The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly - Ravens vs. St. Louis

The Baltimore Ravens received a glimpse into their promising future despite a 24-10 loss to the St. Louis Rams on Saturday night.

After a viral illness sidelined starter Troy Smith, rookie Joe Flacco received the emergency start. Though Flacco struggled with accuracy, he performed better than any other quarterback in the team’s first two preseason games.

While the coaching staff is still expected to go with either Smith or veteran Kyle Boller, Flacco has at least thrown his name into the discussion of who will be the starting quarterback against the Cincinnati Bengals on Sept. 7.

Here is a breakdown of the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly for Preseason Week 3.

The Good

Tom Zbikowski

The rookie safety continued to impress on special teams and in the secondary. Zbikowski blocked a punt in the first quarter that led to a Matt Stover 22-yard field goal.

Zbikowski also showed his cover skills by breaking nicely for the ball on an interception in the fourth quarter.

With the unclear status of Ed Reed’s injured shoulder, the Ravens have to keep Zbikowski, Haruki Nakamura, and Jim Leonhard on the roster as all three contribute on special teams and show solid play in the secondary.

Joe Flacco

After learning that Flacco would make the emergency start due to Smith’s illness and Kyle Boller’s sore shoulder, Ravens fans braced themselves for a disastrous result.

Flacco performed admirably despite learning he would get the start only hours before kickoff. He went 18-37 for 151 yards and a touchdown, a 15-yard throw to Derrick Mason in the third quarter. Unlike Boller and Smith in their starts, Flacco did not turn the ball over.

Flacco gained confidence and looked more comfortable in the second half. He was most effective using three-step drops where he was able to release the ball quickly. He also showed enough mobility to avoid the pass rush on several occasions.

He struggled with accuracy, completing less than half of his attempts. Flacco threw several passes high or too hard. He also needs to remember to throw the ball away instead of trying to force throws to covered receivers.

His overall performance surpassed any previous work by Boller or Smith in the preseason. This is probably more a reflection on how ineffective the two veterans have been than a compliment to Flacco.

While Flacco needs to continue to improve and mature as an NFL quarterback, he definitely showed glimpses of why the Ravens selected him with the 18^th pick in April's draft.

Flacco’s performance will at least force coaches to consider accelerating his learning curve, especially if Smith and Boller continue to struggle when the regular season begins.

Derrick Mason

The Ravens lack a receiver that can stretch the field, but Mason is still one of the best possession receivers in the league. He and Flacco showed impressive timing on several sideline routes.

Mason caught six passes for 85 yards and the touchdown from Flacco.

Mason is the only consistent receiving threat in this offense until Todd Heap can show he is healthy.

Special Teams

The special teams continue to shine despite the struggles of both the offense and defense.

Sam Koch punted for an average of 49.9 yards per kick, pinning three kicks inside the 20. His new form of kicking the point of the ball rugby-style on shorter kicks has been very effective in the preseason.

Yamon Figurs continued to show improvement and nearly broke his first kickoff return for a touchdown if he had been able to cut left at the last moment.

Matt Stover was able to get more distance on his kickoffs this week.

Coverage units continued to play strongly as many young players try to make the roster by contributing on special teams.

Le’Ron McClain

McClain led the Ravens on the ground with 41 yards on eight carries. He saw more time at tailback, showing good acceleration and some shifty moves for a big running back.

His emergence is significant with the uncertain status of Willis McGahee and the need to lighten the workload for rookie Ray Rice.

The Bad

Offense

Dealing with the chaotic quarterback situation, the offense struggled, only gaining 76 yards and three first downs in the first half.

Though the offense put together an impressive drive for a touchdown to start the second half, it failed to generate any big plays following that.

The offensive line did a fair job in protecting the inexperienced Flacco but were inconsistent in run blocking at times, gaining 70 yards on the ground for a 3.8 average per rush.

It is crucial for the offensive line to be strong in the running game with the lack of production from the quarterbacks and receivers.

Cam Cameron surprisingly called for Flacco to throw 37 passes instead of focusing on the ground game with an inexperienced quarterback in the lineup.

The Ravens lack talent on the offensive side of the football and desperately need the returns of Todd Heap and Willis McGahee to the starting lineup.

Defensive Line

Still missing starters Kelly Gregg and Haloti Ngata, this unit continued to show its lack of depth.

The defensive line was pushed around and failed to control the line of scrimmage for much of the night. J’Vonne Parker was able to get good penetration on several running plays but is too inconsistent to be considered as anything other than a rotation player.

Ronnie Prude

Prude had an opportunity to gain strong consideration for a roster spot with the absence of Derrick Martin, but likely played his way off the roster.

Prude missed tackles and was too slow in coverage throughout the game.

Corey Ivy

While Ivy defended a couple passes nicely, he continued to show why he is only effective in the nickel package.

He played too soft in coverage and lost his receiver several times when Rams quarterback Marc Bulger would pump-fake elsewhere and then throw his way.

The Ugly

Frank Walker

For the second straight week, Walker was torched repeatedly. He played too soft in coverage and was slow to react when the ball was in the air.

He allowed a touchdown pass in the second quarter and was called for pass interference and illegal contact.

If Walker is the best the organization has for cornerback depth, the coaching staff needs to pray that Chris McAlister and Samari Rolle can remain healthy this season, something that is unlikely to happen given their age and injury history.

Team Defense

For the second straight week, defensive coordinator Rex Ryan’s unit played poorly throughout the night. While still missing four starters, the return of Terrell Suggs and Samari Rolle seemed to have little impact on the first unit.

The defense came out flat from the beginning as the Rams drove down the field and kicked a 37-yard field goal.

The unit allowed 15 first downs and 250 yards of offense in the first half alone.

The blitz continued to be ineffective, leaving the depleted secondary even more vulnerable. The defensive line was unable to create pressure throughout the night.

Ryan will need to reconsider his game plan if McAlister and Reed continue to miss time with injuries, because the secondary needs as much help as it can get.

While the defense is still capable of being one of the better units in the league when all personnel is healthy, the uncertain status of Reed, McAlister, and Gregg leaves serious doubt.

Unlike the great defenses of the past, this team severely lacks depth on the defensive line and at cornerback.

The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly - Minnesota vs. Ravens

On a night when Baltimore’s Michael Phelps made Olympic history in Beijing, the Ravens could only manage to create more questions in a 23-15 loss at M&T Bank Stadium on Saturday.

The Ravens struggled from both sides of the ball and failed in coming any closer to finding a starting quarterback against the Cincinnati Bengals on Sept. 7. Troy Smith and Kyle Boller were both ineffective in moving the offense while the stout Baltimore defense that dominated New England a week ago struggled to keep the Vikings offense off the field.

Here is a breakdown of the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly for Preseason Week Two.

The Good

Ray Rice

Once again filling in for the injured Willis McGahee, Rice looked more comfortable in his second professional start. Rice finished with 77 yards on 8 carries, including a 6-yard touchdown in the first quarter.

Rice showed great field vision in recognizing the cutback lanes against the Minnesota defense. His 42-yard run was the highlight of the night for the mostly ineffective offense.

The offensive line deserves credit for opening some nice holes for Rice after failing to establish the run in last week’s game.

Haruki Nakamura

Nakamura continues to impress on special teams, finishing with 2 tackles on the kickoff team.

He also made a key third-down pass deflection in the second half. Nakamura has a keen ability to find the football and make plays.

Jarret Johnson

Johnson continues to show great hustle and improved speed, finishing with 2 tackles. Players like Johnson are critical for the Ravens to maintain their tradition of great defense.

Derrick Martin

Martin compensated for a rough outing against New England with a strong performance. He broke on the ball beautifully for a 22-yard interception return for a touchdown that got the Ravens back in the game in the fourth quarter.

Martin provided strong coverage in the second half, deflecting two other passes.

He strengthened his bid in making the roster as other members of the secondary struggled throughout the night.

Tom Zbikowski

Zbikowski played well in run support, making 3 tackles and registering a sack. Much like Nakamura, he shows an ability to find the football and make plays.

He did provide a scare in the fourth quarter when he failed to call a fair catch on a punt. Fortunately, he held onto the ball after taking a violent hit.

The Bad

Troy Smith

Smith failed to seize control of the quarterback competition by turning in an uneven performance.

While Smith showed good mobility by rushing for 35 yards, he looked uncomfortable throwing throughout the night. Smith only made 5 attempts but double-pumped on several occasions and failed to see a wide-open Derrick Mason on a play in the second quarter.

Smith and the offense were unable to get in a rhythm throughout the first half. His last play of the night was a pass thrown behind Mark Clayton that was intercepted by Darren Sharper.

This was not the standout performance that Smith or the Ravens were envisioning. In Smith's defense, the poor play of the defense didn’t really allow him or the offense to get many opportunities in the first half.

Antwan Barnes

Starting in place of Terrell Suggs, Barnes struggled to seal the outside on several running plays.

Barnes needs to play stronger instead of relying solely on speed, as he was pushed back into the defensive backfield on several plays in the first half.

Chad Slaughter

The left tackle started well but struggled as the game progressed. He completely whiffed on a block of Jared Allen even though Smith escaped for an 18-yard scramble in the second quarter.

Slaughter needs to improve his conditioning and play stronger. For the second game in a row, he was bull-rushed and pushed back into the quarterback, this time by Allen.

Slaughter played deep into the second half as coaches hope he can get into better football shape.

Oniel Cousins

The third-round pick continues to disappoint as he allowed Letroy Guion to clobber Kyle Boller for a sack.

Cousins also allowed a sack of Joe Flacco in the fourth quarter.

Kyle Boller

Boller completed his first 8 passes but for only 40 yards. He settled for short passes to secondary receivers and did not attempt to throw down the field.

Boller missed on his final 4 attempts after being hammered by Guion.

In typical Boller fashion, he threw into double coverage for an interception on his final attempt of the night.

While Boller was not horrible, he did nothing to stand out and take the lead in the quarterback competition after such a mediocre showing by Smith in the first half.

Joe Flacco

Flacco showed more poise in his second professional game, but he still needs to do a better job protecting the football. He fumbled twice on plays where an NFL quarterback should not lose the ball.

He seemed to settle down and get rid of the ball quicker after his first series.

Flacco showed some promise but is still a long way from starting for the Ravens.

The Ugly

Defense

Perhaps the only thing more troubling than the play of the quarterbacks was the poor performance by the defense. Still missing six starters, the defense failed to get pressure on the Minnesota quarterbacks throughout the game and defended the pass poorly.

In the first half, Minnesota was 7-10 on third down and accumulated 234 yards of offense, keeping the Ravens defense on the field.

The defense missed too many tackles, including ones by Antwan Barnes, Bart Scott, and Frank Walker.

The defense desperately needs cornerbacks Chris McAlister and Samari Rolle and safety Ed Reed to return to the lineup.

Frank Walker

The veteran cornerback was abused by the Minnesota offense the entire first half. He appeared a step slow in coverage and tackled poorly.

Walker also failed to look back for the ball when defending receivers on the sideline.

He may have played his way onto the bubble with this poor showing.

Miscommunication in the Secondary

Fabian Washington and Dawan Landry allowed a 23-yard touchdown pass to Martin Nance in the first quarter. Washington simply let Nance run by him, expecting deep help from Landry.

When Landry’s help did not come, it led to an easy touchdown for the Vikings on their opening drive.

Regardless of who was at fault, the miscommunication was eerily similar to the types of plays given up by the secondary in 2007.

In Loving Memory

I ask for your thoughts and prayers for my family and me as we mourn the passing of my grandmother Reba Brothers. She was a very dedicated Orioles, Ravens, and Baltimore Colts fan who loved to watch and talk sports religiously. Always an Orioles optimist, she was pleased with the direction the Orioles are finally heading after so many years of losing. I will miss her dearly.

2008 Baltimore Ravens Roster Breakdown (as of August 13)

As the Ravens prepare for their second preseason game against the Minnesota Vikings on Saturday night, here is the roster breakdown. The high number of injuries has clouded the roster outlook in the last few weeks. Key injuries to tackles Jared Gaither and Adam Terry, running back Willis McGahee, defensive tackles Kelly Gregg and Haloti Ngata, cornerback Chris McAlister, and safety Ed Reed has caused the front office to search for added depth at certain positions. Listed in parentheses behind each position is the number of players the team would likely keep. Players no longer on the roster are listed as either CUT or I.R. (injured-reserve).

Quarterback (3)

LOCK: Kyle Boller, Joe Flacco, Troy Smith

BUBBLE: None

LONGSHOT: None

CUT: Brad Roach

Skinny: The quarterback competition is as uncertain now as it was in late July as Boller and Smith had uneven performances against New England. Hopefully, the picture becomes clearer when Smith gets the start against Minnesota.

Running Back (3)

LOCK: Willis McGahee, Ray Rice

BUBBLE: Alex Haynes, Allen Patrick, Corey Ross

LONGSHOT: None

I.R.: P.J. Daniels

Skinny: McGahee’s arthroscopic left knee surgery has thrown Rice into the starting tailback position for the time being. Coaches would really like to see a running back emerge from the pack to win the third running back spot. This becomes more critical has McGahee’s status for Week 1 remains unclear. The Ravens could conceivably carry a fourth running back depending on special teams play.

Fullback (2)

LOCK: Le’Ron McClain

BUBBLE: Lorenzo Neal

LONGSHOT: None

CUT: Justin Green, Jake Nordin

Skinny: In a surprise move, the Ravens cut Green and signed veteran Lorenzo Neal on August 12. Neal is very familiar with Cam Cameron’s offense dating back to their days with the San Diego Chargers. Neal will provide tutoring to the talented younger McClain. McClain was more involved in the offense in the first preseason game than he was at any point last season.

Tight End (3)

LOCK: Todd Heap, Daniel Wilcox

BUBBLE: Adam Bergen, Aaron Walker, Keith Weinrich

LONGSHOT: None

CUT: Lee Vickers

Skinny: Depth at tight end continues to be a major concern as Heap battles a nagging calf injury while Wilcox continues to recover from off-season toe surgery. Bergen blocked poorly against New England. The tight ends will need to be strong blockers given the Ravens’ uncertainty at the offensive tackle position.

Wide Receiver (6)

LOCK: Mark Clayton, Yamon Figurs (return specialist), Derrick Mason, Marcus Smith, Demetrius Williams

BUBBLE: Patrick Carter, Justin Harper, Darnerien McCants,

LONGSHOT: Kerry Reed, Ernie Wheelwright, Matt Willis

Skinny: Williams has battled a sore Achilles' tendon but figures to return soon. Smith has distanced himself from the field for a receiver spot. Harper has shown strong skills and is likely in control for the last receiver spot. The veteran McCants had a 30-yard reception but followed that with a drop inside the 5-yard line in the 2nd quarter against New England.



Offensive Linemen (9)

LOCK: Jason Brown, Chris Chester, Oniel Cousins, Jared Gaither, Ben Grubbs, Mike Kracalik, Adam Terry, Marshal Yanda

BUBBLE: David Hale, Chad Slaugther

LONGSHOT: Adrien Clarke, Adam Kraus, Joe Reitz, Isaiah Wiggins

CUT: Sean Dumford

Skinny: Tackle remains a desperate area of concern with Gaither and Terry missing most of camp with ankle injuries. The veteran Slaughter was signed to add depth but needs to improve his conditioning. The coaching staff has given Cousins more reps as the starting right tackle this week, so this is something to watch on Saturday.

Defensive Linemen (6)

LOCK: Justin Bannan, Dwan Edwards, Kelly Gregg, Haloti Ngata, Trevor Pryce

BUBBLE: Amon Gordon, J'Vonne Parker, Lorenzo Williams

LONGSHOT: Darrell Campbell, Kelly Talavou

Skinny: Gregg underwent arthroscopic surgery on his left knee and will miss the remainder of the preseason. Ngata is recovering from a sprained MCL but is expected to return soon. Bannan and Edwards got great penetration working with the first unit against New England. Gordon, Parker, and Williams have all impressed at different times in the preseason.

Linebacker (9)

LOCK: Brendon Ayanbadejo, Antwan Barnes, Tavares Gooden, Nick Greisen, Jarret Johnson, Ray Lewis, Bart Scott, Terrell Suggs

BUBBLE: Edgar Jones, Jameel McClain, Gary Stills

LONGSHOT: Dan Cody, Robert McCune, Terrence Melton

I.R.: Prescott Burgess

Skinny: The competition for linebacker continues to be close even after a fractured wrist landed Burgess on the injured-reserve list. Cody has missed most of training camp with an injured right foot, hurting his chances of earning a spot. The undrafted rookie free agent McClain's impressive play has earned him consideration for a roster spot.

Cornerback (5)

LOCK: Chris McAlister, Samari Rolle, Fabian Washington

BUBBLE: Corey Ivy, Derrick Martin, David Pittman, Frank Walker

LONGSHOT: Ronnie Prude

CUT: Anwar Phillips, Lenny Walls

Skinny: McAlister continues to miss time due to soreness in his right knee, an injury dating back to last season. Veterans Ivy and Walker played well against New England and have a slight edge over the younger cornerbacks on the roster.

Safety (4)

LOCK: Dawan Landry, Ed Reed

BUBBLE: Jim Leonhard, Haruki Nakamura, Tom Zbikowski

LONGSHOT: None

Skinny: Reed's left shoulder injury continues to be a major concern, as there are nerve-related issues. His status is uncertain for Week 1 of the regular season. The veteran Leonhard and the rookies Nakamura and Zbikowski all impressed in the preseason opener. Providing all three play well on special teams, the team could potentially carry five safeties, especially if Reed's shoulder does not improve.

Kicker (1)

LOCK: Matt Stover

BUBBLE: None

LONGSHOT: Piotr Czech

Skinny: Stover is clearly the man. Czech has a strong leg and could find a spot on the practice squad.

Punter (1)

LOCK: Sam Koch

BUBBLE: None

LONGSHOT: None

Skinny: Koch is the only punter in camp and has even practiced kicking a few field goals in case of an emergency situation.



Long Snapper (1)

LOCK: Matt Katula

BUBBLE: None

LONGSHOT: None

Skinny: Katula is one of the league's best long snappers.

Surprising Season Still Missing The Mark For Rebuilding Orioles

By: Luke Jones

While the Tampa Bay Rays are the surprise of the American League East and all of Major League Baseball, a team trailing them by 13 games is quietly putting together a surprising season.

The last place Baltimore Orioles may be out of the playoff race in the competitive AL East, but their 56-59 record is far better than anyone expected at the start of the season. The club has thrilled fans with numerous comeback victories and entertained with characters such as Kevin Millar who created a humorous Orioles Magic video with other teammates. The video plays after every home victory.

If 2008 has been such an enjoyable year, then what's the problem in Baltimore?

Before Saturday night's 9-0 victory over the Texas Rangers at Oriole Park at Camden Yards, manager Dave Trembley posted a lineup with 8 players over the age of 30. With last week's injury to center fielder Adam Jones, the only regular under the age of 30 is right fielder Nick Markakis.

Despite claiming to be a rebuilding team, there is very little youth in the current starting lineup.

The Orioles called up outfielder Luis Montanez from Double-A Bowie to take Jones' place. Montanez, 26, was putting up sensational numbers in the Eastern League with a .335 average, 26 home runs, and 97 RBI.

The logical move would be to place Montanez in center field, or at least give him a regular spot in the lineup by rotating days off for several veteran players, right?

The problem is Montanez has only started once in four games.

Trembley explains Montanez needs to adjust to major league ballparks in order to play the outfield and points to his lack of experience in center field as the reason for veteran Jay Payton becoming the regular center fielder instead of Montanez.

While this may be completely reasonable and Montanez might be playing regularly soon, it also sounds like a familiar story from the Orioles. Despite their surprising season, Trembley fails to see the big picture in the organization's rebuilding effort.

Trembley is unquestionably loyal to his veteran players. While this is not a negative quality on most clubs, it is when a team needs to evaluate younger players for the future. The goal should be improving for the future, not to simply finish with a better record in 2008.

Though Montanez is not viewed as anything more than a potential fourth outfielder for next season, isn't now the time to see what he can do at the major league level? Montanez was playing for a possible Triple Crown in the Eastern League when he was brought to the big club. His numbers not only demanded a promotion but also a regular opportunity to play.

Montanez may not be able to play center field, but Trembley should stop worrying about stepping on the toes of veterans such as Melvin Mora, Payton, and Millar and shuffle the lineup to give Montanez regular starts in left field or at designated hitter.

Unfortunately, Orioles fans have seen this too many times.

Past managers such as Mike Hargrove and Sam Perlozzo were often criticized for their refusal to play younger players over veterans late in the season when the club was out of contention. It appears that Trembley is falling into the same trap.

Last season, the team refused to give regular playing time to young players such as Jon Knott and J.R. House. While these players are no longer with the organization, they were never really given an opportunity to stick with the club.

Earlier this year, infielder Oscar Salazar was called up from Triple-A Norfolk after putting up impressive numbers. He rarely played and was sent down after hitting 2 home runs in 17 at bats. Hardly a fair audition.

In a few weeks, minor leaguers such as outfield prospect Nolan Reimold and catching sensation Matt Wieters will likely be called up and should be getting at bats with the Orioles to determine where they fit for the 2009 season.

Will Trembley do the right thing and play the younger players, or will he continue to show loyalty to veterans that will no longer be with the club in the near future? The answer is uncertain.

One thing is clear. The Orioles won't know what they have with these younger players until they're given an opportunity. Many of them might fail, but some will succeed.

After all, when he did get the start this week, Montanez hit a home run in his first major league at bat.

The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly - Ravens vs. New England

By: Luke Jones

The Baltimore Ravens kicked off the John Harbaugh era with a 16-15 victory over the New England Patriots on Thursday night. While the preseason means little in terms of winning and losing, the coaching staff can take some positive things from the first preseason game.

Here is a breakdown of the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly for Preseason Week 1.

The Good

1st Half Defense:

While six defensive starters did not play including Kelly Gregg, Haloti Ngata, Chris McAlister, Samari Rolle, Ed Reed, and Terrell Suggs, Rex Ryan's defense brought constant pressure through blitz packages and penetration by the defensive line. The Ravens defense played at a higher and faster level than the Patriots offense, which did not include Tom Brady and Randy Moss.

The defense limited the Patriots to less than 100 yards of total offense in the first half. Patriots quarterback Matt Cassel was confused and rattled by the constant pressure in the first half.

Cam Cameron:

Cameron brought an aggressive game plan to establish the passing game. The Ravens drove 57 yards on their opening drive setting up a Matt Stover 42-yard field goal.

Cameron called several screen passes and used fullback Le'Ron McClain as a bigger part of the offense than in the past. Cameron varied his calls, using runs in passing situations while passing in a few short yardage situations.

The ground game was not very productive as the offense focused on the air attack. Ray Rice carried 6 times for 12 yards.

Keep in mind that Cameron did not have Willis McGahee, Todd Heap, Mark Clayton, and Demetrius Williams in the lineup.

Return Team:

The Ravens return team set up excellent lanes for return specialist Yamon Figurs. Key blocks were made by rookie Tom Zbikowski and linebacker Brendon Ayanbadejo. Figurs also made several great moves to evade defenders in the open field. He will have nightmares of being caught on his 2nd quarter punt return to the 2-yard line.

Fabian Washington:

Washington displayed his strong cover skills by picking off two passes in the first half. He was also tough in run support registering two tackles. Critics in Oakland viewed his lack of commitment in stopping the run as his biggest weakness.

Justin Bannan:

The defensive tackle was a constant disruption in the New England backfield. Bannan will once again be a key member of the rotation on the defensive line.

Jarret Johnson:

While Ray Lewis, Terrell Suggs, and Bart Scott receive the publicity, Johnson quietly has become a very good linebacker on this star-studded defense. He was flying to the football and broke up a 3rd down pass in the first half.

Brendon Ayanbadejo:

Ayanbadejo fits right into the Ravens' defensive style of flying to the football, registering 8 tackles and a sack. He was signed for his special teams pedigree, but coaches have to feel confident in his ability to play linebacker if injuries occur during the regular season.

Discipline:

While penalties piled up in the 2nd half with many reserves and rookies fighting for jobs, the Ravens showed discipline in the first half, a trait missing from last season. The use of a play clock during training camp appeared to help as the offense did not have any delay of game penalties.


The Bad

Offensive Line:

While tackles Chad Slaughter and Mike Kracalik did not protect as poorly as some feared, they had difficulty in protecting Kyle Boller. Slaughter was bull-rushed badly by Richard Seymour on one play in the first quarter but was solid overall.

Kracalik appeared slow as Pierre Woods ran right by him on several plays in the first half.

Though the team did not make much effort to establish the run, the offensive line failed to open any big holes for Ray Rice or the other running backs in the second half. The offense only averaged 1.7 yards per rush.

2nd Half Defensive Line:

The defensive line struggled mightily as players such as Amon Gordon, Lorenzo Williams, and J'Vonne Parker were consistently pushed back by the Patriots offensive line. Gordon did register a sack.

Patriots (and former University of Maryland) running back Lamont Jordan carried 19 times for 76 yards.

Derrick Martin:

Martin committed a 15-yard facemask penalty and missed a tackle allowing a first down in the process. While Martin has played well in camp, he took a step back tonight in a very tight competition for the reserve defensive back spots.


The Ugly

4th Quarter Offense:

Joe Flacco looked like an overwhelmed rookie in his first NFL action. Flacco fumbled once and did not complete a pass in 3 attempts. The offensive line gave Flacco no time to throw.

Troy Smith:

No, not for his quarterback play but for his sideline behavior. What compelled a potential starting quarterback to dive after an errant throw on the Ravens sideline, putting himself at risk for injury? On top of that, he failed to even make the catch. Though Smith was unscathed, it was not something you would expect from a potential starting quarterback. While not a big deal, it shows some immaturity.


Here is a breakdown of how the quarterbacks performed in the first preseason game:

1. Kyle Boller:

Boller made some nice throws, particularly on the opening drive, when the offensive line gave him time to throw. As in the past, he struggled to complete passes when pressured, which is nothing new. Boller looked fairly comfortable in Cameron's new system.

Boller did not take care of the football and had two turnovers. He fumbled on a sack and threw a pass into triple coverage that was intercepted by Shawn Crable in the 2nd quarter.

Overall: Boller had a solid game completing 11-15 passes for 102 yards. The two turnovers leave a bad impression with the coaching staff. Boller appears to be neck-and-neck with Troy Smith in the starting competition.

2. Troy Smith:

Smith made some great throws including a 30-yard strike to Darnerien McCants. He made an even better throw that was threaded between two defenders but was dropped. Smith also showed his mobility carrying 3 times for 6 yards.

Smith still stares down receivers and nearly threw two interceptions. He needs to improve his accuracy to receivers coming out of the backfield.

Overall: While Smith only completed 5-12 passes for 76 yards, he showed some positive flashes. He appears to be almost even with Boller in the quarterback competition. Look for Smith to receive the start against the Minnesota Vikings next Saturday.

3. Joe Flacco:

Flacco was overwhelmed in his first NFL action as most rookie quarterbacks are. He aimed his first pass to the outside and threw a pass behind another open receiver. In his defense, Flacco had little time to throw behind a porous offensive line.

Flacco will certainly have better days than this. Quarterback-starved Ravens fans have no reason to panic.

Overall: Flacco did not complete a pass in 3 attempts. He lost a fumble on a sack. He is clearly the third-string rookie quarterback at this point, but the Ravens should bring this young and talented quarterback along slowly. He is the future of the franchise.