Baltimore Beat Down: A Baltimore Ravens Dynasty (HC09)

[thoro_headz]

It's been a long time, I shouldn't have left you...
That's right. I'm reviving my Baltimore Beat Down dynasty thread. The first time around, I had to deal with being moved from the NFL Head Coach forum to the Football Dynasties forum (where no one understood what I was doing) and having my IP blocked (through no fault of my own). It became too much of a hassle to continue posting.
I kept playing and will pick up the story in week 14 of the 2009 season. If you aren't familiar, click the link in my signature read about my first season with the Ravens. I'll be recapping the events that have transpired since my last post this week. Stay tuned...

[thoro_headz]

Baltimore State of Mind

(My Philosophy)

Offense
Playbook: Cam Cameron Power Run
Offensive Playbook Control: Offensive Coordinator
Offensive Scheme: West Coast Heavy Pass
QB: Pure Passer
HB: Balanced
FB: Balanced
WR: Speed
TE: Balanced
Tackle: Balanced
Guard/Center: Run Block Specialist

Defense
Playbook: Rex Ryan 46
Defensive Playbook Control: Defensive Coordinator
Defensive Scheme: 46
Blitz Philosophy: Blitz Heavy
Pass Coverage Philisophy: Zone Coverage
DE: Run Stopper
DT: Run Stopper
OLB: Pass Rusher/3-4 Blitzer
MLB: Power/Blitzer
CB: Man Coverage/Ballhawk
FS: Centerfielder
SS: Run Support/Big Hitter

[thoro_headz]

2008 Season Recap

Regular season record: 12-4
Division: (6-0), AFC North Champions
Playoffs: 4th seed
Wild Card: vs Buffalo, 28-0
Divisional: vs Indianapolis, 37-27
Conference Championship: @ New England, 33-14

Coaching Staff
Head Coach: John Harbaugh
Offensive Coordinator: Cam Cameron
Defensive Coordinator: Rex Ryan
Team Talent: 6th

Statistics
Offense: 23rd (271.88)
Passing Yards: 22nd (158.88)
Rushing Yards: 11th (113)
Points Scored: 7th (26.2)
Giveaways: 25th (25)
Defense: 10th (283.53)
Pass Defense: 26th (221.97)
Rush Defense: 4th (61.56)
Points Allowed: 10th (17.34)
Takeaways: 1st (50)

Team Leaders
Passing: Troy Smith, 2663 yards
Passing TDs: Troy Smith, 19
Rushing: Ray Rice, 873 yards
Rushing TDs: Ray Rice, 8
Receptions: Mark Clayton, 44
Receiving Yards: Mark Clayton, 693
Receiving TDs: Mario Manningham, 6
Tackles: Ed Reed, 88
Sacks: Jarret Johnson, 5
Interceptions: Leodis McKelvin, 6
Defensive TDs: Leodis McKelvin: 3
Return TDs: Yamon Figurs, 2

Awards/Honors
MLB Ray Lewis: Pro Bowl
FS Ed Reed: Pro Bowl
SS Dawan Landry: Pro Bowl

[MufasaMutata]

You got 88 tackles out of Ed Reed? I’m lucky to get 40-50 out of him. Did you blitz him often or did you really leave him as a centerfielder? How many interceptions did he get?

[thoro_headz]

Quote: Originally Posted by MufasaMutata

You got 88 tackles out of Ed Reed? I’m lucky to get 40-50 out of him. Did you blitz him often or did you really leave him as a centerfielder? How many interceptions did he get?

Yessir. I rarely call plays, so he only blitzed as often as Rex saw fit. If I recall correctly, the Ravens only have one FS blitz in their playbook. His high number of tackles make sense when you consider how awful we were against the pass. As centerfielder, he was busy tackling receivers in the open field after completions.

He ended the season with three interceptions.

[thoro_headz]

2009 Offseason Recap

Free Agent Losses
K Matt Stover (STL)
I planned on letting Stover walk. I refused to negotiate a new contract during the season. He was a good kicker but his diminishing leg strength was an issue.

MLB Bart Scott (ATL)
During the season, I was able to resign Ray Lewis and Terrell Suggs so something had to give. If Scott hadn't been so injury-prone in 2008, I would have offered him a new deal over Ray Lewis. Given that he missed so much of the 2008 season, I don't know that I'll miss him. His loss did leave a hole at MLB that I hoped the I could fill in the draft or free agency. I targeted Bradie James but the bidding got too rich for my taste.

HB Kevin Faulk (PHI)
I originally signed Faulk after Micheal Pittman's failure as the team's back-up 3rd down back. We never fully utilized Faulk's talents and I didn't see any point in locking him up. He's a great fit for the Eagles' pass-happy offense.

FS Chris Horton (MIN)
Horton was an undrafted free agent that found a role on our team as a nickel back. Rex Ryan's scheme rarely asks the nickel back to drop into coverage. His job is to bring pressure and Horton excelled in that role. With his size, athleticism, and hit power (92) he was a beast. His low awareness (53) took him out of consideration as the heir apparent to Ed Reed's spot despite his strong zone coverage (85). I switched him from SS to FS and let him hit the market. He should be a good fit in the Viking's 2-deep zone but I don't know that his awareness will increase quickly enough for him to develop into a legitimate NFL starting safety.

C Mike Flynn (MIN)
Flynn was always hurt, so no sleep was lost when he signed with Minnesota.

WR Derrick Mason (NYJ)
I'm shocked that someone signed Mason. He was a poor fit for Cam Cameron's offense because of his lack of speed. I tried moving him into the slot but his poor catch in traffic (60) led to some ugly drops after being leveled by safeties or linebackers. After the season, his speed dropped to 80. I don't know what the Jets were thinking.

RT Adam Terry (SEA)
Terry was expendable because of Gaither's development and Ogden deciding to play another season.

Free Agent Acquisitions
G Vince Manuwai (JAX) - 5 yrs, $15.5M w/ $4.0M guaranteed
Manuwai is a good fit for our offense. The guy has excellent athleticism (93) and good enough intangibles (80). His ability to learn plays (71) and personality (titan) also made him attractive. He'll move into the lineup as our starting center. I also considered G Kyle Kosier from Dallas and C Lyle Sendlein from Arizona.

K John Kasey (TEN) - 2 yrs, $5.0M w/ $1.0M guaranteed
I just traded one old kicker for another, right? Kasey's kick power (89) is a huge improvement over Stover's. While he isn't quite as accurate (89), I'll gladly take the upgrade in kick power. In 2008, he was 26 of 31 and is considered a Pro Bowl-caliber kicker. I also considered Jason Hanson and could have had him for less.

2009 Draft Class
Cooper Hooper, TE (Boston College)
Rnd 1, Pick 29
I was surprised the he slid to 29. The mock draft had him going to Tampa Bay at pick 27 but they drafted a CB. Hooper was the best player available on my board. I couldn't pass on a player that compared to Jason Witten and had such high learning (90). With Todd Heap living on the injured list, taking a tight end in the first round made a lot of sense. Hooper should see plenty of playing time as a rookie and give the offense an element that was missing with Sypniewski has to fill-in for Heap. I really wanted MLB Martin McPeek but New England took him at number 18 after swapping picks with Green Bay. He was projected to go at pick 23.

Barron Hardaway, SS (Cincinnati)
Rnd 2, Pick 29
The mock had Hardaway going to Detroit two picks later. Again, Hardaway was the best player on our board. I really liked his size/athleticism and his personality fit with the team philosophy. The only drawback was his below average zone coverage (71). With Dawan Landry playing on his one-year RFA tender, Hardaway is insurance in the event that we can't resign him. He'll step into the the role vacated by Chris Horton in our nickel package and rush the QB. Standing 6'2" 224 lbs he's going to be a dominant pass rusher his strength (74), tackling ability (86), hit power (89), block shedding (82), and pursuit (80).

Markus Friday, WR (Ohio State)
Rnd 3, Pick 29
Friday is a speedster who should compete with Mark Clayton for the slot receiver role. Depending on how quickly he develops, he could start when Demetrius Williams gets injured (he will get injured). Actually, the knock on Friday is that he is fragile. That's a risk that I'm willing to take on a receiver that compares to Joey Galloway. There's the potential to pair him with Mario Manningham as out primary deep threat.

Brent Burton, DE (SMU)
Rnd 4, Pick 25
Burton was a guy that I really wanted. With Trevor Pryce getting older and spending so much time with the trainer, I needed to draft a young guy that could come in and play. Burton has the athleticism to play DE in our system and the ability to learn the playbook. He needs to develop his intangibles and should see plenty of playing time. I'm curious to see how much of a difference he makes compared to Dwan Edwards as Pryce's backup.

Rashaud Johnson, DT (LSU)
Rnd 4, Pick 32
Johnson is a prototypical 3-4 nose tackle; big, strong, and slow. The Johnson sense makes sense because of Kelly Gregg's age and diminishing health. Ideally, Johnson will serve as Rubin's primary backup in our 3-4 looks and allow Gregg to be used in the 4-3 and 46 looks. Looking into the future, I can see Johnson starting at NT and sliding Rubin to DE in the 3-4, opposite Ngata. Good luck running against that front.

Brodie Harper, T (Indiana)
Rnd 5, Pick 29
After Terry signed with Seattle, there were only two tackles on the roster. Harper was drafted for depth with the hope that he may develop into a usable part.

Mike Durfee, FB (Washington)
Rnd 6, Pick 29
A fullback?! Yep. I drafted a fullback. The best fullback on the board. McClain was an awesome lead blocker but I groaned every time Cameron called Boot Rt 879 F Out and Troy Smith would check down to Le'Ron McClain. McClain had hands like stone. I think he had somewhere between 17 and 24 drops. Durfee isn't the dominant lead blocker that McClain was but he has better overall intangibles. Durfee was a player that I scouted and targeted early on.

Devin Cox, MLB (NC Central)
Rnd 7, Pick 29
Late-round flyer from a small school. I hope that he makes the team and can contribute on special teams.

[Mike3207]

What draft path are you on?

[thoro_headz]

Quote: Originally Posted by mrs844224

What draft path are you on?

I'm on the Maceo Sweetney draft path.