by Paul Apple | Apr 28, 2024 | Sports
Approach: This will not be a critique of the decisons made by the Ravens. Instead, it will be a rose-colored after-the-fact look of how I wish the Ravens had drafted, given how the board ended up falling. So this is not a fair analysis, but it is a fun exercise of...
by Paul Apple | Apr 17, 2024 | Sports
The new ownership group for the Baltimore Orioles under the leadership of David Rubenstein brings a lot of energy and hope for the future for the direction of the franchise. However, right out of the box they have made a major miscalculation in failing to consider...
by Paul Apple | Apr 9, 2024 | Sports
You can download my complete spreadsheet based on the Big Board composite rankings (updated 4/23/24) that allows you to play around with creating your own mock draft. My selections for the Ravens are in the left column titled PGA. Some rankings from other major...
by Paul Apple | Nov 18, 2021 | Sports, Top Ten Lists
10) Why did we even give Le’Veon Bell a shot with the team when it was obvious he had lost a couple of steps and his deliberate style was not a match for our scheme? What are the reasons that we cannot get back to the type of running plays that Lamar utilized back in...
by Paul Apple | Sep 28, 2021 | Sports
What a brilliant stealth move by the Ravens personnel department. Before their rash of running back injuries, when there was no way to hang on to Nate McCrary, they subtly allow him to leak out to the Denver Broncos. Now on the game week when they need that valuable...
by Paul Apple | Sep 27, 2021 | Sports
The Ravens are certainly providing the best value for the entertainment dollar this season. In another miracle finish, Lamar overcomes a fourth and 19 hole to set up Justin Tucker for a game-winning record 66 yard field goal as time expires. Not only that, but the...
by Paul Apple | Sep 14, 2021 | Sports
How do you lose 3 games in the season opener? The Ravens found a way. After taking the lead with under 40 seconds, they allowed the Raiders (despite no timeouts) to complete 2 twenty yard passes down the middle of the field for a tying three-pointer. Then in overtime,...
by Paul Apple | Sep 3, 2021 | Sports
When it comes to success in the NFL draft, the Baltimore Ravens have one of the better track records in the league. However, one area that should be examined more critically is whether they have been rating the Michigan players too highly (possibly due to close...
by Paul Apple | Sep 3, 2021 | Sports
With all the talk about the Orioles in rebuilding mode and beefing up their farm system as they look forward to becoming competitive, we need a reality check from examining the trades made since 2016. We had a large number of legitimate major league starters (and even...
by Paul Apple | Apr 29, 2021 | Sports
Pick Slots: #27 #31 (picked up from Kansas City in trade for Orlando BrownBest Guess: We will make one of these picks and trade down in the other one to pick up a second round pick and an additional fourth round pickTeam Needs: 1) Offensive Line help – right tackle...
by Paul Apple | Mar 29, 2021 | Sports
How could this have happened? After looking like a championship caliber team against Alabama, the Terps were reduced to a pedestrian performance by a sixth ranked Texas Longhorns group of over-achievers. The talent was definitely on the side of the Terps. But the...
by Paul Apple | Mar 29, 2021 | Sports, Top Ten Lists
10. Every time a player who is older than 24 starts to show consistent productivity, they trade him away for future prospects. That is painful for the fans — but seems like a proven strategy for teams in our rebuilding stage.9. They operate with the lowest payroll in...
by Paul Apple | Mar 22, 2021 | Pet Peeves, Sports
The role of baseball announcer used to be sacred — the seat would be occupied by a legendary figure for decades. Kids growing up with their loyalty to their favorite team would find the familiar voice of the radio broadcaster both comforting and inspiring — a true...
by Paul Apple | Jan 10, 2021 | Sports
When a team has beaten you decisively in critical situations on your home turf in successive games. When they have blatantly disrespected your head coach and danced on your logo in classless fashion. When their head coach has talked about coming into the game with...
by Paul Apple | Nov 16, 2020 | Sports
This game is not worthy of a lot of technical analysis. Let me just make a number of observations that support my summary evaluation = WHAT A MESS!The weather conditions were a MESS! It was fitting that the game ended in the most dismal driving rainstorm you could...
by Paul Apple | Nov 9, 2020 | Sports
PREGAME: – Ravens had a lot of factors stacked against them going into the game:o They had to reshuffle their offensive line due to the injury to Ronnie Stanley.o Marlon Humphrey was out due to COVID. That impacted Jimmy Smith’s role as well as requiring Terrell...
by Paul Apple | Nov 2, 2020 | Sports
This loss stung. It was against our bitter rival at home who remains undefeated even though on paper it looks like the Ravens are the better team. It cost us Ronnie Stanley on a gruesome injury that now means we have no depth at the tackle position. It continues the...
by Paul Apple | Oct 19, 2020 | Sports
WE HAD IT ALL THE WAY . . . UNTIL WE ALMOST LOST ITKey Play of the Game — Matthew Judon blowing up the mesh point on the two point conversion attempt at the end of the game to try to force overtime. He was assisted on the tackle by L. J. Fort.Key Player of the Game —...
by Paul Apple | Oct 12, 2020 | Sports
To quote Coach Harbs: “The defense played lights out!” That was a dominant performance by the defensive coaching staff and players for the entire game.Consistent pressure on rookie QB Joe Burrow made him look pedestrian. Seven sacks will intimidate anyone — 5 of these...
by Paul Apple | Oct 9, 2020 | Sports, Top Ten Lists
Quoting from Andy Nesbitt’s column in the USAToday after the game:Tom Brady had a rough night in Chicago. He absolutely lost it on his offensive linemen after a dreadful drive that had about a million bad penalties.He got sacked by Khalil Mack, who then tossed one of...