Bleacher Report - Articles by Chris Cobb

It's in Their Hands: The Baltimore Ravens Coaching Staff

Chris Cobb — Fri, 29 May 2009 02:12:18 -0400

Last year was John Harbaugh's first year as an NFL Head Coach. One trip to the AFC Championship Game later, I'd say he had a pretty good rookie year.

Harbaugh's authority was occasionally challenged last season by veteran players on the team who were not used to doing things the way Harbaugh liked. They were used to the old regime with Brian Billick at the helm. On top of that, a lot of the veterans felt like the job should've been given to the Defensive Coordinator at the time, Rex Ryan.

There's no mistaking who's in charge now. The dissidents have left town (see: Chris McCallister), Rex Ryan is now the coach of the New York Jets, and Harbaugh is the only Sheriff left in town.

Harbaugh was a surprise hire last season for the Ravens. GM Ozzie Newsome caught everyone off-guard with the hire. Harbaugh favored a hard-nose practice philosophy that Baltimore had not seen during the Billick years. And frankly, it did not go over well at first.

The "practice hard, play hard" philosophy would appear to have come from his time as a top-flight special teams coordinator for the Eagles. On special teams, perseverance and hard work take precedence over any measure of talent.

That's just how Harbaugh ran his team. He made veteran players work just as hard as his rookies. This was the main source of discontent through the team. But the players could not argue with the results. Talk about setting the bar high.

While Harbaugh's fingerprints are seen all over the team, he lets his Coordinators run their respective units.

On the offensive side of the ball Cam Cameron pulls the strings. He gained acclaim as an Offensive Coordinator of the San Diego Chargers a few seasons back.

That offense featured a developing star at QB in Phillip Rivers, the unquestioned top player in the NFL at the time in RB LaDainian Tomlinson, and the big threat at TE Antonio Gates. It was one of the most productive offenses in the league.

He took a job as the Head Coach of the Dolphins 2 seasons ago, and to put it lightly, he floundered badly. The Dolphins went 1-15 (which looks better now that the Lions actually ran the table and lost every game), and Cam Cameron was updating his resume shortly thereafter.

Ironically the Dolphins lone victory came against the Ravens, who hired him as the Offensive Coordinator. Cam Cameron was hired largely due to his good reputation for developing young quarterbacks. Turns out it was a well-earned reputation.

Rookie QB Joe Flacco and Cameron breathed life into an offense that had never been very exciting under the old regime. Cameron was willing to embrace whatever tricks and gimmicks it took to score. He used the Dolphins new "Wildcat" offense to utilize back-up QB Troy Smith's speed. He ran reverses and QB to QB passes.

For the first time in the franchise's entire history, the offense was, dare I say, entertaining. Needless to say, Cameron should enjoy the same level of autonomy with the offense that he had last season. So Cameron will try to keep the offense clicking and take it to the next level, along with Joe Flacco's development.

On the defense, things are a bit interesting. With the much lauded Rex Ryan leaving for greener pastures, Harbaugh installed Greg Mattison as the Defensive Coordinator. Mattison served as the Linebackers' Coach for the Ravens last season, but is best known as the Defensive Coordinator of the Florida Gators from '05-'07.

There he ran a fast, attacking defense, just like the Ravens'. So it would appear that he was handpicked to run the defense when Ryan left.

One year later he finds himself with the keys to the NFL's Cadillac of Defenses. A bit aged at one time, it's just received a big infusion of youth. It'll be up to him to make the new parts fit into the scheme.

To make the new parts work better than the old parts. He should be up to the task after running a dominant defense at Florida year in and year out, in spite of college football's high roster turnover rate.

Mattison should receive the same level of independence to run the defense, just like Ryan got. Ozzie Newsome has yet to make a mistake on a Defensive Coordinator, so it would be wise to expect nothing but the usual from the Baltimore Defense.

The Assistant Head Coach is the Special Teams Coordinator, Jerry Rosburg. He started with the team a year ago as the Special Teams Coordinator and took up the role of Assistant Head Coach this offseason.

As the Assistant Head Coach, Rosburg will be Harbaugh's right hand man. He will be responsible for ensuring that the whole team is adhering to his philosophies. And what better person than the Special Teams Coordinator to help run Harbaugh's up-tempo hard work practices.

Those are the big names on the Baltimore coaching staff, but there's a name that will be just as important to the team this year.

Hue Jackson. He's the Ravens QB Coach. The development of Joe Flacco into an NFL franchise QB is nearly as important to fans as another Super Bowl trophy.

Hue had success in his first year with the Ravens, with Flacco steadily improving as the year went on. Flacco will need to build on his early success and it's Hue's job to ensure it happens.

Hue has coached multiple offensive positions, which should aid in young Flacco's development. He can help the QB understand what the RB needs to succeed and what the WR needs from the QB.

He's coached both positions before, in addition to being the Offensive Coordinator previously. He brings a wealth of knowledge that is now at Joe Flacco's disposal.

He plays a vital role not just for the team this season, but for the franchise's long term plans. His tutelage of Flacco will help determine the franchise's future.

All of these coaches have separate roles and responsibilities. John Harbaugh maintains work ethic and that hard nosed attitude, in addition to determining the offensive and defensive philosophies. Cam Cameron will run the offense and try to squeeze every last point he can get out of every game.

Greg Mattison will be entrusted with the crown jewel of the franchise, expected to keep the defense dominant. Jerry Rosburg is expected to keep the special teams explosive and consistent, while enforcing Harbaugh's tough minded philosophies team wide.

And Hue Jackson is holding the franchise's future in his hands as he tries to shape young Joe Flacco into a franchise QB.

These are the coaches with the most say in how this season unfolds for the Ravens and their fans. It would appear to be in safe hands.

Top Heavy: Life in the AFC North

Chris Cobb — Mon, 25 May 2009 17:51:55 -0400

If you didn't pay attention to the NFL playoffs last season you may not have noticed, but the AFC Championship Game featured two teams from the same division: The AFC North.

The Steelers emerged victorious over the Ravens that day. In fact, Pittsburgh won both regular season matchups also.

Everyone who follows the NFL at all knows that the Steelers went on to win the Super Bowl over the Arizona Cardinals. But the story that can be gleaned for the 2009 season would be that the AFC North may not just be home to the best rivalry in the league, but perhaps the two best teams in the AFC.

The other side of that story would be that the division is also home to two of the worst teams in the AFC.

The Browns and Bengals had the fifth and sixth picks, respectively, in the 2009 Draft. Both teams are looking to—and should—improve this season. But the fanbases of both teams would tell you the same thing: It's a long road to the top when the top is occupied by two fiercely dominant and consistently good teams.

The Browns are under an entirely new administration, with Eric Mangini holding the coaching reins. The franchise has long been a doormat of the NFL, and don't expect much more than the usual this season. The team may be improving, but not drastically enough to expect much more than last season.

The weaknesses of this team are many, but I'd say the worst is a lack of leadership on either side of the ball. This is a team with things to figure out in training camp if it wants to even pretend to be competitive.

Good leadership can make a bad team good, so the Browns need either Brady Quinn or Derek Anderson to step up and put the team on his back. This position battle at quarterback will be one of the most interesting of the offseason.

They're the only two real X-factors on the team. You know exactly what you'll get from every other member of the team, whether it's good or bad. They both want to be big-time quarterbacks in the NFL, so one of them needs to step up, otherwise this will just be another forgettable season for the Browns.

The Bengals have been nicknamed "the Bungals" for very good reason: The franchise has not enjoyed very many good seasons, and this one isn't looking much rosier. The team has improved significantly through this year's draft, the consensus pick for best overall draft, but don't expect that to translate into a huge improvement this year.

The team will, however, be better than last year, with Carson Palmer returning healthy from an injury-shortened season. They'll be a few wins better, but not in the playoff hunt.

Between Palmer's return and his apparent chemistry with new arrival Laveranues Coles, the Bengals offense should be fun to watch, at any rate. The overall quality of the team has gone up and it should be reflected in wins, but probably not that much this season. They could be vastly improved in 2010 with one more good offseason.

So it comes down to the smash-mouth rivalry between the Baltimore Ravens and the Pittsburgh Steelers. These are two teams that hate each other. They will both fight tooth, nail, and claw for every yard, every win, and, ultimately, for the division title.

The Steelers have known hardly anything but sustained success over their long and storied history. They're fresh off their sixth Super Bowl victory and the team doesn't appear to have deteriorated noticeably. So they're right on track for another Super Bowl run.

The offensive line is still the only chink in the armor, but the team found a way to overcome that last season.

The key to their success is the defense as usual, but Ben Roethlisberger is nearly as important. When he's successful, so is the team. So if the line can give him time to make throws, the rest should fall into place. Hey, it worked last season.

The Ravens' history is much, much shorter, moving from Cleveland in 1996, but they enjoyed a relatively quick rise to the top with a Super Bowl victory in the '00 season. Since then the Ravens have been consistent contenders, with only a couple underachieving seasons.

The team had both key departures and arrivals, so it's hard to gauge whether they've improved or gotten worse. But the general feeling is that they're better than last year. The team's main weakness is the lack of an established big-play threat at wide receiver.

The Ravens' success is predicated on the same philosophy of dominant defense, and the team's quarterback, Joe Flacco, is constantly compared to Ben Roethlisberger. Similarly, he holds the key to the Ravens' season. The team needs Joe Flacco to step up in his second year, and all reports from camps indicate he's improved in a big way. Things look good in Ravens Land.

As a Ravens fan, I'd like to say that the Ravens hold an edge in the divisional race, but, in good faith, I could not do that. I'd give a very slight edge to the Steelers, if only because they took three of three very, very physical games from the Ravens last season.

I feel like we'll see both teams in the playoffs again. It's just a matter of which one comes in as the division winner and which comes in as the wild card.

Either way, this will be the season that the rest of the league sees just how vicious a rivalry this division houses, and just maybe they'll see another Super Bowl trophy in one of these teams' trophy cases.

A New Page in the Playbook: The Baltimore Double Tight End Spread

Chris Cobb — Thu, 21 May 2009 23:37:33 -0400

This offseason, the Ravens made an interesting acquisition in the form of L.J. Smith, the pass catching tight end from the Philadelphia Eagles. It's an interesting acquisition because it creates a redundancy at the position. He's similar in many ways to the Ravens' own Todd Heap.

They are both tight ends who are very good in the passing game, but lack the skills to be a great blocker on the line. Both are a couple years removed from their last productive season. And both have a history of getting hurt.

Last season, Heap was limited in productivity due to his health and constantly having to stay on the line and block in a max protect scheme. But there's been a new development thanks to the Ravens's first round draft pick, OT Michael Oher. In theory, if Oher can hold his own on the line, the tight end position should be freed up more often for a route. This should bring more productivity to the position.

Which brings us to why L.J. Smith was brought in.

Many fans feel that he's an insurance policy for Todd Heap, who has often been injured. But that doesn't fit to me, L.J. Smith has too much talent to be used sparingly, biding time until Heap gets hurt.

Other fans felt that he would also be used to add some flair to the Ravens "Double Tight" package with two tight ends. It would add a receiving weapon to what is traditionally a running package. And we all know the Ravens run. A lot. So it would give opponents something else to consider before they stacked the box.

But what do I see in store for Mr. Smith? I see a totally new page in the playbook. I'd like to introduce the NFL to the Double Tight End Spread formation.

A refresher course on the spread for those who don't know what the heck I'm talking about. It's an offense that typically features four wide receivers, a single running back, and the quarterback. Traditionally the spread features more passing than running, but both can be done well with the correct personnel and adaptation.

The Patriots have shown the NFL that the spread offense can work. The Double Tight End version of this offense simply bends the offense around the Ravens strengths.

As evidenced in his time in San Diego, offensive coordinator Cam Cameron likes to get the most out of his tight ends. And the fact of the matter is that in Baltimore, the tight end corps is now more talented than the receiving corps. The dilemma is how to get both on the field without compromising the offense.

That's where the Double Tight End Spread comes into play. With Smith and Heap as the slots, and with Mason and Clayton as the wide outs, the variety of plays possible is nearly endless.

First of all, it spreads out the defense to make reads easy for a young quarterback such as the Ravens' Flacco. Second, the spread is traditionally a read and react offense, allowing a quarterback to easily adapt and audible to a play more suitable to take advantage of a defensive package.

The double tight end version of this offensive package only enhances that adaptability. A tight end could motion over to the line for a run, or the running back could shift out to be a fifth wide receiver to keep the defense on it's toes.

The advantages of spreading out a defense and having more receiving options should be an obvious benefit to the passing game. And the presence of tight ends instead of slot receivers should help the formation's running attack as well.

And really it's the perfect formation for young running back, Ray Rice. His one cut and go style makes sense with the offense having fewer players on the line. And the hands he showed off on a few occasions last season would only make him look better.

As for the big bruiser Le'Ron McClain, his straight ahead plow style could be an excellent change of pace in the formation. As long as he can still get to the point of attack on the line quickly, he can succeed. His hands are a weakness, but not every back is perfect for a spread.

Unfortunately McGahee's mediocre hands and multiple cut running style make him the odd man out in the backfield. But if indications from last season are to be believed, he may be the odd man out in the whole offense.

Obviously I don't foresee the Ravens drastically overhauling their offense to run the spread. The Ravens will still do what the Ravens do best. Run the ball out of traditional formations. But I do foresee this as another wrinkle in Cam Cameron's offense, and Cameron likes his wrinkles.

Last year the wrinkle was the Ravens version of the Wildcat along with a few other things. I think this formation will be another trick in his ever expanding bag of tricks.

If I Had a Day with Joe Flacco...

Chris Cobb — Sat, 09 May 2009 19:15:20 -0400

So, there's this team. It has a dominant defense, future Hall of Famers, perennial Pro Bowlers, is a part of the most brutal rivalry in football, and a Super Bowl earlier in this decade.

In fact, just about the only thing this team has lacked in its short history is a real bona fide quarterback. I don't know what team you were thinking about, but the first team to pop into my mind was the Baltimore Ravens.

And that's just why, of all the big name Ravens players, I'd like a day to talk with Joe Flacco. He is the new face of the franchise's offense, and is on the cusp of becoming what the team has been waiting on since it's move to Baltimore, its franchise quarterback.

If I had my day, these'd be the questions I'd ask:

A lot of players experience a sophomore slump over the years, what've you worked on this off-season to avoid it?
How active have you been in your preparation for your second season thus far?
What was your favorite memory of your rookie season?
There seems to be a lot of pressure on you from this city, given the history of quarterbacks here, how do you deal with it?
There was much ado about your and fellow rookie quarterback Matt Ryan's composure in the face of pressure last season. What was your secret at remaining calm on the big stage?
What advice would you have for Stafford, Sanchez, Freeman, and all of the young quarterbacks entering the league this year?
As a quarterback you're expected to be the voice of the offense, and usually the whole team, although a team that has Ray Lewis is an exception. Who are the other leaders in your huddle, and in the locker room?
One of the hot button topics for this team's off-season has been the situation at wide receiver. What're your feelings on the receiving corps as it stands now?
Were you disappointed when the team didn't draft any receivers at all this year?
You were asked earlier in the season about how you'd feel if the Ravens had acquired T.O. That situation is resolved, but now I'd like to ask how you'd feel about the rumored attempts to acquire Anquan Boldin from the Cardinals.
If you were told that the team had the opportunity to get either Anquan Boldin, Braylon Edwards, or Plaxico Burress for next season, which do you campaign for the team to acquire?

That'd be my time with Joe Flacco, the young quarterback with the weight of a city's hopes on his shoulders.

Sticking to Their Guns: The Ravens Off-Season

Chris Cobb — Thu, 07 May 2009 21:52:14 -0400

The off-season has been eventful enough for the Ravens. The team had several key departures through Free Agency, for example, Bart Scott and Jason Brown. They've had several big additions through Free Agency, including Matt Birk, Dominique Foxworth and Chris Carr. But the big story, and it always is with the Ravens, was the draft.

Every NFL mock drafter from Mel Kiper to Joe Schmoe had Baltimore taking a WR in the first round. As a Ravens fan desperate for a passing game, I agreed. The mocks seemed to agree that Darrius Heyward-Bey was the godsend the Ravens were praying for.

On that point, I disagreed. I felt that the Ravens would trade up for Michael Crabtree, or trade away their first rounder for the likes of Anquan Boldin. It would be another coup for the great Ozzie. And I was half right.

The Ravens did trade up. For an offensive tackle. I was simultaneously in awe of and perplexed by the move. As I got my senses about me, comprehension dawned. Ozzie was sending a clear message.

The pieces are in place for another run at the Super Bowl. By solidifying a "solid" unit on the O-Line with a first class talent like Oher, who somehow fell past a number of units in need of O-Line help *cough* Cleveland *cough*, Ozzie is saying he'd be happy with the team as is when the season starts.

A new lineman gives Flacco a bodyguard on the line and upgrades the line to the point that in a year, maybe two, it could reach elite status among the league. As the saying goes, the game is won and lost in the trenches, and this ensures the offensive trench is as strong as ever.

The general perception is that Ozzie must feel like the main weakness of the team last year was on the line, and that everything will improve from there.

But a lot of Ravens fans would disagree, and have done so publicly. There is some downright outrage over the fact that the Ravens did not address the "obvious" need.

The lack of superstar talent at the wide receiver position has been nearly as well-documented as the need the team had at quarterback prior to last season.

And it is a fact that there is still not a superstar at the position to help a quarterback who's still developing. But it's also a fact that Ozzie is well known as a genius of personnel, drafts, and talent evaluation.

He has gone on record to say that he feels like the current core of wide receivers is more than qualified to help foster young Flacco's development as a QB.

Most Ravens fans' ire is drawn from the lack of a speed threat last year to complement Flacco's cannon (aka his arm). Ozzie believes that Demetrius Williams fills that need. I get the impression that Ozzie thinks he has very legitimate talent as a great all-round receiver.

His weakness is being frustratingly prone to injury, i.e. out half of last season. I'd say enough talent is there to be a legitimate No. 2 receiver, we'll just see if the extra rest helped his body get to a healthy place so he can be more durable.

This attitude from the front office has angered many fans who are tired of ineptitude in the passing game. And now that there seems to be a franchise passer in place, they want to see the team build around him.

The team did, just not how they thought it should be accomplished. The fans wanted to build through a young receiver, and Ozzie saw an opportunity to strengthen his team in the trenches he couldn't resist. Can't say I blame him.

That said the only real hole left for the team is the position of wide receiver. Every other position either has an established, talented veteran in place, or a young player with talent being developed. But at receiver the only established threat is Derrick Mason, and he’s not an elite talent anymore.

So what options are available to Ozzie to address this weakness? I'll lay them out:

Stick to your guns: Demetrius Williams is a talented wide receiver capable of big things. But if he gets hurt, there's not any other polished speed threats left on the roster
Make Big things happen: Go out and get one of the two premier talents available on the trade market: Anquan Boldin or Braylon Edwards. Braylon will probably not be traded to Baltimore simply because Browns fans will never forgive the team if he's traded within the division. Anquan's trade price tag is steep, but bearable. His contract demands for a new contract, probably less so for a team running close to the salary cap. These could happen potentially, but it'll take giving up draft picks, probably including a first rounder, which'd be out of character for Ozzie.
Sign a third-tier talent from the remaining free agency pool: It's slim pickings for a good receiver in the remaining free agent pool. The names that stick out are Jerry Porter, Marvin Harrison, and DJ Hackett. Of the three, I'd say Hackett would be the most likely. But I seriously doubt it'll assuage fans' doubts at the position.

I foresee Ozzie doing something at the position, I'm just not sure what. He'll either address depth, i.e. sign DJ Hackett or one of his ilk (most likely), or he'll pull the trigger on that big trade fans are hoping is in the works (less likely).

It is not likely we'll see any big moves involving any other position. It's the position at the forefront of fans' minds, and I'm pretty sure it's at the forefront of Ozzie's as well.

As always, all a Ravens fan can do is close their eyes and say "In Ozzie We Trust". It's worked out pretty well so far.

Baltimore Ravens' Offseason: What Could and Should Happen: Pt. 1- Resignings

Chris Cobb — Sun, 08 Feb 2009 19:48:35 -0500

This is the start of my column on the Ravens' offseason moves. I'll provide what insight I can and tell you what I think they'll do. Then I'll address the moves as they happen. And I'll even keep track of what I was right about and what I was wrong about, should be interesting!

The Ravens enter the 2009 offseason having completed an improbable season that ended in the AFC Championship Game. But that's yesterday's news, it's time to make the right moves for tomorrow. This offseason could prove to be a pivotal one in determining the future of this franchise.

There are several vital cogs of the Ravens up for free agency, moves need to be made to further the development of young Joe Flacco, and pieces need to be picked up to take this team to the next level. There are a lot of options and different routes to take.

First off, it is important that the team resigns the right players. The important names are: Terrell Suggs, Ray Lewis, Bart Scott, Jason Brown, Dwan Landry, Corey Ivy, Demetrius Williams, Matt Stover, and Sam Koch.

The name that jumps out on the list is Ray Lewis, the unquestioned leader of this team, basically since its inception. One would assume a nice hometown discount would be in order so he can finish out his career as a Raven, but you know what they say about assumptions.

When teammate and fellow free agent Terrell Suggs suggested a bargain on his own contract so that they could keep the stellar defense together, Lewis balked. His feelings on the discount were that if he wasn't going to be playing only part of the time, why would he take a contract only worth part of his value.

Lewis has also mentioned that he might like to play for his defensive coordinator, Rex Ryan, on the New York Jets. He has also been talking about possibly playing for the Dallas Cowboys. I'd say it looks like he is yearning for a bigger stage than the Ravens have to offer.

It's impossible to overstate Lewis' importance to the defense. It goes beyond anything stats could show, but he makes everyone around him better. But any casual football fan could tell you that. Baltimore should make every possible effort to keep him, but steel themselves for his loss.

My Prediction: He finds himself out of purple and into a uniform with a star on it.

Lewis however is not the most important name on this list. In fact I'd put two others before him. Terrell Suggs is one. He is young. He is talented. He has played with Lewis and in the Baltimore defense his entire career.

His willingness to take less pay to play with more talent around him speaks volumes about his commitment to the team. Suggs should be the Ravens first priority to resign.

My Prediction: The Ravens secure him for several years down the road.

OK, so you'll give me Suggs, because he could be the future of this defense, but who else is more important than Lewis? Jason Brown.

The young center is absolutely vital to the development of Flacco. His pass protection isn't elite, but it's very good. But it's his run blocking and handling of elite defensive lineman where he shines.

He managed to contain Albert Haynesworth (ALBERT HAYNESWORTH!!!) in both games against the Titans. And he is the main reason (OK, him and Lorenzo Neal) that Le'Ron McLain's power game was so effective. If this offense is going to continue its upward trajectory, Brown is a vital piece of the puzzle that the Ravens just can't let go of.

My Prediction: This one could go either way, but I doubt he wants to leave this team, so I think he stays on.

Those are the Big Three for Baltimore this offseason. If all three of those re-signings really do happen, then Bart Scott could find himself in a precarious position this offseason.

The Mad-Backer had one elite season, and several very good seasons. But he's just not a vital enough cog to justify resigning him at the expense of one of the previous three players. That said, of the non Big Three free agents, he is the first priority.

If any of those three don't sign (especially Lewis or Suggs) he would be the first consolation prize. But if Lewis doesn't get signed (again a real possibility), he NEEDS to be here to help keep that tradition of ferocious defense alive.

My Prediction: He doesn't get resigned if both Suggs and Lewis get signed, at least not unless one or all three take a major pay cut. If he isn't back in purple, I'd look for the Lions to make a run at him.

Dwan Landry has not turned into the complement to Ed Reed that the team thought he'd become. His replacement, Jim Leonhard, however was superb when Landry went out hurt. That spells one thing for Landry. Free Agency.

My Prediction: Landry is out, predicted destination is Bengals.

The Ravens got an opportunity to look at their depth at cornerback after McCalister and Rolle. They discovered that Fabian Washington is an above average cornerback.

However they also finally figured out that Corey Ivy and Frank Walker are nothing more than mediocre. So where does that leave Ivy in terms of free agency? It means that the Ravens have to rely on him as a nickel/dime type cornerback, and hope to get some depth so that is all he'll ever be.

My Prediction: He gets resigned, but only on the cheap. If he asks for too much, he's outta here. If he isn't here, he's playing for New Orleans or Arizona.

Demetrius Williams has long been a fan favorite for his flashes of receiving brilliance on a team with no good receivers before Derrick Mason showed up. On the other hand, that's leading to a vast overrating of him by fans.

Objectively, his ceiling is at No. 2 wide receiver. That said, there really isn't much depth at receiver in the organization and the Ravens need to hold onto what could possibly develop into a solid receiver.

With Flacco developing (Williams was hurt last year) he could tap into his potential and really break out.

My Projection: If the price is right, the Ravens sign him, but if they let him go, he's in Cinncinatti.

Finally we're down to special teams. Most fans discount them unless we're talking return men, but on a field position based team, punters and kickers are as important as your spell back.

So the Ravens find themselves in the position of having to decide if they want to keep the underpowered but always accurate (and aging) Matt Stover or go with a younger option at kicker.

And at punter Sam Koch has been nailing coffins shut in the corners his entire career, and he even took a step forward this year.

My Prediction: Stover is out, the new kid (Hauschka) is in at kicker. Koch stays around for a few more years.

So to re-cap: Lewis in Dallas, Suggs re-signs, Brown re-signs, Scott re-signs if Lewis goes (otherwise in Detroit), Landry in Cincinatti, Ivy re-signed cheap (if he asks too much, he's in New Orleans or Arizona), Williams re-signed (if not, he's in Cinncinatti), Stover retires, and Koch re-signs.

The Ravens Have Hope, and His Name Is Flacco

Chris Cobb — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 19:45:45 -0400

When the Baltimore Ravens drafted this kid, I immediately said, "We'll either be building statues of him, or trying our best to forget him."

Joe Flacco has all of the physical tools to be great—the cannon arm, he's 6'6", weighs in at 230, and the mobility to extend plays. But what we fans didn't know, heck what NOBODY knew, was if he had the "intangibles".

You know, the difference between say, Kyle Boller and Tom Brady. On paper, Boller is the better quarterback because he's got about the same accuracy and a stronger arm, but it's what Tom Brady does with those tools he has. He makes the right throws, he doesn't get flustered by pressure from the defense or a game situation, and he leaves his mistakes from the last drive behind him. Kyle Boller...doesn't. He, and quarterbacks like him (ahem Tavaris Jackson, Vince Young, Alex Smith, Ryan Leaf, David Carr, you get the idea), doesn't ever make the connect from physical ability to game ability.

The Ravens have found a quarterback who has that game ability. He hasn't put up the most gaudy stats in the world, although last week's 16/31 192yd 1 TD performance is respectable, especially against the Pittsburgh Steeler's defense, but what he does is keep drives alive.

He finds the open man and keeps the chains moving. He's not challenging the Brady touchdown record, but he's only a rookie, what is important is that he's shown Brady's poise in the pocket, and Donavan McNabb's poise outside of it. What is important was the fourth quarter drive from his own 24 yard line: he drove his team down the field, going three-for-three for 60 yards, setting up a Leron McLain touchdown (impressively bulled his way in too) to tie up the game.

Oh yeah, and this was a little after he had fumbled on a sack, about the time most rookie quarterbacks would've folded up and called it a night.

Of course Flacco has also shown his big play ability. In week one, he scored his first NFL touchdown by running 38 yards for a touchdown, which ended up being the game winner. Last week against the Steelers, Joe played reminiscent of Donovan McNabb, he was forced out of the pocket to the left sideline, and just when you thought he was going to throw it to the cheerleaders, he cutback, leaving three pursuing Steelers behind. From the RIGHT sideline he hit Wide Receiver Derrick Mason down the field. And as Ron Jaworski pointed out during the broadcast, during the entire scramble his eyes were always upfield looking for a play to make—the sign of a mature quarterback.

There were some before the season and to this day who think that Troy Smith is the man for the job. I count myself amongst the people that thought Smith deserved a shot at the job after he showed flashes of potential last season, the Ravens were a team desperate for a long-term solution at quarterback, and he seemed like he could have the stuff after watching Steve McNair for a part of the season.

But what Joe Flacco has shown with NO experience at the pro level, not even watching McNair, far surpasses anything that Smith showed last season, or looked even capable of during the pre-season.

Smith looks like he could end up as an effective journeyman quarterback, but Flacco looks like he could be a franchise quarterback, the very thing that every franchise wants and salivates over.

Smith's stats, like Flacco's, aren't gaudy, but passable. Smith shows some flashes of big play potential and a decent amount of composure. This is the man who won a Heisman, so he's a capable leader. But what he lacks is physical ability on the level of Flacco. Smith can't make "all the throws". He stands at only 6'0", there's not a chance that he can see over those big offensive lineman of his, much less the big defensive end trying to get in his way.

He has potential to be a good quarterback, but not great. And certainly not the kind of quarterback that you can build your team around.

The Ravens look like they have finally found their man in Flacco. A quarterback who combines great physical abilities with intangibles. One who has composure and can lead his team on a game winning drive. Ever since their move from Cleveland in the '95-96 season, the Ravens have been looking for a franchise quarterback. 12 years later, it looks like they've drafted the right man. At long, long last.