Archives for September 2013

Buffalo native, Ravens corner Corey Graham looking forward to game against hometown Bills (Baltimore Sun)

Previewing the Ravens vs. Bills (Baltimore Sun)

New start for Ravens CB Jimmy Smith (Baltimore Sun)

Scouting report previewing the Ravens-Bills matchup (Baltimore Sun)

Matchup with Bills appears favorable for Ravens (Carroll County Times)

Five questions for Ravens at Bills (CSN Baltimore)

Buffalo by the numbers (CSN Baltimore)

Key matchups to watch (CSN Baltimore)

Will the Ravens be a strong road team this season? (CSN Baltimore)

Five predictions for Sunday (WNST-AM)

Three Keys to Victory (WNST-AM)

Time To Move On From Overkilled Topic (BaltimoreRavens.com)

Marcus Spears The Hunter (BaltimoreRavens.com)

‘The Bills will likely get a boost due to being home once again, but their banged up secondary is as daunting a task to overcome as any. Combine that with perhaps the return of one of the league’s best running backs (Ray Rice) from an injury and a quarterback that can take advantage of deep throws down the field, it’s not the best recipe for success. The Bills should be able to do some good things on defense and keep it closer than some think early on, in which they should target the suddenly struggling left tackle Bryant McKinnie. In the end though, the advantages and overall depth of talent on the Baltimore roster is what wins out.’

‘”I say you didn’t get beat, you gave ’em one,” Henderson said after the Bills’ practice Friday in Ralph Wilson Stadium. “Take that mentality. You gave ’em one. Somewhere in your technique, you didn’t do something right. But if that guy runs the same play the next time, I guarantee you’ll make that play.”‘

‘Said coach John Harbaugh: “We’re hoping he’ll get there. He’s got a better chance than he had last week. He has practiced, to an extent, throughout the course of the week, and we’ll know on Sunday. We’ve got our fingers crossed.”‘

Ravens could see read-option Sunday, but scheme’s effectiveness, future is in doubt (Baltimore Sun)

New start for Jimmy Smith (Baltimore Sun)

Bryant McKinnie fined $7,875 by NFL for unnecessary roughness (Baltimore Sun)

Ray Rice practices for third day in a row, Pernell McPhee returns (Baltimore Sun)

Ravens WR Deonte Thompson getting healthier, practiced past two days (Baltimore Sun)

Ravens concentrating on blocking Bills’ Mario Williams (Baltimore Sun)

Ray Rice says there’s a chance he plays Sunday, barring a setback (Baltimore Sun)

Ray Rice officially questionable; Cody, Jensen are doubtful for Sunday (Baltimore Sun)

Mike Preston’s Ravens-Bills matchups to watch (Baltimore Sun)

Ravens salute O.J. Brigance, celebrate his 44th birthday (Baltimore Sun)

Ravens, Bills both preparing for dangerous pass rushes (Carroll County Times)

Ray Rice appears likely to miss Sunday’s game vs. Bills (Carroll County Times)

Ravens RB Rice questionable for Sunday (The Sports Network)

Ravens RB Rice a game-time decision (The Sports Xchange)

1st and 10: Ravens-Bills Predictions (CSN Baltimore)

Brigance fights ALS, celebrates birthday (CSN Baltimore)

Game preview: Five questions for Ravens at Bills (CSN Baltimore)

Rice sounds optimistic about playing against Bills (CSN Baltimore)

Taylor gives Ravens good read on read-option (CSN Baltimore)

Are the Ravens ready for the Bills’ read option? (CSN Baltimore)

How does Thompson fit into Ravens’ offense? (CSN Baltimore)

Smith’s tackling ability is one of his strengths (CSN Baltimore)

Ravens hope Rice returns, and offense starts fast (CSN Baltimore)

Rice, Canty, six others listed as questionable for Sunday’s game (WNST-AM)

Week 4 Prediction (WJZ-FM)

Ravens Fan With Multiple Sclerosis Inspires Team (BaltimoreRavens.com)

Who’s Playing Who’s Not vs. Bills (BaltimoreRavens.com)

Studying Read-Option Was A ‘Major Priority’ For Ravens (BaltimoreRavens.com)

Physicality Key In Jimmy Smith’s Development (BaltimoreRavens.com)

Joe Flacco’s Stiff Arm (BaltimoreRavens.com)

Leadership, Party Bus And A Big Win (BaltimoreRavens.com)

Joe Flacco’s Bad Lip Reading Spoof (BaltimoreRavens.com)

‘If McKelvin is unable to play, safety Aaron Williams is expected to start at corner. Williams, a converted cornerback, went back to the position after McKelvin was injured.’

‘Also listed as probable for the Bills are wide receiver Stevie Johnson (hamstring) and defensive end Mario Williams (ankle).’

‘”He looked good out here today but again, we’re practicing,” head coach Doug Marrone said following Friday’s session. “Really, that will be a game time decision. We’ll bring him here early [Sunday] and work him out.”‘

‘Q: You’re now in your second year living in Buffalo. What do you like most about the city and how was your first Buffalo winter? A: Just laid back and green. Trees, grass, I’m an outdoors person so just the environment. It wasn’t bad. I wish it snowed more, so I can’t really say it was the winter I expected.’

‘Buffalo has to win more on third down on both sides of the ball. They rank 27th in third down defense, allowing conversions 46 percent of the time. On offense they rank 28th in third down conversions managing just a 31 percent success rate.’

‘”The message was that the 2012 Ravens were champions, and we’ll walk together forever as champions,” he said. “But the 2013 Baltimore Ravens have their own mark to make. Certainly we can build on what we learned and the success of the past, but we have our own mark to make, and we’ll see what the 2013 team will be known for.”‘

‘”It’s fun. I definitely grew up going to the Bills games. I was a big-time Bills fan growing up. My uncles still are die-hard Bills fans,” Graham said Thursday night in a radio interview with WGR 550. “I’m hoping they’re all going to be rooting for me and not the Bills, or they’ll never get tickets from me again. … It should be a fun environment, a fun place to play, and I’m looking forward to coming back home.”‘

‘”When I really started to ramp up was when EJ hurt his knee, so we really didn’t get to work much together in preseason,” Chandler said. “It’s really just been these first three weeks. I think last week was a big step for us.”‘

‘Spiller and Jackson have combined to carry 75 times, and on 38 of those plays – yes, just more than half – the net result was two yards or fewer.’

A lot of attention was paid to the unprecedented dismantling of the Super Bowl-winning defense and rightfully so, but their performance in the playoffs made many overlook the fact that the Ravens were just 17th in total defense last year and 12th in scoring defense. Ozzie Newsome did not overlook it, though, and took advantage of the retirement of Ray Lewis to overhaul the defense.’