2008 Ravens

Don Wassall

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Jim Leonhard got the start in the Ravens game against the Rams in place of the injured Ed Reed and played the entire game. Leonhard was all over the field, seemingly in on every play. He also made some very nice punt returns. Of course he was all over the field for the Bills too, which only got him released.


Tom Zbikowski had an interception and a nice return, after which the Ravens black color announcer called him a "superior athlete" and "a playmaker."
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The Ravens, for a long time a Caste System stalwart franchise, havea lot of good white talent on defense. We'll have to see what the final roster and depth chart looks like though before drawing any conclusions.Edited by: Don Wassall
 

Angelcynn

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Zbikowski will only get better aswell, showing that these scouting descriptions of him as 'not the most athletic' as being complete nonsense and a racially motivated description.
 

Thrashen

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"The Ravens, for a long time a Caste System stalwart franchise, have a lot of good white talent on defense. We'll have to see what the final roster and depth chart looks like though before drawing any conclusions."

I'll say. They have a white defensive player at every defensive position (accept CB, naturally). Guys like Kelly Gregg, Zibiwoski, Leonard, Nick Greison, Jarrett Johnson, and Justin Bannan. What more could we ask for from the horrid, caste NFL?

Jim Leonard, who went undrafted out of Wisconsin (shocking, in know) is a breathtaking athlete. The guy is involved in literally EVERY defensive stop. He reminds me of a more finesse version of Pat Tillman. I really can't determine why the Bills didnt re-sign him....caste or no caste.
 

Jimmy Chitwood

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Tommy Z also blocked a punt against the Rams. way to go, guys!
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Colonel_Reb

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Article on Jim Leonhard:


[url]http://pit.scout.com/a.z?s=68&p=2&c=782627&ssf=1 &RequestedURL=http%3a%2f%2fpit.scout.com%2fa.z%3fs%3d68% 26p%3d2%26c%3d782627[/url]


I don't have access to the full article as it is subscribers only.



<TABLE cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=0 width="98%" align=center>
<T>
<TR>
<TD colSpan=3>
<H2>Ravens' Leonhard stepping into Reed's shoes
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</H2></TD></TR>
<TR>
<TD vAlign=top bgColor=#ffffff>
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</A>

<DIV =rside>
<DIV =rside></TD>
<TD noWrap width=3></TD>
<TD vAlign=top>
<DIV =stories>By Aaron Wilson
Publisher
Date: Aug 24, 2008
<DIV =stories>
ST. LOUIS -- Jim Leonhard is rapidly growing accustomed to walking in the footsteps of Baltimore Ravens star free safety Ed Reed. For the third consecutive game, Leonhard replaced the former NFL Defensive Player of the Year in the starting lineup as the Ravens took on the St. Louis Rams at the Edward Jones Dome. Leonhard recorded a team-high seven tackles during the first half. </TD></TR></T></TABLE>
 

Don Wassall

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The Ravens, heretofore always fierce contenders to have the most blacks of any team in the NFL, this year have more white starters (6) than any other team in the AFC North, and are tied with Cleveland with the most white players on their roster with 15 in the first year of the post-Brian Billick era. But that's more of an indication of how black Cincinnati, Pittsburgh and Cleveland have trended rather than a sharp demographic course reversal for Baltimore following the overdue departure of the pompous Caste clown Billick.


But the Ravens do have six white players on defense, a plethora for a league that believes only blacks are capable of covering and tackling, with two of them starting.


Kelly Gregg, now in his ninth year out of Oklahoma, labors in obscurity even though he is the best all-around tackle in the NFL. Gregg recorded a phenomenal 111 tackles in 2007 and has more tackles than any other DT going back to 2002. How many Pro Bowls has Gregg been selected to play in? Zero.


Jarrett Johnson, in his sixth season out of Alabama, begins his second year as the starting left outside linebacker.


Justin Bannan is a very solid backup who plays both tackle and end. Well-traveled Nick Greisen backs up at inside linebacker.


Free safety Jim Leonhard did an outstanding job last year for the Bills when he started several games in place of an injured player. He was all over the field making tackles. His reward was to be waived at the end of the season. Leonhard, a record-setting punt returner at Wisconsin, has a chance to play a lot in place of the increasingly gimpy and over-rated Ed Reed.


Rookie strong safety Tom Zbikowski was drafted in the third round. The part-time pugilist is a terrific all-around athlete who made numerous big plays at Notre Dame and will do the same in the NFL if given the opportunity.


With Kyle Boller out for the season and little Troy Smith failing to seize the starting job just about everyone -- his teammates, the media and the drunk white fans -- wanted him to have, Baltimore was forced to go with rookie Joe Flacco at quarterback, who acquitted himself well in the first game of the season. Flacco is big and strong-armed and has very good mobility for his size.


Todd Bouman backs up Flacco.


Starting tight end Todd Heap is a beast when healthy, but misses more than his share of games with a variety of injuries.


Second year man Marshall Yanda out of Iowa is the starting right guard. Adam Terry is the right tackle.


Rookie David Hale out of Weber State, and Mike Kracalik are backup linemen.


NUMBER OF WHITE STARTERS: 6


APPROXIMATE NUMBER OF WHITE PLAYERS ON 53 MAN ROSTER: 15


GRADE: D-
 

Bear Backer

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So whats the word out of Baltimore? how are the fans taking to Flacco, or are they still pining for Troy Smith with the room brightening smile?
 

devans

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It was great to see two white defensive backs (Jim Leonard and Tom Zibiwoski) getting playing time on defence for Baltimore on Monday. Leonard looked particularly good. They also have a Japanese DB, so this team does seem to be giving diverse players a chance in the NFL which is great to see and very different from the Baltimore of a few years ago.
 

White Power

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If I am not mistaken wasn't it the Japanese defensive back that knocked the black
Pittsburgh Steeler player completely out of his misery during the opening kickoff of last Monday's night game. To me that was a player making a statement the hell with all of you Brotha's; I belong in this leauge beautiful truly beautiful their isn't more I could say.
 

Jimmy Chitwood

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the "japanese" safety you guys are talking about is Haruki Nakamura. and if anything, he's at least half white. but regardless, he's a heck of a player to be sure.

1116946.jpeg
 

ToughJ.Riggins

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Yeah he looks about half white or more and part Japanesse, but doesn't look black to me. He's white enough to look kind of Greek or Italian actually. He's definitely a player for us to cheer for, he's a stereotype defier.
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Don Wassall

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Flacco has played well enough as a rookie that even most of the drunk white fans realize he can be a much better QB than Troy Smith will ever be. It's nice to see Flacco and Matt Ryan doing so well right from the get-go.
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backrow

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from rotoworld:

Ravens OLB/DE Terrell Suggs came out Wednesday and said he thinks Troy Smith should be the team's starting QB over rookie Joe Flacco.

This is some show of support from Suggs, who is also being investigated by the NFL for allegedly putting a bounty on Hines Ward's head. Suggs later denied the comments, but they are on film. He looks pretty foolish right now.

article
 

Thrashen

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"Ravens OLB/DE Terrell Suggs came out Wednesday and said he thinks Troy Smith should be the team's starting QB over rookie Joe Flacco.

This is some show of support from Suggs, who is also being investigated by the NFL for allegedly putting a bounty on Hines Ward's head. Suggs later denied the comments, but they are on film. He looks pretty foolish right now."


Nice post, man.

All I can do is laugh at this pure comedy. Suggs, aside from being one of the NFL's ugliest and most monsterous looking players, is selling out a white rookie QB who's been playing great....in favor of a weak-armed midget like Troy Smith. Obviously, like most things involving money or jobs or sports in this country, this is about race. With blacks, it's always about race.

Flacco looks like a really awesome, athletic young man....I'm sure he can hold his own in a locker room full of pea-brained thugs.Edited by: Thrashen
 

Liverlips

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The Ravens would be a team to cheer for if not for the al-black, al-sumo o-line. Anyone know what happened to Yanda or Terry? The Ravens now only start 5 whites.
 

PhillyBirds

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Marshal Yanda has been on the IR for some time now, and I believe Adam Terry has simply been benched. We've seen this same situation in Pittsburgh and Jacksonville this year: when the O-Line has troubles, blame the only white guy.
 

backrow

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from rotoworld:

Free agent Drew Bennett is the "early favorite" to be signed by the Ravens heading into Friday's tryout of four receivers.

It sounds like Baltimore is going to sign a wideout no matter what Derrick Mason decides. Bennett is a better fit for coordinator Cam Cameron's "digital" offense than D.J. Hackett. Hackett has only played in West Coast systems.

it still amazes me, as much as i like Drew, that they wouldn't prefer younger and faster Matt Jones...
 

Jack Lambert

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Confirmed. Bennett has signed with Baltimore. Hopefully, he can revive his career under Flacco.
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He should be 1st or 2nd WR this year depending on what Mason does. There is no way Mark Clayton deserves a 2nd WR spot. This may make Baltimore a team to cheer for, with a great white QB, a white WR, and lots of white defensive players. I count eight right now. Will VanDeSteeg, Jason Phillips, Tommy Z., Kelly Greg, Justin Bannan, Paul Kruger, Jarret Johnson, and Haruki Nakamura, who is part Asain. All of these guys have a good shot to make it through camp, I think. The two white safties will get sometime again when Landry or Reed goes down with the inevitable injury again. I am guessing Phillips may have a chance to compete for Bart Scott's old spot. But having eight white defensive players on a roster would be over the limits to the caste system. Maybe if they stop playing sumos, the Ravens will get somewhere.

http://profootball.scout.com/a.z?s=127&p=9&c=2&cid=881675&nid=3698792&fhn=1
 

Colonel_Reb

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I might actually keep a Ravens game on for more than 5 seconds this season, that is if I can find one airing on "The World's Worst Cable Package."
 
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