After a week off, the 3-3 Baltimore Ravens attempt to defend their home-field against the 6-0 AFC West leading Denver Broncos.
Here are some things that I will be looking for:
1) Coming off of the bye, the Ravens defensive-line should be rested, and take full-advantage of Denver’s offensive-line. Ryan Clady at LT has some skill. After that, who scares you? Baltimore should rotate bodies in today, and just overwhelm Denver at the point of attack. I see the Broncos having to to keep their TE’s (Tony Scheffler, and Daniel Graham) on the line, helping to block. You take away those safety-valves for Orton, and it should be a long-day for Denver.
2) Denver runs a 3-4 D-line, with OLB Elvis Dumervil often putting his hand in the grass. Dumervil has 10 sacks already this season. Gaither is obviously still a bit wobbly, so it is hard to imagine he plays today. That means that Oher will be charged with eliminating Dumervil. If the Ravens can keep Dumervil off of Flacco, the Ravens offensive-line should be able to maul Denver’s front.
3) Denver’s Defensive Front 7 is pretty light. To their credit, the Broncos have the 10th ranked rushing defense in football. I am looking at their roster though, and I just do not see how how they stop the Ravens from running the ball. I would love to see the Ravens hand the ball over to McClain 15-18 times, and just pound the Broncos and their MLB’s Andra Davis, and D.J. Williams into submission.
4) The Broncos have the NFL’s 2nd-ranked overall Defense, primarily on the 21 sacks they put on the board. That pass-rush, in conjunction with CB Champ Bailey shutting-down 1/2 the field, gives Denver a chance in pass-defense every-game. Interestingly, Denver is only ranked 15th overall against the pass. Joining Bailey in the Secondary is FS Brian Dawkins, who is a 7x Pro Bowl player. Dawkins is also 36 years-old, and dealing with a hamstring injury. Get him out of the box, and do not let him be an extra pass-rusher, or helping against the run. Make him cover in space, and attack him. I would also go at Bailey some. Bailey has been among the best for a very long-time, and sometimes that reputation prevents teams from even trying to attack the CB. Flacco has the arm to go after anyone. I do not think the Ravens can go into today, saying they will not even throw to one-side of the field.
Opposite of Bailey is Andre Goodman, who signed a 5 year $20.4M contract prior to the 2009 season. Goodman is similar-size to Foxworth, and Washington (5’10, 185 pounds) and at-least at one time had good speed. (4.36 40 yard dash at the 2002 NFL Draft Combine).
Goodman has now played 6 games as a Bronco, with opposing teams regularly choosing to throw at him, as opposed to Bailey. I think if the Ravens work on Bailey a bit, they can come back over the top against Goodman.
University of Maryland Football fans will remember the Bronco Nickleback – rookie Alphonso Smith out of Wake Forest. Smith is a bit diminutive (5’9), but he is a playmaker.
5) Is this the week we finally get to see the Ravens be able to employ a 2 TE set with Heap, and LJ Smith?
6) I am envisioning Troy Smith used in some-type of Wildcat / Suggs package formation today.
7) Demetrius Williams had his first-catch of the year against Minnesota, when Kelley Washington went down to injury. Now that the Ravens located Williams on the roster, will they attempt to utilize him some more?
8) Another week, another big physical WR on the other-side. How do that Ravens attempt to match-up against 6’4 230lb Brandon Marshall? Obviously going to be a difficult match-up for Baltimore, and a match-up that you can not win, if you do not get a consistent pass-rush. I am much more interested to see how the Ravens fare against Royal, Gaffney, Lloyd, and Stokley.
This is the first of three consecutive must-win games for the Ravens. I believe the story of the game will be the Ravens Defensive-line taking advantage of the extra-week of rest, and dominating Denver.
Baltimore wins going away 24-14.
Owner
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.