Ravens will need Rice vs. Titans
Rookie running back Ray Rice said he is about 95 percent healthy and is expecting to play Saturday against the Titans. Rice was activated for the Miami game but didn't see any action. His absence is noticeable because the Ravens don't throw as many screen passes or flares when he isn't in the lineup. The Ravens will need him on third downs against the Titans, especially if they don't get a good game from their receivers.
Comments
I agree, and I think Ray Rice will contribute vs Tennessee. Also, Flacco gave his best Maxwell Smart effort and "missed by that much" on a couple long throws to Mark Clayton against Miami. But this week I see him connecting with Clayton deep for one score and yet again on another deep pass to set up a short red zone touchdown. I also have this strange inkling that Jim Leonhard is going to score via punt, fumble or interception return.
Posted by: Kevin Darnell Miller from Homestead, PA | January 5, 2009 10:44 PM
lets go ravens say hi from chihuahua mexico and good luck their saturday in tennesse i waiting for this moment a long time see u soon
Posted by: abraham mendez | January 6, 2009 4:13 AM
Agreed. It was part of the Jets gameplan that shredded Tennessee's D for over 400yds.
The Miami gameplan had Flacco trying to open up their D with 20+yd throws. He didn't connect on them, but Flacco better know that his A game will help put the Titans away early.
Favre's side kept the ball for 40mins in that game. That's how we'll crush Fisher's overrated team. They lost to the Houston for goodness sake! Can;t wait to see Titan fans cry all the way home.
Posted by: SC_Ravens_Fan | January 6, 2009 12:42 PM
I'll be happy when my team, the Ravens, win. I wouldn't waste two seconds getting jollies about the other team's fan's dissapointment. That's a loser attitude.
Posted by: joeyg | January 7, 2009 3:41 PM
Ray Rice has been the missing ingredient in the last couple games. He adds a quickness/agility dimension to an otherwise bruising north-south running game. It will be great to have him back!
I must also give props to Willis McGahee, who has not been the most popular player, but he has gotten the job done when it counts.
I hope Cam sticks with the running game this week, even though it will be tough sledding against the formidable Titans D.
Go Ravens!
Posted by: Aman | January 7, 2009 3:55 PM
Mike - if you are the Titans, how would you attack our defense? Although the Ravens defense has been awesome, I'm concerned with how easily our opponents march down the field when they patiently stick to short yardage passing. In my opinion, very few teams can run up the middle on the Ravens defense or run at all - with the exception of the Giants and Colts this year. It's too tough to pass downfield on us too because of the pressure that that just the defensive line gets on the QB and the play of our cornerbacks. This was evident in the Redskins game as Campbell's deep drops spelled disaster. Naturally, this opens up opportunities for Ed Reed.
However, if I am the Titans - I would try to burn the Ravens with dink-and-dunk underneath short passing to running backs and tight ends. If Collins takes short drops and can get short passes off before the blitzing gets out of hand - the Titans could hurt us. Many teams have been successful here - especially late in the game when the Ravens are in a prevent defense. If they stick to this game plan for the whole game, it could be a tough day for the Ravens.
What are your thoughts?
Posted by: Mark Griffin the Mailbox Man | January 7, 2009 6:24 PM
Without a doubt, Ray Rice needs to get into the mix this weekend against the Titans. His quickness and impressive agility seen briefly this year looked a lot like the way Darren Sproles looked when he ran against the Colts. Definite key ingredient. Also, let Flacco loose with the long ball to the corners. Need to see some runs to the outside from McClain and Mcgahee. Go Ravens.
Posted by: Pete Curran | January 9, 2009 1:59 AM