Westminster Ravens Roost Members Anticipate a Strong Season Ahead

In spite of not having a public training camp and losing some key players, some members of the Westminster Ravens Roost #115 are optimistic about the team's performance this coming season.

Raul Eusantos and Chad Tracey are both on the board of directors of the Westmintser Ravens Roost #115. Both said that not having training camp in Westminster has dampened the enthusiasm for the coming season.

In late June, the Ravens announced that they would end a 15-year tradition of holding the training camp in Westminster and instead, train at their main facility in Owings Mills. The change was made as a result of the NFL lockout that ended in late July. 

"It's really too bad we couldn't have training camp. It put a big damper on Ravens enthusiasm in Westminster over the summer," Eusantos said. 

"Locally it’s been tough without training camp. I went to camp three to four times a week. Especially with new faces it’s tough because I can’t see the players up front," Tracey said.

In the week since the lockout ended, the Ravens have released Derrick Mason, Todd Heap, Kelly Gregg and Willis McGahee. Several free agents have been picked up and 26 rookie free agents have been signed.

Losing key players is always hard for fans, Eusantos and Tracey concluded.

"It hurt to see Heap picked up (he will play for the Arizona Cardinals this year). I was also hoping we’d keep Josh Wilson, I think losing him will hurt a lot," Eusantos said. 

Tracey said that Derrick Mason has not been picked up yet so there may be a chance the Ravens could get him back for the right price. 

Both Eusantos and Tracey are excited about the Ravens signing fullback Vonta Leach. 

"We picked up Vonta Leach from the Texans, he can help with Ray Rice to make the running game better,"  Eusantos said.

Tracey added, "I think getting Leach was a good move. It will help us get back to pounding the ball this year, lots of running."

But a bigger concern for some Ravens fans is who the Ravens did not pick up.

"My biggest concern is the secondary cornerback," Eusantos said. "Domonique Foxworth isn’t 100 percent going into the season. I’m a little sorry we haven’t been able to pick up another free agent cornerback.

"My second concern is that we don’t have a big, 6 foot 5 receiver who can stretch the field. We have never had that type of weapon for (Joe) Flacco." 

Tracey said he thinks the Ravens still need another pass rusher or offensive tackle to give the offensive line a little more depth.

But regardless of their concerns, the two loyal fans say there is much to look foward to this season. 

"Fans needs to calm down," Tracey said. "We are going to have a good season. We are going to surprise a lot of people this year." 

Eusantos agreed.

"I think we can look forward to Flacco’s fourth year, and Leach will be blocking for Ray Rice so it will be exciting to see what transpires there."

That optimism comes with an analysis of the bigger picture of challenges faced by teams across the league.

"A lot of teams are in the same situation. We are losing some key players  and got some new players," Eusantos said. "Nobody knows what is going to happen. There was no training camp and only a week for free agents.  I think the enthusiasm for football will pick up again when the season starts."

"I believe in Ozzie Newsome, I think he’s patient," Tracey said. "A lot of teams are making big splashes, big contracts.  I would rather let a player go a year too early rather than a year too late. Some fans want big splashy names but that doesn’t always mean wins." 

The Westminster Ravens Roost has close to 100 members. The next Westminster Raven's Roost meeting is Aug. 24 at 6:30 p.m. at Maggie's Restaurant.

The Ravens will face the Philadelphia Eagles in their first preseason game on Aug. 11 at 7:30 p.m. in Philadelphia.