I firmly believe that Troy Smith WILL win the starting QB job Saturday night, even if it is not in overwhelming fashion. A 10-19 performance for 134 yards and a rushing TD will be enough.
My bigger issue is with John Harbaugh and the Ravens. To update my running “Am I convinced that John Harbaugh is a real NFL Head Coach?” radar……I’m still not. I can’t stand the thought process of “We have the right to wait until 5 minutes before the Bengals game to make our decision.” We all know that John. Hell, you have the right to wait until the first offensive play to make the decision. But there are a group of people who invest THOUSANDS of dollars in this organization every year, and they would really like to get a better idea of what direction this organization is going in.
I want to take you back to the blog Kevin Byrne wrote on BaltimoreRavens.com on January 24, talking about the coaching hire. When the brass interviewing John Harbaugh told him that they had concerns and started asking questions, he responded by saying…..
“Look, I don’t have all the answers, but I’ll know where to find them.”
That might have been a nice emotional answer at the time, but looking back-I’m worried it might be an indictment on John Harbaugh. I wonder if he really just DOESN’T have the answers, and think we should be willing to give him time to find them.
John, there’s a regular season that begins in 17 days. It’s time you find those answers. Don’t try to out-think anyone. Just give us the answers. You don’t get the benefit of the doubt yet, you haven’t earned it.
Let’s see what everyone else has to say……
Best of Wednesday’s WNST Blogs:
Drew Forrester says if T. Smith stinks, its Boller Time
Chris Pika says T. Smith doesn’t need to be perfect, just good enough vs. Rams
Matt Berger relieved Turner won’t transfer
Anne Boone-Simanski says Mervo to dedicate field to Modell today
The Fighting Ungers say Orioles closer to turnaround than Ravens
Drew Forrester thinks Ravens, Terps will BOTH use at least 3 QB’s
ORIOLES:
The Official Site’s Amanda Comak says Birds rally from 4-0 hole to beat Sox
The Official Site provides numerical evidence of win
The Official Site’s Amanda Comak expects Liz to get nod for Friday start
The Official Site’s Amanda Comak says Francona contacts Orioles after Sherrill goes to DL
The Official Site’s Amanda Comak says Birds call up Mickolio to take Sherrill’s roster spot
Red Sox Official Site’s Ian Browne says Buchholz blasted, then demoted
The Sun’s Dan Connolly says Mora’s big night happened after being plunked earlier
The Sun’s Jeff Zrebiec says Francona also called Sherrill personally
The Sun’s Peter Schmuck says close proximity of minor league teams helping Birds
The Sun’s Peter Schmuck says Burres could also rejoin rotation
The Sun’s Peter Schmuck says Wieters homers again on farm
The Sun’s Peter Schmuck says Waters got squeezed due to high pitch count in 1st
The Sun’s Peter Schmuck says Reds borrow page from Birds
The Sun’s Dean Jones Jr. says O. Salazar gets three hits in Norfolk loss on farm
The Sun’s Dean Jones Jr. says injury to Frederick’s Snyder not considered serious
The Examiner’s Sean Welsh says Sarfate solid out of pen again
The Examiner’s Gary Lambrecht says Crowley ‘approachable’ in clubhouse
The Examiner’s Sean Welsh says Mickolio dealing with nerves in first trip to bigs
Carroll County Times’ Josh Land says Mora homers, grabs 4 RBI in win
Carroll County Times’ Josh Lane says Albers moved to 60 Day DL to make room for Mickolio on roster
Frederick News-Post’s Stan Goldberg says Ray ‘pitched without pain’ in rehab assignment
The AP says R. Hernandez drilled three run homer in win for Birds
Washington Post’s Marc Carig says Waters gets win despite giving up 5 runs in 5 innings
Washington Post’s Marc Carig says Orioles don’t think All-Star game put Sherrill on DL
Boston Globe’s Amalie Benjamin says Sox remain 4 ½ back after loss
Boston Herald’s Jeff Horrigan says this Buchholz much different than pitcher who no hit O’s last year
Providence Journal’s Joe McDonald says Buchholz threw just 60 pitches in loss
RAVENS:
The Official Site’s Mike Duffy says T. Smith named starter for Saturday
The Official Site’s Mike Duffy says McClain will get chance to run more often
The Official Site’s Mike Duffy says E. Jones to TE ‘full-blown experiment’
The Official Site’s Geoff Peckham says PSL Wait List sold out
The Sun’s Edward Lee says Yanda took snaps at center
The Sun’s David Steele not surprised QB situation unresolved
The Sun’s Jamison Hensley says T. Smith could play us much as 3 quarters Saturday night
The Sun’s Mike Preston says Ryan excited to get secondary back in tact
The Sun’s Edward Lee says E. Jones didn’t take TE move seriously in offseason
The Sun’s Mike Preston thinks Harbaugh expects to have to use both QB’s
Aaron Wilson says start ‘prime opportunity’ for T. Smith to nail down job
Aaron Wilson says E. Jones could still help Ravens at LB
The Examiner’s Ron Snyder says Harbaugh expects T. Smith to get bulk of playing time Saturday
The Examiner’s Ron Snyder says learning still important for Flacco
The AP says Boller might not even play vs. Rams
ESPN.com’s James Walker says Ravens ‘obviously’ want to see T. Smith win job
TERRAPINS FOOTBALL:
The Official Site says Turner won’t transfer
The Sun’s Don Markus says friends, teammates played major role in keeping Turner in College Park
Washington Post’s Eric Prisbell says Turner wants to graduate as Terp
Washington Times’ Patrick Stevens says death of grandfather part of reason Turner considered transfer
Washington Times’ Patrick Stevens says hospitalization makes Taylor learn dehydration can happen to athletes of all sizes
Washington Times’ Patrick Stevens says position battles continue on defense for Terps
Washington Times’ Patrick Stevens says Green returns to practice
The Diamondback’s Aaron Kraut says Ralph knew QB decision would cause problems either way
The Diamondback’s Jeff Newman says Meggett pushing to move all the way to top of depth chart
ESPN.com’s Heather Dinich thinks Turner will play for Terps in ‘08
Terrapin Times’ Keith Cavanaugh says Ralph thinks Terps have had just ‘one bad practice’ so far (must subscribe)
Terrapin Times’ Mark Clem says Gronkowski succeeding on, off field (must subscribe)
TERRAPINS SOCCER:
The Official Site says former Terp Edu to don video game cover
NAVY FOOTBALL:
The Official Site says Niumatalolo pleased with Special Teams
Annapolis Capital’s Bill Wagner says Ingram ideal leader to coach undersized linemen
Annapolis Capital’s Bill Wagner says surprises moving up depth chart
Go Mids’ David Ausiello says Finnerty ‘ready’
HOPKINS FOOTBALL:
The Official Site previews ’08 season
MORGAN FOOTBALL:
The Official Site says former Bear D. Johnson to receive Hall of Fame honor
The Examiner’s Dave Carey says Norris to anchor O-Line for Bears
The Examiner’s Dave Carey picks Bears 2nd in MEAC
LOYOLA BASKETBALL:
The Examiner’s Dave Carey says Hounds get four games in NIT
HORSE RACING:
Daily Racing Form’s David Grening says Big Brown’s next start likely to come at Monmouth
OLYMPICS:
The AP says former Terp Jasikevicius scores 23 as Lithuania eliminates China
The AP says former Bird D. Johnson enjoying experience as U.S. manager
The Sun’s Childs Walker says Phelps memorabilia hot commodity as well
The Sun’s Rick Maese says Phelps in Norris territory
The Sun’s Rick Maese says Phelps took to Hilton pool before leaving Beijing
The Sun’s Rick Maese says Phelps undecided between Boller, T. Smith
The Examiner’s Frank Deford says Phelps’ Olympics may be ‘single most sustained success any athlete ever achieved in an intense period’
The Examiner’s Dave Carey says Phelps hopes to see Ravens in Super Bowl
The AP says Bolt stealing spotlight in Phelps’ Olympics
Washington Post’s John Scheinman says perfect now ‘Phelpsian’
Wall Street Journal’s Christopher Rhoads says Phelps’ agent Carlisle working hard
SOME QUICK THOUGHTS:
-While I would prefer to see Hayden Penn and Brad Bergesen; I understand the reasoning behind giving Radhames Liz and Brian Burres their spots in the rotation back. They don’t want to start Bergesen’s service time; and Hayden Penn’s injury is going to keep him from getting the spot. Hopefully Liz got enough confidence back in Norfolk that he will trust his stuff.
-Chris Turner made the right decision by deciding not to transfer. He is not out of the picture at Maryland and still has plenty to prove. If Jordan Steffy can’t stay healthy or is ineffective (which are both questions I guess); he will get his chance sooner than later.
Talk to you tomorrow.
-G
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