Amsterdam/Ravens Review (pt 1)

I am back from an amazing trip to Amsterdam. While the set up of the trip may sound like a great idea for documentary: The only single guy, and a frat boy at that, going to Amsterdam and all other guys are going with their significant others. Yet my trip was amazing for reasons that you may not expect I got to know the people on my trip a lot better and gained a new perspective on some of them as well as a new nickname.
This trip showed me how beautiful people are all over the world. From the people at the hostel who tried to help me and my roommates get into our locked rooms and set up a bed for us at 1 Am to a random drunk Irish guy at a bar there were so many people who were willing to help us. Also, I got to learn about myself and see that what makes me happy is my friends and my family no matter what the sorroundings. I also saw that I can truly get along with almost anyone regardless of personality. Lastly, I was able to watch the first half of the Ravens game and get updates from my parents about the disappointing 2nd half. While I was disappointed in the result I realized tha I was in Amsterdam and have so many other things going for me which allowed me to put that loss in perspective.

Now that being said I am disappointed in this loss by a team that many , including myself picked to win it all in the preseason. While there were some highs like the reemergence of Todd Heap and the growth of players like Jarrett Johnson and Flacco as well as a spectacular performance by Koch and Cundiff. There were also many lows like the blown fourth quarter leads and the god awlful play calling through out the year as well as the handcuffing of Flacco by Cameron

Those developments all come back to one man Cam Cameron, the Offensive Coordinator, who needs to be fired or the ravens will not break through to the next level. One play come to mind when I think about the poor playing calling: December 5th Ravens leading the Steelers 10-6 2nd and 5 late in the 4th (3:30-4 minutes left)from around their own 40 after Ray Rice broke some of his biggest runs of the night and without our best blocking Tight End (Heap) and Back (Leron Mcclain). This situation screams run two straight times at best you get a first down and can practically run the clock out at worst you don't get the first and either the steelers are out of timeouts or save their timeouts but have to drive 80+ yards in 2 minutes to win with a hobbled Big Ben. Instead we have a pass play and Troy strips Flacco leading the Steelers to a victory which gave them the division, the bye, and homefield for the playoff game. In a similar situation the next week 3rd and 2 a pass play is called incomplete Houston drove 90 yards for a game tying TD against a tired defense.

Another issue I have with Cameron is his refusal to lean on the running game throughout the year and refusal to let Flacco to audible out of plays. The one game he did both of these things was arguably our best game of the year a huge December win over the red hot Saints. This is not a new thing for Cameron he was known to Handcuff both Drew Brees and Philip Rivers in San Diego and both of their careers have taken off since being seperated from Cameron.

Look at the playoff loss last saturday the Steelers face a key 3rd and 19 and Big Ben AUDIBLES out of a short pass play and hits a 50+ yard pass play to set up the game winning score something Flacco is not allowed to do. Also Cameron struggles on Red zone play calling he loves running on 1st and 2nd down and then making Flacco throw for a TD in a known passing situation instead of taking a shot on 1st down and keeping their defense on their heels.

A perfect candidate to replace Cameron is Brad Childress, while he is a horrible Head coach, he was a great offensive coordinator with the Eagles when they went to 4 Conference title games in a row including Super Bowl 39. During this time he worked with Harbaugh the special teams coach for the Eagles at that time. Also the Ravens made a rare coaching mistake when they replaced Greg Mattison with Defensive Backs coach Chuck Pagano who led the weak link of our defense th DB's. We should have looked at guys Like Dean Pees who was the Pats D coordinator during their perfect season or outside the organization for current Defensive Assistants.

I will look at personnel moves the Ravens must make tomorrow.