reality vs perception: steve mcnair

typodragon · Half A Man

reality vs perception: steve mcnair

Vanni9283 · Head Dick

Dude, relax. Your team is 4-1 buddy and they have a new attitude that McNair may be helping to bring to this team. And even when the offense doesn't play well, that spectacular defense they have can certainly be able not only to bail them out, but also win them football games as well.

I must admit that I thought this team was significantly overrated before the season began. But after seeing them for the past few weeks, I have to say that I've been VERY impressed with what they've done so far. In addition, McNair has done far better than I have expected. If I were you, I don't see a need to panic right now. They only lost 1 game, so I would suggest not giving up on them just yet.

Miami Bear 305 · Head Dick

I disagree with Vanni, I think there is definite reason to panic. Your offense is almost as bad as Chicago's was last year but with one exception, the Bears were able to run the ball. Your running game needs to be at it's best right now while McNair gets comfortable in an offense he had a real late start in having to learn. You cannot depend on any QB that is just months into a system to carry the offense. I think it's too early to tell if McNair is washed up, but your running game should have it's act together by now.

Deep down I know you Raven fans know your team is overrated on both side of the ball, if you come to terms with it now, it won't hurt as much when they lose. Trust me, I've been there before. Try to find the positives in what your team is doing for the future but don't get caught up in the Michael Irvin hype (number 1 on his power poll while you guys have the 28th ranked offense, get the fvck outta here) or you'll be one sad panda by season's end.

Vanni9283 · Head Dick

Yes, I do agree that their running game needs to get better, but let's see how they do over the next few weeks. I say they bounce back this week against Carolina. However, if they wind up losing this week and/or start going on a skid, then I'd find reason for concern. Besides, I never expected this team to be 4-1 at this point.

BillSwerski · Kick Asser

typodragon wrote:

I don't know if any of you are from the maryland area, but pretty much every news source I can find, local or national, nuzzles steve mcnair like he's a mid 90s brett favre come to save the ravens and lead them to the top of the nfl scoring charts. he is perceived as being tough and steady, a strong source of veteran leadership. Well, after 5 games it is pretty obvious to those of us who have seen him play that he is totally and completely washed up. The past ravens had no receivers at all. That's no longer the case, and finally they're all healthy too, but mcnair is playing worse than kyle boller did 2 years ago. He has repeatedly demonstrated that he is totally incapable of throwing the ball more than 15 yards, and even inside that range his balls wobble like crazy. Tonight's performance was just another example of how totally unable to play football he is. Every one of his interceptions were a pass to a guy who you wouldn't pass to even if it were 75 degrees and sunny. Still, tomorrow the newspaper is going to read that mcnair did his best, that the denver defense was too good, and that the rain and offensive line didn't allow him to do his thing. It makes me sick. Now, around here, the local media absolutely hates kyle boller, as if a guy is supposed to light it up when he is in his first 3 seasons playing behind a truly offensive line. But nothing that steve has done this year makes me think he is as good as kyle boller was becoming towards the end of last season. Am I looking at the situation wrongly? Shouldn't someone see just how incompetent mcnair is? Does anyone think there is some sort of Mark Brunell effect going on here, where he will totally blow for one year and then come out and be lights out next year?

It's a tough call. There's certainly a part of going with Boller and the future, and another that McNair will give you the best chance to win now. He's certainly not putting up good numbers, but he's helping collecting wins.

I really think the concern is the running game. Lewis doesn't look good. Maybe M. Smith needs to get more carries. Something's not working for them. mcNair's a stop-gap for a few season's at best. He's not in there for the long haul...

Burgh1979 · Head Dick

Vanni9283 wrote:

Yes, I do agree that their running game needs to get better, but let's see how they do over the next few weeks. I say they bounce back this week against Carolina. However, if they wind up losing this week and/or start going on a skid, then I'd find reason for concern. Besides, I never expected this team to be 4-1 at this point.

I dont see the Ravens bouncing back against a surging Carolina team, Carolina's defense is as good as the Broncos, and I would expect McNair to struggle against that pass rush and great secondary...

Vanni9283 · Head Dick

I dont see the Ravens bouncing back against a surging Carolina team, Carolina's defense is as good as the Broncos, and I would expect McNair to struggle against that pass rush and great secondary...

Well, I think if their offense doesn't do the job, then their defense will. I think they will cause Delhomme havoc all day long! Plus the Ravens are at home, so...go figure!!!

-- Edited by Vanni9283 at 16:21, 2006-10-10

Miami Bear 305 · Head Dick

Nah, I'm pretty confident Carolina will further expose the Ravens as frauds. Their defense is not as good as everyone thinks, they haven't played anyone and still struggled. Carolina has a pretty good D themselves, and I wouldn't be surprised if they score a TD to go along with the 2 Smith and Johnson will lay on them on offense.

Carolina 27, Ravens 9

Christopher Wallace · Head Dick

Just wait until the Steelers get under their feet late season when we play the ratbirds. I can't wait.

Vanni9283 · Head Dick

If Carolina wins, I wouldn't be shocked, because they are a good football team. But I just feel that the Ravens will be very hungry for this game since they're at home and coming off a loss. And by the way, the Panthers were only able to score 20 against the Browns. So talk about struggling against nobody!!!

Miami Bear 305 · Head Dick

I'll take 20 points anyday in the NFL. Baltimore scored 15 on them and allowed 14, Carolina held them to 12.

Now that we're on the subject, this supposed great defense of the Ravens has given up 13 or more points in the 3 games this season, the only teams to score less than that on them were the Raiders and Bucs.

I dont think Carolina is great either but they are much better than the Ravens. Guess we'll find out this weekend.

Vanni9283 · Head Dick

Yeah, I guess so. I'm just giving you my gut feeling about this game. This will be telling on whether the Ravens are pretty good or whether they're a piece of garbage! lol. By the way, the highest amount of points that a team has scored on the Ravens D thus far has been 14. Certainly, giving up that amount is a hell of a lot better than giving up say, 30 or more. Bottom line, I think this will be an interesting game this weekend with a lot of hard hitting on defense.

May I remind you of the old saying: "1 is an accident, 2 is a trend, etc." If I were a Ravens fan, I wouldn't be too concerned right now, but if they end up losing this one, then I might start worrying a bit. One thing I do agree on is the fact that their running game has been unimpressive thus far and it is certainly an area which I believe this team must be able to improve upon as the season progresses.

Burgh1979 · Head Dick

The Ravens seem to be a solid team, however, they have a tough schedule this season and they have already played the easiest stretch of their schedule, the next few weeks will tell if they really are contenders...

DawgPound · Half A Man

Steve McNair reputation has been inflated by this whole persona he has for playing hurt - or better stated, by not practicing all week and then playing in the game on Sunday.

Don't get me wrong, I respect players that play hurt, but it seemed to me that McNair was hurt for about 2.5 years and he developed this 'tough as nails' reputation - which played a big part of him sharing the MVP honor with Peyton. Fast forward to this season, 5 games in and he's QB rating is similar to Charlie Frye (and he plays for nobody to quote Vanni).

IMHO, Brian Billick is using smoke and mirrors to make the Ravens look like a contender and they may make the playoffs if the Steelers continue to struggle. But they need to get it together and not go into games hoping McNair can put together a drive late in the game to win.

Ultimately, if J.Lewis starts looking like the guy who hung 500 yards on the Browns in 2 games a few years ago they can win plenty with their D, but as long as he's tip toeing to the line question marks will linger around the offense as a whole.

GoBearsGalason · Head Dick

Jamal Lewis runs like a f@ggot on fire, and Mcnair just plain sucks. He has a better O-line, and more weapons at the rcvr position than he has ever had. Give up the paycheck bud and move on ferfuksakes. Maybe you and Brett Favre could buy retirement homes on the same mississippi lake and you can sit by the campfire and sing ebony and ivory all night long whilst popping painkillers like popcorn and rehashing the good ol days.

Steve Mcnair is a fukn joke. That team is going no fukn place soon.

Raven Lunatic · One Testicle Guy

One loss to a team that plays extremely well at home does not mean McNair or the Ravens were exposed in any way. So our offense sucks, that isn't any great mystery that was suddenly revealed on Monday night. If not for McNair the Ravens would very likely have lost the Cleveland and San Diego game and the Ravens would be 2-3 in second place two games behind the Bengals. Instead the Ravens are tied for first place because just the presence of McNair turned a team full of skeptics about their own qb into a team being led by a very decorated qb minus a championship.....and of course our tremendous defense.

McNair doesn't seem to have a very strong arm anymore and lacks any zip on the ball. He stands in the pocket way too long, he overthrows or underthrows very badly on occasion but that appears to be him still adjusting to the playbook. How hard can the Ravens playbook be though? The problem is there is no run to set up the pass. When its always 2nd and 8 its pretty safe to play pass considering Jamal doesn't look anything like the back he used to be. He lost a gear and I'm not going to totally blame the o-line for it. Its time to use all of our runningbacks. Jamal, Mike Anderson, and Musa used equally could be very effective.

A loss to Denver is not the end of the world. How they respond to Carolina will be more important. McNair in all honesty is not the qb I thought he would be for us but compared to Boller I don't care how they get it done...as long as they get it done.