Ray Lewis - we don't know what we lost

[easternshore97]

[quote name='allblackraven' timestamp='1363587135' post='1402824']
I wanted to share pretty obscure video I found on youtube - I haven't seen or heard anybody pointing to it but, although I'm not a religious person, it certainly made me a believer!

[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t387rFkfm8Q[/media]

We spent so much time lately arguing about who should have Ravens kept on roster and what other players should Ravens bring in. In the process we completely lost a perspective and the fact that there is one man we can never replace.
[/quote]
Doesn't mean Ravens won't win another Super Bowl. Think about this, since he's been in the league, 15 other teams have won the Super Bowl. So that means it is possible to win one without him. Now that he's gone, we have to be better on Offense, we have to be better at pass rush, we have to be better in the secondary.

Agreed that he can never be replaced and perhaps that's why people aren't really talking about the lost perspective. We need to accept it and move on. If we are lucky another great draft prospect will come and bless us like he did. But until then, everyone has to just play better, coach better

[ravensfan2424]

Side Note: @ :31 seconds you can see Leach playing special teams. Does he normally do that?

[Ed_Reed20]

[quote name='ravensfan2424' timestamp='1364527155' post='1419037']
Side Note: @ :31 seconds you can see Leach playing special teams. Does he normally do that?
[/quote]

Yes. He threw key blocks on at least a few of Jacoby's TDs during the season.

[BmoreSports09]

[quote name='Medications' timestamp='1363619917' post='1402998']
It was a neat coincidence but that's about it
[/quote]

Not sure why this statement was negged. It's true lol.

[The Raven]

[quote name='Raven07' timestamp='1363706695' post='1404875']
per rotoworld.com

Albert McClellan - LB - Ravens Coach John Harbaugh said Albert McClellan will exclusively play inside linebacker going forward

[url="http://www.rotoworld.com/player/nfl/6127/albert-mcclellan"]http://www.rotoworld...lbert-mcclellan[/url]
[/quote]

I dig it. He's a good thumper.

[73mayhem]

This proves Ray Lewis is indeed a God to Ravens fans.

[HoldingCall]

[quote name='beanfigger' timestamp='1363627710' post='1403231']
Non-religious reply: Watching Jacoby in slow motion makes me cringe when he doesn't look the ball into his hands. We all know how special he is once he gains posession and hits the jets, but we also can't forget his performance in Baltimore in the playoffs the previous season. That's when he helped us win the game while playing for the opposing team with a couple bonehead special teams plays, including a fumble.
[/quote]

Look at it this way! Without the performance in Baltimore during that playoff, Jacoby never gets released to the Ravens and doesn't become a major part in the team's Superbowl win. We wouldn't be watching him on TV and the Ravens organization wouldn't be sitting at the top of the NFL.

I am with Ray Lewis, there was a plan.

[quote name='73mayhem' timestamp='1364537353' post='1419119']
This proves Ray Lewis is indeed a God to Ravens fans.
[/quote]

I am sure Ray would tell you that he is just a messenger.

[HoldingCall]

[quote name='Ed_Reed20' timestamp='1364529448' post='1419058']
Yes. He threw key blocks on at least a few of Jacoby's TDs during the season.
[/quote]

That is an overlooked reason why he is still here.

[Raven Hammer]

There's not one single true fan here in Baltimore that does not know what we will be missing with Ray Lewis gone!

[Moderator 3]

[quote name='ravensfan2424' timestamp='1364527155' post='1419037']
Side Note: @ :31 seconds you can see Leach playing special teams. Does he normally do that?
[/quote]

Many of the "stars" occasionally play on special teams. I've even seen Ray Lewis out there in certain situations. It depends on the down, distance, etc.

[Bazooka Joe]

[quote name='73mayhem' timestamp='1364537353' post='1419119']
This proves Ray Lewis is indeed God to Ravens fans.
[/quote]

God is God to This Ravens fan. And to Ray Lewis. I don't worship any man

[rlh445]

[quote name='allblackraven' timestamp='1363587135' post='1402824']
I wanted to share pretty obscure video I found on youtube - I haven't seen or heard anybody pointing to it but, although I'm not a religious person, it certainly made me a believer!

[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t387rFkfm8Q[/media]

We spent so much time lately arguing about who should have Ravens kept on roster and what other players should Ravens bring in. In the process we completely lost a perspective and the fact that there is one man we can never replace.
[/quote]

Eh I disagree entirely. We ALL know what we lost in Ray Lewis and we spent plenty of time during the regular and especially the post season grieving and sharing stories about 52. The reason we aren't discussing it much now is because he's left the building and it's time to look towards the future and unfortunately, Ray isn't in it.

[Bazooka Joe]

God is God to me and to Ray Lewis.

[ravensfan2424]

[quote name='Moderator 3' timestamp='1364561619' post='1419219']
Many of the "stars" occasionally play on special teams. I've even seen Ray Lewis out there in certain situations. It depends on the down, distance, etc.
[/quote]

Yeah, who could forget on McAlister's return the slam Ray laid on the Broncos guy?

[Gordo52]

[quote name='ravensfan2424' timestamp='1364577395' post='1419408']


Yeah, who could forget on McAlister's return the slam Ray laid on the Broncos guy?
[/quote]
That's instantly what I thought of when I read that.

[Bltravens]

Best block you'll ever see.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kLZN0CabW6s

[mdrsharon]

No doubt Ray is the man.

I think his physicality was amazing, even at the late stage of his 17 year career.
We will bring in other players, but there is only one Ray Lewis.

What is really sad, is seeing other blogs and websites talk so bad about him.
I guess you need to be from Baltimore.. we show the love.

Go Ravens!!!

[baltravens]

Nice clip, but it is just a game. With the mention to religion by the OP, Christ is way more important than any game played by humans.

[Bazooka Joe]

I'm done here with this board. God is God. Any board that's moderated by those that refuse to acknowledge that is a board I no longer desire to be part of.

It's just time for Christian believers to take a stand for His Righteousness!

While I'm at it:

Homosexuality is SIN!
Abortion is murder!
Obama is demonically influenced.

But Jesus died that ALL may repent and be reconciled to The Father! Jesus is the Only Way, Truth and Life.

I'm not angry nor bitter. I must stand for Holiness! Love u guys/gals.

Peace and respect to all you guys and GO RAVENS!!!

[Bazooka Joe]

Oh and much to my Jewish brothers. Pray for Israel. Our Land

[The Raven]

This escalated quickly.

[JohnnyBoy8102]

I had some rare free time today for once and was looking at some of the old VHS tapes of Raven related stuff. All the tapes I looked at happened to be of Ray in his prime in the early 2000s. I shot a few videos with my digital camera and uploaded them for everyone to enjoy.

For anyone who forgot....Ray was an absolute beast in his prime and effected the game from start to finish.

[u][b]Notes[/b][/u]
*I had forgotten how fast Ray was from sideline to sideline. Lots of mobility, great instincts, great closing speed, etc....

*There was a 15 minute story during the Week 9- 2003 Season episode of Inside the NFL about how Ray was becoming a spokesman/ambassador for so many companies (Reebok, Madden, etc) and for the NFL. Armen Keteyian, Bob Costas, Cris Carter, and Chris Collinsworth were discussing how Ray has turned his image around since Atlanta and how they all believed he had no part in the murders. (I found this odd considering how much criticism Ray got during Super Bowl Week......TEN years later).

*Early in the 2002 Season (Sunday Night Football-Week 5) ESPN ran a poll during the game's broadcast about who was the Best Linebacker of All Time. It was between Ray, LT, Butkus, & Nitschke. Ray was right behind LT in the voting. Of course Ray added 8 more Pro Bowls, 5 more All Pro Selections, 1 more DPOY award, and 1 more SB trophy AFTER that poll was conducted.

*There was a story before the Week 3-2002 Monday Night Game vs the Broncos (The CMAC missed FG return game) in which Ray and Michael Jordan were in contact a lot and MJ told Ray he was the best leader in sports.

*Watching a few of these games/highlights was a bit weird. So many players that I hadn't thought of in ages were involved. It is as if Ray was a bridge from that time frame to the present.

*As mentioned above, Cornell Brown was one of the players I hadn't thought of in ages. A 7th round pick that ended up playing 7 Seasons/108 games (25 starts). How about a guy like Chad Williams? A 6th round pick who made tons of big plays for the Ravens as a nickel/dime DB. It got me thinking; how many players besides Cornell & Ray played their entire career (at least 5 seasons) all for the Ravens?

*Lastly, Elvis Grbac was [u]terrible[/u].

Sorry for the quality. When I have more time I will load some more:

[media][url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bbb1kV8ZdZg&feature=youtu.be"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bbb1kV8ZdZg&feature=youtu.be[/url][/media]

Not many highlights from that Pitt game. Grbac played terribly. There was an 88 yard TD return by Jermaine Lewis that I may upload later. That was Ray's 2nd Forced Fumble in this game. He had 6 career forced fumbles in the playoffs which was quoted as an NFL record during this past post season.

[JohnnyBoy8102]

[media][url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PxMf37QCWyY&feature=youtu.be"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PxMf37QCWyY&feature=youtu.be[/url][/media]

Ray played great this night (have 2 more videos in the next post) but also injured his shoulder and would only play one more game all season. It had the begining of a DPOY/All Pro season.

[JohnnyBoy8102]

[media][url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bGM4_oNhO2I&feature=youtu.be"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bGM4_oNhO2I&feature=youtu.be[/url][/media]

14th career INT & 2nd game in a row he has one.

[JohnnyBoy8102]

[media][url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=irn6a0aZQeQ&feature=youtu.be"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=irn6a0aZQeQ&feature=youtu.be[/url][/media]

[JohnnyBoy8102]

[media][url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h9NVUf7yl4o&feature=youtu.be"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h9NVUf7yl4o&feature=youtu.be[/url][/media]

Inside the NFL review of this game in 2003. It was a microcosm of this era. Boller was terrible, Heap was great, leaned on the running game, bailed out by the Defense.

[berad]

Great posts, man. Ray was incredibly fast and still had that amazing power. He was the best player in the league for many years, until he tore his hammy... and then aged a little...

[Bltravens]

[quote name='berad' timestamp='1365990041' post='1433794']
Great posts, man. Ray was incredibly fast and still had that amazing power. He was the best player in the league for many years, until he tore his hammy... and then aged a little...
[/quote]
Ya prior to that hamstring tear he was as fast as some WRs when it came to actual on field playing speed with pads on. After he tore it his entire stride changed to compensate, it was actually kind of odd to see. His legs never really fully extended or moved as fluid again and he took those short choppy strides you so often would see the last 6 odd years.

[Bltravens]

[quote name='JohnnyBoy8102' timestamp='1365987219' post='1433775']
*Watching a few of these games/highlights was a bit weird. So many players that I hadn't thought of in ages were involved. It is as if Ray was abridge from that timeframe to the present.

[/quote]
I love this line, its so true in every sense of the word. Lewis really was a bridge between the last remnants of what football used to look like, or the kinds of guys that played the game pre- Goodell. When the NFL didn't look so much like a college game, when flat out toughness could win you games, when you tried to knock guys out over the middle.
[quote name='berad' timestamp='1365990041' post='1433794']
Great posts, man. Ray was incredibly fast and still had that amazing power. He was the best player in the league for many years, until he tore his hammy... and then aged a little...
[/quote]
Ya prior to that hamstring tear he was as fast as some WRs when it came to actual on field playing speed with pads on. After he tore it his entire stride changed to compensate, it was actually kind of odd to see. His legs never really fully extended or moved as fluid again and he took those short choppy strides you so often would see the last 6 odd years.

[mgridda]

Oh man, when you see those old clips of Ray Lewis just in normal time and with normal broadcasting like that:

it really cheapens the Arthur Brown comparisons to Ray Lewis. It even knocks the play of Patrick Willis, too. We really don't know what we lost in Ray Lewis, and it has nothing to do with his magic touch and we lost it about 2007.

There won't be another Ray Lewis. Point blank. Good thing we have Flacco and Rice though.