If you go to Baltimoreravens.com, my good friend Mike Duffy has an article about Ravens cornerback Frank Walker. "Duffs" opening comment is, "Ravens cornerback Frank Walker has recently taken a beating in the media for his recent play..."

 

Well, I am a media member who is probably a little guilty of "beating up" on Frank Walker. However, my intentions aren't to be evil or mean toward Walker. My comments about Walker are intended to point out a weakness on the team's defense that scared me from the very first day and that is the cornerback position.

 

In training camp, I saw things from the corner position that alarmed me. I think there are some great athletes at this position, but there are weaknesses in each player's game that is so easy to exploit when you look at the quarterbacks on the Ravens schedule. I heard everyone talking about the pass rush and safeties helping and everything except bad corner play.

 

The Ravens are only seven sacks from the leading team in the NFL, the Denver Broncos. The Broncos have one player, Elvis Dumervil, with 10 by himself. I bring that up because of the complaints about the pass rush.

 

Most of the talk surrounding the Ravens and the lack of productivity in certain areas always comes back to play calling. It something that goes back to the days of Brian Billick and lame offensive coordinators. However, it's not the cause for all that goes wrong with football team. For instance, do you think any quarterback can do what Joe Flacco is able to do in this offense? So, can Troy Smith have the same productivity with good play calling? I think not.

 

Therefore, I don't believe that bad play calling is the reason defensive players aren't making enough plays. I think the lack of productivity is based on the lack of execution. You see it often. Players are in position initially, but they don't make the play. That's not coaching, that's "want to." You have to "want to" make the play.

 

The Ravens players have to look within and turn this thing around. I told of a story on my show where Frank Walker was told by a wide receiver in training camp to stop grabbing receiver's jerseys in practice. Walker brushed it off because it was only practice. The receiver told him that if he did it in practice, he'll do it in the game. He did, on Sunday against the Minnesota Vikings.

 

Rob Long