'Awesome' beginning

K-rock wrote:

Heap was in LALA land or something, who knows what was going on with him.. Looks like his catching gloves had butter on them.

True, Heap looked and played terribly, no question about it. However, before everyone piles on the Heap, remember that he is playing injured and is not himself. Yes, that doesn't necessarily excuse the fact he stunk it up, but doesn't everyone remember the great plays and catches he's made in the past. I think we have a short memory. Having him in there is better than having a third stringer or worse filling in (remember in pre-season when all the TEs went down and we were so worried?)

Joe Mess EBmore wrote:

<quoted text>
So now we start kickinh Heap? How stupid are you. The guy is phenomenal. Did he have a bad game yesterday? Yes he did, does he deserve to be kicked? absolutely not.

Yo Joe, I do agree after listening to all the callers on talk radio who are bashing Heap. He did have a bad, no... horrible game, but he's playing injured and fans have forgotten the clutch catches he's made in the past. Hopefully, he'll heal up and play like the real Todd Heap.

I didn't think K-rock was kicking Heap or piling on. He made one observation with no other criticism (nothing like I've heard on radio) which happens to be very accurate. It was a very vanilla (plain) comment.

Joe Mess EBmore wrote:

<quoted text>
So now we start kickinh Heap? How stupid are you. The guy is phenomenal. Did he have a bad game yesterday? Yes he did, does he deserve to be kicked? absolutely not.

Heap hasn't had a good game in 4 years. Yesterday just like the championsip game against the Colts 2 years ago, first pass of the game a short pass to Heap. Oh yeah he fumbled and put us in bad field position for the entire quarter. Our defense rose again and saved the day. Heap takes the hardest hits I've ever seen. After all the years Heap has played football, he never learned how to take a hit. Therefore Heap and the D/L list are one in the same. He fumbled the first pass of the game and then dropped a touchdown pass. He was a disgrace. Thank God our offense and defense rose to the occasion and played as good a football game as we've seen aroud here in decades.

james wrote:

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True, Heap looked and played terribly, no question about it. However, before everyone piles on the Heap, remember that he is playing injured and is not himself. Yes, that doesn't necessarily excuse the fact he stunk it up, but doesn't everyone remember the great plays and catches he's made in the past. I think we have a short memory. Having him in there is better than having a third stringer or worse filling in (remember in pre-season when all the TEs went down and we were so worried?)

Problem with Heap is ever since he signed his BIG CONTRACT he has not produced on a consistant bases. Instead of giving interviews all the time and talking about sticking together. Get your Heap of CRAP butt into better shape. Everytime we turn around he is hurt. My goodness he plays tight end a blocking position the majority of the time.

I am not all down on heap. He has produced in his early years, but hold on to the ball when its thrown at your numbers. Thats the best way I think he could come across by sticking together is by catching the ball and moving the chains.

Its called consistant contribution!

It is crystal clear to see the hard work, practicing at game speed, a football state of mind, and functioning as a team has turned us into a force to be feared again. Word will spread fast and things will get tougher as teams prepare for us, but there is something special goin on and I haven't felt this way since we went to the Superbowl. It may not happen this year, but this year sure is gonna be a blast. Thank God the preseason is over! Hat's off to Cam for an unpredictable offense that will only get better. Somebody help Todd Heap get his head in the game, he should have caught that endzone pass.

My wife is a huge Todd Heap fan. But Heap had such a bad game that my wife started calling Brett Favre's name in the middle of the night.

I'm not ready to predict a winning season after beating an uninspired, poorly prepared team by only one score. However, there is no reason to concede a Raven loss to anyone before kickoff. Even if the end result is still 5-11 or thereabouts, there were many refreshing positives.

A center blocking 20 yards downfield? Power blocking AND pass protection from a young line? Jarret Johnson doing an AD impersonation? All were things we haven't seen in a while or ever.

Even Flacco's so-so passer rating became acceptable given a few dropped balls (nothing that new for a Raven QB) and some wise seat-of-the-pants decision-making.

My favorite quote came from Haloti Ngata. "Awesome," Ngata said when asked about the game-ending drive. "It hasn't been like that for a while here."

Haha, he makes it sound like he's a 12-year veteran or something.(Sounds like somebody has filled him in to the good ol' days around here.)

It's one game everyone. Don't make plans for Tampa Bay just yet.

Mike N wrote:

My wife is a huge Todd Heap fan. But Heap had such a bad game that my wife started calling Brett Favre's name in the middle of the night.

Heap needs to really get off his lazry arse and practice more. He could have cost us the game with the fumble and dropped TD pass. A rookie would be relegated to the PS or cut had he done that.

Remember 2000!

The Ravens had an unbelievable defense made even more so because the offense stopped turning the ball over in their own end zone.

If, while learning to become an NFL QB, Joe Flacco just manages the field position three things will happen:

1. The Defense will dominate like they did yesterday

2. As the running game gets used to the idea that they can whip the pants off defenses consistently

3. A QB with Flacco's skills will most likely learn to pick his spots and make the big plays. Right now, I see a Trent Dilfer's courage already and a growing NFL-level skill set.

The two turnovers yesterday can be expected because of hard hitting (Heap was hit just as he had cradled the ball and the defender's helmet was right on the ball) and rookie mistakes (Rice). These problems can be fixed.

What does not need to be fixed is the Ravens' attitude and energy. They surely had some yesterday.

I had to listen to the game on NFL.com , but I don't know if my computer has ever heard that much cheering.

Did I see a replay that showed Flacco blocking a linebacker 15 yards downfield????

Who does he think he is? A Raven who plays like one? Well, it is looking like that - awesome!

And Clayton and Mason making big blocks within 10 yards of the Bengals goal line! That had to have been fun for them to dish out some punishment for a change.

Ok seriously all you idiots disparaging Heap need to stop. I suggest you go back through the past few years of game film and look at his performance (at least when hes healthy). He had a bad game yesterday? So freaking what? The man is by far one of the best ends in the game today. Wake up and stop beating on one of our best offensive weapons.

In that dominating running game in the second half, repeatedly running over left tackle, that was Todd Heap lining up next to the tackle and doing a great job blocking out the linebacker. All you Heap-haters don't know how to watch a football game.

A few observations of mind and I'm sure the rest of you. Ravens actually lucked into a win here. Were it not for a stingy defense, this likely would have been a loss. MacLister has to play within himself, use his tremendous skills smartly. Receivers, please catch a ball. Flacco's dismal 6-16 throwing at one point won't get it done in this league. Sorry. You take the win anyway you can get it. Even when the other team really sucks.

westmonster wrote:

Ok seriously all you idiots disparaging Heap need to stop. I suggest you go back through the past few years of game film and look at his performance (at least when hes healthy). He had a bad game yesterday? So freaking what? The man is by far one of the best ends in the game today. Wake up and stop beating on one of our best offensive weapons.

this is a league driven by current stats, not what he's done in the past. If that was the case, Mark Brunell, Brian Sipe and Jim Kelly would still be collecting paychecks for their past heroics. Todd had an awful 2007, with a bad end to 2006. He better step it up a notch or he'll be looking for work. He's a great guy and father but the reality of it is if someone can do it better, he's on the outside looking in.

BushBot wrote:

A few observations of mind and I'm sure the rest of you. Ravens actually lucked into a win here. Were it not for a stingy defense, this likely would have been a loss. MacLister has to play within himself, use his tremendous skills smartly. Receivers, please catch a ball. Flacco's dismal 6-16 throwing at one point won't get it done in this league. Sorry. You take the win anyway you can get it. Even when the other team really ****.

Many of Flacco's passes were dropped. Had Todd H caught the TD pass and we not have a lame block in the back call on Figurs return, this could have very well been a blowout on our behalf. Not sure how you define luck but the luck certainly fell on the Bengals yesterday or they'd have been totally embarassed. Our game was solid. Cam let Flacco do just a little more yesterday and he'll keep giving Joe just a little more until the kid is a totally comfortable, which might not be that long down the road. He has nerves of steel.

Great Day!
Great Game!

I hope it lasts...

See you at Fish Tails

Great job against a pathetic defense. Don't be delusional and believe for a moment that you'll see the same results when you play Philly, Dallas, and Pittsburgh; as well as other teams with good defenses.

I have to agree with Reality. Good start, but we shall see when we play a stronger defense. If things improve from here, then we should put up some good games. Lets just hope that is not the best we have seen.