Merged: Ravens Ranked #2

[-Truth-]

[quote name='ed.s52' date='06 June 2010 - 11:48 PM' timestamp='1275886107' post='418652']
Well the way I see it the Chargers are a more Definite team than the Ravens.

By that I mean, [b]if our rookies don't pan out, Joe doesn't pan out, Rice is a one season wonder, and Q gets injured, and our corners stay below average, as well as if age hurts Reed, Lewis, Mason, and Pryce, we are not that great of a team.[/b]

The Chargers in that sense are more proven. Rivers is more proven than Flacco as are their receiving corps, Sproles is still good and a big home run threat, Matthews looks like he will be at least average in the NFL, Cromartie leaving their D can make it stronger or hurt it ( I think stronger just because of the defensive scheme), And the D is seemingly solid.

I certainly dont think the Chargers are better but a case can easily be made that they are more of a sure thing than us, although I think we are going to be better, and they are a lock to win their division where we are still competing for it although we seem to be the favorites.

I would still put us above the Chargers, but I can see why someone else would put us behind them.
[/quote]
I can't at all agree. They lost their starting DT, CB and RB, all of whom were past Pro Bowl selections. With the loss of Jamal Williams, and after shipping away Igor Olshansky, Luis Castillo is the player on their D-Line worth mentioning. I'm a believer that everything starts in the trenches. I don't think they've done enough to replenish a Rush Defense which ranked 20th last Season. With the Raiders improved OL, and the Chiefs acquisition of Thomas Jones, the Chargers may see a heavy dose of quality RBs, which may wear them out towards the end of the year. I'm also a bit confused by the highlighted portion of your comment. Are you saying that if basically our whole team is decimated by some sort of misfortune, then we won't succeed? That's kind of like saying if the Chargers' players were in a plane crash, they wouldn't have an encouraging Season.

[tonyg6996]

#2! I realize it's just a prediction, but it's still nice to get recognition.

[url="http://www.nfl.com/news/story?id=09000d5d818768f4&template=with-video-with-comments&confirm=true"]here it is[/url]

[DocMartin]

[quote name='BOLDnPurPnBlacK' date='07 June 2010 - 12:27 AM' timestamp='1275884874' post='418648']
[url="http://www.nfl.com/news/story?id=09000d5d818768f4&template=with-video-with-comments&confirm=true"]CLICK HERE for full list of preseason rankings[/url]
NFL.com's Steve Wyche has just released his 2010 preseason rankings. He has ranked the Raven's as number 2 behind only the San Diego Chargers.
It's about time we get the respect we deserve. I cannot remember a time in recent history where anyone in the national media has considered the Ravens to be a top contender, but it seems this is the year. For what it's worth, we have been ranked ahead of both the Superbowl Champion Saints, and their oppenents (and the team that knocked us out) Peyton Manning's Colts.
I like that we've been ranked number 2, but I don't see the Chargers being ahead of us no matter where we are ranked... especially them being at number 1. I felt, if anything, the Chargers slipped a bit this offseason... still winning their division, but not in such dominant fashion as the past few years. I picked them as a 10-6 team; 11-5 at best. Definitely not #1.
What do you think?? Comments about us at #2, Chargers at #1, or just the list in general?
[/quote]
I like that Steve Wyche gave us some love and ranked Ravens as No.2, but not sure what he was thinking about the Chargers. I guess he forgot about Saints and Colts, go figure. Unless we beat any of these 2 teams, we can't be thinking about being ranked higher than 3rd in my opinion.
Either way, all these "preseason rankings" mean "diddly squat", so let's beat the Jets first, Saints and Colts later and than we can start rolling[color="#4B0082"] the SUPERBOWL BANDWAGON [/color]!!!

[BuckWilds]

[quote name='Purple Nurple' date='07 June 2010 - 03:56 AM' timestamp='1275897395' post='418716']
Is that a "make my point" dancing green doo-doo? Well played, sir.
[/quote]

I thought it appropriate considering the "#2" ranking... wait for it... There it is!

[Purple Nurple]

Zing!

[ed.s52]

[quote name='-Truth-' date='07 June 2010 - 03:33 PM' timestamp='1275953613' post='419066']
I can't at all agree. They lost their starting DT, CB and RB, all of whom were past Pro Bowl selections. With the loss of Jamal Williams, and after shipping away Igor Olshansky, Luis Castillo is the player on their D-Line worth mentioning. I'm a believer that everything starts in the trenches. I don't think they've done enough to replenish a Rush Defense which ranked 20th last Season. With the Raiders improved OL, and the Chiefs acquisition of Thomas Jones, the Chargers may see a heavy dose of quality RBs, which may wear them out towards the end of the year. I'm also a bit confused by the highlighted portion of your comment. Are you saying that if basically our whole team is decimated by some sort of misfortune, then we won't succeed? That's kind of like saying if the Chargers' players were in a plane crash, they wouldn't have an encouraging Season.
[/quote]

Cromartie sucked in the Charger's defensive scheme, their 3rd CB is better in that scheme imo, and LT did bad last season. Losing them isnt losing much. And about Jamal Williams, that hurts, but the rookie Cam Thomas (who should have went in the 2nd round) is a good replacement and thats just about the only position that was hurt.

And my point is we have some question marks. Obviously not all of those things will happen, but if some of them do, which I dont think will happen but is a possibility, well than I can see the Chargers being rated above us.

Of course, I think those questions will be awnsered this year and I think that the awnsers will be positive, but lets say just two of those things, per say, Rice is a one season wonder and Flacco isnt ready for the next step, well than the Chargers could pass us up in the Rankings.
As

[Ed_Reed_Pick_Six]

My instincts tell me that the Bengals and Jets are going to flop this season!

[DrMoonTooth]

The Chargers at the top of that list completely nullifies any meaning it had...