to beat the Steelers.

One thing that I'm excited about is the new arsenal of weapons that the Ravens have built up for Flacco. One of the biggest criticisms I had for Flacco in 2010 was that he repeatedly waited for his receivers to uncover before he would let the ball go. Today, if Flacco wants to win this game for us, he is going to have to trust his new weapon, Lee Evans, a vertical threat on the outside. He knows he can rely on second-year TE Ed Dickson and the small and mighty Ray Rice who has proven his dangerousness in the open field.

Flacco will really have to watch his back and be wary of where Polamalu is at all times. The Steelers sacked Flacco four times in the December meet-up that resulted in a 13-10 win over the Ravens, and five more times in the postseason loss. Flacco will have to trust in Ravens newcomer Bryant McKinnie to protect his blind side at left tackle. It will also be crucial for FB Vonta Leach and the tight ends to offer added protection in helping with blitz pickup.

The Ravens defense has looked strong against the Steelers in the past managing to sack QB Ben Roethlisberger six times and force a fumble in their January playoff meet-up. Rookie LCB Jimmy Smith will have to bring his best game today if he hopes to stop Steelers hotshots Mike Wallace, Antonio Brown, Emmanuel Sanders and Jerricho Cotchery.

One thing we know for sure is that this game is sure to keep us on the edge of our seats. There is nothing that compares to the rivalry between these two AFC North teams, the last seven regular-season meetings between the two have been decided by only 6 POINTS!

I have my black and purple ready to go for this afternoon and I hope that this evening, we will all be celebrating a big win from the Ravens on their home turf!

WHAT TIME IS IT?!

Ravens Playbook Upgraded to the IPad

As a student of journalism and communication, I find it fascinating to see the ways in which social media and the technology associated with it are infiltrating our daily lives.

I came across an article on the Baltimore Ravens website just a few minutes ago that discusses the Ravens decision to upgrade their playbook to the the IPad. It will be interesting to see how easily the players and staff are able to integrate this technology into their sideline practices.

Joe Flacco points out that is is a great tool for watching video and is excited to ditch the bulky notebooks. However, the Director of Ravens Internet Technology, Nick Fusee, brings up the important question regarding the safety of the information now that it is in digital form.

Currently, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are the only other team using IPads but Fusee believes it is a practice that will be adopted by the entire league over the course of the next few years!

For my fellow social media enthusiasts and Apple devotees, check out the full article!

Photo: http://blogs.baltimoreravens.com/2011/09/04/ravens-adopt-ipad-playbook/

Ravens Hit the Hardest... Just A Warning

One week from today it all begins again... it's time to get exited for some Baltimore Ravens football!




Copyright disclaimer

Preseason Game Recap - Ravens at Eagles

(Photo taken from the Baltimore Ravens Game Recap)

"We were in position to make the tackle in the backfield, including two sacks, and we didn't make the plays," said Ravens Head Coach John Harbaugh.  "We have to get off the field in those third-down situations, and we didn't in the first half."

"It felt really good to be back out here tonight – felt like we were right back home," said Flacco, who completed three of six attempts for 60 yards.  "Guys were making plays out there. We would have liked to have finished the drive off with a touchdown, but it was a good first drive."

"We made some plays in the first half, but not enough," said Offensive Coordinator Cam Cameron.  "Dennis had a big catch early, and we converted the long field goal, but you always want touchdowns."

Read the entire recap from the Baltimore Ravens website!

Fan Day at Training Camp - Wrap Up

As promised, here are the remainder of my personal photos that were captured at Saturday's training camp open to the fans! (Photo credits: John Boyd)

 Joe Flacco certainly looked sharp in some of the passing drills on Saturday but the question still remains as to whether or not the Ravens deep passing game will materialize this season. Other than one long touch down pass to Boldin at the back of the end zone (depicted in the series of pictures below), he didn't seem have many other successes connecting with receivers in the scrimmage drills.

 

Boldin appeared to be in great physical condition and was clearly the top target. He especially wowed fans with the great catch in the end zone depicted below. Who else will emerge as the other starters this season?

Suggs definitely returned in great physical condition and had a good time entertaining fans as he hammed it up with teammates on the sidelines. 

Who is the mysterious, unmarked "number 3"? Every time I found myself scanning the field for the one and only Ed Reed, he was no where to be seen! Once "number 3" took his helmet off, I'd found him. Why the number 3 jersey Ed?















Hard to believe that Ray Lewis is back to the Ravens for his 16th NFL season. He appears to have stayed in excellent physical condition during the off-season which is not surprising considering his dedicated fitness and training regimen. Looks like we have at least one more season of the Ed and Ray duo leading a shut down defense.

If all else fails, looks like we can put Harbaugh in this season! Vying for the third string QB spot possibly?

 

Fans Flock to M&T to Celebrate the Return of Ravens Football

After months of worrying that the NFL lockout would threaten the 2011-12 football season, Ravens fans were finally given something to get excited about as the team took the field at M&T Bank Stadium for an open practice. For some fans, making the annual trip to McDaniel College in Westminster is a highlight of the summer. However, due to the lockout the team was forced to move their training camp practices to their training facility in Owings Mills, a space that cannot accommodate parking for the thousands of spectators interested in attending.

Today was the only practice open to the public and you could definitely feel football season in the air as more than 20,000 fans arrived downtown as early as 8 a.m. for the 3-hour practice starting at 10 a.m.

I couldn’t have been more excited to put on my own number 52 jersey for the first time in months and see the guys in action. While it is hard to assess the players in the preseason due to the many variables they are up against, I will be posting a series of entries in the days leading up to the first pre-season game that lay out my thoughts about what I saw today as well some of my questions that are still left unanswered. With only 5 days to go before our Ravens take the field in Philly, there is certainly a lot of things for fans to be excited about as well as some wrinkles in the fabric of the team that I hope they can iron out in time to start the season off with a WIN and ultimately lead us to Indianapolis in February!

Taylor’s Training Camp Thoughts: Post 1 – Rookies and Special Situations

(Photo Credits - personal photos courtesy of John Boyd)

Rookies:

I think that drafting players to NFL teams has to be one of the most challenging things that teams are required to do. It is one thing to watch players shine at the collegiate level but it is a completely different set of circumstances when you are talking about throwing them into a professional game where they are up against players with years of experience beyond their own. Talent and physical characteristics aside, teams also have to assess personal character and whether or not the young players would gel with unit of veterans that they already have in place.

All challenges taken into consideration, I was incredibly pleased with the success of the Ravens 2011 draft. It was great that owners were able to complete the drafting process before the stresses of the lockout were fully underway and it definitely reignited the excitement for the upcoming season in the hearts of Ravens fans who were left disappointed by the underwhelming performance in the playoffs.

The rookies looked right at home today in their black and purple and it was exciting to see them on Baltimore turf for the first time. 

After being sidelined with a groin injury in preceding practices, Jimmy Smith geared up for today’s practice in which he participated in light catching drills but not the scrimmaging. With all the draft day concerns about his character, I was heartened to see him in a gentle moment with some younger fans on the field.

When Torrey Smith pulled up limping during one of the passing drills there was concern but his hamstring didn’t stop from fully participating at high gear. He showed flashes that helped us understand why there was such hype when he was drafted.

The void left from loss of the gigantic Jared Gaither appears to have been filled by the massive Jah Reid. At 6'7" and 330 pounds, he is a certainly a physical presence as he competes with Cousins for the right tackle position.

Tyrod Taylor appeared to be in the number two rotation amongst the three quarterbacks along with Flacco and second year Hunter Cantwell. Although some of his passes were disappointing, he showed a different dimension during the two-minute drill when he exploded for an 80 yard scramble in which is open field running evaded multiple tacklers and showcased his speed. Clearly Taylor is a different flavor from Flacco and he could leave a bad taste with defenses if the coaches decide to exploit his abilities.

Tandon Doss played today as if he were a starter and made multiple catches.

Chykie Brown is another exciting prospect at the cornerback position and we look forward to seeing more of him in the remainder of preseason.

"Special Situations":

While the Ravens were praised for their 2010 draft, it is interesting to note that their two top picks, Sergio Kindle and Terrence Cody, did not make substantial contributions in their rookie season.

Baltimore has been rooting for Kindle to recover from his serious head injury that threatened his return to football. Finally cleared to play, it was great to see Kindle out on the field competing today. The question remains, will Kindle become the bookend opposite Terrell Suggs.

With the loss of Kelly Gregg to free agency, it is time for Terrence Cody to move into a major role on the defensive line. After struggling to pass his physical last season, Cody again appeared heavy and seemed to have problems with the heat spending much of the practice on one knee. Let’s hope he will be fit to play on opening day.

With the death of the three-headed monster following the free agency losses of McGahee and McClain, we welcome veteran fullback Vonta Leach. We are looking forward to seeing how this might enable Ray Rice to regain the performance of his rookie season.

Check back tomorrow for Taylor’s Training Camp Thoughts: Post 2 – Quarterbacks!

According to Sources: Deal to end lockout REACHED!

According to ESPN:

"The NFL Players Association and the league's owners have reached agreement on the remaining points needed in their 10-year labor deal, sources from both sides said.

Despite the fact the new agreement will require a majority vote from the players, that part of the deal between the two sides is considered a formality, according to sources.

The NFLPA is making plans for a major press conference Monday. But first the player reps' executive committee was scheduled to fly to Washington, D.C., on Sunday so they can vote Monday."

ESPN also reports:

"Once the players ratify the deal, training camps and free agency are likely to begin the same day, in what would be the equivalent of merging Thanksgiving and Christmas into one holiday."