Last week, the Ravens improved to 4-1 with a 29-14 defeat over the Houston Texans. At the end of the first quarter, the Ravens used a number of Texans penalties to score, and Joe Flacco finished the drive off when he pounded the ball into the end zone from less than a yard out. Houston tied it back up when a Texans fumble bounced into the end zone, and was recovered for the score. Billy Cundiff added a field goal and the Ravens took a lead into the half. After another Cundiff field goal, the Texans took advantage of one-on-one coverage, and took the lead on a perfectly-throw pass from Matt Schaub to Jacoby Jones. After that lapse in coverage, the Ravens defense quickly stepped it up, and wouldn't allow another Texans score. After two Cundiff field goals, Ricky Williams sealed the win late with a four-yard run, and the Ravens got a much-needed home win over the Texans. We saw the best and the worst from the Ravens in this game. The offense produced, but were successful in just 50% of their red zone opportunities. That percentage will simply not cut it if the Ravens defense cannot hold the opponent's offense. That trend is a tad bit scary, and needs to stop in order for the Ravens to contend against better offensive teams. One good thing we can take away from the offense's performance last week was Anquan Boldin, who had one of his best games as a Raven, and is finally getting thrown the passes he deserves.
Player of the Game: Ravens RB Ray Rice- 23 carries for 101 rushing yards, 5 catches for 60 receiving yards
Last Week's Key to the Game: Last week I said the Ravens couldn't use the Texans injuries as an excuse for lightening up on them. At times it seemed like they did, but in the end, the Ravens defense buckled down, and were able to pull out the win.
Next Monday night, the Ravens travel to Jacksonville for a prime-time matchup with the struggling 1-5 Jaguars. A former rival of the Ravens, the Jaguars have got off to a bad start this year, and could have a tough time contending with a strong Ravens team. After cutting veteran QB David Garrard, the Jags have turned to rookie Blaine Gabbert to lead their offense, and he has yet to win a game. He has made his share of rookie mistakes, yet there is some promise in Gabbert's future. Last week, the Jaguars made it a game against the Steelers, losing by just four. The Ravens will need to do everything the Steelers did not in order to avoid a game that is even close to that. The Ravens defense enters this game with a tremendous advantage. They have allowed the fewest points per game in the NFL, while the Jaguars have the second lowest points per game total. Chuck Pagano's defense relies on confusing the opposing quarterback with many blitz packages, and this week, facing a rookie quarterback, expect Pagano's crew to thrive on the young meat they'll be presented with. All in all, Gabbert could be in for a long night. The one bright spot on the Jaguars offense is RB Maurice Jones-Drew, one of the premier backs in the game, who is averaging close to five yards per carry this year. If the Ravens can shut down Jones-Drew, they should have no problem stopping the rest of the weak Jaguars offense. On the defensive side, the Jaguars are allowing over 100 rushing yards per game this year, so look for Ray Rice to have a substantial role in Monday night's gameplan. To give you another example of the Ravens advantage in this game, Rice's single game average is just slightly worse than that of the entire Jaguars offense. On the bright side, the Jags defense are ranked 8th in yards allowed, so not everything is bad in Jacksonville. Also, former Ravens and current Jaguars S Dawan Landry will have the first chance to face his old team. On paper, this shouldn't even be close, and that is exactly what I think will happen come Monday night. I have the Ravens winning once again, 27-9.
Key to the Game: As I said earlier, the Jaguars main offensive threat is Maurice Jones-Drew, who has the chance to burn any defense he faces. If the Ravens defense can stop Jones-Drew, it should be smooth sailing.
Key Matchups for Ravens at Jaguars
Ravens S Ed Reed vs. Jaguars QB Blaine Gabbert Edge: Reed
Ravens LB Ray Lewis vs. Jaguars RB Maurice Jones-Drew Edge: Lewis
Ravens WR Torrey Smith vs. Jaguars CB Reshean Mathis Edge: Mathis
Ravens RB Ray Rice vs. Jaguars LB Paul Posluszny Edge: Rice
Injury Report
Ravens
Player-Injury Status
LB Dannell Ellerbe-Thigh-OUT
WR Lee Evans-Ankle-OUT
G Ben Grubbs-Toe-OUT
S Tom Zbikowski-Head-DBT
CB Chris Carr-Thigh-QST
Jaguars
Player-Injury-Status
S Courtney Greene-Hamstring-OUT
T Eben Britton-Back-DBT
G Jason Spitz-Quad-QST
Well, that's it for this week's version of my Ravens Report, see you next week and Go Ravens!
Saturday, October 22, 2011
Saturday, October 15, 2011
Ravens Report-Week 6 2011
Two weeks ago, the Ravens put a Sunday night beatdown on Rex Ryan's Jets, with a final score of 34-17. The defense put together a performance as good as you'll see, forcing four turnovers, all at the hands of Jets QB Mark Sanchez. The domination started early, when Ed Reed came off the blind side to sack Sanchez and force a fumble that was returned to the end zone by Jameel McClain. The Jets tied it up quickly, when Joe McKnight returned the following kickoff 107 yards for a touchdown. After a Billy Cundiff field goal, Ray Rice pounded it into the end zone, and the Ravens had a 17-7 lead at the end of one quarter. After another Cundiff field goal, Sanchez fumbled, and Jarret Johnson picked it up and returned it for a touchdown. As good as the Ravens defense was, the offense was just that sloppy. Soon after, Joe Flacco under-threw a screen pass, and Jets LB David Harris picked it off returned it back for a score. Nick Folk added a field goal, and the Jets were within 10 points after a first half that lasted two hours. The second half moved much quicker, and midway through the third quarter, the Jets were driving and gaining a ton of momentum. Sanchez stepped back and threw across his body, and Lardarius Webb stepped in front of the pass and returned it for the last score of the game. The rest of the game was defined by more Ravens defensive domination, and the Ravens got a much needed victory. The Jets offense gained just 150 yards of total offense, and Mark Sanchez was under constant pressure. With this game, the Ravens defense has proved that they have the ability to win games on their own, which could be important if Flacco has another game like last week.
Player of the Game: DT Haloti Ngata-2 tackles, 1 sack, 1 forced fumble
Last Week's Key to the Game: Last week, I said that the Ravens needed a balanced offensive attack, but Flacco's bunch came out looking restless and uneasy, and if it weren't for our outstanding defense, we would have lost this game.
The Ravens had their bye week last Sunday.
This Sunday, the Ravens welcome the 3-2 Houston Texans to Baltimore. Ravens FB Vonta Leach and S Bernard Pollard are both former Texans, and should be looking for a little bit of revenge against the team that didn't re-sign them. Houston is coming off a devastating home loss to the Raiders, so they'll surely have some redemption on their mind as well. Texans WR Andre Johnson, their main offensive playmaker, will miss the game with a hamstring injury. With Johnson's injury, the Texans felt the need to acquire another receiver, so they traded for former Raven Derrick Mason. Mason has been with the Jets all season, and played against the Ravens just two weeks ago. I guess he just can't resist Baltimore. The Ravens defense still has to deal with RB Arian Foster, who was the last running back to gain 100 yards against them. QB Matt Schaub is injured but expected to play, as he's been bothered by a sore right shoulder. As for the Texans defense, they have completely turned around since last year, when they finished dead last in pass defense. The addition of CB Jonathan Joseph, who was previously with the Bengals, has meant the world to this defense. But their main impact on defense comes from former first overall pick Mario Williams, who went down in last week's loss, and will miss the rest of the season. Facing such a banged up team, and riding high off a great performance, I have the Ravens winning, 27-13.
Key to the Game: The Ravens should be able to take advantage of this banged-up team, and on paper, this shouldn't even be close. But this game isn't played on paper, and if the Ravens over-think the Texans' many injuries, they could be in trouble.
Key Matchups for Texans at Ravens
Ravens S Ed Reed vs. Texans QB Matt Schaub Edge: Reed
Ravens defensive line vs. Texans RB Arian Foster Edge: Push
Ravens WR Anquan Boldin vs. Texans CB Jonathan Joseph Edge: Joseph
Ravens RB Ray Rice vs. Texans LB DeMeco Ryans Edge: Rice
Injury Report
Ravens
Player-Injury-Status
CB Chris Carr-Thigh-OUT
WR Lee Evans-Ankle-OUT
CB Jimmy Smith-Ankle-OUT
S Tom Zbikowski-Head-OUT
G Ben Grubbs-Toe-QST
Texans
Player-Injury-Status
WR Andre Johnson-Hamstring-OUT
FB James Casey-Chest-DBT
That's it for this week's version of my Ravens Report, see you next week and Go Ravens!
Player of the Game: DT Haloti Ngata-2 tackles, 1 sack, 1 forced fumble
Last Week's Key to the Game: Last week, I said that the Ravens needed a balanced offensive attack, but Flacco's bunch came out looking restless and uneasy, and if it weren't for our outstanding defense, we would have lost this game.
The Ravens had their bye week last Sunday.
This Sunday, the Ravens welcome the 3-2 Houston Texans to Baltimore. Ravens FB Vonta Leach and S Bernard Pollard are both former Texans, and should be looking for a little bit of revenge against the team that didn't re-sign them. Houston is coming off a devastating home loss to the Raiders, so they'll surely have some redemption on their mind as well. Texans WR Andre Johnson, their main offensive playmaker, will miss the game with a hamstring injury. With Johnson's injury, the Texans felt the need to acquire another receiver, so they traded for former Raven Derrick Mason. Mason has been with the Jets all season, and played against the Ravens just two weeks ago. I guess he just can't resist Baltimore. The Ravens defense still has to deal with RB Arian Foster, who was the last running back to gain 100 yards against them. QB Matt Schaub is injured but expected to play, as he's been bothered by a sore right shoulder. As for the Texans defense, they have completely turned around since last year, when they finished dead last in pass defense. The addition of CB Jonathan Joseph, who was previously with the Bengals, has meant the world to this defense. But their main impact on defense comes from former first overall pick Mario Williams, who went down in last week's loss, and will miss the rest of the season. Facing such a banged up team, and riding high off a great performance, I have the Ravens winning, 27-13.
Key to the Game: The Ravens should be able to take advantage of this banged-up team, and on paper, this shouldn't even be close. But this game isn't played on paper, and if the Ravens over-think the Texans' many injuries, they could be in trouble.
Key Matchups for Texans at Ravens
Ravens S Ed Reed vs. Texans QB Matt Schaub Edge: Reed
Ravens defensive line vs. Texans RB Arian Foster Edge: Push
Ravens WR Anquan Boldin vs. Texans CB Jonathan Joseph Edge: Joseph
Ravens RB Ray Rice vs. Texans LB DeMeco Ryans Edge: Rice
Injury Report
Ravens
Player-Injury-Status
CB Chris Carr-Thigh-OUT
WR Lee Evans-Ankle-OUT
CB Jimmy Smith-Ankle-OUT
S Tom Zbikowski-Head-OUT
G Ben Grubbs-Toe-QST
Texans
Player-Injury-Status
WR Andre Johnson-Hamstring-OUT
FB James Casey-Chest-DBT
That's it for this week's version of my Ravens Report, see you next week and Go Ravens!
Saturday, October 1, 2011
Ravens Report-Week 4 2011
Last week, the Ravens recovered from a tough loss by putting a 37-7 beating on the St. Louis Rams. The Ravens came out of the gates hot, as Joe Flacco connected with rookie Torrey Smith for a 74-yard touchdown, Smith first reception, and first touchdown of his young career. On the very next drive, Flacco found Smith again, this time from 41 yards. And then, on just Smith's third catch of the game, Flacco found Smith once more in the end zone, and the Ravens had a 21-0 at the end of the first quarter. In just 15 minutes' time, Torrey Smith established himself as a dangerous deep threat for the Ravens offense, and put himself in the NFL history books, as his first three career receptions all went for touchdowns. Billy Cundiff would add three field goals, and the Ravens held a comfortable 30-0 lead early in the third. The Rams finally got on the board when Brandon Gibson made a fantastic catch in the back of the end zone. Then, late in the fourth, a sack-fumble allowed Haloti Ngata to recover and then run for a touchdown to seal a Ravens win, the first touchdown of Ngata's career. The Ravens defense dominated in this game, sacking Sam Bradford 5 times, and forcing two turnovers. The Ravens offense also had a historic game, with a franchise high 553 total yards. In last week's report, I said the Ravens needed to come out strong, and establish an early lead that would last, virtually sucking the life out of the stadium, and that is exactly what they did. By scoring 21 quick points, the stadium was nearly empty in the second half, other than Ravens fans. Keeping this trend going is vital to a successful year.
Player of the Game: Ravens QB Joe Flacco- 27/48, 389 yards, 3 touchdowns
Last Week's Key to the Game: Last week, I said it would depend on which Ravens team took the field, and fortunately, the right one did.
Next Sunday night, the Ravens welcome many former coaches and players back to Baltimore for a prime-time matchup with the 2-1 New York Jets. Jets Head Coach Rex Ryan spent an entire decade coaching the Ravens defense, and will now have the chance to face his product. Other former Ravens players including Bart Scott and Derrick Mason make their return to the Charm City. The Jets offense is led by QB Mark Sanchez, who is just about as unpredictable as can be. Sanchez's main targets are Santonio Holmes and Plaxico Burress, who each have the talent to spread the field against an inconsistent Ravens secondary. But there is no doubt that for both of these teams, the defense is truly the backbone. The Jets secondary is among the best in the league, with Darrelle Revis and Antonio Cromartie, two of the league's top cornerbacks. It should be interesting to see how Joe Flacco responds to facing such an opponent. Since Flacco now has a new deep threat in Torrey Smith, this Jets secondary will have the tough task of defending against that deep game, and a short game that includes Ray Rice and Anquan Boldin. Also, the Jets run defense has not been as strong as expected, so Ray Rice could break out this week. Last week, the Jets lost a disappointing game to the Raiders, and with last year's Ravens win over the Jets, revenge should certainly be on their minds. With another close game between very similar teams, I have the Ravens pulling out a 17-13 win.
Key to the Game: For Joe Flacco and the Ravens offense, being able to have a balance in the pass game will be vital. Flacco needs to keep the Jets defense guessing by throwing short to targets such as Ray Rice and Ed Dickson, and long to targets such as Torrey Smith.
Key Matchups for Jets at Ravens
Ravens DE Haloti Ngata vs. Jets T D'Brickashaw Ferguson Edge: Ngata
Ravens CB Cary Williams vs. Jets WR Santonio Holmes Edge: Holmes
Ravens RB Ray Rice vs. Jets LB Bart Scott Edge: Rice
Ravens receiving corps vs. Jets secondary Edge: Jets secondary
Injury Report
Ravens
Player-Injury-Status
WR Lee Evans-Ankle-OUT
S Haruki Nakamura-Knee-OUT
WR David Reed-Shoulder-OUT
CB Jimmy Smith-Ankle-OUT
LB Dannell Ellerbe-Thigh-DBT
CB Chris Carr-Thigh-QST
G Ben Grubbs-Toe-QST
Jets
Player-Injury-Status
WR Logan Payne-Wrist-OUT
OL Nick Mangold-Ankle-QST
That's it for this week's version of my Ravens Report, see you next week and Go Ravens!
Player of the Game: Ravens QB Joe Flacco- 27/48, 389 yards, 3 touchdowns
Last Week's Key to the Game: Last week, I said it would depend on which Ravens team took the field, and fortunately, the right one did.
Next Sunday night, the Ravens welcome many former coaches and players back to Baltimore for a prime-time matchup with the 2-1 New York Jets. Jets Head Coach Rex Ryan spent an entire decade coaching the Ravens defense, and will now have the chance to face his product. Other former Ravens players including Bart Scott and Derrick Mason make their return to the Charm City. The Jets offense is led by QB Mark Sanchez, who is just about as unpredictable as can be. Sanchez's main targets are Santonio Holmes and Plaxico Burress, who each have the talent to spread the field against an inconsistent Ravens secondary. But there is no doubt that for both of these teams, the defense is truly the backbone. The Jets secondary is among the best in the league, with Darrelle Revis and Antonio Cromartie, two of the league's top cornerbacks. It should be interesting to see how Joe Flacco responds to facing such an opponent. Since Flacco now has a new deep threat in Torrey Smith, this Jets secondary will have the tough task of defending against that deep game, and a short game that includes Ray Rice and Anquan Boldin. Also, the Jets run defense has not been as strong as expected, so Ray Rice could break out this week. Last week, the Jets lost a disappointing game to the Raiders, and with last year's Ravens win over the Jets, revenge should certainly be on their minds. With another close game between very similar teams, I have the Ravens pulling out a 17-13 win.
Key to the Game: For Joe Flacco and the Ravens offense, being able to have a balance in the pass game will be vital. Flacco needs to keep the Jets defense guessing by throwing short to targets such as Ray Rice and Ed Dickson, and long to targets such as Torrey Smith.
Key Matchups for Jets at Ravens
Ravens DE Haloti Ngata vs. Jets T D'Brickashaw Ferguson Edge: Ngata
Ravens CB Cary Williams vs. Jets WR Santonio Holmes Edge: Holmes
Ravens RB Ray Rice vs. Jets LB Bart Scott Edge: Rice
Ravens receiving corps vs. Jets secondary Edge: Jets secondary
Injury Report
Ravens
Player-Injury-Status
WR Lee Evans-Ankle-OUT
S Haruki Nakamura-Knee-OUT
WR David Reed-Shoulder-OUT
CB Jimmy Smith-Ankle-OUT
LB Dannell Ellerbe-Thigh-DBT
CB Chris Carr-Thigh-QST
G Ben Grubbs-Toe-QST
Jets
Player-Injury-Status
WR Logan Payne-Wrist-OUT
OL Nick Mangold-Ankle-QST
That's it for this week's version of my Ravens Report, see you next week and Go Ravens!
Saturday, September 24, 2011
Ravens Report-Week 3 2011
Last Sunday, the Ravens suffered a tough loss at the hands of the Titans, falling 26-13. The Titans opened up with a 3-0 lead in the second quarter on a Rob Bironas field goal. The Ravens would respond soon, as Ray Rice took a screen pass to the end zone for a 31-yard score. The Ravens defense would continue to get beaten though, allowing another Titans score, and a last-second Cundiff field goal would send the teams to halftime tied at 10. But the Titans would waste no time, scoring on a fourth down from inside the ten, and a Bironas field goal extended the lead with one quarter left. With only seven minutes left on the clock, and trailing 23-10, the Ravens faced a fourth down and goal from the Titans 11-yard line. It seemed like a touchdown was necessary, in order to make it a one-possession game, and the way the Ravens defense was getting thrown around, two stops within seven minutes seemed highly unlikely. But John Harbaugh went against the grain and kicked the field goal. The Ravens defense could again do nothing, and a late field goal sealed the win for the Titans. The Ravens defense seemed lethargic all game, and seemed to be one second behind the Titans on every play. Plain and simple, they got beat bad. The Ravens offense played exactly how they didn't last week, turning the ball over three times. Between the two, the Ravens simply didn't deserve to get this win. This loss shows how much of an any-given-sunday league this is, any team can really beat any team.
Player of the Game: Titans QB Matt Hasselbeck-30/42, 358 yards, 1 touchdown
Last Week's Key to the Game: Last week, I said that the Ravens needed to avoid a hangover from the Steelers win. That is exactly what they did not do. They came out way too confident, and the Titans made them pay for it.
Next Sunday, the Ravens travel to face the 0-2 St. Louis Rams, who had high expectations coming into the year, but have yet to fulfill them. QB Sam Bradford had a breakout rookie season last year, and many thought he would pick up where he left off, but he's yet to play at that same level. One aspect of the Rams offense is their no-huddle attack, which they have used to confuse defenses this year. Since the Ravens defense is slow at times, reacting to the hurry-up offense will be a key to a win against the Rams. RB Steven Jackson is the biggest playmaker on their offense, but has been limited this year with a quad injury, and will be questionable for Sunday's game. Cadillac Williams, his replacement, has rushed for 127 in the first two games. The Rams defense has been a low point so far this season, giving up an average of 177 rushing yards and 29 points per game. QB Joe Flacco needs to lead the Ravens offense to an early start, and try and get the Rams out of the game early by tiring out their defense, and sucking the life out of the stadium. Flacco needs to take advantage of the weak Rams defense by having a statement game to prove that last week was just a fluke. Ravens WR Lee Evans has already been ruled out, so Flacco will have to rely on a thin receiving corps that could see guys like Torrey Smith and Dennis Pitta getting more looks. You can also expect Ray Rice's load to increase after a bad game last week. Ravens WR Anquan Boldin has over 1,000 career receiving yards against the Rams, so he could be vital in the Ravens gameplan. In a win that the Ravens really need, I have them taking it with a score of 24-13.
Key to the Game: This game will really come down to which Ravens team takes the field Sunday. The team that beat the Steelers can beat any team in the NFL. On the other hand, the team that lost to the Titans can lose to any team in the NFL. We'll see.
Key Matchups for Ravens at Rams:
Ravens LB Terrell Suggs vs. Rams offensive line Edge: Suggs
Ravens LB Ray Lewis vs. Rams RBs Cadillac Williams/Steven Jackson Edge: Lewis
Ravens T Bryant McKinnie vs. Rams DE Chris Long Edge: Long
Ravens RB Ray Rice vs. Rams LB James Laurinaitis Edge: Rice
Injury Report
Ravens
Player-Injury-Status
WR Lee Evans-Ankle-OUT
WR David Reed-Shoulder-OUT
CB Jimmy Smtih-Ankle-OUT
CB Chris Carr-Thigh-QST
G Ben Grubbs-Toe-QST
Rams
Player-Injury-Status
WR Danny Amendola-Elbow-OUT
RB Steven Jackson-Quad-QST
LB Ben Leber-Groin-QST
RB Cadillac Williams-Hamstring-QST
That's it for this week's version of my Ravens Report, see you next week and Go Ravens!
Player of the Game: Titans QB Matt Hasselbeck-30/42, 358 yards, 1 touchdown
Last Week's Key to the Game: Last week, I said that the Ravens needed to avoid a hangover from the Steelers win. That is exactly what they did not do. They came out way too confident, and the Titans made them pay for it.
Next Sunday, the Ravens travel to face the 0-2 St. Louis Rams, who had high expectations coming into the year, but have yet to fulfill them. QB Sam Bradford had a breakout rookie season last year, and many thought he would pick up where he left off, but he's yet to play at that same level. One aspect of the Rams offense is their no-huddle attack, which they have used to confuse defenses this year. Since the Ravens defense is slow at times, reacting to the hurry-up offense will be a key to a win against the Rams. RB Steven Jackson is the biggest playmaker on their offense, but has been limited this year with a quad injury, and will be questionable for Sunday's game. Cadillac Williams, his replacement, has rushed for 127 in the first two games. The Rams defense has been a low point so far this season, giving up an average of 177 rushing yards and 29 points per game. QB Joe Flacco needs to lead the Ravens offense to an early start, and try and get the Rams out of the game early by tiring out their defense, and sucking the life out of the stadium. Flacco needs to take advantage of the weak Rams defense by having a statement game to prove that last week was just a fluke. Ravens WR Lee Evans has already been ruled out, so Flacco will have to rely on a thin receiving corps that could see guys like Torrey Smith and Dennis Pitta getting more looks. You can also expect Ray Rice's load to increase after a bad game last week. Ravens WR Anquan Boldin has over 1,000 career receiving yards against the Rams, so he could be vital in the Ravens gameplan. In a win that the Ravens really need, I have them taking it with a score of 24-13.
Key to the Game: This game will really come down to which Ravens team takes the field Sunday. The team that beat the Steelers can beat any team in the NFL. On the other hand, the team that lost to the Titans can lose to any team in the NFL. We'll see.
Key Matchups for Ravens at Rams:
Ravens LB Terrell Suggs vs. Rams offensive line Edge: Suggs
Ravens LB Ray Lewis vs. Rams RBs Cadillac Williams/Steven Jackson Edge: Lewis
Ravens T Bryant McKinnie vs. Rams DE Chris Long Edge: Long
Ravens RB Ray Rice vs. Rams LB James Laurinaitis Edge: Rice
Injury Report
Ravens
Player-Injury-Status
WR Lee Evans-Ankle-OUT
WR David Reed-Shoulder-OUT
CB Jimmy Smtih-Ankle-OUT
CB Chris Carr-Thigh-QST
G Ben Grubbs-Toe-QST
Rams
Player-Injury-Status
WR Danny Amendola-Elbow-OUT
RB Steven Jackson-Quad-QST
LB Ben Leber-Groin-QST
RB Cadillac Williams-Hamstring-QST
That's it for this week's version of my Ravens Report, see you next week and Go Ravens!
Saturday, September 17, 2011
Ravens Report-Week 2 2011
Last week, the Ravens made a statement by dominating the Steelers with a convincing 35-7 win. The Ravens jumped out of the gates early, as Flacco found Anquan Boldin for a 27-yard score on a 3-play drive that saw the offense drive 66 yards in under two minutes. The Ravens would score again when Ray Rice pounded it in from a yard out on a drive that stemmed from a Steelers fumble that put the Ravens in position to strike. Pittsburgh would rebound in the second quarter when Big Ben found Emmanuel Sanders in the back of the end zone. But Flacco wouldn't let the Steelers gain momentum, and the Ravens would make it a two possession game once again, when Flacco dumped it off to Rice, who ran it in for the score. At that point, we could all remember the last time the Ravens took a 21-7 lead into halftime against Pittsburgh, but the Ravens were bound to make sure that didn't happen. On the Steelers first play from scrimmage, Haloti Ngata got into the backfield, put a huge hit on Rashard Mendenhall, and forced a fumble that gave the Ravens the ball in Steelers territory. On the very next play, Flacco found Ed Dickson for a touchdown. The Ravens then faked the extra point, and punter Sam Koch rushed in for the two-point conversion, and the Ravens took a 29-7 lead. The Ravens would go on to force seven turnovers, including two picks from Ed Reed, and one from Ray Lewis. Billy Cundiff would add two field goals, and the Ravens sealed a win that was nothing less than total domination. Every side of the field did their part in this win. A shaky offensive line played a fantastic game, allowing only one sack of Joe Flacco. A questionable receiving corps helped Joe Flacco to one of the best games of his career. The two teams had their fair share of scuffling, including one fight that ended up with Steelers CB Ike Taylor thrown out of the game. The one thing the Ravens and their fan base need to take out of this win is that it's only week one, we have fifteen games left to play, and the Steelers will not go away.
Players of the Game: QB Joe Flacco-17/29 224 yards, 3 touchdowns
RB Ray Rice-19 carries, 107 yards, 1 touchdown
LB Terrell Suggs-5 tackles, 3 sacks, 2 forced fumbles
DT Haloti Ngata-2 tackles, 1 forced fumble
Last Week's Key to the Game: The Ravens responded to the key of the game, easily winning the battle of the pass-rushers. The Ravens sacked Big Ben 4 times, and forced him to commit 5 turnovers, while Flacco was sacked just once.
Next Sunday, the Ravens will travel to Nashville to face off with the 0-1 Tennessee Titans. The Titans looked uninspired last week, losing to the Jaguars. Their star RB, Chris Johnson, was not a factor at all, rushing for just 24 yards. Johnson missed all of training camp and the pre-season because of a contract holdout, and his performance last week reflected that missed time. The Ravens need to hold Johnson again, as the Titans lack offensive playmakers without him. Other than WR Kenny Britt, who performed well last week by catching two touchdowns for over 100 yards, nobody on the Titans offense has the potential to really burn the Ravens defense. If the Ravens can find some way to render both Johnson and Britt irrelevant, the Titans offense won't be able to get it going. The Ravens need to come out strong on offense again. They will be forced to face Titans CB Cortland Finnegan, who can change the tide of the game with an interception. Finnegan has had a decent amount of run-ins with receivers who don't like his over-aggressive style of play, so watch out for that. In another good offensive performance, I have the Ravens taking down the Titans, 23-10.
Key to the Game: Following a dominating win over Pittsburgh, it would be understandable for the Ravens to be over-confident. But if the Ravens come out a bit too happy-go-lucky, the Titans will make them pay for it.
Key Matchups for Ravens at Titans
Ravens LB Ray Lewis vs. Titans RB Chris Johnson Edge: Lewis
Ravens CB Dominique Foxworth vs. Titans WR Kenny Britt Edge: Britt
Ravens WR Anquan Boldin vs. Titans CB Cortland Finnegan Edge: Finnegan
Ravens RB Ray Rice vs. Titans LB Barrett Ruud Edge: Rice
Injury Report
Ravens
Player-Injury-Status
CB Chris Carr-Thigh-OUT
CB Jimmy Smith-Ankle-OUT
G Ben Grubbs*-Toe-DBT
WR Lee Evans-Ankle-PRB
FB Vonta Leach-Foot-PRB
*Grubbs will be a game-time decision.
Titans
Player-Injury-Status
S Chris Hope-Shoulder-DBT
DE William Hayes-Shoulder-QST
WR Damian Williams-Hamstring-QST
Well, that's it for this week's version of my Ravens Report, see you next week and Go Ravens!
Players of the Game: QB Joe Flacco-17/29 224 yards, 3 touchdowns
RB Ray Rice-19 carries, 107 yards, 1 touchdown
LB Terrell Suggs-5 tackles, 3 sacks, 2 forced fumbles
DT Haloti Ngata-2 tackles, 1 forced fumble
Last Week's Key to the Game: The Ravens responded to the key of the game, easily winning the battle of the pass-rushers. The Ravens sacked Big Ben 4 times, and forced him to commit 5 turnovers, while Flacco was sacked just once.
Next Sunday, the Ravens will travel to Nashville to face off with the 0-1 Tennessee Titans. The Titans looked uninspired last week, losing to the Jaguars. Their star RB, Chris Johnson, was not a factor at all, rushing for just 24 yards. Johnson missed all of training camp and the pre-season because of a contract holdout, and his performance last week reflected that missed time. The Ravens need to hold Johnson again, as the Titans lack offensive playmakers without him. Other than WR Kenny Britt, who performed well last week by catching two touchdowns for over 100 yards, nobody on the Titans offense has the potential to really burn the Ravens defense. If the Ravens can find some way to render both Johnson and Britt irrelevant, the Titans offense won't be able to get it going. The Ravens need to come out strong on offense again. They will be forced to face Titans CB Cortland Finnegan, who can change the tide of the game with an interception. Finnegan has had a decent amount of run-ins with receivers who don't like his over-aggressive style of play, so watch out for that. In another good offensive performance, I have the Ravens taking down the Titans, 23-10.
Key to the Game: Following a dominating win over Pittsburgh, it would be understandable for the Ravens to be over-confident. But if the Ravens come out a bit too happy-go-lucky, the Titans will make them pay for it.
Key Matchups for Ravens at Titans
Ravens LB Ray Lewis vs. Titans RB Chris Johnson Edge: Lewis
Ravens CB Dominique Foxworth vs. Titans WR Kenny Britt Edge: Britt
Ravens WR Anquan Boldin vs. Titans CB Cortland Finnegan Edge: Finnegan
Ravens RB Ray Rice vs. Titans LB Barrett Ruud Edge: Rice
Injury Report
Ravens
Player-Injury-Status
CB Chris Carr-Thigh-OUT
CB Jimmy Smith-Ankle-OUT
G Ben Grubbs*-Toe-DBT
WR Lee Evans-Ankle-PRB
FB Vonta Leach-Foot-PRB
*Grubbs will be a game-time decision.
Titans
Player-Injury-Status
S Chris Hope-Shoulder-DBT
DE William Hayes-Shoulder-QST
WR Damian Williams-Hamstring-QST
Well, that's it for this week's version of my Ravens Report, see you next week and Go Ravens!
Saturday, September 10, 2011
Ravens Report-Week 1 2011
Well, here we are. Just a day away from Ravens football. The NFL lockout officially ended on July 25, so NFL players had a shortened training camp to get ready for the season. The Ravens went out and traded for veteran receiver Lee Evans from Buffalo, and signed 5-time Pro Bowl C Andre Gurode. With Matt Birk already entrenched at center, both Gurode's and Birk's roles are yet to be seen. As for Evans, he is a great threat down the field, and will likely be running one main route this year for Flacco. Run straight, look up, catch ball. The Ravens also signed FB Vonta Leach, a physical blocker who will help find holes for Ray Rice to run. As far as cuts went, the one surprise was the release of LB Tavares Gooden, whose injuries helped run him out of Baltimore. The Ravens had a strong pre-season, finishing 3-1 after losing the first game to the Eagles. There were no major injuries, but RB Matt Lawrence and OL Ramon Harewood have already been placed on injured reserve, and will be out for the year.
On Sunday, the Ravens will welcome the hated Pittsburgh Steelers to M&T Bank Stadium to renew the fiercest rivalry in the NFL. After an upsetting loss to the Steelers in the postseason, the Ravens will be looking for a little revenge to open the year. No matter what, until the Ravens win a real important game against Pittsburgh, the Steelers will always have the edge, and the Ravens know that. What has been hurting the Ravens the most against Pittsburgh is the lack of a big playmaker on offense, while the Steelers lead with Big Ben, Rashard Mendenhall and Mike Wallace. With the acquisitions of Lee Evans and Torrey Smith, the Ravens will finally have the opportunity to counterattack. Some might say that because this is the first week of the season, the game isn't as important, but I beg to differ. While it is disappointing that the teams won't have a late-season matchup, I think it is even more important that they're playing here in Week 1. A Ravens win sets the tone for the entire season, and is a huge confidence boost for the players going on. A loss could hurt the Ravens' confidence as the year goes on. In yet another close game, I have Joe Flacco finally getting the monkey off his back, as the Ravens will win 16-10.
Key to the Game: The key to this game will be pass-rushing, as both defenses have premier defenders putting pressure on the quarterback. We've seen these games come down to a sack-fumble or interception, so the team that forces that turnover has a good chance of winning the game.
Key Matchups for Ravens vs. Steelers
Ravens LB Terrell Suggs vs. Steelers offensive line Edge: Suggs
Ravens CB Jimmy Smith vs. Steelers WR Mike Wallace Edge: Wallace
Ravens offensive line vs. Steelers LB James Harrison Edge: Harrison
Ravens WR Lee Evans vs. Steelers CB Ike Taylor Edge: Evans
Injury Report
Ravens
Player-Injury-Status
WR David Reed-Suspended*-OUT
LB Jason Phillips-Concussion-QST
G Ben Grubbs-Thigh-PRB
*Reed was suspended one game by the NFL for violating the league's substance abuse policy.
Steelers
Player-Injury-Status
LB Chris Carter-Hamstring-OUT
WR Jerricho Cotchery-Hamstring-DBT
T Marcus Gilbert-Concussion-PRB
That's it for this week's version of my Ravens Report, see you next week and Go Ravens!
On Sunday, the Ravens will welcome the hated Pittsburgh Steelers to M&T Bank Stadium to renew the fiercest rivalry in the NFL. After an upsetting loss to the Steelers in the postseason, the Ravens will be looking for a little revenge to open the year. No matter what, until the Ravens win a real important game against Pittsburgh, the Steelers will always have the edge, and the Ravens know that. What has been hurting the Ravens the most against Pittsburgh is the lack of a big playmaker on offense, while the Steelers lead with Big Ben, Rashard Mendenhall and Mike Wallace. With the acquisitions of Lee Evans and Torrey Smith, the Ravens will finally have the opportunity to counterattack. Some might say that because this is the first week of the season, the game isn't as important, but I beg to differ. While it is disappointing that the teams won't have a late-season matchup, I think it is even more important that they're playing here in Week 1. A Ravens win sets the tone for the entire season, and is a huge confidence boost for the players going on. A loss could hurt the Ravens' confidence as the year goes on. In yet another close game, I have Joe Flacco finally getting the monkey off his back, as the Ravens will win 16-10.
Key to the Game: The key to this game will be pass-rushing, as both defenses have premier defenders putting pressure on the quarterback. We've seen these games come down to a sack-fumble or interception, so the team that forces that turnover has a good chance of winning the game.
Key Matchups for Ravens vs. Steelers
Ravens LB Terrell Suggs vs. Steelers offensive line Edge: Suggs
Ravens CB Jimmy Smith vs. Steelers WR Mike Wallace Edge: Wallace
Ravens offensive line vs. Steelers LB James Harrison Edge: Harrison
Ravens WR Lee Evans vs. Steelers CB Ike Taylor Edge: Evans
Injury Report
Ravens
Player-Injury-Status
WR David Reed-Suspended*-OUT
LB Jason Phillips-Concussion-QST
G Ben Grubbs-Thigh-PRB
*Reed was suspended one game by the NFL for violating the league's substance abuse policy.
Steelers
Player-Injury-Status
LB Chris Carter-Hamstring-OUT
WR Jerricho Cotchery-Hamstring-DBT
T Marcus Gilbert-Concussion-PRB
That's it for this week's version of my Ravens Report, see you next week and Go Ravens!
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
Ravens Off-Season Report
Well it's been a busy few months since the Ravens devastating playoff loss to the Steelers, so I'll give you a quick recap of the events and a preview of what's next to come. After beating the Ravens in the Divisional Playoff, the Steelers went on to beat the Jets, and then eventually lose to Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers by a score of 31-25 in Super Bowl XLV.
As you may or may not have heard, the upcoming NFL season is in serious jeopardy after the owners opted out of the collective bargaining agreement between the owners and players. Some of the main issues debated upon in the agreement are the proposed 18-game schedule (as opposed to the current 16-game format), a rookie wage scale, and the division of the league's $9B revenue. After two delays of the expiration of the agreement, the NFL lockout finally began on March 11, 2011 after the players union officially decertified. After federally mediated meetings continued unsuccessfully for an entire month, Judge Susan Nelson declared the lockout invalid, and ordered the league to resume normal operations. The owners immediately filed for a stay of the ruling as well as an appeal of the ruling. The stay of the ruling was granted to them until June 3, when the full appeal will be heard in court. Right now, we are over two months into the lockout, and June 3 remains the date circled on the calendars of NFL players, coaches, and fans alike. If the owners appeal is rejected, chances are that the two sides will agree on a deal quickly and we will be right back on the track to an NFL season. If their appeal is granted, then meetings will resume and the chances of a deal will be slim until August or September, when the players will most likely give in so they'll be able to get back on the field and play. In my opinion, there will be a 2011 NFL season. It may be short, it may be modified, but there will be some sort of season.
Now that we have the depressing part of this post over with, on to the Ravens and what they have done to prepare for next season. Keep in mind that free agency has been halted due to the lockout, and players are not even allowed into team complexes to work out.
First to the release of next year's schedule. The NFL released the dates for next season despite the looming lockout, and here is the schedule for your 2011 Baltimore Ravens.
Pre-season (Dates To be Determined)
at Philadelphia Eagles
vs. Kansas City Chiefs
vs. Washington Redskins
at Atlanta Falcons
Regular Season
Week 1: vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
Week 2: at Tennessee Titans
Week 3: at St. Louis Rams
Week 4: vs. New York Jets
Week 5: Bye
Week 6: vs. Houston Texans
Week 7: at Jacksonville Jaguars
Week 8: vs. Arizona Cardinals
Week 9: at Pittsburgh Steelers
Week 10: at Seattle Seahawks
Week 11: vs. Cincinnati Bengals
Week 12: vs. San Francisco 49ers (Thanksgiving game)
Week 13: at Cleveland Browns
Week 14: vs. Indianapolis Colts
Week 15: at San Diego Chargers
Week 16: vs. Cleveland Browns
Week 17: at Cincinnati Bengals
Notes on the Notable Games:
The Ravens-Steelers rivalry will be over just halfway through the season, meaning there the winner of the game will most likely not decide the winner of the division, as it has the past few years. But as a side note, there is always the post-season. Despite this, the Ravens will end the season with two division matchups, but if those teams are anything like they were last year, the winner won't necessarily take the division as well. For many, the most intriguing game on the schedule is the Week 13 home matchup against the Niners. This game will mark the first time in NFL history that two brothers will face each other as head coaches as Ravens Head Coach John Harbaugh will go head-to-head with his brother, new 49ers Coach Jim Harbaugh. The thing that makes this game even more interesting is that it takes place on Thanksgiving, a family holiday. Other good games include a home meeting with the professional football team from Indianapolis, a road game against the Chargers, a home game against outspoken former Ravens defensive coordinator Rex Ryan and his Jets, and a meeting against the Seahawks in Seattle.
Now to the 2011 NFL Draft, in which the Ravens layered the team with extra starters as well as depth. Here are, in order, the Ravens eight picks in this year's draft.
1st Round: CB Jimmy Smith, Colorado- Smith is easily the best cover corner in this year's draft, and will provide the Ravens with a man to cover the top receivers on the teams they will play. He would have been a higher pick if it weren't for his off the field issues, which include past failed drug tests. But all we can say about this issue is that the Ravens have veterans in the locker room that will put him in his place if he even thinks about acting out.
2nd Round: WR Torrey Smith, Maryland-Joe Flacco finally has his big play wide receiver he has been looking for. The speedy Smith comes from Maryland to fill this important void in the Ravens offense. Be sure to see Flacco look long for Smith all year, as this will be Torrey's specialty in the coming years.
3rd Round: OT Jah Reid, UCF- Reid, more than anything else, provides more depth at offensive line for the Ravens, who have been plagued with injuries to key members of the line like Jared Gaither. Reid can play most positions on the line, so consider him the fill-in for the first injury we'll see.
4th Round: WR Tandon Doss, Indiana- Doss has great size, standing at six foot three, and is bigger than most corners. He has tremendous hands, and will be a go-to-guy on third down for Joe Flacco.
5th Round: CB Chykie Brown, Texas- Injuries have hurt Brown in recent years, but if he can get past them, he is a great press corner who also gives the Ravens more depth at cornerback.
5th Round: DE Pernell McPhee, Mississippi State- McPhee is a big physical presence on the defensive line who will help out Haloti Ngata and Terrell Suggs on the line with extra pressure on the quarterback.
6th Round: QB Tyrod Taylor, Virginia Tech- With the probable leave of last year's backup Marc Bulger, Taylor will be Flacco's backup and won't likely see the field too much in 2011. He is a running quarterback who can help the Ravens run specialty plays like the Wildcat offense.
7th Round: RB Anthony Allen, Georgia Tech- With Willis McGahee likely leaving, Allen will help add depth to the Ravens running game along with Ray Rice.
Overall Ravens Draft Grade: A- The Ravens filled much needed gaps at positions like cornerback and defensive line, as well as adding depth to other positions.
That's it for this offseason version of my Ravens Report, hope to see you back soon for 2011 Baltimore Ravens football.
As you may or may not have heard, the upcoming NFL season is in serious jeopardy after the owners opted out of the collective bargaining agreement between the owners and players. Some of the main issues debated upon in the agreement are the proposed 18-game schedule (as opposed to the current 16-game format), a rookie wage scale, and the division of the league's $9B revenue. After two delays of the expiration of the agreement, the NFL lockout finally began on March 11, 2011 after the players union officially decertified. After federally mediated meetings continued unsuccessfully for an entire month, Judge Susan Nelson declared the lockout invalid, and ordered the league to resume normal operations. The owners immediately filed for a stay of the ruling as well as an appeal of the ruling. The stay of the ruling was granted to them until June 3, when the full appeal will be heard in court. Right now, we are over two months into the lockout, and June 3 remains the date circled on the calendars of NFL players, coaches, and fans alike. If the owners appeal is rejected, chances are that the two sides will agree on a deal quickly and we will be right back on the track to an NFL season. If their appeal is granted, then meetings will resume and the chances of a deal will be slim until August or September, when the players will most likely give in so they'll be able to get back on the field and play. In my opinion, there will be a 2011 NFL season. It may be short, it may be modified, but there will be some sort of season.
Now that we have the depressing part of this post over with, on to the Ravens and what they have done to prepare for next season. Keep in mind that free agency has been halted due to the lockout, and players are not even allowed into team complexes to work out.
First to the release of next year's schedule. The NFL released the dates for next season despite the looming lockout, and here is the schedule for your 2011 Baltimore Ravens.
Pre-season (Dates To be Determined)
at Philadelphia Eagles
vs. Kansas City Chiefs
vs. Washington Redskins
at Atlanta Falcons
Regular Season
Week 1: vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
Week 2: at Tennessee Titans
Week 3: at St. Louis Rams
Week 4: vs. New York Jets
Week 5: Bye
Week 6: vs. Houston Texans
Week 7: at Jacksonville Jaguars
Week 8: vs. Arizona Cardinals
Week 9: at Pittsburgh Steelers
Week 10: at Seattle Seahawks
Week 11: vs. Cincinnati Bengals
Week 12: vs. San Francisco 49ers (Thanksgiving game)
Week 13: at Cleveland Browns
Week 14: vs. Indianapolis Colts
Week 15: at San Diego Chargers
Week 16: vs. Cleveland Browns
Week 17: at Cincinnati Bengals
Notes on the Notable Games:
The Ravens-Steelers rivalry will be over just halfway through the season, meaning there the winner of the game will most likely not decide the winner of the division, as it has the past few years. But as a side note, there is always the post-season. Despite this, the Ravens will end the season with two division matchups, but if those teams are anything like they were last year, the winner won't necessarily take the division as well. For many, the most intriguing game on the schedule is the Week 13 home matchup against the Niners. This game will mark the first time in NFL history that two brothers will face each other as head coaches as Ravens Head Coach John Harbaugh will go head-to-head with his brother, new 49ers Coach Jim Harbaugh. The thing that makes this game even more interesting is that it takes place on Thanksgiving, a family holiday. Other good games include a home meeting with the professional football team from Indianapolis, a road game against the Chargers, a home game against outspoken former Ravens defensive coordinator Rex Ryan and his Jets, and a meeting against the Seahawks in Seattle.
Now to the 2011 NFL Draft, in which the Ravens layered the team with extra starters as well as depth. Here are, in order, the Ravens eight picks in this year's draft.
1st Round: CB Jimmy Smith, Colorado- Smith is easily the best cover corner in this year's draft, and will provide the Ravens with a man to cover the top receivers on the teams they will play. He would have been a higher pick if it weren't for his off the field issues, which include past failed drug tests. But all we can say about this issue is that the Ravens have veterans in the locker room that will put him in his place if he even thinks about acting out.
2nd Round: WR Torrey Smith, Maryland-Joe Flacco finally has his big play wide receiver he has been looking for. The speedy Smith comes from Maryland to fill this important void in the Ravens offense. Be sure to see Flacco look long for Smith all year, as this will be Torrey's specialty in the coming years.
3rd Round: OT Jah Reid, UCF- Reid, more than anything else, provides more depth at offensive line for the Ravens, who have been plagued with injuries to key members of the line like Jared Gaither. Reid can play most positions on the line, so consider him the fill-in for the first injury we'll see.
4th Round: WR Tandon Doss, Indiana- Doss has great size, standing at six foot three, and is bigger than most corners. He has tremendous hands, and will be a go-to-guy on third down for Joe Flacco.
5th Round: CB Chykie Brown, Texas- Injuries have hurt Brown in recent years, but if he can get past them, he is a great press corner who also gives the Ravens more depth at cornerback.
5th Round: DE Pernell McPhee, Mississippi State- McPhee is a big physical presence on the defensive line who will help out Haloti Ngata and Terrell Suggs on the line with extra pressure on the quarterback.
6th Round: QB Tyrod Taylor, Virginia Tech- With the probable leave of last year's backup Marc Bulger, Taylor will be Flacco's backup and won't likely see the field too much in 2011. He is a running quarterback who can help the Ravens run specialty plays like the Wildcat offense.
7th Round: RB Anthony Allen, Georgia Tech- With Willis McGahee likely leaving, Allen will help add depth to the Ravens running game along with Ray Rice.
Overall Ravens Draft Grade: A- The Ravens filled much needed gaps at positions like cornerback and defensive line, as well as adding depth to other positions.
That's it for this offseason version of my Ravens Report, hope to see you back soon for 2011 Baltimore Ravens football.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)