Ravens-Browns Preview: Which Browns are These?

Sorry for the lack of Free Kicks this week, I know y’all were desperately awaiting my post World Series analysis and general musings about all thing sports (or otherwise). However, I think everyone had to be satiated by last night’s wild finish by Texas Tech. You just knew it would be Crabtree, right? Me too. I have no idea what would have happened if they’d had to leave it to their field goal kicker. I love the Matt Williams story, but I don’t trust any Tech kicker to win it against the #1 team in the country. More on Tuesday, but first we have the Ravens.

This game is not about the 4-3 Ravens against the 3-4 Browns. This game is about two teams that are suddenly hot and out to keep their division hopes alive. If the Browns lose this one they could see their comeback hopes dashed for this season. If the Ravens lose they fall back into the “mediocre” category and out of the playoffs. Playoffs? Hey, I don’t expect it either- but keep hope alive, kids. There are a million questions going into this one, I wish I had more than three to ask. Will Jamal continue to have success against his former team? Will the secondary treat Anderson like they did Russell? Will the return of the Browns skill position players from injury mean a great offensive output than in Week 3? Stay tuned, this game will be a good one.

What I’m Wondering:

Will Flacco make it three in a row without a pick?
Joe Flacco appears to be making some strides against some bad teams, which is exactly what he should be doing this season. Like all 32,000 Ravens starting quarterbacks before him, his job will be to not turn the ball over and make just enough plays to win the game. When he is throwing 2 or 3 interceptions a game, that isn’t in the gameplan. He is still completing 62% of his passes, but I would not mind that number going gown if it meant he wouldn’t throw the ball into dangerous windows. Flacco has a rocket for an arm, but he should remember that he has the Ravens defense to rely on and he does not have the weapons he should have right now with Demetrious Williams out for the season and rookies as his 3rd and 4th wide receivers. It could get dicey for Joe if he tries to live dangerously- keep it conservative and this Browns defense might wear down. Will Flacco continue to pare down his gunslinger tendencies to play within the gameplan?

Will the Wildcat continue to be successful with Troy Smith?
I love it when a new college offense shows up and all the prognosticators say that it can’t be run in the pros. They said the speed is too great on defense for the Wildcat offense to be effective in the NFL. At that time I wondered, “Aren’t the offensive players running it faster too?” With the Miami Dolphins stunning the Patriots earlier this year and the Ravens incorporating it slowly into their offense, it appears that it can be successful- especially when the player running the Wildcat can throw the ball better than any running back. Make no mistake, having Troy Smith back there gives the Ravens a unique edge over other Wildcat formations, a double threat that allows him to take advantage of whatever the defense gives him. The Wildcat will never be a staple offense for any team, but a few plays a game can force the opposing defense to spend an inordinate amount of time preparing for just a few dynamic plays. Will the Ravens be able to build on their success in this formation or was it just a surprise gimmick that happened to work?

Has Derek Anderson turned it around?
Well the “Start Brady Quinn” signs have been put away in Cleveland at least temporarily as Derek Anderson has found a way to return to some semblance of his performance at the beginning of this year. Over his last 4 games he has thrown only 1 interception to 5 touchdowns after throwing 5 picks in his first 3 games! In his game against the Giants he sported a passer rating of over 120 while completing passes to 8 different receivers. Ravens fans should understand this game as not one against a team that is 3-4, but a team that is 3-1 in its last 4 games and beginning to return to form. This could be bad news if Anderson is able to string together 2 strong passing performances for the first time this season. Anderson is playing with more confidence, will that lead to a successful outing against a battered Ravens secondary?

My Mildly Informed Analysis:

The Ravens have to be able to run the football, period. The three headed monster of McClain, McGahee and Rice is intriguing but has to show consistent success to keep Joe Flacco out of 3rd and long situations that will force him to make a poor decision. It is amazing what impact a strong running game will have on a young quarterback. Cam Cameron will be able to open up the playbook significantly if they can rely on the fact that on a 2nd and 8 they can still afford to run the ball. But the need for a running game is a given.

How about that Wildcat? It is a great way to get Troy Smith on the field, but will defenses catch on? Survey says probably not, if you take Miami’s example. Sure, the formation with Ronnie Brown under center has not been as effective as it was against the Patriots, but it has been a consistently successful formation for them this season, and their offense has taken a big step forward just by having it as a threat. Every time Brown is on the field the defense has to wonder if it is going to him or if the formation will suddenly change. Unfortunately Troy Smith can’t be used as a running back too often, and he isn’t a regular part of the offense outside the Wildcat as Ronnie Brown is. However, as long as only a few teams are doing it, it will be tough to combat. But this is a copycat league- in 4 or 5 years half the teams in the league will have a Wildcat. For now though the Browns might find it a tad confusing to deal with.

The secondary as always is shaky- for the 3rd week in a row both McAlister and Rolle will be out of the picture and it will be left to Frank Walker and Fabian Washington to head up the top two cornerback spots. This group of DBs did not look good against either Indy or Miami, allowing Chad Pennington to throw for almost 300 yards and complete almost 70% of his passes. Against Oakland they were terrific, but who isn’t? Derek Anderson will be looking to test Walker particularly from the very beginning and take advantage of whomever is lined up against a resurgent Braylon Edwards.

The Browns will also attempt to take the bite out of the Ravens pass rush by utilizing Kellen Winslow Jr. as a safety valve receiver. He has never been the best blocker but if the Browns can dish the ball out to Winslow when Anderson is feeling pressure it will force the Ravens to leave an extra man back to cover Winslow or limit the amount of blitzing altogether. With a steady dose of Jamal Lewis up the middle it will be essential that the Ravens get pressure with a four man front or this Browns offense could find itself in a rhythm early on.

The Rundown:

I have no idea what team(s) I expect to see today. It could very well be the Browns of ’07 as this year’s edition appears to be finding its way after handing the defending champion Giants their one and only loss 4 weeks ago. If so, the Ravens could be in for a long day as they have been able to beat up on poor competition but not against the better teams of the NFL. However, the Ravens too are starting to get into a groove. Flacco isn’t turning the ball over as much and Cam Cameron has not stopped finding new and unique ways to utilize the talent on this roster. In the end the Browns won’t be able to show the Ravens anything they haven’t seen before; the Ravens on the other hand are brand new. Oh yea, and they have the Ravens D.

The nod goes to the Ravens, 24-20

Photo Credit: (Baltimore Sun: Gene Sweeney Jr.)

The "Suggs Package" to be Employed More Often

John Harbaugh said today in the Baltimore Sun that the "Suggs Package" will be used more often in the Ravens offense.

This is referring back to when Terrell Suggs said that Troy Smith should be used once in a while at quarterback. Such comments got a lot of negative attention, as they were likely misconstrued to make people think he wanted Smith to start over Joe Flacco, but that he never thought that. And of course, the Ravens coaching staff are really good at playing up comments like that. To think, many Ravens fans were angry at such comments, including myself, but now the Ravens are calling in that for fun.

The "Suggs Package" mainly consists of putting Troy Smith at quarterback and using Joe Flacco as a receiver. On Sunday against the Raiders, Cam Cameron used this package to have Smith run the option as well as Smith throwing a ball to Flacco as a wide receiver. Ray Rice is often the running back of choice on the formation due to his speed and knowledge of the option.

The reason this works so well? All the important players are familiar with the option from recently leaving the college level. All the starting offensive linemen were drafted in 2005 or later. The two quarterbacks, Smith and Flacco, were drafted in 2007 and 2008 respectively. Rice is a rookie. Because of the familarity of the option plus the youth of the offense, it is effective to go against a defense, as long as it isn't used often.

But more to the fact, Cam Cameron is the first offensive coordinator to really put some variety and spark to this offense. We never saw this with Matt Cavanaugh, or Jim Fassel, or Rick Neuheisel. It is good to see someone finally putting all of the Ravens weapons to use.

But, one thing remains to be seen. This was first employed against Oakland; let's see how it works against stronger defenses. But for now, it is great to see.

(Photo credit: AP)

Postgame Report Card: Ravens 29, Raiders 10

The word of the game is......cool. Overwhelming defense and some surprising offense combined for a solid all-around game for the Ravens. Ray Rice impressed his family in a big way, Rex Ryan shows his brother about defense, and Troy Smith shows some flare. This was a game the Ravens needed to win if only because they are a superior team to the Raiders, and that is exactly what they did.

The Ravens have gotten back a winning record, going to 4-3 as they go on the road for their next three games.

Offense - Overall Grade: B-
Quarterbacks: B-
Overall a decent day for Joe Flacco. Though he had potential for big mistakes with his passes, including a few nearly intercepted, as well as only completed half of his passes, he showed his strong arm with a 70-yard pass to Demetrius Williams and a 40-yarder to Derrick Mason (taken back by penalty). And welcome back Troy Smith. Smith got in on a few plays to run the option plus had a very cool pass to Flacco, who made an amazing catch for 43 yards.
Running Backs: B+
This was Ray Rice's day, getting eight rushes for 64 yards and showing tremendous speed, including converting a 3rd and 20 on a short pass from Flacco. LeRon McClain didn't have a bad day with 32 yards on seven rushes. Willis McGahee was not in his element, only getting 58 yards on 23 carries plus losing a fumble in the 4th quarter that gave the Raiders a big opportunity. He did have a touchdown though. But Ray Rice was the star today, and would have had a touchdown if not for a holding call.
Wide Receivers: B-
The WR corps had only two catches. The 70-yarder to Williams and a short catch to Mason. The gameplan mainly focused on running, and Flacco often found running backs in the flat or tight ends across the middle.
Tight Ends: B
Todd Heap had two catches and Daniel Wilcox did too. Nothing special, but they helped Flacco a great deal with passing up the middle.
Offensive Line: C-
The line was tested a number time with the constant running of the ball, plus Flacco wasn't sacked. But Chris Chester and Jared Gaither each received two holding calls, which nullified a 40-yard catch by Mason and a touchdown run by Rice. Plus a false start inside the five. The line has to be more disciplined than that.

Defense - Overall Grade: B+
Defensive Line: A
Without Darren McFadden, Oakland's running game was non-existent. Justin Fargas only got 24 yards on 12 catches plus Haloti Ngata got a sack. Solid game for the line, only outshined by the.........
Linebackers: A+
Terrell Suggs had two big tackles including a sack, but was leading the way on defense, clearing the way for other players like JaMeel McClain and Jarret Johnson. The corps sacked Jamarcus Russell three times including one for a safety, and had a big hand in stopping the running game. Ray Lewis had four tackles on the day and nearly an interception.
Secondary: C
They were fine for the first 30 minutes. In the second half, Russell was torching the secondary with long passes, and Fabian Washington was not covering well, including having bad coverage on a long pass to Zach Miller. Corey Ivy lead the Ravens with six tackles, which I and Windsor agree is not a good thing. They gave Oakland a chance when they seemed down and out.

Special Teams - Overall Game: A-
Kicker: A+
Matt Stover converted to sub-40 yard field goals and three extra points, nothing more needed.
Punter: A
Sam Koch had three punts inside the 20 plus a touchback.
Returners: B
Yamon Figurs may be out of a job, since Rice had 54 yards returned on kickoffs and had decent speed. Jim Leonhard had a decent return day on punts as well with a 46-yard return, though not much on the other three.
Coverage: B+
Johnnie Higgins wasn't anything special on kickoffs and got nowhere on punt returns.

Coaching - Overall Grade: B+
Offense: B
Cam Cameron got to pull out a few new toys today, including the Troy Smith option, running Flacco as a wide receiver, and running the ball with Ray Rice many times. Also, Flacco was throwing many more long passes than normal. However, the passing and running more becoming predictable towards the end of the game, but the solid offense in the first half did the job in the end.
Defense: A-
The Oakland running game was shut down and the blitzes were well called to make Russell real uncomfortable. The second half could have been better, but only 10 points scored by Oakland was real solid today. Rex Ryan outdueled his brother, but as Chris McAlister has said, Rob Ryan is allowed in the Ravens office anytime, except when they are playing the Raiders.

MVP: Terrell Suggs
The leader on defense as he cleared the way on many big defensive plays. He ended with two tackles and a sack, but the stats don't tell the story of his leadership. I guess he had a "bounty" on Jamarcus Russell......
LVP: Willis McGahee
Not very effective on offense and had a key turnover that almost let Oakland back into the game.

After the game, the Gatorade bath went to Rex Ryan. I love how well the Ravens players like the coaches, all of them. The Ravens (4-3) hit the road for their second game against Cleveland. Time to remember the Art Modell days.........

(Photo credits: AP (Team photo, Ryan brothers, Flacco catch))

Free Kicks- Ravens Edition!

Well there has been just way too much Ravens news lately that it has required its very own Free Kicks segment. While rooting hard for the Phillies to start hitting (against one of the deepest rotations in the majors that could be wishful thinking), I couldn’t help to reflect on all the big issues making national news for our home football team (no, the Redskins don’t count over here). Let’s line up for the kick…

Money for Nothing

For anyone who bothered to listen to the audio of Suggs’ now infamous radio comments it should be apparent that not only was he goaded into the statement, it may not have even been accurate. He did not dwell on who made the “bounty” or who benefited, it is more likely that the defense simply built each other up and emphasized the importance of stopping these individuals from beating them. Just as Mendenhall gloated about how he would slice through the Ravens D, Suggs and others likely gloated equally about how they would shut him down. Likewise, they would get back at Hines Ward for his cheap shots by hitting him hard himself.

Something particularly illuminating was an interview of Brian Billick about the issue. He told Dan Patrick that even if this was a bounty, every team does this and every coach knows about it; but it rarely has an impact on the game itself. The Ravens have been painted as a particularly dirty team and now Suggs’ comments have simply added fuel to that myth. Hines Ward, as he sat with his plastic smile on Pardon the Interruption advertising the NFL’s regulation against “bounties” knew full well that the Steelers were legendary for this, and could attest to the two times he has been fined for cheap shots on the field. No, Suggs wasn’t smart. But he wasn’t a villain and he was not dirty.

Say Anything

Chris McAlister has been benched due to injury. Chris McAlister has been benched for poor play. Chris McAlister has been benched for violating a team rule. No, apparently it isn’t a disciplinary benching. When Coach Harbaugh took over he emphasized discipline and commanded that the Ravens run a tighter ship. However, he has horribly mismanaged the Chris McAlister situation. Why was McAlister benched? We have no idea. The media and fans don’t necessarily have to know. But Chris should. Instead, the coach has not informed the 3 time Pro Bowler as to why he was benched, but left him guessing based on Harbaugh’s statements to the media, which have changed as often as the Ravens playoff hopes.

The Head Coach has an obligation to ensure that a player knows why he is on the bench, particularly if it is for disciplinary reasons. “You know what you did” is not sufficient in the NFL. Whether his stubbornness is out of principle or simple mismanagement is unclear, but has left the locker room scratching their heads and left the media wondering when or if Harbaugh will tell the truth about the issue. Say nothing if you have to, but don’t lie to us, Coach. At least the player deserves the truth.

High Fidelity

Okay, so I understand why Suggs shouldn’t say it, but why is it so wrong for us to start talking about Troy Smith again? The biggest bonus for Flacco was supposedly his “big arm” to take shots down the field. However, this has not worked out for the Ravens. Flacco ranks 25th out of 34 eligible passers with a paltry 6.4 yards per completion, and more importantly ranks 27th in passes of more than 20 yards. Where is that big arm? Defenses have been able to take away the deep ball and kept everything close to the line of scrimmage, neutralizing the ability to throw down the field. So what is the bonus of having Flacco? Keep him in there as the Ravens are still at .500, but it might be something to consider down the road if he continues to struggle down the stretch.

I have always felt that Troy Smith was the better quarterback for a struggling team- a better than expected line protecting Flacco has been the only thing giving him even moderate success. Should the offensive line start to waver, Flacco will be a deer in headlights and fans will be calling for a quarterback who can improvise and keep drives alive any way possible.

P.S. Bonus points for anyone who can tell me the theme of the titles here…

Quarterback Woes: Final Preseason Game

WBAL's Steve Davis said it best. The Ravens quarterback situation is the worst in the NFL. Not Chicago, not Green Bay, not San Francisco, Baltimore is. The Ravens are the only team who has no idea who the starter will be.

Kyle Boller's shoulder injury is much more serious than previously believed as the Ravens did their best New England impression. Though he isn't getting surgery yet, he won't play in the final preseason game and probably won't be ready for the start of the season.

Troy Smith is still having health issues. Apparently it is a tonsil problem, before it was a stomach virus. He is 50-50 for the game vs. the Falcons. Either way, the Ravens have not gotten the production they wanted out of Smith this preseason.

Joe Flacco, though healthy and not playing badly for a rookie, is still a rookie going from I-AA to the NFL. With the offensive line issues and the memory of what happened to Boller after the Ravens drafted him, is it safe to throw him out there this early?

To save the day (or at least have someone else), the Ravens claimed Casey Bramlet off waivers after recently being released by the Chargers. But don't expect him to be much help. He's never seen a down in the regular season and the Ravens make his sixth team he's been on since being drafted in 2004. He's mainly here so the Ravens have a healthy backup that doesn't cost much money.

So what can the Ravens do? A number of people are thinking free agency. Not a bad group out there, including Daunte Culpepper, Aaron Brooks, possibly Chris Simms if he gets released by the Bucs. But this isn't the answer. It isn't worth it to throw a million dollars (more likely for some) to sign these guys when chances are this year's Ravens aren't a solid team, and these quarterbacks wouldn't make them any better.

Smith should recover, giving the Ravens three healthy quarterbacks. But will they be ready. I'm sure that with Boller's injury, Cam Cameron and company want to start Troy Smith so they don't have to throw Flacco to the wolves, but it is looking more and more like the rookie from Delaware will be the Week 1 starter against Cincinatti. Let's hope this isn't a repeat of 2003.

(Photo credit: Baltimore Sun)
(Trackback: Jamison Hensley, Baltimore Sun: Ravens's starting QB vs. Falcons still a tossup)

Ravens QB Competition: Preseason Game 3 (Red Alert!)

Welcome to the life of head coaching John Harbaugh. Maybe you should talk to Steve McNair and see if he'd like to give one more season.

The Ravens planned to start Troy Smith against the Rams for the second consecutive preseason game. The reason given was that Kyle Boller had seen a lot more time and that Harbaugh wanted to see Troy more, but Boller's apparent shoulder injury might have had something to do with it. But a stomach virus sat Smith down. Joe Flacco now got the start vs. the St. Louis Rams, and had to play all game.

The Ravens defense couldn't stop the Rams attack, allowing 21 points in the first half in a 24-10 loss. Flacco ended the night going 18/37 for 152 yards and a touchdown.

Flacco still looks like he's improving, but it is clear he still isn't ready. In the first half, the Ravens failed to take any of their six drives more than 17 yards. Harbaugh kept many starters in for the first drive of the second half, where the Ravens drove the ball 75 yards for a touchdown thanks to four complete passes to Derrick Mason. But other than that, Flacco still shows rookie issues, including not having solid accuracy leading the receiver and staying in the pocket too long. But, as many have emphasized, he is going from I-AA to the NFL. It will take time to learn. But, this was a great learning experience for the young quarterback.

The Ravens had hoped that this situation would be settled by now. But I don't see how Harbaugh or Cameron can choose a starter yet. Flacco should be clearly out, he needs at least a year on the sideline to transition to the NFL. So that leaves Boller and Smith, neither of whom have stood out. Boller still can't control the ball and Smith still can't pass well. As much as the coaching staff hates the situation, they need to use the last preseason game before they decide. Right now I believe Boller is in the lead, but neither has locked anything up.

The Ravens final preseason game is this Thursday when they come home to play the Atlanta Falcons. Expect Troy Smith to start with Boller and Flacco both seeing time.

(Photo credit: Dilip Vishwanat, Getty Images)

Déjà Vu

Or, I think I’ve heard this before somewhere… I’m sorry everyone but something very strange is happening. It’s been very uncanny recently, I keep hearing sports stories that I could swear I must have heard somewhere before. Possibly in a dream… (a bad one)

(1) The Orioles desperately need a fourth (and fifth) starter, tempted to bring up a young buck before his time. (2) The Terps, because of his fantastic practices, make the unpopular decision of naming Jordan Steffy their starting quarterback. (3) The Ravens have a tough decision (or indecision, if you choose to look at it that way) at the quarterback position.

Now let’s put them in perspective, and try to lose the angst (not to mention headache) brought on by each strangely familiar story.

Where oh where is the pitching?
The struggles of the O’s pitching staff have certainly been well document. Now that Garrett Olson has been removed from the rotation in what is regrettably a necessary move, the Orioles are left with only three starters. THREE. And the third? Chris Waters. No offense, but that’s a lot of pressure for a rookie who has only had one quality start, albeit against the best team in baseball in his debut. So where do the Orioles go from here? Simply put they need to go to Hayden Penn for- what? He’s injured and most likely shut down for the year? There’s that funny feeling of déjà vu again… isn’t it creepy? In all seriousness, the Orioles are only left with the option of dipping into the farm system, as there are no bullpen arms to insert into the starting staff(Lance is too necessary in the rotation and JJ is now the closer, so there’s that.). The O’s most likely options include Andy Mitchell (not a prospect, more of a stopgap option a la Chris Waters), Radhames Liz, Brian Burres, Bradley Bergesen, and David Hernandez.

O’s management has played their minor leaguers, for the most part, far better than in previous seasons. Despite the struggles of Liz and Olson, both callups were the right move at the time. Olson was dominating AAA and Liz had made significant strides (though again, they had originally wanted to bring up Penn and give Liz more time). For that reason I doubt they go straight to AA for their fourth starter. Andy Mitchell might be a safe move, but I’m leaning toward the organization bringing back up Liz for the fourth starter’s role. For this Friday’s start (when they will need the starter) Liz will be on regular rest, and he’s coming off of a dominating performance at AAA. There is something to be said for momentum, and keep in mind when he originally came up from Norfolk this season while he was on a roll he started exceptionally strong. I can see the O’s bringing up Brad Bergesen as a fifth starter. I wouldn’t agree with this move, as major league hitters will absolutely hammer him if he does not keep the ball down. He does not have room for error; I’ll leave further elaboration on Bergesen to Expatriate, who has a scouting report from Bergesen’s Sunday start. Also shameless plug, you can reference my earlier prospect report for a more detailed breakdown.

Jordan Steffy? But… but why??
College Park is famous for sports riots. But rarely before school has started. Message boards and sports show call-in lines have exploded as of late, as the bulk of Terp fans have conducted a riot of sorts in wake of the announcement of Jordan Steffy as starter. There is no question that Jordan Steffy is a fantastic guy and has had some terrible luck. But last year he was named the starting QB coming into the season over the popular Florida transfer Josh Portis, and disappointed in the regular season. While he took care of the ball effectively, Jordan far too often settled for check downs and was indecisive on taking the ball deep. A common opinion was that while Jordan could manage a game, the team could never be great with him at the helm. After he suffered a concussion, the second of his career, Chris Turner exploded onto the scene and enamored himself with College Park fans.

But consider the flip side; it’s easy to forget that Chris Turner faded badly down the stretch, despite the victories against Rutgers and Boston College. While head coach Ralph Friedgen has not accomplished enough to be beyond reproach, he certainly would not put in a quarterback he didn’t think could win. He would catch very little flak for starting Turner or Portis instead of Steffy and unlike last year there was no unspoken understanding that it was Steffy’s turn to take over. Coach Friedgen repeatedly expressed frustration at Jordan’s inability to take the ball deep in games, and one can only think that he has seen enough to feel that that has changed.

Jordan Steffy has all the tools to be a very good quarterback, and this year represents a fresh slate. Terp fans should give him a chance; after all, it’s about the team winning, not about ‘being right’. Riiiiiiight?

Who’s willing to hang on to the hot potato?
“Hot potato, really? That’s the pun you’re going with?” Yes, I am. Because both times a Ravens quarterback has been given the limelight of starting this preseason they’ve thrown it away, let’s be very honest. As of yet neither Troy Smith nor Kyle Boller has shown that they want this job when the chips are down. There’s no doubt that both of them want it, but it’s about performance. You do have Flacco in the mix, but the coaching staff has made it relatively clear that he will be holding a clipboard to start the season. Kudos to the organization on that, it is possible to learn from mistakes.

There’s no doubt in my mind that Troy Smith must be the starter to begin the season. Yes; Kyle has looked better in practice, and is certainly the better pure thrower. However, this season the team needs a leader they can believe in, and a quarterback who can mask deficiencies in his supporting cast (O-Line anyone?). The team’s confidence in Troy (and lack thereof in Boller) has been the most poorly kept secret in Baltimore. Neither will set the league on fire, but Smith has the versatility and leadership to elevate the team.

Let’s try to keep our heads up and take a deep breath. This time it could be different. Wait, haven’t we heard that be– oh forget it.

(Photo Credit: AP, Nick Wass)

Ravens QB Competition: Preseason Game 2

The second preseason game for Baltimore saw more excitement from Michael Phelps then the Ravens themselves, with the Vikings taking the victory 23-15 with a 20-point first half.

The Ravens changed the starting quarterback for this game, going with Troy Smith. Boller took over for the third quarter, and Flacco took most of the 4th. So, how did the three stack up this time?

Troy Smith: C/C-
Troy Smith has shown he can run, find the hole, and get out of the pocket to the outside. But the Ravens need a quarterback, not a running back. Smith only threw five passes, completing three, and got sacked twice plus an interception on the first pass of a two minute drill. He looked good running the ball, getting 35 yards, but Smith really didn't look solid in the pocket at all and had a bad passing day.

Kyle Boller: D
I'm being a little nice since a few situations were hurt by factors out of his control, including a low block penalty on Ray Rice, but Boller looked terrible. His only throw past 10 yards (it was 11) was on a 3rd and 19 and still had problems keeping the football. A decent performance could have secured the starting job for Boller tonight, but an interception, fumble, and very short passing was just bad for #7.

Joe Flacco: C-
Before the two minute drill, Flacco was fumbling the ball and staying the pocket too long; typical rookie mistakes that hopefully he'll change with experience. On the drill, he used short passes to drive down the field, and despite the almost interception (pulled back due to penalty), Flacco looked decent in a no-huddle offense. Flacco had a much better performance than against the Patriots, but still has a lot of growing to do.

Rumor was that the starting quarterback would be decided today. I really hope not, Smith and Boller have failed to standout. I say give them one more week, even though it isn't good to wait on such decisions, neither looks ready to lead.

(Photo credits: ESPN (Boller), Ohio State University (Smith), University of Delaware (Flacco))

Free Kicks

Well everyone, Free Kicks is coming a day late today; I hope y’all can excuse my absence. Life called, and apparently I am behind on my payments. I had to get something in before the end of the week, so perhaps you can enjoy some bonus weekend coverage on ATH. As the Ravens get ready for tonight’s game, let’s line up for the kick.

Waters Down the Drain?

We didn’t expect Chris Waters to one-hit every team through 8 innings, but we didn’t exactly expect this either after his gem against the Angels. In his last two starts, Waters has allowed a total of 8 runs in 8 2/3 innings against the Tigers and Rangers. Even if we can give him a pass against those electric bats of Texas, it still must give us pause to consider that it took Waters 90 and 98 pitches to get through 4 and 4 2/3 innings. As has been the problem all year, Orioles starters just can’t seem to stay in the game. I am tired of seeing Lance Cormier, the last of the true middle relievers, come out for 2-3 innings every other day. As of now he is still the best available option to Dave Trembley, but that isn’t saying much. The bullpen ERA continues to balloon (4th worst in the AL), and the starters are doing very little to give them any break.

Feeling a Draft

For the second straight year, it took to the final day before the Orioles signed their top pick, though at least this time it didn’t go until 11:50 PM. Around 3 PM, Brian Matusz and the Orioles agreed to a 4-year deal that will be worth at least $3.47 million. Matusz, 21, could see action in Baltimore late next season as he was considered the most major league-ready pitcher in the draft. Our resident prospect guru raves about Matusz, who joins 13 of the other top 15 Orioles draft picks in signing before the deadline. The lone exception was 11th round selection Nathan Moreau. Every time I begin to doubt this staff they put something incredible together and get things done. When was the last time you were excited about the Orioles draft? Yea, I can’t remember either.

Man of Troy

Troy Smith will get the nod tonight for the Ravens against the Vikings, and don’t think it is just to balance out the start Coach Harbaugh gave to Kyle Boller last week. Troy Smith entered training camp as the favorite to win the starting job, and he has somewhat disappointed this month in camp. However, where Smith excels is when plays break down, when he is forced to make split second decisions to save a first down. Behind this inexperienced and, frankly, poor offensive line, Smith’s skills will be far more valuable than Boller’s arm or his experience. With players like Boller and Joe Flacco in camp there will be a natural tendency to dissuade their QBs from running, and the coaching staff needs to be careful to tailor their teaching to each quarterback’s individual skills.

We will see tonight whether Troy Smith can turn in a Heisman-like performance against the Vikings. His attitude has been exceptional, helping him become a popular signal caller with the other players, Bart Scott referring to him as “Willie Beaman,” Jamie Foxx’s character from “Any Given Sunday.” He may be a Buckeye at heart, but if he can win I want him as my quarterback. Flacco might be waiting in the wings, but I’d rather see the Blue Hen on the sidelines.

Ravens QB Competition: Preseason Game 1

The Ravens QB competition saw it's first preseason game action tonight, where the Ravens defeated the Patriots 16-15. All three quarterbacks, Kyle Boller, Troy Smith, and Joe Flacco saw time. So, after the first action, how's the race going?

Kyle Boller: B-
Boller is continuing to show why Ravens fans are frustrated with #7. At times, Boller seemed like a veteran, passing short and solid passes to the numbers and making good decisions. He finished 11/15 on passing. But two plays were important too, fumbling the ball when the pocket collapsed and throwing an interception into triple coverage. Boller looked decent, but it is hard to look beyond those two turnovers.

Troy Smith: C
Smith looks like an average sophomore year scrambling QB. Cameron clearly is trying to utilize his speed and get around the height disadvantage. While he didn't make too many bad decisions, his pass locations were off and sometimes can't find holes in the line to run through. But again, he wasn't costing the Ravens the ball.
(Update: Coach Harbaugh announced after the game that Troy Smith will start the next preseason game vs. the Vikings.)

Joe Flacco: D-
Flacco is a rookie, and his transition from 1-AA to the NFL wasn't going to be easy. The grade is just measuring performance; no one expected him to be great out of the gate. But he got his reality check tonight, he couldn't lead the receivers and panicked when the pocket collapsed. More experience down the road will help him, but for now, he isn't looking like this year's starting quarterback for the Ravens.


So for now, I have Boller in the lead for the starting role. But there is still plenty of time left for things to change. No one is out of the running.

(Photo credits: ESPN (Boller), Ohio State University (Smith), University of Delaware (Flacco)

The Other Birds in Town

Contrary to what the theme of the blog has been of late, this is an all-Baltimore blog and not simply an O's blog. So! In that spirit we have to turn our attention to the other birds, the Baltimore Ravens.

Although the importance of following training camp has been debated (as previously on this blog), there is no denying that this year's training camp is truly a pivotal one for the Ravens, as I'm sure even the most casual fan knows. Sure it is too early to draw conclusions, but what are we as fans looking to learn from camp this year? Here are the top three questions going through training camp, ranked in order of significance:

1. Who's the starting quarterback on this team? John Harbaugh has said since the OTA's that this battle would be an open competition and he is certainly keeping to his word. The three quarterbacks have for the most part gotten equal snaps, though Harbaugh has generally switched between Boller and Smith for the first reps with the first team. Who is eventually chosen to start the season will not only affect this season, but could very well define the future of this franchise. Keep in mind, as Baltimore fans, we still look back and say 'what if' as to Boller starting his first year.

Certainly there is more faith this year on the part of the fans to the coaching staff than in past years; Harbaugh has taken a wise and mature approach, and has certainly given the impression that he will rely heavily on Cam Cameron's judgement. The popular consensus, and my personal opinion, is that the Ravens should and most likely will start Troy Smith to start the season. By all accounts he has taken a big leap from last year to this in terms of decision making and being comfortable, and has unique mobility among this group to make plays outside the pocket and compensate for an unsure offensive line. Most importantly, Troy Smith has the confidence of his teammates and they seem to be quick to rally around him. Flacco and Boller seem to be a toss-up as to the second most likely to win the job. Coaches have been effusive in their praise of Flacco and have been relatively mum on Boller, though conventional wisdom says to take Boller over Flacco for his experience.

The battle won't be won in one practice or preseason game, but I think it will become very clear near the end of training camp who's leading the pack.

2. How will the players react to John Harbaugh and his camp style? All the reports thus far have been positive to Harbaugh, but keep in mind that camp has just started. This new grind is different for most all of the veteran players, and how this wears on them both mentally and physically is a significant storyline to watch. Even more significant, however, might be the physical toll this takes on the team heading into the season. Certainly a tougher camp can lead to a team that isn't as tough out of the gate as many of Billick's teams, but there are significant risks involved. Already several players are going down with injuries, which is common, however if an unusual number of injuries pile up there will certainly be scrutiny on the style of camp and its effect on the players' bodies.

With such an intense training camp, this team can go in two directions: either they bind together as a battle tested team, or they splinter as a result of weariness and discontent. Count me as a man who's betting on the former, but we'll have to wait and see.

3. Will Gaither take hold of the LT spot vacated by Jonathan Ogden? With the retirement of Ogden, all eyes turned to Gaither as the man to take his spot. The former Terp carries nearly the same build as Ogden, with many of the same physical tools. While certainly noone expects him to be in the class of Jonathan Ogden, he has been eyed as the heir apparent to JO after the Ravens picked him up in last year's supplemental draft. Gaither played sparingly last season, but made a favorable impression on the coaching staff with his natural ability.

So, the question is whether or not Gaither can take that next step up, dedicating himself to improving his game and learning Cam's system thoroughly. That work ethic has always been the question for Jared since his days at UMD, and if he can turn around that reputation then all expectations are that he can seize the left tackle spot for this team.

Gaither has been recently sidelined with an ankle injury, however it is not meant to be serious. Assuming he recovers smoothly, Gaither should be considered the favorite for the job, but he's going to have to go out and seize it. By no means will Cam and John hand him this prized job.