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Accented by quotes from Terrell Suggs, Ray Rice, Joe Flacco, Torrey Smith, John Harbaugh and Rex Ryan, One Catch Away: The Story Of The 2011 Baltimore Ravens was written in real time during the Ravens’ 2011 season.

The book provides a detailed evaluation of every game the Ravens played, from their season-opening annihilation of the Pittsburgh Steelers to the gut-wrenching loss to the New England Patriots in the AFC Championship game.

One Catch Away has already sold copies in the United States, Italy and the UK.

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Accented by quotes from Terrell Suggs, Ray Rice, Joe Flacco, Torrey Smith, John Harbaugh and Rex Ryan, “One Catch Away: The Story Of The 2011 Baltimore Ravens” was written in real time during the Ravens’ 2011 season. The book provides a detailed evaluation of every game the Ravens played, from their season-opening annihilation of the Pittsburgh Steelers to the gut-wrenching loss to the New England Patriots in the AFC Championship game.

“One Catch Away: The Story Of The 2011 Baltimore Ravens”  is on Amazon.com now, http://www.amazon.com/One-Catch-Away-Baltimore-ebook/dp/B0078EMN0Q/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1330414364&sr=8-1.

Billy Cundiff became a major weapon for the Ravens during the 2010 season.

Words By Soren Baker.

John Harbaugh’s decision making was regularly questioned during the 2010 season, but the Baltimore Ravens’ head coach made one of the best decisions of his career before the 2010 campaign even started.

He chose Billy Cundiff over Shayne Graham as the Ravens’ kicker.

Graham came in with the more impressive resume and the hype, but Cundiff outperformed him during the 2010 offseason and preseason and Harbaugh showed that current performance mattered more than past performance when he selected Cundiff as the Ravens’ kicker for the 2010 season.

Of course, Cundiff has a Pro Bowl campaign, hitting 26 of 29 field goals, converting 39 of 39 point after attempts and notching a remarkable 40 touchbacks.

Cundiff was rewarded for his breakout season in January, when he reportedly signed a five-year, $15 million deal with the Ravens.

After a journeyman career that included stops in Dallas, New Orleans and Cleveland, as well as being out of the NFL in 2007 and 2008, Cundiff rebounded.

According to Cundiff and the Ravens, participating in a full offseason program for the first time in several years allowed Cundiff to refine his kicking motion, adjust his workout regimen and lock in his timing with holder Sam Koch.

With Cundiff, Baltimore seems to have its kicking duties solidified for the next several years.

Former Ravens icon Matt Stover was difficult to replace, but Cundiff seems up to the task.

Baltimore Sun photo by Lloyd Fox.

Ed Reed remains a premier player. His return to the Ravens is essential to Baltimore’s defensive prowess.

Words By Soren Baker.

Now that it’s time to reflect on the Baltimore Ravens’ 2010 season and look forward to the 2011 campaign, here’s the first in our “Player Evaluations” series.

The first installment is on free safety Ed Reed.

Reed led the NFL with eight interceptions in 2010, despite playing in only 10 games.

He missed the first six games on the physically-unable-to-perform list.

Reed’s impact was huge on the Ravens’ defense.

In six games without Reed, Baltimore’s defense forced five turnovers.

In 10 games with Reed, the Ravens forced 22 turnovers.

True, Reed may not level as many bone-crushing hits as he used to, but his value to the Ravens remains off-the-charts.

Freshly minted defensive coordinator Chuck Pagano would benefit tremendously by having Reed return for his tenth season.

Without Reed, the Ravens’ secondary doesn’t scare anyone.

With Reed, it’s a strong unit that helped the defense force more than two turnovers per contest.

If the Ravens can maintain that level of turnover production during the 2011 season, Baltimore will be in good shape heading into the second season.

Follow Soren Baker on Twitter @SorenBaker.

Baltimore Sun photo by Kevin Richardson.

Chuck Pagano, the Ravens’ new defensive coordinator (left, with Ravens coach John Harbaugh), needs to allow Baltimore’s defense to regain its soul during the 2011 season.

Words By Soren Baker.

The Baltimore Ravens’ defense got its first big break of the 2011 season earlier this month when former defensive coordinator Greg Mattison left for the same position at the University of Michigan.

Freshly minted Ravens defensive coordinator Chuck Pagano has a tall task: enabling the Ravens’ defense to regain its soul.

Too often during the 2010 season, the Ravens defense was passive.

That’s not what the Ravens’ defense is supposed to be about.

It’s supposed to be violent, dominant, menacing and intimidating.

The Ravens clearly lost some of their swagger after the 2008 season when Rex Ryan left to become the head coach of the New York Jets and was replaced by Mattison.

The loss of fiery linebacker Bart Scott also hurt.

But the Ravens are still stocked with hard-hitting, raucous players.

Ray Lewis, Ed Reed, Terrell Suggs, Jarret Johnson, Haloti Ngata and Dannell Ellerbe are among the players who play hard and represent the Ravens way.

Yes, they all Play Like A Raven, to borrow the company line.

Yet these players need to be able to play without restriction, to play with controlled chaos and to deliver the knockout punch in order to get off the field, to finish a game or to bail out the offense.

Pagano seemed to acknowledge that such a change in attitude was needed when he said in his introductory press conference January 19 that he wanted his unit to “go out and wreak havoc.”

That’s a far cry from the three-man rush tactics employed by Mattison when the game was on the line, when the defense had already been on the field too long and when the defense had forced a third and long.

When the defense applies pressure to the opposing quarterback, good things tend to happen — sacks, picks, three and outs.

But when the defense rushed three in 2010 when the game was on the line, Pittsburgh Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger was among those who completed devastating passes, like his 50-plus yarder on the game-winning drive during the Divisional Round of the playoffs January 15.

By ratcheting up the pressure, Pagano will likely help the Ravens’ defense regain its soul and, more importantly, allow Baltimore to win more games — especially in the second season.

Follow Soren Baker on Twitter @SorenBaker.

Baltimore Sun Photo.

Former Ravens defensive coordinator Greg Mattison, seen here with LB Ray Lewis, has left Baltimore for the same position at the University of Michigan

Words By Soren Baker.

The Baltimore Ravens’ defense finished as the No. 10-ranked unit in the NFL for the 2010 season.

Next year, they’ll have a new person calling the shots.

It was announced today that former defensive coordinator Greg Mattison accepted the same position at the University of Michigan.

The move should prove beneficial for both entities.

On third-and-19 during Saturday’s playoff defeat in Pittsburgh, Mattison chose to rush three, giving Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger time and an opening throwing lane to complete a 58-yard pass that led to the game-winning touchdown.

But the poor call in Pittsburgh, which was only two plays removed from a nine-yard sack (thanks to you guessed it, pressure) wasn’t the only time Mattison employed the questionable tactic, as Ravens fans know.

Mattison was too reliant on a three-man rush, which cost the Ravens in losses to the New England Patriots in October, to the Pittsburgh Steelers in December and even in several eventual Ravens victories, most notably the December game against the Houston Texans.

Mattison seemed to learn his lesson December 19 against the New Orleans Saints, whom he pressured for the majority of the game.

The Ravens won 30-24, thanks in large part to the defenses ability to limit the effectiveness of Drew Brees, who threw a costly pick to seal the victory.

But for whatever reason, Mattison didn’t seem to blitz as much as the Ravens needed to Saturday against the Steelers, as had been the case throughout the 2010 campaign.

In fact, whenever the Ravens had an opportunity to take over a game defensively — or at least keep doing what had been working — Mattison dialed down the pressure, allowing the Patriots, Bills, Falcons, Panthers, Steelers and Texans to either hang around or to come back in a game when they had all but been defeated.

Mattison’s scheme seems better suited for the college game, where QBs cannot always pick a secondary apart when given four, five or six seconds to scan the field.

Now, secondary coach Chuck Pagano will take over as Ravens defensive coordinator.

Pagano took a group maligned prior to the season and molded them into a quality unit that seemed to excel when the front seven applied pressure to the opposing QB.

Here’s to hoping that Pagano noticed.

A Week After Shredding The Chiefs, The Ravens’ Passing Game Disappears In Pittsburgh

Baltimore Sun photo by Gene Sweeney, Jr.

Words By Soren Baker.

What a difference a week makes.

After destroying the Kansas City Chiefs January 9, the Baltimore Ravens’ offense was essentially missing in action against the Pittsburgh Steelers yesterday.

Actually, the Purple and Black’s passing game did plenty in the 31-24 loss against the Steelers.

Unfortunately, much of it was negative.

Baltimore quarterback Joe Flacco was 16 of 30 for 125 yards, one touchdown and one interception.

The interception, intended for tight end Todd Heap, was grossly overthrown and resulted in a Steelers touchdown that tied the game at 21 in the third quarter.

Then there were crucial drops by T.J. Houshmandzadeh and Anquan Boldin, two offensive players that were supposed to make a difference for the Ravens this season.

Unfortunately, they did make a difference — one that helped cost the Ravens the game yesterday.

Beyond those mistakes, Flacco again made bad decisions when pressured, threw several other errant passes (there was another gaffe intended for Heap) and took several sacks that he didn’t have to.

The Ravens’ passing game added weapons prior to the 2010 season, but none seemed to make a difference during the loss in Pittsburgh yesterday.

Derrick Mason did not have a catch, and his most notable play was defending an underthrown pass by Flacco on the Ravens’ final drive.

Boldin had one catch for -2 yards and a drop in the end zone.

Flacco cannot be blamed for the strikes he threw to Boldin and Houshmandzadeh.

Both hit off the WRs’ chests before falling to the turf.

The Ravens dropped the ball, literally.

And, this time, it cost them their season.

Baltimore Sun Photo By Karl Merton Ferron.

The Ravens Should Beat The Browns Because Cleveland Should Not Be Able To Stop Ray Rice, Shown Here Scoring His Second Touchdown Against The Saints On Sunday.

Words By Soren Baker.

Now that’s more like it.

The Ravens beat the Saints 30-24 Sunday by pounding the ball down New Orleans’ throats and by playing inspired and imaginative defense.

It’s the Ravens way, after all.

But after nearly a full season of underusing running backs Ray Rice (who earned his first AFC Offensive Player Of The Week honor for his career-best 233 scrimmage yards [153 rushing, 80 receiving] and two touchdowns against the Saints Sunday) and Willis McGahee (who rushed Sunday for 53 yards on seven carries), offensive coordinator Cam Cameron returned to Ravens form Sunday and the results were enjoyable, if not predictable.

The Ravens have the potential to have one of the best, most efficient running attacks in the NFL.

But Cameron has relied on improving QB Joe Flacco to shoulder the majority of the offensive load.

The reality is that Flacco and the passing game will actually thrive when the Ravens run the ball more often and more effectively.

Imagine if the DBs covering Anquan Boldin, Derrick Mason, T.J. Houshmandzadeh, Todd Heap, Ed Dickson and the rest of the Baltimore offense actually had to account for Rice and McGahee again.

If all goes well, Cameron will remain focused on Rice and the running game, opening up major portions of the field for Flacco and the rest of the offense.

If that happens, the Ravens should again dominate.

And the Browns will not be able to do anything about it.

The Ravens’ defense faces Drew Brees and the Saints at M&T Bank Stadium today.

Words And Photo By Ross Hollebon.

Sitting in a chilly section 552 of M&T Bank Stadium, bundled up in multiple layers, my heart was warmed to see the Baltimore Ravens get back to running the ball to set up the pass and playing solid defense.

The result was a raucous celebration in the stands as the Ravens handed the New Orleans Saints a 30–24 defeat.

Ray Rice was utilized once again as a weapon instead of just a running back.

Terrell Suggs and Jarret Johnson made it a tough day for Drew Brees and his ball carriers.

The special teams made smart plays and Sam Koch continued being a pinpoint punter.

Read more from Ross Hollebon at http://rosshollebon.wordpress.com/.