Aaron: Ravens on quest for road win

**Admin Steve** · 08-25-2006, 08:10 AM

Let's try this again...new up on Profootball24x7.com

By Aaron Wilson

OWINGS MILLS, Md. -- The travel pattern has been virtually uninterrupted for the Baltimore Ravens whenever they leave town. The football team boards a big, chartered airplane, enjoying a feast of gourmet food, spacious seating and perhaps a friendly game of cards.

They land, grab their luggage, hop onto a bus led by a police escort and check into a nice hotel for meals, meetings and sleep.

The itinerary hasn’t been problematic, just the results on the field.

As the Ravens visit the Metrodome tonight to play the Minnesota Vikings in their third preseason game, they’ll have another agenda beyond fixing the red-zone problems that plagued an otherwise-effective offense a week ago.....

Minion fixing big boss' bad link.

**flraven** · 08-25-2006, 11:54 AM

I keep getting a file not found error when I click the link.

**Greg** · 08-25-2006, 12:32 PM

Try this link!

**BaltimoreRon** · 08-25-2006, 12:33 PM

That works. Thanks, Greg.

**GreenWave52** · 08-25-2006, 01:11 PM

“You've got to show some way you belong in this league,” Billick said. “Practice is great and you get an inclination, but if it doesn't show up on the game field, I'm not sure what the value is."

I think this quote from Billick is hilarious. If practice doesn't matter and you have to play well in game situations, I can think of a couple of people who should have already been expunged from this roster.

**highwater** · 08-25-2006, 02:32 PM

Originally Posted by GreenWave52

I think this quote from Billick is hilarious. If practice doesn't matter and you have to play well in game situations, I can think of a couple of people who should have already been expunged from this roster.

Greenwave, I think Billick is actually right, you have to show up on game day, but I agree with you too (but you should really stop picking on poor Clarence Moore -- it's not his fault he sucks in game situatiions. Oh, wait a minute, yes it is).

I think the quote is a little funny for the opposite reason -- Randy Hymes, in limited playing time, actually played pretty well, but the reported reason he didn't see the field much on game day was because he didn't practice well. So obviously Billick must place some importance on practice, because Hymes apparentlly played better in games than he did in practice, but he didn't get much playing time. (And I'm not pimping Hymes here, just making a point).

**GreenWave52** · 08-25-2006, 03:02 PM

Hymes is a great example of someone who got it done on gameday, but was never given consistant opportunities. I should of been more specific when I said hilarious, what I really meant was ironic/hilarious. Billick has always had his "favorites" and they seem to get more PT even if they are being outperformed by other players. I'm a Billick fan, but his roster and line-up decisions just KILL me sometimes.

**flraven** · 08-25-2006, 03:21 PM

Thanks Greg!

**Kaven** · 08-25-2006, 04:10 PM

I don't mean to beat a dead horse, but why didn't the Ravens want Ryan Plackemeir. We needed a punter, we had the opportunity and chose not to make him our sixth round pick. Small price for a team that needed a punter. Note: he also had some kickoff experience.

**GreenWave52** · 08-25-2006, 04:32 PM

Originally Posted by Kaven

I don't mean to beat a dead horse, but why didn't the Ravens want Ryan Plackemeir. We needed a punter, we had the opportunity and chose not to make him our sixth round pick. Small price for a team that needed a punter. Note: he also had some kickoff experience.

Beat away, I totally agree with you. I'm not saying we are going to miss the playoffs because we have a crappy punter, but it will come back to bite us at some point this season.

**ravensfan86** · 08-25-2006, 04:43 PM

just curious, anyone know where Hymes landed?

**ravensfan86** · 08-25-2006, 04:47 PM

I think Kock is better then he is performing right now. My hunch is he is concentrating more on accuracy and is pressing to place the punts rather then punting naturally. I think he will find his place. And yes we have already experianced what a line drive low punt does to punt coverage teams against the Giants. I still think Koch just has some deer in the headlites look right now. Tonight will be a good test.

As it stands right now, it makes me wonder as well why we didn't go after a more higher rated punter like plackemier who if nothing else has a great last name for a punter or kicker.

**Kaven** · 08-25-2006, 05:09 PM

Hymes is in Jacksonville.
Plackemeir is the all-time NCAA career punter with 200 attempts- 45.26 average.
47.2 average last year
20 punts inside 20 last year
13 punts over 60 yards last year
3 over 70 yards
1 punt 82 yards
2005 Ray Guy Award
We needed him.

**highwater** · 08-25-2006, 05:24 PM

Yep, Hymes landed in Jax. where he might do well, who knows. I'm not worried about him not being on the team, because for the first time in years, we appear to be set at WR. However, since someone brought it up, I am actually worried a bit about our punting situation, because the rookie hasn't been as impressive as expected and the vet just sucks. Is this the best we can do? I am still hoping that Kock comes through, but it's been a very long time since I worried about our punter.