Vive la difference! (A view from the Raven’s Nest)
Sunday, January 18, 2009 23:34
What a difference a year makes!
Want to know the strangest part to the exciting drama that was the Raven’s season? My wife called it. From the first time she saw the line up of possible draft picks for the Ravens, she read the bios and picked out Joe Flacco and said, they should choose him. And she never wavered, despite his shaky start. She called it when no one else did. And I mean no one.
Last year, after a disappointing 5-11 season, most of Baltimore had come to expect this year would be a rebuilding year. The consensus of even the most optimistic die hard fans was that an 8-8 season would be amazing. And 3-13 wasn’t out of the question. Still, there was some optimism that the rookie quarterback could turn things around. Of course that rookie quarterback was – Troy Smith.
Last year’s mobile rookie, Troy Smith, certainly offered a new look over Steve McNair, whose long career had finally run to its conclusion. Still it was assumed that perennial backup Kyle Bollar would play out this final year on his contract while Smith and the latest understudy Joe Flacco would learn the ropes. Of course it didn’t turn out quite that way. A season ending shoulder injury to Bollar and a serious infection to Smith left Bollar as the last man standing. Somehow the unflappable Flacco grew up in a big hurry and the rest is history.
But that was not the only difference this year. How about a rookie head coach and a new offensive coordinator? Coach Harbaugh stepped in on day one and imposed a completely different philosophy. Everything was “team first”. Gone were the loosy-goosy days of Brian Billick, with his easy pre-season training and coddling of the veterans. And Harbaugh also knew when to use the challenge flag and how to call time outs, something the “veteran” Billick never could figure out.
Still the biggest change was the attitude. Players who came in out of shape or didn’t buy into the program learned in a hurry that even all-stars could be benched. And it worked. This team came together with an attitude that took them through a very tough schedule, a forced early bye due to a hurricane, and more injuries than any other team that made the playoffs.
Somehow, Cam Cameron patched together a young offensive line, built an offensive scheme that actually made the Ravens a two dimensional team and found ways to do what they needed to make the playoffs – and to beat the Tennessee Titans in one of the most physical games they ever played.
“Next man up” was the team’s mantra as the injuries piled up, as a team that was already shorthanded at defensive back and wide receiver somehow kept going. You can’t say enough for Mason, Reed, Heap and others who played through serious injuries or pain. They never made excuses. And the town appreciated it. This isn’t a “bandwagon” town like my birthplace of Washington D.C. They bleed purple and black here like any good football town, like say…Pittsburgh.
Next year, we can expect more change – possibly more Ray Rice, our exciting rookie back. Hopefully Rex Ryan will pass up the numerous head coaching opportunities he will get (change is not always good Rex!). And of course we pray that Willis McGahee’s injuries are not major. C’MON GUYS ENOUGH OF THE HELMET TO HELMET CRAP! ENOUGH! ENOUGH! ENOUGH! My wife turned to me after the injury at the end of this game and said she was considering not watching as much football. I don’t blame her. She had become a big fan over the last few years and a total “Flacco Wacko” this year. It’s a shame too. It was nice when she’d nudge me in bed, and instead of hearing “What are you thinking?” she’d say, “Can you explain an unbalanced line?”
Well, it was a fun ride. This is still a team in transition. They came into the season with many question marks, including a shortage at defensive back, and another wide receiver that could get some separation. They still have these issues. But some of the others have been answered for now. GM Ozzie Newsome made some great draft picks and free agent picks this year (Jim Leonhard, Ravens MVP in my opinion).
Oh yeah, congrats to Pittsburgh. They were a couple plays better all year. They deserve to go to the Super Bowl. It may be sacrilege to some, but I usually root for the team that beats my team in the playoffs. That way, if they win, I figure we were probably still the second best team in the league. Of course my wife will be rooting for Arizona to light them up.
Vive la difference.
9 Responses to “Vive la difference! (A view from the Raven’s Nest)”
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JLA
says:
January 19th, 2009 at 4:46 pm
I completely agree with the writer (and his wife!) You have nailed the Ravens year in a nutshell. Way to go. Can anyone believe that Coach Harbaugh wasn't on the radar of ANYONE for Coach of the Year!! A travesty. All voting for Pro Bowl and other honors should actually be voted on AFTER the season.
Rex is going to the Jets. It remains to be seen who he takes with him; but Coach Harbaugh and the rest at 1 Winning Winning Dr. will have an answer.
Did anyone watching TV get to see OJ Brigance at the coin toss? OJ is fighting ALS and the Steelers and Ravens invited him out to center stage for the toss. A very classy move by both teams for a very classy guy battling a horrible disease.
JLA
says:
January 19th, 2009 at 4:47 pm
…..and I too am rooting for Pittsburgh (though I never thought I would EVER utter those words!!)
ernessa
says:
January 19th, 2009 at 5:17 pm
I'm rooting for Pittsburgh, but I, too, was impressed with the Ravens yesterday. And if they had won, i wouldn't have been mad at them. that injury was horrible. and as much trash as i talk about kurt warner, i'm really concerned that the Steel Curtain will hurt him in 2 weeks. he's good at taking hits and getting back up, but i don't want to sit through anything like that injury during the super bowl.
btw, post idea, how bullshit is it that you can't say the words "super bowl" on radio or TV? this is a pain in my ass as a radio writer/editor ever year, and I wonder why they're allowed to get away with this.
Nate Barlow
says:
January 19th, 2009 at 8:21 pm
That was definitely one of the worst hits I've ever seen "live". But even at full speed before any replays, I thought it was clean. He did try to turn his shoulder in, but everything was so fast and the angle of their bodies just the wrong way. Compare that to a true intentional spearing clip and there is a huge difference between the clean and dirty. Fortunately the early prognosis on McGahee is pretty positive–no neurological damage.
Ernessa, I think you've struck on your first article for this site! I want to hear your breakdown/thoughts on not being able to say Super Bowl.
ernessa
says:
January 19th, 2009 at 9:13 pm
hahaha. dude, that's a great idea, but i'm not allowed contractually to write about my job like at all. that's why you never see any real specifics about my work on my own site. That's Entertainment!
Nate Barlow
says:
January 19th, 2009 at 9:27 pm
I completely understand. But I wasn't necessarily thinking from your specific standpoint as a writer, but from the more general standpoint of why they can do this.
Gairzo
says:
January 19th, 2009 at 11:22 pm
The reason people can't say "Super Bowl" is the NFL owners are a greedy conglomerate of greedy, uninspired, souless pricks. Not to be bitter.
Did I mention they were greedy?
Seriously, it's about corporate brand control. If you contact the NFL and agree to pay a licensing fee, you can utter the name. Reason I know is because I was hired to write a script about women's football. A most interesting aspect of the story was the head honchette's numerous conflicts with the NFL. (I believe they took legal action over her use of the term Sup-Her Bowl.)
Bottom line was she was scared to death about the NFL suing her as a result of my script. Me and my partner–okay, just me–weren't. In fact, I wanted the lawsuit, because if you look at the league's legal track record they have a history of forcing people to sue over issues that any 1st year law student would advise against: Al Davis' right to relocate, free agency, medical compensation for union vets, etc. Who among the not as wealthy public could afford to spend millions and wait ten years to navigate the justice system–even if ultimate victory is assured?
Basically, it's a free speech issue the NFL knows it wouldn't win. But, as mentioned, they're betting no one will want to go through a protracted, and very expensive, lawsuit. No network, no media outlet, would file an amicus brief, either, Why? Because that network would be blacklisted from bidding on games that consistently enjoy some of the highest television ratings. More greedy prick corporations.
Not to sound angry.
The greedy,, evil, mostly white men who own NFL teams represent all that is wrong with America. Unfortunately the players, coaches, trainers, and staffs of our beloved teams represent all that makes America good.
To the Ravenites: If I were Tomlin, I would have gone no-huddle from the first snap. I don't think the Baltimore defense would have been as effective. You gotta love that team anyway–unless you hail from Pittsburgh. Harbaugh has the most punchable face in America but the guy worked wonders. Defensively, they played a courageous game. But, next year, Pittsburgh will spank you two more times, so get ready to cry all over again.
On the helmet-to-helmet problem. The rule should be "if any part of the helmet other than the face mask contacts the helmet of an opposing player, a 15 yard penalty will be assessed." It is a rule that would have to be enforced consistently beginning at the Pee-Wee level on up. It's like fighting in hockey. If dropping your gloves or using a stick as a weapon resulted in a 10 game, unpaid suspension, the practice would end quickly.
Don't bet on either sport doing the sensible thing.
I love the way the teams like the Ravens and Steelers hit. But, I thought someone was dead after I saw that collision last night. Today's athletes are so big, fast, and strong; one day it will happen.
Just ask yourself: how many times the networks will replay it?
How many times will we watch it?
ernessa
says:
January 20th, 2009 at 9:44 pm
i don't think your proposed helmet to helmet rule would be fair in this case as it seemed like he was going in for a clean hit, and things just got … confused.
Completely agree about greed being behind the not being able to say "Superbowl" rule. And I'll say this, everyone in entertainment is scared shitless of the NFL, but I doubt that many of their dirtier rules would stand if people took a stand. I mean not being able to utter the words "Superbowl" even in passing on radio doesn't seem like it would stand up in court at all.
Nate, I think you should reprint G's comment as a post.
Nate Barlow
says:
January 20th, 2009 at 9:58 pm
That's the very reason that such a rule hasn't been instituted yet. The physical nature of football means there will always be helmet-to-helmet collisions. Obviously, for the safety of the players, the league wants to limit them, but you don't want to punish a player or team for an incidental helmet-to-helmet, only for intentional. The NFL should make the punishments for any tackle in which a player intentionally leads with the helmet extremely draconian in measure, with added penalties if such a tackle results in a helmet-to-helmet collision and/or injury. But you can't make a blanket rule in which incidentals are equally penalized.
I think I will turn the Super Bowl part of that comment into its own post. Good idea.