Baltimore Ravens notebook written for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (12/20/05)
Lewis unhappy with workload
By DENIS GORMAN
Special to the Journal Sentinel
Posted: Dec. 20, 2005
Baltimore - Brett Favre isn't the only offensive star whose days are numbered.
Baltimore running back Jamal Lewis is counting down the days until his tenure with the Ravens is over. Unlike Favre, Lewis' final days might be acrimonious.
According to reports, Lewis and coach Brian Billick are not on speaking terms, because of Lewis' displeasure with his playing time. Billick has had Lewis split time with reserve Chester Taylor, much to Lewis' dismay.
Before the Ravens' 48-3 victory Monday night, Lewis had carried the ball only 203 times, totaling 638 yards and two scores. For a back who had carried the ball 1,239 times the past four seasons, the decreased workload is akin to a slap in the face.
One of the main reasons that Lewis is not getting many carries is that the Ravens have played from behind too often this season. Lewis typically doesn't break many long runs; instead, he systematically wears down defenses. With the Ravens playing from behind - and looking toward 2006 - Taylor gets carries because he's the more explosive of the two backs.
However, that wasn't the case Monday night. Lewis finished with 22 carries for 105 yards and a touchdown. It was his second 100-yard rushing performance of the season.
Quite a show: Entering play Monday, Kyle Boller's future with the Ravens was thought to be tenuous.
The third-year quarterback from California had not progressed as quickly as the Ravens had hoped, throwing nine interceptions and fumbling seven times (losing two) in six games.
However, Boller was brilliant Monday, completing 19 of 27 passes for 253 yards and three touchdowns. Boller exploited the Packers' soft coverage underneath time and again, with his primary targets being tight end Todd Heap (nine catches for 110 yards and two touchdowns) and wide receiver Derrick Mason (five catches for 97 yards).
"The biggest thing is our guys played a hell of a ball game," Ravens offensive coordinator Jim Fassel said. "Kyle needed a game like this. He's had people on him, questioning him and second-guessing him. To go out and play a game like that on national TV, against a very good defense in this league (is impressive)."
Heap set a Ravens' career record with 2,841 receiving yards, breaking the mark set by Qadry Ismail (2,819)
Like old times: This season has been an uncharacteristic one for the Ravens' defense. One of the National Football League's best defenses in the last five years has seen six opponents score 20 or more points seven times (the Cincinnati Bengals turned the trick twice).
Monday, without linebacker Ray Lewis (who underwent season-ending surgery Dec. 7 to repair his torn right hamstring), the Ravens' defense throttled Favre, rookie quarterback Aaron Rodgers and the Packers' offense.
Defensive coordinator Rex Ryan orchestrated a masterful performance, mixing blitzes with zone coverages. The Packers' receivers had trouble getting open against the zone and, when they were open, Favre and Rodgers had little time to find them. Favre and Rodgers combined to complete 20 of 41 passes for 196 yards, with three interceptions and two fumbles.
"It just seemed like (Favre) was throwing balls up in the air, which is not typical of him," Ravens cornerback Chris McAlister said. "Trust me, the way those balls were floating around, I would
play against Favre any day."
Linebacker Terrell Suggs was a little more gracious.
"We knew Favre (wanted) to make big plays," he said. "Thank God we had the best safety in the world, Ed Reed, back there.
"You have to come at Brett Favre. You can't let him sit back there and pick your defense apart. We got on top of him early and never let him get in the flow of the game. We knew he wanted to go out with a bang, but we're sorry we had to ruin it for him."
http://www.jsonline.com/packer/rev/dec05/379080.asp
By DENIS GORMAN
Special to the Journal Sentinel
Posted: Dec. 20, 2005
Baltimore - Brett Favre isn't the only offensive star whose days are numbered.
Baltimore running back Jamal Lewis is counting down the days until his tenure with the Ravens is over. Unlike Favre, Lewis' final days might be acrimonious.
According to reports, Lewis and coach Brian Billick are not on speaking terms, because of Lewis' displeasure with his playing time. Billick has had Lewis split time with reserve Chester Taylor, much to Lewis' dismay.
Before the Ravens' 48-3 victory Monday night, Lewis had carried the ball only 203 times, totaling 638 yards and two scores. For a back who had carried the ball 1,239 times the past four seasons, the decreased workload is akin to a slap in the face.
One of the main reasons that Lewis is not getting many carries is that the Ravens have played from behind too often this season. Lewis typically doesn't break many long runs; instead, he systematically wears down defenses. With the Ravens playing from behind - and looking toward 2006 - Taylor gets carries because he's the more explosive of the two backs.
However, that wasn't the case Monday night. Lewis finished with 22 carries for 105 yards and a touchdown. It was his second 100-yard rushing performance of the season.
Quite a show: Entering play Monday, Kyle Boller's future with the Ravens was thought to be tenuous.
The third-year quarterback from California had not progressed as quickly as the Ravens had hoped, throwing nine interceptions and fumbling seven times (losing two) in six games.
However, Boller was brilliant Monday, completing 19 of 27 passes for 253 yards and three touchdowns. Boller exploited the Packers' soft coverage underneath time and again, with his primary targets being tight end Todd Heap (nine catches for 110 yards and two touchdowns) and wide receiver Derrick Mason (five catches for 97 yards).
"The biggest thing is our guys played a hell of a ball game," Ravens offensive coordinator Jim Fassel said. "Kyle needed a game like this. He's had people on him, questioning him and second-guessing him. To go out and play a game like that on national TV, against a very good defense in this league (is impressive)."
Heap set a Ravens' career record with 2,841 receiving yards, breaking the mark set by Qadry Ismail (2,819)
Like old times: This season has been an uncharacteristic one for the Ravens' defense. One of the National Football League's best defenses in the last five years has seen six opponents score 20 or more points seven times (the Cincinnati Bengals turned the trick twice).
Monday, without linebacker Ray Lewis (who underwent season-ending surgery Dec. 7 to repair his torn right hamstring), the Ravens' defense throttled Favre, rookie quarterback Aaron Rodgers and the Packers' offense.
Defensive coordinator Rex Ryan orchestrated a masterful performance, mixing blitzes with zone coverages. The Packers' receivers had trouble getting open against the zone and, when they were open, Favre and Rodgers had little time to find them. Favre and Rodgers combined to complete 20 of 41 passes for 196 yards, with three interceptions and two fumbles.
"It just seemed like (Favre) was throwing balls up in the air, which is not typical of him," Ravens cornerback Chris McAlister said. "Trust me, the way those balls were floating around, I would
play against Favre any day."
Linebacker Terrell Suggs was a little more gracious.
"We knew Favre (wanted) to make big plays," he said. "Thank God we had the best safety in the world, Ed Reed, back there.
"You have to come at Brett Favre. You can't let him sit back there and pick your defense apart. We got on top of him early and never let him get in the flow of the game. We knew he wanted to go out with a bang, but we're sorry we had to ruin it for him."
http://www.jsonline.com/packer/rev/dec05/379080.asp
posted by Denis P. Gorman at 10:42 AM
