Reporter Story:
The Baltimore Ravens were a team that had high expectations going into the 2009 season. After getting deep in the playoffs last year, spirits were high among fans, media members and players that this might be a superbowl year. Joe Flacco and the offense had one year under their belts and the defense would be that same scary machine it has always been. After big wins over the Chiefs, Chargers and Browns to start the year, all was well in Charm City, until Baltimore found out that maybe their defense wasn’t that well-oiled machine it has always been.
With three losses in a row, the Ravens once promising 3 and 0, first place record was now 3 and 3 going into the bye.
Panic set in, in Baltimore
Mark Zinno from 105.7 The Fan, Baltimore’s sports-talk station, has noticed the desperation of the fans set in.
Actuality
“I think the fans are a little emotional as they should be. They’re certainly worried I think the general consensus of them all is more on the we’re in trouble side then the we’re going to be ok side.”
TRT: 13 seconds
Many, have blamed the secondary on the 3-3 start, mostly because they’re ranked 22nd in the league giving up 241 yards per game. But, they alone aren’t the only reason the Ravens have struggled this year.
Actuality:
“They need to get a better pass rush, they need to find a way to stop giving up big plays and Greg Mattison although people can sit there and point to him as the defensive coordinator, he doesn’t have to make tackles, he doesn’t have to block, and he doesn’t have to cover anybody.”
TRT: 15 seconds
This bye-week couldn’t have come at a better time. This gives the players a chance to heal up and fix the problems that they have been having over the past three weeks.
Mark Zinno shares his opinion on how to fix the Ravens’ struggling defense.
Actuality
“It’s going to be a total team effort. These guys have got to cover longer, they’ve got to get to the quarterback quicker and the safeties have to start being able to patrol the back end of the football field and being able to break up these big plays and help avoid them in the future.”
TRT: 14 seconds
