And that’s not just throwing away from hapless Raven defensive backs.  When the Ravens want to blitz, he turns them into a twisted web of deep coverage. When they want to fall back, he artfully directs a short passing game mixed with occasional runs into the teeth of the defense.

It’s simple enough to throw out the cliches of “make Manning feel pressure and hope for mistakes,” but he’s been in the league too long and seen too much film for cliches to have any effect. With no Terrell Suggs and a recovering Haloti Ngata, pressure from the edges and up the middle will be easier planned than executed. The key to the Ravens’ success today won’t have anything to do with defensive pressure, and everything to do with offensive continuity.

If the Ravens can sustain drives with running the ball, they’ll limit Peyton’s chances for long drives that tire out defenses. If Joe Flacco can find holes in the Cover 2 defense down the field, and change his looks up with routes over the middle to tight ends and backs, the Colts’ defense won’t have time to adjust before the Ravens’ offense can put up points of its own.

And if the special teams make a few plays in the return and field goal kicking game, the Ravens will have a formula for keeping the Colts offense out of the picture as much as humanly possible.

The first step to beating the Colts is in knowing that beating their offense isn’t an option. If the Ravens commit to making their own offense the better defense on the day, they’ll have a better chance of breaking the Mayflower spell.

Technorati Tags: Baltimore Ravens, Haloti Ngata, Indianapolis Colts, Terrell Suggs

But the looks for both Clinton Portis and the divided perspectives on his career are coming into a haunting focus. His place as one of the greatest running backs of all-time will go quietly into the record books with only passing whispers of post-season success to accompany them. His presence as a Washington sports hero will melt away in yet-another-season of free agent signings and turnstile coaching decisions.

News of a serious concussion keeping Portis out of this weekend’s all-important rivalry game with Dallas weren’t met with the “woe is us, woe is the remainder of the season” from Redskins fans. In fact, you are more likely to find ever-warming reception of Portis’ back-up Ladell Betts than mournful gasps for Portis’ absence.  More startling – while somber national discussions are being held on the severity of concussions, even with the Pro Bowl running back of a divisional rival, the same hushed tones aren’t reserved for Portis.

Not because he’s particularly indestructible or throwback enough to espouse a “I’m playing no matter what” philosophy. Deep down, most people don’t revere his contributions to the team.

The signs of the wheels falling off were in place well before this potentially-career ending injury. Not just a bum knee, or dinged ribs; dissent with coaches and teammates were early indicators of the exchange of a Hall of Fame running back for a Hall of Fame corner back becoming what many Redskins faithful anticipated it to be.

Stupid.

Portis has become a man shrouded in his own vision these days. He has been ardent about the team’s struggles being solely attributable to the lack of player execution, often by his lonesome. His unbridled perspective has become noticeably more subdued, and while he hasn’t been regularly disruptive with his new role to the right of the center of attention, he certainly doesn’t strike you as the type that would thrive outside of the spotlight.

His outlook on his team, our outlook on him; both views are crystal clear. And the vision is not one that anyone would’ve been prepared for just a few short seasons and disguises ago.

Clinton Portis’ time has run its course in Washington. And maybe, as a professional running back in the NFL.

Technorati Tags: Clinton Portis, Washington Redskins

So, Huggy Lowdown takes a break from the big time with the Tom Joyner Morning Show to come home for Dallas week? And he’s rapping with Chris Paul on “Beat Dallas?”

Winner – DMV.

H/T – Fail to the Deadskins

Technorati Tags: Dallas Cowboys, Washington Redskins

What do you think?

1. John Unitas: The greatest quarterback to play the game. Father of the two-minute drill led the Colts to two NFL championships and defeated the New York Giants in 1958 for the title in what has been dubbed “The Greatest Game Ever Played.”

2. Ray Lewis: The master of mayhem for 14 years in the middle of the Ravens’ defense. A tackling machine in his prime, with the ability to change games by himself. Revered around the league and willing mentor to all who seek his advice.

3. Gino Marchetti: Captain of the two-time world champions, he was one of the most feared pass rushers in NFL history. Lightning quick, No. 89 was named the best defensive end of the NFL’s first half-century.

4. Lenny Moore: Had unparalleled success as both flanker and running back, making All-NFL at both positions. “Spats” scored a touchdown in 18 straight games, an NFL record that stood for 40 years.

5. Raymond Berry: Unitas’ favorite target, he set an NFL record for career receptions. One of football’s all-time clutch receivers, he ran perfect routes and caught 12 passes in the 1958 title game.

6. Jim Parker: His crushing blocks launched Moore’s runs and saved Unitas’ skin. He made All-Pro eight straight times – four at guard and four at tackle – and started 139 consecutive games.

6. (tie) Jonathan Ogden: First draft pick of the Ravens’ era, cornerstone of the offensive line as an 11-time Pro Bowl left tackle. Among the greatest players of all time at his position.

8. John Mackey: An explosive receiver who could turn a short look-in pass into an 80-yard touchdown, he revolutionized the role of the lumbering tight end. His biggest catch was in the 1971 Super Bowl, a 75-yard TD in a 16-7 victory over Dallas.

9. Ed Reed: An improvisational wizard in the secondary with an uncanny ability to decipher plays at the snap based on his film study. The Ravens’ all-time interception leader, the gifted safety has scored touchdowns off interceptions, punt returns, blocked punts and fumble returns.

10. Art Donovan: Anchored the Colts’ storied defensive line of the 1950s for nine years. “On trap plays he has no equal,” coach Weeb Ewbank said of No. 70, the first Baltimore player elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Technorati Tags: Baltimore Colts, Baltimore Ravens, Baltimore Sun

The Truth has the scoop

Give you one guess on which player is “heavy on Drake.” Ugh.

But it’s an interesting point about the Wizards having an attention deficit on the rise of Wale’. Wale’, if you take Tweets to mean anything, holds monumental sensibilities about folks from the DMV not supporting him. Time after time, he’s Tweeted and re-Tweeted his own disdain for local non-believers, disobedient radio, and the disparaging remarks of others from the area who don’t like his style, his delivery, his content, anything.

And yet, he’s comfortable enough to go on record as someone who not only avoids being a fan of the Wizards, but as someone who supports the rival Cleveland Cavaliers.

I say to each his own. But I also say it’s slightly hypocritical to shame those who feel about their homegrown rap hero the way he does about his homegrown pro basketball team.

Technorati Tags: Washington Wizards

But the Maryland Terrapins are consistently in the lowest percentile of graduation rates, and are consistently on the local media’s hit list for it, this year they are at the ten percent mark. Williams has cited a number of legitimate reasons for poor rates on graduation in the past – attrition to professional leagues being the most used.

But let’s be honest – College Park isn’t necessarily a hotbed for one and done players. Transfers, maybe. But certainly not blue chippers with their eyes on the draft.

I have no doubt that players are exhausting their four years at UMD and heading on to lucrative careers in international and development leagues. Not really Williams’ fault, but it certainly isn’t a stat to celebrate in the NBA breeding ground that is the ACC. But something has to give with a program that is putting just one or two players on a commencement stage every five years.

If Williams and the academic support system don’t do it own their own, the media will ensure it remains an issue until it changes.

Technorati Tags: Gary Williams, Maryland Terrapins

Two things you can guarantee when it comes to Gilbert Arenas and social networking; he won’t hold true to swiftly made promises, and Nick Young is likely to be hurt/embarrassed on film.

Technorati Tags: Gilbert Arenas, Nick Young, Washington Wizards

Some samples after the jump.

And you think you can take that whining on a football field? Child, please.

Technorati Tags: LeBron James, Washington Wizards

In the first half, every possession pointed to another disappointing meltdown for the Wizards. Bad shots were as abundant as defensive lapses, and the emerging theme of “Same old Wizards” begun to forge a shape out of the unkind iron. The saving grace? The return of Antawn Jamison, who didn’t believe in rust or passed up shot opportunities in the first half. His rebounding and funny-style offensive moves to the basket kept the Cavs defense honest and off-balance, while keeping the Wizards from getting run out of the building.

And with just over four minutes remaining in the third, with a LeBron James nine-point run smirking in their faces, Gilbert Arenas stemmed the tide and gave the Wizards the confidence to take quietly good shots in the raucous moments that mattered most. After a horrendous first half, Arenas finished the quarter with 10 points, an assist and zero turnovers in the final four minutes.

They would prove the decisive statistics in the Wizards three point lead entering the fourth quarter, and the tone-setting play that would open the gates for Earl Boykins and Caron Butler to frustrate the Cavs throughout the last period.

Caution yourself against classifying this win as “season-saving.”  Yes, the rotations were better for Flip Saunders, the defensive commitment in the second half was more noticeably solid, and there was fun to be had on the floor even in tense moments. But there are miles to go before the Eastern Conference can be called out for sleeping on the Wizards; specifically within a Wizards west coast road trip with games against Oklahoma City and San Antonio over the next few days. They still have injuries, they still have trust issues, they still have quite a few problems.

But this game can serve as a memory to the Wizards of what injury-free, focused basketball looks and feels like. Rivals can be vanquished, stats can be compiled and expectations can be met. Before tonight’s game, the Wizards were on the verge of implosion for reasons that they couldn’t fully control. They were headed for self-destruction, but allowed experience and trust to make a big game smaller than their team objective.

It’s hard to say if the Wizards’ playoff hopes can rediscover life, but if nothing else, they’ve convinced us that they at least have the talent and mettle to die another day.

Technorati Tags: Antawn Jamison, Cleveland Cavaliers, Gilbert Arenas, Washington Wizards

We never learned what exactly “academic dishonesty” was and what it meant to Gregory’s playing career in College Park, but apparently, it can’t get you thrown out of school. The Terrapins will welcome Gregory back with open arms, as his presence creates much more room for Gary Williams to develop James Padgett and Jordan Williams slowly in their true freshman years.

Technorati Tags: Dino Gregory, Maryland Terrapins