Morning notes
Nearly a quarter of the players on the team's 80-man roster did not practice this morning at McDaniel College in Westminster. Perhaps the most surprising absence was defensive tackle Kelly Gregg, who did not participate yesterday. Gregg may still be experiencing some discomfort from a sore left knee that was heavily wrapped Monday afternoon.
Other absences included offensive tackles Adam Terry (sprained left ankle) and Jared Gaither (right ankle), defensive tackles Haloti Ngata (sprained right MCL) and J'Vonne Parker, linebackers Gary Stills and Dan Cody (right foot), running back P.J. Daniels (cramps), fullback Justin Green, tight end Aaron Walker (leg) and kicker Matt Stover.
A number of players did not practice, but watched from the sidelines. That group included safety Ed Reed (shoulder), tight end Daniel Wilcox (toe), defensive tackle Justin Bannan, running backs Cory Ross and Allen Patrick (mild concussion), cornerback David Pittman (sore foot), offensive tackle Joe Reitz (shoulder) and wide receiver Patrick Carter (dislocated left shoulder).
One positive piece of news was the return of linebacker Edgar Jones (right leg).
Other notes:
* With running back Willis McGahee nursing a sore left knee wrapped in ice, rookie Ray Rice took most of the reps as the only healthy tailback on the field. Fullback Le'Ron McClain appeared to have injured his right foot, but he continued to practice.
* Quarterback Kyle Boller left practice early without wearing his right shoe. Troy Smith and Joe Flacco split the remaining reps. Both Smith and Flacco threw touchdowns during a red-zone drill.
* The pass rush took advantage of the patchwork offensive line. Linebackers Bart Scott, Antwan Barnes and Prescott Burgess and cornerback Frank Walker each would have registered a sack. Barnes also recovered a botched snap between Flacco and center Jason Brown.
* With Stover absent from practice, rookie Piotr Czech made all five of his field goals, succeeding from 20, 32, 44, 48 and 53 yards.
Comments
This kicker Piotr Czech seems to never miss. Is there any chance he beats out Stover? Can he kick off?
Posted by: Frank | July 31, 2008 1:06 PM
Piotr Czech is looking good. If I were the ravens I would consider cutting Matt Stover so they wouldn't have to take two roster spots for a place kicker and a kick off specialist. With a quarter of the team not practicing due to injury isn't about time Harbaugh reduces the number of live practices they are having in order to get some these guys healthy again? Oh yeah TRADE SUGGS FOR ANQUAN BOLDIN!! Do your job Ozzie. Right now it looks like Phil Savage was the real mastermind in the ravens organization. I really like what he has done with the browns they will win the AFC North this year.
Posted by: The Dude | July 31, 2008 1:11 PM
Who do you feel has the best chance of starting QB at this point in the camp?
Posted by: Tom | July 31, 2008 1:13 PM
How do Piotr Czech's kickoffs look? Of course we need to see him kick in preseason games, but if he shows enough promise to keep around, I can't see the team using two roster spots on kickers. I'd be slightly worried if I'm Matt Stover, but it depends on whether the team thinks it can compete for a playoff spot this year (doubtful given the QB and offensive line question marks) or if they're looking more to the future and believe Czech can take over the role. They've already lost some promising young kickers who went on to success elsewhere (Joe Nedney, Robbie Gould) out of loyalty to Stover but the guy is 40 years old now and it may be time to move on.
Posted by: Ray | July 31, 2008 1:19 PM
What's the deal with Ed Reed?
Is he sitting out in protest? I mean, no one really believes this shoulder injury BS, right?
Posted by: James | July 31, 2008 1:20 PM
Looking at the top rookies the In trouble guys are:
Stover & McGahee
Posted by: Anonymous | July 31, 2008 1:26 PM
You gotta wonder how many of these guys are faking they are hurt just so they don't have to go full contact. I bet if we had Brett Favre there would be a lot less guys "injured" because they would beleive we are a contender. The only difference in this team so far is contact in practice. The Ravens are fools for not looking into getting Favre. Green Bay is dying to get rid of him to the AFC and the only team that has shown any interest is the Jets who don't have as much talent as we do. Why is it we go after Cunningham, Stewart, Grbac and McNair when they are past their primes yet we won't try and get Brett Favre comming off on of his best years and with a chip on his shoulder? This is the chance of a lifetime and we are going to let it go by without even making an attempt.
Posted by: Ronnie | July 31, 2008 1:30 PM
Brett Favre is a chance to mortgage the future for one good year. You wonder why no one is interested in trading for him? Because no one is stupid enough to do so. He's not worth it.
I saw Czech at practice; when i saw him, Stover look much better than him. But maybe it was an off day.
Posted by: Sam | July 31, 2008 1:42 PM
Whoa, the 30 & over club shouldnt apply to kickers....
Posted by: JWBBZ | July 31, 2008 1:44 PM
I think the receivers better watch out also , the rookies look pretty good so far ,,,,,,especially Justin,,,,,,,Stover is history , and Adam Terry should be.......Go Ravens
Posted by: Jim from Dundalk | July 31, 2008 2:55 PM
Ronnie the term past their prime means the bulk of thier playing years where the player is productive are behind them. Brett Favre is one of the best but he is past his prime in terms of he can give you 1 or 2 years at best. Why stunt the growth of our younger players by bringing in a guy for a year or two. Don Shula once said "rebuild & reload, then you wont regret it 5 years down the road.".
Posted by: IrvingTex | July 31, 2008 3:00 PM
Dude-
Yea - that's why Savage was almost fired last year - because he was the brains here?? LOL
Get a clue, dude!!
Posted by: LMAO | July 31, 2008 3:53 PM
Wow, trading one second round pick for Brett Favre is certainly mortgaging the future, especially when Flacco isn't supposed to start this year, since its his 1st year and most people like to sit rookie QB's. Flacco is the QB of the future, not the present. Favre's presence would have no negative impact.
Posted by: Dan | July 31, 2008 3:55 PM
THE RAVENS HAVE 3 CHANCES OF WINNING THEIR DIVISION THIS YEAR:
1. BIG BEN & DEREK ANDERSON ARE KNOCKED OUT OF ACTION EARLY IN THE SEASON
2. THE RAVEN D PLAYS IN CHAMPIONSHIP FORM---MUST BE THE BEST IN THE DIVISION & THE RAVENS TEAM MUST BE IN THE TOP 3 OVERALL IN POINTS ALLOWED
3. BRETT FAVRE IS THE QB
A BETTING MAN WOULD BET ON
FAVRE... THE OTHER POSSIBILITIES SEEM LIKE MIRACLES.
EX-BIRDMAN
Posted by: jesse morgan | July 31, 2008 4:08 PM
we have some absolute fools as Ravens fans. Is Reed faking an injury? Are you kidding me with that comment. Our Defense is known for their toughness idiots! Injuries happen. Savage was almost fired last year and has had one good year with the Browns. A few years ago people thought the Bengals were going to win the North every year because of their offense and look what has happened. The Browns have very little on D. Preseason practice is easier to kick in then the pressure situations in games where Stover hits the kicks. And Troy Smith needs a shot. If you don't like Boller, you won't like Farve. Farve throws more pics and makes you scratch your head even more than Boller does, but he gets away with it because he throws some TD's too, but not enough to morgage our future for one year when we have three young qb's, two of which we need to give a chance and then Boller, who is a very good backup. It's the first week of training camp people, take a pill and stop panicking over last year. I love Ray Rice but don't be negative about Willis. He made the pro bowl last year and did very good for us. You need two running backs in this league
Posted by: corey | July 31, 2008 4:11 PM
I would consider keeping Czech over old man Stover
I wonder if the club has considered bringing in grizzly vet Kyle Turley?? He used to be a stud.
Posted by: JWBBZ | July 31, 2008 4:37 PM
Am I missing something? Stover in trouble? Isn't he one of the most accurate kickers in the history of the NFL? One other thing, and AI said it best: Practice? Practice? We're talking about practice here, not the game, practice. Why get rid of the Raven's only offensive weapon? No chance. Stover stays.
Posted by: Tim | July 31, 2008 4:41 PM
Very good post Corey!
although I disagree about the Favre/Boller comment, they are NOTHING alike as boller has been and always will be a complete worthless loser, Favre is a winner, and very talented to boot, he's just a complete ego maniac jerk!
Posted by: Right On | July 31, 2008 5:18 PM
Favre's 3 year, 12 million dollar contract would have a HUGE negative impact on the team. Don't kid yourself.
Posted by: Sam | July 31, 2008 5:18 PM
Why would we be mortgaging the future by getting Favre? People keep saying that but not backing up what they're saying. Giving up one second round draft pick is not mortgaging the future. Having a Hall of Fame QB to work with Flacco is helping the future. Favre will only play two years max. Why not bring him in to get comfortable with the offense this year and make a run at it next? For those who say there are salary cap complications doesn't Ogden's retirement alleviate some of that? We have several other expensive vets that will become free agents as well. Other teams seem to manipulate the cap way better then the Ravens.
Posted by: Jeff | July 31, 2008 6:46 PM
At this rate we might not have enough bodies to open the season. I was no Billick fan, but since the new sherriff took over we have lost our #2 tight end for the season, 2 starting tackles, our starting running back...the list goes on. Maybe Harbaugh is the man but he has to learn to go a bit easier on these guys in practice. Old school used to be about conditioning - lord know McGahee could use it but that means more sprints and workouts in heat and pads not full contact where our players are injuring our players. This is just nuts.
Posted by: Dave Fink | July 31, 2008 7:36 PM
THANK YOU TIM! Stover is one of the most accurate kickers in nfl history, lets dump him IN TRAINING CAMP for an UNPROVEN rookie. Czech will make the team as a kickoff specialist and may eventaually takeover for Stover, but not this year.
Posted by: steve | July 31, 2008 9:03 PM
Favre would be a bad mistake He's a tough guy, but he has never had to play behind an O-Line like this one.
Posted by: bob b | July 31, 2008 10:55 PM
There's reason no one is attempting to trade for Favre; he has a HUGE contract. There are teams much more desperate for a QB who are also passing on him. Why? Why aren't the Dolphins in the mix? Because they, like us, don't want to pay his gigantic contract for a one year stop gap.
Besides, who's going to protect him? If you haven't noticed, our o-line sucks, and is only getting worse with injuries. No QB can succeed with an awful offensive line.
Posted by: Sam | August 1, 2008 2:27 AM
Some of you are sooo stupid, that it makes me embarrassed to love the same team as you....Allow me to set some things straight... first of all, i strongly agree that Savage was the main brains behind our past success. Ozzie's not too shabby, but Savage knows talent and was more hands on with the scouting process and evaluating players. I pitty the fool who discredits Savage. And i heard a few people suggest cutting Stover so we can keep the Czech dude... YOU ARE IDIOTS!!! If you're gonna talk football, at least know football. I dont care if stover hasn't made a field goal throughout all of camp, it doesn't work like that. Stover has been here since we were the browns, and hes a probable future hall of famer.... cut stover? HA! he'll never ever be cut in camp, your just stupid is all. And stop with this FAVRE business. While our salary cap situation would just barely allow it, it would be a horrible strategic move. Just because we can, doesn't mean we should sacrifice what little remaining room we have under the cap for favre, and our franchise has a plan in place for our QB situation. Whether it's a good one or not, time will tell, but they've made their decision, so stop.... think to yourself, "Am i about to share my insane level of stupidity with the world?".... before you post a comment
Posted by: Budafinguz | August 1, 2008 2:33 AM
Harbaugh is a joke! The Ravens are dropping like flies! Why was Adam Terry practicing on an injured leg anyway? And to have only one healthy tailback! This team is going to be so badly beat up before the first game!
Posted by: Marty | August 1, 2008 6:25 AM