We used to call it “Pittsburgh Week” but in Baltimore right now it’s a chance for Orioles fans to finally get to Camden Yards for playoff baseball. Bye week is over for the Birds as the purple birds see the Steelers and jet off to London while the bunting hangs downtown and pitching is the key to October baseball.
SUMMARY KEYWORDS
ravens, orioles, game, year, team, running, season, play, rangers, bullpen, defense, injury, tackle, week, lamar jackson, offense, win, baseball, swept, dennis
SPEAKERS
Dennis Koulatsos, Luke Jones
Dennis Koulatsos 00:01
Welcome back leading off the shows always is a great loop Jones doing great things for both. We’re positive out there covering the Orioles and the Ravens and Luke the buzz this week has been all Orioles for a football fanatic like myself. I’m trying to. I’m trying to find people have talked to you about the Steelers. It’s just not happening. Oh, Oreo fever has taken over the city.
Luke Jones 00:23
Yeah, it’s wild. I mean, it’s Steelers week. Right. And we’ll get to that. And certainly there’s importance to that. But also recognizing it’s week five, a lot of season ago, it’s early October. But all the buzz all the attention all the you know, the purest excitement is definitely for the Baltimore Orioles who enjoying a little bit of rest this week while also trying to stay sharp. It’s a very unusual five day layoff that you just don’t see in baseball. I mean, even the all star break doesn’t last that long. So there’s a challenge to that. But it’s a good problem to have, as we saw with the Tampa Bay Rays, who fought tooth and nail with the Orioles all season long and specifically the second half of the season. And they had a rough, bad 27 hours down at the trop and they were eliminated by the Oreos opponent in this hlds which is going to be the Texas Rangers. A team that hot and cold up and down a little bit over the course of the season. But a team that second best run differential in the American League and a team that I thought at various times this season, when they are at their best, maybe the most dangerous team in the American League. You know, to put it in football terms for you, Dennis, maybe maybe I’d compare them to the Buffalo Bills who maybe lacks some of that consistency, but when they’re playing at their best boy, they’re scared and that that that Rangers offense specifically, they they compound the baseball so Orioles are a slight favorite and should be as the number one seed in the American League. But, Dennis, this isn’t football. This is in the NBA. It’s baseball were two good teams in a shortcut, a short series, which a five game series is still a very short series. No, it’s little more than a coin flip. So I’m picking the Orioles to win. But I think this is going to be it’s gonna be a challenge especially with the way that the Rangers played down at the trop just beaten the arrays and beating them handily over that two game sweep.
Dennis Koulatsos 02:24
Man I have a lot to learn about baseball still. I thought it was a seven game series. So that’s a five game series, right? So should they move on? Then it becomes a seven game series presumably with a winner act between Toronto and Minnesota. And guess they face the Astros?
Luke Jones 02:40
Well, Minnesota beat Toronto, so David Banner,
Dennis Koulatsos 02:43
Miss Yeah, okay. Yeah, yeah. So
Luke Jones 02:45
so it’ll be the winner. Right, a
Dennis Koulatsos 02:50
seven game series there. And then that’s for the right to represent the American League in the World Series.
Luke Jones 02:55
Exactly. Exactly. That’s and in fairness to you this new format, this expanded format just began last year. So you have the wildcard round, which is these best of threes, all three games being held at the higher seed. All four wildcard rounds ended in two games. Sweet. So we didn’t even get a game three in any of those four matchups. But yes, the Division Series is, you know, the equivalent of the divisional round in the NFL, but it’s best to five, obviously, the winners advanced to the LCS, you know, League Championship Series in the Al and Nl and then that becomes the best to seven. And of course, the World Series, the best of seven. So,
Dennis Koulatsos 03:36
yeah, it was Toronto, the highest, the higher seed and their series against Minnesota or not
Luke Jones 03:40
know, Minnesota, well, Minnesota won the Al Central, and you know that the perception of the central was not very good. I mean, you look at the Rangers regular season record. I mean, this wasn’t a juggernaut of a team by any stretch of the imagination. But as I was telling anyone who would listen over the course of the last week or so, I was saying Don’t sleep on the Minnesota Twins, they quietly played really, really good baseball over the last five weeks of the regular season or so. So yeah, they disposed of the Blue Jays pretty handily. So I get it, they’re only 87 and 75. And, you know, they’re going up against the defending champion Astros, but even then, they’re good starting pitching and their offense was much better over the second half of the season. So point is, and I said this to Nestor, as we started to break down this Orioles Ranger series. All these teams left are good. I mean, that’s just the reality at this point in time. I mean, specially in baseball, where you have, even if it’s a great team going up against a good team, and if you want to call it that, with the Orioles going up against the Rangers, you know the Orioles won 101 games. The Rangers won 90 Fine, I’ll hear that. But in baseball, good teams beat great teams all the time, over the course of 162 I mean, bad teams be good teams all the time over the course of 162. So yeah, this it’s not to make excuses. Is or to be wishy washy about it, but we’ll see how this plays out. The Orioles certainly have the rest factor on their side, they have the advantage to be able to set their rotation, you know, with Kyle Bradish, presumably going in game one and Grayson Rodriguez John means we think game two and three, whichever order Brandon Hyde decides, and then you know whether it’ll be Kyle Gibson or Dean Kramer as the number four starter in this best to five, you know their added advantage in that regard. But at the same time the rangers can most likely the way it sets up, come back with Jordan Montgomery and Game Two and evolved in game three, and those two pitch well against the rays. So this is not a team to take lightly. And again, there is a little bit of that intrigue in terms of we talked about this a lot. We talked about this four years ago when the Ravens were the number one seed and had the first round by that whole rest verse rust, debate that however you want to categorize it, or however you want to classify that or however you feel about that. It’s real to some degree, whether it becomes a self fulfilling thing or not. But it’s definitely something that’s a little bit different. I thought Kyle Gibson, I had a chance to talk to him in the Orioles dug out on Wednesday afternoon. He really I think he put it in the proper perspective in terms of how you approach having these five days off, which they’ve been working out. It’s not like it’s a five day vacation. But he said, You have to view this as though it’s the last five days of spring training, which no one views as any kind of a vacation or like the all star break or anything like that, those five days you’re locking in, you’re gearing up for the start of something, he said we have to view this as the last five days of spring training. And then we’re starting the second season, which is really fun. It’s, we’re excited, we can’t wait. But you have to view it that way. Rather than, hey, we’re gonna put our feet up and you know, it’s okay to exhale for a few moments. It’s okay to breathe and catch your breath and rest a little bit to be sharp physically, but boy, you need to be sharp mentally and you don’t want to be coming back after five days off and all the velocity that you see from these hard throwing pitchers in baseball, you don’t want 95 to suddenly feel like it’s 105 because you haven’t played a real game in five days. So that is a little bit of the challenge that the Orioles just like the Astros just like the Braves and the Dodgers in the National League, which, by the way, Braves and Dodgers in the NFL last year, they had those buys. They lost in the Division Series, both of them and they were the two best teams in the NFL, in my opinion by a wide wide margin. So again, part of it is just baseball. But it’s also a little bit of a challenge here to see how you navigate your time off and the Orioles basically played a mock game on Wednesday, several innings bullpen guys through a couple starters through all the hitters got at bats against live pitching so they’re trying to do everything they can to stay sharp. While Yeah, I also acknowledging it is a chance to recharge the battery a little bit. Yeah,
Dennis Koulatsos 07:59
for sure. And even whether it’s football or baseball, be careful what you wish for because, you know, I know that maybe there’s a mindset that they’d rather play this team rat rather than playing the tempo race but you just don’t know I mean right and you just don’t know how these teams are going to show up there by rhythms and like you said they just got the rage just got swept at home. Now the question for you is so did a rave the the Orioles get two games at home to await one back again. Is that the format? Yeah, it’s
Luke Jones 08:29
a two to one format for the best of five. And then once you get to the best of seven for the LCS and the World Series, it’s 232. So and the Orioles will have home field obviously throughout the USL side of the bracket. And if they do get to the World Series, they would have home field except against anyone except the Braves who had the best record in baseball. So
Dennis Koulatsos 08:52
the same format there. 232 stands. Yes. Yep.
Luke Jones 08:56
So that’s where we are
Dennis Koulatsos 08:58
educational. I appreciate that Lupica again, I’m not going to think that I know what I’m talking about when it comes to baseball. I’m still learning I’m a newbie and I’m Alana. I’m engaged for the first time in a long, long time. And in this baseball team,
Luke Jones 09:10
no question about it. So and what you’re gonna see and anyone who watches playoff baseball, that’s why roster construction is really interesting. You know, when you have a best of five you’re only gonna go with a four man rotation rather than a five. So which starter doesn’t make the cut, but in turn, that starter goes to the bullpen. So you know, I my top three and the Orioles haven’t made this official but we know Bradish is going to be in the rotation. You know Grayson Rodriguez are going to be on the road in the rotation. John means did everything to show that it’s looking a lot like John means pretty Tommy John surgery. So those three I fully expect, obviously to be in the rotation. The question for me comes down to is it Kyle Gibson, the veteran who does have some postseason experience, or is it Dean Kramer who had a better season overall, but Gibson was better in September. Neymar was a little. I don’t think it was tired necessarily. I mean, I think that’s the easy thing to say about these young pitchers. I mean, let’s be clear, Everyone’s tired this time of year. But I think in the case of Kramer, to me, he could be an intriguing option to go to the bullpen. And maybe, maybe he’s a guy that, you know, if you have to take a starter out in the fourth or fifth inning, which happens a lot in playoff baseball, maybe he’s a guy that comes out of the pen and maybe throws two and a third innings and strikes out four guys for you and misses some bats and can kind of bridge that gap to the late innings. So it’s a very different animal. It’s fun, but it is different than the regular season. So I think just in a general sense, and the same questions were asked of the Houston Astros, who’ve won a couple World Series since then. But way back in 2015, when they got to the postseason the first time, you know, they were viewed as being maybe a year or two ahead of schedule, just like people have viewed the Orioles that way. But you do look at some of these teams that eventually get to the top of the mountain and win the World Series. In recent years. It’s generally taken them their second or third try. So that doesn’t mean the Orioles are going to be that way. And I think this team has an impressive makeup for how young they are. But at the same time, how are they going to respond to the bright lights of October? So that’s why they play the games, Dennis and what the why this is gonna be fun, but I definitely I think there was a general sense and you just look at it. Record wise. Yeah, yeah, the rays 199 games, Orioles played them tough, you know, back and forth. A really entertaining season series. And the Rangers did struggle, you know, the last week of the season, they lost the Al west as a result, you know, and they would have been the number two seed but they’re a team that is still very dangerous. And like I said, highest scoring team in the American League. You know, they’re definitely a team that you need to be very aware of in terms of their offensive firepower and you know, their their pitching bullpen shaky. But their starters that that pitched against Tampa Bay, Jordan Montgomery and Nathan eovaldi. They pitch well, so they’re not going to be neither one of those guys will be ready for game one, but see them in game two, game three. So this a Rangers team that again, from an upside standpoint when they’re right. I thought they were as dangerous as anyone in the American League. So the Orioles need to be ready. That’s for sure.
Dennis Koulatsos 12:24
A couple of points here. Look, Dean Kramer correct me if I’m wrong. He was the opening day starter. Because I was there. The pitching staff has evolved since then. And the Felix Batista injury looms big this time of the year. I would imagine that as you get in the playoffs, you’re not going to have four or five run victories. They’re going to be tight games, one or two runs. And this one we really need that players are coming into the bullpen and shutting down the opposition.
Luke Jones 12:50
No question about it. And just to clarify Kramer started the home opener. It wasn’t the first overall game but yeah, right. Right. But it’s evolved. And I’d say to echo your point, Kyle Gibson was their open opening day starter and I just mentioned that, you know, it’s in question whether he’s going to be in the in the postseason rotation or not, he’ll be in the bullpen at the very least. But I would lean toward him being the fourth starter in the alts. But yeah,
Dennis Koulatsos 13:16
like, right, the two guys just started the season one away there towards the back end of that rotation versus the front end. Things have evolved since the beginning of the year 160 Some games ago, but absolutely,
Luke Jones 13:26
I mean, Kyle Bradish has been, you know, he’s going to get some Cy Young Award votes. I mean, he’s not going to win it. You know, it’s gonna be Gerrit Cole for the Yankees. I mean, he’s the overall consensus of winner. And he had a phenomenal year, even though the Yankees weren’t very good. But you know, Kyle Brennan Bradish was every bit looked the part of an ace, you know, from about early May on you know, he, ironically, his, his roughest. You know, one of his roughest moments came against the same Rangers in his first start of the year. The Rangers catcher Jotunheim hit a line drive off his foot and radish was on the aisle. Right? Right. So but he’s been fantastic grace and Rodriguez since returning after the all star break has been every bit as good as Bradish. I mean, it’s funny because we talk so much about the pitching, but I’ll take this Oreos one two punch now the Astros? Yeah, they’re valid valid as and Verlander. I mean, they’ve got the names and they had the guys who’ve done it for longer, right. So let’s be clear about that. But in terms of just how they’re pitching right now, I’ll take I’ll take my chances with Bradish and Rodriguez at least as a one two punch against anyone on that Al side of the bracket right now so that hey, they’re doing this for the first time so you don’t know how anyone’s going to respond to them in the same way that you know Lamar Jackson, his first couple playoff playoff games and you know, you never know I mean, that’s that’s part of what makes this fun but also so nerve wracking at the same time, but you know, they are in a position where I think the rotation of looks good. Yeah, about as it looks as good as you could reasonably expect it to look, compared to what we were talking 234 months ago. But yeah, there are questions in the bullpen. And Dennis, you just made a great point. I mean, so many close games in the postseason. I mean, so many games three to four, three, and you’re you’re using your bullpen for so many of those outs. Typically. I do question and I think the bullpen stabilized a little bit over the last homestand they got a little bit of rest and you know that road trip was rough. That stretch of 17 days without an off day was really took its toll on their bullpen. But the big question I keep coming back to Dennis is who is going to miss bats in that bullpen and what and what I mean by that is, you get these scenarios where it’s a one run game, there are two guys on you call on someone in the bullpen. You need someone who can get some strikeouts sometimes you know the idea of pitching the contact is great in a big picture regular season sense. But when you pitch the contact sometimes balls will fall in guys will hit a ball and it won’t even be hit that hard but it’ll fall in as the Orioles in 2014 against the Kansas City Royals how that worked out the way they just blooped balls in time after time and just paper cut the Orioles to death basically in that four game sweep. Right so
Dennis Koulatsos 16:24
and those those games are things that were lost those games but one or two run per game. If it was getting blown up by five or six runs, it was close. It was tight. It was
Luke Jones 16:34
a four game sweep and each game was decided by two or fewer runs. I mean, it was it was a blowout in the sense that they lost Foro in the best of seven but each one of those games was close. So the point is and that Orioles team back then had way more swing and miss you know had some swing and miss ability with Andrew Miller and some other guys in that bullpen that I’m just not so sure. But yeah, like they lost
Dennis Koulatsos 16:58
those four games but what six six runs? I mean, something like that if I if we had to do the math, it was that tightness is when I think about a guy like Felix Batista the command an athlete just slam that door shut. Yeah,
Luke Jones 17:10
and this is where look, the Orioles did a phenomenal job enduring the Batista injury. I mean, look at what their record was after he got hurt. I mean, a lot of people thought at that point in time. Well this this kills any chance they have at the World Series. This this very well could cost them the division, not having I mean Batista. I did my most valuable Oriole voting, Dennis, you know, and Gunnar Henderson one I voted for gunner. I voted Kyle radish, number two, I voted Batista three, even with him having missed the entire you know what the final five, five and a half, six weeks of the regular season. If he never gets hurt, I’m probably still going with Gunnar Henderson because he just had you know, he was that big for them from mid May on but I think there was a strong argument to be made a field expertise to be in the most valuable Oreo. And I mean, that’s how great how critical he was on the bat for the back end of that bullpen the number of times on the road where he’d throw two innings you know, they go to extra innings and he’d throw two innings and they’d win a game. So boy, you absolutely miss him. That doesn’t mean their chances are shot or anything like that. I’m not trying to be overly negative but it is it does make their path so much more difficult because the rest of those guys in that bullpen and I’m not saying that they don’t have some good arms out there. But who’s the dude out there right who’s the guy that is the absolute man? It was easily Felix Batista you know no questions asked you know, with apologies to Cano or coulomb or DL hall or whoever you want to throw out there as far as who was next in the pecking order. But now you know Cano you loved in the seventh or eighth inning. Do you love them as much in the ninth inning, you know, CNL Perez and DL Hall and Jacob Webb and now Tyler wells being back in the mix. They are all guys that I think can help and pitch well out of the bullpen but boy, you’re just missing the big dog in the ninth inning. I mean you just are so that doesn’t mean the Orioles can overcome that but it does make things more difficult especially when you’re talking about you know a group of guys that you know other than a couple guys here and there and you know Jacob Webb strikes people out certainly you know, DL Hall has swing admissibility, but I mean Felix Batista for a large portion of the season, Dennis he was averaging two strikeouts per inning. Yeah, that shows how dominant he was. And there’s just there’s no way to sugarcoat that, you know, if you dismiss that you’re being disrespectful to how great of a pitcher Felix Batista was this year so not saying it can’t overcome, but it definitely does create a different path a more challenging path for them to navigate nine innings and needing the 27 outs especially against the lineup like the Rangers or potentially the Astros. If you advanced that NA LCS
Dennis Koulatsos 20:00
and of course Yanni Cano, he earned an all star berth based on his performance the first half of the year. But we can honestly say the second half of the year, he wasn’t nowhere near dominantly towards the first half.
Luke Jones 20:12
Yeah, no question. And I think what was encouraging for me the last week or so of the season, we did see him start to strike some people out again. But he went for an extended period of time where he just not striking anyone out. And again, I know old school, baseball fans will hear that and say, well, you’re so fixated on strikeouts. And I’m not saying that strikeouts for everything. But again, runners on base, you’re only up by one run, you can make a great pitch. And someone can bleep that ball in the shallow right center and score two runs. And suddenly you’re losing that guy, those pitchers who can get swinging missed, you know, those pitchers who throw nasty, Nightmare high, 90s 100 mile per hour fastball is with wicked breaking stuff. And they can strike people out. That’s how you navigate a bases loaded one out situation and protect that one run lead that you have. So again, not impossible, not by no means I’m not trying to say that. But I do very much and lots of people do have fair questions about this bullpen on the back end, are they Is there enough swing and miss ability out of their pitchers that we’re going to that we’re going to see in the late innings because they don’t have that Felix Batista at the back end.
Dennis Koulatsos 21:27
And we saw at least in the in the two wildcard series, how important game one was an abbreviated three game series game one is huge and put you in a position to get swept. And, and stay home for that to watch the playoffs like the rest of us. Ya know, how critical is it of game one in the game five series using the same line of thinking,
Luke Jones 21:46
Oh, it’s absolutely huge. I mean, it you know, you have in a best of five. Of course, if you lose game one, you’re not in a position like you are in the best to three where you’re already facing elimination. So it’s not not that critical. But boy, it’s still important. And you don’t want to be in a position where you’re squandering home field. You get game one. To me, it’s akin to you know, it’s just like the NFL, you don’t want to fall behind 10 Nothing in the first quarter, especially in a postseason game. I mean, we saw what happened to the Ravens against the Titans four years ago as a heavy favorite. And frankly, they kicked the president kick.
Dennis Koulatsos 22:24
Yeah, go ahead. Now that said the pressure mounts on the home team. That’s what that’s when the frog in the throat starts to get bigger to where you can’t breathe. So the best way to swallow that frog, so to speak, is to get ahead and stay ahead and get some momentum versus the the antithesis happening to you.
Luke Jones 22:40
Exactly, exactly. And I mean, that’s they want to get get ahead early. You know, you want to be in a position where you hope Kyle Bradish gives you six innings, let’s say, I think you know if he can give you six, I think you’d be really happy about that with the rest of bullpen. You know, you hope you look, you know, you always want to have an eight to one lead or something like that. But you also know realistically, you know, it’s probably gonna be a close game. So you want to win game one. I mean, it’s in any series, even best to seven. And then it’s I know, you’re an NBA guy. I mean, winning game one in the NBA. In a sport where the best team almost always wins. I mean, you know, the Miami Heat this past year notwithstanding, I mean, it’s almost always the best team standing. But baseball is not like that. Again, there’s a lot of variance game, the game, we talk about it all the time, every team wins 60, at least 60 or so. And every team loses 60 or so it’s what you do with the rest. I mean, so you know that with that in mind. Yeah, it’s so important to get game one. And four, I think for a young team as much as this team was so resilient. I mean, they didn’t get swept all season. Let’s face it. I mean, they haven’t been swept since before Adley rutschman was true, caught up to the majors last May, which is just, that’s insane. When you think about that. I mean, forget about the Ravens preseason winning streak. I mean, this is this is a streak that is just, it defies all logic from what baseball is supposed to be it. But it’s also a major credit to this young team that they’ve been able to rebound and even, hey, the Rangers came in. And again, this is a reminder of how dangerous the rangers can be when they’re playing at their best. The Rangers came in to Baltimore in late May, and beat the pants off the Orioles, the first two games of the series. And it was one of those times people weren’t talking about that the streak of not being swept in the same way that we do now at that point, but they were looking like they were going to be swept or had a chance to be swept in here. They won that Sunday before Memorial Day. So they were able to salvage the one out of three at least but but the Orioles just they’ve had this uncanny ability to bounce back and not let things snowball for them. Yeah, their longest losing streak of the year was four games. And they only did that a couple times. But that said to the point you weren’t Thinking about this best to five? You know, it can end quickly. I mean, it really can. I mean, I can remember back in 2014 when the Orioles played the Tigers. This is when the Tigers had Justin Verlander Max Scherzer and David Price three Cy Young Award winners going up against the Orioles. People would have thought it at that point the Tigers were absolutely viewed as a favorite. And if anyone had asked you at the time, they would have said, well, if someone’s gonna get a sweep here, I’m guessing it’s the tiger sweeping the Orioles. Lo and behold, the Orioles swept the Tigers. So anything can happen in baseball. But again, you want to get that game one. And for a young team, even though they did they prove this point wrong throughout the season. You certainly don’t want these guys to get in their head. This isn’t going well, like you know, we lost the first game. They’ve been so good at not having that kind of mindset. But it is October it is a little bit different. These games do cap for more. You know, you’ll hear people say it’s still the same game. on a on a fundamental basic level. Yes, it is we understand it’s still baseball, you know, you still catch hit, throw, pitch, you know, etc. But the stakes are higher, everyone understands that. So you get that, that game one out of the way. You’re feeling way better about yourself, you’re not quite as tight, you know, you can play loose, and then then you know, hey, get game one. It’s like, hey, two to go. And we’re moving on. So that that’s how I mean, it’s so quick. And you know, the best the three was the extreme of this. But, you know, it really does come down to you have a bad few days, and you’re going home after playing so well after six months. So you have to savor the opportunity and enjoy it, certainly. But you want to take advantage too, because you never quite know. And, you know, we’ve mentioned the 2019 ravens in passing a couple of times. And everyone thought at that point in time while the Ravens were ahead of schedule. And we’ve seen how the last four years have gone since then, with bad luck and injuries and a pandemic. You know, all kinds of weird things can happen. So you never want to just be saying, oh, we’ll do this in the future. No your your opportunities right now to try to take advantage. And I think the Orioles whether they ultimately win at all or not. I do think they’re going to seize this moment and got a bunch of young hungry guys that, you know, they haven’t been on this stage. But Adley rutschman Want to College World Series a bunch of these guys played in minor league playoff series. So it’s not the same stage, but it’s still as important as they could do at that point in time in their baseball career. So, you know, I think you’re hoping that some of those experiences will enable these guys to rise to the occasion, which is not always easy. But hey, players do it every year. And at some point in time you think about the most legendary players and they didn’t start out as legends. They became legends over time. So certainly the Orioles. Some of these young Oreos were hoping to put their name and Oreos lore in the way that we think of remembering the late great Brooks Robinson or Frank Robinson or, you know, Eddie Murray or Cal Ripken or Jim Palmer go down the list of the very best Oreos of all time.
Dennis Koulatsos 28:11
Well, it’s been a remarkable turnaround, Luke, just from the culture change. And as you mentioned that this team not been swept since the arrival of Ali rutschman. I would venture to say a couple years ago, when they were losing 100 plus games, they will retreat routinely swept right that wasn’t that was not an uncommon theme for this team and to go from that to a refuse to give up type of an attitude and not giveaway series. And I mean, I remember they had 25 game losing streaks. He longer than were the laughingstock of the league. They’ve come a long, long way. They really have
Luke Jones 28:44
no question about it. I mean, they had what I not 25 But they had a 90 I think it was 19 game losing streak back just two years ago, two years ago. Two years is nothing I mean two years ago, is that’s what I’m getting heard at the
Dennis Koulatsos 28:59
end, the hardest thing that’s changing, and I believe I’ve done this several times in my career, which is why I’ve been hired several times that career is to change the culture. It’s the hardest thing to do in life is to change culture to go from a losing mindset, to winning mindset. We saw Brian Billick do it here. He turned around the culture. He had a winning culture of Minnesota. He brought four or five guys with him. This is how you practice he was of course augmented by the great draft picks of Ozzie Newsome, the culture change because losing is contagious. And so he’s winning. And for those this team could go from being a perennial loser to now being a consistent winner out beat in a short period of time. It just bodes very well for their future and it speaks volumes for the leadership of the club to
Luke Jones 29:42
no question about it. I mean, ultimately, talent is paramount. We all understand that but what you just mentioned is absolutely so important. And you know, I mentioned it you know, as two years ago that the Orioles lost 19 in a row and they lost 110 games. And you mentioned losing culture. And maybe this is where we transition into talking ravens Steelers at least for a few minutes. But I even cited that with the Browns this past Sunday. I mean, their defense is really good. They held the ravens to 27 yards in the first quarter. They held the ravens to 47 yards in the second half. But what happened? The second quarter happened and I think that Browns defense because they saw, of course what an absolute dumpster fire their offense was with Deshaun Watson out and obviously Nick Chubb gone for the season. A couple of weeks before that, I can’t help but think there was a loss of focus there and a thought of what are we going to do here? We don’t have Watson, Nick Chubbs not there. And I think they I think they wilted and did contrast that
Dennis Koulatsos 30:47
complimentary, complimentary football, it’s complimentary. It goes both ways. When things are going good as well. It’s going bad. 111 squad feeds off one part of the team feeds off of the other part. And like you said, you got these brown players on defense. They’re solid, but you’re watching the turnover. They’re seeing his kids weigh in over his head. He’s thrown a ball responsibly all over the place. picks are coming turnover coming. The ravens are getting the ball in the short field. Of course it demoralizing for the defense.
Luke Jones 31:15
Yeah. And I would compare that to the Ravens late last season, where Lamar Jackson’s out and let’s face it, the offense was bad down the stretch. It was not very good. They could run the ball. You know, because they did have Dobbins and Gus Edwards, but they weren’t scoring scoring points. You know, Tyler Huntley wasn’t getting the job done. And they the wide receiver group was awful at that point injured depleted by injuries, all of that.
Dennis Koulatsos 31:40
And look, I’m not sure whether it would have been with that row. Quan Smith addition row points. Smith, right, right. difference maker, right. So if rochlin was out of the equation, it would have been a total disaster, there would never even sniffed the playoff.
Luke Jones 31:52
Right. So but but the point I’m trying to make here is in contrast to the Browns defense on Sunday, look how the Ravens defense and look, they weren’t perfect, and let’s not make it out to be too much. I mean, they still lost down the stretch, and they weren’t as good as they needed to be. And they certainly weren’t good enough against Cincinnati, in the wild card round. But that defense played at a consistently high level safer. At times, yeah, Joe burrow, threw some touchdowns against them. Kenny Pickett made a heck of a play in week 17, you need to beat them in the last minute. So you’re not going to play perfect. But the point is, you didn’t see these ebbs and flows where the defense did what Cleveland did on Sunday, which was they were excellent in the first quarter. They were really good in the second half, but they stunk in the second quarter. And I can’t help but feel that a little bit of that, or at least a moderate portion of that was just, yeah, give the Ravens credit to I’m not trying to be dismissive of them, but I can’t help but think they looked at their offensive side of the ball and said, I hope we don’t have a shot. And all it takes is just a little bit of lack of focus in the NFL, we talked about it, the difference from good teams to bad teams in terms of talent, isn’t it’s not like college football. It’s not dramatic, there’s a difference, but it’s not dramatic. And that kind of mindset, if you lose some focus, or you start thinking woe is me, that things can fall apart. So, you know, we started out talking about this from a baseball standpoint, but you know, I think that, that losing culture, how to stop losing, you know, that that aren’t challenging thing. And it really is a credit to this organization, its leadership, the players, not just the talent level of the players, but the kind of players you know, the growth mindset that these guys have, and I’ll even throw I’ll tip the cap to guys like Austin Hays and Anthony Santander and Cedric Mullins guys who experienced all that losing yet you don’t consider them losers anymore. So it really does speak to their character, their leadership ability, their growth mindset to be guys that helped lead some of these younger players and now they’re all looking like you know, smelling like roses and 101 wins and get ready to play in the LDS and hey, it’s gonna be a challenge but you have to like their chances as much as anyone I mean, the Astros are the defending champs so if you want to give them the nod and I get it Vegas has them as the favorite in the AFL. I understand that. You know, I don’t think that’s disrespectful to the Orioles. The Astros have been at this for a long time now what whether on the up and up with with some of the cheating scandals of the past or not there’s still an excellent baseball team. So you know they they should be the favorite in that regard. But that said that says the favorite doesn’t always win and the Orioles look what they’ve done over the last six months. They can start fast game one in their pocket with a win I you know, I wouldn’t at all be shocked to see this team. Go on a run and be talking about them. plan in late October and maybe even early November, which would mean a World Series.
Dennis Koulatsos 35:04
Here’s look, Jones join us here on 1570 Am Baltimore positive talk and all things that are sports. We just wrapped up our oil segment we’re going to segue to talking about the Steelers, Luke. Last week, I predicted I was a Homer, but I predicted the Ravens would beat the Browns before I knew that Deshaun Watson play on the premise that defense and the running game travel well, I’m gonna say the same thing again this week, although their favorite, as long as that running game is humming. And the defense is playing at a high level. They’re getting some pieces back potentially. And they’re also playing a team that’s reeling. That’s got to be dangerous. I worry about these games about Mike Thomas ability to get his players to overachieve to play at higher level. But you have to feel good about the Ravens chances facing a quarterback who’s got a bone bruise on his knee and a quarterback and the backup quarterback Mitch Trubisky that they’ve beaten before.
Luke Jones 35:56
Yeah, I mean, look, every week, US experts or fans, we, you know, we try to break down the matchups and what’s what’s working well, what concerns you, what do you think will be a big key? And I mean, it’s ravens Steelers, right? You roll the ball out in your play, and you know, it’s going to be physical. And you know, it’s going to be tough, more often than not something unusual happens that will swing the game one way or the other, you know, in a way that you aren’t necessarily anticipating. But I’m with you on this one. I mean, the ravens are clearly better on paper right now. I mean, this is a Steelers offense that, Dennis, I’m not so sure they wouldn’t be better with Mitch Trubisky right now. I mean, that’s how bad pick him Yes. And I would even I’d even call back to last December, when the Ravens went to Pittsburgh. Now Trubisky threw three interceptions inside the redzone which obviously were massive in what was a very narrow ravens win. But they moved the ball down the field up and down the field with him at quarterback, but they’re banged up. No prep, Pat fryer Muth no left tackle, Dan more. Pickett is banged up with the knee. And I would even say this much, Dennis, that offense just in general was a mess. And I look I have some respect for Matt, Canada as interim coach of the Terps several years back in the wake of everything that happened with DJ Durkin, and how difficult situation was but I think Matt Canada makes Greg Roman look like Bill Walsh. I mean, I I think that offense is not good. I think they you know, and I don’t even think it’s necessarily that they lack talent, although certainly their offensive line doesn’t scare you. And they’re banged up on the airline, as I mentioned, but yeah, that’s just it’s been with multiple quarterbacks and multiple, some different skill talent rolled in and out and I just, I don’t think it’s good enough. And on the flip side, their defense has not been as formidable as I would have thought it would be this year. So now that said, Do I think the ravens are just going to go in there and blow them out by four touchdowns? It’s ravens Steelers, so I’m gonna say no on that front, but I do think you know, as you mentioned, we’ll see if Marlon Humphrey plays he’s practicing this week. I’m not convinced that means he plays Sunday, but at least he’s moving closer to a return. Ronnie Stanley was full good ol on Sunday or on Wednesday. So that was good to see especially with Morgan Moses his status in doubt after hurting his shoulder. You know, don’t don’t expect to see away as he’s still not practicing so, but back home back on the practice field, Rashad Bateman back on the practice field, maybe this is the week for Marcus Williams. So they are getting healthier. It’s just if they could knock off losing one or two guys every week, they might get themselves in a position where the injury report doesn’t look too bad. But I just think right now, they’re in a better place on both sides of the ball. They have a healthy Lamar Jackson compared to a Kenny Pickett who’s not nearly as good even when he’s healthy, let alone talking about banged up with a knee injury. And the Steelers. What’s their identity? I think they they want to play like Steelers teams of old but are they really all that good at doing it? It doesn’t feel that way. I mean, their defense has not been all that good. And I mean, their offense has been an absolute mess. So all that said, the Ravens still need to go there and be ready to play. And you know, more often than not, you’re gonna get the absolute best that Mike, Mike Tomlin team has to offer. And if the Ravens go and don’t take care of the ball, and they do some things like they did against Indianapolis two weeks ago, then yeah, I think the Steelers will beat on then if that plays out. You know, that kind of scenario plays out. But if they go there, play a clean game, take care of the football, which they did a better job of doing this past week. The Lamar Jackson fumble with the exchange with Justice Hill aside, then I think they should win. And, you know, I could see a scenario where they could win by 10 points, let’s say under that scenario, so, you know, you just need to take care of business. It’s another AFC North Road game. And boy, this is such a huge opportunity for them to really gain a vise grip on this division early on when you consider where the Browns are, you know, with Watson shoulder. I mean, they have the bye week. So I still think they have a chance to be a good team. You know, if Watson shoulder is okay. The Steelers, I just went through all their issues and the Bengals are an absolute mess right now. And they’re looking like a team that it’s shaping up looking like it could be a lost season for them with Joe burrows calf, and what do you do, because you’re not good enough at that, at the at the backup quarterback spot to arrest him for a few weeks. And at one in three? If you lose a couple more games, you’re done. I mean, already, you’re done at that point. So you know, this is already I feel this is the Ravens division to win, I don’t think I’m talking out of turn saying that. There’s a long way to go. And obviously, you’re an injury to your quarterback away from things changing as they did the last two years. So you always want to be humble in acknowledging that. But you know, you improve to three, you know, in the division, all three road games, and foreign one, as you’re approaching mid October, the second week of October. Boy, that’s that’s a great position to be in. And suddenly, the attention, you’re always focused on that week’s opponent, you know that and that’s the coach speak line, and it’s the truth. But in terms of how everyone else views this team, I think you’re talking less about the Bengals browns and Steelers at that point. And you’re now talking more about buffalo, Kansas City, Miami, in terms of jockeying to be the top team in the AFC jockeying to get that number one seat to be in that conversation. And, you know, the Ravens still have some growing to do you know, the the offense still is chasing more consistency, the defense has played at a terrific level. And just it’s just a matter of getting some guys back and it was good. And it was great to add Kyle van Noy to the mix as well. But you know, they’re a team that is trying to prove that they have some championship pedigree. And when you get off to a forum, one start if you’re three and own the division and you look at the rest of your division, then it becomes you start to look around and say, All right, how’s Kansas City doing? How’s buffalo doing? How’s Miami doing? And I think, you know, the ravens are rapidly putting themselves in that territory. But again, as we saw against Indy two weeks ago, it can be fleeting, if you go out and you’re sloppy with the ball and you make some coaching mistakes and you squander opportunities, because we know that margin for error in the NFL on a week to week basis is not that dramatic. So you want to go to Pittsburgh, play a clean sound, tough football game. And if they do that, I don’t see the Ravens having too much difficulty and coming away with a victory.
Dennis Koulatsos 43:00
Yeah, there’s no doubt about that Luke ravens defense, very stingy now they’ve played some backup quarterbacks etc. They’ve had some luck there. Sure. But they’ve only let up 50 points. The first four games I believe the Cowboys have allotted 4140, Niners 58 as well, but their top three defense in the league, right, their top two, tied for second place for the amount of points allowed. And I think that’s the real story that they’re a little bit under the radar still and arising and if they can get guys like Humphrey back and a couple more pieces, they can keep ascending they’re playing at at a very, very good level. Their ability to shut down the run is very good with with Queen and Smith, upfront defensive lineman playing very well. Then the week that came in and I was watching him on a pat McAfee show a few days ago. Next to you know, he’s playing some some meaningful snaps for the Ravens but, but that defense, it’s hungry and it puts it out there and it gets after people. And I’m really, really, really encouraged by the weather playing it under the leadership of Mike McDonald. I like I like his style. I really do.
Luke Jones 44:02
No question about it. And what’s amazing is where they rank in sacks. And I don’t have it in front of me My apologies, but they’re up there. And yet how few of those sacks had have come from the traditional defensive positions where you know your edge rushers right or if you have a stud defensive tackle or something like that, you know, I mean Kyle Hamilton has three sacks Patrick queen as two sacks I mean, it’s you know, they’re
Dennis Koulatsos 44:27
how many sacks has David Clowney missed right? I mean, but like right, but he’s putting so much pressure on that tackle he lines up against whether it’s the left tackle the right tackle. The guy looks like he’s a monster. It’s just a matter of time before he’s able to get his hands on the quarterback but the pressure when they’re not getting sacks is also there.
Luke Jones 44:45
Yeah, right. No question about it. I mean, my only concern with clowny is just holding up over the course of 17 games just knowing his injury history all that and, you know, they’ve been able, you know, you add van Noy. You’re hoping that always back? Probably maybe not this game. Next game, you hope the Tyus Bowser has returned hopefully is around the corner. You know, you’ve leaned a little bit harder on guys like Jeremiah moon and tibias Robinson than anyone would have imagined. But you’re right. I mean, clowny, even the sack numbers haven’t been there. But the pressures have just been through the roof. I mean, I think pro football focus. And I know that’s not the gospel, but they trust this stuff. So I respect the fact that they’re keeping track of these things. I believe they said he’s on pace to finish with more pressures for a season than any ravens pass rusher. Since they started check. Tracking that in 2006. Now, do I think Davian clowny? has been their best pass rusher since 2006? No, of course not. But it speaks to the impact that he’s made, even if he’s not bringing the quarterback down himself. So it’s been very encouraging. And you mentioned it. And I even noted this in my 12 ravens thoughts in the aftermath of the win over the browns. I mean, think about this, the Ravens have given up 58 points in you know, and that’s what tied for third in the NFL as, as far as Fuest allowed. And 15 of those dentists have come on field goals of 53 or more yards. It’s true. So even when the opposition is moving the football against them. They’ve they’ve made the opposition settle for some really long field goals, you know, some long kicks that yeah, there are other good kickers in the league besides Justin Tucker, and we’ve seen that here recently. But that’s that’s just shows how difficult this defense makes life for an opposing quarterback opposing offense. And we’ll see how it continues in business is going to pick up they’re going to pay some tougher offense as we get deeper into into the season. And certainly, you know, even the Bengals I mean, on paper. Yeah, you know what the Bengals have been in the past. But statistically, they’ve been awful this year. So and, you know, Watson didn’t play so that was different there. But at the same time, you can only can only play the opponent that’s brought presented to you. And to that effect, they’ve done a heck of a job. I mean, you look at where they rank me, their best in the NFL. And, you know, in terms of yards, yards per pass attempt against them. I mean, that’s just fantastic. What they’ve been able to do on that front without Marlon Humphrey, you know, without Marcus Williams on the back end. And I think so much of the credit there has to go to Mike McDonald at this point in time and long. You know, me I was, I was higher on wink Martindale than a lot of people. And I still think some of the blame that went God in 2021 still comes down to look who was out on the field at the end. But, yeah, when you have the contract, yeah,
Dennis Koulatsos 47:48
you can play you can play man defense, but when you don’t, you gotta you gotta zone them up. Look.
Luke Jones 47:53
Right. And that’s where I think Mike McDonald has really, I mean, his coaching chops. This guy is gonna be a head coach somewhere and
Dennis Koulatsos 48:02
hopefully, hopefully, hopefully, the air I mean, that’s the thing.
Luke Jones 48:05
How, right, how much longer does John Harbaugh want to do this? On out the door?
Dennis Koulatsos 48:10
Does he think that the cost of Route route and say, Okay, this is the job that I want? This is the quantization that I want to you know, there’s a lot of benefit to that. If that says if he’s a young, very young guy, and if you want to play for world class organization, you know what, it’s not a bad gig, you’re gonna get paid very, very well. And if John has three or four years left, whatever, and he gets to the caster Ozzie Newsome agreement, it wouldn’t be a bad thing. So at least so far.
Luke Jones 48:34
Yeah, yeah. But But either way, whether it’s that scenario, or whether it’s the more conventional scenario of some other team snatches him up, I mean, he’s impressive and his ability to disguise and to show different looks, you know, to present man when it zone or vice versa. I mean, the, the amount of simulated pressures they use. I mean, it’s not as though the ravens are bringing the house a ton. But they’ll do so. Yeah, but they’ll do some. Right. They’ll and they’ll do some things well, they’ll set up you’ll get a Four man rush, but you have no idea who those four guys are gonna be because it’s and and to be clear, wink did a lot of these things. And Rex Ryan did things like this and DNPS did things like that at various points. So I don’t want to make it seem like he’s completely reinvented the wheel, but boy, he just has a good feel for matching that with playing a safer style on the back end. And it’s allowed them to get by I mean, I want to credit and be clear. Brandon Stevens has been one of the great stories of the season so far. I mean, this is a guy who practice that safety in the nickel all spring and for the start of training camp until the injuries piled up to the point where they said all right, we gotta move Brandon Stevens back to outside corner place at play on the boundary. I mean, he’s played every snap. He has not allowed a touchdown in coverage, you know, based on tracking and all that. And, you know, he’s not playing at a Pro Bowl level. I don’t want to exaggerate. But he’s played at a level where my assumption is when Marlin Humphrey comes back, Brandon Stevens is going to start opposite him and that, and that doesn’t mean Darby or rocky Hasina played poorly. They haven’t. But I think Brandon Stevens, that’s his job to lose to me. I think he’s earned that released until, you know, if he struggles later in the season or whatever, then you revisit. It’s always a moving target with anyone, right? But, but I would also say from a schematic standpoint, Mike McDonald has done a fantastic job putting someone like Brandon Stevens, in a position where he can succeed and he’s not being left on an island constantly. Now, there have been times he has been and guess what he’s held up. Okay. But he really seems to empower his players. And you know, I think Todd Monken has done similar work. It’s just hasn’t been quite as consistent. But, you know, the defense, you know, Mike McDonnell has done a fantastic job warzone, plain old safer on the back end, acknowledging Yeah, we’ve had some guys out in and out of the lineup, there’s no question and that makes it tougher. But that defense is playing at a really high level right now. And I see no reason why it won’t continue, especially if we can get some of these guys back from from the injury list. Well, I’ll give
Dennis Koulatsos 51:18
Todd Monken the benefit of the doubt and look, both sides of the ball have had significant injuries to deal with. However, Mike McDonnell hasn’t had his left tackle start left tackle he was missing is starting to Senator bait when and obj are hurt, right. So he hasn’t had the full complement nowhere near beginning with the offensive line. That’s where I started this conversation finish it with and when you see a talent in the bomb, come back and I saw a clip that forget God named to put up on a web but linear bomb, there was a play where he chipped the the nose tackle. And then he body blocked the linebacker with his just his backside, took him out of the play. When you have a center like that, who look it’s too early to say he’s got Hall of Fame potential. But he’s got he got he’s a very good center. And he’s a difference maker. If they can get that offensive line solidified, and they don’t even have to get obj and Bateman back they have enough as it is. But Monken also understands that uncertain long or you got to have three or four receivers on the field. You don’t have the two receivers or one receiver and a fullback on the field. He understands concept to understand spacing, etc. So although people have told me Well, I don’t see much difference in the office equipment is this year last year, it’s a dramatic difference. It’s they just haven’t had the pieces to be able to execute fully what they intend to do.
Luke Jones 52:38
I will say where the similarity lies. And this is a compliment. And this is where I’ll continue to go back to look, do I think it was time for the ravens to move on from Greg Roman? Yes, that does not mean that everything was bad, far from it. And I think where they have really done a nice job is when they want to lean into running the football date to this point, Todd Monken. And this offense in its entirety, has done a nice job, recapturing or maintaining those principles that works whether you’re talking about design runs for Lamar Jackson, whether you’re talking about what Patrick Ricard does for you, you know, some of the different polls and different things that they you know, pre snap motion was a big part of what they did eye candy for that Browns defense where that when the Ravens really got going, running the football and moving the ball in the second quarter against Cleveland. I think Todd Monken has done a very good job taking the best parts that worked from the Greg Roman offense, but obviously incorporating more passing principles, certainly far more 11 personnel than than running so much heavy personnel. And I think it’s worked out well, I think where the similarities lie, and it’s been from a standpoint of, and as I suspected, as I said to you, as I argued with Nestor, when I say argued good nature, but argued over the course of the offseason, I never once thought that this offense was suddenly going to become the Kansas City Chiefs and Lamar was going to be throwing the ball 40 times 45 times a game. I never thought that. I thought it did mean yeah, they’re gonna pass a little bit more. I think that’s natural. Certainly you’re not going to invest at the wide receiver position to the degree that they did without designs of passing more, but I think they just wanted to be way better at doing it. So they’re still running the ball is still a major part of their DNA. It was always going to be with Lamar Jackson. I mean, it would be criminal with Lamar has historic rushing ability, and even if he’s not the one running but just the impact that his presence has on your running game, shame on you, if you’re going to completely abandon that and they haven’t and they’ve run the ball at you know, it hasn’t been perfectly consistent, but when they’ve gotten going there of the run game, even if it lacks maybe the upside at the running back position. And, you know, we’ll see about Keaton Mitchell. And if Justice Hill can stay healthy, as I’ve said, He’s given them a lot of juice. You know, Gus Edwards, probably not the guy who was a few years ago in terms of broken tackles. But they could still be no, there’s still an excellent running game. And I never thought that that was going to suddenly change because, on a very simplistic level, I wrote kept reminding everyone what to Todd Monken do at Georgia running game and feature the tight ends prominently. Now, you know, we haven’t seen much of Isaiah likely and Charlie Kohler, so maybe that part not as much, but never once thought that a John horrible led John Harbaugh coach team was suddenly going to not become a team that of course, you’re the running game prominently. So from that standpoint, it hasn’t been dramatic, but personnel wise, and principle, you know, some of their passing concepts wise, you can tell what they’re trying to do. And, again, not consistent, but you get these guys back and stay on the field and stabilize the offensive line a little more, definitely expect this offense to take off and don’t need to be the best in the league. Just be in that top 10 on whether you’re running or passing. If you can do that, then I think they’re in good position as they get later into the season. And not
Dennis Koulatsos 56:19
to get too far ahead of ourselves loop but the Ravens they just tied up 50 plus million dollars a year to their franchise quarterback, they have to keep investing in that offensive line. They have to pick a left tackle with the mean, in a first round of the upcoming draft. And the running Stanley’s a healthy great put the guy left guard Jonathan Auckland did it we know back back in the day, enough African with a left tackle with the existing Pro Bowl tackle that he had only Jones, Tony Jones, he has replaced them but my point is, you can’t he needs every quarterback need whether it’s Jackson burrow Watson picot every quarterback needs that the team will only go on a quarterback only go as far as the offensive line will take him. With that said the best ability is availability. And it’s time for the ravens to take measures preventive measures going forward and get themselves a bonafide left tackle that can stand the field. No disrespect to Ronnie Stanley, I get it he’s hurt. But the best ability is availability. Get me an available left. Freaking tackle?
Luke Jones 57:20
Yeah, I think we’re we’re reaching that point. And what’s challenging about it is from a cap standpoint, it’s very, very primitive last year, or next year, I should say. But cheap, but you can agree.
Dennis Koulatsos 57:34
You can mitigate that little bit by grafting a guy high, that’s going to be cheaper, you offset that and again, look, the left part I have now. Whatever, since John Simpson, he’s a journeyman, okay, he just stopped gap. He’s not the guy. But again, I’d like to see them draft a couple of us offensive lineman high plus a cornerback. But to me job one. Since Brandon Stevens in particular has stepped up. Marlon Humphrey is coming back. You gotta get you gotta get a left tackle. And then you got a corner?
Luke Jones 58:03
Yeah, I think we’re at a point now, especially with this being an injury to the knee, on the other leg from the ankle. And, you know, it didn’t look that bad in week one. And look, I don’t, I’m not a doctor. So like, there have been plenty of injuries where that doesn’t look that bad. And then you find out, hey, this guy had some significant damage to his knee or ankle or whatever it might be. But you’re just at a point now where this isn’t going to get better. He’s going to be 30 next year, a guy that has trouble staying on the field in his 20s is not suddenly going to become more durable. And it’s 30. So I’m with you, I think you have to really take a long look at taking a tackle, and I have no idea what the tackle draft class is gonna look like next year. But pretty decent, by the way. But I think you have to look at drafting him drafting his replacement. You see how the rest of this year goes. If he plays and plays well and doesn’t miss too much more time the rest of the way then great. You can look at that tackle, like Morgan, Moses, long and long in the tooth as well. You could potentially move on from Morgan Moses, you’re the left tackle the future plays right tackle Allah Michael or you know, when they still had Jared Gaither, and you you approach it that way. But I think we’ve reached an inflection point with Ronnie Stanley, where you just say, I don’t know if you can continue to just keep saying, well, once Ronnie’s back, we’re good. I just, that’s not getting better in this regard. And it’s not a fast healer in terms of you know, he’s not a guy who generally comes back on the shorter end of returns. And look, every player is different. So like, to your point, I’m not trying to be disrespectful and saying that it’s just the reality. You’re paying this guy near $100 million contract and he’s rarely on the field for you and that stinks. And that’s rotten luck that he had that awful injury, but his availability is not getting any better. It’s you know, if anything, it’s gonna get worse at as he gets older so I think this offseason, you’re gonna have to take a long look there because Patrick McHenry filling in for a game or two is fine, but he has to fill in for more than that. I think that’s where you see the deficiencies come in. I mean, he’s a great backup, but he’s a backup, you know, so I think that’ll be a you know, and we’ll table that we don’t have to talk about that too much between now and the offseason because there’s a long way to go. But I think this latest injury has me feeling the same way you are about the left tackle position beyond 2023 Well,
Dennis Koulatsos 1:00:32
but ticular given the fact that we weren’t the Denver game last year and Morgan Moses got beat cleanly I believe and on the on the sack that Lamar Jackson got hurt you can see that happening without without Ronnie standing on the left side so you’re increasing the risk factor to your franchise quarterback by not having that that left tackle that could absolutely erase that edge rusher. We got spoiled spoiled with Jonathan Nagaland for many, many years. That will not be that he did a great job of protecting Joe Flacco with Blindside. So by the same token Lamar Jackson need that blindside protected going forward?
Luke Jones 1:01:07
Yeah, no question about it. And luck. Doesn’t have to be the best tackle in football. Just give me an above average left tackle, who can be available and looked at? You never know because Ronnie Stanley’s injury occurred someone fell into his ankle like it’s not like it was oh, he’s out of shape or all this guy doesn’t you know, break things happen, you know, Dennis pitta, look at how his career was altered by a dis awful, awful hip injury but you just have to be realistic after a while and long term. I agree with you. I think they need to start planning. You know what you’re going to do at left tackle and, you know, probably unless you do a post June 1 kind of scenario, it’s very prohibitive to get out of it next year. But certainly you can move on after next season but let’s not get too much focused on that there’s still a lot of except for
Dennis Koulatsos 1:01:58
just the different stuff that that Colin Linden won pat on the offensive line 100% And again, same thing and Ronnie Stanley’s in there if you got Stanley and Linda Bowman and are both healthy and firing off the ball. Your chances of winning are dramatically exponentially higher than if those two guys aren’t aren’t on an offensive line.
Luke Jones 1:02:15
No question about it Dennis I agree with you wholeheartedly.
Dennis Koulatsos 1:02:19
Alright look I appreciate you ran a little bit longer on are usually long segments my apologies but great stuff was always lewd, please tell our listeners all the great stuff you do at Baltimore positive wn S T, your blog and everything else that you do. Absolutely. I
Luke Jones 1:02:33
encourage everyone to follow us at wn S T on Twitter or x or whatever they’re calling it. Follow me personally at Baltimore Luke. I will be live from Oriole Park at Camden Yards, Fridays workout day, Saturday and Sunday in fact I just saw as you and I talked Sunday’s game time released it’ll be 407 I believe it is so right after ravens Steelers so you literally as what you hope Ravens fans hope we’ll be Lamar Jackson in victory formation. You’ll be flipping right over to Orioles if you’re not at Camden Yards yourself for what will be game two of the LDS but I’ll be at the ballpark be Nestor and I will be heading to Arlington heading to Dallas for games three and four if necessary. In the ad LDS check out my blog at Baltimore positive.com sponsored by coons for to Baltimore. I’ll have as much ravens coverage as I can admittedly, I’m going to be later on the Ravens side with you know kind of fully immersed in Orioles playoff coverage but you can check out all of that at Baltimore positive.com You want to be on the wn st Baltimore positive tech service sponsor I couldn’t afford a Baltimore if you are you got the announcement that game one would be one o’clock with all the talk of Billy Joel and Stevie Nicks and the evening concert at Raven stadium. But that any significant injury news for the Ravens final injury report Game Day and actives. Any significant local sports news sent directly to your mobile device via the wn St. Baltimore positive tech service sponsored by Coons, Florida Baltimore, and of course anything throughout the week on am 1570 with Nestor, ravens players and coaches interviews from Owings Mills, Orioles interviews with players Brandon high coaches, whatever it might be from Camden Yards, and from Arlington as they take on the Rangers games three and four if necessary in the Division Series. Check out all of that sound at Baltimore. positive.com.
Dennis Koulatsos 1:04:28
All right, my friend, always a pleasure. Always informative, always fun. Looking forward to our next segment is going to be action packed and hard hitting we’ll have a lot to talk about same time next week.
Luke Jones 1:04:39
Absolutely. Dennis, it’ll be interesting could be a very different dynamic. Are the Orioles moving on by then is it Dare I say Could it be the opposite? You know what happens with the Ravens? Are they foreign? Why not? They’ll be in London so we’ll be following them from afar, so be exciting and I’m looking forward to it.
Dennis Koulatsos 1:04:57
Likewise, there he goes. Luke Jones here 1570 Am wn s t keep it locked in right there we’ll take a quick break come back right after this
