cutting the mustard

[Johnny2Par]

When the Ravens were created, coach Billick was brought in a this offensive mastermind with the expectations that the new Ravens would be able to put some points on the board. But since then, it has been just the opposite. I feel that were it not for the oppressive defense that they develop year in and year out, the Ravens would be running with the likes of the Texans and Raiders. Even when they won the superbowl, it was primarily the Defense that got them there and kept the Giants off the field. So what do they need to do to get a top teir offense???

I also do not feel that bringing in McNair was the solution to the problem. Sure, he's a good QB, but without a wall like O-line, what do you expect him to do. Boller could probably have done the job if the line was a bit better. What are your views on this. If we could get an offens that can put 21 points on the board each week, I believe that they will again be a championship team.

Your thoughts.

[berad]

Many coaches seem to do a switch of styles when they become a HC:

Tony Dungy - Highly touted Defensive Coordinator in Minnesota, now runs an amazing Colts Offense with a lackluster Defense

Marvin Lewis - Ran our record-breaking 2000 D, now runs the high powered Bengals O

Mike Nolan - also one of our Defensive coordinators, but now San Fran is becoming a good Offensive team, while the Defense struggles

so thats not too uncommon

But for your "how to get a good Offense" question:

I believe everything starts with the OLine

Our OLine is EXCEPTIONAL at pass-blocking, giving up only 17 sacks all season.

They struggle in the run-game though.

But I believe, with the new youth we have (A. Terry, C. Chester, J. Brown); we should be able to run the ball more effectively.

Also, having Willis won't hurt.

Overall, I think our Offense is going to make GREAT strides this season

[theFRANCHISE]

I agree wholeheartedly with berad's point.

Everything definitely starts with the O-Line. Regardless of how talented the QB is, no one can orchestrate a drive if he's flat on his back.

Fact of the matter is, as long as our offensive line continues to maintain its level of play in pass-blocking, and can improve in run-blocking, our offense should be at least as good as last year's in the latter half of the season.

Despite our lack of a ground game, our offense did manage to average somewhere around 20 points per game last season. In fact, we posted at least 20 points in 11 of 16 games, and lost only once when doing so (against the Panthers).

As for the earlier point made about Steve McNair, I believe that he was still the final piece to our puzzle last season, even though there were times where he stalled a bit. But we're all human, and let's face it, he's headed towards the tail end of his career. But for someone playing football past his prime, McNair is definitely making an ironman-like effort the likes of which we've come to expect only from Brett Favre.

Although I still believe in Kyle Boller's ability as an average starter and an above-average backup, I still don't think he could've led us to a 13-3 record like McNair did. For instance, those back-to-back, last-minute wins against Cleveland and San Diego were definitely clutch drives that I doubt Boller could've orchestrated. That's not a knock on Boller's talent, that's just a situation where experience counts more than anything, and #9 has definitely had such experience in his storied career.

[Ravnet]

Maybe Boller could have had similar numbers (which i doubt) but I can assure you that Boller couldn't have closed out the games in Cleveland, Tennesse, San Diego, and others.

[Hotsauceonnit]

If our offense stalled last year, that 13-3 record was an act of divine intervention. But seriously, the weakness last year was not the O-line. . .it was the guy they had running the ball behind it (and if he has a year in Cleveland like he had here last year, he won't last long.) Jamal Lewis had holes opened for him that he failed to capitalize on because he always started doing that baby-stepping crap the second he got a whiff of possibly taking a hit, rather than dropping the shoulder and driving with his legs and letting his mass and momentum carry him. Jamal Lewis was supposed to be a power back, but he never seemed to exert much power, and Brian Billick. . .loyalty is an admirable trait, but not when it keeps you from seeing what is glaringly obvious. . .the 2003 season is gone and will never come back again.

Now we have Willis McGahee, and that will turn this offense on its ear. McGahee is a speed back, so his focus will be on hitting those opportunities for quick yards rather than grinding the yards out and wearing opposing defenses down over time. He's also a more competent backfield receiver than Jamal Lewis. If Billick wants to justify any part of that "offensive genius" label. . . , the Ravens 2007 offense will bear very little resemblance to the offense we Ravens fan have known and cursed more often than loved.

[DeathOnWings]

Also, having Willis won't hurt.

no doubt, i'm incredibly pleased with the trade for McGahee. also i can't wait for the season to see how these draft picks are going to pan out, got me excited and ****

[Khaine]

I think the younger more athletic line along with Willis

[theFRANCHISE]

OMG...every time we had Mark Clayton on that reverse handoff...I cringed, seeing him get swallowed up in the backfield with nowhere to go...

[toddtrain]

Lets all hope the young O Line can create the holes Willis needs. Also as long as Mason stops cryin after every game and start getting open we will do better. Did anyone else notice last yearwhen we failed to use heap we stalled but when we used him we marched right up the field. I dont think it is rocket science.

[theFRANCHISE]

Lets all hope the young O Line can create the holes Willis needs. Also as long as Mason stops cryin after every game and start getting open we will do better. Did anyone else notice last yearwhen we failed to use heap we stalled but when we used him we marched right up the field. I dont think it is rocket science.

But at the same time, it could be argued that going to the well once too often can be a bad thing. Just look at what happened when McNair tried to force the ball to Heap in the playoff loss...

That initial fumble (which I don't blame Heap for at all) was a sign of bad things to come...

[Khaine]

Heap is the most dependable receiver (in spite of him not being a receiver) we have.

[DeathOnWings]

OMG...every time we had Mark Clayton on that reverse handoff...I cringed, seeing him get swallowed up in the backfield with nowhere to go...

LMAO i know

i was watching some of the old game vids in the multimedia part of the site, terrible!

[DeathOnWings]

Heap is the most dependable receiver (in spite of him not being a receiver) we have.

he's so soft handed, watch him catch the ball, he cradles it. i was surprised he didn't make the Pro Bowl, but then again he had to get more votes than Gates & Gonzalez, Gonzalez shouldn't have went, but ehh it's a popularity contest =/

[theFRANCHISE]

he's so soft handed, watch him catch the ball, he cradles it. i was surprised he didn't make the Pro Bowl, but then again he had to get more votes than Gates & Gonzalez, Gonzalez shouldn't have went, but ehh it's a popularity contest =/

But you have to admit, it's a pretty big compliment to even be uttered in the same breath as Antonio Gates and Tony Gonzalez, so even though Todd Heap didn't make the Pro Bowl, the fact that he was viewed throughout the league as a viable candidate is indicative of his skills and respect level.

[DeathOnWings]

But you have to admit, it's a pretty big compliment to even be uttered in the same breath as Antonio Gates and Tony Gonzalez, so even though Todd Heap didn't make the Pro Bowl, the fact that he was viewed throughout the league as a viable candidate is indicative of his skills and respect level.

yeah i understand what you're saying, but an old Gonzalez isn't better than a young Heap...

[theFRANCHISE]

yeah i understand what you're saying, but an old Gonzalez isn't better than a young Heap...

Very true, but that's not to say that Gonzalez still can't play for an old, aging TE...he's still better than, say, Kyle Brady or Chris Cooley or Daniel Graham...

...and definitely better than the ever-so "humble," Kellen Winslow, Jr., a/k/a "the future of the tight end position"...

[DeathOnWings]

i'm not saying he's not good, he's damn good for an old TE, but Todd Heap is better than an old Gonzalez, but like i said before it's a popularity contest

[Khaine]

Yeah, we seem to get the short and of the stick a lot when it comes to popularity contests

[theFRANCHISE]

Yeah, we seem to get the short and of the stick a lot when it comes to popularity contests

[Khaine]

Heck, I wish I could hear Ray more often than I get to

[DeathOnWings]

We're one of the most hated teams because we're one of the most arrogant teams. We have this swagger that pisses other fans off. I mean, Ray Lewis, Ed Reed, and Terrell Suggs alone exude confidence on the field. And rightfully so. All-Pro players deserve to have all the confidence in the world since they've shown that they play a level much higher than the rest of the league.

And frankly, they hate the sermons that Reverend Ray delivers on the field on Sundays. Personally, my favorite sermons have always been the ones where the ballcarrier gets knocked into next week and delivers the ball to us. The gift that keeps on giving, of course.

i've noticed that...

[charliebrown]

When the Ravens were created, coach Billick was brought in a this offensive mastermind with the expectations that the new Ravens would be able to put some points on the board. But since then, it has been just the opposite. I feel that were it not for the oppressive defense that they develop year in and year out, the Ravens would be running with the likes of the Texans and Raiders. Even when they won the superbowl, it was primarily the Defense that got them there and kept the Giants off the field. So what do they need to do to get a top teir offense???

I also do not feel that bringing in McNair was the solution to the problem. Sure, he's a good QB, but without a wall like O-line, what do you expect him to do. Boller could probably have done the job if the line was a bit better. What are your views on this. If we could get an offens that can put 21 points on the board each week, I believe that they will again be a championship team.

Your thoughts.

My thoughts skay? I think now that Ozzie has finally given Brian some real tools to work with, Brian can make this engine run.

[Johnny2Par]

Very true, but that's not to say that Gonzalez still can't play for an old, aging TE...he's still better than, say, Kyle Brady or Chris Cooley or Daniel Graham...

...and definitely better than the ever-so "humble," Kellen Winslow, Jr., a/k/a "the future of the tight end position"...

I'm by no way a big Kellen Jr. fan. he is NO soldier. I am a soldier and let me tell you Mr. Winslow....you are no soldier. But I also believe that he will be a much better TE with a QB they can count on. I'll still take Heap over Winslow any day though!!!!

[theFRANCHISE]

My point is, Kellen Winslow, Jr. is still NOT "better than 90% of the TE's in the league when injured."

[CARavensFan]

When the Ravens were created, coach Billick was brought in a this offensive mastermind with the expectations that the new Ravens would be able to put some points on the board. But since then, it has been just the opposite. I feel that were it not for the oppressive defense that they develop year in and year out, the Ravens would be running with the likes of the Texans and Raiders. Even when they won the superbowl, it was primarily the Defense that got them there and kept the Giants off the field. So what do they need to do to get a top teir offense???

I also do not feel that bringing in McNair was the solution to the problem. Sure, he's a good QB, but without a wall like O-line, what do you expect him to do. Boller could probably have done the job if the line was a bit better. What are your views on this. If we could get an offens that can put 21 points on the board each week, I believe that they will again be a championship team.

Your thoughts.

You can have the greatest offensive mastermind ever at the helm of a team but without all the pieces to make an effective offense its never going to be the dominant force you'd like to have, you need to have an OL that's insync to protect the QB, a QB and recievers to move the ball through the air effectively, and a RB that is enough a ground that the defense has to watch out for him too. I know this might seem obvious, but for the past several seasons the Ravens haven't had all those pieces at the same time, when their RB they were suffling though QBs like playing cards and when they finally addressed their need for QB their RB lost his power to break through the holes that the OL (though a slightly aging and injury torn OL) was opening for him.

Now I think we finally have all those pieces together at the the same time to make an effective offense, McNair is comfortable with his recievers with Mason, Clayton, Heap, and Williams still there, Willis gives us back our effective RB weapon and with the return of JO and the addition of Grubbs our OL has be revamped with a good mix of youth and veteran leadership to give McNair the time to hit his recievers and Willis the lanes to eat up yards and clock the way the Ravens like to once they've taken the driver's seat on the score board.

All in all I really think that, at least at this point, the Ravens are definite contenders for Super Bowl XLII and I can't wait to see how they do this season!

[Khaine]

I gotta agree with CA

I think we have the right parts to finally have a good O.

BTW

[CARavensFan]

I gotta agree with CA

I think we have the right parts to finally have a good O.

BTW

[Khaine]

We usually go to Silky Sulivans off of Brookhurst and the 405 (not just for games though )

You are the first I

[CARavensFan]

We usually go to Silky Sulivans off of Brookhurst and the 405 (not just for games though )

You are the first I