In mid-October there is no way of definitively knowing if the 2010 Ravens will win that second title. With that in-mind, I understand a comparison of the teams is premature. Still a comparison of the talent is interesting.
My opinion is the 2000 Ravens have been sold-short a bit over the years. When you hear National talking-heads discussing that team, you are left with the feeling they think that team was a fluke. That point of view comes across solely because of the lack of respect for Dilfer, and because the offense went through that remarkable 5 game streak of zero touchdowns. That team had 4 Hall-of-Fame caliber players (Lewis, Ogden, Sharpe, and Woodson), a superb running-tandem of Jamal Lewis and Holmes, excellent Special Teams with Jermaine Lewis and Stover and of course that oppressive defense.It seems to be forgotten that they won their last 7 regular-season games, followed by the 3 playoff wins, and the Super Bowl victory. NFL teams do not win 11 consecutive games by luck.
2000 QB’s: Dilfer, Banks, Redman
I was there in Week 2 of the 2000 season when Tony Banks threw for 5 TD’s as the Ravens beat Jacksonville. It is forgotten now, but at that point of time the Jaguars were the Ravens biggest rival. Winning that game gave the team a tremendous shot of confidence, and I’ve always remembered that Banks did have a big-time arm. I had spent the previous year living in Tampa, and was plenty familiar with Trent Dilfer when Baltimore signed him prior to the season. When the Ravens signed him, my immediate thought was that the team thought they had a real chance for post-season success; and that the veteran would have a chance to replace Banks sometime during that season. Everyone remembers that Dilfer was asked to ‘manage the game’ in a Ravens uniform, but this was a guy that was drafted 6th overall with Tampa, and had been to a Pro Bowl after the ’97 season. It is not like this guy had no business being in an NFL uniform.
2000 RB’s: Jamal Lewis, Holmes
Ray Rice is coming off of a 2,000 all-purpose yard season, and his first Pro Bowl. McGahee was a Pro Bowler in 2007.
In 2000 Lewis was in his rookie season, becoming the starter in Week 4. Rice really is one of the better backs in the game today, but Lewis in his prime just beat-up the opposition. He delivered the blows as the offensive player, and the defense simply lacked the will to tackle him late in games. His mixture of power and speed was electric. Also, in his rookie season Lewis also had 27 catches for 296 yards. Obviously most of Holmes’ career success would come later in Kansas City, but he had already rushed for over 1,000 yards in a Ravens uniform and had a 200 yard day. In 2000, Holmes had 588 yards on the ground, and another 221 as a receiver.
In the following 3 years (2001-2003) Holmes would be an All-Pro each season, and be named the NFL’s Offensive Player of the Year in 2002. Even if you call Rice and Lewis a wash, I do not see McGahee going anywhere and having the production in the 2011-13 seasons that Holmes did for KC a decade earlier.
EDGE: 20002000 FB’s:
Ayanbadejo, Gash2010 FB’s: McClain
Ayanbadejo was a decent receiving FB, and Gash was a 2x Pro Bowler (’98, and ’99) that was a great lead-blocker. This is close, but I give the edge to McClain. The mental error from Sunday has many people down on McClain, but he has also been a Pro Bowler these last two seasons. He is a decent blocker, and a better receiver than you would think. He is a punishing runner when he gets the ball.
EDGE: 2010
2000 WR’s: Ismail, Stokley, Johnson, Je. Lewis, Taylor
2010 WR’s: Boldin, Mason, Houshmandzadeh, Stallworth, Reed
2010 Obviously wins this category. There have never been 3 receivers on a NFL roster that have more career catches than Boldin, Mason, and Housmandzadeh.
I would only make the point that the 2000 group might be better than you remember. Ismail had 5,000+ receiving yards for his career. Stokley has 4,400 receiving yards, and has caught 40+ balls four times. We will get to Jermaine Lewis again when we discuss Special Teams, but as a receiver he twice had over 40 receptions, and averaged 14.9 yards a reception for his career, with over 2,000 plus receiving yards.
Taylor is seen as a bust because he did not live up to the hype of going 10th overall, but he also had 4,000+ receiving yards for his career including 5 seasons with at-least 39 receptions.
The 2010 group is better than that 2000 group in every possible measure, but the 2000 receivers had better careers than typically portrayed.
EDGE: 2010
2000 TE’s: Sharpe, Coates
2010: TE’s: Heap, Dickson, Pitta
This is an interesting match-up. In the 2000 season, Sharpe was the Ravens best receiving option. He would finish with 67 receptions for 810 yards and 5 TD’s. He followed that up with 3 more seasons with over 60 grabs to end his career. He was an 8x Pro Bowl Player that retired with the most receiving yards ever by a TE. I think he will eventually be named to the Hall of Fame. He certainly helped give the 2000 Ravens a swagger and identity.
Coates was playing his last year in the NFL during that 2000 season, after being a Pro Bowler 5x in the ’90s. He was really only asked to block during his season with the Ravens, finishing with just 9 receptions.
If you read this blog, you know I am a big fan of Heap. I acknowledge that Sharpe’s numbers are slightly better, but I do believe if Heap had been in that 2000 offense he would match Sharpe’s production. (Also, if Heap had spent the prime of his career receiving passes from Elway the total Pro Bowls for each player would be closer.) For what Sharpe meant to that 2000 locker-room, I tend to lean towards the 2000 team. However, as Dickson and Pitta have their entire careers ahead of them and Coates was completely done by the end of that year I call this even.
EDGE: Even
2000 Offensive Line: Ogden, Mulitalo, Mitchell, Flynn, Swayne (Folau, Vickers)
2010 Offensive Line: Oher, Grubbs, Birk, Chester, Yanda (Cousins, Moll)
If Gaither was healthy and playing, I think the 2010 line would be the obvious pick. Since it is looking more likely that he will be placed on Injured Reserve, this deserves a closer look.
Ogden is obviously the best player on either line, and he was in the prime of his career. As one of the All-Time greats at his position, that immediately sways things to 2000. I would go with Grubbs over Mulitalo, though Mulitalo had a very good career as a run-blocker. Mitchell would leave the Ravens for a large contract in Carolina, but I do not believe he was ever thought of as good as Birk. You could argue that Mitchell was heading towards the prime of his career, while Birk was at the end of his; but I would argue that Birk still has enough left in 2010 that he gets the edge. Chester is probably more talented than Flynn, but I would still take Flynn. My rationale on that is while Flynn played Guard for the Ravens in 2000, he would shift to Center and have a very good career there. Chester has looked uncomfortable when asked to play Center previously. Swayne was the old vet who had been in the league since 1987 at that point and had little left, ending his career the following year. Yanda gets the nod here.
That is 3-2 in favor of 2010, so the only discussion here is was Ogden so dominant that you give that group the nod? For that answer, I think you have to look at Oher. While Oher is having some problems in his second-year and first as a LT; he still figures to be a multiple time Pro Bowl player. He will never be Ogden, but he is good enough that I do not think you can say the 2000 group was better.
EDGE: 2010
Part 2 will compare the Defenses and Special Teams.
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Chris Stoner founded Baltimore Sports and Life in 2009. He has appeared as a radio guest with 1090 WBAL, 105.7 The Fan, CBS 1300, Q1370, WOYK 1350, WKAV 1400, and WNST 1570. He has also been interviewed by The Baltimore Sun, Baltimore Business Journal, and PressBox (TV). As Owner, his responsibilities include serving as the Managing Editor, Publicist, & Sales Director.