IMPACT ROOKIES FOR 2013 NFL SEASON-AFC NORTH

Time to look at the reigning champs and the rivals working to keep them out of the chase this year.

BALTIMORE RAVENS

Projected Starters:

Arthur Brown ILB: Brown is big shoes to fill as he was drafted in response to Ray Lewis' retirement.  He will be hard pressed to have near the effect as the player who was the face of Ravens franchise, but he does bring some of the same skill set to the field.  He is the same kind of sideline to sideline linebacker as Lewis was and is a leader in his own way.  His performance is one of the limiting factors when we look at how good this defense could be.

Likely Contributors:

Matt Elam S: Elam is a stud, but he just hasn't beat out James Ihedigbo.  I expect to see him on the field early and often, perhaps even as the Ravens nickel back.

Brandon Williams DT:

Williams is a huge, raw, talent at nosetackle.  He is coming out of a small school, but should be a space eater to keep the linebackers clean, at worst.  He was a nice piece for the Ravens to add as they rebuild their depth on defense.  If they decide to go big, they can put Haloti Ngata, Williams, and Terrance Cody on the field together to have a 3 man line weighing 1015 lbs.

Ricky Wagner OT:

Wagner is a technically proficient Tackle with a lot of experience.  He projects as a marginal Left Tackle, but could easily start at the other positions.  He is slotted as the understudy to Mount McKinnie at left tackle.

CINCINNATI BENGALS

Elvis Dumervil and Terrell Suggs Quite an OLB Combination for Baltimore Ravens

Newly acquired Pro Bowl pass rusher Elvis Dumervil will take his physical today with the Baltimore Ravens to make his five year deal with Baltimore official. Dumervil and Terrell Suggs will now be one of the most feared pass rushing combinations in the NFL.


Dumervil, already one of the most feared pass rushers in the game, is joining a Ravens defense that lost Paul Kruger this offseason due to free agency, but in all honesty, is by far and away an upgrade from Kruger and for half the cost. Ravens GM Ozzie Newsome knows exactly what he is doing, and hopefully Baltimore fans now fully understand this. Dumervil, who is still just 29 years of age, is coming off an 11 sack season, (two more than Kruger last year) has 63.5 career sacks, 16 forced fumbles and nine fumble recoveries. In addition, Dumervil has recorded 11 or more sacks in a season three times and has had at least 8.5 sacks in five of his six full seasons.

Now, Dumervil will be opposite of the 2011 NFL Defensive Player of the Year, Terrell Suggs. Suggs, who is now 30 years old, is a five time Pro Bowler in his own right. Terrell has 84.5 career sacks in his ten NFL seasons and has also added 25 forced fumbles and 11 fumble recoveries. Suggs has had at least eight sacks in seven of his ten seasons, and should be completely healthy heading into the 2013 season, after being affected by a torn ACL that he suffered in the offseason last year and a torn biceps this season.

Instant Analysis: Anquan Boldin traded to the 49ers

It’s punch, counter-punch today in the NFC West as the 49ers have swung a deal with the Ravens to acquire Anquan Boldin in exchange for a sixth round pick in the 2013 NFL Draft. As with the trade of Harvin to Seattle, this moves creates a ripple effect in dynasty leagues. Let’s take a look at the key players whose values need to be reviewed after this move:

Anquan Boldin, WR SF

Boldin is a physical, no nonsense player who fits perfectly within the scheme and philosophy of the “other” Harbaugh’s team. There’s no question he’ll add elements of toughness, leadership and physicality to the San Francisco locker room and on the field.

As far as his dynasty value, this really doesn’t change too much. Boldin is likely going to be the third option at best in the passing attack behind Michael Crabtree and Vernon Davis. He’ll be a player targeted on third downs and in the red zone as well. It wouldn’t be a surprise to see Boldin post a season with 50-60 catches, 750 yards and a handful of touchdowns. If you have an owner in your league who expects more than that, it’s time to trade Boldin and get something while you can as this will not be the vintage Boldin from his days in Arizona.

Terrell Suggs Guarantees Every Team in the NFL Hates the Patriots

The Baltimore Ravens have never been shy to air out any and all grievances they have towards the New England Patriots.

Although OLB Terrell Suggs has been vocal in the past about his dislike for the Patriots, Suggs “guarantees
the other 31 NFL teams hate the New England Patriots,” according to his on air interview on WEEI on The Big Show.

 “The NFL is not very big,” Suggs said on WEEI. “You think we don’t talk to guys that have played for the New England Patriots, that have been on the New England Patriots that have been like, ‘Oh, it’s been like this.’ It ain’t just me. Why did Bart Scott say the same thing? You think it’s just us? You think it’s just got something to do with us? No. This is because we have inside information. We know.”

Super Bowl MVP Joe Flacco looking for long-term contract

It looks like Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco made a good decision to postpone talk of a new contract until the NFL season came to an end. With the Ravens edging the San Francisco 49ers 34-31 in the Super Bowl on Feb. 3 and Flacco being named the game’s MVP, he’s definitely got a lot more bargaining power now.

Flacco was superb in the showdown with san Francisco by passing for 287 yards and going 22 for 33. He threw three touchdown passes in the first half and proved he’s one of the best at his position in the league.

He became just the sixth quarterback in history to complete three touchdown passes in the first half of a Super Bowl and could now cash in on his performance.

During the postseason he threw for 11 touchdowns to equal an NFL record and wasn’t intercepted once. He gained 1,140 yards for the Ravens and went 73 for 126 in their playoff run. He also beat Tom Brady and Peyton Manning when they went head to head on the road against New England and Denver and also bettered top draft pick Andrew Luck in a home win over Indianapolis.

 Flacco, who’s been in the league for five years now, wasn’t as spectacular in the regular season though. His passer rating was just 87.7, which was 12th in the 32-team league and quite a distance behind Aaron Rodgers who ranked first at 108.0. Flacco threw for 22 touchdowns during the regular season as well as 10 interceptions, which ranked him in mid table. However, when the stakes got higher in the playoffs he rose to the challenge. His overall postseason record now stands at 9-4 and has won at least one playoff game in each of his five seasons.

I BELIEVE (in Flacco)

I admin it, I was not a beleiver.

When I looked at the big, relatively uncoordinated QB, I couldn't get past him failing to win a starting job at Pitt against a guy who didn't even get a cup of coffee. I couldn't get past his INT numbers or his relatively pedestrian completion percentages.

Now, I am not saying that I didn't see the potential early, or recognize that he was a starting QB at the NFL level late....but a premier QB?

Yeah, I just didn't see it.

I was wrong.

Joe Flacco has a couple things that you cannot buy, and you should never undervalue.

First, he has phsyical abilities which allow him to differentiate himself from other QB's in the league. He he is a huge man, which an easy delivery that allows him to make every required throw and several that most teams don't even bother to leave in the playbook.

This is a guy who put the ball 31 yards down the field, on the money, on the run last night.

We hear all the time about the "spread" offenses.

Those offenses spread the field horizontally, Flacco allows the Ravens to spread the defense vertically. This is not a new concept, it's just one we don't hear about much anymore. He is perfectlt suited to it, physically, and good on the Ravens for recognizing that and having the patience to let him grown.

Second, he could not care less what we all think about him.

Anquan Boldin: What's His Story

By Ken Lindahl

The stage is set with Superbowl 47 as it looks to be a game for the ages. The headlines just keep flying in as there is so much to take out of this game. The two Harbaugh brothers going up against each other is only part of the hype. The other is who deserves a ring more, Ray Lewis or Randy Moss? Both are superstars and first class hall of famers but aren’t we forgetting about somebody ?? I’m here to say yes, yes we are. What about three time pro bowler Anquan Boldin who is in his 10th season of his career? 

                Anquan Kemile Boldin was selected in the second round of the 2003 draft by the Arizona Cardinals. As a rookie Boldin finished the season with 101 catches, 1,377 yards and 8 touchdowns which lead him as the only rookie to make the 2004 Pro Bowl. In 2005 Boldin had another 100 catch season while missing time to match Larry Fitz as they became the third duo to achieve that in NFL history. If this doesn’t convince you that he should be in the Ray and Randy Conversation I got more on number 81.

         

Ravens GM Offers Ed Reed Coaching Job The Minute He Retires

Ed Reed is the consummate student of the game.  Not only has he always been an exceptional athlete playing safety, but he’s also knowledgeable beyond his years about the sport of football.

Ravens GM Ozzie Newsome is clearly aware of that, and in an effort to keep that knowledge in Baltimore for as long as he can, Newsome has offered Reed a coaching job as soon as he retires according to USA Today.

“Ed wants to be a coach, so he sees this as an opportunity to start his coaching career by helping those young players come along,” Newsome said. “The thing about Ed is, he doesn’t just talk about it. He goes out and works the way you have to work to get it done.”
“That’ll be up to Ed Reed,” Newsome said. “That will be something that (Ravens owner) Steve (Bisciotti) and I can talk about. But Ed still has a lot of football left to play. So we’ll cross that hurdle. If Ed decides he wants to do that, I think we can find a way.”

I like the sound of that.

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Brendon Ayanbadejo to use Super Bowl as same sex platform

Brendon Ayanbadejo is about to as they say show-out at the Super Bowl.

The Baltimore Ravens linebacker is a noted advocate for same-sex marriage.

That is his business.

He told the New York Times via Fox Sports that he has big plans to put his favorite cause  front and center each and every time that he gets an iota of camera time.

The report states that he has contacted another same sex supporter Brian Ellner and Michael Skolnik who is an editor at  Global Grind.Com and has close ties to rap icon/political activist Russell Simmons.

“Is there anything I can do for marriage equality or anti-bullying over the next couple of weeks to harness this Super Bowl media?” Ayanbadejo wrote in an e-mail, according to the Times.

“It’s one of those times when you’re really passionate and in your zone,” Ayanbadejo told the Times. “And I got to thinking about all kinds of things, and I thought: ‘How can we get our message out there?’”

If the Ravens win Ayanbadejo has plans to visit the The Ellen DeGeneres Show.

Joe Flacco, Ravens to part ways despite playoff performance?

Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco is having one of the most prolific playoff runs in NFL history. His eight touchdown passes currently rank him third all-time for most touchdowns thrown in the postseason without an interception.  Joe Montana (11) and Steve Young (9) both went on to win the Super Bowl as did Drew Brees, Troy Aikman and Phil Sims, all tied with Flacco at eight. Whether or not Flacco is hoisting the Lombardi after Super Bowl 47 remains to be seen, but win or lose, Flacco’s postseason performance has surely commanded him a huge payday. But will it be from the Ravens?

It has been seen all too often in sports; a promising young star with unfulfilled potential whose fate within a particular franchise remains in doubt.  That is until he meets the crossroads of a contract year.… Read more

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Patriots vs. Ravens: AFC Championship Preview and Prediction

By: Rich Bergeron

Sunday's NFL nightcap features what promises to be an epic game between the New England Patriots and the Baltimore Ravens in a cold and stormy Foxboro, Massachusetts. The game kicks off at 6:30 PM EST and will be aired on CBS. It is also a rematch of a week 3 battle that came down to the wire. Baltimore QB Joe Flacco threw for 382 yards in that game, and the Ravens won by a single point thanks to a Justin Tucker field goal that barely soared inside the right upright as time expired. The last time the Patriots met the Ravens in the playoffs, it was their field goal that won the game. This year's contest might be just as close, but don't count on it.

Ravens Linebacker Ray Lewis has the most to play for in this game, and it will be up to him and his defense to decide if the team moves onto the Super Bowl. The Patriots have always been better on offense this season than they have been on defense, but that hasn't really mattered late in the season. They won 7 of their last 8 regular season games, only falling to the San Francisco 49ers by a slim 7-point margin in week 15. The Pats led the league in points scored and total yards while coming in at ninth in average points scored against and rushing yardage against. Their pass defense was much worse, ranking 29th in the league with an average of 271.4 passing yards allowed during the regular season. The Ravens were much better than the Patriots on defense throughout the year, though their offense only cracked the top 10 in one category: average points scored (24.9).

Jim Harbaugh Says He’s Half The Coach His Brother John Is

It must be a gift and a curse to have a brother in the same profession, when both of you are really good at what you do and people around you expect you to fight for supremacy.

The Harbaugh brothers like any siblings are competitive with each other to a point, but do their best to avoid it turning into a rivalry.

Ravens head coach John Harbaugh is the older of the two and has always been a coach, Jim had success as a NFL quarterback before throwing his coaching hat on as well.

NFL Playoffs Week One Wrap Up: AFC Edition

By: Rich Bergeron

The sunken, battle-weary eyes of Indianapolis Colts Head Coach Chuck Pagano said it all Sunday as the Baltimore Ravens cruised to a 24-9 victory over the Colts in the last home game ever for Ravens' Linebacker Ray Lewis.

Pagano missed 12 games this season due to a bout with Leukemia, and he came into this game without the benefit of the coach who took the reins in his absence. Offensive Coordinator Bruce Arians (who was hospitalized this morning due to an unknown illness) posted a 9-3 record in relief of the cancer-stricken head coach. Pagano inspired a huge outpouring of support and encouragement from NFL fans across the country as he fought to get back to the sidelines again. Though there wasn't the kind of storybook ending to the Colts season that Pagano was hoping for, their impressive turnaround from a 2-14 season last year to making the playoffs this year is extremely encouraging. This team should be a formidable threat in the 2013-2014 season. 

Baltimore relied on a well-balanced attack on defense and a hometown crowd heartily cheering on the retiring 17-year-veteran Lewis, who amassed 13 tackles in his final game at home. The offense also shined thanks to the efforts of Veteran Receiver Anquan Boldin, who chalked up 145 yards and a touchdown on just 5 total catches in the game. Quarterback Joe Flacco was also at his best, completing another touchdown pass to Dennis Pitta on the way to putting up 282 yards through the air on just 12 completions.

The Colts had few bright spots in the game as Rookie Quarterback Andrew Luck (28-54, 288 yards, INT) couldn't seem to maintain any positive rhythm in the game despite connecting with Reggie Wayne for 114 total yards on nine catches.  Adam Vinatieri kicked field goals of 47, 52 and 26 yards, but it was all too little and too late for the Colts.

Baltimore will now travel to Denver to face a well-rested Broncos squad led by Legendary Quarterback Peyton Manning. Three weeks ago the Broncos beat the Ravens 34-17, so the Baltimore defense will have to perform much better in this rematch to come out with the win and live to see another week of football.

Ray Lewis is retiring

It was either going to happen at the end of this season or maybe the next.

It was unavoidable.

His recent injury may have expedited the process. But time puts its stamp on everyone. Even Ray Lewis. 

In a report on the league’s website, it is being reported that Lewis announced that he was retiring during a team meeting on Wednesday.

Ray Lewis told the team today “this will be my last ride.”
— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) January 2, 2013

“Everything I’ve done is to make another run at the Lombardi,” Lewis said Wednesday.

Ray Lewis could return before playoffs

Baltimore Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis is a warrior and we all know that. So its not surprising that what would have been a season-ending injury for most players might just be a setback for Lewis.

Yahoo Sports is reporting that Ray Lewis could return by Week 15 to face the Denver Broncos.

The report states that Lewis has been “aggressively treating” his triceps injury with a plasma therapy and that he could return to practice this week.

The Ravens are desperate for a championship this year so that this group of players can enjoy one together.

Ed Reed Says If The NFL Wants To Stop Concussion, Stop The Game

The NFL has quite a conundrum going on with its attempts to make the game more safer, protect its shield, and still try to sell the general public on it being a great violent sports.

Baltimore Ravens safety Ed Reed won the appeal of his 1 game suspension and fine, but still has a bone to pick with the league.

Reed was quoted as saying he wasn’t about the way things transpired, and that it’s a shame it had to come to a suspension.

Reed continued to vent to the Baltimore Sun during a Thanksgiving event at Booker T. Washington High School.

Baltimore Ravens safety Ed Reed suspended one game for hits

Baltimore Ravens safety, Ed Reed is being suspended without pay for one game for repeated violations of the rule prohibiting hits to the head and neck area of defenseless players. The suspension was imposed by NFL Vice President of Football Operations Merton Hanks.

Reed was penalized for unnecessary roughness in the third quarter of Sunday night’s game against the Pittsburgh Steelers for a hit to the head and neck area of a defenseless receiver, Emmanuel Sanders according to NFL.com

The suspension means Reed can not practice this week or play in this Sunday’s game against the San Diego Chargers.  He is not even allowed to be at the teams practice facility, or team events until he is reinstated on Monday, Nov. 26.

Tomlin, Haley Cost Steelers in 13-10 Loss to Ravens

One of the three keys I said earlier this weekend would be crucial for both the Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens was game management and sure enough, it boiled down to that tonight in the Steelers 13-10 loss to rival Baltimore.

The Steelers burned two timeouts in less than a minute in the third quarter inside the red zone yet came away with only three points. After gaining much of the yardage on the ground, Steelers’ Offensive Coordinator Todd Haley called for a fade to the back pylon on third and short inside the five. Although Mike Wallace caught the ball, he had very little room to get his feet in bounds and the Steelers settled for the field goal.

The blown timeouts and poor play-call was the epitome of a bad night for both coaches who wasted an amazingly valiant effort by the defense who limited the Ravens’ offense to just two field goals.

Ranking the AFC Division Leaders: Who has what it takes to make it to the Super Bowl?

     The New England Patriots (5-3) and the Denver Broncos (4-3) are the only two teams in the NFL's AFC who lead their respective divisions while carrying three losses on their records going into week nine of the season. Both teams are dealing with some growing pains and adjustment issues, and both are led by legendary quarterbacks. If they can manage to keep their latest momentum in full swing they will surely make the playoffs. Whether they make the Super Bowl or not will likely depend on the AFC's other two division leaders: The Baltimore Ravens (5-2) and the Houston Texans (6-1). The Texans and Ravens are each having phenomenal years so far, but the Texans dominated when the two teams met in week seven. It all adds up to an exciting race to the playoffs where any of these teams could enjoy continued success or end up as epic failures. 

Here's my ranking for these teams and the reasoning behind the numbers:

Haloti Ngata says Ray Lewis will be Back

Baltimore Ravens star linebacker Ray Lewis suffered a torn triceps injury this past Sunday against the Dallas Cowboys. At 37 years of age, many began to wonder not only if Lewis had played his last down of football this season, but also of his career.
There had been no word from Lewis yet, but the Ravens recently placed him on the injured reserve, designated for return list. Technically leaving the door open on a Lewis return late in the year if they make a playoff run. While a return this year is a long-shot, apparently Lewis has been telling at least one person he’ll be back.

Per NFL Network’s Melissa Stark: Haloti Ngata was quoted as saying, “I believe and he believes he will be back. Just knowing him, talking to him a few days ago, (he was saying) ‘I’ll be back, don’t worry.”

Ngata also added, “I don’t know what other guys believe, but I definitely believe he will be back. Knowing the work ethic he has, he is going to work his butt off to get back on the field with us.”

Whether this return would take place this season, or next year is still currently unclear. Regardless, it is good to hear Ray has plans to continue playing. You hate to see a Hall of Fame career end with an injury.

Robert Littal

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