Archives for October 2010

‘Said Harbaugh: “I’m very pleased with Willis. Willis has been fabulous the last two years. He’s worked very hard. He’s in the best shape I’ve ever seen him right now, and that’s saying a lot because he was in shape when I got here. He has to be a big part of what we’re doing for the rest of the season. I’m a little disappointed we didn’t get him in. That’s my fault. I took responsibility for that. He should have played more against New England. He’s going to play against Buffalo, and he’s going to play down the road as we go.”‘

‘”No, motivation is not an issue right now. First of all, professionals should play the game as hard as they can play it each week. They should prepare each week as professionals. It’s more fun when you win, but the preparation and the work ethic and the motivation to go out and do your best should be at the top level because these are the top people in the league.”‘

Ravens’ Ed Reed makes long-awaited return (Baltimore Sun)

New rules on hits to head not likely to make game safer (Baltimore Sun)

Ravens’ McGahee says he has no disciplinary issues (Baltimore Sun)

All signs point to Reed’s return (Carroll County Times)

Suggs won’t change his style of play (Carroll County Times)

Ravens’ Reed poised to return after 6-week absence (AP)

Ravens’ Reed practices (The Sports Network)

Inside slant (The Sports Xchange)

Strategy and personnel (The Sports Xchange)

Notes, quotes (The Sports Xchange)

Press Conference Transcript – Practice 10/20 (BaltimoreRavens.com)

Motivation Not An Issue For Winless Bills (BaltimoreRavens.com)

Super Bowl XXXV 10th Anniversary Celebration (BaltimoreRavens.com)

‘Ravens 23, Bills 3.’

‘The last Bills team to start 0-6 was that ’85 team that wound up 2-14. The 1984 Bills, which also finished 2-14, lost its first 11 games.’

‘The Bills are facing a Ravens team that has made the playoffs three of the past four years and has re-tooled for another Super Bowl run. Coach Jim Harbaugh’s team is built on running the ball and stopping the run and usually comes out on top in physical, low-scoring affairs. Baltimore’s starting lineup has nine former first-round picks. Since Buffalo can’t match this talent, it must match Baltimore’s intensity and physicality. For a team that’s been manhandled most of the year, that’s a tall order. The Ravens’ No. 3 defense, which could receive a boost if injured Pro Bowl safety Ed Reed sees his first action of the season, is vulnerable at the corners and Ryan Fitzpatrick will have to try and attack deep to open up the running game against a rugged Baltimore front seven.’

’74 — Number of points the Bills have been outscored by, the highest margin in the NFL.’

‘"In our game, we’re taught to play fast, we’re taught to be physical. So things like that are going to happen. For them to be able to say ‘Well, all hits like that are fineable, you can get suspended,’ I think they’re taking it too far," said Posluszny.’

‘”I know the mindset of our football team,” Gailey said. “I know what kind of young men we have on our football team. I know where we want to go and we’ve got a plan to get there and that’s all I can say. We’ve got a plan. We’re going to get there. I told the players, ‘I don’t know if it’s going to take two games, five games, eight games, I don’t know how many it’s going to take, but we’re going to get there.'”‘

‘Zero is not an acceptable number for a player whose nine interceptions-as a rookie, no less-last season earned him a Pro Bowl selection and a share of the league lead.’

‘”Our focus is trying to win a football game, getting some confidence back, trying to get a feeling of happiness,” receiver Lee Evans(notes) said. “We’re not trying to say there’s nothing bad going on. But if we sat up here and thought about everything bad going on, it would make it real hard to come in.”‘

‘"The one thing I’d say about Cordaro, the game doesn’t seem to be too big for him. He goes out there and handles his business," the coach said. "It doesn’t matter what the situation is or who he’s lined up against."’

‘It took five winless games to figure it out, but it appears Gailey now sees that asking so many holdover players, who had never played the 3-4, to learn new positions, new techniques and new responsibilities, was foolhardy.’

‘Gailey is realizing that the offense, which he has personally taken control of, is lacking in top-line talent, especially on the offensive line and at quarterback. As for the defense, it’s clear the staff underestimated the ability of these players to adapt to the 3-4 defense. It was an ill-conceived project from the start because the Bills were built to play a 4-3, and they weren’t bad in 2009. But they simply have too many players trying to learn new positions, techniques and responsibilities to succeed in the 3-4. George Edwards is in way over his head as the coordinator.’

‘There aren’t many other teams in the league where Steve Johnson would be a starter, but the former seventh-round draft pick is one in Buffalo, and he’s been taking advantage of it recently. Johnson has four TD receptions in his last three games for the pop-gun Bills’ passing attack. "Scoring a touchdown is great," Johnson said, "but it doesn’t mean too much when you’re scoring and you’re losing." Johnson, not Lee Evans, leads the team with 17 catches and four TDs, and his 214 yards trail only Roscoe Parrish. All of Johnson’s TDs have come since Ryan Fitzpatrick took over at QB. "We’ve always been able to connect," Johnson said. "I know what he’s doing, he knows what (I’m) doing. We’ve just got to get everybody on the same page."’