In the game within the game, I am interested in the match-up this weekend between the Ravens Defense, and the Bronco offense.
Denver O-Line vs. Baltimore D-Line: Denver LT Ryan Clady was a 2008 1st-round pick, but the rest of the Bronco line is comprised of lower-round draft selections, and College Free-Agents. If after a week-off, the Ravens deep Defensive-line can not collapse the pocket against Denver, the Ravens are in real trouble.
Denver Receivers / TE’s vs. Ravens Pass Defense: Marshall has yet to have a 100 yard game receiving, but remains one of the best in football. Eddie Royal caught 91 balls last-season, but has only 18 through 6 games in 2009. Brandon Lloyd and Brandon Stokley give the Broncos experienced 3rd, and 4th WR’s. At TE, Orton has a couple of solid safety-valves in Tony Scheffler, and Daniel Graham.
Can Kyle Orton continue to avoid-turnovers?: Through 6 games, Orton has 1 interception, and 1 fumble. Ravens Defensive Coordinator Greg Mattison has said this week, that one of the things that Denver does well, is taking that the defense gives them. If the opposing defense goes with their ‘jumbo’ package, the Broncos will pass. If teams stack-up with extra defensive-backs, Denver will run. I think it is correct to give credit to the scheme being used, but it can only really work if the QB is decisive. The key to this week, is for the Ravens defense to put seeds of doubt in Orton’s head, and to force Orton into poor-decisions.
Bronco Rushing attack vs. the Ravens Run Defense: For the better part of a decade, the bread-and-butter of the Ravens defense has been their ability to make teams one-dimensional, but eliminating their rushing offense. After getting gashed a bit the previous two games against Benson, and Peterson – I expect to see the Ravens show a lot of pride in trying to stop Correll Buckhalter, and 2009 1st-round pick Knowshon Moreno.
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Chris Stoner founded Baltimore Sports and Life in 2009. He has appeared as a radio guest with 1090 WBAL, 105.7 The Fan, CBS 1300, Q1370, WOYK 1350, WKAV 1400, and WNST 1570. He has also been interviewed by The Baltimore Sun, Baltimore Business Journal, and PressBox (TV). As Owner, his responsibilities include serving as the Managing Editor, Publicist, & Sales Director.