As I watched the Monday Morning Quarterback show on MASN last night I was mesmerized. I didn’t even bother to turn on Monday Night Football even though it was a Steelers game. Hearing former Colts secondary player Bruce Laird and former Raven offensive lineman Wally Williams speak to the problems with this years Ravens I believe the truth finally came out. Both of these guys have been in the trenches and know what it takes to be a winning team, and their assessment of the problems facing this team were spot on.

For starters, the reason for the lack of a pass rush by the Ravens defensive linemen, and it’s so simple I’m ashamed I didn’t think of it sooner, is the Ravens defensive line is made up of 2 two gap players in the middle, Haloti Ngata and Kelly Gregg, as was requested by Ray Lewis. If you remember back a few seasons ago it was Ray who was demanding Ozzie get some beef up front to keep offensive linemen off of him, and Ozzie obliged. These guys are pretty much in the mold of Sam Adams and Tony Siragusa, and do a good job of containing linemen and stopping the run. However, they are not built to be pass rushers.

The main difference between the 2000 Ravens defense and this one is the players that line up on the outside of the defensive line. Back then you had Michael McCrary, Peter Boulware, and Rob Burnett. All of them were capable of getting to the quarterback, and did so quite often. Today you have Trevor Pryce and Terrell Suggs. Pyrce is too old and far too slow, and Suggs is perhaps the biggest disappointment the team has this season. Suggs tends to take plays off, something that McCrary, Boulware and Burnett never did. Just look at Suggs and you can see he’s out of shape, (missing training camp tends to do that for you) and certainly doesn’t look like someone who should be the highest paid linebacker in the league. Being a season ticket holder I’d like some money back.

Williams also said that the Ravens lack a receiver that has the prima donna attitude that the good ones always have. He said Mason has some of that, but Mark Clayton is totally devoid of it. He asked, “When does Clayton come out and say he wants the ball more often? Where is that killer instinct ? He seems comfortable with just lining each week and collecting a paycheck.” It shows a lack of confidence on his part, as if he’s afraid to challenge the coaches and demand more plays designed for him. I can see that, he doesn’t seem to have that moxie that the really good receivers have. Face it, he’s a decent receiver but rarely a game changer, and that’s what this team needs.

And speaking of challenging the coaches both agreed that Joe Flacco is still too young to do it, but should in the next season or so. Laird cited Manning, Palmer, Brady and others that will tell an offensive coordinator to go to hell with certain calls, they just aren’t going to run them. But Flacco is still running the plays that Cam Cameron calls, regardless of what chance of success he thinks it has. That will change as Joe takes over the offense and knows, as a player on the field, what will work and what won’t. Weeb Ewbank used to try to call plays for Johnny Unitas, but Unitas would just shrug his shoulders and run what he knew would work. Peyton Manning does the same thing. He takes advice from his offensive coordinator but calls his own plays for the most part. Players on the field have a better recognition of what will work and what won’t.

As for the constant shuffling of linebackers Tavaris Gooden, Dannell Elerbe, and Jameel McLain, Laird chalked it up to the team trying to find that backer who can rush the passer, stop the run, and cover the tight end or a slot receiver the way Adalius Thomas and Bart Scott once did. So far the jury is still out on who that player will be. None have shown the ability to fill the role completely, and none may be capable of it. Time will tell on that one.

Both Laird and Williams nixed the idea that Paul Kruger could be a difference maker, as if he had shown in practice that he was ready for action this team would have put him in there. Laird said the coaching staff is basically grasping at straws trying to find a combination of players that can get the job done, and the replacements don’t seem to be a solution. I agree to a point, but sometimes you just have to throw a player to the Wolves and see how he does.

As for the secondary both former players agreed that the Ravens are in poor shape, a fact that’s hard to argue. Laird explained that the reason Dominique Foxworth fell down so often was piss poor technique coming out of a back peddle. He said none of the Ravens corners play with good technique and that’s a result of lack of talent and poor coaching. I can’t say I disagree with him. Ladarius Weeb is the only corner that has shown any amount of physicality and if he doesn’t replace the vastly overpaid Foxworth then I have a hard time believing this team actually wants to win. What the hell was Ozzie thinking with the signings of Foxworth and Chris Carr? These guys can’t do the job and would be huge cap hits if we let them go.

Here’s something I didn’t realize, there have been 27 new players on the roster since John Harbaugh took over. That’s half of the 53 man roster. Both Laird and Williams said that Ed Reed, Ray Lewis, and Kelly Gregg weren’t favorites of Harbaugh and if he had his way these payers would be gone. Good luck with Lewis, but I can see Gregg leaving and possibly Reed if Harbaugh has his way. That’s a gamble on Harbaugh’s part, because after you bring in players that you want they had better perform or you’re out the door.

And with that I’m out the door. Rave on!!!