00:00Then, Cordell, what's up?
00:02What's up, Alive?
00:03Well, it was Mr. Splash's fault after all,
00:05but we'll get into that at another time.
00:09The spread has changed.
00:11I mean, I guess, looking at the schedule preseason, Cordell,
00:16we looked at Atlanta, circled it as a win,
00:19because that division, the NFC South, isn't all that great.
00:22But, you know, quarterback in flux, new coach, Kevin Stavansky, blah, blah, blah.
00:27But with Lamar's uncertain health status,
00:30they're now favorite, and since Michael Penix has taken over,
00:33they've put up 80 points in the last two weeks.
00:37So if Lamar can go, it's still a game that could be of great concern
00:42for Ravens and Ravens fans,
00:45a game that we all thought was going to be not a guaranteed W,
00:48because you can't guarantee anything, but maybe a certain win.
00:54I wouldn't say so.
00:56I think Atlanta does some things that can give defenses problems.
01:01I mean, they have elite talent of their own.
01:05I think they have the best running back in the league in B. John Robinson.
01:08He is a man.
01:11You just don't see many people like him that have his skill set,
01:15that have his footwork.
01:17I mean, I watched B. John Monday night get tackled by three guys
01:22and get up and walk back to the huddle,
01:24and he's breathing with his mouth closed.
01:27Like, something subtle like that jumps out to me.
01:29Like, it gives off of, oh, that's nothing.
01:31You know, I'm not tired.
01:33Give me more.
01:34This is like the second half at this point.
01:36So, I mean, B. John, and he said it after the game,
01:39he loves primetime games.
01:41And I think if you go back and watch him or watch some of his primetime
01:45performances, they're some of the best games that he's had throughout his career.
01:49So, yeah, I mean, he brings a legit challenge.
01:52They have Drake London over there that I think he's an absolute stud as well.
01:58So, yeah, I mean, they have threats.
02:02I mean, Penix, like you said, the offense has been better with him.
02:05He brings a different sort of confidence when he's out there.
02:08You could tell guys like playing with him.
02:11The offensive line is in sync.
02:13And their defense, you know, their defense isn't terrible.
02:16So, yeah, I mean, if Lamar was there, you'd feel better about this game.
02:19But there is definitely an avenue or a scenario, you know,
02:24to where even if Lamar is there, they could lose this game going to Atlanta
02:28in primetime.
02:29They're coming off a big division win.
02:31Yeah, I mean, it's the NFL.
02:33Anybody can beat anybody.
02:34And I do think Atlanta has enough talent to really be a problem for whoever
02:39they face, especially if they can run the ball.
02:42Cordell, were you in the locker room after the game Sunday?
02:45Yeah.
02:46What was the mood of the players?
02:49And I guess, did you see Lamar?
02:51Was he hobbling around?
02:52Or what did he look like if you talked to him, too?
02:57Yeah, I mean, he had an obvious limp.
03:00He did leave with the walking boot on.
03:02But he seemed like he was in good spirits.
03:05And the walking boot isn't necessarily the kiss of death that it used to be anymore.
03:11So, you know, so it definitely, you know, is more precautionary these days.
03:16But I think we're in wait and see mode.
03:20You just never know.
03:22And that's not to say that Lamar obviously doesn't play through injuries.
03:25He played through plenty of injuries just last year.
03:28But in terms of when he's going to be back out there, we'll see what it looks like today.
03:32I don't necessarily have a good feeling about seeing him this week.
03:36But in terms of the mood of the locker room, I think guys were happy to get the win.
03:42But it didn't really feel like it was a satisfying victory.
03:46And maybe the injuries played a big part of that, especially losing Lamar.
03:51But also, I mean, they probably didn't like the fact that that game ended up being a little closer than
03:56it probably should have been.
03:58And I understand Lamar doesn't play second half.
04:01The offense kind of shells up and is in just protect the lead mode.
04:05But that almost, I mean, it came down to an onside kick.
04:08And it took a really good recovery by Malachi Starks to ice that game.
04:13So, yeah, I mean, I think Jesse said it best at the podium.
04:16They're not going to apologize for winning, and they shouldn't.
04:19But they definitely probably left that game feeling like they have a lot of things to clean up.
04:24Cordell, it looked like Derrick Henry's frustrated.
04:28Did you get a chance to see him or talk to him after?
04:33Yeah, well, this is the first time since Derrick Henry's been in Baltimore that I can recall
04:39that we were told we only had four questions with him because he had to go get treatment.
04:47And it's funny because as we're watching that game in a press box, I'm saying, man, Henry is getting lit
04:54up today.
04:55I think he's going to be really sore after this game.
04:59Wasn't very efficient on the ground on a yards per carry average.
05:03But I just felt like watching that game like, man, he is taking some shots today and seeing him in
05:11the locker room, kind of watching him.
05:13I mean, I don't think he's in jeopardy of not playing.
05:16But I think the last couple of weeks have been pretty rough for him, honestly.
05:21The Ravens have leaned on him a lot.
05:23He's gotten a lot of carries, and he's taken a lot of hits.
05:26So I think he's definitely probably sore, which is probably the normal life for an NFL running back or an
05:34NFL player for that matter.
05:36But no doubt, I think Henry is probably a little sore than usual going into this week.
05:42Now, Cordell, after watching the film and stuff, I thought that Wenger, I think he'll be the best center in
05:50the league eventually,
05:51you know, in another year, two years or whatever.
05:54But I think he has the size, the athleticism, all that.
05:58And I thought they upgraded when Voorhees, I didn't want Voorhees to get hurt, but by him leaving, they got
06:04better.
06:05And I think that position will be upgraded so much better because a lot of the culprits in the first
06:11half,
06:12Voorhees gets tossed around, can't sustain a block, can't get up to the second level.
06:16I mean, he was horrible in my opinion.
06:19I mean, is that any different than what it was last year for him, to be honest?
06:24No, but I mean, the thing is, is every Jones looks like he's got a chance to be a player.
06:33Yeah, and I think even he, you know, he hasn't been able to get a lot of reps.
06:36He hasn't played a ton.
06:38You know, I think even he has plays that he'd like to have back.
06:42I think he struggles with passing guys off and when they run some of those stunts up front.
06:47But he's not as, he doesn't have as strong of an anchor as you'd like to see sometimes.
06:53So I think he's just learning on the fly.
06:55That's a part of what you deal with when you have a guy that is as inexperienced as him right
07:00now.
07:01But yeah, I mean, Voorhees isn't great.
07:03We knew that.
07:05And him getting going out, obviously, his next man up.
07:09I just think this offensive line is going to be inconsistent at best.
07:13I do feel really good about Venga.
07:15I think he's a very sharp guy, very smart guy.
07:17He's just a football player.
07:19I think he could play.
07:21If they decided that they wanted him to be their center for the foreseeable future,
07:26I think he would be fantastic at that.
07:29If they want to move him back to guard, I think he'll excel in that role.
07:33I just think he's good no matter where they need him.
07:36And he was pretty hard on himself after the game.
07:40He didn't think that he played as well.
07:42He thought that, you know, he was part of the issue with some of the false starts
07:46because he wasn't snapping the ball on time.
07:49He talked about some missed assignments.
07:50Of course, he's going to know more about that stuff than we do
07:53because he knows what he's being asked to do.
07:55But I feel very confident in him, and I get the sense that they do as well.
07:59Cordell, well, then, Vidian, 801057, the fan.
08:02Cordell, last thing for you, something we talked about earlier today,
08:05and I wasn't here the first two weeks or first two days,
08:07but apparently that was brought up.
08:09Rave, a ton of penalties, 30th right now in the NFL in that category.
08:12But the officiating in total in the National Football League through four weeks,
08:17do we have an officials problem here?
08:20I mean, yeah, I would say so.
08:23So I thought it started pretty early in London on Sunday,
08:28and it went all the way through the entire 1 o'clock, 4 o'clock slate
08:33and into Sunday night football.
08:34It was bad all day.
08:37Now, I think two things can be true at the same time.
08:40The officials are a problem, without a doubt,
08:43and the Ravens have a penalty problem themselves.
08:47They're bottom three in the league in penalties.
08:49They had 13 penalties on Sunday.
08:52So I'm not going to sit here and say that the officials are picking on the Ravens.
09:00Contrary to what Ravens fans think,
09:02I think the Ravens are the NFL darlings, to be honest with you.
09:05I think they root for the Ravens every year.
09:08They talk the Ravens up every year.
09:09So I don't think they're out to get the Ravens.
09:12I do think they have some ticky-tack calls at times.
09:15I do think they miss calls.
09:16That's a part of it.
09:17But I think the Ravens need to look themselves in the mirror
09:20and figure out why they continue to have these penalties just take over the game for them.
09:2613 penalties for over 130 yards is absolutely inexcusable.
09:31Cordell, what's the next Fresh Take Sports here on the fan?
09:35We'll be back Monday night from 6 to 8.
09:37So we'll recap Sunday night's game against Atlanta.
09:40We'll see what happens this week with Lamar.
09:43But, yeah, we'll talk a lot about that game against the Falcons on Monday night.
09:48Cordell Willen, everybody.
09:49Cordell, appreciate the time as always.
09:51Enjoy the rest of your day.
09:52Have fun at it.
09:52One winning drive.
09:54Appreciate it, guys.
09:55You got it.
09:56Cordell Willen, everyone.
09:57Welcome to the Falcons.
