Baltimore

[Irish]

I'm riding the Ravens -3 for a few reasons.

Vick (of course) only playing one series. Everyone saw proof last year, this offense doesn't move without him behind center.

Ravens are tough at home, and should be pretty up about the game. Ray Lewis has no Pre-season/season switch, He will be full out tonight.

Most of a Kordell Stewart/ Musa Smith....I know Stewart is a joke, BUT he is a pre-season all star. He will rush for a few yards against the 2nd teamers of Atl. Plus Musa is a big strong back like Lewis and should add some production. Also looking at anew head coach Mora vs. Billick and Fassell.

I also look at the Rookie QB that will come in later in the game, Schaub vs Harris. Schaub was the better college QB, but Harris did more with less talent around him.

GL
Irish

 

[gardenweasel]

just a heads up.....bad weather...thunderstorms and heavy rain projected....

the ravens actually have more than a couple good,young wide-outs battling for roster spots.....randy hymes at around 6`4' or 6`5" showed a lot of promise before getting injured last year...

also ron johnson,6`6" clarence moore fron n.arizona(was projected as a big-time sleeper on many draft boards) and devard darling from wash st could be factors....another guy that has looked very good in camp is ex-usc speedster kareem kelly.....i know billick wants to look at these guys in their new version of a spread offense(what the ravens version of a spread offense is,i don`t know...lol)....

if the weather isn`t ridiculous,i wouldn`t be surprised to see much more than usual from the passing game...

g.l.

 

[Irish]

GW Thanks for the heads up, but a sloppy game also favors the Ravens because they have the more mobile QB's. Fumbles would be the only worry. Balt's spread offense -HA, I'm still thinking a heavy dose of run will be used. With Lewis legal problems Billick will want to get a good look at Smith and Taylor. The best thing about Billick is he is predictable. He normally plays first & second string and a little bit of third string first pre-season game. In preseason games 3/4 your looking at 2 plays from starters and maybe 1 quater from second teamers most devoted to last cuts.

With that being said I think Boller will play a quater, then Kordell for 2 and 3 followed up with Harris. I like Ty Detmer vs. 1st string Baltimore defense for at least a few plays.

Still think Baltimore is the play. With the weather moving in I'm starting to look at the under as well.

GL
Irish

 

[Hooks]

Believe I read that Detmer wiil be out a couple of weeks.

 

[gardenweasel]

irish.........should be interesting seeing whether fassel actually injects a little life into this offense....lord knows,billick loves offense....just hasn`t had the skill at q.b. and receiver to open things up....

with some talented young receivers and a deep running game,they may finally have some balance on offense to go with that defense...

g.l.

 

[Howie]

Interesting tidbit from the Atlanta Journal regarding the Falcon's D-line:

With five of the top eight defensive linemen on the team's pre-camp depth chart out or absent, and starting left end Kerney (groin pull) slated to be a game-time decision, a lot of young players will get extra work.

-Howie

 

[Howie]

With that being said I think Boller will play a quater, then Kordell for 2 and 3 followed up with Harris. I like Ty Detmer vs. 1st string Baltimore defense for at least a few plays.

Still think Baltimore is the play. With the weather moving in I'm starting to look at the under as well.

GL
Irish

Here's the Falcon's Injury Report:
Wounded list

These starters will not play because of injuries: tight end Alge Crumpler (bone bruise in knee), right defensive end Brady Smith (same), nose tackle Ed Jasper (same) and middle linebacker Chris Draft (asthma).

These reserves will be out: Cornerbacks Tod McBride (knee tendinitis) and Derek Ross (knee tendinitis), wide receivers Terrence Edwards (concussion) and Kendrick Mosley (sprained knee), defensive tackle Demetrin Veal (strained hamstring), offensive lineman Jaret Peck (strained hamstring), defensive end Will Overstreet (sprained left shoulder).

Backup flanker Brian Finneran, who missed four games last season with a broken left hand, is expected to play despite breaking the tip of his left index finger. He'll wear a splint.


This is from Baltimore Sun regarding QB time:

The best protection the Ravens can give is to keep Boller with the starters. That means he will be limited to 15 to 20 plays tonight - which is fewer than the Ravens ideally would want for him - and about 80 plays for the entire preseason.

Kordell Stewart will take over for Boller sometime during the second quarter tonight, and rookie Josh Harris will play most of the second half.

-Howie

 

[Irish]

Thanks for the info guys!

Was going to add the under but you just never know in pre-season. Sticking with Ravens -3 as my only call. Hope Bollers new number is a lucky #7 tonight!

GL
Irish

 

[gardenweasel]

ummmm hmmm

ummmm hmmm

:thumb: