Bleacher Report - Baltimore

Baltimore's Little Big Man Continues To Overcome Obstacles

Mike Salvatore — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 18:12:32 -0500

When Ray Rice was drafted in the second round of the NFL Draft in 2008, the move was highly criticized. The so-called experts claimed that Rice was too small to be a successful running back in the NFL, and that he would probably be nothing more then a third down or change of pace back.

This was just another obstacle that Ray Rice has overcome during his life.

Rice was one of four children that were raised by a single mother after his father was killed in a drive-by shooting when Rice was only a baby.

As if that was not enough tragedy for a young child to endure, Rice also had to deal with the loss of his older cousin, who had served as his father figure.

The strength of his mother helped shape Rice into the football player he would eventually become: fearless.

“I was taught that I cannot back down to anything. I was trained never to be scared.”

With a 5’9, 200 pound frame, Rice would have to be fearless playing the running back position, because none of the other leviathans that play the sport would go easy on him.

Rice would go on to find great success with his high school team at New Rochelle, winning the state title his junior year and leading the team back to the title game his senior year.

His great and fearless play would not go unnoticed, as he began catching the attention of several Division I schools. After reneging on his commitment to Syracuse due to a coaching change, Rice would eventually decide to play his collegiate football at Rutgers.

Now for those of you that are unaware, the Rutgers football program was not one of the stronger programs at the time, so signing Rice came as a bit of a shock.

Not too much was expected of Rice when he got to Rutgers. The team seemed as if it was destined to perform at a low level and never win more then three to four games a season.

Rice would not accept these low expectations.

He would team with Brian Leonard to provide a devastating one-two punch that would propel Rutgers to success the school had never known before.

When Leonard left for the NFL in the 2007 Draft, many thought that Rice would not be able to live up to the expectations he and Leonard had created by himself.

Rice would go on to have a very solid season, culminating with him winning the MVP of the International Bowl, which saw Rutgers defeat Ball State 52-30.

During his time at Rutgers, Rice would go on to amass 4,926 yards rushing to go along with 50 total touchdowns. At the time of his declaration for the NFL Draft, he was the second-leading rusher in Big East history as well as the all-time leading rusher in Rutgers history.

With nothing left to prove at the college level, there was only one stop left for Ray Rice: the NFL.

Rice didn’t exactly impress the scouts at the pre-draft combine, and in addition to his small frame, most “experts” predicted Rice would be a fourth round pick at best.

Then the Baltimore Ravens shocked many by making Ray Rice the 55^th selection of the 2008 NFL Draft.

So Rice had finally made it to the NFL. The only problem was that he was now in Baltimore’s crowded backfield along with Willis McGahee and Le’Ron McClain.

Baltimore would use the three backs interchangeably and ride them to a surprising playoff run.

Rice would end the year with only 107 carries, but he was able to prove what he could do in his Week Nine start against the Cleveland Browns when he ran for 154 yards on 21 carries.

Even after that big game, Rice would still cede the majority of the carries to the more established backs. Rice kept positive and continued to work hard in practice.

His hard work would finally pay off this year, as he was officially named the starting running back for the Ravens. Of course that was not met without some obstacles as he would still lose goal line touches to McGahee for the first half of the season.

Rice’s real coming out party came Week Six against the Minnesota Vikings, when he went off for 194 total yards and two touchdowns. Since then he has become the focal point of the Ravens attack.

Along with Maurice Jones-Drew, Rice has proven that the smaller back can still find success in today’s NFL.

What makes Rice different from so many of the other smaller backs in the league, such as Leon Washington, Darren Sproles, and Warrick Dunn, is that Rice will look to initiate contact and runs effectively between the tackles.

Rice has been able to prove all the doubters wrong, as he has become not only an every down back, but he is also a complete running back.

While he runs fearlessly between the tackles, Rice also has excellent hands that make him a threat to catch the ball out of the backfield. Additionally, Rice does a tremendous job of blocking and protecting Joe Flacco from blitzing linebackers.

It was no coincidence that in the Raven’s biggest game of the season this past Sunday against the hated Pittsburg Steelers that Ray Rice made one of the game’s defining plays .

Some people were surprised that Rice was able to perform so well against the vaunted Steelers defense; but for Ray Rice this was just another obstacle for him to overcome.

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John Harbaugh To Root for Indiana against Terps

Jarrett Carter — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 09:47:02 -0500

Ravens coach John Harbaugh has fully integrated himself into the local sports scene. He enjoys rocking the red for the Caps and the Terps, even if it means his face gets booed on the Jumbotron.

But Harbaugh’s family ties will have Terps fans in knots tonight, because he will be cheering on his brother-in-law Tom Crean and Crean’s Indiana Hoosiers when they face the Maryland Terrapins in this year's Big Ten/ACC Challenge.

“[Terps coach] Gary [Williams] does know I’m rooting against him,” Harbaugh said today. “I let him know that—in no uncertain terms—that this is the only game of the year that the Harbaughs will be rooting against him and the Terps. Blood is thicker than water.”

Nothing wrong with that. It is family after all. Plus, when you beat the Steelers, you can pretty much get away with anything for a 48-72 hour period.

Technorati Tags: Baltimore+Ravens" target="_self">Baltimore Ravens, John Harbaugh, Maryland Terrapins

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Why Isn't Maryland Basketball Getting the Best Local Recruits?

Brittany Jacobs — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 04:23:08 -0500

As a Maryland fan and native, I have sympathy for both Gary Williams and Brenda Frese.

Yes, there are tons of solid basketball players coming out of the Baltimore/Washington area, but getting them to come to the University of Maryland-College Park may not be as easy as it seems.

In recent years Maryland's academic standards have increased exponentially (granted the athletic department has some pull, but they need a mighty heave in some cases). When my parents went to school at the University of Maryland, they had to sign their names and show a high school diploma...today the standards are much more rigorous.

The admissions requirements for UMD are:

SAT Verbal: 600-700

Sat Math: 570-680

G.P.A.: 97 percent of admitted freshman have higher than a 3.0, 82 percent have higher than a 3.5, and 65 percent have a +3.75.

Only 14 percent of freshman applicants are admitted, as the school is known as one of the leading research Universities in the world.

Ummm...hold on a second! Are we talking about a pre-Ivy here?

No, but we might as well be! Hello, University of Maryland!

With academic standards like these, it makes it increasingly more difficult for coaches to get mediocre-to-poor students onto their basketball teams.

Maryland is, therefore, limited in their recruiting prospects because they are not only looking for basketball prowess, but they are also recruiting for academic excellence.

Another dragon that the coaches at Maryland have to slay is the "I want to get away" mentality.

College is a great chance to break away and to see parts of the country that you may never again have the opportunity to explore. Despite growing up in Maryland, I chose the University of New Hampshire over the University of Maryland during my college search. To be honest, I'm not sure that I would have been accepted at Maryland, even with my 3.9 G.P.A!

No matter how you spin it, there is something to be said for getting out of your hometown.

Last, but definitely not least, Maryland is a monster-sized school, with a pretty campus, in the middle of a horrible area.

Yes, Maryland's actual campus and facilities may compare to that of Duke or UNC, but who would choose grimy and run-down college park over picturesque North Carolina?

Not me, that's for sure!

I'm not saying that Maryland isn't a good school, or that it doesn't have good sports programs...I'm saying that recruiting at College Park may be tougher than you think!

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Maryland's Mighty: Testudo's Top Five Terps in Recent History

Brittany Jacobs — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 03:09:13 -0500

Testudo, the University of Maryland's Terrapin mascot, has had the opportunity to watch countless basketball games over the past decades. This Maryland mascot has spent countless nights in Cole Field house and the Comcast Center. Upon entering, he is sure to rub the nose of the Testudo statue (the statue of him of course) for good luck. When the Terps new facility (the Comcast center) was built, the statue of Testudo remained. Some traditions can never be broken. Now, as luck would have it, Testudo has taken over Gary Williams position and is naming his own starting five...well maybe six... plus a head coach. He's only going to choose from the last three decades, so don't worry, we're only talking recent history(1980-present)!

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Ravens-Steelers: Baltimore Outlasts Struggling Steelers 20-17 in Overtime

Todd McGregor — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 17:25:13 -0500

This was not a game for the faint of heart. Every single second of this AFC North showdown lived up to the pregame hype. And if you didn’t have a bottle of Valium in-hand, you probably weren’t even watching the game.

We all know the Ravens (6-5) and Steelers (6-5) hate each other. It’s a deep-seeded hatred players on both sides take personally.

Even though the rivalry is 14 years young, it has grown into one of the most sought after matchups in the NFL. Sunday night’s game certainly didn’t fail to disappoint the most die-hard of fans.

Baltimore came into the game knowing what was on the line—their entire season. Their offense, which has had trouble establishing itself at the beginning of games, came out on fire. The Ravens’ first possession on offense ended with a two-yard touchdown run by Willis McGahee. The Ravens offense was poised and in-sync for the entire first half of the contest.

This was only the start of one of the more memorable games in recent history.

Due to a concussion Ben Roethlisberger received last week against the Chiefs, Pittsburgh was forced to start third-string quarterback Dennis Dixon.

Dixon, a second year player out of Oregon, had only attempted one pass in the NFL prior to Sunday night’s game. However, he was a marquee player at Oregon, and a runner-up for the Heisman trophy in his senior year. A devastating injury cost him the honor of the Heisman, and hurt his stock in the NFL draft the following year.

Dixon filled in well for the injured Roethlisberger. He was able to exploit the Ravens’ blitz packages, and kept the vaunted Ravens’ defense on their toes for the majority of the game.

The inexperienced Dixon finished the game with 172 all-purpose yards, and two touchdowns (one passing and one rushing). Dixon did throw a costly interception in overtime, which all but ended the Steelers’ hopes of pulling off an upset in front of a sold-out crowd at M&T Bank Stadium.

On the other side of the football, the Ravens had to overcome great adversity towards the end of the game in order to come out on top in this heated matchup.

One of the worst aspects of this game was the quality of the officiating.

Baltimore was on the receiving end of some highly questionable no-calls that occurred when Joe Flacco tried to locate Derrick Mason and Todd Heap in the end zone. The no-call on Mason even had Chris Collinsworth pining for a flag to be thrown.

The final blunder by the officiating crew came on the last play in regulation, when Flacco was sacked, resulting in the Ravens’ field goal unit rushing to the line to attempt a game-winning kick. Luckily, for the sake of the officials, Billy Cundiff’s kick came up a few yards short.

Instead of spotting the ball where Flacco went down, they gave Baltimore a spot where the ball came out due to a fumble. The rule simply states that the ball must be spotted where the player originally went down. The officials seemed to have no clue in this instance.

All of these extra obstacles the Ravens had to overcome during the game didn’t end up playing a major game-changing factor.

Flacco shredded a usually stout Steelers secondary, throwing for 289 yards and a touchdown. He overcame five sacks, a fumble and was able to make the big plays when he needed to—something that he was having trouble doing during his three game slump.

On 4th-and-5 in the fourth quarter, the Ravens opted to go for the first down inside their own territory with only one time-out left. Joe “Cool” Flacco remained calm, and found Ray Rice on a short check-down pass.

Rice made the play of the game, taking the ball down to the Steelers’ 10-yard line. This short pass ended up resulting in a 44-yard gain, as Rice eluded defenders during the scamper.

This crucial play set up the ensuing field goal by Cundiff, sending the game into overtime.

In overtime, Baltimore’s defense rose to the occasion. They were able to keep the Steelers’ eighth ranked pass offense in check.

Dennis Dixon’s inexperience surfaced in overtime, when Baltimore called a masterful zone blitz to confuse the young quarterback. The result was an interception by talented young linebacker Paul Kruger, who dropped back into coverage after fooling the offense into thinking he was coming on the blitz.

This set up the game-winning field goal from only 29 yards out.

The excellent winning effort by the Ravens moved them into second place in the tight AFC North, and ensured them a more favorable spot in the AFC wild-card race.

And the game ball goes to...

Joe Flacco and company on offense and the entire Ravens’ defense.

It was refreshing to see a more aggressive attack on offense. Flacco wasn’t limited in this game and did an excellent job of picking apart a good Steelers secondary.

Ray Rice made some game-changing plays, and continues to show why he’s a top-five back in the NFL. He tore apart a good Steelers run defense all game.

The Ravens’ defense was solid, to say the least. They held one of the best offenses in the league to total 298 yards. So the whole defense gets a game ball, too.

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A Thought on the Return of Ralph Friedgen

Jarrett Carter — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 11:10:38 -0500

The questions are still making their way through Internet news wires and the blogosphere, but Ralph Friedgen is still the head football coach of the Maryland Terrapins and rightfully so .

But it just occurred to me that Maryland has more incentive for Friedgen to stay, independent of the $4 million dollars the State of Maryland would be on the hook for should he be fired.

What exactly is the expectation for Maryland football?

An ACC championship? Friedgen can coach with the best of them, but Virginia Tech, Georgia Tech, Clemson, and Boston College are clearly ahead of them as recruiting destinations.

National ranking? The Terps, without an annual upset of a Top-15 team, or 10 wins just won’t get the kind of respect from the pollsters.

It’s not a national championship, and so long as the SEC is the other side of the equation in the Chik-Fil-A Bowl, Terps fans can’t reasonably expect a win in that game.

This ain’t Charlie Weis and Notre Dame. You can’t expect a Top-10 ranking and a BCS berth every year out of a football program stationed smack in the middle of basketball country. Gary Williams, while hamstrung by the ghosts of Lefty Dreisell and Bob Wade in his recruiting, still makes out 10 times better than most basketball coaches in SEC country? Why? Because more kids, more parents, and more high school coaches care about football in those parts.

From New York to Arlington, Va., you are in basketball country. That’s why Gary catches the blues when he can’t win 12 in a row to start the season. Too much talent in the area not to do it.

But Friedgen is supposed to be different? Please. Let the Fridge go recruit and let’s all get cracking on our “What’s Wrong With Terrapins Basketball?” posts.

Technorati Tags: Maryland Terrapins , Ralph Friedgen.

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Why Ray Lewis is the Premier Leader in the NFL

Brittany Jacobs — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 02:54:03 -0500

Ray Lewis has played for the Ravens since 1996, he's been selected to 10 Pro Bowls, and won the NFL defensive player of the year award twice, in both 2000 and 2003.

Lewis boasts more than 1,700 career tackles and over 35 career sacks.

He's known as one of the most dominant middle linebackers in the history of the NFL.

But it's not all of these accolades that make him so important to the Baltimore Ravens.

It's the intangibles.

Ray Lewis is one of the premier leaders in the NFL, it's this intangible that drove the Raven's to bring Lewis back for another season—paying him 22 million dollars over the next three years.

If you've ever been to a Raven's game you've seen the way that Lewis interacts with both his teammates and the fans. He gets everyone riled up and fired up. He walks the line of being cocky, but never takes it too far...and has the skills to back it up.

"He has unbelievable leadership ability in the locker room, in the weight room and out on the practice field," said Ravens general manager Ozzie Newsome. "He helps our young kids not just be football players, but to become professional football players. And that makes a big difference.”

As I watched the interview of Ray Lewis and Ray Rice after today's game against the Steelers (which the Ravens won 20-17 in overtime), it was clear to me why, despite his falling numbers, the Raven's continue to put faith in Ray Lewis.

Lewis speaks from the heart in such an ecstatic manner that all of those around him are inspired. He has fun, and truly seems to enjoy the company of his teammates.

He will get in teammates faces, but is just as quick to give love when they have done something well.

Ray Lewis is more than just a football player. Ray Lewis has become an emblem of all the the Baltimore Ravens want to be. A dominant force that inspires all those in the NFL.

Under Lewis' leadership the Raven's have become workhorses. Come what may...they will fight to the end.

He inspires those around him to work harder. He gets into the heads of the opposition. Ray Lewis is the ultimate leader in the NFL.

When Ray Lewis retires it is rumored that the Ravens are going to build a statue of him right next to the statue of Johnny Unitas.

That is right were he belongs: Next to the great Johnny U and standing forever in Baltimore.

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Pittsburgh at Baltimore: Must-Win Situation for Ravens Sunday Night

Todd McGregor — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 15:03:31 -0500

The Ravens have found themselves in many close games this season. However, none of those games can compare to what’s on the line tonight in Baltimore, as the Ravens take on a Steelers team playing without two of their best players in “Big Ben” and Troy Polamalu.

Ben Roethlisberger will be sidelined with a concussion he sustained against Kansas City last week. It appeared Roethlisberger might suit up for the big Sunday night game, when reports were released mid-week that stated he had passed a battery of tests that measured his cognition.

On Friday, Roethlisberger complained of headaches during physical exertion, which gave the starting role to third-string quarterback Dennis Dixon, a second year man out of Oregon.

Even with the big injuries to Pittsburgh, the Ravens will have their hands full with a solid Steelers’ defense – a defense that will be without their biggest playmaker in Troy Polamalu.

One thing the Ravens understand is the fact they must win this game in order to keep their playoff hopes alive. A win tonight for the Ravens will put them in second place in the AFC North at 6-4; either one or two games in back of Cincinnati, depending on how they fare against the Browns today. A loss might all but end any hopes for the Ravens’ playoff chances.

With the entire Ravens’ season at stake, Baltimore needs to take a more explosive approach to this game.

The Ravens have returned to a more balanced attack on offense in the past four games. This has lead to Ray Rice becoming one of the best all-around backs in the NFL. He’s been a threat both running the ball, and catching passes out of the backfield.

With that said, Baltimore needs to do more than check the ball down to Rice in order to win this contest.

Cam Cameron must reopen the playbook to Joe Flacco. In games where Flacco was limited by Cameron, he struggled mightily, throwing more interceptions than touchdowns (1 TD and 3 INT’s in the last four games).

If Flacco is cut loose from the recent conservative approach on offense, he should be able to take advantage of a Steelers defense that has struggled without their top playmaker in Polamalu. In fact, the entire outcome of the game will rest on how mistake-free Flacco can play.

With the Ravens looking to get back on track, this will be the game in which they can accomplish that. Baltimore and Pittsburgh always play each other close, but the Ravens have the edge in this one, due to the Steelers’ misfortunes.

If Baltimore can strike early and quick, this might be a game where the Ravens never look back at their opponent.

Predictions for tonight’s game

Ray Rice should be a big factor, as usual, in both the running and passing game. Look for him to rack up over 100 all-purpose yards, and a touchdown.

Joe Flacco will end his mid-season slump tonight, as Baltimore will come out of the gates on fire at home, knowing what’s on the line. Flacco should finish with 250 yards, two touchdown passes, and no interceptions.

Final score: Pittsburgh 10, Baltimore 27

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Ravens-Steelers: A One-Round Prize Fight To Save Baltimore's Season

Tyler Springs — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 05:35:56 -0500

For fans of the Baltimore Ravens, there exists no phrase in the English language that evokes as much hate as "Pittsburgh Steelers."

The words themselves are difficult to say without a sarcastic sneer on one's face—testimony to the acrid feelings shared by all Baltimoreans on any given Sunday when "that black and gold team" wins.

No fans are more familiar with Ben Roethlisberger's habit of escaping the pocket and finding an open receiver; no team knows and respects and loathes the other team's defense as Baltimore despises Pittsburgh. The mere mention of last year's AFC Championship game gets the blood pumping at exponentially high levels in fans crossing the Ostend Street bridge toward the stadium gates.

Not even the Bronx Bombers themselves eclipse the Steelers' mark for "Most Hated Baltimore Opponent." I won't speak to Pittsburgh's most hated opponent, but here's evidence of the lengths the team will go to make sure the Ravens feel unwelcome.

Pick your generic insult: Somewhere, that jab will be sold on a t-shirt outside M&T Bank Stadium in the hours before tonight's game.

Whatever the normal price of your ticket may be, it just went up $100. If you think you've seen Ray Lewis fired up this season, you haven't even come close. All-black Ravens jerseys or normal home colors, rain or shine, NBC or Section B, Row C, this is a game you will not want to miss, wherever you pledge your team allegiance. It is, like most years, the best game the AFC North has to offer.

Last year, the margin of victory in each of the three games between these teams was a single digit (three, four, and nine).

This year's editions of each rank in the top 10 in total defense, points allowed and rushing yards allowed. Both have had two tight losses to division leader Cincinnati and other games where they were oh-so-close but could not pull out a win.

With records near the .500 mark, both teams would love to have this game to help their push for the sixth AFC playoff spot, but the Ravens need it most. As they stand at 5-5 with games still to play at Green Bay, home against Chicago and then in Pittsburgh on Dec. 27, their season is riding on the outcome of this game.

Fans are well aware that the conditions of tonight's game are such that the Ravens are already in a good position to succeed. Clear weather, relatively low winds and 71,000 of their loudest, closest friends will support them in their efforts, but simply having Uncle Mo' on their side won't be enough to get the job done.

Thanks to Derrick Johnson, the Ravens have been spared the experience of facing Steelers starting quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, who has completed more than 68 percent of his passes this season and has an uncanny knack for wriggling out of tight situations.

This is a colossal advantage for Baltimore: Because backup quarterback Charlie Batch was also injured in last week's Steelers-Chiefs contest, the task of leading the Steelers' offense now falls to third-stringer Dennis Dixon, a man who has exactly one pass attempt in his two years in the NFL.

Dixon's lack of experience should give the Ravens plenty of opportunities to create confusion; the ideal result would be for Dixon to struggle so much that the Pittsburgh offense becomes one-dimensional, allowing the Ravens to focus on running back Rashard Mendenhall and eliminate any hope Pittsburgh has of sustaining long scoring drives.

The flip side is that Dixon gives the Ravens more to worry about, since he is quick on his feet and dangerous in the open field in a way that Roethlisberger simply is not.

When the Ravens offense takes the field, the key is distribution.

In recent weeks, Joe Flacco has thrown 62 percent of his passes to wideout Derrick Mason or running back Ray Rice, which is a departure from early-season games in which complementary receivers Mark Clayton, Todd Heap and Kelley Washington were more involved.

Offensive coordinator Cam Cameron needs to implement a balanced attack in which the Steelers cannot target one receiver without the risk of giving up a big play. Additionally, backup running backs Willis McGahee and Le'Ron McClain should carry the ball at least 5-10 times between the two of them to change the pace of the offense and make sure Rice doesn't tire early.

If the Ravens are forced to rely on their inconsistent special teams play, they will have sorely missed their mark.

For the Steelers, this game will be about minimizing the decisions Dixon must make in the pocket and finding different ways to get the ball into the hands of Mendenhall and wideouts Hines Ward and Santonio Holmes as quickly and safely as possible.

The running game will most likely be the focus of Ray Lewis and Co., so Pittsburgh offensive coordinator Bruce Arians, if he is wise, should use Dixon's ability to scramble on pass plays to his advantage.

I expect the Steelers to play their normal brand of smash-mouth defense with or without injured safety Troy Polamalu; their bigger problem is fixing the play of their special teams unit, which allowed a crucial touchdown to Kansas City last week. Return man Stefan Logan will also need to make a big play if the offense sputters under Dixon's control, or the Steelers may be out of luck.

Although the season's end is a long way away, the winner of tonight's matchup will determine which team sets themselves on the path to the final playoff spot. Because they still have a home game left against the Ravens, the Steelers would be less hurt by a loss, but that's not the case for Baltimore.

This is a make-or-break game with all the trappings of playoff intensity. If the Ravens lose, they cannot point the finger at anyone but themselves.

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Baltimore Ravens Have Playoff Possibilities But Remain a Longshot

Jarrett Carter — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 11:58:05 -0500

Yeah, the math is still in favor of the Ravens . But a look at the schedule, the injuries, and the failures of the past gives no indication that the math will add up to a Ravens playoff berth.

The good news is that the remaining six contests are split between M&T Bank Stadium and the road, and two of those home games are against woeful Detroit and beatable Chicago.

The bad news? Two games remain against Pittsburgh, and just one loss would likely be the death knell on a Ravens wildcard. And then there’s the road games against Green Bay and Oakland, which no one would classify as locks for this struggling Ravens squad.

Injuries are a concern. Terrell Suggs is out with one of those knee injuries that most players think will shelve them for two games, but will likely amount to a month’s worth of Sundays.

Ray Lewis’ ankle has been tweaked , Ed Reed’s shoulder and neck are still a concern, and this is all before the NFL’s hardest hitting game of the year come this Sunday.

And even if injuries were the least of there concerns, the broken-winged Ravens’ offense hasn’t impressed in the last few weeks, Colts-loss-hard.html" target="_blank">culminating in last Sunday’s Billick-esque field goal parade against the Colts . Do we really believe that it will pick up in time for the balance of the Steelers games, and against three NFC North foes?

It’s possible, and Ravens fans are deservedly hopeful for better days ahead given the weekly exploits of Ray Rice and a capable passing tandem in Joe Flacco and Derrick Mason.

But the tri-force of chain moving can’t do it alone, and the defense must rediscover its lock-down ways this Sunday; lest the season be the championship run that got away.

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Cam Cameron's Play Calling Continues to Set Joe Flacco and Company Back

Matt Miselis — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 01:05:00 -0500

As the Baltimore Ravens and Pittsburgh Steelers renew their rivalry for the first time this season in Pittsburgh, disappointment is what the team, the ownership, and the city of Baltimore are feeling up to this point.

With a record of 5-5, the Ravens have won just two of their last seven games due to a lack of consistency.

First, it was the offense lighting up the board with the points, coming out of the gates as one of the best in the league. At that time, the defense was not up to form, showing signs of aging as they were near the bottom in passing defense.

In the second half of the season, a shift has occurred for the purple and black. While the defense has been one of the best in the past month, the offense has failed to score 20 or more points in the past three games.

With the playoff race getting tighter, the Ravens must find a way to score the necessary touchdowns instead of the field goals. However, where must the debating start? Obviously Mark Clayton needs to step up as the second receiver, along with Todd Heap, who has been quiet as of late.

These questions need to be put to the test by offensive coordinator Cam Cameron, who has done no good for this offense in the past month.

Look, the offense was made out to be one of the best in the league after the first weeks, where the defense was nowhere near the league's best. Inconsistency has been a great deal of concern throughout the season, especially in a few of the games where the offense has let the team down.

Yet who seemed to be a good manager of the offense, Cameron has taken a great deal of heat for the disappointments, and he deserves all of the blame. What was one of the top rushing attacks in the league last season has turned more into an offense dedicated to the pass.

All I can ask is, why? Other then Derrick Mason and Ray Rice, no receiver has stepped up his game where passing can be the best priority. When the offense actually runs the ball, sooner or later Rice breaks out for a rush of 10-plus yards, wearing out the defense.

Well, the plan was brought into action Sunday against the Indianapolis Colts and cost them a win that would have helped them greatly after the struggles from many teams within the AFC.

Baltimore was in range of new kicker Billy Cundiff, who made four field goals (46, 44, 38, 36) but missed a 30-yard field goal in the third quarter.

In a third and long situation, the best option was to run the ball. Rice broke out for some key big runs on the drive, and gaining a few extra yards would have set up a nice opportunity for Cundiff to redeem himself. Le'Ron McClain could have also been used as a fresh back on third and long, with possibly having a huge chunk of yards to possibly get a first down.

But Cameron decided to give Joe Flacco the shot of making the smart play on this particular down. The result: a short pass to Rice, who was covered by three defenders, resulting in an interception.

Wow! Even though Flacco is making good strides as a young quarterback, with no clear receiver open, Joe had to force a pass he didn't want to make, and a turnover cost the Ravens a possible win.

Defenses are beginning to predict the Ravens' offense. They know the ball in the air is either a deep pass to Mason or short drop to Rice.

Because of this, the offense is continuing to suffer, and Cameron is getting farther away from the running game every time.

In some of the media stations throughout the Maryland area, some writers have called for Cameron to get fired. Yes, it is his only second year, but the offense is going in an opposite direction because of the calls he is making.

Yet I assure you he will return next season. With John Harbaugh as head coach, his good friend Cam will be running the offense once again.

Now don't take anything personal here. I think Harbaugh is a likeable coach who is a great motivator and always has a positive attitude.

He won't take it to the next level, though, if he cannot have the top of the line coordinator who can make something out of his offense.

Joe Flacco is the franchise quarterback for the Ravens and continues to grow into one. Certainly general manager Ozzie Newsome will get a receiver either in the draft or free agency after failing to do so last season.

However, whether Cam realizes or not, he is beginning to feel the pressure of not executing on offense, which shall continue throughout this season and the future that 2010 brings.

So a message to Cam Cameron: Utilize the running game, don't put the full load on Flacco, and success can happen.

If not, in a few years you will be out of a job once again, this time with not many places to turn.

Matt Miselis is an NFL writer for BleacherReport.com. He is also a writer for the Baltimore Ravens on fanhuddle.com.

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10 Reasons Baltimore Orioles Fans Can Still Be Thankful

Dean Hybl — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 20:38:26 -0500

Yes, the last dozen years have been particularly painful for Baltimore Orioles fans, but as we observe the Thanksgiving Holiday we still have much to be thankful for.

As an Orioles fan for 40 years, I’ve compiled a list of the 10 things I think Orioles fans can be thankful for. If you are a fan of the Orioles, I’d welcome hearing other things you think we should appreciate during this time of thankful reflection.

10. Buck Martinez —I don’t know what other Orioles fans think of Buck Martinez as a broadcaster of Baltimore games, but I hope they like and appreciate him. Personally, I think the world of him after he took 10 minutes out of his hectic schedule before a game between the Orioles and Rays in St. Petersburg this past summer to give me a personal interview. He did an amazing job giving me the rundown on the young players and key needs of the Orioles and didn’t care that I was writing for sports blogs instead of a major newspaper. For that I am most appreciative and thankful.

9. Boog Powell — My all-time favorite Oriole. I am thankful not just for the 303 home runs Boog hit for the Orioles, but also for his great personality as an advertising legend on the Lite Beer Commercials. I also am thankful for the great Boog’s Barbecue that has become a staple of Camden Yards.

8. Chuck Thompson —Most cities have a sports broadcaster from history who is most associated with that city. In Baltimore, Chuck Thompson was the voice of the Orioles and Colts long before those franchises became successful. His recognizable voice brought the action to fans for decades and he will always be considered the "Voice of the Orioles and Colts."

7. Jim Palmer —I sometimes think that the greatness of Jim Palmer has been forgotten by much of the sports world. While Orioles fans know him as the best pitcher in franchise history, because he didn’t win 300 games he often gets overlooked in the conversation of best of all-time. After his career ended, he also has been a standout broadcaster for 25 years, but again has been lost by the rest of the country. I really don’t understand why he no longer does national broadcasts considering that he is 10 times better than Tim McCarver.

6. Andy MacPhail — I know there are some Orioles fans who will be looking to run him out on a rail if the Orioles don’t start winning in the next two seasons. However, I truly believe that he has built a solid foundation for the future and it will just be a matter of time before the team starts winning. If he can sign Roy Halladay or some other pitching ace this off-season I will be even more thankful for his presence.

5. Nick Markakis, Adam Jones and Nolan Reimold —Sure the Orioles may not have ended 2009 with a winning record, but the play of these three young and talented outfielders has certainly provided hope for the future. If all three are able to harness their potential and live up to their early performances, the Orioles could end up with one of the best outfield units in baseball for years to come.

4. The Ripken Family —As a fan of a sports team, you have to be most appreciative of those who spent their entire careers striving to make your team better. Cal Ripken Jr. and Cal Ripken Sr. both did exactly that. And while Billy Ripken wasn’t quite as vital to the Orioles as his famous father and brother, he still was a solid team player for a number of years.

3. Matt Wieters and the young pitching staff —I may be looking at things with orange colored glasses, but after his performance over the final months of the 2009 season, I truly believe that Matt Wieters will be the next Joe Mauer and maybe even better than the current league MVP. Wieters has the potential to be more of a power hitter than Mauer and while he may never win a batting title, I think Wieters can be a regular .300 hitter. When combined with the many young guns the Orioles have in their pitching staff, I think the Birds could have a great pitch and catch combo for years to come.

2. Frank & Brooks Robinson —It is relatively rare in sports that two people with the same last name play for the same team at the same time, but even rarer that they were not related. However, during the glory years of the 1960s and early 1970s, the Baltimore Orioles rode the talent of future Hall of Famers Frank and Brooks Robinson to two World Series titles and four World Series appearances. The Orioles have truly been blessed to have these two super people and super athletes as representatives of their franchise.

1. Oriole Park at Camden Yards —There have been a lot of nice ballparks built since the Orioles opened the doors of Oriole Park at Camden Yards in 1992, but there still is not a better baseball stadium in the league. Camden Yards was the standard barer for the modern baseball stadium and is an amazing place to watch a ball game. The Orioles may not have been the best team on the field in the last decade, but they at least play in the best stadium.

This article is an original story from Baltimore Sports Then and Now , which w as created to give passionate sports fans a place where they can analyze and discuss current sports topics while also remembering some of the great athletes, moments, teams and games in sports history all at one site. If you haven't been there yet, check it out today.

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Whats Up With The Ravens?

Dominick Pansini — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 17:14:46 -0500

The Baltimore Ravens started the year 3-0 and reached as high as No. 2 in the NFL.com and ESPN.com Power Rankings.

But since then, Baltimore has been in a roller coaster of confusion.

Losing three straight games to New England, Cincinnati, and Minnesota, the Ravens seemed to have lost the defensive swagger it had maintained for so long.

Instead it had replaced the defensive mentality with an offense that showed it can come back from any deficit and would have in the week six matchup against Minnesota when Steven Hauschka missed the game winning field goal.

With its once stout defense struggling to control the leagues top offenses, the Ravens have struggled as of late putting up points. Being unable to score a touchdown in the first half for the past six games has put them in deep holes that they have almost come out of but always come up a step too short.

Now at 5-5 and with two games still remaining against the Steelers, the Ravens most likely will need to win out to make the playoffs as a Wild Card at best, assuming the Bengals don't slip up like they have in the past.

The only thing that is for sure in Baltimore is that this team that had Super Bowl aspirations in August does have an offense that can duel with the best and has finally found their franchise quarterback.

All that is needed now is to fix up their secondary which has allowed far too many big plays this year, costing the Ravens wins they should have had.

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Ted Leonsis Set to Become Majority Owner of Washington Wizards

Jarrett Carter — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 10:32:08 -0500

What Abe Pollin started and grew within the District as a respectable sports entertainment option, Ted Leonsis will likely flourish into a championship contender. The owner of the Washington Capitals, by way of a special deal with Pollin upon his purchase of the NHL franchise, is poised become the majority owner of the Wizards.

For nearly a decade, a plan has been in place to ensure that the Washington Wizards remain locally owned. Washington Capitals owner Ted Leonsis holds the right of first refusal for any transfer of ownership.

Under the plan, Leonsis likely will take over majority ownership of Washington Sports & Entertainment, which includes the Wizards, Verizon Center and the area’s Ticketmaster franchise. The transfer would make Leonsis the only person with majority ownership of an NBA, NHL, and WNBA team and a major sports arena.

I have no doubt that the classy and innovative Leonsis has the savvy and karma to make the Wizards a true player in the Eastern Conference. And he’s not a bad writer, as evidenced by his tribute post to Abe Pollin on his blog.

Of course, Leonsis will likely take his time before making any kind of move to buy the team public. Pollin should be respectfully mourned and appropriately remembered throughout the duration of this season, at least. But rest assured, should Leonsis take the reigns of this franchise, the direction will be one all Wizards fans can have confidence in.

Technorati Tags: Abe Pollin , Ted Leonsis , Washington Wizards

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Why the Baltimore Ravens Aren't Getting Bad Calls

Jarrett Carter — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 10:13:10 -0500

A tongue-in-cheek column from the Sun’s Peter Schmuck—who artfully jabs at the Ravens' predilection to lose close games in the waning minutes—brings up an interesting point that I’ve been meaning to address for a couple of weeks, about the growing movement of "us vs. refs" here in Charm City.

Bottom line: the Ravens have received very few bad calls this season. They’ve made bad plays, they’ve been out of position, and, yeah, sometimes they get jobbed on a play. But for the most part, it’s been pretty fair against the Ravens, particularly in the closing minutes.

If you have any hope of getting over the sense of the Ravens getting cheated out of games, you first have to acknowledge that the Ravens defense hasn’t been very good. All of the disputed refereeing comes against the defense. Rarely do you see refs miscalling false starts or holding against the Birds.

If you can accept that premise, you can further open yourself up to football enlightenment for the ages. The Ravens get very little pressure up front, which makes any NFL quarterback worth his salary look like a superstar.

Since the Ravens do not have any corner backs worth their salary, Ravens fans are often compensating for the lack of talent on the corner by lamenting a lack of fair judgment on the part of the refs.

Think about it. For every big pass-interference call you’ve seen that eventually costs the Ravens games, how many replays have shown the corners scrambling to catchup to the play? If they are on their job, they are already in place to make a play at the point of the ball’s arrival; there should be no question about excessive contact or interference.

If they were ready on every single play, they wouldn’t have to get ready and be caught on a 50/50 call.

Furthermore, many of the games the Ravens lost, could’ve been won with a better field goal kicker. If you have Billy Cundiff or Matt Stover lining it up against the Vikings, and possibly against Cincinnati the second time around, the Ravens are looking at 7-3 and control of the AFC North.

You aren’t even thinking about what influence the refs wield over the games.

This isn’t to say that referees don’t make bad calls, but it is to say that in a digital, social networking world, there’s very little room for various NFL officiating crews to exact a measure of game-influencing disdain against a team that doesn’t make the wheels on the NFL bus go ’round.

The Ravens have some Hall of Fame players in the twilight of their careers, have a great fanbase, and maintain healthy rivalries with each of their divisional opponents.

The NFL isn’t interested in losing this, and we should angle our frustration with the team into a misguided perception of the league’s marketing priorities.

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Baltimore Ravens' Main Problem: Lack of Offensive Identity

Isaac Barrow — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 20:08:30 -0500

After starting the season 3-0, the Baltimore Ravens have scuffled as of late. They lost tough games to the Patriots (27-21), Vikings (33-31), and Bengals (17-14), and even after a very impressive win over the previously undefeated Denver Broncos, the Ravens have lost two of three, and find themselves at 5-5, third in the AFC North. The playoffs are looking like a possibility, but it will be nearly impossible to do it as more than a second wild card. Fans in general love to play the blame game, blaming one person or one side of the ball, and I don't think it's fair to pinpoint one person, but I will say I don't think the Ravens have the identity offensively that they did last season.

2008 was definitely a successful season for the Ravens, as they went 11-5. As a team, they had an identity. They knew who they were. They were a dominant defensive team who played smashmouth ball and forced turnovers. Offensively, they were a team with a rookie quarterback who tried to put their newbie in a situation to succeed by putting him behind a very young, talented offensive line, and gave him three good running backs to give the ball to in Le'Ron McClain (All Pro fullback), Willis McGahee, and Ray Rice. That's a team who knows who they are. They know they have to be themselves - a physical, hard-hitting, run-first team - to be successful.

That's exactly why they went to the AFC Championship Game that year. But this year, things have changed - on offense at least - and it's not positive change.

Throwing the ball: Let it be known, I wanted to see quarterback Joe Flacco throw the ball a lot week-by-week this season. That's why I was glad to see him throw 43, 26, and 35 times in the first three games of the year. But it's really getting out of hand. This is not to say Flacco has struggled. In fact, he's having a Pro Bowl season. His 89.1 quarterback rating is impressive, and he has 2,455 yards (on pace for 3,928), 12 touchdowns, and eight interceptions. On average, the Ravens throw the ball 33.5 times per game, up from 26.75 last year.

Flacco is now a game-changing quarterback, something he wasn't early in 2008, as he was more of a game-manager. But I don't think the Ravens should be using him as much as they have. That's exactly why he's struggled recently. He's been overexposed, if that exists. In a 17-7 loss to Cincinnati, he had his worst game of the year, as he was 18-of-32 with two picks. He was solid in the other three games (Denver, W 30-7, Cleveland, W 16-0, Indianapolis, L 15-17). He threw a backbreaking pick againast Indianapolis, but was 22-of-33 with 251 yards up to that point. The Ravens need to stray away from trying to become a pass-happy team and be themselves.

Le'Ron McClain: Since Willis McGahee struggled last year (mainly due to early injuries), and Ray Rice was just a rookie, somebody had to pick up the slack in the backfield, and that guy turned out to be Le'Ron McClain. The second year fullback out of Alabama didn't ever dominate a game, but did the job of a power back - he wore down defenses, and put games away when the Ravens had small leads. And he finished with 902 yards and ten touchdowns on 232 carries. He ran for over 120 yards against Dallas, but that was mainly because of an 82-yard run in the final two minutes.

So where is he in the gameplan this year? Even with the emergence of Ray Rice, the Ravens need to get this guy far more involved than he is. It's not as if he's struggled. In fact, he's a better receiving threat (18 rec., 142 yards in 10 games, 19 rec., 123 yards in 16 games in 2008). His yards per carry is down from 3.9 to 3.5, but I don't think anybody in their right mind can expect a run-up-the-gut fullback to average much more than 3.4, 3.5 per touch. So far, the guy has 26 carries for 92 yards. Really, that's insulting. Granted, he's doing an excellent job as a lead blocker, but offensive coordinator Cam Cameron must utilize this guy, and he'll be extremely important in December when the weather gets colder.

Ray Rice: Not much can be said to adequately describe what a year Rice is having. At 5'8", 210, he's not very big, but he's having a huge campaign. He hasn't missed a game yet, and has been extremely consistent. He has 148 carries, 733 yards, six touchdowns, and is a dynamic receiving threat, with 56 catches for 515 yards. All in all, he has 1,248 all purpose yards, which ranks up there with the likes of Maurice Jones-Drew and Chris Johnson. But look at the workload he's had this year. If anything, he's extremely under-used. I understand that the Ravens don't want to overwork the guy and have the wheels fall off down the road, but this is ridiculous.

Before I introduce, that, let's talk about another great back. Anyone who watched the Titans 20-17 victory over the Texans knows what makes Chris Johnson so good - speed. He's able to torch defenses through the run and in the pass - just like Rice. This year, Johnson is on pace for 1,987 rushing yards along with 419 receiving. He averages 20 carries a game, and got 29 against Houston. If Rice had 199 carries like "CJ" does, he'd have 986 yards. But it's obvious Rice needs to get more carries. Overall, I think the Ravens need to run a lot more than they are, led by the speedy Rice and 260 pound, All-Pro fullback McClain.

Razzle dazzle: Last year, the thing I loved about the Ravens was not only the balance, but also the razzle dazzle. Almost every game, there were tricks. In the first game, they did a double reverse, which resulted in a 42-yard touchdown run by Mark Clayton. In a Week 8 win over Oakland, backup quarterback Troy Smith threw to Flacco for a 43-yard gain in an eventual 29-10 triumph. Just two weeks later, Smith came in on another trick play and threw a touchdown pass to tight end Todd Heap. Weeks later, the team routed the Bengals, 34-3, and on one play, wide receiver Mark Clayton threw a long touchdown pass to fellow wideout Derrick Mason.

It wasn't just the tricks. On one instance, in fact, the Ravens were leading the Redskins at home, 17-10 after a touchdown pass from Jason Campbell to Antwaan Randle El that made an uninteresting game interesting. With 11:22 left, it was suddenly something it wasn't for the previous 48:38 - a game. The Ravens ran a whopping 11 times in a row, ten times with McClain for 43 yards, and Clayton once on a 12-yard reverse. But on third down, the Ravens passed, hitting up Derrick Mason for a touchdown that put all thought of a Redskins comeback to rest. That has been gone this year. They haven't been predictable with their playcalls, but haven't been as balanced.

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Still, the Ravens are having some success offensively, but during this week, not only do they have to prepare for the Pittsburgh Steelers, but they have to find out who they are. Will they continue to be a pass heavy team? Will they use their three headed - or even two headed - monster? Will they bring back their razzle dazzle? Who knows? But I do know why the Ravens aren't winning - they aren't being themselves. One of the many football cliches you hear is "don't try to play outside of yourself". The Ravens, I think, are breaking one of those.

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