What Now, Ozzie?

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Fran The Fan - What Now, Ozzie?

Fran the Fan looks ahead to what lies ahead for the Ravens

Posted On: 4/23/08

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Fran "The Fan" Vojik

Like almost everyone, the announcement last week of Steve McNair’s retirement caught me completely by surprise. The reports out of One Winning Drive this off season indicated that McNair was working hard on his surgically repaired shoulder and getting back into playing shape for the 2008 season. Most of us were looking forward to a more slimmed down, athletic McNair, not the Air-McNair of his Tennessee days for sure, but not the player masquerading as a water buffalo who came into camp last year out of shape and a good 20 pounds overweight after an off season of living the high life.

“Looks good,” said Ravens coach John Harbaugh. “Working hard,” said others at the Complex.

Steve was not only working himself back into shape, but testing his body to see if he could hold up under the rigors of one more pounding season. As he said at his retirement conference, the body and the mind have to be on the same page. He said that mentally he could play another three years. Well, no surprise there. Johnny Unitas said for many years after his retirement that he could still play the game - mentally. Steve’s body finally betrayed him after 13 years of putting it in Harm’s Way.

Or, as others have written, did John Harbaugh’s rigorous OTA and training camp schedule scare him off? "Camp Cupcake" is gone and maybe McNair wants no part of what replaces it. No seats in the OTAs for players, practicing in game day jerseys, and moving everyone around in the locker room is just for starters. When training camp starts in July, you’ll see players in pads more often and everyone will stay in the hotel for the duration of camp.

I bet Ray-Ray and the gang will love that.

Between his big toe, Mike Flynn’s departure, and a less vet-friendly camp J.O. is the next to go, and the announcement should come out any day now. A replacement for Ogden on Saturday is now a possibility.

So where do the Ravens go from here? Quarterback, offensive lineman, or d-back in the first round? What about a rush end if a Chris Long or Vernon Gholston unexpectedly slides to the Ravens?

No doubt the Ravens wanted one more year out of McNair and had already devised a succession plan – of a sort. Unfortunately, Steve’s retirement has accelerated that plan to where now the drafting of a quarterback on the first day is now a necessity. The Ravens will get a QB on Saturday – but from where and what round?

The thought of drafting a QB in the first round scares me. Not Matt Ryan. Not when the Ravens have needs at other positions that, with the right rookie, could pay immediate dividends. Think of the rich crop of defensive backs, quality defensive linemen, and several offensive linemen available.

I’ll be honest….. The Kyle Boller experience has scared me off. Trading up in 2003 to draft Boller was not only a huge mistake, but it led to a disastrous 2004 draft that the Ravens are still paying for.

And a good head coach lost his job after years of trying to validate that draft decision.

I hope Matt Ryan is not available when the Ravens pick at Round 8. I hope the Atlanta Falcons or Kansas City Chiefs remove the temptation from the Ravens board. I hope Ozzie and Eric resist the temptation to trade up. I hope the Ravens don’t spend millions on a high first round QB who may or may not pan out down the road – years down the road.

If the Ravens are creative, they could package some lower round picks to position themselves to select a quality quarterback at the end of the first or the beginning of the second round – a Joe Flacco or a Brian Brohm are my favorites.

If Ozzie Newsome is true to his word and true to his board, with the first pick the Ravens will select the best player available, one who will play immediately and contribute to the team’s success in 2008.

And he won’t be wearing a red shirt in training camp, either.

Photo by Sabina Moran