The neatest thing concerning the Ravens’ 23-game preseason profitable streak is that it beats the choice.
The nationwide media likes to harp on the profitable streak, and coach John Harbaugh hypes it as much as a level, but it surely’s laborious to place a lot credence in it, particularly when these video games are downright unattractive.
The most tense second of the Ravens’ 17-15 win in opposition to Washington Commanders on Saturday night time was whether or not staff mascot Poe was severely injured throughout halftime in a recreation in opposition to children.
That’s true. He was carted off the sphere however returned within the third quarter.
This streak has change into so “life or death” that Harbaugh had rookie vast receiver Raleigh Webb enjoying security on the finish of the sport. Most of the media was questioning if that was rookie punter Jordan Stout, who shares the No. 11 jersey with Webb.
So, please squelch the streak discuss. Few followers care concerning the Ravens being undefeated in six preseasons.
When the Commanders had been trailing 17-15 with the ball on their very own 20 with two minutes left within the recreation, the remaining crowd of about 15,000 wasn’t screaming wildly on each play. M&T Bank Stadium wasn’t rocking, and Washington didn’t have any issue overcoming the group noise.
Most of the followers had been simply sitting there having fun with dialog and speaking about each different factor however the recreation. Last season, when the Ravens completed 8-9 and missed the playoffs, nobody cared what their preseason report was. They definitely didn’t care about it when the Ravens received the Super Bowl within the 2012 season.
Maybe the NFL ought to deal with preseason video games like varied counties deal with highschool scrimmages. Coaches are forbidden from posting the ultimate rating and even speaking about excellent particular person performances. They simply grade the movie and prepare for the subsequent contest.
The Ravens and Commanders sat practically all of their starters Saturday night time, which is why Baltimore ran out of defensive backs and Webb was on the sphere.
“[The streak] is significant,” Harbaugh mentioned. “It’s significant to the guys who were out there.”
When last cuts are made Tuesday afternoon, many of the gamers on the market Saturday received’t even be on the roster.
Getting his ft moist
Rookie middle Tyler Linderbaum, one in all two first-round draft picks, was one in all three Ravens starters within the opening lineup.
Linderbaum missed two weeks of observe due to a foot damage, so Harbaugh apparently thought he wanted some enjoying time. The former Iowa star was fast, which allowed him to get into mixture blocks and attain defenders within the second stage, however he must get stronger on the level of assault.
He ought to be capable to bulk up with one other offseason within the weight room.
That’s a shock
In considerably of a shock transfer, Harbaugh stored beginning defensive lineman Justin Madubuike on the sphere for your entire first quarter.
I’m unsure if Harbaugh was making an attempt to ship Madubuike a message about being harder, or simply felt the third-year professional wanted extra enjoying time like Linderbaum.
He’s received the contact
I don’t know if quarterback Anthony Brown is destined to play lengthy within the NFL, however the undrafted free agent out of Oregon throws a reasonably good lengthy ball.
That 67-yard landing go to Demarcus Robinson within the second quarter confirmed nice arm energy and contact. Brown additionally had a 52-yard completion to Robinson early within the third quarter.
Making a push
It’s unsure whether or not weakside linebacker Josh Ross will make the ultimate roster, but it surely received’t be from an absence of hustle.
The undrafted rookie out of Michigan runs down every little thing to the surface and has the power to learn offenses and slide into holes and cracks. He has been one of many staff’s most bodily tacklers all through the preseason.
Ross was the staff’s prime tackler Saturday night time with 11, together with seven solo.
That’s hustle
The hustle award goes to third-year defensive finish Broderick Washington. He missed a sack on Commanders rookie quarterback Sam Howell late within the first quarter however received up and ran Howell down to complete the play.
Late within the second quarter, he chased down a display go and compelled an incompletion. Those sorts of performs might be the distinction between a participant making the staff or getting reduce.
Veteran voice
The Ravens have the luxurious of having the ability to put veteran security Tony Jefferson on the sphere in these meaningless preseason video games.
The nine-year veteran has made a number of large performs within the three exhibition video games and offered protection on the again finish, particularly for linebackers who’ve had bother dropping into protection. He made 9 tackles in opposition to Washington.
The Ravens have a number of choices at security, however Jefferson ought to discover a method to keep in Baltimore. He has change into a pacesetter on the again finish of the protection.
()
Source: www.bostonherald.com