In the wake of the Ravens loss on Sunday, the “Fire Cam Cameron” mob is once again fashioning their torches and sharpening their pitchforks. To anyone who’s been watching this team over the 4+ years that are the John Harbaugh / Cam Cameron era it shouldn’t come as a surprise. In fact, it was Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti who himself helped to fuel and to further this conversation by declaring “Cam under fire” following the 2010 season. Although Cameron seemed to survive his “under fire” season of a year ago and despite the fact that the Ravens found themselves within an eyelash of a Super Bowl appearance last year, the “fire Cameron” crowd is growing in size and urgency by the day.

At this point it might be fair to ask, if fans and even the owner perceive Cameron as a liability, then why hasn’t John Harbaugh seen it too? Is Harbaugh simply loyal to a fault and to the detriment of the team or might there be more to the situation than meets the eye?

When the Ravens brought Cameron in to run their offense I was opposed to the move. I was opposed on the grounds that in just one year he had overseen a near mutiny (to use a familiar term) taking place on his Dolphins team but that wasn’t even my biggest beef. The bigger issue that I had with Cameron related to his time in San Diego. It was easy to see first that both Drew Brees and Philip Rivers seemed to flourish when removed from Cameron’s system. In Brees’ case, Cameron and the San Diego staff failed not only to utilize his talents to their fullest potential, but they failed to even give him much of a shot. After one year at the helm of the Chargers offense, Brees was benched in favor of Doug Flutie and then saw the team draft his replacement in Rivers shortly thereafter. And while all of the aforementioned was troubling, that still wasn’t my biggest concern with Cam Cameron running the offense.

My issue, or expectation of the Cameron offense was based on something much simpler. During his time at the helm of the Chargers, it seemed that Cameron’s offense did everything over the middle of the field. Despite San Diego’s tendency to stock their receiving corps with big and physical pass catchers, there was absolutely no effort made to utilize them outside of the hash marks. With “up the middle” talent like Antonio Gates and LaDanian Tomlinson, it’s easy to understand why this was the philosophy but still worth mentioning that essentially ignoring the outsides of the field made things easier for opposing defenses.

Now fast-forward to and through Cameron’s first 4+ seasons in Baltimore and the exact opposite is true. It seems that here, Cameron’s offense only operates outside of the numbers and does nothing over the middle. When assessing the personnel at hand, again it’s easy to understand why. The Ravens lack the middle of the field “power forwards” that so many teams have begun to put to use in creating mismatches over the middle. The Ravens seem to lack confidence in their pass catchers and therefore look at balls off the fingertips outside as likely to go out of bounds while balls off the fingertips over the middle are more likely to find their way into the arms of waiting safeties.

Having the benefit of a strong armed quarterback in Joe Flacco who’s easily able to flick balls outside of the numbers and more than willing to check down to Ray Rice when those options aren’t there, it seems that Cameron’s offense is once again allowing opposing defenses the luxury of not having to account for the whole field. He’s gone from a guy who ran nothing outside of the hash marks to a guy who now runs everything outside the hash marks.

On one hand he could be applauded for adapting his game plans to suit his personnel, but on the other hand he’s a guy who has consistently allowed defenses the luxury of not exactly knowing what’s coming, but at least of being able to rule out a number of things that aren’t coming. For these reasons, it’s my opinion that Cameron should be under fire. But…

The one thing we all know at this point is the Ravens are 9-2 and that is the only stat that really matters. The offense looks terrible on the road and fans call for Cam Cameron’s head on a regular basis. The Quarterback shows flashes of greatness, but is more likely to be listed in the Hall of Pretty Good when his career ends. The offensive line is in shambles, and Ray Rice is having a somewhat of a down year.

The defense has been at its worse, maybe since the team moved to Baltimore. Ray Lewis has been out for an extended period of time. The Defensive Player of the Year spent the first half of the season on the injury report and has yet to get his legs underneath him. Haloti Ngata has played on one leg all season, while Ed Reed is a shell of his former self. No to mention the loss of key contributors, like Lardarius Webb to injury or Jarrett Johnson to free agency.

At no point can this team be satisfied with their performance each and every week but somehow this team can be satisfied with the result. This team is 9-2 and that is really the only stat that matters.

So how does mediocre performances, become one of the top teams in the league. There are factors that play its parts, especially looking at their recent schedule. But the old adage, or whatever you want to call, it comes into play here; you are what your record says you are. The Ravens are one of the best teams in the league.

There are two things that come to mind that can even explain what has happened here in Baltimore. The Head Coach deserves a great amount of credit for a team that has fought and scrapped for wins. The players have shown not only a veteran savvy, but a great sense of resolve to continue to finish games, even when they are not at their best.

The Ravens may not be on anyone’s top 5 list or power rankings but they are the scariest team in the league because of games like Sunday in San Diego. They had no right to win that game but as long as teams let them hang in, the more likely they will find a victory. That is the true sign of not only a good, but a great team. With the Steelers faltering as of late, the next real test is when Peyton Manning comes to town, playing possibly for a first round bye.

Sit back; enjoy the ride, because with victories like that, this team is poised to break some other teams’ hearts for the rest of the year.

Ok, I was having a great Baltimore sports weekend, the Blast won Friday Night, Towson absolutely destroyed New Hampshire at New Hampshire without their best defensive player, and the Ravens were about to play at Pittsburgh in the best rivalry in the NFL…..then I got pissed off to say the least.

How in the world did the FCS selection committee keep the Towson Tigers out of the tournament? They absolutely beat the hell out of New Hampshire, the 7th ranked team in the country, in their own stadium. Not good enough! Towson also scored the most points against LSU, yes that LSU, at Death Valley than any other team has all year! Not good enough, oh Towson also lost to a Kent State team that is currently in the top 25 in the BCS rankings as well, and played them close. Not good enough! I feel bad for the Tigers and WNST’s own Damon Yaffe, you litterally got robbed and those players deserve better.

UMBC played an outstanding game at North Carolina and took them to penalty kicks to decide the game, have to admire that effort and am proud of the Retrievers. UNC is the defending National Champs, not too bad for a school with county in its name!

The University of Maryland announces they are attempting to leave the ACC and head to the Big 10. WHAT?? Good luck with that, I know more goes into that move than just Athletics, but we all know Athletics are your biggest money maker, and its going to be pure embarassment when they join the Big 10. Wooo they have their own TV network, joyous occassion to get beat on TV every week. Maryland was already struggling to bring in big time recruits, don’t see the Terrapins beating out Ohio State and Michigan for top recruits much easier than beating North Carolina and Duke, or even Virginia Tech for that matter…..disappointing.

Ahhh some emotion uplifting, the Ravens beat the Steelers in Pittsburgh, couldn’t be happier, sure the offense could play better and undoubtedly Cam Cameron could have called a better game, but we are 8-2 with a two game lead in the AFC North! Turn on WNST this morning and all I hear is how disappointed fans are with the win?? the win?? Wow, simply stunning. Baltimore is 8-2 right? Sure we have to get better, but what team in week 11 doesn’t say to themselves, “we need to get better before the playoffs”. Zero, listen to the New England Patriots, they are always stating how they have pleanty of things to work on.

Bring on San Diego, and let’s make it 9-2!

Everyone in Baltimore seems to be up in arms about the poor performance the past couple weeks. Add in a Bye week after the blow-out loss to the Texans and the world has been on fire for Ravens fans. The offense has been less than stellar since the Sunday Night game versus New England in Week 3. Now the fix is not cut and dry but there are steps this team can look against a reeling Raiders defense to “right the ship.”

One noticeable absence from the teams game-plan during the low points in each game the past couple weeks is Anquan Boldin. He did make an appearance in the first quarter against the Browns, where the offense the most dominant it has all season. There is not a coincidence in Boldin’s best games and the output by Flacco and company. There is a reason he was brought in from Arizona; this team sorely lacked a go-to threat. Boldin has never been utilized as such in this offense, which partly goes by play calling and partly going by the pieces around him.

The Ravens finally put together a core to build the passing game, as Flacco has developed beyond the “game-manager” mantra, Ray Rice is now a top back in the league and Torrey Smith, along with Jacoby Jones, give the team true vertical threats. With all that being said, the double-team coverage on Boldin has been non-existent, meaning he should have free reign over the middle of the field.

The problem comes as he has not been used as such, EVER, while here in Baltimore. Boldin was a consistent Pro-Bowler and 100 Catch candidate, while in Arizona. That player has virtually disappeared for the Ravens, which is probably not his fault. Cam Cameron has not made it a point of emphasis to get the ball across the middle, as that is his wheel house, with his sure hands and physical nature to take on linebackers.

Force feeding him on crossing routes will wear down a defense but also open things up on the outside and out of the back field. The goal for the offense for the remainder of the season, should be to focus the offense around Boldin in the passing game, while staying consistent with Rice and Bernard Pierce in the backfield (an idea that worked pretty well against the Browns for a quarter). It not only helps to put the ball in the hands of a possible Hall of Famer, but makes everyone else on the field that much more open.

When Anquan Boldin was brought in, he was supposed to be the focus of every defense, hopefully he can be the focus of the Ravens passing game.

Discounting the Texans game, the Ravens have been competitive in every game thus far.  After all, they are six and two.  But this team has been through some tough times.  The defense has been terrible and the offense cant produce on the road.  That said, I think this Sunday’s game against the Oakland Raiders is a must win.

Make no mistake, this will not be an easy game.  The Raiders bost a respectable running game (when McFadden is healthy), and have a track team the Raiders call wide receivers.

If the Raiders want to win this game, Carson Palmer will have to make plays and he has done just that against the Ravens.  When Palmer was a Cincinnati Bengal, he faced the Ravens thirteen times and won nine of those games.  In those thirteen games, Palmer has thrown for just over 3,000 yards and has thrown fifteen touchdowns to eleven interceptions.

Those are pretty good numbers for a Ravens defense that used to be elite.  So what can Palmer do against a depleted Ravens defense that was struggling with their star players?

Jimmy Smith should play a large role in this game.  He is a good player and has a lot of potential but has a tendency to bite on double moves, especially double moves out of play action.  With the speed the Raiders have on the outside, Smith will have to stay at home and be fundamentally sound.

Tackling will also play a big role in this game.  Thus far, the Ravens have been a poor tackling team.  If the defensive backs play too far off the line to respect the Raiders speed, the Raiders will run comeback and slant routes to attack underneath.  If the Ravens dont tackle well, one of those short routes could go the distance.

This game is a must win because of the remaining schedule.  After the Raiders this Sunday, the Ravens must travel to Pittsburgh and San Diego before returning to Baltimore to play the Steelers for the second time in three weeks.  The Season ends with a four game stretch against the Redskins in Washington, the Broncos and Giants at home, and the Bengals on the road to end the regular season.

This schedule scares me as it should scare most Ravens fans.  Facing the Manning brothers two weeks in a row is brutal and Peyton always seems to beat the Ravens at home.

Personally, I see the Ravens getting to ten wins and earning a playoff spot.  The AFC is wide open.  Many teams can win the conference to represent the AFC in the Super Bowl, I just hope the Ravens get that privilege.

Before the Ravens can be who they want to be, they have to decide who they want to be. This team can’t know where they’re going until they decide who they are; and so far at least, who they are seems to be a team suffering from an identity crisis.

The Ravens have never in their history experienced a sustained level of success that matches what they’ve accomplished over the last four years. And despite all of the “sky is falling” prognostications they look like a team that’ll be tough to keep out of a 5^th straight playoff appearance. That said, it appears a safe bet that this season will end like the other four that preceded it…short of the Super Bowl.

It is the burden of expectations; a problem that more than half of the league’s teams would kill to have, but that will be of little consolation to those who have been along for this 4+ year ride.

Regardless of their previous successes or failures, the Ravens have always had an identity. Often times it was a frustrating identity, that of a team that would play to the strength of their defense and running game and that of a team that was seemingly being passed by as the rest of the league and its philosophies evolved.

For the last several years the team has appeared to be one in transition. Behind their (first ever) franchise quarterback and the franchise’s most versatile running back, Ravens fans have been pining for the switch to be flipped. This has put the offensive coordinator in a tough spot. Fans love the wide-open offense when it’s working (there were no calls complaining about Ray Rice’s touch numbers after the Ravens took apart Cincinnati in week 1) but still default back to their old school philosophies (Rice needs 25 touches per game) when it’s not working.

Cam Cameron has been the easiest of targets because he’s been the guy charged with authoring that transition, and because until he does so successfully, no one has any reason to be loyal to him. Owner Steve Bisciotti didn’t help Cam’s plight when he declared him “under fire” after the 2010 season.

In Cam’s defense though, he hasn’t exactly been set up for success. Throughout the Cameron/Harbaugh/Flacco era, the offensive line has been makeshift at best, the wide receiver corps dynamic and short staffed. The team still lacks a “go up and get it” threat that they can have confidence in between the hash marks and has instead invested heavily in a Pro-Bowl caliber backfield that’d be best served grinding out yardage on the ground.

The guy in charge of supplying that talent, Ozzie Newsome, has delivered a Super Bowl. He has a documented track record of draft successes that is tough to question much less match. And he has for that reason earned a status that insures he’ll hold his job for as long as he wants. That said, it seems that Ozzie is still building the Ravens to be a team that wins on defense and through their running game, while everyone else (in the league) is going in a different direction.

Lately Newsome has compounded those problems by “being too cute” on draft day. The Wizard’s willingness (or need) to forego first round picks in favor of stacking late round picks seems sound based on his history, but lately that abundance of picks hasn’t borne much fruit.

What the Ravens have now is an aged and beleaguered defense and an offense not built to overcome them. They have a real need to work out a long term deal with a quarterback who’ll wind up hamstringing their spending ability otherwise if he has to wear the franchise tag. And they’re a team that looks nothing like the wide-open “modern offense” that many expected them to be by now.

Steve Bisciotti took a great deal of pride back in 2005 with changing the process of communication in the building. It seems that we’re back to a place where one hand isn’t talking to the other. And it seems that the one guy who’s not on board with opening up the offense is the one who’s making the personnel decisions. That quite simply can’t work.

Before these Ravens can figure out where they’re going, they’ll have to decide who they are…and father time remains undefeated.

The on and off offensive struggles of the Ravens have been an oft debated topic throughout the franchise’s history but especially during the time Joe Flacco has been at the helm of the offense.

I said on Twitter last Sunday that Joe Flacco, is an average to above average quarterback and incurred the wrath of the Flacco fan club.  The reality is that at times he looks like an excellent quarterback.  At other times, however, he looks like he couldn’t even start for a high school team.

I have been a staunch defender of the 5^th year QB since his beginnings in the organization.  A defender that realizes that he is not elite, but that he is above average most of the time and is perfect for the offense that the Ravens have tried to implement since he began here.

Just as in previous years, the Ravens have seen their share of offensive struggles thus far in the season.  Most notably, the games against the Chiefs and Texans were offensive quagmires to say the least.

There are a few easily fixed but painfully obvious weaknesses I have seen as the reason for these struggles.

One, the no huddle offense that Cam Cameron has tried to institute this year has been a lateral move.  The pace at which the offense runs it is not near as fast enough to confuse the opposing defense  nor tire them out because it still allows the defense to make minor substitutions.

While they said they would still commit to running the ball out of it, Ray Rice is currently on pace for close to 50 less touches than last year.  One reason for this is the Ravens either inability or simple disregard for running the ball out of the shotgun formation.  It seems as if it is only reserved for making room for punts on third and long.  The fact is that running the ball out of the shotgun could do a lot to open up the passing game.

Furthermore, Flacco’s ability to sell the play action is one of the worst I have ever seen (one of the only things he truly does ‘bad’).  This is ability is very underrated and doing it well can make you considerably better as a player and an offense.  Tom Brady is a player who really does this well.

This has always been a weakness of Flacco’s but his tendency to stare down receivers has always hurt him; especially during pressure situations such as third down or when trailing.  Working with Jim Caldwell has made him a little better at this but there is still work to do.

The Ravens have another week to fix these shortcomings as well as the others I have missed or failed to point out.  While the team is in fact 5-2, they are not as good as their record indicates.

This week the Ravens are stammering,

The Texans just gave them a hammering.

You knew they were done,

When they threw out the run.

And now fans want to fire Cam Cameron

The Tigers had visions of grandeur,

And threw out an ace in Verlander.

But for being the best,

Maybe had too much rest.

And in Game 1 got beat by a Panda

There once was a QB named Cam,

Who wanted to be Superman.

But when things don’t work out,

He always starts to pout.

So now people are calling him Sham.

The Bounty-Gate thing was malicious,

Inspiring hits that were vicious.

But the players suspended,

Had their punishments ended.

And now have beef with two commishes.

There once was a Jag named Maurice,

Who called the Bears quarterback weak.

He should laugh at himself,

Because he’s now on the shelf.

With a little foot that he just tweaked.

Inspired by the scene in “Monty Python and the Holy Grail” where the body cart is being pushed through the city during the plague as the mortician cries “Bring Out Your Dead”. As one man ambitiously tries to deliver a not quite dead elderly man to the cart hilarity ensues. Here’s a look at who’s being (or has been) written off for dead in the sports world, and what the final prognosis might be.

“I’m Not Dead Yet” – Despite reports to the contrary these guys are not dead yet, but may have one foot in the proverbial grave and another on a banana peel.

Cam Newton – Superman has become the Super-Sulker but he’s not dead yet, not by a long shot. Still there are plenty of reasons to be concerned. Newton’s post-loss body language has been unbearable. We can all appreciate that the kid wants to win, but he’ll have to do some growing up before he can become a leader of men. Cam took everyone (including himself) to task in the wake of the Panthers most recent defeat, but mostly seemed to point fingers at his offensive coordinator. Newton is looking for a game plan that authors blowouts but will sooner or later have to learn that life in the NFL doesn’t work that way. In 3 of his 5 losses this season, Cam has had the ball in his hands with a chance to win the game in the final 5 minutes. If he intends to be the star he’s being cast as, he’ll need to get comfortable in those situations. It’d also help if Newton stopped shaking off teammates’ efforts to celebrate TDs with him while clearing out space to do his ridiculous Superman dance.

Cam Cameron – Sticking with Cams, reports of the demise of Cam Cameron might be a byproduct of Ravens fans wishes more than anything else. In the wake of the Ravens most recent disappointment against the Houston Texans however, another long and introspective look at this offense might be long overdue. Cameron was “under fire” by owner Steve Bisciotti last season and managed to survive. There’s no reason to believe the Ravens will make a change before seasons end, but in the event that it doesn’t end in the Super Bowl, this season could very likely be Cameron’s last.

Maurice Jones-Drew – Remember MJD calling out Jay Cutler a couple of seasons ago for surrendering during the playoffs due to an MCL injury that didn’t look that serious on TV and didn’t require surgery. Last week in a game the Jaguars lost in overtime to a less than spectacular Oakland Raiders squad, MJD watched from the sidelines while nursing a foot injury that didn’t look that serious on TV and that apparently won’t require surgery. This on the heels of his extended and controversial holdout from training camp while trying to earn a new contract or force a trade won’t buy Jones-Drew much empathy as he watches from the sidelines for the next couple of weeks at least.

Lance Armstrong – Maybe the Lance Armstrong fiasco will give us a long overdue chance to examine ourselves. He lorded over a sport that was rampant with doping and drug use, and while he adamantly proclaimed being above it throughout his once storied and undeniably dominant career. Now having given up the fight and having been stripped of all of his career accolades Armstrong also finds that those who rode his coattails to success and fortune aren’t set to stand by him in the hard times. It’s still impossible to ignore all of the good that Armstrong has done in his career, and it seems only a matter of time before he’ll inevitably bounce back in the court of public opinion…but it doesn’t look like it’ll be terribly easy, or any time soon for that matter.

Dirk Nowitzki – Just as the world was ready to close the book on the legacy of Dirk Nowitzki he surprised everyone and cemented that legacy by winning an NBA championship. He backed it up however by showing up for a lockout shortened NBA season the following year out of shape, and now looks ready to miss at least the first few weeks of this season as he recovers from ankle surgery. It may now be safe to close the book on Nowitzki’s NBA legacy. It appears he got that title just in the nick of time.

Now Terrell Suggs is no stranger to flapping off at the mouth. And most people in Baltimore appreciate his personality. But he also doesn’t use the best judgment all the time and can make some bad mistakes.

Everyone knows Terrell Suggs for coining the phrase “Ball So Hard University,” which he can actually thank Jay-Z and Kanye West for, not his own creativity. And now you see those shirts across the entire state; which is a virtual “cash cow” for anyone with the rights to the phrase. Well, Suggs never thought someone else would copy write that phrase the morning after that game versus the Steelers, November 6, 2011. Well, Brian Bussells was first to the trademark, giving him naming rights to develop the apparel and now Suggs legal team thought they could now sue Bussells. Doesn’t look good for Sizzle to win that battle.

This offseason, it was reported he tore his Achilles tendon, “training,” or as Adam Schefter reported playing basketball. Then Suggs tried to retort the comments, in order to cover his own ass and his bank account. Luckily, he plays for a first class organization that realized his happiness is important to the overall well being of the franchise in the present and future, than a couple million dollars.

Now, the same Adam Schefter reported yesterday that Suggs is looking to play this weekend versus the Texans. He did return to practice Wednesday, on a highly limited basis, but that is his first team workout since the New England game in January. WNST’s own Luke Jones saw him in action and believes he looks “heavy;” an expected result of limited training for several months. Suggs was already expected to lose a step with this injury, but being slowed while getting back into shape is another issue all into itself.

Sizzle pushing himself on the field is not only a mistake for his own health, but also not even a possibility at this moment. Suggs has not been activated off the PUP list, meaning he is not on the current 53 man roster; a player cannot even suit up without that declaration. So unless he now makes the rules for the NFL, HE CANNOT PLAY.

Furthermore, Suggs has not been cleared by any doctors to assume the physical nature of football. Doctors take their job pretty seriously, because their ass is on the line if they make a mistake. They will be ones to determine when he steps back onto the field. So unless he now makes the rules for the Ravens and their team doctors, HE CANNOT PLAY.

This whole thought process circling Sizzle’s head is simply mind-boggling. Now maybe this is a ploy by the team to throw the Texans off guard; though they too are professionals and understand the nature of a NFL team. This could be a ploy from Suggs himself, to get back at Adam Schefter for being the whistle-blower on the nature of his injury. Either way, it does not put Suggs on the field.

When he is ready to play, expect him to have another chip on his shoulder. Expect to see a man possessed to prove himself for this distraught defense. Expect him to take over the mantle of ‘emotional leader’ for the Ravens. But expect him to be watching the game on Sunday, just like the rest of us.