BALTIMORE - 

It’s torture time for the Baltimore Ravens.

It’s opening Sunday on the 2011 National Football League season and who do the Ravens draw but the Pittsburgh Steelers, their hated enemy, a team they can’t beat in the clutch.

There is no love lost between the two AFC North powerhouses but for the Ravens, the Steelers are an itch they can’t scratch, a team that psychologically and on the field simply has gotten under their collective skin.

The Steelers are Lucy to Baltimore’s Charlie Brown with victory about as elusive as the football that Lucy keeps pulling away while poor Charlie whiffs on his kick and falls flat on his back each and every time.

Down and out, that’s the way the Steelers usually leave the Ravens. Pittsburgh won two of the three they played last year including a heartbreak loss by Baltimore in the divisional playoff round.

In that one, played in frigid weather in Pittsburgh, the Ravens open up a 21-7 lead in the first half, only to self destruct in the second half and blow the proverbial golden opportunity.

In the third quarter of that game the Ravens offence went fumble, three-and-out punt, interception, fumble. In the quarter, they racked up a total of minus-four yards of offence.

Then in the final two minutes of the game with the score knotted 24-24, Pittsburgh quarterback Ben Roethlisberger connected with Antonio Brown on a desperation heave on third and 19 that put the ball at Baltimore’s four-yard line.

Pittsburgh would go on to win 31-24 and deliver another kick to the cojones.

“What a better way to win and put Baltimore out of the tournament,” Steelers veteran receiver Hines Ward crowed at the time. “They asked for us and kept asking for us. Sometimes, like my mama always said: ‘Be careful what you ask for.’

“It seems like every time we get into the playoffs, they keep wanting to play us. At the end of the day, they have to worry about this loss the whole offseason.”

Well, the off-season has come and gone and the Ravens are still trying to figure out how to beat the Steelers.

They haven’t come close when Roethlisberger is taking the snaps as Big Ben is on a seven-game winning streak when facing them. Against a team as tough and gifted as Baltimore, that’s just an incredible roll.

Things have gotten so bad, the Baltimore players so spooked, that Ravens linebacker Terrell Suggs refuses to utter either ‘Pittsburgh’ or ‘Steelers’.

Joe Flacco is touted as one of the best young quarterbacks in the game. But when he comes up against Pittsburgh, he continually rolls craps.

In that bitter loss on Jan. 15, Flacco was 16-for-30 for 125 yards — hardly the stuff of legend.

Given the recent history and litany of crushing defeats, the Ravens are certainly not lacking in motivation for Sunday’s game. But can they turn the tide? Can they deliver?

“They’ve spoiled our Super Bowl dreams for the last two out of three years,” Suggs said recently. “We have to switch that you know.

“It’s sickening and it ends our season every year and we lose to our division rival. I’m sick of it. I’m disgusted. I’m tired of having a sick feeling in my stomach for a whole year.

“Game on. Let’s go.”

Unlike the Steelers, who pretty well stood pat, the Ravens have made a number of changes from the team that was beaten at Heinz Field.

They have added wide receiver Lee Evans, he of Buffalo Bills fame, to add speed to the receiving corps, acquired big offensive tackle Bryant McKinnie, formerly of the Minnesota Vikings, and to beef up their short-yardage game and provide blocking for Ray Rice, obtained bruising fullback Vonta Leach.

Although they have been defined by the ferocity of their defence and their great middle linebacker Ray Lewis, the Ravens have a new defensive coordinator in Chuck Pagano whose stated mission is to return to an attacking, aggressive, blitzing style and give the defence more of a swagger.

Along the way, though, the Ravens also lost the services of receiver Derrick Mason and tight end Todd Heap, who was a favourite third-down target of Flacco.

That prompted the hated Ward to poke them with a stick by declaring: “When you lose a Mason or a Heap, that does a lot to a locker room. Those guys were emotional leaders out there. All of the pressure comes on Flacco probably.

“Some organizations feel like they have to go young. I think we do a great job of mixing veteran guys with a nucleus of young guys that are waiting in the wings.”

And that more or less is where the Ravens find themselves — waiting in the wings, waiting for another kick at the proverbial can.

They get that opportunity today.

By Matt Conner

– Editor

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Aug 12, 2011 – Joe Flacco may have been upset after losing coordinator Jim Zorn to the Kansas City Chiefs. But he can’t deny that adding a great receiver like Lee Evans doesn’t put the smile back on his face. The Baltimore Ravens quarterback should be happy after his general manager, Ozzie Newsome, traded for Evans after last night’s anemic offensive performance against the Philadelphia Eagles, where they managed only 6 points.

Granted, a steady franchise like Baltimore doesn’t panic after the first preseason game of the year, but it’s obvious that the 13-6 loss only cemented what they already believed — that help was needed among the receiving corps. They already lost Todd Heap to make room for last year’s rookie Ed Dickson, so adding Evans bring some solid veteran help to partner with No. 1 receiver Anquan Boldin.

Evans’ best days are behind him as a top notch receiver at age 30, but it’s clear he still has some gas left in the tank. Last year’s numbers were down, but Buffalo has been a frustrating club for some time and it’s hard to blame all of that on Evans. It’s clear Stevie Johnson became the primary target there for Ryan Fitzpatrick.

This gives three solid receiving options for Flacco and a bolstered running game with Vonta Leach as the new fullback, replacing Le’Ron McClain, and Ricky Williams behind Ray Rice. It’s a new offense this year for the Ravens, but Evans certainly makes it a much better one that it was just a week ago.

Read More: Lee Evans (WR – BAL), Joe Flacco (QB – BAL), Baltimore Ravens

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OWINGS MILLS – Sporting his new wedding ring and a bolder
attitude much different than his usually stoic personality,
Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco delivered a message to his
legion of critics.

Used for target practice by national pundits who questioned his
leadership, ability in the clutch and whether he has the fire to
run a football team, Flacco lashed out Wednesday upon reporting for
training camp at the Ravens’ training complex. Just like the Ravens
are changing with tight end Todd Heap and wide receiver Derrick
Mason, about to be cut from the roster today, so is Flacco’s
outward mentality.

“I’m think I’m pretty damn good,” Flacco said. “And I don’t need
to go out and tell everybody I play this game to be the best and it
doesn’t matter what other people say. I don’t need to go out and
tell everybody that and show it on every given day, every play,
every Sunday and do all that stuff. I go out there and I play.

“You can think what you want about me. The bottom line is: I’m
still going to think the way I think about myself and I feel pretty
good about myself no matter what you say. I would like some more
people than myself to think good about me, but they never do, they
never do.”

Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker LaMarr Woodley said that Flacco
will never win a Super Bowl in this lifetime.

Even after Flacco’s comments hit the airwaves, NFL Network
analyst Jamie Dukes continued to rip the quarterback for his
playoff track record. Flacco is 4-3 in the postseason, but his
statistics are better during the regular season. Dukes has
previously questioned Flacco’s work ethic even though the former
first-round draft pick is known for working long hours and studying
a lot of film.

And Cincinnati Bengals middle linebacker Dhani Jones said Flacco
simply makes too many mistakes, accusing him of caving under the
harassment of defenders.

“We’ve had a good team the last three years and I think I’ve
gotten better each year and played pretty darn good, so I don’t
understand it,” Flacco said. “People are going to say what they’re
going to say. We’ve just got to go out there and win football
games, continue to win football games really, because we’ve won
football games every year here.”

This isn’t the first time that Flacco has displayed his
willingness to speak out.

He was furious when the Ravens fired quarterbacks coach Jim Zorn
after he stuck up for him.

In three NFL seasons, Flacco has completed 62 percent of his
throws for 10,206 yards, 60 touchdowns and 34 interceptions for an
87.9 passer rating. Last season, he passed for a career-high 3,622
yards and 25 touchdowns.

“The world we live in today, there’s usually one good
quarterback at the end of the year and 31 other not-good ones,”
Flacco said. “My goal is to be that one good one at the end of the
year.”

“When you’re good, people are scared of you,” Mason told the
Times this summer. “Honestly, that’s what I’ve seen. When people
realize the potential that you have, they get very, very scared and
then you see them scrambling to say bad things about the guy.

“Joe doesn’t care. He really doesn’t. For the Woodleys and the
Dhani Jones and the rest of them, you see there aren’t no head
coaches or general manager and no smart players saying Joe can’t
play. The last thing you want to do is wake up a sleeping giant.
Whether he says it or not, they’ve given him added fuel.”

Flacco, 26, got married to his high school sweetheart, Dana,
this summer.

“It was a lot of fun,” Flacco said. “It was a really good
day.”

Now, he has to build new connections with his receivers with
Mason and Heap off the team.

“Definitely shocked to hear about it, those guys are both
friends of mine and both good targets of mine on the field,” Flacco
said. “So, I feel for them and I hope we can do everything we can
to get those guys back. I had no idea anything like that was going
to happen. I wasn’t even really thinking about that. I hope we can
go out there and operate no matter what.”

“If those guys aren’t there, it’s because we are confident with
the guys that we have. I would say if they’re not there, we know we
have a great group of guys. If they are there, then we’re only
going to benefit from that.”

Instead of throwing to Mason and Heap, Flacco’s targets, at
least for now, are expected to become tight end Ed Dickson and
rookie wide receiver Torrey Smith.

“I’m sure at first there will be an initial shock without those
guys being out there,” Flacco said. “I hope we can go out there and
operate no matter what.”

Now, Flacco is intent on leading the Ravens past the threshold
of a few rounds into the playoffs. He’s thinking much bigger. To
get to the Super Bowl, the Ravens will need him to play bigger.

“I want the ball to be put in my hands, I want to be in
control,” Flacco said. “I want to be in position to lose football
games. I’ve always said that. I want it to be on me. In order to do
that, you got to have trust in me, and I think we’re there.”

Reach staff writer Aaron Wilson at 410-857-7896 or
sports@carrollcountytimes.com.

© 2011 Carroll County Times. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

OWINGS MILLS, Md. – What a crazy off-season it was for Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco.

Instead of working with coaches and teammates to prepare for the 2011 season, Flacco got married and took some flagrant hits from a few outspoken critics.

Then, almost immediately after the NFL lockout ended, Flacco learned he might be without two of his favourite targets: tight end Todd Heap and wide receiver Derrick Mason, who have been told by the Ravens they will be cut.

Flacco has taken the Ravens to the playoffs in each of his three seasons, yet some people aren’t impressed.

Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker LaMarr Woodley said the Ravens won’t win a Super Bowl with Flacco “in this lifetime.” NFL analyst Jaime Dukes questioned the quarterback’s work ethic, and Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Dhani Jones said, “If you put a lot of pressure on him, he makes bad decisions.”

After taking his physical and conditioning test Wednesday at Baltimore’s training complex, Flacco addressed the criticism with his head held high.

“We’ve had a good team the last three years and I think I’ve gotten better each year and played pretty darn good, so I don’t understand it,” he said. “People are going to say what they’re going to say. We’ve just got to go out there and win football games, continue to win football games really, because we’ve won football games every year here.”

Flacco gets it. The Ravens haven’t reached the Super Bowl during his tenure, and until that happens he knows there will be people who question his performance.

“The world we live in today, there’s usually one good quarterback at the end of the year and 31 other not-good ones,” he said.

That, however, is not his perspective.

“I think I’m pretty (darn) good, and I don’t need to go out and tell everybody that and show it on every given day, every play, every Sunday and do all that stuff. I go out there and I play,” he said. “You can think what you want about me. The bottom line is, I’m still going to think the way I think about myself, and I feel pretty good about myself. I would like some more people than myself to think good about me, but they never do. They never do.”

Sporting a wedding ring on his left hand, the 26-year-old quarterback declared himself in excellent shape and ready to get back on the field. He spoke hopefully about getting back Heap and Mason, who haven’t signed yet with another team and could still return if the price is right.

“I had no idea anything like that was going to happen,” Flacco said. “You expect to come back and see some new faces just like every year. But I definitely was not expecting (Baltimore) to get rid of Derrick and Todd. I wasn’t even really thinking about that. I was thinking about getting back to playing football, getting back to normal life for us.”

It’s going to take Flacco a while to get used to playing without Mason, the team’s career leader in receptions, and Heap, the starting tight end for the past 10 years.

“I’m sure at first there will be an initial shock without those guys being out there,” Flacco said. “I hope we can go out there and operate no matter what. If those guys aren’t there, it’s because we are confident with the guys that we have. I would say if they’re not there, we know we have a great group of guys. If they are there, then we’re only going to benefit from that.”

Replacing Heap, at least initially, is second-year tight end Ed Dickson. He doesn’t have the credentials of Heap, but is not backing down from the challenge.

“It means a lot to me that they have that much faith in me,” Dickson said. “I’ve got a year under my belt, so I’ll definitely be more comfortable in our playbook.”

But it’s going to be up to Flacco to make the offence work, and he’s ready to do just that.

“I just want to go out there and win football games. I want the ball to be put in my hands. I want to be in control,” he said. “I want to be in position to lose football games, I’ve always said that. I want it to be on me. … In order to do that, you got to have trust in me, and I think we’re there. I think we just need to go out there and put it all forward and do what we need to do to get to that next step, get past the hump and win these really big football games.”

Former Delaware quarterback Joe Flacco(notes) hasn’t wanted for talent during his three seasons with the Baltimore Ravens. He’s led a run-heavy attack with decent receivers, showed off one of the better deep arms in the league, and developed a familiarity with play action and the shorter-to-intermediate passes that must be a part of every NFL quarterback’s repertoire. He’s one of the reasons the Ravens are considered to be a perennial Super Bowl contender … if they can just get past those pesky Steelers.

And as Jamison Hensley of the Baltimore Sun tells us, Flacco isn’t lacking confidence, either. When asked on Wednesday about various potshots taken at his person (Steelers linebacker LaMarr Woodley(notes) saying that Flacco will never win a Super Bowl, Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Dhani Jones(notes) questioning his ability to handle pressure, and NFL Network … erm … ‘analyst’ Jamie Dukes saying that Flacco doesn’t have the right work ethic), Flaco fired right back.

“I think I’m pretty damn good,” Flacco told the media at team headquarters. To Woodley’s claim, he says things are getting better — maybe this is the year the Ravens step all over the Steelers for that trip to the big game.

I really don’t quite understand it. We’ve had a good team the last three years and I think I’ve gotten better each year and played pretty darn good. I really don’t understand it. There’s nothing you can do about it.

How about Jones’ claim that he can’t handle pressure of any kind?

I want the ball in my hands. I want to be in control. I want to be in position to lose football games. I want it to be on me. If we lose football games, I want you to be able to look directly at me and say, ‘Why did we lose this game?’ and I should have a pretty good answer for you. And I want you to be able to look at me and say why did we win this game? In order to do that, you have to have trust in me, and I think we’re there.

And Dukes’ seemingly meritless assertion (if there’s one thing about Flacco I’ve never heard questioned, it’s his work ethic)?

What motivates me is being the best quarterback in the world. You don’t play this game to be average. I play this game to be the best. It doesn’t matter what other people say. I think I’m pretty damn good. I don’t need to go out and tell everybody that and show it on every given Sunday. I go out there and I play. You can think what you want about me. The bottom line is: I’m going to feel pretty good about myself no matter what you say.

So there! You have to like a quarterback with a chip on his shoulder and the right kind of confidence, especially when he’s improved in each of his three NFL seasons, in metrics both traditional and advanced. Something tells me that the Ravens are in very good hands when it comes to the quarterback position.

Related: LaMarr Woodley, Joe Flacco, Dhani Jones, Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals

Then, almost immediately after the NFL lockout ended, Flacco learned he might be without two of his favorite targets: tight end Todd Heap and wide receiver Derrick Mason, who have been told by the Ravens they will be cut.

Flacco has taken the Ravens to the playoffs in each of his three seasons, yet some people aren’t impressed.

Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker LaMarr Woodley said the Ravens won’t win a Super Bowl with Flacco “in this lifetime.” NFL analyst Jaime Dukes questioned the quarterback’s work ethic, and Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Dhani Jones said, “If you put a lot of pressure on him, he makes bad decisions.”

After taking his physical and conditioning test Wednesday at Baltimore’s training complex, Flacco addressed the criticism with his head held high.

“We’ve had a good team the last three years and I think I’ve gotten better each year and played pretty darn good, so I don’t understand it,” he said. “People are going to say what they’re going to say. We’ve just got to go out there and win football games, continue to win football games really, because we’ve won football games every year here.”

Flacco gets it. The Ravens haven’t reached the Super Bowl during his tenure, and until that happens he knows there will be people who question his performance.

“The world we live in today, there’s usually one good quarterback at the end of the year and 31 other not-good ones,” he said.

That, however, is not his perspective.

“I think I’m pretty (darn) good, and I don’t need to go out and tell everybody that and show it on every given day, every play, every Sunday and do all that stuff. I go out there and I play,” he said. “You can think what you want about me. The bottom line is, I’m still going to think the way I think about myself, and I feel pretty good about myself. I would like some more people than myself to think good about me, but they never do. They never do.”

Sporting a wedding ring on his left hand, the 26-year-old quarterback declared himself in excellent shape and ready to get back on the field. He spoke hopefully about getting back Heap and Mason, who haven’t signed yet with another team and could still return if the price is right.

“I had no idea anything like that was going to happen,” Flacco said. “You expect to come back and see some new faces just like every year. But I definitely was not expecting (Baltimore) to get rid of Derrick and Todd. I wasn’t even really thinking about that. I was thinking about getting back to playing football, getting back to normal life for us.”

It’s going to take Flacco a while to get used to playing without Mason, the team’s career leader in receptions, and Heap, the starting tight end for the past 10 years.

“I’m sure at first there will be an initial shock without those guys being out there,” Flacco said. “I hope we can go out there and operate no matter what. If those guys aren’t there, it’s because we are confident with the guys that we have. I would say if they’re not there, we know we have a great group of guys. If they are there, then we’re only going to benefit from that.”

Replacing Heap, at least initially, is second-year tight end Ed Dickson. He doesn’t have the credentials of Heap, but is not backing down from the challenge.

“It means a lot to me that they have that much faith in me,” Dickson said. “I’ve got a year under my belt, so I’ll definitely be more comfortable in our playbook.”

But it’s going to be up to Flacco to make the offense work, and he’s ready to do just that.

“I just want to go out there and win football games. I want the ball to be put in my hands. I want to be in control,” he said. “I want to be in position to lose football games, I’ve always said that. I want it to be on me. … In order to do that, you got to have trust in me, and I think we’re there. I think we just need to go out there and put it all forward and do what we need to do to get to that next step, get past the hump and win these really big football games.”

Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

OWINGS MILLS, Md. (AP)—What a crazy offseason it was for Baltimore Ravens
quarterback Joe Flacco(notes).

Instead of working with coaches and teammates to prepare for the 2011
season, Flacco got married and took some flagrant hits from a few outspoken
critics.

Then, almost immediately after the NFL lockout ended, Flacco learned he
might be without two of his favorite targets: tight end Todd Heap(notes) and wide
receiver Derrick Mason(notes), who have been told by the Ravens they will be cut.

Flacco has taken the Ravens to the playoffs in each of his three seasons,
yet some people aren’t impressed.

Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker LaMarr Woodley(notes) said the Ravens won’t win a
Super Bowl with Flacco “in this lifetime.” NFL analyst Jaime Dukes questioned
the quarterback’s work ethic, and Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Dhani Jones(notes)
said, “If you put a lot of pressure on him, he makes bad decisions.”

After taking his physical and conditioning test Wednesday at Baltimore’s
training complex, Flacco addressed the criticism with his head held high.

“We’ve had a good team the last three years and I think I’ve gotten better
each year and played pretty darn good, so I don’t understand it,” he said.
“People are going to say what they’re going to say. We’ve just got to go out
there and win football games, continue to win football games really, because
we’ve won football games every year here.”

Flacco gets it. The Ravens haven’t reached the Super Bowl during his tenure,
and until that happens he knows there will be people who question his
performance.

“The world we live in today, there’s usually one good quarterback at the
end of the year and 31 other not-good ones,” he said.

That, however, is not his perspective.

“I think I’m pretty (darn) good, and I don’t need to go out and tell
everybody that and show it on every given day, every play, every Sunday and do
all that stuff. I go out there and I play,” he said. “You can think what you
want about me. The bottom line is, I’m still going to think the way I think
about myself, and I feel pretty good about myself. I would like some more people
than myself to think good about me, but they never do. They never do.”

Sporting a wedding ring on his left hand, the 26-year-old quarterback
declared himself in excellent shape and ready to get back on the field. He spoke
hopefully about getting back Heap and Mason, who haven’t signed yet with another
team and could still return if the price is right.

“I had no idea anything like that was going to happen,” Flacco said. “You
expect to come back and see some new faces just like every year. But I
definitely was not expecting (Baltimore) to get rid of Derrick and Todd. I
wasn’t even really thinking about that. I was thinking about getting back to
playing football, getting back to normal life for us.”

It’s going to take Flacco a while to get used to playing without Mason, the
team’s career leader in receptions, and Heap, the starting tight end for the
past 10 years.

“I’m sure at first there will be an initial shock without those guys being
out there,” Flacco said. “I hope we can go out there and operate no matter
what. If those guys aren’t there, it’s because we are confident with the guys
that we have. I would say if they’re not there, we know we have a great group of
guys. If they are there, then we’re only going to benefit from that.”

Replacing Heap, at least initially, is second-year tight end Ed Dickson(notes). He
doesn’t have the credentials of Heap, but is not backing down from the
challenge.

“It means a lot to me that they have that much faith in me,” Dickson said.
“I’ve got a year under my belt, so I’ll definitely be more comfortable in our
playbook.”

But it’s going to be up to Flacco to make the offense work, and he’s ready
to do just that.

“I just want to go out there and win football games. I want the ball to be
put in my hands. I want to be in control,” he said. “I want to be in position
to lose football games, I’ve always said that. I want it to be on me. … In
order to do that, you got to have trust in me, and I think we’re there. I think
we just need to go out there and put it all forward and do what we need to do to
get to that next step, get past the hump and win these really big football
games.”