[News] Late For Work 9/15: Does Ray Lewis Think Ravens Can Win AFC North?

[BR News]

Webb's raw reaction. Raiders QB in question. Never seen so much pressure on Flacco. Top performers.

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[757RavensFan]

 

 

Meanwhile, they may also be without their starting safeties, says Williamson. The team fears Allen tore his ACL and agent Carl Poston told ESPN that Woodson has a dislocated shoulder.

 

Oakland losing BOTH of their starting safeties is huge.  Hopefully we can take advantage of this. 

[Nick04263]

This is slightly off topic but can you imagine the fury unleashed if Pacman knocked off Steve Smith's helmet like that and tried to slam his head into it? How is he not suspended?

[Dorota]

No disrespect to a Baltimore great, but Ray Lewis was a superb player, great locker room leader and is fantastic in creating the emotional hype a team needs to gel together and perform, but though his speeches create emotion, they sometimes don't come together perfectly from a verbal and logical perspective so please forgive me if I don't take him too seriously about Ravens being eclipsed by another AFC team. Football is not a one man sport. One man can make a team, but one man can't break a team!

Edited September 15, 2015 by Dorota

[BMORE = BEASTING]

There's no need to panic the Ravens will improve. But, there still is an unsigned player out there that can run, catch and block. He probably could be signed cheaply too.

[The Mom Gene]

Oakland losing BOTH of their starting safeties is huge.  Hopefully we can take advantage of this. 

 

Maybe we can get our Receivers some practice while we're out there Sunday 

[757RavensFan]

There's no need to panic the Ravens will improve. But, there still is an unsigned player out there that can run, catch and block. He probably could be signed cheaply too.

 

Rice couldn't block. 

[PalmBayRaven]

That's why they have something called the Draft. We have young guys and now it's their turn. Love T-Sizzle but this is where we are now and we are moving on with or without him.

[The Mom Gene]

Yeah @RayLewis....  Uhhhh... Cincy won on Sunday BECAUSE they played the Raiders...  and NOT the Bronco's or Patriots.

[trevorsteadman]

Rice couldn't block. 

Rice was a great blocker.... What games were you watching a couple years ago.... 

[BMORE = BEASTING]

Rice couldn't block. 

 

LOL Rice while on the field Rice was one of the most unselfish RBs,. If the Ravens required Rice to block to win or for the Ravens to complete a successful play he would.  There is plenty of footage online proving that Rice can block.  

[cobrajet]

This is slightly off topic but can you imagine the fury unleashed if Pacman knocked off Steve Smith's helmet like that and tried to slam his head into it? How is he not suspended?

It would have been a blood bath. I think Pacman knows better than to mess with SSS. I am nervous reading that Ray Lewis thinks our chances of winning the AFC North is shakey now without T-Sizzle. I believed that we would be OK with the young guys Upshaw and La'Darius Smith stepping up, but I DO put a lot of stock in what Ray Lewis says. We may have to win the division to make the playoffs because a wildcard is not going to be easy when you got the Patriots, Bills, Broncos, Chargers, and Chiefs all looking stout this week and being a game ahead of us now. Even the Titans and Dolphins looked decent and they also have a game on us. The Bengals may be ugly during the playoffs but they bring it in the regular season and they looked damn good on Sunday, although it was the Raiders.

Edited September 15, 2015 by cobrajet

[trevorsteadman]

Upshaw's value increased heavily after Suggs went out. Suggs is known for being a great all-around outside linebacker. He is great in run defense and can get to the quarterback. Courtney Upshaw is one of the best in the business at setting the edge. While he does need to work on getting to the quarterback more, I think if he exceeds 10 sacks this season I think he possibly could be the highest paid player next offseason besides Andrew Luck

[757RavensFan]

Rice was a great blocker.... What games were you watching a couple years ago.... 

 

 

LOL Rice while on the field Rice was one of the most unselfish RBs,. If the Ravens required Rice to block to win or for the Ravens to complete a successful play he would.  There is plenty of footage online proving that Rice can block.

 

And there's plenty of footage with Rice whiffing on blocks.  Last season, I was more impressed with Forsett's blocking skills compared to anything I saw from Rice.  

[SUGGStobeDUMED]

The only thing thats certain is, after a game that saw two of the best defensive performances in years, the Broncos pass rush will be lauded as guaranteed superbowl contenders; and the Ravens team will be deemed un-winnable...

[cobrajet]

LOL Rice while on the field Rice was one of the most unselfish RBs,. If the Ravens required Rice to block to win or for the Ravens to complete a successful play he would.  There is plenty of footage online proving that Rice can block.

If Forsett went down, then I would give that thought more weight, but IMHO Forsett is a lot like Rice. I think we have don't have space on the 53 man for him right now.

[RicknRoll]

Losing Suggs is a big Blow to all of us. I guess here is where we look to Ozzie to make one of those Special Moves to right the Ship. I have faith in our front office even though I'm still not over losing Anquan Boldin but I do believe they will find a way to put us over top. Which means attending to our pass rush needs as well as our Offensive Tackles. I was never high on Eugine Monroe, he is a serviceable Tackle but nothing great. We have a need for a really good Left Tackle.

[salamander]

Love the close friendship between SSS and Forsett, especially the banter and bickering in good fun. Look out for all hell to break loose if anyone takes a cheap shot or late hit on Forsett during a game. SSS will go bananas and have a serious tussle with any player who messes with his new BFF. Stay chillin' SSS. No more fighting penalties or ejections cuz we need you on the field. LOL

Edited September 15, 2015 by salamander

[reed20fence]

You mean to tell me that a team that last year was the center of a national scandal, lost its starting RB, lost its starting TE, started the season down one starting CB, and lost the other starting CB the moment the first came back, played the final stretch of 4 games in a hotly contested wildcard without its pro bowl defensive tackle and during significant stretches played without its starting LT and LG all in all placing something like 16 guys on season ending IR... THAT team which bit, scratched and clawed its way into the playoffs and beat Pittsburg IN Pittsburg and was 4 points and shady Brady shennanigans away from the AFC Championship...THAT Ravens team can't survive without Suggs?

Cmon Ray! Either you're giving your guys tough love trying to motivate them to step up, or you're doubting the power of what you started here in Baltimore.

Edited September 15, 2015 by reed20fence

[ibleedpurpleandblack]

Oakland losing BOTH of their starting safeties is huge.  Hopefully we can take advantage of this. 

 

and Oakland is saying, the Ravens offensive can't block - hopefully we can take advantage of that...

[RicknRoll]

Big Question Here!!! Why is it ok to commit "Face Guarding aka Pass Interference" in the end zone and no flags are thrown? This was the clearest case of Pass Interference I have ever seen on that last play against the Denver Defence. It reminds me of the Game against the Patriots when Pitta got mugged in the end zone after the play our receiver got the ball knocked out of his hands, no flags there either. So I ask the question, is it ok to commit penalties as long as it's in the last few seconds of a Game????

[salamander]

It is an undeniable reality that Suggs will be surely missed but some adversity and season ending injuries are going to happen to other teams also. I still feel that the Ravens defense could still be top notch in the league without Suggs, although it is quite a challenge to replace him on the field and leadership wise. Concerned but still confident in our defense. Brilliant game Sunday except for last drive. Our defense was on the field most of the game in thin air and that had to wear them down. Defense will find their way without Suggs. Ray Lewis would be the first to recognize Sizzle's importance to the team. Ray should also be the first 1 to know the Ravens will rise above and persevere as they have done so many times before.

Edited September 15, 2015 by salamander

[ajf3030]

Reading Ray's quote just lays out so well how good Suggs is. I've never understood why people call him a 'passrusher'- he's probably been the most complete Rush End in the league for the last 10 years. Not the best passrusher, but plays the run, and defends the screen pass better than anyone I've ever seen. I appreciate Ray's perspective, but I'm still optimistic about what the defense can be without Suggs. The concern right now is on offense- we have so much talent really at every single position on defense, and Pees was calling some great blitzes utilizing that talent- I honestly expect us to still be a top 5 defense going forward

[Wildwest Raven]

There's 16 rounds to this fight, we had a rough 1st round. Let's show them why we are,

"The Ravens". People are counting us out???...excellent, then they won't see us coming.

[reed20fence]

Just a hypothetical here for a sec. Imagine if Darryl Smith catches that near interception and takes it to the house as he surely would have; or imagine if the ball doesn't slip SSS grasp in the endzone or if Gillmore pulls down the last pass. Would we then be sitting here talking about how our defense will surely be top 10 even without Suggs for holding Peyton to nothing, or that January Joe is bringing some winter magic to the fall?

That's how flukey and arbitrary pro football, its media and fan group-think can be sometimes.

We're a solid team even without Suggs, and when we unleash the offense, I guarantee you every opponent trembles and loses sleep.

Edited September 15, 2015 by reed20fence

[trevorsteadman]

Bengals look good against the Raiders at home Ray.... Ravens are still in it. Remember Ray Lewis went out for the season the year we won the super bowl. Along with Webb when he was our shut down guy. Only 4 of our starters played every game on our defense that year and we won. It will be harder but we will be fine. Also with the offense don't worry about it. It has always struggled in certain situations. The Ravens offense will never be top 5 and it will never be consistent. Ravens always seem to bounce back strong after a loss. Wouldn't be surprised if Flacco throws 4 touchdowns against the Raiders. Ravens always seem to be inconsistent and play terrible one week then look like the best team to ever play football the next. I think the coaches need to maybe find a routine that gets them more consistently ready for every Sunday.

[RicknRoll]

Hey (Reed20fence) Well Said! I love that, Could'nt have said it better myself. Awesome!!!

[Purple Dawg 96]

15-1

[bioLarzen]

Rice couldn't block. 

 

Depends on which Rice you mean. Jerry Rice wasn't the best blocker, for sure. Simeon Rice was much better.

 

As for Ray Rice, he was a good blocker.

[757RavensFan]

Big Question Here!!! Why is it ok to commit "Face Guarding aka Pass Interference" in the end zone and no flags are thrown? This was the clearest case of Pass Interference I have ever seen on that last play against the Denver Defence. It reminds me of the Game against the Patriots when Pitta got mugged in the end zone after the play our receiver got the ball knocked out of his hands, no flags there either. So I ask the question, is it ok to commit penalties as long as it's in the last few seconds of a Game????

 

Face guarding is not a penalty.  You don't have to turn and look for the ball and you can face guard as long as you DON'T make contact with the receiver.

 

http://www.nfl.com/rulebook/passinterference

Edited September 15, 2015 by 757RavensFan