OWINGS MILLS, Md. — Sentimentality, brotherly love and a heartfelt reunion aren’t registering at the moment on Baltimore Ravens defensive coordinator Rex Ryan’s priority list.
Even though his twin brother, Rob Ryan, will be in town Sunday in his capacity as the Oakland Raiders’ defensive coordinator, Rex Ryan said his brother isn’t on his mind. Certainly, not anywhere near how much receiver Randy Moss consumes his thoughts.
“Not for a second,” Ryan said. “As far as I’m concerned, he’s just another guy on the sideline.
“It will mean something after the game I’m sure, but for now I don’t care about him. Usually, I want his team to win every game except when they’re playing us.”
Rex Ryan’s famous father, Buddy Ryan, the defensive guru who engineered the legendary 1985 Chicago Bears’ Super Bowl defense, would probably be proud of that answer.
"I don’t know what runs thicker, paycheck or blood," said Ravens coach Brian Billick jokingly about the impending encounter between the Ryan twins.
In reality, there’s little room for personal feelings in the hard-nosed Ryan’s football world.
When asked about the Raiders, who looked disjointed Monday night in a 27-0 loss to the San Diego Chargers where running back LaDainian Tomlinson rambled for 101 yards in the first half alone, Ryan had another sharp reply.
“I don’t care, that’s their problem right now,” Ryan said. “We don’t feel sorry for anybody. If they have problems this Sunday, that’s fine with me. They had a bad night and hopefully they’ll struggle against us, too.”
The 43-year-old twins used to coach together under their father as defensive assistants with the Arizona Cardinals. They were on opposite ends of the sidelines in 1987 when Rex Ryan coached Eastern Kentucky to a 40-17 Division I-AA playoff win over Roby Ryan’s Western Kentucky squad.
Rob Ryan’s Oklahoma State team defeated Rex Ryan’s Oklahoma team in 1998, and his team got the best of the Ravens in 2004 when he was coaching the New England Patriots’ linebackers and Rex Ryan was the Ravens’ defensive line coach.
“I think he know it’s a huge challenge for him,” Ryan said. “He’s going to have his guys charged up. I know the type of mentality he brings to every game. I think we’re very very similar in that way.”
TRAINING ROOM: The Ravens filed another extensive injury report, listing 10 players as questionable, including five starters. However, center Mike Flynn (ankle), tight end Todd Heap (back), running back Jamal Lewis (hip), safety Ed Reed (thigh) and kicker Matt Stover (back) are all expected to be available Sunday.
The other questionable listings include: running back P.J. Daniels (thigh), defensive tackle Aubrayo Franklin (thigh), linebacker Gary Stills (hand), tight end Daniel Wilcox (back) and wide receiver Demetrius Williams (knee). Stills and Williams were added Thursday. If Williams can’t go, the Ravens would likely activate fifth receiver Clarence Moore.
Wilcox stressed that he’s definitely going to play.
"If nothing’s broken, I’m playing," he said. "As far as I’m concerned, I’m healthy and ready to go. This is football. You’re going to be a little sore."
With two tight ends injured, Billick said he could use fullbacks to fill in because of their flexibility.
"We’ve got nice depth where we shouldn’t be forced too much out of our game plan," he said.
STILL GOING: If middle linebacker Ray Lewis’ game is supposedly declining, then Billick would like to ask Cadillac Williams and Michael Pittman if they believe that’s true. Lewis delivered several rough tackles to the Tampa Bay runners and was named the AFC Defensive Player of the Week.
“Those who think that they have seen diminishing skills ought to talk to Mr. Pittman and Mr. Williams down in Tampa,” Billick said. “They’ll attest that the skills look pretty good.”
ROUGH TREATMENT: As a former University of Maryland star, Raiders running back Lamont Jordan is familiar with the Ravens’ defensive reputation. The Suitland native isn’t expecting any special dispensation.
"Once the opening kickoff comes, the Ravens could care less whether or not I am from that area," Jordan said. "I’m a guy who’s going to be running the ball and they are coming to knock my head off just like I was a guy who wasn’t from the area."
QUICK HITS: Jamal Lewis is four yards shy from becoming the franchise’s all-time leader in all-purpose yardage. With 7,997 yards, he’s four behind wide receiver Jermaine Lewis’ 8,001. For his career, Lewis has gained 4,053 yards with 25 touchdowns at M&T Bank Stadium. … The Ravens lead the AFC in turnover ratio with a plus-3 margin.
Aaron Wilson covers the Baltimore Ravens for the Carroll County Times in Westminster, Maryland.
