And he seemed very concerned so much so, that I wondered if this could be Reed’s last season as a professional football player.  I even wondered if he would make it through the season.

Today those thoughts seem like such a distant memory as the Ed Reed we’ve grown accustomed to, the one who has spoiled us for years, has nearly returned.

Clearly his ball hawking prowess remains intact and he has shown signs of returning to the physical style of play we’ve come to expect from Reed. Yet he’s not quite there.  For good and obvious reasons, his tackling is suspect at times.  That said, as Reed continues to make game changing plays, it’s easy to overlook a missed tackle here and there.

Speaking of missed tackles, the Ravens’ kick coverage continues to struggle.  Some have criticized Jerry Rosburg and question the schematic changes he’s made.  But here are a few things to chew on if you too are pointing the finger of blame Rosburg’s way…

First, you need to keep mind that the Ravens have 16 players on injured reserve.  That depletes depth and depth is normally employed by special teams. Among the injured who were big contributors on special teams are Dawan Landry and Derrick Martin.

Secondly, the team lost other key special teamers as a result of attrition – guys like Musa Smith, Gerome Sapp, Gary Stills and Justin Green.

Finally, much like a new offensive or defensive system, it takes time for players to become familiar with the schemes and even the other personnel.  When that personnel changes regularly as a result of injury, that prolongs the learning curve and the productivity suffers.

But that doesn’t necessarily free Rosburg from all accountability.  One former Raven who once played special teams under Rosburg didn’t necessarily describe the former Falcons’ and Browns’ Special Teams Coach in glowing terms.  And that player I would describe as a class act and one who chooses his words carefully.

Another problem on special teams is the relatively sheepish approach taken by Yamon Figurs in the return game.  Last year after a stern pep talk from Ray Lewis, Figurs seemed to recapture his missing mojo and finished the season strong.  He appeared to be growing into the explosive player that Eric DeCosta envisioned when the Ravens selected Figurs in the third round in 2007.

But clearly Figurs has regressed.  He is hesitant and he can hardly be described as explosive and he appears lost following his blockers.  In defense of Figurs, the blocking seems to be out of synch and dependent upon one-on-one blocks instead of a well planned schematic approach.  That said, it hardly helps to explain why Jim Leonhard is more productive behind the same collection of blockers.  Figurs days in Baltimore beyond 2008 could very well be numbered.

The running back by committee has been a big topic around town as it relates to the Ravens.  Le’Ron McClain continues to get the tough yards and Ray Rice is a developing change of pace back.  Yet the third committee member, Willis McGahee is struggling mightily and there are no signs that he will snap out of his funk any time this year.

Many have pointed to his conditioning and to his injuries as the culprits in a disappointing season for McGahee, one that most observers felt could be a breakout season for the ’07 Pro Bowler given Cam Cameron’s style and utilization of a featured back. It could be however, that McGahee’s failures are the result of more than just his physical deficiencies. 

Cameron’s offense isn’t a one night study.  You can’t do an all-nighter and cram his playbook. Even those who have practiced faithfully from OTA’s right on through to today, will tell you that the system and the terminology take time to master.  McGahee has been well behind the curve and that leads to hesitation, too much thinking and sluggish response time once the ball is snapped.

Dialing back to the Ravens’ second offensive play of the game against the Redskins, there was an unusually high amount of pre-snap conversation between McGahee and FB Lorenzo Neal (which in my opinion tipped the play).  The succeeding McGahee run resulted in no gain.  Later on he and Joe Flacco were out of synch on a couple other occasions. 

If McGahee’s season were compared to a college semester, he would have to ace his next test and his final in order to have a shot at passing.  I’m not holding my breath.

But make no mistake about it, the Ravens will need McGahee.  During McClain’s busiest season as a runner while a member of Alabama’s Crimson Tide, he carried the ball 17 times.  In fact, he carried it only 37 times during his entire collegiate career.  This season already, McClain has carried the rock 162 times.

Ray Rice carried the football 380 times during his final season at Rutgers and he was the quintessential workhorse during the dog days of August at McDaniel College.  Remember the rookie wall folks.  If it hasn’t hit Rice yet, it is probably about to.

Don’t know if you noticed the jubilant exchange between Samari Rolle and John Harbaugh just after the Todd Heap 24 yard reception on a gutsy fourth and one call during the third quarter.  Apparently Harbaugh informed the defense that he had decided to go for the first down from the Redskins 43 and that they should be prepared to defend well if the play failed.  Harbaugh added that the defense would love the call Cam Cameron was about to send in to his rookie QB Joe Flacco.  The defense looked on with heightened interest.

After the play was successful, Rolle and Harbaugh embraced each other as Ed Reed looked on smiling from ear to ear.  So much for that list of players not buying in to the Harbaugh Way.

ODDS & ENDS: This past Sunday Night while attending the game against the Redskins, a few avid DC fans sat behind me and expressed their disgust with the Redskins rather regularly throughout the contest.  Just after the Ravens had taken a 17-0 lead and were prepared to kickoff, these Skins fans noticed punter Ryan Plackemeier warming up, hitting balls into the net.  One from the gang exclaimed, “Now there’s confidence.  The Ravens haven’t even kicked off yet and our punter is getting loose!”…

I must admit that I’m digging 105.7 The Fan.  The debate between Scott Garceau and Anita Marks is rather entertaining as is an occasional visit to the Bruce Cunningham Show. Now keep in mind, I don’t listen to Cunningham expecting some groundbreaking revelation or Ravens-related epiphany.  It’s sort of like reading the Enquirer headlines in the express lane at the supermarket.  Somehow my curiosity and the bizarreness and corniness of it occasionally lure me in…

IN-DUCT ART! All of that talk last week from WNST and all of those signs that eventually did little other than annoy the city’s clean-up crew and I heard not so much as a whisper of the planned chant IN-DUCT ART. And really it’s unfortunate that the effort failed to garnish much support. But would it have made a difference anyway? Just prior to the Ravens v. Redskins I asked HOF Committee member Scott Garceau if the WNST effort would make a difference.

 “Many of the voters have likely already submitted their latest selection [prior to IN-DUCT ART], but any awareness for Art's cause is a good thing and I'm sure it'll warm his heart to see how Baltimore fans feel about what he did for this city and the NFL in general.” 

I agree.