About Derek Arnold

RSR/ESR Senior Editor. Derek is originally from and a current resident of Pasadena, MD. He’s a graduate of UMBC and has been a lifelong Baltimore sports fan. In 2007 he founded B’More Birds’ Nest, where he wrote about the Ravens and Orioles before joining RSR in 2012. Derek’s work has been featured on Charm City Current, Bleacher Report, and other online sports sites. Follow Derek on Twitter: @BMoreBirdsNest

Someone started a “Fire Cam Cameron” online petition

Posted on December 4, 2012 by Derek Arnold

From the “I can’t believe it took this long” department – it appears someone (Robert Hoffman of Mount Pleasant, most assuredly a Ravens fan) has used the online petition site Change.org to start a “Fire Cam Cameron” petition. Or, more accurately a “Fire Cam Cameron: Relieve Cameron of his job as Ravens Offensive Coordinator” petition. To view the petition and sign it yourself click here: https://www.change.org/petitions/fire-cam-cameron-relieve-cameron-of-his-job-as-ravens-offensive-coordinator Hoffman tweeted (http://twitter.com/rhoff343) the link to the petition to a bunch of NFL and Ravens-centric twitter accounts earlier today, including mine (@BMoreBirdsNest). I give … Continue reading →

Why did Joe Flacco’s progress stall?

Posted on December 4, 2012 by Derek Arnold

As an unabashed Joe Flacco supporter for the past four-plus years, this piece pains me to write. I’ve always been the guy defending Joe until I’m blue in the face – “not only does the guy win,” I’d say, “but he puts up the numbers too!” His detractors would go on about how Joe doesn’t pass the “eye test,” which was laughable to me. I’d guess that about 98% of fans (and I count myself in this group) are in no way qualified to subjectively judge NFL quarterback play by … Continue reading →

CRAB BAG: Looking for fourth straight over Pittsburgh

Posted on December 2, 2012 by Derek Arnold

TAKING OVER THE RIVALRY A win Sunday would give the Ravens their fourth consecutive victory over their hated division rival Steelers. Since entering the league in 1996, the Ravens have played the Steelers twice every regular season. The longest winning streak for either team was from 1997-99, when Pittsburgh won five in a row. The Steelers also won four in a row from 2001-03. This would be the Ravens’ longest winning streak of the rivalry. For John Harbaugh and Joe Flacco, a win Sunday would push their record against Pittsburgh … Continue reading →

Boldin tells Cam to stop calling the same routes

Posted on November 30, 2012 by Derek Arnold

How many times have you found yourself screaming at your television set on Sundays, exasperated with the play of the Ravens offense? “USE THE MIDDLE OF THE FIELD, CAM!” “OH, GREAT, HERE COMES THE OUT!” Especially on the road, the Baltimore offense often resembles something you’d see at a high school game, not in professional football. We’re all familiar by now with the assessment of NFL Films’ Greg Cosell last year, who said that “The Ravens offense when you pop in the tape and see play after play after play, … Continue reading →

Thursday Injury Report: Steelers @ Ravens

Posted on November 29, 2012 by Derek Arnold

RAVENS OUT: CB Jimmy Smith (abs); DID NOT PARTICIPATE: TE Ed Dickson (knee); LB Dannell Ellerbe (ankle, knee, finger); WR Jacoby Jones (ankle); S Bernard Pollard (chest); LIMITED PARTICIPATION: CB Chris Johnson (thigh); DE Pernell McPhee (thigh); S Ed Reed (shoulder); FULL PARTICIPATION: WR Anquan Boldin (knee); DT Terrence Cody (elbow); TE Dennis Pitta (neck); LB Terrell Suggs (ankle); WR Torrey Smith (thigh); CB Corey Graham (illness) Steelers DID NOT PARTICIPATE: T Mike Adams (ankle); T Willie Colon (knee); QB Byron Leftwich (ribs); LB LaMarr Woodley (ankle); DT Casey Hampton … Continue reading →

Watch 4th-and-29 over, and over, and over again

Posted on November 26, 2012 by Derek Arnold

On Sunday in San Diego, Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice turned in what could very easily be the play of the year in the NFL. With his team standing at the foot of what appeared to be an unscalable mountain – 4th down and 29 yards to go, trailing by three, with 1:59 remaining – Rice put the team on his back, catching a short pass from quarterback Joe Flacco and taking it all 29 yards for the first down. On the play, Rice eluded nearly every member of … Continue reading →

CRAB BAG: Ravens look to discharge the Bolts

Posted on November 24, 2012 by Derek Arnold

GO DEEP! On ESPN’s “Countdown to Kickoff” show last Sunday, former Eagles QB Ron Jaworski did a feature on QB Joe Flacco’s deep-throwing ability. “Jaws” said, “Joe is the best deep-ball thrower in the NFL.” High compliment. The Ravens are consistently hitting on “explosive” deep balls this year. The Ravens are tied with the Denver Broncos for the NFL lead in pass completions of 25+ yards (27). However, that aspect of the Ravens offense was noticeably absent last week in Pittsburgh. Flacco missed an open Torrey Smith across the middle … Continue reading →

CRAB BAG: Ravens seek third straight regular season win in Pittsburgh

Posted on November 17, 2012 by Derek Arnold

LET’S GO STREAKING! The Ravens are currently riding a very impressive streak. They have won 11-consecutive AFC North games. The streak is the longest of its sort in the NFL. The last time the Ravens lost a division game? December 5, 2010, when Pittsburgh won at M&T Bank Stadium by a score of 13-10. That was also the last time the Ravens lost a home game. They’ll put their division winning streak on the line Sunday night in Pittsburgh. PLAYING IN THE SPOTLIGHT When the Ravens and Steelers meet, chances … Continue reading →

Terrible Towels around Baltimore

Posted on November 13, 2012 by Derek Arnold

If you’ve watched ESPN at all over the past year or so, you’ve undoubtedly seen their “Terrible Towels Around the World” commercial. I won’t soil this gorgeous Ravens fan page by embedding the video, but here is a link to it, if you’re so inclined. If you need a reminder – or if you couldn’t bring yourself to click the link (can’t blame you) – basically the commercial is a montage of photos and very short video clips of those bandwagon riding Steelers fans going all over the world with … Continue reading →

The Good, Bad, Ugly, & The Megan Fox: Black & Silver beat down

Posted on November 12, 2012 by Derek Arnold

(TL is on vacation, so he asked me to put together his weekly Good, Bad, Ugly, & Megan Fox column. – Derek) Well, there’s nothing like scoring the most points in franchise history (and most by any team in a single game in the NFL so far this season) to ease the collective mind of a Ravens fan base that hadn’t been exactly impressed by the team’s 6-2 start. Right? Well, yes and no. While the mammoth 55-20 beat down that the Ravens put on the Oakland Raiders yesterday at … Continue reading →

Video breakdown: Bernard Pierce’s first NFL score

Posted on November 5, 2012 by Derek Arnold

I give Cam Cameron a lot of crap. He’s been on my bad side for the better part of his tenure in Baltimore. However, I have to give him credit when he earns it, and Sunday in Cleveland he did. Ravens fans were clamoring for the team to get back to basics on offense, and to pound the running game, and that’s exactly what they did. Fifteen of the team’s first 22 plays from scrimmage were runs, and those 22 plays resulted in 141 yards of offense and two touchdowns. … Continue reading →

Vote for the RSR team in The Sun’s “Mobbie” awards!

Posted on October 31, 2012 by Derek Arnold

We know you’re all sick of hearing/reading/seeing candidates and interest groups falling over themselves trying to earn your vote for this or that in that other election thing that’s coming up soon. So are we. Which is why we’re about to do the same thing! Wait, what? Yeah…sorry, but we’re about to join the chorus of fools yelling in your ear saying “VOTE FOR ME!” However, our election is one that’s a lot more fun and more enjoyable, I promise! We just want you to help us win a “Best … Continue reading →

Ravens look to right red zone ship

Posted on October 12, 2012 by Derek Arnold

After starting off the season as one of the best red zone teams in the NFL, the Ravens sputtered to just three field goals last Sunday in Kansas City. That was in stark contrast to their production through the season’s first four games, when Joe Flacco & Co. scored eight touchdowns in twelve opportunities inside the 20-yard line. That was good for a 66.67% touchdown percentage, and when you add on Justin Tucker’s two short field goals, they were 10/12, a scoring percentage of 83.3%. Had they maintained that 66.67 … Continue reading →

Six Pack of Boh – Browns @ Ravens

Posted on September 27, 2012 by Derek Arnold

It’s time for our weekly feature, “Six Pack of Boh,” where we ask six questions about the upcoming Ravens game. So grab an ice cold Natty Boh and let’s get started. Will the defense finally make a statement? The Ravens enter tonight’s game as the 27th ranked defense in the NFL – certainly not the position they’re used to finding themselves in. However, in their defense, the three teams they have gone up against so far in 2012 – Cincinnati, Philadelphia, and New England – are all high-powered offenses, currently … Continue reading →

Here’s Bryant McKinnie blocking nobody on the failed 4th-and-1 attempt

Posted on September 26, 2012 by Derek Arnold

On Sunday night against New England, the Ravens once again came up short in a critical short-yardage situation. While not nearly as ultimately detrimental as the debacle at the end of the Philadelphia game, this was another situation where the Ravens were unable to pick up just a few yards when they needed it. Situation: New England leading, 30-21. Baltimore ball on the Patriots 33-yard line, 4th down and 1. Here is the Ravens formation pre-snap. Bryant Mckinnie (highlighted), who was originally lined up as the fullback, motioned to the … Continue reading →

Six Pack of Boh: Patriots at Ravens

Posted on September 23, 2012 by Derek Arnold

Even though the stakes aren’t nearly as high, Ravens fans are looking to tonight’s contest against New England as a chance for a little bit of revenge for last season’s AFC Championship loss. As the Ravens prepare for one of their toughest tests this season, here are six things you should look for. Grab a few Boh’s and let’s get started. Replacing Torrey Smith The Ravens will be playing with a heavy heart tonight as Torrey Smith announced via Twitter that he has lost one of his young brothers, Tevin. … Continue reading →

New England Patriots helmets, reimagined

Posted on September 20, 2012 by Derek Arnold

Last year, we started doing helmet redesigns for Ravens’ upcoming opponents over at my old Ravens (now just O’s) site, BMoreBirdsnest.com (see some past examples here, here, and here). It’s just a way to have a little fun – at the expense of whoever the Ravens are playing – during the week as we wait with bated breath for that week’s game time to arrive. I’m happy to bring this feature to Russell Street Report. As our founder, Tony Lombardi, says, the site is “for those who bleed purple and … Continue reading →

Ed Reed becomes NFL’s all-time leader in interception return yards

Posted on September 11, 2012 by Derek Arnold

Ed Reed is my favorite NFL player. Much more significantly, he is also now the NFL’s all-time leader in interception return yardage, with 1,497. This milestone had been a long time coming for Reed. After closing to within 20 yards of former leader Rod Woodson (1,483) with 25 return yards in week 1 against Pittsburgh last year, Reed picked up only one interception over the duration of the 2011 regular season -an end-of-half end zone pick of the Bengals’ Andy Dalton, on which he was unable to add any return … Continue reading →