Comments on: PFT Preseason Power Rankings No. 5: Baltimore Ravens

By: xxsweepthelegxx

xxsweepthelegxx — Mon, 23 Jul 2012 16:01:54 +0000

josephgattuso says:
Jul 22, 2012 3:20 PM
The Patriots really shouldn’t be ahead of the Ravens. They had one of the easiest schedules in NFL history last year. They didn’t win a single game against a team better than .500 the entire season, until the AFC Championship game. And even that game, they only won because of a freak series of events. Also with Sterling Moore just flat-out being allowed to commit defensive pass interference. The Patriots would’ve been blown out of the stadium in the Superbowl if the refs didn’t do everything they could to keep them in it. Four productive Giants drives were thwarted by four egregious calls. Three uncalled defensive pass interferences that would’ve been 20+ yard gains, and then a bogus holding call on a Brandon Jacobs run up the middle for the conversion.

It should be Giants, Packers, Ravens, 49ers, Texans for first five. The Texans are really stacked. Amazing offensive and defensive lines.
__________________

The Pat’s had an easy schedule you say?

Your Ravens lost to the Tennessee Titans, Jacksonville Jaguars, Seattle Sewhawks and San Diego Chargers. What does that say?

It’s the NFL my friend, all teams are good. There are no “easy” games.

By: johntonioholmes

johntonioholmes — Mon, 23 Jul 2012 15:27:40 +0000

“and if Lee Evans hadn’t dropped a pass from Flacco in the end zone late in the AFC Championship Game, we’d probably be talking right now about what a big step forward Flacco had taken in leading the Ravens to the Super Bowl. This year the Ravens need Flacco to really take that big step forward.”

Lee Evans didn’t drop the pass; it was stripped.

The Patriots made a good defensive play. When you say, “If Evans didn’t drop the pass…” You might as well be saying, “If the Patriots weren’t playing defense, the Ravens would have won.”

Again, the ball was stripped–not dropped. And that’s a huge difference.

By: gabefergy

gabefergy — Mon, 23 Jul 2012 08:48:53 +0000

The Ravens do have a few concerns, but what team doesnt. They are certainly a preseason favorite to represent the AFC. Losing Suggs is a big blow, but there is still a lot of talent on that defense. They may be even better than last season with such an impressive secondary.

I think the biggest weakness is the OC. The ball control, vanilla offense may be the Ravens demise. They have talented receivers, but there is a major lack of creativity in how they are used. Last year the overall inexperience of the receiving core was apparent. Flacco is a better QB than most give him credit for and with more time to grow with his receivers he could be poised for a big year.

By: rekingcrew

rekingcrew — Mon, 23 Jul 2012 05:48:16 +0000

The team rated 16th, scored on every offensive play except one when they played last year against the Ravens.

By: walkedintoabar

walkedintoabar — Mon, 23 Jul 2012 04:39:15 +0000

wide recievers are a weakness more so than flacco i’d say. you even wrote that a dropped pass in the afc championship was the reason flacco wasn’t a hero and its true (on a day he smoked brady in brady’s house). that was the story all season. dropped passes, lack of seperation.

By: patsfiend

patsfiend — Mon, 23 Jul 2012 03:11:28 +0000

It should be Giants, Packers, Ravens, 49ers, Texans for first five. The Texans are really stacked. Amazing offensive and defensive lines.
=========
Obsessed with the Pats much? This article has nothing to do with them! And, by the way, you left out the part about them going 13-3 and the calls in the SB of the Brady “safety” and the Giants non-fumble that the Pats recovered.

The league is close… and going 13-3 against any schedule is not easy. You’re often just a couple of plays away from losing to “lousy” teams. You can ask the Steelers about that one.

You’re nuts if you don’t think the Pats are in the top 5. They could have no one but Brady and Belichick, and they’d still be in the top 10.

By: ravenseattheirownpoop

ravenseattheirownpoop — Mon, 23 Jul 2012 00:58:45 +0000

Way to high for the ratbirds. It doesnt matter where you rank them. The bottom line is they choke whenever they get into position to win a big game.
Flacco is average at best. Cameron is way to vanilla. He belongs coaching in high school.
Their coach is a headcase who is always crying when he loses and enjoys gatorade baths after beating the lowly Browns. Hey Harbaugh, act like you’ve been there before. Oh yeah my bad, you haven’t!

By: mancave001

mancave001 — Mon, 23 Jul 2012 00:50:41 +0000

I just don’t buy the Ravens, not with Suggs’ injury and Flacco’s inconsistent play as of late. Ray Lewis can’t play forever, folks.

By: sweetzinger

sweetzinger — Mon, 23 Jul 2012 00:41:43 +0000

@josephgattuso

I couldn’t agree more. I can’t believe the Patriots are in the top 5. It just proves how dumb the media STILL is. Honestly, they beat 1 team with a winning record all year. They’re in for a surprise this year.

I do disagree with your choice on the Giants though. That’s another team that scraped by with a 9-7 record in an incredibly underachieving division. They might have hammered the Falcons, but so what. The Packers beat themselves, the 49ers lost that game and they barely beat a pathetic Patriots team because Brady’s an idiot:
1. that stupid safety
2. underthrew Gronk even though he had a LB beat by a yard and a half 40 yards downfield
3. that pathetic pass to Welker

I go Packers, 49ers, Texans, Ravens, Eagles

By: randallflagg52

randallflagg52 — Mon, 23 Jul 2012 00:11:31 +0000

grogansheroes says:Jul 22, 2012 7:47 PM

randallflagg52 says:
Jul 22, 2012 6:25 PM
grogansheroes says:Jul 22, 2012 5:07 PM

The big question is, how long can Ray Lewis continue to play well? 37 for an NFL middle linebacker is ancient. I mean, he can’t do this forever can he? Once he loses it, the Ravens are done.

==================================

Yeah you mean like when they were 4-0 without him last season?

—————————————————-
The Pats were 11-5 without Brady. Does it make them a better team? You can get by for four or five games. But when it comes to a tough spot, the rest of the D is looking to Ray. He’s going to retire eventually, we will see. Oh, and which four teams did they beat? Browns and Rams among them?

==================================

Cincy, San Fran, Cleveland and Indy. I suggest you do your research before spouting nonsense, you’ll come off as less of a tool.

By: grogansheroes

grogansheroes — Sun, 22 Jul 2012 23:47:15 +0000

randallflagg52 says:
Jul 22, 2012 6:25 PM
grogansheroes says:Jul 22, 2012 5:07 PM

The big question is, how long can Ray Lewis continue to play well? 37 for an NFL middle linebacker is ancient. I mean, he can’t do this forever can he? Once he loses it, the Ravens are done.

==================================

Yeah you mean like when they were 4-0 without him last season?

By: alskdh

alskdh — Sun, 22 Jul 2012 23:22:37 +0000

If the Packers are #1 in ‘Pre-Season’ rankings, based on heading in to THIS season and THIS offseason alone, this is officially a joke.

By: engymass2

engymass2 — Sun, 22 Jul 2012 22:40:15 +0000

Don’t think they’ll do as well against the Steelers with their new O-Coordinator. They knew Arians offense pretty well but lost against it mostly (over the years). Haley should push the Steelers well ahead of the Ravens.

By: 49erstim

49erstim — Sun, 22 Jul 2012 22:36:51 +0000

A lot of great debate on this team. The loss of Suggs hurts…don’t get me wrong….but I’d rather lose a guy on D if I’m the Ravens. If this were Ray Rice, for example, it would hurt worse IMO. I agree with the sentiment that Cameron is too inconsistent….also….hopefully Flacco is more concerned with trying to be a top 5 QB and not trying to tell everybody he is one.

By: randallflagg52

randallflagg52 — Sun, 22 Jul 2012 22:25:49 +0000

grogansheroes says:Jul 22, 2012 5:07 PM

The big question is, how long can Ray Lewis continue to play well? 37 for an NFL middle linebacker is ancient. I mean, he can’t do this forever can he? Once he loses it, the Ravens are done.

==================================

Yeah you mean like when they were 4-0 without him last season?

By: jdfrox

jdfrox — Sun, 22 Jul 2012 22:21:32 +0000

If flacco is a weakness this team is in great shape. Bad qbs do not come from behind on road at pittsburg multiple timed. Is he perfect? No. Is he Aaron Rogers? No. But boy is clutch with game on the line and that is a fact. And whoever said he was terrible in afc championship might want to go back and check the stats.

By: hedleykow

hedleykow — Sun, 22 Jul 2012 22:15:29 +0000

Does it really matter how talented a team is if they still blow it at the end of the game because they couldn’t figure out what down it is?

By: deathtoromo

deathtoromo — Sun, 22 Jul 2012 22:14:21 +0000

No way. Team let a lot of good players that were also good locker room guys go. This team is on the decline. Too old and their coach is a clown. How a team can be that old with that little of cap space dispells the myth of “the wizard”. Run is over crowes.

By: Sixx

Sixx — Sun, 22 Jul 2012 22:09:42 +0000

Too high

By: ajc33635

ajc33635 — Sun, 22 Jul 2012 22:09:22 +0000

Wild caard at best then one and done.

By: ravensfansc

ravensfansc — Sun, 22 Jul 2012 21:27:56 +0000

I think this is a good spot, maybe one spot higher or lower but around this vicinity. I like Flacco and I think he is our qb, I just don’t feel confident with Cam Cameron, but Flacco has the potential to be great and is in store for a bounce back year. I feel that the ravens can go as far as Flacco leads them which can be as far as Cameron lets them go by using ray rice and play action.

By: pjamdragon

pjamdragon — Sun, 22 Jul 2012 21:19:02 +0000

GM Ozzie Smith ?!?!
Wrong Wizard…wizard.
Try Newsome

By: grogansheroes

grogansheroes — Sun, 22 Jul 2012 21:07:17 +0000

The big question is, how long can Ray Lewis continue to play well? 37 for an NFL middle linebacker is ancient. I mean, he can’t do this forever can he? Once he loses it, the Ravens are done.

By: jwayne111

jwayne111 — Sun, 22 Jul 2012 20:02:25 +0000

Sounds like a debate whether Flacco is a strength or weakness…do people really watch Flacco and think he is running the offense? or try to look for a reason to believe in Flacco.

By: watermelon1

watermelon1 — Sun, 22 Jul 2012 19:40:04 +0000

THIS is exactly why it’s a good thing Evans dropped the pass. The millions of blind Flacco fans would have thought Flacco “led” the team to the Super Bowl.

They would fail to realize that the entire rest of that AFC Championship game… Flacco was HORRIBLE against one of the WORST defenses in the league. A defense that he SHOULD have been able to carve up all game long and keep Tom Brady cold on the sidelines.

I love watching the Ravens on defense, but Flacco makes the offense almost unbearable to watch. And the really sad thing is, because the Ravens are so insistent on forcing Flacco down the fans throats to “prove” they made the right choice in drafting him and giving him no competition… the team has went away from the run game which is clearly the better option with their situation at both DEFENSE and QB.

The biggest questions for the Ravens this year isn’t Flacco. We know what he is. He’s had 4 extended years taking all the snaps. The biggest question is if the Ravens can muster any sort of pass-rush which will do wonders for their very talented secondary.

By: randallflagg52

randallflagg52 — Sun, 22 Jul 2012 19:38:16 +0000

Also Cam Cameron should be listed as a weakness. Dude is the most inconsistant OC in the game. I don’t get how he can design a game plan like he did against the Steelers twice, and make all those second half changes against Arizona to come back and win, but then totally ruin games against Jax, Seattle, and Tennessee. He has a lot of talent, I think even his largerst crititcs would admith that, but he is just so inconsistant from week to week.

He also needs to get Dennis Pitta more involved in the offense. That guy is set to explode in the NFL, had a great finish to the season.

By: 7370355q

7370355q — Sun, 22 Jul 2012 19:33:48 +0000

I actually feel significantly better about our special teams coverage units this year compared to last. We were able to replace Nakamura with veteran Sean Considine, and we were able to sign special team pro bowler Corey Graham from the Chicago Bears. Additionally Jacoby Jones should provide a spark in the return game considering how dismal we were especially in kickoff returns. The signing of Bobbie Williams will be a quality addition. Although he will be turning 36, he was a better pass blocker than Grubbs was last year according to pro football focus. If Williams struggles I could foresee a situation where the Ravens 2nd round draft pick Kelechi Osemele could take over midway through the season as williams bridges the gap. Osemele has too much talent to be on the sidelines for too long. Along with the fact that McKinnie is getting his weight under control and should report to camp in much better shape than last year, this line should not experience a significant drop off in effectiveness *knock on wood*. Mr. Smith forgot to mention the Ravens 2 tight ends Dickson and Pitta who will add a difficult dimension to defend as they enter their 3rd season. The injury to Suggs is an obvious blow, the Ravens were lucky to draft Upshaw where they did. If Paul Kruger can build off of a promising 2011 season during this contract year, that would obviously go a long way. And with Upshaw’s talent on the other side, I am still pretty confident that we can weather the storm until suggs makes his return. The key will be Sergio Kindle, if he can provide a spark for the Ravens on 3rd downs like Kruger did last season that would be huge. Early indications from OTAs were that Kindle has improved significantly. Add in Pernell McPhee’s pass rushing capabilities that he exhibited in his rookie season last year, along with one of the best if not the best secondaries in the NFL there really aren’t any glaring weaknesses on this defense to speak of. I think this is a good spot for the Ravens, the schedule will be tough, lets hope for another great season Ravens fans.

By: josephgattuso

josephgattuso — Sun, 22 Jul 2012 19:20:47 +0000

The Patriots really shouldn’t be ahead of the Ravens. They had one of the easiest schedules in NFL history last year. They didn’t win a single game against a team better than .500 the entire season, until the AFC Championship game. And even that game, they only won because of a freak series of events. Also with Sterling Moore just flat-out being allowed to commit defensive pass interference. The Patriots would’ve been blown out of the stadium in the Superbowl if the refs didn’t do everything they could to keep them in it. Four productive Giants drives were thwarted by four egregious calls. Three uncalled defensive pass interferences that would’ve been 20+ yard gains, and then a bogus holding call on a Brandon Jacobs run up the middle for the conversion.

It should be Giants, Packers, Ravens, 49ers, Texans for first five. The Texans are really stacked. Amazing offensive and defensive lines.

By: swashbucklin

swashbucklin — Sun, 22 Jul 2012 19:20:08 +0000

This will be the year that the raven’s beef moves from defense to offense. It’s been said before, but if lee evans used his shakeweight a little more we wouldn’t even be having this conversation.

By: randallflagg52

randallflagg52 — Sun, 22 Jul 2012 19:17:32 +0000

IMO losing Chuck Pagano is going to be the bigger than losing Suggs, Johnson or Grubbs. Guy was very much like Rex Ryan with his crazy blitzes and fronts. After dealing with Greg Mattison it was nice to have a DC again who isn’t afraid to bring the heat from any part of the field. Suggs called it after week 1 when he said he’d be a HC after the season.

Also no mention of Lardius Webb in the “strengths” section? He only was the best corner in the NFL last year, how about showing him some love?