Ask Baltimore Beatdown: Questions for the Ravens Blogger

Your running back situation?

So what is the depth chart for you guys.. I went to Rutgers so I have stock in RR and see that his rushes have decreased over the past couple weeks.. Is McClain the real deal? and what about McGahee?

A Cowboy fan from Dallas residing in enemy terretory since 1990..

by Jtiner09 on Dec 18, 2008 8:22 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

Ray Rice was injured in the Redskins game

and therefore was missing from the Pittsburgh game, which hurt us. His current status is still unknown but I think we could really use his speed and elusiveness in this game. Le’Ron McClain was just selected to the Pro Bowl as the fullback but has been a pleasant surprise as the tailback, usually running behind another bruiser in fullback Lorenzo Neal, who used to open holes for LaDanian Tomlinson in San Diego (no coincidence that he is gone from there and LT is not doing anywhere as well). Willis McGahee was much more efeective the beginning of the season but has virtually disappeared or been horrible the past few. He is always injured and While I’d love to see him rebound, I think his time here in Baltimore, due to performance and salary, is limited.

Rexx

by Rexx on Dec 18, 2008 9:08 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

thanks Rexx

A Cowboy fan from Dallas residing in enemy terretory since 1990..

by Jtiner09 on Dec 18, 2008 11:09 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

What is the injury situation with you guys?

I know that Gaither has a bad shoulder. Is anyone else banged up, anything more than the usual late season bumps and bruises?

by Mandmeisterx on Dec 18, 2008 8:57 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

Gaither's shoulder was hurting...

…but he played against the Redskins and Steelers with it, so it will not be an excuse against Ware. We overloaded the o-line to that side to help out against Pittsburgh’s James Harrison and figure to do the same this weekend. We just add a second tackle to that side and it helps a ton. Of course it takes away from other things offensively but we will gameplan for it, although hopefully better than we did las tweek. Then again, we both have something in common and that is our inability to move the ball too well against the Steelers.

Rexx

by Rexx on Dec 18, 2008 9:10 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

We typically don't leave Ware on the left.

They move him around to the weak side of the formation as often as possible to try and give him one on one matchups. How will the center of your line hold up with the pass rushes of ILB Bradie James and now Pro Bowl NT Jay Ratliff?

by Mandmeisterx on Dec 18, 2008 9:19 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Our center, Jason Brown

is probably the meanest dude on the o-line and should ahve garnered more Pro Bowl consideration. He should do fine with some guard assistance if needed. Our left guard, Ben Grubbs is also an excellent players. Our right guard, chris Chester is a replacement for Marshall Yanda who is out for the season. He is not that reliable and is definitely the o-line’s weak link. Todd Heap stays in too much to help and our blocking backs are okay at best. Blitz all day and you can disrupt us. Hopefully, we’ll get some quick hits that go for big yardage.

Rexx

by Rexx on Dec 18, 2008 12:01 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

RT -Who is the RT and how his play been this year?

"If you see me up in the mountains with a lion, I ain't lyin
don't help me, help the mountain lion"

by Wmillion on Dec 18, 2008 1:56 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Depends

on who’s healthy. It started out as Adam Terry but he got injured and then when healthy had to switch toi LT for Jared Gaither, who was hurt. Now it’s either Terry or 13 year All Pro veteran Willie Anderson, whom the Ravens signed just beffore the season started after he was released from Cincy. Both have been pretty effective, as they are big guys.

Rexx

by Rexx on Dec 18, 2008 4:40 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Also

I know what you mean about the Cleveland fans. We had the same thing here last week with the Steelers’ fans. And the PHI fans usually have no problem coming over here and letting us have it during Eagles week.

by Mandmeisterx on Dec 18, 2008 9:05 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

The steelers fans...

….were pretty decent for the most part.They’re very proud and loud, and certainly travel as well as any team in the lague. They also have a very good team, which leads to the trash talking. However, no one’s as bad as the Cleveland fans and we’ve even had a bunch of posters of ours banned over there. Our guys will bring it to your site, but they will be appropriate, language -wise, and will definitely challenge your readers to back up their claims, which I’m sure they will. Good luck, sort of.

Rexx

by Rexx on Dec 18, 2008 9:12 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I can definitely handle fact based trash talking,

but some of those guys were just morons.

by Mandmeisterx on Dec 18, 2008 9:18 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

totally agree.

Rexx

by Rexx on Dec 18, 2008 12:01 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Receiving corps

Clayton and Mason are both listed as probable. Flacco leads the 13th ranked passing offense in the AFC (based on yardage). What will Harbaugh do to create scoring opportunities given Dallas’ recent strong play against the run?

"Well, we didn't block real good but we made up for it by not tackling."

- John McKay, the first coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers

by 5Blings on Dec 18, 2008 11:09 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

The Ravens will be stubborn

about the run game. Mcclain bulled for 87 against the Steelers, which is the toughest in the league (no offense). We will move the ball on the ground and complement it with an air attack that might put you guys to sleep. Mason and Clayton will both be there, but Mason is our possession receiver and among the best in the league at that. Clayton is our big play guy and can also throw it as well. However, we win by running the ball, period.

Rexx

by Rexx on Dec 18, 2008 12:03 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

If thats really your gameplan on offense

I can’t see you guys scoring a TD and I’m being serious. The Cowboys will sell out to stop the run this game and will force Flacco to throw to beat us.

In Romo we Trust

by Terry on Dec 18, 2008 12:26 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I agree

The teams that scare me are ones that can exploit Dallas’ secondary, which is by all accounts, it’s one glaring defensive weakness. That said, Dallas is getting better in that area with Scandrick’s surprising play in the nickel, coupled with Newman’s return to health.

"Well, we didn't block real good but we made up for it by not tackling."

- John McKay, the first coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers

by 5Blings on Dec 18, 2008 12:57 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

its really our safeties

as our CBs are actually a team strength when healthy. I don’t think there is a team in the league that has 5 CBs as a unit better than Newman, Henry, Jenkins, Pacrat and Scandrick.

Our safeties are the players that get beat in coverage, its really our one true weakness on defense.

In Romo we Trust

by Terry on Dec 18, 2008 1:59 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

perhaps, but i think the real

weakness has been schemes we’ve been running – when we play to our CB’s strengths we’ve been really good.

by Scoobay on Dec 18, 2008 3:49 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

If you do stack the line of scrimmage,...

…trust me, Flacco and one of our receivers will make you pay.

Rexx

by Rexx on Dec 18, 2008 4:42 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Not With Newman on Man Coverage

by rioplayer7 on Dec 18, 2008 5:21 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

no way any of your mediocre WRs

come close to beating Newman, Pacman, Jenkins or Scandrick…won’t happen.

In Romo we Trust

by Terry on Dec 18, 2008 6:29 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

While I don't think

your defense is great I expect it to be a low scoring game compared to others you’ve played. However no offense but your defeense doesn;t compare to either Tennessee’s or Pittsburgh’s. Therefore I expect a game in the high teens to low 20’s, withpoints by both teams.

Rexx

by Rexx on Dec 18, 2008 8:54 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Our defence outplayed Pit's two weeks ago

by aussie_cowboy on Dec 18, 2008 10:17 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

but of course, failed like we did when it truly mattered and then threw the game away at the end. Which is what I’m hoping happens this week, as the Steelers defense is very similar and opportunistic just like ours.

Rexx

by Rexx on Dec 19, 2008 8:30 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

defense didn't throw the game away, Romo did

In Romo we Trust

by Terry on Dec 19, 2008 8:37 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Sorry, not true

you did allow the Steelers to come back in the fourth quarter from a 10 point deficit. It’s not all on Romo, just the final INT. Defense was as responsible for that loss, as much if not more, than Romo. The tough thing is that if you’d have won, the defense would have gotten credit for the win. But,…it didn’t get it done.

Rexx

by Rexx on Dec 19, 2008 10:24 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I disagree

you can’t put a loss on a defense that only gives up one TD, no way.

In Romo we Trust

by Terry on Dec 19, 2008 10:27 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Believe me...Terry on point....and we know how tough it is for him to put the loss solely on his boy Romo...

But I totally agree that the Pittsburgh loss is squarely on Tony Romo…he single handedly lost that game for the Cowboys…without a doubt….Dallas’ Defense was much superior to Pitts on that day…as well as the Giants last week, and is a better overall defense when compared to Baltimore as well……..There is NO Defense playing better than Dallas over the past 4 games…stats don’t lie..I do not see Baltimore scoring more than one TD on offense….mark that down..

A true diehard Cowboys fan since 1975.

"If you don’t take him off the field as a coach, he will just about die out there," Jerry Jones said. "That impacted my decision. It’s a Michael Irvin-type work ethic. That’s what we are talking about with Felix Jones."
- Owner/G.M of the Dallas Cowboys , Jerry Jones

by BoyzRback on Dec 19, 2008 12:37 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Sorry, still disagree

The Cowboys were up by 10 points with nine minutes to go even before Romo threw the pick. That pick would not have mattered if the Cowboys defense did not fold and give up the game tying 10 points to make it that close and put Romo in the position to have to win or lose it.

That philosophy of giving your defense a pass even though it held the Steelers to 13 points doesn’t fly with me. I blame the loss of the Ravens on the defense that allowed the Steelers to go 90 yards in that last drive REGARDLESS of what they did the previous 58 minutes. That’s called responsibility!

Rexx

by Rexx on Dec 19, 2008 5:19 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I get it..

Through the eyes of Ravens fan it makes sense., The raves are a team who depends on their D to win games.

To a Dallas fan, has been ranked tops in the league for last 2 and 1/2 years, we blame the QB when we have a 10 point lead in the 4th quarter..

"If you see me up in the mountains with a lion, I ain't lyin
don't help me, help the mountain lion"

by Wmillion on Dec 19, 2008 5:49 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I blame our coordinators

Our offensive game plan sucked and we called off the dogs on that long drive of theirs.

by squidlo97 on Dec 19, 2008 7:05 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I agree

We definitely played to not lose.. I think Romo’s inablitity to throw caused that.. Romo should have broken out the sleeves and gloves.

"If you see me up in the mountains with a lion, I ain't lyin
don't help me, help the mountain lion"

by Wmillion on Dec 19, 2008 7:18 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

+1...squid gets it....not only was Romo ineffective, and shouldn't of been put in place to make such poor throws....BUT

I totally blame Garrett for a piss poor job of play calling down the stretch, 7 minutes, 10 point lead, and he calls the most f’ed up passing plays when all he needed was ONE damn first down………..as for Rexxxx………I was just trying to be objective…but if you want the truth….Dallas IS going to beat down Flacco all night , and your Ravens don’t stand a chance…….IMO…..good luck..

A true diehard Cowboys fan since 1975.

"If you don’t take him off the field as a coach, he will just about die out there," Jerry Jones said. "That impacted my decision. It’s a Michael Irvin-type work ethic. That’s what we are talking about with Felix Jones."
- Owner/G.M of the Dallas Cowboys , Jerry Jones

by BoyzRback on Dec 20, 2008 1:27 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I understand

Us Ravens fans thought our offensive gameplan against the Steelers last week was so vanilla that we could have put more points on the board if he had some balls. If we come out as conservative against the Cowboys, it could get ugly.

Rexx

by Rexx on Dec 20, 2008 9:37 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

+1

especially after 5 turnovers. Our D did everything possible to win that game

by aussie_cowboy on Dec 19, 2008 10:04 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

You're right

The defense hasn’t been clutch.

Whether it is the safeties, the CB’s or the scheme, we have to prove that we can keep shutting down the opposing offense in the 4th quarter when the game is on the line.

We haven’t done that consisntently yet.

"Well, we didn't block real good but we made up for it by not tackling."

- John McKay, the first coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers

by 5Blings on Dec 19, 2008 10:30 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Of those 20 points,

The defense was only at fault for 7. Aside from the pick six, another pick and a big punt return put the Steelers in position for those other points. Take away the offensive TD, and they only accumulated 6 yards of offense on the rest of their scoring drives.

by Mandmeisterx on Dec 19, 2008 11:05 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Romo Vs. Ben

Ben got it done, Romo didn’t..

Flacco is no Ben..

"If you see me up in the mountains with a lion, I ain't lyin
don't help me, help the mountain lion"

by Wmillion on Dec 19, 2008 11:44 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Stop making excuses

Offense makes highlights, defense wins championships. It all comes down to the end of the game. Great defenses make the stops. Period.

Rexx

by Rexx on Dec 20, 2008 9:38 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

you obviously haven't watched our defense much lately

For the past 4 or 5 games, Cowboys defense has played every bit as well as the Steelers, Ravens and Titans defenses, if not better.

Maybe after we hold you to just a FG Saturday night, then you’ll admit its great.

In Romo we Trust

by Terry on Dec 19, 2008 7:38 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

+1

by aussie_cowboy on Dec 19, 2008 8:06 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I certainly will

if you do, but for some reason I expect our offense to do a lot better than last week and beyond your front four, I expect there to be opportunities once we get to your defense’s second level, be it on the ground or thru the air.

Rexx

by Rexx on Dec 19, 2008 8:31 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I'm thinking you're underestimating our defense

and overestimating your offense. Cowboys feast on young, inexperienced QBs like Flacco.

This game will absolutely mirror your game last week against the Steelers, I think 10-14 points wins this game and my money is on Romo to produce more points than Flacco.

In Romo we Trust

by Terry on Dec 19, 2008 8:40 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Romo may produce more points than Flacco

but our defense might produce more points than either. Besides, it’s not one player who wins or loses the game. I’ll always take the side of Ray Lewis in a tough game, even though we might not win them all.

Rexx

by Rexx on Dec 19, 2008 10:25 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

true, turnovers will decide this game

I’m hoping Romo commits less than Flacco.

In Romo we Trust

by Terry on Dec 19, 2008 10:28 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Romo gives up lots of points

"Well, we didn't block real good but we made up for it by not tackling."

- John McKay, the first coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers

by 5Blings on Dec 19, 2008 10:31 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I wouldn't say a lot

actually, for a true gun slinger, I think he protects fairly well.

In Romo we Trust

by Terry on Dec 19, 2008 10:33 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Flacco is only 1-3,

on the road against teams with winning records

by aussie_cowboy on Dec 19, 2008 10:09 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I disagree

I know you have no choice, but support Flacco. Flacco is a guy who nearly throws as many int’s as TD’s. I think the biggest mismatch is our D vs. Your O. I think Flacco turns it over twice.

"If you see me up in the mountains with a lion, I ain't lyin
don't help me, help the mountain lion"

by Wmillion on Dec 19, 2008 10:53 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah but..

we won’t run the same conservative O as the pitt game. it would have been better for Dallas to play us last week when I’m sure we would have been just as conservative. now that everyone is fussing over the tight O, the Ravens will break out the gadget plays and deep balls. we tried something last week and it almost worked. we’ll change it up and Flacco can’t help to have a better game. It was 24 degrees and windy against Pitt. He can throw to any spot on the field. You would have had a better chance against us one game ago for sure. ed reed is a prime time freak. every time he has a national audience he does something spectacular. this game is too close to call.

by raven on Dec 18, 2008 7:35 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

How about Pressuring Romo?

If Dallas can get Suggs blocked consistently (that may be a big if), will the Ravens send more bodies and put Walker and Rolle in compromising positions?

Also, will Ed Reed freelance or will he have to shadow Witten all over the field?

"Well, we didn't block real good but we made up for it by not tackling."

- John McKay, the first coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers

by 5Blings on Dec 18, 2008 1:24 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Reed won't cover Witten

under any circumstances. He is our free safety and Witten will be covered by a nickel or our strong safety, Jim Leonhard, or perhaps even a LB (hopefully not). Witten scares me as much or more than any of your wideouts. Trevor Pryce and the other rush ends, as well as the blitzing LB’s can get to the passer, as most teams try to double Suggs and that leaves others open. In fact the only time we ever blitzed the Steelers last week was late in the game and resulted in the long completion to Hines Ward. So we’ve been able to get good pressure with our front four. It’s when we decide to sit back and rush three that we end up getting burned like we unexplicably did at the end of the Steelers game.

Rexx

by Rexx on Dec 18, 2008 4:49 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

reed is better not covering anyone! let him circle like the hawk he is.

by raven on Dec 18, 2008 7:37 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I think there's a big difference

between Dallas’ o-line and Pitt’s…

"Well, we didn't block real good but we made up for it by not tackling."

- John McKay, the first coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers

by 5Blings on Dec 19, 2008 10:33 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

What position do you feel is your greates weakness on the Defense...if any?

by rioplayer7 on Dec 18, 2008 5:22 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

If CB Fabian Washington is still hurt...

…our nickel and dime coverage will be hurting. Personally I lve how Miles Austin looks and would love to see him in a Ravens uniform now that he is buried on your depth chart. So I’m concerned about our lack of secondary depth. I also worry when I see the opposition slanting the TE and RB’s over the middle on short ctosiing patterns that our LB’s can’t cover. Other than that, we have pretty much npt shown much in weaknesses on defense.

Rexx

by Rexx on Dec 18, 2008 8:58 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I love Austin too.

and I dont think he will be buried on our depth chart for long. If he could stay healthy, he would be our #3. The staff thinks highly of him, and may move Crayton out of his way this offseason.

A free man with no honor is a prisoner.

by Carl Shelton (GloryDayz88) on Dec 19, 2008 6:10 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Unfortunately,

that still puts him as the third wide receiver and fourth option behind Witten as well, and I think he can be a #1 or #2 on any other team.

Rexx

by Rexx on Dec 19, 2008 8:33 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

A #1 is definitely pushing it.

And I think he will be our #2 within 2 years

"When it's third and ten, you can take the milk drinkers and I'll take the whiskey drinkers every time." -Max McGee

by BigDinSC on Dec 19, 2008 12:01 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Not for the Ravens! ;)

Rexx

by Rexx on Dec 19, 2008 5:20 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah then that bodes well for Austin to have a good game I love him as well....

And I know the staff loves him just as much he is not going anywhere TO cant play forever and he will jump crayton and be a perfect compliment to Roy in the future

by rioplayer7 on Dec 19, 2008 9:17 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

rolle is poor at defending the short game and plays off the receivers by 10 yards. he is not physical. smart but not that tough. he killed us during the final pitt drive sunday by playing way too far off Ward and Washington…and those plays were obvious.

by raven on Dec 18, 2008 7:28 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

the Ravens really want to get the Pitt game out of their heads. They have been excited in the news all week to get to big D. we escaped injury (for the most part) against Pitt. so they should be pretty juiced. i know i can’t wait. at least there’s a jags game on tonight.

by raven on Dec 18, 2008 7:40 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Can any of your receivers make us pay for playing man press coverage?

by Mandmeisterx on Dec 18, 2008 10:47 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Any wideout can do that

if the QB has enough time. Remember, CB’s are just wide receivers that couldn’t catch well at the lower levels! Mason is as good a possession receiver as there is in the game and runs perfect routes with great hands. He is the best at 8-10 yard curl patterns and Flacco has a gun to get the ball into him quickly.

Mark Clayton has made DB’s pay the price for pressing and one to one coverage. He’s burned the Eagles CB’s who are every bit as good, if not better than yours. Philly also has a better safety tandum than Dalas in my opinion and we still made the big play in the second half to break it open.

Rexx

by Rexx on Dec 19, 2008 8:36 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Philly's CBs aren't better than ours

Thats a myth and you’ll see that come Saturday.

Ravens certainly don’t have a better receiving corp than the Giants and we completely shut them down last week. Expect a repeat performance this Saturday night.

In Romo we Trust

by Terry on Dec 19, 2008 8:42 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Debatable

Philly’s CB’s are every bit as good as yours and certainly comparable. They also have Brian Dawkins back there at safety, which is better than anything you can put up against him, including Hamlin.

Beating two tough teams in a row is a tall task. Besides, you beat a hurting team that was missing it’s best wideout and RB, just like the Eagles did last week. Come playoff time, you won’t be going into the Meadowlands and repeating that, if, of course, you make the playoffs. Loser of this game is pretty much on the outside looking in and needing other teams’ help to make it.

Rexx

by Rexx on Dec 19, 2008 10:30 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Dawkins is ancient.

The guy has been one of the best for a while but he’s getting old.

Also, since you brought it up why is the Meadowlands such a difficult place to win in the playoffs? The Cowboys won late November games there in ’06 and ’07. The last time the Giants hosted a playoff game there, they were division champs and still got blanked 21-0 by the Panthers. Swirling winds will give Eli just as much trouble throwing as whoever the opposing QB is.

Stick to talking trash backing the Ravens and quit kissing up to the Giants. People are way underestimating how much they’re missing Plaxico and as for Jacobs, who says it’s a guarantee he even gets back to full strength at any point this season?

by MadMick on Dec 19, 2008 8:05 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Dawkins made the Pro Bowl, didn't he?

I thought he did, so he must not be too “ancient.” Sour grapes? Giants were horrible at home in ‘07, but that didn’t stop them. That was last year and up to two weeks ago, they were consdiered the best team in the league. Losing the idiot hurt but if Jacobs comes back for the playoffs, which I expect he will, they will be tough, especially at home. Interested to see how they do tomorrow against Carolina. Not a Giants fan at all, actually hate them, but I am a true football fan and still think at home you will not beat them. Sorry, just my call.

Rexx

by Rexx on Dec 20, 2008 9:41 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Bad call on the Giants and how great they still are.

But I guess that would put the Ravens chances at less than zero should they run into their archrival the Steelers again in the playoffs if a Cowboys team that has taken 4 of the last 6 from the Giants has absolutely no shot at winning in the Meadowlands.

The Giants aren’t even guaranteed a first round bye as not only could the Panthers overtake them for the top seed but the 2nd seed is still a possibility for the Vikings who just happen to play the Giants in the season finale. Hosting home games mean a lot less than how well you’re actually playing entering the playoffs. Jacobs is a force but I wouldn’t say he’s that much better overall than either Ward or Bradshaw. Just looking at the facts, in 4 playoff games last year, Jacobs averaged only 3.2 yards per carry and didn’t even rush for 200 yards total. The guy isn’t even close to being the centerpiece of that attack the way Emmitt, Terrell Davis, or even Jamal Lewis were for their teams during the playoffs.

As for Dawkins, he definitely looked like he lost a step when the Eagles played the Cowboys in Week 2. Furthermore, you seem like far too knowledgable a guy to not understand that the Pro Bowl is a glorified popularity contest in too many instances. No. 38 Roy Williams hasn’t deserved to make the Pro Bowl since ‘03 yet there he’s been every year until this one. I didn’t mean for ancient to imply he’s a bum; just that he’s definitely lost a step.

by MadMick on Dec 20, 2008 10:13 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Fair enough

but home teams rule in the postseason for the most part. The Cowboys may be 4-2 in thgeir last six against the Giants but they lost when it truly counted and I’m just saying I expect it to happen again if they meet in Jersey. Remember, I have nothing against the Cowboy, except this week of course, and I hate the Giants, but have to respect what they did last year and most of this season.

Rexx

by Rexx on Dec 20, 2008 1:08 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah, I guess homefield still means something; at least in the NFC.

I think 6 of the past 9 top seeds in the NFC have still managed to hold serve and at least make it to the Super Bowl. Of course, I don’t have to tell you how much of a crapshoot the AFC has been no matter who was seeded where.

Using your own point, the Giants could still end up being an 11-5 team. Last year’s Cowboys were 13-3 and swept the Giants in the regular season. If they could lose a home game to the Giants in the playoffs, the reverse could definitely happen in this year’s postseason considering how the Cowboys absolutely manhandled the Giants last week.

by MadMick on Dec 20, 2008 6:04 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I'd take the Ravens WR's over the Giants.

A free man with no honor is a prisoner.

by Carl Shelton (GloryDayz88) on Dec 19, 2008 4:11 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Hard to say

It’s all about the QB.

Ravens wideouts would be All Pros if Peyton was throwing to them. Trust me, Harrison and Wayne are great, but they would be stagnant if a bad QB was throwing to them.

Rexx

by Rexx on Dec 19, 2008 5:22 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

not always all about the qb.

guys like moss can make anyone look great.. look at daunte culpepper before and after. Look at bradys PASSING stats before and after

What the French?! Toast!

by thebigham on Dec 20, 2008 6:08 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah, right,..

….Brad has terrible stats before Moss. Thank god for Moss or Tom Brady would have done nothing in his career. Great argument! Brady was an excellent QB, one of the top two or three in the league before Moss. Moss made him slightly better for ONE incredible season, but Brady owes Moss NOTHING for his success.

Rexx

by Rexx on Dec 20, 2008 9:43 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

To be fair,

He said look at his STATS, not his wins or skill. I don’t think anyone is trying to argue that Brady was garbage before Moss got to NE. It’s no coincidence that Brady broke the TD record when Moss got there.

"When it's third and ten, you can take the milk drinkers and I'll take the whiskey drinkers every time." -Max McGee

by BigDinSC on Dec 20, 2008 10:19 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Still

Brady’s stats were excellent B.M. (before Moss). He also was a known winner regardless of his stats. Under your pretenses, Moss should have made Brady an even better winner, which he obviously did during the regular season, but no when it counted.

If you want to stick with that, then I guess TO is making Romo a better player and after he leaves, which of course he will at some point shortly, then Romo goes back to being pedestrian?

Rexx

by Rexx on Dec 20, 2008 1:10 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Culpepper's career year was actually an anomaly considering that....

Moss was actually banged up for most of that ’04 season and his numbers were pretty pedestrian as he caught less than 50 passes and less than 800 yards in 13 games. Who knows what happened with Culpepper the following season when he was outright horrible before his knee went kaput?

by MadMick on Dec 20, 2008 10:24 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

can't have Miles Austin...

dude’s our next #3 in the very near future.

people have compared Dallas’ offense vs. the Ravens’ D(which, on paper, doesn’t look good at all for us), but what i’m really shocked at is the fact that i haven’t seen any tale of the tape between the Dallas D vs. what i see as a Ravens’ offense that is, at best, mediocre. at their best, they look like Dallas does in a slump, such as right now.

Clayton’s a beast, though. dude’s impressive. i still think Ware and the rest of the front seven feasts on Flacco to the point he can’t get the ball to the guy. they made the Giants look awful, and unfortunately, Gnats>Ravens.

by the red scare on Dec 19, 2008 1:38 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

That comparison just doesn't hold water.

f you want to go that route. The Eagles beat the Giants, Giants beat the Ravens, Ravens killed the Eagles. Now what? Redskins beat the Cowboys, we beat the Redskins. Doesn’t work in the NFL. Sorry.

At the same time, your defense will be very tough for us to beat. Ware is the best pass rusher we’ll face this year and your corners are excellent. Our offense has looked pretty rough against the Steelers, Giants, Titans and Colts, but great against everyone else. I know you’ll say they feasted on poor teams, but they were still able to execute and put up points (did you see how we dismantled and frustrated the Eagels?). So the potential for putting points up is still there as we were 10th in points scored in the league as of last week.

All I’m saying is that the team that gets the breaks and makes the big play(s) will win this game. It is not an “easy” win for either team and we both know it. One of us will be thrilled while the other severely disappointed come late Saturday night.

Rexx

by Rexx on Dec 19, 2008 8:41 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

The Ravens scare me…

Too many fans are already looking past them to the Eagles, (so hopefully the team is not doing the same). You have a pair of 9-5 teams from opposite conferences playing their biggest game of their year thus far. It truly is a situation where the loser will most likely miss the playoffs in their respective conferences.

I’d feel much better where Procter not starting but as it is, he is. My fear is that Ravens will try and match Justin Bannan up one on one with Kory Procter and then bring extra pressure behind that by blitzing either Suggs or Lewis and thus completely collapse the middle of the line. The Ravens are very quick to the outside so any attempts to roll away or run away from the middle will have little success as well.

I think Dallas needs to make some big plays down the field early. They do not want to get into a patience game w/ the Ravens who are the maters of this sort of play. The later this game gets with a score of 6-3, 10-6, 13-10 etc… The more concerned I’ll be as a Cowboys fan.

0 = The number of Super Bowls the Eagles have won.

by gee-roj on Dec 19, 2008 9:21 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

with the way our defense is dominating

no team in the league scares me, I fully expect the Cowboys to win each game they play from here on out.

In Romo we Trust

by Terry on Dec 19, 2008 10:30 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

It's good to have confidence in your team

You are a loyal fan, no different than me.

Rexx

by Rexx on Dec 19, 2008 10:32 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

It will be a war

a very close game, but you are correct to not be over confident. The way the Ravens hit and put guys out of the game, you should be afraid. Be very afraid.

Rexx

by Rexx on Dec 19, 2008 10:31 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

you're not tougher than Pittsburgh

and they were certainly nothing to be afraid of. We kicked their butts for 55 minutes that game, unfortunately for us, they kicked our butts the last 5.

In Romo we Trust

by Terry on Dec 19, 2008 10:38 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Got to play 60 minutes

You might not be afraid of the Steelers, much less us, but that doesn’t mean they can’t beat you, or us as well. Think we were afraid of anyone we played. Trust me, teams are a lot more afraid of Ray Lewis and Ed Reed than we are of them, including you.

Rexx

by Rexx on Dec 19, 2008 5:23 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Think we already saw that

last week the gnats were trying to bulldoze Procter. The Boys made the adjustments.

by Benthere on Dec 19, 2008 6:29 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Not to mention the adrealine of all the former cowboys watching

the last and final game of the historic texas stadium! It will be a game not to miss

What the French?! Toast!

by thebigham on Dec 19, 2008 4:12 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Once the game starts

the hype means nothing to both teams. They have enough riding on this game than to need some former players or an outdated stadium to motivate them.

Rexx

by Rexx on Dec 19, 2008 5:24 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

agreed

This is a playoff game for both teams, basically who ever doesn’t win, doesn’t get in..

"If you see me up in the mountains with a lion, I ain't lyin
don't help me, help the mountain lion"

by Wmillion on Dec 19, 2008 5:36 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

First, hello thy enemy Rex! lol Rex said...

"Beating two tough teams in a row is a tall task. Besides, you beat a hurting team that was missing it’s best wideout and RB, just like the Eagles did last week. "

This comment doesn’t hold water either. Beating two tough teams is hard to do but there are factors that you left out Rex. Dallas has been THE most injured team in the NFL this year no question and they are still 9-5. The Eagles are getting healthy and McNabb is playing well again, the reason for their late success. Dallas has the most sacks in the NFL by quite a lot, over 20 more than the Ravens. That is due to Phillips’ scheming and and the front 7 of Dallas’ D. They are playing lights out and peaking at the right moment. It’s also due to coverage. Last week Manning was sacked and pressured many times due to coverage sacks.

1. Dallas had as much injured or even more so than the Gnats. Remember, our third running back played the entire game and he’s a rookie.

out last week – Kyle Kosier, Felix Jones, Montrae Holland, Sam Hurd, Marion Barber, Alan Ball , Pacman Jones , Roy Williams and Bobby Carpenter.

played injured – WR Miles Austin (knee)
S Tra Battle (hamstring)
S Ken Hamlin (foot)
S Keith Davis (knee)
QB Tony Romo (back)
WR Isaiah Stanback (shoulder)
WR Roy Williams (foot)
TE Jason Witten (ankle)

2. Beating teams at home on your own field puts odds in Dallas’ favor.

3. What happens in the beggining of the season is mute. It all happens in December so whatever teams beat each other now, well, that’s the better team. If it comes down to the last seconds of the game, sometimes it’s just one play that makes the difference. I’m not so sure that the team that wins that way is THE better team. Just the team that made that play or two to win. If they played again, it could go the other way, just like in the NBA Finals.

by torchindefenses on Dec 19, 2008 7:42 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

I think Cincinatti was a little worse off on injuries but I get your point!!!

by rioplayer7 on Dec 19, 2008 9:18 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Just to let you know as well.....

Baltimore has 18 players on injured reserve

by rioplayer7 on Dec 19, 2008 10:05 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Jags had worse injuries than us

by aussie_cowboy on Dec 19, 2008 10:11 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Every team is hurting

The Ravens were second in the NFL in players put on the IR (Cincy was #1), so don’t say one team is more hurting than another, as at this point everyone is dinged up. The Cowboys have great depth at key positions (CB), while the Giants just don’t. My Ravens have lost their starting RG, DT, CB, SS, as well as various reserves. CB is the hardest position to replace in my opinion. Most people think it’s the QB, but I disagree. Dallas has great depth at the skill positions such as WR, as well as CB. We don’t and that’s why we went from 13-3 in 2006 to 5-11 in 2007. We’ve rebounded and no one ever expected this game to matter to us when we saw it on the schedule. It just looked like a great game to close out Texas Stadium with an overwhelming victory over a terrible team, but it’s just not going to be that easy.

Rexx

by Rexx on Dec 20, 2008 9:48 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

One more tid bit....

Dallas has the 7th best defense in the league, right behind the Giants. The last 6 games were the best they’ve played.

The Ravens lost to all the winning teams except Miami. The Ravens beat Philly when Westbrook was hurt and McNabb was playing terrible.

The Ravens have the Bengals twice and the Browns twice. Geez….

SUN. SEPT. 7 CINCINNATI BENGALS
Sun. Sept. 14 BYE
SUN. SEPT. 21 CLEVELAND BROWNS
Mon. Sept. 29 Pittsburgh Steelers
SUN. OCT. 5 TENNESSEE TITANS
Sun. Oct. 12 Indianapolis Colts
Sun. Oct. 19 Miami Dolphins
SUN. OCT. 26 OAKLAND RAIDERS
Sun. Nov. 2 Cleveland Browns
Sun. Nov. 9 Houston Texans
Sun. Nov. 16 New York Giants Giants
SUN. NOV. 23 PHILADELPHIA EAGLES

Sun. Nov. 30 Cincinnati Bengals
SUN. DEC. 7 WASHINGTON REDSKINS
SUN. DEC. 14 PITTSBURGH STEELERS
Sat. Dec. 20 Dallas Cowboys

by torchindefenses on Dec 19, 2008 8:15 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

well

i think the ravens deserve some of the credit for mcnabbs poor play

by 325424 on Dec 20, 2008 9:42 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Duhhhh...

…and even though Westbrook was “hurt,” he still played.

The weak team argument is BS. This is the NFL. The Redskins beat you and they lost to the Bengals. You have played great football the last month or so and I expect a real tough game. It will be a huge upset if we win, but with this defense anything is possibile and I have hope as a true Ravens fan that we can pull it off. If we do, don’t expect Ray Lewis to say it was an upset, though!

Rexx

by Rexx on Dec 20, 2008 9:50 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Off the current topic what do you think the future holds for Willis Mcgahee?

With your younger running backs around is he really worth keeping around?

by rioplayer7 on Dec 19, 2008 9:35 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

I would think McGahee is gone

after this season. His contribution in no way deserves his $7 million salary. The combination of Le’Ron McClain and Ray Rice should cover us fine, and we can get a third stringer in the later rounds of the 2009 draft or sign someone in free agency. He has played either horrible or not at all the past three games and is definitely out of favor with the team and fans right now. Too bad, I thought he played great the past year or two and felt he was an important part of this offense, but things change in the NFL, huh?

Rexx

by Rexx on Dec 20, 2008 9:52 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

i live in d.c.

so most ppl i know are redskins fans and they hate the ravens almost as much as they hate the ‘boys so i automatically like the ravens a little just to piss people off
i like joe flacco, i think’s he’s done excellent this season, but he has also been average at time
i think his best game was against the texans, but it’s the texans so…
i have confidence that our offense can score more than theirs, we have a much more explosive offense than they do and if we don’t commit turnovers especially in our own territory then we’ll win
i just don’t see them putting up more points than we do
their d is good, but we still managed 13 points against the steelers who have a better defense and it was in pitt in freezing temperatures on their crap excuse for a field
at home, we’ll be much better and if cory procter can somehow hold his own we’ll put up more points than them
i dont think flacco can put more points on the board against our d than the vice versa
they’re gonna need some lucky plays (like the colts-pitt tip to reggie wayne) and wildcat crap, but end result is i see us winning this
i think the team knows exactly what they need to do to win and its not like last year where we have everything wrapped up early, we’re fighting for a playoff spot and we’ll play very aggressive, physical, and good football

Superbowl or Bust?

by MrMinority on Dec 20, 2008 4:41 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

Flacco is a rookie

Everyone thinks that because of the Ravens success this year, that Flacco is above the rookie mistakes, but he’s not. At times he’s played great and of course at times he’s played like a rookie. Remember,when we drafted him, he was supposed to be the QB of the FUTURE. Both Kyle Boller (IR-shoulder) and Troy Smith (illness-tonsils), dropped out of the running so Flacco got the starting gig by default late in the preseason. He has done a remarkable job, perhaps even better than Atlanta’s Matt Ryan, who was being groomed for the starting job since the day he was drafted, which is muchg different than Flacco’s path to success. So give him some credit, although he will not be in Romo’s class anytime soon.

At the same time, to say Romo will put up more points against our defense than Flacco will do to Dallas’ is an insane comparison. So, if Romo throws two TD’s but Flacco throws none, but we get two rush TD’s and one defensive TD, does the fact that Romo outplayed Flacco matter!? Very poor comparison and trust me, the Ravens didn’t care of the opposing QB outplayed theirs when they won the SB in 2001, did they?

We don’t need to win any one battle, just the war!

Rexx

by Rexx on Dec 20, 2008 9:58 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

The weak team argument is BS. This is the NFL. The Redskins beat you and they lost to the Bengals.

I understand your point but IMO it’s not BS. That Washington team that beat us in week four was an entirely different team that lost to the Bengals in week 15. That team was playing great football at the time. They lost their opener to the Giants 16-7, then went on a four game winning streak to beat New Orleans, Arizona, Dallas and Philly. Philly was a different team early in the season as well. If you remember, the sports media was saying that the NFC East would probably have 3 teams in the playoffs and the toughest in football just before mid-season.

Whichever talented team is playing well and is left standing with the least impacting injuries has the better chance of continuing far into the post season.

by torchindefenses on Dec 20, 2008 11:54 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

It's all based on "NOW"

The team that is playing better that day is the one that wins. What happened last week matters to an extent but we’ve all seen teams look like Super Bowl contenders one week and total losers the next. I’m just hoping that happens to the Cowboys tonight!

Rexx

by Rexx on Dec 20, 2008 1:12 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs