Exhibition game number two will be held tonight at the home of the World Champions. Here are a few things to keep you interested as the Ravens line up against the Falcons.
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- The Flacco-Ryan debate will continue until both players retire. They are linked by position, draft class, and paychecks. Who is better? It will hardly matter tonight as both will hope to get their reps in and not get injured in the process. Still it could be fun to count how many times the broadcast team mentions the two in the same statement. I have my favorite as I’m sure you do too.
- Brandon Stokley. His homecoming to Baltimore is one of the more intriguing things to pay attention to tonight as his career comes full circle. The Receivers competition is still unsettled and while Deonte Thompson will be on the sideline it will be interesting to see what the veteran and can bring to the conversation.
- Tandon Doss. It’s make or break time for him. LaQuan Williams reminded everyone against the Buccaneers that he should not be forgotten and with UDFA Marlon Brown also impressing in camp he needs to show why Baltimore took him in the fourth round in 2011.
- The Dallas Clark signing has made the situation at Tight End a bit crowded. He most likely won’t see the field tonight but his presence will affect others attempting to make the roster. Visanthe Schiancoe had a mixed game in the opener and may end up as more of a blocker now. If that happens Billy Bajema could be let go. Matt Furstenburg has shown flashes of athleticism and looks practice squad bound while Ed Dickson deals with a pesky hamstring injury that could sideline him until the regular season opener. Meanwhile, Dennis Pitta isn’t out for the season?
- Bobby Rainey may be slotted as the third running back after another good performance last Thursday and could also be useful as a Kick Returner. Where does that leave Anthony Allen? Allen is a player that is seen as valuable on Special Teams but he could use a few more opportunities running the ball too. With Bernard Pierce likely limited that may give him a chance tonight.
- A.Q. Shipley will get the start tonight at Center as the Ravens plan on alternating both he and Gino Gradkowski the rest of the Pre-Season schedule. I’ve been behind Gradkowski from the start but a strong showing from Shipley could provide some intrigue.
- Josh Bynes has emerged as the starter next to Daryl Smith on the inside. It appears that the Ravens may use him on early downs to utilize his run stopping capability and then substitute Arthur Brown for his pass coverage skills. He needs to continue to show well in these games to prove that this plan has merit.
- Pernell McPhee has struggled a bit in adjusting to his new position of Outside Linebacker. With the Defensive line crowded he’ll need to make the best of this situation and continue learning on the job.
- Adrian Hamilton, Moe Lee, and Brynden Trawick are just a few players who have showed well in camp and have shown great potential. There are only so many spots so pay attention in the second half to see if any of these three can keep the positive buzz surrounding them going.
- Chykie Brown and Marc Anthony had poor showings in Tampa Bay. Vet Chris Johnson needs to impress or could be muscled out of the corner competition due to numbers. Can Asa Jackson do enough to convince coaches to keep him even though he must serve a suspension for half the season? Secondary depth is always important.
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.