For the Ravens, when it rains, it pours
Sitting in the stands, rain drops running down my face like tears of sorrow, and wondering what the Hell was going on right before my eyes. It was a night I won’t want to remember.
I’ve seen the Ravens play some bad football games early in their existence, and some rotten ones during this season, but none of them come close to matching the out right ineptitude this team displayed Sunday night. This team is snake bit, and I don’t expect them to win another game this season, including next week against the Dolphins.
The Ravens will play for pride in their final 3 games, though I don’t see how they could possibly have any. What is it that this team can look to and feel proud about? I can’t think of a damn thing. The only bright spots in this game was the kick off return by Yamon Figurs, and the touchdown run in by Troy Smith.
Kyle Boller just doesn’t seem capable of putting together back to back solid outings. His 3 interceptions were inexcusable, and it doesn’t matter that the offensive line was once again just that; OFFENSIVE!
Peyton Manning had a field day with the absence of Chris McAlister and Samari Rolle. David Pittman and Corey Ivy provided no coverage what so ever. Pittman showed why he hasn’t seen the field much in his first two years. He can’t play the position. As far as I’m concerned he has no value to this team, and I wouldn’t expect to see him return next year.
Ivy has played in the NFL for 7 seasons. I don’t see him making number 8, at least not with this team. His only success comes on Special Teams, which is usually maned by the younger players and back ups on the team. He sure hasn’t had any success playing corner, and hasn’t done that well as a nickel back either. It adds up to a roster spot being wasted.
For all the accolades I hear about Jason Brown I have to admit, I don’t see it. He gets beaten badly every game, and I’m talking knocked on his backside, run over, and mauled bad. Two of the sacks on Boller should have an asterisk next to them with Browns name attached. The Ravens may want to take another look at Chris Chester, or Ikechuku Ndukwe who has been on the practice squad for a couple of years. (I’ve asked for the last two years for someone to please tell me how you pronounce that name).
Last Monday night gave me a sense of hope. I thought that maybe this team had finally seen the light and would finish the season strong. Turns out it was just a tease. This teams gives you a glimmer of hope, and then kicks you in the crotch. We deserve better than that.
I don’t know where this team goes from here, but one thing is certain, they can’t go any further down. Billick should dedicate the rest of the season to playing the rookies, including Smith, to start putting things in order for next year. And next year can’t get here soon enough.
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17 Responses to “For the Ravens, when it rains, it pours”
December 10th, 2007 at 9:24 am
Troy Smith is the future of this team. Let him play. Also, Billick needs to be fired, he has completley ruined this team and I think that its time to give Bill Cowher a call.
December 10th, 2007 at 10:45 am
I can’t agree Troy Smith is the future of the Ravens, but he could be a contributing part of a better future. If you want to build a pass-run options offense with a smaller version of Donovan McNabb, then Troy may be your guy. I simply don’t see Ozzie or Brian going in that direction—-but it couldn’t be any worse than the overall W-L results we’ve gotten this season.
December 10th, 2007 at 10:52 am
I agree with the fact that Kyle Boller is not the answer. Is Troy Smith, who knows. One thing is for certain and my counterpart has said it many time. Mike Brown pointed out the QBs that have been through this system and all have pretty much failed. The common denominator is Brian Billick. But have they truly had a talented QB who is a leader on the field. McNair was able to be that last season, but something definitly changed this season with him. Was it the injuries? or something else? With Billick under contract and due to be owed a pretty big payout, does Biscotti have the will to pay that out for the sake of changing the team? Does Ozzie still have the magic touch when it comes to the draft, or has the talent simply not been there when the Ravens pick. I would have to do some research to see who they passed on the last few years. McNair should probably retire, Boller should be gone, so does that mean a 2nd year Smith is thrown under the gun next season. I am afraid that the same thing that happened to Boller will happen to him if he does.
December 10th, 2007 at 10:53 am
Deep down, Billick might not be fired because of monetary reasons and front office doesn’t want to look foolish for giving him that ridiculous extension.
That was a pathetic showing by the Ravens. Boller cannot put in back to back great games for some odd reason. He played like a rookie. Just forcing throws when it wasn’t needed. Complete lack of focus.
Troy Smith should be starting for the rest of the season, as John Madden sad. Boller isn’t the future or a franchise QB. You might as well see what you have with Troy Smith. Smith just knows how to play football. He has a good feel for the pocket and can make plays. It does help to have an above average arm. It was cool to see him get his first NFL touchdown. It should’ve been done in the air, if Figurs dove for the ball (again, lack of effort).
That game was just disturbing to me.
December 10th, 2007 at 11:07 am
“Disturbing” is the perfect word.
December 10th, 2007 at 11:16 am
I agree with playing the young pups for the rest of the year. I really would like to like Boller, the kid has got more heart than anyone I know. Unfortunately that heart doesn’t make plays.
Put in Troy, see how he does - if nothing else to see of we need to draft another QB or if we can try to shore up CBs… If nothing else our games this season have proven yo us that aside from aging Rolle and CMac we have no one out there. Reed can’t cover everything all the time.
As for Billick - if nothing else he needs to not be making the O calls anymore. Ever.
December 10th, 2007 at 12:04 pm
I’ve always tried to support Kyle. He really does have a lot of heart, but I’ve been calling for Troy for a few weeks now. Just to see what he’s got. Last night impressed me. He should have been in at the beginning of the quarter– This season has sucked, and I can’t wait for the offseason. Here’s to next season,
your official Parking Lot Mascot,
The RAVEth
December 10th, 2007 at 12:45 pm
When Stan White, WBAL color analyst, asked Billick at half time if Troy Smith might see the field Billick replied; “That would be silly, there’s no reason for that”. So you tell me what goes through this mans mind. Troy Smith may or may not be the answer, but with the game that Kyle Boller was having how do you not make the switch? What was there to lose?
Billick is so far removed from reality it’s frightening. His idea was to stick with the game plan, though a blind man could see it had no chance of success. It’s said that the definition of stupidity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result. That fits this man to a tee.
Steve Biscotti made a mistake in signing Billick to a 4 year deal, but now he has to do the right thing. If Billick is let go and another team picks him up, which hard as it is to believe will most likely happen, then Biscotti is only liable for the difference in contract money. The bigger thing is whether or not he’s got enough character to admit he made a mistake. The fans would have a better perception of him if he did.
The only way this team gets better is if there is a clean sweep in the coaching ranks with the possible exception of Rex Ryan, and a weeding out of players that can’t get the job done. Nothing short of that will do.
If the Ravens keep Billick and bring in a new offensive coordinator it will be business as usual. Billick will make the new coordinator play within the “parameters” of his failed system. Who would even bother to take the job? It certainly wouldn’t be a career builder!
If the Ravens lose to the Dolphins next Sunday then Biscotti has no choice, none! If he thinks eating money from Billick’s contract will be expensive, let him see how much he loses from a huge decrease in fan support. The team has embarrassed themselves on the national stage far too many times to expect any outside allegiance, so wait until the regional fans start drifting away. Talk about biting the hand that feeds you.
Right now I’m feeling like death. I have that all over body ache that is the precursor to a cold coming on. I can chalk that up to sitting in the cold rain and watching the Ravens get their backsides handed to them. Talk about adding insult to injury!
December 10th, 2007 at 4:12 pm
I have to admit I am not a BIG college football watcher. So when the Ravens drafted Smith all I knew was that we was a Heisman winner, which history does not treat kindly in the NFL. But I was impressed with the 2 min or so he played. I think Figurs might have been suprised that a QB for the Ravens could actually made that pass in the end zone. When he realized it, it was there and he was too far away from it. The prob with young running QBs it to make sure they know when to stay in the pocket and when to move. Boller most of the time is glued to the pocket even though he can run rather well
December 10th, 2007 at 9:53 pm
One thing everyone needs to keep in mind is that the Colts starters were on the bench when Smith came in. We haven’t seen him go against a pro starting unit yet. But none the less I would like to see what he has to offer. How many times have you seen a young quarterback get his shot and make a career out of it. Ben Roethlisberger and Vince Young are recent examples. John Unitas is an earlier example of a rookie quarterback making history, not in his first season, but he had shown enough that first season that he was given a chance. I would like to see Troy Smith get a look, and with the season being as it is I don’t know why that can’t happen this year.
December 10th, 2007 at 11:12 pm
You know Mike I was just having those same thoughts…
December 11th, 2007 at 12:21 am
I wouldn’t diminish Troy Smith’s contributions in that as a case of garbage time with the Colts not having their starters in the game. Troy Smith was still pressured, scramble outside the pocket with his head down the field and found Willis (rookie wideout from UCLA) on the move. That pass to Figurs could have been caught. It was right there. He could’ve dove for it. Anyway, he went through his progressions and found nothing was there, so he dumped it off to Mike Anderson. Then he scrambled for a touchdown after an incompletion. Yeah, he was playing against the reserves but the kid knows how to play football. He’s a ”football player” that happens to play QB. Even John Madden said he likes what he saw from Troy Smith during the preseason. Even those games were against reserves. The talent is there. The question is whether Billick and the rest of the coaching staff are willing to tap into that talent.
December 11th, 2007 at 6:36 am
Darn Roc, you’re asking a lot now aren’t you. : )
December 11th, 2007 at 6:39 am
Talking about young quarterbacks given their “shot” and making a career out of it, wasn’t Tom Brady a lowly 6th round draft pick given his “shot” at New England after the existing quarterback was injured?
Turning to this Billick fellow, surely in this game of gentlemen, which holds honour and integrity so dear, if his record is as bad as all that, he’ll do the gentlemanly thing and resign his position?
December 11th, 2007 at 11:46 am
I think this Billick fellow should not resign just yet; one horrible bad-luck season should not discourage him into surrender of his position as long as he still loves his job and believes he can do better. He should be allowed the chance to redeem himself based upon his past successes (which far outnumber his failures)….If Mr. Billick’s team goes 11-5 next season and makes the playoffs, all will be forgiven and forgotten regarding this current season of misery.
December 11th, 2007 at 10:19 pm
Looks like Mr. Billick or one of his close friends has been reading this article?
December 12th, 2007 at 12:08 pm
Hey Travis!—Nah, I’m not even an acquaintance of Mr. Billick, let alone a close friend. I just watch from the cheap seats like everyone else in town.
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