Ravens WRs forced to check egos at door

[cravnravn]

OWINGS MILLS, Md. – The word hangs strange in a professional sports locker room of today.

 

Sacrifice.

 

Seriously? A group of the most prominent wide receivers in the NFL – Derrick Mason(notes), Anquan Boldin(notes) and T.J. Houshmandzadeh(notes) – have been placed together on the Baltimore Ravens and forced to give up dozens of their precious catches for the vague promise of what? Winning a Super Bowl? And they have done this without great complaint?.sportsTable td { vertical-align:top }.sportsTable th { vertical-align:top }

 

 

 

Derrick Mason makes a touchdown catch in December against the Texans.

(AP Photo/David J. Phillip) Receptions decline Ravens wide receivers Derrick Mason, T.J. Houshmandzadeh and Anquan Boldin have all seen their reception totals decline prior to previous seasons.

 

 

 

Source: NFL

 

“Well every once in awhile they have something to say,” Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco(notes) says with a smile.

 

There was, after all, the game earlier this season when Mason – the team’s longtime star receiver – screamed at Flacco on the sideline, but that was quickly diffused. Yes, you can tell the Ravens receivers don’t love seeing their catch totals plummet, that they must wonder why an offense that was supposed to be more explosive still remains more or less conservative. They are receivers after all. Receivers always want more catches. Still they say little given the situation.

 

“What can I do about it?” asked T.J. Houshmandzadeh, a one-time star making do with just 30 receptions. “You can get upset about it and act like a [expletive]. You can complain about it and [expletive] up what’s going on here.”

 

He shrugged. He won’t do those things.

 

He chose to be here, after all.

 

http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news?slug=lc-ravens010310

 

 

[BeenAround]

As Mayock showed on NFL network last night, a lot of it is on Flacco. Guys were open and he sat back there patting the ball until the pocket collapsed. He also pointed out his staring down receivers and not looking down field when flushed out of the pocket. Flacco is a good QB only when he has a perfect pocket to throw from or when he sees a blitz ahead of time and is forced to throw quickly removing the need for reading the coverage and making a decision. But it's not all on Flacco. There were other times when the WR's looked like they weren't even trying to get any separation, almost like they were running in slow motion.

 

Let's face it, with the current level of play by the OLine the above isn't good.

[Guest BallTMore]

The offense really does turn into a bunch of amateurs against the Bengals defense. It's ugly.

 

The O-line can't block their four man rush, Joe can't find open targets, and the WRs can't get open. Oh, and Ray Rice is a non-factor.

[DMK]

TJ Said it best. Complaining when your not the only one sacrificing would be a mistake. Sure, everyone from the fan base to the players expected more, but its hard to really complain when your 12-4 and 3 of those 4 losses you gave away in the 4th.

[yagersports]

TJ Said it best. Complaining when your not the only one sacrificing would be a mistake. Sure, everyone from the fan base to the players expected more, but its hard to really complain when your 12-4 and 3 of those 4 losses you gave away in the 4th.

 

 

I think people are worried this team will do what our 13-3 team did. Play great against the teams they're supposed to play great against and lose to the teams that pressure you. We were 1 and done with that team. I think the Ravens team we had in Joe's first year was stronger than our 13-3 team. I'm worried the second best record we've ever put up will end up the same way.

[vmax]

The cobwebs and dust collecting on Bouldin and TJ is an embarrassment to Cameron and Harbaugh....and must be a disappointment to Ozzie and Steve.

[varaven45]

The cobwebs and dust collecting on Bouldin and TJ is an embarrassment to Cameron and Harbaugh....and must be a disappointment to Ozzie and Steve.

 

Exactly Max. How do you suppose they will respond after the season ? It should be interesting.

The organization essentially blew a decade of arguably the NFL's best D, only to have wasted it this season when it finally appeared all the planets had aligned for the offense.

 

The offseason should be interesting.

[cravnravn]

The cobwebs and dust collecting on Bouldin and TJ is an embarrassment to Cameron and Harbaugh....and must be a disappointment to Ozzie and Steve.

 

I dont think it does matter to Bisquit..What does he care how we win the championship, as long as we WIN THE CHAMPIONSHIP..

 

Those 3 WR's can bitch all they want but at the end of the day they are hoisting the Lombardi, who'll be the embarassed one?

 

Somebody in the Orginization needs tons of credit..Look at the Bengals, the Divas bitched all season long and look what it got them..Our Lil' Divas mumble and groan, and yet we still finish 12-4, with a dam good shot at the Lombardi.

 

If Im Biscotti, and we win the dam thing, I'd call each and everyone out that bitched during the season, starting with Mason.

[varaven45]

I dont think it does matter to Bisquit..What does he care how we win the championship, as long as we WIN THE CHAMPIONSHIP..

 

Those 3 WR's can bitch all they want but at the end of the day they are hoisting the Lombardi, who'll be the embarassed one?

 

Somebody in the Orginization needs tons of credit..Look at the Bengals, the Divas bitched all season long and look what it got them..Our Lil' Divas mumble and groan, and yet we still finish 12-4, with a dam good shot at the Lombardi.

 

If Im Biscotti, and we win the dam thing, I'd call each and everyone out that bitched during the season, starting with Mason.

 

Crav,

 

You have HUGE expectations for a team and and offense (WRs) that have been inconsistent and underperformed this year, and whose performance has waned in the past 2 weeks. I admire and respect your enormous hope, keen insight and trust this team will "suddenly" re-discover lighting in a bottle on Sunday.

 

Anything is possible but I am not seeing it from this bunch and look for some significant tweaking in the off-season (OC, OL, DL, LB, CB & S).

 

Guess we'll find out Sunday !

[cravnravn]

I expect a total dominating game by the Ravens in all aspects of the game Sunday,

 

The numbers dont lie, we are definately an improved team offensively, Joe has maintained a 103 passer rating since week 2, 2nd only to Skirts Brady. The O has produced the least amt of turnovers in franchise history this year..10 picks!!! 4 in one game vs Cinncy, thats outstanding..

 

I see nothing but progress out of our O...Im surfing this wave all the way to Dallas.

[varaven45]

I expect a total dominating game by the Ravens in all aspects of the game Sunday,

 

The numbers dont lie, we are definately an improved team offensively, Joe has maintained a 103 passer rating since week 2, 2nd only to Skirts Brady. The O has produced the least amt of turnovers in franchise history this year..10 picks!!! 4 in one game vs Cinncy, thats outstanding..

 

I see nothing but progress out of our O...Im surfing this wave all the way to Dallas.

 

 

God bless you !

[cravnravn]

Just be prepared to catch me if I fall

[varaven45]

Just be prepared to catch me if I fall

 

Indeed and will have plenty of liquid refreshment ready for you after Sunday

[millz58]

I truly believe the Ravens will make it out of the wild-card round (not too easily mind you) and probably to to Heinz field next weekend. And I b'lieve the receivers will have as much to do with it (mayber more) as the running backs; i really hope the ball does get distributed around, as Cameron alludes to doing in the quotes.

[yagersports]

I truly believe the Ravens will make it out of the wild-card round (not too easily mind you) and probably to to Heinz field next weekend. And I b'lieve the receivers will have as much to do with it (mayber more) as the running backs; i really hope the ball does get distributed around, as Cameron alludes to doing in the quotes.

 

So you think the Jets will beat the colts then? That's the only scenario with us winning in which we would play the Steelers. If Indy wins, they're the higher seed and they go to Pitt, we would go to NE.