Baltimore Ravens' All-Time Offense

by Bruce Raffel on May 31, 2009 10:12 AM EDT

Here's a great topic to debate all week long. This is my shot at listing the all-time top players on the Baltimore Ravens at each offensive position. I'll pick my first and second teamers and then expect a lot of discussion and commentary from all of you fans. This will be based on the players at the top of their games, whether or not they played one season or their entire career with the Ravens. If they played, then they're eligible to be on this list. I know I'll probably overlook a player or two and I'm equally sure someone will call me to the carpet on it. So let's get to it:

QB: Vinny Testeverde- Vinny had some pretty solid passing years in early Ravens history. He also threw a bunch of interceptions but many times he was just trying to either keep us in the game or bring us back from a deficit when he threw those picks. (2nd team: Joe Flacco-sorry Trent Dilfer).

RB: Jamal Lewis- This is an easy one as he had one of the best seasons in NFL history breaking the single game record and almost getting the single season record as well. (2nd team: Priest Holmes)

FB: Lorenzo Neal: Still has a lot in the tank and many fans are disappointed he didn't fit into the team' plans this year. (2nd team: Le'Ron McClain)

WR: Michael Jackson: Big guy with great hands and decent speed who caught a lot of balls from Vinny. (2nd team: Derrick Mason)

TE: Todd Heap: Despite his recent struggles, he is the leader at this position. (2nd team: Shannon Sharpe)

LT: Jonathan Ogden: Duh. (2nd team: Jared Gaither)

RT: Orlando Jones: Zeus was a beast but really faltered at the end. (2nd team: Willie Anderson)

LG: Edwin Mulitalo: Coined the words, "Festivus Maximus." (2nd team: Ben Grubbs)

RG: Wally Williams: He did play RG, right? (2nd team: Jeff Blackshear?)

C: Mike Flynn: Captained the o-line for the Super Bowl year. (2nd team: Jason Brown)

PK: Matt Stover: Original Raven from Cleveland. (2nd team: Graham Gano-hopefully)

P: Dave Zastudil: Was the only Ravens punter to ever be drafted, in the 4th round. (2nd team: Kyle Richardson-sorry Sam Koch).

Let the debate begin! (NOTE: All-Time Defense tomorrow)

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Comments

Sharpe

If Lorenzo Neal is on this list after one season (he was one of my favorites last year) then Shannon Sharpe has got to be in place of Heap.

by Ngata 92 on May 31, 2009 10:35 AM EDT reply actions

Agreed. Shannon Sharpe was a major reason why we won the Super Bowl in 2000. I was surprised to see Heap over Sharpe.

by BAL_Hawk on May 31, 2009 11:04 AM EDT up reply actions

I guess I felt that

Heap had an Pro Bowl season with us while Sharpe’s one season didn’t make the Pro Bowl (or did it?).

Bruce Raffel

by Bruce Raffel on May 31, 2009 1:45 PM EDT up reply actions

What about sam gash?

FEAR THE NEVERMORE DEFENSE!!!!!!!!!!!!

by Benji5203 on May 31, 2009 2:30 PM EDT up reply actions

Thought about Gash

but seriously, couldn’t put him ahead of either Neal or McClain.

Bruce Raffel

by Bruce Raffel on May 31, 2009 10:12 PM EDT up reply actions

Winners

I would love to sit in a bar and dispute some of these. My opinion is that Champions show up on All Time lists. I have to go with Dilfer and Sharpe as number ones.

by Ngata 92 on May 31, 2009 10:40 AM EDT reply actions

I think that he has the quarterback right. Although… By his logic on some of the picks, it should probably be Joe Flacco.

by BAL_Hawk on May 31, 2009 11:07 AM EDT up reply actions

Dilfer is not high on my list

We won the Super Bowl despite him, not because of him. The argument will always be that he was in there “not to lose” rather than “play to win.”

Bruce Raffel

by Bruce Raffel on May 31, 2009 1:46 PM EDT up reply actions

Gano makes the second team after having never played a snap in the NFL, but Brown beats out Birk, who — also not having played for the Ravens yet — actually has a number of Pro Bowl appearances? Also, Hauschka has at least nailed one from way out. What exactly has Gano done for anybody in the NFL? I have nothing against him, but it seems entirely premature to crown him our all-time number two PK already.

Water covers 2/3 of the Earth's surface. Ed Reed covers the rest.

by Ampallang on May 31, 2009 10:46 AM EDT reply actions

Gano is Bruce’s boy. It doesn’t need to make sense.

by BAL_Hawk on May 31, 2009 11:05 AM EDT up reply actions

Steve Hauschka would win the “All-Time Youngest Looking Raven” hands down.

by BAL_Hawk on May 31, 2009 11:59 AM EDT up reply actions

He looks like Matt Katula's kid brother!

Bruce Raffel

by Bruce Raffel on May 31, 2009 1:47 PM EDT up reply actions

Holy!!

What is that kid doing out of school?

by RAVEN'SD#1 on Jun 1, 2009 12:11 AM EDT up reply actions

Bal_Hawk's got it right.

Just think Gano will win the starting gig and this will be an afterthought a couple of games into the season after he’s made a couple of long ones.

Bruce Raffel

by Bruce Raffel on May 31, 2009 1:47 PM EDT up reply actions

If they played, then they’re eligible to be on this list.

I was just going by your own criteria. Gano has yet to play. If you’re going to go with him, though, you need to put Birk in there, too. Brown might be better than him eventually, but he’s not there yet.

On a related note, we all of a sudden have a lot of promising young talent at Center. Robby Felix (who suffered a stroke late last year), David Hale (a former tackle), and (as usual) Chris Chester are all behind Birk. I feel like our O-line won’t be a point of concern for many years if just one of these guys can separate himself from the crowd.

Water covers 2/3 of the Earth's surface. Ed Reed covers the rest.

by Ampallang on May 31, 2009 2:59 PM EDT up reply actions

You're correct about Gano

but since he is my buddy, I sort of put him there, although I probably should have put Hauschka on it because at least he’s played in the league. Love our options behind Birk, with Felix and now David Hale moving over, and of course there’s the versatility of Chester.

Bruce Raffel

by Bruce Raffel on May 31, 2009 10:14 PM EDT up reply actions

I like most of your picks. This is actually a pathetic list. Even if we had all of those players in their prime on the same team, I doubt we’d be in the top-ten offenses. Baltimore has never been built around this side of the ball. Anyway, the positions that I would change are as follows:

FB: Ovie Mughelli needs to be in there somewhere. He gets the edge over Le’Ron as a fullback. He played longer and did more for the Ravens than Lorenzo Neal. I’m fine with Neal on the second team.

TE: This pick needs to be Sharpe. He was unstoppable on an offense that rarely scored. He is a very big reason why Baltimore won its only championship. I like Heap on the second team.

by BAL_Hawk on May 31, 2009 11:23 AM EDT reply actions

Fair assessments

McClain made the Pro Bowl, although more for his running than blocking. Ovie wasmore of a pass catching FB than led blocker like Neal, or even Sam Gash.

Sharpe’s argument is a fair one, but I went w/ Heap, although I could be okay the other way.

Bruce Raffel

by Bruce Raffel on May 31, 2009 1:50 PM EDT up reply actions

Ovie also made the Pro Bowl in 2006 with the Ravens. I thought that he was a devastating blocker… but maybe that’s just me.

by BAL_Hawk on May 31, 2009 2:11 PM EDT up reply actions

Alan Ricard

He blocked for jamal lewis during his 2066 yard season. That has to count for something. Also, I’ll take Mason on 1st team.

FEAR THE NEVERMORE DEFENSE!!!!!!!!!!!!

by Benji5203 on May 31, 2009 2:32 PM EDT up reply actions

I'll see your Alan Ricard

And raise you a Sam Gash. Gash was a beast of a fullback with the best name since Mack Strong.

by ello on May 31, 2009 4:20 PM EDT up reply actions

Remember Ricard

picked up a Jamal fumble and ran it 50 yards for a TD against SD? Mack Strong actually changed his last name to Strong after starting in the league.

Bruce Raffel

by Bruce Raffel on May 31, 2009 10:15 PM EDT up reply actions

You have only 10 offensive players. You always line up with 2 WR’s, I agree with Michael Jackson and Derrick Mason, what about Quadry Ishmael and Mark Clayton. You didn’t mention Michael Oher for O tackle because he hasn’t played a down why not Steve Hauschka who kicked a great long FG last year instead of Graham Gano?

by strangebru on May 31, 2009 4:41 PM EDT reply actions

All valid points

especially Hauschka over Gano. Oher han’t played either and neither Clayton nor Ismail were good enough to make the list. Perhaps Qadry, but more than likely then we would put Derrick Alexander up there as well.

Bruce Raffel

by Bruce Raffel on May 31, 2009 10:17 PM EDT up reply actions

It seems to me a player should have to have played a year or more with the Ravens to be considered. I like Testeverde at QB but I feel like McNair should have been second or even first unit with him. Flacs will be there eventually, Dilfer and everyone else don’t even warrant mention. Mason should be the number one receiver. Michael Jackson? He had one thousand yard season with us, Mason has three and will have four after this year. I wish we had kept Neal, he is the man and he would have freed up Le’ron more as a runner.

by BlazedTrail on May 31, 2009 6:03 PM EDT reply actions

Good research on the stats, Blazed

Could have a fair argument, but that’s what this is for. Besides, it’s my story and I can do what I want! Just kidding….sort of….

Bruce Raffel

by Bruce Raffel on May 31, 2009 10:18 PM EDT up reply actions

McNair was overrated. He gave the offense a sense of confidence, but it didn’t hold up into the post-season. The Colts scored zero touchdowns and still made us look inept. Flacco inspired that same sense of confidence, and we won two post-season games. There’s no way you can rate McNair above Flacco.

Water covers 2/3 of the Earth's surface. Ed Reed covers the rest.

by Ampallang on May 31, 2009 11:25 PM EDT up reply actions

Of course you can

His stats were better and he managed the games better. He also gave the team an air of confidence that they didn’t have with the untested Flacco. McNair was a warrior and all the players in the locker room knew he already earned his just due before he ever stepped foot in here. His arrival led us to believe we were going somewhere prior to the season, not the case w/ Flacco and the ’08 Ravens.

Bruce Raffel

by Bruce Raffel on Jun 5, 2009 10:16 AM EDT up reply actions

Any idea

what Neal signed for?

I was disappointed when I heard he left for Oakland, figured he was a lock to come back, especially with Cam being here..

by adh on Jun 1, 2009 10:44 PM EDT up reply actions

I believe NFL minimum, plus incentives.

Bruce Raffel

by Bruce Raffel on Jun 5, 2009 10:17 AM EDT up reply actions

Great topic

I played golf today. This topic carried over to most of our round. Quarter back being the big point of discussion. Baseball season sucks!

by Ngata 92 on May 31, 2009 7:45 PM EDT reply actions

Wha' baseball season?

Bruce Raffel

by Bruce Raffel on May 31, 2009 10:18 PM EDT up reply actions

Great article

Thanks for keeping us entertained in the ofseason!.. I’ll definitley be looking at the defensive list since that can have multiple looks

by ravsagain on May 31, 2009 7:46 PM EDT reply actions

I know you guys will kill me on that list coming Monday am!

Bruce Raffel

by Bruce Raffel on May 31, 2009 10:19 PM EDT up reply actions

A few Discrepencies...

But you they were coming…

First, Sharpe, hands down at TE. Heap has had some very good years, but Sharpe was better.

A tough call, but I think I would take Gash over Neal. Gash just devastated people. Neal was very good for us last year and he ruined a few folks days last year, but Gash just seemed like a whole different freight train coming through…

And to stir the pot, I am going to throw a name out there that nobody has mentioned at RT: Harry Swayne. Arguably the most consistent RT we ever had.

Second WR has to be Qadry.

I may seem a little biased towards the 2000 team, but they did win a championship.

by vlad755 on Jun 2, 2009 11:16 AM EDT reply actions

Harry Swayne?

He was an old man when we got him from Denver! He fell down and the defenders just tripped over him!

Qaadry was a good one but is a better commentator.

Bruce Raffel

by Bruce Raffel on Jun 5, 2009 10:18 AM EDT up reply actions

Btter than,..

Better that “fell down and the defenders just tripped over him” rather get called for holding, or catching an unsportsmanlike conduct during a playoff game…

by vlad755 on Jun 5, 2009 3:44 PM EDT up reply actions

What Happened to the Edit Function?

Suppose to be Better than vice Better that…

by vlad755 on Jun 5, 2009 3:46 PM EDT up reply actions

No edit once comment posted

Just delete and re-write next time.

Bruce Raffel

by Bruce Raffel on Jun 6, 2009 2:17 PM EDT up reply actions

Why Zastudil

over Koch??

Koch’s season last year destroyed anything that Zastudil put up here. His other two were comparable to Dave’s numbers. Not to mention the Dallas fake/1st down run (that was classic)

Ok, so Zastudil was drafted in the 4th round, but Koch was drafted in the 6th, and Richardson went undrafted. Not sure of your logic on this one…have you been drinking that cheap beer with Malor??

by adh on Jun 2, 2009 12:56 PM EDT reply actions

Agreed

Koch is the man at P. It might be debatable now, but after one or two more seasons it will be clear to all.

by DT711 on Jun 2, 2009 2:14 PM EDT up reply actions

I Forgot to Mention that in my Earlier Post

Yes, hands down, agreed: Koch for Punter.

by vlad755 on Jun 2, 2009 2:42 PM EDT up reply actions

If Koch does it again

I’ll agree but Zastudil was consistently good the entire time he was here and his stats measured up with Sam’s just fine.

Bruce Raffel

by Bruce Raffel on Jun 5, 2009 10:20 AM EDT up reply actions

Derrick Alexander, Michael Jackson, Turner (passed away but a great receiver), Bam Morris, Green. Vinny. We were a scoring machine.

by raven on Jun 5, 2009 3:21 PM EDT reply actions

Even with Ray as a youngster

our defense was HORRIBLE!

Bruce Raffel

by Bruce Raffel on Jun 6, 2009 2:18 PM EDT up reply actions

Zastudil was not the only punter we ever drafted.

We drafted Sam Koch in the 6th round 3-4 years ago.

I would put Sam Gash or Mughelli over Lorenzo for sure. They were with the team longer then he was and really helped our offense. I was a big time Gash fan back in the day.

You have to hate losing more than you love winning.

by Mr MaLoR on Jun 5, 2009 8:01 PM EDT reply actions