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11:31

Baltimore Sun Sports - Welcome to today's live chat with Ken Murray about the Ravens. You can begin submitting questions now.

11:59

Ken Murray - Hello everyone. Hope you've got some new questions so I don't have to give old answers. Serve 'em up.

12:00

[Comment From Lee]
Hi Ken, Thanks for having the chat today. I was wondering about Samari and if he chooses to retire soon. We'll miss him of course but will the Ravens be able to pick up anyone or is there even anyone available to replace him to help us this year?

12:01

Ken Murray - Lee, there's no one on the street who could come in and play, and now that the trade deadline has passed there are not viable options. It's to the point where the players here have to play better and make plays. That's usually what it comes down to.

12:01

[Comment From Todd (Heap) Schaefer]
Similar to how San Diego uses Darren Sproles as a punt returner, do you foresee any situations in which the Ravens use Ray Rice as their punt return man?

12:03

Ken Murray - Interesting possibility, Todd. I think they'd like to prevent wear and tear on Rice because of the pounding he takes as a RB-receiver. But it's always possible. I think to jump start the punt return team, they might look more at Ed Reed, though. Ed's always eager to get the ball in his hands.

12:03

[Comment From Patrick]
Ken, I know players or coaches don't want to throw people under the bus but whats the problem with the defense. You can't be in the top 5 one year and 20th the next yr without some major problem. I don't believe in the "we lost Scott and Ryan" theory. It's still the majority of the same team but with a different coordinator. Is it the players, coordinator or both?. And do you see any light at the end of the tunnel or is it a crack in the ceiling?

12:06

Ken Murray - I like this question, Patrick. It can't be the loss of Bart, and the loss of Rex could only partially account. The real problem with the defense is being out of position numerous times and giving up numerous big plays. That's just not exceptable. The rankings are fraudulant anyway because they're based on total yards. To me, scoring defense, yards per play and turnovers forced represent a better indication of a stout defense. So I don't put a lot of faith in numbers. But the defense, and it's not all the secondary, has to make sure they fulfill their assignments. They simply need to make more plays. And they are capable. I expect this will turn around in the next three weeks.

12:06

[Comment From Bob]
Brian Billick was here in Houston yesterday doing the Texans game for Fox. It got me thinking: you never hear his name mentioned with the other Super Bowl winning ex-coaches as possible candidates...is he pushing himself in the marketplace, or, was John Harbaugh's success last year with (basically) the same personnel on top of a rookie quarterback really hurt Brian's coaching stock?

12:09

Ken Murray - You hit it on the head, Bob. The fact Harbaugh took over, instilled discipline and cohesion, and had a 1-AA quarterback take them to the championship game spoke volumes. Billick never solved the offensive puzzle here (ask colleague Jamison Hensley about that). I think Brian's stock will rise in the next year or two and perhaps he'll get a chance. I truly hope he does, because Billick is a sharp, sharp guy and will correct the things he did wrong here.

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