I have always thought the Ravens have had a good/average ST over the past few years. I mean not a whole lot of kicks get returned for TDs on us, I'v only seen like two punt/kicks of ours blocked the past few seasons and we have blocked kicks and punts and Ed Reed gets like so close every other time, plus Matt Stover is automatic from within 45 yard and we have a pretty good punter.
With all this said I think our ST will be one of the best in the league next year. I mean in the report card for every draft pick it seems (accept for Flacco and Rice) to say that they have X,Y and Z but can make an imedate impact on specal teams. Golden, Tommy Z, Haronama (or whatever the safety from Cincs name was) both WRs and the RB (sorry I forgot all these guys names, I knew before but my brains working slow today). Anyway with all that plus the fact that we have Harbagh as the new coach I think we will be top 5 in STs this year.
yeah, with the draft we just had, you kind of have to think we will be at the top of the special teams category. zbikowski will be GREAT on special team, as will our free agent pick up, ayanbadejo.
one think i would like to see from up is more blocked punts. reeds first 2 or 3 years in the league, he was always in the face of the punter, but it seems like we haven't been as successful in the past few years.
Wow I totally forgot about Ayanbadejo, him plus Gary Stills are two pro bowl STs players. Plus Figurs showed promise as a returner and if he starts to fumble we have guys that can return kicks (Reed, Ross, Tommy Z, Rice ect) So hopfully we will have around 4 STs TDs.
I see what you mean about Ed Reed, his first few years he was nasty but not so much the past few.
Our ST unit looks great, Ayanbadejo, Stills, Tommy Z. Looks beastly.
But I cringe every time I see Reed get blasted by a Steeler. Hes a all-pro calibre returner but Id rather see him on the field, making interception, making hits instead of risking his season when we have alot of good returners.
I don't like it when Reed returns kicks or punts. He has talent, but why do we risk injury to him. Most of our offeseason has been centered around special teams. If we don't have one of the best STs out there i will be disappointed.
"I don't like it when Reed returns kicks or punts."
i didn't mean i want reed to return punts, i want him at the line of scrimmage trying to block punts. remember the game against the Redskins 4 years ago? he has so much quickness off the line, back up linemen (who normally play on the punt team) wouldn't have a chance!!
Come on guys....if you watch real close you'll see that every team in the NFL respects what Ed Reed can do and chip block or give the guy on the outside help. He worry's the hell out them and I think even though he's not getting to them as much I still believe that Reed's presence on the line is a big reason our special teams are alway solid.
Not only is Reed being blocked more, I'd be willing to bet he doesn't go at it as hard as he used to because of the fear of touching the punter and drawing a flag. I thinks it's completely pathetic that if a player so much as causes the punter to flinch it's an automatic flag. I do think the punter needs to be protected, because he is put in an awkward position that leaves him open to a big hit and is more likely to get injured, but there is a big difference between a player hitting the punter in the shoulder or tapping his helmet while trying to block the ball and a player jumping at his knees or straight into his body to try and keep him from kicking the ball.
