Lonely down here, eh?

In what can only be described as “not shocking in the least bit” (if you’ve been watching the 2007 Ravens, you’ll know what I mean), the Ravens did the unthinkable and lost to the previously winless Miami Dolphins. In a game plagued with inconsistent QB play on both sides of the ball, Cleo Lemon (WHO?!) and the Miami Dolphins defense out-dueled the Baltimore Ravens in the second half, scoring 10 unanswered points in regulation, forcing Brian Billick to coach under pressure.

There were a lot of “what ifs” in this game.

What if Devard Darling held on to the ball on the long Boller completion (putting the Ravens in the Red Zone) instead of gift wrapping an early Christmas present interception?

What if Brian Billick decided to take one shot at the end zone with 12 seconds left in regulation instead of playing for the tie?

What if Stover hit the 44-yard field goal instead of hooking it wide?

What if we saw Troy Smith get his first NFL start? The team certainly seemed to respond favorably when Smith was inserted in the place of a concussed Kyle Boller…

Characater

In his post-game press conference, Billick trotted out the same old song and dance. It was so choreographed, in fact, that the stringers and beat writers have passed along the moves to future generations through a combination of rote and written word.

“I’ll bank on character anytime,” Billick said. “It doesn’t mean a lot to [the media] sometimes, but it does to me. I’ll count on character on this team.”

Perhaps instead of character, the team should take a good, long look in the mirror and realize that they just lost to an 0-13 team. Perhaps Billick should take a good, long look in the mirror and realize that he was beaten by Cam Cameron and Cleo Lemon, who last won a game in 2000 at Arkansas State.

Depth charge?

Lack of Depth in the secondary is killing this team. In 2005, when I was writing on The Purple Curtain (now Ravens Touchdown), I bagged an awful lot on Samari Rolle and his lack of shutdown ability. After seeing Cory Ivy and the patchwork secondary playing this season, I’ve got to eat a heaping plate of crow. The way the replacements are playing, Rolle and McAlister should be first ballot Hall of Famers…

Looking at the 2008 draft, the Ravens will have a high pick. Rather than take a quarterback, I suggest they look at cornerbacks. I’m no scout, but from the college games I’ve seen this year, I like what I saw from Ohio State’s Malcolm Jenkins (6-1, 202lbs, 4.50 40), Boston College’s DeJuan Tribble (5-9 1/2, 191lbs, 4.44 40), South Florida’s Mike Jenkins (6-0, 200lbs, 4.45 40) and USC’s Terrell Thomas (6-1 1/8, 201lbs, 4.45 40). At any rate, we need depth and we need it now.

With the quality pick we’ll no doubt have, I wouldn’t be surprised if we trade down a few spots and pick up a 3rd round pick to replace the one we sent to Buffalo for Willis McGahee. I’m sure we can find additional help in the later rounds — we haven’t had trouble in the past.

I will physically be at the NFL combine and NFL draft this year, so if you have plans to attend either one, let me know. Misery loves company.

Free Troy Smith

Kyle Boller has a concussion. He also has trouble unloading the ball under pressure. The season is lost — may as well start Troy Smith, right? You know, to see where we’re at for next year?

Unfortunately, I can see Billick naming Boller the starter for Week 16. I can see Smith’s public lobbying for going for the win in the waining seconds of the game being the reason why he’s benched in favor of a banged-up Boller. Sadly, the only way Smith starts is if Boller’s concussion is worse than originally diagnosed.

I noticed yesterday that the team - not just the offense - seemed to react positively when Smith came in to replace the injured Boller. Starting at the Ravens’ 40 yard line, Smith led one heck of a final drive of the game, completing 4-of-8 passes for 45 yards. He had good pocket presence, avoiding one sack and constantly throwing under pressure.

Welcome to Rock Bottom

Bart Scott nailed it with his post-game summary. When asked if this was the low point of the Ravens season, he said “Nope, it’s not a low point. It’s two bad football teams playing, and they won.”

If this isn’t the low point, I’ll hate to see what Scott says after losses to Seattle and Pittsburgh.

Derrick Mason had a different take.

“You want me to be truthful? I just laughed,” Mason said of the moment yesterday when he and the Ravens realized that this wasn’t a nightmare, that they were wide awake, that they had lost to an 0-13 team.

“I couldn’t do anything but laugh, just laugh and sit on the bench,” Mason added, then paused. “Try to embrace it all, and go from there.”