With the loss of Devin Duvernay and return of Sammy Watkins for the Atlanta Christmas Eve chiller, Luke and Nestor discuss the realities of how to continue to win ugly for the holidays.
SUMMARY KEYWORDS
ravens, game, saturday, week, passing, play, lamar jackson, throw, offense, duvernay, sammy watkins, football, holiday, wide receiver, run, baltimore, seventh, point, talking, john harbaugh
SPEAKERS
Luke Jones, Nestor Aparicio
Nestor Aparicio 00:01
W n s t tests Baltimore and Baltimore positive that means Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah and Happy New Year and Kwanzaa and anything else you’re celebrating Festivus for the rest of us. Look, Joe is gonna join us now we are thinking about respite from the Maryland crab cake tour if you been out listening to a and 1570 through the holidays, you’ll hear some crabcake to a residue from throughout 2022 year we’re gonna be doing some of our best conversations over the next week, week and a half. But in the meantime, the Ravens have football Christmas Eve football at one o’clock the Atlanta Falcons in town I’ve talked at length about goes to the post here. And certainly that era has harken back as we awaken on Wednesday morning a couple of days before the 50th anniversary the Immaculate Conception or reception not conception. That’s the other thing reception sorry about that. They call it some different Pittsburgh. We lost Franco Harris on Wednesday and the Ravens lost Devin DuVernay on Tuesday as well. So, Lucas here we are not going to do a lot of football this week because we did a lot of football over the weekend. But while the ravens are I’m writing a column about them being under siege does that sound? I mean, John looks like he’s under siege right now. Yeah,
Luke Jones 01:12
I mean, I don’t know if the Ravens collectively are under siege. Certainly Greg Roman is under siege. I think that much is obvious. But I think, yeah, they’re trying to put on a happy face there. I think they’re trying to say all the right things. I mean, as you and I have pointed out, even through all the pessimism and ugliness of the loss in Cleveland, they’re still in the hind end five, they’re still they have 10 different scenarios, this weekend that they can clinch a playoff berth.
Nestor Aparicio 01:39
They’ve been nine and five and 27 years. I
Luke Jones 01:44
mean, it’s been quite often, which is a testament to how good they’ve been at but at the same time, when you look at how the season is trending, and specifically how the offense is trending. And then Tuesday, which was very odd was out there full disclosure out there for practice viewing, which is typically just special teams. I had taken notice and other reporters have taken notice the du Vernay wasn’t doing a whole lot. Now he was kind of just standing behind the other guys getting return reps during kick kickoff return. And then as viewing the viewing portion was wrapping up, we noticed he was walking inside with a member of the training staff now ravens reporting policy say that you have to wait until the end of practice that was kind of the Dennis pit a rule years ago that his wife found out on social media that he had hurt his hip. So you know, you try not to blow up something like that. That happens because sometimes it’s as simple as a guy’s feeling under under the weather or sometimes guys go in to use the restroom. Like that’s how simple it can be. But he was limping and it didn’t look right. And it was one of those deals where you were keeping an eye on it. And then lo and behold, the Ravens won. They claim Sammy Watkins off waivers, who was just let go by the Green Bay Packers and of course Sammy Watkins was here a year ago. And to the Ravens have already put do Renee on IR they didn’t wait even a couple of hours to do that. So really leads you to believe that one it’s obviously significant enough that he’s missing the rest of the regular season. He wouldn’t even be eligible until the divisional round now because you have to miss four games going on IR but it’s just from bad to worse right? Not that Devin DuVernay was playing lights out here in recent weeks we’ve talked about his return return game being a little bit off and maybe not being as explosive so I do wonder, was there an issue and and it got worse. You know, during Tuesday’s practice did it get worse during Saturday’s game but the end result is he’s now out of the picture Sammy Watkins is back in the picture who wasn’t exactly doing a lot for a Green Bay offense that let’s face it has had its issues at wide receiver this year so fine with bringing in Watkins but the upside of this passing game just which wasn’t great to begin with. loses a little bit more without Devin DuVernay in the picture who keep in mind also carries the ball and returns the ball in on special teams. So
Nestor Aparicio 04:11
and they don’t know how to throw in the football on Saturday. At least the gamblers don’t know yet. Right. Right. Right.
Luke Jones 04:15
And that’s what was funny. I mean, last in the big news Tuesday of du Vernay going down Lamar Jackson still not practicing doesn’t mean he’s not going to practice this week. But you would think he needs to log at least a couple practices. I mean, this isn’t a case where he’s gonna do Friday’s walkthrough and then he plays on Saturday, they need to see where he is with the knee and if it’s holding up Okay, keep in mind, the forecast calls for not just cold, bitterly cold on Saturday, which sure is not going to help attendance whatsoever. But, you
Nestor Aparicio 04:47
know, maybe I should have a chance to see if I can get my tickets back maybe this week, go sit in the seats and support the team a little bit. Well,
Luke Jones 04:53
I’ve seen some of the prices on the secondary market and it wouldn’t take much it would be a very modest Christmas gift to someone Jimmy 15 degrees when the game starts, right, yeah. So I mean, just a lot, a lot going on and hey, they’re playing the Atlanta Falcons. It’s still a team whether Lamar Jackson plays or not a team they should be. But you kind of consider where they are offensively. You consider the fact that clay is Campbell’s not likely to play. Atlanta has a top five running game in the NFL. So without Campbell in the trenches, and certainly not knowing what the offensive picture is going to look like, you know whether Lamar is going to play how healthy is going to look. And now do Vernay being out of the picture. Certainly not. Not that we were Ravens fans were in a particularly celebratory mood at the start of the week. Anyway, but Tuesday’s developments not exactly encouraging.
Nestor Aparicio 05:43
All right, let’s break this down for the offense. And for what what a little color to this right we did an hour you and I yelling back and forth about Greg Rome and it’s fire Greg Roman and Tyus Bowser is idiocy on Instagram. And we did that the other day. But when they come out to play on Saturday, they’re playing this triple A quad a team here with Lana with a good running back decent running game, quarterback second game ever, like it’s gonna be cold as hell. So it’s a running game kind of day, right? Let’s that both sides are going to try to run the ball. I don’t know how important Sammy Watkins is to this, but at least he might know the plays and remember the playbook or whatever. The running game itself. Where are you what you’re expecting on Saturday against this Atlanta team. No matter who the quarterback is whether it’s Lamar, whether it’s it’s new currently, at this point, given the weather, given the fact that they can’t throw the ball when it’s 78 in Miami, like, I’m trying to figure out what they’re going to scheme up here and how a pat Ricard can be more of a part of this, or where they are with Dobbins or where they would be with Gus Edwards or where they would be, to your point, we pitched all week about just running the ball 85% of the time, because that’s what they’re going to need to do to win on Saturday. It’s not a passing Saturday. Yeah, I
Luke Jones 07:01
mean, I really feel like that’s what it should be. You know, we talked about this in the, in the aftermath of what happened in Cleveland, and I made mention of this that I really feel like the Ravens offense, whether you’re talking about John Harbaugh, Greg Rome, and coaching staff, players to a degree, but they’re not the ones calling the plays, and really wide receivers will call a pass on every play. So sure, but but I think as as, as you look at this offense in its totality right now, I think there’s a major struggle between the micro of what you need to do to win that week’s game, with the macro of understanding the big picture of its 2022, if you can’t have and this doesn’t mean throw it 45 times. But if you can’t have a level of proficiency, or efficiency, I should say that they had 2019, even 2020, let’s say, throwing the football, which they’re way off from where they were even then, and we said it needed to be better back then, that you’re not going to go very far in January, however, and this is where we go back to what happened in Cleveland, you still have to recognize the reality of the moment the present, where you are in the present, and what situation you are, you’re in right now. And you say still need to win the football game. And that’s why to me, it was so maddening with 11 minutes to go on the fourth quarter against Cleveland, they get in the second and four. And then they try to throw three straight times
Nestor Aparicio 08:23
with the backup quarterback to backup receivers. Right. Right.
Luke Jones 08:26
I mean, it’s and I think that’s where it’s so tough. Yeah, I think there’s a you’re trying to get better throwing the football because, you know, in a big picture sense. You have to be better throwing the football. But in the same sense, when you’re in the here and now and you’re playing Cleveland or you’re playing Atlanta on Saturday, that you have to just go with what’s going to work and the reality is you look at Atlanta. From a statistical standpoint, it’s not a good run defense. I mean, it’s not a good defense in general, but it’s has not been a good run defense. They’re very limited at the quarterback position. I mean, Desmond Ridder, Lucky may blossom into a decent NFL quarterback, but he wasn’t a first round pick made his first NFL start last week was under 100 passing yards, despite throwing it quite a few times against New Orleans. I mean, read the room, right? I mean, we hear terms like that all the time. And Greg Roman needs to read the room this week. And understand that even if Lamar does play, is it going to be a fully healthy Lamar? Even if he’s fully healthy? Is he going to be a sharp Lamar Jackson, who has barely practiced over the last three weeks and is missed to basically three full games. So I expect, although I would have said this last week as well. I expect them to run the football and run it a lot. And yeah, you can still mix in some play action here and there. It’s not as though you’re not going to throw it at all. But you would certainly expect them to try to control this game, whoever’s at quarterback with JK Dobbins and Gus Edwards, running and running and run earning some more. So certainly, that’s what Atlanta is going to try to do. I mean, that’s, that’s their MO they’re really good running the football and they’re not good throwing it. So I would expect a game that which I think for anyone who’s trying to make it the Christmas Eve service after church or after the game, you’re hoping for a shorter game you’re hoping for clock that keeps moving. And if you’re the ravens, get get out ahead, play good defense, run the football and get out of there and two hours and 40 minutes. So I mean, I don’t think it’s more complicated than that. Again, I understand balancing the big picture I’ve been saying all year. I don’t know if this passing game you know, even early in the season, even before Rashad Bateman got hurt, I wasn’t sure this passing game was going to be good enough to really put them in a position where they can go deep into January. But you also have to recognize where you are. And this is where I’ll give you a call back to history with Brian Billick in 2000. Brian wanted to throw the football, Brian knew that. Under normal circumstances, you needed to have a more proficient passing game to to get deeper into January. But sometimes you have to read the room. Now, this defense isn’t historic, like the 2000 defense, I think this is a good defense. I’m not ready to call it a great defense. I might look against the Falcons. If they can stop the run, he could write exactly. But when you’re going up against an inferior opponent who I get it, they’re still kind of sorted in the playoff race because everyone is in the NFC South because it’s such a terrible division. But I think you have to recognize where you are Saturday. Again, I understand the big picture. But on Saturday, the formula is to run the heck out of the football and play really good defense and bounce back on special teams even though now you don’t have your Pro Bowl return specialists. Although as we said do Vernay hadn’t really looked like a pro bowl return specialist in recent weeks. But you know, that is something else you have to consider. But play good special teams, do those things, get a win, and then turn the page. Enjoy. Enjoy the holiday. And then you get ready for the Pittsburgh Steelers next week. I don’t think it’s much more complicated than that Nestor. But it hasn’t been easy for this football team. Even on this stretch of post by games that let’s face it hasn’t exactly been a murderer’s row of opponents. But we haven’t seen the Ravens blowing anyone out at this point. So that formula that I’m that I mentioned, doesn’t mean I think they’re gonna win by three touchdowns on Saturday either. But I do think that’s the most logical, easiest way to victory. If you’re talking about this Baltimore Ravens team and in the current state that it’s in.
Nestor Aparicio 12:28
Luke Jones joins us here he is Baltimore Luke out on the interwebs. And of course, you can follow us through the holidays of Christmas and New Year’s will be around all week at Baltimore positive.com. We’re going to crabcakes we’re back out on the road doing all the fun things we do. Now into what it’ll be our 25th year at wn St. 32nd year. Now for me to be doing radio here and I don’t know that I’ve ever I haven’t asked you this before. So this will be a trick question for you. It’s third and seventh. And you’re the Ravens right now. Is that running down? Or is that passing down?
Luke Jones 12:59
Where am I on the field?
Nestor Aparicio 13:02
Doesn’t matter if you got to make seven yards it always matters. But But does it in this offense? Is there ever a pass at third and seventh at their best option there they’re not thinking well running it still. I guess that’s my point. My point is when you say passing the ball and efficiency and where they are great run on first down on first down and complete it second 10 You run on second and you get three or four yards now it’s third and 6/3 and seventh manageable maybe I don’t know in a normal offense whatever but then you come out and your RPO and again with Lamar because your efficiency passing and third and seventh is going to get your punter onto the field a lot lately a lot the last six eight weeks here with Lamar without Lamar with Ronnie Stanley without Ronnie Stanley with JK Dobbins without JK Dobbins with Devin DuVernay without them and duveneck. Third and 6/3 and 7/3. Nate, they have to be able to complete that pass. Right. And you and I are in agreement that I don’t I don’t I don’t like their odds on. Let’s just go into Mark Andrews and his triple team.
Luke Jones 14:06
Yeah, I mean, I hear what you’re saying. I mean, you get into third and seventh is considered third and I mean it’s not third and very long. But it’s not third and short either. You’re still gonna have to throw the ball some let’s be very clear about that. When Yeah, ideally, you can go out there and run it 50 times against Atlanta and that might work against Atlanta, that’s not going to work every single week, you’re still going to have to throw the ball some and 2019 You know, the historic running game, they set an NFL record for rushing yards. And Lamar Jackson led the league and touchdown passes. So it still it spoke to you need to be able to do both. But I hear what you’re saying. And that’s why I said where are you on the field if you’re in third and seventh from I don’t know, the opponent’s 42 yard line that I think that’s a situation where you take a chance to run and you can set up either fourth and short for to potentially go for it. Maybe you pop it and you get a first down or you’re setting up an easier field goal for Justin Tucker in that situation. But if you’re third and seventh on the negative side of the field, you’re gonna have to throw the unless you have a play call, specifically schemed up against the front that they’re giving you on third down situations that you think can gash them, you’re still going to be throwing the ball more often than not in that situation. But your point is well taken. And certainly, if it’s Lamar Jackson out there feel way better about him than Tyler Huntley. But in the collective production of the offense, or lack thereof, or passing game, I should say, Yeah, I mean, I’m not feeling terribly confident anytime they’re throwing the football, as it stands right now. And now you subtract Devon DuVernay from that picture and I get it. Um, to be clear, I saw a lot of people up in arms about bringing back Sammy Watkins. I mean, they’re desperate what? He knows the offense at least
Nestor Aparicio 15:50
that’s the word of the week. Yeah, they’re dead. That’s what I said. I said, You beginning they’re under siege. When you’re under siege, you do desperate things. They are they they’re a desperate nine and five team. It’s, it’s it’s
Luke Jones 16:02
crazy, right? It’s crazy. It really is crazy. Yeah. And, and by the way, they’re desperate nine and five football team that I still wholeheartedly believe and I’m confident they’re going to make the playoffs, you know, they would still take a pretty crazy sequence of events here. I’m talking not just them losing, but other teams, winning games that you wouldn’t expect them to win. So that said, the idea is still to not just get to the playoffs, but want to be able to do something in the playoffs. And that’s where, again, that struggle between the here and now what it takes to beat Atlanta, but also knowing what it takes to give yourself a better chance to win in January. And you just look at the passing game right now. I mean, you need, they need to get Lamar Jackson back on the field first and see what he looks like. It’s it’s a nonstarter if he’s not going to be right. You know, if he’s not going to be out there. That’s stating the obvious. But yeah, I mean, can Sammy Watkins help them a little bit? I guess maybe he helped them a little bit last year, but He’s a year older. And he’s had injuries this year. As I mentioned the Packers offense. They’ve had their issues at wide receiver and they had no use for them. So what does that kind of tell you about where he is at this point, but hey, as beggars can’t be choosers, and when you’re you need a wide receiver, and someone becomes available that knows your system and knows your offense. You know, it’s not worth doing cartwheels over. Let’s be clear, as clear about that. But I don’t see the downside to it. The problem is I just don’t see much upside to it either. And that’s, that’s where this passing game is right now.
Nestor Aparicio 17:35
If Baker Mayfield can go out and run the Rams on two days after getting semi washed, he can catch two or three balls this week.
Luke Jones 17:41
Well, 20 All right. Well, it’s funny, I actually, I was talking with some other local media members after the waiver claim was made and it was official and someone made mention of is it gonna play Saturday? I said, why not? I mean, first of all, the the baker Mayfield thing. I mean, we’ve mentioned it in passing. And I know you’re not a big Baker Mayfield guy. And look, I mean, it is what it is at this point. He’s on his third team now.
Nestor Aparicio 18:04
a hater. I
Luke Jones 18:05
just I’m not a believer. Well, sure. And I’m not even talking in those terms. But what he did and what Sean McVeigh and the Rams did two weeks ago to get him ready and never never was extraordinary. And shame on the Raiders also, or who it was that they play the Raiders. Yeah, I’m just incredible. But with that in mind, why can’t Sammy Watkins be ready on Saturday now? Doesn’t mean I think he’s gonna do much. I’m not predicting any other receivers to do much because that’s just where their passing game is right now. But you know, they need they need a warm body because doober name was playing a ton. So now you’re down to what’s ironic is your most established wide receivers now are DeMarcus Robinson and Sammy Watkins. Hey, the Ravens have the complimentary wide receivers of the Super Bowl 2019 Kansas City Chiefs There you go. Problem solved right?
Nestor Aparicio 19:02
It’ll be 23 in in about 10 days. Now at this point. Look, Jones is here he is Baltimore Loki will be covering all things ravens and monitoring all of John Harbaugh’s lies and misdemeanors and and evasive answers to all things as to whether Lamar Jackson will play a tickets I’m looking on StubHub right now. $12 So if you want to go Saturday, just go head out. $12 it’s gonna be about 12 degrees $1.03 Me Yeah. Yeah. brutal,
Luke Jones 19:28
brutal. I was. I’m thinking what’s the the 2017 finale, the Tyler Boyd game? Remember that was a game. It was a late afternoon kick. It was New Year’s Eve. It was bitterly cold that day. This game is going to be along those lines. You know it’d be played in daylight which will help a little bit but boy it’s going to be cold the way sounds like all these
Nestor Aparicio 19:49
I did 26 years in snow and rain and the upper deck with Park is on my wife screaming and couldn’t speak on Monday. I’ve done all that. I’ll be Watching with some special hot chocolate from our friends at drug city in my coal roofing mug. We’re gonna be around all week here Baltimore positive, presenting some of our greatest hits some of the best stuff some crabcake tour stuff from this year some some intelligent conversation, some wise conversations coming your way for the holidays. remind everybody use those reward points at wise if you’re out getting the ham, take care of each other out there and take care of your families. Deacon Jones, Uncle Luke will be spending his Christmas Eve down at the man at the stadium. We will be out on Twitter when they allow us on Saturday and through this and back after next week on Monday as the man who saved my wife’s life is in from Germany, so we’re gonna have a little family holiday here. Introduce him to some proper Ostrowski count kill Boston sauerkraut from Weis markets as well. On Christmas day. Look, I hope you have a great holiday with you and your family. I hope the ravens are representative against the Atlanta Falcons on the Saturday and it is an interesting weekend right? I mean, a lot of football being played on Christmas Day. I know you spend Christmas Day with your family. It’s a high holy holiday for you. Miami, la Arizona, they’re playing football all day on Sunday. They play basketball all day on Sunday as well. So there’ll be no lack of sports for us to talk about come next week.
Luke Jones 21:09
No question and I’ll enjoy the family time but I’m sure I will. Whether it’s the Sixers or NFL it’ll be on in the background at least part of the day. Least when the rest of the family isn’t requesting to watch a Christmas movie but Merry Christmas to you as well. I hope you guys enjoy the holiday.
Nestor Aparicio 21:26
This John Harbaugh for the holidays asked him a real question on my behalf on Saturday Okay, especially if they lose, they better not lose. Look Joe is here I am Here we are together at Baltimore positive.com Mira crabcake Tour presented by the Maryland lottery conjunction with goodwill and weathernation coming your way in 2023 I might even be doing an oyster tour before it’s all over. They’re trying to talk me into it. I like crabs more than oysters. I’ve come to that conclusion. I am Nestor. We are wn st am 1570, Towson Baltimore. We never stop talking Baltimore positive
