The 2008 Ravens Offseason: Four Selections that Changed Everything

For the Baltimore Ravens, 2008 was meant to be a rebuilding year. It was supposed to year in which rookie quarterback Joe Flacco got his feet wet, and unlike 2003 Ravens first round pick Kyle Boller, learn from it. It was supposed to be a year where offensive coordinator Cam Cameron begin to develop him like he did Drew Brees and Philip Rivers when Cameron was the “OC” for the San Diego Chargers. The Ravens could expect improvement, but not much more.

In fact, how hard would it be to improve upon the Ravens dreadful year in 2007, in which they went 5-11, and finished near the bottom in every offensive category?

Team GM Ozzie Newsome, a Hall of Fame tight end, has been very successful in his career as an executive when he’s needed to reload the team, and soon after the season, he fired head coach Brian Billick, which was a tough—but needed—move. Billick was the head coach in Baltimore from 1999 to 2007, and while it was very up-and-down, he won a Super Bowl, had a solid 80-64 record, and developed a strong relationship with the players. Even kicker Matt Stover, a classy guy who has been very loyal to the organization, didn’t back the move 100 percent.

“I’m not saying I agree with it,” Stover said, “but sometimes things have to change.” It was needed because the Ravens, who won 13 games in 2006—all because of defense—won just five in 2007—the biggest win differential for any team in the NFL that year. After 19 days of searching, the Ravens had a choice between two. They could either pick John Harbaugh, an Eagles special teams coordinator, or Jason Garrett, the Cowboys offensive coordinator. After Garrett turned down the Ravens offer, Newsome went with Harbaugh, who sounded delighted to have the job.

“Up, down, sideways, from the very top, it’s a very impressive place to visit,” Harbaugh said. “I knew the Ravens had a great organization. Now, I see why. Good people, from Ozzie and Steve to everybody in the organization. It’s been challenging, but it has been fun.” Harbaugh earned a head coaching job, which is certainly an honor, but he would be one busy man for the rest of the offseason. First of all, after the disheartening 2007 season, the Ravens cleaned house.

Both Steve McNair and Jonathan Ogden retired, while Baltimore’s staff decided to let go of almost every coach, electing to keep assistants like defensive coordinator Rex Ryan and tight ends coach Wade Harman, but not much more. Harbaugh hired many new assistants, including Cam Cameron, whom he appointed offensive coordinator.

Cameron has long been considered one of the finest quarterback developers in the league. In San Diego, he brought up Drew Brees and Philip Rivers, who are both top five quarterbacks in this league. With a clumsy quarterback situation, the Ravens would need a guy like Cam. “We’re excited to get Cam, because he’s a fine coach and a good person,” Harbaugh said in a statement. “He had other options. We’re going to be tough, we’re going to be exciting, we’re going to be disciplined, and we’re going to play really hard. If we do those things on offense, and we take care of one another, good things will happen.”

But to develop a quarterback, the Ravens had to get someone who had the chance to be a special player. The two quarterbacks on the roster at the time were Kyle Boller, a true bust, and Troy Smith, a guy who was a backup, at best. So, on draft day 2008, the Ravens traded down—then back up—to select Delaware’s Joe Flacco, who threw for 4,263 yards, 23 touchdowns, and five interceptions as a senior. Of course, it wasn’t top-notch competition, but Harbaugh was convinced Flacco could handle it.

“All quarterbacks have to make a jump from college football,” Harbaugh said. “It’s a tough jump, and that’s been proven. When you get to know Joe, you’ll find that this guy feels like he has something to prove. He’s a very competitive guy. He’s a leader. . . . We’re satisfied that he’s got the personality to be a real good quarterback.” Scouting director Eric DeCosta referenced both Kurt Warner and Tony Romo when talking about small-school quarterbacks who had to make the jump—and made it quite well, at that.

But the Ravens added one more offensive weapon in the draft. With the 55th overall pick, the Ravens added some depth to their backfield, drafting Rutgers’ halfback Ray Rice. Rice set records at Rutgers, running for a school record 4,926 yards, but he didn’t get drafted high because of his size. At 5’8″, 205, many scouts worried about durability. But there are many small backs in the NFL, like Maurice Jones-Drew (5’7″), DeAngelo Williams (5’9″), and Frank Gore (5’9″), who have succeeded, and Rice doesn’t worry about durability question marks.

“I came from an offense where I got the ball 30 times [per game],” said Rice. “I’m a feel-the-defense-out type of a guy.” Joe Flacco loves having Rice in the backfield to toss a screen or hand the ball off for a nice change of pace. “Ray did a great job for us last year and he’s going to be a huge threat out of the backfield,” the quarterback said. “You get the ball to Ray and he’s going to make a lot out of it. We’re excited to have him healthy and ready to go all season.”

It’s very ironic, really. Only one—maybe two—of these moves were accepted by Ravens fans. Joe Flacco was considered a huge reach and an unknown quarterback prospect. Most Baltimore faithful wanted Boston College’s Matt Ryan, who was picked third by the Falcons. Harbaugh was a nobody before getting hired. Most wanted Garrett, who was the mastermind of a Dallas offense that made some major noise in 2007. Cameron was—and still is—a great offensive coordinator, but was coming off a head coaching audition in which he went 1-15 with Miami. Rice was insignificant.

And when you think about it, the Ravens got lucky to an extent. Both Harbaugh and Flacco were their second choices. The Ravens have admitted they wanted to trade for Matt Ryan, but the Falcons didn’t budge, so they had no choice but to take Flacco. And Garrett was the first guy the Ravens pursued to get a job offer, but he, of course, refused. So then, the Ravens chose Harbaugh—also their second choice.

But look now. The Ravens have a franchise quarterback—the first the city has had since the days of Johnny Unitas, when they were the Colts. Rice is certainly emerging and Maurice Jones-Drew comparisons are valid. He ran for 108 yards against Kansas City in the opener, and reminds me of former 49ers RB Roger Craig in that he can hurt you on the ground and on screens. Harbaugh is a young head coach, one of the youngest in the league, and the team doesn’t look prone to inconsistency, as they very much were with Billick.

And Cameron is developing Flacco just like he did Rivers and Brees, and through the first two games of his second season, he has 497 yards, five touchdowns, two interceptions, and more importantly, two wins.

The 2008 offseason was one of rebuilding. Getting a new head coach. A new quarterback. Completely changing the coaching staff. The majority of Ravens fans weren’t in full support of it. Heck, I’m sure some Ravens players were second guessing the “Wizard of Oz.”

But now, nobody—not even the biggest pessimist—can question these four moves. Owner Steve Bisciotti put it best. “As an owner, you want a coach and quarterback you feel can be in your organization for 10 years,” Bisciotti says. “I’m very hopeful and confident that we’ve got that.”

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Why Tom Brady Is the Best Quarterback in the Modern Era

Go ahead. Call me crazy. Nobody could ever pass the legendary Joe Montana. Not the Joe Montana, who threw for 40,551 yards, 273 touchdowns, 139 interceptions, and won four Super Bowls in his immortal 15-year career. He was nicknamed “Joe Cool” for not only his poise, but his ability to come up big in the playoffs. In fact, during his career, he was 16-7 in the postseason. It’s tough to say that someone in the modern era is better than him, surpassing him as the best quarterback ever, but with Tom Brady, it’s not so challenging.

Both were drafted considerably low, which is very surprising. Montana, mostly because of his size (only 6’0″), was drafted in the third round (82nd overall) by the San Francisco 49ers in 1979. Safe to say the Rams, who picked 81st—along with the the other 80 teams ahead of them—are kicking themselves to the day. Montana was a huge steal, no doubt, but the consensus is that Brady getting taken in the sixth round (199th overall) in 2000 is the biggest robbery in draft history. In my opinion, Tom Brady is the best quarterback in the modern era. Here’s why:

Playoffs: People talk about Montana’s playoff performances, and make no mistake about it: They were fantastic. Let’s not forget, Brady is 14-3 in the playoffs, totaling an .823 winning percentage. Brady has played well in practically every playoff game he’s appeared in. In 2001, he led the Pats to close wins over the Raiders (32-of-52, 312 yards), Steelers (12-of-18, 115 yards), and then the Rams in the Super Bowl (16-of-27, 145 yards, 1 TD).

In his postseason career, he is 372-of-595 (62.5 completion percentage) with 3,954 yards, 26 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions. If you combine all of his December, January, and February games, Brady is an unfair 42-8.

Montana, who has also been tremendous in the playoffs, isn’t quite there. His 16-7 record in the playoffs gives him a .696 winning percentage, 127 points shy of Brady. In the three dreaded months of December, January, and February, Montana is a “pedestrian” 52-16, posting .764 winning percentage, as opposed to Brady’s .840. So, shockingly, there is a playoff quarterback better than the Joe Montana.

Statistics: A lot can be judged by statistics. Nobody can question the career Brady has had. From 2001 to 2007, his full years (barely played in 2000, injured in 2008, 2009 just started), he finished with over 26,000 yards, 197 touchdowns, and 84 interceptions, compiling a 93.0 quarterback rating. His average year consisted of 327 completions in 519 attempts, 3,766 yards, 28 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions.

In Montana’s glory years of 1981 to 1990, he totaled 33,107 yards, 226 touchdowns, and 114 interceptions. Montana’s conventional year was composed of 3,311 yards, 23 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions, worse than Brady’s habitual line.

Let’s face it: We judge quarterbacks by wins. Dan Marino is one of the best quarterbacks ever, but some knock him because he never won a Super Bowl. Montana and Brady combine for seven. In Joe’s regular season career, he had a 117-47 starter’s record, while Brady is a whopping 87-24. While Montana has a larger sample size, his winning percentage stands at .713, while at .784, Brady is 71 points higher.

Also, Tom Terrific’s 93.0 quarterback rating is 0.7 higher than Montana’s 92.3. And Brady, who has 199 career touchdowns and 87 interceptions, averages 2.3 touchdowns per interception, while Montana averaged 1.93 TD/INT.

Help: The quarterback position is an inexact science. People expect wins, but it seems that sometimes, quarterbacks get bashed far too much for losses and get too much credit for wins.

When they do manage to win, fans sometimes say the quarterbacks didn’t “earn” it, saying he got far too much help from his teammates, but football is a team game, not a quarterback one. And Tom Brady, while he had considerable help around him and a great offensive line, didn’t have Jerry Rice.

In 1981, when Montana won his first Super Bowl, he had Dwight Clark to throw to, who made “The Catch”, and from 1980 to 1986, had 700 yards or more each season, including 1,105 in ’81. On top of that, the Niners ranked second in defense that year. In 1984, Montana’s second Super Bowl winning season, the 49ers ranked first in defense. He also had Roger Craig, a four-time Pro Bowler, and still had Clark. Then in 1988 and 1989, the last two times he won the Super Bowl, he had Jerry Rice, the best receiver in NFL history, at the age of 26 and 27, and in those years, he combined for 146 catches, 2,789 yards, and 26 touchdowns.

This is not to say Montana is an overrated bum who only won games because of talent around him. Montana was a sensational quarterback. He was clutch, but he also had some help. Brady never had Jerry Rice. He never had Roger Craig. In fact, until the Pats acquired Randy Moss before the 2007 season, New England never had a big-time receiver.

Sure, Troy Brown was a consistent player, but he’s hardly in Hall of Fame consideration, and he only made one Pro Bowl. When the Pats won again in 2003 and 2004, Brady’s main receivers were Deion Branch and Brown, who combined for just 97 receptions and seven touchdowns in ’03.

Ironically enough, Brady lost his only Super Bowl with Moss to throw to. If you combine Brown, Corey Dillon, and Branch, there are just five Pro Bowls. But between Rice, Craig, and Clark, you have the best wide receiver in NFL history, one of the most complete backs ever, a consistent threat who made “The Catch”, and 19 Pro Bowls.

Think about it.

The other candidates: Yes, there are other candidates. Terry Bradshaw, for one, but he applies to the Montana ruling. Ask yourself this: if Brady had the defense the Steelers had during the 70’s, and two Hall of Fame wide receivers, along with Franco Harris and arguably the best center in NFL history in Mike Webster, how many rings would Brady have? I’m sure Brady would have at least five. Bradshaw was a great quarterback, and he deserved the spot he got in the Hall of Fame, no doubt. But he had the best defense, led by Joe Greene, Mel Blount, Jack Ham, Jack Lambert, and L.C. Greenwood. And like I said, he had Franco Harris, a Hall of Fame center, and John Stallworth and Lynn Swann to throw to.

Steve Young and Peyton Manning are also in consideration, but Peyton’s 7-8 playoff record is less than stellar, and Young was just 8-6 in the playoffs, so they are Hall of Famers, but not the best in the modern era.

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The Ravens Wide Receiving Corps: Let’s Examine This “Problem”…

The Baltimore Ravens are expected to contend this year. If anything, they look like a good bet to grab one of the final two spots as a Wild Card team. One thing people claim to be a weakness on this team is the wide receiving core. The Ravens have just four receivers, as they cut Eron Riley, Justin Harper, and Yamon Figurs, and decided to keep Derrick Mason, Mark Clayton, Kelley Washington, and Demetrius Williams.

You have to figure that core is going to catch some criticism. Mason is very productive, but 35 years old. Clayton is inconsistent. Williams has the tools, but can’t stay healthy. Washington hasn’t really proven much and is nothing more than a No. 5 on most teams.

And the “analysts” who reside in Bristol, CT (ESPN) point this out to be a major weakness.

Really? That logic certainly applied last year, when the Ravens had a non-existent Todd Heap, and only two of those four receivers played a full season with Baltimore. Yet, they went to the AFC Championship. Let’s allow “expert” Cris Carter tell it like it is. “They’re not that good. If they get in a close game and the other team is just a little better, they will lose.”

That’s such a complex theory Sir, I don’t think I can keep up with that. If it’s close and the other team is better, the other team will win. And that argument certainly is fact driven. Do tell, Cris!

But back to the core. People were shocked when the Ravens didn’t draft a receiver in the first round, or in the second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, or seventh, for that matter. People were also somewhat surprised when the Ravens passed on free agents like Terrell Owens, T.J. Houshmandzadeh, Torry Holt, and Marvin Harrison and also didn’t trade for disgruntled wideouts like Brandon Marshall or Anquan Boldin. The cold truth: it wouldn’t make sense.

First of all, would these players really fit? Obviously, guys like Harrison and Holt are as old—or older—than Mason. Harrison is on a steep decline. After catching 95 passes for 1,366 yards and 12 touchdowns in 2006, he’s combined for 80 catches, 881 yards, and six touchdowns his last two seasons.

He’s also in legal trouble, and is 37 years old. Nonsensical. Holt is also the same way. He’s 33, and had the worst year of his career in 2008, with just 12.4 yards per catch and three touchdowns. Also nonsensical. And where can you even start with Terrell Owens? The Ravens, while looking for wins now, are building for the future, and T.O. is 35, and really seemed inconsistent last year.

Let’s not forget that he’s selfish. He’s the polar opposite of Mason. He’s not a team player. He’d also consume about $7 million in cap space that the Ravens would want to use to re-sign Terrell Suggs, which they eventually did, and guys the Ravens want to extend in the future, like Haloti Ngata, Jared Gaither, Fabian Washington, Dawan Landry, and Le’Ron McClain. Bringing in T.O. would cause the inevitable locker room divide.

Houshmandzadeh would be the same thing. He’s certainly a fantastic possession receiver, but would the Ravens want to pay him $44 million over four years like the Seattle Seahawks did? Absolutely not.

Like I said, the Ravens want to pay guys like Suggs, Ngata, Gaither, and McClain, homegrown guys who are also younger then T.J. The same logic applies with Marshall and Boldin. Marshall is a walking headache. We all saw the infamous practice video. The one where he refused to catch passes, punted the ball after running drills, and walked across the field during sprints.

If he wanted to kill all of his trade value, he did a mighty good job. He wants one thing: money. And the Ravens can’t provide it to guys like that.

Same thing with Boldin. He wants Larry Fitzgerald money. You can’t ask the Ravens to sign two guys to lucrative extensions in consecutive years. They signed Terrell Suggs to a six-year, $63 million extension last offseason, and if the Ravens were to trade Boldin, the entire season would be an audition for a pay day for him.

So, I mean, really? You think the Ravens should pay a receiver when they’ve proven they can win with the guys they have? Why fix it if it’s not broken?

And in the draft, the Ravens had a chance to take a guy like Kenny Britt or Hakeem Nicks in the first round, but they had an opportunity they couldn’t pass up. They had a chance to take Michael Oher, an offensive tackle many were comparing to Orlando Pace. And it’s pure luck, too. Just weeks after selecting him, Willie Anderson retired, and Adam Terry was on injured reserve, and that would leave the Ravens with no right tackle. Luckily, they selected Oher, and signed him to a rather cheap five-year, $13 million deal.

I think Ozzie Newsome put it best: “If we take care of Joe, Joe will take care of us.” By that, he means that if the Ravens have a solid offensive line, the Ravens won’t need a receiver of Brandon Marshall or Anquan Boldin’s stature. The Ravens have a very dangerous duo of offensive tackles with Jared Gaither and Oher, who average 22.5 years of age, but that’s not to say they aren’t good.

Last year, Gaither did a very good job stepping in for that Jonathan Ogden guy, who had a decent 12-year career. The 22-year-old Gaither allowed three sacks in 15 starts, ranking sixth in the league, ahead of guys like Walter Jones, Matt Light, and Joe Thomas. And what can you say about Oher? He did a good job during the preseason, and I have great confidence in him.

The Ravens also have a good guard tandem. Ben Grubbs is a very underrated guy, as are most guards. Marshal Yanda has been good during his career with the Ravens. And then at center, the Ravens have some experience in Matt Birk, who signed a three-year, $12M free agent contract this offseason. With the Vikings, he made six Pro Bowls.

So, you don’t need an amazing receiver. Would it be nice for Flacco to throw to Anquan Boldin or Brandon Marshall? Of course it would. It’d be a nice sight to see. But the offensive line will make Joe look better, who will make the receivers look better.

The Ravens are no stranger to proving doubters wrong. I see this as no exception.

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Digesting the Baltimore Ravens’ Final 53-Man Roster (Offense)

When you ask head coaches what the hardest part of their job is, their answers will be similar: cutting somebody. It’s something that has to be done, but you never like to see somebody who has worked so hard to reach the NFL, only to get canned and looking for a job.

Today, at 4 PM ET, all teams were required to have their final 53-man roster set. On every NFL team, there are guys who have a spot on the roster. On a team like the Ravens, one of those guys is quarterback Joe Flacco. But there are also bubble guys, and with 75 on the roster after the last preseason game, teams have little time to cut their roster down to 53.

Today, the Ravens cut their roster down to 53, parting ways with 22 players.

Quarterbacks: Joe Flacco (starter), Troy Smith, John Beck.

No surprises here. In my opinion, Beck deserves the backup job. Smith is an intriguing talent, as he has good escapability, but really, he hasn’t led the team down the field during the preseason, and while you can use the argument that he was in with backups, John Beck was in with backups against the Atlanta Falcons starters, and went 16-of-28 with 232 yards and two touchdowns, leading Baltimore to a 20-3 win.

So that’s a very silly justification. In the preseason, Beck went 22-for-38 with 340 yards, two touchdowns, and no interceptions, while Troy was 25-of-49 with 341 yards, one touchdown, and two picks.

Running backs/fullbacks: Ray Rice (starter), Willis McGahee, Matt Lawrence, Jalen Parmele, Le’Ron McClain (starter).

It was a bit surprising to see both Cedric Peerman and Jason Cook get released. First things first, Rice, McGahee, and McClain were givens to make the roster. Rice has looked very good in the preseason, McGahee has looked much-improved off last season’s disappointing effort, and McClain is an All-Pro.

Peerman didn’t get many chances running the ball, but the Ravens liked his “team player” style, as he played well on Special Teams. Lawrence also played well, and it was a battle between him and Peerman, and I thought Peerman would get the job because of his Special Teams play.

I also thought the Ravens would keep Cook for blocking-back depth and to give McClain more carries.

Wide receivers: Mark Clayton (starter), Derrick Mason (starter), Kelley Washington, Demetrius Williams.

Pretty terrible depth here. Clayton is coming off an injury and didn’t participate at all during the preseason, granted he did come back to practice recently. Mason is 36. Washington, while he’s a name, hasn’t done much in the NFL, and Williams is incredibly injury prone.

In 2006, he had a solid rookie year, catching 22 passes for 396 yards. He started 2007 well, but missed the final seven games due to an injury. And after playing the first seven games in 2008, he left with a season-ending injury.

In the preseason finale, a 20-3 win against Atlanta, he stepped up, catching four passes for 77 yards. But look for the Ravens to add an available WR. Names that the Ravens could discuss include Super Bowl XLII hero David Tyree, or Ronald Curry.

The Ravens released Justin Harper, who was very inconsistent, along with Yamon Figurs and Jayson Foster. Harper wowed some in training camp, and even had a good game against the Redskins (4 rec., 77 yards, 1 TD), and even caught a 51-yard pass against the Jets, but for Harper, it’s simple. For every catch he made, there was a drop. The Ravens simply couldn’t have that.

Figurs is a liability as a WR, and at his primary position, kick returner, he was average, at best, and with Lardarius Webb and Chris Carr in town, there’s no room. Foster was a camp body, and he could be a practice squad guy.

Tight ends: Todd Heap (starter), LJ Smith, Edgar Jones.

Since the Ravens traded Derrick Martin to the Green Bay Packers for offensive tackle Tony Moll, the had to clear room for him, and released fifth-round pick Davon Drew, who never did much of anything during the preseason or practice.

Quinn Sypniewski, a player the Ravens had high hopes for, is now on IR, a place that has become all-too-familiar for him. Heap and Smith were both givens to make the roster as the one-two punch at tight end, and Edgar Jones is a guy the Ravens like, and mainly because he has versatility. He’s a good special teams guy, can play tight end, and even plays defense as an OLB/DE. The team also cut Isaac Smolko.

Offensive line: Jared Gaither (starter), Ben Grubbs (starter), Matt Birk (starter), Marshal Yanda (starter), Michael Oher (starter), Chris Chester, David Hale, Tony Moll, Oniel Cousins.

No surprises here. The Ravens have a very good offensive tackle duo with Gaither and Oher, and a good, young guard tandem with Grubbs and Yanda, and an accomplished veteran center with Birk.

The backups are also pretty serviceable. Chester is a guy who can play guard and center, and can learn from a vet like Birk, or even a young kid like Grubbs. Hale impressed many during camp, and is also a very versatile guy, as he can play pretty much any position on the line.

Moll was acquired in a trade that sent Derrick Martin to Green Bay. As Rotoworld put it: “Baltimore got the better end of this deal. Moll isn’t a mauler, but has starting experience and can play four positions. He’s the ideal swing-type reserve.” Cousins won’t see any time this year, as the Ravens have three guys in front of him.

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Joe Flacco: Why We Won’t See a Sophomore Slump

Now that we’ve seen that Ravens QB Joe Flacco can play at the NFL level, it’s only a matter of consistency. Ravens fans can only hope he doesn’t go through an infamous “sophomore slump.”

Last year, he started every regular season game, throwing for 2,971 yards, 14 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions. The stats don’t jump out at you, but they’re impressive when you consider that he had one touchdown and seven interceptions in his first five contests, only to throw for 13 touchdowns and just five interceptions his next 11.

He became the first rookie to win two road playoff games, and even played in the AFC Championship Game against the eventual Super Bowl Champion Pittsburgh Steelers.

People didn’t set standards high for him going into the year.

First of all, he was a rookie. Rookies—especially quarterbacks—often struggle. On top of that, he was an unknown. Nobody really knew who he was. He’s a quarterback coming out of Delaware, so he wasn’t exactly the most hyped.

Most set the bar low for him, even Ravens fans. But not Flacco.

“When you’re an NFL quarterback, you have standards that you want to live up to,” Flacco said. “And you don’t lower them just because you’re a rookie. I had my standards set high (last season) and goals I wanted to hit. Just because some people might not have thought I was going to succeed doesn’t mean I thought that way.”

And as expected, he did struggle early.

In his first preseason game, he was 0-for-3, fumbled once, was sacked twice, and almost threw an interception, had it not been dropped. He clearly improved over the next three weeks, but he wasn’t where he needed to be.

Because Troy Smith was sick, Kyle Boller was out for the season, and Todd Bouman wasn’t even close to being an NFL starter, the Ravens had no choice to throw Flacco into the fire.

He was even a pretty good game manager in the first two games, winning both starts. But after three consecutive losses, it became apparent the Ravens had a rookie on their hands, but not yet an NFL-ready quarterback.

The Ravens lost three heartbreaking games. They played a very good game against the Steelers, but lost in overtime, 23-20. The next week, they played another good team, but fell to the undefeated Tennessee Titans, 13-10. And in week six, they played another good team, but this time, the Ravens were crushed, 31-3.

Flacco threw three interceptions, and coach John Harbaugh didn’t sound too optimistic after the game. “We got what we deserved,” the first-year coach said. “That’s what happens when we play the way we did.”

But after that game, Flacco and the Ravens went on a tear.

The defense played well, but “Joe The Quarterback” did as well. The Ravens won nine of their final 11, and during the stretch, Flacco threw for 2,127 yards, 13 touchdowns, and five interceptions.

The rookie who was used as a “game manager” early was now being unleashed as a quarterback who could attack teams well. The Ravens were suddenly in the playoffs, but Flacco didn’t want them to stop there. The Ravens throttled the Dolphins, 27-9, behind Ed Reed’s normal two interception, one touchdown game, and beat the Titans in an intense, smashmouth affair, 13-10.

“We’ve been confident in ourselves all year,” the first-round draft pick from Delaware said. “It seems like we’ve been on the road for the longest time. It doesn’t matter to us. We’re going to go out there and battle the crowd, battle the other team, and give it our best.”

Last year, Flacco was too busy to be a rookie; he’d rather be the starting quarterback for the Ravens. He proved he can be a very good NFL quarterback. As previously stated, the only question now is: can he keep it up? 

Yes, he can.

If Joe and the Ravens proved anything last year, it was that they can rebound from heartbreaking defeats. For example, after losing three in a row—two by a field goal, one by four touchdowns—the Ravens won four in a row.

Following a devastating 30-10 loss to the Giants, the Ravens rebounded by dominating the Eagles, 36-7, Bengals, 34-3, and Redskins, 24-10. Then, in a physical battle for the AFC North, the Ravens lost a depressing game to the Steelers, 13-9, but followed by winning two in a row to clinch the last AFC Wild Card spot.

That’s one thing Ravens fans, including myself, loved—perseverance. They rebounded from tough losses when some teams would fold, and you hardly could blame them.

So I don’t see any reason for Joe to dwell on the AFC Championship loss in which Flacco threw three interceptions and the Ravens lost, 23-14. In fact, the Ravens rebounded from far worse losses.

In Week 6, they lost to the Colts, 31-3, and proceeded to win four straight. In Week 11, they lost to the Giants, 30-10, and then outscored teams by a score of 94-20 the next three games.

And he’s looked like his late-season self so far in the preseason. Yes, it’s preseason. The records are irrelevant. But Joe was still going against starters.

He went against the Redskins starters, and on two drives, went 9-for-15 with 105 yards and led two scoring marches.

In a Monday Night game against the Jets, his accuracy was off, at least statistically, as he went 8-for-18, but he had 120 yards, and led the Ravens to a touchdown on a Statue of Liberty play. And in Week 3, he torched the Panthers’ first team secondary, going 23-of-28 with 247 yards and a touchdown.

Combined on the preseason, Flacco is 40-of-61 with 472 yards, one touchdown, and no interceptions, boasting a 94.4 quarterback rating. And yes, it’s preseason. I’m well aware. But also, remember: he was going against first team defenses.

All the Redskins starting defensive players played, including all four defensive backs in safeties LaRon Landry and Chris Horton, along with corners DeAngelo Hall and Fred Smoot.

It was the same deal against the Jets. While Darrelle Revis didn’t play, Lito Sheppard—an All Pro in 2006—did, along with Dwight Lowery, who is due to break out this year. And in Flacco’s dominant performance against Carolina, both starting corners (Richard Marshall and Chris Gamble) started.

It’s pretty clear that hiring offensive coordinator Cam Cameron during the 2008 offseason was a smart move. While Flacco deserves a ton of credit, Cam has a history of developing sound quarterbacks, i.e. Philip Rivers, Drew Brees.

In 2006, Rivers’ first year as a starter, he threw for nearly 3,400 yards, 22 touchdowns, and nine interceptions, leading San Diego to an NFL-best 14-2 record. And he hasn’t looked back.

Brees is obviously an elite QB, with over 26,000 career yards and 168 touchdowns.

Will the same be done for Flacco? I doubt it. But a sophomore slump? Not likely.

Michael Oher: You Heard It Here First, NFL Fans…

In the team’s preseason opener, the Baltimore Ravens dominated the Washington Redskins, 23-0. There were a lot of bright spots.

After struggling in minicamp, starting quarterback Joe Flacco was sharp, going 9-of-15 with 103 yards and leading the team to field goals on his two drives. Both Ray Rice and Willis McGahee were solid, and the biggest bright spot of all was the defense.

The Redskins mustered a mere 199 yards of defense, fumbled twice, and threw one interception. While it is an irrelevant preseason matchup, Ravens fans were eager to see their first round pick, offensive tackle Michael Oher.

When I watch the tape on Oher, I notice that he truly blocks until the whistle blows, he’s an intimidating presence on the line, his pass blocking technique is fantastic, and has good athleticism for his 6′5″, 309 pound stature.

Oher was very well known going into college. As a junior, he came out of nowhere to emerge as the top high school football prospect.

He is the subject of the Michael Lewis book “The Blind Side,” and is an inspiration to many. In his two-year high school career, he didn’t allow a sack, and was credited with 200 pancake blocks.

In college, he didn’t disappoint. As a freshman, he started at right guard, an unnatural position for him, but he was versatile enough to make first-team Freshman All America. As a sophomore and junior, he was very good, and even considered going pro after his junior campaign, but returned for a final encore at Mississippi.

As a left tackle, he dominated, making a name for himself as an elite prospect, but slipped all the way to Baltimore’s No. 23 selection, where the Ravens picked him.

Since veteran Willie Anderson retired, Oher was practically handed the right tackle job, but he would still have to earn it. On July 30, he signed a bargain of a contract, agreeing to terms on a five-year, $13M deal.

Oher was impressive during training camp, and would see his first action on Aug. 13, 2009, against the Washington Redskins. To put it simply, this kid is going to be a beast. You heard it here first.

On one of the first Ravens plays of the game, Joe Flacco threw a short pass to Ray Rice, who took it 34 yards inside the Skins 20-yard line. What you won’t hear about that play is how Michael Oher made it.

Lining up opposite 14-year veteran Philip Daniels, Oher would face his first real challenge. To say the least, he made it look easy. The vet came on a blitz, but Oher wasn’t having it.

The rookie shoved Daniels to the ground, so hard that the rookie’s helmet came off. While Daniels was down, the left tackle shoved him even more. Mean? Yes. Good? Yes.

Later in the drive, with the Ravens inside the Redskins 10-yard line, Oher this time lined up opposite another veteran, but Oher again made it look easy. Opposite 13-year veteran Renaldo Wynn, Oher made a fool of him.

The rookie drove him back a few yards, and then slammed him to the ground. Kaboom. Oher slammed him so hard, he had a gash of his blood on his forehead, and left the game.

But no worries. The 309-pound left tackle returned later in the game. After just two plays, Oher is a fan favorite in Baltimore.

I will admit, it’s just one preseason game. So it’s premature for me to say this kid will be a good one. However, I don’t see any reason why he can’t be.

He has a mean streak. He finishes plays. He has solid pass and run blocking technique. He’s a physical lineman, who showed that he is more of a mauler than a finesse blocker. Is there any reason this kid can’t be special?

But while Ravens fans can (and should) watch in awe of his talents, what he’s overcome as a person are much more admirable. Born May 28, 1986, in the projects of Memphis, Tenn., he had a terrible upbringing.

His mother was addicted to crack cocaine, and his dad, whom he never talked to, was murdered when Oher was a junior in high school.

Michael repeated both first and second grade, and attended a whopping 11 different schools his first nine years as a student. In addition to that, he was in-and-out of Foster homes, and until he was 16, he didn’t have a home. He was homeless.

He didn’t know his name, age, or how to read or write. At 16, a friend of his, Tony Henderson, recommended he apply for admission at local Briarchrest Christian School.

Oher, of course, had no foundation academically, so many doubted he’d be able to handle his schooling at BCS. It took the generosity, care, and help of a local Christian family, but he did.

Leigh Anne and Sean Tuohy saw Oher walking with the same shorts at school…in the snow. They noticed he had nowhere to go, and took him in. He brought up his GPA, then 0.4, to 2.65.

In November, the movie “The Blind Side” will come out, with Sandra Bullock playing the role of Leigh Anne, and Quinton Aaron as Michael. He has certainly overcome a lot in life, and out of it, he has the right attitude.

After he was drafted by Baltimore on April 25, he seemed not only happy, but grateful and eager to prove the Ravens right.

“I’m in the NFL. That’s all I ever wanted to do. Now I got to stay in. I’m not going to let them down.”

Give him credit. In his 23 years, he’s overcome more than your average person has in their entire life. “He had a very hard, rough upbringing with no parental supervision. He had nothing,” said Leigh Anne Tuhoy’s daughter, Collins.

“He’s a diamond in the rough, if you would,” says Briarchrest principal Steve Simpson. Yes, Steve, he is.

Michael Oher: You Heard It Here First, NFL Fans…

In the team’s preseason opener, the Baltimore Ravens dominated the Washington Redskins, 23-0. There were a lot of bright spots.

After struggling in minicamp, starting quarterback Joe Flacco was sharp, going 9-of-15 with 103 yards and leading the team to field goals on his two drives. Both Ray Rice and Willis McGahee were solid, and the biggest bright spot of all was the defense.

The Redskins mustered a mere 199 yards of defense, fumbled twice, and threw one interception. While it is an irrelevant preseason matchup, Ravens fans were eager to see their first round pick, offensive tackle Michael Oher.

When I watch the tape on Oher, I notice that he truly blocks until the whistle blows, he’s an intimidating presence on the line, his pass blocking technique is fantastic, and has good athleticism for his 6′5″, 309 pound stature.

Oher was very well known going into college. As a junior, he came out of nowhere to emerge as the top high school football prospect.

He is the subject of the Michael Lewis book “The Blind Side,” and is an inspiration to many. In his two-year high school career, he didn’t allow a sack, and was credited with 200 pancake blocks.

In college, he didn’t disappoint. As a freshman, he started at right guard, an unnatural position for him, but he was versatile enough to make first-team Freshman All America. As a sophomore and junior, he was very good, and even considered going pro after his junior campaign, but returned for a final encore at Mississippi.

As a left tackle, he dominated, making a name for himself as an elite prospect, but slipped all the way to Baltimore’s No. 23 selection, where the Ravens picked him.

Since veteran Willie Anderson retired, Oher was practically handed the right tackle job, but he would still have to earn it. On July 30, he signed a bargain of a contract, agreeing to terms on a five-year, $13M deal.

Oher was impressive during training camp, and would see his first action on Aug. 13, 2009, against the Washington Redskins. To put it simply, this kid is going to be a beast. You heard it here first.

On one of the first Ravens plays of the game, Joe Flacco threw a short pass to Ray Rice, who took it 34 yards inside the Skins 20-yard line. What you won’t hear about that play is how Michael Oher made it.

Lining up opposite 14-year veteran Philip Daniels, Oher would face his first real challenge. To say the least, he made it look easy. The vet came on a blitz, but Oher wasn’t having it.

The rookie shoved Daniels to the ground, so hard that the rookie’s helmet came off. While Daniels was down, the left tackle shoved him even more. Mean? Yes. Good? Yes.

Later in the drive, with the Ravens inside the Redskins 10-yard line, Oher this time lined up opposite another veteran, but Oher again made it look easy. Opposite 13-year veteran Renaldo Wynn, Oher made a fool of him.

The rookie drove him back a few yards, and then slammed him to the ground. Kaboom. Oher slammed him so hard, he had a gash of his blood on his forehead, and left the game.

But no worries. The 309-pound left tackle returned later in the game. After just two plays, Oher is a fan favorite in Baltimore.

I will admit, it’s just one preseason game. So it’s premature for me to say this kid will be a good one. However, I don’t see any reason why he can’t be.

He has a mean streak. He finishes plays. He has solid pass and run blocking technique. He’s a physical lineman, who showed that he is more of a mauler than a finesse blocker. Is there any reason this kid can’t be special?

But while Ravens fans can (and should) watch in awe of his talents, what he’s overcome as a person are much more admirable. Born May 28, 1986, in the projects of Memphis, Tenn., he had a terrible upbringing.

His mother was addicted to crack cocaine, and his dad, whom he never talked to, was murdered when Oher was a junior in high school.

Michael repeated both first and second grade, and attended a whopping 11 different schools his first nine years as a student. In addition to that, he was in-and-out of Foster homes, and until he was 16, he didn’t have a home. He was homeless.

He didn’t know his name, age, or how to read or write. At 16, a friend of his, Tony Henderson, recommended he apply for admission at local Briarchrest Christian School.

Oher, of course, had no foundation academically, so many doubted he’d be able to handle his schooling at BCS. It took the generosity, care, and help of a local Christian family, but he did.

Leigh Anne and Sean Tuohy saw Oher walking with the same shorts at school…in the snow. They noticed he had nowhere to go, and took him in. He brought up his GPA, then 0.4, to 2.65.

In November, the movie “The Blind Side” will come out, with Sandra Bullock playing the role of Leigh Anne, and Quinton Aaron as Michael. He has certainly overcome a lot in life, and out of it, he has the right attitude.

After he was drafted by Baltimore on April 25, he seemed not only happy, but grateful and eager to prove the Ravens right.

“I’m in the NFL. That’s all I ever wanted to do. Now I got to stay in. I’m not going to let them down.”

Give him credit. In his 23 years, he’s overcome more than your average person has in their entire life. “He had a very hard, rough upbringing with no parental supervision. He had nothing,” said Leigh Anne Tuhoy’s daughter, Collins.

“He’s a diamond in the rough, if you would,” says Briarchrest principal Steve Simpson. Yes, Steve, he is.

Steve McNair: A Tribute to The Man, The Myth, The Legend, Rest In Peace

Credit to Bleacher Report Dallas Cowboys community leader James Williamson for help with this article.

On Saturday, July 4, the world lost a very good man when former Tennessee Titans and Baltimore Ravens quarterback Steve McNair was shot to death behind a market in downtown Nashville, Tenn. McNair played 13 seasons in the National Football League, 11 with the Titans, and two with the Ravens. In 161 games, he threw for 31,304 yards, 174 touchdowns, and 119 interceptions. He threw for 27,141 yards with the Titans, second most in Titans history, was named to three Pro Bowls and won 2003 NFL MVP.

McNair was born on Feb. 14, 1973, in Mount Olive, Miss. Steve played many sports early in life, but he knew football was where his future would be. He was an athletic player, but also had an extraordinary throwing arm, which led him to starring as a quarterback in high school. He would often come home with bumps, bruises, cuts, but he seemed to enjoy the pain. Steve entered Mount Olive High School as a 14-year old in 1987. He played four sports (baseball, basketball, football, and track), and even got drafted by the Seattle Mariners and Pittsburgh Pirates, but because he wanted to become an NFL quarterback one day, he refused the offers both times.

As a junior, Steve led Mount Olive to a state championship, and as a senior, broke all of his brother’s school records. He played both offense and defense, quarterback on offense and safety on the defensive side of the ball. In 1990, he intercepted 15 passes, and was named an All-American by Super Prep Magazine. Steve was recruited heavily by schools like Florida State, but every school who recruited him wanted him to play safety. However, Steve’s dream was to be an NFL quarterback, not safety. Then, his only choice was to go to nearby Alcorn State University, where Steve would accept a scholarship offer.

Steve felt comfortable signing on with ASU because head coach Cardell Jones had all the confidence in him, and McNair would be able to flourish in a shotgun offense. As a freshman, he did just that. He gained 3,199 yards of offense and posted a record of 7-2-1, exceeding even Jones’ expectations for him. As a sophomore, he broke out, throwing for 3,541 yards and 29 touchdowns and showed his athleticism, running for 10 more scores. The Alcorn State Braves finished 7-4, but McNair was certainly a bright spot. By this time, McNair was already earning high praise from NFL draft analysts.

In 1993, the Braves finished 8-3, and McNair threw for over 3,000 yards and tossed 30 touchdown passes, and his draft status was getting higher and higher each day. Despite being at a little-known Alcorn State school, he was a Heisman Candidate, finishing third. In Steve McNair style, he played the season through mental pain, as his grandmother Hattie had died. He dominated in his senior year, and NFL scouts had seen enough. Teams were intrigued by his toughness—mental and physical—athleticism and great character. The team most interested? The Houston Oilers. The Oilers took him with the third overall pick of the 1995 draft, and signed him to a seven year, $28 million contract.

In typical Steve McNair fashion, the first thing he did with the money was buy his mother a new house. The house was at the same location in which she picked cotton as a young girl. As a rookie, he didn’t play very much at all, appearing in four games, going 41-of-80 with 569 yards, three touchdowns, and one interception. He was playing behind Chris Chandler, who threw for 2,460 yards and 17 touchdowns in 1995. The Oilers coaching staff admired his ability to handle being a backup and not complain. The staff wanted him to get chances, and he threw for nearly 1,200 yards in 1996, along with six touchdowns and four interceptions.

Following the team’s move to Tennessee in 1997, McNair became the full-time starting quarterback. He had a respectable season in ’97, throwing for 2,665 yards, 14 touchdowns, and 13 interceptions. He not only didn’t throw many interceptions, he ran for 674 yards along with eight touchdowns, and the future looked up for “Air” McNair. The following year, Steve and the Tennessee Oilers made names for themselves. Steve threw for 3,228 yards and 15 touchdowns, had 289 completions, and led the newly-named Titans to an 8-8 record. While it wasn’t elite, the future was clearly looking up for Steve, and the team as a whole.

In 1999, the future officially arrived. Steve battled through 11 regular season games, throwing for 2,179 yards, 12 touchdowns, and eight interceptions. He led the Titans to a 13-3 record, and helped the Titans to playoff wins over the Bills (also known as the Music City Miracle), Colts, and Jaguars. In the Super Bowl, he fell to the NFC Champion St. Louis Rams, but had a solid game, going 22-of-36 with 214 yards, and running for 64 yards on just eight attempts. He even threw a complete pass with seconds left to Kevin Dyson, but the wide receiver was tackled by Rams linebacker Mike Jones, thus ending the game. His great effort in the Super Bowl gave the Titans reason to give him a new contract, signing him to a six year, $47 million deal. In 2000, the Titans picked up where they left off, finishing the year 13-3 again.

McNair didn’t have a dynamite year, throwing for 2,847 yards, 15 touchdowns, and 13 interceptions, but he was 12-3 as a starter and made the plays when needed. He could make them through the air or on the ground. The Titans again fell short in the playoffs, losing to the Baltimore Ravens in the divisional round, 24-10. A McNair pass to running back Eddie George was bobbled—into the hands of Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis, and that sealed the deal on the game. However, McNair was having quite a start to his career. He didn’t have especially flashy career statistics after the year was over (12,685 yards, 65 TD’s, 49 INT’s), but had a record of 41-23, and that’s the statistic that matters most.

The next year, McNair made a name for himself as a truly solid passer. For a disappointing 7-9 Titans team, he threw for 3,350 yards, 21 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions, his best statistical season to date. However, the Titans were just 7-8 under McNair, and his job description was to lead the Titans to the playoffs. He was eager to do that in 2002. That he did. McNair didn’t miss a game, throwing for 3,387 yards, 22 touchdowns, 15 interceptions, leading the Titans to an 11-5 record and AFC South division crown. He led the Titans to one playoff win, but they were crushed in their second postseason game by the Oakland Raiders, 41-24.

The next year, he had his best campaign to date, throwing for 3,215 yards, 24 touchdowns and seven interceptions. The 2001, 2002 and 2003 seasons showed why the Titans tabbed him with the third overall pick in 1995. The Titans won the AFC South again, but yet again, fell short in the playoffs. After the year, McNair took home his own award, winning NFL MVP for the 2003 NFL season. The next year was a very disappointing one for Air McNair and the Titans as a whole. McNair, as usual, battled injuries, starting just eight games, winning three of them, and following a string of successful years, the Titans finished 5-11 in 2004.

That’s when things went downhill between McNair and the Titans. The Titans went 4-12 the next year despite McNair throwing for 3,161 yards and 16 touchdowns, and following that season, the Titans traded McNair to the Baltimore Ravens, ending a very storied 11-year marriage. McNair made an instant impact in Baltimore. Despite coming in late and having to adjust to the playbook, McNair led the Ravens to a 13-3 record, throwing for 3,050 yards, 16 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions. He didn’t have the legs to make plays on the run anymore, but still had the intelligence of the game.

McNair wasn’t able to get anything done in the playoffs, going 18-of-29 with 173 yards and two interceptions in a 15-6 divisional round loss to the Colts. His counterpart in that game, Peyton Manning, had kind words to offer after the passing of McNair. “Steve McNair was one of the greatest competitors I’ve ever played against. I’ll always remember playing against him. Many of our defensive players always talked about what a huge challenge it was having to play against him. He and I had some great battles against each other.”

The next season, McNair battled injuries yet again. In six games, he was 133-of-205 with 1,113 yards, two touchdowns, and four interceptions. After the season, he elected to retire. But it was no façade. He said he wanted to retire to spend time with his family. He did just that.

McNair is known for his toughness, both mental and physical, and I would bet any amount of money he fought as hard as he could to survive the gun wounds. “The football thing was one thing and I remember his playing days, but just the human being. He brought so much joy to so many people. He was a consummate pro and he was a gentleman. He was a great father. He raised his boys very well, they are well behaved. His legacy will live on,” former teammate Eddie George said.

Steve didn’t deserve what he got on July 4, 2009. Rest in peace, Steve “Air” McNair. You made Titans fans happy. You made Oilers fans happy. You made Ravens fans happy. You made NFL fans happy. And most of all, you made your family happy. My thoughts go out to them.

After passing, ESPN ran a feature on him, and Jeremy Schad had some very fine words to offer. “McNair lived his entire life under the spotlight, but was decidedly uncontroversial. He was basically the model athlete, which makes his violent death all the more incomprehensible.”
R.I.P. Steve McNair.

 

New York Jets: The Most Overrated Defense In The NFL

From 1999-2008, Rex Ryan had success as a defensive coach. In 1999, he took over as the defensive line coach, and in 2000, got a Super Bowl ring for one of the best single season defenses in NFL history. Ryan was the line coach from 1999-2004 and when defensive coordinator Mike Nolan left for a head coaching job, Ryan took over as the coordinator. From 2005 to 2008, Ryan had great success, whether it be working strokes of genius on substitutions or using blitz packages to confuse offenses.

However, after the 2008 season, the 46-year old decided to leave the Ravens and look for a better job. Soon after the Ravens 23-14 AFC Championship loss, Ryan signed with the New York Jets, becoming their 16th head coach in franchise history. Right away, Ryan showed an aggressive approach.

In the first day of free agency, he swayed linebacker Bart Scott from Baltimore, signing him to a six year, $48M contract. Not only that, Ryan convinced other former Ravens like Jim Leonhard and Marques Douglas to come to Baltimore.

Along with the former Ravens, Ryan was able to sign defensive tackle Howard Green and linebacker Larry Izzo, and traded for Lito Sheppard, wrapping up an offseason that definitely improved a defense that was middle of the pack last year.

The Jets are getting good reviews about their improved defense—and deserve to—but a little too much praise. Taking a look at the Jets defense, it’s above average at best.

Defensive line:

The defensive line starters are average, at best. Both Shaun Ellis and Kris Jenkins are players who have proven themselves. Last year, Ellis was solid, with 60 tackles and eight sacks in his ninth NFL season. Jenkins, lining up as the nose tackle in a 3-4 scheme, finished with 52 tackles and 3.5 sacks. Both players are proven solid defensive lineman, but are both pushing 30 and their best years are behind them.

Marques Douglas is the guy I find comical. He’s a guy who, in Baltimore, was the backup defensive end, and now, with the “elite” New York Jets defense—he’s the starting right end. Last year, he didn’t even rack up a sack, and in nine years, he has 19 sacks.

Now because he’s with an “elite” Jet defense, he’s cracked up to be a rising defensive end, nevermind the fact that he’s 32 and his sack total decreased from three to zero in 2007 and 2008.

Linebackers:

I will admit that the Jets linebacker core is above average. But that’s it. They don’t surpass the Steelers group of James Harrison, LaMarr Woodley, James Farrior, and Lawrence Timmons, or the Ravens crew of Terrell Suggs, Ray Lewis, and Jarret Johnson. Heck, I’d take the Philadelphia Eagles trio of Stewart Bradley, Chris Gocong and Akeem Jordan above the Jets.

Bart Scott is a solid linebacker. However, with the Ravens, he was arguably the third best ‘backer in the group behind Ray Lewis and Suggs, and now with the Jets, he’s the leader of the staff.

In support of Scott, there’s David Harris, Calvin Pace, and Bryan Thomas. Harris is a solid linebacker, a true rising star, but doesn’t provide the support in New York guys like Terrell Suggs do in Baltimore. Pace and Thomas are both proven linebackers, but haven’t shown much beyond that they are capable linebackers, not necessarily scary ones.

Secondary:

The Jets secondary is led by elite cornerback Darrelle Revis. At 23, he’s got an incredibly bright future ahead of him, and had a career year in 2008, compiling 58 tackles and five interceptions. He’s a top flight corner, but beyond that, nothing in the secondary really makes me eyes widen. Dwight Lowery may be a steal in the fourth round, but at 5′11″, no wide receivers should really be intimidated by him—and new Bills acquisition Terrell Owens isn’t scared of any corner—much less Lowery. Along with that, Tom Brady is back and healthy, so it won’t get any easier for the 2nd year corner.

Kerry Rhodes is a solid 26-year old safety, but is more talk than anything. Earlier in the offseason, he claimed “there wouldn’t be a better defense on paper” than the New York Jets. Like, seriously? This is a team that hasn’t finished in the top ten in yards allowed since 2004. What should make us believe Bart Scott will make them No. 1? Jim Leonhard also has potential, but entered the 2008 season with the Ravens as a backup, and only got playing time when Dawan Landry got hurt in the second game of the year.

Recently, ESPN rated the Jets as the No. 4 overall team defense, behind the Steelers (No. 1), Ravens (No. 2), and Vikings (No. 3). Seriously? Come on now.

NFL: Can The AFC East Just Shut Up?

The New England Patriots. The Miami Dolphins. The Buffalo Bills. The New York Jets. In the AFC East, there are four teams who have potential to make the playoffs. The Patriots are a consistent team who even won 11 games in 2008, even without their face of the franchise, quarterback Tom Brady.

The Miami Dolphins shocked the NFL world last season, going 11-5, winning the division, this coming a year after an abysmal 1-15 year. The Buffalo Bills started very well last year, winning five of their first six, but collapsed down the stretch, finishing 7-9. Adding Terrell Owens to the team improved their offense immensely.

The New York Jets, without a doubt, improved over the offseason. They bolstered their defense, adding Bart Scott and Lito Sheppard, and also picked their future quarterback, Mark Sanchez. You’d think they’d let their play do the talking.

Joey Porter (pictured) is one of the best defensive ends in the league. He’s one of the most feared pass rushers in the NFL, as he racked up 17.5 sacks last year, and some were even mentioning his name early as a Defensive Player of the Year Candidate. However, he’s most widely known as a loudmouth.

In 2004, he got in a fight with Browns running back William Green before a game, and was ejected. Since, he hasn’t been involved in such trouble, but has always been a pest to opponent’s, whether it be on offensive lines or nerves.

In a recent interview with ESPN, he said, despite the Jets improving their defense and quarterback play, the Bills getting T.O., and the Patriots getting a healthy Brady back, the Dolphins are still the “team to beat” in the AFC East. Now, in context, that’s obvious, because they are, after all, defending AFC East Champs.

However, Porter wasn’t exactly respectful for his division opponents, saying: “I don’t understand how you can put somebody in front of us.” My message, and I’m sure I’m not alone, to Porter is: just shut up and play. That may be a preposterous proposal, as he is just an NFL player who will amass a total of $32M when his contract expires in three seasons.

This is to be expected from a guy like Porter, though. This is a player who is famous for challenging Brandon Marshall and fighting Levi Jones. This certainly isn’t surprising. However, another AFC East team has been all over the news lately.

The New York Jets are a team who certainly improved their core in the offseason. They signed free agent linebacker Bart Scott to a six-year, $48M deal, traded for CB Lito Sheppard, and drafted QB Mark Sanchez with the fifth overall pick. However, the Jets have been mostly in the news for their talk.

Just today, safety Kerry Rhodes claimed the J-E-T-S would have the best defense in football throughout the 2009-10 season. “We will be the best defense in the league this year. I feel for the offenses we’re gonna face,” said the veteran safety on his Twitter account.

First of all, it’s extremely premature to say something, and secondly, I’d be quite surprised if the Jets finished in the top ten in total defense this year. I take units like the Steelers, Vikings, Ravens, Eagles, Giants, and even Redskins above the Jets.

On top of that, new head coach Rex Ryan approved the comment, saying: “I’m excited about that comment. You know what? I love the fact that he put ‘we will,’ not, ‘I’ll be the best safety.” The AFC East is getting even more childish than a rap feud.

Days before, Ryan took a ‘we’re not scared’ mentality into an already intense Patriots/Jets rivalry, saying in an interview with WFAN: “I never came here to kiss Bill Belichick’s, you know, rings. I came to win. Let’s just put it that way.

So we’ll see what happens. I’m certainly not intimidated by New England or anybody else.” It seems to me Ryan is having no problem at all talking the talk heading into the 2009 NFL season. As Elvis Presley once said: “a little less conversation, a little more action”.

Right now, Ryan is only talking about his fantasies to turn the Jets into a Super Bowl team, but not explaining HOW it will happen. Who knows? Ryan may know exactly what he is doing. But, he’d have a much better chance of doing that if he spent more time watching film on opponents and getting to know his players better as opposed to chatting it up with ESPN analysts on how the Jets are the second coming of a dynasty.

Right now, the Buffalo Bills and New England Patriots are the only team keeping their mouths shut. However, with T.O. in Buffalo, the Bills can be taken off this list. My message to the Jets and Joey Porter: just shut up, play football, and let the performance speak for itself. That’s the loudest voice at the end of the day.

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