Thursday, September 3, 2009

Ravens Last Preseason Game Tonight

The final Ravens preseason game is tonight as Baltimore heads down to Atlanta to take on the Falcons.

For the average fan, there will not be much excitement. It is reported that many of the hands down starters, including Joe Flacco, will not play much in this game. This preseason game will be the final opportunity for players to show themselves for the final cut.

A couple of positions still need some deciding, notably the kicking game. Steven Hauschka has looked like the better kicker than Graham Gano, but he is not blowing away anyone on the coaching staff, missing a chip shot inside 30 yards in the Ravens last preseason game against the Panthers. It is pretty clear that Gano will not win the job, but the question is will the Ravens be happy with Hauschka as the full time kicker? Some fans have been calling for Matt Stover, who lives in Baltimore with his family, to return. According to the Scott and Anita Show on 105.7 The Fan, Stover has been keeping in good shape, but is not actively trying to return to the Ravens, but that he is keeping good shape to be ready to go to a team sometime this season. This last game may determine whether the Ravens feel the need to seek this option.

Obviously another area of concern is the receiver position. Mark Clayton already said he will not play in this game, and Derrick Mason will likely do the same. Demetrius Williams and Kelley Washington appear to be all right for the final cut, but they should play anyway. But other players, like Justin Harper and Jayson Foster, still have something to show before the final cut of the roster. The main player who needs to step up is Yamon Figurs. The Ravens drafted this player high in the third round due to his speed, but so far due to injuries and problems catching may turn out to be a bust. It is possible that this is the last chance for him to be a Raven in this preseason game.

Other positions that still have some questions include cornerback and some of the offensive linemen; possibly the third string tight end as well. But the starters for the Ravens are mainly set in stone, so for the average fan, this preseason game won't bring a lot of interest. But for the hardcore, it is the final chance for some of the players to make the cut.

Game tonight is at 7:30 PM.

(Photo credit: Baltimore Sun)

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