O’s Fans Shouldn’t Sleep On Welington Castillo

According to Dan Connolly of BaltimoreBaseball.com, the O’s top target at catcher right now is 29-year-old Welington Castillo. Castillo’s spent the majority of his seven year career with the Cubs, before making a short stop in Seattle, and then spending the last year and a half with the D’Backs. The backstop, who’s a year younger than Matt Wieters,  was a surprising addition to free agency, after being non-tendered by Arizona.

The O’s are believed to be in deep talks with Castillo, and O’s fans shouldn’t be disappointed. Castillo could promise to be a legitimate replacement for Matt Wieters with his bat, boasting a .255 career batting average, and 33 home runs over the last two seasons. While he’d be a significant downgrade defensively, the O’s still have Caleb Joseph, who will likely see a decent share of playing time in 2017, and is an outstanding defensive backstop. On top of that, there’s reason to believe the righty could hit more home runs in Baltimore, like most free agent signings of the past have, due to OPACY’s short dimensions in comparison to those of Arizona or Chicago.

Castillo, who has an almost identical career batting average to Matt Wieters, hit 21 points higher than Wieters last season (.264 to .243), and ranked in the top 10 of the MLB’s catchers in both homeruns and doubles. While he’s not a top tier, household name, Castillo’s a solid Major League catcher. If, or when, the O’s reach a deal with the seven-year veteran, O’s fans should be excited about the potential his addition brings to an already loaded Orioles lineup.

ALL HAIL THE NO HUDDLE!

The Ravens beat the Dolphins 38-6 on Sunday, ending Miami’s six game winning streak, and displaying what was far and away their best team effort to date this season. The defense, which came into the week ranked second overall and first against the run, continued to be a force to be reckoned with, and Justin Tucker did what Justin Tucker does, making his only field goal attempt from 55 yards out. It was the offense, however, that surprised everyone who’s been watching this team play all year.

One week after complaining that the offensive play calling was far too conservative, Joe Flacco completed 36 of 47 pass attempts, for 381 yards and four touchdowns, undoubtedly his best performance of the season, and perhaps one of his best ever. Must have been facing a poor defense, right? Nope, the Dolphins’ defense entered the week ranked ninth in the league against the pass, allowing under 240 yards per game through the air.

I’d attribute this offensive outburst to two things. First of all, we saw something we’ve rarely ever seen out of a John Harbaugh coached Ravens team. We saw the Ravens go up in the first quarter, as they often do. However, instead of that “protect the lead” mentality we’ve seen preached and carried out in recent years, Ravens fans saw a team that refused to take their foot off the pedal. The offense kept moving the ball through the air, relentlessly, despite a large lead, and saw their lead continue to grow.

The thing that should’ve really had diehard Ravens fans jumping for joy, though, was the consistent use of the no-huddle offense, and here’s why…

There’s a few things we know about Joe Flacco. The dude’s got one of, if not THE strongest arms in the entire NFL, and at 6 feet 6 inches, 240 pounds, he’s got ideal size for a quarterback to say the least. We also know that while his stats tend be average at best during the regular season, he’s a proven winner at the end of big games and in the playoffs, hence his nickname of “Joe Cool”. Yet, a couple major weaknesses have forever held Flacco back from that “elite” tier, separating him from the Mannings, Bradys, and Rodgers’ of the world. He often fails to throw the ball away when he should, which was even evident in his big game on Sunday, when he made his only real mistake of the game, on a second quarter interception that he should’ve simply tossed out of bounds. He lacks the ability to pick apart a defense before the play, rarely making adjustments or calling audibles at the line of scrimmage. On top of that, as his former teammate Ray Lewis pointed out a couple weeks ago, he tends to lack the “fire” or motivation that fans hope to see in their team’s quarterback. So, what does this have to do with their use of the no-huddle on Sunday?

Well, if there’s been one thing that’s seemed to minimalize all of Flacco’s downsides throughout his career, it’s been the no-huddle offense. Countless times over the last nine season, we’ve seen a Joe Flacco run offense run stagnant through three and half quarters of a game, only to rely on the no-huddle offense for quick scoring drives late in the fourth quarter. In most of these instances, Flacco’s found success, moving the ball with ease, and leaving many fans wondering why the team hadn’t turned to the quick moving offense earlier in the game.

Joe Flacco is never going to be Peyton Manning. He’s never going to be the guy who walks up to the line every play, analyzes the defense, and re-routes his receivers to find holes in the opposition. This often holds him back, and leaves the offense struggling to move the ball. When the offense turns to the no-huddle, however, a new Joe Flacco emerges. Maybe it’s because he’s moving faster, giving him less time to overthink the next play. Or, Maybe it’s because the opposing defense doesn’t have time to plan out their coverages and carry out their game plan. Either way, it seems to be the no-huddle run offense that truly allows number five to take advantage of his natural abilities and his offense’s true potential.

On Sunday, Flacco completed 36 passes to ten different receivers, six of which had at least three catches. He came into the game with the fourth worst passer rating of starting quarterbacks in the league, just above 80, but posted a rating of 119 on Sunday. It was the first game in which the offense primarily ran through the no-huddle. Should the offense stick with it? You tell me.

 

 

 

A Glimpse at the Ravens’ Defense: 2016 vs. 2000

Through the first 11 games of the 2016 season, the Ravens  defense has undoubtedly made its case as the league’s top unit. The Cardinals, Broncos, Seahawks, and Vikings are a few teams that may also have an argument. However, there’s no question that this revamped Ravens defense, which shows signs of a return to the “Ravens football” that Baltimore loves so dearly, has electrified fans throughout the city.

In 2000, when the Ray Lewis lead Ravens won their first Super Bowl, they contained what’s generally heralded as one of the top two or three NFL defenses of all time. They sit among the ranks of the greatest defensives ever to take the field, alongside units like the 1985 Bears, or 2015’s Broncos. While this year’s squad hasn’t achieved quite the same level of dominance thus far as the Ravens did 16 years ago, there’s no doubt they’ve been more than impressive. In fact, young Ravens fans probably wonder how much better that 2000 defense could have really been. For that reason, I thought I’d compare some numbers from this year’s unit through the first 11 games of the season, with those of the that highly touted Super Bowl squad from 2000.

Points Allowed Per Game (2000/2016): 10.3 / 18.3

Yards Allowed Per Game: 247.9 / 297.8

• Rushing: 60.6 / 74.9
• Passing: 187.3 / 222.9 (avg. passing ypg has increased throughout league)

Sacks: 35 / 26 through 11 games , on pace for 37.8

Interceptions: 23 / 11 through 11 games, on pace for 16

Fumbles Recovered: 26 / 8 through 11 games, on pace for 11.6

Third Down Conversions: 34% (72/211) / 34% (51/152)

Penalties On Defense: 84 / 74 through 11 games, on pace for 107.6

Yeah, the 2000 Ravens defense was THAT good.

 

How Will the O’s Replace Matt Wieters?

After eight seasons as an Oriole, catcher Matt Wieters is set to be one of the MLB’s top free agents this winter. With the O’s unlikely to bring him back to Baltimore, a major hole emerges at backstop for the squad that ended last season with a tough loss to Toronto in the AL wild card game. Here’s a few options for attempting to replace the four-time all-star catcher:

• Caleb Joseph: In 2015, Joseph looked like the most likely candidate to fill the position after Wieters’ departure. In 320 at-bats, Joseph hit .249, with 11 home runs and 49 rbi’s just two season ago. Behind the plate, he is very solid, certainly above average. However, after injuries derailed his 2016 season, Joseph struggled to rebound, finishing the year with an average of .174, and no rbi’s. With that being said, it’s hard to see Dan Duquette and the O’s organization heading into 2017 with Joseph at the top of the depth chart.
• Chance Sisco: The 21-year-old catcher is one of the O’s top prospects, and was a starter in last season’s futures game during the all-star break. A .323 hitter through four seasons in the minors, Sisco is the probably the club’s best option from within the organization.
• Nick Hundley: Hundley played 50 games for the O’s back in 2014, and is the catcher whom they’ve been most linked to in free agency thus far. At 33, he’s a solid option, as he’s had success in the league in recent years, hitting over .280 with 18 home runs over his past two years combined with the Rockies.
• Jason Castro: Coming off a down year in which he hit just .211, Castro is the top choice of a number of teams looking to free agency for a new catcher. The reason for this is that at 29, Castro has already made one all star game, and is still regarded as a top tier defender. The O’s, however, have openly regarded Hundley as the more the intriguing option this offseason,  while at least five teams have already targeted Castro, so this one seems a stretch.

 

Which Ravens Deserve Your Vote for the Pro Bowl?

Earlier this week, voting began for this season’s NFL Pro Bowl, which for the first time, will be held in Orlando, rather than Hawaii as in years past. While few players on the Ravens stuck out as worthy Pro Bowl candidates during the first half of the 2016 season, I thought I’d highlight a few players who have legitimately earned the right to be considered for a trip to Florida on January 29.

1. Justin Tucker – There’s not much to argue here, as Tucker’s clearly been the best kicker in the league this season. Tucker, who’s 22 for 22 on field goals through the first 10 weeks of the season, is joined by Adam Vinatieri (19 for 19) as one of the two kickers in the NFL, with more than one field goal attempt, who have yet to miss. Two kickers have made 23 field goals this season, but both have had at least three more attempts. He’s probably been the Ravens MVP thus far in 2016. This one’s a no brainer.
2. Eric Weddle – Weddle has better for the Ravens defense than fans could have ever imagined. He’s provided the much needed leader the Ravens have been missing since the retirement of Ray Lewis and Ed Reed. In fact, he’s been playing so well that Pro Football Focus ranked him as the top safety in football through the first half of the season. He’s second on the team with 45 tackles, a number that no where near does him justice, as he’s seemingly involved in every play, and has been an anchor for a defense that’s currently ranked first in the NFL. Weddle’s certainly worthy of the honor.
3. Zach Orr – Perhaps the most improved player on the Ravens thus fair in the 2016 season, is Zach Orr. Orr leads the Ravens with 77 tackles, 32 more than Eric Weddle, who is second on the team in tackles. When CJ Mosley went down with injury earlier in the season, Orr stepped in, and became the most efficient tackler on the Ravens D. He’s played as well as just about any linebacker in the league so far this year, and is looking like the next Ravens linebacker to quietly take the league by storm.
4. Timmy Jernigan – Jernigan showed signs of greatness in his rookie season, and has continued to improve here in 2016. He, along with Brandon Williams (who could also be a Pro Bowler), has been a key factor in the Ravens  becoming the league’s top run defense. In addition to being a great plug in the run game, Jernigan’s notched 6 sacks through the first 10 weeks of the season, and continues to create headaches for offensive coordinators throughout the league. Jernigan’s ceiling appears to be scary high, and we’ve probably yet to even come close to seeing what this guys capable of.

These are the four players I think Ravens fans should vote for, whether they’re voting objectively or not. If you want to vote for a few more guys, besides these four, just because you bleed purple and black, then here’s a few more I can justify backing:

• Marshall Yanda
• Sam Koch
• Jimmy Smith
• Terrell Suggs
• Brandon Williams
• Mike Wallace
• CJ Mosley
• Anthony Levine (Special Teams)

What to Make of the Ravens’ Week 9 Victory Over the Steelers

The Ravens ended their four game losing streak on Sunday, with a 21-14 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers. The win puts the Ravens atop the AFC North with a record of four wins and four losses. The Steelers, with the same record, fall to second place, a half game ahead of the Bengals who sit in third at 3-4-1. So what does the this win mean for the Ravens?

In a league where every team seems to sit around .500, and there are only two, maybe three elite teams, who knows how this division is going to round up. Just when we thought the Steelers were the class of the division, they came out yesterday and put on a pathetic performance. The reality is that on Sunday,  Ben Roethlisberger was nowhere near the player he is when he’s healthy. He could hardly move in the pocket, and was seriously struggling with his accuracy, most likely due to his inability to comfortably plant on that left knee he had surgery on just three weeks ago. So for that reason, we must acknowledge this wasn’t the same Steelers offense we saw earlier in the season.

Despite the win, Joe Flacco continued to play sub-par football. He completed a 95 yard touchdown pass to Mike Wallace in the first quarter, but the play was simply a quick slant across the middle, which Wallace extended after the catch. Even with the return of Ronnie Stanley, Marshal Yanda, and Steve Smith Sr., Flacco still struggled. Yet again, we saw him missing throws he should make with ease, and lacking the pocket presence of a true NFL quarterback, as he was stripped from behind in the second half, nearly resulting a turnover, as we’ve seen far too many times.

Therefore, I’m not sure we learned much from this Ravens team that we didn’t know coming into week nine. The team bodes one of the top defensive units in the league. Whether Big Ben’s injured or not, holding a Steelers offense that includes Antonio Brown and Le’Veon Bell, to zero points through three and a half quarters, is an undeniably impressive feat. However, their offense remains below-average at best. Sure, Ravens-Steelers is known for producing physical, low-scoring games, but the bottom line is the offense has been flat out bad, week in and week out.

What we saw Sunday, though, is that the Steelers are beat up. They aren’t looking the top-tier team we saw early on, and have a top matchup next week against the 7-1 Dallas Cowboys. With the Browns coming up on Thursday Night Football, the Ravens should find themselves at 5-4, still atop the division, after week 10, and shouldn’t be surprised to see the Steelers at 4-5. What we can’t forget, is that the Bengals had arguably the toughest schedule in football for the first half of the season, and can’t be slept on moving forward, as they sit right behind the Ravens and Steelers.

Basically, the AFC North is a toss up. The facts are as follows: no team in the division is a clear choice to come out on top, the Ravens have as much of a chance to win as Pittsburgh or Cincinnati, and the Ravens probably bode the most dominant unit in the division in their top ranked defense. So why not Baltimore? Don’t give ’em yet. No matter who comes out on top, it’s not gonna be pretty.

 

 

3 Trades the Ravens Should Consider Before the Trade Deadline

The Ravens bye week could not have come at a better time. They enter the week with a 3-4 record, following four consecutive losses, and bevy of injuries that includes names like Terrell Suggs, Elvis Dumervil, Steve Smith Sr., Ronnie Stanley, CJ Mosley, Marshall Yanda, and many more. With midseason trades being more of a rarity in the NFL, compared to the likes of the MLB and NBA, we most likely won’t see any trades from the Ravens front office before the trade deadline on November 1. However, I put together a list, just for the hell of it, of some trades that would make sense for AFC North’s second-place squad.

1. 2017 Second-Round Pick for 49ers LT Joe Staley – The Ravens announced Tuesday that a timetable for Ronnie Stanley’s return remains unclear. On the other side of the line is  Rick Wagner. Not only would Staley, who’s been one of the NFL’s top tackles since being drafted in 2007, be an upgrade over Wagner, but he’d provide a replacement for Wagner for a couple years to come. Wagner is a free agent at the end of the season, while Staley is under contract through the 2019 season. For now however, Staley would be a great temporary fill-in for Stanley until his return from injury, and the 49ers would love  a chance to dump a large cap hit in exchange for high draft picks moving forward, given their 1-6 start to the season.
2. 2017 Second-Round Pick for Jets WR Brandon Marshall – Right now, the Jets have one of the biggest offensive threats in the NFL, with no way to utilize him. When Marshall bet Antonio Brown prior to the season that he’d have more receiving yards in 2016, he clearly didn’t know who his team had on their depth chart at the QB position. The Jets, who are now 2-5, are letting Marshall go to waste, and could use an extra second-round pick moving forward as they rebuild. Marshall would become the biggest weapon on a Ravens offense that has struggled to move the ball. He would be an added veteran presence, and if nothing else, would most likely open up other Ravens receivers, since he requires so much attention on every play. On top that, after being an NFL journeyman for his whole career, Marshall would likely embrace being a Raven, with a chance to call Baltimore home, and play with a quarterback in Joe Flacco who’s far more talented than any other passer Marshall’s every play alongside.
3. 2017 Third-Round Pick for 49ers WR Torrey Smith – The 49ers have already expressed their willingness to part ways with the former Ravens receiver, who has just 13 receptions on the season, after totaling 39 receptions last season. In his four seasons on the Ravens, Smith never caught less than 49 passes. He also, at times, displayed a chemistry with Joe Flacco that has yet to be seen by anyone other than Mike Wallace this season. While he does offer a similar, probably not as talented, version of Wallace, he still seems a viable option for a team that needs receivers to begin spreading the field for what’s been an inefficient offense to say the least.

Ravens Midseason Grades by Position

The Ravens found themselves in the loss column for the fourth straight week on Sunday, after a 24-16 loss to the Jets. The team now heads into its bye week with a disappointing record of 3-4, despite starting the season with three consecutive wins. With that being said, there have been few bright spots throughout what’s been an injury prone roster. Here are grades for every Ravens position group in the 2016 season thus far:

Quarterback: C-

• There’s no question Joe Flacco has been disappointing through the first seven weeks of the season. In his 9th season, the 31-year-old veteran has performed well enough to boast a 75.4 passer rating. How does that compare to some other notable quarterbacks around the league? Flacco’s former backup, Tyrod Taylor, has a passer rating of 91.9 for the Bills following week seven. Ryan Pitzpatrick, who threw eleven interceptions through the first six weeks of the season, including six in one game, has a passer rating of 66.4, just nine points lower than Flacco. In fact, his passer rating is actually lower than every rookie quarterback with snaps under their belt in 2016. Sure, the o-line’s been poor and beat up, the play calling’s been consistently questionable, and top target Steve Smith’s been sidelined for a few weeks, but that no where near excuses the low level at which Joe Flacco performed as of late.

Running Backs: B-

• Don’t get me wrong, the Ravens run game has not been a B-. However, the running backs are not necessarily to blame. The RB’s struggled during the first few weeks, as former OC Marc Trestman attempted to juggle the playing time of veteran Justin Forsett with Terrance West and Buck Allen; but following the team’s release of Forsett, West put together a few consecutive solid games out of the backfield. Rookie, Kenneth Dixon, has also returned from injury and looks to continue making an increased impact as the season develops.

Wide Receivers: D

• The Ravens WR corps has accounted for just four touchdowns on the season. Mike Wallace has three, and Steve Smith, who has been injured to since a week five exit against the Redskins, has one. Kamar Aiken, who was the team’s primary receiver for a good portion of last season, has caught just 13 passes for 147 yards. Breshad Perriman has offered a decent deep threat, but has still only notched 14 grabs for 183 yards. Rookie, Chris Moore, has been extremely disappointing. With only six receptions, Moore has been nearly unheard from, other than his portion of the team’s numerous dropped passes.

Tight Ends: C+

• Dennis Pitta has been a pleasant surprise so far this year, leading the team in receptions and receiving yards. However, aside from Pitta, the team’s only other receptions from the tight group are Crockett Gillmore’s eight receptions for 71 yards. This grade would be lower, but we must fairly consider the loss prior to the season of veteran Ben Watson, as well as an early season injury to Maxx Williams.

O-Line: D-

• This is an o-line unit that has helped produce the 26th best run game in the league. On top of that, Joe Flacco has already been sacked 14 times, which is tied for 12th most in the league. The number of sacks is one that would be even higher if not for Joe’s tendency to check down and dump of to a back or tight end, or questionably lob a ball into the secondary to avoid pressure. It’s a unit that has lost its two top components over the last few weeks, in All-Pro left guard Marshall Yanda and rookie Ronnie Stanley, but one that certainly had its struggles prior to the injuries.

D-Line: B+

• Brandon Williams and Timmy Jernigan came into this year as one of the best defensive frontline duos in the league. They’ve only improved in 2016, and have also been joined by the surprising presence of rookie, Michal Pierce. The three have combined to assist in making the Ravens the seventh best run defense in the league.

Linebackers: B+

• The Ravens linebacking crew has been one of the team’s biggest bright spots. CJ Mosley’s importance has been on display, after the former Alabama star grabbed three key interceptions, and served as the center of this defense prior to this recent injury. Zach Orr and Albert McLellan have been pleasant surprises as well, with Orr ranking in the top five in the league in tackles. The unit’s combined with the great play of the young d-line to present a strong force against the run.

Secondary: B

• Veteran, Eric Weddle, has served as a key offseason pickup so far this year. He’s been the clear leader of the defense, especially with the loss of Terrell Suggs. Jimmy Smith has continued to take the next step, giving up minimal yardage to opposing receivers less far, and providing a legitimate number one corner option. Rookie, Tavon Young, has stepped in and impressed, serving as the team’s second best corner option so far this year. The reason for Young’s increased though, Shareece Wright. Wright’s been beat off the ball time after time, and is a true weakness in the secondary. Lardarius Webb has been better at safety than he’d be as of recent at the corner position, but that’s certainly to say he’s been good by stretch of the imagination.

Special Teams: B

• This special teams unit is one that’s experienced some ups and downs so far this season. Justin Tucker may be the team’s best player, going 18 for 18 on field goals so far, and offering a sure three points on just about anything inside 60 yards. Sam Koch continues to be one of the best punters in the league. The unit’s produced some key blocked kicks that have turned the course a game’s early on in the 2016 season. However, the team’s special teams has also had a few blunders here and there, including a touchdown return from the Redskins’ Jamison Crowder that all but won the Skins the game.

How the AFC North Shapes Up Following a Week Six Injury to Ben Roethlisberger

Steelers quarterback, Ben Roethlisberger, left early with a knee injury in Pittsburgh’s 30-15 loss to the Dolphins on Sunday. After having surgery on Monday to repair a torn meniscus in his left knee, it was announced that Roethlisberger will spend four to six weeks on the sideline.

With Big Ben sidelined, Landry Jones will take over the starting duties. Jones is in his fourth year in the league, and has spent the majority of his NFL career holding a clipboard, after being drafted out of Oklahoma in 2013. He will be making his first start since filling in for an injured Roethlisberger for two games in 2015. In those two games, Jones was below-average at best, completing 32 out of his 55 pass attempts, and totaling 513 yards to go along with three touchdowns and four interceptions ( a 77.3 passer rating).

So what does this mean for the Ravens, in what’s been an ever so disappointing first half of the season for the AFC North?

Well, for starters, maybe it’s a little too soon for fans throughout Baltimore to be giving up on this team already. Despite starting 3-0, only to lose their next three and fall to .500, the Ravens are still in second place in the division, just one game back of Pittsburgh.

The Steelers host the Patriots on Sunday, who have looked near unstoppable on offense since the return of Tom Brady. If Landry Jones and the Steelers fall to New England, and the Ravens can find a way to handle a struggling Jets team in New York, then the Ravens and Steelers would both head into a week eight bye, tied for first place at 4-3. The two teams will then face off week nine, in Baltimore, in what could potentially be a chance for the Ravens to reclaim first place in the division.

Now let’s not sleep on a Cincinnati team that came into this season with very high expectations. The Bengals fell to 2-4 Sunday, after a loss to the Patriots, and have left many NFL fans wondering what happened to a team that appeared to be a championship contender coming into the season. However, it’s important to note that the Bengals’ four losses have come to teams with a combined record of 18-6 (Steelers, Broncos, Cowboys, Patriots). Their schedule will get only easier from here on out, as opposed to the Ravens whose schedule still includes two games against Pittsburgh and two games against Cincinnati, as well as games against the Cowboys, Patriots and Eagles.

While the AFC North has amounted to be a major disappointment through the first six weeks of the season, it still looks as if we’re in for an interesting battle for first as the weeks go on.

P.S. – The Browns are still the Browns, and are looking to be irrelevant as usual in the outcome of this division.

 

With OC Marc Trestman Out, How Can Marty Mornhinweg Save the Offense?

The Ravens fired Offensive Coordinator, Marc Trestman, Monday morning, following another poor outing from the Ravens offense in Sunday’s 16-10 loss to the Redskins.

Quarterback Coach, Marty Mornhinweg, will step in and obtain the play calling duties. He’s faced with a challenge, as the Ravens currently rank 23rd in the league in scoring, putting up just 18.8 points per game through the first five weeks of the season.

So what does Mornhinweg need to do to get this struggling offense on the right track?

For starters, feed Terrance West. Through five weeks, West is averaging exactly five yards per carry. After platooning with veteran Justin Forsett for the first three weeks of the season, West became the feature back in week four, and exploded for 113 yards on 21 carries. In week five, West reached 95 yards on just 11 carries, and was the clear bright spot on the Ravens offense. However, for some reason, Marc Trestman chose to resort to a struggling pass game in the second half, rather than sticking to what was working early on.

Now of course a running game can only go so far without a complimentary passing game, as had showed with this offense early in the season. What’s disappointing to Ravens fans, is that this was supposed to be the year. This was supposed to be the year that Joe Flacco finally had weapons to work with. The return of Steve Smith Sr., the long awaited debut  of Brashad Perriman and return from injury of Dennis Pitta, the signing of speedster Mike Wallace, and last year’s emergence of Kamar Aiken were all reasons for Ravens fans to be excited entering the 2016 season.

Despite the fact that Flacco has arguably the strongest arm in the NFL, we have yet to see the Ravens take many shots downfield, or really the spread the field in the slightest. With the amount of speed and playmaking ability on this offense, Marty Mornhinweg needs to get more guys involved, and infuse some creativity into the play calling. The offense currently ranks 24th on third down conversions, and 28th in yards per play. Clearly the current game plan (which seems to revolve solely around a litany of screen plays and dump offs) needs to go.