Bleacher Report - Articles by Jeff Wolfson

Baltimore Ravens To Have Formidible Passing Attack In Week 2

Jeff Wolfson — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 23:26:19 -0400

The performance that I want to focus on from Week One is the passing game. Joe Flacco was very accurate completing 26 of 43 passes.

All this means to me is that Flacco has continued his growth in to his sophomore NFL season. He also had his best day as a pro throwing for over 300 yards and three touchdowns.

What made Flacco’s performance even more impressive was his ability to spread the ball around. Flacco hit seven different receivers for his completions and three different receivers for his touchdowns. The game proved that the Ravens could, in fact, win the game with an air attack.

I believe the real story with the Ravens passing game was the wide receivers. All during training camp and exhibition games the wide receiving corps was much maligned. Mark Clayton, who had a hamstring injury for the entire preseason, came up very big for the Ravens Sunday against Kansas City.

Clayton averaged 15.4 yards per catch in his performance which led the Ravens receivers. Clayton’s 31-yard reception down the middle of the field was a huge contribution to the offense and proved to be the winning score in the game.

Another encouraging sign for Baltimore was the re-emergence of Todd Heap. Heap has struggled for the last two seasons and seemed to disappear in the offense last season.

Heap also scored a touchdown and caught five balls in the Ravens 38-24 win. His 74 yards were over the middle of the field. The middle of the field is where the Ravens lacked production in the passing game last season.

Derrick Mason seemed to fill his role beautifully as the possession receiver in the offense. Kelley Washington assisted as well with that role in the slot. The backs also served their purpose by receiving passes in check down situations for Flacco.

As impressive as the passing game was Sunday, the game plan needs to change for San Diego in Week Two. The Ravens, as I said, have now proved that Flacco can win the game for them if they need him to, but that’s not their identity.

San Diego did have a poor pass defense last season, but that could change this season. Baltimore will have a good passing game this season, but the run is what will open it up for them. To be successful in their game against the Chargers, Baltimore must run the ball to open up their now potent passing game.

I see a very good passing attack in Week Two with Flacco spreading the ball around to all of his receivers again. The Chargers game could feature less passing and more of a ball control offense for the Ravens. Flacco will again be accurate and could throw for two more touchdowns.

If the Ravens throw the ball 30 times or less, and Flacco is as accurate as he was in Week One, expect a good offensive showing against a very talented Chargers team.

Expectations Are High For 2009-2010 Baltimore Ravens

Jeff Wolfson — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 00:36:20 -0400

The Baltimore Ravens are going in to the second season of a revamped attitude away from the Brian Billick style of doing things and more toward the John Harbaugh way.

There are very few players on the roster that can feel they are threatened for a roster spot and competition, but most are in the defensive backfield, receiving corps, and backup running back.

In the defensive backfield, I think the starters are questioned. Fabian Washington and free-agent acquisition Domonique Foxworth should start, while the nickel-back battle will take place between third-round pick Lardarius Webb and free-agent signee Chris Carr.

Also, Frank Walker should be backing up a cornerback spot. That leaves a whole host of players to fight for two spots on special teams and defense.

Veterans Evan Oglesby and Derrick Martin have been on the Ravens in years past, but are in a battle with K.J. Gerard for the last couple roster spots. Martin and Oglesby should have the leg up on Gerard because they’ve been in the NFL for four other years and are pretty solid players, but Gerard has been competing.

I think the veterans will win as the NFL is more of a mental grind than a physical grind.

The starters at receiver are also set with Derrick Mason and former first-round pick Mark Clayton, who is currently nursing a partially torn hamstring. Demetrius Williams should be penciled in for the third wide receiver in the equation leaving a spot for fourth and fifth options. Marcus Smith is now out of contention in the competition after tearing his ACL in Thursday’s preseason opener against the Redskins. I’m looking for Kelley Washington and Justin Harper to cement their spots on the roster and Yamon Figurs to earn a place on special teams.

For third string running back Jalen Parmele is in competition with Cedric Peerman and Matt Lawrence. Parmele and Peerman will squeeze out Lawrence.

I think the player with the absolute highest expectations on the Ravens' squad will be Tavares Gooden. Gooden has the onus of replacing Bart Scott and helping Ray Lewis in the middle of the field. I think the expectations will be high for him because he was a third-round pick that Lewis has taken under his wing the last two seasons.

Also, Joe Flacco in his second season will be looking to build on an improbable rookie year. Flacco will be in total control of the offense putting expectations on him to turn the Ravens in to a more balanced team than they have been in years. I think Cam Cameron will cut Flacco loose this season and his numbers will be Pro Bowl-caliber.

On the coaching staff, Harbaugh must prove that his way is the right way to go. Even though Baltimore had successes last season, there may still people around the league that have their doubts about Harbaugh’s approach. Cameron is trying to rebuild his resume to earn another head coaching position some day and Greg Mattison is looking to show he was the proper choice to be named defensive coordinator of the Ravens after the departure of Rex Ryan.

Players that have less to prove are the obvious ones. Lewis, Mason and Ed Reed all are accomplished pros that have been to the Pro Bowl and playoffs several times. New addition Matt Birk also has very little to prove, but he should help the Ravens young offensive line develop at a more rapid pace.

There’s no question Baltimore exceeded expectations winning 11 games in 2008 which will make the 2009 season interesting. In my opinion, the expectation is for the Ravens to repeat the feat of winning at least 10 games this season. Last season, I believe, expectations were quite low.

Season two for Harbaugh’s plan would be considered a failure if Baltimore doesn’t make the playoffs and possibly win the AFC North because of last year’s successes. With an easier schedule, I’m looking for the Ravens to meet, or even exceed expectations and win 10 to 12 games.

For the first few games of the season, pressure will be squarely on Mattison to prove he can carry on the tradition of excellent defensive coordinators with exceptional defensive schemes. Willis McGahee is fighting for his starter’s job with Ray Rice and must prove he is in game shape and can handle 30 carries on game day.

The 2009-2010 Ravens will be a fun team to watch, hopefully, with a lot of players and coaches having a lot to prove to fans, ownership and other teams around the league.

The 2009 Maryland Terrapins: A Quick Peek

Jeff Wolfson — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 20:51:50 -0400

The Maryland Terrapins are coming off of a bowl season against Nevada in the 2008 season. The team went 9-4 (3-5 ACC) after having a chance to win the Atlantic Division of the ACC. This season’s schedule is not much easier than last season’s, but the Terrapins are looking for a better record.

At the end of last season, head coach Ralph Friedgen named offensive coordinator James Franklin as the head coach-in-waiting, but also hinted he may not be finished coaching when Franklin is ready to take the helm. Franklin has plenty to work with on offense this season.

The major returning offensive cog is quarterback Chris Turner. I’ve never been a huge Turner fan, but he seems to play big in games against ranked opponents. I think he needs to work on his consistency, as opposed to playing down or up to the competition.

Also, Maryland feels like they are deep at the wide receiver position. If the route running is good, and Turner can get it there, this offense could be explosive.

On defense, the leader is linebacker Alex Wujciak. Wujciak, a junior, is coming off of a stellar season in which he made 133 tackles. However, the Terps lost defensive lineman Jeremy Navarre to graduation and may have problems along the defensive line.

A few of the games on Maryland’s schedule will really tell if they are a bowl-worthy team, or just another mediocre college football team. The first game of the season is a revenge game of sorts. Maryland flies out to California for a team that they defeated last season.

Then, in two weeks, the Terps will see Middle Tennessee State, a team that shocked the Terps in Murfreesboro, TN last year. Finally, their out of conference schedule wraps up with a continuation of their series against Rutgers. The Scarlet Knights will have their loss to Maryland in the 2007 season on their minds.

The ACC schedule is only slightly easier because Duke replaces North Carolina this season, but other than that, Maryland may struggle in-conference. Look for the Terrapins to earn anywhere between three and five conference games, and once again, struggle on offense.

Gregg Zaun To Tampa—Not A Bad Thing

Jeff Wolfson — Sat, 08 Aug 2009 15:27:24 -0400

The Orioles traded Gregg Zaun to the Tampa Bay Rays Friday, not a bad move at all. Let’s take a step back and look at this.

Zaun was the Opening Day starter and then, for the good of the team, he took a backseat to Matt Wieters when his contract was purchased in May.

I like Zaun and thought he saved Baltimore a few runs with his ability to keep balls in the dirt in front of him. His defensive prowess has helped the Orioles pitching staff stay confident about throwing balls 59 feet or buzzing a batter up and in. He even had an unaffordable option for next season, or an option buyout.

With all that said, this is what Zaun going to Tampa means: Wieters getting more time to play. Wieters, according to manager Dave Trembley, will now play six days a week. This is roughly 130 games per season, which I think is average for a starting catcher. What else does Zaun being traded to Tampa mean? It means that Chad Moeller will now back up Wieters.

Moeller is another guy I like watching. He is very similar to Zaun in that he is light-hitting, but good defensively. Moeller also may have more familiarity with some of the pitchers. For an example, when he was designated to make room for Wieters in May, Moeller worked at Triple-A Norfolk with Chris Tillman. I think he could also help immensely with the continued development of Brian Matusz.

To sum it up, really, it’s a good trade. It saves the Birds some money, allows Zaun to play in a pennant race, and contributes to the development of Matt Wieters and the young rotation. Not a bad deal for all involved.

Reflecting on the First Raven in the Hall of Fame

Jeff Wolfson — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 20:07:32 -0400

Rod Woodson was not a Raven for very long. In his 17-season career, Woodson was only in Baltimore for four years. His first year he was a cornerback, but Baltimore envisioned to make him a safety to prolong his career. The move proved successful and Woodson had three very good years at free safety for the Ravens.

The most successful season of Woodson's career in Baltimore, coincidentally is the same season the Ravens won the Super Bowl. I don't think the 2000 season for Woodson should be measured by his stats, but rather how he helped stabilize the young, but talented secondary of the Ravens.

Woodson tutored second-year cornerback Chris McAlister, third-year cornerback Duane Starks and fourth-year strong safety Kim Herring into a dominant defensive backfield that made Baltimore's defense difficult to throw the ball on.

Beyond his experience and leadership, Woodson was good at playing center field in the Ravens complex defense. Whenever the defense needed a big play on 3rd-and-long it seemed like Woodson would always step up and make a big play, or give run support in a 3rd-and-short situation.

Woodson’s contributions really started after his position switch to safety. In his three seasons as free safety with the Ravens he was named to three Pro Bowls and was selected as a first-team All-Pro. He continued to impress each year he was a Raven.

There wasn't one huge play of Woodson's career in Baltimore that stood out distinctly, but to me, his time in Baltimore will be remembered as a time when a young franchise needed a stabilizing force. Woodson provided that stabilizing force and won his only Super Bowl ring with a franchise that still is stuck on the one Super Bowl. I also think Woodson’s Ravens legacy can be seen in Ed Reed.

Although the two didn't play together, the Ravens drafted Reed the year Woodson left, general manager Ozzie Newsome knew what kind of safety was needed to be successful on defense.

Derrick Mason's Retirement from Baltimore Ravens Not Contract-Related

Jeff Wolfson — Sun, 02 Aug 2009 20:56:17 -0400

Derrick Mason may have stunned the Ravens when he retired a few weeks ago, but it didn’t surprise me at all.

As everyone can recall, Mason asked for a contract extension publicly toward the end of the 2008 season, was battling a shoulder injury and then on July 4, dealt with the murder of his good friend and former teammate Steve McNair. As is understandable, Mason wanted to spend time and talk it over with his family and probably began thinking about his own mortality.

I think the McNair situation is the reason Mason retired. Even if Mason does want a contract extension, and who can really blame him for wanting career stability so he doesn’t have to keep moving his family, he will still earn $3 million this year.

He isn’t on the downside of his career, but when someone sees one of their best friends die, it’s just not an easy situation to deal with and I truly believe Mason just wanted to think things over.

Additionally, I believe Mason wanted to be sure his shoulder injury was 100 percent healed. He is an athlete with pride and wants to be certain he is up to his standards of playing in the NFL. If this is one of his reasons, let’s tip our hats to him.

If indeed Mason did retire because of his contract, he would terrible had the Ravens offered him the two-year extension he desired and he came back.

What would that do for his public image?

Instead, Mason did something honorable. He came back with a burning desire to help Baltimore advance beyond the AFC Championship game this season.

We should expect to see the same Derrick Mason that has always played for the Ravens. I would expect Mason to go over 1,000 yards again and somewhere between 75 and 100 catches. That wouldn’t be bad for a man in his 13th season, would it?

A Glimpse Into Baltimore Ravens Training Camp Battles

Jeff Wolfson — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 23:30:55 -0400

The Baltimore Ravens are coming off of a surprising 2008 campaign in which a rookie coach and quarterback led the team to within one game of the Super Bowl. However, Baltimore had a rough off-season, losing defensive coordinator Rex Ryan, linebacker Bart Scott and safety Jim Leonhard among others.

Also, Derrick Mason and Willie Anderson abruptly retired. The Ravens did address a need when they selected offensive tackle Michael Oher 23rd overall and, once he arrives in training camp, will run with the first team offense.

1st Position Battle: Inside Linebacker

Ray Lewis is the unquestioned starter at one of the inside linebacker, but the spot taken up by Scott last season is open for competition.

The favorite: Tavares Gooden.

Gooden was a third-round selection in the 2008 NFL Draft and had his season cut short with a hip injury, but is ready for 2009. Gooden was flying to the ball in the team’s OTAs. He also had the privilege of being roommates with Lewis last season. Another advantage that Gooden had is he was playing with the starters during minicamps.

The underdog: Jameel McClain/Prescott Burgess

McClain came on strong last season after making the team as an undrafted free agent out of Syracuse. He recorded two safeties during the 2008 campaign along with helping out on special teams. McClain is a bit undersized, but he’s quick. He has a chance to beat Gooden out for the second inside linebacker spot in the Ravens 3-4 defensive scheme.

Burgess, a 2007 draft selection by Baltimore, sat out all of last season with a broken wrist. The Ravens usually like to see production from players in their third year so Burgess might have his last chance this season. He is definitely an underdog to take this spot from Gooden, but I expect him to contribute on special teams.

The long shot: Brendon Ayanbadejo

Naming Ayanbadejo as a long shot certainly isn’t questioning his ability to start in the NFL, rather because of his importance to Baltimore. Ayanbadejo is mostly known as a special teams ace and not an inside linebacker.

He could play the position, but it may bring wear and tear to his body and make playing special teams harder. I like Ayanbadejo and wouldn’t want him to risk injury by playing three downs of football the majority of the season.

2nd Position Battle: Kicker

Matt Stover has been the only kicker the Baltimore Ravens franchise has known since they moved to Baltimore, but his contract expired at the end of the season and the Ravens say they want to move in another direction. Stover is 37, but can still make clutch kicks.

The favorite: Steve Hauschka

Hauschka got some playing time with Baltimore last season mostly handling kickoff duties and long field goal attempts. He has one long make to his name, nailing a 54-yard field goal last season. His experience in the NFL should push him closer to claiming a roster spot.

The underdog: Graham Gano

Gano is an undrafted free agent out of Florida State University. He was absolutely fantastic during his senior year in college, but struggled in OTAs. Gano will make the team if Hauschka proves he cannot handle kicking for Baltimore.

The long shot: Matt Stover

Stover could still be re-signed by the Ravens. If Head Coach John Harbaugh and General Manager Ozzie Newsome are dissatisfied, Stover may have a chance. He is going to be in shape and ready to go if the Ravens do call.

These two battles will be the ones to watch. The other minor battle that will be going on is the one between Willis McGahee and Ray Rice for the right to start at running back.

Ultimately, both backs will play, so this is more about which back gets more carries during the game.

Prediction

I think the inside linebacker position will be settled by the third game of the preseason. Gooden should win barring injury. He is so athletic and has good film study skills. Also, Gooden bulked up in the off-season to improve his durability. Watch for him to claim the inside linebacker job and never give it up.

As for kicker, I truly believe the Ravens will bring Stover back and Hauschka will be the kickoff specialist. This position battle will probably drag on until the very end and Gano or Hauschka won’t win. In my opinion, the Ravens will once again use two roster spots on kickers.

CBS: What I Would Ask Ed Reed

Jeff Wolfson — Sat, 23 May 2009 21:04:54 -0400

1. You are considered one of the best ballhawks in football, how were you able to develop such playmaking skill aside from flat out talent?

2. How would you describe your relationship with Ray Lewis?

3. As Ray has gotten older and you’ve honed your skills, have you taken over some of the defensive leadership from him?

4. What was your reaction when you were drafted by the Baltimore Ravens in 2002?

5. What would it mean to you if you went down in NFL history as the best safety ever?

6. When you set the NFL record for yardage on a return, were you thinking touchdown the whole time, or did the field just open up where you could make a play?

7. You’ve already won the Defensive Player of the Year and come close to a Super Bowl ring, so would you rather be a Hall of Famer or win a Super Bowl ring?

8. How would a Super Bowl ring compare to the National Championship ring you helped the University of Miami win in 2001?

9. What will life be like for Ed Reed after football?

10. What is your favorite part of doing charity work?

CBS: Position Battles in Baltimore Ravens Training Camp

Jeff Wolfson — Wed, 20 May 2009 23:03:43 -0400

As with every NFL team, the Baltimore Ravens have very few roster spots open for the 2009 season. There are going to be some interesting position battles for Baltimore this summer.

The Ravens, as has been well-documented, lost Bart Scott, Jim Leonhard and Marques Douglas to the New York Jets. Their roles must be filled by players brought in during free agency or via the draft held in April.

In addition to replacing those three veterans, Baltimore has backup jobs to fill on offense and defense.

One position battle that all Baltimore eyes will be on is at inside linebacker next to Ray Lewis and Terrell Suggs. This will be mostly between second-year players Tavares Gooden and Jameel McClain. Others that are in contention for the spot are special teams ace Brendon Ayanbadejo and rookie Jason Phillips.

However, the battle between Gooden and McClain will be at the forefront. Gooden is a third-round draft pick out of the University of Miami who played mostly on special teams in 2008 before ending his season on injured reserve.

McClain is an athletic linebacker who made the Ravens as an undrafted free agent. The former Syracuse linebacker recorded two safeties in 2008 and played very well when he was called upon by then-defensive coordinator Rex Ryan.

The importance of the inside linebacker position that Scott played so skillfully is to keep blockers off of Lewis, Suggs and free safety Ed Reed. In the first two offseason camps that Baltimore has had, Gooden has run with the first-team defense.

With his weight gain and his speed, Gooden could very well win the starting job by no fault of McClain. McClain may be better suited as a pass-situation specialist and special teams player.

Another important battle for Baltimore’s defense is the one at strong safety. Largely an unnoticed battle, the spot was taken over by Leonhard last season after a spinal cord concussion to Dawan Landry in Week Three last season.

Landry looks to regain his status at starter, but he may have to compete with second-year safeties Tom Zbikowski and Haruki Nakamura. Baltimore generally looks for a hard-hitting strong safety which Landry is, but Zbikowski and Nakamura also do a great job of finding a ball-carrier and are capable of delivering vicious hits.

Landry should win the job back with Zbikowski and Nakamura contributing in dime packages and special teams.

Right tackle has been a trouble spot for the Ravens for a long time. In April, Baltimore traded up in the draft to get tackle Michael Oher. Oher was expected to compete with Willie Anderson for the starting job at right tackle, but Anderson retired in early May.

Now, Oher is running with the first-team offense, but could compete with Adam Terry once Terry recovers from his injuries.

Also, 2008 draft pick Oniel Cousins could be involved in the battle, but is probably more of a backup at this point in his young career. Oher could very well win the job because the Ravens coaching staff is very impressed with how quickly he has picked up the complex playbook.

In addition, Terry could be better suited as a backup because the Ravens may use him as primary backup at both tackle spots and don’t want the onus to fall on Oher to learn to positions.

The most important position that is expected to be in competition all summer is for the open kicker spot. Franchise kicker Matt Stover’s contract expired at the end of the 2008 season and the 41-year-old’s age had started to show.

John Harbaugh and his coaching staff seemingly want to use only one roster spot for kicker and kickoff specialist so they are holding a tryout between last season’s kickoff specialist Steven Hauschka and undrafted free agent Graham Gano.

Hauschka would appear to have to upper-hand, but has both made and missed field goals in practice, matching Gano’s performance. Replacing Stover won’t be easy because the veteran hit so many clutch field goals in his career and even carried the team through five games of the 2000 season.

Gano should win this competition, but Hauschka will hang tough and battle it out.

Who’s going to backup Joe Flacco? This may be the most difficult decision Harbaugh and his offensive staff has to make all offseason. Troy Smith was an adequate backup last season after getting healthy from a severe case of tonsillitis, but Baltimore went out and signed former Miami Dolphins quarterback John Beck.

Smith and Beck each have different attributes that could be beneficial to the Ravens offense. Smith is mobile and has worked in the “Suggs Package” with some degree of success.

Beck is more of a pure pocket passer with a strong arm. Beck and Smith may split time as the backup. This one will be fun to watch all season long.

Baltimore should be fun to watch all summer with their position battles. Ultimately, Harbaugh will make what he believes is the correct decision and pick the best 53-man roster and 45-man active gameday roster.

CBS: Baltimore Ravens Coaching Staff Profiled

Jeff Wolfson — Sun, 17 May 2009 22:34:45 -0400

The Ravens coaching staff was carefully put together in the 2007-2008 offseason after a disappointing 5-11 season in 2007. General manager Ozzie Newsome was looking for a coach that had the opposite personality of the player-friendly Brian Billick. Newsome and company interviewed several candidates and then settled on hard-nosed John Harbaugh.

Harbaugh is the son of Jack Harbaugh and brother of former Ravens quarterback Jim Harbaugh. John Harbaugh began his coaching career in 1984 as a coach at Western Michigan University.

He stayed in the college ranks until 1998 when the Philadelphia Eagles hired him to be their Special Teams coordinator in 1998. Starting in 1999, Harbaugh began to learn how to be a head coach under the tutelage of Andy Reid.

Obviously, all of Harbaugh’s decisions affect the Ravens on and off the field. Harbaugh is always concerned with putting the best 22 men on the field to start and win the game. Aside from which players play on game day, Harbaugh has input on drafting certain types of players.

As a first-year head coach in 2008, Harbaugh surrounded himself with experienced assistants.

One critical assistant that Harbaugh hired was offensive coordinator Cam Cameron. Cameron is a veteran offensive coach known for his creativity. He has been a long-tenured NFL and college coach that has had offensive success wherever he’s been.

Although Cameron had a failed stint as a head coach for the Miami Dolphins, his willingness to try new offensive formations and plays were a success in Baltimore during the 2008 season. The input that Cameron has for future seasons may be expanding, but in the 2008 season it was limited.

The recent signing of John Beck is evidence of Cameron’s widening influence. Beck was drafted by Cameron when Cameron was Miami’s head coach in 2007 so the offensive coordinator is comfortable with the quarterback’s skill set.

His influence was felt when the team drafted Marcus Smith in 2008 and with the signing of receiver Kelley Washington. Both receivers are big and physical which is the type of receiver Cameron has liked since he was a coordinator with the San Diego Chargers.

Offense has never really been the Ravens strong suit, but in Cameron’s first season Baltimore’s offense unveiled wrinkles that kept opposing defenses honest. However, the Baltimore Ravens are known for their defense.

The 2009 season will bring a new look to Baltimore’s defense. Last season’s coordinator, Rex Ryan, is now the head coach of the New York Jets and took linebackers Coach Mike Pettine with him.

Harbaugh’s choice for defensive coordinator of the 2009 Ravens became Greg Mattison. Mattison is a longtime college coach that rose through the ranks after 36 seasons. As linebackers coach last season, Mattison formed a bond with key defensive cog Ray Lewis.

Mattison has been around football longer than all of the starters are old. His 38 years of experience and the personnel he has to work with should help keep Baltimorein the top rung of the NFL defenses. Mattison plans to be aggressive like his predecessors, Ryan, Mike Nolan and Marvin Lewis.

The defensive coordinator will have a say on who will replace departed linebacker Bart Scott and what kinds of exotic blitzes will be used against the Ravens’ opponents this season. How Mattison decides to use the linebackers will help determine the success the Baltimore Ravens will have in the 2009 season.

CBS: Baltimore Ravens: Amid Personnel Changes, They're Still The Same

Jeff Wolfson — Thu, 14 May 2009 23:13:33 -0400

The 2009 Baltimore Ravens are going through a transition in many facets of their team.

Last season’s defensive coordinator, Rex Ryan, is now the head coach of the New York Jets and is being replaced by 38-year coaching veteran Greg Mattison. Mattison has one year of coaching experience in the NFL, but the players are happy with him as their defensive leader.

Sticking to the defense, there is also player turnover within the secondary.

Fabian Washington and Ed Reed are still under contract, but Chris McAlister has been released, Jim Leonhard followed Ryan to the Jets, and Samari Rolle appears to be back in a reduced role.

Replacing McAlister is Baltimore native Domonique Foxworth. Foxworth is a veteran, but has been a career backup thus far. The other quarter of the starting secondary appears to be an old face in Dawan Landry.

Landry, however, is recovering from a spinal injury suffered in Week 3 last season against the Browns. The secondary is always key for the Ravens' high-risk high-reward defense.

In the linebacker corps, the Ravens lost just one of their three free agents. Bart Scott, like Leonhard, left for the Jets to join Ryan. Baltimore has a few candidates that could fill the spot vacated by Scott.

The first candidate seems to be second-year linebacker Tavares Gooden. Gooden was Ray Lewis’ roommate at last season’s training camp and picked up a lot of good study habits that seems to have translated to the field.

Other candidates are Brendon Ayanbadejo, Prescott Burgess, fifth-round pick Jason Phillips, and second-year player Jameel McClain.

On the front line of the defense, Kelly Gregg returns after missing all of last season with micro-fracture surgery. He should immediately improve an already stout defensive line. The Ravens also drafted Paul Kruger as a pass-rusher to help keep an aging Trevor Pryce fresh.

With a new defensive coordinator and new parts to the defense, Baltimore still hopes to have an aggressive, dominant defense. Mattison has learned how the Ravens play defense and the players seem very comfortable with him.

With all the personnel changes becoming commonplace in the salary-cap era of the NFL, Baltimore’s defense, when healthy, has been suffocating for the last decade and the franchise wants to keep their tradition of excellence.

On offense, Baltimore has had some turnover, but not nearly as significant as on defense. The loss of center Jason Brown seemed to be a blow to the franchise at the time, but they didn’t panic and reeled in lifelong Minnesota Viking, and six-time Pro Bowler, Matt Birk to play center.

Recently, offensive tackle Willie Anderson retired, essentially ushering in first-round draft pick Michael Oher. Also, Adam Terry, Marshall Yanda, and Ben Grubbs are recovering from injuries.

Baltimore also signed quarterback John Beck, showing the utmost confidence in second-year starter Joe Flacco. The signing of Beck made it necessary for the Ravens to release veteran Todd Bouman.

Beck and Troy Smith will compete for the backup job to Flacco. Offensive coordinator Cam Cameron used Smith in a variety of ways last season, but is also familiar with Beck from their days with the Miami Dolphins. Cameron could use either quarterback on gameday, as both have different attributes that will help Baltimore’s offense.

The recent addition of Kelley Washington will bolster the receiving corps and the special teams because of Washington’s size and effort. Marcus Smith’s development and Demetrius Williams’ health will be another addition to the offense that the Ravens didn’t have last season.

There seems to be one glaring hole on special teams. At the end of the 2008 season, Matt Stover’s contract was up so the Ravens have been left without a reliable kicker.

Young kicker Steven Hauschka will compete with undrafted free agent Graham Gano for the kicker’s spot. Both kickers battling for a roster spot are unproven and haven’t been put in pressure situations at the end of the game as Stover had been for the first 13 years of the Ravens franchise.

Another issue that seems to be of concern on special teams is kick returning.

Yamon Figurs is fast, but hasn’t really developed as the Ravens had hoped when they made him a third-round pick. To rectify this situation, in this past draft, Baltimore drafted small-school cornerback, and speedster, Lardarius Webb.

Webb had a hamstring issue in the first mini-camp, but will be ready for training camp and is expected to help on special teams. Coach Jerry Rosburg always has the special teams ready to play and, with new personnel this season, that isn’t expected to change.

A Look at the Baltimore Orioles' Lineup

Jeff Wolfson — Tue, 12 May 2009 01:13:58 -0400

The first month of the Baltimore Orioles season was driven by the hitters. Baltimore was not shut out in April and has scored a good amount of runs. The top third of the lineup has been nothing short of outstanding. Brian Roberts, Adam Jones and Nick Markakis have gotten on base consistently for the middle of the order. The middle third has done good enough job of getting runs home. Aubrey Huff and a mixture of Melvin Mora, Luke Scott and Ty Wigginton produced enough runs to help the Orioles get some early series wins over New York, Tampa Bay and Texas and off to a 6-3 start. However, the lower third of the batting order has been terrible. Gregg Zaun has been known more for his defense, Felix Pie can’t seem to get his skills to work at the Major League level and Cesar Izturis has struggled at the plate. Manager Dave Trembley has tried other combinations at the bottom of the order that have begun to work. So how would I grade the Orioles hitters?

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CBS: 2000 Baltimore Ravens, My Favorite Team

Jeff Wolfson — Sat, 09 May 2009 21:53:22 -0400

The 2000 regular season featured my favorite Baltimore Ravens team of all time. This team was a good mix of veterans and athletes in their prime.

The year started with the Ravens identifying needs at quarterback, running back, and wide receiver. Coming off of their first .500 season in franchise history in 1999, Baltimore had two first-round picks, one at No. 5 overall and one at No. 10.

With the fifth pick, the Ravens selected massive running back Jamal Lewis, and with No. 10, speedy wide receiver Travis Taylor was chosen.

With second-year coach Brian Billick at the helm, the Ravens began the season 5-1, including a thrilling victory over previously dominant Jacksonville. The team was held without a touchdown for five straight games and fell to 5-4. Then they took off.

Trent Dilfer started at quarterback for the last eight games of the season, leading Baltimore to victories in their last seven games to clinch the best record in team history, at the time, (12-4) and the fourth seed in the AFC playoffs.

Let’s back up for just a bit though. The Baltimore Ravens defense was arguably the most dominant defense in NFL history, posting five shutouts and allowing a meager 165 points in 16 games. Led by a then-in-his-prime Ray Lewis, the linebacker corps was a vicious, athletic group that yielded only 65 yards rushing per game.

Also, Baltimore’s offensive and defensive lines seemed to take over games all season. Opposing offenses couldn't move the ball on the defense, and the Ravens offense held on to the ball for chunks of quarters. All of these factors helped make the Ravens a near-unbeatable football team in the playoffs.

In the playoffs the Ravens gave up 16 points before allowing only seven to the New York Giants in Super Bowl XXXV. It was an outstanding performance and a very exciting ride for fans. A young franchise winning 11 straight games to claim their first Super Bowl crown still has Baltimoreans hungry for a second one every season.

The meshing of youth of experience, along with a great Super Bowl run, makes this Baltimore Ravens my favorite team in their brief existence.

Versatility Is a Key to a Solid Media Career in Major Markets

Jeff Wolfson — Sun, 03 May 2009 23:20:18 -0400

Since I joined the media as an 18-year-old college freshman I debated who I would want to model myself after so I could become successful. There are so many media personalities that sometimes they all run together and become confusing.

The person I have chosen as the best media person is Scott Garceau. Garceau has proven to not only be a gentleman, but to have staying power in one of the larger markets in the country. For as long as I can remember, Garceau has been involved covering sports for Baltimore. He is best known for being a sports anchor on one of the local television stations, but recently retired.

Throughout his career I have always thought Garceau was very versatile. Aside from being a sports anchor, Garceau has a radio show and still announces on television. The first time Baltimore had a football team, the Canadian Football League’s Stallions, he and former Baltimore Colt Tom Matte partnered up to make a great announcing team. Then when the Ravens came into existence in 1996, Garceau’s announcing skills became honed. After years on the job, the Ravens signed a contract with a new radio station and did not retain his services.

Garceau also is the voice of lacrosse in Baltimore. Baltimore is a hotbed for lacrosse and Garceau announces the Game of the Week. With lacrosse being such a fast-moving game and the number of teams and players, it is hard for anyone to keep track of what is going on, but Garceau is almost flawless announcing the games.

The last part of his versatility that I will mention is his hosting of one radio show year-round, and two during football season. His ability to move the show along and squeeze as many callers in as possible is rare because hosts like to make their opinions known too. Garceau also treats each caller with the utmost respect that is sometimes hard to give to callers.

Scott Garceau is the best media personality in the Baltimore hands down. Some have come close and many have fallen short, but I think to be the best personality in Baltimore, Scott Garceau is the person to imitate.

What Will The Ravens Do On Draft Day?

Jeff Wolfson — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 21:30:03 -0400

The NFL draft is rapidly approaching, and football fans are wondering which player will fall to which team.

One of the more intriguing teams is the Baltimore Ravens.

The Ravens have lots of holes to fill going into the offseason, ranging from the offensive line to the defensive backfield.

In typical Baltimore fashion, general manager Ozzie Newsome didn’t panic, and let the chips fall in free agency. Looking brilliant, Newsome came up with a younger and deeper secondary, as well as a better center to anchor the offensive line and a stellar linebacking corps.

In the draft, the Ravens will not be looking for a quarterback; especially after the success that was had with Joe Flacco in 2008.

So what are the Ravens looking for?

Many pundits believe that the Ravens will look for a wide receiver, or an upgrade to the defense.

History says the Ravens will take defense.

Most of the draft class is pretty underwhelming outside of the top 15 or 20 picks. With only six picks, Baltimore could also choose to trade down.

The best-case draft scenario, in many fans minds, is for Maryland junior receiver Darrius Heyward-Bey to fall to No. 26.

Not only would this please hometown fans if Heyward-Bey falls to the Ravens, it would address a major need for the Ravens as they are in desperate need of a big, fast, reliable receiver.

Baltimore’s receiving corps isn’t bad, but Derrick Mason and Mark Clayton are possession receivers, while Demetrius Williams is injury-prone.

A worst-case draft scenario is hard to find for the Ravens.

The way the front office has taken care of addressing needs has minimized the risk for a bad scenario. Also, with the Bears trading their first round pick for Jay Cutler, that eliminates a team that could have been in the market for a receiver.

During the draft, Newsome will probably look to gain depth at linebacker, defensive end and receiver.

Trading down, as stated earlier, could help them.

Many teams like to trade in to the second round of the draft because signing the player is generally less-expensive than a first round selection, and there’s more value for the money.

In addition, this draft class seems to have depth for the middle rounds as opposed to the end of the first round.

More than likely, when the Ravens are looking to draft a player, the team will go with their “best player available” strategy that has been used since the franchise’s inception.

For the most part that strategy has worked as the Ravens have acquired players like Ray Lewis, Jonathan Ogden, Peter Boulware and Ed Reed.

All Ravens fans will be interested to see what the team does, and how the draft will pan out.

Look for the team to go with either a linebacker or a receiver. If neither is available, the Ravens may trade out of the first round.

My Case for Barry Bonds' 2007 Season

Jeff Wolfson — Sun, 05 Apr 2009 22:48:29 -0400

There are many things that can be said about Barry Bonds, most negative, but not all.

One of the positivies in the swirl of negative publicity that seems to follow Bonds wherever he goes is his fantastic season in 2007. In his age 42 season, Bonds hit 28 home runs and had 66 RBI. He also led Major League Baseball in walks with 132 and broke the most hallowed baseball record of all time, Hank Aaron’s home run record.

In addition to his walk total and power numbers, Bonds led baseball in on-base percentage with a stunning .480 clip.

Bonds’ on-base plus slugging percentage was over 1.000 on a team that he was the only great hitter in the line up. The San Francisco Giants wound up 20 games under .500 and scored only 683 runs. Scoring 75 runs on the year and knocking in the previously mentioned 66, Bonds accounted for well over one-tenth of the Giants runs.

Bonds also had only 94 hits his entire season, which means just under 30 percent of his hits were long balls. Playing in only 126 games and averaging just over one walk per game and still putting up power numbers as he did with a bad knee is amazing,

The only fairly weak part of his play in the 2007 was his fielding. His fielding percentage was .976, which isn’t very strong for an outfielder. Starting in 110 games in left field, Bonds had 168 chances with only two outfield assists. Also, Bonds had four errors which is a bit high for an outfielder that played in so few games.

A 42-year-old athlete just does not have these kinds of stats in any sport. Even if Bonds did take steroids to improve his performance, the numbers he put up are unfathomable. The proudest moment, I would think, for Bonds in the 2007 season was when he hit his 756th home run off of Mike Bacsik in August. Not only did he hit a home run, it went 435 feet, showng unusual power for an aging athlete.

Barry Bonds’ 2007 season may not have even been his strongest season as an aging athlete (some could make the argument his 73 home run season in 2001 was better), but the fact that he was able to squeeze out as many home runs as he did on a bad team proves that he truly is a great athlete. We could argue for years over whether Barry Bonds is a cheat to the game or if he isn’t.

To be honest, I think he did juice-up with steroids, but that is for the courts to decide.

Breaking Down the Baltimore Orioles

Jeff Wolfson — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 23:44:33 -0400

The Baltimore Orioles are going into the 2009 season with lots of question marks but also some positives from last season. Although Baltimore has endured 11-straight losing seasons and is most likely destined for a 12th, there is reason to be excited for Orioles fans.

If the Orioles are to get off to a strong start, the rotation must come through. In addition, the offense has to pick up where it left off at the end of the 2008 season. Also, the defense must be improved in order for this team to be successful early in the season.

Strengths

One huge strength Baltimore has this season is the bullpen. With the return of Chris Ray and Danys Baez from Tommy John surgery, the Orioles get two fresh arms that weren’t with the team at all last season.

The Orioles also bring back All-Star closer George Sherrill, top set-up man Jim Johnson and long man Matt Albers who is back from a partially torn labrum. Hopefully, the bullpen won’t log as many as innings as last season and remain strong throughout the year.

Baltimore has a strong line up in the 2009 season. It’s perhaps better than the 2008 edition. The additions of Cesar Izturis and Felix Pie will add the dynamic of speed to the bottom of the order. Aubrey Huff won the Silver Slugger Award for designated hitters and will play first base this season.

Free agent pick-up Ty Wigginton will provide pop off the bench and against left-handed starters. Offense should be no area of concern for the Orioles.

An improved defense should be an area of strength this season. The aforementioned Izturis is a former Gold Glove winner at shortstop and has plugged a hole that saw six different players in 2008. Pie should provide better speed in the outfield if he adjusts well to left field.

Weakness

Baltimore’s glaring weakness is its rotation, as has been the case for the past few seasons. Jeremy Guthrie is the club’s ace, but he has looked shaky at best this spring. Japanese import Koji Uehara is the No. 2 starter and is expected to help anchor the rotation.

After the top two, there isn’t much in the way of starters. The three, four and five starters are Alfredo Simon, Mark Hendrickson and Adam Eaton. Simon is an unknown, Hendrickson has bounced around and Eaton was most recently released by the Phillies.

Fans will have a tough time stomaching the rotation for some of the season, until the young guns from the minor leagues are recalled. Brad Bergesen, Jake Arrieta and Brian Matusz all could make appearances in the Orioles rotation this season. Those three coming up should be reason to watch them.

How to stay on top

It starts with the offense. Second year center fielder Adam Jones is projected by many to have a breakout season. If he does, that would provide another threat in the batting order besides Nick Markakis and Huff. Jones may blast 25 home runs and start stealing bases in his second full big league season.

Guthrie and Uehara each have to go deep in to games. If these two pitch like top of the rotation starters the bullpen could have a very good season. Also, if the rotation holds up long enough, the younger players will help this team down the stretch run.

Finally, Matt Wieters is the best insurance the Orioles have. Baseball America’s top prospect looks to be as good as advertised and will hopefully be in the Major Leagues by mid-May.

Early questions

As mentioned before, Guthrie is a question mark. He did not look good in the World Baseball Classic and he struggled in his last two Spring Training starts. If he pitches to his potential he won’t be a question mark.

Pie is another player Orioles fans aren’t sure about. The Chicago Cubs gave up on their one-time top prospect for very little in return. He is a player blessed with speed and other intangibles that are not teachable and could be a very good addition to Baltimore.

Early risers

Huff followed the same routine from last spring and hopes to have a second consecutive successful year. The Orioles are hoping for a great season out of their new first baseman.

Brian Roberts is another player that Baltimore is depending on to start strong. He looked good in the World Baseball Classic and has recovered from his soreness. A healthy Roberts bodes well for the Orioles going in to the 2009 season.

How Far Can the Maryland Terrapins Go?

Jeff Wolfson — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 22:38:59 -0400

The Maryland Terrapins were a bubble team almost the entire months of February and March. All season long the Terps have not had a strong front court and have struggled rebounding. Their first round opponent, the California Golden Bears, has had the same problem all season long. The key matchups will come at the guard position.

One key matchup in the West Region’s No. 7 vs. No. 10 game is 6’6” guard Greivis Vasquez against 5’10” Jerome Randle. Maryland could easily dominate this matchup by posting up the much bigger Vasquez on Randle. If Maryland follows through, that would be one way to beat Cal.

A second matchup will be the Bears inside tandem of Omondi Amoke and Jamal Boykin against the smallish inside of Maryland’s Landon Milbourne and Dave Neal. The Terps have gotten by most of the year with hustle and heart. To win this battle it will be no different.

The bench will be the last key. Eric Hayes and Cliff Tucker came on later in the year, along with Dino Gregory, to give Maryland a formidable eight man rotation. California goes with a rotation anywhere between eight and 10 men, some of those players are a lot bigger than Maryland. If Maryland and Cal are even, it will be a win for Maryland.

Where California should succeed against the Terps is beyond the three point line. Maryland had a tough time preventing teams from making three pointers during the ACC season, winding up at 10th in the ACC. On the other hand, Maryland should succeed in pressuring the ball and getting fast break points.

If the Terrapins get by the Bears, which is a tall task, they will, in all likelihood, face the 31-3 and No. 2 seed Memphis Tigers.

Memphis finished their season as Conference USA regular season and tournament champions. The Tigers—who were the national runner-up last season—are lead by freshman point guard Tyreke Evans this year.

Maryland will struggle against Memphis. The Tigers are bigger, more talented, and play better defense. The size of the Tigers will bother Maryland, much like their first meeting with Wake Forest and their early season matchup with Gonzaga. In addition to all of their talent, the Memphis senior class has more wins than any class in history.

The only way Maryland can pull off an upset and advance to the Sweet 16 is if Vasquez has an outstanding game, similar to his triple-double performance against the North Carolina Tar Heels. Hayes also needs to continue his hot play for the Terps to win against the Tigers.

Overall, it has been an excellent season for Maryland, but they probably won’t make it past the first weekend of the tournament.

Spring Training Guide: Baltimore Orioles

Jeff Wolfson — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 20:06:57 -0400

Location History

Fort Lauderdale Stadium hosted the Baltimore Orioles in their most recent winning seasons. Baltimore moved to the stadium in 1996 from St. Petersburg. What makes Fort Lauderdale unique for the Orioles is their minor league complex is in Sarasota. Before playing host to the Orioles, Fort Lauderdale Stadium was home to the Yankees.

What you need to know about the area

Fort Lauderdale is the most southern of all the Florida Spring Training complexes. The stadium holds a little more than 8,300 fans and has undergone some renovations since opening in 1962.

Baltimore may not be around for long at Fort Lauderdale because of the minor league complex not being in the same location.

The Orioles only play a few teams each spring because of their location. Washington, Florida, St. Louis, Minnesota and Boston are the most frequent opponents for Baltimore.

Spring Training Moments

I have never been to Spring Training. As someone that covers and follows the Orioles I’m disappointed I’ve never gotten the opportunity to go down and watch the guys play.

The story I can tell is one in which my sister went down to watch the Orioles play and had to come back to Baltimore. Due to weather she had to stay in Florida. An extra around baseball and sunshine, there’s nothing wrong with that.

I would imagine that this season is a pretty wild scene. With new acquisition Koji Uehara the Japanese media contingent is large, especially on days that the former Japanese star pitches.

Autographs

As I said, I have never been to Spring Training. However, the Orioles, although in a bad run of many consecutive losing seasons, are a storied franchise.

I have heard that the best way to get player autographs is being in the stands and waiting for the players.

With the influx of new, younger talent and extended contracts I’m sure the Orioles players would sign autographs with no problems at all.

Food and Drink

Fort Lauderdale’s concession prices are fair to the fan. Most concessions for a ballgame at Fort Lauderdale are average and there is normal fare for a baseball game. Hot dogs and beer can be had at Fort Lauderdale.

If you’re not at the game, but in the area, the Quarterdeck Restaurant has two locations both within ten miles of the stadium. At the Quarterdeck there is great seafood and good drinks. The prices are good and the game can be enjoyed from either location.

Where to stay?

Flying in from BWI is cheap enough. It is only $158 to fly in to Fort Lauderdale. There are many hotels in the Fort Lauderdale area. Two of the nicer hotels that are fairly close to the stadium are the Sheraton and Hilton.

Games to see

The Orioles play the Red Sox and Mets several times throughout Spring Training. If the beltway rivalry has any meaning, the Orioles and Nationals also play several times, both at Fort Lauderdale Stadium and Space Coast Stadium. The O’s also played Team Italy before the World Baseball Classic started.

Nightlife

When there aren’t games going, there is a fun nightlife in the Fort Lauderdale area. A couple of fun places to go are Tarpon Bend Food & Tackle and Howl at the Moon. Tarpon Bend Food & Tackle is a sports bar, while Howl at the Moon has live music, but it’s not a place for kids.

March Madness: Will the Terps Be Dancing?

Jeff Wolfson — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 23:42:59 -0500

With the end of the regular season fast approaching for the Maryland Terrapins I think it is time to take a critical look at this team.

Their season, by fans standards, may not have gone as well as it should have between blowing big leads and getting blown out of some games. However, the Terps season, in my opinion, can be looked at in a plethora of ways.

First, it can be looked at as a success. At the worst, this team will wind up 17-13 and 6-10 in the ACC. That’s not awful for a team that many picked to win four or—at the most—five ACC games and 14 or 15 overall.

The 17 wins thus far include wins against No. 5 Michigan State at a neutral site early in the season and No. 3 North Carolina recently.

Also, it can be deemed a successful season because the team is so undersized. On most nights, the tallest starter for the team is 6’7”. The greatest strength that this team has is its guard play. Between Greivis Vasquez, Adrian Bowie, Eric Hayes, and freshman Sean Mosley the guard play has been steady all season.

The 2009 season can also be looked at as a failure. Maryland has been upset at home by MEAC school Morgan State and doesn’t seem to have the killer instinct that many upper-echelon schools have to make tournament runs.

I think part of the problem for Maryland is the inside play. As I said, Maryland isn’t a very big team which poses problems against teams that rebound well.

How will these positives and negatives work out down the stretch for the Terps?

Maryland has four games left—two games at home and two games on the road. All season the Terps have struggled on the road, winning just one game.

However, the two road opponents appear to be two of the lower-tier teams in the ACC, NC State and Virginia. The two home games should be very tough—Duke on Wednesday night and Wake Forest next Tuesday.

I think the Terps could win three of their last four giving them 20 wins overall and a 9-7 conference record. They will split their home games and beat the two teams on the road.

Even with 20 wins and being above .500 in conference play, the Morgan State loss should loom large, forcing Marylandto win one game in the ACC tournament. If Maryland can do this they will make the NCAA Tournament, if they don’t, it’s back to the NIT for the fourth time in five years.

Following my formula, I think the Terps will wind up being anywhere between an eight and 12 seed for the big dance.

Although I don’t think the Terps make it past the first weekend of play, I do believe they will make it to the round of 32.

Making a run in the tournament past the first weekend will depend on two things—the guard play and how well they crash the boards against a bigger team.

Maryland fans can be confident that this team will hustle and make their foul shots.

Those two factors alone could help the Terps split the last four games and surprise some people in March.

B-Rob Deal Almost Done; Could It Harm the Future?

Jeff Wolfson — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 00:24:28 -0500

At long last it seems as though the Baltimore Orioles have agreed to sign Brian Roberts to a long-term contract extension. On the surface this is a great move. I think, however, that I have found a problem or two with this contract agreement.

First, yes Roberts is a big draw to the Baltimore fan base, but the O's had made him a fair offer when it was the proposed three years for $30M. It was known that he wanted four years, but the reason why the O's offered him three years is because of his age. Roberts is 31 this year and now, at the end of his extension that is rumored to be starting in 2010, will be 36. Had he agreed to the three year contract he would be 35.

I was fully behind the O's for offering him only a three year deal and thought the money was fair. Obviously, the player wants to get his best deal and four years is an excellent deal for the player, but if the O's develop another second baseman and Roberts has a no-trade clause (I'm not sure at this point if he does) what does the organization do with the major league-ready ballplayer?

Secondly, I thought Roberts was very worthwhile on the trade market. I like the guy. I think he's great at what he does and is wonderful in the community, but the Orioles are in rebuilding mode. If perhaps the front office traded him the farm system could have been even more flush with new players or prospects and more pitching could have been added at the Major League or Triple-A levels.

At one point this offseason it was rumored Roberts was being shopped to the White Sox for local product Gavin Floyd and possibly another player. I think this would have been a great trade for the Orioles. Not only would the team have gotten even younger, but they would have gotten a local boy in Floyd and a major league-ready second baseman in Chris Getz.

Overall, however, I'm happy that both sides are close to sealing the deal. Roberts is a homegrown product of the O's system and has been through many losing seasons with the organization. Hopefully, with the direction Andy MacPhail is taking the team, and some time for the young guys to develop, the Orioles will be contenders in the American League before B-Rob's contract expires.