Another Weird Steelers Week

There’s a lot of chatter in and around Baltimore these days about how the Ravens should approach Saturday’s game against the Steelers. There is nothing to gain from a win, nothing to lose from a loss. Should the starters play? Should they play a quarter? Half? Treat it like a preseason game? Not play at all?

Unfortunately, John Harbaugh can’t treat the game like the modern-day preseason contest when the Ravens’ starters are dressed in street clothes. Keep in mind, the roster doesn’t have the depth that the 90-man preseason rosters have. So, some of the starters will have to play.

Many have expressed concerned about rust down the playoff road, haunted by the memories from the end of the 2019 season. Then, the Ravens starters didn’t play much during the regular season finale, ironically against the Steelers. That game was on December 29, 2019. Many starters didn’t play until January 11, 2020, when the Ravens, courtesy of a bye, had a week off and never got it going.

They looked sloppy, flat, fell behind and were ill-equipped to play catch-up ball. Lamar wasn’t the passer he is today; Greg Roman’s passing offense wasn’t anywhere near as diverse as Todd Monken’s. And back then, the Ravens top receivers were Marquise Brown, Willie Snead and Seth Roberts.

The 2023 Ravens have greater leadership; a veteran Lamar Jackson; far more talent at receiver; and a coaching staff that has learned from past managerial transgressions. This is where the mistakes of the 2019 postseason pay off during the 2023 playoffs. Mistakes are lessons in disguise.

Should the veterans sit?

Yes!

Should we be concerned about the so-called “rust”?

No!

This Ravens team is materially different.

And when Tyler Huntley beats the Steelers ending their playoff hopes…

[Here’s a deep dive Ravens Good, Bad & Ugly]

Hayden Hurst

I fretted the loss of Hayden Hurst after he demanded a trade following the 2019 season. But when Eric DeCosta managed to land Atlanta’s No. 2 pick and used it to draft J.K. Dobbins, I was ok with it. Unfortunately, Dobbins has struggled to stay healthy and could never realize the accomplishments on the field that his talents suggested.

Hurst provided a measure of explosiveness to the tight end position that the great Mark Andrews could not, and that element of the offense was missing from the Ravens arsenal.

Enter Isaiah Likely.

Likely is developing into quite a player. He possesses the explosiveness that Hurst had and he’s also a willing blocker, particularly in the open field. Plus, he loves being a Raven and doesn’t mind playing second fiddle to Andrews, something that Hurst was never comfortable with. Here’s a sampling of Likely taking on defenders to spring a teammate.

Got some pic.twitter.com/wwhHXv6qYK

— Spencer Schultz (@ravens4dummies) January 3, 2024

That Throw!

After further review, Lamar Jackson’s 75-yard TD strike to Zay Flowers is mind-blowing. Lamar drops back as if he was Tua Tagovailoa, a left-handed QB, and then pivots his body 180 degrees to drop a dime to Flowers 40 yards downfield, after which, the rookie receiver adds 35 yards of YAC for the score.

I've never seen a right-handed QB drop back like a left-handed QB, flip his body and drop a dime 40 yards down field. That's some next level talent. pic.twitter.com/odKAP5ZaiG

— Tony Lombardi (@RSRLombardi) January 3, 2024

Like a Led Zeppelin song, it makes me wonder. Did Lamar do that intentionally? I can’t recall ever seeing any quarterback flip his body like that during a drop-back. And if you’re an opposing safety paid to read a quarterback’s body and/or eyes, that has to mess with your head, right Jevon Holland?

Players know players and when opponents are impressed, that's next level. #Lamar #Ravens #Dolphins pic.twitter.com/irTX3XJ0uG

— Tony Lombardi (@RSRLombardi) January 3, 2024

Play Clock

There’s been a lot of discussion about Todd Monken giving the keys to the offense to Lamar. Why not give your star quarterback the freedom to choose from options in a play design with which he’s most comfortable? And as the season progresses, the synchronicity between Monken and Lamar grows, as evidenced by a 56-point performance against the league’s then 6th-ranked defense on the season and the NFL’s best defense since Week 5.

But another obvious plus in the Monken offense is the way the team manages the play clock. No longer do we see the unsettled vibes pre-snap that we grew accustomed to during the past few years, something that was a source of frustration for Lamar, the team and the fans.

Will The Ravens Hire a Cook?

It was reported yesterday Jets’ RB Dalvin Cook will officially be placed on waivers. Teams can put in a claim for Cook in the order of record (worst to first). If he is not claimed by 4PM tomorrow (January 4), he is free to sign with a team of his choosing any time after. Given the Ravens limited depth at the position and reported prior interest in Cook, one has to wonder if his possible availability will pique the interest of Eric DeCosta.

Cook is a homerun hitter and could undeniably provide an offensive spark. But you must wonder if hiring a player this late in the season could upset the incredible chemistry in the team’s locker room. Watching the burst that Justice Hill has shown in the Ravens offense is exciting to see. But he isn’t a bell cow. He’s a complementary offensive piece. If John Harbaugh can manage the people aspect of it all, along with the team leaders, Dalvin Cook could prosper in Baltimore on a short-term basis. With all due respect to Melvin Gordon, if the soon-to-be former Jet can be had, fire up the burner and let ‘em Cook!

The Avatar

Kyle Hamilton has developed into a defensive force and the few weeks of rest he’ll get to enjoy will represent a bonus for defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald’s Swiss Army Knife. But drafting him wasn’t viewed by a local self-anointed NFL insider who is Baltimore sport talk’s answer to Sam Kinison.

Listen to this far more informed and insightful outlook for Hamilton prior to the 2022 NFL Draft. Mina Kimes is a sports talk rock star!

There’s a consensus that Notre Dame’s Kyle Hamilton is the best safety in the draft. But I also think he’s the best player, period. pic.twitter.com/KbLBRormnf

— Mina Kimes (@minakimes) March 6, 2022

The Zebras

This week’s Ravens v. Steelers game will be policed by Brad Allen’s crew, the same crew that made a mess of the ending to the Lions at Cowboys on national television during Week 17.

NFL is really going to let Brad Allen go unpunished? He’s flat out lying. Dude never talked to Dan Skipper and nods right at Decker. Then announces 70 as eligible. The pure negligence is bad but to double down and lie? Good lord. Suspend and fine his ass pic.twitter.com/XlaS2adb8c

— JAKE ELLENBOGEN (@JKBOGEN) December 31, 2023

In this video you can see that Allen acknowledges both Taylor Decker and Dan Skipper but announces only Skipper as eligible. Decker catches the two-point conversion attempt that probably earns the Lions the win and a chance at the conference’s top seed. Nevertheless, the successful conversion was negated by a penalty, claiming that Decker failed to properly report.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported earlier this week that the veteran official and his crew are to receive punishment in the form of being eliminated from the playoff rotation of officials.

But Allen’s crew did nothing wrong?

I had a flashback to A Few Good Men when Tom Cruise is examining Jack Nicholson.

“If you gave an order that Santiago should not be touched, and your orders are always followed, why would Santiago be in danger?’

So to the NFL…

“If Brad Allen’s crew made the right call and the 2-point conversion was justifiably nullified, why was Allen’s crew punished?”

How will Allen’s crew will respond on Saturday. Will they call things tighter or let the boys play?

Rogue Owner

Panthers owner David Tepper comes off as an entitled jerk. I’m trying to be nice here. On Sunday he doused a Jaguars fan during the Panthers 26-0 loss for which Tepper was fined $300,000 and issued the following statement:

“All NFL personnel are expected to conduct themselves at all times in ways that respect our fans and favorably reflect on their team and the NFL.”

I’m guessing that Tepper is still laughing.

Panthers owner David Tepper appeared to throw a drink in the crowd in Jacksonville today pic.twitter.com/X2iQkb3Z4b

— Jomboy Media (@JomboyMedia) December 31, 2023

First things first…

In a way, Tepper did behave in a way that favorably reflects his team. The Panthers suck. Actually, they sub-suck. They’d need to improve to reach “suck” level. Secondly, let’s put some perspective on this fine. Tepper is reportedly worth $20.6 billion. A $300K fine is the equivalent of $2.80 to the average American who has a median net worth of $192,000.

Nice job NFL.

You now have Daniel Snyder’s replacement as biggest tool among owners.

Jim Irsay just breathed a sigh of relief.