Sundays game against the Giants can give the Ravens the momentum to handle this tough stretch against the NFC East.

If they win and I think it's possible but our Secondary will be the key, because I have faith that our Front Seven can hold the Giants running game in check (100 yd rusher record will be tested).

If we get pressure on Eli Manning then our DB's won't be so vulnerable, but if we don't we may see a repeat of what his Big Bro' did against us.

On the Flip side, can our O-Line stop the Giants pass rush?

If we show up and play like we have the past 4 games, it should be a Great Game.

By: Charles

The Orioles finally unveiled their new and improved uniforms which of course include the long coveted Baltimore - road jersey. I watched the festivities online and afterwards went to the O's website to check out the merchandise and maybe do a little early Christmas shopping for my son and myself and what did I find? NADA, NOTHING, ZIP.

The gear isn't available for purchase online. Talk about two steps forward and one back. Maybe I missed the hidden link or maybe they'll be available shortly but in the 21st century when you launch a new product you have to be prepared to sell it online.

By: Charles

Since I've posted about the Ring of Honor recently and I watched Fresno State play tonight and saw Trent Dilfer honored in their Ring of Honor; does anyone think that he should be in our Ring of Honor?

I know he was with us for one year and Billick didn't give him a chance to defend the title BUT he was the Quarterback of our Super Bowl Championshiop Team AND we've already honored a guy who spent just 2 years with us (Ernest Byner). I say that now that Compu-Coach is gone, we need to give Trent the respect that he deserves.

What say you?

By: Charles

Going into tonights Sunday Night game between Indy & N.E. I tried to come up with who to root for to win. The Colts were 3-4 and trailing the Titans who are 8-0 in their Division and the Pats were 5-2 coming in to the game and above the Jets & Bills in their Division.

If the Colts lose, they fall farther back and farther out of any playoff contention. If the Pats loose they fall into a tie with the Bills & Jets.

I figured that the AFC East would take care of it's self if the Pats loose and if the Colts won they'd creep closer to getting a wild card spot.

As much as I hate both teams (colts for obvious reasons and the Pats because of Bellichiks arrogrance) I'd go for the Pats. It was hard to root for them but a Colts win would get them closer to the Ravens for a Wild Card spot and they own the advantage of us since they soundly beat us this year.

It was a tough game to watch and in my opinion Matt Cassel (even with his experience holding a clipboard & pedigree of USC was on a tighter leash then our own Joe Flacco). If SUPER COACH BILL would have allowed him to use his far superior weapons (then our own) the Pats would have won that game.

I say that Cam & John believe in their QB far more then Super Coach believes in his own. I'm liking our QB and our OQ more and more every week.

All is not rosey in Ravensland but it could be much worse. I hate to say it but Let's Go Skins.

Go Bazooka Joe!!!

By: Charles

It was great to watch Jonathan Ogden be inducted into the Ring of Honor and to think back that he was a first EVER draft choice. This Franchise and this town would be completely different (ie no SB XXXV win) if they had drafted Lawrence Phillips. J.O. will undoubtedly be inducted into Canton in 5 yrs. and Ray will be the 2nd Raven to go into the H.O.F. but maybe not the next to go into the R.O.H.

I have a question about the Ring Of Honor. Is it me or does it look cheap? I mean this beautiful Multi-million Dollar Stadium with State of the Art LED HD Projection Screens and we memorialize our retired players with Vinyl Banners. It just seems cheap and unsincere to me, like we need to use vinyl in case we have to take them down some day. It's like the team wasn't sure about their selection so instead of making it permanent they'll use vinyl just to be safe. (Actually maybe that explains the inclusion of Ernest Byner into the R.O.H. He played for the Ravens for 2 years and was in the Front Office for 6 more but that doesn't justify inclusion.)

Heck, even the Orioles managed to get it right with their Stainless Steel numbers outside of Eutaw Street. Of course they haven't added any numbers since Cal and it will be awhile before they add anymore.

Share your thoughts and let me know if you agree that the vinyl R.O.H. looks cheap and tacky.

By: Charles

This post has been a long time coming. I've been down and out with a Knee Injury (same meniscus tear as Reggie Bush) and unlike NFL athletes surgeries do not take place the day after the injury. I'm slowly getting back on my feet, a few set backs here and there and surgery scheduled for the end of the month.

But enough about non-athletes injuries. How about the mysterious injury to Chris McCalisters knee? Is he hurt, is he in the doghouse, what's the deal? If he's out, then he's out and let's move on; enough of this mystery.

How about the Suggs Package? It was fun to watch and how Flacco snuck out of the backfield and down the sideline was unbelievable and BTW contrary to all the writing about the play, Troy did not take a Direct Snap. Joe took the snap and pitched to Troy who was lined up next to him and then Joe swung out on his large sideline pattern. Troy did line up and take snaps, just not on that play.

I hope to see more Flair from our Offense today against the Browns (you can never have to much Flair - especially at Chocthkies). Hopefully no more 6yd passes on 3rd & 8 and Hopefully we can some half way decent Announcers and I'm most Hopeful that we can win and dare I say the Redskins win tomorrow night.

More To Follow

By: Charles

Mighty Joe Flacco showed a lot of character last night after gift wrapping 7 pts for the Steelers to be able to come back and lead the team to OT was impressive. A couple more games under his belt and he might have lead us to Victory in OT.

McGahee is not ready to play and his rib injury should hopefully get us back to the running tandem of McClain and Rice with a splash of Neal.

Jarred Johnson what were you thinking? Ward baited you and you took it.

By: Charles

The O's followed the script today and dropped a game with 2 outs and the bases loaded in the bottom of the 9th. Poor Jamie Walker, I thought that he'd get out of it after striking out Giambi. Oh well, there's always tomorrow night.

By: Charles

Rice, Mclain & McGahee. I hope this works out this year. I see Willis having a hard time dealing with splitting time. I hope Ray keeps him straight.

By: Charles

The O's help close out Yankee Staduim this weekend and they were hard pressed to come up with starters since Guthrie and Cabrera scratched. So that means not one member of the rotation that broke camp in spring training is starting. That pretty much sums up this lost season.

Any memories of Yankee Stadium? Jeffrey Maier will forever live in my mind.

By: Charles

It's been hard to write anything positive about the O's lately. They hit and field well but boy has the pitching fallen off of the table. They sit at 65-80 so .500 is out of the question. I can't see a 16 game winning streak to end the year. Hopefully we are learning some valuable intel on all of the young players that have come up.

I trust McPhail and can't imagine having this pitching problem next season. At least I hope that we don't and forget Texiera let's find some starters. I'd love to see Derek Lowe put on the Black and Orange.

By: Charles

Hearing that 4 syllable chant yesterday sure brought chills sitting in the Upperdeck yesterday. It would have been nice if it wasn't while our Offense was in the huddle. But who can complain on a day that started out as just a celebration of the start of football season. I really didn't think that a. we would pull off a victory and b. it would be so dominationg. It's only one game but on a Sunday Afternoon the football gods smiled on Baltimore once me.

How about seeing some Offensive creativity? Forget the Double Reverse, I was shocked to see succesful Screen Pass'. Way to go Cam.

But the best part was the Offense held the ball for the final 7 minutes and 15 seconds. In years past we would have given the ball back with 3-4 minutes left, just enough time for a Palmer comeback.

Next up the Texans.

By: Charles

Tomorrow starts the Official start of the John Harbaugh Era. The discipline and accountability that he has brought to the team was much needed. I don't think we'll see an implosion like last years Pats game.

The questions are whether the D can get back to there dominating ways, can Cam Cameron dial up an Offense that has some imagination and most importantly can Joe Flacco minimalize his sure to be rookie mistakes.

It all begins tomorrow and hopefully upset Ocho Cinco and the Bengals.

Sadly this is the first Opening Day in franchise history without Future Hall of Famer Jonathen Ogden. We'll miss you J.O.

By: Charles

Casey Bramlett? Who is this guy? There had to be talks with SD about if you plan to cut him please do it soon because he's gonna play 3qtrs for us on Thursday. What a great story. Where did this come from? The announcers haven't told us, they must not have Google at MASN.

By: Charles

Now for a blast from the past. Let's reminisce about QB's that took their place under Center.

(Alpha Order - you can figure out when they were here).
Derek Anderson (damm you Phil Savage)
Tony Banks (INT in the End Zone from the 2yd line at the Skins)
Kyle Boller (football meet thigh-thigh meet football-now seperate
Stoney Case (here today/gone tomorrow)
Randall Cunningham (should have started the 2nd half of the playoff loss at Pitt)
Cullen Finnerty (who?)
Elvis "No Mas" Grbac
Jim "Captain Comeback/but not with us" Harbaugh
Ray Lucas (lasted 2 pastries and a coffee)
Scott Mitchell (isn't on the Ravens list)
Steve McNair - (wish it were the 90's version)
Zack Norton (Zack who?)
Scott Otis (no idea?)
Wes Pate (also wasn't on the Ravens list)
Chris Redman (same school but "You're no John Unitas")
Wally "Nitany Lion" Richardson
Troy "Heisman" Smith
Brian St. Pierre (who?)
Jon Stark (Trinity Int'l Grad - say no more)
Kordell Stewart (I wanted the Slash that roamed Memorial Stadium)
Vinny Testaverde (could rise from the dead)
Anthony Wright (He wasn't Alright either)
Eric Zeier (held a good clipboard)

By: Charles

With Marques Douglas returning to the nest is Ed Hartwell next? He left us to since a 6yr deal with the Falcons, didn't do much in 2 yrs due to injury. He went to Cincinatti last year and even with all of their Defensive problems, Ed couldn't make it out of the Pre-Season. He signed with Da'Raiders this May and was cut on Aug. 13th to make room for a Punter.

It could have only been worse if it were a Kicker.

By: Charles

The Ravens released seldom seen LB Dan Cody today. The 53rd overall selection (2nd rnd) of the 2005 draft.

I watched Cody play at Oklahoma and I did witness his infamous Goal Line Stand against Texas A&M. It was third and goal A&M had the ball inside the 10yd line and OU just called a TO. After the coaches gave there instructions, Cody the Defensive Captain went to work firing up his teammates at the each of the Sideline. As the team breaks for the field Cody collapses in the center of the group and they run on without him. He apparently go so worked up that he passed out. The Defense held on 3rd Down and somehow Cody came back for 4th down and stuffed the run.

It was one of those "I hope we can get that kid some day" moments. We did get that kid and had a career full of injuries. He saw 10 snaps in the Rams Pre-Season Game, his first since Nov. 2006

Good Luck Dan - Boomer Sooner Forever


BTW - I was had a "I hope we can get that kid some day " moment after watching Drew Brees QB the Boilermakers. He was drafted one pick after Todd Heap (1st pick of the 2nd rnd) mainly because questions about his size 6' Tall.

Coincidentally the same height our very own former Big Ten QB - Heisman Winner Troy Smith. Go Figure.

By: Charles

The Ravens sent two draft picks to Tampa Bay for former Raven DE Marques Douglas. Do you remember Marques? He was an undrafted Rookie out of Howard University that made a name for himself by working hard under Rex Ryan. Marques left in 2005 and signed (what I"m sure was large) 3 year contract with the 49ers. This past offseason he said a $10 million contract with the Bucaneers.

So when he looks at his bank account does he give thanks to Ozzie and Rex?

Glad to have him back

By: Charles

With Kyle Bollars injury apparently more severe then the team has led on and Troy Smith still drying to regain his strength and eneregy after battling Tonsilittis; it leaves only Derrick Mason as the last QB. Mason played QB in High School and has had his name thrown out there in the past when the Ravens were shorthanded.

This should be interesting.

By: Charles

Flacco looked scared in the 1st half but settled down and successfully called a couple of audibles.

The Secondary got dinked and dunked to death all night long. Instead of playing bump and run they gave a 10 yrd cushion and let the Rams control the game. The DL/LBs didn't do anything exciting probably because the starters either didn't play or played so little that you didn't notice them at all. I did enjoy the hard hitting ofr Nakamura and Zbikowski at Safety.

Figurs could be exciting to watch on Special Teams and considering our HC was a Special Teams Coordinator for so long I expect to see some excitement this season.

Thursdays game should be interesting, hopefully Troy will start because I like Bazooka Joe but he's not ready to start so early in the season and if he did we'd be ackowledging that this season won't be competitive and try selling that to the Defense.

By: Charles