Baltimore Ravens: Who’s Getting the Job?
NFL January 3rd. 2008, 11:00am
See, now this is a job we could see Bill Cowher going for. Well, let’s amend that – because it would make him a division rival with Pittsburgh, he won’t take it, but Baltimore is a team that has enough pieces in place that it could legitimately reach the playoffs next year. The offense, with the right QB, could move from below average to average. The defense was tops in the NFL in 2006 … and virtually all of them will return in 2008, except perhaps the secondary will be healthy (which it wasn’t in 2007). The 2007 defense was second in the NFL against the run, so we fully expect them to return to 2006 form.
So. With the 7th pick in the 2008 NFL draft, the Baltimore Ravens select: a) Brian Brohm, Louisville, b) Matt Ryan, Boston College, c) Colt Brennan, Hawaii, d) Andre Woodson, Kentucky, e) Chad Henne, Michigan, f) John David Booty, USC, g) Erik Ainge, Tennessee. Our guess is Ryan or Brohm will be off to Atlanta, so pencil in Woodson.
According to the Baltimore Sun, every coach you can imagine is in the mix: Dallas wonderboy Jason Garrett, New England offensive genius Josh Daniels (Puhleeeze – With that talent, anyone could put up those numbers), Bobby Petrino (joke!) Marty Chokenheimer, and recently-let-go Ravens defensive coordinator Rex Ryan. What, no Nick Saban?
Our move: Defense first, so bring in Ryan as head coach, and then, since you’re starting over at QB, grab somebody who has been successful molding young quarterbacks. We don’t know who this might be, but perhaps you do.
Ravens seek permission to interview four NFL assistants (ESPN)
44 Responses to “Baltimore Ravens: Who’s Getting the Job?”
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January 3rd, 2008 at 11:02 AM
I have no idea why Larry Coker’s name popped into my mind when I saw that Ray Lewis SI cover.
January 3rd, 2008 at 11:05 AM
Troy Smith!
January 3rd, 2008 at 11:06 AM
why would they pick a QB with their draft pick TBL
Mel Kiper is laughing at this post
January 3rd, 2008 at 11:09 AM
so you’re saying you have no faith in kyle boller or troy smith?
January 3rd, 2008 at 11:11 AM
Kyle Boller can throw the ball 50 yards while sitting down! Always the sign of the great leadership you need at the quarterback position
January 3rd, 2008 at 11:12 AM
Fixed.
January 3rd, 2008 at 11:13 AM
* ANTZ
Fuck
January 3rd, 2008 at 11:15 AM
I haven’t figured out what’s wrong with Troy Smith, except one bad game in college and being 5′11″.
January 3rd, 2008 at 11:15 AM
didn’t mean to sound like i am supporting kyle boller, because he’s garbage. however, the ravens still seem to believe in him for some reason. the only reason troy smith got playing time was because boller went out with a concussion, i think.
January 3rd, 2008 at 11:17 AM
Remember how the Ravens draft – best available. The Ravens front office asteriks the players they feel would best fit into the Ravens organization (last year, I believe Ben Grubbs and Marshal Yanda were both noted before the draft), gives those players priority, and from then on just play best available. They’ve scrambled to fill positions before (losing out on Byron Leftwich and trading up for Kyle Boller), and it obviously didn’t work out. As for your predictions, no way Brennan should be on that short list. I’d open the speculation up to cornerbacks as well, specifically the kid from South Florida (Mike Jenkins?) and the junior CB from Ohio State (Malcolm Jenkins?).
January 3rd, 2008 at 11:21 AM
Who is the one around here always hyping Kim Kardashian’s sister?
Wow.
January 3rd, 2008 at 11:22 AM
i cant wait to see who the Patriots pick with there draft pick from San Fran, so they have the 7th pick. Kenny Phillips to get rid of Rodney Harrison will do. Mike Jenkins will go later than that
Woodson is going to the Bears, so Mcnabb will stay in Philly
January 3rd, 2008 at 11:22 AM
I don’t know that the Ravens are giving up on Troy Smith just yet, although I don’t know that they had big plans for him to start with, so giving up my not be the appropriate term. He was somewhat successful in the last couple of games, given what he had to work with. My guess is they bring in another veteran to give Smith a challenge in training camp, and one of these 2 starts to open the season. They then make the call to go in another direction at QB for the 2009 draft. Of the QB’s listed for 2008, I’d only put Brohm, Ryan, and Woodson (maybe) ahead of Smith at this point. The rest have career backup in their futures. Smith may very well fall into this group as well, I see him being a solid starter at best but definitely not a star.
January 3rd, 2008 at 11:22 AM
Well out of McNair, Boller and Smith, one of them won’t be back. It could be a money thing, or maybe a talent thing … but one is gone.
Do you keep McNair to tutor the rookie, and have that fossil and the young Smith as backups? Or do you save money on McNair and have faith in Boller/Smith?
January 3rd, 2008 at 11:22 AM
i am TBL
i have been for sometime now
show IRISHMAFIA some recognition
January 3rd, 2008 at 11:23 AM
that aint her, thats the adams family chick with knockers
January 3rd, 2008 at 11:24 AM
That’s not Christina Ricci?
January 3rd, 2008 at 11:28 AM
If they don’t jettison McNair, something’s seriously wrong. McNair can’t hack it anymore; he throws like a black Chad Pennington. At least Boller’s still got a cannon and is solid in relief. Anybody know how much time they have left on their contracts?
January 3rd, 2008 at 11:31 AM
if the ravens were smart, they’d have retained rex ryan, but theyre not. whos the next coach? mike singletary…has the swagger, the past to garner respect in the lockerroom, can coach (patrick willis is a monster), can motivate. id say he’d be a good choice.
on paper, their offense doesnt seem to be so bad. clayton is solid, mason is solid despite aging, heap is good when healthy and they have a decent line and a good RB. how the hell did this team do so poorly? and who’s to say troy smith can’t succeed with this group? get another WR at no. 7, maybe malcom kelly from OU (i know it’d be a reach) and see what can happen.
January 3rd, 2008 at 11:31 AM
I wouldn’t put too much stock in that Troy Smith game against the Steelers. The Steelers D is terrible right now. I’m a Pittsburgh fan, I watch every snap, and they can’t stop anyone right now.
January 3rd, 2008 at 11:32 AM
TBL, that’s most definitely Ricci and not a Kardashian. They need to dump McNair, take a flyer on another rookie QB, but let Troy Smith play next year.
January 3rd, 2008 at 11:32 AM
And that’s Christina Ricci.
January 3rd, 2008 at 11:32 AM
“A black Chad Pennington.” That’s hilarious.
It is definitely her.
January 3rd, 2008 at 11:33 AM
thank you to all who said that wasnt KIM K sister
that is clearly adams family chick
January 3rd, 2008 at 11:33 AM
Boller has everything those “stud” QBs coming out have plus experience. I don’t think he is that great, but there is no guarantees to take in the draft. Ravens could use some WR help too. Troy Smith is a lifetime backup, if he is lucky, he will be a good Koy Detmer impersonation. A 5-11 needs things other than QB. That division is going to be pretty tough to win in.
January 3rd, 2008 at 11:33 AM
second time a charm TBL
there ya go
January 3rd, 2008 at 11:33 AM
Ravens will not draft a QB in the first round. I wouldn’t be surprised if they went with O-Line help or WR.
January 3rd, 2008 at 11:38 AM
Black Chad! Too funny, you rule.
January 3rd, 2008 at 11:38 AM
I liked Ricci better.
January 3rd, 2008 at 11:40 AM
Clayton and Mason are fine … so is Heap. RB is fine … O-line? Unless you think they will be able to grab a QB later …
January 3rd, 2008 at 11:41 AM
Call me crazy, but I see Henne having the best NFL career. I think he’ll be a sleeper.
January 3rd, 2008 at 11:42 AM
Their defense will be one more year older, and they are overrated to begin with.
This team sucks, I live in VA and get stuck with their games every week, their garbage and they will be garbage next year.
January 3rd, 2008 at 11:43 AM
Also a possibility – if they don’t franchise tag Terrell Suggs, they might go after another end/linebacker type (Chris Long, Vernon Gholston). They’ve had a lot of success with guys like that.
January 3rd, 2008 at 11:50 AM
what they desparately need is a good CB opposite mcallister. Rolle is done and they were abused through the air.
they should let suggs go and have some other team overpay him (please let it be the browns) and replace him with gholston or long, thats a great idea. both those guys fit the ravens mold for versatility and toughness.
any of these qb’s are not going to help any more than TS or boller are. the offense is good enough talent-wise they just need a coach who isnt a complete idiot and doesnt have his head neck deep in his ass.
January 3rd, 2008 at 12:05 PM
Mozatta: You are crazy. As someone who got 4 years of Henne playing OSU and sucking balls in three of them, I’m sad to see him leave. He’s too prone to costly picks (hell, look at the crap that happened against Florida in the game of his life).
January 3rd, 2008 at 12:07 PM
If there is a stud CB there at 7 thats who they’re going with. If not O-line. I can’t see them reaching for a QB there at that pick and having to commit more money to that position.
January 3rd, 2008 at 12:26 PM
JOE FLACCO
January 3rd, 2008 at 12:34 PM
I wasn’t putting any stock in Troy Smith’s game against the Steelers, but his college career. He reminds me of Drew Brees, put up great numbers and played well, but was too short for scouts liking so wasn’t thought fairly highly of.
Add to that all the Heisman busts over the year and I think everyone just assumed Smith would be a Heisman bust, especially because he got tagged with that “mobile QB” tag. But he really improved hhimself as an NFL-style passer his last 2 seasons at tOSU. I think, once he gets a chance, he’ll do well in the NFL.
January 3rd, 2008 at 12:36 PM
Agree with RS, I think they go CB at #8. They reached for Boller 5 years ago and I imagine they’ll be a little gunshy about ponying up that much money on a QB again.
On 2nd thought, they’ll draft whoever Ray Ray tells them to draft, since he’s the de facto head coach and GM.
January 3rd, 2008 at 1:18 PM
The Ravens aren’t going to go QB with their first round pick, particularly when Brennan or Woodson will fall to them in the second round or they can execute a trade.
With that in mind, they might take a corner.
January 3rd, 2008 at 1:22 PM
If I’m in charge of the Ravens, I got one hell of a defense and a decent offense (minus a QB to lead it). So I go and get a Donovan McNabb and draft a QB in the 3rd round (or give Smith the chance to show me something). Use that 1st rounder on either Jenkins or on Keith Rivers (or whoever will be Ray’s eventual replacement).
Drafting a QB in the 1st round says “We are rebuilding.”
January 3rd, 2008 at 1:43 PM
rivers is your classic dungy-scheme LB, not a fit for what the ravens have.
getting mcnabb would be like getting mcnair all over again. good for one year, the next youre fucked again.
January 3rd, 2008 at 4:31 PM
Take a QB with #7. Address the defense with the rest of the draft/free agency. Bring back Rex Ryan and hire some hot shot dipshit to be your offensive coordinator. Cut Kyle Boller & Steve McNair. Lose the cry baby Bart ‘Hot Sauce’ Scott.
January 3rd, 2008 at 9:58 PM
GM Ozzie Newsome ALWAYS drafts best available…ALWAYS. I like the Donovan McNabb idea, but then you certainly would have to dump McNair. Only one Black Irish guy per team, please.