
| Tony Grossi’s scouting report on the Baltimore… | |
TONY GROSSI SCOUTS THE BALTIMORE RAVENS Kickoff: Browns at Ravens, Saturday 1 p.m. in M&T Bank Stadium, Baltimore. Record: 10-4. Most recent game: Lost to Chargers, 34-14, Dec. 18, in San Diego. Coach: John Harbaugh, 46-23, fourth year. Series record: Ravens lead, 18-7. Most recent meeting: Ravens won, 24-10, Dec. 4 in Cleveland. League rankings: Offense is 15th overall (16th rushing, 16th passing), defense is third (second rushing, fifth passing) and turnover differential is plus-1. Offensive overview Despite having all the pieces, they still aren’t able to push the pedal to floor and score like the elite offenses. They’ve gone four games in a row without scoring more than 24 points — hitting that figure in wins over the Browns and Colts, but scoring only 30 combined against the 49ers and Chargers. This inconsistency might only be a concern to them in the postseason when they get hooked up in a scoring duel with the likes of New England and Houston, or New Orleans or Green Bay in the Big Game. Otherwise, they can win by handing off and throwing to Ray Rice and dumping to tight ends Ed Dickson and Dennis Pitta and receiver Anquan Boldin. The long game to rookie Torrey Smith and, some day, Lee Evans, is what may put them over the top. Defensive overview If they don’t get pass pressure, they are as vulnerable as any defense. In their four losses, they have registered only five sacks. The Chargers took command early by hitting them with quick passes and screens. The pressure was lacking even though they finally got linebacker Ray Lewis back after missing several games with turf toe. Their cast of characters is well-known and widely feared — tackle Haloti Ngata, rush linebackers Terrell Suggs and Jarret Johnson, safety Ed Reed. Bernard Pollard has been an enforcer at strong safety. The cornerback position suffered when Lardarius Webb was reduced to nickel duty. Rookie Jimmy Smith was picked on in his first NFL start. Special teams overview Kicker Billy Cundiff is 27-of-36 in field goals with a long of 51 yards. He has missed three of his past five attempts, and his nine misses match the league’s most. Despite Cundiff’s 42 touchbacks, the Ravens are only 29th in average drive start after kickoffs — which means they give up some healthy returns when Cundiff doesn’t boot it out of the end zone. Punter Sam Koch is 10th in gross average (46.6 yards) and 12th in net (39.7). David Reed is back on kick returns after losing the job earlier because of fumbles. Webb hit the Browns with a 68-yard punt return but is hobbled. Players to watch Running back Ray Rice: His record 204 yards rushing in the first meeting vaulted him up the NFL leaderboard. He’s now fifth with 1,086 yards and 10 TDs on the ground, and added two among his team- high 71 receptions. Linebacker Terrell Suggs: He was kept fairly at bay in the first meeting, netting only one sack. His 13 lead the AFC and tie for fifth in the NFL. Safety Ed Reed: Three of his eight career interception returns for touchdowns have come against the Browns. He, too, was relatively quiet in the first meeting. Injury report PK Cundiff (calf) has played but not practiced the past two weeks. CB Webb (toe) was limited all week but played in nickel. Small world Among the many players, coaches and executives who formerly worked or played for the Browns are: General Manager Ozzie Newsome, senior personnel assistant George Kokinis, defensive line coach Clarence Brooks, defensive coordinator Chuck Pagano, director of pro personnel Vince Newsome, vice president of football administration Pat Moriarty, assistant special teams coach Marwan Maalouf and special teams coordinator Jerry Rosburg. . . . Receiver Lee Evans attended Bedford High School. . . . Safety Haruki Nakamura is a Cleveland native who attended St. Edward High School. . . . Scout Jack Glowik is a Cleveland native who attended Benedictine High School. . . . Linebackers coach Dean Pees is a former head coach at Kent State. That’s all the news for today. Posted in 1, Anquan Boldin, baltimore-ravens, David Reed, Dennis Pitta, Ed Dickson, Ed Reed, Haloti Ngata, Jarret Johnson, John Harbaugh, Lardarius Webb, Lee Evans, Ray Lewis, Ray Rice, Sam Koch | Comments Off
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| Chargers strive to stay afloat in tilt with… | |
Written byThe Sports Network
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| Ravens breeze to 24-10 win, drop Colts to 0-13 | |
BALTIMORE —
The Baltimore Ravens continue to win without their defensive leader. The Indianapolis Colts are running out of time in their bid to get a single victory without their offensive captain. Terrell Suggs had three sacks and forced three fumbles, and the Ravens moved closer to securing their fourth straight trip to the postseason by defeating the winless Colts 24-10 Sunday. Playing a fourth straight game without middle linebacker Ray Lewis, Baltimore (10-3) sacked Dan Orlovsky four times and allowed only 53 yards through the first three quarters. The Ravens are 4-0 while Lewis nurses a sore right toe, and the defense should get even better when he finally returns. “Right now I think we’re all just doing our part holding the levee until the general gets back,” Suggs said. “That’s why I honestly think we’re playing the way we are.” Joe Flacco threw two touchdown passes and Ray Rice ran for 103 yards and a score to help the Ravens improve to 7-0 at home. Baltimore is tied with Pittsburgh for the lead in the AFC North, but the Ravens hold the tiebreaker because of their two wins over the Steelers. “We have control of our own destiny,” Rice said. “We’re in the driver’s seat. As long as we keep winning, we’ll be fine.” The Colts, on the other hand, just keep losing. Indianapolis (0-13) has three games left to nab a victory and avoid joining the 2008 Detroit Lions as the only NFL teams to finish 0-16. “We need to find a way to get our team better so we can get a victory,” coach Jim Caldwell said. “And not just one. We’re running out of time.” The Ravens had lost eight straight to Indianapolis, but that was when Peyton Manning was healthy and at the top of his game. The 11-time Pro Bowl quarterback has yet to play this year because of a neck injury, and his absence has turned a perennial playoff team into a hapless, hopeless crew. “It’s miserable. It’s not fun,” wide receiver Austin Collie said. “With the few games left, I don’t think we want to end the year on this note.” Orlovsky, the third Colts quarterback to start this season, went 17 for 37 for 136 yards and an interception. He was sacked four times and hounded throughout the game by Suggs. “He’s as good a pass rusher as I’ve played against,” Orlovsky said. “I can’t say anything bad about him as a football player.” Suggs attributed Baltimore’s success to the schemes set in place by Chuck Pagano, who’s in his first season as Baltimore’s defensive coordinator. To emphasize the point, Suggs sarcastically made Pagano out to be clueless. “If anybody trying to hire a head coach asks me, I’m going to tell them he (stinks),” Suggs said. “He’s a terrible coach and his players don’t love him. He don’t know what he’s doing when he’s calling a game.” The game was far more lopsided than the final score would indicate. Baltimore led 17-3 at halftime and 24-3 in the third quarter, and the Colts drove 76 yards in the final two minutes in a drive that ended with Orlovsky throwing a 13-yard touchdown pass to Jacob Tamme as time expired. It was quite a drop off after Indianapolis scored 21 points in the fourth quarter at New England one week earlier. “We were hoping to pick up where we left off,” Tamme said. “But their defense is so tough. They always play well.” The Ravens needed less than five minutes to take the lead for good. After the Colts went three-and-out following the opening kickoff, Lardarius Webb returned a punt 27 yards to the Indianapolis 40 and Flacco capped a six-play drive with an 8-yard touchdown pass to Torrey Smith. Baltimore’s next march covered 66 yards over 13 plays and ended with a 36-yard field goal by Billy Cundiff for a 10-0 lead. The first quarter ended with the Ravens holding a 111-10 advantage in yardage and an 8-1 lead in first downs. Nothing changed in the second quarter. Baltimore forced a punt and Flacco went 5 for 7 for 54 yards in a 10-play drive that ended with a 6-yard touchdown run by Rice. Indianapolis finally got into Baltimore territory when Joe Lefeged returned the ensuing kickoff 51 yards. Orlovsky then completed a fourth-down pass to Dallas Clark, and Adam Vinatieri kicked a field goal to make it 17-3 late in the half. Baltimore went ahead 24-3 with 3:41 left in the third quarter. Flacco rolled to his right and was near the sideline when he threw a 7-yard touchdown pass to Dennis Pitta in the middle of the end zone. Flacco went 23 for 31 for 227 yards and an interception. Notes: Suggs has a career-high 13 sacks. … The Colts have only six INTs this season. … Flacco went over 3,000 yards passing and Rice eclipsed 1,000 yards rushing. … Smith’s TD gave him six, tying Jamal Lewis for most by a Ravens rookie. … Indy’s Dwight Freeney had two sacks to go over 100 for his career. What do you guys think about this. Posted in 1, baltimore-ravens, Dennis Pitta, Indianapolis Colts, Joe Flacco, Lardarius Webb, Peyton Manning, Ray Lewis, Ray Rice | Comments Off
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| Ravens win fourth straight, send Colts to 0-13 | |
BALTIMORE (AP) — As long as Suggs had three sacks and forced three fumbles as part of an overwhelming defensive performance by the Ravens, who kept the Indianapolis Colts Lewis, Baltimore’s standout middle linebacker and longtime defensive leader, missed a fourth straight game with a right toe “Right now I think we’re all just doing our part holding the levee until the general gets back,” Suggs said. “That’s why I Baltimore limited the hapless Colts to 167 yards – just 53 through three quarters. Were it not for a touchdown on the game’s
Baltimore didn’t recover any of the three fumbles that Suggs forced, but he harassed Colts quarterback
“We shut them down early, and then they had to start passing the ball,” Ravens defensive tackle Suggs, a movie buff, described the action this way: “It’s chaos out there. A lot is going on more than you see. It’s like Joe Flacco “We have control of our own destiny,” Rice said. “We’re in the driver’s seat. As long as we keep winning, we’ll be fine.”
The Ravens had lost eight straight to Indianapolis, but that was when Orlovsky, the third Colts quarterback to start this season, went 17 for 37 for 136 yards and an interception. He was sacked “He’s as good a pass rusher as I’ve played against,” Orlovsky said of Suggs. “I can’t say anything bad about him as a football Suggs attributed Baltimore’s success to the schemes set in place by Pagano, in his first season as Baltimore’s defensive coordinator. “If anybody trying to hire a head coach, if they ask me I’m going to tell them he (stinks),” Suggs said. “He’s a terrible
The game was far more lopsided than the final score would indicate. Baltimore led 17-3 at halftime and 24-3 in the third quarter,
Indianapolis has three games left in the season. If the Colts don’t win, they will join the 2008 “Losing (stinks), no matter what it is,” Orlovsky said. “Whether it’s football, if it’s rock-paper, none of us like to lose. Colts coach Jim Caldwell said, “We need to find a way to get our team better so we can get a victory. And not just one. We’re
The Ravens needed less than five minutes to take the lead for good. After the Colts went three and out following the opening
Baltimore’s next march covered 66 yards over 13 plays and ended with a 36-yard field goal by The first quarter ended with the Ravens holding a 111-10 advantage in yardage and an 8-1 lead in first downs. Nothing changed in the second quarter. Baltimore forced a punt and Flacco went 5 for 7 for 54 yards in a 10-play drive that
Indianapolis finally got into Baltimore territory when
Baltimore went ahead 24-3 with 3:41 left in the third quarter. Flacco rolled to his right and was near the sideline when he Flacco went 23 for 31 for 227 yards and an interception.
NOTES: Suggs has a career-high 13 sacks. … The Colts have only six INTs this season. … Flacco went over 3,000 yards passing Dwight Freeney
© 2011 STATS LLC That’s all the news for today. Posted in 1, baltimore-ravens, Dennis Pitta, Haloti Ngata, Indianapolis Colts, Joe Flacco, Lardarius Webb, Peyton Manning, Ray Lewis, Ray Rice | Comments Off
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| Ravens stifle winless Colts | |
BALTIMORE (AP) — As long as Suggs had three sacks and forced three fumbles as part of an overwhelming defensive performance by the Ravens, who kept the Indianapolis Colts Lewis, Baltimore’s standout middle linebacker and longtime defensive leader, missed a fourth straight game with a right toe “Right now I think we’re all just doing our part holding the levee until the general gets back,” Suggs said. “That’s why I Baltimore limited the hapless Colts to 167 yards – just 53 through three quarters. Were it not for a touchdown on the game’s
Baltimore didn’t recover any of the three fumbles that Suggs forced, but he harassed Colts quarterback
“We shut them down early, and then they had to start passing the ball,” Ravens defensive tackle Suggs, a movie buff, described the action this way: “It’s chaos out there. A lot is going on more than you see. It’s like Joe Flacco “We have control of our own destiny,” Rice said. “We’re in the driver’s seat. As long as we keep winning, we’ll be fine.”
The Ravens had lost eight straight to Indianapolis, but that was when Orlovsky, the third Colts quarterback to start this season, went 17 for 37 for 136 yards and an interception. He was sacked “He’s as good a pass rusher as I’ve played against,” Orlovsky said of Suggs. “I can’t say anything bad about him as a football Suggs attributed Baltimore’s success to the schemes set in place by Pagano, in his first season as Baltimore’s defensive coordinator. “If anybody trying to hire a head coach, if they ask me I’m going to tell them he (stinks),” Suggs said. “He’s a terrible
The game was far more lopsided than the final score would indicate. Baltimore led 17-3 at halftime and 24-3 in the third quarter,
Indianapolis has three games left in the season. If the Colts don’t win, they will join the 2008 “Losing (stinks), no matter what it is,” Orlovsky said. “Whether it’s football, if it’s rock-paper, none of us like to lose. Colts coach Jim Caldwell said, “We need to find a way to get our team better so we can get a victory. And not just one. We’re
The Ravens needed less than five minutes to take the lead for good. After the Colts went three and out following the opening
Baltimore’s next march covered 66 yards over 13 plays and ended with a 36-yard field goal by The first quarter ended with the Ravens holding a 111-10 advantage in yardage and an 8-1 lead in first downs. Nothing changed in the second quarter. Baltimore forced a punt and Flacco went 5 for 7 for 54 yards in a 10-play drive that
Indianapolis finally got into Baltimore territory when
Baltimore went ahead 24-3 with 3:41 left in the third quarter. Flacco rolled to his right and was near the sideline when he Flacco went 23 for 31 for 227 yards and an interception.
NOTES: Suggs has a career-high 13 sacks. … The Colts have only six INTs this season. … Flacco went over 3,000 yards passing Dwight Freeney
© 2011 STATS LLC Leave any suggestions in the comment box. Posted in 1, baltimore-ravens, Dennis Pitta, Haloti Ngata, Indianapolis Colts, Joe Flacco, Lardarius Webb, Peyton Manning, Ray Lewis, Ray Rice | Comments Off
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