Ravens: The Long Road Ahead (Part 3)
by BmoreFan on Jul 16, 2010 10:09 AM EDT
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PrintThe second half of the season kicks off in style when the Baltimore Ravens travel to Atlanta to take on Matt Ryan and the Falcons under the bright lights of Thursday Night prime-time football. The Ravens will be coming off of four days rest after hosting the Miami Dolphins the previous Sunday. Fortunately they played that game in Baltimore so there is no time lost on travel and they can get right to preparing for the game.
After that game the worst thing in football happens for Ravens' fans. We will have to sit through 10 days of no Ravens football to watch as the team has their Bye week, but no worries, you can watch the Jets smack around the Browns that 1st Sunday, Pittsburgh plays New England and the Bengals play the Colts. This is a key week for the Ravens as they can take a step up on the division even without stepping onto the playing fiel!. The Dolphins will be playing the Bears that following Thursday if you care.
Then our "Mighty Men" travel to Carolina to take on Matt Moore and the Panthers? Stop shaking, it's going to be okay, he's only thrown 249 passes in the last 3 years, not throwing a ball in '08, but had a rating of 67 in '07 and a 98.5 in '09. Joe Flacco, meanwhile has thrown 927 times in 2 years for a rating of 80.3 in '08 and 88.9 in '09. Oh yeah, he has also got 3 playoff road wins in Tennessee, Miami and New England, with 2 losses in Pittsburgh and Indy.
The next week the Ravens get a "bye" in the form of Tampa, whose offense and defense ranked among the worst in football last year. Their QB Josh Freeman had a 54.5 completion percentage with a rating of 59.8 last year.
Then for this section's finale, our boys play the Steelers to Baltimore in Prime Time, Sunday night.
Ready? Let's go:
Game 9: @ the Atlanta Falcons, Thursday Night Football Nov. 11th @ 8:20 pm
Out: Chris Houston CB, Tye Hill CB, Jamaal Fudge S, Antoine Harris S, Charlie Peprah S
In: Dunta Robinson CB
My take:
Looking through the off season moves of the Falcons, I was scraping the bottom of the barrel to find anything exciting outside of the Robinson signing. When you see phrases like: "the team is making low-key moves" and "having a quiet, but solid off season", they're not trying to win any more game then they did last year. In fact, you will lose more, because you are bringing the same old same old to your division. I'll be surprised if the Falcons have a better record then 9-7. It's 8-8 for me and Matt Ryan falls to Joe Flacco, yet again.
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Game 10: @ the Carolina Panthers, Sunday afternoon Nov. 21st @ 1:00 pm
Out: Julius Peppers DE, Damione Lewis DE/DT, Ma'ake Kemoeatu DT, Jake Delhomme QB, A.J. Feeley QB, Brad Hoover FB, Muhsin Muhammed WR, Keydrick Vincent G, Hollis Thomas DT, Na'il Diggs OLB, Chris Harris S, Quinton Teal S
In: Ed Johnson DT, Marcus Hudson CB, Aaron Francisco S, Jamar Williams OLB
My take:
This team is a mess, but has some strong features. Their running game is impressive but they still need stability at QB from either Matt Moore or Jimmy Clausen to open up the lanes for Williams and Stewart. Unfortunately their #1 receiver Smith broke his arm and will be questionable for the season start. They should rely heavily on the running game and that is the Ravens forté. Without another proven receiver and a defensive line depleted of quality, the Ravens can flourish against this team with a strong running game, because throwing the ball can be difficult, since their secondary was 4th versus the pass.
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Game 11: vs the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Sunday afternoon Nov. 28th @ 1:00 pm
Out: Byron Leftwich QB, Antonio Bryant WR, Brian Clark WR, Arron Sears G, Jimmy Wilkerson DE, Chris Hovan DT, Matt McCoy OLB, Jermaine Phillips S/OLB, Will Allen S
In: Reggie Brown WR, Keydrick Vincent G, Jon Alston OLB, Sean Jones SS
My take:
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers will rely on the input of their rookies. Josh Freeman has had an up and down season last year, but may have the potential to be a good QB for Tampa. They won't make any team cringe just yet, but this group could develop over the next few years and become a solid team. Things can change quickly though in the NFL. Like I said before, the Ravens won't do any damage to their record by overlooking this team and preparing for...
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Game 12: vs the Pittsburgh Steelers, Sunday Night Football Dec. 5th @ 8:20 pm
Please read part 1 to go over the main details for the Pittsburgh Steelers.
My take:
This game is probably going to be the deciding factor for division dominance. By now the Ravens should have beating them once without Ben and now have to battle against him in M&T Bank. Advantage: Ravens. With only 4 games left on the schedule after this game, the Ravens really have to step it up and use home field advantage to keep ahead in the AFC North. Ben will be in a grove by this time in the season as he is trying to show his team that he is still capable of bringing it on the field. I am sure with all his antics, his performance will be heavily scrutinized and the pressure may be in him to perform. Maybe there is a chance the pressure can get to him but it is unlikely seeing as how their soft schedule could have them level with the Ravens and he is looking to take 1st place. Count this as the most important game of the season on Sunday Night in our house!
(Written by Arjan @ BmoreFan)
The opinions posted here are those of the administrator of this blog and his loyal readers. They are in no way official comments from the team, and should not be misconstued as such, even though he thinks he could do just as well or even a better job!
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This seems like a stretch that many people are going to underestimate. Looking at these teams compared to ours, it should be 4-0. However, at Atlanta on primetime should be a tough game, but I still think that team in no way matches up to ours. We will definitely have an easier job stopping their offense than they will stopping ours.
Panthers are a team that many people should look out for. Because they are a low market team, many people over look them. They finished with a top ranked defense last year, but that should take a blow with Peppers now out. Still have a fairly good secondary and the beast Jon Beason manning the middle. IMO, Carolina has the best RB duo in the league. Williams and Stewart are two backs that could very easily put up 1,500+ yards in a season if given the right amount of carries. Steve Smith will always be a problem. However, the QB situation they have now should be the reason we win that game. Moore is serviceable and Clausen is a rookie, so whoever is starting I do not see beating us.
Tampa is in a rough situation right now and this should be an easy win. I see this being one of those games like Detroit last year where we just toy with them the entire 60 minutes. 42-10 is my guess.
Pittsburgh? Lol.
In addition to Peppers
Thomas Davis, who they were expecting to be back at full strength from an ACL tear, re-tore the same ligament and should be out all year.
Carolina is definitely the team that worries me most
I’m with Malor – they have the best RB duo in the league. Both are exceptionally talented and they have a very good offensive line as well. The Ravens have a great run defense, but remember the Giants game two years ago? I know we Ravens fans know it was a little overblown in the media because of a few long runs resulting from overpursuit, but that doesn’t mean something like that can’t happen. It would be foolish to write off Carolina because “our great run defense will shut down their ground game.” I love to think that it will, but you just don’t know.
So what is the best way to neutralize their ground game? Having a great run defense is only one factor, and might not be the most important or effective. The best way to neutralize a ground game is to eliminate the possibility. Strike fast, get a lead, and force them to pass. That way, Matt Moore or Jimmy Clausen will have to catch up to us. Frankly I don’t think either of them should be overlooked either, but it is definitely the best way to beat them. Matt Moore performed very well last year, and if Clausen is the starter, well logic would dictate that it means he was better and won the job. Steve Smith’s are should be fully healed by midseason.
luckily for the Ravens
they’ll get a taste in preseason in game #1 against the Panthers which is less then 1 month
If you are not fired with enthusiasm, you'll be fired with enthusiasm - Vince Lombardi
PROMOTE! (duh!)
If we shut down the Panthers vaunted run game, Matt Moore CANNOT beat us (and neither can Claussen!).
aka 'Rexx'
by Bruce Raffel on Jul 16, 2010 10:11 AM EDT up reply actions
No one’s gonna run on us this year. It’s gonna be like Goose and Adams in the middle all over again.
Carolina will struggle heavily against the run; look for Ray Rice to have a huge game. I am really looking forward to what Moore can do against this Ravens defense; they should be premium run stoppers with Mt. Cody and Ngata. Cats will most likely have to throw it here, especially if the Ravens take an early lead.
I’m excited to see what Moore can do next year, but I wouldn’t get excited at ALL about what he might do agains the Ravens. I see no reason to expect him to have a good game.
"Cam, we're not going to have any issues because we're going to be winning."
--Joe Flacco
"Just win baby. Yeah, I stole that."
--Jon Gruden
minus Peppers
minus Keydrick Vincent, their starting guard for the last two years
minus muhsin muhammad
minus thomas davis
minus jake delhomme
I think we will be fine. The defense has had major upgrades since the Giants game u talked about. Ngata and Cody/Gregg
by Raven_all_day on Jul 15, 2010 1:51 PM EDT up reply actions
Atlanta harder than Carolina
Carolina, while sporting a great run game, are alot weaker on defense, and have an unproven QB. Atlanta has been improving its defense each year, and their offense is potent with ryan, roddy and turner.
Atlanta has been improving its defense each year, and their offense is potent with ryan, roddy and turner.
I hear their TE isn’t bad either.
Water covers 2/3 of the Earth's surface. Ed Reed covers the rest.
Steelers' schedule isn't necessarily "soft" compared to Baltimore
The only teams that are different are:
Steelers play Oakland and Tennessee
Ravens play Denver and Houston
It’s really arguable which one of these teams will be competitive, but Houston and Tennessee are going to be the best of the bunch.
Bengals must face San Diego and Indianapolis, so their schedule is potentially one of the toughest in the league.
This is the NFL
We can’t overlook any of these teams. Don’t forget a few years ago, we got cheated out of beating the undefeated Patriots and beat by the then defeated Dolphins. A true championship team knows that every team is dangerous so you must play your A game every game.
The Falcons are very dangerous. Matt Ryan is good and is great under pressure. White is a dangerous weapon (did Gonalaz retire? If not, he is always trouble.) Turner is the 4th or 5th best) in the league. There D will be good but should have problems with the balance of our offense. I think our run defense will be the best in the league though. But don’t forget the giants game
BTW I will be in the Georgia Dome that day in full Ravens attire going ape shit! That will be enough energy to supplement our short week. WE WILL WIN!!!
Carolina also should struggle with the balance of our O. They too sport a great running game. That will play to the strength of our D. Without a good QB they should struggle moving the ball. Again, don’t forget the Giants game
Tampa Bay… Dont forget Miami
The Ravens v Steelers is always a war. Injuries, or lack there of, will be a key in this late season match up. No matter how good or bad our season has gone before this game, a win against Pit is always enjoyed. Again the Offense may be the key in what will most likely be a defensive struggle. The Steelers will have to prove they can still move the all with Parker and Holmes, there best WR, gone. I this could be our opportunity to revenge them sweeping us last year.
4-0 is possible but I don’t see us doing anything worst than 3-1 during this stretch.
But I could be wrong about all of this
by Georgia Raven on Jul 18, 2010 6:46 PM EDT via mobile reply actions
I took all these considerations into consideration
and found them wanting.
These are not your “then” Ravens either.
Agreed that all those teams improved, but the Ravens made leaps and bounds on offense and our D was 3rd. Look at the other teams while looking at the Ravens. Ray Rice is unstoppable, Flacco won’t be hurt and has quadruple the toys @ WR & TE. Our Dline just grew 350 pounds.
According to me and other experts, the Ravens had the best off season of all and seem primed for a bowl run. I believe that the Ravens aren’t going to have to work as hard to beat the easy ones. Sure don’t overlook them, but I would put us on or near the same level as the Colts and Patriots. They just seem to keep winning. I believe we are in that elite category to.
But I could be wrong about all this
If you are not fired with enthusiasm, you'll be fired with enthusiasm - Vince Lombardi
for your predictions
remember this article:
http://www.baltimorebeatdown.com/2010/5/6/1460349/you-gotta-win-the-easy-ones
thats amazing
i knew it was good, but not that we were undefeated against .500 and less teams. Awesome!
If you are not fired with enthusiasm, you'll be fired with enthusiasm - Vince Lombardi
For some reason alot of ppl are expecting us to lose to the panthers, on the foxsports predictions for 2010 they think we have a 49% chance of beating the panthers, but yet they have us at 14-2 for the season. They lost there best defensive player for the last decade, and brought no one in to try to fill the void. Jon Beason cant cover the entire field.
I still don't think
the Falcons are going to beat us. They didn’t improve except Dunta. We beat them before, we’ll do it again
If you are not fired with enthusiasm, you'll be fired with enthusiasm - Vince Lombardi
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