This defense: The sky is the limit

[Bleu Star]

Albeit a sky full of low hanging clouds but I really liked some of the things I saw last night.

First and foremost, Rolando McClain! Please please please let this McClain story continue to bear positive results. He really does look like a very active beast out there in the middle. Very shifty and can quickly lay the wood in compressed space. His cover skills are pretty decent too. We NEED THAT in the middle.

Secondly, did y'all see the wood JJ Wilcox laid on Rice at the end of a nice Rice run? Oh I know you saw it. Rice was seen traversing the tunnel to the Ravens locker room shortly thereafter and is now listed on their injury report with a shoulder issue. The combination of a physical McClain with a physical Wilcox behind him makes me giddy.

Lastly, Zach Minter. Wow. Getting too excited early is bad medicine. Very true. However, that guy is very active at the point of attack. Strength, emotion, disruption. . . Everything we need on the Dline that we still wonder about. I look forward to seeing Minter ascend the depth chart.

That's it. Nothing negative regarding the defense. I already know that side of the ball is going to be a major work in progress. Those few positives from last night really hit home. Perhaps they willl surprise us.

 

[CATCH17]

I hop Minter isn't another Junior Glymph.

The guy is built like a can of biscuits that exploded.

Also, why have 2 other teams let him go?

 

[Bleu Star]

I hop Minter isn't another Junior Glymph.

The is built like a can of biscuits that exploded.

Also, why have 2 other teams let him go?

We picked up scraps from elsewhere. I just hope he finds a way to fit in and isn't a quick flash in the pan against scrubs. The thing that really encouraged me was his strength when engaged and ability to disengage at the right time. That forced fumble was a thing of violent beauty. Scraps or not.

 

[casmith07]

Good post, Bleu.

 

[Bluestang]

Slow down on Minter, on the Ravens TD when Flacco and Co scored the rushing TD before the 1st half, Minter was on his back 8 yards in the end zone.

 

[Bleu Star]

The guy is built like a can of biscuits that exploded.

Lol @ your biscuit reference. Sapp was/is built the same way.

 

[Bleu Star]

Slow down on Minter, on the Ravens TD when Flacco and Co scored the rushing TD before the 1st half, Minter was on his back 8 yards in the end zone.

Are you sure that was Minter? I thought it was someone else.. I could easily be wrong though.

 

[Bluestang]

Are you sure that was Minter? I thought it was someone else.. I could easily be wrong though.

I'm positive.

Minter actually played with 2nd team DL against the Ravens 1st OL with Flacco. He played the 1T and was getting pushed around more than Hayden.

As the level of competition went down with the Ravens, Minter started to show up. Doesn't mean he doesn't have chance, but he needs more playing time to get a better feel for what he can do against starting competition.

 

[Bleu Star]

I'm positive.

Minter actually played with 2nd team DL against the Ravens 1st OL with Flacco. He played the 1T and was getting pushed around more than Hayden.

As the level of competition went down with the Ravens, Minter started to show up. Doesn't mean he doesn't have chance, but he needs more playing time to get a better feel for what he can do against starting competition.

Definitely agree we need to see more of him against better competition. I'm guessing he gave himself a solid chance of that happening next week.

 

[Bungarian]

The first team defense still got gashed up the middle.

 

[Craig]

If Minter can play like he did yesterday on a regular basis, I would assume that he's at least someone that can fill in the middle of the line to give someone a rest without crippling the line.

 

[nalam]

Are you sure that was Minter? I thought it was someone else.. I could easily be wrong though.

I read I another post it was him, but would like to see the video myself... May be that lit a fire in his backside..lol

 

[Bleu Star]

The first team defense still got gashed up the middle.

I would like to see McClain out there at 1st team MLB next week. Call me crazy but I would also like to see what Minter can do when tossed in with the 1st team.

 

[SportsGuru80]

Are you sure that was Minter? I thought it was someone else.. I could easily be wrong though.

Yes that was Minter... I like what I saw but he's a work in progress when it comes to the run game.

 

[TheDude]

Slow down on Minter, on the Ravens TD when Flacco and Co scored the rushing TD before the 1st half, Minter was on his back 8 yards in the end zone.

This is true.. That was not pretty

 

[Bleu Star]

I read I another post it was him, but would like to see the video myself... May be that lit a fire in his backside..lol

I'd like to see the video too. Also, like you said, perhaps it lit a fire. I would like to know the timing of him getting laid out in relation to the rest of the events that happened. If he got laid out early and then came back to completely go nasty on everyone I like that resiliency.

 

[Bluestang]

This is true.. That was not pretty

I had to go back and look up his name from his number (#79) when I first saw it because I didn't know that was Minter in there on the 2nd team DL group.

 

[CCBoy]

I'm positive.

Minter actually played with 2nd team DL against the Ravens 1st OL with Flacco. He played the 1T and was getting pushed around more than Hayden.

As the level of competition went down with the Ravens, Minter started to show up. Doesn't mean he doesn't have chance, but he needs more playing time to get a better feel for what he can do against starting competition.

Someone should inform the Ravens about that. The 'dud' only had two sacks, and more than a couple of plays resulting in good stops on runs. One a tackle for a loss as well. Stats say something else.

He had what? One whole day to adjust to new climate/team/ and scheme...hold up on the Turk just yet.

 

[CCBoy]

The first team defense still got gashed up the middle.

You're probably right, if they engage a bunch of street fighting wing chuns.

The guy was brought in to fill a role. Hold up on the comparisons to Bob Lilly...at least for a whole week.

 

[visionary]

Albeit a sky full of low hanging clouds but I really liked some of the things I saw last night.

First and foremost, Rolando McClain! Please please please let this McClain story continue to bear positive results. He really does look like a very active beast out there in the middle. Very shifty and can quickly lay the wood in compressed space. His cover skills are pretty decent too. We NEED THAT in the middle.

Secondly, did y'all see the wood JJ Wilcox laid on Rice at the end of a nice Rice run? Oh I know you saw it. Rice was seen traversing the tunnel to the Ravens locker room shortly thereafter and is now listed on their injury report with a shoulder issue. The combination of a physical McClain with a physical Wilcox behind him makes me giddy.

Lastly, Zach Minter. Wow. Getting too excited early is bad medicine. Very true. However, that guy is very active at the point of attack. Strength, emotion, disruption. . . Everything we need on the Dline that we still wonder about. I look forward to seeing Minter ascend the depth chart.

That's it. Nothing negative regarding the defense. I already know that side of the ball is going to be a major work in progress. Those few positives from last night really hit home. Perhaps they willl surprise us.

If all 3 of these guys show up big this year, that would be huge