Not to worry

This will be short and sweet. Yes, we all had ideas that if the Ravens played well and maybe even beat the Giants they'd be considered a top tier team. We all learned what we really knew if we were being truthful. The Ravens are a better than average team bunched up with a ton of other teams like them. Take out the Giants, Titans and a few others like Carolina and maybe Tampa Bay the NFL is filled with average teams, and that's ok. It's really what the league wants... Parity. What does it mean? It means that any team has a chance in any game. In theory it's sounds good but people like dynasty's. The Bulls, Celtics, Pats, Cowboys, Packers etc over the years have earned the love and respect of the public, not the average teams. But for now this is the NFL. Look at the bright side, the way this Ravens franchise operates they should have a shot almost every year. Keep your head up, plenty of football left and yes still a shot at post season play.

Glenn Younes
Sirius XM Satellite Radio

I told you

Didn't I tell you Ngata was a beast, now everyone is talking him up... saying what I wrote several times way before the "media". I am the media and I said it first, how bout that. What a tip and catch for the big man from Oregon. OK, the game now… Wow, handle the Texans no problem why don't you. Was the game really even close, in score sort of in the 1st half but everything was painted purple and stayed that way the till it was a blowout. Didn't I tell you this team was different weeks and weeks ago? Didn't I write that despite a few losses you could see this team had a plan, wanted to win and was going to play together? Yes, Yes, Yes and Yes. The good news, the team is coming together. More good news that the AFC is much more up in the air than most expected. Pitts, Tenn, Colts, Pats etc are all beatable; The Ravens know they can hang with Tenn and Pitts. Bad news now... 4 of the next 6 games come vs. the hard nosed, tough teams from the NFC EAST. In NY w/ the Giants, in B-more vs. Philly, Home vs. Wash and at Dallas along with Cinn, Pitts and the Jags as the final 7 games. That is not an easy road to hoe. Breaking down the next 7 super fast. I could see many games going either way, the Giants will beat the Ravens but really after that I could see them winning them all or losing the rest, save for the Bengals game where the Ravens should win easily. Heck yes the Ravens can beat Pitt, Cinn, Dallas, Skins, Jags, Philly any given Sunday but they have them all in the next 7 games, hard, hard and harder. Should be a great seven weeks to watch.

Glenn Younes
XM Sirius Satellite Radio

so you thought

So you thought this was the same old Ravens. I told you weeks ago not to let the results cloud what I could see, this is a different team offensively. They are more dynamic, they have the same amount of tools but now they actually use them. Cam Cameron DOES know how to run an offense, Joe Falcco can make the throws, he's cool under pressure and for the first time in a long time the Ravens can score early, often and even late from behind. Last week the Baltimore boys scored 37 points and 17 unanswered in the 4th quarter for a 37-27 win... ON THE ROAD. That's a big statement in Division. Over the past several weeks I've written how this team is growing and working toward a goal, well in Cleveland they took a huge leap. I've said it before and I'll say it again, Haloti Ngata may be the best player on the team. He's the reason Suggs had a pick 6. He routinely takes on doubles with the sole purpose of shedding his blocks to make the tackle when the o-line thought they had him contained. Ngata is as big a part of the Ravens D as anyone, and like before I can't help but give credit to the front office. They do as good a job as any team in the league with keeping the franchise relevant. The high picks turn great, mid round picks start and help and they always seem to find late round gems. The AFC, from what I've seen, does NOT have that world beating team and if the Ravens keep getting better they could make a splash this season.

Glenn Younes
Sirius XM Satellite Radio

Suggs: Big Words - Big Game

There's a first time for everything, last year it was the Dolphins first and only win of the season, in week 7, 2008, the Ravens grabbed the franchises first win in eight tries in MIA. It also marked the first career TD for T Sizzle, in what has been a fantastic young one. Suggs is known for his relentless pursuit of the QB, hard hits and fast play, so it was a shock to me and others that he had yet to get in the end zone. The Ravens score so frequently on Defense one almost takes for granted or assumes all the stars score and do so often. His score was more than just 7 point or momentum. It set the tone...but that's not the reason it meant so much. It was his off field comments during the week prior about needing a Ravens win or the season may be lost. Players could and would wonder mentally or just toss in the towel on the season. Suggs and his TD kept hope alive for the season and showed this Ravens team that he is there to fight the good fight with them. That he can back up his words, help the cause, and not just be a stone thrower. Jump on my back.... I'm here to win. And on Sunday in Miami Win they did.

Glenn Younes
Sirius XM Satellite Radio

Same Old Song and Dance?

Could you say this is the same old story with the Ravens? Sure, you could say that… I won’t, the Ravens Defense held them in the game, keeping the Titans to just 13 points. And yes, the last drive was helped by a terrible call against the Ravens. But this is NOT the same Ravens teams of past. It’s not all D and no O. Listen… I know 10 points is unacceptable, ROOKIE QB, ROOKIE HEAD COACH, TOP FLIGHT TITANS DEFENSE. These things will happen. As many may know I work for Sirius XM Satellite Radio and I was on our morning show Monday where this game came up. The host and producer said to me “same ole Ravens” and I had to disagree. The past regimes stunk on offense because they could not score. These current Baltimore Boys are learning to run the ball, and well, while teaching a youngster Pro Football. This team and scheme is to keep the Ravens in the game. We have seen over the first four games that this team can score. The Titans are a really good team. They are much better on Defense, like the Ravens, but find ways on Offense. Just look at their QB situation. Kerry Collins is not a world beater, but he is or is supposed to be the calming force. Dump it off to the rookie back Chris Johnson, hit the TE’s in the middle and only if needed throw way down field. Dink and dunk, chip away and play field position. Does that sound familiar? It should, it’s just like the Ravens, Jags, Steelers & Redskins the past few years. Those “other” teams mentioned have all been to the playoffs in the last few years. It’s one way to win. The other is the Cowboys, Giants, Pats, Cardinals, etc…offense and lots of it, while holding on trying to win. More than one way to skin a cat and the Ravens know the way they do it is with D. Try to minimize mistakes on O and walk out winners. It’s going to happen; a Rookie QB will throw some bad ones. Flacco did and now needs to learn from them. The key is not making the same mistakes twice. This team had little to no expectations to start the year, and I’m not saying the people in purple could not and should not be 4-0, but in my mind going into every game this year the Ravens have a shot. That is not something I would have said, written or thought 5 weeks ago. There will be ups and downs, always is, but this team will continue to fight and have a chance. Hard loss Sunday lets all bounce back Monday!

Glenn Younes
Sirius XM Satellite Radio

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Defending Consistency

It may seem like the theme of my Raven blogs are similar, and they are. The reason: This team is at the very least consistent and like most know, it starts with the D. Ray Lewis gets lots and lots of love and rightfully so, but did you notice just how much face time our boy Ed Reed got on MNF? Tons and that man needs it and deserves it, although he may not want or like it. Is there a more silent, laid back, stone cold beast in the defensive back field... I don't think so. Glad the people at ESPN showed some equal love. Ok so on to the football, we knew the game was to be physical but it bordered on dirty. Sure I'd like the Ravens to win all of their game, you could even say I'm a fan, but damn anyone could see the Steelers were playing a bit dirty. That said the Ravens matched the intensity, played hard and kept the Steelers on their heels almost all night long. While most look at Reed, Lewis, Kelly, Suggs and others... don't over look a 6-4 345 nose tackle named Haloti Ngata. That guy is a monster. He fills holes in the run game, takes on two guys with ease, gets down field when needed. Hands up in the pass game and comes up with interceptions when most would, maybe, get a deflection. This team / franchise does such a fantastic job of drafting on the "other side" of the ball. They have a high draft pick who turns out great, they grab mid round guys who turn out good and they take flyers on late round guys who show up huge on specials and in reserve. Now with a new staff and a realistic approach on Offense I see no reason why this team going forward will not be consistently in the playoff picture. Yes, they lost to the Steelers in a tough game that Baltimore should have, could have, won. Yup it hurts, but it's life, it's football, it happens. Not everything goes our way all the time, but don't get the results confused with what we all saw. The Ravens are a pretty strong bunch, they are growing with a young QB and he will take his lumps. We saw it Monday, but Rome was not built in a day and he seems to not make the same mistakes twice. That's about all you can ask of him three games in. Three games people. I'm not sure about you but I'm in this for the long haul. Just like the stock market, it has ups and downs but in the end this team has the right approach for long term success.

Glenn Younes
Sirius XM Satellite Radio

Plaxico Suspended!?!?

What is the purpose of suspending NFL players for missing team meetings or not returning phones calls etc? IE Plaxico Burress going M.I.A. I’m not saying its ok what he did because it’s not. No matter what was going on a simple text or phone call to the right coach or teammate or even his agent, so Drew can call the team, is all he had to do. A three minute inconvenience is all it would be, if that. Did Burress not go to the restroom all day Monday? That’s the same amount of time it would take, so don’t think I’m taking his side because I’m not. But let’s relate this to the real world. Take a sales job, any sales job. Say a TOP sales guy for this company decides not to show up for a little group lunch or get-together. Do you think the company would take that guy off the street for 1/16th of his selling year? OF COURSE NOT! No company would take away his income and more importantly their income, cutting off your nose to spite your face if not how one becomes successful. You know what they would do if anything? Take away a piece of his bonus or limit his ability to enjoy the year end trip for Top Performers (ie the Pro Bowl). But this plan only works for the stars, I understand. So what about the little guy? The league doesn’t care about the little guy. The little guy will learn, and quick, that if he messes up he is GONE. The big guys should have their Bonuses at risk for personal conduct reasons. A set of levels to be determined by the players union and league, so as to rate each infraction on a scale. They should also have the shot at the Pro Bowl taken away for certain infractions. Those are some choices and yes that will never fly the way contracts are today because the bonus money is the HOLY GRAIL for players as the only thing guaranteed, but if they themselves get together and realize this is an alternative to missing GAMES and now when they miss time they lose money anyway… maybe just maybe we can get somewhere. To take a player off the field, hurt him, hurt the team and hurt the fans, to me, is throwing bad after bad. Let’s try and make some sense people!



Glenn Younes

Sirius XM Satellite Radio