2015 NFL Fan Equity Rankings – Ravens 4th Best
The Sports Marketing Analytics department at Emory University came out with a study on Thursday which tried to determine which teams had the best fans in the NFL. At the top of the list are the Cowboys, but just three spots lower, at 4th best, are the Ravens. For us in Baltimore, this doesn’t come as a surprise at all, but fans around the league might not realize how passionate Ravens fans are. While the ranking is flattering, I don’t agree with it. Ravens fans are THE best in the NFL! LINK
Ravens Tied for 2nd Worst Record in One-Score Games
“It don’t matter if you win by an inch or a mile. Winning’s winning.” – Dom Toretto, The Fast and The Furious.
While I hate that series of movies, the point is that the point differential doesn’t matter when it comes down to your record at the end of the year. However, when it comes to predicting future wins, point differential matters a whole lot. The Ravens, with a 2-4 record in 1-score games, had more Pythagorean wins than actual wins, which means we could see an improvement in the overall record in 2015 with better luck in close games. Daniel Apadula of The Sports Quotient has a full list of teams who are poised for a comeback next year. LINK
Pre-Training Camp 53-Man Roster Prediction
Will Grabill of Purple Reign comes to us with a way too early 53-man roster prediction. Obviously, things will change over the course of training camp and the preseason. Looking over Grabill’s list, the only thing that is clear is that the Ravens will be making some tough decisions in late August. Will had to cut some guys who I wouldn’t have expected before looking at the full picture. LINK
Will WR Torrey Smith or Breshad Perriman have more yards?
This is an interesting debate. Clifton Brown of CSN Baltimore asks whether the current Raven or the former Raven will have more receiving yards next season. My money is on Breshad Perriman, the sole reason being the man who is throwing him the ball. I’ll take Joe Flacco over Colin Kaepernick any day and, as Coach Harbaugh would say, twice on Sundays. The only reason that Torrey would have more yards than Perriman would be if Perriman doesn’t have a starting spot. LINK
Making the Leap, No. 13: Timmy Jernigan
Kevin Patra, who writes for Around the NFL, is releasing a list of players who might make huge improvements in 2015. Timmy Jernigan makes that list. With the 6th best run-stop percentage among 3-4 DEs according to Pro Football Focus, it’s hard to argue against this ranking. LINK
Marc Trestman ‘Unbelievably’ Grateful To Be In This Position
While getting fired from your job sucks, Marc Trestman finds himself in a pretty good situation. As Sarah Ellison explains, Trestman is very grateful to have the opportunity that he has now with Joe Flacco and the Ravens after losing the head coaching position in Chicago. With a lot of young weapons on the Ravens offense, Trestman should have plenty of talent to utilize on the offensive side of the ball. LINK
