You know the drill! 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.
The Ravens playoff hopes are on life support, they’ve lost three of their last four games and the most recent was on primetime Sunday night against the Patriots… and feels as if the writing may be on the wall. Regardless, we’ll go through our lists, here is how Glenn and Griffin saw the game playing out and who we should be blaming:
They will count down in sequential order before we name the ultimate prize — Two Slaps to the Helmet. That one player who one single Slap just wouldn’t sit right.
Without further adieu:
Glenn Clark’s Week 18 Slaps:
5. RB Rasheen Ali
I considered Mitchell because he was ineffective out of the backfield (and had a terrible wheel route drop) but the late return made up for it. Ali obviously got blown up by Herbig and had nowhere to go on the early third down run.
4. LB Roquan Smith
Just no impact whatsoever in a game that was determined in the middle of the field.
3. OT Ronnie Stanley
The illegal formation penalty nearly proved fatal. There was the whiff on Heyward. Greater expectations and greater disappointment here.
2. CB Marlon Humphrey
Just an awful night, obviously. I don’t think the math works for them to move on from Humphrey but I also don’t think the answer can be tacking on another year to get the cap figure down.
1. K Tyler Loop (two slaps)
No, he and his family shouldn’t be getting threats. But there’s also no defending it. The miss was bad, another kickoff out of bounds was brutal too. The Ravens need to prioritize solving for kicker in the offseason (and maybe he’ll be it) but their priority should not be solving for Tyler Loop.
Griffin Bass’s Week 18 Slaps:
5. TE Mark Andrews
Where was he? And after getting all that money, too. Ravens go 4-for-12 on 3rd down, that shouldn’t be possible.
4. LG Andrew Vorhees
This spot should be for Todd Monken. Because how on earth does this team, a team with Derrick Henry and Lamar Jackson, a team that sets rushing record after rushing record, routinely get out-snapped on offense, and by WIDE margins. 75-50 last night. Not even close. Vorhees got destroyed on the play Faalele was injured on, plus he has zero instincts, has two defenders in front of him and just decides to not block either.
3. LB Roquan Smith
A lot more bark this bite this season. Malaki Starks was also terrible.
2. CB Marlon Humphrey
Hopefully we can restructure the contract or something, because as bad as he was this season, he’s a legacy Raven and I believe he is still very capable of being an impactful player in the NFL. Asking him to play 100% of the snaps might also be an issue.
1. “Kicker” Tyler Loop (two slaps)
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If you want to listen as the boys recap the action, click play below to hear their reasoning for the Slaps they dished out. Plus we quickly recapped the results of the CFP New Year’s games in the GCR Picks Contest. Listen to it all below:
Here are the updated GCR Picks Contest standings, Griffin remains firmly at the top:
And here is the final, season-long Ravens standings, players getting positive points for ‘Pats’ and negative points for ‘Slaps’:
Photo Credit: Kenya Allen/PressBox
