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Thank You! You just cursed them!

Only this... This is really bad. It's between him and Joe as far as the key to getting this offense going. With Evans, teams have to defend the whole field. They can't stack the box or they will get burned by Evans and Bouldin. So...the running game will suffer, Bouldin will be double teamed and teams will say "beat us with Doss and Smith". Reeds out for 1 game. Teams can bring the heat...so Cam has to keep at least 1 TE in to max protect. That's one less receiving option for Joe. This is pretty bad. I hope the Ravens keep LaQuan Williams. Maybe between him, Smith and Doss somebody surprisingly becomes a playmaker...out of necessity. "Of course there's the purple kool aid perspective. The injury and boot are a fake to throw the Steelers off."

Right now they look like it's week 14...not week 1.... We might have to find something else to watch.

This is worse news than starting an O line that hasn't played together. At least 4 of the 5 linemen are familiar with each other and the playbook. Evens would be a big difference maker opening day. Big. Lose him and it's Bouldin, Smith, Doss, Reed. That's weak for one of the biggest games of the season. Lose him and they can load the box and stop the run. lose him and they can double Bouldin and force the rookies to beat them.

Yea...last December...supposedly no formal charges were filed but pot was found.

It won't be right until they let women Ref this game.

I'm not liking this at all. It's one strike or a red flag. He's not dependable as a receiver against the starters in the NFL from what I saw last year. Gameday you have to make the play. He kills the 2's and 3's in the pre season, but you saw the drops last night when Cantwell needed all the help he could get. He was hot as hell in game 2 of the pre season. Cold last night. He's a very good returner. He can really help this team on special teams. Everybody makes mistakes, he's young, so hopefully he'll learn from this. Maybe he'll wake up and play like 'his hairs on fire'. He needs to because he has good competition at receiver. The Ravens are not desperate at that position. I'd give him a pass now and offer help and support, but I wouldn't give him a second chance after this.

I should give a projection just to play along. You gotta "let it all hang out!" I'm feeling 12-4 or 11-5. They should make the playoffs and "IF" healthy they should tear it up. They are deep and talented.

Not really...

I can't get a read on this team other than they will get better as the season progresses. I can' t go further than a week 1 loss because of the o line. If that line plays decent they have a good shot at winning. We will know a ton about the 2011 Ravens after that game.

Williams will never clear waivers. Got to have him on the active roster or have some mysterious injury that he doesn't' know he has.

Ed Reed worries me. He's never around on these deep ball completions and TD's. They get no help over the top. Ed hasn't played much but he has to be there.

[quote name='colincac' timestamp='1314473933' post='29464'] Smith isn't THAT bad. He hasn't looked good but he's also going against first stringers so I think you're overrating the play of Williams and Reed. I think its Boldin/Evans/Doss/Smith/Reed/Williams. I think all stay on the roster since Williams and Reed can help on ST. [/quote] You're right colin...Taking some time to think about this, I did come down too hard. It's only 2 pre season games. I need to be more openminded and not rush to judgement so fast. I loved watching him at Maryland. I know what he can do and he can do it at this level. [quote]When a reporter interjected to ask if Smith was also doing that in practice, Harbaugh replied, “He’s catching the ball well, too, in practice. He’s going to be fine. J[b]ust lay off the kid[/b] and let him develop and become the player that he’s going to be. It’s going to happen. It’s just a matter of time, and that’s the variable.[/quote] "Ok John."

Great News...well sort of... Good Show Michael! On the back up [#3] running back issue...

1 Boldin...proven weapon. So very talented. Has complete game. 2 Evans....he and Joe are hitting it off as if he's been in this offense for a year. Legit deep threat defenses will now have to respect. 3 Doss.....He catches anything thrown to him no matter the traffic. Great hands. He's open every play because he will be the one to catch the ball. Joe recommended him to Ozzie because he knows good when he sees it. I might flip flop #4 and #5... 4 Reed.....We saw the David Reed show. He's good. But that was against the 2's and 3's. Can he get open against starters?...and make the play? He struggled last year trying to do that. 5 Williams. He's got heart and is a man on a mission. Fearless. Fast, has nice size, strong and makes the play. Like Reed, it's been against back ups. His special teams play has guaranteed him a roster spot. Staying healthy is an issue. 6. Smith...Can't play if he can't catch. Will Ravens carry 6 receivers? If not...who do you cut?

Taylor impress's me. He's accurate. He wants to throw first and for rookies that is rare. Yea he ran...because he had to. And he runs damn well. Very athletic, intelligent and poised. He makes plays. He certainly isn't starting material now. He hasn't played against starters, but he looks like a man amoung boys when he plays the 2's and 3's which is a very good sign.

The 2011 Ravens offense will be a work in progress and probably will not hit full stride until game 3 or 4 of the regular season. That means surviving the Steelers, Titans, Rams and Jets and comming out of that stretch in the playoff hunt. That means more slow starts in games. It means getting occasionally hot and then disappearing for for awhile. Joe Flacco, the Ravens passing game and rushing attack have had a patchwork offensive line to work with and this has limited productivity. Eventually, the starting line will be McKinnie LT, Grubbs LG, Birk C, Yanda RG and Oher at RT. How soon that groups starts a game and get's into a groove only time will tell. It may not be opening day. Thursday night only Grubbs played in his natural position. It starts and ends with the line. Ask Manning and Brady. To Ravens fans who are watching Flacco closely to see if he's taking that next step I say, "Good Luck!" You're going to be frustrated as hell. Joe looked better moving in what pocket he had. He also has to get used to his new receivers. He looks 'just about on' with Bouldin. He looks like he's got it down with Evens. Who the #3 receiver will be is unknown. The #4 too, if they go 4 wide which they should do in the redzone. Torry Smith is now a developmental project so don't count on him. Reed, Williams and Doss you can count on. He still is working out the kinks with his TE's...but that is improving. This 2011 Ravens team has to have a strong rushing attack for the offense to be effective. The line determines if it will be good, bad or mediocre. Once again, just like last year in the pre season, Cam has overlooked the running game and they will pay dues for this. The Ravens hardly ran the ball last pre season and the Running game went south. This year the Ravens have only run on 72 of 189 offensive snaps. To make matters worse, it's 0 snaps with the eventual starting line. In defense of Cam...he's very limited in doing what he wants to do. He has to be carefull. He can't ask units to do what they cannot do at this time. He has to get more protection packages in for Joe which will limit receiver options...which will limit...you get the picture. I like the potential starting roster. I think they will get hot this year and be better than last year. But at what time in the season that happens I don't know. If it will be too late to make the plaoffs...I can't tell. I do think this will be one hellova playoff team if they can hang in through the early adversity that they face.

They trimmed the roster by 9 players...

With the exception of 1 play, I really enjoyed watching Thursday nights game. About 40 players, who will not make the team, were fighting for a few roster spots. They have had minimal time to showcase their talents. Watching them not quit and battle back for a win showed me how deep in talent this team is. Don't think the Ravens are deep? Scouts from 12 NFL teams were at the game looking to improve their rosters. There will be some good finds amoung the cut players. I wish them well. I was rooting for them and looking for the next Bart Scott, Kelly Gregg, Adelious Thomas excetera. Players who are either undrafted or late round picks that emerge from the pack and go on to have good careers. Players like McPhee, LaQuan Williams, Anthony Allen, and Ramone Harewood. It was good seeing Kindle and Kruger pressure the QB. The Ravens need one or both of these guys to step up and make the impact they believe they can. Just one of them at full potential will make the pass rush very scary. And let's give a round of applause to Brian Mattison! Here's a guy fighting for his last breath to make this team. A defensive lineman who has been the Ravens center for the whole pre season. A guy who is a practice squad player and is now out of options: Either he makes the final roster or he's a gonner. Is he back up or starting center material for the NFL? Probably not. But he's definately what the organization refers to as "A Raven". Little things....Cody, Ngata, and McKinny were bring pressure in the middle and pushing in the pocket. Pollard smaking someone in the mouth.. Cary Williams making a strong argument to start. And 1 emerging bright spot. Tyrod Taylor is beginning to really impress me. You have to take in the big picture. He's been thrown to the wolves. No OTA's or camps...rookie QB...Tight CAP space...garbage at back up QB available on the market. Flacco had only 1 starter, Grubs, on the O line playing in the position that they will be playing opening day. It really huirt his effectiveness. Guess what Taylor had? Guys who never played together! And receivers who have never started in an NFL game. The Ravens need him to develop right now, today! And he's answering the bell. And...once again, for another year, Ravens fans have bragging rights over the Potomac Drainage Basin Indigenous Persons fans. "..and they were sent out into the weeping and knashing of teeth..."

AUGUST 25TH 2011 THE LAST TIME RAVENS FANS EVER HAD TO SEE THE WIDE RECEIVER END AROUND.

NO MORE END AROUNDS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! IT NEVER WORKS!!!! NEVER! TEAR IT OUT OF THE PLAYBOOK AND BURN IT RIGHT NOW! SEE A SHRINK IF YOU CAN'T HELP CALLING IT. GET HELP! STOP IT>>>>STOP IT NOW! NEVER AGAIN!!! WE DO NOT EVER WANT TO SEE THAT PLAY AS LONG AS WE LIVE!!!!!!!!!! THE WHOLE LEAGUE GETS IT! WE GET IT! WE ARE NOT STUPID DUMBIES! YOU HAVE A FAST RECEIVER SO YOU HAVE 1 PLAY AND 1 PLAY ONLY FOR HIM BUT THE DEFENSE WILL NEVER KNOW THIS AND BE FOOLED!!! YOU WANT TO BURY HIM AND RUIN HIS CAREER LIKE STALLWORTH! AND KILL DRIVES! PUT 50 POUND ANKLE WEIGHTS ON YOUR OFFENSIVE PLAYERS INSTEAD! STOP IT STOP IT STOP IT STOP IT STOP IT STOP IT STOP IT STOP IT STOP IT STOP IT STOP IT STOP IT STOP IT STOP IT STOP IT STOP IT STOP IT STOP ITSTOP IT STOP IT STOP IT STOP IT STOP IT STOP IT STOP IT STOP IT STOP IT STOP IT STOP IT STOP IT STOP IT STOP IT !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! IT NEVER EVER FOOLS ANYBODY!!!!!!! NEVER! IT BURNS! IT HURTS US!!!!!!!!!!

This is so sad. He was a great pitcher and man. Listening to the radio today...if only Mike could hear it...he'd know how much he was loved.

Beginnings by Chicago

The sound of my son doing the dishes...just beautifull.

Roll Over Beethovan by Electric Light Orchestra.