Ravens Soaring: Decoding the Championship Caliber Defense & Lamar's MVP Run Who Run !! l ES#12 Season 1 l With Cordell Woodland 105.7 The Fan

Join us for a thrilling conversation with none other than Ravens Beat Reporter and Host of Shaking Up Sports on 105.7The Fan with Cordell Woodland. We'll be unpacking the impressive dynamics of the Baltimore Ravens, discussing their championship caliber defense, and exploring the electrifying atmosphere of Baltimore city. Lamar Jackson, their trailblazing quarterback, is in the spotlight as we debate his potential for becoming the NFL MVP. With the triumphant win over the Seahawks still fresh, we dissect the role of John Harbaugh, the impact of new defensive coach, and the factors contributing to this commanding performance.

Switching gears, our discussion with Cordell then delves into the intricate workings of the Ravens offense. We explore Lamar Jackson's growth as a quarterback and look at how he's been perfecting his artistry as a passer. We also shine a light on how John Harbaugh is nurturing the team's offensive talent and Todd Monken influential role in Jackson's development. Still, we understand that to unlock the full potential of the Ravens, their offensive line needs to up its game.

Finally, we turn our attention to the AFC Playoff Implications and the teams in the fray. We talk about the increasing strength of the remaining opponents, how the defense is stepping up, and the areas where the offense needs to crank up the pressure. We also engage in a stimulating debate on the power dynamics in the AFC North between the Ravens and the Bengals. As both teams bring their A-game, we weigh the possibilities of the Ravens turning their season around, and the scenarios that could land them in the playoffs. Whether you follow football religiously or just enjoy a good sporting discussion, this episode promises a wealth of insights.

Support: Cordell Woodland

Twitter: @CordellWoodland
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Podcast: SHAKING UP SPORTS https://www.audacy.com/stations/1057thefan

Support: Reeta Hubbard & Cordell Woodland

Twitter: @theNFLchick
Podcast: WINNING DRIVE 105.7 THE FAN https://t.co/10fLAVjAvh

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Transcript

Kold Krush : 0:18

Welcome to the show. This is your host, Kold Krush. We talk NFL news, draft coverage, AFC North and NFC East, player interviews, college football, sec and ACC and Bo invites, all while smoking on a cigar and drinking on some high quality liquor. We discuss all things football in 35 minutes or less. Support the show. You can find us on Spotify, Apple Podcast, iHeart radio, Google Podacas and Overcast. You're listening to YAAAAK. This episode is who Run it? We have a special guest today. We have Cordell Woodland, very, very special guest. Very popular man. He is the Ravens Beat Reporter. He also has his own podcast called Shaking Up Sports on 105.7. The Fan and his partner in crime, Reeta Hubbard, do also do a podcast. She's called the NFL Chick on Twitter or X-Faces. It's called Winning Drive on 105. 7 The Fan and I'm happy to have him on.

Cordell Woodland: 2:07

YAAAAK.

Kold Krush : 2:14

Ladies. Get your drink, Fellas. Break out the whiskey for this one. Get the cigar, Get the lighter. You ready to talk some ball? We're going to give it to you straight Carolina blue. If you don't like to take, you know what to do Hit the follow button and like the video. What's going on with you, my guy? What's?

Cordell Woodland: 2:46

going on, man, I appreciate you having me.

Kold Krush : 2:50

No, man, it is a pleasure to be able to talk some ball with a guy from the NBA or the Baltimore area, but especially someone with your special story. Helping a guy like out myself. That's pretty new in the gang. They're like man. You got to see if you can do something with this young man. He's doing some big things in Baltimore. So we're excited about the things to come and I wish you nothing but the best in your success. But I'm also looking forward to being to sit down and have a conversation with you about some football.

Cordell Woodland: 3:17

For sure.

Kold Krush : 3:18

So how has it been for you? Before we jump right into the show of the energy of what's going on in Baltimore, I mean the old hasn't been good since the early 90s. Last time they won it all was 1983. Then we had extort runs two different times with the Ravens, and now you got this new defensive coach, you got this new aura over the city and you're right there, this new team. You see any similarities to this champ, this possibility of a championship run versus the old Raven team.

Cordell Woodland: 3:59

I would say the common denominator are the defenses. I mean this is definitely a championship caliber defense that the Ravens have Right now. I would make the argument it's the best defense in the league. I think on all three levels they're just a nightmare for opposing offenses. I mean we just saw in the complete dominating win over the Seattle Seahawks this past Sunday that Gino and those guys look lost. I mean they looked like they didn't know what they were looking at out there and I had asked Roquon Smith about that in the locker room today, just about why this defense is so hard to figure out. We're not seeing a lot of halftime adjustments from offenses that are working. I'm sure they're trying, but it doesn't seem like much is working.

Cordell Woodland: 4:49

And I thought Roquon gave a really good answer. He talked about just how their disguising stuff really wails. The look you get pre-snap is not the same thing that you're seeing after the snap and it's tough to make those in-play reads and those reads are totally different from the ones you thought you saw. Pre-snap is just so tough to actually figure out what they're doing on the fly when they have guys like Justin Mattabike and Jadavia and Clowney and Calvin Neu and Patrick Queen and Cowes Hamilton and Michael Peir Just so many people rushing the quarterback right now. So I would say, just looking at some of those past Ravens teams, the one common factor right now is probably the defense inside of the ball.

Kold Krush : 5:45

Yeah, I definitely would agree upon that. I remember me beating my chest for Mike Madonna when we had a chance to get him from Michigan and I listened to some of your work on the winning podcast drive and your co-host was like she's all in on McDonald. And I think one of the things that he's very unique with is his the way of disguising coverages. I mean, he just uses a lot of mixed coverages. He doesn't blitz like your normal style blitz, and I don't know if people don't know his coaching tree besides the Hall balls. But he learned from one of the NFL's best with Don Brown. I mean he was the master of blitzes and he was at Michigan right around the time he got there. So it doesn't surprise me with all the stunts and everything that's in his bag, we haven't seen the best of him to come on what this defense can be. I think it's going to get more fierce as time progresses. I just hope that he's in Baltimore for a very long time and I think he will be, because I don't think he has any desires to be a head coach, because he just understands just the patience game.

Kold Krush : 7:02

The Baltimore Ravens played so well that quarterback Lamar Jackson spent the fourth quarter on the bench and because their defense was dominant. Quote Mitchell, the undrafted free agent from East Carolina, ran wild and the Ravens eliminated the Seahawks to just sixth first downs in 151 yards. The Seahawks pun it several times and turned the ball over on downs once, and then they committed two turnovers. So that leads to my question is why the Baltimore Ravens quarterback, lamar Jackson, should be the NFL MVP right now. From my perspective, john Hallbaw overhauled the scheme by hiring offensive coordinator Todd Munkin, who, in the same role with the University of Georgia and helped the Bulldogs win two national championships Last season.

Kold Krush : 8:17

In 12 games Jackson passed for the 2K mark, 2,242 passing yards with a 186.8 per game passed, which is stout. He also 203 attempts out of 326. So that put him around 62.3 passing percentage. That was 17 touchdowns, seven interceptions. He had 112 carries on the ground for 764 in yard and three touchdowns. So right now Jackson is a plus 1,500 favorite to win the NFL MVP award in 2023. So that's the fifth best yards in the league and Gino passed for 157 yards with interception and the Seahawks rushed 15 times just for 28 yards. It's the fourth time Baltimore held upon it to fewer than 100 yards. Then Mitchell carried the ball for the first time for the season on Sunday and he responded with 138 yards and a 40 yard touchdown. So that's going to be another spotlight for the national media, because they're going to be really talking about Lamar Jackson's 18 and 1 record against NFC East Tim teams and how well he plays.

Kold Krush : 10:06

He plays very efficient versus these teams. He completed 21 or 26 for 187, ran for 60, did not produce a touchdown, but the Ravens gained 515 yards and gave Seattle his worst loss since a 42-7 loss to the Rams in 2017. So what does this mean for the Seahawks? They're five and three. They need to burn the tape and the Seahawks were tied for first place in the NFC West, with games against the commanders Rams coming up before they seen the 49ers twice in three weeks. That said, geno Smith needs to be better. He was guilty of turnovers Sunday, given Smith three consecutive games with multiple turnovers, and it's an ugly trend that just has to stop. So what does this mean for the Ravens? The Baltimore Ravens are seven and two and there's a Super Bowl contender.

Kold Krush : 11:18

The Ravens have now won two of its NFC best over the past three weeks, and both games were over very, very early. The Ravens racked up 298 Russian yards at a 7.3 yards per man against the Seahawks, While adding four sacks to their league best total.

Kold Krush : 11:49

the Ravens aren't overwhelming at the skilled positions, but they can run the ball. Once you throw that in and went on a weekly with their front four, it's definitely something to take a look at. So, Corno, what's your thoughts on that and where do you stand to be in that serious conversation right now for the MVP race?

Cordell Woodland: 14:16

Yeah, I mean I think right now you'd have to say Lamar is in the MVP race. I don't know if I would go as far as to say that he's leading the MVP race, but I do think his name should be in there. I mean, he's been one of the best quarterbacks in the league this year and he's not doing it the way that we've seen him necessarily do it in the past. I mean, he's still obviously a very dangerous runner with the ball in his hands, but it's been him throwing the ball this year that has really been killing opposing defense as he leads the league in completion percentage. And I get it. You know the Ravens aren't necessarily the greatest show on turf right now where they're just throwing the ball all over the field, especially down the field. The down the field passing game was probably the last big Marvel guy, so that's probably the last Infinity Stone, I would say for this Ravens offense and this team. It's for them to start. He's a mid-shoot. He did have a great game against the Eagles. I think what makes him so dangerous for the Ravens is that he gives them the possibility of being that home run hitter. We just haven't seen home run hitting plays from this offense to this point in the season Not in the past game, nor in the run game. Even Lamar I mean Lamar has run the ball well, but we haven't seen any 70-yard touchdown runs from Lamar this year. We haven't seen big passing plays resulting in touchdowns either. So the CK Mitchell, come out there and do what he did Sunday. I think that is what gives you the idea that this offense can be even more dangerous if he could stay healthy.

Cordell Woodland: 15:54

But yeah, I think, all in all, lamar is showing you what he can be. When you put Tyler around him, this is obviously the most Tyler he's had around him in his time in Baltimore. He's cashing in on it and I still think that Tyler could be better. To be honest with you, I think the Tyler around him could definitely still be improved going forward. But to see Lamar looking comfortable as a passer, defenses are trying to force him to stay in the pocket and beat them with his arm, and he's doing that easily right now, and I think everybody is finally getting to see the type of complete player that Lamar Jackson is. He's not just a runner, he's not just a mobile quarterback, he is a total package type of quarterback and I just feel like in this day and age, where you have guys like Miles Garrett and TJ Wadden, nick Bolson, all those types of guys who are just so good off the edge, you need somebody like Lamar that can not only move but can also tear defenses up through the passing game as well.

Kold Krush : 17:06

I absolutely agree with that coldheartedly and I feel like we just need to take our hat off to John Harbaugh with what he was able to do over the last couple of years. And EDC I mean the Ravens GM has surrounded a collection of offensive talent he has had during his tenure there. Most know the superstar receiver, odell Beckham, holly, sought after first round pick, say Flowers, the more talented with all pro tight end Mark Andrews, jk even though JK's heard and Gus receivers Bateman, duvernay, nelson, aguilar. And you got to take your hat off to John Harbaugh for being able to bring in offensive coordinator Todd Munkin to basically propel this team and get them into the next phase or the next era of being a Ravens fan, or a completely different team than we're used to.

Kold Krush : 18:17

Munkin is probably the most significant addition as he's going to help develop Jackson, be the best version of himself moving forward. So, jackson, I would like to see him play a little bit more Nohado, a simple offensive using the quarterbacks, mobility as a great asset moving forward, and I like the direction that Munkin is going. So I just wanted to know your thoughts on the spread formation with the big moment, because I just believe down the stretch this season, jackson will face the Bangles, chargers, jaguars, 49ers, dolphins and several Pittsburgh Steelers in which will be gigantic playoff implications. As far as a matchup, baltimore is going to spread team out, creating space for skilled players and attacking positive matchup for Jackson and can be more accurate and efficient while saving his best performances for the biggest and urgent moments.

Cordell Woodland: 19:26

I think offensively, like I said, the default is the next thing that needs to show up. I think the offensive line could be a little more consistent than what they've been. They haven't been terrible as a unit. I think the offensive line has been fine, but this isn't Ronnie Stanley's best year, so that's a little bit of a problem, especially when you're going up against a team like the Browns who has a Miles Garrett lining up on that side. Just this past week against Seattle, boye Moffay beats Ronnie Stanley off the edge and it turns into a strip sack on Lamar. You've got to be able to protect the blindside and they're paying Ronnie Stanley a lot of good money to be able to do that.

Cordell Woodland: 20:10

That's been one of the concerns for me is how will Ronnie Stanley hold up as the year goes on Between that and the down-to-field passing game? Those are really my only two concerns about this Ravens team going forward. They cleaned up the Red Zone issues. They've shown the ability to run the ball. They've shown the ability to throw the ball and throw it accurately. But those big plays, some of those splash plays, they're still missing right now. This has been an offense that can methodically walk up and down the field. They're missing some of those chunk plays. Once they start getting that, that's when there'll be a very dangerous offense.

Kold Krush : 20:49

Even with the Giro offense they didn't go vertical enough. And now you have these new weapons, so it shouldn't be any reason not to go vertical with Zay Flowers, Rashad Bateman, Nelly OBJ it's a lot of stuff to the boundary they haven't abandoned, going to stuff across the middle. And even last, I would like to see them push it more often, even if it's not there and when I mean not there, I mean even if they don't connect but just to get defenses to honor them, to take that shot or do a little bit more play action and go something directly down the field or exploit the seams a little bit more. I think we will get the explosive plays but for whatever reason, we just keep getting the boundary outs and the deep curls but we're not getting enough shot plays. We can get that because Todd Monk has revamped his offense three different times.

Kold Krush : 21:46

Tampa Bay looked a little bit different, Georgia looks different from when he was at Cleveland, but Cleveland got some big chunk. Wondering if he's just trying to just make sure they got the basics before we pull out some of the other stuff. Either way, it's exciting to watch the offense play. What's your thought? You think we should do it a little bit more or, you like, the creativity of this unbalanced line that they've been doing.

Cordell Woodland: 22:09

Yeah, I mean I do like Spread. I mean that was Monk and said he wanted to do when he first got get some spacing out there. And they still have some of their spacing issues. Still, I just like different looks. I don't mind the off-balance looks either, I just I like being able to mix it up. I don't like being predicted. I just think that's one of the number one things.

Cordell Woodland: 22:28

Whether you're coaching offense or defense in football you can't be predictable. Once teams know what you're doing, it's that much harder to be successful. So the more you can do, I do think the Ravens can be a Functional offense in the spread they have been. I don't know if they could. They'll be able to continue to do some of this five wide stuff, though I don't think they can really go empty as much as they used to the ball, ronnie Stanley and his struggles to this point in the season and that right there. I I just don't think going empty is very feasible for this team right now Because you just don't have that type of protection, especially from your left tackle. You're just not getting like a protection to be able to sit there and empty sets. If they are, you're gonna have to get the ball out very fast and as good as Lamar has been throwing the ball this year Timing hasn't always been and great.

Cordell Woodland: 23:26

During his three-step drug goal wants that back foot hits the ground and that's really not Lamar's game. Lamar likes to extend the play, he likes to make something happen, he likes to get out of the pocket and keep his eyes down fit. All those things are fine. It's just when you're going in those five wide sets you you're not Given that time to necessarily be to be able to extend the play the way that you normally like. So I would kind of put a pause on those, on some of that five wide stuff, until you get to the point to where you found some of the concepts, some of the past concepts, that Lamar likes that he can get the ball out of his hands as fast as you need him to in those situations because I've seen Cole Jackson speak about Ronnie in his anchor point and I just, I just think he just doesn't trust the ankle, so he's not, he's not, he's not putting it in the grass but either, whatever the reason is, we can't keep waiting for him to come around.

Kold Krush : 24:27

It's always the discussion around trade time or what do we need? You know you got some people that's divided, said you know the trade deadline, which you got a defensive end. Some people wanted something, a new pass right, some people was beating for running back and even in the draft, those who gets super excited are still seeing the same things. And I think it's conversation that the ravers need to reinvest in the offensive line. The trade line is already gone, so early picks and needs to be spent in In more than one position on the offensive line. To the credit what you said, to allow Lamar to Extend the play, to have more time, to not have people, and then we can see a more explosive plays. Because, as of right now, it seemed like the reason why it's not happening is because he doesn't have enough time to go through his progressions or make or make the read, and when he does have the read is either Moses is not holding his block or Stanley's not holding his, and I think EDC has surrounded Jackson with a collection of offensive talent Doing offense and defense with. Now it's time to pay attention to the office a line. It's time. It's time to beef up that offense a line. I think they're still not using Odell Beckham and the way that they should be using Odell Beckham. I love the way that they using Zay flowers, even with the talent of Mark Andrews on the team. That's just my personal opinion.

Kold Krush : 25:59

I think it's now it's time to focus on the trenches or figure out something else. Maybe let filet-le-tri left tackle or or something. Because, like you said, lamar is not getting the time he needs and in this taught Munkin's offense. All the pieces are there, it's just just now, I think. Now the question is it will the office a line be Consistent in giving him what he needs to move forward?

Kold Krush : 26:30

Because, like you said, far as the spread, formation and big moments going down the stretch, we got Jacksonville, we got the Chargers, the bangles, the 49ers and the dolphins, the last, the last game of the year, which all of these can be playoff implications and matchups, and I don't think that our office a line is to the point and I run a game has self consistently enough to gash you for big plays to be in five wide constantly To take advantage of these matchups. So something definitely has to change Moving forward. So I was looking at the strength of schedule for the back half, I was looking at the Buffalo Bill stuff and I was looking at ours as well. What's your thoughts on the schedule For us to basically chase that number one seed or do you don't really care if we get the one or two seed, then go on to the playoffs? I mean, I definitely will think seeding matters.

Cordell Woodland: 27:30

I mean, if you make it so that everybody has to come through Baltimore, that's an advantage for them for sure. Rather play the Chiefs at home, then go to Kansas City. You'd rather play the bills at home than go to Buffalo or have to go to Cincinnati for the second time in the season. So yeah, I mean, if you could get that first seed, definitely you'd love to do it. I do think it'll be a challenge for the Ravens. I mean, they've got these next two division games been up here. Both of these games are in the span of five days. So that's just going to be tough. I mean to go from this Brown I'm going to be a physical AFC North battle and then get ready to play the Bengals on Thursday night, to pretty much have that same type of game all over again. It's challenging. It's definitely going to put a huge challenge on them. Now the good thing is they do get taste before they have to go to LA to take on the Chargers, who haven't looked good to this point in the season. So you do feel good about that. They've got 10 days and then right after that they've got the bi-week before they take on the LA Rams. So it's definitely some tough games on this schedule. I mean when you look at it and you look at, you got Jacksonville and Jacksonville on Sunday night, then Christmas night in San Francisco the following week. Then you come back home to face the Dolphins and the Steelers to end the season. I mean that four game stretch at the end of the year is going to be tough. It's going to be incredibly tough. I mean right now all four of those teams are playoff teams on the back end of the schedule, so it won't be easy games at all.

Cordell Woodland: 29:36

I mean it's tough to imagine the Ravens winning out. First of all. I mean that's just tough and a tough acts for anybody. Like at some point they're going to have a let down, even defensively as good as they are offensively. People got to prepare themselves for them to have an off day at some point. Of course nobody wants that to happen, but realistically it's just it balance. Is it ever? You know it's just balance. It all evens out at the end and so you got to prepare for that Candice offense. Hold their own. If the defense doesn't show up, we'll see. But I do think the Ravens have a tough schedule. I do think they'll be a tough out in the playoffs, no matter where they're seated. But yeah, if they, if they could get the number one seed, I'm sure they'd love to, for sure.

Kold Krush : 30:24

Yeah, once we started the season they had the Kansas City Chiefs. Schrinford schedule is one of the hardest or toughest schedules is going to be very tough, but I believe that the Ravens are going to probably I'm going to sound like a homer I think they're going to go five and no down the stretch. I like this Browns this week and then I like Cincinnati on the short week. The Ravens don't lose to me Crime time games, especially not Thursday night games, followed by the Chargers. Then they go on their buy and then they play the Rams.

Kold Krush : 30:54

I kind of like that stretch, even after that when they play the tougher slate. If they can just go two for two down the stretch, I think that'd be more than enough and I don't think the Steelers game is going to have any any bearing. I think they're going to have enough wins in their belt that we might not even be playing that game. The starters will probably be sitting. The way that the schedule is going to fall out, I don't think you have to worry about that game. So that, just that said ways into who do you think is the most fierce team in the AFC right now?

Cordell Woodland: 31:26

First team. Let me look. I just think until somebody dethrones them, the the chiefs are going to be the best team in the conference. They're the best team. It just is what it is. Until somebody takes them off their throne, that's just where it's going to be.

Cordell Woodland: 31:45

And the chief? Dangerous because they're not just beating you with Patrick Mahomes to Kelsey like they used to. I mean that's that defense is playing at a high level right now. It's obviously not as good as the Ravens defense, but we're not used to talking about defense when you talk about the chiefs. So it's just so dangerous because it's now. Yet again they're finding another way to win games. Last year everybody said they couldn't, their offense wouldn't be the same without Tyree Kale, and they were right. Their offense wasn't the same. So Kansas City found another way to be the best offense in the NFL. And now this year, you know it's like the offense doesn't seem like they're as dominant as they have been, but that defense has turned around and have been one of the better units in the league. So I still think it's Kansas City right now for me and the AFC, and I put the Ravens behind the chiefs, right behind the chiefs, but for me it's the Ravens and the chiefs and everybody else in the AFC right now.

Kold Krush : 32:48

I'm a whole my opinion, because it's two clips I want to play. They're both, I think, like two minutes. I think one may be three minutes long, but Sterling Sharp was on first tank with Stephen A Smith celebrating a big moment in his life because he was able to do something at Savannah State. I mean, I think it was Savannah State and they was talking about the Ravens. So I'm going to play this clip. I don't know if you heard it already, but it's kind of is exactly the same topic and this is what he thinks.

Cordell Woodland: 33:21

Curious, so I imagine the students are as well. Who's the most dangerous team in the AFC Sterling?

Speaker 3: 33:26

I still have to go with Joe Burrow and the Cincinnati Bengals. But here's why, when you look at confidence, you go OK, who do we have to face if this thing keeps going? Baltimore's in our division. So we know them and we're going to see them. We've already been to Kansas City and dispatch them. We just got rid of Buffalo on Sunday night. This is a football team that, if all things being equal, they can stay as healthy as they are right now, the way Joe Mixon is starting to run the football. They don't fear anyone, but everyone fears them because they've gone into Kansas City and played big and gotten to a Super Bowl. Lamar Jackson, for all his wonderful play, mvp in our league couldn't get his team to the big dance. Joe Burrow did that. And so when you look at confidence and I think that that is one of the biggest things that people lose is their confidence. But when the Cincinnati Bengals got Joe Burrow back at quarterback, their confidence went sky high.

Speaker 1: 34:24

Again, I would respectfully disagree with you, which is hard for me to say because I've been raving about Joe Burrow and the Cincinnati Bengals for a long while, and I'm still not stopping.

Speaker 1: 34:32

It's just that now I'm paying attention to two components Sterling. Number one, the defense, which I already articulated. Number two this kid Keaton missed you. And then I have Kariol Sees along, rushed for 138 yards yesterday. This is a team that was being maligned for not trading for a running back before the trading deadline. And then, the next thing you know, they show up and they rushed for 238 yards the very next game. Whatever you perceive as being their weakness, the Baltimore Ravens step up to the plate and say nah, we know what we're doing.

Kold Krush : 35:01

So I don't know if you had a chance to listen to that clip, but I was just wondering what your take was.

Cordell Woodland: 35:05

Yeah, I mean I can't get upset with anybody that chooses to believe in the Bengals. I mean they have gone to back to back AFC championships. They was on the road. They have been a team that is dangerous. They're dangerous with Joe Burrow. It just is what it is. They got one of the better wide receiver units in the NFL and their well coached team.

Cordell Woodland: 35:26

I would say that I don't think everybody fears the Bengals. I don't think the Ravens fear the Bengals. I don't believe anybody in this division fears the Bengals. I don't think anybody in this division is scared of any team in this division. I just think that's how they operate.

Cordell Woodland: 35:43

But I will say, you know, yeah, lamar hasn't gotten his team to the Super Bowl or even to the AFC championship game. That is violent. But I mean it's not. Regardless of what people think, I'll say it's not a quarterback driven thing. Yes, quarterbacks are arguably the most important position on the team, but it's not the end, all be all. We've seen plenty of all time great quarterbacks not reach the promised land. It's a team award, it's a team accomplishment.

Cordell Woodland: 36:28

Joe Burrow has had a better team than Lamar has fully over the last couple of years, for sure, and Lamar hasn't even been healthy on the back end of the last two seasons. And that's no knock on Joe Burrow, that's not Joe Burrow's fault. He came in and had Jamar Chase and T Higgins and Tyler Boyd and those guys and he playing with their hand. He was dealt. I would just say that Lamar now are obviously has the best team he's been with and his time in the NFL. I just like to see what happens now, and both teams as possible will see what happens, and it's not just the Ravens. I think Buffalo, as as hot and cold as they can be, they're still a team to watch in the AFC as well. But yeah, I mean I can't get upset with anybody deciding to trust the Bengals more than the Ravens, especially with the way the last couple of seasons have gone.

Kold Krush : 37:26

I guess that's what we did, because I'm not discrediting the Bengals. They have a great quarterback, they got an amazing trio but I just give it a hard time to give them, give them their credit when credit is due, when I know what happened in that division so two years. But I think the context is missing, that the fact that everyone I mean everyone from top to bottom was hurt except for them two years ago when, when they was about to do it I think that's the year the Ravens had like 26 guys that was hurt and we was still winning that division. And we was winning that division. The Browns was looking good. They had Baker he had the shoulder injury. They had Odell he was going with his injuries. They had Jarvis Landry he was having his injuries.

Kold Krush : 38:09

And then you had the Steelers and they was playing well and they had key guys I mean key guys on offense and defense that they was missing and, for whatever reason, the bangle was the last dog in the fight and they was healthy. And then the next year it was the same thing, and one of those years I think we kind of still basically finished about the same, but they had to head the head. So they ended up winning the division. And then, I mean, they went into the playoffs and they played well against whoever they was matched up with, but the road to get there was they definitely had some help because everyone else was going to be completely beat up. I mean I'm not talking about missing one guy, I mean they're missing several stars and they took advantage of that.

Kold Krush : 38:54

But I just find it that now this year, with their completely healthy, the rest of the divisions completely healthy the Ravens are not getting the same, the same do, or the other teams in the division is not getting the same. Dude Like that. People are already crowning them as the team to be feared and I just kind of disagree with that. I don't even have them making the playoffs. I don't see them making the playoffs. I don't see them defying history two years in a row starting off 0-3 and doing it for the third time in a row, even with the stealer offense looking non-existent, even with the Browns with their quarterback conservatory, because both those teams do have defense as well and I just like their schedules down the backstretch a little bit better than I like the bangles.

Cordell Woodland: 39:44

I mean I hear you on the injury stuff. I would just say that's football. I mean everybody deals with injuries, even I mean Joe Burroughs lost the season due to ACL. T Higgins has been banged up this year. He's missed games this year. Jamar Chase is dealing with a back issue now that he just suffered his pass game, so we'll see how that impacts him.

Cordell Woodland: 40:11

That's not I mean I don't want to sit here and preach for the bangles. I don't, but they've had one of the. Their offensive line has been a huge Achilles heel. It's not many teams that are able to make it to the Super Bowl with the offensive line they had that year. I just I do think this is a good team.

Cordell Woodland: 40:29

I hear you that the Ravens and other teams in the division dealt with injuries. That's a part of it. Some of it's their own fault. The Ravens like to bring in hurt players. I mean hurt guys stay hurt. That's the old analogy. So if you continue to take these gambles on players that already have these injury red flags, then you can't look shocked when guys start getting hurt. The harsh reality is when Lamar goes down, the Raven season goes down right with them, but you could say that for a lot of different teams that when they lose their starting quarterback, their seasons probably going to be over. So the Ravens aren't unique in that aspect, but I mean just even looking at them. Like I said, I can understand why people would believe in the Bengals. Just off of how they've been the last couple of years, they're still one of the better teams in the AFC, just even in this division. I can't I don't know me personally, I can't put the Pittsburgh or Cleveland ahead of the Bengals right now.

Kold Krush : 41:35

Man, I want to pull this clip real fast of Night Cat with Ocho Sinko and Ankh Channing Sharp talking about their opinion of who's on top of the AFC.

Cordell Woodland: 41:53

Okay, how about this here, the AFC power rating? You like the Ravens or you like the Chiefs at the top of the AFC? Hey, that's tough.

Speaker 6: 42:00

That's a tough one. That's a tough one. Listen, let me see. I'm going to Patrick Mahomes obviously 17 TDs. To Lamar Jackson what nine TDs?

Speaker 6: 42:11

The Ravens defense only the Ravens offense average 26 points of games. The Chiefs offense average 23 points of game. The Ravens defense obviously you know the best in the league only allowing 13 points of game. I'm not sure what the Chiefs defense allows, but if I was leaning towards the team as far as the best in the AFC right now, I'm going to go and it pains me to say this and I'm just where they are right now with what I consider the midway point in the NFL power wrinkle for the AFC at the top right now is the Ravens and that hurts. That hurts me to have to admit that, because you know my lead is to the Bangles.

Speaker 6: 42:45

But the Ravens are doing not only offensively but what they're doing defensively in this era, and this era is unheard of man. We in a past happy era. If you run a hundred plays, you play 14, 80 of them, goddamn plays, through the air. And you mean to tell me you only allowing teams 13 goddamn points, 13. Shit, listen, I love the Chiefs, I love Patrick Mahomes, I love what they've been able to do. He's a two times Super Bowl winner, he's a MVP winner, as is Lamar Jackson. But what Lamar and those Ravens are doing over there, man is special and I can't wait and I know I'm going off a little track here a little bit I can't wait Two more weeks, two more weeks. You know who they playing right.

Cordell Woodland: 43:31

The Bengals go to the sense of Thursday night football November, november 16th, if I'm not mistaken.

Speaker 6: 43:37

I hate that, what.

Cordell Woodland: 43:38

Because I want, I want, I don't want, neither I don't want them on a short week. That they should be on a full week. Okay, I see what you mean.

Speaker 6: 43:45

They should play Sunday to Sunday or Sunday to Monday. I have a question you would know better than I do Can they flex that? Can they flex that the Sunday and change no?

Cordell Woodland: 43:54

No, you can flex. You can flex out of Sunday, you can't flex out of Monday.

Speaker 6: 43:58

No, it's the Thursday, though it's the.

Cordell Woodland: 44:00

Thursday night game. I mean, you know what I'm saying. You can flex out of a Sunday night and I think you can flex. Can you flex out of Monday? I don't think you can flex out of Monday.

Speaker 3: 44:09

I think it's just Sunday.

Cordell Woodland: 44:10

I think it's the NBC game that you can flex out of, but you can't do anything with Thursday and Monday night. Great with you. Ocho Ravens are 7-2, run 4 straight. They have a plus 115 point differential, which is the biggest in football by a wide margin. And here's the thing. Just imagine how good the Raiders are going to be when they eliminate the weekly one-two turnover game, that's cool.

Cordell Woodland: 44:33

Yeah, just think about that now. Yeah, to play a clean game, because we talked about it. Ocho is that when you turn the ball over, you either raise the team up to your level or you step down to their level, because if you're better than a team, the only way a team can get up to your level is you come down to theirs. It's kind of like you're going to fight. That's why Ocho is that when people, when you're up here and you reach a certain level and people take shots at you Steve Harvey told me this he's like the only way they can hit me if I come down to their level. I'm so high up they're growing up.

Cordell Woodland: 45:11

It's hard to be accurate throwing up here, but the only time they can get me is when I come down to their level. They can crack me upside my head when you turn the ball over. You're better than a team. You come down to their level. Now they can get you.

Speaker 6: 45:25

When you think about it and I look at it from this standpoint as well, based on where they are right now, and another testament to where they'll be after the midway point is, I look at the remaining schedules. Obviously, the Chiefs have the Eagles. We don't know what's going to happen there. They got the Eagles, raiders, packers, bills, patriots. That's their five coming up. That's their next. Well, yeah, that's their five coming up. So boom. I'm looking at the Ravens. The Ravens remain in schedule on teams or teams that they're going to play that are possible wins. They got the Browns Bengals. That's a loss. They got the Chargers, rams, jaguars. So out of that, that's full games.

Speaker 6: 46:04

All the Ravens, the Ravens, the Ravens, the Ravens got their mind on the number one Right now, based on their next, they won the rope their next five games. They going four on one. They going four on one. No, next five games. So they going to be sitting real nice and pretty, but come November 16th they probably going to lose that one.

Cordell Woodland: 46:24

They ain't losing that one. The Baltimore want the road to Las Vegas to go through. You have to take a detour through Baltimore.

Kold Krush : 46:34

Man that was onc in old show speaking some game, and I respect their opinions and also I respect yours. But see, I just I agree with them, boys, and you know. This is basically where I'm at as well. Moving forward, this is where I think you know what should make the difference moving forward with the Ravens. They're just a different team, they're on a different mission as well. I just do not see three years in a row off the numbers, regardless of who they have on their roster. To overcome to come that, to overcome that. They have a very narrow what's the word I'm looking for? They don't have much room. They don't have much room. They basically have to win out. I think it's too early to say I'm talking about the Ravens?

Kold Krush : 47:23

They are, but at the same token, I personally don't think they can afford to lose no more than three games. I really my gut is telling me to, but I don't want to sound like I'm talking from absolutes. Just number wise, I just don't think that five or six wins in the AFC in totality is going to be enough to get you a wildcard spot, Because it's definitely not going to be enough to win a division.

Cordell Woodland: 47:54

So five or six losses.

Kold Krush : 47:56

Yeah, yeah. Five or six losses. I don't, I don't think that's going to be enough, based upon head to head conference wins and division wins, once it all shake out with the tire breakers on how stuff is so close, I don't think that's going. I don't. I just don't think that's going to cut it.

Cordell Woodland: 48:11

Well, you got to look at the standings already. I mean, it's already. The league is bad this year. It is. That's the other thing. There's already teams most of these AFC teams already have three or four losses already. So we could be looking at a situation where a nine and 18 gets into the seventh spot in the wildcard. I mean right now, all four AFC North teams are in the playoffs today.

Kold Krush : 48:36

If it starts today, yeah, and they all got three losses. But you're right, that's why I don't think getting up to five or six losses you're going to, you're going to make it, and I could be completely wrong. I just don't, I just don't see it. I mean you got some other teams that hasn't been playing too great, like the Texans, I think they're, I think they're four and four or something like that. Then you got the charges has been playing awful. They're not out of it. I mean currently, right now. Like you said, if it started today, all four AFC teams in the North would be in it. But the bills are right there, one game behind, and I think the Jets as well. I just don't see. I'm with you. I thought they didn't have the right field before they took off from from the airport. I didn't see them making the playoffs. I don't got them making the playoffs.

Kold Krush : 49:36

But a team that I am keeping my eye on, even though they've been playing Not well at all, is the charges. I think with their schedule, I think they can pull it out. That's a team to look for. I don't think the Texans got enough juice to get there, but the charges is a team that I think can squeak in there, like you said, with a few losses, maybe five or six losses and they can get in there, but I think their head to head and their division wins is going to be the reason why and I just don't like the bangles schedule and, far as division right now, their division when lost record is horrible right now compared to the other teams. They made some good points on their show nightcap of the same stuff that we were just talking about. Is there anything else you wanted to add? Because I don't want to hold you too long. I know you normally do like a 40 minute show, so I just want to respect your time.

Cordell Woodland: 50:29

No, it's all good. No, I mean I didn't really have anything else. I mean season step definitely still a long way from over. Health will be a big part of it. I mean the second half of the season is when you really got to watch the Ravens and how healthy they are, because that's kind of been when their season kind of goes off track. So just got to pay attention to how healthy these guys are down the stretch of the season.

Kold Krush : 51:01

Yeah, so it's going to be exciting. I think at this point. I think it goes back to what you said they have to handle business. I think if they win this week first the Browns, they beat Cincinnati. I think the narrative change across the league on expectation for the Ravens and also the narrative change for the bangles moving forward With their season. We look out the overall outlook of the AFC in totality of where things going to be. But, like you said, it's still going to be a long season. But I think we'll have a clearer picture after the next two weeks.

Cordell Woodland: 51:39

I agree.

Kold Krush : 51:40

Man, it's been fun. Man, you know your ball. They said you know your stuff, man, you know your stuff.

Cordell Woodland: 51:46

Yeah, I mean I've just always been a fan of football. Football is honestly my first love, so I mean I watched the whole league. Obviously, I watched the Ravens with a closer eye, but yeah, I mean I'm paying attention to everything that goes on in the league. I just football. I could kind of talk that all day, honestly.

Kold Krush : 52:09

Yeah, we kind of the same. I watch all the teams. I do watch the Ravens a little bit more than other teams, just because that's my squad, but I'd watch a lot of football even. I even watch a lot of college too. I don't know where I find the time to do it, but I watch a lot of college football. I just can talk about it all day.

Kold Krush : 52:27

I think some of the things that made me want to do this podcast I was doing with some other guys is that I just feel like when you get older you kind of appreciate the game a little bit longer, even if you played or you didn't play, and you look at it from a different lens and you just realize it's so much about the game that you thought you knew that you had no clue of what's really going on and that makes it even more intriguing, especially when you're a diehard fan or you are enthusiast and you really just love football.

Kold Krush : 52:53

You realize it's different experiences of watching the game beyond just watching the game. You know you kind of deep into the exes and those. You looking more on the front office side, the back office side, the, the cat room stuff. All that's intriguing, even the seating in college of how things going and you get to the point where you started doing player profiles and draft profiles of players and it's always a fun conversation because it's a unique conversation, because it's never the same conversation. I'm talking to sports, so I just enjoy watching from a fan point of view and being able to have an opportunity to talk with guys like yourself.

Cordell Woodland: 53:31

For sure, man, I appreciate you having me.

Kold Krush : 53:33

So let the people know where they can find. You will know if I you on Twitter. You got multiple podcasts and you got any big stuff that's coming up that you want to share.

Cordell Woodland: 53:42

Yeah, you can follow me on Twitter or Instagram at Cordell Woodland, c O C O R D E L L Woodland, w O D L A N D. You catch my show shaking it up sports on 105. 7 The Fan. You could download the Odyssey app and you can check my show out. I'm usually on weeknights. You can listen on the Audacy app if you're not able to be in the car. Also, my podcast, the winning drive podcast, Reeta Hubbard. We drop about three episodes a week. Wherever you get your podcast from, you could find that.

Kold Krush : 54:16

That's dope. Make sure you support. I'm going to make sure I get all the links from him. I'm going to put it in the description for his Twitter handle and his co-host and all his shows. If you want to support anything, he has going new podcast with over 140 downloads less than 60 days. You can find us anywhere you like to listen to your podcast. We are all the major platforms Amazon Music, iHeartRadio, Spotify, even Alexa we got cleared for them as well. We just want you to continue to support the show. If you want to support, you can give me a cup of Joe. Or keep your eye out for the signed helmets and minigear. We got that coming as well. If you're interested in any authentic gear that's been signed by any of the major third parties, we have that coming for you as well. It's been a pleasure. As we wrap up, thank you for listening to YAAAAk.