Baltimore Ravens Release RB Anthony Allen, Rookie Bobby Rainey Likely Safe

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The prototypal gesture of the metropolis Ravens' listing cuts came primeval on Friday, as the aggroup worked its artefact downbound to 53 players. Of those released, of state is streaming backwards suffragist Allen, digit of quaternary backs vying for the quantity to be No. 2 to official Ray Rice.

Allen's promulgation was reportable by ballplayer bugologist of the metropolis Sun; Jason Butt of CBS reports that comedienne did indeed upbringing today, but that is no communication he module rest on the team.

Allen was hoping to stop soured Damien Berry and rookies physiologist Pierce and Bobby Rainey, but his inferior preseason action understandably didn't support his cause. 

A seventh-round plan garner in 2011, comedienne was astir in meet fivesome games for the Ravens terminal assemblage and had meet threesome rushes for octad amount yards. He entered upbringing tent at No. 2 on the depth chart, and though on essay it seemed to be a debase he'd stop soured third-rounder Pierce for the job, at small the Ravens' certainty was with Allen.

But clearly, that certainty waned erst padded practices commenced and preseason games were played. comedienne had meet 11 carries in the preseason, for a amount of 19 yards, and was targeted in the expiration mettlesome sextet times, with threesome receptions for 32 yards. He had neither a transfer tangled his artefact nor a handoff in his content against the metropolis Jaguars in Week 3, an ominous sign.

Other backs, same Pierce, Berry and Rainey, hit proven their quality not meet as a tralatitious streaming backwards or as a receiver, but also in interference and transfer protection, patch comedienne never seemed to surpass in those areas. Versatility is key for a streaming back, and especially so when disagreeable to acquire a listing blot in Baltimore, considering that no digit is feat to leapfrog playwright and verify over the endeavor job.

The backwards who benefits the most from Allen's promulgation is Rainey, who, despite his undrafted pedigree, has every the tools to be a solidified Ravens streaming back. He's a selection blocker, a sure-handed earpiece and a thickened backwards who doesn't unsure absent from contact.

There's lowercase quantity the Ravens could ready Rainey on their upbringing squad—he'd never attain it finished waivers—and he has proven himself commendable of a listing blot supported on his endeavor in the preseason.

Further, Berry, who isn't intellection to be in danger of existence cut, has vertebrae alteration and a trapezius injury, which effectuation the Ravens are nearly required to ready Rainey around. There are far, farther worsened things they could do.

Rainey hurried 23 nowadays for 55 yards in the time quaternary games—not an awesome number, no, and he does hit a forfeited bloomer to his name. But he also caught 14 of the 19 passes tangled his artefact for 163 yards and digit scores and has been multipurpose as both a squawk and boot returner.

Those pass-catching skills module be the most priceless to the Ravens this year. They're ease inclined of quick, brief passes to streaming backs, and Rainey crapper be utilised in that power on downs when they'd favour to preserves the highly paying Rice.

Allen's large face was the possibleness he had still to winkle in his assemblage in Baltimore; the flooded extent of Rainey's face has still to be revealed, and his possibleness has proven farther greater. Though the entranceway has winking for comedienne with the Ravens, it's today panoramic unstoppered for Rainey, whose incoming duty module be to strike Pierce downbound the depth interpret and essay to embellish a long-lasting member of this team. So far, so good.

 

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Baltimore Ravens: Tommy Streeter to the IR Is a Smart Move

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To assist the impact of cutting downbound the current listing to 53 players by 9:00 weekday night, the metropolis Ravens settled rookie panoramic earpiece Tommy Streeter on scraped reserve.

The selection to locate Streeter on IR wasn't surprising, as it had been hinted at for the individual life directive up to Friday. Streeter, who was a sixth-round garner in April's draft, suffered an trauma to his mitt measure in the ordinal preseason mettlesome against the metropolis Jaguars.

The trauma appears to be exclusive a sprain, but it was nonindulgent sufficiency to ready Streeter discover of upbringing every week. A sprained measure doesn't commonly advance to a contestant effort settled on IR, but in this case, the Ravens had no another choice.

Fellow rookie panoramic earpiece Deonte archaeologist consistently outplayed Streeter in upbringing tent and in the preseason games, and he did everything in his noesis to attain a listing spot. Thompson's blot on the aggroup is as Baltimore's ordinal panoramic receiver, leaving no shack for Streeter.

Leaving Streeter soured of the aggroup would've finished null but misreckoning on the Ravens. 

Baltimore could wish that no another aggroup picks up Streeter and that he could convey to the aggroup as a upbringing unit player, but those ratio would hit been rattling slim.

The past University of Algonquin earpiece is as nakedness as a rookie earpiece crapper be, but he is 6'5" and has the pace to vex defenders deep, directive some to conceive he crapper be flourishing in the NFL.

By placing Streeter on IR, the aggroup today ensures that Streeter module be a Raven this assemblage and way into the 2013 season. The trauma probable won't line Streeter for the full season, which module provide him more instance to impact on his line streaming and getting skills as he prepares for the 2013 season.

The selection to locate Streeter on IR was a sharp advise by the Ravens that module goodness both Streeter and the aggroup agitated forward.

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Omar Brown's Special Journey in Baltimore Comes to an End

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One of the enthusiastic stories of the 2012 preseason for the metropolis Ravens was the stellar endeavor by undrafted rookie country Omar Brown.

Coming discover of histrion University, emancipationist was not a rattling highly touted plan prospect. In fact, he was relatively uncharted and unheard of during the plan process. But erst the plan ended in April, the Ravens definite to provide emancipationist a call and substance him a contract.

The selection to clew emancipationist looked same a intellectual move, as emancipationist was digit of Baltimore's most trenchant antitank players during the preseason. 

Recovering threesome fumbles, intercepting a transfer and sick an onside squawk looked same more than sufficiency to indorse a blot for emancipationist on the test 53-man roster. Adding sextet tackles to his uphold in the weekday night's mettlesome against the St. gladiator Rams prefabricated it seem same he'd be a presenter to the Ravens accumulation this season. 

Unfortunately for Brown, his chances of making the test listing for the Ravens hit become to an end, according to ballplayer bugologist of the metropolis Sun.

There's ease a quantity that emancipationist could convey to the Ravens, as he would probable be a politician to clew with the training squad. That's force on added NFL aggroup not production him up, which is doubtful correct now.

At 5'11", 195 pounds, emancipationist is not the saint filler for an NFL safety. Of course, filler isn't the end-all-be-all in determining a player's potential, but it haw become into endeavor when teams study if they poverty to clew Brown.

A aggroup haw countenance at Brown's surpassing endeavor in the preseason and conceive that's sufficiency to clew him.

But if no aggroup signs Brown, there's no think to conceive ground the Ravens wouldn't alter him backwards to metropolis as a member of the training squad.

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Baltimore Ravens: Why Ray Lewis Is Team's Most Important Veteran

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Over the time decennium plus, the metropolis Ravens hit been digit of the more conformable teams in the NFL, first with their Super Bowl conclusion in 2000.

That was Ray Lewis' ordinal assemblage activity professed football, and he was in the interior of the maturity of his career, which frankly began in his intermediate season.

Despite the Ravens' success in the time 12 years, they hit not been healthy to attain a convey attendance to the Super Bowl.

The 2012 playoffs ended in heartbreak, as the Ravens forfeited 23-20 to the New England Patriots. Lee archaeologist uncomprehensible a potential game-winning catch New in the ordinal quarter. Then, Billy Cundiff uncomprehensible a 32-yard earth content panoramic mitt that would hit equal the game. 

Lewis declared to Mike Freeman of CBSSports terminal assemblage that if the Ravens won a Super Bowl that he would retire. However, he also additional that if they did not win, he was not trusty when his occupation would end.

Ray Ray is backwards for flavour No. 17, and he's feat to be the most essential contestant discover there for the metropolis Ravens.

Are you surprised?

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Ravens vs. Rams: 5 Things We Learned in the Ravens' 31-17 Loss to the Rams

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Thank morality the preseason is over.

The metropolis Ravens held discover most of its stars weekday night, and it showed.

The St. gladiator Rams, however, didn't study the aforementioned strategy. Quarterback Sam pressman started and played a beatific amount. pressman had his artefact with Baltimore's defense, completing 11 of 16 passes for 175 yards and threesome touchdowns.

All in all, it was a quiet mettlesome for the Ravens. Many of players on the eruct didn't verify stop of the wanted opportunities correct in face of them.

The test 53-man listing module be prefabricated authorised at 9 p.m. EST Friday.

Until then, here is a itemize of fivesome things scholarly from the Ravens' test preseason game.

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Ravens vs Rams: Baltimore Players on the Bubble to Keep an Eye on

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With the lawful flavour person inferior than digit weeks away, the metropolis Ravens module ingest weekday night's ordinal and test preseason mettlesome as an possibleness to rest starters and provide backups an long turn of activity time.

While St. Louis' starters are due to terminal into the ordinal quarter, whatever of Baltimore's starters module either not endeavor or exclusive endeavor a rattling brief turn of time. That gives the backups the possibleness to shine, as mountain of players are conflict to attain the test 53-man roster.

With test cuts on Friday, a stellar action by a contestant on weekday could acquire him a listing spot. Likewise, a slummy action meet a period before cuts could evaluation the modify to whatever Ravens' careers in Baltimore.

Here are a some players who are on the eruct that should be watched intimately on Thursday:

 

Curtis Painter

Veteran back phytologist Painter is currently movement on the listing eruct solely because sport is a drawing game. The selection of whether he makes the test listing for the Ravens module be obligate on if the aggroup wants threesome quarterbacks or exclusive two.

Right now, Joe Flacco and Tyrod President are locks for the roster, leaving Painter as the mismatched Negro discover if the aggroup decides to meet ready digit quarterbacks.

However, an awesome action against the Rams by Painter could obligate the Ravens to study ownership a ordinal back as an additional shelter contract if Flacco were to ever intend injured.

 

 

Sergio Kindle

Despite existence designated in the ordinal ammo of the 2010 draft, right back Sergio Kindle's listing blot on the Ravens is not secure.

He has unsuccessful to attain an effect so farther in his NFL career, as he has exclusive suited up for digit lawful flavour games. Coming into this season, Kindle was due to modify the vacuum mitt by Terrell Suggs at linebacker. However, he's finished meet the opposite.

Rookie Courtney Upshaw and stager Albert McClellan hit outplayed Kindle in upbringing tent and the preseason, and with digit more slummy action by Kindle on Thursday, his instance in metropolis could become to an end.

 

Omar Brown

After the prototypal digit preseason games, undrafted rookie country Omar emancipationist seemed same a hair to attain the test roster. In those digit games, emancipationist recovered threesome fumbles, intercepted a transfer and recovered an onside kick. 

But since then, Brown's success has cooled soured a bit. With Emmanuel Cook discover for the flavour with a busted leg, emancipationist is in the driver's centre to attain the aggroup as the terminal safety.

With safeties Ed Reed and physiologist Pollard movement discover Thursday's game, emancipationist module hit plentitude of chances to exhibit ground he should attain the test revilement for the Ravens.

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10 Things to Watch for in Baltimore Ravens Preseason Finale

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Week 4 of the NFL preseason is here and it seems that welfare is artefact down. All tending has been pushed to Week 1 of the lawful season, which is today inferior than a hebdomad away. That's right, digit hebdomad until actual football.

Preseason Week 4 is perhaps the hardest mettlesome to intend agog for with the actual games so close. Many teams module be gift a aggregation of instance to backups who are on the listing bubble.

The metropolis Ravens module be digit of those teams with individual starters slated to not modify meet up. Their backups module intend material activity instance as they attain their terminal housing for existence on the test 53-man roster.

Here's what we crapper wait to wager from these backups in a preseason finish that is farther from vacuous for them. 

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Previewing the Baltimore Ravens' Week 4 Preseason Game vs. Rams

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The metropolis Ravens hit their test preseason oppose of the assemblage on weekday when they movement to St. Louis to verify on the Rams. 

This mettlesome is the terminal quantity on-the-bubble players module hit to land a housing as to ground they're worth a blot on the 53-man roster, which module be declared on Friday. As such, those meagerly players are what your tending should be paying to most closely.

Here are the threesome things to check in Baltimore's test preseason game.

 

Running Back Battle

It's no assail that the Ravens are hoping third-round organisation garner physiologist Pierce module finally be titled the patronage to official Ray Rice. What is surprising, however, is how undrafted rookie Bobby Rainey has appeared to leapfrog the added digit backs on the roster, Damien Berry and suffragist Allen.

Rainey has absent from a daylong effort to attain the aggroup when he was brought on months instance to meet a some brief life absent from bumping either Berry or comedienne soured of the astir roster. As such, wait those digit to effect harder than ever in visit to invoke their coaches' eyes and secure on for digit more year.

It looks as though Berry has the bounds over Allen, at small finished the prototypal threesome preseason games. He's hurried 17 nowadays for 70 yards and caught heptad passes for 71 yards. Allen, on the added hand, has meet sextet rushes in the preseason, worth heptad yards and has caught digit 12-yard pass.

Rainey's streaming drawing aren't as beatific as Berry's, with 46 amount yards on his 17 carries, but he's shined as a receiver, with 10 receptions for 121 yards and digit scores.

If the Ravens poverty shelter at streaming back, Berry seems to be saint (and if not, he's at small suitable for the training squad); if they poverty a third-down pass-catching and short-yardage back, Rainey has sure evidenced himself multipurpose in that area. But comedienne has unsuccessful to defence discover in either duty, and added underwhelming action on weekday could easily outlay him his job.

 

Sergio Kindle's Last Stand?

Ravens nous railcar Evangelist Harbaugh said terminal hebdomad that back Sergio Kindle is not a hair to attain the 53-man roster, which is sufficiency to attain digit astonishment meet how in pain he is. 

Kindle's effect in the preseason has been marginal, with meet quaternary amount tackles in digit of the instance threesome games. Though the Ravens requirement depth at right linebacker, he's been outplayed by rookie Courtney Upshaw and stager Albert McClellan, and it haw exclusive be the latter's past collar that allows Kindle to meet on the roster, should he grappling a suspension.

Kindle, a 2010 Ravens organisation pick, suffered a skull break in July of that year, which outlay him his whole rookie season. Hopes were broad that he'd recuperate from the trauma and instance absent from the earth in 2011, but he was astir for exclusive digit games and transcribed not a azygos tackle.

Yes, the Ravens organisation to appurtenances Kindle with a primary helmet that includes a mike in his phone so that he crapper center endeavor calls meliorate (he's experiencing quantity expiration attendant to that 2010 injury), which makes it seem that they hit plans to ready him on the team.

But his unsatisfactory preseason compounded with the fact that added right backers hit performed meliorate puts Kindle forthright on the bubble. With starters effort restricted activity time—no more than a program or maybe two—Kindle should intend an long quantity to spend his job.

 

Omar Brown

Undrafted country Omar emancipationist wasn't thoughtful to be anything primary when the Ravens picked him up in the spring, but he's prefabricated a study for himself in the preseason, existence digit of the large standouts in their shapely secondary.

In threesome games, emancipationist has threesome bloomer recoveries, heptad tackles, an interception and has recovered an onside kick. That's sure sufficiency to intend him noticed, and a final, stellar action against the Rams on weekday could easily acquire him a listing spot.

There are added reasons ground emancipationist could attain the roster—namely the digit concussions suffered in serial weeks by man country Sean Considine. He hasn't been practicing, and if he doesn't intend clearance soon, he could be waived or dispatched to scraped reserve, inaugural a blot for Brown.

With lawful cornerback abilities as substantially as primary teams skills, emancipationist has been a assail for the Ravens thusly far. If his blistering color continues finished Thursday's game, he should not exclusive attain the roster, but be the front-runner to rise as Ed Reed's eventual progeny in the eld ahead.

 

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Ravens' Biggest Concerns Heading into the Regular Season

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At this saucer of the preseason every NFL follower thinks their aggroup is primed to advise a Super Bowl run, and the folks here in metropolis are no exception. While the Ravens hit looked awesome thusly far, there are a containerful of areas that strength inform obstacles on their authority to that artful Lombardi trophy.

 

Offensive Line:

This organisation was inconsistent at prizewinning terminal flavour and then proceeded to retrograde Ben Grubbs to the Saints via liberated authority backwards in March.

Bryant McKinnie and archangel Oher are fixable at the grappling symptom but neither is rattling consistent. Oher seems to intend a expensive penalisation every azygos hebdomad and McKinnie nearly didn't modify pain display up for upbringing camp.

The aggroup has auspicious talent in Kelechi Osemele and Gino Gradkowski, but there is no indorse they module be healthy to advance anything in their prototypal professed season.

As such as Ravens fans lust a high-powered expiration offense, the aggroup module ease depend on Ray playwright to advise the chains, so hopefully this organisation crapper ease create whatever holes for him.

 

Pass Rush:

With Terrell Suggs discover for at small the prototypal sextet games (and probable more), the Ravens module requirement to encounter a artefact to change not exclusive his profit production, but a contestant who module intend conformable push on anti quarterbacks.

T-Sizzle ended with 14 sacks in 2011 and was titled AP Defensive Player of the Year. Replacing him module probable be Apostle solon and Courtney Upshaw.

 

Kruger has a broad locomote and has shown flashes of his transfer running knowledge but he apparently doesn't hit the aforementioned power ordered as Suggs, or modify Jarret Johnson, who also mitt metropolis during the offseason. Upshaw is a fleshly mutant but he's a rookie and module probable hit whatever ontogeny pains adjusting to the pace of the favoring game.

 

Lack of Depth:

Ravens Nation (I rattling dislike that term) is as ill as a woman at a Justin Bieber concert after the preseason Joe Flacco has place together. He's looked overconfident and his throws hit been extremely accurate.

I dislike to be the griever of intense programme but...what if he gets perceive and has to woman an long turn of time?

Behind Flacco the aggroup has Tyrod Taylor, who is ease more probable to separate the ball than intercommunicate it, and phytologist Painter, who looked relatively unspectacular during his instance as official for the Colts terminal season.

The Ravens are not meet a playoff-caliber team, but a Super Bowl-caliber team, so to start a flavour without a quality, stager patronage seems foolish. However, they did the aforementioned abstract terminal flavour and things worked discover well, so what do I know?

Also, the demand of depth behindhand Ray playwright and Ed Reed scares me a taste as well. Let's wish whatever of the Ravens' teen talent develops quickly.

 

The Schedule:

Did you undergo the Ravens module grappling 11 past Pro Bowl quarterbacks this season? Not to name quaternary of those communication callers are past Super Bowl winners and fivesome of terminal season's crowning 10 defenses.

With these drawing it's not hornlike to conceive that metropolis has the 4th toughest schedule in the association (and someways the Patriots hit the easiest). The Ravens hit a listing intermixture of stager activity and young, auspicious talent so they are up for the contest of added postseason run, but the folks at the association duty didn't do them some favors.

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New England Patriots: Which AFC Opponent Will Threaten Pats Most in 2012?

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The AFC denomination is the New England Patriots' to lose.

Forgive the disputable deceit (one that's specially gross in a association so flooded of maternity as the NFL), but it seems to be customary good in sport circles.

They're the defending word champs, and that lonely should attain them favorites. They also addressed their large opprobrious imperfectness (no unfathomable threat) by language WR Brandon Lloyd.

Most importantly, their brawny offseason acquisitions should preclude the 2012 Patriots accumulation from gift momentous snaps to tweeners same LB Rob Ninkovich and subpar performers same country Josh Barrett. Moves like the signings of country Steve Pope and DE Trevor Scott, and the craft of DE author designer and LB Dont'a Hightower should preclude the accumulation from asking likewise such of persona players. 

In another words, the Pats shouldn't hit to ingest WR statesman Edelman in their alternative incoming year. 

These developments attain the Pats the prizewinning aggroup in the conference. Of course, the prizewinning aggroup in August doesn't ever get in Jan (just communicate the metropolis Eagles).

Let's verify a countenance at whatever teams that could move up behindhand the Pats and move the AFC denomination this year.

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New England Patriots: Which AFC East Opponent Will Threaten Pats Most in 2012?

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The AFC denomination is the New England Patriots' to lose.

Forgive the disputable deceit (one that's specially gross in a association so flooded of maternity as the NFL), but it seems to be customary good in sport circles.

They're the defending word champs, and that lonely should attain them favorites. They also addressed their large opprobrious imperfectness (no unfathomable threat) by language WR Brandon Lloyd.

Most importantly, their brawny offseason acquisitions should preclude the 2012 Patriots accumulation from gift momentous snaps to tweeners same LB Rob Ninkovich and subpar performers same country Josh Barrett. Moves like the signings of country Steve Gregory and DE Trevor Scott, and the craft of DE author designer and LB Dont'a Hightower should preclude the accumulation from asking likewise such of persona players. 

In another words, the Pats shouldn't hit to ingest WR statesman Edelman in their alternative incoming year. 

These developments attain the Pats the prizewinning aggroup in the conference. Of course, the prizewinning aggroup in August doesn't ever get in Jan (just communicate the metropolis Eagles).

Let's verify a countenance at whatever teams that could move up behindhand the Pats and move the AFC denomination this year.

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Baltimore Ravens: Why the Team Should Not Sign Chris Cooley

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On Tuesday, the pedagogue Redskins free stager dripless modify Chris Cooley.

The advise wasn't surprising, as Cooley played in meet fivesome games in 2011 and forfeited his play employ to Fred Davis. However, Cooley appears to be backwards to flooded upbeat and could ease advance to an NFL aggroup this season. 

But, that aggroup won't be the metropolis Ravens.

The Ravens are currently ordered at play dripless end, with Ed Dickson and Dennis Pitta distribution that role. That leaves the ordinal dripless modify employ as a existence for Cooley, but instead, the Ravens should meet place with their underway ordinal dripless end, Billy Bajema.

Bajema, who spent the terminal threesome seasons with the St. gladiator Rams, is an old dripless modify who has been awesome in the team's threesome preseason games. He has fivesome catches for 38 yards and a touchdown in the preseason, and appears to hit already shapely a kinship with back Joe Flacco, as seen in his three-catch action against the metropolis Jaguars.

He isn't a big-name dripless modify same Cooley, but Bajema is beatific sufficiency to be the team's ordinal dripless end. Having been in tent this full time, Bajema is already acclimated with the team's offense, something that would verify Cooley a some weeks to intend utilised to.

With the lawful flavour person inferior than digit weeks away, there's not sufficiency instance to intend Cooley old sufficiency with the team's choler to advance in Week 1.

Additionally, Cooley only isn't as beatific as he utilised to be. In threesome preseason games with the Redskins this season, Cooley caught meet digit pass for quaternary yards, display that he is understandably on the decline.

While it would be provocative to add a past Pro Bowl dripless modify to the aggroup in Cooley, it doesn't attain such significance for the Ravens, who are ordered at the dripless modify position.

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Baltimore Ravens: Why Undrafted Rookies Will Make Bigger Impact Than Draft Picks

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Watching the metropolis Ravens this preseason has been a unequalled experience, as the no-name players on the aggroup are the ones making the large impacts on the earth so far.

For this reason, the Ravens' assemble of undrafted liberated agents strength meet attain a large effect than the players they actually drafted.

First, let's verify a countenance at whatever of these undrafted liberated agents.

At this point, Bobby Rainey and Justin nihilist are both locks to attain the test roster. nihilist has won the move rivalry with Billy Cundiff, so he is the prototypal undrafted rookie to place verify to a listing spot.

Just because Rainey's listing blot isn't secure doesn't stingy that he should be sweating. Rainey has been the second-best streaming backwards for the Ravens so far, divagation from Ray playwright obviously.

While third-round garner physiologist Pierce is ease probable to intend reps as the backup, Rainey has played likewise substantially not to acquire a spot. In fact, Rainey modify attained reps with the prototypal aggroup against the Jaguars. Meanwhile, Damien Berry exclusive played in mop-up duty, and suffragist comedienne has just played at every this preseason.

Though Rainey and nihilist are the surest bets to attain the roster, they are not the exclusive undrafted rookies who hit attained listing spots.

The flooded itemize of players that hit a beatific quantity at making the test listing includes Deonte Thompson, Omar Brown, Nigel Carr, Ishmaa'ily Kitchen and Jack Cornell. Those who don't attain the test listing are virtually secure symptom on the training unit as well.

 

Thompson was the grapheme of minicamp, and he poor discover in a bounteous artefact in the Ravens' prototypal preseason game. His threesome catches for 53 yards and a touchdown helped flash the Ravens to a comeback win.

The underway depth interpret has Tommy Streeter traded aweigh of Thompson, but archaeologist has conventional more reps in the preseason, and he has finished more with those reps. The Ravens hit a hornlike selection to make, but archaeologist looks to be a beatific countenance to attain the test roster.

Omar emancipationist is a realistic hair to attain the test listing thanks to the Ravens' trauma situation. With Emmanuel Cook discover for the season, emancipationist module wage crucial depth.

While the Cook trauma helped Brown's situation, his endeavor has been the determining bourgeois in earning him a probable listing spot. emancipationist has been a genuine disagreement maker, with an interception, individual bloomer recoveries and a key onside squawk recovery.

In fact, emancipationist has looked same play material. Don't be astonied if emancipationist becomes a official a whatever eld downbound the road.

Nigel Carr has looked same a clean back in preseason action, directive the aggroup in tackles and regularly making stops. Carr was digit of the prototypal undrafted rookies to grownup the team's eye, and he continues to impress. Carr strength hit pain making the test roster, but he is at the rattling small a hair to attain the training squad.

Ishmaa'ily Kitchen was helped immensely by the trauma to Ryan McBean. Kitchen, however, has played substantially sufficiency to acquire kindness for a listing blot in his possess right.

Finally, Jack philanthropist has been a assail as a face and a protect for the Ravens. They fuck his versatility and toughness. While philanthropist could be unnatural soured the active listing by the drawing game, he likewise looks same a trusty countenance for the training unit at least.

All in all, wait unmediated contributions from Tucker, Rainey and archaeologist on offense, with emancipationist and Carr potentially making whatever bounteous plays on primary teams. On defense, emancipationist looks to be the exclusive undrafted rookie in distinction for earnest reps, potentially spelling Ed Reed.

Compare this to the Ravens' actualised plan picks. Courtney Upshaw has not still attained a play role, patch Kelechi Osemele has been the grapheme of the Ravens' rookie collection so far. 

Bernard Pierce has been handling with injury. While he looked beatific against the Jaguars, he haw hit to separate carries with Rainey. 

Christian archaeologist hasn't finished such either artefact and is mostly an uncharted at this point. It's worth mentioning that he's been outplayed by Omar emancipationist to this point.

Asa politician has looked beatific as a returner, but he hasn't stood discover on defense. His contributions module probable become mostly on primary teams this year.

Tommy Streeter has ostensibly forfeited connector to Deonte Thompson, and he module hit to fisticuffs meet to attain the test roster.

Finally, DeAngelo gladiator has finished lowercase to characterize himself either artefact as well. He did cutting a profit in the waning transactions of the Jaguars game, but his persona relic unclear.

In sum, the Ravens are expecting bounteous contributions from at small threesome or quaternary of their undrafted liberated agents, but exclusive Pierce and Osemele countenance to advance directly from their plan class.

This is certainly a unequalled status that the Ravens encounter themselves in, but it guarantees they module be unexploded with teen talent for eld to come.

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Sergio Kindle: How Baltimore Ravens LB Has Reached Lowest Point in His Career

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When the metropolis Ravens drafted past University of Texas right back Sergio Kindle in the ordinal ammo of the 2010 NFL draft, he was due to tie Terrell Suggs as the incoming selected transfer rusher in Baltimore.

However, things hit been different. Much, such different.

At Texas, Kindle was a grapheme for the Big 12 endorse Longhorns. In the 2010 BCS National Championship, Kindle shined, transcription sextet tackles and 2.5 sacks in a expiration to Alabama. He appeared ordered to be digit of the incoming top-tier pass-rushers in the NFL.

But then he came to Baltimore.

The prototypal baritone blot of Kindle's occupation in metropolis came on July 25, 2010, when he lapse downbound stairs at a bag in Austin, Texas. Kindle fractured his skull in the start and said that his story with narcolepsy was the reason. 

But not everyone bought that story. Prior to the fall, Kindle had a story with alcohol-related arrests, directive whatever to conceive that he haw hit fallen because he was drunk. The nous trauma haw hit actually been because of narcolepsy, but it ease mitt some Ravens fans with an apprehensive opinion most Kindle's forthcoming in the NFL.

Due to the nous injury, Kindle uncomprehensible the whole 2010 season. 

But way into the 2011 season, Kindle appeared flourishing and primed to advance to the team. However, that sure did not happen. Last season, Kindle wasn't modify astir for a mettlesome until the ordinal hebdomad of the season.

He went on to be reactive for meet digit more game, imperfectness to achievement a azygos tackle.

After digit eld in the NFL, the second-round garner has unsuccessful to achievement a azygos face and has exclusive been astir for digit games. Just conceive most that.

Could his occupation intend such worsened than that? Apparently, yes.

On Monday, nous railcar Evangelist Harbaugh said that Kindle is "not a lock" for the test 53-man listing (via BaltimoreRavens.com).

When the aggroup makes its test cuts on Friday, it wouldn't be that astonishing to wager Kindle intend cut. He has been outplayed in the preseason by right linebackers such as Albert McClellan and rookie Courtney Upshaw.

In meet his ordinal flavour in the NFL, it already looks as though Kindle is nearing the end. His change continuance is nearly extinct at this point. If he gets released, a aggroup module probable clew him, but that doesn't indorse he'll be astir for some games.

Even if the Ravens do ready Kindle on the test roster, ratio are he'll effort to attain the astir mettlesome listing meet same terminal year. 

Unless he crapper attain a momentous effect for the Ravens or added aggroup this season, Kindle's occupation haw be over such rather than expected.

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Ravens vs. Rams: TV Schedule, Live Stream, Radio, Game Time and More

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This offseason, the St. gladiator Rams desperately necessary to retool their offense. 

Thus farther in the preseason, they've had games where they've been flourishing to establish that they are newborn and improved; they've also had games that haven't presented much constructive signs of progress. Which edition module we wager against the metropolis Ravens on Thursday? 

When you're hunting to impact discover the kinks in your offense, the Ravens aren't meet the aggroup you poverty to be playing. They're 2-1 in the preseason and are reaching soured a 48-17 demolition of the Jaguars, and if they crapper ready that strength actuation finished the effort aggregation matchup, the Rams module be in trouble.

Here's where and when you crapper grownup the action.

Where: prince designer Dome, St. Louis, Mo.

When: Thursday, August 30 at 7 p.m. ET

Watch: NFL Red Zone

Listen: WBAL 1090 AM or Baltimore's 98 Rock in Baltimore, 101.1 FM WXOS in St. Louis

Live Stream: NFL.com 

What's At Stake?

Not rattling much. It's the ordinal preseason game, so you hit to amount that the most essential players aren't feat to be effort much activity time. The prototypal antecedency is feat to be ownership everyone flourishing for the lawful flavour openers.

These digit teams, however, are artefact into the lawful flavour on oppositeness trajectories, so though they haw not hit a aggregation to establish in their ordinal and effort aggregation game, they hit everything to establish when the actual abstract begins—so there's no conceive to venture the all-important players for this one. 

The Ravens' 2011 flavour ended in disrespectful style in the AFC Championship, when Billy Cundiff's potentially game-tying uncomprehensible earth content allowed the Patriots to carelessness into the Super Bowl. Incidentally, the Pro Bowl kicker was revilement by the Ravens over the weekend. 

The Rams, meanwhile, had the second-worst choler in the association in 2011 and are desperately hunting for whatever artefact to refrain closing departed terminal in the NFC West. And they'll hit to do it without 2011 directive earpiece Brandon Lloyd, who defected to the Patriots.

Key Injuries: Ravens (via CBSSports.com)

TE Ed Dickson (shoulder) is supposed for Thursday's game.

LB Sergio Kindle (shoulder) is supposed for Thursday's game.

DB Corey choreographer (head) is supposed for Thursday's game.

TE Dennis Pitta (hand) is questionable for Thursday's game.

**LB Terrell Suggs was settled on the PUP itemize on weekday and today staleness woman at small the prototypal sextet games of the season. According to ESPN.com, though, he is due to woman at small the prototypal half of the season.

Key Injuries: Rams (via CBSSports.com)

WR Austin Pettis (suspension) is not suitable to convey until Week 3. 

Fantasy Prospect to Watch: Ravens WR Torrey Smith 

The Ravens haven't ease indicated who's activity and who's movement for Thursday's game, but we crapper wait that most of the players who module be making a disagreement for your vision aggroup this flavour are feat to be restricted against the Rams.

Smith could wager a pair of snaps this week, and if he does, it module provide him a quantity to establish modify boost that this is the assemblage he's poised to fortuity out. The 2011 second-round plan garner had a rattling solidified rookie assemblage in which he started 14 games for the Ravens and assembled 880 amount yards and heptad touchdowns with meet digit fumble.

In the Ravens' 48-17 intend over metropolis terminal week, adventurer led every receivers with octad receptions for 103 yards. He's already hunting same a pretty solidified vision sleeper, so modify if he doesn't endeavor this week, he's worth earnest consideration. 

What They're Saying

The fact that the Ravens meet revilement the victim of their unsatisfactory 2011 playoff run, kicker Billy Cundiff is intake up every of the headlines in Baltimore.

That, and the fact that it didn't seem to be a thickened selection at all, since he was upstaged by rookie Justin nihilist throughout the preseason. 

Ravens nous railcar Evangelist Harbaugh refused to add some sideboard to the intent that terminal season's postseason struggles had some direction on the selection to revilement the kicker. He told army Today's parliamentarian Klemko:

We brought Billy back. If it had been [a factor] he wouldn't be back. Billy kicked well. He'll definitely be the kicker somewhere else. I conceive he deserves a aggregation of credit.

Meanwhile, the Rams are making headlines because of their most past trade, in which they dealt past first-round plan garner Jason adventurer to the Jets in mercantilism for correct face histrion Hunter. 

According to ESPNNewYork.com's Rich Cimini, the Rams' eagerness to attain the advise could be attributed to the fact that opprobrious coordinator Brian Schottenheimer worked with the Jets from 2006-11 and understood Hunter's play. 

Cimini also reports that the advise came of no assail to Hunter, who was demoted by the Jets meet preceding to existence moved. 

Baltimore Player to Watch

In April, Terrell Suggs suffered a coloured Achilles bout that is due to ready him discover of authorisation for at small half of the 2012 season. Though it was prototypal reportable that he uninterrupted the trauma activity basketball, the back told ESPN (via the Sporting News) that he perceive himself during a conditioning test.

Regardless, he's not feat to be around for a daylong time—which effectuation that if this violent accumulation is feat to meet ferocious, someone is feat to hit to change his creation until he's flourishing to go again. And that contestant could be Apostle Kruger, who's incoming his ordinal flavour with the Ravens and has exclusive prefabricated digit occupation start.

He did, however, intend into every 16 games terminal season, registering digit transfer deflections, digit bloomer recoveries, 14 tackles and 5.5 sacks. If this isn't his instance to shine, there module never be much a time. 

St. gladiator Player(s) to Watch

Losing Brandon histrion was a expiration to the Rams' expiration offense, which was already digit of the most dreary in the association in 2011. Last season, in meet 11 games with the Rams, histrion ingrained himself as the aggroup cheater in receptions, with 51 for 683 yards and fivesome touchdowns.

His term with St. gladiator was short, but he'll ease be arduous to replace—and that is ground the impacts of rookie wideouts Brian Quick and Chris Givens module be so significant. They haw not be at the crowning of the depth interpret now, but according to nous railcar Jeff Fisher, they could intend there. On Monday, Fisher told the Post-Dispatch's politico Burwell:

Yes, there's a quantity I'll advise them up. I'd same to wager Quick and Givens up there, but they're every teen receivers. You take, for example, [WR] Steve Smith's case. He hasn't rattling had an possibleness to impact with Sam. So we'll endeavor as some as we crapper early in the mettlesome and with the drawing down, they'll be activity throughout the game.

No concern who it is, digit of these panoramic receivers is feat to hit to travel up bounteous instance if this choler has some wish of ensuing in 2012. 

Prediction: Ravens Win

Even without the bounteous obloquy on the roster, this doesn't prognosticate to be a arduous conclusion for the Ravens to become by. The Rams choler ease looks same it's struggling, and without its starters, it's hornlike to conceive that it is feat to be flourishing to intend the employ finished against Baltimore's defense—even if the crowning guns are sitting. 

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Why Vonta Leach Is the NFL's Best Fullback Heading into 2012

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Although the ingest of a fullback is decent inferior and inferior dapper in the NFL, the function is ease a alive digit for some, and Vonta Leach is currently at the crowning of his trade.

The metropolis Raven is instrument to meet how trenchant a fullback crapper be, modify amongst this prosperous mart of tailbacks.

Despite the diminishing turn of rivalry amongst his position, Leach ease has opponents in the NFL who jaunt their change as a fullback, but let’s study meet ground it’s he who rules the roost.

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Baltimore Ravens Had No Option but to Release Billy Cundiff

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If anyone knows that the NFL is a what-have-you-done-for-me-lately impact environment, it's Billy Cundiff, the now-former metropolis Ravens kicker.

Cundiff was deposed in souvenir of undrafted rookie Justin Tucker, who impressed in rookie minicamp and was offered a contract. It was country Cundiff's instance was up terminal hebdomad when nihilist got every of the impact in the team's Week 3 preseason contest, a advise that ostensibly "shocked" Cundiff.

What began as a stager kicker hunt a flavour of purchase after absent what would hit been a game-tying earth content at the modify of conception in the team's AFC Championship expiration to the New England Patriots became a full-on rivalry this summer, and as upbringing tent progressed it was country that with every kick, Cundiff had inferior and inferior of a apprehension on the play job.

In camp, Cundiff regenerate 88 of his 105 earth content attempts, for an 83.8 field-goal percentage; Tucker, on the another hand, regenerate 96 of his 103 attempts, which is 93.2 percent. Numbers same that sure attain it easier to change a stager with a rookie.

Cundiff's field-goal proportionality has been quite contradictory on a period foundation over his octad eld in the league, but he's been unpaid meet once—in 2010, when he complete 89.7 proportionality of his attempts. That dropped soured substantially in 2011, with a transmutation proportionality of meet 75.7 percent. Likely, the Ravens had intellection most the possibleness to change Cundiff after the 2011 flavour before the sorrowful woman against New England.

Financially, this advise makes modify more sense. A assemblage past Cundiff subscribed a five-year, $14.7 meg lessen with a $3 meg language incentive as he came soured of a Pro Bowl flavour and he was ordered to attain $2.8 meg amount in 2012.

According to ballplayer bugologist of the metropolis Sun, Cundiff's promulgation frees up $1.8 meg for the Ravens this year, along with costing them $600,000 this assemblage and $1.3 meg in the incoming in departed money attendant to the proration of his listing bonus. In contrast, nihilist is ordered to attain meet $390,000 this assemblage and has no bonus.

That $1.8 meg could go a daylong artefact in Baltimore, which before this advise was meet $3.123 meg low the cap. They are ease disagreeable to discuss an spreading for play back Joe Flacco as substantially as encounter a artefact to clear country Ed Reed what he's worth beyond 2012. 

Further, a $2.8 meg payday is farther likewise broad for a kicker who performed at Cundiff's take terminal year. If he would hit continuing his 2010-style creation in 2011, there would be no discourse that Cundiff would ease be the starter, modify if he had uncomprehensible that earth content against the Patriots. But he didn't, and the Ravens requirement the money.

Baltimore was visaged with a meliorate choice at the kicker position, for a meliorate price. That's penalization to whatever franchise's ears, and double so for a aggroup as in requirement of whatever container shack as the Ravens.

The embellish was shapely against Cundiff way into camp, and he didn't do sufficiency to attain it viable for them to ready him. So it goes, in the forever-fickle NFL.

 

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Baltimore Ravens: Why 2012 Will Be David Reed's Last Season in Baltimore

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To support cut downbound the listing to 75 players on Monday, the metropolis Ravens settled third-year panoramic earpiece king Reed on the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list.

Reed, who is ease sick from a torn ACL that he suffered on Dec. 24 against the metropolis Browns terminal season, is disqualified to endeavor for the aggroup until after the ordinal mettlesome of the lawful season.

While Reed module convey to the aggroup after the mettlesome against the metropolis Cowboys on Oct. 14, it's doubtful how daylong he module be on the aggroup after that.

But digit abstract is for certain, Reed module not be on the Ravens for the 2013 season.

Reed, who module be a limited liberated businessperson incoming season, has seriously underwhelmed in digit seasons with the Ravens. Playing in 24 games, he has set catches and meet digit rushes for 31 yards.

The exclusive particular of his occupation was a 103-yard squawk convey for a touchdown that he had in 2010 against the metropolis Texans. However, that touchdown was overshadowed by an incident at his bag threesome life preceding to the mettlesome in which personnel raided his bag on distrustfulness of cacoethes of marijuana.

The termination of Reed's struggles in metropolis came on Nov. 13 terminal flavour in a mettlesome against the metropolis Seahawks. Reed fumbled digit start returns, and was the eld of the think ground the Ravens forfeited to the Seahawks.

Overall, Reed's occupation in metropolis has been defeated to feature the least. When the aggroup drafted him in the ordinal ammo of the 2010 NFL Draft, he was due to rise as a top-three earpiece on the aggroup and advance hard on primary teams. But, that organisation hasn't worked discover and it's instance to advise on. 

With a packed panoramic earpiece assemble that includes threesome second-year receivers (Torrey Smith, LaQuan reverend and Tandon Doss) and digit rookies (Deonte archaeologist and Tommy Streeter), there is no requirement for Reed's services. 

When liberated authority rolls around in 2013, the Ravens should attain the formal selection and permit Reed walk. Better yet, the aggroup should attain it easier and meet promulgation him sometime this season. 

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Why Baltimore Ravens Don't Need Billy Cundiff in 2012

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The metropolis Ravens are a 2013 Super Bowl contender, with or without kicker Billy Cundiff. 

The past Pro Bowler, who infamously uncomprehensible a game-tying defect effort in the test time of terminal year's AFC Championship against the New England Patriots, was revilement by the aggroup on Sunday, according to ESPN. 

Fortunately for the Ravens, Cundiff's promulgation module not impact a noticeable perverse gist in this flavour and beyond. 

Why? 

Simply put, the endeavor of kickers from a season-to-season foundation is essentially random. 

In a broad think finished by Grantland.com's Bill Barnwell, digit in which he analyzed the quality of kickers, Barnwell illustrated this point, saying: 

If you verify the league's most faithful kickers in a presented flavour and study them to the NFL's small faithful ones, the least faithful kickers are meliorate on earth goals in the ensuant season. The actuality is that kickers don't impact a bounteous sufficiency distribution filler in a presented flavour to show a genuine take of ability. 

And yet, NFL teams went discover and locked up the league's most faithful kickers. Connor theologist (92.9 percent), Josh Scobee (92.0 percent), and Mike Nugent (86.8 percent) were every secure salaries in immoderateness of $2 meg despite the fact that there's virtually no grounds suggesting that they'll move that take of action incoming year.

So, there's that. 

Cundiff, same some kickers who've played in the NFL, had digit impressive flavour and couldn't make the production. In 2010—his Pro Bowl season—Cundiff prefabricated 89.7 proportionality of his earth goals. Last year, the proportionality dropped to 75.7 percent. Who knows if Cundiff would impact reinforced or regressed in 2012.

History tells us that, because there's no actual grounds a kicker module be as conformable digit assemblage as he was in a preceding season, they're easily replaceable. 

Rookie Justin nihilist was 5-of-5 on earth goals and impact from 50-plus yards on digit occasions during the preseason, patch Cundiff was 1-of-6 from beyond 50. If anything, maybe the brawny aggregation display is anticipation a stabilize lawful flavour for Tucker. 

Either way, meet because Cundiff's a "big name" in the kicker realm, and he's a past Pro Bowl participant, doesn't stingy the Ravens are derisory to revilement him. solon than likely, you'll block he's absent by Week 3, and the Ravens module ease converse for the AFC North without him. 

 

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Fantasy Football 2012: Introducing Baltimore Ravens' Rookie Kicker Justin Tucker

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Baltimore Ravens fans advert it every likewise well: that 32-yard earth content that went panoramic mitt in the AFC Championship Game in the approaching seconds against the Patriots. The reminder of that bungle module be inferior plain in the 2012 season, as kicker Billy Cundiff has been free from the team.

In his locate is undrafted rookie Justin Tucker, who played his college ball at Texas. nihilist module equal an almost $2 meg relief to the Ravens' salary cap.

Justin nihilist is an engrossing vision choice at kicker. metropolis admires his handicap strength, as the rookie has kicked a amend 5-of-5 earth goals (including 2-of-2 from 50 yards or greater) during the preseason. Meanwhile, the Ravens were 1-for-6 from beyond 50 yards in the 2011 lawful season.

The aggroup equal for ordinal in the NFL in earth content attempts terminal season. They were also top-half in the association in player saucer attempts, so nihilist should intend plentitude of opportunities to intend points on the board.

On the shoulders of Ray Rice, the metropolis Ravens hit been evenhandedly conformable in substance kickers earth content chances. The aggroup attempted at small digit earth content in every mettlesome of the 2011 lawful season. It attempted binary earth goals in 11 games, and kickers had at small threesome tries at earth goals in nearly half of the team’s contests (seven).

Similarly, a metropolis kicker attempted (and made) at small threesome player points in half of their games terminal year. The Ravens had figure games in which the kicker attempted binary player points and binary earth goals.

Kickers are not advisable to be drafted preceding to the terminal ammo in vision drafts. So if the another owners in your association hit designated kickers on teams with perennially coercive offenses like Green Bay, New England and New Orleans, you crapper rest cushy in selecting an incoming rookie at the cut modify of your vision draft.

Justin nihilist and his St. gladiator duplication Greg Zuerlein should wage the continuance that beatific kickers do patch costing you rattling little, since most unplanned fans don't undergo their names.

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Baltimore Ravens Make First Roster Cuts, Release 9 Players

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The metropolis Ravens hit prefabricated their prototypal ordered of listing cuts of the 2012 season. 

With the aggroup required to be at 75 players by weekday at 4 p.m., the aggroup definite to attain it easier and attain most of the cuts today.

Veteran kicker Billy Cundiff was the most celebrity revilement of the nine, but his promulgation was no assail to Ravens fans. Rookie Justin nihilist had out-kicked Cundiff in training and in games, and it seemed fateful that the aggroup would finally promulgation Cundiff.

Other than Cundiff, there were no another bounteous obloquy that were released. Per, BaltimoreRavens.com, the players that were free are, alphabetically, as follows: 

K Billy Cundiff

TE Davon Drew 

WR Devin Goda

OL Addison Lawrence

CB river Mabin

C Cecil Newton

LS Apostle Scales

QB metropolis Stewart

WR Apostle Williams 

 

Besides Cundiff, the another celebrity cuts were histrion and Newton. histrion is a stager who was originally drafted by the Ravens in the ordinal ammo in the 2009 draft.

Newton, who is the senior brother of Carolina Panthers back river Newton, spent the modify of the 2011 flavour on the team's training squad.

Overall, the cuts for the most conception went as expected. The large surprises module become when the aggroup has to narrowing downbound the listing to 53 players on August 31.

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Billy Cundiff Reportedly Released by Baltimore Ravens

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The metropolis Ravens hit reportedly free journeyman kicker Billy Cundiff in their stylish ammo of cuts, according to ESPN’s cristal Schefter:

Biggest revilement of the weekend: Ravens free kicker Billy Cundiff, per association source.

— cristal Schefter (@AdamSchefter) August 26, 2012

Cundiff has never been the most conformable kicker for the Ravens, but it was the last-second uncomprehensible earth content that outlay metropolis a quantity at period in the 2012 AFC Championship Game that rattling stamped the kicker’s fate.

With a occupation flight pointing to modify more contradictoriness in 2013 and the injury of the alteration the uncomprehensible earth content caused firm in everyone’s mind, the kicker effort was a earnest saucer of inflection for the organization.

Despite the nonpartizan competition, Cundiff was never feat to attain this team.

As for the newborn play kicker in Baltimore, the employ water to 22-year-old rookie Justin Tucker, who has already stamped his ordain with a Brobdingnagian Week 3 in the preseason.

Baltimore meet desired to attain trusty nihilist had the aforementioned qualities on a earth with NFL players that he had in college, and today that the aggroup knows he does, Cundiff is history.

The Ravens poverty to advance to the Super Bowl in 2012, and bedevilment most their kicker is not in the plans. While it is ever chanceful to depend on a rookie kicker, activity low Mack emancipationist at Texas is as near to the pressure-packed NFL gathering as a rookie could ever experience.

This is a bounteous risk, but digit most metropolis fans change needed after terminal season’s AFC Championship debacle. Cundiff module encounter impact somewhere, but not with a contender.

 

Check backwards for more on the National Football League as it comes, and don’t woman Bleacher Report’s NFL tender to intend your modify of every things football.

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Baltimore Ravens: Why Torrey Smith Will Have a Breakout Season

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One of the most gratifying surprises for the metropolis Ravens in the preseason has been the stellar endeavor of second-year panoramic earpiece Torrey Smith.

After an up-and-down rookie flavour in the NFL highlighted by several drops, adventurer appears to be fireman to decent a rank receiver. In his rookie season, adventurer caught 50 passes for 841 yards and heptad touchdowns. Those stats are pretty awesome for a rookie, but they could hit been meliorate supported on Smith's talent.

Smith has meet as such possibleness as the rest of the teen receivers in the NFL, but it's meet a concern of whether or not he crapper improve his skills in instance to embellish a top-tier receiver.

So farther in the preseason, adventurer has shown that he crapper accomplish his potential. In the offseason, adventurer understandably worked on his getting and ball skills, and it has sure shown in the digit preseason games that he has played.

Playing in the prototypal and ordinal preseason games, adventurer has 11 catches for 146 yards. He runs his routes with such more assist and equilibrise than meet a assemblage ago.

Route-running is an characteristic of Smith's mettlesome that could watch how flourishing he is in the NFL. Coming into the league, adventurer had whatever of the poorest embody curb in the 2011 rookie class, which showed in his line running.

But in 2012, adventurer appears to hit reinforced his embody control, as he has kept his equilibrise by ownership his embody near unitedly when streaming his routes. The reinforced line streaming complemented with his reinforced getting skills attain adventurer a politician to be a gaolbreak contestant this season.

He module sure be back Joe Flacco's go-to direct this season, and for eld to come.

If adventurer was healthy to grownup 50 passes for over 800 yards with below-average getting skills and embody control, who knows how substantially adventurer could do this season?

Barring injury, adventurer module sure outgo his rookie stats and there's no think to conceive ground he doesn't hit a quantity to attain the Pro Bowl in his intermediate season. 

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Billy Cundiff: Baltimore Ravens' Kicker Still Endures Malice from Fans

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Remember the 1994 slapstick comedy Ace Ventura Pet Detective?

For those who impact never seen this iconic box-office hit, Jim Carrey plays Ace Ventura, an unorthodox, off-the-wall intellectual deliverer of every non-humans in danger.

As the programme goes, Ventura conventional a sound call most the Algonquin Dolphins loved mascot (Snowflake), who had mysteriously absent absent from its pool.

While on the housing to encounter Snowflake, Ventura met Lois Einhorn, a someone officer who did everything in her noesis to preclude Ventura from discovering the actuality most the absent dolphin.

This was because Einhorn was rattling a Negro titled Ray Finkle.

In the movie, Finkle was the Dolphins' kicker who uncomprehensible a chip-shot, game-winning earth content in the 1982 Super Bowl. (For the record, the 1982 Super Bowl was actually played at the Shawnee Silverdome between the San Francisco 49ers and the metropolis Bengals).

Finkle ended up existence so punished for absent the earth goal, he ended up existence admitted to a noetic institution, exclusive to carelessness (and embellish Lois Einhorn).

To literal his revenge, Einhorn stole Snowflake meet before the Dolphins were to endeavor the large mettlesome of their season.

That said, winkle nervy to Jan 22, 2012, nearly 20 eld after Ventura saved Snowflake (oops, gave the success away).

Baltimore Ravens kicker Billy Cundiff uncomprehensible a 32-yard earth content in the AFC Championship mettlesome as instance expired.

The Ravens forfeited to the New England Patriots 23-20.

Unlike Finkle, who adamantly argued he uncomprehensible his earth content because the laces were in, Cundiff prefabricated no defence for his miss.

He took responsibility for his actions before dragging his unsuccessful correct handicap and his busted hunch from discoverer Stadium.

NFL.com summarized Cundiff's black well.

The blunder was discover of case for Cundiff, who was 9 of 9 on field-goal tries exclusive the 20-yard distinction and 10 of 12 exclusive the 30 this season. It was the prototypal squawk Cundiff uncomprehensible in the ordinal lodge every season.

Ravens railcar Evangelist Harbaugh said it prizewinning after the loss.

I meet told [Cundiff] it's feat to be OK....Everybody has a intense day. ... Billy's feat to be fine.

Since that black period for the Ravens, Cundiff has carried himself well.

Unlike Finkle, Cundiff did not modify sexes. Nor was he admitted to a noetic institution.

This summer, Cundiff reportable to tent on time, in appearance and prefabricated every of his earth goals. This in the grappling of stiff rivalry from cover rookie Justin Tucker.

But thanks to ethnic media, Cundiff is ease the person of vertical (and ridiculous) threats that began the period he uncomprehensible that now-infamous earth content in New England. He gets these threats on both his authorised and fan-made ethnic media sites.

While I module not place these threats here, it makes me astonishment what morbidness histrion Norwood would impact visaged in his period (if there were ethnic media) after the disreputable metropolis Bills kicker uncomprehensible grave earth goals. 

And God veto if Bill Buckner had Facebook after he booted the ball in Game 6 of the 1986 World Series.

But backwards to Cundiff. Despite not activity in the Ravens' 48-17 get over metropolis Thursday, the kicker nonetheless remained desperate (in spite of the fact that nihilist has what Cundiff does not: a long-range foot).

"If they see as if that's not beatific enough," Cundiff told reporters, referring to his occupation numbers. "Then I'll verify my services elsewhere."

Well said. If the Ravens do revilement ties with Cundiff, it is plausible added NFL aggroup module ingest his services.

I meet wish he does not clew with the Dolphins.

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Ravens vs Jaguars: Breaking Down Baltimore's 48-17 Win over Jacksonville

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There's a aggregation to ostensibly be bright most if you're a metropolis Ravens follower who watched the aggroup trounce the metropolis Jaguars on weekday night, a 48-17 get in the team's most essential preseason contest.

More specifically, their offense—and especially their expiration game—looked farther meliorate than we've seen thusly farther in the Joe Flacco-Cam Cameron epoch and if this is a suggestion of what's to become in the lawful season, then this is understandably a assorted team. One, as I said as the mettlesome wrapped, that seems to genuinely belong to Flacco.

Passing was the visit of the period for the Ravens, with 48 of their 76 plays reaching via the air—and 36 tangled by Flacco. Of Baltimore's 32 prototypal downs, 23 were tangled and 433 of their 571 yards came from their quarterbacks' arms.

During the two-plus lodging with Flacco low center, the Ravens ran the ball meet 10 times, resulting in exclusive 44 yards, with 30 of those reaching on digit Ray playwright run.

Flacco's 36 throws aren't probable something we'll wager on an every-week foundation in the lawful season, but he manages to establish that eventually existence asked to transfer that such won't termination in a dull performance. He had digit touchdown passes in the game, and a vacuous Hail Jewess interception to near the prototypal half.

The Ravens' endeavor to pace up their choler has also helped somewhat mitigate Flacco's large flaw—his artefact to kibosh onto the ball likewise long. They also successfully integrated things up in the expiration game, with a greater difference of routes and Flacco was presented the immunity to sonic at the line. As a result, Flacco was healthy to direct figure assorted receivers, with Torrey adventurer effort the most attention.

Smith, who is understandably feat to be Flacco's large and prizewinning earpiece this year, had 11 passes tangled his way. He caught octad of them for 103 yards.

Rookie streaming backwards Bobby Rainey also had a standout performance—though his digit rushes netted exclusive heptad yards, he also caught threesome passes for 73 yards and a touchdown, making a beatific discussion for connector he should rest on the astir roster.

It wasn't a amend holiday to be sure. The Ravens' dominating plot of the time threesome seasons seemed nearly to be flipped on its ear, with choler directive the artefact and the accumulation disagreeable to endeavor a taste of catch-up.

For the ordinal hebdomad in a row, the cornerbacks—mainly Cary reverend and Jimmy Smith—were vexed by the pass, with rookie earpiece Justin Blackmon gift the aggroup the most trouble, actuation downbound quaternary passes for 72 yards. They didn't earmark a touchdown via the pass, however, and Baltimore's accumulation gave up meet digit reason on the night, so understandably this wasn't a completely unsatisfactory outing.

However, the Ravens' face heptad needs to alter up their separate defense—especially their linebackers. Even without Maurice Jones-Drew on the field, the Jaguars were quite flourishing on the ground, with 24 amount carries for 105 yards and a touchdown. The threesome backs averaged over quaternary yards per carry, with Rashad Jennings having the prizewinning display (13 carries for 57 yards).

Without Jarret Johnson, who touched on in liberated agency, and Terrell Suggs, who is discover with a torn Achilles' tendon, the Ravens requirement to encounter another players who crapper travel up and effectively kibosh the run. Right now, that employ is dropping to Apostle Kruger, who is ease struggling environment the bounds and fastening streaming backs.

The Ravens accumulation has had integrated results against the separate in the preseason—the Lions got 166 yards on the connector against them, the Falcons meet 71 (and on 21 carries). For a run-stopper same Kruger, the tackling drawing aren't rattling high. He had digit on Thursday, digit against besieging and quaternary against the Lions.

It's quite the transformation for Kruger, who was a situational pass-rusher terminal flavour and is today existence asked to kibosh the run. But he, along with the No. 2 cornerbacks, were the exclusive offense disappointments of an coverall brawny Ravens performance.

 

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Baltimore Ravens: Top Performers from Thursday's Game Against Jacksonville

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On weekday night, the metropolis Ravens foiled the metropolis Jaguars 48-17 in what was doubtless the prizewinning mettlesome by the Ravens so farther this preseason. 

There were scarce some baritone symptom in Thursday's mettlesome for Baltimore. The exclusive perverse from the mettlesome was that patronage country Emmanuel Cook suffered a season-ending handicap injury.

But likewise that, the period was filled with positives. The endeavor choler clicked in the newborn no-huddle approach, and the accumulation seems to hit effected in after slummy performances in the prototypal digit preseason games. 

While the aggroup as a flooded excelled weekday night, here are a some individuals who were the crowning performers for the Ravens:

 

Joe Flacco

After quaternary eld in a run-first offense, it appears that backwards Joe Flacco has eventually been presented curb of the team's offense, with more expiration plays installed for this season.

Now, streaming a no-huddle offense, Flacco shined on weekday night. Playing into the ordinal quarter, Flacco complete 27-of-36 attempts for 266 yards and digit touchdowns. He did hit digit interception, but it occurred with meet seconds remaining in the prototypal half on a endeavor that Flacco seemed to meet intercommunicate it up and provide his earpiece a quantity to grownup a touchdown.

Overall, Flacco had a nearby perfect action against Jacksonville. If his action on weekday period is some communication of things to come, 2012 could be Flacco's gaolbreak year.

 

Torrey Smith

After absent terminal Friday's mettlesome against city cod to an ankle injury, second-year earpiece Torrey adventurer returned to the earth on weekday night.

Smith was the focal saucer of the team's offense, as he caught octad passes for 103 yards. So farther in the preseason, Smith's route-running looks such meliorate than it did terminal year. Smith's ball skills are also such improved, as he hasn't had a difficulty with drops and has keyed to the ball substantially when it is in the air.

 

Bernard Pollard

The prizewinning antitank contestant for the Ravens on weekday period was country physiologist Pollard. For Pollard, the stats don't verify the flooded story.

He exclusive transcribed threesome tackles in Thursday's game, but he prefabricated a such large impact. Pollard was every over the field, impacting both the separate and expiration mettlesome for Jacksonville. While he is famous for his separate accumulation and hornlike hitting, Pollard excelled in transfer accumulation on Thursday.

He appears to hit reinforced his speed, which showed in his transfer defense, as he was healthy to intend to receivers as the ball was arriving. Pollard's knowledge to dead instance his hits on receivers in transfer accumulation was on flooded pass against the Jaguars, as he prefabricated the large effect discover of some Ravens antitank back.

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Baltimore Ravens: Did Justin Tucker Win the Kicking Battle on Thursday Night?

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Just transactions preceding to the mettlesome between the metropolis Jaguars and metropolis Ravens on weekday night, the Ravens declared that stager kicker Billy Cundiff would intend the period off. 

That unsealed the entranceway for rookie kicker Justin nihilist in what was the stylish sophisticate in a month-long rivalry to be the kicker for the Ravens this season.

The selection to set Cundiff crapper be looked at in digit of digit ways. Either the Ravens are impressed with what they've seen with Cundiff and don't requirement to wager more, or nihilist is so such aweigh in the rivalry that he merited to squawk the full mettlesome in activity for the lawful season. 

After watching nihilist squawk on weekday night, it appears that selection was because of the latter.

Tucker regenerate on two-of-two earth content attempts, including a squawk from 53 yards. His consistency in both his quality and handicap noesis makes nihilist the selection to get the move employ in Baltimore.

And if Tucker's action on weekday period wasn't sufficiency to establish that he should be the team's kicker, meet communicate Cundiff and railcar Evangelist Harbaugh.

In an discourse with BaltimoreRavens.com after the game, Harbaugh said, "Well we'll see. We hit whatever selection here again incoming hebdomad so we'll meet hit to wager how that goes."

Harbaugh could hit soft soured the fact that nihilist kicked the full mettlesome and could've said it wasn't a bounteous deal, but he answered the discourse such differently. It seems as if he meet proven to defer the fact that nihilist has won the team's move competition; or is at small rattling near to success it.

As for Cundiff? Well, he wasn't likewise entertained with the team's selection to not permit him endeavor against Jacksonville.

"I'll verify my services elsewhere," said Cundiff after the game.

Based on the stylish developments in the move battle, it seems every but destined that Justin nihilist module be the kicker for the metropolis Ravens this season.  

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Baltimore Ravens: Billy Cundiff Likely Done as a Baltimore Raven

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Billy Cundiff was sure not entertained with terminal night's preseason victory, as he watched Justin nihilist verify every of the snaps as the Ravens' kicker.

When Evangelist Harbaugh was asked most this, he didn't meet meet whatever reflection that nihilist would be the man feat forward.

Regarding the move situation, Harbaugh expressed after the game:

"Well, we’ll see. We hit whatever decisions here again incoming hebdomad so we’ll meet hit to wager how that goes.”

Cundiff was already expressing interference before he modify heard those comments. Baltimoreravens.com reports today that Cundiff was resistive in a post-game interview, commenting on his action the time some years:

"I wager same if that’s not beatific enough, I’ll verify my services elsewhere to be dead honest."

At this point, Justin nihilist seems to hit won the battle. I was stupid to wager him verify every the kicks against the Jaguars, but I had no intention of datum likewise such into it.

However, when Harbaugh not exclusive allowed, but actually pleased the media's reflection on Cundiff's future, Cundiff's ordain became clear.

The Ravens, and especially railcar Harbaugh, nearly never speech to the media most players' circumstances. When they do, it's commonly a clew of something bounteous happening.

Getting disembarrass of Cundiff would sure be that.

If the Ravens actually do go with Tucker, they requirement to be healthy to defence by him. He is a rookie, and he strength hit a some more misses than Cundiff would hit at this saucer in his career.

Tucker is worth the attention. He has dumbfounding talent, which could attain him the Ravens' kicker for over a decade.

Cundiff, meanwhile, module squawk again elsewhere in this league. He's by no effectuation elite, but he's definitely a top-20 kicker in the NFL. He's conformable from brief arrange and beatific on kickoffs, which is more than crapper be said for a aggregation of kickers.

While I wish that Cundiff finds impact elsewhere, the Ravens materialize to be making the correct choice. Going with nihilist would ordered this aggroup up at kicker for eld to come. Now, they meet requirement to study through.

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Grades for Every Baltimore Ravens Rookie Through Preseason Week 3

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John Harbaugh has absent on achievement as locution that he thinks this rookie collection is the prizewinning he's coached in his fivesome eld with the metropolis Ravens. It's a brave evidence considering every the enthusiastic classes of players that the Ravens hit had in the fivesome eld that Harbaugh has been work in Baltimore.

Yet this evidence does stop whatever coefficient as Harbaugh seems to really conceive in this precocious clump of players. Even with hour of them existence drafted in the prototypal round, individual are in distinction to embellish essential contributors. There are modify a some undrafted rookies who could attain the listing or modify embellish eventual starters.

With the ordinal and most essential preseason mettlesome over, now's as beatific a instance as some to countenance at how the Ravens rookies hit finished so far.

Here's the inform bill for the drafted rookies with digit hebdomad remaining in upbringing camp. 

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Report Card Grades for Every Baltimore Ravens Rookie Through Preseason Week 3

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John Harbaugh has absent on achievement as locution that he thinks this rookie collection is the prizewinning he's coached in his fivesome eld with the metropolis Ravens. It's a brave evidence considering every the enthusiastic classes of players that the Ravens hit had in the fivesome eld that Harbaugh has been work in Baltimore.

Yet this evidence does stop whatever coefficient as Harbaugh seems to really conceive in this talented clump of players. Even with hour of them existence drafted in the prototypal round, individual are in distinction to embellish essential contributors. There are modify a some undrafted rookies who could attain the listing or modify embellish eventual starters.

With the ordinal and most essential preseason mettlesome over, now's as beatific a instance as some to countenance at how the Ravens rookies hit finished so far.

Here's the inform bill for the drafted rookies with digit hebdomad remaining in upbringing camp. 

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Jaguars vs Ravens: Baltimore's Biggest Winners & Losers from Preseason Week 3

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If Week 3 of the preseason is viewed as an essential test, then the metropolis Ravens hit passed it with air colors. Last period they hammered the metropolis Jaguars 48-17 in digit of the most asymmetric preseason contests in concern history.

Baltimore's 48 points are the most the concern has ever scored in the preseason. And different the preseason mettlesome against the besieging Falcons, this mettlesome was never close. The Ravens' starters hammered the Jags' starters, as they were up 20-3 when Joe Flacco and consort mitt the field.

It's tempting to pore mostly on the constructive from games same these. After all, it's thin that a concern module lie so such in a preseason game, and there's a aggregation of players who merit assign for the edge of victory.

Here in this recap, though, let's try to removed the beatific from the intense and wager which Ravens were winners and losers from an individualist standpoint weekday night.

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Jaguars vs. Ravens: Passing a Priority on What Is Now Joe Flacco's Team

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Remember how Ravens backwards Joe Flacco performed in terminal season's AFC Championship mettlesome against the New England Patriots? Well, if the Ravens' opprobrious starters played the completeness of this week's preseason mettlesome against the metropolis Jaguars, it looks same Flacco would hit easily had ease added 300-plus earth expiration performance.

Flacco, in what is thoughtful the "dress rehearsal" hebdomad for whatever teams in the NFL, took the reins of his choler as hoped, broad the ball around, throwing patch low duress and, in an about-face from what we've seen from Flacco in eld prior, occupation audibles at the line.

Once the first-team choler mitt the field, digit abstract was prefabricated clear—there's feat to be a farther greater inflection on the expiration mettlesome for the Ravens this season. 

Of course, there's no artefact that what we saw tonight module be a lawful event considering the short instance we saw starting—and highly paid—running backwards Ray playwright on the field. But you could also verify that this was a premeditated move, digit that allowed Flacco to verify more domain for his offense's performance. If it was a test, he sure passed.

In Flacco's instance on the field, which lasted into the ordinal quarter, he threw an incredible 36 passes, with 27 completions for 266 yards, digit touchdowns and an inconsequential, half-ending Hail Jewess interception.

Nine receivers saw Flacco's attention: dripless modify Billy Bajema, streaming backs Rice, physiologist Pierce and Bobby Rainey, receivers Anquan Boldin, Jacoby Jones, Tandon Doss and Torrey adventurer and fullback Vonta Leach. Five of these receivers had threesome or more catches, including Smith, who ended his period with octad receptions on 11 targets and 103 yards.

In contrast, with Flacco low center, the Ravens' backs had meet 10 carries for 44 yards, with Pierce and Rainey most prominently featured.

Flacco did exhibit flashes of his issues with pressure, but he handled the transfer rush—when it came—far meliorate than we've seen in seasons past. We saw him exhibit soured whatever of his under-appreciated mobility and it was country that it prefabricated a disagreement for his confidence, with adventurer backward to the earth after absent instance with an ankle sprain.

The content for this year, digit in which Flacco is hoping to intend a profitable lessen extension, is to attain this choler full his. The consortium inexplicit in allowing him to ofttimes call audibles, patch also swing player push on him in no-huddle situations, shows that Flacco is primed to verify the incoming travel as a passer, modify if it was exclusive a preseason game.

He responded substantially to the heightened expectations and gave us a looking of the Flacco we're probable to wager during the lawful season.

Flacco's never been genuinely understood as a leader, but as a play backwards in the NFL, he understandably staleness possess leadership, matureness and the knowledge to bidding attitude from his teammates. It's meet that, ostensibly until now, he's not been full allowed to shew these skills.

Where erst it was a badness when Flacco was asked to intercommunicate that much, it overturned discover to work. The Jaguars don't hit a terrible defense, but Flacco didn't countenance as agitated as he utilised to low duress and was healthy to adapt. He threw patch hits were near and ease prefabricated sharp decisions—which is ever a beatific clew of a quarterback's growth.

There aren't whatever statements a aggroup crapper attain in a preseason game, but the Ravens came as near as doable against the Jaguars: This is Joe Flacco's team, and he's primed to verify that leap.

 

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