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ravens

AFC North Baltimore Ravens

Ravens’ Fan: My Lamar Jackson/Draft day Experience

by Jermaine Lockett April 30, 2018

written by Jermaine Lockett

Roger S

Ravens’ Fan: My Lamar Jackson/Draft day Experience

Attending the NFL Draft is a fan experience like none other. I could not explain through photos the fun that is surrounding the event. There were things like getting an autograph from Roger Staubach, almost getting ran over by Nick Saban in a golf cart and booing the commissioner at the beginning of the draft as well as every time he comes to the podium. These, as well as other experiences really make the moment memorable, but the most important memory is that of your team getting the pick right, or at least getting what you feel is right in your eyes.

Disappointment…

I’ll be honest, I was slightly disappointed as a Baltimore Ravens’ fan when they decided to go after Hayden Hurst. My dreams were shattered and I was tossing soda and telling my co-workers “YO! I’m done! It’s time to go!” We left the draft and headed back to Wichita Falls.

Oh but wait…

In the car, I thought about checking the highlights and stats of my team’s failure, I mean 25th overall pick and was definitely surprised at what I found. Hurst is a beast of a TE with an “A” overall grade. Even more to my surprise, I was in the middle of “Youtubing” when I received a notification to my phone that the Ravens are on the clock. Little did I know, my squad traded back into the first round. Finally elation! Something good was about to happen. I knew the two receivers that I man-crushed and gushed over were already off the board. However, I knew who was left. The most underrated first-round prospect in the draft.

A New Era?

Our Baltimore Ravens were about to receive a change in culture and era as the 31st pick was about to be announced. “And with the 32nd pick… the Baltimore Ravens select Lamar Jackson!…” If I was not in the car, I would have jumped out of this hemisphere! I knew based on the trades that this meant a move for the future. Is it really a move for the future? What does this mean for John Harbaugh?

The pressure is on!

John will tell you that Joe Flacco is still “our” Quarterback. I beg to differ. I am fully convinced the fate of Flacco and Harbaugh are both now intertwined. I am certain that Joe is still “his” Quarterback but not that of that organization. Steve Bisciotti and Ozzie Newsome made a bold move that sent a jolt through this organization and put them all on notice. No one is untouchable in the building including Harbs and Joe.

Lockett says…Facts!

My prediction is this. If Flacco plays lights-out this season, goes beyond 4000-yds and 25-TDs with less than 12-interceptions on the season, and causes a playoff run, his job is safe. However, should the Ravens lose three straight or even four early in the season, will the Lamar Jackson era will begin? If I had to predict a start game, I would say week 7 of the regular season this year.

There is a change coming in Charm City and I think I LIKE IT! Here’s to the Jackson and the new life in Purple.

Jermaine Lockett is a Writer and CEO for Couch Rider Report. Follow us on Instagram, Facebook or Twitter.

April 30, 2018 0 comment

FANTASY PLAYERS: BUY OR SELL

by David Harris October 29, 2014

written by David Harris

OTA Photos Flickr

With Week 9 of the NFL season about to start, many fantasy teams are running out of time to make a splash in their fantasy leagues with playoffs right around the corner. Most leagues are also coming up on their trade deadlines, and now is the time where injuries, suspensions, and poor performing players could be desperately hurting your team (especially you Adrian Peterson owners). With the majority of surprise free agency/waiver wire players already picked up and paying dividends on other teams, trades are one of the most key parts to a fantasy league this deep in the season. Whether its a small trade involving a 3rd option wide receiver for a backup to an injury prone running back or a blockbuster deal involving Dallas Cowboy’s RB DeMarco Murray for Indianapolis Colts’ QB Andrew Luck a trade no matter the size or “wow value” could be all the difference between winning the championship in your league or missing the playoffs all together (and being the butt of all the jokes for years to come). Below I will be giving you my opinions on a player whose stock is as high as it can get and on the DFSE (David Fantasy Football Stock Exchange, similar to NYSE- New York Stock Exchange) and is rated as a SELL, another player whose stock is lower than what it should be and on the DFSE is rated as a BUY, and than a surprise adjustment, a player who I believe could win the NFL’s “Rookie of the Year” award honors, and who any team should be happy to either keep or trade for him in the league your in.
Steve Smith Sr. (WR) Baltimore– Steve Smith Sr has had a stellar season. He has shown the league that no matter how old he is, how small he is, or whether or not the franchise who drafted him stopped believing in him or not, he could still play at an elite level. Through the first 4-weeks of the season, Smith was targeted 42 times for a total of 25 catches, 429 yards and 3 touchdowns. His biggest performance was against his ex team, the Carolina Panthers where he caught 7-passes for 139-yards and 2-touchdowns. Since that game his production has dropped, only catching 1-touchdown and having only 1-game where he had over 100 receiving yards. The first 4-weeks were pure fantasy gold, the last 4-weeks have been a consistent model, and if you aren’t in a Points Per Reception (PPR) league, a consistent model of disappointment and depression. His targets have remained consistent, however, targets don’t matter to a fantasy team unless they result in catches, yardage, and touchdowns. Steve Smith is owned by 94% of fantasy football leagues, and is a top ranking WR in most as well. I believe with the Steelers, Titans, a bye week, Saints, Dolphins, Jaguars, Houston, and finally Cleveland, he should only be expected to perform big on 2-4 of those games. Houston, Cleveland, and the Dolphins all have solid defenses, and you can’t sleep on the Steelers and Saints who both are playing at home. I’m not saying Smith will be a bad option, but he will come back to reality, with the cold wet weather of the east coast rolling in in the next few games, his old age coming into effect, and the lack of a run game by Baltimore, now is the time to trade Steve Smith Sr if you got him.
DFSE’s Rating: Sell

Ronnie Hillman (RB) Denver– Ronnie Hillman has always been a valuable asset to the Denver Bronco’s run game. Last season, Denver coach John Fox tried utilizing Hillman (who had the most explosiveness of anyone in Denver’s backfield) but fumbling issues and lack of pass protection skills pushed him down the depth chart behind both K. Moreno (now in Miami) and Montee Ball who is now currently injured. This season, Montee Ball was named the starter and struggled against many teams, never rushing for more than 67 yards which was against the Indianapolis Colts in week 1. In college, Ball ran for the NCAA record in rushing touchdowns, yet this year only found the end zone once (again in week one against the Colts) before getting injured. Since Ball has been out (injured week 5 against the Arizona Cardinals) Hillman has taken advantage of his carries, rushing for over 100 yards 2x, and rushing for no less than 64 yards which happened to be against the Arizona Cardinals in which he, not only didn’t start the game, but also happened to be running against one of the most stout rushing defenses in the NFL. Another interesting fact to look at is that he has put up very good rushing stats against many of the leagues top rushing defenses including the Jets, Cardinals, and 49ers. With Ball coming back in the next few weeks, Hillman has shown John Fox and Co. what he is capable of. Peyton Manning seems to be a real believer in Hillman, and if Manning believes in someone and wants them on the field that should result in him keeping the starting position and having Ball become his back up. Hillman will be a solid RB2-3 or Flex option to have, especially when playing in cold wet climates late in the year begin to diminish the ability to pass the ball. Some of the fridgid snowy places he will be playing in include Denver, New England, Kansas City, and Cincinnati.
DFSE’s Rating: BUY (HOLD)

Kelvin Benjamin (WR) Carolina- I have been high on Benjamin since prior to the draft, calling him the next Calvin “Megatron” Johnson. With height, size, strength, solid speed for a possession receiver, and some of the best hands in the NFL, like Megatron, this guy can go up there and snag a ball as long as its somewhere in his radius. With the lack of offensive weapons that Cam Newton has at his disposal, Benjamin has been reaping all the benefits being targeted between 8-11x per game (never less than 6x in a game) and hauling in 571 yards and 5 touchdowns thus far in his rookie year. With weak defenses including the Saints, Tampa, Minn, and Atlanta all coming up he should be poised to continue his breakout year and even improve on his already impressive stats. The only tough part of his schedule the rest of the way is playing Cleveland, but being that he is the only real weapon Newton has, should still have around 6-8 targets, 5-7 catches 60-90 yards and a touchdown. If you do not have this guy on your roster, trade for him. If you have him on your roster, close the door on any trade involving him, close your eyes and envision your fantasy football championship ring and how good it is going to feel on your hand at the end of the year.

DFSE’s Rating: Extreme Buy (HOLD)
There are many other players that are listed as top SELL’s and BUY’s on the DFSE, for more information on these players feel free to comment below on this article, you may also ask about certain players and I will give you their listed rating, or email me at [email protected]. Thank you so much for reading.

David Harris is a sports writer for CouchRiderReport.net.

October 29, 2014 0 comment

AFC North Baltimore Ravens Dallas Cowboys NFC East NFL

Baltimore Ravens: No Pressure, Seriously?

by Jermaine Lockett August 18, 2014

written by Jermaine Lockett

Keith Allison-Flickr

Two games down and the Baltimore Ravens are 2-0 in the Preseason following a 37-30 win against the Dallas Cowboys on Saturday night. Winning is great in the Preseason but let’s take a deeper look. There is more to be examined in how these games were won and the battles that were lost during. While the end result appears that the Defense is holding it down for the team, there is still something missing from the Ravens of old. Where is the “Blitz”?

Where I’m from, we were always told that “pressure burst pipes”. We are missing that swag-like punch that comes with a normal Ravens punishing Defense. Some pundits will blame it on the departure/retirement of two-time Super Bowl Champion and Future Hall-of-Famer, Ray Lewis. However, this is not the case. The Ravens have been lackluster in getting after the Quarterback since the departure of Chuck Pagano and Rex Ryan.

Ryan focused primarily on the run-stop, but he knew if he could stop the run, Terrell Suggs could get after the QB in third-down and long situations. Ryan’s intimidating 2006 Ravens’ Defense led the league in Interceptions (28) and were only second in Sacks (60). Ryan new the pressure up front would cause turnovers on the backend. In the 2011-2012 NFL season, Pagano focused on the pass-rush during his tenure as Defensive Coordinator and brought the Sack total up to 48, from the dismal 27-sack performance in 2010; we’ll blame Greg Mattison for that down-year.

Thank goodness Mattison took a job in Michigan; with John Harbaugh’s “buddy system”, he might still be in Baltimore, if he had not. I am not saying Dean Pees’ scheme is any better, I’m just saying with Mattison’s scheme it look as if it could get worse.

Pees has no excuse for the lack of pass-rush. He has arguably two of the best pass-rushers in football in Terrell Suggs and Elvis Dumervil. This duo combined with the highly talented Haloti Ngata and powerful Courtney Upshaw makes this unit one to dream about. And yet Pees can’t generate pressure on the QB.

This may be Preseason but we would like to know that we’re going into the 2014 NFL season with more than a “vanilla” Defense. All of Dallas’ QBs were able to sit back and throw, due to the lack of pressure by the Ravens’ D. Dallas had a 40% Third-Down Efficiency rate and the despite the lone Sack from Pernell McPhee and Upshaw capitalizing on the erroneous fumble-exchange between Tony Romo and Demarco Murray, the unit as a whole looked ho-hum. This is in full contrast to what D-Coordinator Pees told a reporter for WBALTV prior to the game when he said:

“This Defense is better when we are playing aggressive, and we’re going to play-call that way.”

I want to give Baltimore a pass, due to the depth/strength of the Secondary but Ravensnation deserves to see more “moxy” from the front-seven in the future, regardless of who’s in the Secondary. People need to recognize the AFC North for hardnosed, smash-mouth Defense once again and it starts with the “Black and Purple.”

Jermaine Lockett is a Writer and CEO for Couch Rider Report. Follow us on Facebook or twitter.

August 18, 2014 0 comment