Ravens Report-Week 1 2009

Hello, and welcome to the 2009-2010 Baltimore Ravens football season, and to my yearly Ravens Report.
Key offseason additons: WR Kelley Washington, C Matt Birk, CB Domonique Foxworth

Key offseason departures: C Jason Brown, LB Bart Scott, CB Chris McAlister, S Jim Leonhard, K Matt Stover, Defensive Coordinator Rex Ryan

Draft Picks:
Round 1: OT Michael Oher, Mississippi
Round 2: DE Paul Kruger, Utah
Round 3: CB Lardarius Webb, Nicholls State
Round 5: LB Jason Phillips, Texas Christian
Round 5: TE Davon Drew, East Carolina, cut during Training Camp
Round 6: RB Cedric Peerman, Virginia, cut during Training Camp
The Ravens finished up a perfect preseason last week with a win against the Atlanta Falcons. Some people take a perfect preseason as a means to a great year ahead. But that is not it at all. The Detroit Lions completed a perfect preseason last year, and went on to go 0-16. So don't take this perfect preseason as a blessing.

In Week 1, the Ravens are home at M@T Bank Stadium to face the Kansas City Chiefs. The Chiefs have both a new coach and a new quarterback. Their new head coach, Todd Haley, was the offensive coordinator last year for the NFC Champion Arizona Cardinals. New quarterback Matt Cassel started last year for the Patriots after Tom Brady's season ending injury. But Cassel was injured during the preseason, and is a game-time decision for Sunday afternoon's game. If Cassel cannot play, the quarterback will either be Tyler Thigpen or Brodie Croyle. The Chiefs main playmaker on offense is WR Dwayne Bowe. Bowe is one of the most underrated wide recievers in the NFL. If Bowe had more talent surrounding him, he would no doubt be one of the best WRs in the league. The Chiefs are not expected to be successful at all this season, so the Ravens are favored to win. I have the Ravens winning, 31-13.
Suggestion: Despite losing key defensive personnel during the off-season, the Ravens defense is still one of the top in the NFL. The Ravens will need to show that on Sunday. If the Ravens cannot stop the Chiefs unorganized offense, it could be a long year.
Key Matchups for Ravens vs. Chiefs
Ravens WR Derrick Mason vs. Chiefs CB Brandon Carr Edge: Mason
Ravens RT Michael Oher vs. Chiefs RE Glenn Dorsey Edge: Dorsey
Ravens RB Willis McGahee vs. Chiefs LB Mike Vrabel Edge: McGahee
Ravens CB Fabian Washington vs. Chiefs WR Dwayne Bowe Edge: Bowe
Ravens LB Ray Lewis vs. Chiefs RB Larry Johnson Edge: Lewis
Ravens DE Trevor Pryce vs. Chiefs RG Mike Goff Edge: Pryce

Injury Report
Ravens

Player-Injury-Status
TE L.J. Smith-Hamstring-DBT
LB Dannell Ellerbe-Knee-QST
LB Brandon Ayanbadejo-Foot-PRB
DE Haloti Ngata-Foot-PRB

Chiefs
Player-Injury-Status
QB Matt Cassel-Knee-QST
WR Terrance Copper-Hamstring-QST
CB Brandon Flowers-Shoulder-QST

PRB-Probable
QST-Questionable
DBT-Doubtful

Well that's it for this week's addition of my Ravens Report, see ya next week.