Kyle Boller and Troy Smith picking up where they left off

Based upon the account from Mike Preston of the Baltimore Sun, Kyle Boller and Troy Smith have come to passing camp this year just as impressive as they've been in the past.

"I know it's only the first day of passing camp, but it was hard on the eyes watching quarterbacks Kyle Boller and Troy Smith throw in practice. Smith had the better day, not because he looked good, but because Boller performed so poorly. Boller had several passes knocked down and underthrew and overthrew receivers."

This is the one opportunity for either QB to prove their worth before the future "franchise QB" Joe Flacco is allowed to attend camp, yet they can barely muster a complete pass with pressure. I don't know why, but I honestly had hope for a stellar season by either returning QB. It could still happen, but doesn't seem likely.

Jason Taylor to the Ravens?

From the Orlando Sentinel:

Asked if the Ravens and Miami Dolphins have had any discussions regarding the six-time Pro Bowl defensive end and recent "Dancing With The Stars" runner-up, Harbaugh said flatly, "Not that I'm aware of.''

Well that's disappointing.

A deal with the Ravens seems unlikely because of Taylor's age, salary and his tenuous relationship with Cam Cameron, the Ravens' offensive coordinator who coached the Dolphins last season.

Okay. Good idea not to go after Taylor.

Haloti Ngata makes a quality role model

Though he is normally known as a ferocious, fear-inducing, man-eating, tackle machine, Haloti Ngata appears to have a soft side to him. Recently, Ngata sponsored a essay contest to raise awareness for juvenile diabetes. He asked local schools from the Baltimore/Annapolis areas to write essays about the disease in an effort to interactively teach those kids that took part.

Its these types of community effort that set Ngata apart as a humanitarian in the league. The NFL needs these types of example setters to curb the negative image create by Chris Henry, Pacman Jones and others. Ngata is quickly establishing himself as a vital part of the Ravens family both on and off the field.

Don't put it out with your boots Ted

Ray Lewis does it all. He sacks super-model dating QBs, intercepts 6'6 country bumpkins with laser rocket arms, and teaches the kids what happens if you mistakingly eat squid instead of your Wheaties. Thanks for being all that you can be Ray.

Baltimore Ravens Fantasy Football Breakdown

The one obvious fantasy player on the Raven's roster is Willis McGahee. Last season McGahee had 1207 yds rushing and 7 TDs. MaGahee will be a first or second round pick in every fantasy league around the country. After McGahee, which Ravens provide that fantasy impact?

Depending on the rules of your league, you may need a single defensive player in addition to a defensive unit. The Raven's defense as a whole is a good unit to fill the spot. With help at corner this year in the form of Fabian Washington the team will be more stingy then they were last season. As a solo player, look for Ray Lewis who had 121 tackles and 2 sacks last season, Terrell Suggs who had 78 tackles and 5 sacks, or if you're hoping for interceptions Ed Reed who had 7 interceptions for 130 return yards.

If Todd Heap is healthy, he has to be considered one of the top five fantasy tight ends in football. Heap ranks as one of the top receiving tight ends along with Kellen Winslow Jr., Tony Gonzalez, Antonio Gates, and Jason Witten.

If your league is weighted toward the number of receptions, Derrick Mason would actually one of your better receivers. He had 103 receptions of 1087 yards last season, but only scored five TDs. After Mason, the Ravens other receivers don't warrant a draft selection. Keep an eye on Mark Clayton and Demetrius Williams throughout the season because they could turn heads if they're healthy.

Finally, the Ravens don't boast a QB worth drafting. With the uncertainty at the position, don't even waste you time looking at Raven's QBs for your team unless you're in a 16 team league.

Baltimore Ravens Defense

Heres a little walk down memory lane:

Ray Lewis discusses his future

ESPN (yes the world wide leader) has a quality article about Ray Lewis' future in the NFL. It's definitely worth a read. There is one paragraph that makes me question whether the story is about Ray Lewis the football player or Ray Lewis the swinging singles speed dater:

"Lewis, who turns 33 Thursday, is in his 13th season and believes his intense training will help him play "another three or four years, easily.'' He arrived at minicamp in midseason form last weekend, weighing 255 pounds with 6 percent body fat and biceps large enough to make running backs cringe."

The article went on to read...

"Lewis prefers long walks along the 50-yard line, making mince meat stew out of opposing players, and cuddling with Tom Brady look-a-likes behind the line of scrimmage."

Terrell Suggs is the Baltimore Ravens "hybrid"

Terrell Suggs don’t fit no mold. Suggs has been franchised by the Baltimore Ravens, but not in a way that has ever been done before. Instead of being tagged as either a defensive end or a lineback, Suggs is both. He will receive $8.5 million, which falls in the middle of the franchise value for both positions. Suggs is his own man and nobody can tell him what to do.

Hopefully this will be a sign of good faith that will encourage Suggs to stay with the Ravens after the season is over.

Meet Baltimore Ravens Head Coach, John Harbaugh

John Harbaugh is the son of a University of Michigan assistant football coach. He played his college ball at the University of Miami as a DB. Harbaugh was an assistant coach at four Universities before being hired by Ray Rhodes as an assistant coach for the Philadelphia Eagles. He was one of only four assistants retained when Andy Reid took the team over. Obviously, Reid was either desperate or saw something worthwhile in the young whippersnapper of a coach.

After nine years as the special teams coach for the Eagles, Harbaugh became the defensive backs coach. The following year he was hire by the Baltimore Ravens as their new head coach.

Obviously, Harbaugh is a young coach with very little coaching experience in when compared to some of the other coaches in the league or on his own staff. Though he lacks the overwhelming resume, NFL minds believe he has that “it factor” necessary to become a winning coach. Expect Harbaugh to turn some heads this year with Rex Ryan and Cam Cameron in his cabinet of advisors. Unfortunately, you should also expect Rex Ryan to seek another head coaching position after the season is over.

Joe Reitz gets his chance

Tight End is a position that is currently an unknown for the Baltimore Ravens. Quinn Sypniewski is out for the year with a knee injury, David Wilcox is still out because of toe surgery, and Todd Heap is temporarily sidelined with basic football injuries. With the usual suspects out, Joe Reitz has been getting snaps with the first team offense.

Reitz is a former Western Michigan basketball star. Thats right, I said basketball. He stands 6 feet and 7 inches off the ground and weighs 270 lbs. Keep in mind, Todd Heap was a basketball star himself. The Ravens can only hope for the same type of success out of Reitz that they've gotten out of Heap.

Football is in the air. Sniff it long and sniff it good.

Derrick Mason speaks up

Veteran Ravens WR, Derrick Mason has publicly asserted that the team will feature three WRs in their regular formation next season. Cam Cameron wants to create some offensive variety, and he thinks having a three-wide set is a particularly good way of doing it. The one stipulation is that the receivers have to prove they're capable. Derrick Mason, Mark Clayton and Demetrius Williams are ready to step up to the plate. They're even more motivated with former New Mexico Lobo record setting wide receiver, Marcus Smith nipping at their heels.

The Ravens come to blows

Will from Deadspin has painted a picture of anarchy in Owings Mill, MD. Meanwhile, Brooks from Sports by Brooks recognizes that though the fighting may be bad for the PR department, it demonstrates a passion for playing football. The 85 person fracas is particularly interesting because it was started by rookie OT, Oniel Cousins. That man wants to play!

Ray Lewis is back and ready to play

Ray Lewis came to Owings Mill, MD for the mandatory mini camp ready to talk about his hopes for the upcoming season. He discussed his first interaction with new Head Coach, John Harbaugh.

Ray Lewis Eats People thinks the first meeting went a little something like this:

RL: "Here are the keys, I'm the first parking spot on right."
JH: "No, Ray I'm John, you're new coach."
RL: "Oh, my bad coach. Never seen you before."
JH: "I just want you to know I respect you as a player and leader Ray."
RL: "Well I don't know you, but I know you're better that that crack addict Brian Billick I ousted from here. We're going to get along no matter what as long as you aren't him. I hate that mother fu...."
JH: "Ray Ray, preach my brother."

Terrell Suggs absent from camp

The Baltimore Ravens held a mandatory mini camp this weekend. There was one player not in attendance that was expected to be, Terrell Suggs. Suggs' contract issues have been well documented. He was franchised for the upcoming season, which he openly accepted. Unfortunately for both parties Suggs didn't agree with his franchise position. He wants to be labeled as a Linebacker because it would mean a pay increase of over $800,000. The two parties need to reconcile these differences because the 5-11 Ravens need as few distractions as possible, especially considering they have a new coaching staff and potential franchise QB.

Cam Cameron, the man, the mystery, the enigma

Cam Cameron, who’s legal name is Malcolm Cameron, was a talented athlete in his youth. He was an All-American Quarterback and star point guard for his high school in Tarre Haute, Indiana. Cameron played football under the tutelage of Lee Corson and basketball for Bobby Knight before a knee injury ended his career.

Cameron began his career as an assistant for Bo Schembechler at the University of Michigan. He entered into the NFL as a quarterbacks coach for the Washington Redskins in 1994. After three seasons of coaching Gus Ferrotte he had enough. He thought to himself, “self why am I coaching this dunce? I shouldn’t be here coaching a kid who concusses himself while running into a goal post.” After realizing the error of his ways, Cameron returned to the college ranks as the head football coach of the Indiana Hoosiers. He finished his tenure with a disappointing 18-37 record.

Cameron realized he just couldn’t be a head coach. He begged and pleaded on his knees with diamond rings in hand for the Chargers to give him a job. They conceded and gave him the title of offensive coordinator. Cameron created an offense that allowed LaDanian Tomlinson and Drew Brees to blossom. He hit the jackpot, a successful team and offensive studs. Unfortunately, Cameron’s eyes got a little too big.

He thought he would take another shot at the head coaching gig, but this time for the Miami Dolphins. What a mistake that was in hindsight. 1-15, enough said. Then on January 23, 2008 John Harbaugh, new head coach of the Baltimore Ravens, swooped down from the heavens and saved young Mr. Cameron. Cameron now has a host of weapons to work with, but an offense that has historically struggled. He will once again have to turn a historically poor offense into a powerhouse as he did in San Diego.

Solid gold

You know the age old saying, "I put my puts on one leg at a time just like he does?" Well these guys have single handedly proved this widely accepted saying wrong.

Jason Taylor is a "cheerleader"

Troy Smith doesn't know who Joe Flacco is

Troy Smith mistakingly thinks Joe Flacco's name is John. I like the "accidental" confusion. This indicates that Smith is ready to be competitive for the starting spot. He doesn't want some upstart rookie from a small school taking his spot or the starting role.

Let Kyle and Troy fight it out this year. Start Flacco next season. Please, no more Kyle Bollers (who openly admits that he didn't want to play in his first professional season).

Buzz about Baltimore Raven's new QB, Joe Flacco

Here is whats being said about Joe Flacco around the web:

Sporting News:
The Baltimore Ravens' bold move to get Joe Flacco with the 18th pick in the NFL draft was a risk worth taking. Having a strong arm allows Flacco to make throws other quarterbacks can't. And at 6-6, Flacco is three inches taller than Brohm and four inches taller than Henne. Seeing over oncoming pass rushers will not be a problem for Flacco. Simply put, Flacco has the physical tools to be successful.

Bleacher Report:
Even more than that, McShay saying that the Baltimore Ravens taking Joe Flacco in the first round was a “reach,” angered me to no end. Flacco was the best quarterback in the draft. The only competition Ryan has proven he can beat Flacco in is the one for most generic name. The 6’6”, 230-pound Flacco was underrated and should’ve been taken third overall by the Atlanta Falcons. The Ravens have a gem of a player to end their quarterback woes.

Deadspin:
Flacco's a great young man from a great environment, a guy who got trapped behind Tyler Palko in Pitt but became a I-AA superstar at Delaware. He doesn't have a lot of experience in a pro system and will have to learn to drop from under center. But he's a great athlete who is faster than your average Drew Bledsoe-sized kid. And he's smart enough to learn the Harbaugh-Cameron system.

National Lampoon Splog:
Baltimore needs someone like Joe Flacco. Played for Delaware, All-American guy, tall, sits in the pocket, but can escape if he needs to. Ozzie Newsome is known for making great picks. I hope this keeps the trend.

Todd McShay could be certifiable

What the hell is Todd McShay doing? Why would he put together a mock draft for 2009 already? Why does he have the Ravens picked in the first half of round one?

All inside intelligence indicates uncontrollable intake of barbituates. Only an imbalance of neurotransmitters can explain the insane ardor McShay has for 20-year-old athletic men.