The Ravens are still banged up, but they appear a lot more healthy than they have been in recent weeks. Starting left offensive tackle Jared Gaither (shoulder) and defensive end Trevor Pryce (concussion) are listed as questionable for the Bengals game, but have publicly stated they will play. Offensive tackle Adam Terry, who also suffered a concussion last week, said he should be ready to go as well.

The Ravens need as many offensive linemen as possible. Actually, the Bengals' run defense has improved during the past couple of games. It will be interesting to see how they play against the Ravens.

It's also fun to watch which running back will become hot and carry the Ravens. Will it be Willis McGahee, Le'Ron McClain or rookie Ray Rice?

Posted by Mike Preston at 2:45 PM | Permalink | Comments (9)
        

We've all criticized the Ravens for not having the big, speedy, go-to receiver on the outside, but it might be a blessing in disguise. It seems like every week one of the big name stars is getting in trouble, the latest being the Giants' Plaxico Burress. Randy Moss and Terrell Owens have had their share of problems in the past, as well as Chad Johnson.

The Ravens have good team chemistry, and one of these guys might upset the balance. With Derrick Mason and Mark Clayton, at least you know they will be on the field on Sunday, not distracted by what happened off the field the night before.

Posted by Mike Preston at 2:37 PM | Permalink | Comments (13)
        

Offensive tackle Jared Gaither did not practice this morning, according to the Ravens' second injury report of the week. Gaither, who was dressed in sweats, is dealing with an injured right shoulder.

Other changes included tight end Todd Heap (illness) and wide receiver Terrance Copper (neck) being upgraded from no practice to full and limited participation, respectively, and wide receiver Mark Clayton being downgraded to limited after straining his back towards the end of practice.

Players who were limited in practice for the second consecutive day included offensive tackles Willie Anderson (sprained left ankle) and Adam Terry (concussion), fullbacks Lorenzo Neal (thigh) and Le'Ron McClain (thigh), wide receiver Derrick Mason (dislocated left shoulder) and defensive end Trevor Pryce (concussion). Terry wore a red jersey.

Posted by Edward Lee at 12:01 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
        

I just looked at the latest Pro Bowl results and defensive tackle Haloti Ngata is still not among the Top 5 candidates at his position in the AFC. Another notable change is that cornerback Chris McAlister dropped out of the Top 5. He has been replaced by Pittsburgh’s Ike Taylor.

Inside linebacker Ray Lewis, free safety Ed Reed and fullback Le’Ron McClain still lead at their respective positions. Lewis has widened his lead over Pittsburgh’s James Farrior by 75,774 votes. Reed leads Tennessee’s Michael Griffin by 90,266 votes, and McClain put a little more distance between him and Tennessee’s Ahmard Hall with a lead of 16,266 votes.

Outside linebacker Terrell Suggs is still fourth with 135,846 votes. He lags behind Miami’s Joey Porter (198,283), Pittsburgh’s James Harrison (155,951) and Tennessee’s Keith Bulluck (150,651).

Special teams ace Brendon Ayanbadejo is also fourth at his position with 49,607 votes. He trails Pittsburgh’s Anthony Madison (60,165), Miami’s Patrick Cobbs (55,894) and New England’s Larry Izzo (54,144).

Fan votes make up one-third of the final Pro Bowl results. Players’ votes count for one-third, and coaches’ votes count for the final one-third. While players and coaches will vote on Dec. 11-12, polls for fans are open until Tuesday, Dec. 9. Fans can go to http://www.nfl.com/probowl to vote.

Posted by Edward Lee at 11:04 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
        

A day after being limited in practice, offensive tackle Jared Gaither did not appear to participate in practice this morning. Gaither, who is dealing with an injured right shoulder, was dressed in sweats and watched from the end zone as the offensive line worked through drills.

Tight end Todd Heap, who missed yesterday's practice due to illness, returned. Wide receiver Terrance Copper, who also sat out yesterday, wore a red, non-contact jersey to protect his injured neck.

Players who were limited in practice yesterday -- offensive tackles Willie Anderson (sprained left ankle) and Adam Terry (concussion), fullbacks Lorenzo Neal (thigh) and Le'Ron McClain (thigh), wide receiver Derrick Mason (dislocated left shoulder) and defensive end Trevor Pryce (concussion) -- participated. Terry wore a red jersey.

Posted by Edward Lee at 10:31 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
        

Few people know much about Bengals quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick except that he is out of Harvard. So whenever you ask a player or a coach about Fitzpatrick, they usually always say, "Obviously, he is very smart."

When asked by a reporter if Fitzpatrick was smart, Ravens cornerback Samari Rolle said, "I don't know. How would I know? I'm from Florida State."

Posted by Mike Preston at 5:44 PM | Permalink | Comments (4)
        

The Bengals are near the bottom in just about every offensive category, but the Ravens will respect their passing game because of big-play receivers Chad Johnson, Chris Henry and T.J. Houshmandzadeh. Ryan Fitzpatrick has replaced Carson Palmer at quarterback, and the Bengals' passing game is still basically vertical.

In this game, the Ravens need to get out front early and then pound the football. If they can get an early lead, that will take the crowd out of the game, and possibly turn them against the Bengals. But with Johnson or Henry, the Bengals can strike from anywhere on the field and that's what has the Ravens concerned.

Posted by Mike Preston at 2:16 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)
        

It's been interesting and fun watching the Ravens' offense evolve. The offense lacks explosive players and explosive plays, but it seems to have adopted the personality of head coach John Harbaugh and rookie quarterback Joe Flacco.

Regardless of the score or the situation, the Ravens always seem in control and poised. They just keep grinding at teams in a nice, steady pace. Harbaugh might not say it publicly, but one of the major reasons the Ravens are so successful in the fourth quarter is because of the hard work in training camp.

The Ravens outwork other teams, and it goes back to those physical practices in training camp. The old school approach still works in the NFL.

Posted by Mike Preston at 2:11 PM | Permalink | Comments (18)
        

The Ravens are hopeful that starting offensive tackles Adam Terry and Jared Gaither will be able to play against the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday.

Terry suffered a concussion late in the first quarter of yesterday’s 36-7 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles and did not return. Terry, who started at left tackle, was replaced by Gaither, who finished the game despite a badly injured right shoulder.

"We’re not ruling them out at this stage," Harbaugh said. "We think there’s a good chance they’ll be able to play."

Harbaugh was not as effusive when the topic of Trevor Pryce's availability was brought up. The defensive end also suffered a concussion and did not return. "I don’t have enough information to say," Harbaugh said. "We’ll have to see."

Other notes:

• Harbaugh defended the play of the special teams unit, which surrendered its second kickoff return for a touchdown this season. Pointing out Jameel McClain's blocked punt, a punt rush that produced a 15-yard tripping penalty on the Eagles and contributed to a Matt Stover field goal, and punt coverage on DeSean Jackson, Harbaugh said, "I was disappointed with the special teams on the spot after the game. Going back and looking at the tape, I’m pleased with them, believe it or not, because all of the other plays were really good, solid plays."

• Harbaugh said he was prepared for a Gatorade shower toward the end of yesterday's game. But he wasn't prepared for the timing of the bath. "I didn’t think it would come with three minutes left in the game," he complained, tongue-in-cheek. "Talking to the officials, the officials aren’t supposed to be setting up the Gatorade shower, right? So it was shocking that it happened at that point."

• Harbaugh was not moved about the NFL's decision to shift the Ravens’ home game against the Washington Redskins on Dec. 7 to Sunday night. "Couldn’t care less," said Harbaugh, who emphasized that the team is focusing on the upcoming contest against the Bengals. "It doesn’t matter. We’ll be there. We’ll show up on time."

• Linebacker Antwan Barnes stopped Philadelphia running back Brian Westbrook for a 2-yard loss in the third quarter by pulling on Westbrook’s jock strap. Quipped Harbaugh: "I think it’s a testament to the resiliency of some of the football equipment that they’re putting out now."

Posted by Edward Lee at 4:46 PM | Permalink | Comments (8)
        

The NFL was once known as a quarterback-driven league, but there are few quarterbacks driving these days. The NFL is a watered down league, and the caliber of play drops off more every season, and the quarterback position is no different.

Fortunately, this works out well for the Ravens. Their secondary has been hit hard by injuries and that group is very suspect. But with the exception of Dallas quarterback Tony Romo and Pittsburgh's Ben Roethlisberger, the Ravens will not face good quarterbacks in the other three games.

Even with Roethlisberger, you don't know which quarerback will show up, the good one that makes plays, or the injury plagued one that throws interceptions? The road to the playoffs seems wide open for the Ravens.

Posted by Mike Preston at 10:28 AM | Permalink | Comments (6)
        

Regardless of what anybody says, I can't see the Ravens losing to the Bengals. I don't care about injuries on the offensive line. I don't care about being overconfident. I don't care about the series record. The Bengals are bad. Really bad.

They allow 25.1 points and 340 yards of offense a game. They are last in the league in yards per game, and 31st in points scored per game. They rank near the bottom in rushing and passing yards, and have a quarterback named Ryan Fitzpatrick, which is like the Eagles playing Kevin Kolb over Donovan McNabb.

Posted by Mike Preston at 9:59 AM | Permalink | Comments (6)
        

It was great to see the Ravens' defense bounce back with a strong effort against the Eagles, especially after the way they got bounced around by the New York Giants nearly a week ago. But please, let's not get too carried away.

That was the worst Eagles team I've seen in quite a while. Quarterback Donovan McNabb started the season off strong, but he was atrocious, and refuses to make plays outside of the pocket with his legs anymore. Running back Brian Westbrook, bothered by injuries, was not a factor and the Eagles don't have a quality receiver or a quarterback who can get him the ball.

With all that said, the Ravens went out and did what they needed to do. They squashed a really bad Eagles football team at home, especially in the second half. The Ravens did ease some concerns about some of their veteran players running out of gas down the stretch, especially on the defensive side.

Those guys looked pretty fresh to me.

Posted by Mike Preston at 9:30 AM | Permalink | Comments (11)
        

I keep hearing talk about the Ravens pursuing Bengals receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh in the offseason, and that would be a big mistake. The Ravens already have enough Houshmandzadeh's on the roster now in Derrick Mason and Mark Clayton.

Housmandzadeh is a good receiver, but he doesn't have the speed the Ravens need on the outside. He is not a legitimate No. 1 receiver who can open up the field for the rest of the passing game, or running game as well.

Posted by Mike Preston at 9:15 AM | Permalink | Comments (34)
        

Baltimore fans can hate the Steelers, but Pittsburgh is one of the better organizations in the NFL, and the Steelers know how to win. Regardless if they change quarterbacks, running backs or whatever, they have that formula in place. Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger looked like he could barely stand up a week ago, but last night he completed 17 of 30 passes for 243 yards, and then scored an 8-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter.

I thought the Steelers might fold by now, especially with all the injuries and the tough schedule, but they just keep finding a way to win, as most good teams do. It will be interesting to see where the Ravens are in the standings compared to Pittsburgh when the Steelers visit Baltimore later this season.

Posted by Mike Preston at 9:06 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)
        

Three starters – wide receiver Derrick Mason (dislocated left shoulder), free safety Ed Reed (neck) and cornerback Samari Rolle (neck surgery) – returned to practice today in limited fashion. Rolle no longer wore a sling on his left arm and when asked by reporters about his arm, he held up both arms in a touchdown pose.

Starting left offensive tackle Jared Gaither (right shoulder) missed practice for the second straight day. If Gaither can’t play against the Philadelphia Eagles Sunday, Adam Terry (right ankle) would fill Gaither’s position, and Willie Anderson – who was limited in practice due to a sprained left ankle – would start at right tackle.

Defensive tackle Lamar Divens (shoulder) and rookie guard David Hale (thigh) were also limited.

Tight end Daniel Wilcox (thigh) and rookie safety Tom Zbikowski (thumb/thigh) were upgraded to full participation after being limited Wednesday.

For the Eagles, running back Brian Westbrook (knee/ankle) missed practice for the second consecutive day. Free safety Brian Dawkins was limited due to a groin injury.

Posted by Edward Lee at 3:45 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
        

Following up on Mike Preston’s previous post, I recently received early voting results for the Pro Bowl in February, and Ravens defensive tackle Haloti Ngata is not one of the top five vote-getters at his position in the AFC.

The top five are Tennessee’s Albert Haynesworth (206,925 votes), Pittsburgh’s Casey Hampton (86,352), Buffalo’s Marcus Stroud (80,981), New York’s Kris Jenkins (74,343) and Cleveland’s Shaun Rogers (72,950).

Ngata has more tackles than Hampton, Stroud and Jenkins. He has one sack compared to Hampton’s zero, and leads the entire group in interceptions with two.

I asked Ngata about the lack of respect, and befitting his humble nature, Ngata downplayed the early results.

"That doesn’t even matter to me," he said today. "We’ve got a lot of things we need to worry about, and that’s just way back in terms of my priorities. I’m just trying to help the team win a game and get better and better every week."

Fan votes make up one-third of final Pro Bowl results. Players’ votes count for one-third, and coaches’ votes count for the final one-third. While players and coaches will vote Dec. 11-12, polls for fans are open until Tuesday, Dec. 9. Fans can go to NFL.com/probowl to vote.

In other Pro Bowl news, inside linebacker Ray Lewis, free safety Ed Reed and fullback Le’Ron McClain lead in voting at their respective positions in the AFC. Lewis has collected 168,566 votes, which is 66,041 more than Pittsburgh’s James Farrior. Reed’s 133,666 votes more than double the 58,803 votes Tennessee’s Michael Griffin has garnered. And McClain has almost 16,000 more votes than Tennessee’s Ahmard Hall.

Outside linebacker Terrell Suggs has earned 112,110 votes, which ranks fourth behind Miami’s Joey Porter (151,463), Tennessee’s Keith Bulluck (117,856) and Pittsburgh’s James Harrison (117,728).

Linebacker Brendon Ayanbadejo is fourth among special teams players with 38,982 votes. Pittsburgh’s Anthony Madison (47,147), New England’s Larry Izzo (43,462) and Miami’s Patrick Cobbs (41,895) are ahead of Ayanbadejo.

Cornerback Chris McAlister – who is on injured reserve after undergoing surgery on his right knee – is fifth with 63,378 votes. He trails Denver’s Champ Bailey (153,765), Tennessee’s Cortland Finnegan (105,251), San Diego’s Antonio Cromartie (104,958) and Oakland’s Nnamdi Asomugha (79,408).

Posted by Edward Lee at 2:24 PM | Permalink | Comments (9)
        

It's starting to get to that point in the season where we hear rumors about head coaches getting fired, but I'm not hearing any involving Ravens defensive coordinator Rex Ryan replacing anybody.

It's still early.

In the past two years, you could sense that Ryan was interested, but I'm not so sure that his interest is as great anymore. Ryan seems to be enjoying his time with the Ravens, and appears content working with the present staff. I'm sure if the right job opened he would listen, but I think he is more likely to stay than in previous years.

*****
For some of you folks who thought I was saying that Troy Smith should be the quarterback over Joe Flacco, well, you're making a mistake. I was answering a question in a reader Q&A and stating that Smith should be a quarterback, not a receiver. I wasn't suggesting he be the No. 1, but that he remain a quarterback instead of moving him to receiver.

Posted by Mike Preston at 1:09 PM | Permalink | Comments (8)
        

Starting left offensive tackle Jared Gaither (right shoulder) was the only player absent during the portion of practice open to the media this morning. Gaither, whose right arm was in a black sling yesterday, did not practice yesterday.

Three starters who did not practice yesterday -- wide receiver Derrick Mason (dislocated left shoulder), free safety Ed Reed (neck) and cornerback Samari Rolle (neck surgery) -- were present and active during today's session. Both Mason and Rolle wore red jerseys, signifying no contact.

Offensive tackle Willie Anderson (sprained left ankle), tight end Daniel Wilcox (thigh) and rookie safety Tom Zbikowski (thumb/thigh) -- all of whom were limited yesterday -- practiced today. Anderson manned the right tackle spot, while Adam Terry -- who is dealing with a right ankle injury of his own -- filled the left tackle position usually filled by Gaither.

Posted by Edward Lee at 11:49 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
        

The Ravens have several candidates, but none more deserving than defensive tackle Haloti Ngata. He has been a beast all season.

We really don't need to get into the stats. He can occupy two offensive linemen at once, or constantly gets enough penetration to disrupt any running game. The only tackle in the AFC that might be better than Ngata is the Titans' Albert Haynesworth, so that puts Ngata in pretty good company.

Of course inside linebacker Ray Lewis deserves to be on the team. He has had another great season. When other players his age are slowing down, Lewis has been able to sustain a high level of play.

Receiver Derrick Mason has played well and has virtually been the Ravens passing attack. There are receivers with more speed than Mason, but few who run better pattens. Punter Sam Koch has had an excellent season as well, and outside linebacker Jarret Johnson deserves some kind of mention.

Posted by Mike Preston at 9:09 AM | Permalink | Comments (10)
        

Wide receiver Derrick Mason (dislocated left shoulder), free safety Ed Reed (neck), cornerback Samari Rolle (shoulder surgery) and left offensive tackle Jared Gaither (shoulder) did not practice this afternoon. Reed and Rolle are likely to play, while the outlook for Mason and Gaither is not as rosy for Sunday's game against the Philadelphia Eagles.

Right offensive tackle Willie Anderson (sprained left ankle), tight end Daniel Wilcox (thigh) and rookie safety Tom Zbikowski (thumb/thigh) were limited in practice.

Wide receiver Terrance Copper (neck) has been ruled out.

Posted by Edward Lee at 4:06 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
        

The Philadelphia Eagles released their first injury report of the week, and running back Brian Westbrook did not practice due to knee and ankle injuries. But Westbrook has played in the last four games and is expected to play Sunday against the Ravens.

Starting right guard Shawn Andrews has been ruled out after undergoing back surgery. Starting right tackle Jon Runyan (knee) was listed as full participation in practice.

Posted by Edward Lee at 3:59 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
        

During a conference call with Baltimore media this morning, Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb was asked if he envisioned former Eagles special teams coordinator John Harbaugh becoming the head coach of the Ravens.

Here is McNabb's answer:

"I’m excited for Coach Harbaugh. Jim is a guy who worked extremely hard while he was here. I mean, John. Excuse me."

Posted by Edward Lee at 3:05 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
        

OK, so Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb isn't the brightest quarterback in the league. And he doesn't know if an NFL game can end in a tie. He is still one of the best in the league, and he'll cause the Ravens some problems Sunday. McNabb looks like the McNabb of old. He is moving around well, and is mechanically sound.

He has completed 227 of 382 passes for 2,711 yards this season, and has thrown for 14 touchdowns. McNabb has thrown eight interceptions, but has a quarterback rating of 84.7. The Ravens have to keep McNabb in the pocket. If not, the Ravens could lose two in a row.

While on the subject of quarterbacks, Ravens rookie Joe Flacco gave McNabb a shout out. Flacco said he was aware that a game could end in a tie, but said people were making far too much of a deal out of McNabb not knowing.

I agree with Flacco.

Posted by Mike Preston at 2:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (10)
        

Ravens cornerback Samari Rolle was walking around the locker room with a sling on his left arm, but Rolle said he will play Sunday against the Eagles.

Rolle, who has missed six games this season with a neck injury, played well last week against the Giants. Despite missing extensive time the past two seasons with injuries, Rolle has played well when he has gotten on the field.

When asked if he had hurt his arm trying to tackle Giants 264-pound running back Brandon Jacobs, Rolle said no.

"No, I didn't get in his way," said the 168-pound Rolle, smiling. "I tried on purpose not to get in his way."

I don't blame Rolle one bit.

The Ravens offensive tackles have been hit hard by injuries, so hard in fact, that the Ravens re-signed Chad Slaughter, who was at practice today. Desperate times call for desperate measures.

Anyone seen Orlando Brown around?

Posted by Mike Preston at 1:25 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)
        

The Ravens better be prepared for the blitzes of the Eagles. Philadelphia loves to bring pressure, and the Eagles will come from anywhere. The Eagles aren't afraid to blitz out of their dime package, and one of their favorite ploys is to come hard off the edge.

The Eagles will play four cornerbacks, two of them inside or near the slot positions. They like to bring both or one of their inside cornerbacks. One of their favorites is Joselio Hanson. The Eagles are tied for the league lead in sacks with 36 with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Posted by Mike Preston at 12:58 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)
        

Ravens coach John Harbaugh spoke this afternoon, and he stuck to his original assertion that the Ravens were not pushed around in Sunday's 30-10 loss to the New York Giants.

Cornerback Samari Rolle said the Ravens were "out-physicalled," and defensive end Trevor Pryce called it a "thumping." But that's not how Harbaugh saw it.

"I feel the exact same way," he said. "Samari’s playing corner, so he’s not watching the front seven. He’s out there playing cover, and he played very well. I don’t think we were knocked off the ball. That’s my definition of being ‘out-physicalled,’ when you’re knocked off the ball. There were three running plays in there that were poorly defended. It might have been tackling, it might have been getting off blocks. I think also give credit where credit is due. That’s a good football team. I think their backs are impressive, maybe even more impressive in person when you see them. Making guys miss, running physical, great patience. Sometimes you’ve got things defended and wait, wait, wait, find a crease and -- bam! -- pop outside like [Giants running back] Brandon [Jacobs] did early. But was it a result of getting knocked off the ball? No way."

Other notes:

• There has been speculation that the Ravens should have challenged a non-call that a Sam Koch punt might have been touched by a Giants player before Brendon Ayanbadejo recovered the ball at New York’s 21-yard line at the beginning of the fourth quarter. But Harbaugh pointed out that CBS and the operators at Giants Stadium did not show a replay of the punt and the players on the field said the ball did not touch a Giants player.

"Our players coming off the field were pretty adamant that it didn’t hit anybody," Harbaugh said. "[Rookie safety Tom] Zbikowski, who did a great job of kind of knocking their guy into the ball, couldn’t tell. Nick Greisen and the rest of the guys said, ‘No, it didn’t hit anybody.’ So I just didn’t feel -- being behind at that time -- it was worth giving up a timeout. Now if any of our players had thought it hit the guy, I would have thrown the flag because it would have been a shot to get it back. But then we went back and saw it this morning, and you couldn’t tell. So we obviously wouldn’t have gotten the ball."

• Harbaugh declined to place sole responsibility of Matt Stover’s 32-yard blocked field-goal attempt on the kicker. "It’s always the field goal unit when you get one blocked," Harbaugh said. "There was a little bit of a push inside, and that’s unacceptable. We try to stonewall them up in there. But a lot of times, you get push and you kick it right over that. Sometimes you kick it low and there’s no push and the ball gets it through. And sometimes you get a push and you kick it high and it doesn’t matter. This time, they got a little push and the ball was kicked low and they got it."

• Harbaugh agreed with the officials’ ruling to reverse Rolle’s apparent interception late in the third quarter. "The way the rule reads -- and they called it right -- is you have to finish the catch," Harbaugh said. "So when you hit the ground, you’ve got to basically finish the catch on the ground. He was down by contact with the ball, but when he rolled over, the ball kind of popped out and you could all see it. They ruled it correctly, we thought."

• The Ravens’ 10 penalties were one shy of the season high set in a 13-10 loss to the Tennessee Titans on Oct. 5. "Penalties are always a concern," Harbaugh said. "... I don’t think it really was the difference in the game, but it was a factor in the game. The pre-snap penalties -- whether it was jumping offsides on defense, whether it’s moving on offense -- those are the things we can control and we need to eliminate."

Posted by Edward Lee at 5:25 PM | Permalink | Comments (7)
        

If second-year left offensive tackle Jared Gaither can't play Sunday against the Eagles, the Ravens are in big trouble.

Gaither has been bothered by a shoulder injury for the past two weeks, but he still managed to play against the Giants. He basically played with one arm for three quarters before coming out of the game.

The problem is that neither of the other two top tackles are completely healthy. Veteran Willie Anderson missed the game Sunday with an ankle injury, and it has to be more serious than first diagnosed for Anderson not to play.

Also, Adam Terry is still struggling with an ankle injury. The Ravens may be forced to use the No. 4 and No. 5 players at the tackle positions. That's not good against the Eagles, who like to blitz as much as the Ravens.

Posted by Mike Preston at 12:15 PM | Permalink | Comments (12)
        

The Ravens weren't going to beat the Giants. Realistically, there was only about a 10 percent chance for an upset. The Ravens were playing their fourth game on the road during a five-game stretch, and they were playing the defending Super Bowl hampions.

Also, after watching the Giants beat up on the Ravens, they have to be considered the best team in the NFL. The Ravens needed everything to go just about right, and they needed to play a perfect game.

The bottom line is that the Ravens are 6-4, and right there with other teams for a wild card playoff berth. It would have been great if the outcome of the Giants game was a little closer, but New York is a good football team, and the Ravens are just average, and trying to get better.

Posted by Mike Preston at 9:55 AM | Permalink | Comments (12)
        

Wide receiver Derrick Mason was upgraded to limited participation after missing two consecutive days of practice and is listed as questionable for tomorrow’s game against the New York Giants.

"He’s kind of a little sore," coach John Harbaugh said after practice Friday. "I’d say he’s working through the injury right now. He looked OK for practice. We’ll see how he is on Sunday."

Joining Mason as questionable are free safety Ed Reed (hamstring), cornerback Samari Rolle (neck surgery), offensive tackle Willie Anderson (sprained left ankle), tight end Daniel Wilcox (hamstring) and rookie safety Tom Zbikowski (thigh).

Wide receiver Terrance Copper (shoulder) sat out his third straight day of practice and has been ruled out.

Posted by Edward Lee at 2:23 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
        

It's apparent that Ravens head coach John Harbaugh won his battle with tight end Todd Heap. Harbaugh was unhappy with Heap's absences in training camp practices, and told him so. He also told Heap he had to learn how to block better.

Notice that Heap didn't get many passes thrown his way. Last week against the Texans, he had his best game ever as a blocker. He also caught some passes. Some will say that Heap got more passes because wide receiver Derrick Mason was injured, and the Ravens couldn't throw to him over the middle.

Maybe.

But I also think Heap has learned a lesson that was taught to him by Harbaugh and offensive coordinator Cam Cameron.

Posted by Mike Preston at 1:59 PM | Permalink | Comments (4)
        

After missing two consecutive days of practice, wide receiver Derrick Mason (dislocated left shoulder) made an appearance this morning. Mason wore his jersey and took part in a few individual drills, but he did not have his helmet and he wore a red, non-contact jersey over his usual No. 85.

Offensive tackle Willie Anderson (sprained left ankle) was not present during the portion of practice open to the media. Wide receiver Terrance Copper, who has also not practiced for the past two days because of a shoulder injury, stood on the sidelines in a red jersey.

Posted by Edward Lee at 1:01 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
        

The Ravens and Giants will play a close game Sunday because the two teams are built a lot alike as far as philosophy. Both teams like to run and both defenses are built to stop the run. The Giants have an advantage because they are at home, but the Ravens don't care because they have enough confidence to play any team anywhere right now.

The game will come down to quarterbacks, and which one makes the plays, and which one makes the turnovers. In two of the Ravens three losses -- one against the Steelers and one against the Titans -- they lost because rookie quarterback Joe Flacco made more mistakes and fewer big plays than his counterparts.

I think that will happen again Sunday because Eli Manning will make more plays and commit fewer turnovers than Flacco.

Posted by Mike Preston at 11:55 AM | Permalink | Comments (11)
        

Actually, the Ravens revised their previous injury report and upgraded free safety Ed Reed (hamstring) to limited participation. Reed had been listed as not having practiced for the second consecutive day.

Posted by Edward Lee at 3:32 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
        

For the second consecutive day, wide receiver Derrick Mason (dislocated left shoulder), free safety Ed Reed (hamstring), offensive tackle Willie Anderson (sprained left ankle) and wide receiver Terrance Copper (shoulder/neck) did not practice.

Offensive coordinator Cam Cameron, however, wouldn’t rule out Mason, saying, "He is one of the toughest guys I’ve been around. You saw what he did in the second half the other day. I don’t think there’s anything that Derrick could do that would surprise me from a health standpoint."

Cornerback Samari Rolle (neck surgery) and tight end Daniel Wilcox (hamstring) were limited in practice for the second straight day.

The Giants’ top cornerback, Corey Webster, missed practice for the second consecutive day because of a strained groin. Starting strong safety James Butler (knee) was limited.

Posted by Edward Lee at 3:11 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
        

Wide receiver Derrick Mason (dislocated left shoulder) and offensive tackle Willie Anderson (sprained left ankle) did not participate in the portion of practice open to the media this morning. Mason wore sweats and watched from the sidelines of the team's indoor field, while Anderson did not make an appearance.

Wide receiver Terrance Copper (shoulder) participated, but he wore a red, non-contact jersey. Fullback Le'Ron McClain's left ankle was heavily taped, and wide receiver Yamon Figurs' left knee was wrapped.

Because of the injuries to Mason and Copper, the offense's three-receiver set featured Mark Clayton, Figurs and rookie Marcus Smith. Smith has been inactive in seven of the team's nine games this season.

Posted by Edward Lee at 11:57 AM | Permalink | Comments (3)
        

Ravens inside linebacker Bart Scott says one of the major keys to stopping the Giants' running game is to stop fullback Madison Hedgecock in the hole. That sounds like an easy task, but it isn't especially since Hedgecock weighs 266 pounds.

That should be one hell of a collision when Scott or fellow inside linebacker Ray Lewis take on Hedgecock. Another key is not allowing 264-pound running back Brandon Jacobs to square his pads at the line of scrimmage.

A lot of teams, even with big backs, have them run to the perimeter, and sometimes they never get going downhill. The Giants like to run Jacobs to the corner, too, but they also like to just run dives or burst up the middle where he runs behind Hedgecock. It's a power combination much like when Lorenzo Neal was the fullback in Tennessee lead blocking for Eddie George. George, though, never weighed over 260 pounds.

Posted by Mike Preston at 10:45 AM | Permalink | Comments (5)
        

If offensive tackle Willie Anderson and receiver Derrick Mason can walk, I expect them to play Sunday against the New York Giants, or at least attempt to play in the first quarter. Both are veterans and want to win badly. And both want to win a Super Bowl title.

I was talking with Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis the other day about Ravens quarterback coach Hue Jackson. I asked him about Anderson, who spent most of his career with the Bengals before coming to Baltimore shortly after the season began.

"He is a quality man, a player of high character," Lewis said of Anderson. "Willie wants to win badly and he just wants to play for a franchise committed to winning. He's a tough guy, a warrior who will play when he is hurt. We've missed him."

The same can be said of Mason. Anderson has an ankle injury while Mason is trying to recover from a dislocated shoulder which he injured last week. Unless they are strapped down to a table, I can't see either of these guys missing Sunday's game

Posted by Mike Preston at 8:24 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
        

The Ravens and Giants released the first injury report of the week, and wide receiver Derrick Mason, free safety Ed Reed and offensive tackle Willie Anderson did not practice this afternoon.

Mason, who dislocated his left shoulder in the Ravens' 41-13 win against the Houston Texans on Sunday, will not practice this week and will be a game-time decision, coach John Harbaugh said. Anderson's injured left ankle was in a walking boot, but the starter at right tackle for the past five games said he intends to play Sunday against the New York Giants. Reed has been dealing with a hamstring injury for the past few weeks.

Wide receiver Terrance Copper also did not practice because of a shoulder injury.

Cornerback Samari Rolle, who returned Sunday for the first time in six weeks after undergoing neck surgery, and tight end Daniel Wilcox (thigh) were limited.

For the Giants, starting cornerback Corey Webster did not practice due to a groin injury, and starting strong safety James Butler was limited because of an injured knee.

Posted by Edward Lee at 4:03 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
        

The Ravens have 16 players on injured reserve, most in the AFC North. (The Cincinnati Bengals have 10 players on IR, the Pittsburgh Steelers nine and the Cleveland Browns five.)

Here are the Ravens players (in numerical order according to their jersey numbers) whose seasons are over:

QB Kyle Boller (shoulder)
WR Justin Harper (knee)
CB Chris McAlister (knee)
SS Dawan Landry (back)
CB Derrick Martin (shoulder)
RB P.J. Daniels (shoulder)
TE Scott Kuhn (knee)
LB Prescott Burgess (arm)
LB Tavares Gooden (hip)
OG Marshal Yanda (knee)
OT Joe Reitz (shoulder)
WR Demetrius Williams (ankle)
TE Quinn Sypniewski (knee)
DT Dwan Edwards (back)
DT Kelly Gregg (knee)
DT Kelly Talavou (shoulder)

Thanks to reader Michael Singer for inquiring about the list.

Posted by Edward Lee at 12:53 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
        

At first glance, it appears that Ravens veteran right offensive tackle Willie Anderson has no chance of playing in Sunday's game against the New York Giants. Anderson has a huge cast on his ankle, and is walking around with a cane big enough to hold up a yacht.

But once he starts walking, Anderson has no limp. There are times when he carries the cane in his hand.

"I'm playing Sunday," Anderson said. "I'm playing. Right now, I'm just stretching out my hamstring."

Posted by Mike Preston at 12:38 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
        

The Ravens have had a tremendous amount of offense this season compared to the last nine years in Baltimore, but let's not be foolish enough to think this group rates with the Ravens' offenses that were here when the team first moved to Baltimore.

There really are no comparisons.

The present group scores more by design and scheming than actual talent. The present group doesn't have a veteran quarterback or receivers who can constantly get down field.

In the mid 1990's, the Ravens offenses were loaded. The Ravens had a great tandem in receivers Michael Jackson and Derrick Alexander. Both were big, fast and had good hands. Jackson could leap out of most stadiums. The Ravens also had Vinny Testaverde, who had one of the strongest arms to ever play the game. The Ravens had running backs like Earnest Byner, Priest Holmes and Bam Morris. They had a little slot receiver in Jermaine Lewis, who could fly and was just as much of a deep threat as Alexander and Jackson.

The only problem with those teams were that the Ravens would score 45, and allow 46. Or they would score 35 and allow 37. But if the present Ravens had this much talent on offense to match what they now have on defense, they'd win the Super Bowl.

Easily.

Posted by Mike Preston at 8:38 AM | Permalink | Comments (43)
        

Coach John Harbaugh met with the media for the his weekly day-after conference, and he confirmed that he would like to keep both Matt Stover and Steven Hauschka active on the team's 45-man roster on gamedays for the remainder of the season.

Stover is the third-most accurate kicker in NFL history and has bounced back from a 1-for-3 start to a 12-for-16 mark this season. But Stover, 40, is just 2-of-6 from beyond 40 yards, and Hauschka, a rookie from North Carolina State, converted a 54-yarder in the Ravens' 41-13 victory over the Houston Texans yesterday.

Harbaugh said the team will try to accentuate Stover's and Hauschka's strengths.

"If it's in Matt's pre-game range, Matt will kick it," Harbaugh said. "If it becomes out of Matt’s range, we’ll have to make the determination that you always make on a long field goal. Is the risk worth the reward? Is the three points worth the potential field position that we’re going to lose if we miss it, and really, what are the chances of making it? It may be within a kicker’s range, but [with] long field goals, the chances of making it drop dramatically because the geometry changes. Plus, you’ve got wind affecting it up top a little more. So it’ll just have to be a gut decision."

Other notes:

*Harbaugh said it's unclear whether wide receiver Derrick Mason will be able to play Sunday against the New York Giants due to a dislocated left shoulder. "It's too early to say," Harbaugh said. "I'm hopeful. I would say we expect him to play, you you can't say for sure."

Harbaugh also was noncommittal about offensive tackle Willie Anderson, whose string of five consecutive starts at right tackle is in jeopardy because of an injured left ankle. "He’s going to fight like crazy to get back," Harbaugh said. "I know we say that about all of our guys, but there’s a chance he will back."

Finally, Harbaugh did not have an update on strong safety Dawan Landry, who has missed the last seven games due to a spinal cord concussion and could be a candidate for injured reserve. "We’ll have to wait and see," Harbaugh said.

*Harbaugh said he was pleased that the team has not incurred a personal foul for unsportsmanlike conduct or unnecessary roughness since Oct. 19 when linebacker Antwan Barnes was flagged for taunting against the Miami Dolphins.

"The personal foul penalties have evaporated," Harbaugh said. "Not to say that couldn't come up and happen again at any time, but I think our guys have been stronger in those situations and have not allowed that to happen and have not put themselves in situations to cost the team 15 yards. I'm proud of that, and I think they are, too."

*Harbaugh reiterated that Willis McGahee, Le'Ron McClain and Ray Rice will continue to contribute to the NFL's third-ranked rushing game. "We’ve got three really good running backs, and they’re all going to play," he said. "How we do it is kind of a game plan thing."

Posted by Edward Lee at 5:10 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)
        

Once cornerback Chris McAlister has surgery, he will have to undergo five months of rehabilitation on his knee. McAlister actually wanted to try to continue playing, but the doctors were consistent in telling him that if he played the injury might get worse, and jeopardize his career.

The Ravens finished second to the Redskins in the running to sign former Oakland cornerback DeAngelo Hall. The New England Patriots were third.

Posted by Mike Preston at 9:38 AM | Permalink | Comments (7)
        

Despite not being a target in the first half of the season, tight end Todd Heap never complained publicly about the lack of receptions. He always kept saying that the receptions would come in time once he established a relationship with quarterback Joe Flacco. Heap had five catches for 58 yards and two touchdowns against the Texans. It's good seeing him involved, and even better that Flacco is spreading the ball around.

Posted by Mike Preston at 8:55 AM | Permalink | Comments (3)
        

A week ago, there was talk about benching running back Willis McGahee for rookie Ray Rice. Yesterday, McGahee finished with 112 yards rushing on 25 carries. As I wrote before, the Ravens should continue to use all three running backs, including Le'Ron McClain, as warranted. It's good to have a third down back, a base package performer and a short yardage runner. They complement each other well, and the three players get along well.

Posted by Mike Preston at 7:14 AM | Permalink | Comments (8)
        

Linebacker Bart Scott and cornerback Samari Rolle are listed as questionable for Sunday’s game against the Houston Texans after being limited in practice today for the third consecutive day. Scott is dealing with a chest injury, but he hasn’t missed a game since Jan. 2, 2005. Rolle has missed the last six games after undergoing neck surgery.

Tight end Daniel Wilcox missed practice for the second straight day because of illness and a left thigh injury. He is doubtful.

A number of players – running backs Willis McGahee (ankle) and Ray Rice (chest) and fullback Le’Ron McClain (ankle), offensive tackles Adam Terry (sprained right knee) and Jared Gaither (stinger), and defensive tackle Brandon McKinney (shoulder) – took full participation in practice after being limited the previous two days.

For the Texans, starting defensive tackle Amobi Okoye missed his third straight day of practice and is listed as doubtful with an ankle injury. Linebacker DeMeco Ryans (shoulder), wide receiver Kevin Walter (back) and running back Ahman Green (thigh) practiced fully and are probable.

Posted by Edward Lee at 2:47 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)
        

Cornerback Chris McAlister and tight end Daniel Wilcox were not present during today's portion of practice open to the media. McAlister (right knee) has missed the last two practices; Wilcox (left thigh/illness) sat out yesterday's session.

The offense added a little levity to practice by seeing which wide receivers, running backs and tight ends could catch passes with just one hand. Some of the players who succeeded included wide receiver Derrick Mason, running back Willis McGahee and practice-squad tight end Isaac Smolko.

Posted by Edward Lee at 11:54 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)
        

One person getting overlooked in the euphoria and development of rookie quarterback Joe Flacco is quarterbacks coach Hue Jackson. A lot of the credit always goes to offensive coordinator Cam Cameron, but it is Jackson who has spent the most time with Flacco. When the Ravens brought Jackson on board during the offseason, they thought they had one of the league's better offensive coaches.

Jackson was emotional after Sunday's win against Cleveland. He could be heard happily screaming as he was running through the press box, and later as he jumped on the elevator to go down to the team's locker room.

Posted by Mike Preston at 9:55 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)
        

I can't see Ravens general manager Ozzie Newsome paying a lot of money for former Raiders cornerback DeAngelo Hall. Newsome has expressed token interest but Hall will demand a lot of money. In the past, the Ravens have generally built through the draft instead of acquiring high priced free agents.

Also, DeAngelo comes with a bad reputation. First-year coach John Harbaugh already has some head cases he needs to get rid of after this season.

Posted by Mike Preston at 8:44 AM | Permalink | Comments (20)
        

I'm sure the Ravens will express some interest in former Raiders cornerback DeAngelo Hall, but Hall has to clear waivers. A team could pick Hall up off waivers, but also have to inherit that $16 million clause where if Hall gets hurt and can't play for the rest of the season, the team has to pay him $16 million. Most teams will back away from that. Hall is expected to clear waivers by 6 p.m. tonight, and that's when teams will start lobbying for his services, probably including the Ravens.

Until then, teams cannot talk about Hall or risk being fined.

Posted by Mike Preston at 3:23 PM | Permalink | Comments (23)
        

Add Le'Ron McClain to the list of tailbacks who are trying to work through the pain in anticipation of Sunday's game against the Houston Texans. McClain was limited in practice by a sore ankle, according to the Ravens' official injury report.

McClain joins Willis McGahee (ankle) and rookie Ray Rice (chest), both of whom were also limited. McGahee did not play a snap in Sunday's 37-27 win against the Cleveland Browns. Rice, who racked up a career-high 159 yards against the Browns, is expected to play, offensive coordinator Cam Cameron said.

Cornerback Chris McAlister (right knee) and tight end Daniel Wilcox (left thigh) did not practice. McAlister has missed two consecutive practices.

Limited in practice were offensive tackles Adam Terry (sprained right knee) and Jared Gaither (stinger), cornerback Samari Rolle (neck surgery), linebacker Bart Scott (chest) and defensive tackle Brandon McKinney (shoulder).

For the Texans, starting defensive tackle Amobi Okoye (ankle) missed his second straight practice, but linebacker DeMeco Ryans (shoulder) and wide receiver Kevin Walter (back) returned on a limited basis.

Posted by Edward Lee at 3:09 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
        

Cornerback Chris McAlister, who was in Canada seeking another medical opinion on his balky right knee and did not practice yesterday, was absent from today's portion of practice open to the media. Tight end Daniel Wilcox, who was limited yesterday due to a left thigh injury, also was not present.

It appears that the Ravens may have made another roster move. Rookie wide receiver Ernie Wheelwright, who was waived yesterday to make room for safety Daren Stone, was back at practice today. Offensive lineman Marvin Philip, a member of the practice squad, was not at practice. So one could surmise that the team released Philip and signed Wheelwright to the practice squad. We'll update later once that is confirmed.

Posted by Edward Lee at 11:50 AM | Permalink | Comments (3)
        

I received a phone call from NASA and CIA officials this morning, and was told that Ravens cornerback Chris McAlister had gone to Mars to get a fourth (or fifth) opinion on his injured knee. It will take him a couple of weeks to get back to earth, so head coach John Harbaugh was still unsure if he would put McAlister on the injured reserve list.

There is speculation that McAlister might go to Pluto for some R&R before returning to Baltimore to finish the season.

Posted by Mike Preston at 7:19 AM | Permalink | Comments (26)
        

As reported earlier, cornerback Chris McAlister was not present during the portion of practice open to the media this morning, and he did not practice, according to the team's first injury report of the week. McAlister, who has missed the last two games with a problematic right knee, traveled to Canada to get another opinion on the knee.

Strong safety Dawan Landry (spinal cord concussion) has been ruled out and will miss his seventh consecutive game.

Limited in practice were offensive tackles Adam Terry (sprained right knee) and Jared Gaither (stinger), running backs Willis McGahee (ankle) and Ray Rice (chest), cornerback Samari Rolle (neck surgery), linebacker Bart Scott (chest), tight end Daniel Wilcox (left thigh) and defensive tackle Brandon McKinney (shoulder).

Perhaps the biggest news came from the Texans, who lost their leading tackler for the remainder of the season. Linebacker Zac Diles broke his left leg during practice earlier today and is scheduled to have a rod place in his tibia tonight. Diles had registered 66 tackles in eight starts.

Three starters -- lInebacker DeMeco Ryans (shoulder), defensive tackle Amobi Okoye (ankle) and wide receiver Kevin Walter (undisclosed) -- did not practice. Running back Ahman Green (thigh) fully participated.

Posted by Edward Lee at 4:13 PM | Permalink | Comments (16)
        

Ravens outside linebacker Bart Scott said he still has his notes from the first scheduled encounter with the Texans, but he won't use them much.
"Yeah, I got all of them, but they are a different team now," said Scott of Houston. "They've expanded -- young Steve Slaton is a lot more confident about what he is doing in the offense, and now we got to worry about him a little bit more because of the confidence. And he is just dumb enough to think he can run on us."
You might say this is bulletin board material, but Scott and the Ravens really don't care.

Posted by Mike Preston at 3:36 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)
        

Beep. Beep. The Preston Express got passed over by The T-Sizzle Express today. When asked why the Ravens have won on the road this year compared to last season, Ravens outside linebacker Terrell Suggs said: "Maybe it's the coach."

And then Suggs went on to throw out compliments about first year head coach John Harbaugh, leaving former head coach Brian Billick no wiggle room under The Bus.

Posted by Mike Preston at 3:10 PM | Permalink | Comments (15)
        

Head coach John Harbaugh said cornerback Chris McAlister is in Canada getting another opinion on his knee. We need a calculator to figure out how many opinions McAlister has gotten. We know that he has gotten advice from the Ravens trainers and doctors in Baltimore, Florida and now Canada.

What's next, Iraq or Kuwait?

When you're dealing with C-Mac, it's like taking a trip into the Twilight Zone.

Posted by Mike Preston at 2:56 PM | Permalink | Comments (7)
        

Cornerback Chris McAlister was not present during the portion of practice open to the media this morning. McAlister, who has missed the last two games, has been hampered by a problematic right knee.

Strong safety Dawan Landry (spinal cord concussion) was also absent.

The good news, however, is that cornerback Samari Rolle and running back Willis McGahee did practice. Rolle, who has missed the last six contests due to neck surgery, took part in assorted team drills and appeared to be much more active than last week. McGahee did not play in Sunday's 37-27 win against the Cleveland Browns because of knee, ankle and rib injuries.

Tight end Daniel Wilcox also participated, but he had his left thigh wrapped during a pass-catching drill.

Although coach John Harbaugh expressed confidence that offensive tackle Adam Terry would play more snaps against the Houston Texans on Sunday, Willie Anderson continued to line up at right tackle with the rest of the first offensive line. Anderson has started the last four games at right tackle.

Right guard Marshal Yanda, who tore three ligaments in his right knee in a 31-3 loss to the Indianapolis Colts on Oct. 12, watched practice from the sidelines. Yanda used crutches to move around.

Posted by Edward Lee at 12:04 PM | Permalink | Comments (11)
        

The Ravens announced a series of moves today, including adding quarterback Todd Bouman and second-year safety Daren Stone to the active roster. Bouman was released last Saturday to make room for cornerback Anwar Phillips. Stone was a sixth-round pick by the Atlanta Falcons in the 2007 draft and had two tackles in 12 games in his rookie season.

To make room for Stone, the team waived rookie wide receiver Ernie Wheelwright. The Ravens also re-signed Phillips to the practice squad after releasing the cornerback Monday.

Finally, quarterback Joe Flacco has been named the Week 9 AFC Offensive Player of the Week.

Posted by Edward Lee at 11:53 AM | Permalink | Comments (14)
        

It was strange that Ravens head coach John Harbaugh dedicated the win to Ravens minority owner Art Modell after the game Sunday. Why?

I thought most of the ill-feelings between the Cleveland fans and Modell had subsided, just like the furor had died down from the Colts moving to Indianapolis nearly 25 years ago. Those bad feelings will never be totally gone until entire generations die out, but it just made no sense.

Harbaugh is a nice man, but sometimes it takes him time to wind down after games. He is emotional, and impulsive. At times, he sounds so corny with the bravado stuff, almost like a Buzz Lightyear. Remember the "we are mighty men" comment.

But Harbaugh is sincere. He is no phony and I think he is very reflective when things are brought to his attention. There might have been a very good reason for him to dedicate the win to Modell, maybe something we don't know about. If not, Harbaugh is probably looking back and saying, "Why did I do that?"

Sometimes, he just gets a little too carried away.

Posted by Mike Preston at 10:03 AM | Permalink | Comments (39)
        

It seems like a lot of people want the Ravens to choose between the two players, but that would be a mistake. We're just at the midseason point, folks. The Ravens will need both of them. It's way too early to banish either one to the bench.

Rice actually likes McGahee and looks up to him as a mentor. He likes sharing the role with McGahee at this time. As long as McGahee can play, and he follows all the team rules, I think both should play and both can help the team.

Rice definitely has a role as a third-down back, and second-year player Le'Ron McClain can be the short-yardage runner. There is enough opportunity for all three players, and head coach John Harbaugh should find a way to get them into the game.

Posted by Mike Preston at 3:09 PM | Permalink | Comments (21)
        

Ravens rookie quarterback Joe Flacco had good numbers against the Browns, but there were other things that made his performance impressive.

He stood tall in the pocket and stepped up when he had to move. He showed a quick release and good arm strength on passes across the middle. The Ravens also allowed him to make throws inside the red zone and into tight windows.

It was the kind of performance that will give him, as well as the coaching staff, confidence as the Ravens move into the second half of the season. Flacco has to play like this if the Ravens will become serious contenders in the future. He took another step yesterday as a quarterback.

Posted by Mike Preston at 9:47 AM | Permalink | Comments (25)