Ravens Roost 4

Ravens:
As OC Jim Caldwell interviews for every NFL head coaching job under the sun, the Ravens have already released Running Backs Coach Wilbert Montgomery. Assuming Caldwell finds another job, the Ravens will have to find a new OC, and with that comes the potential of several other staff changes. Ravens are in a “wait and see” mode… Present rumors indicate that with Ray Lewis and Ed Reed gone, the team lacked leadership in the locker room. Instances of Suggs and Dumervil not working together; Ray Rice, Vonte Leach, and Bernard Pierce bickering; and general confusion in the secondary are now surfacing… Ravens have 19 free agents entering into the off-season. Most notable players that should be kept are Jacoby Jones, Corey Graham, Dennis Pitta, Arther Jones, Terrence Cody, James Ihedigbo, and Eugene Monroe… Off-season should focus on a bigger offensive line, a go-to Wide Receiver, and 2nd (and 3rd?) Tight End… Finally, the NFL’s draft tie-breaking system is totally different from the playoff tie-breaking system. Long story short, the stealers will draft ahead of us, but technically finished in 2nd place. What a farce!

Ravens:
Game over, man. Game over! Now, the early starting off-season will be filled with efforts to avoid making the same mistakes (Boldin) made last off-season that probably was enough to cost us a playoff berth. The opportunity was there for the taking, and we failed to execute due to an undersized front line, and lack of a “go to” receiver. The Defense progressed nicely throughout the season, and should continue a dominant presence for years to come.

Now the bantering from my squealer friend started after the Ravens lost, but boy was he quiet after San Diego finally posted the W. His comeback from there was that they started 0-4 and finished above the Ravens. Well, that is true, but now the Ravens pick ahead of pittsburgh in the draft, while BOTH teams are sitting at home watching the playoffs. Personally, I think we made out on that deal, although our position of 16 or 17 overall will be decided via a coin toss with Dallas.

Ravens:
Okay, the miracle endings went the other way this time. After giving up 3 TDs in the final 2 minutes, that game went down as the worst home loss in franchise history. Flacco was NOT himself, and nothing else worked or went our way. The Ravens were out of sync most all of the game, and made the patriots look better than they are. What hurts the most is that they Ravens were in control of their destiny. Now they are not. In a 3 team train wreck for the last playoff spot, the Ravens have the edge over Miami and San Diego individually, but, in a 3 car pile-up, we come up short. Only answer is to win, and hope. There are possibilities to make the show, if we lose, but that will re-introduce the steelers into the picture, and we can’t have that!