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Are you ready for some fake football!?!

Yeah, me too. Even though this one won’t count in the record books there is still plenty to watch for as the Ravens hit the field tomorrow evening in Raymond James Stadium.

(You can discuss this post on the BSL Board here.)

  1. Like most of you I’ll be looking to see if any of the assorted cast of wide receivers is ready to separate themselves from the pack. I’ve gotten tired of reading the reports from camp which are normally full of subjective detail anyway about how one player is doing better than the other. Time to make some plays! I’d like to think that Deonte Thompson has a leg up, make that two on the competition due to his playmaking ability and speed. However expect Tandon Doss to get as many opportunities as possible to show that he can be the possession threat the team is lacking at this stage due to Boldin’s departure and Pitta’s injury.
  2. Visanthe Shiancoe. Next man up. Ed Dickson’s hamstring tear has opened the door for the nine-year pro who was just picked up last week to show that he can still play at this level. Honestly, the last time he caught an NFL pass was twenty months ago. I’ll be very interested to see what he has left. I’m actually more intrigued by former Terp Matt Furstenberg who has shown good speed and solid hands in camp so far.
  3. Lardarius Webb is back but is he as healthy as the early reports suggest? He’ll get to prove it against another team tomorrow night. Webb was finally starting to gain some national recognition as one of the league’s best corners before he succumbed to his second ACL injury. Hopefully he can start to remind people of just how good he is.
  4. With Jameel McClain  still on the sidelines former Jaguar Daryl Smith should naturally get the start. But who stands next to him? Albert McClellan or Josh Bynes would seem like the best guess with Arthur Brown probably getting a bunch of snaps in the second half. I’ve said it before but I think the Smith signing will be THE free-agent pickup of the season.
  5. A first look at the Rookie class of 2013 in action. Which player has me most intrigued? I’ll go with Defensive lineman Brandon Williams, who adds athleticism and beef to the rebuilt line. I do think that much like last season the rookies will have a say in the Ravens success in 2013.
  6. Elvis Dumervil. The sack master replaced Paul Kruger who was just starting to come into his own as a top pass rusher after several years of seasoning. I know that the starters will probably see limited time but I’m really excited to just watch him line up opposite a healthy Terrell Suggs. Should be a fun season as they compete to see who hits the Quarterback first.
  7. Omar Brown, Bobby Rainey, and Justin Tucker were pre-season fan favorites last season. Who will catch the fan’s attention this time around?
  8. So far Centers Gino Gradkowski and A.Q. Shipley are locked in a “Great Battle” for the starting job. Even still I see this as Gradkowski’s job to lose.
  9. Does Caleb Hanie really have a shot to stick with this team? Recent history doesn’t help his cause as the Ravens have been very willing to go with just two signal callers on the roster in the past.
  10. Does Jacoby Jones getting more involved in the offense mean that he won’t get as many chances as a returner? Probably so let the competition begin. I wonder if David Reed will be able to make people forget about that Seattle game from two years ago?
Matt Jergensen
Matt Jergensen

Matt has lived in Maryland his entire life and is a graduate of Calvert Hall and Towson University. has always been an avid Baltimore sports fan. Since 2007, he has been writing and talking about Baltimore sports, especially the Ravens. His work has appeared on Ravens Gab, Russell Street Report, and he currently co-hosts a podcast “The Blitz- A Ravens podcast” with Brent Harris.

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