Ravens GameBlog: QB battle still murky; Ravens fall to Falcons 10-9
The Ravens were optimistic that tonight's preseason finale would help provide some clarity in the battle for the starting quarterback job. Baltimore's 10-9 loss to the Atlanta Falcons might have actually made the situation even more messy.
Troy Smith had to be sent to Union Memorial Hospital before the game, where he is being treated for what the Ravens are now calling a tonsil infection.
Joe Flacco again got the start under center, and looked good in his quarter and a half of playing time, going 8-for-13 for 72 yards.
Flacco's improved play combined with the injuries to Smith and Kyle Boller leave the starting job very much a toss-up.
Baltimore brought in journeyman Casey Bramlet to serve as a backup to Flacco tonight, and less than 24 hours after signing with the team, Bramlet was on the field. He passed his physical Thursday morning and his only pregame preparations with the team were a couple of meetings and a walk-through at the team hotel.
Bramlet went 7-of-21 for 100 yards, and threw two interceptions in his first action in a Ravens jersey.
"Obviously, there are always a couple of things that you'd like to have back," Bramlet said, "but I felt like I got out there and moved the ball pretty well at the beginning. It was fun just getting back out there."
The game also marked the first preseason action for a handful of players returning from injuries. Tight end Todd Heap, offensive lineman Jared Gaither, and wide receiver Demetrius Williams all saw their first live snaps of the 2008 season.
With the first quarter winding down, Flacco found Williams for a 22 yard completion that kick-started the first scoring drive of the night. The two almost connected for a touchdown later in the drive, but Flacco's pass just went off the hands of the wide receiver, and the Ravens had to settle for a Matt Stover 25 yard field goal.
A second Stover FG gave Baltimore a 6-0 lead, but the Falcons went on top 7-6 right before the half on D.J. Shockley's 20 yard touchdown pass to Brian Finneran.
Jason Elam's 29 yard field goal made it a four-point game, and Stover got the Ravens within one with a 48 yarder late in the third quarter, but the Falcons defense held tough in the fourth and they took the win.
Baltimore ends their preseason with a 1-3 record while Atlanta improves to 2-2.
The Ravens will have the next 10 days to stew over the QB issue, as they kick off the regular season on Sept. 7 against the Cincinnati Bengals.
Postgame Notes
Kick returner Yamon Figurs left the game with a concussion...Running back Cory Ross left the game with a right ankle injury, and X-rays were negative...Jim Leonhard continued his solid preseason, intercepting Falcons QB Joey Harrington in the fourth quarter. He had another pick on the next Atlanta drive, but the play was brought back because of a defensive offside penalty.
Final Stats
Flacco: 8-13, 72 yards
Bramlet: 7-21, 100 yards, 2 INT
Rice: 7 carries, 37 yards; 2 receptions, 6 yards
Patrick: 13 carries, 30 yards; 2 receptions, 35 yards
Clayton: 4 receptions, 38 yards
Wilcox: 3 receptions, 32 yards
Willis: 1 reception, 32 yards
Williams: 1 reception, 22 yards
Dan Kolko's Live GameBlog
Fourth quarter update
M&T Bank Stadium is starting to empty here in the fourth quarter as the clock winds down and the third and fourth-stringers take the field.
Ravens quarterback Casey Bramlet has now thrown two interceptions in his first game in a Ravens jersey. He is 6-of-16 on the day.
Joe Flacco started under center and went 8-for-13 for 72 yards.
Ross injury update
X-rays on Cory Ross' ankle came back negative. Ross took a huge hit from behind in the second quarter and limped off the field.
Same old Joey
We have a Joey Harrington sighting at M&T Bank Stadium.
The former first-round pick out of Oregon replaced D.J. Shockley under center for Atlanta, and he sure looks like the same old Joey Harrington. He holds the ball way too long in the pocket, and gets happy feet when defenders close in on him.
Members of the Atlanta media were counting the number of seconds that Harrington held on to the ball after the snap. They got to "five" on one play, and right as they said the number, Harrington was brought down for a sack.
You've got to feel for a guy that has never lived up to such high potential.
QB notes
Casey Bramlet was signed earlier today, and for a guy that has had less than 24 hours with his new team, he isn't playing too poorly.
His numbers don't look great (5-for-13, 89 yards, INT), but the interception came off a tip, and wasn't entirely his fault. He's done a good job of checking the ball down when there's nothing open down the field, and when he's on the sidelines, he has been picking the brains of Kyle Boller and Joe Flacco.
Boller is in shorts and sneakers, and has been watching the action the entire game. Flacco has been over talking to Boller and Todd Heap since he left the field, while I can't find Troy Smith on the sidelines anywhere. He obviously will not play tonight, as he apparently hasn't yet fully recovered from his viral illness.
Atlanta tacks on 3 more
D.J. Shockley picked up right where he left off in the second quarter. The second-year QB led a long touchdown drive right before the end of the first half, and he opened the third quarter with another scoring drive.
Shockley took the Falcons to the Ravens' 12 before the drive stalled, and longtime Denver Bronco Jason Elam booted a 29 yard field goal, giving Atlanta a 10-6 lead.
A third Matt Stover field goal cut the lead to 10-9.
This is the all-important time for the guys on the roster bubble, who will need to have a good showing to improve their chances of making the 53-man roster.
Fans getting restless
It's that time of the preseason where teams are putting in their third-string guys -- guys that a lot of the fans here in attendence might not recognize.
Some fans in front of the press box have turned to dancing and singing to us to entertain themselves.
One guy in particular, wearing an Ed Reed jersey, has turned around and started doing the shimmy towards those of us in the front row of the press box.
He's got some nice form. Watch out ladies.
Ravens trail 7-6 at the half
Matt Stover had accounted for all the scoring through 29 minutes.
In the final minute before halftime, the Falcons finally got on the board. Atlanta quarterback D.J. Shockley found wideout Brian Finneran over the middle for a 20 yard touchdown, and just like that, the Falcons had the lead.
Shockley moved the Flacons 74 yards in just 44 seconds, accounting for the first major defensive lapse for the Ravens.
Stover's field goals from 25 and 31 yards have been the only scoring for Baltimore.
Halftime Stats
First Downs:
Ravens - 10; Falcons - 5
Total Yards
Ravens - 188; Falcons - 112
Net Rushing Yards
Ravens - 65; Falcons - 29
Net Passing Yards
Ravens - 123; Falcons - 83
Individual Stats
Joe Flacco: 8-for-13, 72 yards
Casey Bramlet: 4-for-8, 57 yards
Ray Rice: 7 rushes, 37 yards
Mark Clayton: 4 receptions, 38 yards
Daniel Wilcox: 3 receptions, 32 yards
Bramlet's debut
Casey Bramlet had a great start in a Ravens jersey, connecting with Daniel Wilcox on a 21 yard pass over the middle on his first snap..
A few plays later, Bramlet walked off the field shaking his head after being intercepted by Thomas DeCoud inside the red zone.
Joe Flacco's night appears to be over. He went 8-for-13 for 72 yards in about a quarter and a half.
Ross rocked
Cory Ross is listed in the Ravens' media guide at 5-foot-6, 205 pounds. That's probably a bit generous.
You usually can't tell Ross is so small (comparatively speaking) because he's such a tough guy. He runs through defenders, and doesn't shy away from anyone. You're rarely left thinking that he's too small to play in this league.
Ross sure looked tiny on a play mid-way through the second quarter, however.
Casey Bramlet was under pressure and checked the ball down to Ross, who had come out of the backfield. Right as the ball got to Ross, Falcons linebacker Stephen Nicholas did as well, lowering his shoulders and levelling Ross with a hit in his back.
Ross got tossed to the ground like a rag doll, and got up limping. He was taken to the locker room with a right ankle injury, and is getting x-rays on the ankle.
Defense holding tough
For the last two games, the Ravens' defense has looked suprisingly mediocre. This is something that fans were not used to seeing, and had many people concerned.
Tonight, the defense has returned to form. Yes, five defensive starters are not playing tonight, and yes, the Falcons are one of the worst offensive teams in the league. But this is exactly the kind of performance John Harbaugh was hoping for out of his defensive unit as we approach games that matter.
The front-seven has looked a lot better tonight, getting pressure on the quarterback and not allowing him to pick the secondary apart. With safety Ed Reed and cornerbacks Chris McAlister and Samari Rolle still out, the defensive front needs to continue to keep the quarterback, be it Matt Ryan or D.J. Shockley, out of his comfort zone.
Flacco vs. Ryan
Here are tonight's numbers for the top two QB's taken in the 2008 draft:
Matt Ryan: 2-for-7, 17 yards
Joe Flacco: 8-for-13, 72 yards
D.J Shockley is in for Atlanta and Casey Brannan replaced Flacco for the Ravens.
Ravens on the board
Finally we've got some scoring.
Joe Flacco and the Ravens marched 63 yards down the field in just over three minutes, and Matt Stover's 25 yard field goal gives them a 3-0 over the Falcons.
On the drive, Flacco was 3-for-4 for 40 yards, and just missed connecting with Demetrius Williams on an 8 yard touchdown. Flacco threw a fade to the back of the end zone, and Williams layed out for it, but the ball bounced off his hands and fell incomplete.
Casey Bramlet, who just signed with the Ravens today, has replaced Flacco here in the second quarter.
Defenses controlling the action
We're almost done with the first quarter, and both teams still have zeros on the board.
Comparing the two rookie quarterbacks to this point, Joe Flacco is 5-for-9 on the game for 32 yards. Matt Ryan, Atlanta's first-round pick, is 1-for-5 for 10 yards.
The Ravens' defense looks much sharper tonight, and they aren't letting Ryan get comfortable in the pocket, coming with pressure off the corners.
No-huddle nothing new for rookie QB
On Baltimore's second possession, their offense went into the no-huddle on third down. Although Joe Flacco is a rookie and is learning a variety of things, the no-huddle is one part of the offense that he is familiar with.
At Delaware, Flacco worked out of the no-huddle for the majority of plays. He would get up to the line, get the play from the sideline, and then look over the defense.
Running the no-huddle stops the defense from being able to make substitutions, and it's one part of the offense that Flacco won't have to learn from scratch.
Coaches letting Flacco fling it
John Harbaugh and Cam Cameron let Joe Flacco air it out on the Ravens' first possession, as seven of Baltimore's nine plays were through the air.
Flacco went 4-of-7 on the drive, which ended when he didn't stay with Demetrius Williams (who is making his first game appearance of the preseason) on a double move. Flacco got the Ravens to the Falcons' 47, but Sam Koch had to come on to punt.
Still 0-0 in B-more.
Top two QB's from 2008 draft on display
Who says the final preseason game can't be entertaining?
One of the fun story lines to watch tonight is Joe Flacco vs. Matt Ryan. Ryan was the first quarterback taken in the 2008 draft, and Flacco the second. Ryan, the third overall pick, has been named the Falcons' starting QB heading into the regular season. The Ravens would prefer to take more time developing Flacco, the 18th overall pick, but they might not have that luxury because of the injury to Kyle Boller and Troy Smith's viral illness.
Underway at M&T
The Ravens have won the toss, and we're underway in Baltimore.
A light rain is coming down, and the seats are about half-filled as fans continue to filter in.
Joe Flacco will start under center for the Ravens.
Roster Update
The Ravens signed quarterback Casey Bramlet earlier today, and released kicker Piotr Czech to create room for Bramlet on the roster.
Bramlet passed his physical earlier today, sat through a couple of meetings and had a walk-through with the offense at the team hotel. He might see some time against the Falcons tonight.
Bramlet was released by the San Diego Chargers earlier in the week, and took the red-eye to get here in time for the game. The journeyman is familiar with Cam Cameron's offense, as he spent part of last season as the Miami Dolphins' third quarterback.
Bramlet has spent time with the Dolphins, Falcons, Redskins and Bengals in his career. He also played in NFL Europe, and was MVP of the 2007 World Bowl, the last NFL Europe game ever played. The league shut down after the 2007 season.
Pregame Notes
The quarterback situation is still very much up in the air, even half an hour before game time.
This much we know: Kyle Boller will not play. He is out with his shoulder injury. Joe Flacco will start under center, but how long he will play is uncertain. Troy Smith is not listed on the aptly named "Not Expected to Play List", but whether that means he actually will play is anyone's guess. I did not see him warming up before the game.
Newly-signed Casey Bramlet will wear #8, and was taking snaps with the offense on the field before the game, so he might see some action sometime tonight.
These are the players not expected to play tonight for the Ravens:
Ed Reed, Chris McAlister, Samari Rolle, Willis McGahee, Derrick Martin, Fabian Washington, Tavares Gooden, Ray Lewis, Marcus Smith, Kelly Gregg
QB Joe Flacco will start for Boller
RB Ray Rice will start for McGahee
NT Justin Bannan will start for Kelly Gregg
CB Frank Walker with start for Chris McAlister
CB Corey Ivy will start for Samari Rolle
S Tom Zbikowski will start for Ed Reed
ILB Nick Greisen will start for Ray Lewis
Game Preview
Atlanta Falcons at Baltimore Ravens
The Ravens complete the preseason tonight at M&T Bank Stadium when they face the Atlanta Falcons, and for coaches and management, the regular season couldn't come soon enough.
It hasn't been the easiest preseason for first-year head coach John Harbaugh, what with the quarterback controversy, injuries to star players and contract holdouts, but Harbaugh wasn't expecting anything different.
"Is it ever smooth? I mean, that's one thing that nobody ever promised with coaching football and being in the NFL," Harbaugh said earlier this week. "I would say it's probably the same with your jobs. It's never smooth, it's never easy. It's exciting, it's challenging."
Harbaugh and the Ravens sit at 1-2 in the preseason, and tonight face a Falcons team that went 4-12 last season. Both teams will open the regular season at home, as the Falcons will head back to Atlanta to face the Detroit Lions on Sept. 7, and the Ravens will welcome the Cincinnati Bengals to town next week.
Here are a couple story lines to keep an eye on tonight:
All QB's, all the time
It could be another challenging night for Harbaugh tonight, as he might only have one healthy quarterback for the second straight game. Rookie Joe Flacco was forced to play the whole game on Saturday against the St. Louis Rams, as Troy Smith was scratched because of a viral illness and Kyle Boller was still recovering from a shoulder injury.
Tonight could be a similar situation, as Boller's injury appears serious enough that he might miss extended time, and Smith is still recovering from his illness. After being ruled out of the battle for the starting QB spot a couple weeks ago, Flacco seems to have made his way back into the discussion, partly by default. If he can continue the momentum he had in the second half against the Rams, the rookie might have a legitimate chance to start against the Bengals on opening day.
Will starters sit?
Often times, starters don't play in the preseason finale, as coaches choose to avoid the risk of injury by keeping their first-stringers on the sidelines. A number of expected starters have already missed time throughout training camp and the preseason, however, and could benefit from some game action before the regular season kicks off.
Offensive lineman Jared Gaither, defensive end Haloti Ngata, cornerbacks Chris McAlister and Fabian Washington, and tight ends Todd Heap and Daniel Wilcox are just a few of those who have not gotten a full compliment of reps so far, and it will be interesting to see how Harbaugh handles their playing time.
Expect Gaither, Ngata and Wilcox to play, but the coaches might be more cautious with McAlister, Washington and Heap.
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