Wed., May 27: DL Trevor Pryce Is Blunt, Yet Creative
By Joe Platania
PressBox Staff
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
OWINGS MILLS -- Over the years, the Baltimore Ravens' locker room has been filled with bravado, spice and swagger.
Fans have always known the sources of such behavior: Ray Lewis, Willis McGahee, Orlando Brown, Tony Siragusa, Errict Rhett and so on.
Defensive lineman Trevor Pryce is no shrinking violet, either. However, his verbiage is usually delivered with more subtlety, in a voice that belies the force of his words.
To wit:
- When recently asked about his health -- a curious question, coming off a season that saw him play in all 16 games for the eighth time in his first 12 seasons -- Pryce caustically said, "I feel fine, but it is May. Ask me again in September and I will give you an honest-to-God answer."
- On veteran attendance at minicamps: "I am like Eddie Murphy… You got 48 hours, then I’m a ghost. Let’s solve this murder mystery, then I’ve got to go."
- On the so-called "sophomore jinx" affecting quarterback Joe Flacco: "My second year was a big year. Ray Lewis’ second year was a big year – I remember that. The greatest improvement is from Year One to Year Two. Not One to Four or Two to Six."
- On rookie offensive tackle Michael Oher: “He doesn’t say much. He is very quiet, but I think he has the attitude of a serial killer... in a good way."
Pryce is a master at mixing shock value with insightfulness, probably because he has spent his off-the-field time being creative.
For nearly a decade, Pryce ran a record label out of Denver, where he played for the Broncos for nine years after being a first-round draft pick (28th overall) in 1997 from Clemson. He even recorded an album himself, one that was never released.
Not only that, Pryce has sold three screenplays, one of which was picked up by Sony Pictures and could turn into a finished product later this year.
According to the Denver Post, the eldest of Pryce's two daughters once glanced at some pennies sitting at the bottom of a fountain and wondered aloud what would happen if they got mixed up. Would someone be granted the wrong wish?, she asked.
Pryce, a four-time Pro Bowl selectee, has devoted plenty of time to giving himself options after football. But for now, he doesn't believe the Ravens defense -- even with a new defensive coordinator in Greg Mattison -- needs to get creative.
“Nothing changes," the 6-foot-5, 290-pound Pryce says firmly. "As long as the players are the same, it is not going to change that much. We’re still going to run a lot of the same stuff. The schemes are pretty much the same.
"I’ve known (Mattison) a long time. I had him in college (at Michigan, where he was the defensive line coach and unit coordinator). He lives and breathes defensive linemen. I am happy."
Pryce has made Ravens fans happy in his three years in Baltimore.
In his initial Ravens campaign, Pryce led the team with 13 sacks and blocked a potential game-winning field goal in Tennessee to secure the franchise's biggest-ever comeback in a win against the Titans.
Wrist and chest injuries slowed him the following season, but in a stunning three-game midseason stretch against all three AFC North Division opponents, Pryce averaged four tackles and four quarterback hits per game.
Last season, Pryce returned to the field for the entire campaign and notched 4.5 sacks (third on the team). He also broke up six passes and, in the regular season's final month, he supplemented the Ravens' playoff push with seven more quarterback hits.
Pryce has been described as "disruptive," which is certainly true on the field.
But with his own career winding down and the Ravens needing to free up money for an extension for nose tackle Haloti Ngata, could he become disruptive in another context?
For now, it doesn't appear that way, not with the Ravens seeing themselves on the Super Bowl doorstep.
“You look at last year like it was last year," said Pryce, reflecting on the team's AFC Championship Game loss to Pittsburgh.
"I don’t think you want to say that if we worked a little harder we could have made it because every year is a different experience," he continued. "The fact that we got close is OK. Let’s put that aside and worry about what happens this season.
"Let’s not dwell on what happened before. You put that away and there is nothing we can do about it.”
But if there's a story to be told about it -- or a script to be written -- it's clear where the source of the material can be found.
***
JOEY P'S TRIVIA TIME: While there may be no prizes in it for you, Trivia Time is just another way we at PressBox have fun whetting your appetite (and ours) throughout the offseason.
Today's question:
In three seasons as a Raven, Trevor Pryce has notched 19.5 of his 83.5 career quarterback sacks, taking down Oakland's Andrew Walter for his first sack as a Raven early in the 2006 campaign.
However, which eventual Hall of Fame quarterback was Pryce's first victim as a Denver Broncos rookie in 1997?
The answer appears towards the end of this column.
***
PRACTICE REPORT: Wednesday morning's media-viewing session took place outdoors on a raw, damp, foggy day. The roster now numbers 84 players.
A number of jersey changes highlighted the session, among them quarterback John Beck, who moved into the number 12, discarding the 9 shirt. Because of that move, wideout Ernie Wheelwright went from 12 to 17; Marcus Maxwell had been wearing 17, but he has been released.
Defensive linemen Brandon McKinney, who stripped Ben Roethlisberger of the ball in the second Pittsburgh game last year, moved from 68 to 91. Rookie William VanDeSteeg took over the 68 jersey.
Wideout Kelley Washington finally got the 15 he wanted and ditched the 2 jersey, which went to ex-Maryland receiver Isaiah Williams.
Western Kentucky center Greg Ryan moved from the 60 to 59, leaving his former number to new center Robby Felix, a perennial all-conference performer at Texas-El Paso who recovered from a stroke to play football.
A few highlights:
- Cornerback Derrick Martin dropped an interception near the goal line, but picked off a deep pass later in the practice.
- Quarterback Joe Flacco was surprisingly inaccurate, with several throws sailing well past his receivers. On one occasion, Demetrius Williams (hamstring) appeared to pull up short of the ball, but he did recover to make a one-handed end-zone grab later on.
- Flacco is definitely trying to work Washingtton into the mix. He threw to him several times, including a quick slant over the middle after a three-step drop.
- Beck's cadence drew the defense offsides several times, but several defensive players complained that his signal calls were illegal.
- Marcus Smith beat Fabian Washington to the post to catch a deep pass. Washington fell down and appeared to hurt his hand on the play.
- Kicker Graham Gano's kickoffs consistently sailed several yards deep in the end zone.
***
GOOD ATTENDANCE: Next week, another full-team minicamp is on the books, but the June 1-3 session is voluntary, not mandatory. That being said, attendance for all the voluntary organized team activities (OTAs) has been near-perfect thus far.
Nose tackle Haloti Ngata was not at Wednesday's media-viewing session due to some course work at Oregon, where he was continuing to work towards his degree.
Injuries held back tight end Quinn Sypniewski (bone re-attachment surgery) and wideout Derrick Mason (shoulder), even though Mason did participate in individual drills earlier in the week and should be ready for training camp.
Linebacker Terrell Suggs has not yet signed his franchise-tag tender, so he has not been at the facility for any of the OTA sessions.
Last year, Suggs didn't sign the tender until after training camp had ended, but it doesn't seem to be much of an issue with anybody.
“I think most of the guys are always around anyway," tight end Todd Heap said. "I don’t think that there has been an issue.
"We have a lot guys that just love football that are able to be here and are here. That’s the bottom line. All the guys that are able to be here are here, and we are getting a lot of work in that way.”
Following the voluntary full-team camp, another passing camp is scheduled for June 8-10. The three-day, all-rookie session on June 15-17 closes out the OTA portion of the offseason.
***
DOWN THE OCEAN: This weekend's Council of Baltimore Ravens Roosts convention and parade will attract the usual cadre of players to the annual Ocean City event.
This year, perhaps the biggest-name group of players is tentatively scheduled to attend.
This list is subject to change, but among those slated to ride in the Saturday morning parade and participate in other Roost festivities are:
Return specialist Yamon Figurs, wideout Marcus Smith, guards Marshal Yanda and Ben Grubbs, tackle Adam Terry, lineman Joe Reitz and cornerback Evan Oglesby.
There could be a few additions to that list, but they have not yet been announced.
Terry was present last year at the Roost convention, which is annually held at the Castle In The Sand Hotel on 37th Street on the weekend following Memorial Day.
***
ALL IN THE FAMILY: The tiny Baltimore suburb known as "Coachville" just saw its population rise to 20.
But even though the Ravens' coaching staff is as large and specialized as anyone else's these days, they at least know how to keep it in the family.
The latest addition is 31-year-old Jason Brooks, the new offensive quality control coach and the son of current defensive line coach Clarence Brooks.
The younger Brooks will also chip in with the wideout corps, assisting Jim Hostler.
“Jason comes in here with college coaching and pro personnel experience, and we’re happy to have him on board,” head coach John Harbaugh stated. “He is a high-energy, hard-working individual who adds a lot to our team.
"Plus, with his dad, he’s from a coaching family with a strong background.”
Brooks was a Miami Dolphins scouting assistant, but has also coached at the college level with Massachusetts and Norwich (VT). He was also a student assistant at Middle Tennessee State.
Quality control coaches have a myriad of unsung duties to perform, such as breaking down game film. Indeed, the Ravens have not had quality control coaches for most of their history.
Before now, the most vivid memory anyone had of a quality control coach was when former Atlanta Falcons running back John Settle was on the field running plays during practices under head coach Ted Marchibroda in 1996 because, for the first eight weeks of the Ravens' debut season, there was no money for a practice squad.
***
ANOTHER TAKE: Earlier this month, we told you in Ravens Report about the first preseason picks of the year.
USA Today's "Sports Weekly" laid out their division and championship predictions, going with a Pittsburgh Steelers-Philadelphia Eagles Super Bowl, with Pittsburgh repeating as champs. The publication also had the Ravens winning a wild-card berth, but not going deep into the playoffs.
This week, we find that the folks at Beckett, a noted trading card and memorabilia company, also have a preseason magazine on the stands. Beckett has the season ending in a slightly different fashion, with the Eagles beating the Steelers in the Super Bowl.
Not only that, but two of Beckett's six prognosticators have the Ravens winning the AFC North Division and one of them, NFL senior market analyst Dan Hitt, has Baltimore going all the way to the Super Bowl and beating the Dallas Cowboys.
That may seem like a left-field pick, but remember: this year's Super Bowl is in Miami, the same city -- but not the same stadium -- where the Baltimore Colts and Cowboys tangled in Super Bowl V.
***
SUPER BOWL ROTATION: With the recent announcement that Super Bowl XLVII (47) has been awarded to New Orleans -- the game will mark the end of an 11-year absence from that city -- here is the projected lineup of Super Bowl dates, sites and TV networks.
Keep in mind that if the regular season is lengthened and the Super Bowl is pushed deeper into February, this schedule is subject to change:
Super Bowl XLIV (44) -- February 7, 2010 (CBS), Dolphin Stadium, Miami
Super Bowl XLV (45) -- February 6, 2011 (FOX), Cowboys Stadium, Arlington, TX
Super Bowl XLVI (46) -- February 5, 2012 (NBC), Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis
Super Bowl XLVII (47) -- February 3, 2013 (CBS), Louisiana Superdome, New Orleans
Super Bowl XLVIII (48) -- February 1, 2014 (FOX), site to be announced
The New Orleans game will be the tenth Super Bowl played there, tying Miami for the most. However, it would be only the seventh game at the Superdome; the other three were played at since-demolished Tulane University Stadium.
***
QUOTE OF THE DAY: Harbaugh's enthusiasm for his job is already well-documented, but sometimes, it lends itself to hyperbole and a need for decaffeinated coffee.
Before a recent OTA practice, the second-year head coach poked his head into the media room and excitedly said to the one reporter that was there:
"We just had the BEST offensive meeting in the history of the NFL!"
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LET US KNOW: What do you think of the daily Ravens Report, or, for that matter, the Ravens material in the PressBox monthly print edition?
Is there stuff in there you like, don't like or would like to see more of?
Let us know what you think by e-mailing us at joeyp@pressboxonline.com, and we'll occasionally list and answer the best and most compelling questions right here.
***
TRIVIA TIME ANSWER: Pryce's first career sack was actually a half-sack, combining with a teammate to take down Seattle Seahawks veteran signal-caller Warren Moon during a 30-27 Broncos win in 1997, Pryce's rookie year.
That year, Denver was making the first of its back-to-back Super Bowl runs, but the Seahawks -- then a Denver rival in the AFC West Division -- were in the midst of a 4-1 midseason surge that threatened the Broncos' hold at the top of the division.
The three-point loss to Denver effectively derailed the Seahawks' season as they faded to an 8-8 finish.
As things turned out, neither team won the division -- a 13-3 Kansas City team did -- but the Broncos knocked off the Jacksonville Jaguars and then the Chiefs on their way to Super Bowl XXXII, where they upset the defending champion Green Bay Packers.
Pryce had a total of two sacks in his first season with the Broncos, a year that saw him take the field for the final eight games of the regular season.
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ABOUT JOE PLATANIA
Ravens beat writer Joe Platania, 45, is a Baltimore native and has been a multi-award-winning sports journalist for nearly 30 years, covering many different sports at all levels with insight, humor, a near-photographic memory and a keen, prescient eye.
Platania's most notable NFL Draft call came in 1996, when he was the only reporter to forecast the slide of troubled running back Lawrence Phillips past the Ravens' fourth spot in the first round and into the sixth position, where he was taken by the St. Louis Rams.
Also, Platania accurately foresaw Villanova's upset over Georgetown in the 1985 Final Four, Sugar Ray Leonard's split-decision win over Marvin Hagler in 1987 and Greg Norman's collapse in the 1996 Masters. He also nailed the exact score of Super Bowl XXV (Giants 20, Bills 19).
A longtime member of the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association and the Pro Football Writers Association of America, Platania (pluh-TAN-ee-uh) will in 2009 enter his 16th season covering pro football, having manned the CFL Stallions beat for The Avenue Newspaper Group of Essex and the Ravens beat for The Avenue as well as several other publications and radio stations.
He is one of only three Baltimore-based print reporters to have covered the Ravens during their entire history.
Platania is a much-sought-after veteran contributor to many talk-radio and television shows, and has also been a contributor to Comcast SportsNet's "Washington Post Live". Previously, he appeared on WJZ-TV's "Football Talk" post-game show with Marty Bass from 2002-04.
He is a four-time Maryland-Delaware-District of Columbia Press Association award winner and was named Maryland Sportscaster of the Year in 1998 for his work on WCBM-AM (680).
Platania, a graduate of St. Joseph's, Cockeysville (1977), Calvert Hall College High School (1981) and Towson University (1985), is single and lives in Cockeysville.
