Third and Long: Rookie Moves

The Pre-season is over! (Thank Goodness) Which means professional football games shown on your television or computer screen actually count.  

Hallelujah! 

No more endless debates over who the sixth receiver will be or breakdowns of vanilla defenses.  

The regular season kicks into high gear this week, much to the delight of fans who require a heavy dose of violent tackles and poor officiating in equal measure in their lives. The beautiful game will be the central distraction for many of us over the next six months. It will make us cheer, cry, and even ponder why we spent three hours watching it in the first place.  

So, join me, won’t you in my weekly cavalcade of joy that is Third and Long. 

1) Hey Rook! – Newcomer. Neophyte, Noob. There are many ways in which to describe someone in their first year on the job. This Sunday’s game in Baltimore will feature many greenhorns on both sides of the ball. The Texans were not good at football in 2022. This fact is not debatable. This 3-13 team last season had few highlights and even though they won their last game in the regular season, that victory rang a bit hollow since it cost them the #1 pick in April’s draft. And so, as is the case with most bad teams, change was inevitable. Let’s start with the Head Coach. The new man is former Houston backer DeMeco Ryans who in his first season hopes to do something that his two predecessors could not; make it to Year Two. Ryans will turn to a cub signal caller in C.J. Stroud who was selected #2 overall in this season’s draft. Stroud was used to being surrounded by elite level talent with the Buckeyes. He’ll have no such luxury in Houston as he slings it to Robert Woods and Nico Williams this season. The Texans also added fresh young blood to their pass rush grabbing two-time All American Will Anderson Jr. in a draft day trade. While the tenderfoots in Houston find their way this season my eyes will be squarely on Baltimore’s latest attempt at finally drafting a wide receiver that contributes in more ways than just creating P.I.’s (Sorry Torrey). There has been a buzz around Zay Flowers since draft day and the hope is that buzz translates into full blown electricity on game day. 

2) Rush Hour – Speaking of rookies, Defensive Coordinator Mike MacDonald had his share of growing pains last season in his first pro campaign. Week Two’s debacle against Miami was an early low point. Slowly the team rounded into form and by January they had surrendered only 18.5 points per game, which was third best in the NFL. That defense will be without many veterans that they relied on this season. Justin Houston, Jason Pierre-Paul, and Calais Campbell have all moved on. Tyus Bowser still isn’t fully healed as well which leaves David Ojabo and Odafe Oweh expected to provide the pressure and make things uncomfortable for the opposing quarterback. I’m not convinced. The late signing of Jadaveon Clowney is a typical Ravens move but I wonder how much the 30 year old has left after registering only two sacks for Cleveland last season.  

3) Who to Watch? – I’ve already mentioned Flowers but for me it’s Lamar Jackson. Isn’t it always him? As he goes, so go Baltimore. When the team was without him between 2018 to 2022 the Ravens were 4-8. Now before the stat geeks comment about how Wins aren’t a Quarterback stat, I would counter with the simple fact that when he doesn’t play the team loses and the last two seasons he didn’t play in November and December. That doesn’t add up to playoff success. He has a new contract, new offensive receivers, a new coordinator and a new season to prove that his injury concerns are in the past and that he’s more than an elusive quarterback who can throw. All eyes on him. 

Game Time Song for Week One 

 

I’ve been trying to make this quirky song the Ravens third down anthem for years now. No, I will not stop. I refuse to relent. Imagine sixty thousand fans screaming “Start Wearing Purple” in the Third Quarter. It’s more unique than Seven Nation Army, that’s for sure. 

Best Lyrics:  

Start wearing purple, wearing purple
Start wearing purple for me now
All your sanity and wits, they will all vanish
I promise, it’s just a matter of time 

Game Time Beverage for Week One 

I enjoy a beer during the game. Not a Macro produced light lager but something that has flavor. If you enjoy the big three suds then by all means please do so and enjoy responsibly. Since I’m into September I need to finish off my refreshing Summer beers to make way for my most favorite beer time of the year – Oktoberfest. So for today’s game I’ll go with Peabody Heights Brewing Old Oriole Park Beer. It’s an American Lager brewed in the style of what our grandfather’s might have drank during an Orioles or Colts game. 

Game Time Snack for Week One 

It’s opening week. The game is in Baltimore. This is a no brainer. I’m going with a simple Hot Crab Dip. Chef Frank has a solid recipe here but I’d love to here what many of you do to make your own dip special and unique. I often think simple is best. 

 Happy Football everyone! Enjoy Week One and Go Ravens!