Stu’s Clues: Pittsburgh

By OldLine | Published: November 5, 2011

Ahhh, great to be back writing about the team after a one week hiatus for a little R&R.  I take full responsibility for the near heart attack last week because my loyal readers didn’t know what to key in on, but I assure you that will not happen again during this 2011 campaign.  The Cardinals game was a thriller for sure, but the Ravens failed to progress as a team.  We came from behind to get the W, cool, but why was that needed vs a one win team?  Our O-Line was swiss cheese in the first half then got it together, Joe was inaccurate from under center while being pressured then showed precision from the gun, Ray Rice scored three, but I’m pretty sure I could have punched at least two of them in given his positions.  The game against the Cardinals was a great team win and certainly a feather in our comeback caps, but overall I’d say we regressed.  Ibid, we’ll move on as the biggest game of the year is upon us.

The Pittsburgh Steelers will not be the same team we saw in week 1.  They are carrying a ton of momentum coming into week 9 and will certainly be a formidable opponent.  I can say with a high level of confidence we will not force seven turnovers and completely demolish them, but if we play solid on both sides of the ball and focus on a few keys to the game, there is no reason we can’t bring out the brooms on the way home from the ketchup bottle.  Let’s get into it…

Exploit Weaknesses:  I said it week one and I’ll say it again, the Steelers O-Line sucks.  Big Ben does a great job of masking this in the stat sheets by making plays under pressure, but we need to dominate in the trenches.  This group is currently 4th worst in the NFL, allowing 25 sacks, and tackles Max Starks and Marcus Gilbert will be seeing Terrell Suggs in their nightmares leading up to Sundays match.  Pagano should be mixing up schemes and sending blitzers from all over to confuse the rag-tag group while still remembering to not allow Roethlisberger to escape to his right.  I think this is a major key to victory because an offense’s playbook shrinks exponentially every time a QB is rushed.  Suggs…do your thing homie.

Pump the Breaks, No Fear:  A lot has been said about Roethlisberger in the past few weeks about his production and the numbers don’t lie, dudes been playing well.  Over the last four games he holds an 11:2 TD to interception ratio and consecutively threw for 300+ yards.  But look deeper at the numbers and you’ll realize he’s not a Brady or healthy Manning.  These numbers were put up against Jacksonville, Arizona, Tennessee, and New England.  The Ravens didn’t show the weakness in these squads but the rest of the NFL has, as they have a collective 12-17 record.  Also, let’s juxtapose these figures against stats vs the Ravens.  Big Ben’s team does have the edge on us, 7-1 over the last eight, but his figures drop significantly against Balty.  Since 2008, the QB’s career completion percentage goes from 63.2% to 54.9% and he boasts a 8-6 TD to interception radio.  Marginal at best.  So we as a defense should not be fearing #7, respect his talents sure, but we shouldn’t be game planning around him just because he’s strung together a few good games.

Protect Joe:  My mantra for pretty much every challenge I face is hope for the best, prepare for the worst, and our O-Line should take that to heart.  A lot has been said about injuries to key players on the Steelers defense but who really knows who’ll suit up.  Pittsburgh is currently tied for 9th in the NFL with 20 sacks, 11 of which come from players who were all “limited” in practice Thursday.  It would certainly be a boost not to see these guys out there Sunday night, but we should practice as if they will play.  After scouring all the inside information and injury reports I could find, I polled a few friends that are Steelers fans, yes I have them, to come up with these figures for percent chance these guys DO actually play.  James Harrison 30%   LaMarr Woodley 50%   James Farrior 20%.  Take those numbers for what they’re worth, I made them up, but either way the onus should be on our offensive line to stop whoever’s out there.  The probably return of Ben Grubbs should restore some confidence in our protection further predicated upon the Steelers injury report.

Share the Wealth: The first meeting between these two teams was a thing of beauty as Baltimore rushed for 170 yards on 31 carries and threw for 215 on 30 attempts.  Cam should remember this formula while also giving his weapons their due.  During the past two seasons, the Ravens are 12-1 when Ray Rice has 20+ rushes.  Another stat to accompany this is that Pittsburgh has allowed only three 100 yard rushers over the last 58 games, and RR accounts for two.  Anquan Boldin is also off to a great season and needs to be utilized if we’re going to emerge as victors.  He leads the team with 34 catches for 539 yards and is clearly the leader amongst the wideouts.  Cam should prepare the same as he did week one and not get flustered into changing the playbook depending on what LeBeau puts out there.  Stay the course Cam, stay the course.

        I could throw a slew of numbers out there showing why we’re going to win but come Sunday night at Heinz field, none of that will matter.  These are two titans of the AFC that hate each other surely yielding the game of the week.  So come on down to Power Plant Live around 7pm for great drink and food specials while the electrifying tunes of the guys from Fortune5Fifty and DJ J-Mata carry the Ravens to victory, 28-27.

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Stu’s Clues: Jacksonville Jaguars

By OldLine | Published: October 21, 2011

What a game last week… or should I say what a 4th quarter.  Houston certainly proved they are going to be a worthy adversary to the rest of the league and need to be taken seriously, with or without Andre Johnson.  Also in a weak division, if they can win and lock up a home playoff game there’s certainly a chance we may see them again.  But it did feel good to get the W in that fashion.  It’s my contention that truly great teams are not always truly great every quarter of every game, and I love how there’s always something more we can do.  Look at the Patriots run in 2008.  They concluded the season playing the NY Giants straight up and not resting any of their players.  They ultimately got the win but showed their true colors to a team that countered their weaknesses in the Super Bowl.  This Ravens team has something new every week that we can work on and once we’re firing on all cylinders…dare I say Festivus Maximus?

Enough about that, because we do have a game Monday night that certainly requires our attention.  The Jacksonville Jaguars have struggled the last few years to get any traction and to me are the leading candidates to end up in LA.  Jack Del’Rio is bent over, legs spread, pants around his ankles, on the head coaching chopping block, but that does not mean they can be overlooked.  This is a 1-5 club that gave the Steelers all they wanted last week and beat a Titan club that dominated us.  We need to continuously improve in every facet of the game because we’re far from flawless but should return to Baltimore as victors.  Let’s get into it…

Injuries: The injury report this week will be very important but was too similar to last week’s for my liking.  Jimmy Smith returned to limited practice from his high ankle sprain yet a specific return date is not foreseeable.  Lee Evans, Anthony Allen and Dannell Ellerbe were all out Wednesday and look like they will be out for MNF.  Ben Grubbs is who I’m most worried about, not because he’s necessarily the best player with an injury rather his position has been most notably exploited.  We’ve played teams that are not the defensive juggernauts in the league but Flacco has taken way too many hits.  This is extremely important because I’m not very confident in our insurance policy under center.  That being said, my position remains unchanged; if resting players now will ensure their full health down the stretch then let them rest.  Hard to debate, but I’m starting to get tired of saying that about the same guys.

Monday Night Football: A few things scare me about this game being on Monday night.  I’ve always heard rumors and speculation in betting circles to take the underdog no matter what.  I looked this up and there was a prevalent trend through the 70’s and 80’s where odds makers would slightly tighten margins strictly because of the prime time audience.  Also, last week I cited the home team in the NFL has a roughly 59% edge in the win column.  Statistics show that increases slightly to 61% when teams are playing on Monday night.  I guess fans get rowdier and more inspiring blowing off steam after a work day, but the numbers don’t lie.  I don’t think that will have as much of an affect, because I heard this game could get blacked out in Jacksonville, but still I’m less than comfortable with the timing of this trap game.

Focus on the Foe: Enough fluff, let’s queue in on what we specifically need to do.  The Jaguars have surrendered 115 YPG on the ground, good enough for 19th in the league, while their pass D is much better, currently ranked 8th.  If I’m Cam Cameron, I’m licking my chops with the opportunity to unleash a balanced arsenal on national TV.  With no clear weakness, I expect the usual suspects to have strong games with a dank dose of Ricky Williams and Ray Rice, allowing Joe to peanut butter the ball around to his receivers.

The Blaine Gabbert experiment has been OK for the Jags as he’s thrown a TD in the last four games since being named starter.  However, under the helm of first year QB, Jacksonville is 31st in points per game and last in the league in total yards.  A simple solution comes to light; STOP MJD.  He’s averaging 4.8 on 118 carries and is always a threat to break tackles to spring a long run.  If we can stack the box and maintain gap integrity, I’ll take Blaine Gabbert vs the Ravens D eight days a week.

Everything out on the table, we should win this game in dominating fashion.  The 1-5 Jags should be no match for the Ravens any time, any day, any venue.  But, if we overlook them and get caught up in the hype of MNF, this could be a fight on national TV.  My prediction: Ravens 24   Jags 10

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Stu’s Clues: Houston Texans

By OldLine | Published: October 14, 2011

Feels great to be back in the office on a purple Friday, but I must say I thoroughly enjoyed watching NFL RedZone last Sunday with practically nothing on the line.  Seems like the bye week came at exactly the right time for a variety of reasons and we’ll return to the field fresh and refocused.  I’m not going to harp on the Jets game and only had a few takeaways; our D was incredible, our O stinks vs Rex Ryan’s defense, and Baltimore LOVES to get rowdy for Sunday Night Football at the Bank.  Strange game all around so let’s move on to the task at hand.

I feel as though we are playing Houston at exactly the right time.  We’re home after a bye week and the numbers are certainly in our favor.  Dating back to 1980, the home team has won 59% of the games, and teams coming off bye weeks hold a 53% edge. Also, the Texans just suffered a heartbreaking loss to the Raiders and have some key injuries on both sides of the ball.  But forget the numbers, we’re simply a better team and here’s why, let’s get into it…

Getting Healthy: The Ravens have been plagued by injuries so far in the 2011 season, thankfully the phrase “Next Man Up” has successfully been applied.  Harbaugh gave the team an entire week off and it may have worked as six players returned to practice Wednesday albeit as limited participants.  Ben Grubs, Lee Evans, David Reed, Tommy Z, Haruki Nakamura and Dannell Ellerbe all practiced and will consider making this week their comeback.  Jimmy Smith (ankle) and cornerback Chris Carr (thigh) still remain out which isn’t necessarily a problem. Neither player would likely be an immediate starter and if time will allow them to make a full recovery, rest may prove beneficial as we make a run late in the season.  I’m patiently awaiting the injury report and think we’ll take great strides to renew our depth.

Exploiting Lack of Health: I typically want to play the best of the best so there’s no asterisk on a W, but I will certainly sleep better Saturday night with Andre Johnson doubtful (ankle) and Mario Williams (torn pectoral) on IR.   Andre Johnson is a 5 time pro bowler off to a good start in 2011, notching 25 catches for 352 yards and one TD.  This certainly isn’t his only impact.  Every defensive coordinator in the country game plans around him with double coverage schemes to force other players to beat them.  Assuming he’ll rest with two divisional games against the Titans and Jaguars coming up, our depleted CB position can key in on stopping their other weapons.

Mario Williams took a lot of flack after being taken number 1 in 2006 but has been a great pass rusher for the Texans.  This year, he’s amassed 11 tackles and leads the team with five sacks.  A similar mantra applies to Williams as well.  Teams constantly shift backs to the left and keep tight ends to chip Williams off the line, so his absence will provide more time for Flacco and not limit what we do.  Rookie D-End Brooks Reed from Arizona is a second round pick that will be rushing off the edge but certainly should not disrupt our offensive rhythm.

Foster, Arian for Dangerous: Arian Foster is a beast and has a good story to accompany his production on the field.  Undrafted in 2009, he spent a full year on the practice squad and when opportunity knocked, he answered.  Foster led the NFL last year, rushing for 1,616 total yards and 18 touchdowns, and is looking to get back on track in 2011.  A hamstring hindered him the first two weeks, but in the last three games he’s averaged 4.1 yards on 62 carries and helped lead Houston to the fifth best rushing attack.  This is where we’ll see the real impact of Johnson’s injury.  If we can pull safeties from deep coverage responsibility to stack the box, his production will certainly be limited facing seven and eight man fronts.  Arian Foster certainly is not the only weapon but if we take him out of the equation, I don’t see the Texans putting up big points.

Where We Attack: Enough about them, lets focus on what we need to do.  The addition of Wade Phillips as defensive coordinator has been successful for the Texans and they are not the laughing stock they once were.  He’s improved the worst pass defense and currently ranks 6th in that category, but let’s dive into those numbers.  So far, the Texans have faced the Steelers, Dolphins, Colts and Raiders.  Not a single QB on those teams is a known gun slinger that consistently moves the ball, and this is where we attack.  The loss of Mario Williams will certainly deplete the pass rush and give Flacco time to survey the field.  I expect a healthy dose of Ray Rice to open up the passing lanes and big games out of Boldin and our TE’s.

All in all, I think we are playing the Houston Texans at the perfect time and have the team to beat them.  With their division, a 9-7 record may be good enough to win and host a playoff game, so this might not be their only trip to Baltimore this year.  If we come out flat footed after a week off, this game could come down to the wire, but if we focus on what we need to do I project a 28-20 victory.  See you at lot J.

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Stu’s Clues: NY Jets

By OldLine | Published: September 30, 2011

Let’s start by appreciating the stellar performance in St. Louis last week.  Our offense amassed the most yards in the history of the Ravens, and our defense was the dominating force they have the ability to be. Granted the Rams are a long way from making an impact on this league and looked like a deer in the headlights, but we inspired a lot of fear with this statement.

The Jets should be a different animal.  They boast a 2-1 record with a disappointing loss on the road in Oakland where they were dominated on the ground, similar to when we laid an egg in Tennessee.  Their true identity has yet to be seen and Sunday night will be a great test.  The homecoming for Rex Ryan and several players has been a media outlet’s dream, and this match up has spawned into a notable rivalry in the NFL, but talk is cheap when we black it out at the Bank.  Let’s get into it…

Jets Run D: I’ve heard all week how Ray Rice has to be licking his chops with a chance to run on the 2nd worst run defense in the league, but unlike all other news reporters I didn’t flunk high school statistics and choose not to sip this Kool-Aid.  Three games is far too small a sample size to determine a team’s strength when the numbers are largely skewed by two long runs surrendered last week in Oakland.  After week 2, the Jets were the 5th best in the league at stopping the run after facing MJD in Jacksonville and Dallas’ dynamic offense.  That does not mean I don’t expect us to run the ball, but Rex has made his name on strong defense, specifically against the run, and he’ll be able to fix things on this side of the ball.  I hope to see a very balanced diet of Ray Rice both taking hand offs and check down passes from Flacco.  He’s gained over 400 yards from scrimmage and we signed Vontae Leech for one thing, to open huge holes.  I think this will be a platform we use to achieve victory but can not rely solely on the run because of the numbers the Raiders put up last week.

Under Center: Nick Mangold has been a consistent starter for the Jets, yet I do not believe the perennial pro-bowler will suit up this week as he recovers from an ankle injury.  This opens all sorts of possibilities for Chuck Pagano as he looks to exploit a hole in the middle.  Ray Lewis isn’t the blitzing machine he once was, but when he does make it to the QB it’s usually through the A gap on a delay which can be hard for O-Lineman to identify.  That’s a real shame because our nose tackle is arguably the best in the business.  The loss of Mangold is like not even giving the levees a chance to break before the Haloti Ngata storm comes through.  This will not only shut off running lanes up the middle but also collapse the pocket denying Sanchez room to step up to make throws down field, which takes me to my next point.

Throw Mark Throw: The Ravens currently have the 6th best pass rush in the league, notching 9 sacks thus far in the 2011 season.  If/when we are able to stop the run Sunday night, this will force the Jets to pass which plays to our strengths for several reasons.  Mark Sanchez is not very good.  In games where Sanchez has more than 30 attempts, the Jets are a mere 10-10.  This also gives our pass rushers time to be effective.  QB’s around the league will acknowledge how effective pressure off the edge can be, but they cherish the ability to step up in the pocket.  If Ngata and Cody can get a good push up the middle, Terrell Suggs and Cory Redding should turn in a great performance against New York’s very average tackles.

Ex-Steelers: My biggest fear of this game is our depleted secondary vs Santonio Holmes and Plaxico Burress.  The pair only have a collective 3 TDs and 258 yards but are proven big time receivers that historically play great in Baltimore.  Regardless of what you might think, the loss of Dominique Foxworth hurts us.  I was always a proponent of starting him on the PUP and not having him for the season is concerning.  Jimmy Smith and Haruki Nakamura will also be missed for their respective bump and run coverage and presence in nickel schemes.  Our secondary has been average thus far this season and this will be a great indicator of where we stand and how far we can go.  I think the biggest safety blanket for this group will be our ability to get to the quarterback and force Sanchez into bad decisions.

After the first three weeks of feeling out the league and each team searching for their true identity, a real force will be born in the AFC after this game.  The Jets have our old defensive coordinator and a plethora of ex-Ravens, and Sunday night has been touted as Big Brother Baltimore vs the Little Bro Jets.  This has all the makings of a great game and I expect a close one, with the Ravens emerging victorious 20-17.

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SpOilers

By OldLine | Published: September 27, 2011

When was the last time you were sitting on the edge of your seat, hanging onto every pitch of an Orioles game in September?  Last year’s strong finish was fun but none of the games truly mattered.  These last few games mark the first time I have gotten nervous about the outcome of an Orioles game this late in the season since 1997.

Keeping the Red Sox out of the playoffs may be minor compared to the Orioles making the playoffs (does anyone remember what the feels like?), but it is all we have right now.  The O’s fans that remain after another long season seem to be embracing the late-season excitement.  Buck commented on the intensity of the crowd last night and how it might give our young players a taste of a stretch run.  According to Boston.com (I love to read the newspapers from opposing teams’ cities after a Baltimore win),

“In the top of the seventh, a fan ran on the field and made several obscene gestures in front of the Sox dugout. He remained on the field for several minutes as police officers did little other than watch.”

Can somebody please find a video or even another mention of that moment?  That guy is a true Bohero and so are the Baltimore Police for giving him some time to express his feelings toward the Red Sox.  I can’t imagine what I would say to them in that situation.  It would be ten years of hatred spewing out at once and whatever came out would probably be incoherent.

The Rays clearly received the letter that BohsandOs.com sent last week and have started to respond.  O’s fans may still be bitter that the Rays figured out how to win in the AL East, but I, for one, have been feeling a connection with Rays fans over the past week.  I am honored to help them in their noble cause to keep the Red Sox out of the playoffs.  Below is a picture of a Rays fan at Tropicana last night showing his thanks for the Orioles’ efforts.

Last night wasn’t all about keeping the Red Sox out of the playoffs.  There was plenty to make you feel good as an O’s fan.  Congratulations to Tommy Hunter who beat Beckett for the second time in a week.  Congratulations also goes to Vlad who became the all-time hit leader among Dominican born players.  Finally congratulations to the Andino family.  Robert Andino hit an inside-the-park homerun last night in front of his dad who was seeing him play in the majors for the first time.  Andino has been a bright spot for the O’s this season.  He is vastly improved and has done a great job filling in for B-Rob.  Speaking of B-Rob, there was an OTL about his recovery that aired a few days ago.  The video below says that his prognosis is good and the physical therapists are optimistic he can make a full recovery.

Link to OTL segment on B-Rob.

BohsandOs.com wants B-Rob to know that we miss him and hope he can return next season.

The win last night guarantees that the final two O’s games of the season will factor into the AL Wild Card race.  There is still a chance that the Red Sox could celebrate a postseason berth at OPACY on Wednesday.  As painful as watching that would be, imagine how great it would be to let Red Sox fans know that they will be joining us at home in October as they file out on to Eutaw St.  All O’s fans need to get out to the Yard not only to help the O’s keep the Red Sox out of the playoffs but because we won’t be back in those seats until next April.  The O’s thankfully open on a Friday in Baltimore next season making the Opening Day festivities much more enjoyable.  Speaking of Opening Day it seems like an eternity since we swept these very same Rays that we are now trying to help in the first series of the season.

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Stu’s Clues: St. Louis Rams

By OldLine | Published: September 23, 2011

I wrote an extensive piece critiquing several aspects of last week’s debacle in Tennessee but ultimately chose not to post it.  I analyzed how our corners, all of them, were dominated by their WR’s, discussed Flacco’s happy feet and his waffling through receiver options, and our pass rush or lack there of, but I’m willing to chalk it up to a bad game and hangover from week 1.  We laid a similar egg week 2 last year in Cincinnati and rebounded to make a deep run into the playoffs.  I think this was a humbling experience alerting every player, coach, and fan alike that we are fallible even after tearing down the Steel Curtain.  Learn from it and move on.

St. Louis is an interesting team that I expect to grow into a perennial contender in the NFC West, but they are not there yet.  Second year quarterback Sam Bradford has proven he has potential to be great and led his team to a 7-9 record in his rookie season after the Rams were 1-15 the year before.  They have an exciting young receiving core with their starting three having less than five years experience, and have relied heavily on the hard work and production of Steven Jackson.  They have the makings of a desperate team that will do anything to stave off an 0 and 3 start, but sorry St Louie, that’s just where you’re heading with the Ravens coming to town.  Let’s get into it…

Protection and Delivery: The offensive line is one of the most important positions on the field.  If they play their best, your rarely hear about them, if they falter, they are the focal point of all the criticism.  A tough job I grant you but these guys need to step up.  We surrendered three sacks last week and Flacco rarely had a pocket to step into.  This completely disrupted our rhythm offensively leading to an abysmal 197 yards through the air, and our running game wasn’t any better.  If Ben Grubbs can not go this week, look for recently signed Andrew Gurode to see some time with the starters.  Mark LeVoir filled in last week but the lack of continuity was tangible.  If this group can play up to their potential and avoid further injuries, I still believe this can be one of the best units in the NFL; however we’re a long way from that.

Separation: As poorly as Flacco played, the Tennessee corners made great plays jumping routes leading to his interceptions, and it did not appear he had anyone to throw to all day.  The wide receiving core was always a bit of a question mark with new players like Pitta, Dickson, Torrey Smith and Tandon Doss, and its time for these players to show why Ozzie selected them.  Lee Evans has proven he’s a deep threat from his time in Buffalo, but if he is not able to play at a high level due to his foot injury I’d rather let him rest.  Torrey Smith will only stretch the field if we actually throw him a deep ball or two and this is the week to do that.  I expect a 9 route early to spread the defense and open lanes for guys to work underneath.  If Flacco has time, this group should turn in a solid performance.

Pass Rush: The Rams surrendered five and three sacks to the Eagles and Giants respectively, and we can exploit this weakness.  Consistently getting to the quarterback will force Bradford into poor decisions and not allow him to survey down-field for secondary and tertiary options.  Suggs is Suggs, an absolute beast but often plays down to the competition.  He leads all active players in sacking our rival QB, but can he show the same effort in a non-conference game against an 0-2 opponent?  I think so.  Even if he draws the double teams that will leave guys like Cory Redding and Jarret Johnson one-on-one and we have the upper hand in that match up.  Sam Bradford, prepare to be welcomed to the NFL.

Secondary: I wish Chuck Pagano let me in the locker room last week to talk to this group and let them know just how I felt.  I was physically sick seeing pass after pass completed to Kenny Britt with not a double team or even press coverage in sight.  In the preseason, this was one of our deepest positions and today looks like one of our weakest.  This group was lit up for 358 yards vs the Over-the-Hasselbeck-Hill Titans and Sam Bradford has already thrown for 519 yards over two games, so this will not get easier.  My advice to the entire unit would be burn the Titans tape, forget about it, prepare for the Rams, and hope you don’t see me in the streets of Balty.

Realistically, this game should be an opportunity to grow as a collective unit against an inferior opponent.  If Steven Jackson is out, and as a fantasy owner I believe he is, the Rams will be largely one-dimensional.  If we maintain our balance as an offense and can get to the quarterback to avoid exposing our corners, I am predicting a 27 to 13 victory, but this is completely dependent upon which Ravens team shows up.

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Dear Tampa Bay Rays,

By OldLine | Published: September 22, 2011

Dear Tampa Bay Rays,

What the fuck?  We take 3 of 4 from the Red Sox and you lose ground in the AL Wild Card?  Do you know how rare it is for us to win a game in Fenway Park let alone an entire series?  We even beat Josh Beckett for you.  That’s right; Tommy Hunter took on Josh Beckett and won.  And how do you thanks us?  You get swept in a double header in New York.  We gave you an opportunity to disband the bandwagon for a second straight October and you squandered it!

It is bad enough that you had to prove that it is possible for small market teams to compete in the AL East.  Before that we could claim that the system was unfair and remind ourselves, “Hey, at least we aren’t the Devil Rays.”  We managed to get over that and have even come to terms with our new role as AL East doormats.  In fact, we kind of like it down here and plan on staying for at least another decade.  (If only those darn Pirates didn’t take all the glory by finishing their record 19th consecutive losing season we would have a trophy to help spruce up our basement.)  You guys have sort of become our idols.  Maybe one day we too can a play a game that matters.  For the past couple days the games have almost mattered and we played with everything we had (even Brian Matusz lasted longer than an inning).  It was all for you!

We are hurt that all our effort clearly meant nothing to you, but this is not over yet.  We are headed for Detroit for four games and we are going to tank them (and I mean really just get shelled) so we can be ready when the Red Sox come to town for the final series of the season.  Please find a way to beat the Yankees and then take care of business back home against the Jays.  Come Monday you better be in a position to take the Wild Card because we are going to need motivation to play in front those carpetbaggers from up north.  Do you have any idea how annoying it is when they scream “Yooooooouuuu” after their third baseman fields a ground ball?  Yep, that’s all it takes, a fucking ground ball.

Sincerely,

The Orioles

 

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Stu’s Clues: Tennessee Titans

By OldLine | Published: September 15, 2011

Maybe Ryan Clark and Casey Hampton were correct, true rivalries aren’t typically decided by 28 points.  The absolute domination of the black and yellow was one of the greatest sights these eyes have ever seen, and I’ve never been more proud of our team.  I could talk for days about Ngata and Suggs’ assault on Roethlisberger, Cam’s play-calling and Rice and Flacco’s execution, our secondary giving new meaning to “Next Man Up,” or the countless other players that truly played like a Raven.  However, at the end of the day, we’re tied for 1st with the Bengals so we certainly need to expand on this victory and prepare for Tennessee.

The Ravens-Titans rivalry takes me back to the 2000 season when Ray would wear the baggy do-rag and was in the business of ending running backs careers.  But outside of the infamous pick six from the hands of Eddie George, the Titans have amassed a regular season record of 8-8 vs the Ravens and should have ended our season in the divisional round in 2009.  In that match up, the Titans held the edge in every category and were widely regarded as the best team in the NFL.  They gained 21 first downs to our 9, earned 391 yards to our 211, and had us on the brink of defeat.  Both teams are very different now, but a home opener at LP Field is not going to be easy.  Let’s get into it…

Secondary: We are very fortunate this was one of our deepest positions this season because at one point on Sunday three CB’s were out with injuries.  Guys like Haruki Nakamura were called upon and played admirably outside their comfort zone, but until Smith, Carr, and Foxworth fully recover this will be an area to watch.  I’d like to see Cary Williams and Lardarius Webb separate themselves from the pack and claim the starting role.  Matt Hasselbeck is a formal pro-bowler who led Seattle to a playoff victory in 2010 and certainly has gas left in the tank.  Kenny Britt is entering his third year looking to become one of the elite receivers in the NFL.  In week one, he caught five balls for 136 yards and two touchdowns.  Clearly he is the Titans’ main threat through the air.  Cary Williams has worked hard to make it on the field, now we’ll see if he has what it takes to stick.  He has good height to match up with Britt, and I expect him to take coverage duties.  Britt likes to get downfield so we’ll have consistent over the top help but this will certainly be a battle all day.

O-Line: I’m not sure if a new group of guys can have a better debut then the Ravens’ offensive line did, but consistency will be the key in week two.  Bryant McKinnie essentially made James Harrison inconsequential, Oher dominated the right side of the line and the interior guys were able to get to the second level to create holes for our run game.  The Titans will undoubtedly miss the services of Jason Babin, but they were tied for 8th in the NFL in 2010 with 40 sacks.  Communication will be exponentially more difficult playing on the road in front of 65,000 opposing fans and provide an obstacle not seen versus the Steelers.  Look for Joe to use simple snap counts and keep our streak of zero false starts alive.

Offensive Teamwork: Tennessee typically lines up in a 4-3 Tampa Cover 2 which usually does not give up the big play.  Lee Evans’ impact on Sunday’s game did not show up on paper, but all other receivers were certainly grateful for his work.  Our running game also freed up passing lanes, with Ray Rice and Ricky Williams combining for 170 yards.  If they stack the box to stop the run, we’ll throw it deep to Evans or Smith.  If they stay in a Cover 2, we’ll work the underneath routes with Q, Dickson and Pitta.  If they play nickel coverage, we’ll run it down their throats.  A properly managed, well-balanced offense is a defense’s nightmare.

STOP THE RUN: This is the most important key to victory because Chris Johnson is one of the best running backs in the league and has the ability to take over a game.  His preseason was shortened due to a holdout, but was eventually given a six year, 55.26 million dollar contract with 30 million guaranteed.  In the ’09 divisional game, CJ ran for 71 yards before being injured in the second quarter and will again look to attack our defense.  Their head coach has publically stated CJ should expect 25+ carries which is scary for even the Ravens D.  I expect Chuck Pagano to use more zone blitzing schemes rather than an all out pass rush to help limit the speedy back.

If we can contain the run and make the Titans one dimensional, this should be an easy victory.  If we allow one of the leagues best running backs to exploit our lack of speed at the linebacker position, we could be in for a long day.  Prediction: Ravens 27, Titans 13.

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Stu’s Clues: Pittsburgh Pregame

By OldLine | Published: September 9, 2011

This year we do not have the privilege of a cupcake opponent to get the NFL season started.  We have the defending AFC Champs coming into our house in what should be a fight to the finish.  If we execute on a few key aspects of the game, I think we take a commanding early lead in the division.  Lets get into it…

Pregame: First off, get there early.  Security will most certainly be intrusive on the 10th anniversary of 9/11 and my morning news ticker has already been reading “credible threats.”  We can not let the possibility of an attack overshadow what will surely be a glorious day, but grab an extra road soda from your tailgate because you’ll be waiting in line a bit longer to get into the stadium.  Also, the Ravens have agreed to a pregame memorial of their own.  Each fan will be given a small American flag, the band will be performing patriotic music and a 100-yard flag will be unfurled while honoring first responders of our emergency services, members of our armed forces as well as representatives of the Wounded Warrior project.  I have not confirmed that a flyover will take place but assume some sort of aircraft will help us at M&T Bank kick off the 2011 season.

Offensive Line: This was a weak spot last season the Ravens needed to address and have acquired players they think can fill the void.  The only question is will they be ready week 1.  Dick LeBeau will go down in history as a great defensive coordinator and has designed several complex blitzing schemes that give quarterbacks fits.  They led the NFL with 48 sacks in 2010 and the key players are still in place.  James Harrison and LaMarr Woodley notched 10.5 and 10 respectively and are great at coming off the edge.  This will be an opportunity for Bryant McKinnie to prove he’s in shape and can still play at a high level, and maybe deserves a boat party or two.  In 2009, Michael Oher was in the conversation for Rookie of the Year and should have no problem switching back to the right side.  This will be a great test for a group that has not taken many snaps this preseason as they continue to come together as a strong, cohesive unit.

Pass Rush: The Ravens had a franchise low in sacks last year and hired Chuck Pagano to run the defense and fix this issue.  I said it before and still believe Pittsburgh is weak at the O-Line.  Maurkice Pouncey is the only formidable player and we should be able to get to Roethlisberger.  The question is will we finish once we get there.  Like it or not, Big Ben is one of the best quarterbacks ever at escaping tackles and making plays once out of the pocket.  His sandlot style elevates him to elite status with the Mannings, Rodgers, and Bradys, even though he may not have their talent.  To counter this, I expect Suggs to have his hand in the dirt on the left side of our line and other blitzers to follow.  If we can take him down in the backfield, great, but we CAN NOT allow him to scramble to his right and make a play down field.  If we force him left, it drastically limits his ability to scan the field for secondary and tertiary options.  I sit in the nosebleeds, but if I see #7 slip through the arms of three Ravens, roll out to his right and deliver a pass on 3rd and long, Pagano himself will hear the expletives flying.

Secondary: I am most unsure about whose going to be matching up against the Pittsburgh wideouts and somehow not worried.  I expect Cary Williams to start on Hines Ward, and Domonique Foxworth and Jimmy Smith to share time on deep threats Mike Wallace and Emmanuel Sanders.  Williams has excelled in the past on special teams and can use his physicality to press Ward, and over the top help can be utilized so we don’t get beat deep.  A variety of combinations and packages will be seen in the secondary and hopefully we can use depth to our advantage.

Spread Offense: I’ve done research to find out how teams are able to handedly beat the Steelers and come across a few interesting points.  Over the past five years, the Steelers have faced 8 quarterbacks that led their team to a Super Bowl over that stretch.  They allowed an average of 28.5 points and a quarterback rating of 105.7, collectively surrendering 20 TD’s vs 2 interceptions. Big deal you might say, these QB’s led their team to the finals and put up these numbers on everyone, but this shows Pittsburgh’s weak spot.  Spread out the defense and do not be afraid to throw.  The Patriots’ dip and dunk offense constantly has 300+ yards through the air against Pittsburgh, and now we have the tools in place to do the same.  I’d like to see three-wide sets with Torrey Smith and Lee Evans on the outside to stretch the field, and let Boldin, Rice, Dickson and Pitta rack up the short yards.   We can lull their secondary to sleep then strike deep.  We may need to occasionally keep our TE’s on the line to chip their ends, and leave a RB in the backfield to pick up the blitz, but if we give Flacco time, that’s how we win.

I can not express in words how excited I am for the game, and am predicting a 23-16 victory for the Ravens.  If you’re not pumped up for this, you don’t have a pulse.  See you at the yard.

 

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A Maryland Masterpiece

By OldLine | Published: September 9, 2011

The uniforms worn by the Terps on Monday night were a masterpiece worthy Monet or Van Gogh.  They were a finer work then even the brush strokes that returned “Baltimore” to the O’s away jerseys.  I openly wept as the beautiful canvases of Maryland flags emerged from the tunnel at Byrd Stadium as if they were the Mona Lisa in the tunnels of the Louvre.

Since their first appearance on Monday night the uniforms have been discussed across the country.  Most are unable to see their beauty as Marylanders can.  Most don’t even see them as art, but instead as nothing more than a PR move by UMD to attract recruits.  They are unable to feel the Goosebumps and the pride that the uniforms stirred in all Marylanders and Terps fans alike.   Kevin Plank on the SVP Radio Show said his main goal of creating the uniforms was to rally all Marylanders around their Terps.  Mr. Plank understands that many MD Football (and now even basketball) fans lie dormant around the state waiting for someone or something to ignite a passion not felt since Juan Dixon graced Cole Field House.  I will be ecstatic if some “fresh” uniforms are what it takes strengthen Maryland’s recruiting, but what really matters is uniting the entire state behind the Terps. Terps Football could be to Maryland what LSU Football is to Louisiana or Cornhusker football is to Nebraska.  Imagine a day when Saturday’s in Baltimore are more than just a gambling opportunity and a warm up for Sunday.

The Maryland flag is second to none and all teams in Maryland (Redskins don’t count) should take notice of that.  The yellow and black (not the other way around) checkers and the red and white crosses should be a symbol for all our teams, not just the Terps.  I once took the flag to an O’s game in Fenway, but Daniel Cabrera made sure she never had a chance to fly.  I was able to unravel her at Yankees game at OPACY and was complemented by several fans O’s as she waved in faces of the defeated Yankees fans.  I have enjoyed taunting UVA fans with the flag on several trips to Charlottesville and wearing her as a cape as I stormed the field in College Park.  Our beautiful flag could become a symbol for all three of our teams and a rallying cry for all Marylanders who go on the road to watch them.  Imagine tailgates in outside Heinz Field dotted with Maryland flags flying high and proud before Ravens games.  Or perhaps even my lifelong dream of draping a Maryland Flag over the Green Monster as an Oriole homerun sails over it will come true.  LONG LIVE MARYLAND!

 

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