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What Grub said, honestly, JLC has been wrong more than weather forecasters. How he still has a job in radio is beyond me. As for you being right papa, Bravo, but when other fans are right and you are wrong, old buddy, you don't give them props either. In the end, we are fans, know nothing compared to coaches or execs on a team no matter how long we spend on the net.

lol. Yep. I still can't really login unless I'm using incognito. So weird. But I'm in and I'm back!

I think it's still true today. By the way: here's an article I found interesting from The Athletic: "Division Previews   Justin K. Aller, Greg Fiume, Andy Lyons, Nick Cammett / Getty Images New-look AFC North This division always seemed to have a familiar vibe. Mike Tomlin and John Harbaugh led gritty, defensive-minded teams. Myles Garrett anchored an imposing defense, opposite an offense that couldn't keep up. Joe Burrow had the inverse situation in Cincinnati. Then everything changed. Pittsburgh and Baltimore now have very different leaders. The Browns have a new No. 1 pass rusher. Cincinnati might even have a defense. The AFC North is where we begin our 2026 division previews, starting with the reigning division champs: Pittsburgh Steelers (10-7, wild-card loss in 2025) Big change: Mike McCarthy as HC. McCarthy isn't the most exciting hire, but offers what the Steelers need: offense. McCarthy's offenses ranked above average in yards and points scored in 14 of his 18 NFL seasons as a head coach. Pittsburgh hasn't had a top-16 offense since 2018. Here's what McCarthy's offense might look like. Subtle change: Patrick Graham as DC. Graham spent nearly a decade under Bill Belichick and has worked with Steve Spagnuolo, Brian Flores and Pete Carroll. Graham knows his stuff. He is joined by multiple additions in the Pittsburgh secondary, which should improve the league's highest-paid defense; it ranked 26th in yards against in 2025, its worst finish since 1988. The scheme got stale. It won't be this year. Lingering question: Who is the quarterback of the future? Projection: 9-8. I liked the coaching hires. I doubt they are enough for a dramatic improvement. A tough schedule and improved division make for a difficult farewell season for Aaron Rodgers, who gave The Athletic an exclusive interview. Baltimore Ravens (8-9 in 2025) Big change: Jesse Minter as HC. The entire Chargers defense improved under Minter, who established himself as one of the league's top defensive minds after just two seasons as defensive coordinator. He was hired to improve a Ravens unit that allowed the third-most points in franchise history last season. Subtle change: A pass rush. Baltimore failed to pressure opposing quarterbacks in 2025, ranking 28th in both pressure rate and sacks. Trey Hendrickson alone might solve that, as he ranks behind only Myles Garrett on a sacks-per-game basis since 2023. But the Ravens also might get back elite defensive tackle Nnamdi Madubuike, who missed all but two games in 2025. Lingering question: Can they adequately replace Pro Bowl center Tyler Linderbaum? Projection: 12-5. Thanks to a significantly improved pass rush and what should be a bounce-back year from Lamar Jackson, Baltimore has the talent and coaching to at least play in the AFC Championship Game. Cincinnati Bengals (6-11 in 2025) Big change: Dexter Lawrence. In 2025, the Bengals defense did what I considered impossible: got worse. Weakest against the run, Cincinnati's defense allowed opponents to drain the clock and keep Joe Burrow sidelined. That had to change. Enter Lawrence, a 6-foot-5, 350-pound defensive tackle who headlines a changed identity that's evident in camp. Subtle change: Safety Bryan Cook. Cook might be the most underrated acquisition of an expensive offseason that also included Seahawks edge Boye Mafe. Paul Dehner Jr. reported Cook could be a team captain and has "changed the entire tenor of the secondary in these practices." Lingering question: After a rough rookie season, are sophomore linebackers Demetrius Knight Jr. and Barrett Carter enough? Projection: 10-7. It's easy to be optimistic: Cincinnati has an elite offense, improved defense and the league's third-easiest schedule. They should return to the playoffs for the first time in three seasons. Then again, these are the Bengals. Should doesn't mean very much. Cleveland Browns (5-12 in 2025) Big change: Garrett trade. Cleveland's lone bright spot was replaced by 25-year-old defensive end Jared Verse, who had the sixth-most pressures in 2025. He pairs with linebacker Carson Schwesinger to give Cleveland a strong young core on defense. The question becomes whether rookie defensive coordinator Mike Rutenberg can get as much out of this defense as Jim Schwartz did. Subtle change: Rookie wide receivers. First-rounder KC Concepcion and second-rounder Denzel Boston are immediate upgrades to one of the league's worst receiver rooms, with Boston heralded as "the most impressive player on the field in many spring practices." Lingering question: Starting quarterback? It'll be either Deshaun Watson or Shedeur Sanders, who are splitting reps in training camp. "No decision is coming anytime soon," explains Zac Jackson. Projection: 5-12. Owner Jimmy Haslam is optimistic. I'm not. But with a bunch of young talent and two first-round picks in next year's draft, 2027 should be fun! Extra Points   Ricky Pearsall done. The 49ers third-year receiver will miss the entire 2026 season due to a PCL injury. It's a brutal update for the injury-plagued 2024 first-rounder. A man obsessed. Rookie tight end Kenyon Sadiq is different, having posted combine numbers that rival Vernon Davis'. His mental game is just as unique. Aaron Rodgers exclusive. Linking Michael Silver's interview with Rodgers again here, as it's a rare look into the quarterback's thinking and personal life. Matt Ryan's vision. The Falcons' longtime quarterback has a vision for his team, and Jeff Howe explores how that plan was built. Most-clicked: Our pre-training camp Power Rankings.   How did we do today? Share your thoughts, and check out The Athletic's other sports newsletters. "

And the whole line played well coordinated football. D'Allesandris was the coach back then and after they got his replacement, the line was never the same.

Good attitude from Lamar towards all the changes this year. Nice to know he's not a diva at quarterback. This from Brian Wacker at The Sun: "Lamar Jackson took the snap, pitched the ball to Derrick Henry and rolled the other direction. The only problem was that the play called for a naked boot action, and the quarterback was supposed to keep the ball. New offensive coordinator Declan Doyle was incredulous. “Lamar, what the f–k are you doing?” he shouted at the two-time NFL Most Valuable Player. Jackson laughed on Wednesday as he recounted the exchange, which came during Tuesday’s first day of the Ravens’ two-day mandatory minicamp in Owings Mills. “I wasn’t used to that,” Jackson said. “He was just being a coach. Nothing more, nothing less. “I love that coaching. I’m a coachable player. Sometimes he sees things that I don’t see, and sometimes I see things that he might not have thought of, and it’s great to piggyback off each other. I feel like we need that.” The moment lasted only a few seconds, but it offered a glimpse into what has become a defining theme of the Ravens’ offseason: Details matter, and a new regime means pressing new buttons the way they hadn’t been in the past. Getting the play correct is a big one, and Jackson acknowledged that one was on him. But no matter how small or tedious, the details are things coaches are obsessing over in June because they know they’ll matter in January. For Doyle, a 30-year-old first-time play caller installing a new offense, there has been little room for shortcuts. For first-year coach Jesse Minter, the message has been equally clear: If the Ravens are going to become the team they believe they can be, it will happen through precision and long before there needs to be production. “When you get in the quote-unquote big moments in a game, you sink to the level of detail and training and focus that you’re able to have,” Minter said. “You don’t all of a sudden go and do something different. “It’s how you operate, it’s how you do things. These guys have bought into that.” No detail has been considered too trivial or trite. How Jackson gathers the huddle. The exact direction his toes are pointed on a run-pass option. Where his eyes go before and after the snap. The route depth within a play call. Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson runs wind sprints with teammates after practice during mandatory minicamp. (Ryan Bowie/Staff) When Doyle was formally introduced earlier this year, he described his offensive non-negotiables as physicality, detail and explosiveness. The physicality won’t truly emerge until pads come on during training camp. The other two have already become visible. This offseason has brought more than new coaches. There is a new language to learn. The terminology is different. The concepts are different. The structure is different. When the Ravens moved from offensive coordinator Greg Roman to Todd Monken before the 2023 season, there was at least some carryover in plays and verbiage. Jackson wasn’t starting from scratch. This time he is. “It’s a different system than I’m accustomed to being in,” Jackson said. “I feel like it’s going to be a lot of exposiveness going on this year because the way [Doyle] calls plays and his creativity with his mind and how detailed he is, it’s mind-blowing. I’m excited.” Jackson has been careful not to reveal much about the offense’s specifics. But he acknowledged there is significant emphasis on spacing and generating explosive plays. Just as notable has been his embrace of the process. The attention to detail has resonated with Jackson in a way that teammates and coaches have noticed. Aside from missing the first week of voluntary practices last month, Jackson has spent the offseason at the facility and has emerged as one of the program’s leaders. He has described the new coaching staff as a “breath of fresh air” and has spoken openly about the importance of being present and engaged. That level of engagement wasn’t always consistent in previous years under John Harbaugh, who had been Jackson’s only NFL coach until Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti fired him in January after a dismaying 8-9 season that ended without a playoff berth for the first time since 2021. History also suggests Jackson often thrives when everything feels new. Doyle is already his fourth offensive coordinator, and Jackson’s best seasons have frequently come during the first year or two of a coordinator’s tenure. In 2019, his first season under Roman, Jackson threw a league-high 36 touchdown passes and rushed for 1,206 yards, then an NFL record for a quarterback. The Ravens finished 14-2, and Jackson won his first NFL MVP award. Four years later, in his first season under Monken, Jackson posted a career-high 3,678 passing yards, led Baltimore to the NFL’s best record, an appearance in the AFC Championship game and captured his second MVP trophy. The following season, he threw a career-high 41 touchdown passes and finished runner-up in the MVP voting. Then came last year. The offense regressed sharply. Jackson missed four games because of injuries. Questions surfaced about the dynamic between Jackson, Harbaugh and Monken. Jackson endured one of the most difficult seasons of his career. But that was then. Related Articles Ravens’ Tyler Loop reflects on that miss in Pittsburgh: ‘Reset and reload’ 3 things we saw and heard from Ravens’ final day of mandatory minicamp Ravens’ Calais Campbell enters likely final season still loving the game Josh Tolentino: Maybe Mike Green is on to something with Ravens’ new staff | COMMENTARY 5 things we saw and heard from Ravens’ first day of mandatory minicamp “There’s no one I’d rather have as the quarterback, the leader of this team,” Minter said. “He’s been everything.” Optimism is abundant across the NFL this time of year, the product of new staffs and new systems. Yet there is a noticeable energy around Baltimore’s offense, fueled in large part by how quickly Jackson has connected with Doyle’s approach. “I’m being challenged right now,” Jackson said. “This system is different. It’s all Dec. I feel like everybody’s hands-on. We dialed in.” That includes Jackson, the player around whom the entire operation revolves. “I wanna be detailed as well, keep the defense honest,” Jackson said. “We doing everything right, the little things right. Defense don’t know what we’re doing, what we’re capable of on offense any given play. “With the type of coaching Declan is bringing, the sky’s the limit.”"

Pretty neat!

Will never forget that play or the Mile High Miracle!

Right 'tis just practice but he looks fluid with good hands. Anxious to see him up against some competition. Only 9 weeks until August pre-season games.

Well, they all looked locked in and not bored, for sure. Did see some really nice pattern runs. Flowers can cut so quick, it's unreal.

Depending on how far back we want to go, the Colts-Bills game in 1975 when Bert Jones had his breakout game is one I'll always remember. We were down 28-7 to OJ and the Bills before Jones came storming back to win the game. We were 1-4 at the time and with that victory we reeled off 9 straight wins to take the division title.

Tony should be brought in as a special guest to commemorate that game. 2 yrs to the 25th anniversary.

Interesting reading on our ease of schedule. A break for the new coaches and schemes: https://www.baltimoreravens.com/news/ravens-schedule-release-biggest-winners-late-for-work-ota-storylines-top-games

I heard that on the way home.

I like it...reminds of the days of 'screaming like a banshee when you enter the Lions den with a spear!'

Minter sounds pumped up and now so do I. Can't wait until the pads come on with the vets present.

Me too!

No. You do that to get over the top. We are not at that place.

The injuries went up the moment the players negotiated softer practice schedules.

Found a link to an interactive draft simulator that might be interesting...worth a look. https://www.profootballnetwork.com/mockdraft.

That is mostly on coaching and skill, more so than on talent. When stunts happen, some coaches teach to hand the defender off, block an area. Others say, stay with him and wash him down. Proper foot technique and hand placement help and are far more critical than power & quickness. This is where I think the line last year, fell down. The big fella never could get his feet nor hand placement right. He almost always looked lost on stunts, unsure who to block. I remember one play he actually chased the defender around Lindy, Vorhees and Lindy also struggled at times with this. One time they would hand the defender off, but one of them would not pick up the block. Middle blitzes were the worst, Lindy would have no one to block so he would help out one of the guards. Then the middle backer would blitz; every pass play. Lindy was always late in seeing it and never, ready through the game thread, never picked up the blitzes. All he had to do was fake a help block, get the backer to blitz and block him. But no, never, Lamar sacked or forced out to the defensive end, throw the ball away. I'm not sure what was worse, Lindy not picking up on this or the coaches not correcting him. You can teach technique, foot work, hand placement, so a natural power blocker is better. The big fellas problem was that they built the line to be zone blocking, quick. He was quick but too big for that, teams picked up on it and exploited him. Another head scratcher, why the coaches left him in, knowing, on film, what we all saw each game. Same for Lindy, not a power guy, so why would you use power plays against strong defensive line teams? Except to use their power against them, and slide block; pretty easy, if it is taught correctly, which, as we saw, was not. Lindy could slip those power defenders, get them off balance, but not when both guards are blocking a different way. As you see, it all goes back to the coaching, yard know, how other teams replace 3 offensive linemen in game, and don't give up sacks? Coaching, never saw that here last year, no changes, a line that went garbage after the year before when everything worked.. The Biscuit saw it, knew it, fired Harbs not because of Monken, in my opinion, but because of the line coach and defensive coordinator, whom Harbs refused to change.

That's what I'm driving at.

That would have been hard to swallow especially since we need O line help.

Better than Falaffle

Good post. Got to hear from all the guys I wanted to for now.

Jesse Minter is chosen.

If they do, just for shits & giggles, say do that, they have to fix the line completely. He is not a statue, but he would get killed behind this current line. They cant do what they did to Joe, or even Elvis when they signed him to replace Dilfer. Pocket passers need a pocket, it is what made it easier for Aikman to be in the Hall. He talks about that a lot.

Do you recall yrs ago I said he had outsized control over the roster. There has to be a reason we kept grabbing Jim’s broken toys Al, the time.

I thought that was a pretty refreshing conference. I think we're lucky to have Steve as our owner

If that is an answer to my question we have a winner.

Someone posted Flores HC/McDaniel OC and Schwartz DC..that sounded good if Flores proves not to be a headcase

Some thought he was, some thought he wasn't. Maybe I was not clear, sorry

https://www.audacy.com/stations/1057thefan/shows/inside-access-cceaf/episodes/c9f3c5b5b2cc the first 15 mins have some shocking stats.

I'd hate to see Monken go. I don't think he is the problem. And, not to add fuel to the fire, but I thought Harbaugh threw Monken under the bus several weeks ago during the 1-5 run and I didn't like it. I got the impression Harbs was saying it was the offensive coaches fault that the offense was having such a difficult time. It pissed me off at the time especially since wtf gives a guy with only a special teams background the balls to dump on his OC when that OC had created the best offense this franchise has had in all of its existence? I really thought it was a cheap shot and showed a lack of class by Harbs. Accountability is just a word to him.

The Ravens are currently pretty sickening to watch. I have to think it's time to take stock as you said and see what is needed to turn the team around. In my estimation, they need a new LT (I think Stanley is gone), RT(Rosengarten is mediocre at best), LG, RG, and, if Linderbaum leaves, a new C. They don't need any additional skill players at this point. On defense, I'd say they need 2 pass rushers, and I don't mean injured guys trying to make a comeback or old retreads. And I don't mean guys having a great year from lower rated colleges. I think it's impossible to do all this in one off-season. They need at least 2. Interestingly, that's the time Lamar's contract will end unless he renegotiates. Take that for what it's worth, but it could very well mean we need a new franchise QB in 2028. Preferably, a pocket passer who's mobile and not a mobile passer who needs training as a pocket passer. So that's pretty much a major teardown and rebuild. Oh, and let's not forget, we need a new coaching staff. What we fans will need: some patience. This won't result in a sudden, major turnaround.

It is put up or shut up time for the Ravens. Oh, they are saying the right things simce their five game winning streak came to a crashing end at the hand of the dismal Bengals. The problem is, they have been saying the same things all season and the results are always the same. From the abismal play of the offensive line where on one play they open a gaping hole for Henry to run untouched for 20 yards, only for him to be tackled for a loss the very next play. Or maybe the time they give to Lamar who stands back there and threads a pass 20 yards down field between two defenders, only for him to be sacked on the very next play, as soon as he receives the snap. Well, it isn't just the line, Lamar has not been consistent either. He fails to secure the ball when fleeing the oncoming rush, leading to a sack fumble as he cannot seem to decide to take off and run, or throw the ball. But wait, the recievers are also a culprit in this inconsistent offense, to out it mildly. They fail to gain seperation in a timely manner and drop passes that are perfectly thrown. To make a long story short, the defense is also inconsistent, so which team takes the field against a hated division rival in a game that will likely lead to either the Ravens winning the division or the Steelers. So, who ya got?

Last chance at the OK Corral this week. You are so right about their inconsistency. You never know which version of the Ravens will show up. I have no clue about who will win this game. I do know that we will see the same mistakes being made as before but I am hoping there just won't be as many. If there are, the Steelers win ugly. It's either that or we win ugly. I'm hoping the negative press in Pitts regarding Lamar of late, gets under his skin and we eke out a victory. As you have said before though, is that what we should really want? This team needs a club-wide shakeup at the end of this season.

It was hostler. Thank you

Guards, Bullock and Jones, already on the team, question marks? Sure, but all indications are they can be really good. Why neither has seen the field is anyone's guess. Same reason maybe why Cleveland, who has shown he can be a real good guard & or center; Harbs/oc coach. Smith at mlb may be slowing but he still one of the better ones. Weak side backer yes, maybe Buchanan, but Im not sold on him. Still, the draft can help there. Left tackle, draft, some good ones in this comimg draft lower in the round, even better ones in the 27 draft which is expected to be one of the best drafts in a while. You forget, this same team, minus a player or two, had one of the top offenses in the league last year. The only major change was at guard, one guard spot. Wven with the weak play of Faalele, I might add. The biggest issue I surmise is the ol coach. Last year he said he wouldnt change much when he took over early in the season. But this year clearly he has changed something because it is no longer a top running line, nor pass protecting. The offense as a result, no longer tops in the league. Sure, the injury to Lamar missing 3 games didnt help. But aside from the Bills game, they cant or haven't run consistently nor extended drives. Remember last yesr they lead the league in 90+ yard drives. So not so far away, change the ol coach

The same thought occurred to me.

Well, he's been injured for 22 games over the last 2 years and has only 3 sacks so far this year, so I dunno.

They are still in striking distance. Get those adjustments made.

At least the defense mostly showed up today.

I expect more of Bullock & or Cleveland in this game, should open holes even you could run through

I don’t think he is leaving now at all. Feinbaum and co made this a media issue. The agent would have said jump or not. This kid will make more in nil in school than dropping out of the 1st.

Let’s trade a coach.

No no no. Then you lose a shootout with Lamar, the goal is to keep Lamar off the field with the run. It also exhausts the d. In the 2nd half go play action for the kill.

Looks like I’m actually going to see the game. I was going to the Willie Nelson show so was going to miss watching.

No d will be l8ke the 2000 team. The rules are so different now.

Nobody has told me what he did to win that sb. As always along for the ride. if a mouse is on a bullet train that travels at 350 mph between cities is it the fastest mouse in the world? No. If that train derails did the mouse just sitting in the corner make it happen? No. The mouse was along for the ride and whatever happens happens.