Ravens Quick Hits: O-Line, Backup QB, CB

John Eisenberg with CSN Baltimore had an interesting piece (http://www.csnbaltimore.com/08/17/11/Bisciotti-Ravens-on-the-hunt-for-free-ag/landing.html?blockID=550122&feedID=9671) this morning regarding Ravens’ Owner Steve Bisciotti’s conference call with season ticket holders*.

*Before getting to the content of that call, let us take a second to step back and applaud Bisciotti for his willingness to put himself out there in that type of forum. While the Orioles have made Andy MacPhail and Buck Showalter available to season ticket holders at Fan Fest, and earlier this Summer; there is no interaction between O’s fans and the absolute top of that organization. You can bet that the Ravens fans that were on that call, feel an even deeper attachment to the organization. The O’s should want the same.

Eisenberg’s piece, complete with Bisciotti’s comments illustrate a couple of the main topics of the day for the Ravens.

Topic 1) The Offensive Line

After the trade for Lee Evans, the most glaring issue for the Ravens roster is currently the on the Offensive Line. While the Ravens expect Matt Birk to be ready for the Opener, (http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/sports/ravens/blog/2011/08/ravens_still_expect_birk_to_be_ready_for_season_opener.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+sports_football_ravens+%28Ravens+Insider%29) the 35 year-old 6x Pro Bowler was still pushed around frequently last year. After coming off the knee surgery, there is plenty of reason to question if Birk will be able to last through the season. The New  York Daily News reported yesterday (http://www.nydailynews.com/blogs/jets/2011/08/source-offensive-lineman-rob-turner-breaks-leg-will-miss-8-12-weeks) that former Giants Center Shaun O’Hara has drawn interest from Baltimore. I know I would feel a lot better about the line with O’Hara (a 3x former Pro Bowler) available as an option at Center.

Clearly the other major question on the O-line is what happens at RT. Everyone in Baltimore saw Oneil Cousins be completely overwhelmed at the Tackle positions in the Exhibition opener against the Eagles. When the Ravens drafted the 27 year old Jamaican native in the 3rd round of the 2008 draft (coming off of a 1st team Conference USA season at UTEP), one of the things they liked best about him was his athleticism. I think the Ravens also liked that Cousins had not been playing the game long, and wondered how quickly his game could grow with proper instruction. He has been with the team long enough at this point, to know what you have. He has no business ever playing outside. To me, if Cousins is the 8th or 9th lineman you can live with him. His best use should be as an extra lineman in Jumbo packages. I believe he would be better at Guard than he would at RT, but the Ravens are hurt if he has to start anywhere.

I do not like the idea of moving Yanda back out to Tackle, and starting Cousins at RG. I’d prefer to start Reid at RT, and shift additional protection to the right-side until Reid finds his legs as professional.

Topic 2: Backup QB

At the risk of sounding like a broken record, every move the Ravens make this off-season has to be about getting to a Super Bowl. Tyrod Taylor has some skills, and showed some of his ability against Philadelphia. Going into the season with him as the backup to Flacco would be a mistake.

Flacco has played every game during his career to date. At some point that is going to end. If Flacco is lost to a season ending injury at any point this year, it is not going to matter much who the Ravens have backing him up. There is nobody to put in place of Flacco that would be good enough to lead Baltimore to a title.

The question to me is what happens if Flacco is out for a game, or a couple of weeks? The last 3 years, the Ravens have won a road playoff game each year. Perhaps those playoff runs would have been extended, had Baltimore hosted a playoff game in Charm City in any of those seasons. Home field advantage could be the difference between getting to a Super Bowl, or watching it on TV.

You lose Flacco for a couple of weeks, I don’t want to have to depend on Taylor stepping in. A number of Veteran QB’s have been discussed. Not many of them attractive. One name I have not heard mentioned is Jeff Garcia. Garcia was last in the NFL, briefly in ’09 with the Eagles. He spent last year with the Omaha Nighthawks in the UFL. We understand the 41 year old is at the end of his career, but his experience makes him a good option in this capacity. He has been in a lot of offenses, and should be able to pickup the Ravens offense quickly. He could not carry you through a season, but he should be able to help you through a game or two. Think of it this way. It is November 6th, and the Ravens are in Pittsburgh. The Rivalry game with division title implications is being played before a National TV Audience on Sunday Night Football. The crowd at Heinz Field is rocking, and Flacco is knocked out of the game early. Who would give you a better chance to win that game – Taylor or Garcia?

Topic 3: CB Depth

On the 13th, Sports Illustrated’s Peter King tweeted Andy Reid’s comment that good players will be cut from Philadelphia’s roster, and interjected his own thought that CB Joselio Hanson could be picked up by Baltimore.

I personally do not think the Ravens need help at CB. Smith, Webb, Foxworth, Carr, Williams, & Brown is good enough with an improved pass rush.

A lot of Ravens fans are nervous about Foxworth. That is somewhat understandable after Foxworth missed last year, the preseason opener, and the CB was quoted in earlier this Month as saying he, “Does not feel great… nor as quick or fast as I was.” Foxworth’s game has always been built on speed, and his intelligence. Ravens 24×7 tweeted in July that if Foxworth was released, the cap savings to the Ravens would be roughly $4.4M. With Baltimore’s inability to get Ngata signed to an extension (which would also free up money), you would think the the Ravens would have already cut Foxworth if that was their intention. The retort from some, is that Baltimore is sensitive about being perceived as ‘punishing’ Foxworth, for his work with the Player’s Union during the CBA negotiation.

I find that to be a stretch. Everyone understands that he if Foxworth has trouble running or cutting, that would be a problem. The Ravens Medical Staff, and their Coaches stated at the time of Foxworth’s quote (August 3rd) that they did not want Foxworth to push things as hard as he can. I’m fine with Foxworth not being 100% for Week 1, if the Ravens feel he is well positioned to have his role increase, and contribute more as the year progresses.

That said, I am interested to see more of Cary Williams. The 6’1 182 lb Williams made a lot of plays in Camp last year. After the 2 game suspension to start last year, he never really got back in the mix. The Sun (http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/sports/ravens/blog/2011/08/cary_williams_working_with_firstteam_defense.html) reported Williams has been running with the 1st team this week. Williams certainly looks like good CB depth to have. We will see what happens this week against Kansas City. For Williams the math is pretty simple. Make your presence felt in the opportunities you get, and the Coaching staff is going to find ways to get you on the field.