Baltimore Ravens Offseason Week in Review #2
January 26, 2014; Honolulu, HI, USA; Team Sanders kicker Justin Tucker of the Baltimore Ravens (9) misses a 67-yard field goal attempt during the fourth quarter of the 2014 Pro Bowl against Team Rice at Aloha Stadium. Team Rice defeated Team Sanders 22-21. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
This is the second edition of a new feature here on The Baltimore Wire with a week in review over the offseason. We will feature this on Sundays, or perhaps Monday mornings.
So, Tucker is Human After All!
Justin Tucker is a cool guy! He is a person who going to enjoy life wherever he goes and in whatever he does, and this past week he was enjoying it at his first Pro Bowl.
Tucker was playing along with Terrell Suggs and Marshal Yanda for Team Deion Sanders. The Ravens’ team lost to the squad of Jerry Rice by a final score of 22-21. Tucker had a chance at the very end to attempt to win the game with a 67-yard field goal attempt that came up just a few yards short.
Actually, I’m shocked. With the season that Tucker enjoyed, providence, karma, or whatever would seem fitting for him to have stamped it with a kick for the ages! So, he is human after all. And as a human, he is a great representative for Baltimore and the Ravens franchise.
The Search Goes On
The primary news of the week has been the search for the next offensive coordinator. Four names (that we know of) have been in the mix.
The first person eliminated was Scott Linehan. Figures – he was my choice as I wrote HERE. Next to be dropped was Steelers coach Kirby Wilson. This leaves Kyle Shanahan and internal choice Jim Hostler. I expect that early this week we will hear that the latter has been hired – as I wrote about HERE. Both of the final candidates have their supporters and detractors.
However, as I plan to post this article, most football writers are predicting Shanahan to get the position – even to be announced today (Monday). If so, perhaps he will prove to be a genius; I just personally struggle with the Redskins connection, as I think a lot of Baltimore people will.
Wide Range of Wide Receiver Possibilities
A great deal of discussion has already gone down this offseason about how to find additional options for Joe Flacco. Something is going to work out in this matter, be it through free agency or the draft. There are a lot of great choices in the draft this year, and you may recall that I already grabbed one of them (Kelvin Benjamin of FSU) in the FanSided Network’s mock draft, and you can review my wisdom HERE.
In an article on Jacoby Jones this past week, it mentioned the possibility that he might end up back home in New Orleans, and he said, “I love home, always, but I would love to go back to Baltimore. Only God knows what it is in our path right now.” I hope God puts him back with the Ravens, as his value in running back kicks is a great weapon, even if he does not get to catch that many passes because of someone new.
The Local Connection
Talking about wide receivers, multiple outlets wrote about local River Hill High School product Michael Campanaro. Some people write he is 5-9, some 5-10, and some 5-11. Whatever, he’s not a big dude, yet he finishes his career at Wake Forest as the all-time leading pass catcher. He does not seem to me to be the prototype of what the Ravens need, but, I’m pulling for him for the selfish reason that I would have an inside track to talking with him. Go Michael!
In our next edition we’ll be reflecting on the new offensive coordinator, and maybe we can talk about some of the other coaching positions on the team as well.