GAME THREAD - Ravens/Rams (preseason)

[Sephy]

Joe Flacco Special tonight!

Opening play - Rams return the kickoff, fumble at the 35, and the Ravens get it, but it looks like he was down.

LETS GO RAVENS!!!

[Sephy]

1st, Pittman gets an interesting carry, goes for about 13 and a first.

[Sephy]

1st from the Ravens 49, give to Pittman, finds a large hole, Ray stops it for only 4-5. Good tackle.
2nd and 5, another run, Pittman finding gigantic holes - gets almost 10. First again.

Picture is all messed up.

[jonboy79]

yes almost unwatchably messed up.

[Sephy]

1st, deep for Bennett, and broken up nicely by Walker. He had beaten Walker, but he broke it up well.
2nd, from the 36, give to Pittman for 1.
3rd and 9, flags fly, complete to Holt, just short of the first. Offside on Johnson.
3rd and 4, complete to the 21. First down. Picture is so messed up I can't see anything.

[Raveninwoodlawn]

Defense has looked terrible so far this season

[Sephy]

1st, incomplete for Bennett.
2nd, Pittman loses about 3 tacklers, but so many men were in pursuit, he got no gain.
3rd and 10, shotgun, Bulger pressured, and taken down at the 19! Nice coverage by Ray.

FG is good - 3-0 Rams. Flacco time!

[jonboy79]

If I wasn't so hard up for Raven's football I would have already changed the channel. Masn should be embarrassed, but they don't care becuase we will watch anyways.

[ravenjoe]

Picture sucks, and so does Rex's Defense!!!

[Sephy]

Figurs with SUCH a burst up the middle, and gets to the 44. Unbelievable, this kid.

[4G63]

Flacco in the shotgun.....and throws short!

[Sephy]

Flacco gets a good starting field position.

1st, give to Rice, no holes open, gets shifty but is only allowed 1.
2nd and 9, give to Rice, gets about 4.
3rd and 5, Flacco way overthrows his man. And by that I mean too hard. He'll learn to curb that.

Punt downed at the 4. Nice

[Raveninwoodlawn]

Flacco...dude...take a little off man. No need for a Farve Rocket when the guy is 5 yards in front of you.

[Sephy]

Flacco in the shotgun.....and throws short!

Wasn't short - he was trying for the other receiver at the sticks but overthrew him.

[Sephy]

1st, Pittman gets about 3.
2nd and 7, PA, deep for Walker's man, blanketed though, and overthrown.
3rd, draw, Pittman for about a yard, and its punt time. Some boos already.

[Sephy]

Punt is BLOCKED!!! by Tommy Z!!

Ravens get the ball at the 20! I love Matsko and Harbaugh's ST!

[jonboy79]

We're gonna keep all 5 safeties, even if Reed is ready week 1...

[Sephy]

1st, give to McClain, gets back to the LOS.
2nd and 10, complete to Mason on the comeback, gain of 13 and a first. Excellent route by Mason, really good.

[Sephy]

1st and goal from the 6, McClain up the middle for 2.
2nd and goal from the 4, Flacco under pressure by a blitzer on the backside, almost thrown right to the LB. Got hit too. Lucky non pick.
3rd, fade for Clayton, incomplete. I HATE the fade route. It was thrown too far - Clayton was so interfered with that had it been close, we'd have a fresh set.

3-3 game.

[Raveninwoodlawn]

Fade to Mark Clayton?

[Sephy]

Figurs makes a tremendous tackle at the 18-19. Love these STs.

[RavenScallywag]

quick question, NFL.com shows Troy Smith playing, is that just a fudge up on their side? (Making dinner and trying to get the little one to sleep, so I'm not watching the game)

[jonboy79]

Yeah they are certainly going to be tough this year in at least one facet of the game...

[jonboy79]

Yeah, Flacco is in...

[Sephy]

1st, quick hit to McMichael for 10. Suggs walks off holding his arm.

[Sephy]

1st, Pittman gets nothing. Maybe 1.
2nd and 8, false start.
2nd and 13, Bulger pressured, but McMichael ends up wide open in the middle, gets about 11 and is close.
3rd and short, Suggs back in, Ravens run blitz and they run right into it - Pittman stopped for a loss!

[jonboy79]

Suggs back in. Great penetration on the third and one...

[Sephy]

Figurs gets to the 17-18. Come on Joe!

[RavenScallywag]

well, I won't fudge this thread up with anything based on stats alone...just saying while this sucks that the Troy Smith/KB decision will basically come down to a flip of a coin this week, or possibly next week's game, which is a poor test, I like getting Flacco in a full game. This will force him to adapt to the game speed and really advance his play, what with 1st and 2nd team snaps.

Give the kid a taste of what he's striving for, so he'll work just a little harder throughout the year.

[Raveninwoodlawn]

What the hell ever happened to all that YAC we thought Clayton had?

[Sephy]

1st, end around for Clayton, gets 2. Nice block from Mason, but there was another DB around.
2nd and 8, Flacco backpedaling for the screen, and McClain never opened up, incomplete. They call grounding about 10 minutes later. Horrible call. Thrown at the feet of the RB.

[Sephy]

3rd and 21, McCLain gets all the way to the 21, but that is short. Lost his helmet too.

[Raveninwoodlawn]

terrible intentional grounding call

[jonboy79]

Big gain by McClain, but not enough.

[RavenScallywag]

classic case of a penalty they never call on anyone else getting called on us...BOOOOO

[jonboy79]

terrible intentional grounding call

yes it was

[Sephy]

Hall dropped at the 28. Great coverage.

[Sephy]

1st, quick slant, gain of 6. No huddle time.
2nd and 4, complete for another gain of 6. First down.

[Sephy]

1st, Minor straight up the middle for almost 9.
2nd and short, Minor again for a first.

[Sephy]

1st, quick slant to Looker for 3.
2nd and 7, incomplete for Avery over the middle.
3rd, false start.
3rd and 12, ANOTHER false start.
3rd and 17, draw to Minor who got to midfield. Punt time.

[Sephy]

Fair catch at the 11 for Yamon.

[Sephy]

1st, Rice goes left, loses a yard. Rams are getting really great penetration.
2nd and 11, blitz comes, Rice gets the carry for goes for 6.
3rd and 5, Rams blitz, Flacco is pressured heavily, and is sacked. No one is getting open, or blocking for Flacco.

[Raveninwoodlawn]

We are in for long..long season.

[Sephy]

1st, from the 42, quick hit to the 46.
2nd and 6, complete to the Ravens 41 for a first.

[Raveninwoodlawn]

Yeah...Ivy is not good

[Sephy]

1st, complete for 9 to the left.
2nd and 1, complete to Avery for a first.

[Sephy]

1st fromthe 16, huge hole up the middle for Minor. Defense looks BAD. Mostly backups now, but jeez

[Raveninwoodlawn]

Are you kidding me?

Our offense can't get a first...nothing new

Now our defense can't stop finesse teams like the Rams

[Sephy]

1st from the 6, gain of 2 for Minor.
2nd, fade, and ruled incomplete. Looked like he got both feet down though. Challenge is coming.

[ravenjoe]

Rex's D and Ivy continue to Stink up the joint.....sure hope the Bengals aren't watching. BB probably got out just in the knick of time!

[Raveninwoodlawn]

Time of possession...Rams 17:06...Ravens 6:49

[Sephy]

Ruled a TD. 10-3 Rams.

[ravenjoe]

This picture really bites - do you think the 'skins broadcasts are this bad?

[Sephy]

Kick goes OOB, ravens start at the 40

[Dont Know]

Rex's D and Ivy continue to Stink up the joint.....sure hope the Bengals aren't watching. BB probably got out just in the knick of time!

You know, the team was pretty bad before Brian Billick got here and is at least starting out playing terribly once he is gone. It could just be that he really is a miracle worker.

:ref:

I know, I know. Not blaming Billick is penalized around here. I will go sit in the corner.

[Sephy]

1st, McClain goes off tackle left for 7. Flag down, holding of course.
1st and 20, swing pass to Rice, gain of ?. Actually I don't know what happened.
2nd and 8, complete to Mason, gets 9 and the first.

[Sephy]

1st, Figurs gets the ball thrown over his head.
2nd, quick pass to Bergen, complete for a few.
3rd and 5, another quick pass, incomplete for Mason. another punt.

[jonboy79]

Sam Koch for player of the game... thus far...

[donnaj]

Where is Fabian Washington tonight? Do you mean to tell me that G-string is starting quality for our first string secondary right now - that is even scarier than our pathetic offense

[Beerracuda]

Sam Koch for player of the game... thus far...

Everyone painfully watching this pathetic display of Junior Varsity football gets Player Of The Game.

[Raveninwoodlawn]

I don't think I've seen this defense look this clueless in a long time.

This is the second game in a row they just can't get off the field against so so offenses.

[Beerracuda]

I don't think I've seen this defense look this clueless in a long time.

This is the second game in a row they just can't get off the field against so so offenses.

I know.. I try not to read too much into the preseason games, but from what I've seen, the defense has got me more worried than the offense.

[ravenjoe]

It's men against the boys out there....time to watch the Olympics. Carson and co. will eat up this group!

[donnaj]

No surprise, they are passing at our pathetic corners out there right now ( Ivy and Walker aka G-string) Any middle school coach could call a game against the type of defense. I keep hoping to see them turn the corner, but I think I will be waiting quite awhile for that this season. It is going to be a long one - time to order a couple more cases of beer to help this season go down easier.

Geez, I was about to press send when G-string fell down after getting juked off the line of scrimmage. Come on Harbaugh, set a precedent, cut him right now and send him off the field.

[Raveninwoodlawn]

Worst secondary in the league? This is pretty bad.

Rams are just doing the ol 'Pitch and Catch' at ease here...4 possessions in one half?

[Raveninwoodlawn]

Good lord, just cut Walker and Prude already...at least Ivy can play the slot.

McAlister/Rolle/Washington/Martin/Ivy and that should be it.

I mean is Pttman even on the team? This guy stinks when he is in there...and he isn't going to get any better when every year he is missing the entire camp with sore feet and hamstrings.

[donnaj]

G-string needs to realize that coverage is not throwing yourself on top of the receiver like a blanket. My gosh no technique there, CUT HIM NOW!!!! He didn't even bother looking for the ball to make a play - he did the same thing last week.,

If they know what they are doing they will NOT keep him on the roster, the fans will be irrate if they keep him after all that he failed to do in pre-season

[jonboy79]

Walker, Prude and Ivy are out there... lets keep things in perspective. I hope none of them see the field in the regular season. I think we have 4 better corners then them... all hurt of course, althoguh I think I heard Samari played some...

[donnaj]

I hope they more than don't see them in the regular season, I do not want to see G-string or Prude on the 53 man roster at all. Make a point, just cut him at the half, send him to the airport

[Beerracuda]

Well, I see Prude and Ivy staying on ST. Walker, however, has no business being on an NFL team.

[Raveninwoodlawn]

I mean our offense can't even get much work because they are sitting while the opposing offense takes 7-8 minutes off the clock at a time.

[donnaj]

I see Ivy staying, if Martin can start on the 53 man roster rather than on the PUP list Prude is a goner.
That may have been one of the worst halves of FB I have seen. It ranks right up there with the first half of last season's Colts game

[Beerracuda]

Horrendous! Half time stats:

Ravens:
Passing 4-13 30 yds
Rushing 10 46 yds

Rams:
Passing 18-25 182 yds
Rushing 17 68 yds


This team is getting worse.

[jonboy79]

I see Ivy staying, if Martin can start on the 53 man roster rather than on the PUP list Prude is a goner.
That may have been one of the worst halves of FB I have seen. It ranks right up there with the first half of last season's Colts game

Don't forget about Seattle last season...

[darb72]

for those of us who can't watch it on TV.
http://www.streamaudio.com/stations/player/pages/newplayer/index_win.asp?Owner=kwos_am&public=&headertext=&Station=kwos_am&Mac=No&OptIn=&Streamtype=&filename=

[donnaj]

I think it was one that I had blocked out - thanks for bringing that one back to my memory.

Our pass rush is non-existent, our secondary is appalling, our O-line is haphazard at tackle - can our special teams just play all game???

Yes, I guess I am giving Joe a bit of a pass - he needs to get rid of the ball faster. Ray Rice is not making the same success he had last week against a better defense, time to adjust to what they are doing to stop the run.

Harbaugh had it right, we have to improve everything.:hammer:

[Beerracuda]

I'm wondering if Sephy simply passed out from boredom.

Haven't seen an update from him in quite a while! LOL

[StingerNLG]

I get from reading all this that I shouldn't even bother watching the game when I get home???

[darb72]

We converted no third downs in the first half?

Well that really just sucks.

[jonboy79]

Second half is looking better thus far.
2 compeltions early, getting rid of the ball faster.
Edgar Jones in at TE.
MCLain can play RB.

[RavenScallywag]

damn, McClain doesn't look half bad at halfback!

[RavenScallywag]

that play made me giggle like a schoolgirl...

THERE's the Flacco we've been looking for!

[Sephy]

Flacco and the offense looking a lot better on this drive..

[Sephy]

TOUCHDOWN! Flacco to Mason!!

[jonboy79]

Wow we have a TD PASS!!!

[RavenScallywag]

1st NFL TD for Flacco! ALL RIGHT!

[Sephy]

Absolutely great touch pass from Flacco, and great concentration by Mason to haul it in.

We may have some hope after all!

[jonboy79]

Stinger, just skip to the second half...

[Rayvens52]

that was a great, now just keep it going Joe

[4G63]

Nice passes to Mason, including the TD!!

[4G63]

Is this the Rams' starting D? I just turned it on again...

[Sephy]

Definitely not the Rams starting D.

[RavenScallywag]

yeah I mean, we're not going to make a mountain out of a mole hill, Flacco is having success against their 2nd D, but it's something.

Walker problem again? Why didn't we just cut him at halftime? This guy is god awful!

[Sephy]

LOL Ivy is beyond pathetic in man coverage

[4G63]

Our corners blow!!!

[4G63]

thank god this isn't the reg season...

[Sephy]

Good to see Lance Ball have some success, at least.

[Rayvens52]

where is f. washington is he injured

[donnaj]

Why is G-string still on the field, not a surprise they throw his way almost every play. NOw he has a penalty on top of not covering! CUT HIM he doesn't belong on this field, the packers knew what they were doing when they cut him.
I think Zbikowski and Nakamura could cover better than g-string.

Ivy is good in the nickel, but he is not cut out for the cover corner position, I understand we have injuries, but come on, we have to do better.

I was pleased with the adjustments obvious on offense, let's see it again this series

[RavenScallywag]

ok, where the F did the Ravens D go? Where did this sorry POS unit come from?

Granted, our 2nd team would be any other team's 3rd team due to our injuries, but seriously? Brock Berlin just went 3/3 for 61 yards! Lance Ball should've not had a damn TD on that run!

[ravenjoe]

thank god this isn't the reg season...
I don't think the regular season is going to be all that much different. An aging, injury riddled set of corners, not to mention this teams list of walking injured does not bode well for this season. Look for a high draft pick...

[Sephy]

1st, complete to Clayton for 9.
2nd, Neal gets 1, and the first.

[donnaj]

Seems like Flacco is building a little confidence, would like to see this growth continue into next week at this rate.

[4G63]

I don't think the regular season is going to be all that much different. An aging, injury riddled set of corners, not to mention this teams list of walking injured does not bode well for this season. Look for a high draft pick...

Maybe...I'll still root for my boys. I'll just be drunk after every game instead of buzzed!! :beer:

[jonboy79]

Edgar Jones with a catch on a positive play from a pressured Flacco.

[jonboy79]

JUST out of Clayton's reach... Another Sluggo that could have gone for 6...

[Sephy]

1st, Flacco evades some pressure, gets the ball to Jones for 5.
2nd and 5, double move, and Flacco JUST overthrows Clayton. Argh! It was a brillian pattern. About a quarter second too long.
3rd, complete to Willis for 6 and a first. Flag down - defensive holding.

[4G63]

I'm impressed with Flacco so far...

[RavenScallywag]

I'd be ok with a losing season if we were just one season away from turning things around...

But it's time to take off the purple glasses...

Maybe our QB situation will be settled next season
The RB situation should remain ok
The WR situation is still kind've tottering on Derrick Mason and waiting for any other WR to step up to eventually inherit his role
Our TEs can't stay healthy more than a couple weeks
We have a solid interior OL, but unless Gaither turns things around big time, we need 2 new OTs in the offseason
Our DL is generally solid, but Pryce and Gregg are getting older and I'm not sure both Bannan and Dwan Edwards can start yet
Our LB corps will remain fine
Our CBs are a mess...our starters used to be great, now they're constantly hurt. Our backups look good for a series or two, but fall apart in man coverage
Our S situation looks set

So all in all, we need a WR, 2 OT, probably a good DL, and a CB or 2 next season. And that is just the starters. One high draft pick will get us one of six needs! Maybe we get a high 2nd to contribute, so that's 1/3 of your needs.

[4G63]

I have a feeling I'm gonna hate our fair weather fans this year...

[Sephy]

1st, from the 41, McClain for 3.
2nd and 7, PA, Flacco holds and holds and holds, looking for someone, looks for Bergen and is incomplete. No one was open. Should have dumped to McClain.
3rd, pass is deflected and hits the turf.

[jonboy79]

MUCH better second half.
I'm impressed with McLain, he's showing good versatility. I was high on the kid when I thought he was basically a blocking/receiving pure FB.

[RavenScallywag]

woah, did you see that dude's hand! It's like he's got a club out there, that can't be legal?!

[donnaj]

Flacco is adjusting to the speed of the game, if we had started him game one of the preseason I wonder what kind of growth we would have seen?

[Sephy]

Flacco is looking much better, much more confident. The pass he missed was timing - he'll get that. I'm very pleased with what I've seen this half.

[jonboy79]

I'd be ok with a losing season if we were just one season away from turning things around...

But it's time to take off the purple glasses...

Maybe our QB situation will be settled next season
The RB situation should remain ok
The WR situation is still kind've tottering on Derrick Mason and waiting for any other WR to step up to eventually inherit his role
Our TEs can't stay healthy more than a couple weeks
We have a solid interior OL, but unless Gaither turns things around big time, we need 2 new OTs in the offseason
Our DL is generally solid, but Pryce and Gregg are getting older and I'm not sure both Bannan and Dwan Edwards can start yet
Our LB corps will remain fine
Our CBs are a mess...our starters used to be great, now they're constantly hurt. Our backups look good for a series or two, but fall apart in man coverage
Our S situation looks set

So all in all, we need a WR, 2 OT, probably a good DL, and a CB or 2 next season. And that is just the starters. One high draft pick will get us one of six needs! Maybe we get a high 2nd to contribute, so that's 1/3 of your needs.

Terry looked unremarkable, but not noticable(in a good way) for being otu for a while and on one leg...
Bannan wouldn't make for a horrible starter.
Flacco could be the guy.
If we can just get healhty at WR, TE and CB, I think we will look a MILLION times better.

[Sephy]

Hey look, Walker did something!

[donnaj]

Once again G-string can't cover again! Wow he can't cover even 3rd string WR's

[RavenScallywag]

more than anything, I just want to see this culture change come about in one season...I think Harbaugh is doing a good job, I think we're starting to see things done better, we just have some real washouts on the team that throw it off.

[donnaj]

Hey look, Walker did something!

Yes, he got beat again but was lucky the WR dropped the ball, he was still a yard the ball and late

[jonboy79]

The Karate Kid almost makes a pick...

Credit to Trap on the nickname, I like it.

[donnaj]

I was impressed with Lenhard tonight as well as the two rookie safeties.
McCune is making a name for himself, I had him on the bubble, he could moving to the roster here.

[4G63]

Berlin got laid out!!!!

[donnaj]

T-Good had a great hit on the QB!
Of course G-string was beat again!

[donnaj]

Go Edgar - I like that kid - real good heart wants to help out in the community - great story, I want to see him succeed.

[jonboy79]

I agree on Edgar Jones. I think he sticks on the roster, it's apparent they liked him on some level as a tweener on D, and he's not embarrassing himself at a very thin TE position... He seems to work hard, learn fast and put his all in it.

[4G63]

I've been watching the game out of the corner of my eye; is Heap even there?

[RavenScallywag]

anytime a player agrees to switch positions for his team, he gets a little plus sign in my book.

That he doesn't look bad at TE is just icing on the cake.

[donnaj]

Great catch by the boxer!

[4G63]

Nice INT!!

[jonboy79]

No I haven't seen Heap, btu Zibby is having a helluva game as he jsut picked one off...

[RavenScallywag]

ZBI! The Boxer picks one off, NICE play.

[RavenScallywag]

that wasn't a horse collar? damn, that looked violent!

MARCUS SMITH, CURSE YOU! That was a perfectly catchable pass, now we turn it over.

[4G63]

Right in his freakin hands.....

[donnaj]

That was obviously not only a horse collar but a lot of face mask on that grab as well.

Joe has improved exponentially in the 2nd half! That was a great throw that Marcus Smith needs to catch. He was open the ball was perfectly thrown, but that is a ball that should have been caught.

[donnaj]

Joe is already the best complete game QB we have He has shown the ability to throw ( not dart the ball like Boller) He can see downfield and adjust the play since he can see over the lineman, unlike Troy. He has shown that he can adjustthroughout the game and certainly learned from the first half. I think he should get the start next week again and then let Troy and Kyle come in 2nd, 3rd, and 4th quarters

[donnaj]

Any chance we could convert any of our safeties to corners, LOL We are stocked at Safety. Give them a try one of them would have o be better than G-string

[donnaj]

What is the extent of Gregg's injury? Is he going to be okay this season? Our defense is not the same at all and has no rush up the middle with our two middle guys, Gregg and Ngata

[4G63]

O-line looks awesome....

[jonboy79]

There is NO DOUBT he has the most potential... He's the total package neither of the other two are.

[RavenScallywag]

Flacco plays a lot next week, but only because we want to protect Kyle and Troy...no way he's our starter for the season, at least not for a few weeks.

As good as he looked in the second half, he's got a long way to go before we want to put him in. He might play better than KB or Troy, but you want to keep the pressure off of him.

[psuasskicker]

Haven't seen the game, but just reading this it wouldn't shock me if we wind up going 2-6 the first half of the season, then stick Flacco in and finish 4-4 with some actual hope that we've got our QB of the future...

- C -

[4G63]

Haven't seen the game, but just reading this it wouldn't shock me if we wind up going 2-6 the first half of the season, then stick Flacco in and finish 4-4 with some actual hope that we've got our QB of the future...

- C -

I'm in agreement with this....we've got a tough schedule!!!

[StingerNLG]

Is the game over?

[Sephy]

My laptop died. I couldn't carry on :)

Excited to see more from Flacco next week.

[RavenTD]

Excited to see more from Flacco next week.

Great to see Joe pump fake on the slant and go to Mason.And the touch on the TD to Mason was nice.Those baby steps got a little larger in the 2nd half.
If there was anything to smile about from this game it was watching Joe's progression.

He said himself he was hyped to start.But he has to be in control of his emotions to play QB.Resulting in the better play in the 2nd half.Still he is moving in the right direction and that's all we can ask for at the moment.

I know our starting CB's were out.But it wasn't fair letting Bulger play 11 vs 9.
So many holes for those Ram WR's to run into.

So Troy stomach virus & Boller shoulder injury.i wondered what had happened when I read the play by play with Joe starting.I thought Harbaugh had pulled a major carpet out from under Troy & Kyle's legs.:crazy: