You should know the drill by now, but if you’re new, here at Glenn Clark Radio, we always try to reflect on the most recent Ravens game in a more convivial manner. In retrospect, we like to choose five players on the team who — depending on the outcome of the game — deserve a Pat On The Ass or Slap To The Helmet.
The rules are simple: pick two players on defense, two players on offense, and one “wild card” (an offensive player, defensive player, special teamer or coach) who stuck out from the pack.
We all bore witness yesterday, the Ravens lost 26-23 to the Raiders in Week 2. As a result, we have some Helmet Slaps to hand out.
They will count down in sequential order before we name the ultimate prize — Two Slaps to the Helmet.
Without further adieu:
Glenn’s Slaps to the Helmet, Week 2:
5. CB Brandon Stephens
Look, it’s clearly unfair to pile on him too much for the PI because, man, really? But he struggled when matched up with Davante Adams too. That’s understandable and all but still, a big part of the story.
4. S Kyle Hamilton
Perhaps he’s not being used appropriately but he simply hasn’t seemed like the same guy.
3. OL Patrick Mekari
They finally got him some help as the game went on but, like, yeesh.
2. OL Daniel Faalele
It’s not working.
1. Head Coach John Harbaugh
Yeah, it’s the failed challenges that were wasted timeouts. Yeah, it’s the totality of the penalties.
Griffin’s Slaps to the Helmet, Week 2:
5. CB Brandon Stephens
He’s gonna be #5 on this list…had a hard time making this list at all because I don’t feel great about putting any players here after they played well enough to win yesterday. Alas, rules are rules, so here we go: Stephens was stuck outside one-on-one a lot, most of the day actually, and had the impossible task of guarding Davante Adams. It didn’t go well.
4. LB Trenton Simpson
Had a lot of trouble covering Brock Bowers, namely in the second half. Very disappointed by his performance especially after what was such an encouraging Week 1 in Kansas City.
3. RG Daniel Faalele
He’s lost out there. Can’t play RT, so they moved him to RG. He can’t play RG, so is he even an NFL Offensive Lineman?
2. RT Patrick Mekari
Coulda picked a name out of a hat (Vorhees, Faalele, Mekari) for the two offensive players. Maxx Crosby is a great football player, far outmatched anything the OL had to offer, and Mekari having the toughest time from first snap of the game to the final series. And this is an issue that is above just blaming the player, because why let your RT get exposed like that?
1. HC John Harbaugh
The challenges, the timeouts, the penalties. It was all just brutal. And the thing that stuck with, only highlighted by the broadcast once or twice, but they have Marvin Lewis on the sidelines with a headset. Clearly every team can benefit from that, so my question is, why isn’t Marvin Lewis on our sideline?
We also recapped the weekend in picks, an abysmal week for everyone involved…the good news is, it’s still early. Here are the updated standings:
You can listen as Glenn and Griffin recap picks and dish out their Slaps for the week by clicking play below:
Photo Credit: Kenya Allen/PressBox
