SPEAKER_01
Welcome into the bank. A show which covers the Baltimore Ravens and the NFL. The bank is part of BSL radio.
Baltimore Sports and Life is dedicated to analysis and discussion on the Baltimore Orioles, the Ravens, and the University of Maryland. The site has a team of writers providing coverage of those teams and houses live streaming content weekly. Join the conversations at the message board, like BSL on Facebook, and follow BSL on Twitter.
SPEAKER_03
Welcome into the bank. It's September 19th. We're a couple days past.
The Ravens get into 2-0 as they win in Cincinnati. I'm here with my colleagues, James Seek, and Kyle Andrews to talk all about it. And the preview week three versus Indianapolis.
Obviously a really impressive team performance in the Ravens in Cincinnati. Baltimore leaves Queen City. 2-0, they get the head-to-head division win.
What was your primary takeaway from the WJ?
SPEAKER_02
I think the scoreboard didn't necessarily paint an accurate picture of how much better the Ravens were than the Bengals on Sunday. Of course, we talked last week about how we thought it was going to be a close game, and we thought Kyle agreed that it looked like it was going to maybe go the Bengals way, but it wasn't indeed a close game, but really a punt return, a couple of questionable penalties that kind of kept the Bengals in the game. And this could be the theme of the show.
I think the Ravens' depth on full display was impressive. The backup offensive linemen stepped up. It was seamless.
OBJ goes down. No problem. Nelson Agalore shines.
JK Dobbins was lost last week, and the running game didn't seem to miss a beat. So overall, it was just, it was an impressive win. It just, it was standout on all accounts for me.
SPEAKER_03
Kyle, add on to that. What stands out for you?
SPEAKER_00
I think that when Maury Jackson, when he made mistakes, he went back and, you know, rectified those mistakes. I think some of the earlier play where he was holding on to the ball a little bit too long, he fixed that as time went on. He got rid of the ball really quickly.
I think that's really impressive on his end. Ravens got really creative with the different looks that they gave the Bengals defensively. I think the Ravens also on the defensive side of the ball, Patrick Queen stood out in a big way.
I think Patrick Queen played extremely well. You know, usually we're looking for Roquan Smith on all the side, you know, Roman, Roman of defense, but Patrick Queen stood out in a big way. I think the secondary played incredibly well, especially holding, you know, Jamar Chase to the limited production that he had.
I think that tight ends didn't get anything on a Raven, so clearly the linebackers played really well on coverage too. So all things considered, I mean, even though Justin Tucker had that 59-yard miss, he came back and he kicked pretty well too. So I think all around win for the Ravens.
SPEAKER_03
Jamie has you alluded, maybe a theme for today is the death that stood out on Sunday. Obviously you need that depth to get through a 17-game regular season. Secondaries received good production the first two weeks from Gene of Stone, Ronald Darby, our day is Washington, Brandon Stevens, Rockinson.
So before the year, I think we were basically aligned that maybe the Ravens would have to add secondary help before the deadline. Maybe this group is good enough as is, and obviously got a factor in the eventual returns of Marcus Williamson, Marlon Humphrey, Cal, where are you on that?
SPEAKER_00
So they all started there, just Washington, but there you got put on IR.
SPEAKER_03
That's a big one.
SPEAKER_00
But like you said, Marlon Humphrey will be back soon. I think that number one, they still need to get some more depth. I'm still convinced of that, not because they play poorly.
I think they always scheme up pretty well against the Bengals, but I just still think they need some depth just because the injuries are going to come. That's just part of the game and something that they're going to have to prepare for. And I think that they will be prepared for it, especially if Mike McDonald's calling someone to cover just because he had guys draped all over everyone defensively.
I think they played, I guess, and in the secondary, you couldn't have made any better. I don't think they could have played any better than they did, even though, you know, T Higgins went off for two touchdowns. I think that they still, you know, they limited everybody else.
And Tyler Boyd didn't have a lot of production either. So I still think they, like I said, add some depth just because you need it, not necessarily because, you know, they played poorly. And I think they played great, but you still need that depth.
SPEAKER_02
James Calmick's good point. I could always use more depth by Mr. Washington.
What do you think they're going to lead somebody else? Well, the difficult part is that the Marcus Peters deal from 2019, those kind of things don't come along very often, you know, NFL trade deadlines got a little bit more active over the last few years, but it's nothing compared to how MLB operates the trade deadline. So unless you have a team fall out of contention, maybe that has a contract they want to get rid of, I think it's going to be difficult to make any kind of an impact trade. So I think you're going to really have to count on this current group and then getting the guys back from injury to kind of hold things together.
And as Kyle said, with Mike McDonald, he just, he seems to, you know, throw the ingredients into the pot and stir it up and he'd make things happen. You know, this is now the third or fourth straight time facing the Bengals that he's really held Joe Burrow and check. And he seems to come up with the right game plan to counter with the opposing offense wants to do.
So, so where is it be nice to add something? I don't know how realistic making any kind of an impactful addition to the secondary is really going to be.
SPEAKER_03
To answer my own initial question, I, what one of the things that stood out from Sunday is I think both coordinators did a really good job. And what was with the Bengals, you know, you, you can let them operate between the 20 and 20, but you got to be able to make plays in the red zone and third down and, and they, you know, maybe this was partly burrow not being 100%, but they didn't get, you know, repeatedly beat over the top and that was obviously a key there today. Again, talking about depth, it's also a story on the offensive line, McCurry and must first stepping up in place of Stanley and linear bomb.
Two things that really helped the online Sunday Jackson getting rid of the ball quickly as Cal talked about, and the Ravens also had 37 rushing attempts. So how are you currently feeling at the online game?
SPEAKER_02
I mean, you can't be anything but encouraged after the effort on Sunday. I mean, you, you had two backups in for, you know, one pro bowler and one almost pro ball player and it was like they did miss a beat. Again, Chris, you mentioned they had Lamar getting rid of the ball quickly.
Did a couple of cool things. I really liked now they use do Renee on kind of that jet sweep that that run play late in the game. But if you notice, I think they showed that run action on a couple other occasions and it held the defensive end kind of froze the linebackers a little bit and then they passed out of that a couple of times.
So Steve wise to your point to about the coordinators, Munkin did did some things to help that undermanned offensive line. And despite Stincey sending Blitzers at a pretty high clip from what I read, I think was from for a football focus. They know sacks and only generated one quarterback hurry.
So, you know, again, between the quick release and the play of the offensive line and justice Hill and pass pro was a big part of all that too. So, I mean, it's only going to get better from here as the guys get healthy. They continue to play together and they gel in the system because that's really what it's about is getting snaps of the new system.
SPEAKER_00
How are you seeing from the big police. This is Jamie said, well more Jackson getting rid of the ball quickly. I think that really aided the offensive line.
I'm just going into this, the way that they fired all on those on those pass sets that showed run play action look great. I think that's something that the Ravens can continue to go back to going on their center using that play action. I mean, a comms from ESPN often talk about how teams that went on their center when they ran play action it worked a little bit better than going out of the shotgun or even going out of pistol like the Ravens like to use.
And then not to mention we saw the two tight ends that early on in the game they they attack with that Isaiah likely had some production early on and then you know they also got that touchdown from Mark Andrews and I think the blocking on both of those plays was it was excellent. And not to mention they weren't letting free runners up the middle I mean the interior offensive line was outstanding we often talk about how I guess early on we were a little concerned about what Sam must have to offer just considering that the you know the bears cut him or they just let him out of the outcome. And the fact of the matter is that he played just as good as anybody could have hoped for I mean he played just as good as lender bomb had played, you know, throughout the time that he's going through Ravens and, you know, you just got to talk about the way that he was in the game.
And I think that's the sense and played I mean he rode great at guys the entire day. Kevin Zeitler rode great at guys the entire day. Morgan Moses was tossing guys around, you know pushing the pile as much as he possibly could I mean that that guy.
Outstanding protection from the left side of the ball. So everything all all things considered with the Ravens offensive line I don't think you could have asked for a better day from them I think they're going to continue to play well, especially when they you know have like the Dingles front that you know you got these four guys that you know they can mix and match so I think the Ravens they did exactly what they what they needed to do offensive line wise they set the tone for the game.
SPEAKER_03
And so when RJ leaves the game Sunday and Nelson Aguilar is there for increased snaps. I was really pleased with the depth of the wide receiver in the tight end room, but I loved the initial drive Sunday was the early desire to spread the ball around the balance between the passing and run games how are you feeling about the receiving options and maybe, maybe speak to the issues the Ravens can cause opponents by spreading the wealth.
SPEAKER_00
And where did you get the ball and the other guys hands. That's something that you know we talked a lot about prior to the season was that you know, Lamar would lock on a Mark Andrews and then it seemed like everything else just broke down guys couldn't really get open. And no real separation but the fact that they got, you know, more than what was it was.
Yeah, eight guys that have receptions from the Ravens. And, you know, you look back to when Joe Flacco was the quarterback his best games came when he spread the ball around. Same thing is the case for Lamar Jackson, Margex when he hits guys, and he's hitting them downfield to know Zay flowers had that huge catch and the average 15.
5 yards per reception. And he was also getting targeted to he had 12.4 yards per target.
I think the Ravens are more that they look downfield and then they work back down. They try to attack in a bunch of different ways, they're getting all the intermediate targets as well so I think that's going to play real well for that receiving room.
SPEAKER_03
So just, you know, thought of maybe having a guy like Aguilar there as your factor fourth receiver having him being able to step in a little bit different right now.
SPEAKER_02
Well, right. I mean think about the, you know, in the offseason of course Aguilar was the first was like the first move and you know a lot of people, you know, there was a lot of kind of collective grown from the fan base, you know, when he was signed but you know he's a he's a quality, you know, he's a professional, football player that plays wide receiver. He's not some guy with a scrap heap.
He's not some kind of sign to a futures deal. You know, he's he's played in a league. So it goes to show you how this wide receiver group has evolved just from last year.
And if you think about it from a defensive coordinator standpoint, you know, I think Andrews is still going to be looked at as the number one, you know, priority to stop. But now if you decide to, you know, you decide to commit a safety and a linebacker to try to double him to try to bracket him in some way, you're going to be taking resources away from somewhere else. And I think they've already showed the first two weeks like Monk in week one, heavy Zay flowers now whether that was Lamar was comfortable throwing at the Zay or whether that was the game plan.
But you put something like Adam film, then you're like, okay, well we got to focus on number four. Well then next week we're going to put the ball, you know, we're going to take the ball this direction, or we're going to spread it around early and really make you think. So having all these options just creates nightmares for an opposing defense coordinator because you can't take away everything.
And as a result, there's going to be easy throws there, as long as the market make his progressions and get to them and deliver it.
SPEAKER_03
Jamie, Kyle mentioned Patrick Queen at the top, Queen and Hamilton both had great open field tactics on the defense feels like it has a lot of good team speed. I was going to ask you your current thoughts on Queen and Hamilton and their play right now.
SPEAKER_02
Well, I mean, since Kyle already spoke eloquently about Queen and we've been talking about him over the last couple of weeks really, I think just to say something about Kyle Hamilton. It was interesting that Hamilton felt us and there was a little bit of, you know, again, as I said previously, a little bit of a groan from the fan base like, oh, why do we need to get another safety? You know, and then it turns out, you know, Chuck Clark obviously moves on and now here for the second year in a row, despite being one of the most durable players in the NFL, Marcus Williams puts on a Ravens uniform for some reason can't stay healthy. So thank goodness, Kyle Hamilton did fall to the Ravens.
They did take him. I mean, his size, his speed, you know, his length, they're doing so many different things with him. He's able to play back for you.
He's able to step up and play in the slot. We've seen him go. We've seen him rush the quarterback from from, you know, from almost like a hybrid defensive end type position.
You know, he plays and run support. I mean, and it looks like he's after a little bit of a slow start last year when you already heard people impatiently saying, oh, we look like a bust, you know, after three games like give the kid a chance. But he's getting better and better each week and he's really just starting to scratch the surface on how good he can be.
I think we got a ball player for for the next decade in this good.
SPEAKER_03
Kyle, maybe a slight wild card going back to Queen. Any chance you think the Queen is extended with Ravens going forward? You think he's going to somebody the Ravens cannot extend due to the rest of the cap?
SPEAKER_00
So I think the cap is is always a tough situation, but if the Ravens want to maximize the way that they can guard tight ends, I think you keep Patrick Queen because you have two guys out there and him and Roquon Smith that can both guard tight ends really well. You know, Tyus Bowser will be back and he's your arguably your best coverage linebacker. And then when you add in Kyle Hamilton, I mean, that's what makes the defense so scary, right? It's the fact that you have Patrick Queen.
It's the fact that you have Roquon Smith, you have Kyle Hamilton. You have Tyus Bowser when he comes back. I mean, I think that if you want the defense to play at a high level, you have to keep your horses.
And I think Patrick Queen has proven in the past, you know, I would say in the past year. He came out playing really strong last year too. That he is one of their horses and they have to try to make sure that he sticks around with the team somehow.
I know this team is, you know, the organization as a whole is built off of linebacker play. So they would be remiss if they lost him in free agency.
SPEAKER_03
This coming Sunday, the Ravens will face the Colts at home. Looks like Gardner, you should be on your center. Colts will also have Zach Moss at running back with Jonathan Taylor still on the pump list.
I don't think Indianapolis is horrible, but I think the Ravens, they have to really slap you to penalties and turnovers for me to believe the Colts have a chance to steal the W. Anything to concern you about this matchup and beyond the Ravens win, what are you keying on? What do you want to see from the Ravens, Colts?
SPEAKER_00
I think the Ravens need to continue to try to get pressure on the quarterback. I think that's something that they didn't do extremely well in game two. But you did get some guys that were able to, you know, find some pressures like, I mean, Jadavien Clowney, he played his best game in years.
So I think you have to get pressure on the quarterback. You know, offense just has to keep with what they were doing. I mean, they're going to find something different every week.
Like, I mean, someone, I think Benjamin Solok from the ringer, he mentioned that the Ravens, you know, with Cobb Monkens, they're often using different types of concepts. He's going, you know, air raid sometimes he's going to the West Coast system sometimes he's taken away from vertical offenses. So I think that they just need to stick with the game plan and then defensively just draw up something different, get Gardner Menchew uncomfortable and they'll win the game.
SPEAKER_02
Jamie, any concerns here and what are you keying on? What do you want to see? I mean, the only the only role of moderate concern I saw was so far the Colts have racked up eight sacks. Now, granted, six of them were against the Texans and Ropey CJ Stroud. And, you know, we saw a couple weeks ago that the Ravens were able to put some good pressure on Houston.
With the offensive line probably still being shorthanded or I'm guessing it's going to be a couple of week injuries for both, you know, McCary and Linderbaum. So, you know, that's always going to be a concern because I think the reason why we saw Lamar have such a good game was because he was well protected and didn't really face any pressure. He was able to make his reads, go through his progressions and deliver the football on time and, you know, whereas the stats weren't that good, he was efficient and in command the entire game.
It was good to see. But, you know, the other thing, this is a little bit tongue-in-cheek, but I'm hoping to get through an entire game without Lamar Jackson putting the ball on the carpet. That would be really nice.
Even though last week it was wiped out via penalty, thank goodness. But he's got to take care of the football. We can't have those drive-killers or those momentum swings like that, especially against the team that you feel like you should handle in your place.
So please take care of the football and don't bring home a victory.
SPEAKER_03
I think it's clear the AFC is deeper than the NFC, but I think the three best teams overall might be the NFC. You could debate in the third to fifth. All the AFC contenders to me look like they have, you know, some flaws.
A couple of weeks into this 23 season, who do you have as the seven AFC playoff teams?
SPEAKER_02
All right. Well, let's, you know, it's still at this point, I still think it's a little bit of a crapshoot, but I think you got to stick with a lot of the preseason stuff. Ultimately, I think Kansas City will kind of, you know, clean things up and they're going to win the West.
I think Tennessee will emerge from a mediocre division a little bit ahead of Jacksonville, although I do have Jacksonville as a wildcard team. But I think that team does have, you know, some good offensive talent.
SPEAKER_03
I think that's a good one. I think that's a good one. I like them slightly better than Jacksonville, even though you like the skilled position talent overall.
Now it's a question. Jets certainly were a factor going into the year with Rodgers without him. It's hard to imagine Zach Wilson being good enough, I think, even with that defense and running game for me to believe that they're a playoff team.
SPEAKER_02
But then you're looking at, sorry, I lost my connection.
SPEAKER_03
I'm sorry, Jamie, get back one second here. It's just saying I was agreeing with you with Kansas City and basically Tennessee and I could see Jacksonville also as a wildcard or something in the mix there. And then you look at the East, obviously feelings have changed for New York, a bit of a change going from Rodgers to Wilson and then we'll see what happens with Buffalo and Miami.
SPEAKER_02
But real quick, I was going to say in the North, like now seeing what can happen with Cincinnati the last, the first couple weeks and knowing that Borough is not right and that calf injury, unless he, the only way to feel a calf is to really sit down. And I don't know if he's going to sit down. So that thing is going to linger.
And if Borough is not right, do you see what that what's going on there. And to get hard to sit down when you're you've lost two division games. Right, right.
And now on to isn't quite the death sentence that it used to be I think with the 17 game season and look Cincinnati just climbed out of an old two hole last year. However, it's not good to start a season on to it's not good to drop a division game at home. So I think the Ravens are kind of in the driver's seat now for the division, especially the Cleveland Pittsburgh acts last night.
I came away thoroughly unimpressed with both of those teams. So I still think Cincinnati is going to write the ship. And I have them as the last playoff team at this point.
SPEAKER_03
And if any of your overall AFC thoughts where you can just kind of focus on the north and just thoughts with your state for the rest of the division, whatever makes sense to you.
SPEAKER_00
I think the dolphins look incredibly good in the east. I mean, that's that's something that we said last year to, you know, everyone was pretty high on number four to went down. I think that they went that division, if every I mean, if they stay healthy, I think the bills are going to make it.
I feel like that's a given with them the way that they're going to bounce back. I mean, I don't see how they can't chiefs. I got the one in the AFC West.
I think only one team comes out of that division. I don't think the charges have it. I think Brandon Staley's on a hot seat if you know if it does go that way.
So that's three teams right there. Ravens and making a playoffs. I think that, like we said, as long as Lamar stays healthy, I mean, even if Lamar somehow, you know, knock on wood, he doesn't get injured because this is a whole different team without Lamar Jackson.
But I think they still they make the playoffs the way that they've been playing. When when I watch the Browns in the Steelers game yesterday, neither one of those two teams impressed me. I think the Browns aren't that great, especially losing Nick Chubb for the season from what it looks like.
And then the Steelers just, I mean, Kenny Pickett is he looked putrid last night to say the least. So I think those two are in trouble. I think that the Bengals will snap out of their funk.
I think they make the playoffs as well. So I think at that point we're sitting at five teams. So yeah, Jaguars and Titans, I think they both make it.
I actually think the Jaguars win that division. I think Trevor Lawrence is the best quarterback in that division by far. It's not even close.
SPEAKER_03
Sure. It definitely is. And Tannehill, certainly on the hot seat saved his job probably this past week for a while.
But you know, Tannehill we've seen if he can get obviously get the running game going play action with last year on the guys they had off IR. You know, I like to slightly better than Jacksonville. Jacksonville has a more talented surrounding cast.
So wouldn't be surprised if the Jags won that division in the East. I think the Jets are. I don't even have a more talented roster than the bills overall, but I'll take the bills of Josh Allen for their major season of exact Wilson.
So that's the role of that. The dolphins have looked great the first two weeks. And if they're playing in optimal conditions, they're going to put up a whole bunch of yards.
But I don't have a whole lot of confidence in to getting through an entire season and I don't have. And we'll see what he looks like in December and January trying to. When you're passing in cold and in the wind and everything is right.
But right now when things look right man, that is a that is a show. But the accurate. I mean, it is pretty easy guy to root for it certainly felt bad for him.
Like, you know, he went into the off season thinking maybe his career is over. So if he could stay on the field, certainly rooting for him. I don't know what he says.
But overall, just come weeks in, feeling pretty good about where the Ravens potentially are. I'll still I guess if I was putting anybody the favorite I'll give came to city just give them a nod just off of their history. The wide receivers are.
And it's, you know, my home's obviously a little bit elevate everybody but I don't think there's some overwhelming younger not. And you guys mentioned the Steelers. I, they have not looked good the first couple weeks obviously San Francisco might be the best team in the league and they just blasted them.
And then last night wasn't impressive at all. I think the Steelers have enough that they're going to be contentious that set up a playoff spot. But I don't know if they're have enough to win multiple playoff games.
I don't think I see that. But, but Ravens in a good position that's what happens you put together a couple of wins and certainly you win a division playoff to the word division game. They're so pretty excited about where the Ravens are chance gets three and over this weekend.
So last couple questions will wrap up. As you guys highlight someone that you like to cover to Ravens what something they've recently written stated that you'd like to share Jamie go first.
SPEAKER_02
I huddle it up films on on Twitter and on YouTube. Good, good follow on Twitter. Good guy just some insightful stuff and what's nice is very respectful, which is hard to find on Twitter or acts or whatever it's called these days.
But also he posts some some cool video breakdowns on YouTube just like kind of piecing together some all 22 stuff like he did a little five and like five and a half minute film highlighting Patrick McCary's game this week. So you really see, you know, what he was able to do, you know, various different passing plays running plays just kind of see how he performed and everything. So it's, yeah, that's a good follow.
I enjoy, enjoy his stuff.
SPEAKER_00
I huddle it up films nice out there. Jamie Kyle. How about you.
So she hasn't started. I guess she's starting soon if she hasn't already started but Gianna Han I just want to give her a shout out. She's a banner.
She's covering the Ravens going forward. He actually is a Howard County native so shout out to her for that and she also was the intern when I was covering sports at the Baltimore Sun back in 2019. She's a Penn State grad.
Got to give her another shout out for that. She she's outstanding. She's good at what she does and you know I've been impressed with her work over the years covering all of her and then going on to cover cover the Philadelphia Warriors for the Philadelphia Enquirer and now you know ultimately covering you know the Ravens her you know her hometown team even though she's a student fan.
SPEAKER_03
Nice progression and welcome back and what a welcome addition to the area the banner has been so congrats to them on that higher either so last thing for the week for this is maybe this will be a new regular question for us as you guys 10 year interviewing the Ravens fan base. Obviously the entire fan base is not one person or one opinion but we're going to go with that. So the idea is what's your question for the flock.
SPEAKER_00
So my question for the flock is what's your tenor on the Ravens offensive line play through two games. I think that you know a lot of people will be intrigued to see where it goes. I feel like it's very early on but I've personally been impressed with what they've been able to do with the injuries that they've had.
And I just wanted to hear that from the Ravens flock so you know whatever they have to say that would be intriguing to me.
SPEAKER_03
So you'll have to put that out on Twitter and on the board see what answers you get Jamie about.
SPEAKER_02
And my this one is probably going to be a little bit of a hot button question but I'm curious as to the fan base is temperature on head coach John Harbaugh because now we're in what are we in year. They've all blended in your 15 your 16 of the Harbaugh era and you know gone through a little bit of an evolution here from the you know from kind of the old ball coach to a little bit more of a player friendly kind of a warmer fuzzier John Harbaugh and he's gone in his in his later years but curious as to how they feel about him in in in you know this what is clearly the November of his career probably and how much longer would they like to see him at the helm. Maybe in November of his Ravens career.
SPEAKER_03
Maybe relatively young young guy. I think the answer on that Jamie would be Ravens to know everyone's happy right. Life life is good and if they have a strong regular season and money will be good and then we judge what happens in the playoffs and how far you get there.
We've seen a lot of change in coordinators over the years and I think what the fan base is going to want is wins in the postseason.
SPEAKER_02
Well what I think is an interesting dynamic to all of this is when they brought back Mike McDonald I looked at him as like he's he's got a head coach type pedigree I feel like and you're already seen what he's done with his defense and the Ravens and especially see Bishadi loves continuity. Is this the type of hire that's a head coach and waiting type of thing. Todd Munkin certainly isn't that but Mike McDonald fits that profile perfectly and that kind of makes me wonder like his horrible start until you know feel the years of coaching you know kind of you know on his just overall you know health and sanity really you know even though he loves doing it I mean he is what's 60 61 now and that's a long time in the NFL.
SPEAKER_03
Yeah it's a tremendously long long run. Good question so we both good good stuff and we both appreciate it. Find their work at the site BaltimoreSportsAndLife.
com come and join the Ravens talk both general section and also our game thread on Sunday as the Ravens are trying to do a three and oh starting year versus start the year against Indianapolis. For Jamie and for Kyle thanks for listening we'll be back next week take care.