Missing Ray

[PurpleCityLights]

The Raven nation turned on him for his comments on addressing the leadership void. He deserves better and I hope he enjoys his retirement.

No we didn't...

[BloodRaven]

No we didn't...

Oh it happened, not everyone but a good 95% of this board did. Nobody wants to own up.

[The Raven]

Oh it happened, not everyone but a good 95% of this board did. Nobody wants to own up.

 

I'll own up. Eating crow now. We miss Ray's talent and intensity more than his leadership though, if you ask me.

[BloodRaven]

I'll own up. Eating crow now. We miss Ray's talent and intensity more than his leadership though, if you ask me.

 

It's not a good thing that he's right. Take Suggs and Rice for example, they're two veteran leaders and are more than happy to front the media after a win, but then we lose to the Browns and when hard questions have to be asked they duck out the back. Wheres the accountability? as the season unravels they're starting to seem more like a figureheads than leaders.

[Guest Moderator 6]

The Ravens playing poorly this year is due to a lack of leadership.  This solidify's Ray Lewis's legacy: he leaves and the team falls apart.  He was needed all the time, even on crutches.

[funky141]

I'll own up. Eating crow now. We miss Ray's talent and intensity more than his leadership though, if you ask me.

How about a little bit of all 3...

[1/28/01]

This sucks! Im going back to New Orleans and drinking some more!

[TSizzle00]

We're missing Ray alright, Ray Rice.

[The Raven]

It's not a good thing that he's right. Take Suggs and Rice for example, they're two veteran leaders and are more than happy to front the media after a win, but then we lose to the Browns and when hard questions have to be asked they duck out the back. Wheres the accountability? as the season unravels they're starting to seem more like a figureheads than leaders.

 

Idk, but that doesn't matter to me. I couldn't care less if they did or didn't see the media. That's not an indication of leadership. That's just an indication of whether or not they want to talk to the media. I've seen Suggs show signs of leadership, and it was reported all during camp. Rice has done crap as a leader.

 

I mean, do you think Arthur Brown's gonna say, "Aw crap, that Suggs guy didn't go answer questions from the media. What a junk leader"? No. That's freaking silly.

 

How about a little bit of all 3...

Uh duh...

[Latch]

We wouldn't need him if a new leader stepped up. I get that Joe is a "quiet leader" type, but I personally have never found those types to be very effective. These are men we're talking about here. They're much more likely to perform at a higher level if someone is screaming at them about destiny and being the underdog. I can see Suggs potentially filling that role, but no one can light up a locker room like Ray could. I get that we need to move on, but his intangibles are missed. 

[PurpleCityLights]

I add Ed to this equation too. They are both well missed.

indeed, you notice nobody in our secondary hunts the QB anymore....

[BloodRaven]

Idk, but that doesn't matter to me. I couldn't care less if they did or didn't see the media. That's not an indication of leadership. That's just an indication of whether or not they want to talk to the media. I've seen Suggs show signs of leadership, and it was reported all during camp. Rice has done crap as a leader.

 

I mean, do you think Arthur Brown's gonna say, "Aw crap, that Suggs guy didn't go answer questions from the media. What a junk leader"? No. That's freaking silly.

 

 

Ok by definition intangibles are difficult to define right? well what isn't difficult to define is the tangible difference in our defensive performance between this season and last, even with the added speed and talent. We got beat for first downs and scores but would always fight back and make the plays that needed to be made, the 2012 defense didn't quit on Ray.

[The Raven]

Ok by definition intangibles are difficult to define right? well what isn't difficult to define is the tangible difference in our defensive performance between this season and last, even with the added speed and talent. We got beat for first downs and scores but would always fight back and make the plays that needed to be made, the 2012 defense didn't quit on Ray.

 

I don't disagree at all

[frozen joe flacco fan]

I don't disagree at all

Anyone who would disagree doesn't understand football. Its 10% physical and 90% mental. Haden of the Browns said it best, "this is not the same Ravens we lost to 11 times in a row." They believe their defense can impose its will on the opposition like our defense used to.

[A Fish Called Yanda]

Lets hire him as our offensive line coach.

[TSizzle00]

Ok by definition intangibles are difficult to define right? well what isn't difficult to define is the tangible difference in our defensive performance between this season and last, even with the added speed and talent. We got beat for first downs and scores but would always fight back and make the plays that needed to be made, the 2012 defense didn't quit on Ray.

 

Ravens defense last season gave up 21 points per game, about the same as this year only this year our running game is the worse in the NFL and the pass blocking is much worse. Last year we had only 37 sacks all year, we have 27 right now. One of the biggest problems on defense this season that we didn't have as bad last year was defenders attacking the football. Overall people underestimate how bad our defense was last season because we won the SB and it was Rays last year. If we had the same running game as last season I believe we would be 5-3. Oline just took such a large step backwards and the scheme change killed us. That combined with Rice and Pierce not playing well has lead to some close losses.

[BloodRaven]

Ravens defense last season gave up 21 points per game, about the same as this year only this year our running game is the worse in the NFL and the pass blocking is much worse. Last year we had only 37 sacks all year, we have 27 right now. One of the biggest problems on defense this season that we didn't have as bad last year was defenders attacking the football. Overall people underestimate how bad our defense was last season because we won the SB and it was Rays last year. If we had the same running game as last season I believe we would be 5-3. Oline just took such a large step backwards and the scheme change killed us. That combined with Rice and Pierce not playing well has lead to some close losses.

 

 

 

Ravens defense last season gave up 21 points per game, about the same as this year only this year our running game is the worse in the NFL and the pass blocking is much worse. Last year we had only 37 sacks all year, we have 27 right now. One of the biggest problems on defense this season that we didn't have as bad last year was defenders attacking the football. Overall people underestimate how bad our defense was last season because we won the SB and it was Rays last year. If we had the same running game as last season I believe we would be 5-3. Oline just took such a large step backwards and the scheme change killed us. That combined with Rice and Pierce not playing well has lead to some close losses.

 

Yards allowed, points allowed, sacks etc it all means little if you're not getting turnovers and can't get off the field. Our turnover differential is in the red.

[Tatelli]

Ray Lewis, who clearly became one of the great leaders in the history of professional sports, called out teammates in meetings. If he saw a player, especially a new veteran or a rookie, not play with the physicality common to Ravens defenses, Ray would speak up. “We don’t play that way here. We all run to the ball. We all run through the guy with the ball. That’s who we are.”

The message was clear. Play like a Raven, or Ozzie will find someone else who does.

 

Ray may have lost his speed towards the end,but he has never lossed his leadership and how he called players out. I've no longer seen the swarming to the ball that the Ravens were known for, how many times have there been strips of QB'S or others that you see the ball rolling around and players either slowing down or just not swarming to finish the play. Leadership.....while NO we don't know what's said in the locker rooms or team meets, but when you see it game after game it makes you wonder if our leadership still holds the above statement true.

Our HC when does he himself take blame and demand his OC and DC make changes to their gameplaning or blocking schemes. When does he become the bottom line and become a leader to his staff, when does he start calling out coaches when they continue to produce the same non working blocking assignments week in and week out. I myself don't want to hear these same lame answers week in and week out, no way our entire Oline forgot how to go one on one during their off season just no way!! Leadership...you have the players Coach, lead your staff to use them right.

[TDubbs]

Obviously you miss a guy like Ray, but his time was up and we have to move on. Now, I will say, I wish we would have kept Ed Reed around. That would have kept continuity in our leadership, and how nice would a tandem of Reed and Elam w/Ihedigbo subbing in?

[Militant X 1]

Obviously you miss a guy like Ray, but his time was up and we have to move on. Now, I will say, I wish we would have kept Ed Reed around. That would have kept continuity in our leadership, and how nice would a tandem of Reed and Elam w/Ihedigbo subbing in?

speaking for myself here...I miss the "essence" of a person like Ray!  I miss his heart, fire, passion and will to play this game!  I miss the speeches; those understood and not!  lol!  for 17 years; I knew that I could count on Ray...win, lose or draw!  I knew what I was getting from a cat like him!  then the Ravens added his partner in crime from The U...Ed Reed!  wow!  what a defensive tandem and force they became over the years along with a few other players!  sure, the Ravens gotta move on!  they have moved on and so has Ray!  but, maaaan!  it is so good to remember what I witnessed on T.V. and there live at M&T Bank Stadium from that great player over the years!  I'm even holding on to the old NFL Madden games (05'-13') with both of those cats on the roster so that I can reminisce at will.  LOL!!

 

#Mili

[TDubbs]

 I'm even holding on to the old NFL Madden games (05'-13') with both of those cats on the roster so that I can reminisce at will.  LOL!!

 

Hahaha, good call! It's definitely a rarity in the NFL to watch a HOFer play for 17 years in the same jersey. This is certainly a strange year in Ravens football without #52 around, I think we can all see that lol. 

 

I only got to see #52 in person once, last year at the Cowboys game. It was electric and well worth the trip down from the Great White North lol. 

[Guest RBates]

Can he please take over for Dean Pees.  I would love to have him as a DC.  

[Militant X 1]

Hahaha, good call! It's definitely a rarity in the NFL to watch a HOFer play for 17 years in the same jersey. This is certainly a strange year in Ravens football without #52 around, I think we can all see that lol. 

 

I only got to see #52 in person once, last year at the Cowboys game. It was electric and well worth the trip down from the Great White North lol. 

my wife and I was at that game also!  to see Ray play in one uniform for 17 years was special!  he was special!  and yes!  it's weird to watch the defense on the field without him and Ed Reed.  but, it is time for this Ravens team to forge their own identity in this league now that the "General" has retired. 

 

#Mili

[jimjim5]

I'll tell you one thing, RR sure misses Ray Ray. I think Ray Ray kept Rice in attack and beast mode with workouts. Now that big bro ain't here, Rice has lost his edge to stay on top of his game.

my two cents.

[TSizzle00]

I still say what we really miss is Ray Rice

[Ravensfan23]

I want to be care not to make this seem like I'm bashing Ray or anything because I'm not. But wasn't Ray Lewis apart of the team in 2005 when we had a stretch of 4 losses and finished the season at 6-10? Wasn't Ray Lewis apart of this team in 2007 when we got swept by both the Browns and Bengals and allowed 5 first half TDs in what was basically a homecoming game in Pittsburgh?

 

Where was that great emotional and inspirational leadership then? Now again, I'm not saying this to bash or diminish Ray in any way because I think he's a great leader. My point to this is that poor performances happen and this isn't the first time the Ravens have struggled in a season.

 

Do we miss Ray? Yes you always miss greatness and you'd love to have it, but the notion that all would be cured with Ray still be apart of this team in foolish imo. There is no way Ray Lewis gets this oline to play better. If he had that capability then we wouldn't have had so many poor offenses during is era.

 

There is no way Ray Lewis' leadership would have prevented Doss from dropping that punt down by the goal line vs the Browns. I don't think Ray's leadership would make Rice play better right now. His leadership wouldn't have made Webby have better coverage on 4th down with the game on the line last week. His leadership wouldn't have prevented Digg from tipping that ball in the air today.

 

Now again we obviously miss the guy because he was great and maybe we are able to get off the field on defense in the games we lost to the Browns, Packers and Steelers. But there has also been games where the defense hasn't been able to get off the field with the game on the line and Ray was right in the middle of it.

 

I strongly feel if Ray Lewis was apart of the 2013 Baltimore Ravens we would still be 4-5, maybe 5-5 at best.

[Corvus_corax]

The team misses Ray's leadership and I miss watching Ray play. I knew things wouldn't be the same without him and they're really not.

[mdrsharon]

Of course we can't look back and must move ahead.

 

Ray is just as great on ESPN, gives great insight to the games.

Of course he is a passionate guy, but the real deal, is, he LIVED for the game.

Was a total student, after everyone left, we saw him looking at films of opponents, defenses, offenses,etc. That's how he lasted so long and played great, even when his time was done.

 

I love my team, but we need someone to inspire these guys.