What's Going On In Baltimore?

by Mr MaLoR on Jun 8, 2009 2:53 AM EDT Comment 38 comments

Baltimore Ravens Offensive Coordinator, Cam Cameron.

With summer finally starting up, we get closer and closer to the beginning of the 2009-2010 NFL season. This time can sometimes be a rather "dead" period for the NFL because there is not too much to talk about. But as many of us have been debating who some of the greatest all-time Ravens are or the most exciting player in the NFL, there have been some rather important news flowing right under our noses. Here are a few of the more interesting events that have unfolded recently.

Sporting News has recently come out with a list of the top 20 offensive coordinators in the NFL. When I first saw the headline for this story, I expected to see the Colts', Patriots', Saints', etc. offensive coordinators in the top 5. Those are some of the most dangerous offenses in the league, yet not one of those teams were even in the top 20! What I was not surprised about was that our very own, Cam Cameron, received the number 1 spot. Sporting News had this to say about Cam. "Being innovative is only part of the job. Putting your best players in a position to be successful is another. Cameron, despite his reputation taking a beating in his one year in Miami, is a great coach who took a Division I-AA quarterback and turned him into a productive NFL starter as a rookie."
In addition to this, there have been other stories out there regarding the ranks of people within the Raven's organization such as thescore's breakdown of the offensive and defensive players of the decade, where lead writer Brad Gagon selected Ray Lewis as the defensive player of the decade.
Wide Receiver has been the hottest topic of the offseason so far for Baltimore. So, would it surprise anyone that Quarterback, Troy Smith, has lined up at WR recently?
Outside Linebacker, Terrell Suggs, is still absent from team workouts this week, but this has allowed second round pick, Paul Kruger step up in the spot of "hybrid" defensive player. Kruger has shown glimpses of flash during his time in the position, but it has been said that he is having a rough time trying to get by left tackle, Jared Gaither.
With Haloti missing OTA's, starting nose tackle Kelly Gregg has come back to being his old "Buddy Lee" self. At one point last season, there was talk that Gregg may not even be able to play football again because of his knee injury. Now, Gregg says that he is at 100% and is a frequent pressence at team headquarters in Owings Mills. Ngata has returned officially to practice though after going back to school to earn his degree.
It is looking that come August, we will not be seeing some of the familiar faces we usually see in the secondary. With the Ravens signing Free Agents Dominique Foxworth and Chris Carr while retaining Samari Rolle for the primary back-up role, we may see a few guys leave before opening day against the Chiefs. At this point it is most likely safe to say that besides the starters, Rolle, Carr, Walker and 3rd round pick Lardarious Webb will make the squad. The battle looks like it falls between guys like Evan Oglesby, Anwar Phillips and Derrick Martin. Since many of our main guys have been out with injuries through this period of the offseason, this should give these guys all the opportunities to show the coaches that they can be a part of this great defense. However, it is a business and keeping 9 Cornerbacks on the 53 man roster does not happen in this league.
6th round pick Tight End, Davon Drew, signed a three year contract. As glad as I am to have Drew be the first draft pick to sign a contract, does it seem a little strange with us having Heap, Smith, Sypnewski and Jones still at the position? First round draft pick Michael Oher and the Ravens are still in negotiation process.

The offseason may be a little slow, but we should be sure that right now the Front Office, Players and Coaches are all doing their parts to ensure that we put together the best 53 man roster possible.

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Heap (back), Smith (Groin), and Sypnewski (knee?) are all missing practices because of injuries. Sypnewski may even miss playing time one the season starts because of his injury, and who knows how long Heap will stay healthy. That may have something to do with how quickly we reached a deal with Drew.

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

by Ampallang on Jun 7, 2009 11:59 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Yea, I know about the injuries

I was referring more to when the season starts and those guys are “healthy.” I think Egdar Jones will either be cut or moved back to his original position of DE.

You have to hate losing more than you love winning.

by Mr MaLoR on Jun 8, 2009 12:21 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

That’s a best-case scenario. If any position on our team needs serious depth this season, it’s tight end.

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

by Ampallang on Jun 8, 2009 12:35 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I wonder sometimes

about the severity of some of these injuries. Like last year with Ed’s neck, everyone thought he was going to miss the entire season, and half the radio shows were practically reporting his career was over. Now it’s Heap’s back, if this back injury is as half as effective as Ed’s neck was last year, Todd will double his TD total from the ’08 season.

Fortunately, someone was kind enough to post a detailed case study on this very topic. It demonstrates the high potential for accelerated recovery time for both neck and back trauma. Pay close attention around the 1:00 minute mark…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8DmEEUF0uKY

by adh on Jun 8, 2009 10:01 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

posted the next day

nuff said:

http://www.baltimoreravens.com/News/Articles/2009/06/Heap_Sheds_Red_Jersey_Eyes_Training_Camp.aspx

by adh on Jun 11, 2009 8:40 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'll find out even more firsthand tomorrow

as I’ve been granted credentials for their OTA’s on Tuesday at their Owings Mills Practice Facility/Castle!!!

Check out my FanPost on the right side of this story for more info.

Talk about being STOKED!!!

Bruce Raffel

by Bruce Raffel on Jun 8, 2009 11:52 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Kruger vs. Gaither

The above comment about those two. I wonder how much of it can be attributed to Kruger being a rookie going against an NFL Pro, and how much of it can be Gaither taking that “next step” to possibly becoming an elite LT…

by vlad755 on Jun 8, 2009 12:37 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I think it is more with Gaither

The man is slowly turning into one of the best LT in the game. From what I have seen from college videos of Kruger, he knows how to get around lineman. But Gaither is so god damn big and athletic, that he just swallows up the smaller Kruger.

You have to hate losing more than you love winning.

by Mr MaLoR on Jun 8, 2009 12:56 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Hope you are Right

I also watched that presser with Harbaugh and it almost seemed like Harbaugh was firing a shot across Paul’s bow/lighting a fire under him to maybe start putting it together. Maybe Paul will be one of the first to be cut/draft pick that just does not belong on an NFL field -some guys just cannot make that transition from college to the pros.

But wow, if Gaither is turning into the next Ogden, just yet another exhibit of the Ravens front office wisdom: spend a fifth round pick on a troubled (academically) kid, a year early, and have it pay off these dividends?!?! Incredible…!

I remember at the time the pundits and talking heads were saying that had Gaither been able to stay at MD, he would have been easily a top five overall pick. And we spent a fifth rounder on him… Ozzie, at times, must feel like he is taking candy from a baby…

by vlad755 on Jun 9, 2009 11:34 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

No way Kruger is cut

Many people felt he was first round talent. I think a reason for Harbaugh and the coaches riding Paul’s ass a little more then the other guys is because the Ravens made a visit to Utah to see Paul and never had him in for a workout. So he may be the draft pick that we know the least about.

But there is no way he gets cut. He is just getting used to the NFL atmosphere a little slower then others, but thats why the season does not start till September. He has plenty of time to get his technique down.

As for Gaither, it truly is amazing what he is turning out to be. There is no doubt he would have been a first round pick had he not failed out of Maryland. And Ozzie was the only one aware of that. We gave up a 5th round pick for 1st round talent. Just goes to show you that Ozzie is hands down the best GM in this league. Lets just hope that Gaither wants to be here and not demand insane money. Then again, he did just sign Drew Rosenhomo as his agent.

You have to hate losing more than you love winning.

by Mr MaLoR on Jun 9, 2009 12:55 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Also remember that even the best pass rushers take a while until they become good. Mario Williams is one of the best DE in the league at this point but he took 3 years to get there. James Harrison was cut about a million times. Pass rushing is probably the hardest position to become NFL ready at except WR.

by archon095 on Jun 9, 2009 2:19 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

no cause for alarm

I would be very scared if Kruger was beating Gaither in practice already. Gaither is supposed to be able to handle good NFL Defensive Ends, which Kruger is not (yet). This is the time when rookies are supposed to get owned in practice so you weed out all the wimps. Rookies come in and get the a$$es handed to them, and they either work harder to raise their level of play, or they wuss-out and become former NFL players.

For me to hear that Oher is getting owned by Pryce or that Kruger is getting owned by Gaither is just reassuring really. if anything was the other way around, it would either mean we just had the best draft class of the decade (low probability) or that our current starters are slipping in the offseason (higher probability).

I think Archon makes a good point about pass rushing being so hard. All these guys are huge monsters who have basically been the best players they’ve ever met since they were kids. Even in college they probably only encountered 4 or 5 players of comprable caliber. Now, they’re in the NFL where players aren’t just AS good as them—they’re leaps and bounds better than them. It takes this coming-of-age period where they get totally whooped and find out what they have deep down inside. After that happens, the real stars emerge.

by jackmca on Jun 9, 2009 3:44 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Great point about Gaither

I would rather have Gaither destroying Kruger then the other way around.

You have to hate losing more than you love winning.

by Mr MaLoR on Jun 9, 2009 4:19 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

+1

Extremely logical and well stated comment.

by BAL_Hawk on Jun 10, 2009 1:27 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I watche dKruger up against Gaither at Camp Tuesday

and as fit as Kruger is, he disappeared inside of Gaithers arms and belly, who played with Paul like he was a little toy, tossing him all over the place like a ragdoll!

Bruce Raffel

by Bruce Raffel on Jun 12, 2009 10:59 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

http://www.baltimoreravens.com/News/Articles/2009/06/Defense_-_Behind_the_Buzz.aspx

[Paul Kruger] has basically been relying on speed and effort in minicamps and routinely gets swallowed up by left tackle Jared Gaither. Head coach John Harbaugh said he still "has a long way to go" in terms of learning the defense and how to be a professional.

Sounds like it’s probably a bit of both, but Kruger is definitely in need of some polish.

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

by Ampallang on Jun 8, 2009 2:37 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

the Troy at receiver thing bothers me. if he goes there he’ll never get the nfl qb recognition he deserves. i hope he asks for a trade before they screw up his career and make him the next Cordell. he is a damn good qb and could lead a number of teams. i would taken him over sanchez and i think the jets screwed up. another qb doomed by the b.s. height “standard”. smith won’t see the field under flacco. i’d miss him but i was looking forward to him starting somewhere so i could watch him win.

by raven on Jun 8, 2009 11:25 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I know we’ve had this conversation ad nauseum, but I’m still failing to see what everybody sees in Troy Smith. The only time we’ve seen him get any significant play time was during the last four games of the 2007 season. Against the Colts, he went 3/5 for 33 yards at the very end of the game. Against Miami, he threw 5/11 for 49 yards. Against Seattle, in his first start, he threw 16/33 for 199 yards, one touchdown in trash time (4th quarter, down by 21), and lost two fumbles; a very McNair-esque performance. He led us to victory in a meaningless game against a Steelers team that sat a number of their big name starters, throwing 16/27 for 171 yards and a TD.

I know there are people here that disagree with me, but when he went out to lead the offense on a number of gadget plays last year, and, for a variety of reasons, they ended with a time out, I feel like the quarter back needs to shoulder some of the blame for the offense not coming together.

I have nothing against Troy Smith, and I’d love to see him do well, but I’ve never seen him do anything on the NFL level that would make me think he’s capable of being a “damn good QB.” If the coaching staff thinks he’d be of most benefit to the Ravens as a QB/RB/WR hybrid, then I’m all for it. If he has to sacrifice his QB career with some other team in order to improve our offense this upcoming season, so be it. I’d rather see the Ravens win with Smith at wide receiver than see the Jets win with him at QB. If there’s something I’m missing here, then somebody please tell me, because, with all this “Troy Smith is a damn good QB” talk, I feel like I’m taking crazy pills.

Also, it’s a little weird to see you — of all people — complain about the Ravens looking for help with the receivers.

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

by Ampallang on Jun 9, 2009 10:16 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'm with you

Your not crazy. People still see the Ohio State Troy when they analyze him. At least this year he should play preseason, so everyone who thinks Troy is a “damn good QB,” will have tape to back up their claims.

by DT711 on Jun 9, 2009 12:06 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

So

Having 4 games of tape of him in pre-season against scrubs who will not make the team is better then having 4 games of tape against teams with a set 53 man roster?

You have to hate losing more than you love winning.

by Mr MaLoR on Jun 9, 2009 12:57 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Not at all

But when are we getting to get regular season tape on Troy; more then the couple games in 2007?

My main point is that once we get more film on him(any game film) it will be a better discussion on both sides.

by DT711 on Jun 9, 2009 2:51 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Agree

I think Troy will see at least 2 quarters each game during pre-season. Maybe even 3 in the last 2 games.

You have to hate losing more than you love winning.

by Mr MaLoR on Jun 9, 2009 4:20 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

At Passing Camp

I once stuck a flute,… oh wrong memory. Actually I did NOT see Troy line up even once at camp Tuesday.

Bruce Raffel

by Bruce Raffel on Jun 12, 2009 11:00 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

But I see where you are coming from.

You have to hate losing more than you love winning.

by Mr MaLoR on Jun 9, 2009 12:59 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I Winced also when I Saw that

Could be a bit of slight of hand on Harbaugh’s part. All the teams now know about the “Suggs Package”. So why not give them something in addition to think about/have to gameplan against us? One thing I think Billick got right was organization and resource management. You make your opponents use their limited resources (i.e. practice time) frivolously working on something that is not applicable, gives you an advantage.

And also, maybe just by trotting Smith out once at WR, it may cause the defense some confusion and we might be able to take advantage of that.

In addition, isn’t this when teams try out most of their gadget plays to see what even has a ghost of a chance of working, what should never see the light of day, etc? it does not necessarily mean Smith is going to see any time at WR.

by vlad755 on Jun 9, 2009 11:40 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

The coaches are also very concerned about getting all their best talent onto the field together in one form or another. If they think Smith could be a threat at any of QB, RB, or WR, then it may be a little early to dismiss this as just smoke and mirrors.

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

by Ampallang on Jun 9, 2009 1:31 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

i think that's very true...

…I also think that with the paucity of talent at WR, Troy could certainly get some touches at WR in the regular season if he takes well to the position.

could go either way.

by jackmca on Jun 9, 2009 3:48 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

heap with any injury, however minor, is a bust. you can’t have your TE pussy footing around the field.

by raven on Jun 8, 2009 11:27 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

damn good discussion

i think a Heisman trophy winner is a damn good qb. come on, troy gets 2nd team reps in practice, carries a clip board and gets sent into a game cold for a trick play that has everyone confused. he hasn’t had a chance really. what were his rushing yard totals for those games described above.

by raven on Jun 9, 2009 10:57 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

i think a Heisman trophy winner was a damn good qb in college.

Fixed that for you. He wouldn’t be the first Heisman QB to have trouble acclimating to the pros (not that he hasn’t; we just haven’t seen enough to decide one way or another whether he’s “damn good” or can’t cut it).

I doubt Smith works on those trick plays with the backups (not exclusively, at least). And I’d rather have my QB throwing than running, but, in chronological order, he ran for six yards and a TD against the Colts during trash time in a 20-44 loss, nada against Miami, 25 yards on six carries against Seattle, and 23 yards on five carries against the Steelers. He was no Mike Vick. Does a meaningless TD run and a couple of scrambles make him “damn good?”

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

by Ampallang on Jun 10, 2009 12:33 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Heisman winner facts...

*
      Only six Heisman winners in 50 years have played on Super Bowl-winning teams.
    *
      Heisman winners have lost 16 of the past 28 bowls games after receiving the award.
    *
      11 of the past 14 winners are either out of football or don’t start on their current teams.

Chris Weinke, Eric Crouch, Jason White, Ty Detmer, Gino Toretta, Danny Wuerffel.

All damn good College QB’s. In the NFL, not so much.

Not saying Troy won’t be a good QB at some point in the NFL, but the Heisman and his college career has no correlation towards future NFL success.

by DT711 on Jun 10, 2009 10:22 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Jason White tore his ACL's

in both knees in college and STILL played. I really thought that was impressive but it probably scared some NFL teams away.

Bruce Raffel

by Bruce Raffel on Jun 12, 2009 11:01 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yea

But he always had a noodle arm that wouldn’t cut it in the NFL.

by DT711 on Jun 15, 2009 4:24 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

damn it. stop arguing with me. all i can say is wait until troy gets a starting job. he will be in the big game probably 2 or 3 times. my physic ability tells me that he will do this with Jacksonville from 2011 to 2015.

by raven on Jun 10, 2009 11:56 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs