1 00:00:04,920 --> 00:00:07,480 Speaker 1: Steve had the unique ability to make your job as 2 00:00:07,480 --> 00:00:11,600 Speaker 1: a reporter more interesting, more difficult, and easier all at 3 00:00:11,600 --> 00:00:15,840 Speaker 1: the same time. We will nail you a poster autographed 4 00:00:15,880 --> 00:00:19,800 Speaker 1: by John Harball. The asterix is It's a Kyle Bowler poster. 5 00:00:20,520 --> 00:00:35,080 Speaker 1: It's one of those milk mustache posters. Welcome back into 6 00:00:35,120 --> 00:00:38,720 Speaker 1: the Lounge. We had a one week hiatus, uh, but 7 00:00:38,840 --> 00:00:42,120 Speaker 1: we are now in the new I wouldn't say improved 8 00:00:42,120 --> 00:00:44,840 Speaker 1: the Lounge. I'm Ryan Mink and I'm Garritt Down. Yeah, 9 00:00:44,880 --> 00:00:47,680 Speaker 1: a lot has changed, you know when you look at it. 10 00:00:47,800 --> 00:00:50,200 Speaker 1: You know we've we named this podcast the Lounge because 11 00:00:50,240 --> 00:00:52,880 Speaker 1: that was the name of our office that we've shared 12 00:00:52,920 --> 00:00:56,360 Speaker 1: for the last five six years. It's don't eleven. Yeah 13 00:00:56,360 --> 00:01:01,160 Speaker 1: whatever that is. Yeah, I can't do math that good. Okay, So, 14 00:01:01,480 --> 00:01:03,880 Speaker 1: but the Lounge. If you guys aren't following this, there's 15 00:01:03,880 --> 00:01:06,639 Speaker 1: a massive renovation project going on here at the Castle 16 00:01:06,680 --> 00:01:09,920 Speaker 1: and it's gonna be a two year process of million 17 00:01:09,920 --> 00:01:12,480 Speaker 1: dollars going into this place, and it's gonna make it 18 00:01:13,040 --> 00:01:15,400 Speaker 1: the best facility in the entire league. It's already one 19 00:01:15,400 --> 00:01:17,680 Speaker 1: of the best. But as part of that process, there's 20 00:01:17,680 --> 00:01:19,679 Speaker 1: a construction you gotta kind of live through the rento 21 00:01:20,120 --> 00:01:22,760 Speaker 1: and that's what we're doing. So Garrett was literally running 22 00:01:22,760 --> 00:01:27,160 Speaker 1: from a wrecking ball. You know. We're sitting in the office, 23 00:01:27,440 --> 00:01:29,360 Speaker 1: you know, but no, we we would. We did go 24 00:01:29,400 --> 00:01:32,399 Speaker 1: down to visit the actual lounge, lounge, the old lounge, 25 00:01:32,480 --> 00:01:35,080 Speaker 1: and it ain't looking so hot. I mean there's ceiling 26 00:01:35,160 --> 00:01:39,200 Speaker 1: panel tiles on the floor, wires everywhere. It's not good. 27 00:01:39,319 --> 00:01:42,080 Speaker 1: So now we are in what used to be the 28 00:01:42,120 --> 00:01:45,400 Speaker 1: billiards room, which was where when Steve A. Schotti would 29 00:01:45,440 --> 00:01:47,760 Speaker 1: come to town, you know sometimes like shoe lipool. Yeah, 30 00:01:47,840 --> 00:01:50,360 Speaker 1: he come in here and pulled no more billiards unfortunately, 31 00:01:50,440 --> 00:01:52,240 Speaker 1: would have been nice for a lounge. It would have 32 00:01:52,280 --> 00:01:55,360 Speaker 1: been a very lounge. That's perfect. I know. The billiards 33 00:01:55,440 --> 00:01:58,920 Speaker 1: room is now the TV studio slash, podcast studio, slash everything. 34 00:01:59,000 --> 00:02:02,440 Speaker 1: So that what we've got here, and it's a little different, 35 00:02:02,480 --> 00:02:04,880 Speaker 1: but we're gonna make it work. We like it. Yeah, So, Garrett, 36 00:02:04,920 --> 00:02:07,400 Speaker 1: do we have an email to read? Yeah? They kind 37 00:02:07,400 --> 00:02:08,920 Speaker 1: of piled up a little bit while we were gone. 38 00:02:08,919 --> 00:02:11,600 Speaker 1: So this one is very nice email. I want to 39 00:02:11,639 --> 00:02:13,360 Speaker 1: receive a nice email. It's nice to get these from 40 00:02:13,360 --> 00:02:15,079 Speaker 1: time to time. This one from John with usually a 41 00:02:15,120 --> 00:02:16,679 Speaker 1: bad one. We only get nice. Yeah, but this is 42 00:02:16,760 --> 00:02:18,840 Speaker 1: very complimentary and I'm in a mood to kind of 43 00:02:18,840 --> 00:02:20,840 Speaker 1: boost our ego, all right, you know, I'm always in 44 00:02:20,880 --> 00:02:23,359 Speaker 1: the mood for that. So John says, Hey, guys, just 45 00:02:23,360 --> 00:02:24,600 Speaker 1: want to send a note to say thanks for all 46 00:02:24,639 --> 00:02:26,120 Speaker 1: the work that you guys have done over the season. 47 00:02:26,400 --> 00:02:28,480 Speaker 1: As a fan, I've loved the content you've been churning out. 48 00:02:28,520 --> 00:02:31,560 Speaker 1: The lounge was a fantastic addition, and the web team 49 00:02:31,639 --> 00:02:34,079 Speaker 1: is a gone above and beyond this season. As we've 50 00:02:34,120 --> 00:02:36,200 Speaker 1: gone on every day, one of the first things I 51 00:02:36,200 --> 00:02:39,560 Speaker 1: do is check late for work, check the podcast auto downloads, 52 00:02:39,560 --> 00:02:42,040 Speaker 1: and I'm right on my way. I just wanted to 53 00:02:42,120 --> 00:02:44,040 Speaker 1: let you guys know that your work does not go 54 00:02:44,240 --> 00:02:47,959 Speaker 1: unnoticed and I, for one love it so really nice 55 00:02:48,000 --> 00:02:50,360 Speaker 1: email from John. Yeah, it kind of It's also on 56 00:02:50,440 --> 00:02:52,919 Speaker 1: point with season review. You know, it's a larger look 57 00:02:52,919 --> 00:02:54,480 Speaker 1: at what we've done all year long. You have a 58 00:02:54,520 --> 00:02:56,520 Speaker 1: chance to take a step back and look at it. 59 00:02:56,560 --> 00:02:58,360 Speaker 1: And I appreciate the kind of words from John. So 60 00:02:58,400 --> 00:03:00,359 Speaker 1: thank you, and as always, you can send your emails, 61 00:03:00,360 --> 00:03:04,560 Speaker 1: said John Harball. Yes, John Harball, actually, um, that's the 62 00:03:04,600 --> 00:03:07,160 Speaker 1: lounge at Ravens dot NFL dot net and if you 63 00:03:07,200 --> 00:03:09,440 Speaker 1: stroke our egos, you're more likely to get your email 64 00:03:09,520 --> 00:03:13,200 Speaker 1: right on the air of course. Alright, so a lot 65 00:03:13,280 --> 00:03:15,200 Speaker 1: a lot is going down since we last spoke to 66 00:03:15,240 --> 00:03:20,200 Speaker 1: you with Ronnie Stanley was the last podcast. Uh. Season ended, obviously, 67 00:03:20,320 --> 00:03:22,680 Speaker 1: and then there's a locker clean out where players kind 68 00:03:22,680 --> 00:03:25,280 Speaker 1: of look back on their years and then what might 69 00:03:25,320 --> 00:03:27,760 Speaker 1: come for them in the future with this team. Then 70 00:03:27,880 --> 00:03:30,800 Speaker 1: John Harball season ending press conference, and then yesterday we 71 00:03:30,840 --> 00:03:33,880 Speaker 1: had the season review press conference, which is really one 72 00:03:33,880 --> 00:03:35,680 Speaker 1: of the biggest of the year, if not the biggest 73 00:03:35,680 --> 00:03:38,720 Speaker 1: of the year, with owner c Bashatti, general manager Ozzie 74 00:03:38,800 --> 00:03:42,240 Speaker 1: knew Some, team president Dick cass and head coach John Harball, 75 00:03:42,240 --> 00:03:45,080 Speaker 1: in which they all look back and forward and answer. 76 00:03:45,160 --> 00:03:47,760 Speaker 1: They talked for over an hour, answer more than thirty questions. 77 00:03:47,800 --> 00:03:50,840 Speaker 1: A lot of good stuff there, Garrett, What was the 78 00:03:50,880 --> 00:03:53,200 Speaker 1: biggest thing you think that has come out of all 79 00:03:53,280 --> 00:03:55,960 Speaker 1: of the talk since the season has ended? To me, 80 00:03:56,120 --> 00:03:59,760 Speaker 1: it all centers with Joe Flacco, all centers around him. 81 00:03:59,760 --> 00:04:01,680 Speaker 1: I'd at John. Iisberg actually wrote a pretty good column 82 00:04:01,680 --> 00:04:04,760 Speaker 1: about this earlier in the week that I actually think 83 00:04:04,800 --> 00:04:07,839 Speaker 1: he he always writes a good columns, but I thought 84 00:04:07,840 --> 00:04:11,240 Speaker 1: he summed this up pretty well, um, which is basically 85 00:04:11,280 --> 00:04:14,200 Speaker 1: that this thing all kind of revolves around the quarterback, 86 00:04:14,240 --> 00:04:15,600 Speaker 1: and that's the same for every team. And I think 87 00:04:15,600 --> 00:04:17,880 Speaker 1: that most fans you ask would say, yeah, Joe needs 88 00:04:17,880 --> 00:04:19,640 Speaker 1: to play better. But this was kind of the first 89 00:04:19,640 --> 00:04:23,680 Speaker 1: time that I heard Hardball and Steve Schotti basically say 90 00:04:23,880 --> 00:04:27,240 Speaker 1: that we need Joe to play better, and they No 91 00:04:27,279 --> 00:04:29,440 Speaker 1: one's just pointing the finger at him and saying that's 92 00:04:29,480 --> 00:04:32,360 Speaker 1: the problem. That's not the case. Everyone's saying that they 93 00:04:32,400 --> 00:04:34,320 Speaker 1: all need to get better. But part of that is 94 00:04:34,320 --> 00:04:36,240 Speaker 1: that you need more out of your quarterback, and I 95 00:04:36,279 --> 00:04:39,039 Speaker 1: think that a lot of it. I thought Hardball talked 96 00:04:39,080 --> 00:04:41,279 Speaker 1: about this really kind of an interesting way last week, 97 00:04:41,320 --> 00:04:43,359 Speaker 1: which is in terms of the salary cap, when you 98 00:04:43,360 --> 00:04:45,159 Speaker 1: have a quarterback taking up such a huge piece of 99 00:04:45,200 --> 00:04:48,680 Speaker 1: your salary cap that Joe is, then you need him 100 00:04:48,720 --> 00:04:50,800 Speaker 1: to kind of make up for other areas. You need 101 00:04:50,800 --> 00:04:52,800 Speaker 1: to make up for deficiencies in other areas. And that's 102 00:04:52,839 --> 00:04:55,039 Speaker 1: just the nature of the NFL today with how the 103 00:04:55,040 --> 00:04:57,880 Speaker 1: salary cap structured. They need him to be better than 104 00:04:57,880 --> 00:04:59,880 Speaker 1: he was this year for whatever reason, whether it was 105 00:04:59,880 --> 00:05:01,960 Speaker 1: a need, whatever it was they just need him to 106 00:05:02,000 --> 00:05:04,080 Speaker 1: be playing at a higher level, and they made that 107 00:05:04,200 --> 00:05:06,159 Speaker 1: very clear over the past week and a half. Yeah, 108 00:05:06,200 --> 00:05:10,200 Speaker 1: I think what's interesting is that, obviously, since Joe came 109 00:05:10,240 --> 00:05:12,720 Speaker 1: into the league into two thousand and eight, more of 110 00:05:12,760 --> 00:05:16,200 Speaker 1: the the uh responsibility for the team has been put 111 00:05:16,240 --> 00:05:20,080 Speaker 1: on his shoulders more and more. Exactly, it's it's become 112 00:05:20,279 --> 00:05:24,279 Speaker 1: his team, his offense to a large degree, and I 113 00:05:24,320 --> 00:05:27,200 Speaker 1: don't think that this year he delivered on that. You know, 114 00:05:27,320 --> 00:05:30,520 Speaker 1: he's a central figure. He's expected, like you said, to 115 00:05:30,560 --> 00:05:33,200 Speaker 1: kind of make up for other deficiencies to carry this offense. 116 00:05:33,680 --> 00:05:35,559 Speaker 1: You know, you don't have to have a stud wide receiver, 117 00:05:35,600 --> 00:05:37,440 Speaker 1: you don't have to have a stud running game. Joe 118 00:05:37,480 --> 00:05:40,480 Speaker 1: is supposed to be the guy that is your offensive playmaker, 119 00:05:40,960 --> 00:05:43,440 Speaker 1: and it just didn't happen this year. He didn't raise 120 00:05:43,839 --> 00:05:46,599 Speaker 1: he didn't rise to the occasion and lead this team. 121 00:05:46,920 --> 00:05:49,280 Speaker 1: And that's a big deal when he's paid to be 122 00:05:49,320 --> 00:05:52,640 Speaker 1: one of the best quarterbacks in the league. So for 123 00:05:52,680 --> 00:05:56,520 Speaker 1: the first time, like you said, really people are pointing 124 00:05:56,560 --> 00:05:59,840 Speaker 1: to Joe, you know, and saying, you know what, this 125 00:06:00,040 --> 00:06:02,400 Speaker 1: guy needs to raise his game. Because when you look 126 00:06:02,440 --> 00:06:04,000 Speaker 1: at early in his career, I mean, he's still young 127 00:06:04,040 --> 00:06:06,280 Speaker 1: two thousand and eight, he's still rookie quarterback going to 128 00:06:06,320 --> 00:06:08,440 Speaker 1: the playoffs. It's hard to criticize Joe and they're going 129 00:06:08,480 --> 00:06:10,800 Speaker 1: to the playoffs every single year. Then he wins a 130 00:06:10,839 --> 00:06:13,600 Speaker 1: super Bowl, super Bowl MVP in two thousand twelve, so 131 00:06:13,640 --> 00:06:17,520 Speaker 1: he gets the big contract. Everything's looking great for Joe. 132 00:06:17,680 --> 00:06:19,840 Speaker 1: Was a down year, but he's still coming right off 133 00:06:19,880 --> 00:06:22,599 Speaker 1: that Super Bowl. Everyone can polish up their ranks. You 134 00:06:22,600 --> 00:06:24,320 Speaker 1: look back at that ring, you say, well, he's still 135 00:06:24,640 --> 00:06:27,880 Speaker 1: super Bowl for a year ago, has a bounce back year, 136 00:06:27,960 --> 00:06:31,000 Speaker 1: great year, gets injured halfway through the year. This is 137 00:06:31,040 --> 00:06:33,320 Speaker 1: the first time really that he had a full season. 138 00:06:33,720 --> 00:06:35,880 Speaker 1: Some of that luster has been lost now that you 139 00:06:35,920 --> 00:06:38,359 Speaker 1: haven't gone to the playoffs three of the past four years. 140 00:06:38,520 --> 00:06:41,560 Speaker 1: And he starts to really examine, now that a lot 141 00:06:41,600 --> 00:06:44,360 Speaker 1: of the team is on Joe's shoulders, is he doing 142 00:06:44,400 --> 00:06:46,240 Speaker 1: a good enough job of leading it? You're taking a 143 00:06:46,240 --> 00:06:48,800 Speaker 1: closer look at that, And the answer this season was no, 144 00:06:49,360 --> 00:06:51,279 Speaker 1: it wasn't good enough. Well, the other thing too, I 145 00:06:51,279 --> 00:06:54,720 Speaker 1: think with Joe, and I think that uh, I think 146 00:06:54,800 --> 00:06:57,599 Speaker 1: personally that the knee. Steve Shoty alluded to this to 147 00:06:57,720 --> 00:07:00,520 Speaker 1: the knee affected him certainly more than he led on. 148 00:07:00,600 --> 00:07:03,600 Speaker 1: He never once said this season, yeah the knee, I'm 149 00:07:03,600 --> 00:07:06,800 Speaker 1: not a percent. We had Joe on the podcast, Remember 150 00:07:06,839 --> 00:07:08,760 Speaker 1: I told him straight up that he lied to US 151 00:07:09,200 --> 00:07:11,560 Speaker 1: Bengals game when he said no and he wasn't hurting, 152 00:07:11,560 --> 00:07:15,160 Speaker 1: the cameras called him right. So that that's Joe in 153 00:07:15,160 --> 00:07:17,400 Speaker 1: a nutshell. He's never gonna say he's hurt. He's never 154 00:07:17,400 --> 00:07:19,280 Speaker 1: gonna say it's not a guy. He's not full of 155 00:07:19,320 --> 00:07:22,200 Speaker 1: excuses at all, right, and he will take the responsibility 156 00:07:22,240 --> 00:07:26,240 Speaker 1: to and uh. But but so I think that as 157 00:07:26,280 --> 00:07:28,160 Speaker 1: the season went on, like I look at the last 158 00:07:28,240 --> 00:07:30,560 Speaker 1: month of the season, and you know, last five or 159 00:07:30,560 --> 00:07:32,800 Speaker 1: six weeks, I thought he started to play much better. 160 00:07:32,840 --> 00:07:35,160 Speaker 1: You know that Steelers game, like he marched down the 161 00:07:35,200 --> 00:07:38,000 Speaker 1: field in a very tough environment and did everything he 162 00:07:38,000 --> 00:07:40,960 Speaker 1: could win that game. Like that Steelers game, Joe did 163 00:07:41,040 --> 00:07:43,280 Speaker 1: his part, and then the defense couldn't. They gave up 164 00:07:43,320 --> 00:07:45,160 Speaker 1: twenty one points in the fourth quarter and couldn't get 165 00:07:45,200 --> 00:07:47,720 Speaker 1: off the field. So like the pendulum kind of swung 166 00:07:47,760 --> 00:07:50,200 Speaker 1: earlier in the year, the offense really really struggled, never 167 00:07:50,280 --> 00:07:53,239 Speaker 1: was in sync. Joe really struggled, and then they started 168 00:07:53,280 --> 00:07:55,040 Speaker 1: to kind of figure it out. I think that last 169 00:07:55,080 --> 00:07:58,640 Speaker 1: month of the season, last six weeks, and then that's 170 00:07:58,640 --> 00:08:03,400 Speaker 1: when the defense, the offensive line I think also played right. 171 00:08:03,520 --> 00:08:06,200 Speaker 1: It wasn't that the knee limited his mobility or his 172 00:08:06,280 --> 00:08:09,200 Speaker 1: ability I think, to actually play the position, but I 173 00:08:09,200 --> 00:08:12,000 Speaker 1: think it impacted him mentally. I think that he wanted 174 00:08:12,040 --> 00:08:14,320 Speaker 1: to get the ball out quick. If you didn't see it, 175 00:08:14,320 --> 00:08:16,440 Speaker 1: he wasn't as confident hanging in the pocket, and he 176 00:08:16,440 --> 00:08:19,080 Speaker 1: took a lot of checkdowns, probably too many checkdowns, and 177 00:08:19,160 --> 00:08:21,920 Speaker 1: often I think that blame for the checkdowns gets put 178 00:08:21,960 --> 00:08:24,720 Speaker 1: on the offensive coordinator. Joe I think deserves some of 179 00:08:24,760 --> 00:08:27,520 Speaker 1: that blame. Was he just not standing in delivering the 180 00:08:27,560 --> 00:08:29,320 Speaker 1: ball down the field, or was he taking the easy 181 00:08:29,360 --> 00:08:32,040 Speaker 1: out and checking it down all the time too often. 182 00:08:32,320 --> 00:08:34,480 Speaker 1: I think he did that in part because of the 183 00:08:34,520 --> 00:08:36,880 Speaker 1: knee injury and also the offensive line in front of him. 184 00:08:36,880 --> 00:08:40,640 Speaker 1: When he combined those two things, those two injuries, he's 185 00:08:40,640 --> 00:08:44,120 Speaker 1: not playing mentally confident, and I think we've all seen 186 00:08:44,600 --> 00:08:47,320 Speaker 1: when Joe gets on a roll, it's I think most mental. 187 00:08:47,520 --> 00:08:49,360 Speaker 1: I think that Steelers game was a pretty good example. 188 00:08:49,400 --> 00:08:52,280 Speaker 1: Like the later in the year, the offensive line played well, 189 00:08:52,640 --> 00:08:55,680 Speaker 1: like the offense was playing really well. Marshall was still good, 190 00:08:56,000 --> 00:08:58,199 Speaker 1: good on the left side, like the offensive line played 191 00:08:58,200 --> 00:09:00,520 Speaker 1: well later in the season, and and all of a sudden, 192 00:09:00,520 --> 00:09:03,040 Speaker 1: he's standing tall in the pocket, he's finding open receivers, 193 00:09:03,080 --> 00:09:05,559 Speaker 1: he's hanging in there maybe a half second longer than 194 00:09:05,640 --> 00:09:07,960 Speaker 1: when earlier in the season it was dumped downs. So 195 00:09:08,000 --> 00:09:10,319 Speaker 1: like we he can do it. And I think that's 196 00:09:10,360 --> 00:09:13,840 Speaker 1: why Hardball and Ozzie this week made it very clear 197 00:09:13,880 --> 00:09:17,400 Speaker 1: that a big priority this offseason is to make the 198 00:09:17,440 --> 00:09:20,160 Speaker 1: offensive line. I mean, John said the best in the league, 199 00:09:20,160 --> 00:09:22,800 Speaker 1: because if he if he has that, then he can 200 00:09:22,800 --> 00:09:24,560 Speaker 1: do damage. Right. I think it's kind of back to 201 00:09:24,600 --> 00:09:27,280 Speaker 1: what I was saying earlier on. I think that one 202 00:09:27,320 --> 00:09:30,400 Speaker 1: thing that the Ravens have realized is that Joe Flacco 203 00:09:30,440 --> 00:09:32,960 Speaker 1: alone is not going to carry this offense. It can't 204 00:09:33,040 --> 00:09:36,560 Speaker 1: just be Joe, you know. I mean, we've seen it 205 00:09:36,600 --> 00:09:40,400 Speaker 1: for eight years now, and I think that they realize 206 00:09:40,440 --> 00:09:42,880 Speaker 1: we need to get some more offensive playmakers, and we 207 00:09:42,920 --> 00:09:45,160 Speaker 1: need to get a better offensive line because he needs help. 208 00:09:45,400 --> 00:09:47,880 Speaker 1: He needs help. Most quarterbacks do. I mean, Matt Ryan 209 00:09:47,880 --> 00:09:49,839 Speaker 1: people are talking about in the m v P this year. 210 00:09:50,040 --> 00:09:53,000 Speaker 1: He's got Julio Jones, you know, everybody kind of needs, 211 00:09:53,679 --> 00:09:55,679 Speaker 1: you know, and everyone points to Brady is sort of 212 00:09:55,679 --> 00:09:57,240 Speaker 1: the exception, but he might be the best quarterback of 213 00:09:57,280 --> 00:10:01,319 Speaker 1: all time, so it's not fair comparison. Yeah, here's my question, though, 214 00:10:01,360 --> 00:10:04,720 Speaker 1: do you think that Joe, as much as everyone kind 215 00:10:04,720 --> 00:10:06,800 Speaker 1: of criticized Joe said he needs to play better. It 216 00:10:06,880 --> 00:10:10,000 Speaker 1: was also with the second piece of that sentence being 217 00:10:10,040 --> 00:10:12,440 Speaker 1: that we're confident that he's going to be better in 218 00:10:12,480 --> 00:10:15,120 Speaker 1: two thousand seventeen, saying coordinator from year to year, a 219 00:10:15,200 --> 00:10:18,000 Speaker 1: year removed from the knee injury, all that stuff. Do 220 00:10:18,040 --> 00:10:20,080 Speaker 1: you think that he will be better next year? Yes, 221 00:10:20,400 --> 00:10:22,280 Speaker 1: I do think that Joe will be better next year. 222 00:10:22,480 --> 00:10:25,360 Speaker 1: But I don't think that he's gonna be suddenly turned 223 00:10:25,360 --> 00:10:27,760 Speaker 1: into Drew Brees and Tom Brady and Aaron Rodgers and 224 00:10:27,760 --> 00:10:30,679 Speaker 1: all those those guys. You know, we've seen a pretty 225 00:10:30,720 --> 00:10:33,000 Speaker 1: we have a pretty big sample size by now of 226 00:10:33,040 --> 00:10:35,760 Speaker 1: seeing what Joe Flaccer does. His strengths are always going 227 00:10:35,800 --> 00:10:37,559 Speaker 1: to remain the same. He has one of the best 228 00:10:37,600 --> 00:10:40,480 Speaker 1: pure arms in the NFL. When he has time to 229 00:10:40,520 --> 00:10:43,240 Speaker 1: stand in fire the ball downfield, he can make every 230 00:10:43,240 --> 00:10:46,160 Speaker 1: single throw, probably maybe more throw, you know, just as 231 00:10:46,200 --> 00:10:49,000 Speaker 1: many throws the best can make, if not more, he 232 00:10:49,040 --> 00:10:52,520 Speaker 1: can make some. Sometimes you say, dang, how do you 233 00:10:52,520 --> 00:10:56,000 Speaker 1: find that whole exactly? Uh So he's always gonna have that. 234 00:10:56,080 --> 00:10:58,520 Speaker 1: I like how he plays latent games. He is cool 235 00:10:58,600 --> 00:11:02,960 Speaker 1: under pressure Pittsburgh perfect example, time and time again. Late 236 00:11:03,000 --> 00:11:04,920 Speaker 1: in games he goes down the field. I think he's 237 00:11:04,920 --> 00:11:07,079 Speaker 1: a guy that can win playoff games for that same reason, 238 00:11:07,120 --> 00:11:09,920 Speaker 1: because of that mentality. You know, no game is too 239 00:11:09,920 --> 00:11:12,040 Speaker 1: big for Joe. You never see this guy shaking in 240 00:11:12,120 --> 00:11:15,280 Speaker 1: his boots. Those things are all gonna remain the same now. 241 00:11:15,400 --> 00:11:17,560 Speaker 1: I don't think that some of his deficiencies are all 242 00:11:17,600 --> 00:11:19,320 Speaker 1: of a sudden going to be fixed either. You know, 243 00:11:19,520 --> 00:11:22,040 Speaker 1: sometimes he gets a little happy feet in the pocket. 244 00:11:22,120 --> 00:11:24,079 Speaker 1: You know, sometimes he gets there and we've all kind 245 00:11:24,080 --> 00:11:25,800 Speaker 1: of seen what he looks like in that moment. You 246 00:11:25,840 --> 00:11:27,840 Speaker 1: see as soon as it starts happing, you're like, oh no, 247 00:11:28,320 --> 00:11:32,439 Speaker 1: just don't fumble, don't don't don't pick, you know, I mean, 248 00:11:32,520 --> 00:11:35,120 Speaker 1: he's gonna throw some bad picks occasionally. I don't think 249 00:11:35,160 --> 00:11:36,960 Speaker 1: that all of a sudden that stuff is gonna go away. 250 00:11:36,960 --> 00:11:39,040 Speaker 1: But if I do think that Joe will be better 251 00:11:39,080 --> 00:11:41,040 Speaker 1: than he was this year, And if Joe is better 252 00:11:41,080 --> 00:11:43,000 Speaker 1: than he was this year, the Rams are back in 253 00:11:43,040 --> 00:11:45,600 Speaker 1: the playoffs. In my mind, I just don't think he's 254 00:11:45,559 --> 00:11:47,839 Speaker 1: gonna become a quarterback that is suddenly going to be 255 00:11:47,920 --> 00:11:49,920 Speaker 1: leading the best offensive league and the Rams are gonna 256 00:11:49,920 --> 00:11:52,560 Speaker 1: go fourteen two. Yeah, I agree, and I think part 257 00:11:52,559 --> 00:11:54,400 Speaker 1: of the reason that he will be better next season. 258 00:11:54,720 --> 00:11:56,320 Speaker 1: And I've gone back and forth on this, but I 259 00:11:56,360 --> 00:12:00,000 Speaker 1: think that I liked having Marty morning may come back 260 00:12:00,040 --> 00:12:02,880 Speaker 1: next year. I think that Steve said it well, the 261 00:12:02,960 --> 00:12:05,040 Speaker 1: quarterback likes it, and I think that that's a big 262 00:12:05,080 --> 00:12:07,559 Speaker 1: reason that he is going to be better from this 263 00:12:07,640 --> 00:12:09,839 Speaker 1: year to next year is that he has a good 264 00:12:10,120 --> 00:12:15,559 Speaker 1: rapport with Marty morning Wig. And Marty morning Wig just consistency. 265 00:12:15,559 --> 00:12:18,440 Speaker 1: And I don't think you say consistently just for the 266 00:12:18,440 --> 00:12:21,200 Speaker 1: sake of consistency. There's more to it than just that. 267 00:12:21,440 --> 00:12:24,199 Speaker 1: But I do think that consistency is important. In this case, 268 00:12:24,240 --> 00:12:27,040 Speaker 1: five coordinators and five years that is a challenge for 269 00:12:27,120 --> 00:12:31,240 Speaker 1: any any guy to overcome. And so now you've got Marty, who, 270 00:12:31,600 --> 00:12:32,959 Speaker 1: like I said, I thought later in the year, the 271 00:12:33,000 --> 00:12:35,640 Speaker 1: offense shows some progress, felt like it was playing better, 272 00:12:35,800 --> 00:12:37,959 Speaker 1: and I think the funny thing the stats didn't really 273 00:12:38,000 --> 00:12:41,840 Speaker 1: show it well, yeah it was. It was a little bit, 274 00:12:42,120 --> 00:12:44,839 Speaker 1: A little bit. Yeah, they did show it. It wasn't 275 00:12:44,920 --> 00:12:47,800 Speaker 1: like they went from scoring seventeen points of scoring thirty points. 276 00:12:47,800 --> 00:12:49,800 Speaker 1: It wasn't that, but there was a little improvement. And 277 00:12:49,880 --> 00:12:51,760 Speaker 1: when your team like the Ravens that play so many 278 00:12:51,760 --> 00:12:55,520 Speaker 1: close games getting two points better over the course of 279 00:12:55,640 --> 00:12:58,680 Speaker 1: the final six weeks of the season, that makes a difference. 280 00:12:59,280 --> 00:13:02,680 Speaker 1: I will say, I mean, you can't expect a mid 281 00:13:02,720 --> 00:13:04,719 Speaker 1: season coordinator change and Marty comes in and all of 282 00:13:04,760 --> 00:13:07,160 Speaker 1: a sudden the offense completely takes off. I mean he's 283 00:13:07,160 --> 00:13:09,079 Speaker 1: working with the same players, the same issues and all 284 00:13:09,080 --> 00:13:12,200 Speaker 1: that stuff. I do agree that they felt like things 285 00:13:12,280 --> 00:13:15,080 Speaker 1: were more on track. I will say that I thought 286 00:13:15,080 --> 00:13:16,960 Speaker 1: the running game got better as the season went on, 287 00:13:17,240 --> 00:13:20,400 Speaker 1: and now that also played into the offensive wine getting healthier. 288 00:13:21,240 --> 00:13:25,320 Speaker 1: But I also do like the decision to stick with Marty. Uh. 289 00:13:25,440 --> 00:13:27,280 Speaker 1: You know, I would sit here and say that when 290 00:13:27,280 --> 00:13:30,679 Speaker 1: when the decision came out that I was like, oh, absolutely, 291 00:13:30,720 --> 00:13:33,640 Speaker 1: I was, you know, like a little bit a change 292 00:13:33,679 --> 00:13:35,440 Speaker 1: could have be made. It wouldn't have shocked me either way. 293 00:13:35,640 --> 00:13:38,200 Speaker 1: You know, I think even John says I thought long 294 00:13:38,280 --> 00:13:41,240 Speaker 1: and hard about this decision. I lost sleep over this decision. 295 00:13:41,240 --> 00:13:43,360 Speaker 1: You know, it wasn't an easy call, but I think 296 00:13:43,360 --> 00:13:45,880 Speaker 1: it's the right call to make. I mean, because it's 297 00:13:45,880 --> 00:13:48,480 Speaker 1: always so easy to say, you know what, let's bring 298 00:13:48,480 --> 00:13:51,480 Speaker 1: in somebody else. Who is that? Who's the answer? You know? 299 00:13:51,559 --> 00:13:54,240 Speaker 1: I mean, I don't know who the answer is. And 300 00:13:54,360 --> 00:13:57,280 Speaker 1: a lot of the coaches around the NFL have been fired, 301 00:13:57,320 --> 00:13:59,600 Speaker 1: almost all of them, right, So whoever you bring in, 302 00:13:59,760 --> 00:14:02,520 Speaker 1: they and fired from somewhere else because they didn't do 303 00:14:02,559 --> 00:14:05,480 Speaker 1: a good job there, or their fans were angry because 304 00:14:05,480 --> 00:14:08,240 Speaker 1: they didn't run the ball enough or whatever. You know. 305 00:14:08,360 --> 00:14:12,520 Speaker 1: So there's no magic a licksir to solve the offense. 306 00:14:12,559 --> 00:14:13,960 Speaker 1: So I think you have to just break it down 307 00:14:13,960 --> 00:14:16,680 Speaker 1: and say, this is the place that we're in right now, 308 00:14:16,960 --> 00:14:19,600 Speaker 1: what is the best decision logically going forward. I think 309 00:14:19,640 --> 00:14:21,960 Speaker 1: there are a lot of good reasons why Marty is 310 00:14:22,000 --> 00:14:25,080 Speaker 1: that guy, and I think he's broken in any way. 311 00:14:25,320 --> 00:14:28,080 Speaker 1: I think he's a good a good coordinator, sharp guy. 312 00:14:28,120 --> 00:14:30,160 Speaker 1: And I think what they're gonna do is that one 313 00:14:30,200 --> 00:14:32,560 Speaker 1: of the biggest pieces is it's not a system change, 314 00:14:32,600 --> 00:14:36,280 Speaker 1: like they are sticking with the system fundamentally that Gary 315 00:14:36,360 --> 00:14:38,240 Speaker 1: Kubia can install it here in two thousand and fourteen. 316 00:14:38,520 --> 00:14:42,080 Speaker 1: It's essentially the same system. It is a West Coast system. 317 00:14:42,120 --> 00:14:44,000 Speaker 1: You don't agree that we're running the West Coast system now, 318 00:14:44,000 --> 00:14:46,240 Speaker 1: we're still run the same system. It definitely looks different 319 00:14:46,240 --> 00:14:48,000 Speaker 1: from when Gary was here. I mean the run game 320 00:14:48,080 --> 00:14:50,880 Speaker 1: is different, things like that. It's definitely been evolved a 321 00:14:50,880 --> 00:14:53,320 Speaker 1: little bit. But yes, it's the same core system. Yeah, 322 00:14:53,320 --> 00:14:55,000 Speaker 1: it's the same fundamental system that you're not going to 323 00:14:55,120 --> 00:14:57,280 Speaker 1: change that. Again, no you don't. And if depending on 324 00:14:57,320 --> 00:14:59,360 Speaker 1: the coordinator that you bring in, you would have had 325 00:14:59,360 --> 00:15:01,400 Speaker 1: to change that. You know, if you bring in somebody 326 00:15:01,440 --> 00:15:04,400 Speaker 1: like people say North Turner, bringing North Turner, well, that's 327 00:15:04,440 --> 00:15:08,360 Speaker 1: the same system that Cam Cameron one, so different. Yeah, 328 00:15:08,400 --> 00:15:11,120 Speaker 1: that's an aerial attack to totally different systems. So they 329 00:15:11,120 --> 00:15:12,800 Speaker 1: didn't want to go to that, so they're sticking with 330 00:15:12,840 --> 00:15:15,840 Speaker 1: the West Coast system that I think Joe has shown 331 00:15:16,160 --> 00:15:20,000 Speaker 1: to be really effective in. Now with that the run 332 00:15:20,080 --> 00:15:22,880 Speaker 1: pass balance, well, you have to get that check. You've 333 00:15:22,880 --> 00:15:24,280 Speaker 1: got to get that in check. I mean, the Ravens 334 00:15:24,280 --> 00:15:26,240 Speaker 1: through the ball more than any any team in the 335 00:15:26,320 --> 00:15:29,840 Speaker 1: NFL this season. You don't expect that, and that's not 336 00:15:29,960 --> 00:15:32,920 Speaker 1: a recipe for success. You can you can do that 337 00:15:32,920 --> 00:15:35,760 Speaker 1: when you have Tom Brady and Aaron Rodgers. I'm sorry, but, 338 00:15:35,880 --> 00:15:38,800 Speaker 1: like I said, Joe's just I don't think that. By 339 00:15:38,800 --> 00:15:41,240 Speaker 1: the way, they don't even throw the ball the most 340 00:15:41,280 --> 00:15:43,760 Speaker 1: of any team breaks. I just don't think that that's 341 00:15:43,840 --> 00:15:46,680 Speaker 1: the recipes for success. In Baltimore, Steve Schotti talked about 342 00:15:46,680 --> 00:15:49,200 Speaker 1: it yesterday. He wants to see the Ravens get back 343 00:15:49,280 --> 00:15:51,600 Speaker 1: to their identity of playing good defense, which they did 344 00:15:51,760 --> 00:15:55,160 Speaker 1: for twelve games this year. And then you have to 345 00:15:55,200 --> 00:15:58,320 Speaker 1: have a strong running game. The passing game and the 346 00:15:58,440 --> 00:16:00,840 Speaker 1: and the running game work all of each other. It's 347 00:16:00,840 --> 00:16:03,800 Speaker 1: not that necessarily one has to set up the other. 348 00:16:04,200 --> 00:16:07,040 Speaker 1: They both work in tandem. And I think also part 349 00:16:07,040 --> 00:16:10,000 Speaker 1: of that is the NFL is always a copycat league. 350 00:16:10,240 --> 00:16:11,600 Speaker 1: Who are the teams that are having some of the 351 00:16:11,640 --> 00:16:15,400 Speaker 1: most success this yere Dallas Cowboys, strong offensive line, strong 352 00:16:15,520 --> 00:16:18,280 Speaker 1: running game. You know, even the Patriots this year are 353 00:16:18,320 --> 00:16:20,360 Speaker 1: running the ball a lot more than they have in years. 354 00:16:20,440 --> 00:16:23,520 Speaker 1: Pass and running it pretty darn well. You have the Chiefs, 355 00:16:23,720 --> 00:16:26,320 Speaker 1: you know. So, Steelers are a good running Steelers are 356 00:16:26,360 --> 00:16:28,520 Speaker 1: a great running team. I'm missing some other running team 357 00:16:28,560 --> 00:16:30,640 Speaker 1: that I'm I can't think of right now. Well, I mean, 358 00:16:30,680 --> 00:16:32,720 Speaker 1: you have a couple of teams like Seattle has historically 359 00:16:33,080 --> 00:16:35,160 Speaker 1: in the past few years been a really strong running team. 360 00:16:35,160 --> 00:16:37,240 Speaker 1: Now part of that is because their quarterback picks up 361 00:16:37,240 --> 00:16:39,160 Speaker 1: a lot of running guards more so, much more so 362 00:16:39,280 --> 00:16:41,280 Speaker 1: than Joe Flacco will. But yeah, there are a lot 363 00:16:41,320 --> 00:16:43,360 Speaker 1: of these teams that have been good. The Dolphins this 364 00:16:43,440 --> 00:16:46,000 Speaker 1: year were very run heavy J J. I e. At 365 00:16:46,040 --> 00:16:47,240 Speaker 1: the end of the year. Yeah, a lot of these 366 00:16:47,240 --> 00:16:50,480 Speaker 1: teams that have been late in the postseason teams over 367 00:16:50,520 --> 00:16:52,560 Speaker 1: the past four or five years have been teams that 368 00:16:52,760 --> 00:16:56,000 Speaker 1: are specifically this year. I mean, I think the trend 369 00:16:56,080 --> 00:16:59,000 Speaker 1: goes beyond Yeah, and so I think that there's no 370 00:16:59,040 --> 00:17:01,800 Speaker 1: doubt that the Ravens have to kind of balance that now. 371 00:17:02,960 --> 00:17:06,160 Speaker 1: The difficulty is at the same time, the Ravens don't 372 00:17:06,200 --> 00:17:09,720 Speaker 1: want to put themselves in as many close games. That's 373 00:17:09,720 --> 00:17:11,600 Speaker 1: something that John Harball has mentioned a couple of times 374 00:17:11,640 --> 00:17:14,159 Speaker 1: since the season ended. When you put yourself in so 375 00:17:14,200 --> 00:17:17,159 Speaker 1: many close games, you're gonna win someone, you're gonna lose some. 376 00:17:17,520 --> 00:17:19,400 Speaker 1: And I think the Ravens did a better job this 377 00:17:19,520 --> 00:17:21,919 Speaker 1: year at winning more of those than they did the 378 00:17:21,960 --> 00:17:25,120 Speaker 1: previous year when they lost almost all of them. Uh, 379 00:17:25,359 --> 00:17:27,679 Speaker 1: But still you you want to get some leads on 380 00:17:27,720 --> 00:17:29,800 Speaker 1: some people. That's what the really good teams in the 381 00:17:29,920 --> 00:17:33,119 Speaker 1: NFL do. Now, how do you do that while still 382 00:17:33,160 --> 00:17:35,879 Speaker 1: sticking to that defense and run the ball mentality. That's 383 00:17:36,440 --> 00:17:38,480 Speaker 1: where the problem comes in. Well, the other thing too, 384 00:17:38,480 --> 00:17:40,480 Speaker 1: and I've said it a million times when it comes 385 00:17:40,480 --> 00:17:42,679 Speaker 1: to this whole run pass balanced thing, I kind of 386 00:17:42,680 --> 00:17:44,560 Speaker 1: think it's a stubborn point of view to just run 387 00:17:44,600 --> 00:17:46,080 Speaker 1: the ball for the sake of running the ball. Oh, 388 00:17:46,119 --> 00:17:47,840 Speaker 1: we gotta we gotta balance it out. So let's just shy. 389 00:17:48,640 --> 00:17:50,400 Speaker 1: You need to have success running the ball. And there 390 00:17:50,400 --> 00:17:52,399 Speaker 1: were times that the Ravens got away from the running 391 00:17:52,400 --> 00:17:54,560 Speaker 1: game when they had success. And I think they can 392 00:17:54,680 --> 00:17:57,359 Speaker 1: have success. I like Terence West, I like Kenneth Dixon. 393 00:17:57,600 --> 00:17:59,560 Speaker 1: There's probably gonna be another back in the mix too 394 00:18:00,160 --> 00:18:02,760 Speaker 1: that they're going to have high expectations for. So so 395 00:18:03,040 --> 00:18:05,600 Speaker 1: I just think the key the key can't It can't 396 00:18:05,640 --> 00:18:08,520 Speaker 1: be that you pass past, past for three quarters, build 397 00:18:08,520 --> 00:18:10,000 Speaker 1: a big lead, and then run the ball in the 398 00:18:10,000 --> 00:18:12,000 Speaker 1: fourth quarter and now the stats are more balanced, and 399 00:18:12,040 --> 00:18:14,280 Speaker 1: that's how you run the ball. I think that it 400 00:18:14,359 --> 00:18:17,000 Speaker 1: has to. I think that more than it was this 401 00:18:17,119 --> 00:18:21,040 Speaker 1: year because that's kind of how things were explained this year. 402 00:18:21,040 --> 00:18:23,919 Speaker 1: Well we're so in balanced was because we weren't you know, 403 00:18:23,960 --> 00:18:25,520 Speaker 1: we didn't have big leads and we weren't able to 404 00:18:25,600 --> 00:18:28,399 Speaker 1: run the ball. Well, sometimes you have to build a 405 00:18:28,400 --> 00:18:30,080 Speaker 1: big lead, and this is what the Ravens have to 406 00:18:30,080 --> 00:18:31,600 Speaker 1: get good at. They have to make their run game 407 00:18:31,600 --> 00:18:34,119 Speaker 1: good enough where that is what helps you build that 408 00:18:34,160 --> 00:18:36,680 Speaker 1: big lead and then you salted away completely with the 409 00:18:36,720 --> 00:18:39,960 Speaker 1: run game at the end. Agree, And just on that point, though, 410 00:18:40,119 --> 00:18:43,040 Speaker 1: it also can't be run, run first and second down 411 00:18:43,320 --> 00:18:45,560 Speaker 1: and then pass. It just can't be that. It can't. 412 00:18:45,600 --> 00:18:47,960 Speaker 1: That's the way that if you're not having success at least, 413 00:18:48,000 --> 00:18:49,560 Speaker 1: I mean, if you can't be run, run third and 414 00:18:49,600 --> 00:18:53,120 Speaker 1: eight obviously, and it can't be predictable. It has to work. 415 00:18:53,240 --> 00:18:55,600 Speaker 1: It has to work. In conversation with each other, absolutely, 416 00:18:55,680 --> 00:18:57,199 Speaker 1: I just think it has to balance out more than 417 00:18:57,200 --> 00:19:00,359 Speaker 1: it was this year. Seventy five times I think it 418 00:19:00,480 --> 00:19:02,320 Speaker 1: was you know, you're passing the ball. That's not going 419 00:19:02,359 --> 00:19:04,680 Speaker 1: to be the recipe. Here's here's one other bigger point 420 00:19:04,840 --> 00:19:06,480 Speaker 1: that I think, uh, you know it was a big 421 00:19:06,520 --> 00:19:11,560 Speaker 1: point from yesterday is Steve Aschotti fantastic enner by the 422 00:19:11,600 --> 00:19:13,639 Speaker 1: way I always walk away with any press conference with 423 00:19:13,680 --> 00:19:15,919 Speaker 1: that guy being like, he is so smart, attal headed, 424 00:19:16,320 --> 00:19:19,760 Speaker 1: just thoughtful. He tinks about things differently too, which is interesting. Yeah, 425 00:19:19,840 --> 00:19:22,199 Speaker 1: he just he thinks about it with nuance. Yeah, I 426 00:19:22,200 --> 00:19:24,640 Speaker 1: think it's the key. It's not. He's an emotional guy, 427 00:19:24,680 --> 00:19:27,719 Speaker 1: and he's talking about being an Italian emotional guy after games, 428 00:19:28,160 --> 00:19:31,640 Speaker 1: but he settles down when he's making decisions. Dude's thought out. 429 00:19:31,960 --> 00:19:37,440 Speaker 1: I appreciate that. But he has the business model of consistency. 430 00:19:37,640 --> 00:19:39,360 Speaker 1: I'm not going to fire people just for the sake 431 00:19:39,400 --> 00:19:41,240 Speaker 1: of firing people because fans want me to or whatever. 432 00:19:41,720 --> 00:19:44,440 Speaker 1: You know. Now, some fans don't like that. They want 433 00:19:44,440 --> 00:19:46,240 Speaker 1: to see a lot, They want to see change. When 434 00:19:46,280 --> 00:19:48,480 Speaker 1: you've had three losing season in the past four what 435 00:19:48,560 --> 00:19:51,600 Speaker 1: can you say about Steve's mentality and doing that. I mean, 436 00:19:51,640 --> 00:19:53,600 Speaker 1: I think it's the right mentality. You just look through 437 00:19:53,600 --> 00:19:55,879 Speaker 1: the teams that have the franchises that have been successful 438 00:19:56,560 --> 00:20:00,480 Speaker 1: in the NFL. They don't go run through coaches. Steelers 439 00:20:00,560 --> 00:20:03,640 Speaker 1: don't run through coaches. The Patriots obviously, now they've had 440 00:20:03,680 --> 00:20:06,120 Speaker 1: probably the best coach of this generation, so that's it's 441 00:20:06,119 --> 00:20:09,240 Speaker 1: an easy decision. But even the Eagles Andy Reid for 442 00:20:09,280 --> 00:20:12,480 Speaker 1: so much success. Yeah, he was there for a long time. Um, 443 00:20:12,520 --> 00:20:15,680 Speaker 1: there's one that I'm missing, Um, the Packers. The Packers 444 00:20:15,680 --> 00:20:18,280 Speaker 1: are a franchise that they don't run through coaches. You know, 445 00:20:18,400 --> 00:20:20,120 Speaker 1: people up in Green Bay this year were talking about 446 00:20:20,119 --> 00:20:21,560 Speaker 1: how they need to get Mike McCarthy out of there 447 00:20:21,560 --> 00:20:23,320 Speaker 1: and all that stuff. All of a sudden, the Packers 448 00:20:23,359 --> 00:20:25,440 Speaker 1: are looking pretty good and if they go, if they 449 00:20:25,520 --> 00:20:29,280 Speaker 1: stay hot right now, um, then that talk will completely 450 00:20:29,320 --> 00:20:31,199 Speaker 1: go out the window. So there are teams where you 451 00:20:31,240 --> 00:20:33,160 Speaker 1: just see them running through I mean, you know about 452 00:20:33,160 --> 00:20:35,520 Speaker 1: this Cleveland team right now, right, Ohio guy, Right, you've 453 00:20:35,520 --> 00:20:38,760 Speaker 1: seen that team before, right. I mean, the Ravens don't 454 00:20:38,760 --> 00:20:41,120 Speaker 1: want to become that where you're running through quarterbacks, you're 455 00:20:41,200 --> 00:20:44,800 Speaker 1: running through coaches, that kind of thing. It doesn't foster 456 00:20:45,000 --> 00:20:47,480 Speaker 1: a good environment. And I think that it's it's obviously 457 00:20:47,520 --> 00:20:49,480 Speaker 1: the right way to go here. And here's the big thing. 458 00:20:50,200 --> 00:20:53,120 Speaker 1: It's continuity is good, especially when you have the right 459 00:20:53,160 --> 00:20:55,520 Speaker 1: people in those positions. Is there anyone here that's going 460 00:20:55,600 --> 00:20:57,840 Speaker 1: to say that Ozzy Newson isn't a good general management, 461 00:20:57,960 --> 00:21:00,440 Speaker 1: that he's it's not a good coach. Exactly, excellent exactly. 462 00:21:00,800 --> 00:21:02,919 Speaker 1: They know what they're doing. And John was let go, 463 00:21:03,080 --> 00:21:05,639 Speaker 1: he would be picked up by somebody in a minute. 464 00:21:05,880 --> 00:21:08,879 Speaker 1: I mean, John's a great coach. Everybody around the league 465 00:21:08,920 --> 00:21:12,280 Speaker 1: knows it. Same with Ozzy. So you make the best decision, 466 00:21:12,280 --> 00:21:16,560 Speaker 1: you don't make the emotional decision. Uh. So another big 467 00:21:16,600 --> 00:21:20,879 Speaker 1: thing happened since the season. That was Steve retired. The 468 00:21:21,000 --> 00:21:24,040 Speaker 1: end of a legend. And so for story time today, 469 00:21:24,680 --> 00:21:26,480 Speaker 1: what do we want to talk about with Steve? I 470 00:21:26,520 --> 00:21:28,760 Speaker 1: don't know if there's one particular story. I just think 471 00:21:28,800 --> 00:21:31,919 Speaker 1: to think with Steve is just that I've said it before. 472 00:21:32,160 --> 00:21:34,720 Speaker 1: Steve had the unique ability to make your job as 473 00:21:34,720 --> 00:21:38,840 Speaker 1: a reporter more interesting, more difficult, and easier all at 474 00:21:38,840 --> 00:21:41,080 Speaker 1: the same time. He and what I mean by that 475 00:21:41,240 --> 00:21:43,280 Speaker 1: is he can make you work for an interview. You know, 476 00:21:43,359 --> 00:21:45,240 Speaker 1: he would not just give it to you necessarily, but 477 00:21:45,280 --> 00:21:47,000 Speaker 1: then he would just at the same time, he would 478 00:21:47,040 --> 00:21:50,040 Speaker 1: deliver you these amazing quotes, uh that could just fill 479 00:21:50,119 --> 00:21:52,320 Speaker 1: up an entire notebook. And he was always interesting. You 480 00:21:52,320 --> 00:21:53,680 Speaker 1: didn't know what you were going to get from him. 481 00:21:53,680 --> 00:21:55,760 Speaker 1: I mean players talk about that. John talked about that 482 00:21:55,800 --> 00:21:58,399 Speaker 1: you never really knew exactly what to expect from his 483 00:21:58,520 --> 00:22:01,640 Speaker 1: last week up last week in the NFL, in the 484 00:22:01,640 --> 00:22:04,920 Speaker 1: locker room, man, he was just onree. I was over 485 00:22:04,960 --> 00:22:07,320 Speaker 1: there talking to James Hurst. I'm just sitting there and 486 00:22:07,359 --> 00:22:09,879 Speaker 1: I turned around. Steve's like two inches behind me. He's like, 487 00:22:10,280 --> 00:22:15,600 Speaker 1: you lost. I was like, no, no, He's like, I 488 00:22:15,640 --> 00:22:17,359 Speaker 1: think you are. You're not supposed to be on this 489 00:22:17,400 --> 00:22:20,240 Speaker 1: side of the room. Like I was like, dude, come on, man, 490 00:22:20,359 --> 00:22:22,879 Speaker 1: it's your last week. You gotta give him lonely me 491 00:22:23,560 --> 00:22:26,000 Speaker 1: a hard time. Well. He also he also when they 492 00:22:26,000 --> 00:22:28,520 Speaker 1: were playing corner locker room, you know, they were playing 493 00:22:28,520 --> 00:22:31,119 Speaker 1: on his side of the locker room, and so he 494 00:22:31,200 --> 00:22:34,159 Speaker 1: went up there, packed up the boards, packed up the bags. 495 00:22:34,600 --> 00:22:37,159 Speaker 1: I'm playing on this side of the block. And he 496 00:22:37,200 --> 00:22:39,560 Speaker 1: got him out of there, and Ladariast was like, only 497 00:22:39,600 --> 00:22:42,639 Speaker 1: one more week of this, only one more, got two 498 00:22:42,640 --> 00:22:46,720 Speaker 1: more days, and yeah, yeah, he's an on your guy. 499 00:22:46,800 --> 00:22:50,000 Speaker 1: And I mean, I think though, what was cool was 500 00:22:51,280 --> 00:22:54,480 Speaker 1: his emotions in that last game and on the way out, 501 00:22:54,600 --> 00:22:57,439 Speaker 1: And I mean I was there in Cincinnati and he 502 00:22:57,520 --> 00:22:59,840 Speaker 1: was trying to like make peace with everybody that he 503 00:23:00,000 --> 00:23:02,400 Speaker 1: possibly could. I mean, he's trying to grab Vante's perfect 504 00:23:02,440 --> 00:23:05,920 Speaker 1: to say a few things in his year I mean, uh, 505 00:23:06,000 --> 00:23:09,359 Speaker 1: the guy wanted to go out the right way. His 506 00:23:09,520 --> 00:23:14,400 Speaker 1: retirement letters epic. Um. Steve is one of a kind man, 507 00:23:14,600 --> 00:23:17,480 Speaker 1: He's one of kind. I think he's done, completely, completely done. 508 00:23:17,480 --> 00:23:19,520 Speaker 1: I think I don't think. I don't think he's coming back. 509 00:23:19,600 --> 00:23:22,919 Speaker 1: I think once he once the words spilled out of 510 00:23:22,920 --> 00:23:27,200 Speaker 1: his mouth, I'm retiring, basically. I think it was like, 511 00:23:27,200 --> 00:23:28,960 Speaker 1: like he said, it was a weight off his shoulders. 512 00:23:29,000 --> 00:23:31,280 Speaker 1: Now you're going down that path. It's like getting those 513 00:23:31,320 --> 00:23:33,320 Speaker 1: words to come out. It's kind of like when Ray retired. 514 00:23:33,600 --> 00:23:35,560 Speaker 1: Remember when Ray held his press conference to say this 515 00:23:35,600 --> 00:23:37,879 Speaker 1: is my last ride, and he didn't say anything for 516 00:23:37,920 --> 00:23:40,560 Speaker 1: the first twenty minutes, like he was like mumbling and 517 00:23:40,600 --> 00:23:45,280 Speaker 1: bumbling around, and then like finally he came out and said, yeah, 518 00:23:45,480 --> 00:23:48,680 Speaker 1: I'm retiring. You know. It's like it's so hard when 519 00:23:48,680 --> 00:23:50,840 Speaker 1: you get up to that edge of the cliff, and 520 00:23:50,840 --> 00:23:53,800 Speaker 1: then once you take that leap, it's like it's free, 521 00:23:54,000 --> 00:23:58,879 Speaker 1: it's freeing, And it was good to see Steve feel that. Yeah, 522 00:23:58,920 --> 00:24:00,800 Speaker 1: And if Steve retires, Ravens gonna have to find a 523 00:24:00,800 --> 00:24:04,199 Speaker 1: way to replace him. UM receiver is certainly a big 524 00:24:04,280 --> 00:24:07,320 Speaker 1: need this offseason. I mean, big shoes to Phil who 525 00:24:07,359 --> 00:24:09,960 Speaker 1: for whoever ends up coming coming in here and trying 526 00:24:09,960 --> 00:24:11,960 Speaker 1: to replace him. What do you think is the biggest 527 00:24:11,960 --> 00:24:15,800 Speaker 1: sneak to me? If I'm naming the top need, biggest 528 00:24:15,800 --> 00:24:17,760 Speaker 1: priority of offseason. We've talked a lot about Joe. You 529 00:24:17,760 --> 00:24:20,399 Speaker 1: could say that I think that the Ravens need to 530 00:24:20,480 --> 00:24:26,680 Speaker 1: find better and more cornerbacks because Jimmy Smith. I think 531 00:24:26,720 --> 00:24:28,479 Speaker 1: he's great. I think Jimmy Smith is a number one. 532 00:24:28,520 --> 00:24:30,400 Speaker 1: He can be a shutdown corner. I think he's when 533 00:24:30,400 --> 00:24:34,040 Speaker 1: he's healthy, he's probably a top fifteen guy, you know, 534 00:24:34,119 --> 00:24:37,080 Speaker 1: top ten, Maybe he's from Jimmy has stayed healthy for 535 00:24:37,160 --> 00:24:40,119 Speaker 1: sixteen games and the only two seasons were hardly mattered. 536 00:24:42,000 --> 00:24:46,200 Speaker 1: And then last year it's like, dude, stay healthy in 537 00:24:46,240 --> 00:24:47,840 Speaker 1: the season where we're going to the playoffs. And you 538 00:24:47,880 --> 00:24:49,600 Speaker 1: look at the games that the Ravens lost, and a 539 00:24:49,600 --> 00:24:51,840 Speaker 1: lot of them coinside with Jimmy not being there in Dallas, 540 00:24:51,960 --> 00:24:54,120 Speaker 1: or he got hurt against the Patriots, he got hurt 541 00:24:54,280 --> 00:24:58,480 Speaker 1: against the Giants Steelers game. I mean, his loss is significant, 542 00:24:58,480 --> 00:25:00,520 Speaker 1: But what you need is you gotta have guy as 543 00:25:00,560 --> 00:25:02,440 Speaker 1: that can fill in behind him and Tavon Young. I 544 00:25:02,480 --> 00:25:03,880 Speaker 1: think it's a good piece, but I think the Ravens 545 00:25:03,960 --> 00:25:07,240 Speaker 1: need at least one more starting caliber corner, maybe two. 546 00:25:07,480 --> 00:25:09,000 Speaker 1: I mean, like, I think they need to take one 547 00:25:09,000 --> 00:25:10,840 Speaker 1: in the first two rounds of the draft, and if 548 00:25:10,880 --> 00:25:13,280 Speaker 1: there's a veteran that comes available. You know, they try 549 00:25:13,320 --> 00:25:15,840 Speaker 1: to do that with Sharis and draw Powers, but I 550 00:25:15,840 --> 00:25:18,320 Speaker 1: think they need better corners, and I think that's to me, 551 00:25:18,720 --> 00:25:20,679 Speaker 1: that's number one on the property lists. I think the 552 00:25:20,680 --> 00:25:23,840 Speaker 1: Shari's resigning obviously didn't work out this season. They were 553 00:25:23,880 --> 00:25:26,840 Speaker 1: expecting him to be a legit number two across from Jimmy, 554 00:25:26,840 --> 00:25:30,320 Speaker 1: and Shari's just didn't struggle. He didn't play that well 555 00:25:30,359 --> 00:25:33,320 Speaker 1: this year. Um Tavon Young, I think they want to 556 00:25:33,359 --> 00:25:36,080 Speaker 1: move him into the nickel role. Ideally, they want him 557 00:25:36,080 --> 00:25:39,040 Speaker 1: to be a really good third quarterback. But to me 558 00:25:39,560 --> 00:25:42,880 Speaker 1: and I think cornerback, Yeah, that's that's probably the top 559 00:25:43,760 --> 00:25:46,360 Speaker 1: I think you have to solve the lack of an 560 00:25:46,440 --> 00:25:50,960 Speaker 1: offensive playmaker on this team. The Ravens haven't had one 561 00:25:51,080 --> 00:25:54,320 Speaker 1: in my mind since Ray Rice left, like a true 562 00:25:54,440 --> 00:25:57,959 Speaker 1: dynamic Pro Bowl. Wow, this guy is a game changing 563 00:25:58,040 --> 00:26:01,640 Speaker 1: offensive threat. Everyone's talking about him a fantasy. Yes, they 564 00:26:01,640 --> 00:26:06,040 Speaker 1: haven't had that guy since Ray was done. And so 565 00:26:06,560 --> 00:26:08,800 Speaker 1: there's a reason why the Ravens went to the playoffs 566 00:26:08,840 --> 00:26:12,840 Speaker 1: every single year from twelve. Ray Rice is at the 567 00:26:12,880 --> 00:26:15,040 Speaker 1: top of his game, playing really well all of those 568 00:26:15,119 --> 00:26:18,879 Speaker 1: years in this hip, the offense wasn't nearly as good. 569 00:26:19,000 --> 00:26:22,040 Speaker 1: It shifts to it's Joe's offense. It hasn't been this 570 00:26:22,200 --> 00:26:25,680 Speaker 1: good offense since then. So I think that you need 571 00:26:25,720 --> 00:26:28,080 Speaker 1: to find some kind of dynamic talent, whether that's at 572 00:26:28,080 --> 00:26:31,720 Speaker 1: wide receiver, tight end, or running back. That makes a difference. 573 00:26:31,720 --> 00:26:34,400 Speaker 1: The issue at wide receiver is the Ravens aren't gonna 574 00:26:34,400 --> 00:26:36,439 Speaker 1: have a high enough draft pick to get probably the 575 00:26:36,440 --> 00:26:40,040 Speaker 1: biggest stud or whatever exactly. They're not gonna have a 576 00:26:40,080 --> 00:26:42,439 Speaker 1: high enough draft pick to get him. Plus you already 577 00:26:42,440 --> 00:26:44,920 Speaker 1: invested a first round picking Brashot Perryman two years ago. 578 00:26:45,440 --> 00:26:48,719 Speaker 1: You still Perryman didn't have a great year this year. Obviously, 579 00:26:48,800 --> 00:26:50,600 Speaker 1: they expect a lot more of him, but you have 580 00:26:50,600 --> 00:26:52,080 Speaker 1: to give him more chances. It's not like you pull 581 00:26:52,160 --> 00:26:54,439 Speaker 1: the plug on Brashot Perryman. He's supposed to be a 582 00:26:54,840 --> 00:26:57,679 Speaker 1: big time playmaker, and I think he can become that, 583 00:26:58,520 --> 00:27:00,440 Speaker 1: but it hasn't been the best start of his two years. 584 00:27:00,480 --> 00:27:03,160 Speaker 1: Of his first two years, and in the NFL, so 585 00:27:03,720 --> 00:27:05,760 Speaker 1: you're not gonna invest a huge draft pick in it. 586 00:27:06,400 --> 00:27:11,080 Speaker 1: Free agent studs are really expensive. It's difficult to find 587 00:27:11,080 --> 00:27:15,600 Speaker 1: wide receivers that are right. I mean, so I don't 588 00:27:15,600 --> 00:27:17,000 Speaker 1: know if you just that you have to get lucky 589 00:27:17,000 --> 00:27:18,760 Speaker 1: and find Antonio Brown or what you have to do. 590 00:27:18,800 --> 00:27:22,720 Speaker 1: But it's that is not an easy solution there. Running back, 591 00:27:23,080 --> 00:27:26,359 Speaker 1: you can probably draft a game changer middle of the 592 00:27:26,359 --> 00:27:29,320 Speaker 1: first round or whatnot. Maybe that's the opportunity, the opportunity 593 00:27:29,400 --> 00:27:33,040 Speaker 1: for the Ravens or yeah, I mean, maybe it'll change 594 00:27:33,040 --> 00:27:34,960 Speaker 1: this year with the success of Zeke Elliott. You know, 595 00:27:35,080 --> 00:27:36,520 Speaker 1: used to be a couple of years ago there was 596 00:27:36,560 --> 00:27:38,959 Speaker 1: no first round running backs. Now one goes forth Day 597 00:27:39,000 --> 00:27:40,200 Speaker 1: happened to be the best team in the league, and 598 00:27:40,240 --> 00:27:41,840 Speaker 1: everyone says, all right, we need to get one of 599 00:27:41,880 --> 00:27:44,320 Speaker 1: those guys. So maybe that's Leonard, but maybe there's a 600 00:27:44,400 --> 00:27:47,760 Speaker 1: Leonard for Nett there at six. Whatever it is. The 601 00:27:47,840 --> 00:27:51,359 Speaker 1: Ravens need to find a big time playmaker. And if 602 00:27:51,400 --> 00:27:54,120 Speaker 1: it's multiple draft picks to try to find some, you're 603 00:27:54,119 --> 00:27:56,240 Speaker 1: just taking shot some explosive guys and you hope you 604 00:27:56,320 --> 00:27:59,720 Speaker 1: hit one. Maybe that's the attempt, but you gotta find 605 00:27:59,760 --> 00:28:01,760 Speaker 1: one because they don't have enough right now. Yeah, I 606 00:28:01,760 --> 00:28:04,199 Speaker 1: don't think anybody would disagree with that. So before we 607 00:28:04,200 --> 00:28:06,720 Speaker 1: wrap things up, we want to tell people about this 608 00:28:06,720 --> 00:28:09,760 Speaker 1: contest that we're doing. This is for really loyal podcast 609 00:28:09,800 --> 00:28:11,879 Speaker 1: listeners here, because you have to have really kind of 610 00:28:11,880 --> 00:28:14,040 Speaker 1: listened to all of the podcasts to get this. Go 611 00:28:14,200 --> 00:28:17,240 Speaker 1: back a few This was This was like October Range 612 00:28:17,680 --> 00:28:19,720 Speaker 1: and we had a guest Range. Yeah, this is the 613 00:28:19,760 --> 00:28:22,000 Speaker 1: pumpkin beer time of the year. We had a guest on. 614 00:28:22,280 --> 00:28:25,760 Speaker 1: His name was rat Boy. Was the key word there. 615 00:28:25,800 --> 00:28:28,240 Speaker 1: His name was, his name was Rapper, right, and we 616 00:28:28,240 --> 00:28:31,240 Speaker 1: got a lot of good emails about rap Boy. I 617 00:28:31,240 --> 00:28:32,640 Speaker 1: think one of my favorites. I think it was either 618 00:28:32,680 --> 00:28:35,320 Speaker 1: an email or a tweet, and the tweet to me 619 00:28:35,400 --> 00:28:39,320 Speaker 1: and said my favorite people on the podcast me rat 620 00:28:39,400 --> 00:28:45,640 Speaker 1: Boy too, and then you, uh, but rat Boy has 621 00:28:46,360 --> 00:28:48,680 Speaker 1: he has declined to ever come on the podcast again 622 00:28:48,960 --> 00:28:51,360 Speaker 1: if his name is rat Boy. He doesn't. He hates 623 00:28:51,400 --> 00:28:55,320 Speaker 1: the name. He hates rat boy. Yeah, so he will 624 00:28:55,800 --> 00:28:58,400 Speaker 1: refuse to come on the podcast unless we ditched the 625 00:28:58,480 --> 00:29:01,040 Speaker 1: rat Boy name. So we would like to get it 626 00:29:01,080 --> 00:29:04,239 Speaker 1: back on the podcast. You like his common man perspective, right, 627 00:29:04,240 --> 00:29:06,560 Speaker 1: So here's the contest. All right, we're putting it in 628 00:29:06,640 --> 00:29:10,640 Speaker 1: your hands. You guys, send us suggestions for what rat 629 00:29:10,720 --> 00:29:13,719 Speaker 1: boys new nicknames should be. Okay, you can email us 630 00:29:14,120 --> 00:29:16,800 Speaker 1: at the Lounge at Ravens dot NFL dot net. You 631 00:29:16,800 --> 00:29:20,720 Speaker 1: can tweet at Ryan Inger at g Downing fourteen. Let 632 00:29:20,800 --> 00:29:25,720 Speaker 1: us know you can. Uh. You can leave comments on iTunes, 633 00:29:26,440 --> 00:29:29,719 Speaker 1: leave your comments on their ratings and reviews, so let 634 00:29:29,800 --> 00:29:32,960 Speaker 1: us know. Then we're gonna whittle the pot down to 635 00:29:33,560 --> 00:29:36,200 Speaker 1: the top three. Yeah, you gotta give it. Give us 636 00:29:36,200 --> 00:29:39,600 Speaker 1: your names, and we're gonna take all those thousand favorite 637 00:29:39,600 --> 00:29:43,000 Speaker 1: three thousands that we get, tens of thousands, tens of thousands, 638 00:29:43,480 --> 00:29:45,440 Speaker 1: take the top three, and then we're gonna let rat 639 00:29:45,480 --> 00:29:48,120 Speaker 1: Boy make the final decision on what his nickname is 640 00:29:48,120 --> 00:29:51,840 Speaker 1: gonna be. Now, if your name is chosen, this is big, 641 00:29:51,920 --> 00:29:55,920 Speaker 1: this is big, we will mail you a poster autographed 642 00:29:55,960 --> 00:30:00,120 Speaker 1: by John Harbaugh. It's true. It's true. The asterix is 643 00:30:00,360 --> 00:30:02,840 Speaker 1: a little bit of an asterisk. The poster also has 644 00:30:02,840 --> 00:30:05,000 Speaker 1: a whole bunch of other autographs on there. Ours are 645 00:30:05,040 --> 00:30:09,480 Speaker 1: on there. It's so. It's a Kyle Buller poster. It's 646 00:30:09,560 --> 00:30:13,080 Speaker 1: one of his milk mustache posters with Kyle bowler, which 647 00:30:13,120 --> 00:30:15,560 Speaker 1: we put a Joe Flacco Foo Man choose sticker on 648 00:30:15,960 --> 00:30:18,560 Speaker 1: over his milk mustache and then we were you know, 649 00:30:18,600 --> 00:30:21,960 Speaker 1: it has the height measuring stick on the side, so 650 00:30:22,000 --> 00:30:24,240 Speaker 1: every a bunch of staff members came into lounge and 651 00:30:24,280 --> 00:30:26,640 Speaker 1: we're measured their height and they autographed next to how 652 00:30:26,760 --> 00:30:28,959 Speaker 1: tall they are. So Harp's hars came in one day 653 00:30:29,000 --> 00:30:31,680 Speaker 1: and he was like, what is this thing? And we're like, yeah, 654 00:30:31,760 --> 00:30:34,800 Speaker 1: go ahead, man, you pussure you up and you autograph. 655 00:30:35,080 --> 00:30:38,960 Speaker 1: His John Hancock is on there, his Herbie Hancock is 656 00:30:39,000 --> 00:30:40,760 Speaker 1: on there. We found this as we were cleaning out 657 00:30:40,760 --> 00:30:44,120 Speaker 1: the lounge last week. Yes, and uh, it can be yours, 658 00:30:44,280 --> 00:30:46,479 Speaker 1: it can be yours, So go ahead and submit nicknames. 659 00:30:46,560 --> 00:30:48,040 Speaker 1: You have to submit a name that you think rat 660 00:30:48,040 --> 00:30:50,320 Speaker 1: Boil like, so it can't be you know, rat Girl 661 00:30:50,720 --> 00:30:53,880 Speaker 1: for example. He probably won't pick that. Uh, so go 662 00:30:53,920 --> 00:30:56,880 Speaker 1: ahead and send us your names. Alright, So get that 663 00:30:56,960 --> 00:30:59,040 Speaker 1: done and that's it for us this week. And like 664 00:30:59,080 --> 00:31:00,760 Speaker 1: I said, we're gonna be doing the podcast once a 665 00:31:00,760 --> 00:31:03,160 Speaker 1: week during the off season. So thank you so much 666 00:31:03,200 --> 00:31:07,000 Speaker 1: for listening, and we will see you guys next week.