BE SURE TO STRETCH…It’s interesting to hear people ask who is going to stretch the field in the Ravens’ offense. Talk about an overrated deficiency!

The Ravens have a boatload of talented offensive players that Cam Cameron can mix and match. He can go with a three tight end set and if you want to see a defense stretch, watch Ed Dickson get safeties and linebackers downfield. Cam can also go with two dynamic backs at the same time in Ray Rice and Willis McGahee. And let’s not forget the three accomplished receivers that he can now put on the field at one time in Anquan Boldin, Derrick Mason and newly acquired T.J. Houshmandzadeh.

Maybe Cam can’t put a 4.3 speed guy on the field now that Donte Stallworth is on the shelf. But with all that talent, defenses will be stretched because they will have to account for that talent. The days of 8 and 9 in the box are over.

GOODBYE MARK…I remember the first time I met Mark Clayton. He, Dan Cody and Trent Smith (all Sooners) attended a Ravens24x7 event at Liberatore’s in Timonium. Then he was an approachable guy who was humble and devoid of any sense of entitlement that too many college stars have. To his credit, Mark never changed.

I get the feeling that football in many ways is little more than an occupation for Mark. That’s not to say that he doesn’t enjoy the game. I just think that there are other things in his life, particularly his faith and sense of community, that are far more important to him than the NFL. Best of luck to you MC! St. Louis not only picked up a quality player but also an outstanding citizen.

WHO GOT THE HOUSH? The Ravens signed a former nemesis when they inked TJ Houshmandzadeh to a one year deal. This falls into the category of no-brainer. He’s a far more productive receiver than Mark Clayton and/or Demetrius Williams and thanks to Pete Carroll and the Seattle Seahawks, he’s also less expensive. Plus the signing blocks the possible return of Housh to the Bengals.

FOR PETE’S SAKE! More thanks go out to Pete Carroll. Not only did he not lift a finger to keep Cory Redding around, he also gift-wrapped a playmaker named Josh Wilson for Ozzie Newsome and the Ravens. I’m a big fan of Pete Carroll – as long as he’s on someone else’s sideline. He was a flunky as a first time NFL coach and a massive cheater at the collegiate level. He ran from USC to Seattle for $7 million per year and the bet here is he’ll be taking the money and running back to the college ranks when he fails again in the NFL. Until then, I hope Ozzie keeps him on speed dial and continues to pick his pocket. How did Paul Allen make all that dough with Microsoft when he makes hiring decisions like Carroll as a head coach and then allows Housh to escape while still paying him $6+ million?

THE CITY BY THE BAY…Troy Smith has found a new home in San Francisco backing up a brotha from an otha motha – Alex Smith. If things don’t go Troy’s way as a 49er, wonder if he’ll offer to crawl back to Cleveland from Cali? That’s 2,100 miles further away from his hometown than B’more.

THE CITY THAT REEDS IN 7 WEEKS…Ed Reed is on the PUP List which means that you won’t see him on the field during the first six games. While he sits, Tom Zbikowski will play alongside Dawan Landry. Zbikowski has had a great camp and a productive preseason and judging from his body of work in 2009, he’ll be a solid substitute for the All Pro safety.

Looking at the opponents through the first 6 games, only Tom Brady and the Patriots present a real challenge to the Ravens secondary. The Jets’ offense is struggling; the Bengals will more than likely pull out their game plan from ’09 v. the Ravens and pound Cedric Benson; the Browns are the Browns; the Steelers aren’t the Steelers without Ben Roethlisberger; the Broncos never do anything at M&T.

Enjoy your vacation Ed. Come healthy and ready to go against the “mighty” Buffalo Bills on October 24^th.

A COOL CUNDIFF…Billy Cundiff entered camp thinking that the Ravens were about to hand the kicking job to Shayne Graham. Early during camp John Harbaugh said that he wished that the team was already set at kicker. Yet Cundiff kept at it and focused on lengthening his kickoffs and his consistency on field goals. The focus paid off and for me that bodes well going forward. Cundiff handled the pressure of the looming unemployment line and outperformed the former Pro Bowl kicker and Bengals franchise player, Graham.

If given the choice in the playoffs of having Cundiff or Graham setting up for a 42 yard game winning field goal, who among you wouldn’t pick Cundiff particularly with the ghosts of the 2009 playoffs undoubtedly dancing in the head of Graham?