Baltimore Ravens @ Carolina Panthers: Open Thread
by Bruce Raffel on Aug 29, 2009 10:48 AM EDT
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I forgot to post an 'Open Thread' for gametime commenting the last exhibition game, so today I thought I'd post it in the morning this time. Stop back here during the game to post your thoughts and comments, whether it be to summarize what you've watched or even after every play worth mentioning.
Remember that this is still a pre-season game, and although the starters are aiming to play most, if not all of the first half, the coaches will not be giving anything away from what we will be "unveiling" when the games count. More than likely, both Ray Lewis and Ed Reed will not play through the second quarters along with the rest of their teammates, and that is sure to make a difference with both of those stars on the sidelines. That will give our glut of linebackers more reps to sort through what will end up being some tough decisions beginning with the first round of cuts on Tuesday, September 1st.
However, that requires the team to get down to 75 players, so the major cuts will not happen until next weekend when the team must get down to their opening day roster of 53 players. Occasionally, the team grants a player a better chance to latch on with another team by releasing them in the early cut, but at the same time, they might hope to stash that player on the Practice Squad for a possible future call up in the event of an injury.
Our linebacker group is so deep that it is conceivable that just about every one could start for another NFL team and will be snatch up as soon as they are released. We still have depth at cornerback, but the quality of depth may not be such that we would still be comfortable using them all at the same time like we have during the latter parts of these exhibition games. Luckily, that shouldn't happen during the regular season unless we are devastated like we were in 2007 at that position. So the concerns that many Ravens fans had about our secondary during the last game should just be an example of what these meaningless outcomes are at this time of the year.
Watch the kicking game which should more than likely play itself out to a final decision after this game. Second year kicker, Steven Hauschka, seems to have a decent advantage going into this game and unless he totally blows every shot while rookie Graham Gano hits a few real long ones, he should win this job for the regular season.
Other than that, you could prabably go through the roster to check off the remainder of guys who are secure in their jobs, with the positions I mentioned being the biggest question marks in finalizing who gets to wear the purple and black in September or who goes looking for another job.
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On BaltimoreRavens.com, they have an article that says the starters will play quarters. Here is the article
You have to hate losing more than you love winning.
Oh' poo!
I’ll be working tonight, I can catch the replay on NFL Network sometime this week, but it still sucks. If something huge happens can someone make a point to say, “Did you see that?!___________”
We all know that quote, sitting right next to someone and ask them if they saw it.
Scott Hines
DVR is my friend
I am also going to miss the game, going to see the O’s, but we invested in DVR with our cable& as soon as I get back I will be watching the game. I am really looking forward to the Oher v. Peppers match-up.
At least you have the option
The game’s not on ANYWHERE on the Eastern Shore. MASN and MASN2 are both baseball, and none of the local stations carry it, and I can’t get cable because Comcast is the most evil corporation in the world now that Enron is bankrupt, so no Baltimore or Washington stations for me. FML.
Jim Palmer: "I said to Nolan, 'Why do you run every ball out like that?' and he said, 'Why wouldn’t you?' "
That's about my only option. :(
Jim Palmer: "I said to Nolan, 'Why do you run every ball out like that?' and he said, 'Why wouldn’t you?' "
Look waht I found!
Additional Ravens viewing for Saturday’s game:
- For DirecTV viewers in Ravens territory, the Ravens game is on channel 680.
- For Dish viewers in Ravens territory, the Ravens game is on channel 449.
- For Charter viewers in the Crisfield, MD area, the Ravens game is on channel 3.
- For Mediacom viewers in the Dagsboro, DE area, the Ravens game is on channel. 13.
- For Comcast viewers in Pennsylvania (in the Carlisle, Chambersburg, Fort Loudon, Lancaster and Greencastle areas) the Ravens game is on the Comcast Network (former CN8).
Jim Palmer: "I said to Nolan, 'Why do you run every ball out like that?' and he said, 'Why wouldn’t you?' "
Except that the game's blacked out in Salisbury for DirecTv, even though there's no other option
FML, again.
Jim Palmer: "I said to Nolan, 'Why do you run every ball out like that?' and he said, 'Why wouldn’t you?' "
lucky me
good thing im currently in virginia cuz FOX here shows the panthers game …..but come regular season time, IM SCREWED lol
Man our passing game and WR are just terrible. Joe has only completed 17 of 22 passes for 199 yards and a Touchdown in the first half. Our passing game is so screwed! Garbage WR…
You have to hate losing more than you love winning.
GOD
When the hell is our passing game ever going to improve?!? Kelly Washington is such a bum! I mean, Flacco was only 23/28 for 247 yards and a TD. Who cares if it is preseason, the Panthers still had their whole first team in there.
You have to hate losing more than you love winning.
Mason should have retired. He has no football left in him. We are doomed.
You have to hate losing more than you love winning.
Toad Heap should've also
Makin jumpin catchs like its nothin. Who does he think he is?
FEAR THE NEVERMORE DEFENSE!!!!!!!!!!!!
Way to step it up,
Kelley Washington! Im sold, he’s in!
Did you guys see Ngata hit Steve Smith on that play when he broke free from Foxworth? Ed Reed grabbed him on the sideline and super-freak athlete Haloti Ngata was there for the hit. (I just watched the highlights.)
Oh yea, congrats Carolina, you were able to score on our backups.
Scott Hines
We hosted a party for about 15 friends
and lo’ and behold, everyone was around the TV all game, or at least the first 2-3 quarters! Say whatever criticism you want in specific areas, but overall this team looked REAL good to me. At Carolina w/ both squads first team offenses and defense and with those guys we DOMINATED the Panthers.
We are going to be a tough team to defend. Stack eight in the box and Joe will burn you long or short. Don’t stack the box and we’ll either run through or around you.
I was thoroughly satisfied on both sides of the ball. Who cares what happened in the fourth quarter but look at Joe’s stats! Hell, I might even take him in my fantasy draft!
Kicking game is a concern though, Matt Stover is NOT the answer!
aka 'Rexx'
i have an excellent feeling about this season
"I know where you're at, man. You had it all, and now it's gone. It's torn a hole in your soul bigger than my Escalade. So you turned to the drugs, the alcohol. Pornography, free-basing with OJ, human trafficking, dog fights slash orgies... darkness."
-- Craig Robinson as Reg Mackworthy in Season 1, Episode 5 of Eastbound & Down
Matt Stover
is a reliable short-range man, which is always nice. But lets not forget the horrible kickoff situations he was putting us in. I was really rooting for Gano, and he just about blew it. Steve had his chance to claim the spot tonight and left some uncertainty. Any Kickers worth pursuing?
And Im with you 100% Bruce, considering we were playing mostly base formations on both sides of the ball, we looked phenominal. Ray Lewis has a special way when it comes to introducing himself to rookies, or it sure seems that way. If there is an ideal way for starters to wrap up the offseason, that was it. Way to go Ravens!
Scott Hines
we should just go 4-down football in anything except slam-dunk FG territory
just kidding, i’d like to see some consistency there. but I don’t think that will break us. The bottom line is that Joe Flacco is evolving very very fast. Cam Cameron even said he doesn’t want to label him as a certain type of quarterback because with his current potential he could develop such a diverse skill set.
It looks like a good year to be a Ravens fan.
"I know where you're at, man. You had it all, and now it's gone. It's torn a hole in your soul bigger than my Escalade. So you turned to the drugs, the alcohol. Pornography, free-basing with OJ, human trafficking, dog fights slash orgies... darkness."
-- Craig Robinson as Reg Mackworthy in Season 1, Episode 5 of Eastbound & Down
Notice on the very first play of the game for Carolina
where their RB broke out and who tracked him down for the tackle? Ray, of course. Not bad for an “old” man, huh!?
aka 'Rexx'
by Bruce Raffel on Aug 30, 2009 11:11 AM EDT up reply actions
Nice...
Well, we don’t appear to have many troubles in the passing game. In fact, everything seems set except for the kicking. I can’t say I really have a personal preference between the three possible candidates, just make mid range field goals.
STEVE HAUSCHKA SUCKS
I was at the game and he missed a 31 yard field goal, while after halftime when the players were screwing around for a little Graham Nailed a 60 yarder !!!!!!
If alcohol didn't exist the Irish would conquer the world.
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