Ravens Fluctuating Years

[SaVaGe]

08: 11-5
07: 5-11
06: 13-3
05: 6-10
04: 9-7
03: 10-6
02: 7-9
01: 10-6
00: 12-4
99: 8-8
98: 6-10
97: 6-9-1
96: 4-12

These numbers don't mean much but also mean a lot. On only 2 occasions in 13 years have the ravens been able to have 2 seasons of positive records in a row. Other then that the team has fallen apart. It is kind of weird because I feel like this would be the best year with the loss of players in the off season for the ravens to fall off the map again until the 2010 season. So is this going to be the third time we have another consecutive winning season or is the team destined to go negative?

[Ed_Reed20]

I think the Ravens will not only have a winning record again but get at least 10 wins. I honestly don't see Flacco taking a step back. The team hasn't added any major weapons to the team but they haven't lost any either. The defense lost two good players but to me, both are replaceable. The kicking game could be an issue but Koch will help every with his punting.

[darklight1216]

It could go either way. If half of the team can't ditch the red, we'll be in for some rough times. We also lost our DC, our all-time leader in points, and we don't have "the answer" at WR position so we could have a bad year yet again.

That said, I think this is the year that we break the pattern. There is finally a quarterback instead of a question mark under center, our secondary has gotten what will hopefully be significant upgrades, we have a couple of receivers poised to break out, and I think the future looks bright for our second year coach.

[BuckWilds]

I'm not altogether concerned about the downside of the losses. Our player losses are covered (with the exception of Stover) and losing Rex, while painful, is tempered by the fact Ray is back.

[Ravensfan23]

[quote name='SaVaGe' post='195027' date='May 25 2009, 06:35 PM']08: 11-5
07: 5-11
06: 13-3
05: 6-10
04: 9-7
03: 10-6
02: 7-9
01: 10-6
00: 12-4
99: 8-8
98: 6-10
97: 6-9-1
96: 4-12

These numbers don't mean much but also mean a lot. On only 2 occasions in 13 years have the ravens been able to have 2 seasons of positive records in a row. Other then that the team has fallen apart. It is kind of weird because I feel like this would be the best year with the loss of players in the off season for the ravens to fall off the map again until the 2010 season. So is this going to be the third time we have another consecutive winning season or is the team destined to go negative?[/quote]


i think this is a totally different team under Harbs. Harbs seems to have a way of getting this guy focused on the task at hand each and every week. Billick didn't really do that. There are so many things different about this team and that is the reason why i think we will be a more consistent team. Here are a few positives that i have notice that seem to make us better already.

1. This team went to the AFC Championship game with a rookie coach, a rookie QB, 1st time RB, and a OLine that on average of age wasn't even thought about when Matt Stover attempted his first kick. Not only did we go to the AFCC but we went toe-to-toe with the eventual SB Champs, not once or twice but 3 times. That alone will motivate this team.

2 Here is proof of that motivation imo. When was the last time you saw 100%(minus Ngata for school and Suggs for contract) attendance at a voluntary camp? Guys like Ray and Ed are usually down in Miami working out, but they are all in baltimore working out with teammate, i definately think Harbs has changed the focus of this team.

3. For the first time in a long time(probably ever) we have a great OC and a good young QB. So now the offense isn't as big of a question as in years pass. We already know the direction of this offense now it is just time to evolve.

4. Last season for the first time the Ravens showed a killer instinct, not on defense but on offense. Last year we put teams away, instead of letting them hang around. In years past we would let teams that we should have beat hands down, hang around and end up beating them by 3 or 7, hell sometimes we even lost those games. However last season we put our foot on peoples necks and didn't let up until the clock hit 0:00. See games like Jax, Hou, Cin, Cle, Phi, even Dallas.

5. Training Camp will be full of positon battles, weather its at backup QB, WR, TE, Oline, Dline, LB, CB, or K, these guys will be fighting and battling to make this roster. We have a very risk reward roster right now. We are running a big risk counting on guys like McGahee, LJ Smith, Heap, DWill, Rolle, Washington, and Clayton to stay healthy, but the reward is if all those guys do stay healthy and perform up to the level they can then we will have a great team.

6. The schedule doesn't seem as tough as last years, but that is only on paper right now. Its hard to tell how good/bad teams will be from year to year. However teams like KC, Den, Cle, Cin, Oak, and Det, didn't make the playoffs last season and didn't seem to improve this season. I think if we stay healthy the schedule matches up well for us.

[MKdave]

The difference now is that we have a franchise quarterback. And teams with one of those are competetive year in, year out. If this defense can stay intact we'll be a great team for years to come.

[theFRANCHISE]

I'd rather have alternating good and bad years, than to consistently be on a downward slide. See: Detroit, Cleveland, Oakland, etc.

I'll be happy just to have a winning record next year, period. Playoff wins are always the icing on the cake, and a Super Bowl win would obviously be the ultimate. But I'd rather not complain about success on any level when things could always be worse.

[kash96ravenstotalfan]

[quote name='SaVaGe' post='195027' date='May 25 2009, 06:35 PM']08: 11-5
07: 5-11
06: 13-3
05: 6-10
04: 9-7
03: 10-6
02: 7-9
01: 10-6
00: 12-4
99: 8-8
98: 6-10
97: 6-9-1
96: 4-12

These numbers don't mean much but also mean a lot. On only 2 occasions in 13 years have the ravens been able to have 2 seasons of positive records in a row. Other then that the team has fallen apart. It is kind of weird because I feel like this would be the best year with the loss of players in the off season for the ravens to fall off the map again until the 2010 season. So is this going to be the third time we have another consecutive winning season or is the team destined to go negative?[/quote]
Hey guys, we have a QB again this season. I think Joe will improve, and we beefed up our O line. Looking for good things this season

[raven46]

[quote name='theFRANCHISE' post='195042' date='May 25 2009, 07:21 PM']I'd rather have alternating good and bad years, than to consistently be on a downward slide. See: Detroit, Cleveland, Oakland, etc.

I'll be happy just to have a winning record next year, period. Playoff wins are always the icing on the cake, and a Super Bowl win would obviously be the ultimate. But I'd rather not complain about success on any level when things could always be worse.[/quote]
I agree but, why not want a better record it's what makes sports more interesting.

[rastaman831226]

[quote name='Ravensfan23' post='195038' date='May 25 2009, 07:45 PM']i think this is a totally different team under Harbs. Harbs seems to have a way of getting this guy focused on the task at hand each and every week. Billick didn't really do that. There are so many things different about this team and that is the reason why i think we will be a more consistent team. Here are a few positives that i have notice that seem to make us better already.

1. This team went to the AFC Championship game with a rookie coach, a rookie QB, 1st time RB, and a OLine that on average of age wasn't even thought about when Matt Stover attempted his first kick. Not only did we go to the AFCC but we went toe-to-toe with the eventual SB Champs, not once or twice but 3 times. That alone will motivate this team.

2 Here is proof of that motivation imo. When was the last time you saw 100%(minus Ngata for school and Suggs for contract) attendance at a voluntary camp? Guys like Ray and Ed are usually down in Miami working out, but they are all in baltimore working out with teammate, i definately think Harbs has changed the focus of this team.

3. For the first time in a long time(probably ever) we have a great OC and a good young QB. So now the offense isn't as big of a question as in years pass. We already know the direction of this offense now it is just time to evolve.

4. Last season for the first time the Ravens showed a killer instinct, not on defense but on offense. Last year we put teams away, instead of letting them hang around. In years past we would let teams that we should have beat hands down, hang around and end up beating them by 3 or 7, hell sometimes we even lost those games. However last season we put our foot on peoples necks and didn't let up until the clock hit 0:00. See games like Jax, Hou, Cin, Cle, Phi, even Dallas.

5. Training Camp will be full of positon battles, weather its at backup QB, WR, TE, Oline, Dline, LB, CB, or K, these guys will be fighting and battling to make this roster. We have a very risk reward roster right now. We are running a big risk counting on guys like McGahee, LJ Smith, Heap, DWill, Rolle, Washington, and Clayton to stay healthy, but the reward is if all those guys do stay healthy and perform up to the level they can then we will have a great team.

6. The schedule doesn't seem as tough as last years, but that is only on paper right now. Its hard to tell how good/bad teams will be from year to year. However teams like KC, Den, Cle, Cin, Oak, and Det, didn't make the playoffs last season and didn't seem to improve this season. I think if we stay healthy the schedule matches up well for us.[/quote]


Ding! Ding!! Ding!!! Winnah!!! You can chalk up the inconsistency to the "Billick Years" of Camp CreamPuff, rotating OC's, and consistent pisspoor QB play.

[darklight1216]

[quote name='rastaman831226' post='195052' date='May 25 2009, 09:09 PM']Ding! Ding!! Ding!!! Winnah!!! You can chalk up the inconsistency to the "Billick Years" of Camp CreamPuff, rotating OC's, and consistent pisspoor QB play.[/quote]
Give him some credit; he did get us our only Superbowl win, forever separating us from lesser teams like the Cards, Falcons, and Eagles... Look at that; out of four bird teams only one has a Lombardi. XD I'm so bored.

[BuckWilds]

[quote name='darklight1216' post='195055' date='May 25 2009, 09:13 PM']Give him some credit; he did get us our only Superbowl win, forever separating us from lesser teams like the Cards, Falcons, and Eagles... Look at that; out of four bird teams only one has a Lombardi. XD I'm so bored.[/quote]

Meh. The NFL records the pre-SB era champions as league champs. I do the same. Mind you, Philly hasn't won in almost 1/2 a century, but they count for me.

[rastaman831226]

[quote name='darklight1216' post='195055' date='May 25 2009, 09:13 PM']Give him some credit; he did get us our only Superbowl win, forever separating us from lesser teams like the Cards, Falcons, and Eagles... Look at that; out of four bird teams only one has a Lombardi. XD I'm so bored.[/quote]

No thanks for small favors. Ravens had always had the talent to contend for a SB ring, it could be said that Brian Billick was the big hold up during those years. Billick's lack of game generalship became clearly evident in his chaotic last year as Ravens' head coach when he decided to call the offensive plays over F.O. handpicked OC Rick Neuheisel. What unfolded with Billick's hands on approach was playcalling worthy only of a junior high school coach which ultimately led to his dismissal. Yes, Brian Billick was a HC with a team chock full of talent during our SB year, but Brian Billick was also the HC for many more years with a boatload of talent when the team fell short of expectations. In my book, that makes Brian Billick a severe underachiever. And please don't speak of the Cards, the Eagles, the Falcons etc. when making comparisons, they never on their best days posessed the type of football talent we so routinely take for granted in Baltimore.

[darklight1216]

[quote name='rastaman831226' post='195067' date='May 25 2009, 10:41 PM']No thanks for small favors. Ravens had always had the talent to contend for a SB ring, it could be said that Brian Billick was the big hold up during those years. Billick's lack of game generalship became clearly evident in his chaotic last year as Ravens' head coach when he decided to call the offensive plays over F.O. handpicked OC Rick Neuheisel. What unfolded with Billick's hands on approach was playcalling worthy only of a junior high school coach which ultimately led to his dismissal. Yes, Brian Billick was a HC with a team chock full of talent during our SB year, but Brian Billick was also the HC for many more years with a boatload of talent when the team fell short of expectations. In my book, that makes Brian Billick a severe underachiever. [b]And please don't speak of the Cards, the Eagles, the Falcons etc. when making comparisons, they never on their best days posessed the type of football talent we so routinely take for granted in Baltimore.[/b][/quote]
Harsh, no? But, hey, the truth hurts. Lol.
(Seriously though, the Eagles generally can brag about their offense, which we routinely cannot.)

I'm not trying to say that Billick was the greatest coach that the Ravens have ever seen simply because they won the Superbowl with his coaching, but...they did win the Superbowl with his coaching. Maybe I'm a softie, but I just think he should get a few props for it... eh, but what do I know? I started watching football at the beginning of the Harbaugh era.

[neepo13]

I love how opposing teams fans like to throw those numbers out there, without any consideration for the changes that have happened in Baltimore. The biggest change of all, we have a totally different HC, who has his own coaching staff and way of going about things. What you are reffering to is Brian Billick's record. I think Harbaugh has earned the right to not be deemed a failure just based on someone else's record. To me all those numbers mean is that when Billick coaches again he will have a winning season. Anything pre-Billick is completely irrelevant.

[rastaman831226]

While I'm on the subject of "Stumble Bumbling" Billick, for years Ravens major fret and complaint was about the O line and it's inability to open holes and protect the QB. When Ole Brian finally got kicked to the curb and Harbaugh and Cam Cameron took over the reins of the offense, they simply switched O line personell back to their natural positions ( Jason Brown from LG to C, Ben Grubbs from RG to LG, and Marshall Yanda from RT to RG) and voila...problem solved. What was Billick's big problem was in reality the big problem of having a Brian Billick manage or mismanage personel on this team. Thank goodness he's gone and we now have qualified professional coaching on this team.

[lowrider]

I feel like the inconsistancy comes with the inconsistancy at QB. If you look at the consistant teams over the years they all have great QB's. I cant wait to be consistantly good for years to come

[McBurks]

I was talking to my friend about this a few days ago,it's like the Ravens like having roller coaster years,with a winning season and then a losing season and then a winning season....

[shaikh015]

Acording to the New Coaching staff we would have to wait and see what happens...According to the record we should be negative...

[CustomUserName]

[quote name='theFRANCHISE' post='195042' date='May 25 2009, 08:21 PM']I'd rather have alternating good and bad years, than to consistently be on a downward slide. See: Detroit, Cleveland, Oakland, etc.[/quote]

I disagree, consistently bad years shows poor management in the front office and can be immediately fixed. Inconsistently good years shows a flaw in the players (look at Reeds INT total each year, sometimes he's phenominal, others he's just slightly above average, and when you look at Darklights' stat, that definitively effects our season).

[quote name='theFRANCHISE' post='195042' date='May 25 2009, 08:21 PM']I'll be happy just to have a winning record next year, period. Playoff wins are always the icing on the cake, and a Super Bowl win would obviously be the ultimate. But I'd rather not complain about success on any level when things could always be worse.[/quote]

I agree 100%. So often I hear "only one team truly succeeds" and it bothers me, because some teams like Detroit or St. Louis would be happy for a division title while NE is thinking Superbowl. To say one team succeeds a year, is inherently flawed because like I said at the beginning of 2008 "if we make the playoffs, this is a great year." To me, if the Ravens consistently improve than that is a good season, and any Superbowls will come naturally.

[JEEPercreepermd]

I'm not in any way a Brian Billick supporter. Due to his passive training camps we would have players getting injured left and right the first few weeks of every season becasue they would be out of shape and not used to taking hits. from 99-07 the ravens had 3 losing seasons. The first came in 2002 when the Ravens had the youngest and most inexperienced team in the league...and chris redman at QB. Despite that, the team was in the hunt for the playoffs until the final week. The second losing season came in 05 when the ravens had a ton of injuries including ray lewis and ed reed among others. the 07 Ravens started the season at 4-2 then didn't win another game until the week of the season. We had to start or #5 and #6 CB's and willis mcgahee was the entire offense. Was it ALL billick's fault? IMO it wasn't. But there were several things that WERE his fault. The Ravens locker room was an ugly place when he was there it wasn't a team. It was a bunch of star players and big ego's. The Ravens lost to plenty of teams that they were FAR better thanThey would constantly take dumb penaltys and make dumb mistakes because Brian Billick wouldn't hold anyone countable for their actions. Also, Billick's inability to adress the need at the quarterback position was disgusting. I mean I completely understood why kyle boller failed here. He had plenty of talent, but he just took too many hits early on and the expectations were set way too high for him as a first round pick. Anyway im rambling. To make a long story short, Billick just had the ability to make a bad team compete but on the other hand he could also let the good team fall apart. I think John Harbaugh has been a godsend for the Organization. With the team we have this season we should be strong once again.

[Mahatma_Sloth]

[font="Garamond"][size=7][b][color="#4B0082"]John Harbaugh Era[/color] = [color="#4B0082"]Dynasty[/color][/b][/size][/font]

[Ed_Reed20]

[quote name='Mahatma_Sloth' post='195112' date='May 26 2009, 11:05 AM'][font="Garamond"][size=3][b][color="#4B0082"]John Harbaugh Era[/color] = [color="#4B0082"]Dynasty[/color][/b][/size][/font][/quote]

I hope so. I don't know what will happen but one thing I love about Harbaugh is that it doesn't seem he will EVER be content and that's the sign of a winner.

[Reddawn36]

[quote name='Ed_Reed20' post='195028' date='May 25 2009, 06:39 PM']I think the Ravens will not only have a winning record again but get at least 10 wins. I honestly don't see Flacco taking a step back. The team hasn't added any major weapons to the team but they haven't lost any either. The defense lost two good players but to me, both are replaceable. The kicking game could be an issue but Koch will help every with his punting.[/quote]


uhm, did i miss something, cause last time i checked 10 wins was a winning record

[ravensfan160]

The thought of a down year next year has certainly crossed my mind. Our history in that regard is what it is. However, after much thought I can't imagine we don't have a good year and at least make the playoffs. There were two things that attributed heavily to those rollercoaster type years. They were lack of solid QB play and Brian Billick. Both of those should be gone now so we should be fine. Thats not to say we won't have down years I just think they will be few and far between.

[jezzy]

that just happened cuz of our qb situation and alot of injuries so i think as long as flacco stays healthy our record shouldnt go up n down like that and harbs brought a diffrent attitude to this team and with the winning last year i think the team trust harbs and will give maxium effort to prevent stukk like that from happening.

[rastaman831226]

[quote name='JEEPercreepermd' post='195110' date='May 26 2009, 10:46 AM']I'm not in any way a Brian Billick supporter. Due to his passive training camps we would have players getting injured left and right the first few weeks of every season becasue they would be out of shape and not used to taking hits. from 99-07 the ravens had 3 losing seasons. The first came in 2002 when the Ravens had the youngest and most inexperienced team in the league...and chris redman at QB. Despite that, the team was in the hunt for the playoffs until the final week. The second losing season came in 05 when the ravens had a ton of injuries including ray lewis and ed reed among others. the 07 Ravens started the season at 4-2 then didn't win another game until the week of the season. We had to start or #5 and #6 CB's and willis mcgahee was the entire offense. Was it ALL billick's fault? IMO it wasn't. But there were several things that WERE his fault. The Ravens locker room was an ugly place when he was there it wasn't a team. It was a bunch of star players and big ego's. The Ravens lost to plenty of teams that they were FAR better thanThey would constantly take dumb penaltys and make dumb mistakes because Brian Billick wouldn't hold anyone countable for their actions. Also, Billick's inability to adress the need at the quarterback position was disgusting. I mean I completely understood why kyle boller failed here. He had plenty of talent, but he just took too many hits early on and the expectations were set way too high for him as a first round pick. Anyway im rambling. To make a long story short, Billick just had the ability to make a bad team compete but on the other hand he could also let the good team fall apart. I think John Harbaugh has been a godsend for the Organization. With the team we have this season we should be strong once again.[/quote]


Let's not kid ourselves. DEFENSE has saved this franchise for years and kudos should rightfully go to DC's Lewis, Nolan, and Ryan. And greater kudos should be given to Ozzie and the FO crew for what we've learned with the transition from Billick to Harbaugh is that it certainly was not the lack of talent on the offensive side of the ball that made us inconsistant but lack of consistant good coaching stemming from the "Offensive Genius". Again, defense has always been consistantly good while offense has always been consistantly bad during the "Billick Years" and what Harbaugh and Cam proved so quickly last year was that a slight realignment of talent on hand coupled with some creative playcalling turned this offense from fledgling to deadly dangerous. Therefore any inconsistancy of record has to be lain at the feet of our old head coach, Brian Billick.

[1/28/01]

[quote name='Reddawn36' post='195118' date='May 26 2009, 11:29 AM']uhm, did i miss something, cause last time i checked 10 wins was a winning record[/quote]

yes, 10 wins is a winning season. dude was just saying that he believes our totals wins will be more than 10 on top of just having a winning season

[Nevermore52]

There is so much that goes into a season that it's so hard to predict what will happen.

I do know that I am not fond of all the changes the Ravens made. Getting the new guys in and up to speed is always a chore. Injuries can ruin a team really quick. Personally I think the Ravens would have a hard time dealing with key injuries. Reed, Lewis and Flacco are pretty irreplaceable on the field for our roster (and not just in a leadership way).

I expect a winning record, would be happy with a playoff berth, dream of a Super Bowl win.

[Strangebru]

If all of the Ravens starters are able to play healthy all season long, the Ravens will dominate the AFC North. If the Ravens went 11-5 last year, when they should have been at least 12-4 AFC North Champs but I digress, with 11 starters on the injury report at some point during the season, just imagine what they could do this year if they stay healthy all year long.

Losing Rex Ryan may be the biggest hit the Ravens have taken this year, but promoting on of his assistants should keep the D chugging right along.

I also think this will be a year the Ravens have another good year. I even hope John Harbaugh runs Camp Hard Ball again, and the Ravens never go back to Camp Cupcake. I was pissed last year with all of the injuries in training camp, but the team worked through it and were 6 minutes away from the Super Bowl, until the Steelers made their long drive. I know the Ravens can do it again.