Lamar’s Supporting Cast, The Brady Roast & More

Somehow, someway, Pro Football Focus, commonly referred to as PFF, has become a benchmark for player performances in the NFL. And I don’t understand why.

Don’t get me wrong. It’s a fine publication but their grading system is flawed. There are player performances that will stand out while watching any given game yet ironically, said performances are often fail to capture the attention of the PFF grader and his/her red pen. Conversely, PFF may assign a quality grade to a player who really doesn’t stand out to the naked eye.

I once asked a Ravens official about PFF, and while he admitted that some of the site’s tools are useful, he labeled the grading system “a joke”. The Ravens prefer their own coaches’ grades primarily due to the fact that they know the responsibility of each player on every single play. PFF isn’t privy to that information and therefore, it’s impossible to grade player performances accurately.

Despite it all, PFF remains a standard.

Recently, Ian Hartitz, host of The Fantasy Life Podcast, put together a chart utilizing PFF grades, to illustrate the level of talent each team surrounds its franchise quarterback with. Here’s what he came up with (click the Tweet below to see where the Ravens stack up):

NFL ranks in “Supporting Cast Rating” in terms of average team PFF rush, receiving, pass blocking and run blocking grades (everything except passing) over the past five seasons: pic.twitter.com/4l7WSUlWGb

— Ian Hartitz (@Ihartitz) May 6, 2024

So, for those who have argued for years that the Ravens don’t provide Lamar Jackson with a quality support cast, this chart tells a different story.

Assuming of course, you buy into PFF grades.

Augmenting The Roster

Ravens GM Eric DeCosta has made it clear that the offseason roster augmentation is never over until the team dresses for its first regular season game. Along with his player personnel underlings, DeCosta is always looking for ways to improve the roster. The Athletic’s Jeff Zrebiec recently provided a list of players who EDC might consider. The list includes:

Adrian Amos, S
Dalvin Cook, RB
Zach Cunningham, ILB
Corey Davis, WR
Emmanuel Ogbah, OLB
Dalton Risner, G
Justin Simmons, S
Ryan Tannehill, QB
Marquez Valdes-Scantling, WR
Connor Williams, G/C

Right player, right price will always be the guiding rule when it comes to free agent signings. The aforementioned players, no longer factor into the comp pick equation as of April 29. Those from the list who make the most sense to me are Cook, Cunningham, Risner and Simmons. That said, I don’t see why Cook would return. He’s trying to re-establish himself in the league and there’s a bell cow named Derrick Henry in B’more these days. Cunningham has some veteran juice left in the tank if the Ravens want some quality depth behind Trenton Simpson at ILB. Simmons is a stud and another example of how his position is undervalued. His presence could free up Kyle Hamilton to do his thing and give DC Zach Orr another chess piece with range on the back end of the defense.

[What do the Ravens have in RB Rasheen Ali?]

NFL Schedule

The schedule is coming…on May 15. Initially, many thought the NFL’s big reveal party would be tonight but that isn’t the case. We should expect some games to be leaked out – the international games and the Thursday Night kickoff to the regular season. Don’t be surprised if that game pits the Baltimore Ravens in an AFC Championship Game rematch with the Chiefs. Lamar & Co. are set to visit Kansas City this season, so why not make it on the big stage of 2024’s inaugural NFL game.

REPORT

The Baltimore Ravens and Kansas City Chiefs reportedly could be the opening game of the season. pic.twitter.com/ycQvj6gj8c

— NFL Rumors (@nflrums) May 8, 2024

By the way, don’t you just love it when a “Report” uses words like “could be”? If it’s a report then it either is or it isn’t happening. None of this “could be” BS, please.

As for the Ravens schedule, on paper it appears to be a daunting task but has we’ve seen before, when games leave the paper and make it on to the field, some teams will be better than expected while others are worse. At the end of the day, if you want to win The Lombardi, you must beat good teams. There’s no getting around it. Regardless, 2024 will be a challenge for the Ravens. They’ve sustained some losses to the roster and to the coaching staff. It could be a year of adjustment for Harbaugh & Co. No one asked me, but I’ll put it out there early…I see the Ravens as an 11-6 wild card team with a knock out in the divisional round.

Ravens to face league-high 10 2023 playoff teams, second-toughest strength of schedule in 2024, per @NFLResearchhttps://t.co/kwm4eAC1Zc pic.twitter.com/sE9QyO8wlw

— Around The NFL (@AroundTheNFL) May 7, 2024

Revisionist History

We all have had things happen that alter the course of our lives. Maybe it’s a new job; maybe a job you didn’t accept; the birth of a child; a random meeting that resulted in a life partner. The list goes on. For the Ravens, what if Ozzie Newsome lost out on the chance to draft Ray Lewis? Listen in to this conversation between ESPN’s Adam Schefter and the Patriots Eliot Wolf.

During the 1996 draft, the Packers had Ray Lewis on the phone and were ready to pick him 27th. But moments before they could, the Ravens picked Lewis at No. 26. Patriots de facto GM Eliot Wolf was in the Packers war room that day and remembers it well.

https://t.co/5ezVIJc52X pic.twitter.com/kkQh6lTUgn

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) May 8, 2024

Brady Roast

I have to admit, that I was a bit shocked by the vulgarity and crudeness of Tom Brady’s roast on Netflix this past Sunday. Those roasting Brady went well below the belt and did so often. I expected that Brady would be the butt of some targeted shots but I had no idea that they’d be so risqué.

After I adjusted to the tone set by host Kevin Hart, I thoroughly enjoyed the first hour. Early on, while addressing Brady, Hart joked:

“Single life is what you deserve, because you got no choice. Gisele gave him an ultimatum, Gisele said ‘You retire or we’re done.’ Well, let me tell you something, when you have a chance to go 8-9 and all it will cost you is your wife and kids, you gotta do what the f— you got to do.”

Nikki Glaser was insanely funny, and her delivery was so on point. Hours two and three lost me at times.

The shots taken at Brady were vicious. To his credit, he was a good sport. I’d be shocked if his ex-wife Gisele Bundchen was as amenable to the low blows. Surprisingly, the only thing Brady took exception to was a massage joke directed at Patriots owner Robert Kraft.

Tom Brady was not happy about Jeff Ross massage joke about him and Robert Kraft pic.twitter.com/WlAs3cHoTn

— Coby’s Gambling Corner (@CobyValentine24) May 6, 2024

Roasts aren’t what they used to be.

I’m old enough to remember the Dean Martin roasts which always featured Foster Brooks, pretending to be loaded. I can still hear my late father’s laughter while watching.

Take a look, have a laugh or two and enjoy the rest of your day.

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