When trying to project the Ravens’ final 53-man roster, most fans could easily predict about 40 spots – give or take a few – because most players are obvious virtual locks.

But that leaves a lot of grey area for the remaining 13 or so.

CBSSports.com’s Jason Butt projected the entire 53-man roster, noting there’s still time for a few changes. Feel free to look at his complete roster, but I’ve pulled out six predictions about decisions coaches may not have even made themselves and it will be interesting to see if they hold true.

And for those of you trying to win the You Pick The Team presented by New Era contest – a trip to see the Ravens play the Chargers in San Diego on November 25^th – these predictions could either help or hurt you (I can’t say I agree 100 percent with them all, but they’re pretty good). So use your own judgment with these predictions, and take it easy on Butt if he steers you down the wrong road.

Prediction 1: The Ravens will keep three quarterbacks on the roster, adding veteran Curtis Painter.  “Coach John Harbaugh’s stated that Baltimore likes the idea of using Taylor more within the offense this year,” wrote Butt. “Taylor’s athletic and could be a wildcat quarterback this year. Plus, his arm strength and accuracy have improved. By keeping Painter, Baltimore would feel more comfortable about using Taylor more.”

Prediction 2: Neither Anthony Allen nor Damien Berry, the two early favorites to backup Ray Rice at the beginning of the offseason, will make the team. The two rookies, Bernard Pierce (No. 2) and Bobby Rainey (No. 3), are currently outperforming the more experienced backs, but that could change … “There’s still a lot of time for Allen and Berry to make a run,” wrote Butt. “There’s also a chance Baltimore seeks a veteran free agent if it feels none of the young running backs are ready to become Rice’s primary backup. If that’s the case, Rainey and Berry could wind up on the scout team and Allen could be looking for another team.”

Prediction 3: Baltimore keeps six receivers (you can guess the first three) with LaQuan Williams, Tandon Doss and rookie free agent Deonte Thompson getting the final three spots. That means sixth-round pick Tommy Streeter is out and David Reed is a possible IR candidate. “Streeter’s a project, a 6-5, 220-pound body with blazing, straight-ahead speed. Thompson’s more versatile, but had some issues dropping the ball in college,” wrote Butt. “Thompson’s outperformed him early but Baltimore doesn’t like to cut its draft picks.”

Prediction 4: Eight of the (likely) nine roster spots for the offensive line are a lock, but that final spot comes down to four players: Ramon Harwood, Tony Wragge, Justin Boren and Jack Cornell. Harewood gets it.  “Harewood, a sixth-round draft pick in 2010, has been banged up but appears the healthiest he’s been since coming to Baltimore,” says Butt. “He would also give the Ravens another body at tackle, with Osemele and Reid being swing guys.”

Prediction 5: Linebackers are the victim of keeping three quarterbacks. Danelle Ellerbe is in, but he could be pushed by Chavis Williams or Nigel Carr. “For now, Ellerbe remains in but needs to prove he belongs through the remainder of the preseason,” wrote Butt. “Williams could be a victim of Baltimore’s desire to keep three quarterbacks, and someone deep on the depth chart at another position would have to be released to make room.”

Prediction 6: Billy Cundiff is the kicker by default. “Cundiff gets the edge for now since there’s no indication what Harbaugh and his staff will do at kicker,” wrote Butt. “But it should be noted that Tucker has out-kicked Cundiff in practice. There’s still a lot of time before a final decision will be made but this battle could go down to the wire.”

Pees The Master Of Disguise?

Ravens Offensive Coordinator Cam Cameron revealed the toughest defensive coordinator he’s ever had to scheme against.

And he’s had to face this opponent every day in practice this offseason: Dean Pees.

“Dean, I’ve known about Dean, and known Dean for a long time. When he was in New England, I went against him several times. He’s the best I’ve gone against,” Cameron told reporters yesterday. “And the reason I tell you that is because you can’t decipher – or he’s very difficult to decipher – what they’re trying to do.”

With the Ravens’ top pass rusher Terrell Suggs sidelined for an indefinite amount of time this season, plus losing defensive end Cory Redding to free agency, Pees’ ability to camouflage his defense is exactly what the team needs right now.

“The Ravens defense might need to become the masters of disguise to manufacture a fierce pass rush this season,” wrote The Baltimore Sun’s Aaron Wilson. “Generating pressure through more elaborate blitz packages and overloads is likely to be a large part of the equation.

“For Pees … hiding his intentions is pivotal.”

Pees was more humble about his ability to fool an offense. He gave credit to smart coaches and quarterbacks around the league for their football smarts. He said the key to disguise is putting in a coverage that looks exactly like a blitz.

With younger, less-experienced players stepping up this year – Paul Kruger, Courtney Upshaw, Pernell McPhee, Arthur Jones and Terrence Cody – the Ravens will rely heavily upon their new defensive coordinator.

“Known for his cerebral approach, Pees has an instant recall of opponents’ tendencies gleaned from studying countless hours of game tape,” wrote Wilson. “The Ravens are counting on Pees’ football acumen.”

No-Huddle Is The Right Plan Of Attack

You saw it Thursday night against the Atlanta Falcons.

The Ravens are using more no-huddle offense, which quarterback Joe Flacco “loves.”

And while the Ravens offense didn’t perform it to the best of its ability in its debut, ESPN’s Jamison Hensley likes the team’s decision to use it more often.

“The increased use of the no-huddle offense is the right plan of attack with Baltimore’s Joe Flacco,” he wrote.

“Flacco doesn’t gush often. So when he says he loves the no-huddle, this is significant. Flacco has a comfort level with the no-huddle and the shotgun because that’s what he ran for most of his time at Delaware.”

Hensley added that some of the fifth-year quarterback’s best moments last year came in the no-huddle, shotgun attack, including the winning drive at Pittsburgh and the almost-winning drive in the AFC championship.

“Despite Flacco’s support, I’m not sure how much more the Ravens will use the no-huddle attack this season,” the AFC North blogger wrote. “The Ravens used no huddle on 7 percent of their offensive plays, which already put them in the top half of the league.”

Highlights Of Harbs’ Fan Chat, Including Kicker Decision

In case you missed it, Coach Harbaugh chatted online with fans yesterday afternoon, answering questions for 30 minutes.

Here are some highlights (full transcript):

Lucas: What’s your opinion on the Cundiff and Tucker competition?

Harbs: It’s a good one. It’s a tight race. The great thing about it is that they’re both doing really well. I’m not concerned about it because they’re both doing well. They’re both going to be kicking for a team this year in the NFL. You let it play out and let the decision make itself.

Kelly rippeon: Do you think [Terrell] Suggs will play in the 2012-2013 football season?

Harbs: Yes, I do.

Jen: Coach is it concerning that you have to play the steelers twice in 3 weeks knowing its always a hard hitting game that takes alot out of the team?

Harbs: The Steelers have to play us twice in three weeks too, so I guess that evens it out.

Thomas: Coach have you ever seen Ray Lewis down or blue in the four years you have been with the Ravens? He always seems to talk and jump around on the sidelines.

Harbs: Never. Never seen Ray let disappointment or frustration get the best of him. When he does feel he’s being challenged he’ll get quiet. He’ll pray. That’s good advice for all of us.

Mohamed: Do you feel that Flacco has the potential to become within the top 3 quarterbacks this year?

Harbs: Absolutely.

Quick Hits

• “There apparently won’t be a Round 3 in the training-camp fight between wide receiver Antonio Brown and cornerback Ike Taylor,” wrote Hensley. “After their second skirmish of camp, Brown said he and Taylor went to breakfast on their day off and ‘ironed out our differences.’”[ESPN] 
• @jeffzrebiecsun: Torrey Smith was really slowed by sprained ankle [Monday] in practice so him not being out there [Tuesday] is no surprise. #Ravens [Twitter]
• @Ravens: Cam Cameron said that Michael Oher & Marshal Yanda graded at nearly 100 percent in last week’s game. [Twitter]
• @Ravens: Cam Cameron said they have not yet determined how long the starters will play on Friday. [Twitter]
• @mzenitz: According to Ed Lee at the Sun, Tucker now 82-of-87 during camp. Cundiff 74-of-89. [Twitter]
• Gross! … @TMO_90 [DE Terrence Moore]: I’ve worn the same shirt for the past four days and I.. don’t.. care…. #CampLife [Twitter]
• @AnquanBoldin: Congrats to my friend @LarryFitzgerald on winning the Arthur K. Arkush Humanitarian Award. Tremendous accomplishment. [Twitter]
• @Dgorrer36: Some of my teammates are “jerks” im not gone say no names @Crushboy31 [Twitter]
• @Crushboy31 [Bernard Pollard]: @Dgorrer36 lol how am I a “jerk” because I corrected you? You’re out! I hope you catch a full body cramp tonight while you sleeping… [Twitter]
• @Dgorrer36: @Crushboy31 the things u say sometimes just make me want to punch u n yo big lips….lol [Twitter]
• @Crushboy31: @Dgorrer36 lol!!! My lips are normal size. [Twitter]
• @brendon310: Never been scared of thunder b4. Until today!! Sleeping in the basement tonight [Twitter]
• @brendon310: Every one calling me a baby. You guys would be wearing diapers! Lol I been I’m hurricanes less violent than these storms tonight [Twitter]

Four defensive coordinators. Five years.

It’s been a relative merry-go-round in Baltimore, where defensive coordinators get cherry-picked for head coaching jobs. Ryan is in New York and, after one year, Pagano left for Indianapolis.

But that hasn’t changed the fact that the Ravens’ defense has remained one of the best in the NFL over that stretch. And players don’t expect that to change under new defensive coordinator Pees.

The attitude certainly hasn’t wavered.

“I’d have to say just play wild – just be you and just go out there and whoop somebody’s behind,” nose tackle Terrence Cody said when describing Pees’ personality.

The Ravens’ defense has ranked third, 10th, third, and third in the NFL in average yards allowed per game over the past four seasons, respectively.

Through that time, the scheme hasn’t changed all that much and neither have the stalwart players, with linebacker Ray Lewis and safety Ed Reed leading the front and back, respectively, and Pro Bowl talent such as Terrell Suggs, and Haloti Ngata surrounding them.

“The defense here has been the staple the past 12 years. D.P. goes right along with that,” linebacker Brendon Ayanbadejo said.

“He fits the Ravens’ motto of defense and the way we do things. It’s not going to be any different with Dean Pees. It’s really the personnel and the coaches that just make us better.”

Pees has been a part of running Baltimore’s system for the past two years, serving as the team’s linebackers coach. So the players, and particularly the linebackers, already have an understanding of his coaching style.

“He’s stepped in [and] it’s like he’s been here the whole time,” safety Bernard Pollard said. “Dean wants us to play hard and fast. And I think he doesn’t want to change the ‘Raven Way.’”

The defensive coordinator role is nothing new for Pees.

He served in that role for four years in New England, leading a unit that ranked sixth, fourth, 10th and 11th in the NFL in total defense, respectively. Since Pees left, the Patriots have had the 25th and 31st-ranked total defenses the past two years.

Now he’s next up in a lineage of great defensive coordinators that also includes Mike Nolan and Marvin Lewis. Four Ravens defensive coordinators have gone on to be head coaches.

The natural question is how Pees is different from his predecessors.

Pollard said Pees is just like Pagano in that he “wants to use all his weapons.” He will continue to mix and match players, giving everyone some time and best utilizing their strengths. As a linebacker’s coach, Pees stressed learning every position.

But Head Coach John Harbaugh doesn’t think in terms of comparisons.

He sees Pees establishing his own twist on the defense, saying they have added “a lot of good stuff” and are still very creative.

“I think that he will be Dean Pees. It’s his personality. It’s a unique style,” Harbaugh said.

“[He’s] a very detailed coach, very organized, very creative. He set the system up in a way that evolves a little bit and grows it and makes it, in some ways, easier to learn. Our guys are excited about that.”

Linebacker Terrell Suggs could lose millions of dollars in salary after tearing his Achilles tendon two weeks ago because the incident falls under the non-football injury provision of the collective bargaining agreement, according to ESPN.

Even though Suggs said he was injured while running a conditioning test, it still qualifies as a non-football injury because it happened away from a team’s facility or not under its direction.

As such, the Ravens could decide to withhold pay from Suggs, based on the following wording in the CBA: “A player who is placed on a Non-Football Injury or Illness list (“N-F/I”) is not entitled to any compensation under his contract while on such list …”

Suggs said he believes he can return by the middle of the season and Head Coach John Harbaugh said he is on board with that goal. If the Ravens decide to place him on the Non-Football Injury list and he misses seven games, blogger Jamison Hensley estimates the Ravens could save $2 million on his reported $4.9 million salary.

But just because the Ravens can dock Suggs’ pay doesn’t mean they should or will.

While they could save that $2 million and potentially put the money toward bringing in another player to help replace Suggs, they would risk alienating the reigning Defensive Player of the Year and sending a negative message to the locker room, says The Baltimore Sun’s Matt Vensel.

“[U]nder the rules of the locker room, the players would likely frown upon such a move against a respected teammate and leader,” added Hensley. “When a player has given this much to a team, its poor taste to reach for his wallet when he is injured. …While the Ravens have the authority to take money away, it would be shocking for them to actually do it.”

In an effort to keep Suggs content and focused on his rehab, Vensel reports the Ravens will “probably” put him on the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list instead of the Non-Football Injury list, which would mean he would miss at least six weeks of the season and would be paid his salary.

Where do the Ravens stand on the issue?

Team officials haven’t commented on the situation, and they may not have even discussed it amongst themselves. They don’t have to make a decision until the start of training camp and are currently concentrating on helping Suggs recover.

“I’m told that the Ravens have not had any internal discussion to this point about docking Terrell Suggs’ pay after non-football injury,” tweeted The Sun’s Jeff Zrebiec. “That could change, but at this point their focus is getting him back on the field at some point during 2012 season.”

As of now, media believe the Ravens will not take any drastic action.

“[W]e reported weeks ago that the Ravens probably weren’t going to make a fuss about the Suggs injury, instead trying to make the most of the situation,” Vensel wrote. “If that changes, we will be sure to let you know.”

Salary-Cap Update: $1.502 Million

It’s been unclear how much salary-cap space the Ravens have after signing wide receiver and kick returner Jacoby Jones, and all eight draft picks and restructuring guard Marshal Yanda’s contract.

But according to a report from The Carroll County Times’ Aaron Wilson, the Ravens are now $1.502 million under the salary-cap limit.

Per Wilson, only $1.8 million of Jones’ two-year, $7 million deal will count against the 2012 cap. Another $4.9 million will go against the 2013 cap and he’ll also receive a $1 million bonus next year.

Additionally, the Ravens spent a total of $22.78 million for their eight draft picks, which is $880,184 less than they are allowed to spend over the next four years, says Wilson.

Under Pressure: Dean Pees

The Raven under the most pressure heading into the 2012 season is up for debate.

As LFW reported yesterday, CBSSports.com’s Clark Judge believes it is rookie linebacker Courtney Upshaw, because he could be asked to fill in for Suggs.

But Hensley argues the person being squeezed the most is the Ravens’ new defensive coordinator, Dean Pees.

Pees will be asked to continue a defensive legacy in Baltimore, where the unit has ranked in the top six in eight of the past nine years. And he’ll be asked to do it without Suggs, who is arguably the best player on the Ravens roster.

“[T]here’s tremendous pressure on new defensive coordinator Dean Pees to uphold the standard of excellence,” wrote Hensley. “His job became much more difficult when linebacker Terrell Suggs, the reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year, tore his Achilles. He also faces the delicate situation of how to handle team leaders Ray Lewis and Ed Reed, both of whom showed their age toward the end of last season. Then, add in the season-ending stretch where Baltimore faces seven Pro Bowl quarterbacks in its final eight games (they also account for five Super Bowl rings).”

Pees follows in the footsteps of several coordinators who went on to become NFL head coaches – Marvin Lewis, Mike Nolan, Rex Ryan and Chuck Pagano – but this isn’t his first rodeo.

He has spent the last two years becoming familiar with Baltimore’s defense as the linebackers coach. Prior to that, he ran the New England Patriots defense for four years (2006-2009), the only unit in the NFL to finish in the top 10 in scoring defense each season.

Quick Hits

• Crushboy31 [Bernard Pollard]: Just talked to John Harbaugh on the phone… You got to love that guy!!! 31 [Twitter]
• Crushboy31: Got the morning run done!!! Got pooped on by a bird but that’s ok… Time for the massage!!! 31 [Twitter]
• MaakeKemoeatu: just got done working out and I must say this RAVENS TEAM is STRONGER and FASTER from the last time I was here #truth #TEAMPOLY [Twitter]
• “The Ravens may lack experience at the wide receiver position, but they certainly don’t lack depth. How much quality exists within that depth remains to be seen,” wrote Zrebiec. “The Ravens’ roster currently includes 13 wide receivers, but nine of them have never caught a pass in an NFL game.” [The Baltimore Sun]

“No matter how good you were,” Pees said, “you’re going to try to improve in every area.”

Pees, who took over when Chuck Pagano became the Colts head coach, is in the early stages of assessing personnel and determining the areas the Ravens can clean up this offseason.

The Ravens former linebackers coach is planning to re-watch every play from the previous season to get a better sense of where the defense needs to improve, but the one point Pees already knows for certain is there is no need for any significant makeovers.

“There aren’t a lot of changes that we want to make to this defense,” Pees said.

The Ravens ranked in the top five in just about every defensive category, had four players – Ray Lewis, Ed Reed, Terrell Suggs and Haloti Ngata – selected to the Pro Bowl and featured the NFL’s Defensive Player of the Year (Suggs). 

“We’ve just got to keep building on the things we did during the season,” Pees said.

When talking about what the Ravens did well this season, Pees pointed to two specific areas: stopping teams on third downs and keeping opponents from scoring touchdowns once they got into the red zone.

“Last year we spent a lot of time in the offseason trying to get those improved and they did improve,” Pees said.

The Ravens held opponents to a 32.1 percent conversion rate on third downs, which ranked second best in the league. The previous season, teams had a 38 percent third-down conversion rate against Baltimore, ranking 15th.

In the red zone, the Ravens were even better.

Teams scored touchdowns against the Ravens just 38.1 percent of the time once they got inside the 20-yard line, the lowest percentage in the league.

Success in both of those situations, Pees said, comes from stopping the run, a trademark of Baltimore’s defenses over the years.

“The Ravens have always had a tradition of being an aggressive, tough, hard-nosed defense that could stop the run and never gave up a lot points,” Pees said.

“I know it’s a passing league and all that stuff, but you can see a team throw for 400 yards and still lose a game. There’s not many games where you see somebody run for like 150-160 yards and still lose a game.”

The key to stopping the run is having a strong front seven, and the Ravens have some questions in that department as linebackers Jarret Johnson, Jameel McClain and Brendon Ayanbadejo and defensive end Cory Redding are all unrestricted free agents.

Regardless of whether they return next season, Pees’ focus for now remains unchanged.

For him, the next several weeks are all about going back through the season and looking for any chinks in the Ravens’ armor, and trying to find ways to ensure their success continues into next season.

“We’re going to analyze it, say what was good about it, what was bad about it, what can improve, how we can improve it.” Pees said. “Even when you do things really well, you still look at things and say maybe we could do it just a little bit better.”

The question surrounding quarterback Joe Flacco is shifting.

It’s become less about whether the Ravens should sign him to a new deal this offseason – with one year left on his rookie contract – and more about what the deal should look like.

Owner Steve Bisciotti said about 10 months ago that the goal would be to get an extension done before the 2012 season, and he will surely be asked if that is still the target today at the Ravens’ season-ending press conference.

A new contract should “ultimately get done,” Aaron Wilson of the Carroll County Times wrote. But the negotiations “may be complicated by a difference of opinion between how much the Ravens are willing to pay him and his financial expectations.”

Flacco’s expectations could be shaped by the fact that he is 27 years old and this will be his second contract, usually considered to be the contract with the biggest payout for a quarterback.

“This negotiation will be a significant one in Flacco’s career. It will be quote, unquote the negotiation,” Andrew Brandt, a former agent and NFL executive who now writes for the National Football Post and ESPN, told the Baltimore Sun. “Typically at this stage of a QB’s career, this is where they make significant money, in their second contract in their mid-to-late 20s.”

While Flacco had what many pundits consider an uneven season, he also has 44 regular-season wins – the most by any quarterback in NFL history in his first four seasons. He has also won five playoff games and has advanced to the AFC title game twice.

As The Sun’s Jeff Zrebiec points out, the Ravens don’t comment on contract negotiations, and trying to draw parallels between Flacco and other recent quarterback contract extensions is “difficult.”

Here are a few of the most recent:

Matt Cassel, Kansas City Chiefs (2009): 6 years, $63 million, $28 million guaranteed
Ryan Fitzpatrick, Buffalo Bills (2010): 6 years, $59 million, $24 million guaranteed
Kevin Kolb, Arizona Cardinals (2010): 5 years, $63.5 million, $21 million guaranteed

“However, a strong case could be made that Flacco has significantly out-performed all three while winning a lot more games in the process,” wrote Zrebiec.

Brandt said Flacco could potentially make the case that he deserves a deal more on the level of the New York Giants’ Eli Manning or San Diego Chargers’ Phillip Rivers, who negotiated deals about 2 ½ years ago and received guarantees that were in the $35 to $38 million range.

“I see the body of work that Joe has put up, especially in the postseason compared to other QBs, and I see the Ravens not ready to stick both feet in the waters yet,” Brandt said. “As I said, this negotiation will be a significant one in Flacco’s career.  And for the Ravens, it will be significant, too. Once they do it, he’s their guy. There is no looking back. Having been a team guy and an agent, I see both sides.”

Johnson Compares Pees, Pagano, Rex

For those looking from the outside in, it’s tough to get a read on Dean Pees, the Ravens’ new defensive coordinator.

Jarret Johnson, who rushed from the airport to attend the announcement of Pees’ promotion, tried to give listeners of 105.7 The Fan a glimpse of what all three men are like.

“A lot of us are really close with Dean, very similar to our relationship we had with Chuck [Pagano] when he was the DBs coach,” Johnson said on The Norris & Davis Show. “So when he got the job, we were really excited.”

While the players were equally as excited when Pagano was promoted, Double J did say that the personalities of Pees, Pagano and Rex Ryan are very different.

Let’s start with Ryan and Pagano.

“Rex was a really good coach, but Rex was more of an emotional coach,” Johnson said. “If you burn him, he’s going to come back and bring the house. If you run the ball, he’s going put as many guys in the box as he could.

“Chuck was an emotional guy, but probably a little more level-headed. Probably the reason he was a little more level-headed was because he had guys like Dean and Ted [Monachino, outside linebackers coach] and CB [Clarence Brooks, defensive line coach] and those guys who were keeping him kind of calm and keeping him kind of restrained.”

Johnson said that Pees already has a more restrained personality by nature.

“The best way to describe him is when you talk to him, every time you have a conversation about football, you learn something about football,” Johnson said. “He’s been around the game forever. … He’s very aggressive, very level-headed. He’s not real, real emotional, even though he does have a good personality.”

J.J.: Ozzie Will Let An Alabama Guy Go ‘In A Heartbeat’

Not much has changed since Johnson, who is set to become a free agent in March, last talked to BaltimoreRavens.com about his contract situation.

After being drafted by the Ravens in 2003 and playing nine years in Baltimore, he would like to retire a Raven.

But he understands there are capable up-and-coming players behind him, like Paul Kruger, that could perform at a high level. And J.J. has no illusions that he will be re-signed just because he and General Manager Ozzie Newsome share the same alma mater. 

“I have people come up to me all the time and say, ‘Oh, Ozzie’s not going to let an Alabama guy go,’” Johnson said. “Ozzie will let an Alabama guy go in a heartbeat if it’s for the betterment of the team. The thing about Ozzie is that he doesn’t do anything for now. He doesn’t do anything at an impulse or with emotion.”

At this point, Johnson said that it will be the smart thing to enter free agency to explore his options.

If he doesn’t return to Baltimore, the 30-year-old linebacker said he wouldn’t rule out playing for Pagano in Indianapolis.

“Me and Chuck have been very close over the last four years,” he said. “He’s going to attempt to install the same scheme we run here, which I have a pretty good grasp on. It’s a logical thing to think [about playing for the Colts], but we’ll just have to let it play out and see what happens.”

Roster Bonuses Due In March

In a comprehensive offseason free-agency outlook, Wilson writes that the Ravens have roster bonuses due in March to receiver Lee Evans, tackle Bryant McKinnie and strong safety Bernard Pollard.

Wilson foresees McKinnie and Pollard getting their bonuses ($500,000 each), but wonders if Evans would accept a pay reduction in order to return after an injury-plagued season in which he only caught four passes.

“Evans is unlikely to be back at his current scheduled salary of $3.275 million, salary-cap number of $5.607 million and a $1 million roster bonus due on March 18,” wrote Wilson. “Unless he accepts a significant pay reduction, he won’t be back.

“The Ravens are generally pleased with how McKinnie and Pollard performed during their first seasons in Baltimore.”

Quick Hits

• Turns out, Pittsburgh linebackers coach Keith Butler decided not to interview with Pagano and the Colts for their defensive coordinator opening. Instead, he will remain with the Steelers. It is believed that the Steelers offered a new contract to Butler and perhaps indicated that he will replace Dick LeBeau when he retires. [Pittsburgh Post-Gazette]
• Trent Dilfer ranked the NFL’s top 40 quarterbacks, and said league perception of each player was a key ingredient in his rankings. Dilfer put Flacco in a tier he calls, “A Ring Away,” meaning he has shown he has the ability to play at an elite level but will need to win a Super Bowl to validate his perception. Philip Rivers, Tony Romo, Matt Ryan, Matthew Stafford, Jay Cutler and Matt Schaub were also put in this same tier. [ESPN]
• Peter Schmuck says the Ravens should sign Flacco to a new contract sooner than later. [The Baltimore Sun]
• @Ravens: #Ravens Owner Steve Bisciotti is in the building today, as the front office and coaches are going through big personnel meetings [Twitter]

But Pees and Pagano share something more important.

They both really know defense.

On Friday afternoon, Pees was named the Ravens’ new defensive coordinator, promoted from his job as linebackers coach. He replaces Pagano, who became the Indianapolis Colts’ head coach after one year as Baltimore’s defensive coordinator.

“The tradition of this defense will continue and it will flourish and it will get even better,” said Head Coach John Harbaugh said.

“It’s an incredible opportunity to be a defensive coordinator for anybody in this league, but it’s especially humbling to be one for the Ravens,” said Pees added.

The Ravens’ defense finished third in the NFL in scoring and yards allowed per game last season. They recorded the most sacks in the AFC (48).

Harbaugh said the goal now is to be No. 1 in those categories.

“I have my own personality. I’m not going to be the same as Chuck Pagano, or Greg Mattison or anybody before. You’ve got to be who you are and I will be who I am, but I don’t in any way want to change that room whatsoever, the dynamics of that room.”

What Pees, 62, brings is 38 years of coaching experience.

He’s also been in this seat before. He was the New England Patriots’ defensive coordinator for four years from 2006 to 2009.

The Patriots’ defense was among the worst in the league this year, and it wasn’t too much better last season. But it wasn’t that way when Pees was there.

During that time, the Patriots ranked in the NFL’s top 10 each season in points allowed per game. 

In 2006, Pees’ defense set a New England franchise-record for fewest points allowed per game (14.8). It was the second lowest total in the NFL.

In 2007, the Patriots went 16-0 in the regular season, and the defense allowed the fewest yards by a New England defense in 28 years. They were second in the league with 47 sacks. In 2009, the unit ranked fifth in points allowed per game (17.8 points).

Pees reiterated on Monday that he was not fired by the Patriots. He chose to “explore other avenues” and said the Ravens avenue ended being a good one to explore.

Pees came to Baltimore ion in 2009 and quickly earned the respect of his players.

“In our business, when you sit down and talk to somebody you find out real quick their knowledge of football,” said linebacker Jarret Johnson, who rushed to the team facility for the press conference when he heard Pees had been hired.

“With Dean, you spend two minutes with him, [and you know] this is a football guy. He understands the sport, he knows a lot about the game. Anytime you have a conversation about the sport with him, you learn something about the game.”

Pees helped turn Jameel McClain go from an undrafted rookie reserve to a full-time starting linebacker next to Ray Lewis.

“He is a great coach. He really fits the player’s personality so well. He is a proven winner in this league,” McClain said. “I have been around many coaches in my football career, and Dean Pees is as sharp and aware as they come. We are lucky to have him as our coordinator, and I expect great things from our defense.”

Asked what he learned from the Patriots, Pees said, “Win.”

He said the Patriots’ defensive scheme was similar to what Baltimore runs, but that he likes the Ravens’ system better.

Pees will put his own stamp on the Ravens’ defense, but fundamentally not much will change, he and Harbaugh said.

“You’re going to see an aggressive defense, just like you’ve seen in the past,” Harbaugh said. “We’ll be getting after people. That’s the plan, that’s not going to change, and we’re going to build on that.”

“We’ve got a great group [of players],” Pees said. “It is a unique group, one of the most unique groups I’ve ever been around. They’ve got their own style, their own personality. It is what it is and it’s not going to change and I’m not going to change it.”

Two things players talk about with Pees is his adeptness at picking up opposing offense’s tendencies. That, Pees said, comes from a lot of years watching tape.

Another is his ability to teach, and persistence that players learn multiple positions. Pees had every linebacker learn each other’s position. That should add to Baltimore’s already versatile defense.

“I don’t think much will change with coach Pees,” cornerback Lardarius Webb said. “We call him ‘Coach K,’ because he is so knowledgeable about the game.”

Pees has a long history with Harbaugh. He was Harbaugh’s defensive coordinator at Miami (Ohio) for four years from 1980 to 1983. Harbaugh was a defensive back in Pees’ system.

“If he can make me any kind of a player, that tells you what a great coach he really is,” Harbaugh said with a laugh. “I always respected his work, always respected the kind of person he is.”

Remember the mad respect Patriots quarterback Tom Brady gave Ed Reed in a press conference prior to the AFC championship, saying the safety doesn’t have any weaknesses?

Yeah, I didn’t think so.

That’s because it sounds like almost every other sound bite you’d expect to hear prior to facing a respected opponent before a major showdown. Usually you talk up your adversary, rather than feed him fodder and motivation.

“When you break the huddle, you find where [Reed's] at,” Brady told reporters the week leading up to the showdown.

No fake.

Take a look at the picture snapped by the Associated Press (H/T Boston Herald) from the Pats-Ravens battle.

It’s of Brady’s arm, and if you read closely you can see three things Brady wanted to remind himself of before every snap.

• “KNEES FLEXED — DOWN, DOWN!”
• “NO TURNOVERS”
• “FIND 20 ON EVERY PLAY.”

Speculation On Ravens’ Coaching Announcement Today

Chuck Pagano was officially introduced as the new head coach of the Colts yesterday.

The Baltimore Sun points out that the Ravens have remained “mum” on what will happen with their own staff.  They will break that silence today at 11 a.m., when Head Coach John Harbaugh holds a press conference.

Here’s what you could expect, according to Jeff Zrebiec.

“All indications are that linebackers coach Dean Pees remains the clear front-runner to succeed Pagano as the Ravens’ defensive coordinator, and offensive coordinator Cam Cameron will stay in his current position,” wrote Zrebiec.

He went on to say that the reason behind predicting Cameron’s return, besides finishing strong last season and helping the team to two AFC-title games in four years, was that a league source said the offensive coordinator called his assistants and gave them instructions for the upcoming weeks.

“Yet another sign that he will return next season,” wrote Zrebiec.

For more speculation on what will happen with the coaching staff, CSNBaltimore.com’s John Eisenberg explains to PFT.com’s Mike Florio why he’s changed his mind about the possibility of Cameron and the Ravens mutually agreeing to part ways. Now the columnist is “leaning” toward Cameron staying.

Breaking sports news video. MLB, NFL, NBA, NHL highlights and more.

A Look At ‘Front-Runner’ Pees

With Pees looking like the “front-runner,” you may be searching for a little more information on his background.

Prior to coming to the Ravens in 2010, Pees was the defensive coordinator on Bill Belichick’s staff in New England for four years.

During that time, the Patriots were the only team in the NFL to finish in the top 10 in scoring defense each season, according to The Sun.

Here are some other notes from the news site:

• In 2006, Pees’ unit set a franchise-record for points allowed per game (14.8), which was also the second lowest total in the NFL.
• In 2007, the Pats went 16-0 (lost in Super Bowl to Giants) and Pees lead a unit that allowed the fewest yards by a New England defense in 28 years. They were second in the league with 47 sacks.
• In 2008, the defense allowed just 309.9 yards per game, good for second best in the league.
• In 2009, Pees’ final year, the Pats finished fifth in scoring defense.
• After his departure, New England’s defense plummeted to 25th and 31st in yards allowed per game in 2010 and 2011, respectively.

Pagano’s Introductory Press Conference As Colts Head Coach

In his introductory press conference as the Colts head coach, Pagano admitted he thought he was going to end up in Indianapolis.

But not under these circumstances.

“I thought for sure that I was going to be coming to Indy to play for a world championship,” Pagano told media. He said he would have preferred coaching the Ravens defense in the Super Bowl over arriving for this reason.

The Ravens’ former defensive coordinator said the last few days have been a “whirlwind.”

He hadn’t even taken shower after the AFC championship loss before Harbaugh called him into his office to tell him the Colts wanted him to fly in for an interview.

Two days later, he accepted the job offer.

“Words can’t describe the emotions that I’m going through right now and the feelings,” Pagano said. “Coming off probably the most devastating loss that I’ve ever been a part of in the AFC championship game and to go in that locker room and see those faces and we all know how hard it is to get to that stage and to see the tears. It’s an all-time low, and the last thing I ever expected came across my table and now I sit here at an all-time high.”

2006 Re-Draft Makes Ngata No. 1 Pick

What would the Ravens look like today if in 2006 they drafted running back Reggie Bush with their 12th-overall selection, and the Houston Texans took defensive tackle Haloti Ngata at No. 1?

I don’t even want to imagine it.

But with six full years of hindsight, ESPN’s Mel Kiper says that’s how the draft should have gone down.

“[Ngata's] played in 94 of 96 possible regular-season games, plays a premium position, is a Pro Bowl shoo-in and would dominate in any system,” wrote Kiper. “Safe to say the guy Ray Lewis pushed for to free up the Baltimore linebackers has worked out just fine, and the future holds plenty more.”

With Haloti going No. 1 in Kiper’s re-draft, the best person on the board by the time Ravens were up was Bush. He originally went to the Saints at No. 2.

“People who want to call Bush a bust simply aren’t watching the tape,” wrote Kiper. “He’s only a disappointment if you had Hall of Fame projections because of where he was taken. But Bush has done plenty.”

Good for Bush, but no thanks. The Ravens are happy with Ngata.

Quick Hits

• Matt  Vensel’s thoughts on four Ravens dropping out of the Pro Bowl: “Until the NFL finds a way to make the Pro Bowl a semi-serious game — and really, I don’t see that happening any time soon — I don’t blame star players not taking it seriously, either.” [The Baltimore Sun]
• At this point, make it a belated happy birthday … @Ravens: Everybody wish @TorreySmithWR a happy birthday! He turns 23 today [Twitter]
• Steelers safety Ryan Clark on the Ravens AFC championship loss: “I know it seems like for the Ravens right now, always the bridesmaid and never a bride.” [ESPN]
• Ngata, Terrell Suggs, Ray Lewis and Lardarius Webb made the all-AFC North defense. [ESPN]
• RavensInsider: Ben Grubbs (on Pro Bowl): ‘It’s nice to be able to relax and wear shorts and flip flops and lay in the pool, but I would much rather be in the Super Bowl.” [Twitter]
• RavensInsider: Ben Grubbs on free agency: ‘It gets a little complicated. I don’t want to say too much or too little.’ [Twitter]

But someday – no matter how much McClain, the Ravens or the city of Baltimore try to block that inevitability – Lewis will take off his Ravens helmet for the last time.

The Ravens have had a recent taste of what it will be like.

Lewis has missed the last two games with a turf toe injury, his first time missing action since 2007. If he misses a third straight game this Sunday in Cleveland, it will be the most time he’s missed since 2005.

It’s been McClain who has climbed up to Lewis’ throne.

It’s a role he’s been preparing for ever since the start of the season, and it’s one that his teammates see McClain filling years down the road.

“We can have him here for a long time,” cornerback Lardarius Webb said after Lewis missed his first game against the Cincinnati Bengals. “It’s going to be 5-3 later on, not 5-2.”

Asked if he expects McClain to one day replace Lewis, outside linebacker Terrell Suggs said we’ll have to see.

“He is doing a good campaign so far,” he said.

Teammates and coaches noticed a difference in McClain as soon as he reported to training camp this summer.

He’s always been a hard worker, a hustle player. But he took his preparation to another level.

In his first meeting with Linebackers Coach Dean Pees this summer, McClain walked in and said, “What do I need to do to get better? What do I need to work on?”

He hasn’t stopped inquiring since.

Pees said there’s not a day that goes by that McClain doesn’t ask him a question. Every time he runs off the field during a game, McClain immediately comes to Pees and says the same thing. “What do you see?”

“He always wants to know this, wants to know that,” Pees said. “He’s very good about not being shy and not letting things go and acting like he shouldn’t ask a question.”

The Ravens have changed from paper playbooks to iPads this season, which has allowed players to more easily study on the move and at home.

McClain said he often falls asleep in bed with his iPad on, watching video of opponents or memorizing the game plan for the week. He did so on Tuesday night.

“I’m lying in bed, why not watch film?” McClain said before explaining why he’s elevated his study habits.

“You’ve got to improve every year. You’ve got to do something to get better in this league. Anything else is complacency.”

McClain is also constantly picking Lewis’ brain. He texts him from his home at night as he’s watching film, asking Lewis if he’s seeing the same things and sometimes getting an entirely new perspective.

McClain doesn’t sit next to Lewis in the linebackers room though.

“No man, Ray sits back there with the cool people,” McClain said. “I’m up there in the front.”

A former undrafted rookie free agent, and the only one to make the Ravens’ roster in 2008, McClain has always had an uphill climb to become a major contributor.

He entered a deep linebacker corps filled with Lewis, Terrell Suggs, Jarret Johnson, Bart Scott and more. As a rookie, McClain saw mostly special teams action and logged 16 defensive tackles.

Last year, McClain beat out youngster Dannell Ellerbe and veterans Brendon Ayanbadejo and Tavares Gooden for the starting job next to Lewis. He started 15 games and recorded 71 tackles.

Johnson saw McClain’s progression from a young buck into a term he doesn’t use lightly, “a vet.” Johnson sees it in the way McClain acts, both in practice and in games, and in the way he prepares.

“You watch these guys come in and they’re young, kind wild and doing crazy stuff,” Johnson said. “Then you watch them slowly mature and they turn into what Ray is, what Terrell is, what Haloti [Ngata] is.”

Johnson actually sees McClain going along the same path as Scott – minus heading to New York.

Now an anchor in the Jets’ defense and one of the highest-paid linebackers in the game, Scott was a former undrafted free agent in 2002. He was a role player in Baltimore before exploding on the scene when he got his chance when Lewis went down with a hamstring injury in 2005.

“Very similar,” Johnson said. “Very physical, relentless type of linebacker. … I would say that down the road that he’s going to be here for a long time.”

Another shared trait McClain has with Scott is they’re both talkers.

It’s part of the reason why coaches gave McClain the mic’d-up helmet with Lewis out. For the past two games, McClain has been in charge of getting the call from Defensive Coordinator Chuck Pagano and relaying it to his teammates.

While it’s not a difficult task, it hasn’t gone unnoticed by his teammates.

“I hadn’t really played with him in a game where he was ‘the man,’ where he led us and got the calls and put us in the right spots,” defensive end Cory Redding said. “That was always Ray.

“In practice we started to feel that confidence with Jameel, and then when we got out there, I was like, ‘We don’t have to worry about that anymore.’”

In the past two games, McClain has been tied for the team-high in tackles. He had nine against Cincinnati and eight against San Francisco. The Ravens held Frank Gore and the 49ers’ potent rushing attack to 74 yards.

During that time, McClain has earned all-important trust.

It’s not as if the Ravens didn’t have that before. As Pees, Head Coach John Harbaugh and Suggs all said, McClain is simply showing the rest of the world what they already knew. But there’s perhaps even more now.

“Those double teams hurt like hell, but I’m going to hold it because I know Jameel is behind me,” Redding said. “We trust him.”

Redding remembered one play from Thursday night’s game against San Francisco in which McClain had a pulling guard, a fullback and another player all on top of him. He was at the bottom of three players, “just fighting.”

It’s plays such as that that get teammates’ attention. It’s a display of sacrifice and grit that has long endeared Lewis to his teammates.

“That’s awesome,” Redding said. “That’s the stuff you put on tape. I’ll go to battle with him any day.”

Redding compared having Lewis out of the lineup as having that trusty blanket being taken away. There was another blanket coming, but he wasn’t sure that one was going to keep him as warm at night.

“Then you realize this blanket is still keeping you warm,” Redding said.

That trust is something McClain said he is “not willing to fall short on.”

But at this point, he’s not thinking about being Lewis’ successor.

“When that time happens, it’s going to be a decision that the organization is going to make,” McClain said. “If I’m the guy, I’m fully preparing. I’m preparing myself day in and day out and learning from all the great players on this team to try to continue the tradition.”

It looks like Senior Offensive Assistant Al Saunder’s two-year stint in Baltimore has come to an end.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that the Oakland Raiders hired Saunders as its offensive coordinator.

The news was expected after Raiders Owner Al Davis hired Hue Jackson, who worked with Saunders in Baltimore in 2009, as his head coach. Davis has interviewed Saunders for spots on his staff before.

“Unlike Chuck Pagano, Saunders is happy to get sentenced to time in Oakland,” wrote PFT.com’s Gregg Rosenthal.

Saunders, 64, will not be calling plays, however. Jackson was a big reason for the Raiders’ offensive turnaround in 2010 and has already announced that he will continue make the offensive calls.

But Saunders’ ties to Oakland’s quarterback Jason Campbell in Washington (2006-2007) should be helpful to the quarterback’s continued development.

ESPN’s Bill Williamson wrote that if Davis gets “the hankering to fire” Jackson, Saunders could be a potential replacement. Davis has hired six head coaches since 2002.

Panthers Hire Ravens’ Ousted Matsko

As Head Coach John Harbaugh predicted, it didn’t take long for the Ravens’ former Offensive Line Coach John Matsko to land on his feet.

Just one day after being relieved of his duties in Baltimore, the Carolina Panthers announced that Matsko is their new offensive line coach.

"John is regarded as an outstanding teacher in both the rushing and pass blocking aspects of offensive line play," Panthers Head Coach Ron Rivera told the team’s website. "A good offensive line is vital to the success of any offense, and John has a history of overseeing some outstanding units."

The Ravens announced yesterday that Andy Moeller is their new o-line coach.

Harbaugh Settles Conflicting Reports On Pees

I guess Schefter can’t get them all correct.

After Schefter reported the Eagles had requested permission to talk to Ravens Linebackers Coach Dean Pees for the vacant defensive coordinator job, the Philadelphia Daily News wrote that no such request had been made.

During the annual State of the Ravens press conference, Harbaugh confirmed that Pees was not interviewing with the Eagles.

Pees joined the Ravens last season after spending the past four as the defensive coordinator for the New England Patriots.

According to the Baltimore Sun, Pees will be a “stabilizing force” for new Defensive Coordinator Chuck Pagano.  He also has established a good relationship with linebackers Jarret Johnson, Ray Lewis and Terrell Suggs, among others.

Bisciotti Defends Harbaugh’s Radio Comments

When asked about Harbaugh getting upset with an irrational fan during an episode of his weekly WBAL radio show this season, Owner Steve Bisciotti said Harbaugh’s response “didn’t faze me.”

The fan blamed Defensive Line Coach Clarence Brooks for defensive tackle Terrence Cody’s performance earlier this season and suggested that Brooks be fired. Harbaugh said that fan could find another team to cheer for.

"We can take all the criticism in the world, but … if your solution is to whack our partners, that’s what John got frustrated with,” Bisciotti said. “That was the crux of it — fire Clarence, wasn’t it? That’s not a solution, per se.

"Good organizations don’t respond that way. And our goal, more than anything, is to be a quality organization. It takes time and you have to be patient and you have to work with them. There’s time to address those things."

Bisciotti said he’s seen Harbaugh lose his temper before and that was probably the first time he’s lost it on the radio. He explained that Harbaugh is a lot like him in that they are both fiery guys. Bisciotti said he frequently calls General Manager Ozzie Newsome when he needs to vent.

“So I’m very comfortable with John,” Bisciotti said. “If that’s his biggest regret or his biggest mistake in three years, then we’ve got a great future together."

Season Review Conference Wrap-Up

If you missed the 45-minute Ravens’ season review with Bisciotti, Harbaugh, Newsome and President Dick Cass, here are some quick highlights:

• Bisciotti and Newsome both supported Harbaugh in his decision to keep Cam Cameron as the offensive coordinator for 2011. “Sometimes it’s easier to replace [coaches], and the fans, their frustration can’t lead us to offer somebody up for sacrifice for the things that went wrong,” Bisciotti said.
• The Ravens believe quarterback Joe Flacco is exactly where he needs to be in his development and will become an elite quarterback. “Is Joe ever going to be in that [elite] conversation? We think so. We hope so,” Bisciotti said. “We’re going to work to get him there. It might take killing off Peyton [Manning] or something like that to accelerate that process (laughter) but we believe that sooner or later [he'll get there]. If we didn’t, we’d cut bait. We’re not cutting bait with Joe.”
• After officially announcing that Moeller is the new offensive line coach, Bisciotti warned Moeller that this is his “last chance.” Moeller has been charged in three alcohol-related incidents.
• Last year, Bisciotti said his biggest frustration with the Ravens was all the penalties they committed. This year? He wants the run game fixed.
• The Ravens will break a long tradition of raising ticket prices every other year. Cass announced the prices will remain the same partly because of labor uncertainty and the fact that many other teams aren’t raising their prices either.
• The organization has yet to talk to Ray Lewis, but team officials are putting their trust in the linebacker, who was linked by Yahoo Sports to a substance banned by the NFL.
• Bisciotti re-emphasized the team’s focus on re-signing defensive tackle Haloti Ngata to a long-term deal.
• Speaking about his overall feelings of the 2010 season results, Bisciotti said, “I’m proud of the success, I’m disappointed with the loss [to the Steelers]."

Quick Hits

• DonteStallworth: To the RavensFans that don’t know team owner Steve Bisciotti, he’s one of the best!! Very genuine and players LOVE him. That’s rare!! [Twitter]
• Long snapper Morgan Cox got good news on his surgically-repaired anterior cruciate ligament. Not only will be running in three months, but he will also be able to dance at his wedding on June 25. [Baltimore Sun]
• Matt Vensel listed five silver linings to the Ravens’ 2010 season, which included the re-emergence of Terrell Suggs, a long-term answer to replacing Matt Stover at kicker and the secondary playing far above expectations. [B Blog]

He’s seen it all, as he says. Every formation, everything Tom Brady and the Patriots offense does.

But that doesn’t mean he knows everything about what the Patriots will do this Sunday.

Pees knows the Patriots’ personnel, but he doesn’t know what scheme changes Head Coach Bill Belichick has made since he left or even over the past two weeks during the bye.

“You may have a little something to add, but I think it’s a lot less than what people on the outside might perceive it to be,” Pees said.

Asked whether he’s had a meeting with Pees this week about what he saw in New England, Ravens Defensive Coordinator Greg Mattison laughed.

“If you consider starting at 6:30 in the morning and going home at 12:30 at night for the last three months … a meeting,” he said. “Anytime one of our coaches has some kind of relationship or has been somewhere like that, obviously [we talk about it]. Our deal is, any information anybody can give us, you’re going to use it.”

What still resonate are tips about the Patriots’ personnel. Pees has first-hand knowledge of New England’s offensive players’ shortcomings and strengths from facing them every day in practice.

But each week, the Ravens’ coaches diligently go about breaking down their opponents, so it’s still the same process of passing that information on to their players. Pees, who joined the Ravens this offseason, added that you also don’t want to give too much information and mess with a players’ preparation routine.

The juicy information, like what plays the Patriots offense might run, is harder to nail down because so much can change from when the Ravens knocked New England out of last year’s playoffs. The Patriots didn’t even hire a defensive coordinator to replace Pees, leaving Belichick as the play-caller.

But Belichick is well aware that his former coach is helping the other side, so he’ll take appropriate measures to disguise or alter calls and formations.

“They keep changing it all the time,” Pees said. “So, it’s going to be game-plan specific for what we are.”

As far as the emotions of returning, Pees is feeling his competitiveness kick in. He compared facing his former team to playing a round of golf with family members.

“It’s kind of like you always want to beat the family and friends more than you really want to beat somebody else,” Pees said.