To be a third-year pro in 2010 season, the Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco has shown some talent in football through performance in the past two seasons, and the team indeed has much expectation out of him.
According to reports, Ravens offensive coordinator and new quarterbacks coach Jim Zorn had Flacco spend a week at the University of Southern California earlier this month where he trained with a pitching coach. The purpose of the baseball workout is to strengthen the smaller muscles surrounding his throwing shoulder to upgrade his arm strength, accuracy, durability and longevity, all the elements for being a great quarterback.
Besides, the Ravens have also signed three star wide receivers from the free agent market: Anquan Boldin, Derrick Mason and Donte’ Stallworth. Even the new quarterback coach Zorn was a special choice for Flacco as Zorn himself was used to be an NFL quarterback with the Seattle Seahawks. All the efforts made are for one goal: to make Joe a championship quarterback.
“There are terms like ‘elite quarterback’ and ‘franchise quarterback.’ All of those things are where we expect Joe to go. He does even more so than we do. You know how Joe is. He already thinks he’s the best quarterback in the NFL,” said Ravens coach John Harbaugh during the NFL owners meetings at the Ritz-Carlton Grande Lakes. “But he knows that he’s always going to have a lot of work to do. I know physically he needs to get stronger. Mentally, he needs to get sharper. Technique-wise, he needs to get more pronounced. But the expectation is to be the winningest quarterback in the NFL.”
What Flacco needs to do is simply to prove he deserves the high expectation. Actually, he has proven to be capable of winning. The former first-round draft pick has helped the Ravens appear in playoff for two consecutive seasons since he put on the Ravens jersey in 2008. Despite several painful injuries like sprained ankle and badly bruised thigh and hip, he still managed to complete 63.1 percent of his throws for a career-high 3,613 yards and 21 touchdowns.
Showing posts with label the Ravens. Show all posts
Showing posts with label the Ravens. Show all posts
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Saturday, March 6, 2010
Ravens obtained WR Boldin from Cardinals via trade
The Baltimore Ravens now have another talented pass catcher on their roster after a trade with the Arizona Cardinals. Yeah, you may have guessed it out, wide receiver Anquan Boldin has had his wish of leaving Cardinals come true and will appear in Ravens jersey for the 2010 season.
Through the trade on Friday, the Ravens also got a fifth-round pick in addition a Boldin from the Cardinals and the price was a third- and fourth-round pick in the 2010 draft. What the Ravens offered to Boldin was a new four-year contract that is worth $28 million, including a $10 million guaranteed money. Frankly, it’s a much bigger deal that the four-year, $22.5 million contract the Cardinals offered to him after the 2005 season. What’s more, the Ravens value him more than the Cardinals do and are open-minded with plays’ off-field issues. Good example is that they signed former Cleveland Browns wide receiver Donte’ Stallworth after he was released by the former team after he served the sentence for an automobile accident which resulted in the death of a Miami, Florida pedestrian and a DUI manslaughter conviction.
“The Ravens just got better,” Coach John Harbaugh said. “Anquan is a significant addition for us. He fits the personality of our team with the hard-nosed, physical way he plays. We love the way he competes. Our fans will enjoy watching him compete and his teammates will be excited to have him with us.”
At age 29, Boldin has had at least 1,000 yards receiving in five of his seven seasons and his number in last season was 1,024 yards on 84 catches. He began asking for a trade since last year after failing to get a new contract from the franchise. No trade is done last year because the Cardinals did not find any offer to their satisfaction.
Through the trade on Friday, the Ravens also got a fifth-round pick in addition a Boldin from the Cardinals and the price was a third- and fourth-round pick in the 2010 draft. What the Ravens offered to Boldin was a new four-year contract that is worth $28 million, including a $10 million guaranteed money. Frankly, it’s a much bigger deal that the four-year, $22.5 million contract the Cardinals offered to him after the 2005 season. What’s more, the Ravens value him more than the Cardinals do and are open-minded with plays’ off-field issues. Good example is that they signed former Cleveland Browns wide receiver Donte’ Stallworth after he was released by the former team after he served the sentence for an automobile accident which resulted in the death of a Miami, Florida pedestrian and a DUI manslaughter conviction.
“The Ravens just got better,” Coach John Harbaugh said. “Anquan is a significant addition for us. He fits the personality of our team with the hard-nosed, physical way he plays. We love the way he competes. Our fans will enjoy watching him compete and his teammates will be excited to have him with us.”
At age 29, Boldin has had at least 1,000 yards receiving in five of his seven seasons and his number in last season was 1,024 yards on 84 catches. He began asking for a trade since last year after failing to get a new contract from the franchise. No trade is done last year because the Cardinals did not find any offer to their satisfaction.
Friday, February 19, 2010
Stallworth found job in Ravens
The day after wide receiver Donte’ Stallworth was reinstated to the NFL we were not surprised much to be informed that the Cleveland Browns released the former Browns star. And after a couple of weeks’ speculation on where the receiver is going, the result turns out to be: the Baltimore Ravens signed Stallworth.
In his own statement, Stallworth cherished the chance of playing football again in NFL jersey very much after one year of suspension for violating the league’s personal-conduct policy for a DUI vehicular manslaughter charge.
“There was a time I felt the mistake I made was the end of the world for me,” Stallworth said in a statement. “I will never get that morning back. It weighs on me every day and will for the rest of my life. What I can do is move forward, try to be a better person, try to convince others not to do what I did and warn others about the dangers of drinking and driving. I have to show otherwise that what happened doesn’t reflect who I am. I have to prove that, and, hopefully, I’m on my way to doing that. I know my apology will never be strong enough for some, but I’ve made changes, and I’m trying to be a positive influence. It’s an honor and privilege to play in the NFL, and I’m so thankful for this opportunity.”
The contract the Ravens offered to Stallworth was not a big one- it is worth $900,000 with an additional $300,000 in incentives. But Stallworth was glad to get signed on Wednesday, one day after he worked out for the Ravens. Hope he could keep his excellence and help the Ravens to be better in 2010 season and have a different experience from Michael Vick, whose status for 2010 season remains uncertain after spending one season with the Philadelphia Eagles following a long-term sentence.
In his own statement, Stallworth cherished the chance of playing football again in NFL jersey very much after one year of suspension for violating the league’s personal-conduct policy for a DUI vehicular manslaughter charge.
“There was a time I felt the mistake I made was the end of the world for me,” Stallworth said in a statement. “I will never get that morning back. It weighs on me every day and will for the rest of my life. What I can do is move forward, try to be a better person, try to convince others not to do what I did and warn others about the dangers of drinking and driving. I have to show otherwise that what happened doesn’t reflect who I am. I have to prove that, and, hopefully, I’m on my way to doing that. I know my apology will never be strong enough for some, but I’ve made changes, and I’m trying to be a positive influence. It’s an honor and privilege to play in the NFL, and I’m so thankful for this opportunity.”
The contract the Ravens offered to Stallworth was not a big one- it is worth $900,000 with an additional $300,000 in incentives. But Stallworth was glad to get signed on Wednesday, one day after he worked out for the Ravens. Hope he could keep his excellence and help the Ravens to be better in 2010 season and have a different experience from Michael Vick, whose status for 2010 season remains uncertain after spending one season with the Philadelphia Eagles following a long-term sentence.
Monday, February 1, 2010
Jim Zorn now works for Ravens
After being fired by the Washington Redskins, former Redskins head coach Jim Zorn was welcomed by those in Baltimore Ravens to be their quarterbacks coach, sticking to his last before being hired to be Redskins coach.
Indeed, as a head coach, Zorn’s performance had been disappointing. In his first year coaching those in Redskins jerseys, the Washington team went to 8-8, but in the second season, the 2009 season, the team experienced a hug setback and slumped to 4-12. Zorn did not bring much hope to Redskins fans, who might be happy to see what a new coach could bring to them.
Well, as a quarterbacks coach, Zorn could at least be considered experienced. He used to be a quarterbacks coach for the Detroit Lions and Seattle Seahawks. And Ravens Coach John Harbaugh thinks that could be called a “great resume” as such experience has made Zorn be familiar with Ravens offense enough to be a qualified quarterbacks coach.
Indeed, as a head coach, Zorn’s performance had been disappointing. In his first year coaching those in Redskins jerseys, the Washington team went to 8-8, but in the second season, the 2009 season, the team experienced a hug setback and slumped to 4-12. Zorn did not bring much hope to Redskins fans, who might be happy to see what a new coach could bring to them.
Well, as a quarterbacks coach, Zorn could at least be considered experienced. He used to be a quarterbacks coach for the Detroit Lions and Seattle Seahawks. And Ravens Coach John Harbaugh thinks that could be called a “great resume” as such experience has made Zorn be familiar with Ravens offense enough to be a qualified quarterbacks coach.
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Ravens QB Flacco expects to be ready against Colts
The Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco will have rest for the next a few days to take care of his quad injury, but hopefully he would be able to put on his NO. 5 Ravens jersey and play in the Saturday night’s playoff game against the Indianapolis Colts.
Flacco was limping during pregame warm-ups before Sunday’s game against the New England Patriots. He threw only 10 passes Sunday, completing four for 34 yards, and had a passer rating of 10.0. Anyway it was still much better than previous expectation. Previously there was concern he might not be able to play as Flacco has been nursing a hip injury for about five weeks and had to have blood drained from the area several weeks ago.
The second-year quarterback started the season strong but has struggled the past three weeks because of injuries that caused him to have little mobility and fail to step into a number of throws. Expecting to be at 100 percent Saturday night against the Colts, Flacco may be also expecting to prove his value by giving 100 percent performance.
Flacco was limping during pregame warm-ups before Sunday’s game against the New England Patriots. He threw only 10 passes Sunday, completing four for 34 yards, and had a passer rating of 10.0. Anyway it was still much better than previous expectation. Previously there was concern he might not be able to play as Flacco has been nursing a hip injury for about five weeks and had to have blood drained from the area several weeks ago.
The second-year quarterback started the season strong but has struggled the past three weeks because of injuries that caused him to have little mobility and fail to step into a number of throws. Expecting to be at 100 percent Saturday night against the Colts, Flacco may be also expecting to prove his value by giving 100 percent performance.
Friday, October 23, 2009
Vikings hope Winfield to play against Steelers
After experiencing the stark contrast between the defense with Antoine Winfield and without while playing against the Baltimore Ravens, the Minnesota Vikings now have high hopes of the team’s smallest player to play this Sunday against the Steelers in Pittsburgh.
The 5-foot-9, 180-pound Pro Bowl cornerback sprained his right foot in the second quarter of the game against the Ravens, leaving a giant hole in the Vikings defense. The Vikings forced Baltimore to punt on its first five possessions as they jumped out to a 14-0 lead. But after they lost Winfield in the second quarter, quarterback Joe Flacco in Ravens jersey started to pick apart the secondary from then on out.
As they are going to face another big test this Sunday in Pittsburgh- the suddenly pass-happy Steelers, the Vikings defense is in need of Winfield, who has missed the first two days of practice this week. It is not a good sign. And Coach Brad Childress said Thursday that he was still uncertain whether Winfield would be able to play Sunday.
The 5-foot-9, 180-pound Pro Bowl cornerback sprained his right foot in the second quarter of the game against the Ravens, leaving a giant hole in the Vikings defense. The Vikings forced Baltimore to punt on its first five possessions as they jumped out to a 14-0 lead. But after they lost Winfield in the second quarter, quarterback Joe Flacco in Ravens jersey started to pick apart the secondary from then on out.
As they are going to face another big test this Sunday in Pittsburgh- the suddenly pass-happy Steelers, the Vikings defense is in need of Winfield, who has missed the first two days of practice this week. It is not a good sign. And Coach Brad Childress said Thursday that he was still uncertain whether Winfield would be able to play Sunday.
Friday, September 18, 2009
Three key offensive starters will miss Chargers Sunday’s game
It is very near that the game between the San Diego Chargers and the Baltimore Ravens will begin. However, three Chargers key offensive starters are expected to miss the game on Sunday.
Running back LaDainian Tomlinson, center Nick Hardwick and right guard Louis Vasquez all missed their second straight practice on Thursday, decreasing the chance they’ll play against the vaunted Ravens defense. All of the three had injuries, with Hardwick and Tomlinson’s ankles sprained and Vasquez’s knee sprained.
According to coach Norv Turner, the players who missed Thursday’s practice would have less chance than other guys to play in Sunday’s game.
Running back LaDainian Tomlinson, center Nick Hardwick and right guard Louis Vasquez all missed their second straight practice on Thursday, decreasing the chance they’ll play against the vaunted Ravens defense. All of the three had injuries, with Hardwick and Tomlinson’s ankles sprained and Vasquez’s knee sprained.
According to coach Norv Turner, the players who missed Thursday’s practice would have less chance than other guys to play in Sunday’s game.
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
Ravens OT Terry placed on IR for knee problems
Chronic problems with right knee will place Baltimore Ravens offensive tackle Adam Terry on injured reserve.
The former second-round draft pick was already placed on the physically unable to perform list and did not practice at training camp after he had arthroscopic knee surgery during the offseason. Ravens coach John Harbaugh said that Terry will have to undergo some more procedures and be unable to play in any game wearing his No. 78 ravens jersey this season.
Terry started seven games last season and was projected to compete for the starting right tackle job with first-round draft pick Michael Oher. Now the Ravens will have to choose from Oniel Cousins, Joe Reitz and potentially offensive guard Marshal Yanda to finish the competition.
The former second-round draft pick was already placed on the physically unable to perform list and did not practice at training camp after he had arthroscopic knee surgery during the offseason. Ravens coach John Harbaugh said that Terry will have to undergo some more procedures and be unable to play in any game wearing his No. 78 ravens jersey this season.
Terry started seven games last season and was projected to compete for the starting right tackle job with first-round draft pick Michael Oher. Now the Ravens will have to choose from Oniel Cousins, Joe Reitz and potentially offensive guard Marshal Yanda to finish the competition.
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