Drew Bennett Signs With Ravens, Problem Solved?

The Ravens once again turn to a former Titan for a need, this one being wide receiver Drew Bennett, who signed a one-year deal with the Ravens on Friday, almost two weeks after Derrick Mason retired.

Bennett was on the Titans for six years, then joined onto the Rams in 2007 and 2008. Before that, he had caught at least 700 yards in his last three years with Tennessee, including over 1200 in 2004. He got hurt with a foot injury in the opening game this past year and had his six-year contract terminated by St. Louis after the season. Now 30, he won the receiver tryouts and will join the Ravens for this season, meaning Baltimore believes his foot is fine and will have him on the field.

Bennett will likely get the #1 or #2 spot with the other going to Mark Clayton. Demetrius Williams and Marcus Smith will probably fight for the slot position. The Ravens may employ their tight ends a lot with Todd Heap and L.J. Smith to balance the air attack for Joe Flacco.

I'm not sure if this is who the Ravens need at wide receiver in place of Derrick Mason, but this might have been the best option. It is concerning that no one wanted Bennett beforehand, but that would have been a problem with anyone they picked up in free agency, including Marvin Harrison. It is also concerning the Ravens are depending on another receiver with injury issues. But, it will mean the Ravens will not do a high risk trade for players like Brandon Marshall or Anquan Boldin, whose respective teams would have likely raised the price for their talented but risky off the field receivers.

But this does bring up the question of Mason's retirement. The buzz had gone around that John Harbaugh was not sure if Mason had retired, that maybe he would want an extension or just didn't want to go to training camp. But signing Bennett may be an important move to this. Obviously the Ravens would love to have Mason back, but Ozzie Newsome can not bank on convincing Mason to change his mind. At the very least the Ravens need another receiver that can play to be ready. The door is not shut on the situation, but the Ravens are ready to move on if nothing changes.

No matter what, the Ravens will be readying their two tight end sets to have their best core of ball-catchers on the field to help Joe Flacco. This is not an easy situation to deal with and the problems are not over, but Bennett was a good pickup considering the situation in Baltimore.

(Photo credit: Getty Images)

Playoff Report Card: Ravens 13, Titans 10

The word of the game is... miraculous. How a team like the Ravens could grab a victory in that environment, with a rookie quarterback, after being wholly outplayed for nearly the entire game? I would characterize that as miraculous. Considering the yardage statistics, the Ravens should have had no place winning this game as they were outgained by over 180 yards of total offense. What kept the Ravens in the game were costly turnovers by the Titans and a couple serendipitous calls by the officials. But that was not the whole story.

Make no mistake the Ravens won this football game, and the better team is going to the AFC Championship. The Titans decided that, to break down the Ravens defense, they were going to air the ball out. This is a fair and smart strategy for moving the ball, but note to the Titans: if your game plan involves 40+ throws by Kerry Collins, don’t be shocked when there are multiple turnovers. The Ravens defense was gashed, yes, but the turnovers were not just good fortune. And on the flipside, the Ravens offense played smart conservative football all game which ensured that there were no turnovers and no sacks on Joe Flacco. The Ravens gambled that ball security was far more important than yardage. They were right.

And by the way, I think we should all chill out over that non-called delay of game penalty. It was a blown call, and that gaffe really is not excusable. That being said, it is simply a five yard penalty on a 3rd and 2. The game does not end if the call is made, and there is nothing to say the Ravens don’t convert. If folks in Tennessee think that that play lost them the game, then they just weren’t paying attention.

Offense - Overall Grade: C-
Quarterbacks: B
Like last week this grade is bumped up for the fact that he is a rookie quarterback, made the key throws when they counted and, well, is making history to be quite honest. That being said, Joe was inaccurate on several throws throughout the game which cost the team precious first downs. He needs to stop throwing too high on short patterns, as that not only lays out the receiver but could lead to interceptions. His poise and decision making were both excellent, but if he could get his accuracy back on track this offense can go to the next level (which it will need to).
Running Backs: D+
Awful, awful game for the backfield tandem of Le’Ron McClain and Willis McGahee. Le’Ron, even before his injury, was running poorly and couldn’t hit the holes quickly. Willis ran slightly better, but still the production was not there. 24 rushes between the two for an average of less than two yards? The running game has to be effective for this offense to move.
Wide Receivers: C+
Derrick Mason had some outstanding catches, and Mark Clayton had a beautiful deep reception close to the goal line, but the highlights just about end there. The depth on this receiving corps is absolutely nonexistent, and that fault could easily come back to haunt this team.
Tight Ends: B-
Catch of the day, drop of the day for Todd Heap. But the catch was far more important, so the grade is a B- rather than a C+. The 23-yard reception was Heap’s only of the game, and Wilcox only had one catch for four yards. Flacco needs to be able to lean on this group more in the passing game, as they are big and easy targets, particularly Heap who can be a matchup nightmare.
Offensive Line: C-
Yes, Flacco didn’t get sacked, but that was more a product of his decision making and athletic ability than superior protection by the offensive line. The fact of the matter is, this group could not establish running lanes and that cost the Ravens dearly. Because of that the running game could not get going and thus the offense continually stalled and the defense was hung out to dry.

Defense - Overall Grade: C+
Defensive Line: B-
They were pushed around by the Tennessee defensive front all night. You can talk all you want about the play of Kerry Collins, Justin Gage, Chris Johnson, but there’s no secret as to how they ran over the Ravens defense; their offensive line dominated the line of scrimmage. It was clear that this group was tired, as they had difficulty wrapping up and generated no pass rush whatsoever.
Linebackers: B
Overall not a bad job, but their performance was far from their lofty standards. The blitz could not get to Kerry Collins, and the pursuit of Chris Johnson was sloppy and undisciplined. The missed tackles and slower movement to the football are most likely a product of fatigue, and hopefully with an extra day to rest this week they will be re-energized for the AFC Championship Game. (sidenote: doesn’t that sound fantastic to say?)
Defensive Backs: D-
Poor tackling, poor position, and slow footed. This was a terrible day for the Ravens secondary as they made Collins-to-Gage look like Montana-to-Rice. The lack of a pass rush exposed this group, but they are playing hurt. Nice interception by Samari Rolle, but that was a pure product of a rare pass rush.

Special Teams - Overall Grade: A
Kicker: A+
Matt Stover won the game with a 43-yard field goal. Yep, Stover is clearly all washed up at this point in his career.
Punter: A
Sam Koch had one of his usual excellent games, and was put in some very tough spots to boot. His punt to the 2-yard line was absolutely gorgeous.
Returners: B+
Tom Zbikowski is looking like a better and better pickup each day, and what can you say about Jim Leonhard? He doesn’t have the measurables that leap out at you, but there’s no arguing with his production. He’s smart, catches the ball, and makes plays. The most underrated offseason pickup in the NFL this year.
Coverage: B-
Considering the Titans have the best kickoff return team in the NFL, not a terrible day. Harbaugh was right in saying that the Ravens’ kickoff coverage has to improve. The discipline in coverage and returns are improving.

Coaching - Overall Grade: B
Offensive: C-
A very bad game for Cam Cameron, as he was unable to get the running game going and did not get Flacco into a good rhythm by letting him make some short throws early. If McClain hurts his ankle, why not give Willis McGahee more carries? Instead he threw in a gimpy McClain until very late when McClain was in significant pain. And if neither of those is successful, why not get Ray Rice involved? Ray Rice has the special ability to make things happen in the open field; a quick screen would be low risk and high reward, but it wasn’t even attempted. Also, it might have been smart to run some quick misdirection or a reverse, because the Titans were stacking the run straight up the middle.
Defensive: C
It’s a whole lot tougher to be a brilliant defensive coordinator when your line is dominated by the opposition. I understand that Ryan didn’t want to expose his secondary to the big play, but it took him far too long to send significant heat at Collins. Bart Scott is a pass rusher at heart, not a coverage linebacker. It was good to see more guys coming in and making plays like Nakamura and Jameel McClain.

And for my MVP/LVP...
MVP (Most Valuable Player) –Matt Stover– There are a number of people who made huge contributions—Joe Flacco, Ray Lewis, Jim Leonhard for certain—but Stover won this game with an impressive 43-yard field goal. Without his clutch kick, this would have been in the loss column for the Ravens.
LVP (Least Valuable Player) –Le’Ron McClain– Le’Ron played through injury, but he rushed for only 12 yards on 12 carries in a game when the Ravens needed him big. The coaching staff is heavily responsible for this, as he should have been out of the game when his ankle went bad.


(Photo Credit: Derrick Mason(Gene Sweeney Jr./Baltimore Sun), Jim Leonhard(Lloyd Fox/Baltimore Sun), Ray Lewis/Matt Stover(Doug Kapusitin/Baltimore Sun), Matt Stover (Lloyd Fox/Baltimore Sun))

Ravens-Titans Preview, Part 4: The Rundown

On the surface this seems like an easy game to pick for a Ravens fan. The Ravens are on a roll, and the Titans stumbled down the stretch. Moreover, the defense for Baltimore has been stellar while the offense has done just enough to win games. Following the dominating performance over Miami, Baltimore was drawing comparisons (albeit inaccurate ones) to the 2000 season merely because this was a winning Ravens team with a great defense. I will give you a hint- every Ravens team has a great defense, and that doesn’t mean it is the 2000 edition. That was something special, and it won’t be repeated- nothing in sports is repeated exactly the same as before and we shouldn’t cheapen it by trying to make it anything but unique.

After the bye week, people tend to forget that the top 4 teams in the NFL haven’t played yet. We remember the teams we most recently saw, not the ones that owned the NFL during the regular season and earned that week off. The result is a bit more enthusiasm for the visiting teams than might be due with a clear head and a decent memory.

However, that’s aside from the point. To me, this week comes down to two simple elements that point in different directions. First, the Ravens are a better team than they were in Week 5. The Titans are not. Can you tell me that the Titans’ running game has improved? No, but the Ravens’ running game has. Kerry Collins is the same Kerry Collins he was early in the season (and for that matter, probably hasn’t changed much in several seasons), but Joe Flacco is light years away from where he was in that disastrous performance in the first matchup. The Raven’s defense might be as good as it was back in Week 5, though minus Chris McAlister- but that is partially balanced out by the improved play of Fabian Washington and the emergence of Jim Leonhard at safety as a playmaker. The Titans shot out to a 10-0 start, and then sputtered out with halfhearted efforts with the exception of a must-win at home against Pittsburgh. If the question is momentum, the Titans don't have it.

But there is a second point that bears mentioning. The Titans, like the Ravens, are a hardnosed, bruising football team. They have had a week to rest their wounds, and will have a ravenous home crowd on their side that will make Dolphin’s stadium look like a library. The Ravens had an exhausting game last week in Miami, and it will be a task for that defense that was gassing in the 4th quarter to keep it up again for 60 minutes against an incredibly physical ballclub. Even without center Kevin Mawae, the Titans offensive line is a powerful unit that won’t be pushed around easily, and not if the Ravens are forced to shuffle more and more players through that defensive front to give the starters more time to rest. Don’t underestimate the extra preparation time, extra rest, and home audience that comes with that 1st round bye.

It is hard to say which point will have more impact, the improvement of the Ravens or the rested condition of the Titans. Frankly, this was the toughest prediction I have had to make. In the end, I say they make it past the #1 seed in the AFC and live to play another week.

The nod goes to the Ravens, 16-14

Just for a bonus, here is what my other optimistic compatriots predict:
Falco gives it to the Ravens, 17-14
Windsor gives it to the Ravens as well, 20-16

Photo Credit: (Doug Kapustin: Baltimore Sun)

Ravens-Titans Preview, Part 3: Ravens Offense vs. Titans Defense

Much is made of the dominant tackles the Ravens sport along their defensive line, but even they must pause and admire what the Titans have been able to accomplish with their own pair of All Pros in Albert Haynesworth and Kyle VanDen Bosch. Those two players have helped anchor a defense that, despite their absence for stretches of the season due to injury, still managed to register 44 sacks on the season (10 more than the Ravens) and limited opponents to 94 yards per game on the ground (only 13 more than the Ravens allow). And in case anyone is wondering, they will be back from injury in time to make a huge impact on this game. The playoffs is a time when injuries seem to magically disappear over the week. Adrenaline kicks in, and caution is largely thrown to the wind when the player or coach has to make a decision that could determine whether the team makes it to the next step towards the Superbowl.

As much as that adrenaline kicks in however, it cannot overcome the wear and tear that comes with playing 16 games straight. Remember, the Ravens had that early non-bye week in Week 2 of the season, and has played every week since. Nicks and bruises are piling up, while the Titans had a later bye and got to enjoy a bye week as the #1 seed in the AFC. Why do I mention this in the Titans Defense preview? This team has also been incredibly physical at the line, forcing 23 fumbles this season, good for 2nd in the NFL. They are one of the few teams capable of matching the Ravens punch for punch, and with an extra week of rest one can expect more than a few of those hits to land. It will be essential that the Ravens establish an early presence at the line, hammering with Le’Ron McClain, who had a great amount of success in limited action in the first matchup with the Titans. McClain was given only 11 carries, but made the most out of them with 51 yards.

For all their success stopping the run, they are rarely tested with powerful inside runners like McClain. In the AFC South, Joseph Addai, Steve Slaton, and Maurice Jones-Drew (and even Fred Taylor at this point in his career) don’t pack the same punch that the 260 fullback out of Alabama does. In fact, his 4.9 yard per carry average against the Titans is his highest all season when he had 10 or more carries that wasn’t inflated by a long touchdown run (see: Cowboys game). The Titans will be keying in on him unlike the last meeting, but McGahee’s ineffectiveness against the Titans the first time around will likely not be duplicated, and we will be seeing a lot more of McClain. Tennessee will start the game with 8 men in the box, daring the Ravens to run the football. And they will. The first quarter will likely be a battle of wills to see who can control the line of scrimmage. Cam Cameron will not be afraid to send his bowling ball into the heart of the defense and see whether he can find a crack in that rested Tennessee line. Watch carefully at the center of that line. While he hasn’t been mentioned much in these previews this season, center Jason Brown could be the most important man in determining the success of this running game. If he can occupy one of those beasts in the middle of the line by himself, McClain will get enough of a hole to create a legitimate threat of a running attack. If he doesn’t, there will be a lot of weight placed on the shoulders of Joe Flacco.

However, as Falco put it to me earlier this week, “The Titans never got a dose of Flacco” in Round 1 of Ravens v. Titans. The passing game consisted of the re-emergence of Todd Heap (the tight ends on both teams had a great day) and a couple of unwise interceptions in Flacco’s worst game up to that point. Frankly, the Flacco that the Titans are seeing on Saturday is not the Flacco they saw back in October. And if that isn’t enough to get me the award for Most Obvious Observation, Tennessee looks to feed on his mistakes. While they were unable to register a sack on Flacco, the secondary forced 2 interceptions out of the rookie QB. This unit has been able to rack up 20 picks on the season, putting them in the top 10 in the NFL.

At face value, the secondary is not overwhelming with talent. Nick Harper was unable to hold onto his starting job with the Colts which landed him in Tennessee as their #1 corner, but he is not their greatest threat. Michael Griffin has had an outstanding second year in the league, registering 7 interceptions from the Free Safety position, but the real emerging star of this unit is Cortland Finnegan. In this 3rd year in the NFL, this 7th round pick has asserted himself as a solid second cornerback capable of keeping pace with any receiver on a weekly basis. His 5 interceptions are more than any other cornerback on the squad. With his speed and Harper’s experience, it is likely that Harper will be paired with Derrick Mason and Finnegan with Mark Clayton to try to eliminate the deep threat. Expect to see Griffin shade toward Clayton on those deep routes. Tennessee is well aware of Joe Flacco’s penchant for the deep ball, and will keep their ball hawks back to take advantage of a throw that is just a few feet off. However, if Flacco can throw the deep routes as he did late in the regular season- where either the receiver or no one catches it- the Titans could be waiting a long time for that turnover.

The key for the Titans, even more so than the Ravens, will be to apply pressure early on Flacco. They will look to rattle him as every team has tried this season, with the same theory that if they can get in his head they can take control of the game. Unfortunately for Ravens’ opponents, Flacco hasn’t shown that weakness just yet. I agree that the rookie makes unwise throws into coverage, but it is rarely because he is worried about the pressure behind him. The Titans are well aware that they failed to sack Flacco the first time around. They won’t just be keeping 8 in the box to stop McClain, they will be looking to break the pocket- and the Raven’s passing game. The Ravens rank around the middle of the NFL with 33 sacks allowed. The Titans’ defense ranks 5th in the NFL in sacks registered. Baltimore will have to do quite a bit to duplicate their performance from Week 5, and Ravens fans should not expect another perfect performance from the offensive line against a defense that will look to blitz a lot more than in their first matchup.

The Titans played it safe on defense in Ravens v. Titans Round 1, but that was because they could afford to. Joe Flacco wasn’t trusted to win any games, and the running game was still trying to find itself with Willis McGahee. This week will be entirely different. Look for some heavy and varied blitz packages from Tennessee, and a great deal more vertical passing from Baltimore to complement. The Ravens have a much more efficient offense than they did early in the season, but the Titans will have a much more aggressive scheme drawn up to match.