While John Harbaugh and Cam Cameron have led the Ravens to three consecutive playoff trips, there is question if they are the right men for the job.

The year was 2008, the Ravens were fresh off of a dismal 5-11 season, and Super Bowl winning coach Brian Billick was given his walking papers. The franchise that had won a Super Bowl in its infancy, and had stability at the coaching the position for almost a decade, was about to go through a major overhaul. Throughout the Billick tenure, the Ravens offense was anemic at best, and the teamed looked for another brash offensive mind to help this offense turn the corner. Cowboys’ offensive coordinator Jason Garrett was offered the job, but chose to spurn the Ravens and stay in Dallas. The Ravens and their fans were left with a bunch of candidates that had no head coaching experience or notable pedigree. The Ravens finally decided on a special team’s coach, who while being the son of coach, had never held a coach position or offensive or defensive coordinator position at any level. That man was John Harbaugh, and many Ravens fans, myself included, wondered if this was the right man for the job.

It was no secret that the Ravens organization was defined by defense and a smash mouth running game. But, the NFL was changing into a pass happy league, and with the defense aging, fans and the organization knew that the time had come to start improving the offense. Enter Cam Cameron, former offensive coordinator of the potent San Diego Chargers, and many believed the Ravens offense was now in good hands. In their first season on the job, Cameron and Harbaugh were not left with much offensive talent. Their options at quarterback were Kyle Boller, who had already reached first round bust status; Troy Smith, former Heisman Trophy winner, but 5th round pick with only 3 career starts; and rookie Joe Flacco, who many believed would be the franchise quarterback in a few years— but not ready to play 16 games in his rookie season. Flacco won the starting job, and was a game manager, taking the Ravens to an 11-5 record and the AFC Championship game. Many believed that as Flacco got more comfortable, Cameron would open up the offense and make it more dynamic and explosive.

I personally am of the mindset that coaching can win football games, so it is hard to argue with Harbaugh’s 36-19 record, including trips to the playoffs in each of his first three seasons. But, I think talent will get you wins in the NFL, but coaching can get you over the top. In his 3 seasons Harbaugh is 2-6 vs. the Steelers, 1-2 vs. the Patriots, and hasn’t come close to beating the Colts. The Ravens have been to the playoffs the past three years because of the talent on the field. However, Harbaugh hasn’t coached down his players, but his track record in big games shows that he is not managing that talent properly. This season the Ravens were built to take that next step to beat upper echelon teams like the Patriots, Colts and Steelers and finally make it back to the Super Bowl. But, after watching a 14 point lead evaporate in Pittsburgh, people are left looking for answers as to why the Ravens came up short of their goal. The answer: Coaching. The NFL is about making adjustments, and many times the Ravens would have a strong first half, only to see teams come out and make adjustments in the second half which the Ravens could not counter. The talent on the field was good enough to overcome the lack of adjustments made by the coaching staff, but had the coaching staff been able to counter those adjustments and win just one more game, the Ravens would have hosted the Steelers instead of being forced to go on the road for the playoffs this season. In fact had they been able to get one more win because of coaching in each of Harbaugh’s three seasons, the Ravens could have hosted the likes of Indy, Pittsburgh and New England, and would have had a much better shot of beating them at M & T Bank stadium.

Another area where Harbaugh failed this season was with his trust in Cam Cameron. I understand the job of the offensive coordinator is to run the office, and that interfering could cause dissension (we have seen it happen to many franchises). However, if you continuously see conservative play calling in the second half of games, and watch an offense with Pro Bowlers at every position finish behind the likes of the Redskins, Bucs, Dolphins and Jags in total offense (22nd overall), the head coach should step in and do something about it. That being said, the reason the offense finished 22nd in the NFL was because of Cam Cameron. During his time in San Diego Cameron was respected for his innovative play calling and his offenses put up points and numbers. However, that offense was led by a Hall of Fame running back, which makes any coordinators job easier. Cameron failed to utilize the talents of Drew Brees who toiled in mediocrity, only to become one of the elite quarterbacks in the league after leaving Cameron for Sean Payton. Many will say that the reason San Diego does not have a Super Bowl trophy is Cameron’s vanilla play calling in the playoffs, and that he was one of the reason’s the Chargers were labeled the most talented team in the NFL yet to hoist a Lomardi Trophy. There are grumblings around the league from former players that Cameron will take no input from anyone on his staff, nor does he let his quarterback audible to a different play.

It was announced at the Ravens yearly “State of the Ravens” address that Cameron would be coming back and that he is on the hot seat. Harbaugh will not only be back but is likely to receive a contract extension by the end of the month. There was a major disconnect between the players and Cam Cameron, yet the team still won 12 games and made the playoffs. There is talent on this Ravens team at every position, so I could probably coach them and they would still make the playoffs. But, that is not what this team was built to do. This team was built to win the Super Bowl and unless things change, I do not believe this coaching staff can get them there.

Making the playoffs in three straight season certainly helps make a case to keep your job as an offensive coordinator (as in Cam Cameron’s case), or help you garner a deserved contract extension as in Harbaugh’ case. But winning a Super Bowl as a coach and organization puts you in a whole different stratosphere.

The Ravens have good coaches and a good team, but they have yet to get over that hump and everyone needs to take a look in the mirror on how to fix it. Their former defensive coordinator, who they failed to give the head coaching job, just made his 2nd AFC title game in as many seasons while their most hated rival is playing for their 3rd Super Bowl in six years.

There is a popular saying that says “always a bridesmaid, never a bride” and thus far that has held true for John Harbaugh and Cam Cameron.

If the Ravens want to make the Super Bowl then these might not be the right men for the job.

Hopefully they can prove me wrong.

The Little Roman

For almost the entire history of their franchise, the Baltimore Ravens have been defined by two things: great defense and inept quarterback play. Names like Eric Zeier, Stoney Case, Anthony Wright, Chris Redman, Elvis Grbac and Kyle Boller remain in the minds of every Baltimorean, and have led every Ravens fan to long for a “franchise” quarterback. In 2008 the Ravens selected Joe Flacco out of Delaware, and many believe that Flacco would provide stability at the quarterback position for the next decade. The love affair with Flacco was instant, and Charm City became “Wacko for Flacco”. Two years later, those fans who loved him so dearly are now calling into sports talk shows saying that he is not the right quarterback for the Ravens. A statement that I believe shows how fickle, jaded, and uneducated some sports fans can be, even the great fans of Baltimore.

Joe Flacco inherited a team that was 5-11 the year before they drafted him, who had just fired their Super Bowl winning coach, and brought in a special teams coach who had never been a head coach at the NFL level. Couple that with a motly crew of offensive talent around him, and it looked like Flacco would experience some growing pains in his rookie season. But thanks to injuries to Kyle Boller and Troy Smith, Flacco was given a start in the preseason and then named the starter for week one. Seventeen weeks later, the Ravens were 11-5 and heading to the playoffs, something they absolutely WOULD NOT HAVE done with Smith or Boller. Baltimore was Flacco crazy and after leading the Ravens to the AFC Championship game, the franchise and its fans truly believed they had found their quarterback.

I admit Joe Flacco was not the sole reason the Ravens won games in his rookie year. While he was not the typical “ game manager”, Flacco was often just asked to not make mistakes and be good enough to help this team win. Since his rookie year however, Flacco has become more than just a game manager, he has been a WINNER. Yet somehow many fans here have a problem with this. Flacco improved from year one to year two, and this season he is on pace for his best season as a pro. A season that every single quarterback in the NFL today would love to have (he is on pace for almost 3900, 26 Touchdowns and currently has thrown one interception since week two). Can anyone remember the last time the Ravens had a quarterback throw for alost 4,000 yards? Oh yeah it was Vinny Testaverde in the mid 90′s. He has the same number of interceptions as Peyton Manning, and has only 300 yards less than Tom Brady (who has played one more game then Joe). Flacco is not just controlling clock or managing the game, he is winning them for the Ravens. His game winning touchdown in the final second on the road against the Steelers currently gives the Ravens the tie breaker and the division lead. He led the Ravens to a comeback in the final minutes at Atlanta, and out dueled Tom Brady for three quarters in Foxborough, only to see the defense relinquish those leads. What more could you want Ravens fans? Is a win over the Steelers not good enough? Would Marc Bulger really have this team at 9-1? If you think this then you must have slipped some Jameson in your morning coffee because there is no validity in this statement whatsoever.

Sure there are things Flacco does not do well, but there are things that every quarterback to ever play in the NFL does not do well. Instead of crying about him taking sacks or not being fiery enough, maybe you look at the 17 quarterbacks that have started for the Ravens since the franchise started. Be thankful for what you have: a quarterback who will win many games for this franchise and one day will bring the Lombardi Trophy back to Charm City.

I am thankful for Joe Flacco, so why aren’t you? For those who don’t want Flacco under center I say just one thing: “ be careful what you wish for, you might just get it”, and in turn you will get losing franchise.

Personally I am going to sit back, enjoy the ride and cheer on number 5 as he leads my beloved Ravens to yet another trip to the playoffs.

Marco Romanell – The Little Roman

The NFL off-season is in the books, training camp is upon us, and football is in the air in Baltimore. With the Orioles in the middle of a dreadful season, the excitement of the Purple and Black is just the cure for the dog days of summer here in Charm City. Much of the excitement amongst the fans is due to lofty expectations for the Ravens, not just locally, but nationally as well. I know you can never be certain of anything in the NFL, and that predictions aren’t even worth the breath you spent making them…but given everything that happened in this off-season, the AFC North is the Ravens to lose.

The Ravens were wildly inconsistent last season before finally making it into the playoffs at 9-7. One minute they looked like a Super Bowl contender (33-14 beat down of the Patriots on the road in the 1st round of the AFC Playoff, while other times the Ravens looked like a team that was over matched and undisciplined. The Ravens struggled against the elite teams in football last season, and were swept by the AFC North Champion Bengals (who swept every team in the AFC North). Unlike previous off-seasons, the Ravens went out and acquired legitimate weapons for Joe Flacco, sending a message to the rest of the division, and NFL, that they won’t accept anything short of the Super Bowl. In addition to the acquisitions of Boldin and Stallworth, the Ravens had what many, myself included, believe to be a stellar draft, giving them weapons on both the offensive and defensive side of the ball. The most important thing that they did, which is the difference between good and great teams, is solidify depth by acquiring Ken Hamlin and Walt Harris to bolster the secondary. Depth was a major problem last season, especially in the secondary, and while their better days are behind them, Harris and Hamlin should are a significant upgrade from some of the defensive backs the Ravens were forced to play at times last season.

Another reason for optimism is the fact that the Ravens look to have improved, while it’s a fact that the other teams in the division looked to have digressed off the field, as well as on it. I truly believe the Bengals are a legitimate contender ,but they keep bringing cancer and problems into the locker room and eventually that is going to catch up to them. Drafting Dunlap and Shipley definitely helped them on the field, but acquiring Matt Jones and his cocaine problem, should do more harm then good. The Bengals have no history of sustaining success for years, so given that and the fact that they have too many players with baggage that could come back to bite them, I think they will take a step back.

Meanwhile, the Ravens biggest rival, the Steelers will be without Big Ben( or little Ben depending which night club female you ask) for at least the first four games this season, handing the reins over to Byron Leftwich or Dennis Dixon. Once Roethlisberger returns, he is likely to return to a locker room that does not like him or support him. Some Steelers players have been very vocal in their disdain for Roethlisberger, and they are likely to rally around whoever is under center for the first four games of the season, leaving a divided locker room once Roethlisberger returns. To top it off, they traded away the former Super Bowl MVP and big player receiver Santonio Holmes and really did not make any significant strides in improving the team.

With training camp starting in just a few days, fans everywhere will be predicting 11-5, 12-4,10-6 or whatever they think the Ravens record will be. The NFL shows us that you can never assume or predict anything, but given the circumstances that transpired in Baltimore, Pittsburgh, Cincinnati and Cleveland this off-season, the AFC North looks to be the Ravens division to lose.

Many think the Ravens will be the last team standing in Dallas in February.

This is one prognostication that is alright with me. I just hope it holds true.

What time is it? What’s our name?- The Little Roman

Reed said that he should have never came back last season and that he probably shouldn’t play at all this season, and then says that he could see himself playing for ten more years. Reed claims the Ravens previously took him off the PUP prematurely and without consulting him…he also compares the team’s mistreatment of him to that of the Tennessee Titans when they locked Steve McNair out of their facilities. Reed then compares his relationship with the Ravens to a marriage that’s just hit a minor bump in the road. Oh yeah, and he wants a new contract. Despite all his health issues and erratic statements he wants the Ravens to restructure his current deal which locks him up through 2012.

I’m all for giving players who produce like Reed a pay day. In his eight season he has 46 INTs and 11 defensive TDs, not to mention a highlight reel packed with devastating hits and tremendous special teams plays (despite all the ill-conceived laterals). But if I was Ozzie Newsome I wouldn’t restructure Ed’s deal at this point, it’s just not a sound business move. He has the nerve impingement in his neck that looks like a permanent condition, his hip was just reconstructed, and lately he’s been acting like a flake. I’m not saying that something can’t be worked out financially for Ed at a later date, but right now it’s time to look at things from a business standpoint. The Ravens are one of the best managed teams in the NFL, because they aren’t afraid to make the hard decisions and hold their ground.

At the same time I can’t fault Reed for wanting a new deal; when healthy him and Pittsburgh’s Troy Polamalu are in a league of their own. Safety is one of the lowest paid positions on the field, but Ed Reed isn’t just another safety, he’s (cliché alert) a game changer. The reality of the NFL and sports in general is that it’s a ‘what have you done for me lately?’ business. Coaches, agents, AD’s, GM’s…they’re like vampires. Athletes are only coveted when they can produce.

I guess I’m a bit torn on the issue. Bottom line, I think Reed has a good heart and will work things out with the Ravens; however, I’m not so sure he’ll physically be able to contribute much this season. I’m just thankful that two drafts ago the Ravens invested third and sixth round picks respectively in Tom Zbikowski and Haruki Nakamura; not to mention the off season signing of Ken Hamlin. The Ravens are pretty deep at the safety position and that should get them by, but there’s no replacing Ed Reed.

~ Pat Cary

Walt Harris is a very good signing for this team. Lardarius Webb and Fabian Washington are progressing well through their respective rehab efforts, but everyone knows that football players, especially speed guys, are not quite the same the first year back from an ACL. The Ravens need a proven vet to be available to start at corner. Remember two years ago when the Ravens were forced to start Frank Walker in the AFC Championship game? Or last year when Chris Carr and even Cary Williams saw their names in the starting lineup? That’s a scary scenario for a team looking to make a deep playoff run.

I realize that Harris is turning 36 and coming off his own knee injury, which forced him to miss the entire 2009 season, but he looked good in a tryout with the Ravens and has 13 years of starting NFL cornerback savvy. Harris has some pedigree as well. He was a first round draft pick by the Bears in 1996; has started just under 90% of his career games; and made the pro bowl in 2006. I’m not getting overly excited here, I actually hope the Ravens never need Harris to make a signal start. I’m just satisfied with the Ravens’ options should Webb and Washington not be available.

I’m also pretty happy with the Ravens other pro bowl signings. Ken Hamlin is a hard hitting safety that could step in should Ed Reed not fully recover from hip surgery in time for the season. Hamlin has some left in the tank at 29 and seems to be hungry to prove that he is still a starting safety in the NFL. At very least, he will push Dawan Landry.

Marc Bulger doesn’t come cheap at $3.8 million, but he is a significant upgrade over Troy Smith and Jon Beck. Hey Troy, you still want to get traded to Cleveland? Well I’m sure they’re not interested, but hopefully we can get a sixth rounder for you. I can’t stress the importance of having a competent backup QB, it’s the most important position in sports. Bulger, even as a backup, is well worth the money.

The NFL is a league of attrition, which is why the Ravens front office deserves a hand for their recent signings.

~Pat Cary

Last season the Baltimore Ravens were a run first team, whose passing game was defined by finding Derrick Mason on the 12 yard comeback route and Ray Rice in the flat and hope he breaks it for a long gain. Enter Anquan Boldin and Donte Stallworth, and the Ravens offense has weapons and the potential to be one of the most explosive in the league. Stallworth is still one of the fastest players in the NFL and his ability to stretch the field provides the Ravens with explosiveness that they have not had since Vinny Testaverde was under center. Boldin, is a great route runner and tough receiver who has more breakaway speed then people give him credit for. Couple those two with the always steady Derrick Mason, and the Ravens receiving corp possesses more weapons than North Korea.

Over the last decade no position in professional football has evolved more than the tight end position. Once reserved for people who were too small to be a lineman, but were still good blockers, the tight end position is now filled with athletic pass catchers who create mismatch problems all over the field. Todd Heap, is aging and his better days are behind him, but with Boldin, Stallworth and Mason garnering the focus of the defense, he should be able to find some seems in the middle of the field and will have lots of opportunities to make plays. The things that have made Heap so great throughout his career are his hands and his athleticism, but he is not the explosive, field stretching tight end that some of the elite offenses have.  Enter former Oregon tight end and 3^rd round pick Ed Dickson, and the Ravens offense looks like it has that game changing tight end to compliment Heap.  Dickson, who is 6’5″ and 243 pounds, ran a 4.67 40-yard dash at the combine, and is the perfect combination of size and speed that wreaks havoc on opposing defenses. Dickson has the ability to line up outside the hash as well as in the slot and very few defenses will have a defender with size and speed to match up with him. In addition to Dickson and Heap, the Ravens have sure handed Dennis Pitta who will likely be a great safety valve for Flacco, due to his steady hands and maturity. 

No longer will Ravens watch opposing offenses like the Cowboys, Colts, Patriots and Saints and yearn for the kind of weapons they have.

The Ravens now have their own weapons and a strong arm quarterback under center. Those weapons have the potential to destroy the rest of the NFL.

Boldin, Stallworth, Rice, Dickson, Heap, Mason and Flacco, those are the real “Weapons of Mass Destruction” and they can be found in Baltimore, Maryland.

 Still love smash mouth defense, but I can get to used to this explosive offense thing- The Little Roman

The next three teams to pick all traded up to make their selections.  The 49ers leapfrogged Miami to get big Anthony Davis; San Diego came all the way up from 28^th to select Ryan Mathews; and the Eagles hopped up 11 spots to take Brandon Graham.  I like the Davis pick, even though most projections had Bulaga rated higher.  Davis has much more upside than Bulaga, whose likely going to be a career right tackle.  I thought the Chargers could have got Matthews at 28, so I have no idea why they would essentially give up a 2^nd to make that move.  Moreover, why didn’t they draft a better player?  Derrick Morgan, Brandon Graham, Jason Pierre-Paul, and all the CBs besides Haden where available for the taking.  Philly gave up two 3^rd rounder’s to move up and nab Graham, which is a steep price, but I like the move.  Graham is going to start and play well for years to come and Philly had a surplus of draft picks to work with. 

I believe there were seven trades in the first round alone, but none was more shocking than Denver’s move to acquire Tim Tebow.  The fact that Tebow went in the first round surprises me, but what’s more shocking is what Denver gave up to get him.  The Broncos sent 2^nd (43), 3^rd (70), and a 4^th(114) to Baltimore to make the move.  The Ravens didn’t have to think twice about taking that deal…Ozzie said that it was so sweet that they would have probably still done it even if Bryant was available. 

Ravens fans everywhere where salivating at the thought of Dez Bryant falling all the way to 25.  Once Denver opted for Demaryius Thomas at 22 there was only one hurdle to clear.  New England had greater areas of need and are notorious for trading down, but Dez Bryant might have been too good for them to pass up.  And then Jerry Jones and the Cowboys leapfrog the Ravens and scoop up Bryant…the best value of the draft so far. 

That left the Ravens out of the first night, out of primetime, but with seven picks.  So, what do we do now with the 11^th pick of the second round?  None of the top corners are left, but Virginia’s Chris Cook is out there.  I don’t know if Cook is worth the 43^rd overall pick.  The fact that both Clausen and McCoy are still out there helps the Ravens.  The Vikings, Browns, Raiders, and Bills all pick before the Ravens in the second round and they all have QB needs.  Clausen and McCoy will take up two of the ten spots prior to the Ravens pick, which will increase the odds that a Carlos Dunlap, Everson Griffen, or Sergio Kindle will be available. 

I will be extremely happy if the Ravens could get a first round defensive end in the second round, but I just don’t know if that’s going to happen.  I won’t be too enthused with a second rate CB, a TE, or Terrence Cody.  We shall see…should be an exciting day two.

Side note: I LOVE when teams draft two offensive linemen in the first round.  Bravo San Francisco.  The casual fan will think this boring and redundant, but the 49ers just solidified their line and became the favorite to win the NFC West. 

~ Pat Cary

Here is my list of names you could hear in the first three rounds for the Ravens:

Carlos Dunlap, DE, Florida: A top 10 player in talent, Dunlap’s off the field issues could lead to a fall to late in the 1^st round or out of the first round completely. To see the kind of impact that Dunlap has on the field, fans need to look no further then the SEC Championship game when Dunlap was out of the lineup and the Florida defense was torched by Alabama. Dunlap then returned in Florida’s bowl game and he was in the Cincinnati backfield seemingly every play.

Off the field is where people have issues with Dunlap and is the reason he is likely to be available at the time the Ravens draft in the first round. Earlier this season Dunlap was arrested for falling asleep in his car and was charged with a DUI, which led to his suspension for the SEC Championship game. He was also suspended for the first half of a game for gauging the eye of an opponent during the Gators game against Georgia. He is known for taking plays off and many teams question his work ethic.

Carlos Dunlap is one of the 10 best players in the draft the draft but he may slide because of character issues. If he falls to the Ravens he will be too good to pass up. Expect him to play with a bit of a chip on his shoulder if he is drafted at number 25 in the first round.

Kyle Wilson, Devin McCourty, Kareem Jackson, CB: Cornerback is one of the, if not the most, pressing issue that the Ravens need to address in the draft. Wilson has played his way into the first round discussion with an impressive senior bowl performance and stellar combine and pro days. Boise St is now a legitimate college program that is producing top flight NFL talent, so being saddled with small school label should not affect Wilson’s draft status. Devin  McCourty’s interception numbers at Rutgers were not impressive but his speed, and play making ability both on defense and in the return game, is what makes him stand out over Wilson and Jackson. With LarDarius Webb likely out at least half the season, McCourty would be the perfect fit. Kareem Jackson is similar in stature and has similar to speed to both Jackson and McCourty, but where he played his college football(which happens to be the same place that Ozzie Newsome played) is what could lead the Ravens towards selecting Jackson. Wilson is 5’10″ and McCourty and Jackson are 5’11″ and they ran a 4.44, 4.38 and 4.40 respectively. To me, there really is no difference between the three of them and I would be happy to see any of them get selected. I tend to lead towards McCourty because of his ability to return kicks, but I believe the Ravens will draft Jackson if all three were available.

A tight end: I know this will not please the Woodman, but the Ravens may address tight end in the first round of the draft. This is one of the deepest tight end drafts with lots of talent like Rob Gronkowski, Dennis Pitta, Dorian Dickerson, Ed Dickson and Jimmy Graham all projected to be selected in the 2^nd- 3^rd round and projected to be solid NFL tight ends. I really believe this is an area of need for the team, but think they have bigger concerns then addressing it in the first round. Maybe if they can acquire more picks then taking a tight end in round one may not be a bad idea, but with only five selections, you want to maximize value and there is great value at the tight end position outside of Gresham and Hernandez. 

The NFL has become a league where the tight end is more than just an un-athletic blocker who is an afterthought in the passing game. Many of the best offenses in the game have stellar tight ends and with the Ravens seemingly being dedicated to improve the offense, I am almost certain that they will address the tight position within the first three rounds of the draft.  They could easily go tight end or wide receiver in round one or they could trade up and make a play for someone that nobody thought they would land. That is what makes it so exciting.

Trade out of round 1: The Ravens have been one of the best drafting teams since their first draft in 1996 when they selected Jonathan Ogden and Ray Lewis in round one and they have shown a propensity to trade down if there is high value in doing so. This draft is one of the deepest in recent memory and the Ravens will almost certainly look to acquire at least one more draft pick, in the second, third or fourth round, because of the value that is there. I have to believe that there are four or five players that Ravens are very high on and they would not pass on if any of those players were available at number 25. I do believe Dunlap is one of those players, and if he is there, I expect the Ravens to take him, but there is no certainty that he will be there. Trading out of the first round won’t be the sexy thing to do, but it may be the best option for the Ravens.

Prediction: The Ravens will acquire another pick somehow but it will not be by trading out of the first round. They will trade Jared Gaither for a third round pick and I believe these will be their selections:

Round 1: Carlos Dunlap, DE, Florida

Round 2: Patrick Robinson, CB Florida St.

Round 3: Dennis Pitta, TE, BYU

The only certain thing I can say about this draft is that nobody has any idea what is going to happen and nothing that Ozzie Newsome does would shock me.

When it comes to the draft the Woodman loves large men and I love playmakers

~ A soon to be very tired due to lack of sleep thanks to draft excitement- Marco Romanell

Here are my thoughts on the Ravens schedule:

Most intriguing games(outside of the division games):

Week 1 @ Jets, Monday Night: Rex Ryan welcomes his old team into his house for the first prime time game in the new stadium. Given the Ravens struggles on prime time and the fact that they are going to be playing the first Monday night game in a new stadium, it is tough to see them coming out with a win. The Jets won the off-season Super Bowl acquiring Santonio Holmes, Antonio Cromartie and Jason Taylor, but they will be without Holmes for the first four games of the season. Both teams are mirror images of each other, as they both have young quarterbacks, run the ball, play stout defense and believe they finally found a go to receiver. It will be important for the Ravens to get off to a good start, and it will be a tall order for them to go into New York and come out victorious. A win, could be the catalyst to a very special season.

Week 6 @ Patriots: Last time the Ravens went to New England they dismantled the Patriots 34-7 leading some to single handedly credit them with the ending the Patriots dynasty. Say what you want to about how they finished last season, the Patriots will re-load via the draft, Tom Brady is a year healthier and Bill Belichick will take all of  the talks of the Patriots no longer being one of the NFL’s elite. The Ravens exposed a lot of the Patriots’ weaknesses in their playoff beat down last season, but those weaknesses will surely be addressed prior to the season. There are only three teams that truly believe they can go into Gillette Stadium and win; one of those teams is the Ravens. They have the confidence, swagger and moxy to go into New England and beat down the Patriots again, however, I don’t see it being so easy. Few will expect the Ravens to come out victorious and that will be more than fine with them.

Front loaded schedule: The first eight games of the Ravens schedule will go along way in determining if they are going to be in the upper echelon of the NFL or if they will be fighting for a Wild Card. With games at the Jets(week 1), Bengals (week 2), Steelers (week 4) and Patriots (week 6), the Ravens have what I believe to be their toughest road games and  it is helpful that they are in the beginning of the season. The weather in New York, New England, Pittsburgh and Cincinnati will not be horrible because the games are being played in September and October and since it is the beginning of the season, the Ravens are likely to be at full health going into all these games. Whether Ben Roethlisberger is playing in week four or not, going into Pittsburgh and winning will not be easy.  The second half of the schedule looks like it will be easier with road games at Houston, Carolina, Cleveland and Atlanta and getting the Steelers and Bengals at home The Saints come to Baltimore in December which is a huge advantage for the Ravens. If the Ravens come out of their first eight games with a mark of 6-2 or 7-1, then will all but likely lock up a playoff bye.

No prime time love: The Ravens do have four prime time games this season, however, having to travel on the road for three of them is a bit of slap in the face. This was a playoff team last season that has to travel to Atlanta and to Houston to play in prime time. The Ravens did get a home a Sunday night game against the Steelers but I would have loved to have seen the week 15 match up against the Saints as a Monday night game instead of the game against the Texans. It is likely(although we won’t know anything until the season starts) that the Ravens are going to be better than the Texans and Falcons, but lesser teams always get jacked up to play at home in prime time, so these games become that much more difficult. They are both games that the Ravens should win but games that because of the location and when they are played, that the Ravens could lose, which could make the difference between a playoff appearance or missing the playoffs.  That being said, it will be nice to watch the Ravens in prime time, I just wish it was at home.

There is no easy game in the NFL, so going through the schedule now, in April, prognosticating wins and losses, and arriving at 11-5 record is just plain audacious. Lots of things can happen between now and the start of the season, and teams that were bad last year could be much improved this season. It is impossible to tell whether this will be a tough or an easy schedule for the Ravens but there are some intriguing games.

The only thing that is certain from looking at the schedule is that the Ravens fate is in their own hands. Sweeping the division games and beating teams like the Patriots, Dolphins, Texans and Jets will land them in the playoffs and could end with a trip to Dallas for the Super Bowl.

Okay, that may be getting ahead of myself a little bit, but it is okay to hope right?

Can’t wait to shut Rex and Fireman Ed’s mouth Week 1.

~ Marco Romanell….. btw the O’s blew a lead while I was typing this.

1. Saint Louis: Sam Bradford, QB, Oklahoma – I’m believing the hype.  I don’t think Bradford shows the ‘can’t miss’ skills or intangibles to be the number one overall selection, but I think the Rams are desperate.  They’ve drafted defensive players three of the last four years and linemen the last three.  A solid starting NFL QB can turn around an ailing franchise fast and while linemen are a much safer pick I think St. Louis’ patience is wearing thin.  Plus the Rams had seven representatives at Bradford’s workout, which by all accounts was very impressive.
2. Detroit: Ndamukon Suh, DT, Nebraska – I actually think they should trade down and stockpile picks, but if I have to slot someone here I would have to pick Suh simply, because he would be the best available player.  Detroit upgraded their d-line this offseason with the signing of Kyle Vanden Bosch, so some could argue that they would look elsewhere, but I still think Suh is the best bet this high up.
3. Tampa Bay: Gerald McCoy, DT, Oklahoma – I realize you probably think I’m just copy and pasting from the latest Kiper/McShay boards…I promise I’ll start mixing it up.
4. Washington: Russell Okung, OT, Oklahoma State – If ever a team needed help on the offensive line it’s the Skins. Whenever you’re hoping that Stephon Heyer can play through injury to bring some stability to your line you’re in trouble.  If I was Mike Shanahan and Bruce Allen I would draft O-line early and often.   This just in…the Skins are reportedly interested in trading for Jarred Gaither, the Ravens’ massive left tackle, AND they just scheduled a private workout with Jimmy Clausen.  I’m sticking to my guns (Okung).
5. Kansas City: Anthony Davis, OT, Rutgers – Todd Haley is an offensive coach and he needs someone to keep Matt Cassel upright and breathing.  Davis has character issues, but very good size and a lot of talent.
6. Seattle: Eric Berry, S, Tennessee – I was tempted to put Jimmy Clausen in this spot, but I think Berry it too talented for Pete Carroll to pass on.  Plus Carroll is a defensive minded coach at heart and there’s no way of knowing if he likes Clausen’s moxy.
7. Cleveland: Jason Pierre-Paul, DE, South Florida – The Browns were 31^st in total team defense last season, equally anemic against the pass and run.  I think Dez Bryant’s off-the-field issues will sway the Browns into selecting the long and lean Pierre-Paul.
8. Oakland: Joe Haden, CB, Florida – Al Davis is clinically insane, so there’s no telling who the Raiders will actually select, but recent drafts show the owner’s penchant for workout heroes.  Bruce Campbell would be the easy pick here, but I think the Raider might be shipping shutdown CB Nnamdi Asomugha to Philly for Donovan McNabb.  Davis taking Haden would be ironic, because he’s had subpar workouts, but might be the real deal on the field.
9. Buffalo: C.J. Spiller, RB, Clemson – Marshawn Lynch had a terrible 2009 after a promising, yet turbulent, first two years in the NFL.  The NFL is a multi-back league now a days and Spiller is too good a talent to pass up.
10. Jacksonville: Jimmy Clausen, QB, Notre Dame – David Garrard can man the fort for a year while Clausen soaks up the pro game like a sponge.  Drafting QBs in the first round is a high risk/high reward situation…no matter what the risk Jacksonville would be foolish not to draft Clausen if available.
11. Denver: Bryan Bulaga, OT, Iowa – Pair him up with Ryan Clady and you have perhaps the best young tackle tandem in the league.  Dez Bryant could be tempting, but I think Marshall has left the Broncos shell-shocked.
12. Miami: Dez Bryant, WR, Oklahoma State – Chad Henne needs help on the outside and Ted Ginn Jr. ain’t the answer.
13. San Francisco: Trent Williams, OT, Oklahoma – Having two first-round picks so close together makes me think the 49ers may trade one of them, but with nine draft picks total they’re just as likely to use their first-round picks to get them over the 8-8 hump and past the Cards.
14. Seattle: Bruce Campbell, OT, Maryland – The Terps’ offense was terrible last year and despite being a workout hero there are real concerns about Campbell’s technique.  That being said, he’s an athletic freak and the best tackle left on the board…Seattle needs O-line help.
15. New York (Giants): Rolando McClain, ILB, Alabama – The Gmen need help at cornerback, but they also need someone to take Antonio Pierce’s place.  There are questions about McClain’s athleticism, but overall he grades-out very high.
16. Tennessee: Derrick Morgan, DE, GT – The – I have no idea at this point.
17. San Francisco: Kyle Wilson, CB, Boise State – I was tempted to put Mike Iupati in this slot…imagine the 49ers using the 13^th and 17^th overall picks on offensive linemen…only in a perfect world.  I would love to see this Wilson in a Ravens’ uniform.
18. Pittsburgh: Mike Iupati, OG, Idaho – The 49ers loss is the Steelers’ gain.
19. Atlanta: Everson Griffen, DE, Southern California – They need some young blood opposite John Abraham.
20. Houston: Brian Price, DT, UCLA – Again, no clue… Scouts Inc. graded this kid pretty damn high.
21. Cincinnati: Taylor Mays, S, Southern California – They also need a wideout…they’ll probably end up drafting Arrelious Benn, because they’re self destructive.
22. New England: Jermaine Gresham, TE, Oklahoma – The Pats have three second-round picks…this is a deep draft, so they can afford to take a flyer on someone.  I wouldn’t be surprised if they traded down and stack even more picks to their ridiculously high total of 12.
23. Green Bay: Kareem Jackson, CB, Alabama – What they really need is O-line help, but I don’t think they’ll find a first-round talent at #23, so they’ll have to look for it in later rounds.
24. Philadelphia: Brandon Graham, OLB, Michigan – This guy is a gamer and can generate a real rush from the edge.  He’s often compared to LaMarr Woodley, because they both went to Michigan, have similar builds, and all-day motors…this guys should be a Raven.
25. Baltimore: Carlos Dunlap, DE, Florida – The Ravens need cornerback help and a legit pass rusher who can play with his hand in the dirt.  Ultimately they will pick the best player available or trade down.  I think Dunlap has the size and physical tools to be special.
26. Arizona: Sergio Kindel, OLB, Texas – The Cards lost a lot of talent so far this offseason…too bad there isn’t a middle linebacker at this spot to replace Dansby.
27. Dallas: Maurkice Pouncey, C, Florida – Jerry Jones apparently has his eye on Dez Bryant, so maybe a trade up will be in Dallas’ future instead.
28. San Diego: Ryan Matthews, RB, Fresno State – They could also take Patrick Robinson, Devin McCourty, or another corner to replace Cromartie.
29. New York (Jets): Arrelious Benn, WR, Illinois – Who knows?
30. Minnesota: Devin McCourty, CB, Rutgers – There’s a real drop off after Antoine Winfield.
31. Indianapolis: Patrick Robinson, CB, Florida State – They need defensive back help.
32. New Orleans: Jared Odrick, DT, Penn State – The Saints need to get better against the run amongst other things defensively.

~ Pat “none of this will be right” Cary