Since the franchise moved to Baltimore, the Ravens have typically been defined by their defense.
A physical, hard-nosed group led by stalwart Ray Lewis has been a staple of the team year after year.
But in 2010, the other side of the ball presents just as many problems — particularly in the passing game.
“They probably have the best group in the league,” Champ Bailey said. “The guys are experienced and we have our hands full this week with them.”
The Ravens’ success has come from the ability to spread the ball around the field. Of the team’s top five pass-catchers this season, two are receivers, one is a tight end, one is a running back and one is a fullback. And that’s excluding T.J. Houshmandzadeh — No. 6 on the team’s reception list — who leads the squad in yards per catch and caught the game-winning touchdown last week against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
In other words, quarterback Joe Flacco has plenty of options. And the young signal caller, who Defensive Coordinator Don “Wink” Martindale said “can throw a strawberry through a battleship,” can take advantage of those weapons on any given play.
“If you take one or two of them away, you are going to get hurt by somebody else,” Head Coach Josh McDaniels said. “You have to play everybody well on every pass.”
Virtually every offensive weapon the Ravens have has been to a Pro Bowl — those top six pass-catchers have 12 trips to the NFL’s all-star game between them.
And the receivers’ skill sets aren’t limited to one facet of the game.
“You have some guys that are deep threats, some guys that are third-down (threats),” Martindale said. “All these guys are good football players and that’s the thing that jumps off the tape at you.”
While the defense knows it can’t stop every weapon on every play, Brian Dawkins said the unit is going to make it hard on every one of them.
“We are going to have to make sure that we are tight on the coverages and make sure that — just like we have every week — everybody’s assignment is sound and we get to the ball,” Brian Dawkins said. “Get there and make sure that we bring a physical presence with us when we get there.”
Bailey can’t wait for the challenge.
“Whoever I am on, that is who I am trying to take away,” the veteran cornerback said. “I don’t won’t to give up too much about what we are going to do, but somebody is going to be in a dog fight all day.”
MEN IN BLACK
Cassius Vaughn and Kyle McCarthy donned black jerseys on Thursday, signifying that they excelled in practice in the week leading up to last Sunday’s victory against the Tennessee Titans.
Spencer Larsen (ankle), Knowshon Moreno (hamstring) and Jamal Williams (non-injury related) did not participate in Thursday’s practice. Andre’ Goodman (quadricep) and Wesley Woodyard (hamstring) saw limited participation in the session. Bailey (non-injury related), who did not participate in Wednesday’s practice, was back in action.
For the Ravens, T Jared Gaither (back), LB Tavares Gooden (shoulder), DE Paul Kruger (knee) and WR Donte’ Stallworth (foot) did not participate in practice for the second day in a row — all four players have been listed as out of Sunday’s game. CB Fabian Washington (illness) did not participate on Thursday. LB Edgar Jones (thigh) had limited participation for the second consecutive practice, and TE Todd Heap (shoulder), RB Le’Ron McClain (shoulder) and RB Ray Rice (knee) all participated fully in Thursday’s session.
-Gray Caldwell, DenverBroncos.com
Tags: Baltimore Ravens, Brian Dawkins, Champ Bailey, Week 5
I don’t understand what Xanders wants to wait till the end of the season for??? He is the gm isn’t it his job to do to contract negotiations haha? DO YOUR JOB MAN!!! And if its distracting for the the team then just get the extension done so they don’t have to worry about it. Im just saying they shouldn’t wait till the last minute because he may feel disrespected by this and just go somewhere else. PAY THE MAN!!!!
31-17 broncos
I sure do hope the boys come to “strap it up” like Ray has said in the past! I know we got the talent, the leadership, and the coaching to win this game. It’s execution now! Simply execution. Each play until the whistle stops.
I loved Dawkins’s comments (actually they were the same last week) FLY TO THE BALL. I wanna see them boys just crashing down on Rice!
You guys can do this! all 22 players working together!
GO GET EM’ BOYS!
Here’s a writeup from Fanhouse – Barry Barnes NFL writer.
Denver Broncos vs Baltimore Ravens Preview.
“This contest can be best described as the ‘Unstoppable Force vs. the Immovable Object’. The unstoppable force in the Denver Broncos’ No. 1 ranked passing attack and total offense which will invade M&T Bank Stadium to take on the NFL’s No. 1 ranked passing and total defense in the Baltimore Ravens”.
“The significance placed on statistics is because neither team has been truly challenged in those areas. The Broncos (2-2) have not faced a quality defense and the Ravens (3-1) have not been challenged through the air”.
“Since the arrival of Broncos head coach Josh McDaniels, they are 4-0 in the month of October and that record may be in jeopardy because of the success the Ravens have against them. The Ravens are 4-0 (including the playoffs) against the Broncos when they play in Baltimore and lead the all-time series at 5-3. Baltimore is 15-10 against AFC West opponents, but under head coach John Harbaugh, they are 5-0.
“Sunday’s matchup will be the Ravens’ second home game of the season and this will be the Broncos third game away from Mile High. Both teams are coming off close victories from last Sunday and when it’s all said and done the league will see which vaunted unit is the real”.
Well, another day, another subject, funny how many are underestimating Flacco because of his two poor first games this season, but according to Martindale and Bailey they are definitely not buying it, and neither do I:
Flacco gets hot just in time to face Broncos-by Legwold
“Just a big, tall, strong kid who can throw a strawberry through a battleship,” Broncos defensive coordinator Don Martindale said.
In the last two games, in victories over Cleveland and Pittsburgh, Flacco was a 46-of-68 passing (67.6 percent) with four touchdowns and one interception.
In last Sunday’s victory against the Steelers, Flacco was 4-of-4 on the game-winning drive.
“He’s so calm back there, you never see him get rattled or get emotional at all,” Broncos cornerback Champ Bailey said. “You could see that last week.”
With Mason, Boldin, Houshmandzadeh and Heap to worry about in the air, complimented with Rice and McGahee on the ground, we better not underestimate Flacco, good thing Stallworth is out for the game!
Some teams do absolutely fantastic jobs of amassing great players, I mean look at the names on that offense, and that’s the week part of their team, you should see the names on their defense, LOL.
Harbaugh is definitely doing it opposite of McD, in Baltimore they get as many big names as they can and they have what it takes to mold them into a great team. In Denver McD gets rid of most of the big names because he doesn’t have the know-how to mold them into a team, so instead he does it with a lot of average names.
It’s obvioulsy by necessity since he does not know yet how to earn the respect of the big names in the game. How long does that take? Isn’t that like a pre-requisite of coaching, you’re the head coach, you mold your top players into the team you need, you are the teacher, you speak they listen sort of thing. But I guess when you can’t do that the next solution is shipping them out…
Anyhow respect is something you earn, it is not given to you because of your title and so far McD hasn’t figured out how to earn it, how to make the big shots play for you all out, can’t wait to see McD figuring it all out so we can hold on to bunches of big names like the Ravens, just not one here and there, Dawkins, Bailey, NT Williams kind of and that’s kind of it, no big name on O I can think of other than Clady, at least not yet, so that’s three big names and a maybe. I have a suggestion, we ought to be named the “no name O”, that’s an adequate nickname if you ask me.
the weak part.. haha.
Watch, some bloggers are going to come on here and take my post apart piece by piece to show me how much I am erring in my thinking, LOL.
But nobody cares, I think my way, you think yours, spice of life. To those of you who love to disagree with ones who don’t think like you, just try to come up with new subjects on your own, take the lead, say something new, now that’s a little tough isn’t it? much easier just to take a guy like me who does major production work here daily and point out all the things I say that don’t quite line up with your stars.
Be your own man, be original, keep the blog going with something fresh you can bring us, but that is probably to much to ask, oh well, can’t blame a guy for trying. And this was for just a few bloggers here, many of the ones I respect greatly don’t get into that petty way of blogging, they actually contribute their minds to the blog, like OC, SNDVL and BFE among others, and they do it with a great sense of humor, key ingredient for fun blogging. Just don’t take so much exception to my opinions because they are going to keep on coming, and they are not posted to rile up folks, they are posted because that’s what’s in my heart, love it or hate it, I don’t really care like TRB would say, another great blogger may I add.
Last years matchup Ravens snapped a 3 game losing streak. Broncos were undefeated and began downward spiral after Ravens game.
Ravens were up 13-0 after 2nd half kickoff return by Webb for TD.
Broncos responded with an 86-yard march fueled by three Baltimore penalties totaling 44 yards. A 39-yard pass interference call on former Bronco Domonique Foxworth and an offside by Ed Reed on a fourth-and-1 led to a 1-yard touchdown run by Knowshon Moreno.
Flacco then went on a role that concluded with a TD pass to Derrick Mason.
Ray Rice rushed for 84 yds against Broncos last season. Ravens up 23-7 with a minute to go when Rice padded lead with TD run.
Baylin, you wouldn’t possibly be upset at McD and Xanders about stopping contract talks with Champ would you?
after reading your posts today i would agree with you that coach has a tough time keeping marquee talent and the bailey news kind of backs that up
LMAO.. Yesterday’s news…
eddie, maybe it’s just as simple as the Broncos have made up their mind that Bailey doesn’t fit the team plans long term, just like The Pats did with Moss, and that’s ok with me if they have a better plan without Bailey that is, what drew my ire is the way in which the negotiations were strung along and Bailey was led on to have an offer, just for the Broncos to suddenly pull out, that showed no respect for Bailey whatsoever and how poorly players have been treated on our team obviously points to a major malfunction in McD’s regime. The trade deadline is the 17th I think, don’t anyone be shocked if Bailey is on his way out of town.
McD’s reasoning: If Belicheck can do it with Moss, I can do it with Bailey, LOL. Could it be the Moss deal rang a bell inside McD’s head, and McD said hold on guys to Bowlen and Xanders, maybe we shouldn’t pay all this money to Bailey that’s on the table now and we should just walk out of the negociations and explore what’s out there just like the Pats did Moss. You are what you are, McD is a Belicheck disciple, I wouldn’t put it past him.
I think it’s more like Ty Law back in his New England days. After Law was ousted in New England he showed he could still play elsewhere. Heck, Law even ended up playing for McD here in Denver. The difference is that Law helped his team to championships and Bailey is more than likely on his last chance to help us to one unless we can get something done with his contract at the end of the year.
Big difference is Law had a heck of a defense on his side the entire time there, while Bailey had horrendous defenses all along here, life has been good to Bailey money wise, however championship wise is another story, but the money sure can ease out a lot of pain, however I can see Bailey traded to Baltimore this year and winning a SB in 4 months.
that hurts but i could see that. in bailey’s defense though he has not had any consistency for defensive coaching staff throughout his time here which goes to show how great of a player and teammate he is. Pats had several great assistants and coordinators that were typically promoted in house. we haven’t had any such luck from our defensive coaches until this year when we promoted Wink. I think that if we let Bailey and our younger corners develop together under Wink we have a great shot. Point and case is that I don’t belive we will let Bailey go this season because our defense is starting to show some consistency. If we don’t at least make post season then the Ravens would be a great home for Champ and he deserves to have a chance to win the big one.
Yeah, the Ravens need a top corner, they are right there everywhere else to get that trophy, and they got depth at LB which we are short on, and we have depth at corner which could make Bailey expendable, the stars are pretty well aligned, plus Bailey would love it, having a shot at a title now.
Anyway guys, tomorrow is the last day to place you score prediction.
That guy’s handle makes me hungry…
Bay,
I was dissapointed that you didnt mentioned me on your blog about people you respect, ha jus messing with you. Blog away! I love reading your comments and posts. Your one of the few that brings different stuff on the blogs!
ILMSDB
24
28-17 Ravens
Wanna post a link to your blog, bay?
Thanks 24, I try, ok, you’re on my good list now, LOL.
I do not have a blog, this is it, what you see is what you get, I think I said something regarding the DP writers here a while back that was misunderstood, you’re not the first one asking that.
Denver_Broncos: Head Coach Josh McDaniels announced that Knowshon Moreno and Spencer Larsen will not play Sunday at Baltimore. #fb
17-13 Broncos
Did anyone watch the NFL Network’s AFC playbook last night???
They all 3 said Lloyd would be shut down by the Ravens Defense.
But they all also agreed Boldin would beat the Broncos Defense.
If we put Champ on him,there’s no way he torches us,respect us!!!!!!
it all depends on how we play in the trenches and it will be a very tough test for vickerson this week although he has been a nice surprise, would like to see more results from our outside blitzes but as long as we shut down the run that will help force flacco into tougher 3rd down situations. Flacco isn’t as decisive in the pocket as Orton and he depends on a good run game for success in the passing game.
did I already give you one bay?
Yeah Yovi we win 20 -17
Wow – imagine that Foxworth and Bailey playing for the Ravens ??
(Well next year for Foxy anyway).
Can’t remember a time where I’ve seen so many former Broncos spread throughout the league as in recent years. In addition to the ones bay mentioned, there’s also:
Ben Hamilton (Seahawks)
Mike Bell (Eagles)
Chris Myers (Texans)
Karl Paymah (Texans)
Ryan Torain (Redskins)
Clinton Portis (Redskins)
Vonnie Holiday (Redskins)
Cory Lichenstieger (Redskins)
Cooper Carlisle (Raiders)
Andra Davis (Bills)
Gerard Warren (Patriots)
Casey Weigmann (Chiefs)
Montrae Holland (Cowboys)
Tim Crowder (Buccaneers)
Dominik Hixon (Giants)
Hamza Abdullah (Cardinals)
Alfonso Smith (Detroit)
Domonique Foxworth (Ravens)
I’m sure I forgot someone…lol !
Some of these players were drafted by us, some came for only a short spell. At any rate we know the NFL is a business.
Agree with bay. Don’t like how this was handled with Bailey, but then again the way of handling things by the new regime shouldn’t surprise me anymore.
I saw that BFE. They still give zero respect to the Broncos. Oh well, I guess I’m getting used to it. I for one, would be disgusted if they traded champ before the deadline.
Here is some food for thought. What would our record be if we had Doom healthy and either White or Hillis? In my opinion, we would probably be undefeated. But those are just pipe dreams.
Overall, I’m not too disappointed in our start. I have been getting sick of the fast starts and then total deflation at the end of the season. If this team can keep improving and fix the run game, we could definitely be in the running for an AFC west championship and a playoff spot. I hope that is the approach the team is taking and it seems like that is the case. Keep improving over the year and start peaking in the end of november. I was happy to see McD’s last press conference, he is being realistic and realizes that we absolutely NEED to fix the run game to have a shot at making the playofffs. This game againts the ravens will be a HUGE challenge and will let us know how we are progressing as a team.
Hey, I’m not on Bay’s good list either. Does that mean Santa isn’t coming this year? LMAO just messing with you Bay.
I’ve always respected your realistic stance on topics. You do a fantastic job for all of us bloggers researching and providing us with relevant information and insight. As a matter of fact, it is difficult to provide new information at times because you do such a great job of getting all the new info to us.
By the way, I did give my prediction, didn’t I?
There is one statement that keeps coming up when it comes to our losing situation with star players.
“the NFL is a buisness”.
I agree that the buisness of the NFL is a large factor in the handling of players contracts but there is a point that I think is getting missed in this idea.
We must examine all the factors and statements that lead up to the trades or releases of players. The fact of the matter is that with Josh there is always a personal or personality conflict with most of the players that have been dealt.
We must not chalk every bad decision up to ” the NFL is a buisness” statement. If it was just buisness there would be no airing the laundry out in public. There would be no hard feelings towards the coach.
I’ve seen a couple lists of recent players not with us anymore. Lets take a second look at a list of those players and see wich ones left on good terms from “buisness decisions” and wich ones left on bad terms because of personality conflict with the head coach.
If the coach can alienate the most highly respectable pro bowl player on our team, the Face of the Denver Broncos franchise (Champ Baily), I’m pretty sure he could piss off the Pope… I’m just sayin this…
If Champ Baily gets traded from my team then I am going to be sndvls’ new best buddie and join the FMcD campain..
I LOVE ME SOME CHAMP BAILY!!!!!!
I WILL NOT PUT UP WITH MY FAVORITE PLAYER BEING TRADED….. AGAIN!!!
Yes, you said we win 21-17, man, of course you are on my good list, so many good bloggers out here couldn’t name them all, like rbf1, that’s why I said among others, actually everyone here is cool when they want to. Thanks for the very nice props, beats the beat downs, LOL.
NFL.com reports that Josh McDaniels was asked about the contract talks with Champ,then goes on to state that he has no comment.
Champ is one of the nice guys,and he is peeed off,that tells you right there that something is wrong,a lot of people say don’t worry about it,it’ll get done,well I got news for you,what if it don’t?? Cox is the best replacement we have for him,and that’s a big f’n step down.
I can remember back when we lost 3 Superbowls,mostly because our Defense lacked the talent,especially at the Corner position,sure would hate to see us go there again.
Sorry for bringing up old news,but I’m still outraged,and don’t give a damn who don’t like it.
Yeah it’s funny how they hate on us on Playbook. I thought at least Sterling would take our side. We’ll see how it goes.
And Baylin, if you’re gonna give us the nick name of “no name o” you better check with more than half the league and see if they don’t already have dibs. If you have more than one or two pro-bowlers on your o-line you’re the exception, not the rule.
I don’t buy that Harbaugh is a guru at handling stars and McDaniels is the worst at doing it. Anyone coach can walk into Baltimore and the names are gonna work together because they have Ray Lewis. They see a guy who is one of the greatest middle line backers of all time working as hard as he can at every practice and doing exactly what the coach tells him, they’re gonna do the same thing. They’ve had a lot of coaches since they became a franchise and they’ve always had stars that worked together and it’s because of Ray. And McDaniels is par for the course when it comes to coaches stepping in and taking over a new team;. They gut it and remodel it and usually after three years there’s only 4 or 5 players left from when they started. Don’t believe me? Look at what Mike Ditka did to every team he’s coached, most notably what he did to the Bears between 1982 and 1985. Look at what Mike Holmgren’s done with the Packers, the Seahawks, and the Browns. Shoot look at what Todd Haley’s been doing since 2009.
And when do “average players” get to graduate to being stars? Is it when they lead the league in passing yards? Or when they come in second behind Reggie Wayne for recieving yards? Is it when they have the best rookie opener in franchise history? Nope. It’s when sportscenter calls them a star. I’m sure in 1997 ESPN thought we only had three stars: Elway, Davis, and Atwater. But we knew we had Rod Smith, Ed McCaffrey, Tom Nalen, Ray Crockett… the list goes on. By my definition of star (playing like one) McDaniels is getting plenty to get out there and work their tails off on the practice field and in games.
Above post was for Big D, and way to go OC, tell us exactly how you feel, I don’t know one way or the other about trading Bailey or not, but after all we’ve seen I wouldn’t be surprised one bit if that was the case. Next thing we will sign Orton long term next year and trade Tebow, and that will definitely kill whatever’s left of OC, LOL.
17-14 Broncos
Just like I said.
The trade deadline is week 6 right? If Champ isn’t gone by then then I think they’ll work something out for him to be here. If he’s not… man I don’t know what we could get from another team to compensate for him but I hope we get whatever that is. And if they traded Tebow I’d take back everything good I said about McDaniels just before I laid down and died haha.
You tell’em OC……giv’em Hell!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
You had the same score? Do I have to change mine?
No, we have ties.
And that wasn’t my score, I was just referring to when I said earlier somebody would come in take my post apart and argue every point of it, and you did, haha.
Oh I get it haha. But hey don’t I always do it without attacking your right to feel the way you do? Yesterday I called out one of my fellow McD supporters for saying that we should all be here only to say good things about the Broncos. And I think I can count on more than one hand the times I’ve said “I agree with Baylin” “It’s like Baylin said”or something to that extent. We have naturally opposing views but I respect you, brotha!
It’s all cool, I just pointed it out because it was funny, it turned out exactly as I said it would, guess that’s what happens when you’ve been at it for a long time, you come to know what to expect, but you are always doing it in proper fashion so good for you, however sometimes with you it’s like we all are back on the debate team in high school, I bet you excelled in that, right? LOL. Anyhow don’t take it badly if I don’t always get into long conversations with you, it’s just that at my age debating to no end kind of loses it’s appeal, I’m good with it for a while, but I move on, just thought you should know.
I don`t see us trading Champ befoe the deadline. Besides Elvis, Champ is our best players on D. That would defeat the purpose of what we are doing in the long run. Totally stupid to get rid of Champ. I could be dead wrong though, thats for sure. McD has dismantled most of our talent in just a short 1 1/2 years, so with McD, anything could happen. If we trade Champ or don`t sign him for the remainder of his career, I`m gonna be totally one pissed off fan. Enough is enough already. Come on McD, pull your head out.
And like an hourglass,so goes the Days of our Lives.
It’s like a freaking soap opera around here anymore.
Whats gonna happen next??too much drama for me!!!
I guess I’ll go camping Sunday/Monday and miss the game,I hate to,but since it’s a holiday,and the kids are out for Fall break,prob be the last chance I get before it gets cold.
Relax,kickback,and drink plenty of cold beer,that seems to put everything in perspective at least a little,who knows I might ride the 4 wheeler and maybe even do some fishing.
BFE
Sounds like great fun BFE, enjoy, the outdoor is my escape too no doubt, that and beer, haha.