Purple, MD
08-14-2007, 08:50 AM
Here is a little bit of everything: Game commentary, player reviews, thought-provoking ideas, and wonderful reaction to the start of another successful Ravens season:
7:00 – 7:20 -- What a first drive…McNair looked sharp – spreading the ball around to different receivers. Heap had some of his typical nice catches, but it’s good to hear that he’s finally 100% healthy going into the season (knock on wood). Sypniewski with two catches—one for a nice TD—on the drive. Wilcox eat your heart out.
Oh…McNabb is not playing because they don’t want him to hurt himself on the Ravens field turf. What a shame…it’s not like he’s missed parts of the last three seasons. And it's not like he's ever said (in defense of Vick): "That goes to show, I always have a saying that I've always lived by: If you can't trust family, who can you trust?" I don't know about you, but I wouldn't trust family if their broke you-know-what's kept begging me for money that they can invest into a dog-fighting ring taking place on my property. And I don't even like dogs that much.
7:22 -- Swing pass to Westbrook, who basically ran over McAlister. Speak of the devil, did anyone see a picture of McAlister’s Ford F650 in The Sun a few weeks back? From what I recall, I think the front tire came up to his chest…that thing was a tank! It’s got to be the biggest truck on the market – it dwarfs all three versions of the Hummer combined.
There is an announced crowd of over 71,000 fans??? It sounds like they have an Orioles front office employee submitting those beefed-up numbers. From tv, it looks like the stands are 45-55% full. And with 1:58 left in the
1st quarter, Kyle Boller enters the game.
Two quick thoughts – Rex Ryan is really playing around with some different formations…Bart Scott dropping back 20 yards off the line to play safety on one play. No better time than now to iron out these wacky schemes. And…Antwan Barnes needs a new sack dance. The old “right leg kick and muscle flex” just isn’t doing it for him. Of course, he is a rookie…we’ll let Ray-Ray see the footage and tweak the dance as needed.
Another thought – Mark Clayton – everyone is saying he is going to have a break-out year. But didn’t he have his break-out year LAST year??? He went from 44 catches and 471 yards in 2005 to 67 and 939 last year. That’s almost double the yardage. Do I think he’s going to have an even “better” year this year – yes. But his break out year was last year—everyone in the Ravens organization always says that he is “wise beyond his years” and that he’s very mature for his age. Well, this makes sense – if you listen to a lot of the fantasy gurus in this business, they swear by the “3-year rule” for wide receivers: they usually have their break-out year in their third year in the NFL. Clayton, already being a polished route-runner with great hands when we drafted him, only really needed to get the playbook down and really fine-tune his route running in his first year/year and a half. Hence, making his second year (specifically the last several games) his break out year, and hopefully he continues to get better this year (year three). I’m not downplaying what he’s capable of this year, but I’d classify 2006 as his breakout year (unless he puts up something like 90/1400/10 this year.
Player and TV thoughts:
1. The entire back-up squad of Ravens defensive players looked hungry. Especially Prescott Burgess and Ronnie Prude. Of course, when you’re going after an Eagles team who’s sole focus seemed to be to get out of Baltimore without a major injury (which they couldn’t even do – thanks for ruining it for everyone Ryan Moats), everyone looks Pro Bowl-esque.
2. Loved the announcing, especially this gem: “These guys can play so many multiple positions.” -- Announcer talking about Ozzie and Rex’s ability to find athletic and versatile players on defense. Correct me if I’m wrong, but doesn’t “so many” mean “multiple?”
3. M&T Bank commercials: Just think, because of the really great customer service that M&T Bank provides, Michael was allowed to stay out a half hour past his originally scheduled curfew. Awww…thanks Mom.
4. Ravens offense/Kyle Boller – If you’re going to telegraph yet ANOTHER jump ball to Clarence Moore, at least throw it high enough so he has a chance to catch it!
5. Troy Smith: exciting yet bad
6. Drew Olson: boring yet effective!
7. Dewar’s White Label Scotch Whiskey shots– sufficient for a Monday night. Even the liver needs a little warming up before the heart of the season.
7:00 – 7:20 -- What a first drive…McNair looked sharp – spreading the ball around to different receivers. Heap had some of his typical nice catches, but it’s good to hear that he’s finally 100% healthy going into the season (knock on wood). Sypniewski with two catches—one for a nice TD—on the drive. Wilcox eat your heart out.
Oh…McNabb is not playing because they don’t want him to hurt himself on the Ravens field turf. What a shame…it’s not like he’s missed parts of the last three seasons. And it's not like he's ever said (in defense of Vick): "That goes to show, I always have a saying that I've always lived by: If you can't trust family, who can you trust?" I don't know about you, but I wouldn't trust family if their broke you-know-what's kept begging me for money that they can invest into a dog-fighting ring taking place on my property. And I don't even like dogs that much.
7:22 -- Swing pass to Westbrook, who basically ran over McAlister. Speak of the devil, did anyone see a picture of McAlister’s Ford F650 in The Sun a few weeks back? From what I recall, I think the front tire came up to his chest…that thing was a tank! It’s got to be the biggest truck on the market – it dwarfs all three versions of the Hummer combined.
There is an announced crowd of over 71,000 fans??? It sounds like they have an Orioles front office employee submitting those beefed-up numbers. From tv, it looks like the stands are 45-55% full. And with 1:58 left in the
1st quarter, Kyle Boller enters the game.
Two quick thoughts – Rex Ryan is really playing around with some different formations…Bart Scott dropping back 20 yards off the line to play safety on one play. No better time than now to iron out these wacky schemes. And…Antwan Barnes needs a new sack dance. The old “right leg kick and muscle flex” just isn’t doing it for him. Of course, he is a rookie…we’ll let Ray-Ray see the footage and tweak the dance as needed.
Another thought – Mark Clayton – everyone is saying he is going to have a break-out year. But didn’t he have his break-out year LAST year??? He went from 44 catches and 471 yards in 2005 to 67 and 939 last year. That’s almost double the yardage. Do I think he’s going to have an even “better” year this year – yes. But his break out year was last year—everyone in the Ravens organization always says that he is “wise beyond his years” and that he’s very mature for his age. Well, this makes sense – if you listen to a lot of the fantasy gurus in this business, they swear by the “3-year rule” for wide receivers: they usually have their break-out year in their third year in the NFL. Clayton, already being a polished route-runner with great hands when we drafted him, only really needed to get the playbook down and really fine-tune his route running in his first year/year and a half. Hence, making his second year (specifically the last several games) his break out year, and hopefully he continues to get better this year (year three). I’m not downplaying what he’s capable of this year, but I’d classify 2006 as his breakout year (unless he puts up something like 90/1400/10 this year.
Player and TV thoughts:
1. The entire back-up squad of Ravens defensive players looked hungry. Especially Prescott Burgess and Ronnie Prude. Of course, when you’re going after an Eagles team who’s sole focus seemed to be to get out of Baltimore without a major injury (which they couldn’t even do – thanks for ruining it for everyone Ryan Moats), everyone looks Pro Bowl-esque.
2. Loved the announcing, especially this gem: “These guys can play so many multiple positions.” -- Announcer talking about Ozzie and Rex’s ability to find athletic and versatile players on defense. Correct me if I’m wrong, but doesn’t “so many” mean “multiple?”
3. M&T Bank commercials: Just think, because of the really great customer service that M&T Bank provides, Michael was allowed to stay out a half hour past his originally scheduled curfew. Awww…thanks Mom.
4. Ravens offense/Kyle Boller – If you’re going to telegraph yet ANOTHER jump ball to Clarence Moore, at least throw it high enough so he has a chance to catch it!
5. Troy Smith: exciting yet bad
6. Drew Olson: boring yet effective!
7. Dewar’s White Label Scotch Whiskey shots– sufficient for a Monday night. Even the liver needs a little warming up before the heart of the season.