Sponsor




Home  >  Columns   >  Blackbird Singing  >  OFFENSIVE OFFENSE IN THE MARYLAND AREA

Columns

Blackbird Singing - OFFENSIVE OFFENSE IN THE MARYLAND AREA

Posted On: 8/29/06
Written By:  
Tony Lombardi
OFFENSIVE OFFENSE IN THE MARYLAND AREA
THIS IS GROUND CONTROL TO MAJOR TOM ~ "This is a reality check.  We've got to get it fixed quickly and it'll be an uphill battle. I'm totally surprised by this. We had a good, tough week of practice and I thought we were ready to play. It's kind of shocking.  
 
“Even if we are vanilla [on offense], we're not getting that done. When we run the ball inside, we should be able to get 4 yards. We need some leaders to step up and get this thing turned around. We have enough veterans to know that this shouldn't be the situation. We need to stop believing what we read in the newspapers and just play football. ... The things we did tonight are just inexcusable."  That’s Casey Rabach about his current offense in DC. 
 
Rabach certainly has seen his fair share of inept offensive football now hasn't he?
 
Common denominator?
 
I CAN’T, I CAN’T, I CAN’T STAND LOSING ~ If the Ravens are successful against the Redskins on Thursday will it really mean anything?  What will they really have won?  If they are unsuccessful, oh boy!  So far this summer, the Redskins have been outscored 87-17 in three defeats, including 41-0 by the New England Patriots on Saturday. 
 
Gee, I bet that gave Deion Branch some negotiating leverage…
 
Don’t be surprised to see Branch wearing purple….Vikings purple.  No inside skinny here…just a hunch.
 
WAKE ME UP WHEN THE BOASTING ENDS ~ “I don't believe I have played my best football," said Ray Lewis recently.  "That's what is so exciting for me. I'm chasing a legacy and history of being the greatest defensive player to ever have walked onto a football field. Until I'm done with that, that's when I'll let it go."
 
While Ray certainly showed some bounce in his step on Friday, is anyone really buying this?  I’m not but having said that, I would happily devour a healthy slice of humble pie should No. 52 prove me wrong.  Meanwhile (yawn).......
 
LIVING ON A LIGHTED STAGE APPROACHES THE UNREAL ~ Speaking of Ray Lewis, the buzz in town was that the Ravens had planned on permanently squelching the perennial Pro Bowler’s pelvic pregame gyrations but the public has spoken and apparently they want Ray back on center stage (I’m not one of them).
 
Club officials said they likely will return to announcing individual starters which is cool by me but let’s lose the star treatment.  Introducing Steve McNair on opening day sounds like a great idea, provided of course there’s no pick 6 the prior week in Tampa.
 
Back to Ray, his Nelliness claims, "My teammates look for [the dance].  “It says this is our battle line. This is our general. And we follow. When I come out, that's the mind-set."
 
Let’s just hope it’s not General Custer.
 
WHERE DID YOU GO…I WANNA KNOW ~ You knew it would happen but you didn’t think it would happen so quickly….T.O. and the Cowboys are beginning to clash and we are absolutely certain that it isn’t T.O.’s fault.  The team slapped T.O. with a $9,500 fine this week for skipping a rehab session and for being late to an offensive team meeting.  Owens being the team player that he’s always been wasn’t in the stadium when Dallas beat the 49ers on Saturday.  Despite two MRI’s that were negative, Owens is still skipping practices.  The next clash is likely to pit Owens’ self prescribed rehab against Parcells’ "if you don’t practice you don’t play" policy.
 
Have fun Jerry Jones.  Don’t say you weren’t warned.
 
YOU DON’T LOOK DIFFERENT BUT YOU HAVE CHANGED ~ Junior Seau donned patriotic colors on Saturday when New England took on the Washington Redskins in the Boston burbs.  Seau had three tackles and seemed to mesh well with Belichick’s boys.  I suppose this is all part of that graduation process.  
 
PUT ME IN COACH, I’M READY TO PLAY ~ So says Lions’ WR Mike Williams.  Head Coach Rod Marinelli didn’t oblige.  The once highly regarded Williams did not play in Friday night's 21-3 loss at Oakland.  His first clue arrived during practice when Williams ran with the scout team.  Might this be yet another indication that the Pac 10 is a bit soft.  Williams was all world at USC.  Williams is  taking the humiliating kick in the crotch in stride:
 
"I really don't know," he said. "They usually tell you. I would think they'd tell you if you're not going to play at all. I prepared through the week and dressed and showed up, and he (coach Rod Marinelli ) didn't put me in.  I don't ask questions around here. I just get back in here today, and go to work and keep working."
 
I AM READY…AS READY AS ANYBODY CAN BE ~ Props to Matt Leinart who has really been experiencing a fast paced NFL crash course in the desert.  Leinart has exceeded expectations (particularly yours truly) and has efficiently orchestrated a two minute offense in a way that only Brian Billick could dream of.  Which begs the question, how can a rookie be thrown to the wolves and execute a no huddle drive yet the Ravens can’t or won’t?  Is there a local blue law that only allows the no huddle offense inside the two minute warning?  Inquiring minds want to know.
 
I GOT A POCKET FULL OF QUARTERS AND I’M HEADING TO THE JAIL CELL ~ That’s the kind of PacMan Fever running through Nashville these days.  But if you ask Jeff Fisher, PacMan Jones will be just fine after he simmers down a bit.
 
"[Jones] did not like watching the game," Fisher said. " ... This was a game he looked forward to playing. It meant a lot to him. He had a lot of friends and people in for it."
 
Jones is a native of Atlanta.
 
"I think he'll come back recharged," Fisher continued. "I know he's going to have to deal with the ongoing legal issue that he has, but as far as we're concerned, obviously, he's going to come back and move forward. I believe ... that this thing will get worked out. He's 100 percent confident that it will get worked out and he was not in the wrong. ... I believe he has a lot of things in perspective."
 
Vomit bag Jeff?
 
EVERY BREATH YOU TAKE…AND EVERY MOVE YOU MAKE ~ When asked who was the NFL’s hardest hitter, Chargers LB Donnie Edwards had a surprising response: “Dante Hall’s 5’6 ½”, 175, but he blindsided me once.  I was gasping for breath and the fans were oohing and aahing at the Jumbotron replay.  Ouch.”
 
OH I CAN’T GET IT OUT OF MY HEAD ~ Seattle ball coach Mike Holmgren has been a bit of a sourpuss since Super Bowl XL and this from his stud DT Rocky Bernard, just might add to his heartburn.  Bernard was asked about the league’s hottest cheerleaders and the Rocky one replied, "Man, the Washington Redskins.  Right after warmups, they are stretching in front of us as we run back up the tunnel.  You can’t even concentrate on the game!” 
 
Much to Rocky’s dismay and Mike’s delight, the Seahawks aren’t scheduled to play the Redskins this year.

Post your comment

Your Name:
Your Email:
Your Comment:
There are no comments. be the first to post a comment.


«Go back to the previous page.
Posted On: 8/29/06
Written By:  
Tony Lombardi

Polls

From the following list who will have the most sacks in 2012?


Twitter

Check us out on Twitter
  • 5/18/12: Why Foster, McCoy and Rice are equals and should be paid accordingly: http://t.co/Q1R93XNe

View all tweets & follow us!

Got Poker Face?

E-News

Sign up for Email Alerts and get the best deals and news in your inbox.



Copyright © 2012 24x7 Network, LLC, All Rights Reserved
Website Design by D3Corp Ocean City Maryland