Ravens look Super; beat Browns 34-3

The Baltimore Ravens improved to 3-0, with a 34-3 beating of the Cleveland Browns today.

It was a complete mismatch, illustrated in the box-score.

The Ravens had 479 yards of offense, while allowing only 186 yards.
The Ravens had 27 first-downs, while allowing only 11.
The Ravens forced 4 turnovers, while turning the ball over only once.

Joe Flacco continued to show his maturation, as he reached 300+ yards passing for the 2nd-time.
Flacco found 7 different Raven receivers for receptions, as he continues to spread the wealth.
His arm-strength, and ability to make throws to the outside is as good as anyone in the NFL.
His new found ability to work the middle of the field, is what can help make Flacco a star.

McGahee had 67 yards rushing on 7 carries, and scored two-more touchdowns.

New Cleveland coach Eric Mangini showed his questionable decisions are not limited to off the field, by bringing in QB Derek Anderson in replace of Brady Quinn to start the 3rd-Quarter.

In the end, it did not matter which QB was behind center, as they combined for 4 interceptions.

The Browns were inept, but Baltimore gets credit for not allowing an inferior team to hang around. This game was over early, which shows the Ravens came in with the right-approach.

The Good:

1) The Ravens are 3-0 for only the 2nd-time in franchise history.

2) McGahee averaged 9.6 yards per carry today, and was barely touched. The Raven offensive-line opened up huge holes, and continued to block down the field.

3) LJ Smith caught his first-pass as a Baltimore Raven, and the play illustrated the problems defenses are going to have with a 2 TE set of Heap, and Smith. If defenses think the 2 TE set represents a run play, and they use their heavy set of LB’s vs. Nickle and Dime-backs, the Ravens TE’s will simply beat the opposing LB with speed. If opposing defenses bring in extra-corners, the TE’s will beat them with their size. Heap and Smith combined for 5 catches, and 67 yards today, expect this to only increase with time.

4) Rice had 15 touches for 75 combined yards, and a TD. McClain had 5 touches for 36 yards. The Ravens are giving defenses a lot of players to account for.

5) I continue to be amazed by how wrong I was about Kelley Washington. When signed, I saw a player that had 20 combined catches the past 3 years, and believed his influence would be on Special Teams only. Through 3 games, Washington now has 12 catches. Getting this production out of him has been huge. He is proving each game to be a viable weapon for Flacco, especially on 3rd-down.

6) I know the issues Cleveland had on their offensive-line today, and that RB Jamal Lewis was out. That certainly tempers the praise that you can give to the Ravens defense. Still, Baltimore held the Browns to 126 yards-passing, and 3/4’s of the Raven secondary had interceptions.

7) Joshua Cribbs returned 6 kicks for Cleveland today, and the Ravens special-teams were not beat for any exceedingly large-returns.

8) Hauschka was not kicking under any pressure today, but he gets credit for nailing the two-kicks he took.

The Bad:

1) Another week goes by, and still zero production from Demetrius Williams. While I am happy about the production received by Washington, Williams should not be forgotten. As mentioned, Washington came into 2009, with 20 combined-catches in the 3 previous seasons. During that same time-period, Williams had 55 receptions, with a 15.7 yard per reception average. The Ravens are 1 injury away from needing another player to step-up. In a blow-out such as today, I would have liked to have seen the Ravens get Williams on the field, and attempt to increase his confidence.

2) The Ravens brought pressure a number of times today on passing-downs, and saw their defenders picked up. Ayanbadejo, and Pryce both had sacks, but Pryce’s sack was due to coverage down-field. As the Ravens continue to struggle with getting to the QB, I think continuing to deactivate 2nd-round choice Paul Kruger is a mistake. Kruger might not be comfortable yet as a LB, but he should be comfortable with rushing the passer. Why not try and take advantage of his strengths, while you work on his existing weaknesses?

3) I thought Gaither had a very-good game today, with his down-field blocking. Last week, he showed his pure power by pushing a defender 10 yards back on a McGahee touchdown run. Still, he has been beat a few times as a pass-blocker, including once today against Wimbley. This is certainly not an ‘issue’, but if Gaither wants to be considered among the true elite; he is going to have to throw some shut-outs up on the board.

The Ugly:

Not applicable this week. The Ravens won 34-3 over a division foe, and were in complete-control from the opening-bell.

Up Next:

Time to prepare for a trip to New England, in a game that could have post-season implications.