Ravens-Dolphins Wrap-up
This week the Ravens move up to .500 and hold the second place spot in a pretty weak AFC North. Cam Cameron did well in his homecoming game against his former team, the Miami Dolphins. He put Willis McGahee in a position that allowed him 100-plus yards for the first time this year and did an excellent job of keeping his play calling diverse, opening up the pass as well as the run.
Joe Flacco showed he still has some issues with his timing in the pocket. At times he hung onto the ball too long or bailed out too quickly. He needs to work on evading defenders in the pocket as opposed to bailing out at the first sign of trouble.
He also needs to get a go-to receiver.
Todd Heap has been unreliable at best, like Mark Clayton, which leaves us with Derrick Mason as the most likely candidate, but his hands haven’t been the best lately either. What’s clear now is that the Ravens need to make building their receiving corps a priority this off season.
If not for the spotty secondary the Ravens D might be able to carry the team on its own as it has in years past. Problems in the secondary affect pass coverage as well as turnover ratios – this is definitely not the high-scoring defense of old.
It’s great to be back at .500 and it’s great to have a home game coming up. I’m excited about the win this week, but it has to be a measured excitement. Remember, we were crushed by the Colts and the teams we beat this season are sub-par at best. There’s a lot of football left and this season has already proven to be unpredictable across the NFL.
One last thought on the small ball. You don’t see something like what the Tampa Bay Rays pulled off Sunday night very often. It just goes to show that anything is possible in sports. Their win allowed me to believe in the O’s again. It put a spark in all sports because pundits and broadcasters alike can pretend to predict the future, but in the end it comes down to the men playing. That could easily be Baltimore in a year or two.
Until next week, go Rays.
(photo from the Miami Herald)
Wow…The Bengals just look worse and worse every week, don’t they? I really do feel this team is going to go winless, 0-16.
I’m a little surprised at how well Baltimore played against the Dolphins, but the Dolphins were playing above their potential, I believe, so I guess the Ravens brought them down to Earth a little bit. I still think the Ravens are 6-10 at best, but with this win they might squeeze out seven wins this season now.
I watched most of the Rays v. Sox game last night too. It looks like the Sox magic rubbed off on the Rays this year. As for the World Series, I like the Rays in 5 games.
It might be time to start beefing up on replacement linebackers and corners. A receiver would be nice.
Why don’t the Ravens ever do much trading?
Trading in the NFL really doesn’t happen that often. Not sure if it’s because players contracts aren’t guaranteed so you can cut a player whenever or why it is.
I was wondering how many minor trades went through at the trade deadline. Other than the Roy Williams trade, there was one other trade. Tackle John McCargo to the Colts for an undisclosed pick. I remember reading that McCargo failed a physical, so that trade didn’t even happen. That’s one TOTAL trade at the deadline (according to the NFL transaction report at ESPN.com). So it’s not just the Ravens, no one trades during the season.
As far as offseason trading, not really sure how the Ravens stack up against the rest of the league. I know the Redskins trade most of their draft picks away each year for known players. Other than that, not really sure. So, I guess this wasn’t really much help.
I’ve read that we’re pretty deep at linebacker. Why do you think its time to start beefing up on replacements there? Just with the big three being on contract years?
I guess I’m just concerned about the aging defense.
McCallister and Rolle are unreliable and aging. Walker is a walking penalty flag. I like Washington, but we need some extra corner depth.
Trevor Pryce, Kelly Gregg, and Justin Bannan are all getting up there. Need some defensive linemen.
Matt Stover is done, get a new kicker.
New tight ends. The Heap Saga is pretty much over.
Wide outs. Mason is old. Clayton can’t make big plays. I don’t even know who the rest of the wide receivers are.
That’s my wishlist. WRs, CBs, DEs, TEs and a K.
You guys should try to get Keith Rivers from the Bengals. He’s really good if the other players can handle him “flapping” his jaws as much as he does.
LOL
I’m despicable.
i’ve said before that i’d like to have hines ward on my team, but man. he is the dirtiest player i’ve EVER seen. and i watched the raiders in the 70′s.
I guess if he played here, I’d be saying that he just plays tough, physical football and people need to stop whining. But the fact that looking from the outside, I’m glad I don’t need to say those things, I’m glad he’s not on this team.
I know he would be a huge target and upgrade our receiving corps greatly, but man, he’s just so fucking dirty. The fact that in every poll of dirty players I’ve ever seen given to players and/or coaches, he’s been the only offensive player listed speaks volumes.
And not to get into Ravens/officials/outsiders view conspiracy theories, but I think we can all agree that (whether for good reason or for no reason) that the Ravens come across as sort of a thug team. This is something I hope Harbaugh changes in the upcoming years, but it is there whether we like it or not. If Hines played for us, I bet the refs would be calling things a little more tightly on him, and he would perhaps get some suspensions or bigger fines headed his way.
The fact that in every poll of dirty players I’ve ever seen given to players and/or coaches, he’s been the only offensive player listed speaks volumes.
yeah i was saving this tidbit for any of the yinzer loss column folks that might lurk out there. the fact that hines ward has now concussed or BROKEN several people’s heads – one of which (at least) was a raven (ed reed) tells me all i need to know about his intent, “hardnosed” or not.
also this notion of the ravens as a thug team is kind of stale when you think about it. one, they haven’t had a legitimate dirty player since orlando brown that i can think of. they certainly made their share of stupid penalties during billick’s reign – most if not all of them had to do with discipline, not dirtiness.
also it cracks me up when people say “ray lewis is the biggest thug in the nfl”!!! hardest work ethic, team ethic, doesn’t drink, smoke, swear, or even smell trouble since that awful night. it’s a story of true redemption that most journalists outside of baltimore (and perhaps anywhere) are too afraid to touch or acknowledge.
it’s a shame.
I don’t think there are any “yinzer loss column folks.” Unless you’re referring to the fact that I’m an admitted Steelers fan, but I’m not going anywhere near this discussion.
Except to say that, in all honesty, I can see both sides.
that’s true. yinzers have relatives to sleep with!
maybe if we say yinzer enough here we can attract some pittsburgh folks. THAT would be compelling as hell.
Also, Mike Nolan is out of a job in San Francisco. It’s a shame, if for no other reason than it was nice to see a coach wearing a suit on the sideline.