Baltimore Ravens Perspective

Baltimore Ravens

Players To Watch:

WR Anquan Boldin - Boldin is really the key to the Ravens passing offense. He is such a talent because he can stretch the defense by going deep or be just as effective going over the middle and making catches in traffic. QB Joe Flacco should target his best receiver early and get him involved, when Boldin is playing well the Ravens are a very tough team to stop.

LB Ray Lewis - The leader of the Raven's seems to always come up with big plays. In the first round playoff game against the Chiefs, Lewis had a some what quiet first half but came out big as usual in the second half and had a forced fumble and sack. I believe that motivational speeches and such are overrated, unless they are coming from a guy like Lewis, he gets everyone on the defense ready to go.

S Ed Reed- When the Ravens and Steelers match up everyone knows its going to be a close low scoring game. A guy like Reed can change the whole out come of a close game on one play. He had 8 interceptions this year in only 10 games. The difference between him and a lot of other guys is when he gets picks the ball off he is looking to score (and usually lateral the ball). A pick 6 in a game like this could end up winning/costing your team the game so if Ben Roethlisberger is smart he will try and keep the ball away from number 20.

Key Matchup – RB Ray Rice vs Steelers linebackers – This should be a really good match-up its is strength vs strength for both teams. In his two games against the Steelers this year Rice has been shutdown early. Rice is really what makes the Ravens offense go so they need to find a way to get him involved. I think Rice is most dangerous catching the ball so even if the he can't run against the stout Steelers defense look for him to have some big time catches and YAC.

Why the Ravens Will Win – Honestly with these two teams the only thing that is guaranteed is that there are going to be a lot of big hits (probably some flags and fines stemming from those hits), quarterback ratings will be ugly, and it will usually come down to a field goal. I think the Ravens will win this game because they are actually the better team on defense. Ray Lewis has compared this team to the 2000-01 team that won the super bowl, which is pretty lofty praise because the 00-01 defense was unbelievable. I think the Ravens can win the defensive match-up today and win the game.

Prediction- Ravens 17 Steelers 10

Playoff Preview: Baltimore Ravens

Offensive MVP: RB Ray Rice and WR Anquan Boldin

The Ravens offense has been inconsistent this year, but when they are playing well it usually means Boldin and Rice are having good games. Rice has really become a workhorse for the Ravens, he was responsible for over 34% of the Ravens offense this year rushing for 1200 yards and adding 556 yards on 63 receptions. Boldin may have had a down year personally, but he really opened up the Ravens offense for other players. Boldin lead the team with 64 receptions 837 yards and 7 TDs. He had a slow second half but he is too much of a playmaker to continue his rut into the playoffs.

Defensive MVP: Too Many to Choose From

Who do you give it to here? You could go with Ray Lewis who seems to be ageless, he leads the team in tackles and is the ultimate motivator. Ed Reed missed six games due to injury then comes back and does not miss a beat and ends up leading he NFL in interceptions with 8. Haloti Ngata had 63 tackles and 5.5 sacks as a 6'4" 350 lbs. lineman. He is an absolute beast and has to be in the top 3 for best defensive lineman in the NFL. Terrell Suggs continues to be a terror off the edge leading the team with 11 sacks. You really can't go wrong picking anyone of these guys.

Best Win: Week 15 - Against the New Orleans Saints

The former Super Bowl Champion Saints came into this game on a 6 game winning streak and they looked like they were back to their old form. In this game the Ravens showed how good of a team they can be when they play well. They ran the ball, were efficient in the passing game, and made big stops against a great offense when they needed them. When the Ravens are playing well in all three phases of the game, there is no team better in the NFL.

Rookie Grade: D+

The Ravens already had a lot of depth so it was a long shot for any rookie to get a lot of early playing time. There top pick, LB Sergio Kindle, who I thought was going to be a very good player, never saw the field after suffering an off the field injury. DT Terrance Cody played sparingly but has been a disappointment thus far. Tight ends Ed Dickson and Dennis Pitta are stuck behind Todd Heap but could end up being good players. The fifth round pick WR David Reed may be there best pick he has been a big help on special teams.

How Can They Make It To The Super Bowl: Ray Rice and Defensive Turnovers

Rice is the key to the Ravens offense. Last year Ray Rice and the Ravens went into Foxborough and dominated the Patriots and Tom Brady (who has all sorts of records while playing at home) like few teams have done in the past 10 years. Rice was able to rush for 159 yards on 22 carries and the defense caused four turnovers. The best stat about that game is that they won despite Flacco passing for only 34 yards with an interception. With Flacco playing better and having new weapons, the Ravens just need Rice to step it up for the playoff run and the defense to change the momentum of games with their big turnovers.

MNF: Ravens Perspective

Players to Watch

QB Joe Flacco- He has been on fire recently, and even had a solid game against the great Steelers defense last week. Flacco and Matt Ryan were drafted in the same class and while Ryan gets a lot of the attention, Flacco is not far behind him in terms of talent. Tonight he faces the worst defense in the league, so you can expect another great game from Flacco as the Ravens will air it out against the Texans.

S Ed Reed- Despite only playing in 6 games this year, veteran Ed Reed has made a large impact on the team with 4 interceptions. Reed and Lewis are the leaders of the Ravens defense and they will be needed to stop a Texans offense that has no problems with scoring. Reed will look to neutralize Andre Johnson by providing extra help over the middle and capitalizing on any mistakes that Matt Schaub makes.

LB Terrell Suggs- Averaging over 5 sacks in his last 5 games, Suggs has become a nightmare for opposing QBs this season. He is currently playing some of his best football since his tremendous rookie season. Schaub usually gets decent protection from his offensive lineman, but they will need to step up tonight if they hope to contain Suggs. Turnovers and sacks are the best ways to stop a high powered offense so Suggs must keep the pressure on Schaub throughout the game.

Key Matchup: DT Haloti Ngata v. RB Arian Foster– In a battle of strength versus strength, the top rusher in the league will face one of the best tackles. Foster is averaging over 100 yards per game, but those yards will be hard to come by against the Ravens stellar rush defense. The 350 pound behemoth takes up a lot of space in the middle and moves extremely well for a big man. Ngata is an asset to both the pass and rush defense. If Ngata can stuff Foster in the backfield, the Texans will lose their play-action ability, which is a key to their success.

Why the Ravens Will Win- 3 of their 4 losses were to the Patriots, Steelers, and Falcons, all elite teams, and they haven’t lost a game by more than 5 points. Their defense is one of the best in the league, and while their offense has struggled at times, playing the Houston Texans is a great recipe for righting the ship. Houston has lost 6 of their last 8, and their playoff hopes are slim at best. The Ravens are clearly the better team and have more to play for in this game and will come away with the W.

Prediction: Ravens 31, Texans 20

AFC North Quarter Review

Baltimore Ravens (3-1)

On paper the Ravens still look like super bowl favorites to me. They have a top rated defense, and are going to get even better with the return of Pro-Bowl safety Ed Reed. Their offense has surprisingly started off slow, but Flacco seems to be getting more comfortable with the new faces on offense and things look like they are starting to click in the passing game. The key for the Ravens will be to get RB Ray Rice going. Rice averaged 5.3 YPC last year to go along with 78 receptions. This year the rushing attack looks pretty weak. If the Ravens can get Rice back to last years form, it is hard to imagine any team that can compete with them.

Surprise Players: Anquan Boldin, Dawan Landry, Haloti Ngata

Pittsburg Steelers (3-1)

As a Steelers fan you have to be very happy about how the season is going. The Steelers played four pretty tough opponents without their starting QB, and two of them with their third sting QB, yet they are sitting at 3-1. The Steelers have a great rushing attack with RB Rashard Mendenhall and the number one rated defense in the league. The only weakness is their passing attack which ranks 31^st in the NFL. With former Super Bowl MVP QB Ben Roethlisberger under center, it won’t take long for the Steelers to start passing the ball effectively.

Surprise Players: Rashard Mendenhall, Mike Wallace, Lawrence Timmons, LaMarr Woodley

Cincinnati Bengals (2-2)

The reigning division champs are currently sitting third and looking up at two very talented teams ahead of them. In their two losses the Bengals got down early and were forced to play catch-up. What made the Bengals such a good team last year was their ability to run the ball effectively. This year RB Cedric Benson has only averaged 3.3 YPC, and has forced the Bengals to be pretty one dimensional on offense. QB Carson Palmer has passed almost 40 times per game so far. The Bengals really need Benson, and Palmer to step it up the rest of the way if they want to win.

Surprise Players: Terrell Owens, Leon Hall, Dhani Jones

Cleveland Browns (1-3)

Coming into the season, I thought the Browns were one of the worst teams in the NFL. I think they have turned some heads with the way they are playing. Usually the best word to describe the Browns is sloppy, but so far they have played some tough physical games, and they are giving some talented teams a run for their money. Even though the Browns are in a very tough division, I could see them winning 6-7 wins this season based on how they are playing right now.

Surprise Players: Peyton Hillis, Seneca Wallace, Ben Watson, TJ Ward, Scott Fuijita

Prediction: I still like the Ravens to win the division; they are 3-1 and have yet to play their best football. The Steelers could be a dangerous team with the return of QB Ben Roethlisberger, at worst they should win the wild card.

V/P/S of the Day

Stat of the Day: WR Anquan Boldin faster receiver to reach 600 receptions. Pretty good for a receiver that fell into the second round because he did not run a fast enough time at the combine.




He may also be one of the toughest players in the NFL, this hit knocked him out and he had to get screws in his jaw. QB Kurt Warner, (who passed the ball) was so upset about what had happened he almost retired after the game. Amazingly Bolding came back in only 2 weeks:

Here is some highlights of Boldins Career:

Ray Lewis - Playing With Passion

Ray Lewis has been one of the most passionate, emotional players I have witnessed playing the game. I honestly think he would give his life for the sake of his team.

Watching videos like this this and seeing someone play with such emotion makes me miss the time I spent in a football uniform.

Quote of the Day - "There's nothing I won't give up. There's no play I will take a break on. If a man can fight for a life, I can go out and fight for a game." - Ray Lewis

Baltimore Ravens 2010 Analysis and Preview

Last Years Record            9-7

Wins:  Chiefs, Chargers, Browns (x2), Broncos, Steelers, Lions, Bears, Raiders

Losses: Patriots, Bengals (x2), Vikings, Colts, Packers, Steelers

Biggest Playmaker            Ray Rice

RB, Rutgers, Drafted #55, 3^rd Year

In just his second year in the NFL Ray Rice amassed 2,041 yards from scrimmage, 2^nd in the NFL.  Ray Rice is a dynamic player in the open field and a very talented pass catcher, piling up over 700 yards receiving.  Look for Ray Rice to improve his rushing totals this year, as the Ravens will have a stronger pass game, taking the defensive pressure off of him. 

Impact Player            Ray Lewis

MLB, Miami, Drafted #26, 15^th Year

Sure, Ray Lewis is getting old.  Sure, it’s hard to endure a long career as a lineback in the NFL.  Have you ever watched Ray Lewis play?  I have never seen anyone play with as much passion and heart as he does, and he is clearly the leader of the Ravens’ stingy defense.  And who’s to say his 15^th year won’t be as successful as the rest, he racked up 135 tackles in year 14, and has been to 11 out of the last 13 pro bowls. 

Biggest Offseason Addition            Anquan Boldin

WR, Florida State, Drafted #54, 8^th Year

Ozzie Newsome has been a great GM over the years, but after being called out by owner Steve Biscotti for a lack of talent at wide receiver he made one of his best moves yet by trading a third and fourth round pick for three time pro bowler Anquan Boldin.  Boldin is coming off an 80+ catch and 1,000 yard season and will be a huge addition to the Ravens’ aerial attack.

Biggest Offseason Loss            Cornerback

Samari Rolle was unable to play in 2009 due to neck surgeries and unfortunately had to retire this offseason.  Starting CB Domonique Foxworth is out for the season, leaving the team pretty thin at corner.  They are currently looking at Chris Carr and Lardarius Webb as their starters who have a combined four interceptions in six total years (all four by Chris Carr in his five year career).

Biggest Draft Steal            Terrence Cody

NT, Alabama, Drafted #57, Rookie

Terrence Cody fell to the Ravens in the second round because of concerns about his weight, but he passed the Ravens conditioning test in only three tries!  Cody was a two-time Consensus All-American and at around 350 pounds can be a huge factor plugging the middle of the Ravens’ 3-4 defense.  Next to Haloti Ngata the Ravens could have a scary-big defensive line.

Biggest Draft Reach            Arthur Jones

DT, Syracuse, Drafted # 157, Rookie

Only because I had to choose.  The Ravens had a great draft yet again in 2010, but the one guy who could possibly be considered a reach is Arthur Jones.  He had injury problems his junior and senior years (torn pectoral and torn lateral meniscus).  If he can stay healthy he could be productive but will be switching to a 3-4 defensive end and showed inconsistent play during college.  However, Jones could stay healthy and prove to be a factor as a backup 3-4 DE.                   

Offseason Grade            A

The Ravens lost zero starters while upgrading their biggest weakness, the receiver spot.  In addition to Boldin the Ravens also signed Donte Stallworth.  The Ravens’ first two draft choices were the best players available in their opinion, OLB Sergio Kindle and NT Terrence Cody.  Hopefully Kindle can return soon from his fractured skull to bolster an already strong linebacking core. 

X-Factor            Joe Flacco

QB, Delaware, Drafted #18, 3^rd Year

Joe Flacco is entering his third year after leading the Ravens to the playoffs his first two seasons and improving his performance and statistics in his second season.  With the additions of Stallworth and Boldin I expect Flacco to have a big year, but his performance is key to the Ravens’ success. 

Name You Should Know            Matt Birk

C, Harvard, Drafted # 173, 13^th Year

Matt Birk has been one of the most successful centers in NFL history.  He has been to six pro bowls and was a veteran leader of an O-line that ranked 5^th in rush offense in 2009.  Birk may well be the most successful NFL player to come out of the Ivy League the past twenty years.

Rising Star            Michael Oher

OT, Ole Miss, Drafted # 23, 2^nd Year

Oher was made famous because of Michael Lewis’ book The Blind Side (later made into a movie), which told of Oher’s upbringing and journey to Ole Miss.  Oher slipped down to 23^rd in last year’s draft due to concerns about his learning disability and his childhood, but proved doubters wrong, starting all 16 games in his rookie campaign

Offensive Outlook            A-

If Joe Flacco can step up and become an elite quarterback the Ravens will be tough to stop.  Ray Rice is a dynamic weapon, and adding Anquan Boldin seriously helps their passing attack.  Todd Heap is aging but is still productive, and the offensive line is strong with Jared Gaither and Oher at the tackles and Matt Birk in the middle.

Defensive Outlook            B

Probably the first time in recent years that the Ravens’ offense can be considered stronger than their defense.  The Ravens are the 5^th oldest team in the league, and the age is showing on defense.  Ray Lewis should continue to lead the defense even in his fifth season, but the uncertainty in the secondary (inexperience at the corners and Ed Reed being on the PUP list and not knowing when he will return) could definitely hurt the pass defense.  In addition, Terrell Suggs will have to rebound from a season in which he recorded only 4.5 sacks. 

Special Teams Outlook            B

The Ravens ranked 18^th overall in overall special teams last year, and are looking to improve that ranking in 2010.  The Ravens signed Shayne Graham (fifth highest field goal percentage in NFL history) who will likely beat out Billy Cundiff.  Sam Koch was consistent in 2009 with just 5 touchbacks and 26 landed inside the 20.  They will likely look to Chris Carr to return punts again and possibly start Jalen Parmele as the kick returner, who averaged 31.4 yards per return in nine returns towards the end of the year. 

Projected 2010 Record            10-6

The Ravens have a very good chance to win the AFC North this year with the improvements to their offense, but their defense is facing injury problems already with Safety Ed Reed on the PUP list and CB Domonique Foxworth out for the season.  However, Terrell Suggs promised he would never play as badly as he did in 2009, and Ray Lewis is too good to be too old, so I seem them contending for the AFC North title in 2010…mostly due to their now balanced offense.

Ravens Starting CB Out for the Season

The Baltimore Ravens have lost their starting cornerback, Domonique Foxworth, for the 2010 season with a torn ACL.  Foxworth suffered the injury in practice on Thursday.  The Ravens are now looking to backups Chris Carr, Lardarius Webb (rehabbing a knee surgery) and Cary Williams.  Their opposite starting corner, Fabian Washington, is also rehabbing from knee surgery.

Analysis:  Huge blow for the Ravens defense that will already be without safety Ed Reed for at least the first six games.  Chris Carr started four games in 2009, appearing in all 16, with 2 interceptions, 2 forced fumbles and a career-high 38 tackles.  The Ravens simply cannot afford another injury, especially in their secondary.

I think the Ravens will go out and sign a free agent cornerback, potentially a veteran to a one or two year deal... Ty Law? Shawn Springs? Fred Smoot? DeShea Townsend?


Update:  The Ravens traded a conditional 2011 draft pick to the Seahawks for CB Josh Wilson.  They had to make a move.

Sergio Kindle Update

Sergio Kindle will not be allowed to report to Ravens' training camp for three weeks, meaning he will likely miss more time than that.  Expect eight year veteran Jarret Johnson to remain as a starter at OLB, and hopefully for Kindle he makes a full recovery.  I believe that once Kindle is cleared it will not take long for him to crack the starting lineup.

Sergio Kindle Hospitalized

The Baltimore Ravens' first pick in the 2010 NFL Draft, Sergio Kindle, was hospitalized today with a head injury after reportedly falling down stairs, the day before Ravens' rookies are set to report to camp.  Kindle, a first round talent, fell to the second round due to concerns about potential microfracture surgery on his knee early in his career.  Kindle could have a major impact on the Ravens defense that will be without safety Ed Reed to start the year.  Sergio will not report to camp tomorrow, but is in stable condition and it will be interesting to see how much time he misses while he recovers.

Ozzie Newsome Analysis

The following is a piece that Alex Jenny wrote during his Sports Management WorldWide Football GM & Scouting Course:


Ozzie Newsome – General Manager and Executive VP of the Baltimore Ravens
Ozzie Newsome enjoyed a stellar NFL career as a tight end in which he caught 662 balls and 47 touchdowns. A former first round draft pick of the Cleveland Brown and current Hall of Famer, Newsome played for legendary coach Bear Bryant at the University of Alabama. This would not be the last time that Newsome surrounded himself with incredible leaders.
Ozzie Newsome began his career following his playing days as an assignment scout for the Cleveland Browns. Newsome quickly climbed the ranks in Cleveland, as he was named the Director of Pro Personnel in 1994 for the Browns. Just two years later, Newsome was named the Vice President of Player Personnel for the Baltimore Ravens, who had just relocated from Cleveland.
Analyzing talent and accurately choosing the best possible college player for your team can be very challenging. Some picks will make personnel departments look incredibly intelligent, while others will have the public and media in outrage. When looking at Ozzie Newsome’s draft resume, you will see many true stars in the league and only a few “busts.” In Newsome’s first year as the vice president of player personnel in 1996, the Ravens used their two first round draft picks (4th and 26th overall) to select two incredible players, Jonathan Odgen and Ray Lewis, who will likely join Newsome in the hall of fame in the coming years. In just his second year, the Ravens chose eventual NFL Defensive Rookie of the year and four time pro-bowler LB Peter Boulware. Newsome’s noticeable picks in the coming years include CBs Duane Starks (1998) Chris McAlister (1999), RB Jamal Lewis (2000), TE Todd Heap (2001), S Ed Reed (2002), LB Terrell Suggs (2003), Haloti Ngata (2006), QB Joe Flacco (2008) and RB Ray Rice (2008).
However, in addition to studying the playmakers drafted under direction of Ozzie Newsome, one must study the busts drafted over the same period. The first pick that comes to mind, for me personally, is Kyle Boller, a first round pick in 2003. Many people say that he was put in the starting role too soon and that he did not have a great offense around him to allow a young quarterback to thrive. I do not buy this. If you choose a quarterback in the first round you expect him to thrive, and to do so in the near future. As a former quarterback I feel (with a bias) that the quarterback is the single most important position on the field. Good quarterbacks can thrive with great talent around them. Great quarterbacks can make good players around them thrive. And a first round quarterback should be expected to make his teammates thrive, which Kyle Boller was not able to do. Other potential busts are WRs Mark Clayton and Travis Taylor, both taken in the first round. Travis Taylor was picked in the 2000 draft and released after the 2004 season. Mark Clayton was picked in the 2004 draft and will have to fight for a roster spot with the addition of Anquan Boldin and Donte Stallworth. Ideally, a first round pick should be at least a consistent starter for your team for years, and hopefully grab a few pro bowl selections as well. However, it seems that Newsome has been able to correct for some of these draft mistakes by finding a franchise QB in Joe Flacco, adding Derrick Mason as a free agent WR and trading for Anquan Boldin.
Free agency has been tremendously important to the success of the Ravens. In 2000, the Ravens signed DT Sam Adams and S Rod Woodson, both of whom made the pro bowl in their first year in a Ravens uniform. In addition, QB Trent Dilfer was signed as a backup QB, but came in to win the final eleven games of the season, including the Super Bowl. Derrick Mason and CB Samari Rolle were signed as free agents. QB Steve McNair and DT Trevor Pryce were both picked up before the 2006 season with McNair making the pro bowl that year. Newsome has aquired some big name free agents over his time, with many of them having a large impact on the Ravens’ success.
The salary cap became an issue following the Ravens’ Super Bowl winning season in 2000-2001. By two years later, the Ravens had to let go more than twelve starters from their Super Bowl team due to a lack of cap space. Pat Moriarty, the Ravens’ Vice President of Football Administration, is primarily responsible for the management of the salary cap, but as a General Manager Newsome is ultimately responsible for his staff and players. Moriarty and Newsome work closely together, and a team should have no excuse for such a pressing salary cap situation. But maybe they thought it was worth spending a lot of money to have a great chance at a Super Bowl when they knew they would have to free cap space in the coming years. I would rather a team build a long-term foundation.
Since the beginning of the franchise in 1996, the Ravens have been blessed with stellar coaching, and much of that is due to the work and principles of the management team. John Harbaugh is currently the head coach and was hired before the 2008 season. When he was hired, he had never before been a head coach, and it appeared to be a questionable hiring to the general public. This situation reminded me very clearly of the example in the book The Packer Way, by Ron Wolf and Paul Attner. When the Green Bay Packers signed Brett Favre and hired Mike Holmgren, it looked as if their management was not totally sure what they were doing. However, the management knew, deep down, they had their guys. And Ron says that the most important positions in a football organization for great leadership is the head coach and quarterback. With John Harbaugh coaching and newly drafted Joe Flacco at the helm, the Ravens’ management knew they were going in a good direction. The Ravens have also had nine assistant coaches go on to become head coaches for other NFL teams. Nine in fifteen years! Ozzie Newsome has a knack for hiring successful people, an important aspect of running an organization and being able to trust the people who are working for you.
I believe that the Ravens had a stellar offseason this year in regards to both free agency as well as the draft. Second round draft pick Terrence Cody is a huge body who, next to Haloti Ngata and in front of Ray Lewis, could bolster an already stifling Ravens’ run defense. Sergio Kindle was considered a first round talent by most and scooped up by the Ravens in the second round, and TEs Ed Dickson and Dennis Pitta should add very solid depth behind TE Todd Heap. After being called out about a lack of talent in the receiving corps last year, Newsome responded by adding Pro Bowler Anquan Boldin, Donte Stallworth and re-signing Derrick Mason. DE Cory Redding should be a solid starter in the front seven, while Newsome added depth with the additions of QB Marc Bulger and K Shayne Graham.
I think the Ravens’ are poised for a great season with no glaring weaknesses in their lineup. All in all, I think Ozzie Newsome has been a very successful GM and he is highly regarded among others in the football industry. He has made some safe, big name acquisitions but also the not so popular decision (John Harbaugh) that he sternly believed in. What does everyone else think?