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]

In the past, Terrell Suggs hasn’t been very complimentary of Broncos quarterback sensation Tim Tebow.

Sizzle believes his beard has been through tougher things than Tebow.

Yet the Ravens outside linebacker, who is in contention for the Defensive Player of the Year award, admitted on the Scott Van Pelt Show that he doesn’t want to face Tebow in the playoffs.

When asked what it would be like to meet Tebow, Suggs took a deep breath and chuckled … twice.

“I think it would be a great challenge for us,” he said with what seemed to be a little reluctance. “I’d rather not have to do it, but if that’s the road we got to go, so be it. It would be a good opportunity to go against ‘The Great Tim Tebow’ as everybody so calls [him].”

“I sense a sarcastic tone,” said ESPN’s Linda Cohn. “Am I right?”

“No sarcastic tone,” Suggs replied. “Like I said, I really would prefer not to take that road. I guess it’s more of a question that I’ll have to address if I got to cross it.”

Don’t get it twisted.

The scenario presented to Suggs for him to meet Tebow included the Ravens losing Sunday against the Cincinnati Bengals and the Broncos winning the AFC West.

If both were to happen, the Ravens would drop from the second to fifth seed and would then have to travel to Denver for a wild-card matchup instead of sitting at home with a first-round bye. Of course Suggs prefers the latter.

Whatever the road the Ravens have to take, Suggs believes it will be his team in the Super Bowl.

“I like our chemistry, just the way our heads is, where our mindset is,” said Suggs.  ”It just feels good. We’ve been to the playoffs the last three years, but it was never with a feeling like this.”

It’s probably worth noting that when Suggs was asked about possibly winning the Defensive Player of the Year award, he said, “I’ll pretty much leave it in God’s hands; leave it in Tebow’s hands.”

Week 17 Ravens-Bengals Picks

Yeesh. This one is a tight call.

The stakes are high for both teams – the Bengals want in the playoffs and the Ravens want a bye and a home game.

To reach their goals, each team will have to overcome a major flaw – the Bengals haven’t beaten a playoff team (0-5) and the Ravens struggle on the road (3-4).

Ultimately, analysts are making their game predictions based on which squad they think will overcome its weakness.

“I think the logic here is simple,” said ProFootballTalk.com’s Mike Florio. “The Bengals can’t win in the postseason. Well, this is essentially a postseason game. Therefore the Bengals can’t win. They’re 0-2 under Marvin Lewis in playoff games and this is a playoff game.”

There are plenty who agree with Florio’s logic. But there are also plenty who agree with Jeff Zrebiec’s.

“The Ravens have gotten the benefit of the doubt to this point,” writes The Sun reporter. “But spotty play over the past couple of weeks and their problems on the road can’t be overlooked, especially in a game of this magnitude.”

Analysts are split: 15 pick the Bengals, while 18 are going with the Ravens.

Baltimore Sun: Four of seven pick the Bengals

ESPN: Five of eight pick the Bengals

SI.com’s Peter King: Bengals 21, Ravens 19

USA Today: Eight of eight pick the Ravens

Yahoo! Sports: Two of three pick the Bengals

PFT.com: Two of two pick the Ravens

CBSSports.com: Three of five pick the Ravens

Dalton Can Join Flacco In Elite Rookie Group

If Andy Dalton can beat Joe Flacco Sunday, the Bengals quarterback will join Flacco in an elite rookie group.

With a win, Dalton will become the fifth quarterback ever to win 10 or more games as a rookie starter, matching Flacco and the Falcons’ Matt Ryan, according to ESPN.

“That’s not bad for the 35th overall pick in the 2011 draft and the fifth quarterback taken,” wrote Jamison Hensley.

“I trust Andy Dalton to win a big one,” adds SI.com’s Peter King. “Finally.”

Still No Sign of Yanda

Newly selected Pro Bowl guard Marshal Yanda missed his second day of practice with rib and thigh bruises, and CSNBaltimore.com’s John Eisenberg says “there’s no telling” if he’ll be ready to face the Bengals.

“His absence from back-to-back practices is not an encouraging sign,” wrote Eisenberg. “Ravens coach John Harbaugh generally gives precedence on Sundays to players who practice during the week.

“The Ravens will miss Yanda a lot if he is unable to play Sunday. They’re going to need production from their running game, and the Bengals have one of the NFL’s best pass rushes. That puts the focus on the offensive line, and Yanda, 27, has been the Ravens’ best by a wide margin this season. … The Ravens are fortunate to have veteran Andre Gurode, a five-time Pro Bowl pick himself, ready to fill in if necessary.”

Pollard Battling Illness

Another Ravens starter has missed practice this week.

This time it’s starting safety Bernard Pollard, who is battling an illness.

But if Tom Zbikowski is right, there isn’t much to be worried about. The backup safety said he doesn’t anticipate having to fill in for Pollard this Sunday

“No, I don’t think so,” Zibby told The Sun. “I think it’s just late in the year with sicknesses and that kind of stuff. I’m not expecting him to miss anything. He’d have his shoulder popped out or bad thumbs, and he’d play. Missing today wouldn’t be anything.”

Roethlisberger Will Play If He Can Deal With Pain

Ravens fans will keep an eye on the scoreboard this weekend as Baltimore battles Cincy.

In case things aren’t going the Ravens’ way, it’d be nice to see the Steelers struggle against the Browns.

But if quarterback Ben Roethlisberger is playing, the Browns may not have a chance.

Right now, it looks like Big Ben is willing to do just about anything to be out there.

”As long as I can deal with pain, I’ll be out there,” Roethlisberger said Thursday, via FoxSports.com. ”I don’t want to let the guys down, so I’ll do what I can to be out there.”

Roethlisberger fully participated in practice Thursday and Steelers Offensive Coordinator Bruce Arians is confident that his quarterback can play after watching his mobility improve.

Quick Hits

• Like Scott in Pasadena, MD, you may be wondering how much of the Bengals’ sellout crowd will be Ravens fans. “That’s an interesting question,” writes Hensley. “Ravens fans travel better than many think. Not in the Steelers class, but Ravens fans showed up by the thousands in San Diego.” [ESPN]
• “The biggest mismatch for Cincinnati is trying to cover Ed Dickson and Dennis Pitta,” Hensley also wrote. “The Bengals have had trouble covering tight ends this season. I consider Dickson to be the x-factor for the Ravens offense.” [ESPN]
• Rookie Torrey Smith has been forced into a critical role this season and has responded faster than expected. [The Baltimore Sun]
• Safety Ed Reed wasn’t all that impressed with Bengals receiver Jerome Simpson’s flip last week – he only gives it a six out of 10. Reed did admit, however, that these days, the most he’d do is a cartwheel.
• Former Baltimore Colts WR Raymond Berry will help present the Super Bowl trophy in Indy this year. @1WinningDrive asked fans what they thought of that. Check this response out: @PokerBcas I think it’s great. Then we can ship the trophy back to Baltimore in a Mayflower truck!

Yesterday, the Ravens made a big move by bringing in center Andre Gurode to back up Matt Birk.

It’s such a big move – Gurode has earned a Pro Bowl selection in each of the past five seasons – that one wonders about Birk’s health.

CSNBaltimore.com’s John Eisenberg said the deal “underscores the Ravens’ concerns about Birk’s ability to play the entire 2011 season.”

“This could be a sign the Ravens aren’t confident in Birk heading into the Steelers game,” added ESPN’s James Walker.

Birk underwent knee surgery in July and didn’t participate in any of the Ravens’ preseason games –although he did return to practice last week. The 14-year veteran said his knee feels good and, if everything goes as planned, he should start against the Steelers.

That said, if Birk isn’t ready to go by Week 1, or if he goes down at some point this season, Gurode is “the best insurance policy the Ravens could have gotten,” says The Baltimore Sun’s Jamison Hensley.

“The Ravens are looking to team a five-time Pro Bowl center in Gurode with a former six-time Pro Bowl center in Birk.”

Gurode (33) and Birk (35) have a few similarities.

Like Birk, Gurode is recovering from a knee injury. The 6-foot-4, 318-pound lineman underwent surgery in June.

Both players are considered very durable. Birk hasn’t missed a game since 2005, while Gurode has missed game action only four times since he was drafted in 2002.

“One way or another, with either Birk or Gurode in the middle, the whole thing is expected to come together in time for the Pittsburgh game,” concluded Eisenberg.

A few other notables on Gurode:

• Some of you may think you’ve never heard of him before, but you actually probably have. It was Gurode’s face that was infamously stomped on by defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth in 2006.
• Gurode visited the Seattle Seahawks, Detroit Lions and New England Patriots before reaching a deal with the Ravens. Expect reporters to ask him later today why he decided on coming to Baltimore.
• The Ravens won’t need to clear a roster spot to make room for Gurode, according to MASN’s Dan Kolko. At least, not for now. With receiver David Reed on the reserve/suspended list this week, the Ravens temporarily have room for one more.
• After bringing in receiver Lee Evans, tackle Bryant McKinnie and Gurode, Walker said he likes that the Ravens “haven’t been afraid to patch holes on their roster. … These were three big question marks on the team several weeks ago. That is no longer the case.”
• “Baltimore is serious about winning, and winning now,” added SI.com’s Peter King.

Preseason’s Over … Time For 2011 Predictions!

Based on what I read in the commenting section of these articles every day, many of you take pride in being the underdog.

Well you soak it up, Baltimore.

Of the 13 AFC North predictions listed below, only four analysts believe the Ravens can beat the Steelers to become the division champs this season.

The four who believe in the Ravens are Don Banks, Adam Schefter, Walker and Mike Florio.

The AFC North predictions and the reasoning behind each:

Pete Prisco, CBSSports.com: 10-6, second in AFC North
“The Ravens will push the Steelers in the division. This is a talented team. But until they throw it better down the field, and until they rush the passer better, the Steelers have the edge. The offensive line is a concern, too.”

Jeffri Chadiha, ESPN.com: (ESPN analysts didn’t give predicted records) second in AFC North
“The Ravens need an offense with plenty of weapons to become more consistent. The acquisition of wide receiver Lee Evans will help.”

John Clayton, ESPN.com: second in AFC North
“Lee Evans will give Joe Flacco a much-needed outside threat, but concerns about the offensive line could be a problem. At least the Ravens are now deep at corner.”

Ashley Fox, ESPN.com: second in AFC North
“The Ravens did not get better in the offseason. Gone are two of Joe Flacco’s favorite targets, tight end Todd Heap and wide receiver Derrick Mason. Ray Rice will have to carry the load.”

Adam Schefter, ESPN.com: first in AFC North
“Couldn’t keep up with Pittsburgh’s big plays last season, so went and added playmakers of their own.”

James Walker, ESPN.com: first in AFC North
“The Ravens have been close the last three years. If QB Joe Flacco improves, he can take Baltimore to the next level.”

Bucky Brooks, NFL.com: 10-6, second in AFC North
“Joe Flacco has to step up his game for the Ravens’ offense to become a unit capable of competing with the heavyweights in the AFC.”

Elliot Harrison, NFL.com: 10-6, second in AFC North
“The Ravens have a good team, but many questions. Is getting Lee Evans enough for an offense that needed a downfield presence? Can Ed Reed go 16? What is Joe Flacco at this stage of his career?”

Pat Kirwan, NFL.com: 10-6, second in AFC North
“The Ravens would be higher if they weren’t in the same division as the Steelers. The offensive line is still a big question.”

Jason La Canfora, NFL.com: 11-6, second in AFC North
“Schedule sets up nicely for them, but they need to find a way to get Joe Flacco a home playoff game. Not sure this will be the year for that.”

Steve Wyche , NFL.com: 9-7, second in AFC North
“The defense won’t slip as much as people think but the offense might plateau at some points, leaving them in position where getting to the playoffs could be a challenge.”

Mike Florio, PFT.com: first in AFC North
“I think the Ravens are going to get the Steelers monkey off their back this year. I’ve been saying that for the last couple years, but one of these years it’s going to be right.  Why not this year? Steelers typically stumble a year after they appear in the Super Bowl. At least over the past 10 years when they’ve been in the Super Bowl that’s what’s happened. I think the Steelers slide back. The Ravens take the division and I think it starts Week 1.

Don Banks, Sports Illustrated: 11-5, first in AFC North
“For a team that has gone 32-16 in the past three regular seasons and tacked on a total of four road playoff games over that span, the Ravens don’t seem to get a ton of respect for their accomplishments. But we know why. Baltimore can’t beat Pittsburgh when it really counts, losing to the Steelers in the playoffs twice in the past three Januarys. This is the year I think the Ravens finally get over their Pittsburgh problem, win the division, and see what a home playoff game feels like. I’m not sure that’ll be enough to guarantee them a Super Bowl trip, but beating the Steelers might just feel like the mountain top in Baltimore.”

LaQuan Part Of Steelers Game Plan

Ravens rookie receiver LaQuan Williams is already a part of the game plan for the Steelers game, according to Ravens Insider Aaron Wilson.

Considering his success in the preseason and his ties to Baltimore (Poly and Maryland), Williams quickly became a fan favorite. Thus, the report already has fans speculating what Head Coach John Harbaugh has in store for the rookie.

While many hope to see Williams worked into the offense, he’ll more likely a fill a special-teams role.  Eisenberg sees him returning punts in the season opener.

Cameron Contacted Bulger?

After Tyrod Taylor suffered a shoulder contusion (bruise) Thursday night, speculation about who will be the backup quarterback soared – even though the Ravens said the injury is not serious.

The team is confident that Taylor can be the backup, but they’ve also been willing to see what else is out there.

Wilson reported Saturday that Offensive Coordinator Cam Cameron contacted Marc Bulger – last year’s backup to Flacco – to gauge his interest in coming out of retirement.

“Hearing Marc Bulger has decided to stay retired at this time, but told Ravens he would be interested in case of emergency if Flacco got hurt,” tweeted Wilson.

Parmele Shocked By Release, But Understands

Jalen Parmele knew his job was on the line as he competed with rookie Anthony Allen for the No. 3 running back role, but that didn’t make the news of his release come any easier.

“We were shocked,” Parmele told Edward Lee of The Baltimore Sun. “I wasn’t expecting it, but at the same time, you understand. Having been around long enough to know what goes on and the kind of business decisions are made, you can’t take anything personally. You learn from it and realize that there’s nothing you can do to change it. They’re continually taking steps to try to make the team better. So it’s just something that you understand, and you understand that it’s a business decision.”

Tavares Gooden Joins 49ers

Originally drafted in 2008 as a potential heir to Ray Lewis, linebacker Tavares Gooden was released Saturday – one of the more unexpected moves of cut day.

Prior to being let go, reports surfaced of the Ravens and 49ers engaging in trade talks for Gooden. Nothing ever came from the discussions, but the former third-rounder landed in San Francisco anyway.

Gooden and San Fran agreed to terms on a one-year deal Sunday night, according to Wilson.

Quick Hits

•  
  • Willis McGahee compares the Buffalo Bills to the Ravens, saying there’s a better feeling in a winning organization’s locker room. [Sports Radio Interviews]
  • Tandondoss: Had to let the 89 jersey go.. I’ll b rockin 17 this season!!! [Twitter]
  • RavensInsider: Ravens practice squad safety Mana Silva drew interest from other teams, but decided to stay put and re-sign with Baltimore. [Twitter]
  • This is no time for young guys like Michael McAdoo, Chykie Brown and Albert McClellan to celebrate making an NFL roster, says Kolko. Things could change when veterans are added to the roster. [MASN]
  • “Ricky Williams has found a home in Baltimore,” wrote Dan Pompei. “The coaches there love him because he’s been very professional and quiet. He’s been the first player out at practice every day, and he came to work in fantastic shape. What’s more – his pass protection has been outstanding.” [The National Football Post]
  • A look back at the bests and worsts from the Ravens’ four-game exhibition season. [CSNBaltimore.com]
  • Hall of Fame quarterback Dan Fouts on what he learned from Johnny Unitas: “The very first ball [Unitas] threw to me in warmups was a fastball that nearly broke my hands. Johnny told me, ‘Always aim for the receiver’s nose when throwing a pass.’ I asked, ‘Why’s that?’ He said, ‘Because if they don’t catch it, it’ll break their nose. That will make them better receivers.’” [SI.com]

PLEASE NOTE: The opinions, analysis and/or speculation expressed on BaltimoreRavens.com represent those of individual authors, and unless quoted or clearly labeled as such, do not represent the opinions or policies of the Baltimore Ravens’ organization, front office staff, coaches and executives. Authors’ views are formulated independently from any inside knowledge and/or conversations with Ravens officials, including the coaches and scouts, unless otherwise noted.

2010 Ravens Better Than 2000 Ravens?

Who better to tell you how good you are than those who went through it themselves?

The Baltimore Sun’s Jamison Hensley’s tracked down members of the Ravens’ 2000 Super Bowl team to get their thoughts on Baltimore’s current Super Bowl chances.

You’re going to like their answer. A few feel like this year’s Ravens are poised to be perhaps better.

“On paper, they have the makings of being a Super Bowl team, probably better than what we had in 2000,” former tackle Jonathan Ogden said. “I like their chances. I really do.”

Added former wideout Qadry Ismail, “This [2010] team is a better team. Outside of trading out veteran Ray [Lewis] for the younger Ray, this team is just better.”

The two teams aren’t twins, however.

Theis year’s unit has a high-octane passing attack that’s going to be expected to win games, not just manage them as Trent Dilfer did. The 2000 roster had the greatest defense of all time and a secondary that haunted opposing quarterbacks. This year’s defensive backfield is trying to survive a rash of injuries, including to Ed Reed.

“We had something that not many teams can replicate,” Dilfer said. “We absolutely trusted one another beyond a shadow of a doubt. We were physically more dominant than anybody else. We had the greatest defense that ever lived. So, it would be very hard to compare the two teams.”

Most importantly, the 2000 team finished it off. So far, this year’s Super Bowl hype is just that – hype.

“Myself, Goose, Rod Woodson … we’ve posted our score and we’re drinking lemonade in the clubhouse,” former Ravens tight end Shannon Sharpe said. “So, we’ll see what the 2010 Ravens can do.”

Jets Show Some Respect

Baltimore fans and the media have done plenty of talking about how much better the Ravens’ offense should be this year.

But there’s nothing quite like hearing it from the mouths of the opponent – especially the New York Jets. For all the back-and-forth between the Ravens and Jets, there is underlying admiration, says Edward Lee of the Baltimore Sun.

When comparing the Ravens’ current offense to the one he practiced against in Baltimore, former Ravens linebacker Bart Scott said, “It was a one-dimensional offense. They really didn’t have an identity other than running the ball. Now they’re a balanced attack. I think they’re a respected attack, and they have the capability to make a lot of noise.”

Scott said teams can’t just stack eight men in the box to stop Ray Rice because the Ravens have receiving threats who can win one-on-one battles. Jets Head Coach Rex Ryan shared his praise of Rice and Joe Flacco.

“They’re outstanding,” Ryan said. “And you know, it’s funny to see … both of them were excellent players when I was there, their rookie years, but you saw how they matured last year. Obviously, Ray Rice being a Pro Bowl running back his second season, and then the way Joe improved, they really did a great job. I think you’ve got to credit the coaches as well.”

Ray Wins War Of Words

By now you’ve surely heard about or seen Ray Lewis’ rant on the Jets yesterday. If not, you can find the full thing here.

Ryan responded yesterday at his press conference, specifically to Lewis’ problem with him saying on “Hard Knocks” that Lewis “tapped out” after being permitted to call some plays during a preseason game during Rex’s time in Baltimore.

“By speaking the truth, what I believe to be the truth, I don’t think it’s anything to get fired up about,” said Ryan, who seemed a bit nervous for once. “If you need to put it in your locker room, go for it.”

Pretty sure Lewis doesn’t need any bulletin board material to get him fired up. Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon of ESPN’s Pardon The Interruption sided with the future Hall of Fame linebacker.

Ravens Still Underdogs

Yesterday I wrote about how the Ravens are being touted as the Super Bowl favorites. Today I see ESPN’s picks for this weekend, where six of nine votes go to the Ravens over the Jets.

So why then does the Vegas line have the Ravens listed as 2.5-point underdogs heading into Monday night?

Ravens Head Coach John Harbaugh took notice as well.

“We want to be the underdog,” Harbaugh said on his weekly radio show, The John Harbaugh Show. “I think they picked us to be the underdog on Monday night as well. So that’s exactly where we expect to be and we appreciate that spot.”

As far as other picks, the Baltimore Sun released its predictions for 2010 yesterday. Hensley picked the Ravens to win it all. Check out the rest of the Sun’s picks.

Quick Hits

• Bart Scott hasn’t forgotten his time in Baltimore, reports the New York Times. “There’s nothing like your first best friend, your first puppy love, the first time you bought all in,” Scott said. “You’ll never have that same dynamic. You only have one first.”
• Billy Cundiff appreciated the way the kicking competition was handled, according to MASN’s Dan Kolko. “I just took them for their word, and they came through,” Cundiff said.
• Can the Ravens’ defense be flying under the radar? CSNBaltimore and PressBoxOnline’s Joe Platania ponders.
• Willis McGahee and Le’Ron McClain said the Ravens are still run-based, reports the Baltimore Sun’s Edward Lee.
• @D_Stallworth18 [Donte' Stallworth]: Got my cast off this morning & started some exercises with my foot. Making progress y’all, thx for well wishes/prayers! Goodnight God bless [Twitter]

PLEASE NOTE: The opinions, analysis and/or speculation expressed on BaltimoreRavens.com represent those of individual authors, and unless quoted or clearly labeled as such, do not represent the opinions or policies of the Baltimore Ravens’ organization, front office staff, coaches and executives. Authors’ views are formulated independently from any inside knowledge and/or conversations with Ravens officials, including the coaches and scouts, unless otherwise noted.

Ravens Are Super Bowl Favorites

We’ve been hearing that the Ravens are Super Bowl contenders throughout the entire offseason. Been there, done that.

But now with the regular season officially kicking off tonight, the Ravens are being dubbed as the favorites to win the Super Bowl – at least by ESPN.com.

ESPN went to its Pigskin Panel and eight of 25 members picked Baltimore to hoist the trophy in Dallas on Feb. 6. That’s that most championship nods of any team in the NFL with Indianapolis just behind with seven and the Green Bay Packers in third with five.

Another three voters said the Ravens would reach the Super Bowl but lose.

Here are the scribes who picked the Ravens, so you can start on your thank you cards: Eric Allen, Matthew Berry, Mel Kiper, Matt Mosley, Antonio Pierce, Aaron Schatz, Kevin Seifert and Bill Williamson.

Kiper: I know people will dog me because I live in Baltimore and say I’m being a homer, but the Ravens have a lot of strengths and worked really hard to target weaknesses this offseason.

Schatz: This team has a ton of talent and the offense should only get better, with a lot of maturing young players and the addition of Anquan Boldin. That should make up for the questions they have in the secondary.

Williamson: The Ravens have been an ascending team for a few years. Quarterback Joe Flacco is becoming a top player, running back Ray Rice is a beast and new receiver Anquan Boldin gives the Ravens a dimension they haven’t had in recent seasons.

Seifert: The Baltimore Ravens might have the most balanced trio of phases — offense, defense and special teams — in the NFL.

Peirce: Their pass defense is not the best, but I like what I see from them on offense. They can score 24 points a game. For their first Super Bowl win, they did it with defense. But this time, the offense will contribute much more.

Is The Hype A Good Thing?

Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post's poll.While all the kind words are flattering, am I the only one who gets a knot in their stomach when reading them?

I feel a “woah, woah, woah” reaction coming on.

So did RonRavensFan, who Tweeted at AFC North blogger James Walker last night, saying, “As a Ravens fan, I hate that we’re getting SO MUCH hype. Everyone sees us (along w/ Indy, GBP, others) as THE team to beat.”

Baltimore Sun columnists Peter Schmuck and Kevin Cowherd gave their takes on the hype. While Schmuck pulls in the reins a bit, Cowherd said the team is embracing the pressure.

Said Schmuck: “I think the consensus of the experts at ESPN last year was the Pittsburgh Steelers. The year before, it was the Cowboys. My point being that predictions are always a tricky business, especially in a sport that puts such a premium on parity, so it might be a little early to buy those nonrefundable plane tickets to Dallas for the first week in February.”

Cowherd says it’s “Super Bowl or bust” in Baltimore this season, a mentality the players have embraced. “Just win, baby, win. Oh, and win it all, too,” Cowherd said.

What do you think of all the preseason predictions? Like ‘em or hate ‘em?

Coach of the Year Nod

Ravens Head Coach John Harbaugh doesn’t make waves or headlines too often. He wins.

Thus, it should be no surprise that not only are the Ravens players getting lots of pub, but so is their third-year head coach. CBSSports.com Senior Writer Clark Judge predicts Harbaugh will be the 2010 Coach of the Year.

“He’s been to the playoffs in each of his two years as head coach, and he made an impact there. In his first season he knocked off Tennessee, a club with the home-field advantage, then graduated to the conference championship game. In his second year, he became the first coach to beat Tom Brady and Bill Belichick in a playoff game in New England. So Harbaugh is ready for the next challenge, and getting to the Super Bowl qualifies.”

By the way, Judge has the Ravens facing the Green Bay Packers in Super Bowl XLV.

Jets Are Pretty Confident

I know that headline isn’t a shocker, but NFL.com put together a nice montage of quotes from the Jets entering the season.

Needless to say, New York is feeling pretty good. The lastest quote is from cornerback Antonio Cromartie.

“We’re the Miami Heat of football,” he said.

Like the Heat, who brought in LeBron James and Chris Bosh while keeping Dwayne Wade, the Jets added wideout Santonio Holmes, running back LaDanian Tomlinson and Cromartie while retaining Darrelle Revis.

But the two teams also have something else in common – they haven’t won anything yet. Just sayin’.

McClain Squashes Trash Talk

Ravens fullback Le’Ron McClain opted to bow out of the pregame trash talk game Wednesday.

After saying the Jets would have “no excuses” with Revis playing Week 1, Jets Head Coach Rex Ryan predictably fired back saying, “We don’t make excuses. All we do is produce … And that’s what we’re planning to do Monday night.”

McClain laughed about the jawing in Wednesday’s locker room, according to MASN’s Dan Kolko.

“Nah, man, I hope he didn’t take that the wrong way,” McClain said. “I’m ready to play for Monday night. No trash talk. Me and Rex have a good relationship, so it’s nothing like that.”

Personally, I thought this was all pretty PG. I’m waiting for the big shots to come today when Ryan and former Ravens linebacker Bart Scott get on a conference call with Baltimore reporters.

Stay tuned for BaltimoreRavens.com’s Questioning the Enemy later today.

Ed Reed No. 88 All-Time

With Ed Reed now on the Physically Unable to Perform list, let’s stop and take a minute to realize just how amazing Reed really is.

What makes this NFL.com video – dedicated to the No. 88 player on NFL.com’s Top 100 Greatest Players list – especially cool is that Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Hines Ward is doing the commentary. Reed and Ward have had their run-ins, so it’s quite a tribute. Trust me, watch it.

Quick Hits

• Ray Lewis visited Abbottson Elementary School to meet more than 200 children and hand out backpacks full of school supplies Tuesday. The supplies were from his Ray Lewis 52 Foundation. [Baltimore Sun]
• The Ravens will have their hands full with Jets defensive tackle Kris Jenkins. [Carroll County Times]
• @RavensInsider: Former Ravens tackle Joe Reitz was claimed by the Colts off waivers from the Dolphins. Indianapolis also picked up former Baltimore tackle Adam Terry this offseason.
• @jamisonhensley: Most Ravens players have their first and last name above their lockers. Houshmandzadeh simply has “T.J.”
• The Ravens will honor their 2000 Super Bowl team before their Oct. 24 home game against the Buffalo Bills. Running back Jamal Lewis was the first to respond to the invitation, said the Baltimore Sun.

The Autograph Phenomenon – Video Style

We’re heading into Day 3 since the Ravens released their new autograph policy. The topic is still dominating headlines, radio talk shows, blogs and it’s even made national TV sports talk banter.

Most interesting to me was a dialogue on the “autograph phenomenon” from Bob Ryan and Dan Le Betard (filling in for Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon) on ESPN’s Pardon the Interruption.

Ryan and Le Betard discuss how the phenomenon has grown from “harmless” but “sappy” adults seeking signatures into a big business where grown-ups now buy the work of children to get a signature. The two analysts are interested in seeing if other teams will copy the new Ravens’ policy in the future.

Kevin Cowherd of the Baltimore Sun wrote an amusing column about the autograph policy, in which he said, “You would think the Ravens had just banned breathing at McDaniel.”

But perhaps the best way to understand the autograph phenomenon is to experience it visually. Here are a few other videos depicting signature-seeking scenes:

Baltimore Sun: Ravens Fans Seek Autographs (Note Ed Reed encouraging fans to stop pushing at the end of the video).

It’s not an athlete, but 105.7 TheFan.com’s Kevin Battle found this video of crowds seeking autographs from Johnny Depp.

Ranking NFL Teams Based On Young Talent

ESPN’s Football Outsiders came up with a different NFL ranking system based on teams’ young talent (25 years or younger) and the clubs’ ability to develop the young talent.

The Ravens came in at No. 4 of all 32 teams.

“Ozzie Newsome is the best general manager in football, and year after year, his drafts deliver promising new players to an organization that seems to have more talent than opportunities,” Football Outsiders’ Bill Barnwell said. “Although the Ravens are known for their defense, it’s the offense that has most of the team’s young talent these days. Joe Flacco and Ray Rice get the headlines at quarterback and running back, respectively, but no team has a pair of young tackles that match up with Michael Oher and Jared Gaither, both 24.

“The problem with the defensive talent might just be getting on the field; the Ravens spent their two second-rounders this year on front seven talent, linebacker Sergio Kindle and massive nose tackle Terrence Cody, but those guys will need to serve their apprenticeships before seeing serious snap totals. One player who might break through this season is corner Lardarius Webb, who is coming off of a torn ACL but should be starting by the end of the season.”

Remember Last Year?

I love it when ESPN’s James Walker takes a trip back down AFC North memory lane where he finds bold fan predictions from the year before that didn’t come close to coming true. One lesson I learn here is not to use multiple exclamation points when trying to prophesy the future…

“Bengals will not win ANYTHING let alone a playoff berth!!!! What a JOKE!!!!! Heck the RAI-DUHS have a better shot at a better record than the Bengals!!!!!!”

“Everyone in the AFC is irrelevant. Steelers rule as usual!!!!!!!!”

“Bold prediction, I know, but I stand by my words: Baltimore Ravens 2009 AFC North Champions!! Maybe [coach John] Harbaugh can get a ring during his second year, too!!!”

“Honestly, I think the Cleveland Browns are going to win it all.”

Quick Hits

• 1WinningDrive: Ravens OLB Terrell Suggs will be a guest analyst on NFL Live Thursday and Friday (July 15-16) at 4 p.m. ET on ESPN2.
• Pete Prisco of CBSSports.com said Fabian Washington and Lardarius Webb will battle for the starting cornerback position when each player returns from his knee injury rehab.
• Mike Florio of the Sporting News believes Baltimore could be one of 10 teams where Terrell Owens lands in 2010.
• Joe Platania from the Press Box reminds us of 15 Ravens training camp memories.

“As I have been saying all along, what a blunder of a move Ozzie made by drafting Michael Oher. Had Ozzie passed on Oher, he could have had both an impact WR and a starting OL.” – Nameless.

Cue “The Price Is Right” losing tubas noise.

We’re 22 days into the month of June, the slowest news month on the NFL calendar. Sheesh.

So why not use the time to show just how redonkulous predictions can be with the luxury of 20/20 hindsight?

Without naming names, ESPN’s James Walker uses his “Remember Last Year?” blog to hold AFC North community members accountable for absurd statements.

The Michael Oher blunder declaration is one of several Ravens classics from last year.  Here are a few more:

• “Peyton Manning will do no such thing. He doesn’t have Marvin Harrison anymore, and secondly we have the fastest–yes the fastest–secondary in the league. I don’t see hardly any team throwing bombs on us like they used to.”
• “Ravens will win AT LEAST 12 games. RAVENS WILL…WILL…win the division this year. Anyone remember how many close games the Stealers should’ve lost?”
• “L.J. Smith is huge for the Ravens; especially against the Steelers.”

Just to show Ravens fans aren’t the only ones to miss…

• “I will just say that I fully expect the 2009 Pittsburgh Steelers to be the greatest Steelers team in their illustrious existence. This year the Steelers will be blowing teams out with defense, with offense, with special teams and with grit and determination and the will to win again. Brady and the Pats are going to be playing second fiddle to Roethlisberger and the Steelers.”
• “Not only will the Bengals not make the playoffs, but every team that drafts [Chad Ochocinco] for their fantasy team will not make the playoffs, either.”
• “I would take 1. Derek Anderson 2. Joe Flacco 3. Carson Palmer 4. Ben Roethlisberger.”

Looking Back On Modell’s Career

With Art Modell turning 85 tomorrow, The Baltimore Sun’s Kevin Cowherd looked back on the NFL visionary’s brilliant career.

Modell was the Chairman of the Owners Labor Committee which successfully negotiated the NFL’s first players’ collective bargaining agreement. He moved the Browns to the AFC – which helped propel the merge of the NFL and AFL – and was an important negotiator with ABC to launch Monday Night Football.

“Even though he was a league visionary,” Cowherd said, “even though his Browns won the NFL championship in 1964, even though his Ravens won the Super Bowl in 2000, even though he hired Newsome to be the first African-American general manager in the NFL, Modell is still being penalized by a few Hall of Fame voters for relocating the Browns to Baltimore.”

Still, Modell seems to be at peace with the work he’s done regardless of the voting.

“It’s not my call,” Modell told Cowherd. “If it [happens], I’ll be happy. If it doesn’t, I’ll be up early for breakfast.”

Quick Hits

• Jamisonhensley (Baltimore Sun’s Jamison Hensley): My take on Pitta: It will be a close battle with Dickson for backup TE. But Dickson might have edge to being active b/c of special teams.
• jamisonhensley: Interesting note on Pitta: He is BYU’s all-time leader in receptions, surpassing Austin Collie last year.
• jamisonhensley: My take on Arthur Jones: He will develop into a valuable backup in the Ravens DL rotation this season.
• JasonLaCanfora (NFL.com’s Jason La Canfora): Commish Goodell will be visiting training camps on the Madden Cruiser. No dates finalized yet.

He might be the most accurate fortune-teller in Baltimore’s war room, considering he correctly predicted the newest Raven for six-consecutive years.

It is part of a game the Ravens’ scouting department plays on draft day – reserve part of the board for friendly wagers.

“We don’t do the whole first round in an area where we’re not picking,” DeCosta said.  “This year, we’ll probably do 1-10 or 1-15.  We try to guess a little bit, but they won’t let me play anymore.  I’ve won in the past on numerous occasions.”

The Ravens are currently slated to pick at No. 25, which represents the crown jewel of the guessing game. 

DeCosta wouldn’t specifically reveal which years made up his successful run, but did admit that Michael Oher’s selection in 2009 was a surprise to nearly everyone in the room.

Graded as a high first-round talent, Oher tumbled past many teams that were set at offensive tackle.  The Ravens were happy that he did.

“We try to project who our first-round pick is going to be,” said DeCosta.  “But, I had somebody else picked for us last year because I just didn’t think he was going to slip to us. Not many people did.”

DeCosta said the scouts enjoy ribbing each other about the prospects that went to other teams that failed to live up to expectations.

“You always call back over the years about players that you liked and you didn’t like,” he said with a laugh.  “There are some guys that have a very sketchy memory.  Every once in a while, we have to go back to the reports in the system, because they really liked the [player], and then we read the report and he really hated the guy.”

The Ravens’ 2010 schedule is (finally) here, and September’s lineup makes for a clear indicator as to this team’s potential.  The opinions and predictions are endless.

Don’t be bashful – tell us what you really think. What will be the Ravens’ record when all is said and done?

ESPN’s James Walker: Baltimore usually feels like it gets the short end on a lot of things, and the Ravens have a legitimate complaint with the opening month of the schedule. The Ravens play three of their first four games on the road.

The Ravens will know where they stand right away when they open the season to play the Jets. Both teams are early Super Bowl contenders in the AFC and it should be a very interesting matchup on “Monday Night Football” Sept. 13. Of course, former longtime Ravens defensive coordinator Rex Ryan is now the head coach of the Jets. Both teams have similar personalities. So expect a lot of trash talk leading up to this game.

Sporting News’ Mike Florio: Ravens benefit from Steelers’ troubles. When the Steelers traded receiver Santonio Holmes to the Jets, the Ravens were thrilled. No longer would they have to be torched two (and maybe three) times a year by Holmes. The Ravens dodged another bullet by getting the Jets in Week 1, when Holmes will be suspended. And if Roethlisberger gets at least a four-game suspension, the Ravens will go to Pittsburgh on a day in early October when Ben isn’t there.

The Baltimore Sun Writers

Jamison Hensley: 10-6. Ravens survive tough road schedule to make playoffs for third straight year. The only way the Ravens fail to do so is if Joe Flacco goes down with an injury.

Mike Preston: The schedule matters very little for the Ravens. The key is for coaches John Harbaugh and Cam Cameron to get the passing game to mesh, and for quarterback Joe Flacco to step up his game late in the season and into the post season. Ravens win the AFC North with an 11-5 record.

Kevin Van Valkenburg: Assuming Joe Flacco stays healthy, the Ravens will go 12-4 and make their third playoff appearance under John Harbaugh. They still may have some trouble in close games and as a result they lose to New Orleans, the Jets and split with the Bengals and Steelers. But the team takes another step forward and is a real Super Bowl threat with an actual offense this year.

CBS Sports’ Pete Prisco thinks Ravens vs. Jets will be a Top 10 game of the season: Rex Ryan earned his head-coaching job as defensive coordinator of the Ravens. Now he gets to face his former team for the first time. Ray Lewis and his mates would love to ruin Ryan’s day. Lucky for Ryan, it will be Mark Sanchez taking the bullets — not him. Joe Flacco vs. Mark Sanchez isn’t bad either.

Oh, and me: Two years in a row the Ravens eked their way into the playoffs through the wild card back door. This time, the purple and black get in by winning the division and an 11-5 record.

Ozzie Obeys The Sixth Commandment

If the schedule hadn’t been released last night, this one would have been LFW homepage headline worthy.

Sporting News declared Ravens General Manager Ozzie Newsome as the league’s best personnel decision-maker in the league. (Sorry. No link. This was a print-only list). The criterion used was simple:

The Sixth Commandment: What you do with the firsts shall last.

“The top personnel men for the NFL’s 32 teams have made a total of 235 first-round picks, and there’s no way to find out who’s the best at making the big selections without grading each and every choice,” the magazine explained. “So we did.”

Newsome has made 16 first-round selections since 1996, and the grades he received were as follows: A: 9 B: 3 C:0 D:4 F:0. His first two picks in Ravens history, tackle Jonathan Ogden and linebacker Ray Lewis, are headed to the Hall of Fame.

The Top 5 executives are as follows:

1. Ozzie Newsome, Ravens
2. Bill Polian, Colts
3. Marty Hurney, Panthers
4. Bill Parcells, Dolphins
5. Mike Tannenbaum, Jets

Several weeks ago LFW debated which front office was better between the Steelers and Ravens. It should be noted that Sporting News gave a No. 12 ranking to Coach Mike Tomlin and Director of Football Operations Kevin Colbert of the Steelers.

Browns President Mike Holmgren was No. 20, while Bengals Owner Mike Brown was No. 22.

Steelers Acquire Leftwich, Insurance Policy

Anticipating a league suspension for Ben Roethlisberger, the Pittsburgh Steelers acquired an insurance policy by trading a seventh-round pick to the Tampa Bay Bucs for veteran quarterback Byron Leftwich, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

That brings the quarterback total in Pittsburgh to four. One of them will have to leave once Roethlisberger returns.

The Steelers are expecting to learn today what punishment Big Ben will receive from Commissioner Roger Goodell, according to Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. The paper is also reporting the Steelers have received trade feelers from other teams about Roethlisberger and have not ruled out the possibility of dealing their two-time Super Bowl-winning quarterback.

Quick Hits

• Rex Ryan on the league scheduling the Jets in five prime-time games, including three Monday nighters: “The league is smart,” tweeted Schefter.
• Linebacker Jason Taylor signed with his former team’s divisional nemesis, the New York Jets, and will therefore be set to play the Ravens opening night, according to USA Today.
• The Baltimore Ravens recently conducted a private workout with University of Miami tight end Jimmy Graham, according to National Football Post.

I have to hand it to ESPN’s  Gene Wojciechowski.

The man made 44 predictions about the NFL season back in September, and now he is checking the outcome.  As Wojciechowski points out, most sports analysts conveniently forget to check the results.

Perhaps this ESPN writer should have done the same. In the end, he scored a dismal 16 out of 44 points, a 36 percent, which would get him a big fat “F” in the classroom. But he isn’t hiding from that fact.

His predictions for the AFC North didn’t help his score, either. What Wojciechowski said then about the AFC North …

Order of finish: Pittsburgh Steelers, Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals, Cleveland Browns.

On the Steelers: “[QB Ben Roethlisberger will] take his usual sacks beatdown, but the offense could be strengthened by the return of running back Rashard Mendenhall. And as always, there’s Hines Ward, Super Bowl hero Santonio Holmes and Willie Parker. Comforting.”

On the Ravens: “Linebacker Bart Scott is gone, but the Ravens’ defense still remains one of the leading causes of snot bubbles and wooziness.”

On the Bengals: “[T]he Bengals have quarterback Carson Palmer back in the lineup, which is always a good thing, and the defense could be decent. Too bad it won’t translate into a winning season.”

On the Browns: “How is this team going to win more than six games? Oh, wait, I can answer that one. They’re not.”

What Wojciechowski  said actually happened in the AFC North…

“D’oh! The Steelers not only didn’t win the division; they didn’t reach the playoffs. (At least Pittsburgh’s O-line was dependable, giving up a whopping 50 sacks.) … The Ravens finished second, made the playoffs, eliminated the Patriots and then took a leave of absence against the Indianapolis Colts in the divisional playoff game … double d’oh!

“The Bengals not only had a winning season, but they won the division by going 6-0 against Pittsburgh, Baltimore and Cleveland. However, the Ocho Cinco Network suffered a blackout against the Jets in the regular-season finale and wild-card game.”

Wojciechowski gave himself 0 points for his AFC North predictions, but at least he got it right when he later predicted that Ravens running back Ray Rice was destined for a breakout season. He also scored a point by predicting Baltimore would be the last team to make it into the AFC playoffs.

Come on! Let’s all stop hiding from our preseason predictions. Here’s your chance to either fess up or claim your genius.

I’ll start (gulp). I thought the Ravens would finish 11-5 (not 9-7), lose to Pittsburgh (twice), beat Cincinnati (twice), beat the Packers and Vikings, finish second in the AFC North behind the Steelers, and make the playoffs via a wild card spot. At least I got the playoffs part correct. Eh?

Final Power Rankings

With revisited predications out of the way, let’s take a look at how the Ravens finished in a few of the final power rankings now that the 2009 season is complete.

Fox Sports:  No. 7
USA Today: No. 9
CBS Sports: No. 10
ESPN’s Paul Kuharsky: No. 9

Top Wide Receivers in the Draft

Mike Mayock of NFL.com ranks the top wide receivers in the draft as follows:

1) Dez Bryant, Oklahoma St.
2) Golden Tate, Notre Dame
3) Arrelious Ben, Illinois
4) Demaryius Thomas, Georgia Tech
5) Mardy Gilyard, Cincinnati

These receivers are typically highlighted on most top-receiver boards, but NFL Network’s Charles Davis and Michael Lombardi breakdown two prospects beyond the Top 5:  Jordan Shibley from the University of Texas and Dexter McCluster from Ole Miss.

Davis compared Shipley to Wes Welker of the New England Patriots. Shipley is not a game breaker, but has the speed to get open in the slot and is always dependable. He finished 2009 with 106 receptions, 1,363 yards, and 11 touchdown (receptions and yards were Texas school records).

Lambardi reiterated twice that McCluster is a “gameplan player” meaning teams have to take the time to figure out how they will matchup against him. McCluster is a college running back who is projected to become a slot or wide receiver in the NFL, but could be brought in the backfield in third-down situations.

McCluster finished his 2009 campaign with 44 receptions, 520 yards, and three touchdowns. Not too shabby for a running back. Davis added that McCluster is the only player to have more than 500 receiving yards and 1,000 rushing yards in SEC history.