I gotta say, I kinda miss this guy....

**BleedPurple92** · 12-31-2011, 07:54 PM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sjj5OA1I5UU

I find myself thinking about Cmac, more and more with the drafting of Jimmy Smith. Cmac, man i don't think people around the league understood how good he was, i see what Revis does, and i think man, that wasn't too far off from how Cmac used to shut receivers down.

Perfect size, to speed ratio, incredible instincts... He could have been so much better but he was still really really good, the most underrated corner in the league during his time. He had one of the most under appreciated seasons in team history, in 06 i didn't think anyone was better. He had to be 1b to Champ Bailey's 1a. Everyone was so good that season, that it sorta overshadowed how good Cmac Actually was, for a while he was my favorite raven, then obviously it didn't end well, but i think we shouldn't forget just how good this guy was. In terms of all time Great defensive players in Ravens history i rank him 5th, right behind

Ray
Ed
Suggs
Boulware
McAlister...

Where do you rank him?

If Jimmy turns out to be as good as Cmac, minus the bad attitude, i would be a very very very happy Ravens fan..

Here's to Sunday! BALL SO HARD, HAPPY NEW YEARS!!

**wickedsolo** · 12-31-2011, 09:42 PM

The guy was super talented, no doubt.

Wish he had taken his career a bit more seriously. Might not be at home living with his parents being chased around for child support.

**ballhawk** · 12-31-2011, 10:04 PM

i thought he got off to a good start in 2008, next thing you know he gets blown up by peyton manning, never to be seen again (you know what i mean). i hope jimmy turns out to be 75% the cb cmac was. he was shut down and made starks/baxter/rolle look better than they actually were, though starks had the greatest season of any ravens cb in 2000. MNF against denver in '02 (FG return TD) stands out along with Jets 2000 (long int TD) as a couple of my fonder memories up at m&t.

**B-more Ravor** · 12-31-2011, 11:11 PM

CMac had all the talent in the world and could have been as dominant as guys like Revis and Asomugha, but never could do it consistently. He was his own worse enemy and I'm still left waiting for more. He was an unsung member of that great D, but he just could have been so much better.

**RavNMadMan** · 12-31-2011, 11:29 PM

Cmac was the epitome of wasted talent IMO. His poor attitude and propensity for penalties eventually derailed his career. That and his inability to manage his off-field life caused him to fall out of favor when he had a few really good years left. When he had his head screwed on straight he was one of the best.

**burnwood** · 01-01-2012, 12:02 AM

Here is Billick commenting on CMAC. Pretty insightful stuff that I didn't know.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DnRDj...eature=related

**RavenusMaximus** · 01-01-2012, 12:34 AM

CMac would have been a first ballot Hall of Famer if he even had half the sense of a village idiot. He could be so dominant and then give it right back to the other team with one or more stupid penalty and his bad attitude.

**BleedPurple92** · 01-01-2012, 12:37 AM

Originally Posted by burnwood

Here is Billick commenting on CMAC. Pretty insightful stuff that I didn't know.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DnRDj...eature=related

Wow that was awesome, thanks for sharing.

Just goes to show, a lot of guys in the NFL don't like playing football, no matter how talented, or physically gifted they are.

Wow great stuff thanks.

**BleedPurple92** · 01-01-2012, 12:38 AM

Originally Posted by RavNMadMan

Cmac was the epitome of wasted talent IMO. His poor attitude and propensity for penalties eventually derailed his career. That and his inability to manage his off-field life caused him to fall out of favor when he had a few really good years left. When he had his head screwed on straight he was one of the best.

I wouldn't call him wasted talent, i just think he could have been so much more, but for the little part of his potential he taped into, it was still pretty fucking fantastic. He was dominant when he wanted to.

**RavenusMaximus** · 01-01-2012, 12:38 AM

Originally Posted by burnwood

Here is Billick commenting on CMAC. Pretty insightful stuff that I didn't know.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DnRDj...eature=related

The answer to the question is no. That's one reason why Harbaugh became the coach. To make changes that Brian Billick didn't want to make.

**Durango46** · 01-01-2012, 01:05 AM

the sky was the limit with Cmac....I really enjoyed watching him play. What a shut down corner he was.

**myfavoriteboxer** · 01-01-2012, 01:56 AM

Originally Posted by BleedPurple92

Just goes to show, a lot of guys in the NFL don't like playing football, no matter how talented, or physically gifted they are.

The more I learn about the NFL or pro (plus prep/college) sports in general, the more the disillusioned guys seem like the only sane ones and the messianic ones seem a little sad and unfortunate.

**pickles** · 01-01-2012, 03:05 AM

Originally Posted by BleedPurple92

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sjj5OA1I5UU

I find myself thinking about Cmac, more and more with the drafting of Jimmy Smith. Cmac, man i don't think people around the league understood how good he was, i see what Revis does, and i think man, that wasn't too far off from how Cmac used to shut receivers down.

Perfect size, to speed ratio, incredible instincts... He could have been so much better but he was still really really good, the most underrated corner in the league during his time. He had one of the most under appreciated seasons in team history, in 06 i didn't think anyone was better. He had to be 1b to Champ Bailey's 1a. Everyone was so good that season, that it sorta overshadowed how good Cmac Actually was, for a while he was my favorite raven, then obviously it didn't end well, but i think we shouldn't forget just how good this guy was. In terms of all time Great defensive players in Ravens history i rank him 5th, right behind

Ray
Ed
Suggs
Boulware
McAlister...

Where do you rank him?

If Jimmy turns out to be as good as Cmac, minus the bad attitude, i would be a very very very happy Ravens fan..

Here's to Sunday! BALL SO HARD, HAPPY NEW YEARS!!

As others have said, CMac was a truly gifted corner who left you wanting more.

As far as ranking I'd have him behind Ray and Ed and Boulware, Suggs and soon Ngata, and maybe AD too. He's certainly up there and our best corner and second best secondary defender ever.

**RavenousD** · 01-01-2012, 10:19 AM

Ray said something to the extent of "give me a man with heart, desire and knowledge over talent any day" when talking about the McKinnie signing. Cmac is a great example, all the talent in the world, young, but lacking desire. You can teach technique, you can learn knowledge but you can't learn/force desire.

He certainly did leave us wanting more.....just imagine if he WANTED to be the best.....a corner like that makes a defense almost unstoppable.

**bacchys** · 01-01-2012, 01:32 PM

Originally Posted by Durango46

the sky was the limit with Cmac....I really enjoyed watching him play. What a shut down corner he was.

When he wanted to be.

There was a game against Tampa that epitomized Cmac to me. They had Keyshawn Johnson at the time, who was a lot like Boldin in his career. He was never going to outrun anybody, but he could use his size and strength to make plays. Cmac was playing off him like he ran a 3.7, and Lewis was barking at Cmac to get up on the line. He kept yelling, "he can't outrun you!"

Woodson was still with us at the time, and Lewis kept yelling at him to get on McAllister, too. But he kept playing 10 yards or more deep and Johnson kept moving the chains.