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Ditto. While I believe in Cam and love what he has done here so far, I worried about his Chargers connection and their early exits from the playoffs...he was part of that. I've commented about "Playing to win the game." In the playoffs you have to avoid the costly turnover but that can't have you going conservative and playing tight. There is something to be said about being 'relaxed, confident and agressive'....like the Colts. Attacking for 60 minutes. If Joe had the receivers Cam could do that. I think Joe will take the next step in 2010....he really has it all except the supporting cast.

Here's an early look at how many compensatory picks the Ravens will get...

Rex pissed Manning and the Colts off...

I'll second that...they also ran over the Jets for 101 key yards. The Jets, like the Ravens, couldn't run against the speed of the Colts D. 29 attempts for 86 yards and a 3.0 YPC.

Is Bart Scott playing?

TOh yea...you're right on that... Sanchez looks good. he's keeping them in the game. Moving the chains and making big plays.

Where's the Jets pass D? 20-17 Colts are up.

They saw it...problem is Joe can pump fake all day long but if a man isn't there deep...and they don't have one...Joe has to eat it. Friggn'n Manning is a sure bet for a TD in the final 2 minutes of the half. He got the Jets like he got us. Stiil the Jets are up and looking good.

Jets are getting TD's and Colts FG's...Sanchez is doing well under pressure. Seeing Edwards break lose for that 1st Td shows me how bad Flacco needs a field stretcher....makes all the difference in the world.

WOW...Sanchez to Edwards big play TD....under pressure. 7-3 Jets and the game is on!

Nice redzone stop...3-0 Colts...go Stover...Jets have to keep this close.

Thought we might have a thread on this during the game. I'm pulling for Rex and the Jets all the way. Hope it's a good game...it should be.

My interest was in trying to find out when "Ravens Football was born and how it came about. Harbaugh constantly talks about "We're Ravens and being a Raven" and I thought "Well, what is Ravens football? How did it come about?" In writing about it, it seems there are a lot of factors and people that made it happen. Ozzie brought in an incredible assembly of defensive players but did not do so good on offense by '99. In fact that unit was terribly weak in personel. Then in 2000 on O he got Jamal and Sharpe. Ozzie was the "Architect" but not all went as planned because the offensive personel could not score. That was a weakness and team flaw. Billick's vision of Ravens football was different. He wanted a high scoring, explosive offense and a good defense...but he didn't have the personel on hand to do that. That's why I say "He wrote the 'Darkside' script out of necessity during the 5 game TD drought in 2000. He had to find a way to win with what he had and to his credit, he did." Ravens football was born during the 5 game TD drought. The D played magnificently and kept the games close. Billick developed a winning 'game script' that employed all three phases of the game working in tandum toward the same goal. 1. On defense it was stop the run and force the QB to beat you with his arm. The D mastered that. They became an attacking, scoring defense that raised havoc. 2. Use the defense, running game and great Special team unit to control field position. The punt became a weapon as teams could not drive the length of the field and score on that unit. Stover became a weapon as did Jermaine Lewis. 3. Avoid the costly turnover. 4. On offense it was a smashmouth running game. Win time of possesion. Move the chains, get in FG range, and if it stalls, score 3. 5. The passing game was asked to make 2-3 big plays a game...that's how they got their points. I do not want to overlook the players. Without them Ravens football would never exist. Ozzie gets the credit here for assembling them...him, Harris and the scouting department. The type of player Ozzie and now Jim Harbaugh wants as "Ravens" are guys like Ray Lewis. He set the bar. Fast, physical, whistle to whistle, intelligent leaders. Relentless...heart and character guys...unselfish players too. Or as Jim calls them, "Mighty Men"... Guys like McCrary, Boulware, Goose, Adams, Burnett, Woodson, McAlister (at that time)...Ogden, Gash, Dilfer (tough as nails), Jamal, Sharpe, Mitchel and Mulitalo....they created the identity by performance and example. Since then the torch has been passed from team to team. A look ahead on Ravens football... Harbaugh and Ozzie want to build on 'Ravens football' by adding an effective offense. One that can run or pass, move the chains and most importantly score. They want a physical offense so Ozzie has started by building in the trenches with what I think will be a great O line for years to come. He's got the QB and the runners. Now for the final pieces..play making receivers. Passing the tourch on D will be touch and go. Ozzie has been drafting offense in the early rounds lately. He hasn't brought in a Ray Lewis, Ed Reed, Boulware, McAlister. The team is tottering on the brink of reverting to the '99 unit (Jenkins and Langham) because of coverage problems in the secondary. It can go south. The hope is for Foxworth to get better and Webb to fill the bill but he may not be ready to start the season. Can Matteson continue the legacy as Ray ages and Ed contemplates retirement? Marvin couldn't do it without players and neither will Greg be able too. Nevertheless Greg and Ozzie have a soild core to build upon and work with in Kelly Gregg, Jarrett Johnson, Pryce, Ray, Ngata, Reed and Suggs.

Certainly...ironic that Marvens Bangals defenses's have been pathetic his whole tenure there until this year. My point is...Billick had a huge influence on that D with the brilliant coaches he brought in in '99. Ozzie built it with the players. Without the players we are not talking about Marvin Lewis. He was one cog in "Ravens Football' but not the main one by a long shot.

Force...in '98 the front 7 was almost ready to be dominant..McCrary, Jones, Goose, Burnett, Lewis, Boulware and Sharper. Sharper was a slacker but Ray put the 'Fear of God' into him that year...Ray would not tolerate that and Sharper grew up quick...now follow this...Marvin ran the basic 4/3 Cover 2, it had been around for a long time (not Marvins invention or Tampa's) but it only works if you have good corners and guys who can cover. The Ravens had a 'step slow' Woodson on one corner and Deron Jenkins on the other with Moore and a young Herring at safety. The D did not work...hence the 22nd ranking. In '99 Ozzie drafted McAlister and they moved Woodson to safety and Starks started at corner. That changed everything. Now the D was very effective. Spear...you can't call it Billicks offense and Marvins D. Either it's Billicks offense and defense or Cavanaughs offense and Marvins D. Marvin was no genius. 2/3rds of the DC's in the league would have gotten the same results with the talent Marvin had...the other 1/3rd would have screwed it up. Look at Marvins assistants..all brought in by Billick (he canned everybody basically except Marvin... Jack Del Rio, now a HC...Mike Smith, now a HC...Rex Ryan, now a HC...Donnie Henderson. So Billicks hand is all over that D Whatever.. Billick was the HC and that role is different from a co-ordinators. He was responble for the whole team package and how it is used...how it works in tandum to achieve victory. He wrote the 'Darkside' script out of necessity during the 5 game TD drought in 2000. He had to find a way to win with what he had and he did. That's when 'Ravens football' was born. I forgot to mention Stover. He and Special Teams were a major weapon in Billicks limited scoring arsenal. Throw in Billicks 'swager', arrogance and attitude and the tone was set. Final note: Ozzie made a major and significant move in '99 in getting the Falcons #1 draft pick for 2000. It turned out to be the #5 pick. The Ravens needed a DT to replace Jones and before the draft, and with McCrary's help, he landed Sam Adams. The final piece on D. That allowed him to use the #5 pick on Jamal Lewis...the powerfull, smashmouth runner the Ravens needed to carry the O on his back. Certainly Shannon Sharpe was a significant aquisition in many ways.

Force...in '98 the front 7 was almost ready to be dominant..McCrary, Jones, Goose, Burnett, Lewis, Boulware and Sharper. Sharper was a slacker but Ray put the 'Fear of God' into him that year...Ray would not tolerate that and Sharper grew up quick...now follow this...Marvin ran the basic 4/3 Cover 2, it had been around for a long time (not Marvins invention or Tampa's) but it only works if you have good corners and guys who can cover. The Ravens had a 'step slow' Woodson on one corner and Deron Jenkins on the other with Moore and a young Herring at safety. The D did not work...hence the 22nd ranking. In '99 Ozzie drafted McAlister and they moved Woodson to safety and Starks started at corner. That changed everything. Now the D was very effective. Spear...you can't call it Billicks offense and Marvins D. Either it's Billicks offense and defense or Cavanaughs offense and Marvins D. Marvin was no genius. 2/3rds of the DC's in the league would have gotten the same results with the talent Marvin had...the other 1/3rd would have screwed it up. Look at Marvins assistants..all brought in by Billick (he canned everybody basically except Marvin)...so Billicks hand is all over that D... Jack Del Rio, now a HC...Mike Smith, now a HC...Rex Ryan, now a HC...Donnie Henderson. Whatever.. Billick was the HC and that role is different from a co-ordinators. He was responble for the whole team package and how it is used...how it works in tandum to achieve victory. He wrote the 'Darkside' script out of necessity during the 5 game TD drought in 2000. He had to find a way to win with what he had and he did. That's when 'Ravens football' was born. I forgot to mention Stover. He and Special Teams were a major weapon in Billicks limited scoring arsenal. Throw in Billicks 'swager', arrogance and attitude and the tone was set. Final note: Ozzie made a major and significant move in '99 in getting the Falcons #1 draft pick for 2000. It turned out to be the #5 pick. The Ravens needed a DT to replace Jones and before the draft, and with McCrary's help, he landed Sam Adams. The final piece on D. That allowed him to use the #5 pick on Jamal Lewis...the powerfull, smashmouth runner the Ravens needed to carry the O on his back. Certainly Shannon Sharpe was a significant aquisition in many ways.

There was no 'Ravens football' as we know it until 1999 when Billick got here. That year Billick inherited one of the worst offensive rosters I've ever seen. Ozzie got all the players except Stover and a couple left over Brownies. So he is responsinble for setting up the senario where Billick was forced to go to the 'Darkside'...meaning play great defense (because that was the personel strength he had), pound the football (because he had a big line that could run block but not pass protect...didn't matter...he had no QB anyway) and run the football. In 2000 that all came together...Ravens Football...tough, smashmouth, physical, grind it out football...smothering defense and swagger ect. It was more of a fortunate result of Ozzie (by '99 and 2000) getting it extremely right on the defensive side of the ball and failing on the offensive. Players set the tone...gave it the capital R in Ravens football...McCrary, Ray Lewis, Boulware, Adams, Goose, Burnett, Woodson and McAlister. They gave it the intensity. On Offense it was Gash, Ogden, Lewis, Mulitalo and Dilfer...with Sharpes mouth to provide the swagger. So lots of people had a part in this...including Art who didn't fire Marvin Lewis like he wanted too in '97...Ozzie told him not too, that Marvin just needed better players and Ozzie certainly got them.

No...he's not streaking naked accross the parking lot at the palace. Just get your mind set on having the best season of your career in 2010 Terrell.

Nothing like a Billick thread to stir up controversy. I smell a chance (once again) for all of us to re-write Ravens football history 'as we see it'. Sweet! To stay on topic for a moment...how lucky are we to have Steve as an owner! Leadership, Direction and Spirit start at the top and Steve has the vision and abilities as an owner to field a competative football team year in and year out. He has a tremendous desire and passion to be on top. His organizational and management skills have created one of the most solid front office structures in the NFL. Players want to play here. High quality coaches want to coach here. It's a must because ultimately how well that goes shows up on the field on Sundays.

Spear...you're close....after reading that I see I need to write how "Ravens" football was born. My understanding of course! ...but that will be as soon as I get the time...should be fun. I'll say this....it was the result of a ton of mistakes that created a perfect storm of individuals left holding the bag and wondering what to do with it. "I might have had a hand in it."

Mentioning Billick is interesting. I can make a good argument that what we know as "Ravens football" started with him. I doubt it was his plan (he loved big play offense) but when he went to the "Darkside" Ravens football was born. Rex and Harbaugh are just carrying on his legacy.

This is how Derick Anderson got in...it's a joke but it made him a lot of money.

An uncapped year will screw the Ravens. The most they can spend on 1 player would be around $3.4 mil a year...that is not #1 WR or CB money. Plus, like you said, they have to have another team sign one of their players first.

I love Rex but all he's doing is bringing 'Ravens football' to New York. He copied what Harbaugh and his staff did last year...run the ball and play defense....the basic system and structure....and he's achieved the same results. No doubt about it...he's done a great job and should have been Coach of the Year. I think Harbaugh learned from Rex and Rex learned from Harbaugh and Cam. Both are very good HC's...there's no winner or loser when you have to pick between the two.