Due to a power surge which blew out my computer, it’s been a while since I sat down in the old fightin’ chair and updated the blog. But I’m back in the game sporting a Dell with a gazillion gig multi-processor, a 400 terabit hard drive and a 50 inch plasma, hd monitor. And yes, the neighbor’s have already complained about the volume of the 8.1 channel surround sound. During my time away, I’ve had a chance to watch a little of my local NFL team, the Baltimore Ravens.
Let me just put this out there…I hate the Baltimore Ravens.
Now normally, I pretty much avoid watching the Ravens at all costs. However, this season, I have taken a somewhat disturbing pleasure in watching the Ravens self destruct. (It’s the closest thing I can find to the pleasure Michigan has given me the past few years).
Each weekend, the pattern is pretty much the same. A team full of thugs starts the game somewhat decent but by the start of the second half, things are starting to look like a car wreck. By the third quarter, players are melting down and if you’re really lucky, a penalty flag gets thrown into the stands for some lucky fan to take home. On Monday, there’s Brian Billick, complete with the latest excuse, telling the media how things went according to plan.
Then all of a sudden I just happen to catch the end of the Indianapolis/Ravens game and who is in at quarterback but former Buckeye and Heisman Trophy winner Troy Smith. And not only that, Smith is on about the five, makes a nice move and scores his first touchdown in the NFL. Sure, it was against the Colt’s reserve but there he was, carrying the ball to the sidelines destined to sit next to the trophy and his Ohio State helmet.
The next week, I again tune in to the Ravens late in the fourth quarter to see Miami take the lead with two minutes left in the game. Wow, I think to myself, these Ravens really do suck. But wait, who’s coming out on the field. Could it be, yes, its former Buckeye and Heisman Trophy winner Troy Smith.
The Ravens are out of time outs but Smith leads them right down the field ending up on the one yard line. With fourth and one, Billick pulls Smith and goes for the easy field goal to tie the game. We Buckeye fans knew that Smith could have easily punched it in and so did Troy as he complained to Billick on his way back to the sidelines.
Overtime arrives and again, Smith drives the ball down the field setting up an easy field goal only to be missed by whoever the Ravens kicker is. Miami comes back and wins in overtime.
I couldn’t have hoped for more. The Ravens lost to the worst team in the NFL giving Miami its first loss in the season even though Smith put them in an excellent position to win the game — twice. Smith looked good, the Ravens still looked like….well, the Ravens.
This week, it looks like Smith may start for the Ravens. I doing so, he joins the never-ending game of musical chairs that has become the Baltimore Ravens quarter back position. And worse yet, he plays under the Coaching of Brian Billick, who has decided that he doesn’t need an offensive line coach and has attempted to run the offense himself. Billick doesn’t want to start Smith but with McNair out and Boller still seeing stars, the Ravens don’t have much choice.
And that’s all well and good. I’d like to see Smith come in and bring a little character to this crappy team. That, however, is the problem. Smith comes from a team and a coach that is all about Character to the Ravens, one of the biggest group of thugs and crybabies in the NFL. You want to see a study in extremes. Tune in on Monday for Brian Billick’s press conference and compare it to a Coach Tressel Monday press conference.
Billick is a crappy coach and he has been running his offense into the ground for years, not to mention the fiasco he has made of the quarterback position since coming to Baltimore. And while I’d like to see Smith play on Sunday, I am a little worried about his health. The Raven’s offensive line sucks and the only reason Smith is getting a chance is because they weren’t able to protect the quarterback. Smith will probably get a chance to show his scrambling abilities. The only problem is that Billick has no idea how to call a play that will do anything to favor Smith.
And while I would love to see Smith lead a NFL team, this is not the team. Let’s hope he gets traded before the Ravens can do too much damage.
{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
As a loyal Buckeye fan, I’ve been waiting for Troy to get the opportunity to finally play, almost to the point where I was hoping Boller would get injured (not too seriously of course, that would be malevolent – haha). Since I am in the DC/Baltimore market, I am usually able to catch the games and have had to endure watching Billick make terrible call after terrible call.
A lot of discussions circulates around whether or not Smith can be a franchise QB for the Ravens. I still think he needs to prove himself with these upcoming games but I am hoping for the best for him. Unfortunately, as you pointed out, there are several obstacles in front of him including Billick’s stubbornness, backwards thinking, and undeniable and disturbing man love for Kyle Boller.
I will definitely be tuning in and rooting for Troy!
I missed the game but I tuned in late in the fourth quarter to see that Baltimore was down 24 to nothing.
I didn’t stick around for the rest. How bad was it?
this is the fucking shittest article