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Luke Jones

Ravens cornerback Jimmy Smith unlikely to play Sunday

Luke Jones

OWINGS MILLS, Md. — With the Ravens back to work after their Week 5 bye, some optimism had existed that cornerback Jimmy Smith would return against the Houston Texans on Sunday after injuring his left ankle early in the regular-season opener against Pittsburgh on Sept. 11. Apparently, the Ravens will have to wait a little longer to get their top draft pick back on the field — even if coach John Harbaugh wasn’t ready to disclose that piece of news. Smith shared his reservations about playing on Sunday afternoon before the Ravens head coach interrupted the rookie’s interview with gathered media following Monday’s practice. Harbaugh reprimanded Smith for discussing his status and reminded him players are not supposed to comment on injury matters. However, the cornerback had already said enough by the time the interview came to an abrupt end. “I’m optimistic about everything,” Smith said, “but, realistically, I doubt it.” Harbaugh said the Ravens are in “wait-and-see” mode with several injured players, but Smith will likely miss his fourth straight game after injuring his ankle in kickoff coverage early in the first quarter of the Pittsburgh game. “I don’t know the percentage on it,” Harbaugh said in his Monday

Comparisons to 2000 Ravens premature, but this year's defense could be exceptional

Luke Jones

We just can’t help ourselves, can we? After more than a decade of defensive excellence in Baltimore, we always compare the latest eye-popping Ravens defense to the platinum standard of that 2000 unit. It was that group, of course, that lifted a caretaker offense — rookie running back Jamal Lewis being the lone exception — to the franchise’s lone Super Bowl championship. It was a once-in-a-generation defense, yet we refuse to acknowledge that type of group won’t come along again — even if we say otherwise. We did it in 2003 when Ray Lewis led a young group of budding defensive stars to the No. 3 overall defensive ranking and an AFC North title. It happened again in 2006 as the Ravens finished 13-3 and first overall in both points and yardage allowed, something the 2000 group wasn’t able to do. And the similarities were examined between that championship group and the 2008 defense – ranked second overall behind only the Steelers — coached by Rex Ryan in his final year in Baltimore before taking his antics to the Big Apple. It sure feels a lot like 2000, doesn’t it? It’s not surprising the whispers have already started about the

Grading the Ravens' veteran acquisitions at the quarter pole

Luke Jones

In the immediate aftermath of the lockout coming to an end in late July, the hammer fell on the Baltimore Ravens as we knew them from past seasons. Gone were established veterans Todd Heap, Derrick Mason, Kelly Gregg, and Willis McGahee in a wave of releases to create salary cap room. Key contributors such as Le’Ron McClain, Dawan Landry, Chris Chester, and Josh Wilson found homes in other NFL cities. Fans panicked as general manager Ozzie Newsome worked methodically instead of snatching up any recognizable name from a market suddenly saturated with hundreds of veteran free agents. When the dust settled in time for the regular-season opener against the Pittsburgh Steelers, the Ravens were not only younger but had a new batch of veteran acquisitions to aid in a potential Super Bowl run in 2011. With the Ravens entering the bye week at 3-1 and atop the AFC North, an overwhelming majority of those outside additions have provided positive returns through the quarter pole of the season. Six noteworthy veterans were acquired in the preseason as I take a stab at grading them through the first four games of the season. WR Lee Evans (8th year) Skinny: Despite having rapidly

Gurode steps in at guard for Ravens, but what's next for former Pro Bowler?

Luke Jones

When the Ravens signed five-time Pro Bowl center Andre Gurode a week before the regular-season opener, many expected the former Cowboy to be the insurance policy — or potential replacement — for veteran center Matt Birk. But Gurode has instead been forced to play left guard in place of the team’s best offensive lineman Ben Grubbs, who has missed the Ravens’ last three games with a right toe injury. After veteran Mark LeVoir was ineffective in a Week 2 loss to the Titans, Gurode has filled in admirably at left guard over the last two weeks despite having never played the position — he played right guard early in his career in Dallas. He’s been especially potent as a run blocker, getting a good push off the line of scrimmage to help open running lanes for Ray Rice and Ricky Williams. “It has been difficult, but, at the same time, you need to do your best,” Gurode said. “Going from center to guard, you know you’re used to making calls, snapping the ball with your right hand, and then you find yourself getting comfortable..at the start of the play.” Gurode’s play is a major reason why the Ravens find themselves

Morning Reaction Tuesday Top 7 Ravens for Week 4

Luke Jones

Below are our Top 7 Ravens players in the 34-17 thrashing of the New York Jets on Sunday night. We’ll track our rankings throughout the 2011 season with the following point system: No. 1 – 7 points No. 2 – 6 points No. 3 – 5 points No. 4 – 4 points No. 5 – 3 points No. 6 – 2 points No. 7 – 1 point To hear the full explanation for our respective picks, click right HERE. Luke Jones’ Top 7… 7) Jarret Johnson 6) Cary Williams 5) Terrell Suggs 4) Ray Rice 3) Lardarius Webb 2) Ed Reed 1) Haloti Ngata Drew Forrester’s Top 7… 7) Billy Cundiff 6) Cary Williams 5) Bernard Pollard 4) Lardarius Webb 3) Jarret Johnson 2) Haloti Ngata 1) Ed Reed SEASON TO DATE: Luke: 1. Ray Rice (19 points) 2. Haloti Ngata (17 points) 3. Terrell Suggs (16 points) 4. Joe Flacco (11 points) 5. Ed Reed (8 points) 6. David Reed (6 points) 6. Torrey Smith (6 points) 8. Bryant McKinnie (5 points) 8.Terrence Cody (5 points) 8. Lardarius Webb (5 points) 11. Ray Lewis (3 points) 11. Billy Cundiff (3 points) 13. Cory Redding (3 points) 14. Cary Williams

Ravens sign cornerback Bryan McCann to boost depth in secondary

Luke Jones

Looking to add depth to a depleted secondary, the Ravens have signed cornerback Bryan McCann to a two-year deal. To clear room on the 53-man roster, the Ravens have released linebacker Prescott Burgess, who played only one game after being re-signed last week. With Domonique Foxworth being placed on injured reserve last Wednesday and Chris Carr suffering a setback with his left hamstring late last week, the Ravens were forced to use Danny Gorrer and rookie Chykie Brown as their only reserve corners in the 34-17 win over the Jets on Sunday night. This marks McCann’s second stint with the Ravens, though you’re excused if you don’t recall his first stay with the team. After being signed as a rookie free agent by the Dallas Cowboys in 2010, McCann spent a brief time with Baltimore at the start of the 2010 season before being released following the Ravens’ season-opening win against the New York Jets. The Cowboys re-signed McCann to their practice squad before he was promoted to the active roster on Nov. 4, 2010. McCann played nine games with Dallas and returned an interception 101 yards for a touchdown against the Giants in his second NFL game. The Southern

Ravens get surprising early start to bye week

Luke Jones

After a convincing 34-17 win over the New York Jets to improve their record to 3-1 heading into their bye week, Ravens players received more good news on Monday afternoon. Instead of working for a few days this week before receiving five straight days off, a new wrinkle in the collective bargaining agreement, players were cut loose to start their mini-vacations early after careful consideration from John Harbaugh and the coaching staff. Many players assumed the break wouldn’t begin until Wednesday or Thursday, but the end result of Sunday night’s game probably didn’t hurt the decision-making process. “We had a conversation with the key veterans and also with the coaches,” coach John Harbaugh said. “I’ll tell you, nobody likes practice more than me. That’s proven out to be true, but our guys do like practice. They are not afraid of work, but really with our numbers, we just didn’t see a way we could put together a viable practice with our numbers. The rehab is more important, I thought. We think the practices really would have done us more harm than they would have done us good in the next two days.” With all seven players on the inactive list

Behind throwback defensive effort, banged-up Ravens enter bye week at 3-1

Luke Jones

BALTIMORE — The Ravens’ 34-17 victory over the New York Jets was far more bizarre than it was convincing in how Baltimore displayed its supremacy over Rex Ryan’s mistake-prone football team on Sunday night. A combined five touchdowns were produced via takeaways and special teams, including a franchise-record three defensive touchdowns by the Ravens. The quarterbacks, Joe Flacco and Mark Sanchez, combined to complete just 21 of 66 passes and were responsible for six turnovers. The Ravens produced a robust 165 yards of offense in the first quarter but followed the hot start with a sickly negative-2 yards in the second quarter while carrying a 27-17 lead into halftime. Flacco was 8-for-17 for 142 yards in the game’s first 15 minutes before going more than two hours until he completed his next pass to rookie LaQuan Williams with 11:50 remaining in the fourth quarter. It was one of the worst performances of Flacco’s four-year career, but it did come against a Jets secondary widely-regarded by many as the best in the NFL and entered Sunday as the sixth-best in the league. But, the Ravens won the game and improved to 3-1 atop the AFC North as they head into their

Live from M&T Bank Stadium: Inactives and pre-game notes

Luke Jones

BALTIMORE — With the Ravens hosting the New York Jets in a nationally-televised game Sunday night, their bye week is coming at a perfect time as seven key players are inactive tonight due to injury. Starting left guard Ben Grubbs will miss his third straight game while dealing with a right toe injury and will be replaced by Andre Gurode in the starting lineup. Grubbs practiced on a limited basis on Thursday but did not participate in Friday’s practice, a good indication that he would be sat down until after the bye. Perhaps the most concerning news is cornerback Chris Carr being inactive after re-aggravating the hamstring injury he’s dealt with since the middle of August. Carr returned to action last week in St. Louis and practice fully on Wednesday and Thursday before sitting out Friday’s practice. With Carr joining rookie Jimmy Smith on the inactive list, the Ravens will rely on former practice-squad defensive back Danny Gorrer and rookie Chykie Brown as their No. 3 and No. 4 corners behind starters Lardarius Webb and Cary Williams. On the opposing side, the Jets will be without starting center Nick Mangold, who will be replaced by rookie Colin Baxter. This news

Ravens-Jets: Five predictions for Sunday night

Luke Jones

Three weeks into the season, I’m still trying to figure out just how good the Ravens really are — or will be — in 2011. A seven-turnover blowout win over their bitter rival, an embarrassing loss in Tennessee, and a 30-point victory over the hapless Rams don’t exactly allow you to draw a definitive conclusion, but that’s why they play the games. On the other hand, the Jets’ two wins over Dallas and Jacksonville before being shredded by the Oakland Raiders leave you scratching your head even more. The storylines don’t need to be rehashed again. These coaches and players know each other very well, making for a highly-competitive matchup at M&T Bank Stadium on Sunday night. It’s a conference game with possible playoff implications down the road, so don’t let the early Week 4 billing fool you in its significance. Here’s what to expect when Rex Ryan’s Jets visit John Harbaugh’s Ravens on Sunday night … 1. The Jets will spread out the Baltimore defense with three- and four-receiver sets to exploit a thin secondary. A tenuous situation at cornerback grew even worse on Friday with the news that veteran Chris Carr is questionable for Sunday after re-aggravating the

Torrey Smith agrees with lack of concern from Cromartie, Jets

Luke Jones

OWINGS MILLS, Md. — With starting wide receiver Lee Evans sidelined for the second straight week, a starting role will once again be entrusted to rookie Torrey Smith. What will he do for an encore? After becoming the first rookie — and 12th player overall — in NFL history to catch three touchdown passes in a single quarter of play in the Ravens’ 37-7 win over the St. Louis Rams last Sunday, Smith certainly grabbed the attention of the New York Jets, who will come to Baltimore in a nationally-televised game on Sunday night. However, Jets head coach Rex Ryan expressed little concern over Smith’s five-catch, 152-yard performance. The former Maryland standout abused Rams cornerback Justin King for three touchdowns of 74, 41, and 18 yards in the opening quarter, but matching up against New York cornerbacks Darrelle Revis and Antonio Cromartie is a much different task. “He’s a fast guy and all that kind of stuff, but I don’t think he’ll have equal success this week,” Jets coach Rex Ryan said. “If he does, then I’ll just stay in Baltimore. “If we just based everything on that performance then we’d have our cornerbacks about 20 yards deep. We’ve played

Ravens injury report: Evans ruled out; Carr, Grubbs questionable against Jets

Luke Jones

OWINGS MILLS, Md. — The Ravens will once again be without starting wide receiver Lee Evans and suddenly have reason to be more concerned in the secondary. The Ravens ruled out Evans as well as Jimmy Smith, Haruki Nakamura, and David Reed for Sunday’s game against the New York Jets, but a more concerning development may have been cornerback Chris Carr’s return to the injury report after not practicing on Friday. He is listed as questionable along with left guard Ben Grubbs, who will be a game-time decision, according to coach John Harbaugh. With Domonique Foxworth being placed on injured reserve on Wednesday and the rookie Smith sidelined until after the bye, the Ravens were already thin at cornerback and counting on Carr to hold down the No. 3 corner spot behind Lardarius Webb and Cary Williams. Carr made it through the Week 3 win over the Rams without incident and was a full participant in practice on Wednesday and Thursday. If Carr cannot play or is limited against the Jets, the Ravens would be looking at former practice-squad defensive back Danny Gorrer and rookie Chykie Brown as the No. 3 and 4 corners. Baltimore would normally turn to Haruki

Live from Owings Mills: Grubbs absent on Friday, putting status against Jets in doubt

Luke Jones

OWINGS MILLS, Md. — The optimism stirred by Ben Grubbs’ return to the Ravens’ practice field on Thursday appears to have dissipated a day later as the left guard was absent from the portion of practice open to the media. After practicing on a limited basis, Grubbs was not on the field with the rest of the offensive line as veteran Andre Gurode once again assumed his duties at left guard. Grubbs has not played since the Ravens’ Week 1 win over Pittsburgh on Sept. 11 as he recovers from a right toe injury. Wide receiver Lee Evans (ankle), linebacker Dannell Ellerbe (hamstring), return specialist David Reed (shoulder), cornerback Jimmy Smith (ankle), and safety Haruki Nakamura (knee) were not seen during the portion of practice open to media. It’s appearing more unlikely that the Ravens will have Grubbs and Evans available against the New York Jets on Sunday night, once again pushing Gurode and rookie Torrey Smith into starting roles. Referee Mike Carey and his officiating crew will call Sunday night’s game being televised on NBC. Carey served as the referee in the Ravens’ infamous 21-penalty fiasco against the Detroit Lions in 2005, a game in which linebacker Terrell Suggs

Three Ravens upgraded on Thursday's injury report

Luke Jones

OWINGS MILLS, Md. — The Ravens received good news on Thursday’s injury report with left guard Ben Grubbs returning to practice for the first time since starting in the season-opening win over Pittsburgh on Sept. 11. Grubbs returned to the practice field on a limited basis and deemed himself a game-time decision earlier in the day. The fifth-year lineman had not missed a game in his career before sitting out against Tennessee and St. Louis the last two weeks. As expected, center Matt Birk and defensive end Cory Redding were only receiving a day off on Wednesday before returning as full participants a day later. The New York Jets also received promising news on the injury front as cornerback Antonio Cromartie was a full participant on Thursday and deemed himself ready to play despite suffering bruised lungs and ribs in a loss against the Oakland Raiders last weekend. However, the Jets placed wide receiver Plaxico Burress on the Thursday injury report as a limited participant with a hamstring injury. BALTIMORE DID NOT PARTICIPATE – WR Lee Evans (ankle), LB Dannell Ellerbe (thigh), S Haruki Nakamura (knee), WR David Reed, CB Jimmy Smith (ankle) LIMITED – G Ben Grubbs (toe) FULL

Live from Owings Mills: Grubbs returns to practice for first time since Steelers game

Luke Jones

OWINGS MILLS, Md. — Despite revealing he’s only begun jogging over the last couple days, left guard Ben Grubbs returned to the practice field on Thursday for the first time since the Ravens’ 35-7 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers in the season opener on Sept. 11. Grubbs missed the last two games with a right toe injury but was doing individual work and firing out of his three-point stance with the rest of the starting offensive line during the portion of practice open to the media. The fifth-year veteran said earlier in the day he would be a game-time decision and is still experiencing discomfort in the toe. Center Matt Birk (knee) and defensive end Cory Redding also returned to practice after not participating on Wednesday. Both players were on the injury report last week before playing against the St. Louis Rams in Week 3. Five players were not working for the second straight day during the open portion of practice on Thursday, including wide receiver Lee Evans (ankle), linebacker Dannell Ellerbe (hamstring), return specialist David Reed (shoulder), safety Haruki Nakamura (knee), and cornerback Jimmy Smith (ankle). Smith’s left foot is finally out of the walking boot he’s worn since

Evans, Grubbs, six other Ravens on Wednesday's injury report

Luke Jones

OWINGS MILLS, Md. — After deciding to place cornerback Domonique Foxworth on injured reserve earlier in the day, the Ravens saw eight more players missing from Wednesday’s practice as they begin preparations for the New York Jets on Sunday night. Wide receiver Lee Evans and left guard Ben Grubbs headline the list after both missed Sunday’s game against the St. Louis Rams. Evans continues to rest the sore left ankle that’s given him problems since the aftermath of the third preseason game against Washington in August. He told reporters he will likely be a game-time decision, but also admitted the coaching staff will make the decision whether he plays. “We’re just trying to do what’s best all the way around,” Evans said. “So, we’ll have to see. Right now, it does feel better having a little rest on it, so it’s progress.” Grubbs appears to be unlikely to play and would miss his third straight game with an injured right toe. The swelling has decreased, but the fifth-year lineman has barely begun jogging and still feels pain in the toe. With the Ravens having their bye in Week 5, could they elect to be more conservative than usual with Grubbs

Foxworth helps save NFL season, but can't save his own

Luke Jones

OWINGS MILLS, Md. — Without the efforts of Domonique Foxworth, there may not have been an NFL season to talk about this year. However, the veteran cornerback was unable to save his own. The Ravens placed Foxworth on injured reserve Wednesday, ending his season after it was becoming more apparent the 28-year-old’s recovery from surgery on a torn ACL last year was not progressing quickly enough for the defensive back to contribute in the secondary. Coach John Harbaugh said the Ravens began discussing the possibility a week ago, and Foxworth was included in the discussion. In the Ravens’ 37-7 win in St. Louis on Sunday, Foxworth was inactive despite having practiced the entire week. Foxworth missed the entire 2010 season after tearing the ACL in his right knee at the beginning of training camp on the eve of the first veteran workout in late July. With his heavy involvement in the labor negotiations during the 134-day lockout, Foxworth was unable to devote as much time rehabbing the surgically-repaired knee as a player might have in a regular offseason. His inability to have any contact with the Ravens organization during the work stoppage also impacted his slow recovery. “There was a

Ravens place CB Foxworth on IR, ending his season

Luke Jones

OWINGS MILLS, Md. — The Ravens have placed cornerback Domonique Foxworth on injured reserve, ending his season after the veteran was unable to regain the form he enjoyed before a torn ACL ended his 2010 season. Foxworth had struggled to rehabilitate his surgically-repaired knee despite hitting the practice field at the start of training camp in late July. The Ravens could have elected to place Foxworth on the active physically unable to perform list to begin camp and would have had the option to place him on the reserve PUP list, where he would have missed the first six weeks of the regular season while opening a spot on the 53-man roster. Instead, Foxworth attempted to push through the pain and clearly looked overmatched when going against opposing receivers. The 28-year-old was inactive against St. Louis on Sunday despite practicing throughout the week leading up to the game. Coach John Harbaugh said last Monday that Foxworth would not play if he was unable to perform at a level needed to help the Baltimore defense. In a subsequent move, the Ravens have re-signed linebacker Prescott Burgess to add depth at linebacker and to boost the special teams’ units. The loss of

Ravens-Jets week: The calm before the media storm?

Luke Jones

Perhaps the only matchup that can even approach the same stratosphere as the Ravens’ biannual meetings — and a third, if we’re lucky — with the Pittsburgh Steelers is the occasional confrontation with Rex Ryan and the New York Jets. If the bright lights of Sunday Night Football weren’t enough, the Ravens will be donning their all-black uniforms while the 2-1 Jets try to snap a six-game losing streak against Baltimore that dates all the way back to 1998. Since winning the first meeting between the teams in 1997 (played at Giants Stadium), the Jets have been beaten three times each in Baltimore and in their home stadium. To the surprise of no one, a heated dynamic — if not a full-fledged rivalry — was born when Ryan left the Ravens to become the head coach of the Jets in 2009. Their meeting in Week 1 of last season spawned comments from Ray Lewis usually reserved solely for the Pittsburgh Steelers. “I’m going to be very careful with this, we’re talking about the Jets like we’re talking about the Saints,” Lewis said prior to the Week 1 meeting last season. “That’s the Super Bowl champs. Until they play tonight, that’s

Morning Reaction Tuesday Top 7 Ravens for Week 3

Luke Jones

Below are our Top 7 Ravens players in the convincing 37-7 win over the St. Louis Rams on Sunday. We’ll track our rankings throughout the 2011 season with the following point system: No. 1 – 7 points No. 2 – 6 points No. 3 – 5 points No. 4 – 4 points No. 5 – 3 points No. 6 – 2 points No. 7 – 1 point Luke Jones’ Top 7… 7) Anquan Boldin 6) Ray Lewis 5) Cory Redding 4) Terrell Suggs 3) Ray Rice 2) Torrey Smith 1) Joe Flacco Drew Forrester’s Top 7… 7) Haloti Ngata 6) Andre Gurode 5) Anquan Boldin 4) Terrell Suggs 3) Ray Rice 2) Joe Flacco 1) Torrey Smith SEASON TO DATE: Luke: 1. Ray Rice (15 points) 2. Terrell Suggs (13 points) 3. Joe Flacco (11 points) 4. Haloti Ngata (10 points) 5. David Reed (6 points) 5. Torrey Smith (6 points) 7. Bryant McKinnie (5 points) 7.Terrence Cody (5 points) 9. Ray Lewis (3 points) 9. Billy Cundiff (3 points) 9. Cory Redding (3 points) 12. Ed Reed (2 points) 13. Matt Birk (1 point) 13. Anquan Boldin (1 point) Drew: 1. Ray Rice (14 points) 2. Terrell Suggs (12

After stating commitment to run, Ravens came out firing through air

Luke Jones

OWINGS MILLS, Md. — In the week leading up to the Ravens’ 37-7 win in St. Louis, countless players and coaches spoke about the need for a commitment to run the football effectively. After being held to just 45 rushing yards on 17 carries against a stout Tennessee run defense and the Rams entering Week 3 as the 32nd-ranked unit against the run, the Ravens’ perfect tonic seemed to be heavy doses of Ray Rice and Ricky Williams to establish the ground game in hopes of wearing down the St. Louis defense. Instead, the Ravens came out firing, dropping back to pass on 16 of their first 18 plays as quarterback Joe Flacco and rookie wideout Torrey Smith shredded the Rams secondary for three touchdown passes in the opening quarter. So much for a conservative game plan. All along, the Ravens’ stated desire to run the football may have been an exercise in mind games rather than any real indication of how they planned to attack Steve Spagnuolo’s defense. “They were defending the run,” coach John Harbaugh said. “There’s no question, I think they expected us to come out running the ball, too, so they gave us looks that were

Ravens safety Nakamura to miss "month or so" with PCL injury

Luke Jones

OWINGS MILLS, Md. — Nearly everything went right for the Baltimore Ravens in their 37-7 demolition of the St. Louis Rams on Sunday except for another blow to an already-depleted secondary. Backup safety Haruki Nakamura injured the PCL in his right knee during the first quarter of action in St. Louis and did not return. Results of an MRI were not available when head coach John Harbaugh addressed the media on Monday afternoon, but the team is optimistic about the versatile defensive back’s prognosis. “It looks promising in terms of him being able to come back [in] maybe a month or so,” Harbaugh said. The Ravens will discuss the possibility of adding another safety, but Harbaugh mentioned the versatility of cornerback Chris Carr as well as starting corner Lardarius Webb, who are both capable of playing safety. Nakamura has been an invaluable member of the secondary with Carr, Jimmy Smith, and Domonique Foxworth battling injuries at the start of the season. The fourth-year safety has played as the nickel on a number of occasions when a fifth defensive back comes on the field in passing situations. Harbaugh was unsure of the status of Foxworth and wide receiver Lee Evans for

Torrey Smith silences critics with breakout performance in Ravens' win

Luke Jones

The whispers that started in the preseason had grown much louder through the first two weeks of Torrey Smith’s NFL career. A growing number of critics wondered why the Ravens had used a second-round pick on the wide receiver from the University of Maryland. A few even went as far as labeling him a “bust” after two games, no matter how foolish the proclamation sounded after such a short amount of time. He looked confused, overwhelmed, and in over his head against opposing defenses. At one point during the preseason, coach John Harbaugh pleaded with media and fans to “lay off the kid” and to give him time to develop. He had even been razzed in practice by linebacker Terrell Suggs and the Baltimore defense after dropping passes in an effort to toughen him up, according to Harbaugh. Smith had even dropped a pass in the portion of practice open to the media on Friday, not exactly inspiring confidence with Flacco and the coaching staff. With veteran receiver Lee Evans out with an ankle injury, Smith found himself back in the starting lineup with the Ravens needing him to grow up quickly against the St. Louis Rams. Smith showed immediate

Torrey Smith silences critics with breakout performance in Ravens’ win

Luke Jones

The whispers that started in the preseason had grown much louder through the first two weeks of Torrey Smith’s NFL career. A growing number of critics wondered why the Ravens had used a second-round pick on the wide receiver from the University of Maryland. A few even went as far as labeling him a “bust” after two games, no matter how foolish the proclamation sounded after such a short amount of time. He looked confused, overwhelmed, and in over his head against opposing defenses. At one point during the preseason, coach John Harbaugh pleaded with media and fans to “lay off the kid” and to give him time to develop. He had even been razzed in practice by linebacker Terrell Suggs and the Baltimore defense after dropping passes in an effort to toughen him up, according to Harbaugh. Smith had even dropped a pass in the portion of practice open to the media on Friday, not exactly inspiring confidence with Flacco and the coaching staff. With veteran receiver Lee Evans out with an ankle injury, Smith found himself back in the starting lineup with the Ravens needing him to grow up quickly against the St. Louis Rams. Smith showed immediate

Ravens-Rams inactives for Sunday

Luke Jones

***For inactives and breaking news sent directly to your mobile device, subscribe to the WNST Text Service right here. And, as always, for the quickest updates and analysis regarding everything purple, follow WNST on Twitter.*** The Ravens will try to jump-start an offense that stalled last week against Tennessee, but they’ll be without two key offensive starters while trying to do it. Starting left guard Ben Grubbs will miss his second consecutive game after failing to practice all week while trying to recover from a right toe injury. There had been cautious optimism that Grubbs might try to play after being listed as questionable — he was doubtful against the Titans — but the fifth-year lineman has not practiced since the Ravens’ season-opening win against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sept. 11. With offensive lineman Mark LeVoir also inactive, veteran Andre Gurode will make the start at left guard. Wide receiver Lee Evans (ankle) was ruled out on Friday along with cornerback Jimmy Smith (ankle) and return specialist David Reed (shoulder). Evans has battled a left ankle injury since the Ravens’ win over the Redskins in the third preseason game last month. With Evans out, Baltimore will rely on rookies Torrey

Ravens-Rams: Five gameday predictions

Luke Jones

Looking to rebound from a shocking 26-13 defeat in Tennessee last week, the Ravens travel to the Edward Jones Dome in St. Louis to take on the 0-2 Rams. Sunday will mark the fifth meeting between St. Louis and Baltimore with the series being tied, 2-2. The Ravens will look to break the pattern of the home team winning each of the previous four games in the series history. Under coach John Harbaugh, the Ravens are 12-4 in games immediately following a loss. Baltimore has won eight straight games after a defeat and has not lost consecutive games since 2009 when the Ravens fell to the Patriots, Bengals, and Vikings in the month of October. As for me, going 0-for-5 in my predictions last weekend doesn’t make me feel any better about my prognosticating ability, but it’s safe to say very few saw what was coming last Sunday — especially the Ravens. At the very least, it provides for good comedy as I’ve been wrong in picking the Ravens’ first two games. Here are this week’s five predictions for what to expect against the Rams … 1. Any production in the passing game will be far more about Ed Dickson

Ravens rule Evans out for Sunday; Grubbs, Carr questionable

Luke Jones

OWINGS MILLS, Md. — After not practicing all week as he continues to deal with an injured left ankle, veteran wide receiver Lee Evans has been ruled out on Sunday when the Ravens take on the St. Louis. Evans missed all three practices this week after lacking explosion while running routes last week against Tennessee. Coach John Harbaugh suggested earlier in the week that Evans might need to miss time if he’s unable to produce on the field because of the injury. The 30-year-old receiver has dealt with the injury since the Saturday after the third preseason game when he watched practice while wearing a walking boot on his left foot. Evans said extended rest this week had made the ankle feel better prior to the release of the injury report on Friday afternoon. “Right now, we’ve gotten as much rest on it as we possibly can,” said Evans, who had expressed hope of being a game-time decision against the Rams. “We’ll just have to see how it reacts and let the coaches make the decision.” Rookie Torrey Smith will step into a starting role despite struggling in the early stages of his NFL career. Fellow rookies LaQuan Williams and

Former Ravens teammates react to death of Orlando Brown

Luke Jones

(Updated: 3:10 p.m.) OWINGS MILLS, Md. — The news came as quite a shock when vice president of public relations broke the news to current players about former Ravens tackle Orlando Brown’s death as the team finished practice on Friday afternoon. Head coach John Harbaugh announced Browns’ passing at the age of 40 in front of the gathered media, who were not aware of the news. “Everybody knows what he meant to this organization, to this team, to the Ravens,” Harbaugh said. “He’s still a big part of us. He’s been coming around a lot working with some of our young players. We’re forever grateful for what he did for the Ravens organization and what he did for the present team and who he is as a person and who he’s been. We can’t express our sorrow enough on behalf of our team and our organization for his loss today.” The cause of death was not immediately known, but no foul play was initially suspected as police continued the investigation at his Baltimore home. “It’s just sad,” said linebacker Terrell Suggs, who played with Brown from 2003 to 2005. “I was his teammate for three years. He was a beast

Live from Owings Mills: Grubbs, Evans not working again in Ravens' final practice for Rams

Luke Jones

OWINGS MILLS, Md. — As the Ravens make final preparations for their trip to St. Louis to face the 0-2 Rams on Sunday, it’s becoming increasingly likely they will be without a critical part of their passing game and an anchor along the offensive line. Wide receiver Lee Evans (ankle) and left guard Ben Grubbs (toe) were not working for the third straight day in the portion of practice open to the media on Friday. Grubbs was present on the field, but the fifth-year lineman did not have a helmet as he watched from the sideline. Evans was nowhere to be found as he continues to deal with an ankle injury that’s plagued him since the third preseason game. With Evans’ availability for Sunday in doubt, the Ravens will turn to their rookie wideouts to make contributions in the passing game. Torrey Smith is expected to start, but is looking for his first catch as a professional as he fights confidence issues in finding his place in Cam Cameron’s system. Fellow rookies LaQuan Williams and Tandon Doss also figure to receive some opportunities in certain formations. Doss has been inactive in each of the team’s first two games while Williams

Redding, Cody return to practice on limited basis in Ravens' Thursday injury report

Luke Jones

OWINGS MILLS, Md. — Despite Thursday’s injury report looking much improved after seven players missed practice a day earlier, two key offensive starters missed practice for the second straight day as the Ravens continue preparations for the St. Louis Rams. Wide receiver Lee Evans (ankle) and guard Ben Grubbs (toe) were both absent from the field and remain question marks for Sunday as the Ravens hope to improve their underwhelming 13-point output from a week ago. The Rams received good news on Thursday with the return of running back Steven Jackson (quad) to the practice field. Jackson was injured early in the Rams’ season-opening loss to the Phildelphia Eagles. The 240-pound back practiced on a limited basis. BALTIMORE DID NOT PARTICIPATE – G Ben Grubbs (toe), WR Lee Evans (ankle), WR David Reed, CB Jimmy Smith (ankle) LIMITED – CB Chris Carr (thigh), DT Terrence Cody (concussion), DE Cory Redding (toe) FULL PARTICIPANT – C Matt Birk (knee) ST. LOUIS DID NOT PARTICIPATE – WR Danny Amendola (elbow), RB Carnell Williams (hamstring) LIMITED – RB Steven Jackson (quad), TE Michaeel Hoomanawanui (calf), DE CJ Ah You (wrist), LB Ben Leber (groin) FULL PARTICIPANT – WR Greg Salas (ribs)

Slowing Rams' offensive tempo a priority for Ravens defense

Luke Jones

OWINGS MILLS, Md. — While many have focused on the failures of the Ravens offense and questioned the decision-making of offensive coordinator Cam Cameron following the 26-13 loss to Tennessee, the vaunted Baltimore defense wilted in the second half against Matt Hasselbeck and the Titans offense. After allowing 10 points in the first half, the Ravens had no answers for Hasselbeck and the passing game after intermission, allowing scores on five of six Tennessee possessions as the Titans controlled the clock for much of the second half. The 358 passing yards allowed left Baltimore as the 28th-ranked pass defense in the NFL after two weeks, as the Ravens cope with the physical ailments of Jimmy Smith, Chris Carr, and Domonique Foxworth. The Ravens are ranked 22nd overall in total defense, unacceptable territory for a team with such a defensive tradition — even if only after two weeks. Hasselbeck’s quick release made it difficult for the Ravens to create pressure on the veteran quarterback, but defensive coordinator Chuck Pagano accepted blame for not mixing up the looks he provided well enough in the disappointing performance. “We’ve got to do our job — whether we put them in man coverage or zone

Live from Owings Mills: Cody, Redding, Birk return to practice on Thursday

Luke Jones

OWINGS MILLS, Md. — Facing a plethora of injuries, some serious and others of the nagging variety, the Ravens saw three players return to the practice field on Thursday after being absent a day ago. Defensive tackle Terrence Cody, defensive end Cory Redding, and center Matt Birk (knee) were back on the field during the portion of practice open to the media. Cody sustained a concussion in the 26-13 loss to the Titans on Sunday but passed the battery of baseline tests required to return to action. However, Cody went through position drills without a helmet, indicating he was limited in his return to practice. Redding sat out Wednesday’s workout with a toe injury, but the 30-year-old did not appear to be limited as he took part in drills with the rest of the defensive line. Birk’s return was expected after Wednesday appeared to simply be a day off for the 35-year-old center. He did not take part in the preseason after undergoing arthroscopic knee surgery in early August, but Birk has practiced fully since the week prior to the start of the regular season. Left guard Ben Grubbs (toe) missed his second straight practice of the week, further clouding

Evans, Grubbs headline crowded injury report for Ravens

Luke Jones

(Updated: 8:50 p.m.) Turning the page from Week 2 and returning to the practice field to begin preparations for the St. Louis Rams, the Ravens were missing a number of players during practice on Wednesday afternoon. Left guard Ben Grubbs is still dealing with a right toe injury that caused him to miss the first game of his five-year career on Sunday and did not practice on Wednesday. Swing lineman Mark LeVoir started in his place instead of veteran Andre Gurode against the Titans. Wide receiver Lee Evans was sidelined for the second straight Wednesday practice as he continues to struggle with a left ankle injury that’s had him in and out of a walking boot following the third preseason game in August. Coach John Harbaugh said again on Wednesday that the Ravens must weigh how productive Evans can be on the field with trying to rest him in the short term. “You just have to work through it throughout the week and then on game day, if you’re well enough, you can play.” With Evans not running at 100 percent, opponents are unlikely to respect his normal deep-threat capability, thus shrinking the coverage closer to the line of scrimmage

Flacco looking to jump-start Ravens offense after disappointing Week 2

Luke Jones

OWINGS MILLS, Md. — Perhaps no other player epitomized the differences in performance between the Ravens’ dominating win over Pittsburgh to start the season and Sunday’s surprising 26-13 defeat to Tennessee than quarterback Joe Flacco. A week after throwing three touchdown passes and posting a 117.6 quarterback rating in what some were calling the best performance of his four-year career, Flacco completed only 15 of 32 passes and tossed two interceptions as the Baltimore offense sputtered, stalled, and self-destructed in a losing effort to the Titans. As a result, the many naysayers singing his praises after beating the Steelers were once again questioning his mettle after mustering just 13 points and lacking any real identity in a losing effort. When he wasn’t under duress from shaky pass protection, Flacco struggled to find open receivers while going through his progressions and forced several throws as the game progressed. “We need to go out there and play better, and that’s why you have 16 weeks of football in the NFL,” Flacco said. “You don’t have two weeks. The Super Bowl champion is not decided in Week 2. It’s not decided after Week 1, just like everybody wanted to react to that. We

Live from Owings Mills: Seven Ravens not practicing as attention turns to Rams

Luke Jones

OWINGS MILLS, Md. — Putting behind the disappointment of a 26-13 loss to Tennessee on Sunday, the Ravens returned to the practice field with a number of players unavailable to them during the open portion of practice. Wide receiver Lee Evans (ankle), guard Ben Grubbs (toe), defensive tackle Terrence Cody (concussion), and Cory Redding (undisclosed) were not present for the portion of practice open to the media. Veteran center Matt Birk attended practice but was not working, indicating a likely day off for the 35-year-old continuing to work his surgically-repaired knee back to full strength. In a piece of positive news, cornerback Chris Carr (hamstring) returned to the practice field after missing Sunday’s game against the Titans and an entire week of practice. Cornerback Jimmy Smith (high ankle sprain) and wide receiver/returner David Reed were not present since neither is likely to return to action prior to the Ravens’ bye week following a meeting with the New York Jets on Oct. 2. The Ravens have also re-signed rookie safety Mana Silva to the practice squad to take the spot formerly held by defensive back Danny Gorrer, who was promoted to the 53-man roster on Saturday to add to the team’s

Morning Reaction Tuesday Top 7 Ravens for Week 2

Luke Jones

Below are our Top 7 Ravens players in the deflating 26-13 loss to the Tennessee Titans in Nashville on Sunday. We’ll track our rankings throughout the 2011 season with the following point system: No. 1 – 7 points No. 2 – 6 points No. 3 – 5 points No. 4 – 4 points No. 5 – 3 points No. 6 – 2 points No. 7 – 1 point And, yes, we know there really weren’t seven players worthy of the honor, but we did our best in completing the process. Luke Jones’ Top 7… 7) Ray Lewis 6) Terrell Suggs 5) Billy Cundiff 4) Haloti Ngata 3) Terrence Cody 2) David Reed 1) Ray Rice Drew Forrester’s Top 7… 7) Sam Koch 6) Marshal Yanda 5) Terrell Suggs 4) Lardarius Webb 3) Haloti Ngata 2) Ed Dickson 1) Ray Rice SEASON TO DATE: Luke: 1. Haloti Ngata (10 points) 1. Ray Rice (10 points) 3. Terrell Suggs (9 points) 4. David Reed (6 points) 5. Bryant McKinnie (5 points) 5.Terrence Cody (5 points) 7. Joe Flacco (4 points) 8. Billy Cundiff (3 points) 9. Ed Reed (2 points) 10. Matt Birk (1 point) 10. Ray Lewis (1 point) Drew: 1.

Ravens lock up All-Pro DT Ngata with $61 million deal

Luke Jones

The Ravens and Haloti Ngata shared the desire for the dominating defensive tackle to remain “a Raven for life” despite contract negotiations dragging at a snail’s pace following the end of the lockout in late July. The sides have taken a gigantic step in making that wish a reality after Ngata agreed to a new five-year contract roughly an hour before Tuesday’s 4 p.m. deadline for negotiating multi-year contracts with franchise players. The agreement was announced by his agent Mike McCartney. The five-year deal is reportedly worth $61 million, with $40 million guaranteed over the first two years of the contract that runs through 2015, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. “It just feels awesome,” Ngata said to the Ravens’ official website. “I won’t have to worry about my family, my kids, with money problems. Hopefully, I can continue to do well for the Ravens now, and it’s a good deal for them.” Along with linebacker Terrell Suggs, Ngata has emerged as a dominating force on a Baltimore defense with future Hall of Famers Ray Lewis and Ed Reed in the latter stages of their respective careers. Last season was a career year for the 330-pounder after he posted 5 1/2

Injury bug continuing to bite Ravens in first two weeks

Luke Jones

OWINGS MILLS, Md. — As if a shocking 26-13 loss to the Tennessee Titans wasn’t painful enough, the Ravens continue to be slammed by the injury bug over the first two weeks of the regular season. A week after serving a one-game suspension for the season opener, return specialist and wide receiver David Reed suffered a shoulder injury and will be out until after the Ravens’ bye week. The second-year player returned a kickoff 77 yards in the second quarter before injuring the AC joint in his left shoulder. Reed had an MRI on Monday and could be sidelined for three to six weeks. “Probably three weeks, I would say,” coach John Harbaugh said. “I don’t know. I’m not a doctor, but I play one in press conferences, right? That’s what [the timetable] normally is.” Though Reed failed to record a catch in Sunday’s loss to the Titans, his presence in the passing game will be missed with the continuing struggles of veteran Lee Evans, who continues to deal with a left ankle injury that began affecting him after the third preseason game in August. Evans lacked explosion in running routes for the second consecutive week and was seen icing

Polar opposites: After good vibes of Pittsburgh win, Ravens trounced in Tennessee

Luke Jones

All week, John Harbaugh and the Ravens confidently dismissed the notion of an emotional letdown as they prepared to travel to Nashville to take on the rebuilding Tennessee Titans. They had an air of confidence — and even borderline amusement — when posed the question of falling flat after their dominating 35-7 win over the Steelers in the opener. Fans and media bought into it to as well, with  many labeled the Ravens everything but a sure thing for the Super Bowl in Indianapolis. However, as the old saying goes, you’re never as good as you are in your best game and never as bad as you look in your worst one. Call it a letdown or blame the Sports Illustrated cover jinx if you must; it doesn’t matter. The Ravens were whipped up and down the field in a 26-13 loss at LP Field on Sunday afternoon. Everything that went right against their hated nemesis last week went in the opposite direction against Mike Munchak and the Titans. The Ravens failed to pressure Matt Hasselbeck, couldn’t stop Kenny Britt and Nate Washington, and never got anything going offensively as they fell to 1-1 and missed the opportunity to start

Ravens-Titans inactives for Sunday

Luke Jones

***For inactives and breaking news sent directly to your mobile device, subscribe to the WNST Text Service right here. And, as always, for the quickest updates and analysis regarding everything purple, follow WNST on Twitter.*** The Ravens will be without a key member of their offensive line on Sunday as Ben Grubbs will miss the first game of his five-year career with a toe injury. The former Auburn product was expected to be replaced by newcomer Andre Gurode at the left guard spot, but swing linemen Mark LeVoir took more reps at guard with the starting line during pregame warmups. Baltimore will also be thin in the secondary as cornerbacks Jimmy Smith (high ankle sprain) and Chris Carr (hamstring) had already been ruled out. Rookie Chykie Brown has been deactivated in lieu of the newly-promoted Danny Gorrer, who was on the practice squad before the Ravens waived linebacker Jason Phillips on Saturday. Wide receiver Tandon Doss, linebacker Sergio Kindle, and defensive tackle Brandon McKinney are also inactive for the second straight week. Baltimore G Ben Grubbs CB Chris Carr CB Jimmy Smith CB Chykie Brown LB Sergio Kindle WR Tandon Doss DT Brandon McKinney Tennessee QB Rusty Smith WR Damian

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