Ravens Q&A w/ Joe Platania, PressBox

Joe Platania is the Ravens beat writer for PressBox.  Platania was the 1998 Maryland Sportscaster of the Year, and a 2010 Finalist for the same award.

You can find Platania’s Ravens Report at:
http://www.pressboxonline.com/blog.cfm?authorid=19

You can find PressBox on Twitter at:
http://twitter.com/#!/PressBoxOnline

Baltimore Sports and Life thanks Mr. Platani for answering a few Ravens questions.

Baltimore Sports and Life: “In the horrific Monday night loss at Jacksonville, the Ravens looked remarkably inept. That carried over for nearly a half against Arizona. In the second half against the Cardinals, and in their other four wins, they have looked strong, and capable of more. As the season nears the mid-point, what teams do you believe to be more talented than Baltimore?”

Platania: “Green Bay is more talented than anyone and I still like New England despite its defense. And never count out the Pittsburgh Steelers.”

Baltimore Sports and Life: “With McKinney at LT, Oher back at RT, and Yanda back at RG, the offensive line is improved from last year. While improved, the line has had their share of issues. With Ben Grubbs out of action since the opener, Andre Gurode has had to fill in. Oher looks more comfortable at RT, but continues to amass a large amount of penalties. McKinney is playing better than Oher did last year, but can be beat off the edge. What are your thoughts on the line overall, and when Grubbs returns; who should start at Center – Birk or Gurode?”

Platania: “I actually believe the line is NOT improved. Three different starters at left guard? Oher’s continued penalty problems at RT? McKinnie looking inconsistent and slow at LT? Grubbs’ absence is hurting more than anyone could possibly know.”

Baltimore Sports and Life: “Ian Rapoport of the Boston Herald recently told us that when Hernandez and Gronkowski are healthy, the Patriots are using them on the field together 80% of the time. Gronkowski has been in all 7 games, has 36 catches, and is averaging 13.8 yards per catch. Hernandez has been in 5 games, has 29 catches, and is averaging 10.3 yards per catch. Conversely, Dickson has 28 catches, and is averaging 9.6 yards per catch. Pitta has 16 catches, and is averaging 9.3 yards per catch. Both Ravens TE’s have played in all 7 games. It is true that Brady is not throwing to the Baltimore TE’s, but Dickson and Pitta do have the physical skills to mimic what the Patriots pair is doing. I believe the Ravens have to figure out how to utilize their pair better, and get them on the field together more often. Agree, disagree?”

Platania: “I’m not sure about getting them on the field together, but I do agree that they could do major damage if they were targeted more. If Boldin is the only veteran WR worth depending on and Rice already doing so much, why not incorporate the TEs?”

Baltimore Sports and Life: “Lee Evans has played in just 2 games this year, as he deals with an ankle injury. In the absence of Evans, Torrey Smith has received extended time, showing his abilities at St. Louis. Assuming Evans returns at some point, Baltimore will have a number of options that can stretch the field, with Boldin and Rice operating underneath.

While we understand that teams want to be ‘multiple’ and be able to adapt and attack the differing styles of their opponents, I think there is something to be said about acknowledging what you do best and making people stop that. Baltimore still looks their best when they pound the rock and use play-action off that. Despite what we saw in Jacksonville, the Ravens can win most weeks without playing perfect or to their primary strengths. Are they better served trying to use the Regular Season to expand their passing attack, or should they spend most weeks trying to perfect ground and pound?”

Platania: “It’s quite the quandry, isn’t it? Perfect balance is the best way to go, even in a league that’s presently defined by passing. When this team does both things well, it can control the ball and score points. It’s not wise to make yourself one-dimensional, for that’s what the opposing defenses are trying to do. Don’t help them.”

Baltimore Sports and Life: “The Ravens defense is ranked number 1 overall, and with 25 sacks (tied for 2nd in the NFL) there is evidence they have been successful in bringing more pressure under new Defensive Coordinator Chuck Pagano, than they were under former Coordinator Greg Mattison. ESPN’s Monday Night crew spent time in the Jacksonville game talking about Baltimore blitzing roughly 50% of the time on 3rd down this season. I imagine you like that aggression, what offensive lines do you think would match-up well with Baltimore? Do you believe the Ravens can be exposed against a prolific passing attack?”

Platania: “Believe it or not, one of the reason Cleveland and Cincinnati have been somewhat better this year is because of their offensive lines. The Browns’ Joe Thomas is already one of the game’s best left tackles and Cincinnati’s Andrew Whitworth isn’t bad, either. San Francisco is also building a very dangerous team and can match or surpass the Ravens in most statistical categories. Passing on the Ravens was pretty difficult even when the secondary was banged up, but it’s healthier and deeper now.”

Baltimore Sports and Life: “Ngata signed the 5 year contract extension, with $40M in guaranteed dollars. You can make the argument that with Suh, Ngata is one of the two best interior D-lineman in football. As the careers of Lewis, and Reed end; the Ravens defense will be built around Ngata, Suggs, and Smith. What were your thoughts on Ngata’s contract? Is it fair to ask if a cheaper extension could have been negotiated earlier in Ngata’s career, and prior to him having been named a Franchise player?”

Platania: “Nothing was going to get done before the tag was put on Ngata, and he certainly got the kind of contract he has earned as THE league’s best D-Tackle (Suh isn’t even close, not with charges of dirty play surrounding him).”

Baltimore Sports and Life: “Next to Ngata on the D-line is Terrence Cody. Cody has lost a considerable amount of weight, and has been another upgrade for Baltimore as a replacement for Gregg. What are you seeing from Cody?”

Platania: “Cody has turned in a solid performance without the highlight-reel plays you see from guys at other positions. He’s a lot more comfortable and comfort leads to consistency. Ozzie Newsome said that Cody would be a big key this year, and, as usual, he’s been proven right.”

Baltimore Sports and Life: “With a defense that includes Ngata, Lewis, and Reed; sometimes I think people overlook Suggs. To me, since the 2010 bye, Suggs has been playing at the highest level of his career. For his position, where do you rank Suggs with the rest of the league?”

Platania: “Suggs is one of the best outside rush linebackers in the league, along with Woodley, Ware and a few others. Suggs certainly wasn’t overlooked in the Arizona game, where he had a career-high 13 tackles. People around the league know who he is, if only for the trash talk alone.”

Baltimore Sports and Life: “Flacco has had two horrible games on the National stage this year against the Jets, and Jaguars. His completion percentage has dropped to 53.8% (career 60.7%). On the other-side, Flacco was excellent against Pittsburgh, and St. Louis. There are plenty of people in Baltimore (and Nationally) who believe Flacco is the one holding the Ravens back. Even if it is fair to question if he will ever be ‘elite’, I think his overall body of work has shown him to be a very solid QB.

Coach Harbaugh spent large parts of the off-season saying he wanted to see maturation in Flacco’s leadership, and that the QB would get the opportunity to make more adjustments at the line. If Flacco was calling more of his own plays, I feel like we would see more of the shotgun and spread formations he prefers. When the Ravens moved Flacco into the sugar huddle and shotgun Sunday, we saw the results immediately improve.

Flacco is in his 4th year in Cam Cameron’s offense. Most people locally do not believe Cameron will return next year. At this point in Flacco’s career, should he be able to call his own plays? Do you believe the Ravens can win a Super Bowl with Flacco under Center?”

Platania: “There’s no question they can. Flacco, to me, is on the bottom end of the top ten as far as leaguewide QBs is concerned. Our PressBox October cover story (“Flacco’s Star Turn” http://www.pressboxonline.com/story.cfm?id=8139) provides a career-long perspective on Flacco, not just the superficial, knee-jerk reactions to a few bad games.”

Baltimore Sports and Life: “With the improved line (and Leach) in-front of him, Rice’s yard per carry has increased from 4.0 last year to 4.3 this year. He is on pace to again have 60+ receptions, and over 850 yards receiving. He has also stepped up and made several strong blocks in blitz coverage. Where do you rank Rice among RB’s? Should the Ravens be willing to give him $30M guaranteed (Chris Johnson dollars), or do you think RB’s are too replaceable to provide him with major dollars?”

Platania: “If an RB is one-dimensional and doesn’t provide the receiving threat that Rice and Johnson provide, then he isn’t worth major dollars. But Rice is a major part of this entire offense, and he does it pretty much on his own. Again, I don’t think the O-Line has improved at all. For the most part, Rice has to do it all himself.”

Baltimore Sports and Life: “Hypothetically, if the Ravens could only extend Flacco, or Rice – which one would you choose?”

Platania: “That’s a tough one, given Rice’s production. But it’s tougher to find a good quarterback, and that position is the cornerstone of any team. I’d go with Flacco.”

Baltimore Sports and Life: “Where and how will the Ravens season end? Will it be the end of the regular season January 1st at Cincinnati? Will it be in the AFC playoffs? Will it be in the Super Bowl? Will it be with them hoisting the Lombardi Trophy?”

Platania: “Actually, before the season began, the team got so young so fast, I thought it would win ten games, but miss the playoffs entirely. It doesn’t seem equipped, at least for now, to handle the emotional ups and downs of a season the way a veteran team can. I think they cut loose Mason, Heap, et al, way too early. They don’t seem able to keep an even emotional keel. If they do that, they’re talented enough to win it all, but will they even get a chance? Still not sure about that.”