Sports blog information from USA TODAY.
Ravens head coach John Harbaugh was clearly ecstatic about selecting Devin Duvernay, but let’s see what the rest of the world thought.
The Baltimore Ravens got an absolute steal by selecting Texas wide receiver Devin Duvernay in the third round of the 2020 NFL Draft. Continue reading “Twitter reacts to the Ravens selecting Texas WR Devin Duvernay”
Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh has every right to be fired up about their new dangerous weapon on offense.
The Baltimore Ravens made it a priority to draft a speedy receiver that would provide another weapon in the passing game alongside Marquise Brown.
They got that and more with Texas wide receiver Devin Duvernay. The Ravens selected the new security blanket for quarterback Lamar Jackson in the third round of the 2020 NFL Draft.
Judging by his reaction, Baltimore head coach John Harbaugh knew just how big of a steal it was to land Duvernay with the No. 92 overall pick.
Same.pic.twitter.com/AcB8234BOV
— Texas Longhorns (@TexasLonghorns) April 25, 2020
His passion and work ethic is unmatched. Although he’s known for his speedy, strong-handed style of play, his consistency may be one of his most impressive traits.
Duvernay never missed a single game throughout his four-year collegiate career. When you watch his tape, you most likely won’t recall him ever dropping a pass. According to Pro Football Focus, he has the lowest dropped pass percentage of any power-five receiver since 2018.
He will make an immediate impact in Baltimore. In terms of where he was drafted, Duvernay may turn out to be the best value pick of the entire draft.
It’s something to be fired up about.
Former Longhorns Earl Thomas and Justin Tucker were named to the NFL’s prestigious All-Decade team on Monday.
The National Football League and the Pro Football Hall of Fame released a prestigious list of the top players throughout the last decade. Continue reading “Two former Longhorns included on NFL’s All-Decade team”
With a special committee and expanded class, former Baltimore Ravens owner Art Modell likely missed his best chance at the Hall of Fame.
For the NFL’s 100th season, they created a very special and expanded Hall of Fame class. Up for enshrinement once again as a historical contributor, former Baltimore Ravens owner Art Modell was not among the three chosen. Once again, Modell has been unfairly left out of Canton.
However, this denial carries quite a bit of weight and finality to it. With an expanded class and special blue-ribbon voting panel, this was Modell’s best and likely last real chance of making the cut.
Instead of the same voters that had previously held Modell out, the new blue-ribbon panel was made up of coaches, former players, historians and analysts. There was hope the bitterness many former voters had against Modell would be let go and see the former Browns and Ravens owner get a fair shake. But with Modell once again being held out and former league commissioner Paul Tagliabue getting in, it was a slap in the face for Baltimore.
Tagliabue’s greatest achievement comes for expanding the league from 28 franchises to 32. However, it was Modell’s move from Cleveland that really brought the league the Ravens. Tagliabue had publicly been against the idea of Baltimore getting a franchise back after the Colts moved to Indianapolis, famously telling the city to build a museum instead of a new stadium.
Even without the genuine hatred many in Baltimore have towards Tagliabue, there were plenty of reasons to give pause to cementing his legacy in Canton. Let’s not forget Tagliabue’s dismissal concussions in 1994 as a “journalist issue.” Or his role as commissioner during the league’s opioid epidemic that saw the NFL sued for decades of abuse.
Meanwhile, Modell was chief architect of the league’s television expansion. As the chairman of the NFL Television Committee, Modell was a part of establishing “Monday Night Football” and negotiating the early television contracts NFL owners currently rely so heavily upon. There’s also Modell’s role in merging the AFC and NFL as well as negotiating the first collective bargaining agreement. We shouldn’t forget Modell made Ozzie Newsome the first black general manager the sport had ever seen.
While Modell was far from perfect as an owner, his fingerprints are all over the NFL as we know it now. It’s not a stretch to say the league wouldn’t be nearly as prominent if it weren’t for the negotiations and meetings Modell was a huge part of. Yet, it appears as though his move from Cleveland to Baltimore is the only legacy that matters to some while failing to recognize a far more shameful one in Tagliabue.
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After last weekend’s fantastic games, the NFL playoffs move towards the Divisional round on Saturday. Here are the Longhorns in those games.
After a Wild Card weekend full of upsets and fantastic games, the NFL playoffs move towards the Divisional on Saturday and Sunday. With two games on the card on Saturday, the top seed San Francisco 49ers will be hosting the Minnesota Vikings in the opening game.
The Longhorns have people on both teams, firstly with San Francisco. Firstly, even though he is on injured reserve, Marquise Goodwin is on the 49ers roster for the game on Saturday. He last played in Week 13 against the Ravens. Goodwin hauled in 12 catches for 186 yards and a touchdown in 2019. Also, the head coach of the 49ers is Texas graduate Kyle Shanahan.
Wild West Gold Rush. @marquisegoodwin and Head Coach Kyle Shanahan lead the @49ers against the @Vikings today at 3:30 PM CT on NBC. #ThisIsTexas #HookEm @NFL pic.twitter.com/NIvSjJnNmF
— Texas Football (@TexasFootball) January 11, 2020
On the flip side, two former defensive players are going to be playing for the Vikings. Holton Hill and Kris Boyd are former DBU players for the Longhorns and have already helped Minnesota get a playoff victory against the Saints last week. Hill has recorded 12 tackles this season while also recovering a fumble, while Boyd has 11 tackles and a fumble recovery of his own.
Longhorns of the North. @kris23db, @Hollywood__5 and the @Vikings take on the @49ers in the NFL Divisional Playoffs at 3:30 PM CT on NBC. #ThisIsTexas #HookEm @NFL pic.twitter.com/2a0M4ya7Ih
— Texas Football (@TexasFootball) January 11, 2020
For the nightcap, the Tennessee Titans will be traveling to Baltimore to face off against the Ravens. Kenny Vaccaro is the only former Texas player on the Tennessee roster, as he helped the Titans secure an upset victory in Foxborough against the New England Patriots. Vacarro has 79 total tackles this season, while also recording an interception and a sack.
Titan Up. DBU legend @KennyVaccaro4 and the @Titans take on the @Ravens tonight at 7 PM CT on CBS. #ThisIsTexas #HookEm @NFL pic.twitter.com/BV371PKvns
— Texas Football (@TexasFootball) January 11, 2020
Baltimore is the home for two Longhorn legends, as legendary kicker Justin Tucker and outstanding defensive back Earl Thomas come in as the top seed in the AFC. Coming off a bye, the Ravens will need both players to step up to get into the AFC Championship game. Tucker has only missed three kicks this year, going 57/59 on PATs and 28/29 on field goals. In his first season with Baltimore, Thomas has 49 total tackles with two sacks and two interceptions.
From Austin to Baltimore to the Playoffs. @Earl_Thomas, @jtuck9 and the @Ravens clash with the @Titans tonight at 7 PM CT on CBS. #ThisIsTexas #HookEm @NFL pic.twitter.com/eE9jZc9RQF
— Texas Football (@TexasFootball) January 11, 2020
You can catch the 49ers play the Vikings at 3:30 p.m. CST on NBC, while Baltimore will host Tennessee at 7:00 p.m. CST on CBS. No matter what happens, the Longhorns will have representatives in the AFC and NFC Championship game.
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Don’t get you hopes up for seeing a Gervonta Davis-Vasiliy Lomachenko lightweight fight anytime soon.
A lightweight bout between Gervonta Davis and Vasiliy Lomachenko could be one of the great matchups the sport has to offer.
But you may as well shut it out of your mind considering that Davis recently poured a bucket of icy cold water over the potential mega bout.
Davis made his feelings clear during a post-fight press conference on Saturday night after he knocked out Yuriorkis Gamboa in the 12th round at the State Farm Arena in Atlanta. He cited his ability to draw better at the gate and relative youth as reasons the fight isn’t a priority.
“I feel like no one is above me,” Davis responded when asked if he would pursue a fight with Lomachenko. “I’m the cash cow, I believe so, at 135, 130. I’m selling out [arenas] and putting butts in the seat, so. I don’t think he’s doing that. Line ’em up. I’m a fighter, willing to fight anybody.”
It was a disappointing and evasive response that seemed to reinforce the sport’s political division. Lomachenko is a flagship fighter under Top Rank, while Davis is aligned with Al Haymon’s Premier Boxing Champions. Both entities have their own exclusive output deals, which makes cross-promotional fights that much harder to consummate.
No one is disputing that Davis is a budding star. The Baltimore native drew a reported 14,000 to the fight in Atlanta, a city deprived of significant boxing cards in recent years. He is clearly resonating with African-Americans, which apparently includes a number of noted denizens from the Hip Hop world. But Davis has yet to headline his own pay-per-view card. ( Leonard Ellerbe told reporters that they would seek to put Davis on that platform in 2020, presumably against Leo Santa Cruz). And while drawing upwards of 10,000 spectators to an arena is commendable these days, it is hardly jaw-dropping.
Davis continued: “I’m not trying to be cocky, but (fighters want to fight me because) it’s a big risk, but it’s also a big payday. (Lomachenko is) at the end of his career, I believe so. Well, he’s up in age, and he’s trying to make the biggest fights that he can make in a short period of time. Everybody has their different path. I’m only 25 year old. My stretch is a little longer than his, so we’re taking our time.”
The comments were in stark contrast to what Davis told TMZ this past summer when confronted with the same question. Would he welcome a fight with Lomachenko?
“I think I’m old enough to take on the challenge,” Davis said. “I have enough skills. I’m maturing as a fighter as a person. I think it’s time.
“… [Lomachenko-Davis is] probably one of the biggest fights. Me and [Lomachenko] or Anthony Joshua and Deontay Wilder, those are the two biggest fights we can make in boxing.”
Former Oklahoma tight end Mark Andrews and punter Tress Way were each named to the NFL Pro Bowl.
Former Oklahoma tight end Mark Andrews and punter Tress Way were each named to the NFL Pro Bowl.
In Andrews’ sophomore campaign with the Ravens, he smashed their record for single-season touchdowns by a tight end, scoring eight in 14 games played. He grabbed 58 receptions for 759 yards, and his team holds an AFC best 12-2. It will be his first Pro Bowl. Andrews played for the Sooners from 2015-17 and earned the John Mackey Award, given to the best tight end in college football, in his last season as a Sooner.
Former Oklahoma and now-Ravens teammate Orlando Brown will serve as an AFC alternate at tackle for the Pro Bowl. Raven’s teammate and 2017 Heisman Trophy winner, Lamar Jackson will be Andrew’s quarterback.
Way is in his sixth professional season, all of which he has spent with the Redskins. This will be his second Pro Bowl. Way was at Oklahoma from 2009-12.
The 2020 Pro Bowl will be in Orlando, Florida at Camping World Stadium on January 26 at 1 p.m. CT.
Buffalo Bills NFL podcast following Week 14 24-17 loss to the Baltimore Ravens.
The Buffalo Bills fell to the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday at New Era Field, 24-17. It certainly wasn’t the Bills’ finest game offensively, but there is a lot of optimism and growth than can come from a loss like this.
No, this isn’t the Bills first loss in 2019. The reason that this loss feels differently though, is that the Bills hung tough with the NFL’s finest team.
The Baltimore Ravens offense has been one of the most explosive forces in 2019, and have been a delight to watch as a fan. The Bills defense contained the young and very spry Lamar Jackson on the ground, perhaps laying a blueprint for a future team, or even themselves, to continue to restrict Jackson”s scrambling ability.
The problem though, Lamar Jackson can throw pretty well, and in tight spaces. Jackson torched the Bills secondary on a blown coverage touchdown to tight end Hayden Hurst, and several mid-range passes, but overall, the defense did it’s job. Held the hottest and one of the highest scoring offenses to a reasonable score. Unfortunately, the offense couldn’t take advantage.
The team is already looking ahead, as they have a big Sunday Night Football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, a team that is also currently in the playoff picture, and looking to improve their spot. The Bills have a competitive, but not overwhelming final three game stretch, including a Patriots team, that of course shouldn’t be overlooked, but is not having their best season in quite some time, despite their record.
Here’s the latest episode of The Bills Wire Podcast following the Bills’ loss to the Ravens:
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Everything you need to know about the Baltimore Ravens, the Buffalo Bills’ Week 14 opponent.
The Buffalo Bills and Baltimore Ravens square off this Sunday in a match up of AFC Heavyweights in Orchard Park. The Ravens are the hottest team in the NFL right now, defeating the Patriots and the 49ers over the last month. For the Bills, the chance to hang with a team of this caliber, is one to salivate at.
Here is all of the history that you need to know between the Ravens and Bills to get you ready for Sunday:
Baltimore is way ahead of what many experts thought that they would be. Lamar Jackson’s growth, combined with excellent coaching from the Ravens staff, has propped the Ravens up as the best team in the NFL currently. Greg Roman, their offensive coordinator, is the dual-threat quarterback whisperer, and has this Ravens offense exciting to watch, and efficient, utilizing well sold trickery and misdirection.
After a good start, which saw them begin the season 2-2 with a blow out victory over Miami, a close victory over the Cardinals, and losses to Kansas City and division rival Cleveland, Baltimore hasn’t looked back since. Garnering eight straight wins, the Ravens have mostly dominated, with seemingly no end in sight.
Their major victories have been giving the Patriots their first loss of 2019 on primetime television, a double-digit victory over the Seattle Seahawks, led by another MVP candidate in Russell Wilson, lopsided victories over the Texans and Rams, and most recently, a strong four quarter effort to defeat the San Francisco 49ers.
It’s safe to say that 2019 has been good for the Baltimore Ravens. They currently sit at second in total offense, behind the Cowboys. Baltimore has accumulated 5,049 yards of total offense this season, with one fewer game than the Cowboys currently. Although they haven’t really needed too, they are the 26th ranked passing offense, with 2,555 yards passing for Jackson. By a long shot, they are the number one rushing offense, with 2,494 rushing yards in total, over 700 rushing yards ahead of the second best rushing offense, who they defeated in last week.
The Ravens also happen to be the highest scoring offense, by nearly 60 points ahead of the 49ers, who come in at number two. Baltimore is tied at first with Seattle for 26 passing touchdowns, and first in rushing touchdowns with 18.
Jackson comes in 18th for passing yard leaders this year, with 2,532 passing yards, just 59 yards behind Josh Allen. His 25 passing touchdowns are good for second in that category, only one touchdown behind Russell Wilson. Jackson is also 11th in completion percentage, with 66.5%. He’s doing well in the interception category as well, throwing only five this year, tied for 23rd with Matthew Stafford, Gardner Minshew, and Joe Flacco.
As for rushers, Jackson is in the top-10 of the NFL, 977 yards for him on the ground, with a good chance of crossing 1,000 this Sunday, averaging 81.4 yards per game. Mark Ingram, the starting running back, is not far behind, sitting at 12th with 837 rushing yards. Ingram has been a complementary and integral part of the offense, not only with yardage and production, but with selling fake handoffs. Gus Edwards sits at 32nd in yardage with 460 yards.
Obviously, with such a run heavy team, receivers aren’t having “career-years,” but it does not matter, they are doing their part to put their team in a winning position. Tight end Mark Andrews leads receiving for Baltimore, with 693 receiving yards, coming in at 32nd in the NFL. Andrews is fourth amongst tight ends however, just behind Travis Kelce, Darren Waller and Zach Ertz.
Marquise Brown is the leading wide receiver for the team. The rookie sensation is 58th in receiving yards with 520 yards by air, and six touchdowns of his own. Willie Snead is the next closest, ranked 125th with only 289 yards.
Historically, Baltimore has always been a defensive heavy team, and this year is no different. Despite losing some talented players, they traded for Marcus Peters and have a very young, and talented defense. The Ravens are currently the seventh ranked defense, allowing 3,881 yards against them. They are the 11th ranked passing defense, giving up 2,742 yards by air, and are the sixth ranked rush defense, allowing 1,139 yards on the ground. Baltimore is also the fourth ranked defense in points allowed, giving up 219 points so far, just behind the Buffalo Bills.
This Sunday has a big game feel to it. Sure, the Bills just defeated the Cowboys on Thanksgiving, with the National Spotlight firmly on them, but there is something special about this game against Baltimore.
This Sunday has a big game feel to it. Sure, the Bills just defeated the Cowboys on Thanksgiving, with the national spotlight firmly on them, but there is something special about this game against the Ravens.
How do you gameplan for a team of the caliber and level that the Ravens are playing at right now? It’s not as easy as it would seem. The Ravens offense is unique, and it’s key piece, the sophomore sensation Lamar Jackson, is having an MVP-caliber season. His speed, combined with his growing passing ability, and the offensive units ability to sell fake out plays, has stumped the best defensive coordinators across the NFL, including one of the greatest minds in pro football history, Bill Belichick.
The challenge is one that the Bills are certainly up for, and another opportunity to prove that they’re for real. The coordinators and players have their work cut out for them. In this episode, podcast hosts Matt and Jeremy examine what they believe that the Bills have to do to try and slow down one of the fastest offenses running in the NFL.
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