Happy Hump Day to you once again, #RavensFlock! Filling in once again for Aidan, who remains in paradise for another week. Must be nice!
For those of us relegated to living vicariously through the exploits of others, yesterday was a day I would have very much liked to have been on the field at Oriole Park at Camden Yards before the game.
Every season is Bird season. pic.twitter.com/PytvqWnl9N
— Baltimore Orioles (@Orioles) May 16, 2023
From left to right: Kyle Hamilton, Adley Rutschman, Grayson Rodriguez, Marlon Humphrey, Geno Stone, Roquan Smith, and Gunnar Henderson. That’s a group that will be thrilling Baltimore fans for years to come. I’ve always been a sucker for this kind of cross-sport comradery in the city. This oldie-but-goodie still gives me goosebumps:
The best time in recent memory to be a Baltimore sports fan was back in 2012-14. The O’s made the playoffs for the first time since 1997 in October of 2012, then the Ravens won the Super Bowl just a few months later. In 2014, the Birds won their first AL East crown since ’97, and the Ravens smacked the Steelers around in their house in a postseason game.
These current squads have a lot to live up to if they want to recreate those type of vibes, but with Lamar Jackson locked up, a new offensive coordinator in town, some legitimate weapons, and one of the league’s best defenses, the Ravens look ready to do their part. The Orioles? Well, they’re only the second-best team in MLB at the moment, still have a top farm system, and boast the most exciting young core they’ve had since…well, basically ever.
Things are looking up, Charm City.
What did the guys talk about? I don’t know, but our friend Wear Purple Pants suggested perhaps this:
Good morning #RavensFlock pic.twitter.com/odfxlvfq2C
— Will (@wearpurplepants) May 17, 2023
In case you missed it, last week on Twitter Marlon revealed that he only that day learned that the Titanic was a real ship and not just from a movie, and that he thought Rocky was a real boxer (yes, I know that film was loosely based on an actual guy, but that’s not what Marlon meant). So it’s not absurd to imagine Humphrey not realizing that the statues of Jim Palmer, Brooks Robinson, Eddie Murray, Cal Ripken Jr., Frank Robinson, and Earl Weaver represent actual Baltimore Orioles of the past.
From O’s of the past to Ravens of the present…this week, the Flock added Owings Mills native Sam Mustipher, formerly of the Chicago Bears.
Can confirm this. Ravens have been looking to add more interior OL depth. They also didn't have backup center after Trystan Colon signed w/Jets. Mustipher is an Owings Mills native, so he'll be coming home. He started 40 games for the Bears over past 3 seasons. https://t.co/hkzPcf50KP
— Jeff Zrebiec (@jeffzrebiec) May 15, 2023
The 26-year-old, who went to Good Counsel and then Notre Dame as a four-star recruit, signed with the Bears as an undrafted free agent in 2019, then made his NFL debut in Week 6 of the 2020 season. He’s started FORTY games since, making him an incredibly experienced signing as a backup interior offensive lineman.
Speaking of Owings Mills, it’s another week of Don’t-Call-It-OTA “Football School” at The Castle. So we’ll be looking forward to pictures of players in shorts, without helmets, running around together on a field. Hey, it’s something!
Finally today, I’ll leave you with this compilation from All 22 Cuts on Patrick Queen‘s contributions in 2022. Don’t run this man out of town just yet, Flock.
Patrick Queen's block destruction was on display throughout 2022. I think this points to his own commitment to Team Defense and making the right play; no matter what. Here are some clips of him destroying blocks and compressing running lanes.#Ravens #RavensFlock pic.twitter.com/P4fMOn5aGQ
— All 22 Films (@All_22_NFL_Cuts) May 15, 2023
Here’s to an enjoyable and productive backside of the week to you all.
One Response
It’s a great time to be a fan right? The O’s are looking like a contender for now and years to come. With all this youth and depth in the farm system. The Ravens are looking like a complete team with talent in all 3 areas and an improved coaching staff.
A big thank you to both organizations for providing us with some excitement and entertainment to keep our minds off the day to day happenings. May we be fortunate enough to be afforded this kind of entertainment for years to come. This may be asking to much but we can all dream. How about a championship in the near future? Dreaming is free. Thank you O’s and Ravens.