Best detailed blog on Ravens Training camp. Your really earning that pay check Bruce!

I agree he looks impressive in coverage but he’s the strong safety and a lot of his game is flying into the box and sticking his nose into contact. I’m waiting to see that first hit in the preseason before I jump to any conclusions on him. After all, a lot of the lingering effects of these devastating injuries is mental, let’s hope he trusts his neck enough to get back to his old smash-mouth safety playing ways.

Thanks again Bruce. Landry is the real deal. He’s 100%+.

Now, upon 100th review…The Ravens were screwed in the AFC Championship game. Having just watched the Pitt. love fest on NFL Network I can safey conclude that we were conspired against. The #18 Line Judge made some very interesting ball placements. With about 3 minutes left in the half and the Ravens at 3rd and 1on the Pitt 35, Mcgahee fights forward and appears to come within an inch of the first down marker- if not making it. The #18 judge hurries in and places the ball back about 2+ feet from where McGahee progressed. The judge was agressive and adament with his spot. It was now 4th and a yard… Again ?

On fourth down, Flacco called a time out, spoke to harbaugh and then lined up for an obvious sneak. The QB sneak (which would have been a better idea if it were inches) came up just short but, again, the #18 line judge raced in and put the ball back a crazy 1.5 feet or more. It was like those 2 plays gained nothing though McGahee and Flacco moved forward a good amount each time. This started with 3rd and 1 mind you. It was robbery. each time on slow motion you can see them edge the line. Also, you can see exactly how horrible the spots were. Not one, but two in a crucial series.

The most concerning thing was that Harbaugh did not challenge either spot. If McGahee’s spot was correct, Flacco’s sneak is good. Derrick Mason could be heard yelling about the bad spot on Flacco and Harbaugh could be heard saying to him, “I know, I know.” But, there was no challenge. What?

The 2 lessons here is that we will continue to have to fight the refs when we play the NFL favored Steelers and that Harbaugh better improve with his red flags. He cost us by not reviewing Mason’s obvious TD in Pitt. that would have really changed the game. He then missed a number of spots throughout the year. If we win the second game against Pitt. last year, our confidence and NFL’s love affair with the Steelers would have been different. We might have gotten some calls in the rubber match. Too bad Nakamura’s hit on Ben’s back didn’t knock him out of the game. That would have evened the ref biases.
If this sounds like complaining, it is. I can’t wait to rip the hearts out of those lucky, referee baiting jackasses and shove the Lombardy up the NFL’s ass again.

correction- these plays took place just before the end of the 1st quarter and it was the big series before pitt. took over and scored on Ben’s lucky toss and receiver zig zag to the end zone.

Question for those who have been to Westminster. I just read a Mike Preston article slamming Flacco already, i don’t always believe what i read from this dude. I was up in Westminster early in the week (we live in Myrtle Beach) but had to leave to early. What are your opinions on Joe, I am hoping Preston is just being Preston…

the INT’s came at terrible times for Flacco. a few were game breakers for sure. but, he had to navigate the 2 best teams in the NFL (Titans and Steelers) 5 times this year. he squeeked out 1 win but almost played a huge roll in winning all 5. it was that close. he got tremendous experience from last year after running that gauntlet. there is no doubt that he is the right man for the job. preston makes a living off being the instigator so I take him with a grain of salt. i will not speak poorly about preston because he was one of the few reporters who didn’t hang on Billicks every word and was an early whistle blower to Brian’s BS.

no one could take your job. bruce will forever have his fan club president. lol.

forgot to mention the fantom running into the kicker call against the Ravens just before half time. that was unreal. outside of being a homer, that game was totally officiated for the Pitt. crowd. god we’re going to kill them this year. i just hoep we realize rice and Mclane are on the field too and stop pounding Mcgahee. rice burned the steelers for 20 yards on a screen and didn’t touch the ball again until the second half where he was the outlet on 2 and 25 after flax got hammered by troy on a qb bootleg (yuck).

huge difference between boller and flax. boller was a bundle of miswired energy and fumbled many snaps. he always looked like each game was his first. players see that and lose confidence. everyone was calling for smith and fans bronx cheered boller when he got hurt and left the game. that will not happen with flax. he stays within himself. the game will slow down faster for flax more than it ever would have for boller. boller was just too high strung to be a leader at the time. i think boller will be a good qb one day. i think he will be better at 30 and beyond than at any other time.

i feel for boller in that he was over coached for so long and the deep ball (his best ball) was taken from him as he didn’t have any real threats. having said all this crap, i think boller would have had similar games against the titans and steelers last year. he too came up just short in the big ones.

+++11111 for both of you.

dilfer still said it best when he basically told billick to shove the play book and let guys react and simplify it (maybe dilfer lost his playbook on purpose). dilfer pleading for freedom and simplicity was the turning point in our SB season and the reason dilfer wasn’t wanted back. how dare he uncomplicate billicks robotic, predictable and everything has to be just perfect to work plays. it was always the players fault not the fact that boller had to watch receivers make 5 cuts for a 10 yard pass while waiting for 3 different blocking schemes to develope.

AND boller was drafted even with a poor college passing %. billick loved big armed qbs. he’d get them and then torchure them by never letting them throw the ball.