They have been great at home and Sage has something to prove. Not to say I think the Ravens will lose. When I get more time I’ll drop a score prediction and more thoughts….

I know Ray Rice had a great game against the browns, but you cant really go by that game. The Browns D sucks. The D-line is good, but the LB cant tackle. Their line did their job by cloging up the middle, but none of the LB could make a tackle. Also, our o-line did a great job opening up holes for rice so alot of credit has to go to them also. If Ray did this vs tenn. or pitt., then i would say he is the real deal. Until that happens, i still say willis is our starter.

Ha….I got a brother that has lived in Fort Worth for over six years and is still called a Yankee all the time. As for some of your questions….
1) Ravens tend to play very disciplined defense and do not ignore or get tricked by opposing teams. I don’t see them not prepared for Slaton getting a lot of passes. In fact, they might want to be worried about Terrel Suggs.
2) Ravens always have, and should still play, as a hard nose, running dominated team. Unless they get behind, I don’t see them turning Flacco completely loose. That isn’t to say the Ravens are going to play like the Salisbury Chicken Shits did against the Ravens and run on every 1st and 2nd down. It seems to me that Harbaugh uses Flacco to support the run game in forcing opposing teams to recognize him as a threat to prevent 8 guys in the box. That in turns allows the running game to be up on the D line without help from the rest of the Defense. With a Defense this dominant, its important to keep them off the field and rested and the best way to do that is to pound the ball down the throat of the opposing team and eat up clock.
4) If would be different if Flacco wasn’t so successful. I would imagine it would be similar to a DA and Quin controversy if Flacco was falling on his face but Flacco is not only getting the job done, the kid is improving every game. On one hand, its nice to Smith get in there, but right now its more important that he stays healthy as a backup. I honestly just glad Smith survive his bout with whatever and is still able to play. I can’t imagine losing, what was it 30 lbs?, just from getting sick.

1) With Slaton, I think our defense will match up well with him. The thing I have noticed about our defense containing the screen passes and short dump offs is the involvement of our secondary. Our whole defense does a great job of communicating where the ball is at all times and on the outside of our defense is where most of our speed is. So if our D-Line can make a good enough push to Rosenfels, force him to get rid of it earlier then he wants, then our linebackers and DB’s should be able to close the Gap quickly and get to Slaton. However, it will be tough, he is a fast and swift moving football player and I expect him to still get a few good touches that result in some positive yardage.

2) We have been expecting it for a while now last week seemed to be the first time it worked! Flacco had a lot of nice throws over 20 yards for completions and 2 of them were touchdowns. We have been trying to get the deep ball going this year early in the season, but defenses were ready for it and the ball was being thrown into double coverage without the Wideout being in stride. We are not the team that looks to get off the field offensively as quick as possible. We like controlling the clock, getting a score, and letting our defense rest, making it easier for them to get some 3 and outs. When our defense is fresh from letting our offense drive 5-8 minutes, it is nearly impossible for any team to get yards on us.

3) First off, glad to see a fellow Terp here, I am currently a junior at this great school. Anyway, I hope Gaither can hold of Super Mario long enough to let Joe do his thing, but we will definitely be seeing a lot of him getting near our QB. As for McClain being in there for pass protection, I don’t know. Lorenzo Neal has done a great job so far this year as our fullback with picking up the blocks and Ray Rice is a better blocker than most people credit him for. Which ever one of our backs is in there at the time is going to have to do their best to pick up any pass rusher they see.

4) Here is thing, since I have had first hand witness to the home games this year, The difference between the Fridge and Harbaugh, besides 200 pounds, is that the Ravens have a very well rounded QB to work with. With the Terps, I honestly think that Portis has a better arm and throwing motion then Chris the Burner Turner does. The thing is that, it does not upset me, when have we seen Portis and Turner line up next to each other this season???? Have Flacco and Smith in there at the same time causes mass confusion for the defense. What ever is working for the Ravens at the time is what we are going to use, and it has worked the few times we have brought the WILDBIRD out. Hell, if Sam Koch was completing passes and getting yards, I wouldn’t care, just get my the VICTORY boys.

Hey man, thanks for visiting our site. We here at the Beatdown have a lot of respect for what the Texans have been doing in their short time here in the NFL. Its a nice change to see some maturity and respect (along with the little bit of trash talking) but we love it here. Thanks for being interested in what we have to say and its cool that you like a team all the way down in Texas when you live in DC, shows the love you have for this sport, just like we do.

…poses a decent threat to us, as does Owen Daniels, who is quietly having a Pro Bowl season at tight end. We have problems with the short slants, but for some reason only Indy and Tennessee really exploited that weakness. Slaton won’t be able to run wide, or anywhere on us for that matter. As far as Super Mario, he is a great player and will get his sack(s) Sunday. Besides, that’s all Todd Heap has been good for lately, helping out the tackles on pass protection. Finally, as far as the comments about Troy Smith missing out on playing QB, I can only reply, “Troy who?”

He is one of my favorite players. He’s the real-deal and a complete receiver. The slant route is designed to get the ball into his hands quickly. When the Texans consistantly get the ball to Andre, they win games. Period.

I’d take Daniels over Heap in a heartbeat

Until Heap earns back the faith in him from both Flacco and Harbaugh, he will continue to be used as a blocker and pass receiving decoy. He has dropped or fumbled or just not caught too many balls for the rookie to waste throwing to him when Derrick Mason always gets open for the same type of passes. Daniels? I’ll take him as a receiver or blocker over Heap any day, now or in the future. Don’t be misled, Baltimore fans, by the past or the popular vote.