Once Again, Who'll stop The Run

With the likely absence of Terrell Suggs, Danell Ellerbe and Ray Lewis, who'll stop the run against the Washington Redskins top rated rushing attack?

Well, It looks to be a combination or Paul Kruger, a pass rush specialist, Pernell McPhee, a pass rush specialist, Brendon Ayanbadejo, a special teams ace that excels in pass coverage, the duo of Haloti Ngata and Terrence Cody in the middle if course and somewhere in the mix look to see talented players Josh Bynes ans Albert McClellan.

Each of these players will have to slightly alter what they have been asked to do and still keep an eye on their prior assignments. These players have stepped up big time over the last few weeks but that was all with T-Sizzle in the line up. there is no telling what a Mike Shanahan rushing attack may do to such an inexperienced group.

We can only hope that newly appointed defensive coordinator Dean Pees has some tricks up his sleeves to keep the young running backs and rookie quarterback on their toes all game long. if not it may be a long game for the Ravens defense. someone will need to learn to set the edge, even when the back looks to be bottled up at the line of scrimmage. I can't tell you how many times opposing backs have broken long runs after running into a wall up front then sliding outside of the initial run coverage.

Like I said in an earlier post the Ravens offense will have to keep All-World Back Ray Rice involved as much as possible and try to control the clock so the Redskins rushing attack is rendered useless as they will have to play from behind. Put the ball in the rookie's hands and make him beat us, that is, if we can even stop the run at all. Run blitzing may be a good idea early in the game.

There is no question this one is on Joe, Ray, and Vonta Leach to control the clock and keep RG3 and the Redskins offense off the field. With the Redskins horrid pass defense Joe should be able to work some play-action off of that for some successful drives because I'm not sure stopping their running game is going to be our strong suit, at least between the 20's. in the Red Zone I believe we can hold our own but that is where the versatility and explosiveness of Robert Griffin III comes into play.

Yes, there are a lot of variables to this game but if Joe can get some time to throw, the Ravens will win this game, shoot-out or not. If he spends half the game in the "Boller position"... Well, I guess things will get a lot more interesting in the AFC North and the NFC East.