Reed limited by injury?
It will be interesting to see how the Ravens play safety Ed Reed for the remainder of the season. Before this season, the Ravens had no trouble putting Reed up near the line of scrimmage on run blitzes on first and second downs. But with the shoulder injury, it's unlikely they'll use him a lot like that in the future.
But what happens when the Ravens play a strong running team? Do they take Reed out on first and second downs, and just play him on third downs or passing situations? It will be an interesting call by the Ravens.
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The Ravens did get an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty last Sunday against the Bengals when cornerback Samari Rolle tossed the ball up in the air. I like Rolle because he is a stand-up guy, but the Ravens have to get a lid on that secondary.
Those guys like to do a lot of showboating, even the backups when they make tackles 10 yards away from the line of scrimmage.
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Hey Demetrius Williams? We're still waiting for you to become that speedy, vertical threat. Time is running out.
Comments
Mike - any chance this game is going to be national on Monday night? Thought the NFL might try to make some extra cash with two Monday night games somehow.
Posted by: Dan (Princeton, NJ) | September 12, 2008 10:43 AM
I see Devard Darling with a big catch last week. Its exactly what will happen with Spiderman if he leaves.
Posted by: Doug X | September 12, 2008 10:55 AM
Mike,
Do you think that the Ravens' lack of discipline on defense was a factor in Rex Ryan not getting a head coaching job this year? From everything I have heard there is a mutual love affair between the players and Rex. If they truly cared about him, you would think that they might see how their behavior is hurting him and holding him back.
Posted by: Rick Haefner | September 12, 2008 11:19 AM
Jamison Hensley
Texans, 16-13
David Steele
Texans, 13-10
Ken Murray
Texans, 16-13
Rick Maese
Texans, 24-20
The usual Raven nay sayers. The Bengals offence is 3 times as good as the Texans and the Texans defence is as bad as the Bengals. What world do live in to think the Ravens will give 24 pts to the Texans.
Posted by: RonDawg | September 12, 2008 12:09 PM
Actually, the penalty for throwing the ball was a delay of game penalty - and it "disappeared" when the "fumble" was ruled an incomplete pass. Never the less, your point is well stated - this defense needs to stop showboating and just continue to shut teams down!
Posted by: Tim in New Orleans | September 12, 2008 1:19 PM
Mike, Rolle may be a stand up guy but he stinks as a corner. The guy plays 10 yards off the ball. Hard to believe he went to the probowl!
Posted by: Finder | September 12, 2008 1:53 PM
Mike -
I think Samari got hit with a delay of game penalty on that play (5 yards). It still hurts and there is no excuse for it and it should never happen. There might come a time when that 5 yards costs them a field goal try and possibly the game.
Posted by: Mark G. | September 12, 2008 2:04 PM
Yeah I'd like to know if this game will be on channel 9 (washington channel).
Posted by: jj | September 12, 2008 2:04 PM
According to what I read on ESPN, this game will not be broadcast nationally, but will be on WUSA channel 9, Washington, DC's CBS affiliate.
Posted by: Tom M | September 12, 2008 3:55 PM
I have to wonder if Rolle's behavior influenced the referee's ruling on the replay review, reversing the fumble call to an incomplete pass. The officials are only human and they will continue to view the Ravens as a "rogue" team until Harbaugh can rein in the showboating.
Posted by: Ray | September 12, 2008 4:34 PM
Mike,
You must be mistaken about the showboating of the secondary. Tough guy Harbaugh was going to come in here and clean up this team. That's why the first free agent they signed under his reign was Fabian Washington who just served his one game suspension for alleged spousal abuse. Nothing has changed with this team from the thug mentality to their approach to the game. Everyone is talking about how different they looked last Sunday. Winning with stout defense, a strong running game and an underneath passing game. Aside from the double reverse, what was different?And don't talk to me about a stupid unbalanced line. That was more out of necessity (with Anderson not ready to go) than out of engenuity. It's the same old, same old.
Posted by: The Truth | September 13, 2008 9:49 AM