Goon: Cowboys Game Is Must-Win For Ravens

Kyle, how are you? Good, thanks for having me on, man.

Absolutely. Let's get to brass tacks right now. The team is 0-2. They got Dallas in Dallas on Sunday.

What are your expectations for this game? We know their backs are against the wall before people lose it. Yeah, yeah. I mean, you know, it's interesting. It's kind of a special brand of like 0-2 desperation for a team that, you know, expect to try and contend for a Super Bowl this year. And, you know, the desperation of the Cowboys isn't trying not to be embarrassed in back-to-back games at home. So, you know, I kind of expect the Ravens to get back to business in a way, but I don't think it'll be easy based on some of the challenges that we've seen in previous weeks I'm sure we're about to get into.

Well, certainly. Well, first, let's look at the guy who typically gets all of the blame because the team is built around him. It's Lamar Jackson. What are your thoughts on his performance so far this year? And then also how the balance has operated or lack thereof between Lamar and Derek Henry? Yeah, I mean, I think that's a mix that going into the year, you know, it was pretty known that the Ravens were going to have a really inexperienced offensive line, three new starters. And I look at Lamar Jackson, who's one of the most quick electric runners in the NFL. And I look at Derek Henry, the big offseason free agent, who's one of the biggest bruisers in the NFL.

And I was sort of like, well, how can this not work? I mean, you have a running game that's set up to do, you know, both kinds of playmaking, plow over you or run around you and leave you gasping at air. And I think the Ravens just haven't figured that out yet. I mean, the first game, Derek Henry had just 13 carries and Lamar at 16. Last game, Derek Henry had 18 carries and really got going in the second half and Lamar had five. And I think that balance of, you know, those guys running the ball and kind of having a, you know, a thunder and lightning combo just hasn't really meshed in the way that the Ravens need to get their run game going.

And of course, the offensive line just being so inexperienced, just not having a lot of games together, it's really contributed to that shortcoming. Kyle Goon is joining us here from the Baltimore banner. Kyle, I hate to not even interrupt you. Have you been keeping up with Shohei Ohtani? Have you seen what this guy's doing? Yes. Do you understand, like right now, this second, he just hit another home run?

I didn't. I'm totally locked in on the phone call, but he's been going nuts tonight. And he's definitely the most exciting player in baseball. I'm glad as a former L.A. resident, I'm glad he's with a franchise that can actually showcase his talent on a winning team. I mean, he was laboring away in Anaheim for years where no one went to go see him. And now he's on the Dodgers, a proper baseball team, and he's really showing out. This is not the first 50-50 season. My God, he has three home runs tonight and 10 RBIs, two stolen bases. He's six for six. But we'll get back into that.

I've just I've never seen I'm so I've never seen a line like this in my life. It's it's nuts. We got Kyle Goon here joining us from the Baltimore banner covers all things Ravens. Another issue with the Baltimore Ravens. It's unusual for them to give up these big 20 spots to start a season back to back. What are your impressions on the defense and and what they haven't been able to do? Yeah, I mean, well, it's really clear what they haven't been able to do.

They get thrown on. And I think that bodes well for the Cowboys that the Ravens have given up the most passing yards in the NFL, which sounds ridiculous because, you know, last year the Ravens were, you know, number one in scoring defense, number one in sacks, number one in interceptions, which has never been done in the modern NFL. And, you know, they have this reputation of just being ferocious on that end. But, you know, they have a new defensive coordinator. They lost their coordinator, Mike McDonald, to Seattle. Now it's Zach Orr, who used to be a linebacker. He's only 32.

But people really think highly of this guy. He's kind of learning the ropes in a way. I mean, I think there's some communication issues that have led to busted coverages. Their guys have dealt with penalties. And even though it's an experienced secondary led by guys like Kyle Hamilton, Marlon Humphrey, they just haven't really gotten it together on all the communication issues, the coverage issues, and they're getting passed on right now. Well, Kyle, that's the issue as it relates to the defense. As you talk about coordinators, it reminds me a couple of seasons ago, we had fans showing up to the Ravens facility asking for the dismissal of their former coordinator. How much time does Todd Monken have before people start showing up at the facility again going, hey, man, make the offense work?

Yeah, I mean, that's a very good question. And even though the Ravens had a great year last year, I mean, they were one of the best offenses in the NFL. I think the talent is so apparent, especially running the ball and just the lack of success there. I think there's some real frustration already.

And I don't think it's drive up to the facility and put up a sign kind of way. But, you know, hey, you're talking about 0-3. If the Ravens do start the season 0-3 after going to the AFC Championship last year, if you're talking about, hey, let's get back to the Super Bowl this year, that's a riot in Baltimore.

That's not good. And then the next week is they have to come home against the Buffalo Bills, which have been a really tough team so far. So the early schedule is just a whole referendum on can the Ravens be the team that they said they were being, they were going to be. And it just hasn't showed up. I think they do have the talent to do it.

It's just put assembling the puzzle on the fly. Kyle Goon is here with us via the Baltimore banner. You know, one area that people always kind of point out as well right now is the wide receiver group. We know Mark Andrews is there.

There's going to be larger expectations for Zay Flowers. What are your thoughts on how the team is constructed? Do they have enough reliable pass catchers to, I don't know, maybe go down the field when there's, I don't know, less than two minutes on the clock? Well, if you look at strictly the wide receiver group, I would say the answer is no. But when you look at that group that also includes the tight ends, I think that was kind of what the Ravens were counting on. And they lost Odell Beckham, who was a pretty valuable piece for them last year. And that was the main change to the wide receiver course. So they only got less talented at receiver, but they have Mark Andrews healthy.

They have Isaiah Blakely, who had more than 100 yards receiving in the first game against Kansas City and almost won it, if not for his toe, just stretching right over the back line. And, you know, those two are elite pass catchers at their position. The problem has been Mark Andrews hasn't been what he's been in the past few years. And in general, it just seems difficult for them to get both of those guys going in the same game. We just don't really see both those guys going off and rolling off big games together playing the same position. So I'm not sure. I mean, I think, you know, they've got to find a way to unleash that to be the best version of this team.

For whatever reason, it just hasn't happened yet. Kyle Goon joining us here from the Baltimore Banner covers all things Baltimore sports, including the Ravens. What is your thought process? What is your expectation for the Ravens at the end of the season? Where do you think they're going to end up? I mean, I think they're going to be right in the thick of this division race. The AFC North is always a tough division. I originally predicted them at 11 and 6. I actually changed my prediction from originally 10 and 7 and thought, you know what, Lamar and John Harbaugh, they always overachieve.

I got to add one more win to that prediction that now I'm wondering should I stuck with it? But I think they're going to be on the winning side record wise. It's just a question in this AFC.

Is that going to be good enough? I mean, there are some tough teams, including the Chiefs, including the Bills, you know, including, you know, well, the Dolphins are down right now with it without Tua. But, you know, there's just a lot of tough teams in that conference. And the Ravens really got to edge out the Bengals, the Browns, the Steelers in their own division to have a chance. So I think they're going to be really tight up against the top of the division. And frankly, they've already hurt themselves by starting out 0-2.

No doubt about it, Kyle. Let's stay a little bit closer. It's Monday.

It is September 23rd. It is 730 a.m. on 105.7, the fan in Baltimore. Are the fans going to be losing their minds or are they going to be happy with a win from down in Dallas?

Gosh, you know, I know it might not be so popular with you guys in the affiliate out in Texas, but I think that the Baltimore fans are going to be happy this weekend. I just think there's too much talent. The issues that they've shown are correctable through scheme and coaching. I don't know why they lost this last game, frankly.

And I think they're just kind of right on the cusp. If they had won last week's game, we'd be talking about their one loss, the defending champions, by a toe. So I think the Ravens will get back to business and winning this weekend in Dallas. But that being said, we know that the Cowboys aren't going to be pushed over on their own home field. And I think Micah Parsons might have a thing or two to say about my prediction. So we'll see.

And Dallas Cowboys coming off of their own disappointment as well. Hey, Kyle, thank you so much for the time. Where can people follow you in all of your work with the banner? Yeah, I'm at Kyle Goon on all the social media platforms and we're at thebaltimorebanner.com. Check us out. Thank you very much. Thank you. You got to come back more, Kyle, because people break records when you join us next time. Yeah, yeah. Just call me anytime.

Shohei Atani is having a great game and we'll dedicate at least one question to that. My man. Thank you so much, Kyle. Appreciate it. Thank you. Have a good one.