Howard applies franchise tag to G Issac Williams & more
By "Mirko Lebanner"

Pre-Season 2089 (Baltimore) - I recently had the extreme honor to witness one the Baltimore Ravens' training camps this past Tuesday. I was nothing short of astonished with how General Manager Ryan Howard and Head Coach Jeff Jobes have turned this squad around. It was almost as if I was witnessing soldiers training to invade a hostile territory, the way Jobes was running his men into the ground under the hot August sun.

--- Offensive Line Secured ---

Howard wasted little time in applying the franchise tag to tackle Mike Gammon upon his arrival in Baltimore. My visit to Baltimore started Tuesday morning at the news conference to announce that the team's top guard according to the depth chart, Issac Williams, would be joining Gammon as a franchise player.

'First and foremost, I'm a firm believer that football games are won in the least prestigous place on the field -- in the trenches,' Howard explained to me following the press bulletin. 'Issac is a hell of a player with a whole lot of heart. I was contemplating franchising him in time with Mike, but I wanted to see what he would bring to the camps if I didn't.'

Suffice to say, Williams brought the house down.

'He's definitely been one of our star performers during camp. He's not the biggest or strongest guard in the league, but I definitely feel he's the most versatile.'

With this move, Howard has solidified the Ravens' offensive line as one of the premier run-blocking units in the league for, barring any contract disputes, many years to come.

--- Jobson Earns Top Spot ---

Also coming in this year, Howard made it known that former Rookie of the Year Calvin Jobson would have to earn his spot as the team's feature back. Jobson responded positively to the criticism while a silent war broke out between himself and Barney Morris. According to offensive coordinator Donny Crock, the two backs had been neck and neck all training camp.

'I still don't know how we could have ever made a decision between the two,' Crock told me. 'They were both playing at an incredibly high level and impressing the hell out of the whole coaching staff.'

Instead of demoting one, they promoted both.

'We decided that instead, we'd put Morris in as a fullback for Jobson. We couldn't be happier with the results.'

Indeed, with the Ravens set to utilize a run-heavy offense behind their amazing offensive line, they could be a serious playoff contender and dark horse for the Sundby Cup.

--- The Dirty Birds are Swarming.. ---

Call me crazy, but the Ravens might have the most dominant defense of the year in 2089. Either that, or it will be an incredibly huge flop. Ahdel Ali, the team's new defensive coordinator, has set the dial to thermonuclear.

The team will be employing a blitz-laden 4-6 defense, with a line anchored by the highest-paid defensive lineman in the league, defensive end Casey Rapid. The rest of the line is solid enough, with seventh-year veteran Emerson Farr anchoring the middle.

To the astonishment of numerous critics, fourth-year man Jake Irvin was promoted to the top of the linebacking corps' depth chart and will be lining up with the defensive line for the better part of the season. While not an accomplished coverage linebacker, Irvin is well known for his lightning-quick speed and ability to get to the quarterback. Only the slightest step behind him is Derrick Matthews, who will be splitting time on the other side of the line and in coverage. Fifth-year man Bill Pointdexter will be moving to middle linebacker, a position he has never played but, according to the coaching staff, is nothing but second nature to him.

'Choosing who would be our primary pass rusher on the outside -- between Irvin and Matthews -- was maybe the toughest decision of the off-season thus far. Heck, it still might change,' cites Jobes.

--- Summary ---

The Ravens have quietly been building talent over the last several years, and this could be the year The Dirty Birds take the league by storm and make their mark for years to come. Believe me, General Manager Ryan Howard and Head Coach Jeff Jobes have all the confidence in the world over this squad, and to be honest.. they've made a believer out of me.