varaven45

“We’ll see how it reacts in the next couple of days.” Evans was the Ravens’ leading receiver in training camp. The former Buffalo Bill paced the team with 128 yards and one touchdown on six catches. Ravens Head Coach John Harbaugh said Evans “looked good” in Monday’s session, and Evans was pleased with his mobility. “I was able to run and move and cut. I made a few plays,” said Evans. “It was just good to get out there and run around.” This sounds too dang cautiously optimistic to me. We need a Lee Evans flying around like a "bat out of hell". Getting out there and just running around aint going to cut it if we want to even make this a game. If no Evans, we get blown out. Period. Even with a healthy Evans, its going to be tough just to keep it close.

Got to go with Papa's projections. I also dont see us beating St Louis - they are my surprise pick - playoff team - this year. Tough games against Indy (if Manning plays), Pitt (both), Jets, San Diego. We could lose them all ! Dont see anything better than 10-6, possibly 9-7 or 8-8 (if injuries take their toll and/or the OL tanks it !) Also, our D is deadmeat if we start Zibby over Pollard at SS. Starting Zibby = auto 1-2 TDs for Brown and Wallace in week 1. I suspect Zibby was a typo, eh ? ht

Crav, Check out www.wunderground.com. Its a great site. BTW- several of their models have it ofshore and headed towards Bermuda. We just got whacked in Va Beach, not ready for a second one ! VaRaven

After watching Skins game, a few random thoughts and observations: 1. I really like Williams and Smith as our CB tandem. Yes, Smith got burned by Santana Moss for a TD but so have a lot of decent CBs. These look our best 2 CBs RIGHT NOW. I like Webb in a pass rushing situation, Carr in a nickel scenario, and Foxworth on the bench (to heal up). 2. Aside from Reed and Pollard, not real enthused about our safety play. Reed and Pollard has to be our starting tandem with Zib and Nak as our backups. BTW, does Zib look slow as hell or what ? Maybe he should stick to boxing. 3. Our secondary's play and effectiveness are naturally going to be largely influenced by our pass rush. Suggs, Kindle, McPhee, Kruger are going to have to click big time on the pass rush. If Suggs is the only legit pass rusher, our secondary will be exposed again, esp on 9/11. Hopefully, Pagano and Co will fully exploit the Steelers questionable OL. 4. This kid, Talmadge Jackson (#41 I believe), is pretty impressive although he's a bit small @ 5 -8 and 185. Still, he had a pick, is quick and has a nose for the ball. Dont know if we'll keep him but he looks good. 5. Overall, I think our secondary is a work in progress but could potentially be strong as the season unfolds. It will have a huge challenge on 9/11 eh !?

Yep. It will be interesting what clipboard holding QB vet we bring in, if at all ?

Max, For what its worth, Tyrod is 6'1 217 lbs, Vick is shorter at 6' and 215 lbs. Just saying ...

Max, Had a chance to watch on tape delay. Impressed with Mattison, Cary Williams and Tyrod. Really impressed with Tandon Doss - hes a playa ! Tyrod's got the potential to be special. Wouldnt it be something if hes the next Mike Vick (on the field version). Flip side, Webb & Foxworth looked horrible, Torrey Smith didnt play as advertized and needs mucho work. Our OL, in its present form, scares the daylights out of me I realize its a huge work in progress what with Birk, Yanda, and his immenseness (McKinney) still missing from lineup. Harbs has 2 weeks to get this line together for Pittsburgh. Harrison, Woodley, Timmons and Polamalu must be licking their chops. Stopping those characters, keeping Jooe upright and giving him breathing room to find some rythym with Boldin, Evans, Dickson and Co is one of the biggest, if not the biggest, key to the game.

Max, I hope he isnt another Gaither ! I wonder if this guy is kin to former NBA great Bob McAdoo ?

Exactly, Crav. Doesnt he need to first pass his physical ?

Crav, Not ready ? Ya think ! Unless Harbs and Cam have been sandbaggin it for the two pre season games, this team is no match for the Steelers on Sep 11. I am not taking the glass half empty approach but who in the hell is going to block Harrison/Timmons/Woodley/Farrior, not to mention Troy P. ? Add to that, Joe was throwing the damn ball over the place against a very mediocre KC Defense in our own house. You cant like what you see from this Offense and I am convinced the FO scewed up monumentally by not doing the Ngata deal a long, long time ago as we sqaundered the chance of retaining at least Heap and/or Mason - with whom Joe had a comfort level, or at the very least bringing in a decent OL. The offense looks pathetic, desperate - regardless of whether its preseason. I have watched other teams and QBs - Rodgers, Jen, even Colt McCoy - and they look light years ahead. Sorry to rant just cant feel good about this team's current state.

Crav, Are you going to game ?

I know we have heard ad nauseam about how the Ravens FO blew it by passing on Rex for Harbaugh but its clear these guys have a vastly different coaching style and approach. After last weeks debacle in Philly, Harbaugh, expressing disappointment over the OLs performance, simply downplays the horrid play (blocking) and simply points to the good plays and offers that we "have to get better". You think, coach ? ! Last night, after the Jets equally lackluster performance, Rex Ryan doesn't mince words and says there are no excuses for his OL's performance (missed assignments, poor blocking). Maybe its a difference in the expression of emotions, but Rex was obviously, openly miffed about his team and is holding them accountable. You get the impression there will be hell to pay and they will get it right in practice - a sense of urgency. Harbaugh seems or acts content with our teams deplorable performance and simply indicates the team has to get better, work harder. Thats it ? ! I like Harbaugh and believe he is a good man and a good coach but I wonder about his ability and accountability with this players. Maybe its all internal stuff and we, the fans, will never fathom the true coach player relationship until years later. Still, you have to wonder, over the course of the season, which style is more effective will produce greater results. Time will tell and BTW we host the Jets in early October.

Steelers Notebook: Ward focused on opener against Ravens Tuesday, August 16, 2011 By Ed Bouchette, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Steelers wide receiver Hines Ward has one thing on his mind these days. Baltimore. "That's all I think about," he said. "The preseason is good but my mind is focused on one team, that's Baltimore." The Steelers open the season Sept. 11 against the Ravens in Baltimore. The two AFC North Division rivals have met in the postseason two of the past three years, and the Steelers won both games at Heinz Field on their way to the Super Bowl -- in the divisional round last season and in the AFC championship in the 2008 season. "They would schedule us in Baltimore for the first game," Ward said. "It'll be an exciting way to start the season off. It's a divisional game so it's very important for us. "I know their fans will be hyped up for the game. I call it the lion's den because when you go down there there's just a mob of fans who hate Pittsburgh, and what better way than to try to go down there and start their season off the wrong way with a loss." The Steelers and Ravens did not play until the fourth game of the 2010 season and Baltimore won, 14-7, at Heinz Field in the final game of quarterback Ben Roethlisberger 's four-game suspension. The Steelers returned the favor, winning Dec. 5 in Baltimore, 13-10. They then beat the Ravens, 31-24, in the postseason, coming back from a 21-7 halftime deficit. Ward sees it coming down to those two again in the division. "They're always the competition. Every year it's going to come down to Baltimore and us in the AFC North. When you play Baltimore, you get in the weight room a little longer, you stay a little extra after practice because you know it's going to be a physical ballgame." Read more: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/11228/1167599-66.stm#ixzz1VC80JC2W

Ozzie might want to pursue this guy released from the Saints: www.espn.go.com/nfl/player/_/id/4495/jonathan-stinchcomb

Taylor has very limited value to us this year and certainly not as our "backup". I do wonder, as a little changeup (couple times/game), Harbaugh would entertain having Tyrod running the wildcat ? It would give Joe a breather, add another dimension, and give the opposing D another formation to deal with ? The guy is fast and quick and will eventually get the passing accuracy down or at least better . Just sayin .

Damn Crav, this OL situation has the feel of the chair reshuffling on the deck of the Titanic Hey, isnt this where Max inserts his Titanic photo ? Joe could be spending this season doing an impersonation of Big Ben. Hope Bazooka Joe likes to throw on the run !

Exactly. He could be a key ST guy-I still remember that KR vs Texans last year. Plus, he could really add some quality depth to the WR corps which is suddenly becoming a team strength. Now, what are we doing about the OL ? With Yanda on the mend, Birk still a couple weeks out, and Cousins being considered as an OL starter , the OL looks shaky at best. With this current cast, Bazooka Joe could become the next David Carr who was probably sacked 1000 times in 5 years at Houston. If we dont get that fixed, Joe wont have time to find Reed or any other WRs.

Hence the need to scarp up another legit WR besides Boldin (e.g. Evans). Hell, Ozzie, go out and get Housh and /or somebody who "gets it".

My take on game: Good: 1. Pitta and Pollard looked good at TE & S 2. The running game looked allright. 3. The run D looked stout. Bad: 1. The OL esp on pass blocking 2. WR corps 3. Pass D Ugly: 1. Flacco running around.....again 2. Reed getting beat on that long pass ....Vick to Riley..embarrasing 3. Tyrod Taylor... he was a good college QB, college QB. Its apparent Ozzie and the Biscuit underestimated the impact of the lockout and its implications on free agency and the CAP. We let too many key guys walk, didnt sign, resign or rework the key guys efficiently to make the right moves at the right time. Our FO needs to make a few moves - backup QB, legit & vet WR, another OL for depth. Last nights performance, while pathetic, was not a measure of this team. They have 1 month to get it right and play Ravens ball.

How did that happen ? He failed the Raiders exam but now passes the Chief's test a week later ! Did you have to eat 1 more rack of ribs at KC to pass ?

Are you kidding Crav ?

Colincac, You seem to have some Ravens cap insight. When is the Ngata deal going to happen ? Any ideas, links ?

No, not serious. Still miffed about about the Heap loss and not enthused about the alternative (s). Stallworth is a skin. Agree with you on Housh. Cotchery is damaged goods - back surgery earlier in the season - and passed over by the Jets. At this point, not many other options though the runmor mill says Bills WR Lee Evans could be acquired via trade. Just a rumor.

Yep but its got to be better than the pickup of Bills TE castoff Jonathan Stupar Damn, why the hell didnt we go after a Zach Miller instead of settling for a Stupor ?

Watched em both for about ten years - starting with Willis at the U, Ricky at Texas. Even with Willis' reconstructed knee but 29 yr old body, I would kept him over the 34 yr old Williams. They could have restructured Willis, just like should have redone Heap and Mase if they had just done Ngata before the lockout. None of us knows how these will pan out. For the moment, as a fan, I dont feel good about em and where we are headed.