Ravens secondary may catch break against Bengals
You never want to wish misfortune on other teams when it comes to injuries (super bad karma) but if the Bengals wide receiving picture doesn't improve before the NFL regular-season opener with the Ravens on Sept. 7, it could be the break Baltimore needs in that game.
In case you haven't noticed, the Ravens' pass defense has been getting riddled in the last two preseason games with Minnesota and St. Louis with starting cornerbacks Chris McAlister and Samari Rolle still out. The two opposing starting quarterbacks for the Vikings (Tavaris Jackson) and the Rams (Marc Bulger) were a combined 25-for-36 for 264 yards, three TDs and no interceptions, plus Jackson broke the pocket and ran pretty good. Their backups didn't do too poorly, either. And the Baltimore secondary has been taking turns getting singed so it's not like you can point the finger at one or two guys back there.
So the news that star wide recievr Chad Johnson (torn labrum) is a question mark now in Cincinnati and that the talented T.J. Houshmandzadeh has been hobbled by a hamstring might indicate that the match-up between the Bengals receivers and Ravens secondary isn't as worrisome as it could be. On the other hand, it may not matter who's catching the ball if Carson Palmer is hot and the pass rush isn't getting there.
Comments
bill,
can you tell me how you would label cam cameron's offense system? west coast, pro-set? thanks.
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Pop,
Cameron is part of an offensive lineage that goes back to Don Coryell and Joe Gibbs. Assuming he sticks with that, it is definitely not West Coast. It is more vertical and timing. He believes that the offense starts with an offensive line but also believes that you can coach up non-stars to play adequately. Ravens folks have told me that he says Baltimore has been spoiled by Ogden and that most teams get along with a lot less talented OL. He's definitely a balance guy, again going again the West Coast penchant for using the pass as a run.
-- Bill O.
Posted by: pop fisher | August 26, 2008 12:04 PM
Bill, Please- Our scondary would get beat by the Little Sisters of the Poor. C'mon, catch a break. They can't "catch" a ball thrown right at them.
Posted by: budc | September 3, 2008 7:16 PM