Postgame Harbaugh
Actually, Ravens coach John Harbaugh was very upbeat after the Ravens completed their undefeated preseason with a 20-3 victory over the Altanta Falcons. His team came out of the game healthy and most of the bubble guys played well enough to make the upcoming final roster cut a real challenge for the coaching staff and front office.
"We made a commitment when we started training camp,'' Harbaugh said. "We wanted to be the best Ravens we could be, and I think we are the best Ravens team we can be."
The Ravens have to be down to 53 players on Saturday, and there still are several roster spots still in doubt. In some cases, it may have come down to the final minutes of the game. Evan Oglesby, for instance, capped a solid all-around performance with a impressive interception in the fourth quarter.
"It's going to be really hard to get down to 53 players,'' Harbaugh said. "We've got more than 53 good players on this team."
It does not appear, however, that it will be a struggle to settle the kicking situation. Steve Hauschka nailed a 46-yard field goal near the end of the game and appears to have locked up the job, even if Harbaugh wasn't ready to make that announcement after the game.
"We'll talk about that over the next day or two,'' Harbaugh said, "but coming out there at the end and making that kick, that was good...and he also made a kick on a bad snap."
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Comments
This kid Riley seems to be the real deal...speed, catches the ball and has heart...
The play in the inzone where he was a sitting duck and got nailed, but kept his balance...this guy will succeed in the NFL.
Hopefully here!
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Pete's reply: I enjoyed watching him, too, but I don't think he makes the roster. Maybe the practice squad.
Posted by: Dennis | September 3, 2009 11:53 PM
Peter,
I see you took some abuse today on your blog so here I found something you might enjoy
http://www.milbstore.com/store_contents.cfm?cart_id=12334720777105110111114762832620090409&store_id=79&dept_id=985&product_id=4439
Maybe you can get the O's or Tides to do this promotion
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Pete's reply: Great find. I have to have one of those.
Posted by: John in Manassas | September 4, 2009 12:36 AM
yea i would like to see eron riley make the team too. justin harper might look good too,but he droped two very catable long passes the could have turned into touchdowns
Posted by: leonard | September 4, 2009 8:57 AM
Not sure which guy makes me cringe more when they are interviewed - Ray Lewis or John Harbaugh. Harbaugh, while a great coach, is full of trite comments and bad cliches from "might men" to "being the best Ravens we can be". Please John, work with a media specialist. You sound like you're reading off a teleprompter all the time. Are you related to Al Gore?
Posted by: Ravens Fan | September 4, 2009 9:02 AM
Pete,
Any idea wher #52 got to last night?
I did not see hide nor hair of him on the sideline.
Has Harbaugh abandoned his team first, last and always approach and gone to Billick's "A" and "B" team approach in his second year?
Inquiring minds want to know.
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Pete's reply: I didn't see Ray either, but Harbaugh didn't dress many of the first-team guys. I agree with that in this case. Little to be gained by running Ed Reed out there for one series.
Posted by: miguel32 | September 4, 2009 9:08 AM
Hey, how did Schmuck post this at 10:24 PM including final score when the game wasn't over yet?
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Pete's reply: The post time is when I start writing the post, so the game obviously ended while I was still writing it.
Posted by: ETBuzz | September 4, 2009 9:20 AM
Jacksonville set an alltime record low for attendance at about 37k last night.
Great choice expanding into that "growing market"
Posted by: hpierce227 | September 4, 2009 9:48 AM
How interesting.
A leader of a team holding his players accountable even in a meaningless game.
Me thinks our baseball manager should take some notes.
Posted by: Mark | September 4, 2009 10:47 AM
John in Manasas,
Great idea for the Schmucker!
Posted by: John | September 4, 2009 1:19 PM
When the head coach says "We wanted to be the best Ravens we could be, and I think we are the best Ravens team we can be", that is a sign of trouble and complacency. You should ALWAYS be trying to get better. The only time that should be said is after the Super Bowl with your team on top.
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Pete's reply: I think you're seriously overanalyzing that. The last thing Harbaugh is is complacent. He was mad because Ernie Wheelwright missed that TD pass, and Ernie wasn't making the team either way.
Posted by: Bob | September 4, 2009 3:53 PM
Pete---OC Jay here....I am more in tune with the O's blogs. But, being a 'Stillers' fan, the Ravens can't go down hard enough.
I grew up in Harrisburg PA....big time Orioles and Colts country. When the Colts left, we returned to our PA roots and started rooting for the Steelers. The Ravens, as much as we respect them, simply are not the old Colts.
Since I have relocated to OC, it's been a fun thing to root for the black and gold.
Always remember that Johnny U was a PA boy!
I will NEVER go against the O's----My dad and his brother in law both saw Brook's first game in York PA
Posted by: OC Jay | September 4, 2009 5:40 PM
Class owner...
Class front office...
Class head coach...
Winners!
Posted by: wayne | September 5, 2009 7:17 PM