Fake Football rolls on as the Ravens host another NFC South foe in the Panthers. Of course this game will be one that most closely resembles the real thing with the starters going for at least a half. Here are ten things to help make your viewing experience more enjoyable.
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- The situation in the Wide Receiver corps is starting to find a smidge of clarity. You have at least three known quantities in Torrey Smith, Jacoby Jones and Brandon Stokely. The question becomes who among the young players will emerge to fight for time among them. Aaron Mellette has caught long balls for scores in the first two pre-season games and has started to take first-team reps in practice. Is he the answer? Possibly and a strong showing tonight would cement his status on the team. There is also a question of Deonte Thompson’s health as whispers of his ankle injury being much more serious are starting to circulate.
- Which brings me to this question – Why did the Ravens trade a Receiver for a Running Back? Yesterday David Reed was shipped to the Colts for Delonte Carter. I can understand why Reed was moved as he was unlikely to make the roster but why get a player that may not even make your own roster. Is he an upgrade as the third back over Bobby Rainey, Anthony Allen, and Damien Berry. Maybe. This may be yet another move of familarity as Carter has worked with Caldwell in the past. Either way I’m not sure where he fits and what that means for the other contenders.
- Dallas Clark. You wonder how much the vet has left in the tank. If he can successfully run short comebacks and navigate the middle of the field to help convert third downs then his addition will be huge. That leaves the third Tight End spot up for grabs between Billy Bajema, Visanthe Schiancoe and Matt Furtsenberg. I’m rooting for Furtstenberg because of his receiving ability but the team may want a capable blocker instead which means Bajema gets the nod.
- Gino Gradkowski gets the start tonight over A.Q. Shipley who will get his final shot next week against St. Louis. Shipley didn’t help his cause last week as he collected a few penalties and struggled like the rest of the line. Gino can put an end to any doubt that the job his his by putting in a solid night’s work.
- Arthur Brown started to make some headway last week against Atlanta. Right now Josh Bynes is listed as the starter but Brown has more upside and could become a more complete linebacker in the long run. But he’ll need to prove it as the Ravens have shown they are in no hurry to hand starting jobs to rookies mainly because they don’t have to.
- Jimmy Smith needs a solid game here to help not only his own confidence but of the fans’ as well. Some of his issues last week weren’t exactly all his fault but it makes little difference when it’s seen that your man is continually catching the ball. He needs to improve tracking the ball while in flight and making adjustments. Either way he’ll still probably see plenty of time this season as the Nickel while Lardarius Webb and Corey Graham, man the corners.
- Matt Elam. He’s been an extremely good tackler while still working out the finer aspects of pass coverage and I think that Baltimore has a starter for years to come. Just don’t expect him to start a few weeks from now in Denver. James Ihedigbo has more experience and should get the nod for now but I’d expect by mid-season for the job to be his for a long time.
- The Ravens offense will continue to have some growing pains as it adjusts to the new acquisitions to the unit. Still you’d like to see at least a solid drive or two with Flacco under center to calm some fears.
- Terrence Cody. A player that many of us including myself were writing off this season as his last in purple. Word now is that he’s looked much better and is fully healthy. It went public recently that Cody played through a variety of injuries last season. The time is now for the huge second-round draft pick to prove the critics wrong.
- The first-team defense had some struggles against the Falcons. This game has been called by many starters as a “dress rehearsal” for Denver so you’d like to see them respond with a better effort in front of the home crowd.
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.