Camp Count Down

With less then three weeks untill camp starts there is one big wide open spot and a few other for the taking.

Quarterback. Yes i know it always starts at the quarterback but it just would not seem right without talking about who is going to be the Ravens starting quarterback this coming season. You ever see re-runs of Gilligan's Island? But with drafting QB Joe "Rock Me Amadeus" Flacco in this years draft, they tell us the quarterbacking is going to get better. I think it got better when they hired Cam Cameron, the guy made Gus Frerotte workable.

Mini-camp news or OTAs, pick your name, has QB Troy Smith as the starter. Just for the fans in love with Smith out there, you know who you are, you do not win starting jobs in mini-camp, OTAs or Quarterback camp. He might look real good when you can not go after him or they are out there playing without pads. When John Harbaugh say Smith is the starter, then I will buy it, till then QB Kyle Boller is the man.

Offensive line is really where it starts at and we are told by the coaching staff that people are moving around. Two big moves, OC Mike Flynn is gone and OT Jon Ogden retired. OC Jason Brown moves over from left gaurd to replace Flynn, a move that I have been wanting to see since Brown was drafted. OT Jared Gaither will take over for JO. Before you start jumping around and talking about the drop off of play, yes there is but Ogden has missed a lot of time the last few years, Gaither got some good playing time last season. The guy is bigger, no not better. You are not going to find someone better right now. But give this Gaither kid a chance, he will payoff.

OG Ben Grubbs is moving to left guard. Former starting right tackle Marshall Yanda will move inside to right guard and RT Adam Terry is the frontrunner to start at right tackle. A very young line that will be very good for years to come. Once looked to be the weakest part of the team has jumped up and will have many people looking at.

The guy running behind this young line RB Willis McGahee will like what they have done up front, atleast he will not find Flynn in the backfeild with him, Ask Boller how many times Flynn stepped on his feet. McGahee might see more yards but he might see less touches in short yards and goal-line. Rookie RB Ray Rice could see more then a few of touches around the goal-line. He will also be used to give McGahee some rest. Do not turn your back on McGahee, he is still a top pick, and in this offense he should get some big numbers.

Looking at the guys catching the ball might be the weak spot for the Ravens this season. WR Derrick Mason had a great season last year, just did not have the scores. I know that WR Mark Clayton is on the team, some where but where. And no I am still not buying into WR Demetrius Williams, just do not see it. There was words out of mini-camp about Williams as the number two guy. It is mini-camp, he might be out there doing that but it does not mean Williams is the other guy, If that is true, now you see why I think this is the weakest part of the team. WR Mark Clayton will be found again, and they will also use WR Yamon Figurs for his speed. TE Todd Heap must be very happy with the sight of Cam Cameron running the offense, Cam loves his tightends. If healthy Heap once again will be one of the top guys playing the game.

Special Teams should shine. You think Harbaugh will let his Special Teams fail? Not going to happen. LB Gary Stills is one of the top guys playing the game here, then you go out and add LB Brendon Ayanbadejo. You draft SS Tom Zbikowski with LB Prescott Burgess just coming on. This will be the tops in the NFL. You add in WR Yamon Figurs returning kicks and punts. And how your leauge scores, ST/K/DEF, you could add PK Matt Stover in that mix.

Defense, what the Ravens live and die from. Lot of that dieing came from hurt players. Both of your top corners missed a lot of time and just played hurt. They lost there end, no one but LB Terrell Suggs to go after the passer. That is one big hurt, no one to cover and one to get after. If healthy this could be the top unit in the NFL but as with anyone, you must stay on the field.

I really do not have to say much more if anything about this unit, it speaks for itself.