Late Night Ravens Stream of Consciousness

So, it's 12:30 at night, and I'm home because of some blood tests I had to have done. All of my friends are at college, so what else do I have to think about besides Ravens football? And when I think of something sports-related, I generally write it down on here. So, here are my thoughts on the Baltimore Ravens' offseason. 

I don't think Ray Lewis is going to be a Baltimore Raven next year, but I also don't believe he will be a New York Jet. In terms of salary cap money, this should tell you all you need to know. The Jets are dead last in the league in terms of cap space. The Cowboys don't fare much better, but I still think he's going to end up there. All they've lacked (or so they think) the past few years has been a leader in the locker room, and Ray Lewis provides that instantly. They will make a few cuts, and then break the bank for Lewis. After they choke their way out of the playoffs the next two years anyway, Tony Romo will rightfully be looking elsewhere for a job. 

Speaking of departures, I don't think Rex Ryan is going to be a very good head coach in the NFL. Rex is all about the buddy system. He loves his guys. This isn't college, though, where a bunch of young guys are going to follow every word you say because you recruited them. He's in a locker room with a bunch of 30 year old men teaching them a completely new way of playing. His way worked in Baltimore, but he also had Ed Reed, the best free safety in the NFL. He had one of the best linebackers in the NFL behind one of the best defensive tackles in the NFL. His scheme worked because he had the personnel to make it work. I think the Jets will be better on offense because he will run Thomas Jones into the ground, but I have my doubts whether the defense get much reward out of his risk-reward system. 

Now, as far as people staying, Terrell Suggs (pictured, right) is number one, and he will become the new leader of the Ravens next year. Harbaugh is very practice-oriented, and Suggs is energetic and doesn't mind practice. Ed Reed is getting up there in years, and the his nerve impingement in his neck isn't helping matters. Rumors have it him and Lewis smiled for the cameras, but neither was a big fan of Harbaugh. Suggs will be the man for the next five seasons or so, and expect Bart Scott to do everything he can to fill in Lewis's shoes at middle linebacker. Also, expect Jim Leonhard to be back, Dawan Landry to go elsewhere and succeed, and the Ravens will get a complementary pick for it somewhere in the draft. Jason Brown will also be back to anchor the offensive line. 

This is why I'm not buying into the now commonplace theory that the Ravens are due for a down year next year. Any defense with Trevor Pryce, Haloti Ngata, Kelly Gregg, Terrell Suggs, Bart Scott, Ed Reed and Fabian Washington playing for it will not be worse than a top 10 defense, and I don't care who the other four guys you line up are. (By the way, the other four will likely be very solid players in Jim Leonhard and Jarret Johnson, a potential star in middle linebacker tavares gooden, and a first round cornerback picked up in this year's draft.) Ngata and Gregg are both top 10 defensive tackles in the NFL, and if you don't believe me, look up Kelly Gregg's stats and compare them with other defensive tackles from 2003-07. You will find that Kelly Gregg has more tackles than any of them. Terrell Suggs is considered by all to be a top 5 outside linebacker. Already said is how dominant Reed is. The talent on defense will still be there. What will be missed is Ray's leadership, but leaders leave teams. New guys step in. John Harbaugh is a natural leader, and I believe in him.

To be continued in an immediate post following this; I don't have too much space left in this post. 

(Photo Credits: allposters.com)

Mike Singletary Went Too Far

Odds are you've seen Mike Singletary's rant during his post-game press conference. If for some reason you haven't, you can watch it here.

I feel hypocritical because I, like you in all likelihood, had the immediate reaction of "That's awesome!" when I first saw this video. And, in a way, I still think so. It's refreshing to hear a coach in the NFL speak his mind. All over the place, you have tumult going on in NFL locker rooms that isn't exposed.

A perfect example is the situation in Baltimore. All John Harbaugh will say is that "Chris McAlister has a bad knee." That was the reason he didn't play in a single preseason game. That was why he barely practiced during training camp. Was that why, in his first four games of the year, he absolutely shut down Chad Johnson (1 catch for 22 yards), Braylon Edwards (3 catches for 27 yards), Hines Ward (2 catches for 57 yards) and Justin Gage (0 catches), all the while getting three interceptions in that span? No. McAlister is fine, he just made Harbaugh angry because he didn't want to play in training camp. Harbaugh is doing everyone a disservice by not coming out and saying the exact reason McAlister is being disciplined. It's getting hard to ignore, as he was inactive for this past Sunday's game against the Raiders. 

All that aside, let me explain to you why what Mike Singletary did was wrong. Mike Singletary called Vernon Davis off the field after the penalty. Completely acceptable.

After Davis got to the bench - without mouthing off to his coach - Singletary went after him again. It was a stupid penalty, and Singletary wanted to let him know who was in charge. Completely acceptable.

I start to take issue with what happened next. Davis went to a new seat and Singletary went back to his business. Singletary then sought him out and rounded on him a third time, this time telling him to hit the showers. Coach your team, don't focus your energy on one player. Also, don't treat the one player like he is a kid in high school. This is a grown man, a professional athlete. Treat him with respect. 

Then, there was the press conference. How long did Singletary have that planned? It seemed like a planned speech that he delivered while on a crazy power trip. 

It's not like Davis was being a prima donna the entire game. It went unnoticed, but watch this (go to 1:00 in). Davis is actually the only 49er who cares enough to run after Josh Wilson when he makes the interception. You can distinctly see number 83, Arnaz Battle, just give up. 

Plus, learn the rules. You don't get penalized for playing with ten players. That kind of thing just irritates me. 

(Photo Credit: AP)

Baltimore, why are you so enamored with John Harbaugh?

After three straight losses - two of which the team should have won and one that was an utter blowout - Ravens fans are still in love with the whole John Harbaugh thing.

Why?

All I'm hearing from people is "Wow, so Flacco sucks" or "Our O-line is not living up to expectations."

It just seems funny to me that last year - with virtually the same exact team - the Ravens struggles were all Brian Billick's fault. This year, though, Harbaugh can do no wrong.

Never mind the numerous balls he should have challenged, but didn't (Derrick Mason in the endzone?). Never mind the press conference lies (two weeks ago, Kelly Gregg would be back in a couple weeks; now he's on the IR). Never mind the fact that the Ravens came into Indy with the single worst possible game plan they could have had.

The Ravens have a team with a poor offense, with poor discipline, and that can't play consistently. Gee, Billick could have done that.