I'm Not Liking All The Hype

[PurpleChaos]

No doubt I agree we will be pretty solid this year but by no means am I polishing any trophies at this point. I think too many fans are getting caught up in the media predictions. Traditionally this team performs best when it has been tagged as the underdog or flying under the radar. All I'm saying is I can recall many many teams that had the hype prior to the first kickoff and some that played solid seasons only to have one loss burst that swollen bubble. You do realize we could potentially come up on the short end the first two weeks right? Anywho until we are having this discussion in mid january I'll be taking things week to week and hopefully enjoying the ride.

[Rav'n Maniac]

My friend, I agree with you wholeheartedly but, it's difficult to remain under the radar for long with the additions we've made this off season, especially with the media.

We can't blame the fan's for being excited for I'm excited as well. But, it is good advice not to get over hyped because we know "any given Sunday" could burst that bubble as you say.

[JohnJohnson]

The "hype" probably doesn't have that much to do with anything. In football it's hard to just draw conclusions about things like that. It's about the players playing the game, and the fans supporting them, but all of the other stuff is just the media. Who cares?

[RavensTown]

I bet those Tampa Bay fans aren't too hyped. Lets enjoy it while we're here.

[T-ray]

[quote name='RavensTown' date='18 July 2010 - 01:47 PM' timestamp='1279478822' post='434119']
I bet those Tampa Bay fans aren't too hyped. Lets enjoy it while we're here.
[/quote]

I'm calling it like this:

AFC Championship game: Bills Vs. Bucs
NFC Championship game: Rams Vs. Lions

Super Bowl: Rams Vs. Bills

MVP: Bradford (5-28 passing, 32 yards, 3 INT)

Score: 3-2, Rams

[Raven07]

hype is very typical right about now with nothing going on (football wise) I think Ozzie and Harbaugh said it best when addressing the "hype" and "pressure" thats been pressed on the team because of whom we aquired this offseason. They pretty much said that they dont buy into any of it, and block it all out, focused on whats at hand, and not focused on what people say about us. Harbaugh has addressed the team about it too and just reminded them to just keep a solid head about them and focus on the TEAM and the one goal...not the hype, So the Ravens are doing their due diligence in blocking out the talk and the hype.

All the Talk on TV and what not, i think is more effecting the fans stand point because it seems its affecting them the most "well what if what if what if" and "ESPN, FOX and YAHOO has the ravens as the number one team!....we better live up to expectations".......Its more so on the Fan front rather than the team front as far as pressure goes....at least thats what i think.

[RavensTown]

[quote name='T-ray' date='18 July 2010 - 01:53 PM' timestamp='1279479189' post='434121']
I'm calling it like this:

AFC Championship game: Bills Vs. Bucs
NFC Championship game: Rams Vs. Lions

Super Bowl: Rams Vs. Bills

MVP: Bradford (5-28 passing, 32 yards, 3 INT)

Score: 3-2, Rams
[/quote]

The Rams beat the Lions! No way! Lions Bills! Score: 2-0.

[BuckWilds]

Fanatics are supposed to be hyped. It doesn't matter how excited we are now, we'll still be supremely upset if the Ravens don't win their last game.

[T-ray]

Ok, since we don't like the hype we're recieving, how about this: we're gonna lose the first 6 games, then barely make it in by winning out. We lose in the Wild Card game. How about that for hearing some underdog?? Realistically though, I believe we'll be great. I'm not gonna set myself or anyone else who's stupid enough to listen to me for dissappointement, so I'm not gonna say what I feel like our record could be for this year. Just think high, very high, amount of wins.

[Rav'n Maniac]

[quote name='T-ray' date='18 July 2010 - 01:53 PM' timestamp='1279479189' post='434121']
I'm calling it like this:

AFC Championship game: Bills Vs. Bucs
NFC Championship game: Rams Vs. Lions

Super Bowl: Rams Vs. Bills

MVP: Bradford (5-28 passing, 32 yards, 3 INT)

Score: 3-2, Rams
[/quote]
T-ray, That's great man. Too Funny! I especially liked the MVP part.

[T-ray]

[quote name='Rav'n Maniac' date='18 July 2010 - 02:41 PM' timestamp='1279482075' post='434133']
T-ray, That's great man. Too Funny! I especially liked the MVP part.
[/quote]

Just callin' it like it is, friend.

[MKdave]

At some point this team is going to have to flourish without the 'underdog' tag. It's a problem we've had historically but now we've got out QB in place I think it won't be such a problem anymore. You have to build to a superbowl. Teams can make big turnarounds in one offseason, but you rarely see a team go from nobody to superbowl champs. So if we're going to win another superbowl, we need to be comfortable as a perennial powerhouse.

[Ed_Reed20]

[quote name='MKdave' date='18 July 2010 - 04:15 PM' timestamp='1279484109' post='434136']
At some point this team is going to have to flourish without the 'underdog' tag. It's a problem we've had historically but now we've got out QB in place I think it won't be such a problem anymore. You have to build to a superbowl. Teams can make big turnarounds in one offseason, but you rarely see a team go from nobody to superbowl champs. So if we're going to win another superbowl, we need to be comfortable as a perennial powerhouse.
[/quote]

Agreed.

Yes, the team has performed well with the "underdog" tag in the past but that was due to inconsistent campaigns. No one saw the 13-3 record in 2006 coming because of how bad they were in '05. No one saw the team making it to the AFC Championship in '08 because of how poor they were in '07.

It's about time this team built on success from year to year.

[FerrariFan87]

[quote name='T-ray' date='18 July 2010 - 02:53 PM' timestamp='1279479189' post='434121']
I'm calling it like this:

AFC Championship game: Bills Vs. Bucs
NFC Championship game: Rams Vs. Lions

Super Bowl: Rams Vs. Bills

MVP: Bradford (5-28 passing, 32 yards, 3 INT)

Score: 3-2, Rams
[/quote]

Ummm, the Bucs are in the NFC South, not the AFC.

[T-ray]

[quote name='FerrariFan87' date='18 July 2010 - 03:51 PM' timestamp='1279486277' post='434145']
Ummm, the Bucs are in the NFC South, not the AFC.
[/quote]

I was wonderin' when someone would catch on to that haha. Everybody was giving me pluses on it, and laughing about it. I meant it to be like that to add to the Super Bowl laugher, just in case, you know, the Bucs, Bills, Lions, and Rams surprise us, and I don't look too bad haha

[XxSizzleXx]

We were always deemed as the underdog because we mostly always had a pitiful offense to go along with a stout defense. This isn't HYPE people these are EXPECTATIONS now because we actually have an offense to go with our defense. What I'm saying is no one was expecting us to do anything in past years because they always could look right past our offense, and no one can do that anymore. People whine because we get no love, so we get the love because we have the team now and all of sudden people don't like it, I don't understand it.

We have the team to be considered Superbowl Contenders now, I don't know about you guys but I would rather be the top dog than the underdog.

[XxSizzleXx]

[quote name='Ed_Reed20' date='18 July 2010 - 02:44 PM' timestamp='1279485880' post='434142']
Agreed.

Yes, the team has performed well with the "underdog" tag in the past but that was due to inconsistent campaigns. No one saw the 13-3 record in 2006 coming because of how bad they were in '05. No one saw the team making it to the AFC Championship in '08 because of how poor they were in '07.
[b]
It's about time this team built on success from year to year.[/b]
[/quote]

You are darn right!

[baltravens]

I don't think there is too much hype. The reason being is that the NFL is the #1 spectator sport in the USA and so many love to follow it. Furthermore, those in American culture enjoy to shoot the breeze about who is the best or who is #1 in any topic where the is competition. Being a state champion in a high school sport, my father said, "Nobody remembers who finished second only who the winner was, only who finished first."
Long live the competitive spirit in our country. (No one likes to be a loser.)
KEEP TALKING ABOUT THE RAVENS; I WOULD LOVE TO SEE A DYNASTY BUILT HERE.

[ravensdfan]

I don't listen to the media much but I am excited about this season. Looking at the players the Ravens have in place it is hard not to get hyped up about the talent on the team in all positions. I do temper that excitement with some concerns as well though. Such as Cam putting some slack in that leash he has on Flacco now that there are more receiving weapons, injuries, etc. Let's face it. I doubt whether or not the fans are hyped affects the way the team plays.

[Romo Ravens]

I love the optimism, but the truth is, we have a brutal schedule. We could very well start out at 0-2, then we play the Steelers, Broncos and the Patriots after the Browns.

If this team is truly as stacked on the field as it is on paper, then the inconsistency mixed with the penalties should come to an end. I personally love the praise from different writers, and I hope that it's just not "hype", but we can back it up when it's all said and done.

[BuckWilds]

Penalties will occur. Mistakes will occur. Touchdowns will be called back. The question is not, "Can the Ravens stop these from happening?" The question is, "Can the Ravens overcome the adversity when it inevitably occurs?" I like their chances.

[Romo Ravens]

[quote name='BuckWilds' date='18 July 2010 - 09:36 PM' timestamp='1279517792' post='434348']
Penalties will occur. Mistakes will occur. Touchdowns will be called back. The question is not, "Can the Ravens stop these from happening?" The question is, "Can the Ravens overcome the adversity when it inevitably occurs?" I like their chances.
[/quote]

I'm talking about the penalties that happen constantly. I hope we shook that. I had no idea what was going on last year. But I agree, I like the chances as well. It all starts with Harbaugh

[MsMarvel73]

I am personally tuning out the hype. I am tuning out all those people who are mentioning the Ravens and the Super Bowl in the same sentence.

My excitement is over the moon for the Jets game....I get excited one game at a time.

[CustomUserName]

[quote name='PurpleChaos' date='18 July 2010 - 01:02 PM' timestamp='1279472570' post='434099']
No doubt I agree we will be pretty solid this year but by no means am I polishing any trophies at this point. I think too many fans are getting caught up in the media predictions. Traditionally this team performs best when it has been tagged as the underdog or flying under the radar. All I'm saying is I can recall many many teams that had the hype prior to the first kickoff and some that played solid seasons only to have one loss burst that swollen bubble. You do realize we could potentially come up on the short end the first two weeks right? Anywho until we are having this discussion in mid january I'll be taking things week to week and hopefully enjoying the ride.
[/quote]

you know what, lets not get ahead of ourselves. Do we have a good team, obviously. Are we superbowl contenders, in the experts' opinions.

But the Ravens haven't done anything yet. So this is what I'm gonna do, watch the games, celebrate the wins, and enjoy myself when the season starts.

[Purple Nurple]

If we dont go all the way this year, I fear 90% of the members here might go all Jonestown.

Lets just enjoy it one game at a time. In other words.....KILL THE JETS!!!

[Rav'n Maniac]

You know, I'm pretty damn excited this season, mainly to see how all these new players we have will perform. If their performance results in wins, I'll take it. If these new weapons can help Joe reach the next level, I take that too. If by chance this all helps us to find our way to the big show, I'll be ecstatic.

We do have a difficult schedule this year and coach Harbaugh is directing the team to not get caught up in all the hype. To simply play within themselves and take it one game at a time as they should. Wise words! What's good enough for the team is good enough for me as well.

[hawkprey]

Hype?

We were ranked 7th by the fans in NFL's "32 in 32" - probably the largest NFL rankings poll you will find. 7th is not hype. 7th is how we legitimately finished last year. I know we get credit for offseason moves but it is clear that we are not superbowl favorites. In fact, look at the subtitle for the 32 in 32 videos. Look at the wording by the NFL. They say (loosely translated):

"Will Tony Romo lead the Cowboys to the superbowl?"
"Will Green Bay go to the superbowl?"
"Will the Giants D improve and get to the playoffs?"
"The Bengals swept the AFC North, will they do it again?"
...
"Rod Woodson identifies some glaring weaknesses in the Ravens' secondary in 2010."

Wow, we sound like favorites.

[lowrider]

I don't think the hype is as big of a deal as in years past. We have always had a cocky/arrogant defense so they can handle the hype because our defense has received that hype since 2000. So they can handle the limelight. I would say that getting a lot of attention is a problem normally but when you look at who our core offensive players and leaders are on our offense, then I'm not worried about handling the attention. We don't have any players that are headcases so I imagine our team staying pretty humble. The coaching staff and work ethic of our team as a whole should keep us honest and down to earth on a weekly basis too. This attention we are receiving is only going to increase so we have to get used to it now.

[Milton145]

We have enough leaders on this team (Mason, Lewis, Boldin, Heap, Reed) and upcoming leaders (Flacco, Rice) who can keep our younger guys in check. In all honesty, I don't think they are concerned with what the media and us fans are saying about how they are going to perform. They set the Superbowl goal for themselves so they are out to achieve it. They know what they are playing for and are only concerned with that, not with what the media says they are going to do.

[BuckWilds]

It really doesn't much matter how we see it all. Great teams don't pay much attention to the hype - they're too busy working out the details of the next win. The juggernaut will be victorious in the final game or it won't. There's nothing wrong with throwing your enthusiasm behind your team.

I say don't hold back your amp. We're fanatics. It's ok to be off-the-wall with your support. It's ok to go all-in with your belief in your team. So you might not be the ESPN expert at the end of the year. Who cares? In my opinion, leave the bet hedging at the door of your fandom and go all out.
[size="2"]
The Ravens rock. All aboard the pain train![/size]