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Luke Jones

Maryland-Middle Tenn. St.: Preview and Injury Report

Luke Jones

Head coach Ralph Friedgen and the Terps will have revenge on their minds when Middle Tennessee State comes to College Park on Saturday afternoon at 3:30 p.m. Last season’s 24-14 loss was a difficult pill to swallow for Terps fans, but with injuries and inexperience plaguing Maryland (1-1) in the early stages of 2009, will lightning strike twice? The Terps will again be without left tackle Bruce Campbell and safety Jamari McCollough, but last week’s 38-35 overtime victory over James Madison also brought the loss of senior co-captain Nolan Carroll for the remainder of the season. The cornerback broke his tibia and will be replaced by sophomore Cameron Chism in the starting lineup. Not only does Carroll’s loss hurt what was once considered an experienced secondary, but the Terps must also replace the senior’s leadership. Friedgen believes his players were inspired to finish strongly against James Madison following the injury, but what will be the long-term effect on a defense that has surrendered 87 points in its first two games? Maryland will again face a run-oriented attack led by quarterback Dwight Dasher after struggling against James Madison’s Drew Dudzik and the spread-option last week.  In Middle Tennessee State’s 31-14 victory

Ravens turned to familiar friend when they needed it

Luke Jones

Over 71,000 fans were amazed with the new Ferrari in the neighborhood on Sunday, and nobody could blame them. Joe Flacco was throwing passes all over the field, and the Ravens’ traditional run-first offense that so many expect—and often complain about—had suddenly transformed into a 171-yard aerial assault in one half of football. Undoubtedly, it was exciting to watch the second-year quarterback show off the laser arm like Brady or Manning does every Sunday. But then it happened. An ill-advised pass by the second-year quarterback was intercepted by linebacker Derrick Johnson and returned all the way to the Ravens’ 6, setting up the go-ahead touchdown early in the third quarter. Suddenly, the exciting vibes from that shiny new sports car had vanished, and the Ravens trailed the inferior (or thought to be, anyway) Kansas City Chiefs. What the heck was going on, and how would Cam Cameron, Flacco, and the offense respond? Would we see panic or the continuation of the throw-first offense used in the first half? The answer was simple. It was time to call upon that old friend that led them to an improbable 11-5 season a year ago. It lacked the bells and whistles of the

Live from College Park: Maryland beats JMU in OT, 38-35

Luke Jones

11:07 p.m. — The Terps (1-1) will now face Middle Tennessee State next Saturday and will attempt to extract some revenge after the FCS school upset them a year ago. Kickoff is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. You can check out the final box score of tonight’s game right here. 11:04 p.m. — The big play of the first half was Torrey Smith’s 81-yard kickoff return for a touchdown, but apparently two teammates inadvertently opened a running lane for him on the big play. Smith said two members of the return team ran into each other, and it actually created a path through which he could run. When asked about the offense’s morale after Turner through the “pick-6,” Smith mentioned how most members of the offense came together on the sideline. “We’ve been here before,” he said.  “We can come back and tie it up.” 11:01 p.m. — Freshman Nick Ferrara may still be adjusting to life as a freshman in College Park, but he’s the big man on campus tonight after hitting the game-winning 26-yard field goal in overtime. Ferrara said it was his first game-winning kick, including high school.  When the game went into overtime, he thought to himself,

Maryland-James Madison Preview: Terps trying to put nightmarish opener to rest

Luke Jones

Even the most optimistic of Maryland fans would have to look long and hard to find any positives stemming from last Saturday night’s horrific 52-13 beating at the hands of California. And they still wouldn’t find any. The Terrapins (0-1) will try to put the blowout behind them, as they return to College Park for their home opener against FCS (formerly 1-AA) power James Madison (0-0).  Byrd Stadium will look a little different with the upgraded Tyser Tower housing new suites and a new press box after nearly two years of renovations. An early encounter with a FCS school was formerly considered to be a pseudo bye week for major conference schools, but the myth vanished with Appalachian State’s upset of Michigan two years ago, and the message hit much closer to home last season when the Terps dropped a road game to Middle Tennessee State—next week’s opponent. The Dukes are defending CAA champions and advanced to the FCS semifinals before falling to Montana a year ago.  Mickey Matthews begins his 11th year as head coach and led James Madison to the 1-AA national championship in 2004. Ralph Friedgen’s Terps will attempt to rebound from a rough performance in all

Purple Kickoff: What a difference a year makes…but not so fast

Luke Jones

Some label it parity while others believe it’s mediocrity, or even just plain luck, but it’s clear to see why many claim the NFL actually stands for “Not For Long.” How else do you explain the Miami Dolphins—owner of a 1-15 record in 2007—winning the AFC East in 2008? Or on the flip side, is it just a coincidence that every Super Bowl loser this decade—except for the 2006 Seattle Seahawks—has failed to even make the playoffs the following season? With few exceptions, the NFL is a league of transient success and reversible frustration. It was only a year ago that a certain NFL team entered Week 1 with a rookie third-string quarterback—pressed into action due to injury—and a new head coach that had never even held a coordinator position (offensive or defensive) at the professional level.  On top of that, the team’s best player was unsure if he’d be able to play due to a debilitating injury, and the offense was in need of not one, but two, reliable offensive tackles. It looked as though a 7-9 season would be grounds for a city-wide celebration with the number of questions surrounding the organization. Fast-forward a year and that same

Terps shelled by Cal in opener, 52-13

Luke Jones

The Maryland Terrapins traveled to Berkeley to face No. 12 Cal as 21-point underdogs, and they looked like it on Saturday night. The Golden Bears crushed the Terps, 52-13, handing head coach Ralph Friedgen his worst opening-game loss at Maryland.  Kevin Riley threw four touchdown passes and Jahvid Best ran for 173 yards and two touchdowns, as Cal accumulated 542 yards of offense compared to only 303 for Maryland. Terps quarterback Chris Turner was sacked seven times and could not ignite a Maryland offense that fell behind early in the first quarter.  Maryland’s lone touchdown came on a 39-yard rush from Da’Rel Scott in the third quarter. The young Maryland offensive line failed to provide adequate protection, and new defensive coordinator Don Brown had no answers for Jeff Tedford’s explosive attack. Maryland (0-1) will now return to College Park to take on James Madison in the home opener. You can browse the ugly box score here. 1:16 a.m. – This one mercifully comes to an end as Cal crushes the Terrapins, 52-13.  I’ll be back with a brief wrap-up in a few minutes. What is there to really say about this one? 1:14 a.m. – Robinson and the offense picks

Final preseason game, final chances

Luke Jones

The Charm City is abuzz over the Ravens’ preseason finale with the Atlanta Falcons on Thursday night. With a victory in the Georgia Dome, the Ravens would complete a perfect 4-0 preseason and immediately stamp their ticket for Miami in early February.  After all, the 2000 Baltimore Ravens went 4-0 in the preseason and eventually raised the Lombardi Trophy at Super Bowl XXXV in Tampa.  The stars are already aligning in the Ravens’ favor, right? Alright, you caught me.  I can already hear the groans and see the collective rolling of eyes. Yes, the Detroit Lions finished a 4-0 preseason a year ago and went on to complete a perfect—or imperfect—0-16 season. And, on the surface, watching the fourth—and final—preseason game sounds about as appealing as attending an Orioles-Yankees game at Camden Yards in early September. No one will remember the winner or the final score beyond the weekend, but if you look deeper and from a different perspective, you’ll find an otherwise hollow exhibition filled with consequence and meaning for both the Baltimore Ravens and a number of individuals struggling to secure a job in one of the most cutthroat businesses in the entire world. For those focused solely

Two weeks notice: The long offseason is almost over

Luke Jones

After a long and eventful offseason, we’re exactly two weeks away from the start of the NFL season when the hated Pittsburgh Steelers host the Tennessee Titans for the Thursday night opener. In Baltimore, an impressive 2-0 preseason start has only raised expectations for the Ravens entering the 2009 regular season. With two preseason encounters remaining before the Ravens kick off against the Kansas City Chiefs on Sept. 13, much has gone well, but questions still remain before the real games begin. Here are my purple thoughts as we approach the Ravens’ meeting with the Carolina Panthers on Saturday night. – Receiver Mark Clayton returned to practice yesterday after missing most of training camp with a hamstring injury.  Though he won’t play against Carolina, it’s definitely a positive sign for him to be practicing more than two weeks before the regular season opener. Considering his history with hamstring issues, the Ravens will be extremely careful with Clayton.  If his hamstring responds well to practice, he’ll likely play against Atlanta to get some game reps next Thursday night, but don’t be surprised to see the Ravens limit his reps into the early stages of the season. It helps that Clayton had

Running game shines in Terps’ second scrimmage

Luke Jones

With the season opener against Cal less than two weeks away, the Maryland Terrapins conducted their second scrimmage of the preseason at Byrd Stadium Sunday afternoon. The Terps played three 15-minute quarters with the first-team offense mostly matching up against the second-team defense and the starting defense battling the second offense. With only two starters returning on the offensive line, head coach Ralph Friedgen was pleased to see improved production in the running game.  First-team All-ACC running back Da’Rel Scott carried four times for 33 yards while top backup Davin Meggett had five carries for 45 yards. Running back Gary Douglas was the star of the afternoon, rushing for 122 yards on 17 carries as he continues to battle Morgan Green for the third running back job.  The coaching staff really tested Douglas’ stamina in one series, giving him the ball seven times in an eight-play stretch.  Friedgen is high on Douglas, describing him as the most elusive runner on the team.  Green carried 10 times for 56 yards. True freshman Caleb Porzel showed an impressive burst while carrying six times for 26 yards.  His 35-yard touchdown run was negated by a penalty, but Friedgen said it will be very

Live from Westminster: The swan song from McDaniel College

Luke Jones

4:05 p.m. – I chatted with Frank Walker as he walked off the field, and he was definitely glad to be breaking camp, though he emphasized it was a great experience in Westminster. Even though the players were eager to leave summer camp behind, they continued to sign autographs for the fans out here in Westminster this afternoon.  You can tell these guys genuinely enjoy interacting with the fans.  The organization does things the right way, and it’s why the Ravens are king in this town. 4:00 p.m. – The special teams practice has concluded, as has the Ravens’ 2009 training camp here in Westminster.  The team will hold a walk-through tomorrow morning (closed to the media and public) before breaking camp. The hour-long afternoon practice was uneventful, but tackle Oniel Cousins did not practice with the other young offensive linemen.  There was no word on any injury, but I did overhear offensive line coach John Matsko asking Cousins if he’d be able to play Monday as they were leaving the field toward the end of practice. Cousins is the team’s top reserve tackle, so this will definitely be a situation to monitor leading up to Monday night’s game with

Getting down to 53: The final days of training camp

Luke Jones

We’re in the final week of training camp in Westminster, but the Ravens do not need to make any cuts until Sept. 1, when they must trim the roster to 75 players.  The team must then narrow down to the regular season number of 53 by Sept. 5. For those begging for help at the wide receiver position, the late cut dates mean any veteran receiver that could possibly shake free and help the cause in Baltimore probably won’t be available until right before the regular season. I’ve listed the number of players I predict the Ravens to keep at each position in parentheses. This list does not include the practice squad of eight players the Ravens will keep in addition to the 53-man roster. QUARTERBACKS (3) LOCK: Joe Flacco, Troy Smith, John Beck BUBBLE: None LONG SHOT: Cleo Lemon, Drew Willy Skinny: It’s been an interesting week regarding quarterbacks, but Cam Cameron made it clear the Ravens are still committed to Beck as the No. 3 guy.  Smith’s play in the preseason has further cemented his status as the backup to Flacco. RUNNING BACKS (5) LOCK: Ray Rice, Willis McGahee, Le’Ron McClain BUBBLE: Jalen Parmele, Matt Lawrence, Cedric Peerman

Training Camp Q&A

Luke Jones

It’s hard to believe we’re entering the final week of training camp at Westminster!  It’s been an interesting summer, ranging from the return of Derrick Mason to the appearance of Snoop Dogg as a personal guest of Ray Lewis. While the wide receiver position continues to be an area of concern, Ravens fans have to be pleased with the team’s performance in the preseason opener against the hated Washington Redskins. It’s time for the final Training Camp Q&A you’ll see from me this summer, as I go back to my full-time work commitment this week.  Not to worry though, as WNST’s Glenn Clark will be bringing all of the same training camp coverage you’ve come to expect here at WNST.net during the final week of workouts in Westminster. And, no, I’m not going anywhere, so continue to look for my thoughts here at WNST.net.  You can also friend me on Facebook or shoot me an email (Luke@wnst.net) if you want to talk Ravens, Orioles, or Terps. If you have a question or comment about the Ravens, leave it in the comments section below and I’ll be back later tonight to offer my thoughts.

Live from Westminster: Rolle to see another specialist for neck, still on PUP list

Luke Jones

6:57 p.m. — The Ravens will hold two practices on Monday, a morning session at 8:45 a.m. and an afternoon workout at 2:45 p.m.  Both practices are full-squad sessions and are open to the public. WNST’s Glenn Clark will be providing all of the coverage including hourly reports, blogging, and Twitter updates, so be sure to follow WNST.net for all of your Ravens training camp coverage! 6:50 p.m. — One of the last drills of practice involved some pressure situations late in the half.  The first and second offenses were presented with different scenarios in which they would have to run a play, kill the clock (if necessary), and line up for a field goal. The starting offense struggled mightily in this drill with a few dropped passes, batted passes (courtesy of Antwan Barnes), and even a Flacco stumble and fumble while trying to escape pressure. It was clear that Harbaugh was not thrilled with the way his offense played during this portion of practice.  Ed Reed was talking trash and reminding the offense they were still out there. 6:46 p.m. — I’m really starting to think Ed Reed is just trying to mess with people—including the media.  After playing

Live from Westminster: Gaither returns to practice, Divens placed on IR

Luke Jones

3:45 p.m. — The afternoon special teams practice lasted about an hour with the only news being the absence of returner Chris Carr.  He did not practice this afternoon and was walking very gingerly, suggesting he’s dealing with some type of leg issue. Carr walked off the field with trainer Bill Tessendorf in the closing minutes of the morning session. 1:27 p.m. — The Ravens will hold a special teams practice at 2:00 p.m. this afternoon.  Tomorrow morning’s practice has been CANCELLED.  The team will have a full-squad practice on Sunday afternoon at 2:45 p.m. 1:23 p.m. — Unofficially, Steve Hauschka was two of four in field goal attempts.  Hauschka made attempts from 20 and 41 yards but appeared to miss from 47 and 51 yards.  Both of these attempts were very close, and it was difficult to tell.  There were no officials standing underneath the goal posts, so I was just judging from my spot on the sideline.  I guess I need to hire my own personal referee to help me with this part of the blog! Hauschka appears to have a slight edge over Graham Gano at this point, but there are three preseason games remaining before any

Ravens spank Redskins in preseason opener

Luke Jones

In a thoroughly dominating performance, the Baltimore Ravens upended their neighbors to the south, beating the Washington Redskins, 23-0. Though the starting unit failed to put the ball in the end zone, quarterback Joe Flacco and the offense moved the ball consistently against the Redskins’ defense.  Flacco finished his night going 9 of 15 for 103 yards. His longest pass came on a 34-yard completion to Ray Rice out of the backfield.  Rice and Willis McGahee both looked strong running the ball, combining for 48 yards on only nine carries. “I thought they ran hard,” coach John Harbaugh said.  “You know they got the ball north and south.  It’s good to see the checkdowns [from the quarterbacks].” Despite moving the ball deep inside Washington territory twice, the Ravens had to settle for two Steve Hauschka field goals. “The three penalties in the first half hurt us,” offensive coordinator Cam Cameron said.  “We can correct those.  We held the ball and moved the ball early, but we have to score touchdowns, not field goals.  Ball security was good, and we’ve worked hard on that.” The Ravens finally found the end zone at the end of the first half when backup quarterback

Live from the Purple Crab Cake: Ravens blank Skins, 23-0

Luke Jones

11:11 p.m. — Just a few injury notes to pass along.  John Harbaugh confirmed that Marcus Smith sustained a severe knee injury in tonight’s game, speculating that it could be an ACL. Troy Smith re-entered the game late in the fourth quarter after John Beck had an undisclosed injury.  Harbaugh does not believe the injury is serious. Safety Haruki Nakamura suffered a “stinger” but should be fine. 10:35 p.m. — Gano misses a 28-yard field goal as time expires.  Tough break for the rookie in the kicking competition.  Final score:  Ravens 23, Redskins 0. 10:28 p.m. — Troy Smith is back in at quarterback.  This is definitely an interesting development. After Jason Cook recovered a fumble, Matt Lawrence just picked up 14 yards and a first down. 10:26 p.m. — The Redskins continue to look terrible offensively and are in danger of being shut out. Ernie Wheelwright nearly blocked the punt. 10:24 p.m. — Paul Kruger just picked up the sack on Brennan, showing great speed off the edge. I’ve been singing his praises during training camp, so it’s nice to see him deliver in his first preseason game. 10:19 p.m. — Beck just completed a 64-yard pass to little

Ravens-Redskins: Keys to the Game and Players to Watch

Luke Jones

While Ravens fans undoubtedly are excited for tonight’s preseason opener against the Washington Redskins, maintaining enthusiasm for an exhibition game can be difficult.  Despite paying regular season ticket prices,—and that’s another issue entirely—we’ll likely see Ray Lewis, Joe Flacco, and the rest of the starters for a quarter at most. And let’s face it; few will remember the outcome of this one by this time next month. Keys to the Game 1. Health The ultimate goal of any preseason game is to keep players healthy. The Ravens are already dealing with injuries at wide receiver and the offensive line, so they won’t want to add to the list. The team certainly wants to play well in their first live-game action but not at the expense of any key players. Regardless of the game’s outcome, coming out of it healthy will be a victory in itself. Expect a vanilla game plan on both sides of the ball. 2. Establish the run While Ray Rice appears to have the inside track at the running back position, the Ravens will continue to use a by-committee approach with Rice, Willis McGahee, and fullback Le’Ron McClain sharing carries. Rice will get the start but expect

Ravens-Redskins Preview: Conservative will be the Theme

Luke Jones

For the first time since coming up short in the AFC Championship in Pittsburgh last January, the Ravens will take the field at M&T Bank Stadium in their preseason opener against the Washington Redskins on Thursday night. While doubts surround the wide receiver position and an elite defense adjusts to a new coordinator at the helm, expectations run high for a team that finished 11-5 a year ago under first-year coach John Harbaugh.  Second-year quarterback Joe Flacco will look to build upon a remarkable rookie season that included two road playoff victories and is expected to take a larger role in the offensive game plan. Thursday will be the first—albeit small—step in gauging Flacco’s progression from  rookie to incumbent starter. “In the preseason, I want [Flacco] to throw completions,” offensive coordinator Cam Camerson said.  “That could be up the field [or] underneath.  I want to see completions inside the numbers, up the field, sideline to sideline. That’s what we’re going to try to do this preseason. For us to improve our offense, we’ve got to throw the football better. Obviously, it starts with the quarterback.” It will be difficult to get an accurate picture of the passing offense considering the

Live From Westminster: Mason dislocates finger, causes a scare

Luke Jones

4:06 p.m. — With Harbaugh not revealing any plans on which injured players will suit up and play on Thursday, here are some thoughts on the players in question. Demetrius Williams will play if he feels good during the team walk-through tomorrow.  He’s pushed through a hamstring issue for most of camp. Todd Heap’s lower back has tightened up over the last couple days, but there’s still a chance he’ll play.  Heap had not missed a practice before sitting out yesterday. Jared Gaither is still bothered by the shoulder/neck issue, but he took part in plenty of live reps yesterday morning.  He wants to play on Thursday, but it’ll depend how he feels during the walk-through. Derrick Mason suffered a dislocated finger this morning during practice.  I’d be surprised if he plays, and if he does, I’ll predict he’s nothing more than a decoy. Ben Grubbs continues to battle an ankle issue dating back to the offseason.  He participated in the early portion of practice today, but David Hale took his place at left guard.  He’s questionable. Marshal Yanda was given the day off today and is far ahead of schedule compared to where most people predicted he’d be at

Live from Westminster: Practicing in the heat, no celebs in the morning

Luke Jones

4:53 p.m. — Harbaugh was wearing what appeared to be a new shirt this afternoon at practice.  The phrase “Mighty Men of Baltimore” appears on the front.  This was a phrase Harbaugh began using last season, and I’ve even seen one or two players wearing the same shirt walking through the hotel lobby this afternoon. 4:22 p.m. — The team will hold their last full day of workouts tomorrow (8:45 a.m. full squad and 2:00 p.m. special teams) before the first preseason game against Washington on Thursday night.  Both practices are open to the public. The Ravens will have a walk-through on Wednesday, but it is closed to both the media and the general public. The team will then be back to practice in Westminster at 8:45 a.m. on Saturday. 4:19 p.m. — Ed Reed again sported a white jersey in the afternoon session, as he did yesterday, but I wouldn’t read too much into it since there was no contact.  Reed was wearing the red jersey this morning. 4:17 p.m. — Jerry Rosburg and the special teams spent a good portion of practice working with the hands team unit. While we’ve mainly focused on the field goal side of

Training Camp Q&A

Luke Jones

We’ve officially reached the dog days of training camp in Westminster, but the Ravens will play their first preseason game against the Washington Redskins at M&T Bank Stadium on Thursday night. The offensive line has suddenly come into question with Adam Terry being placed on injured reserve and Jared Gaither, Michael Oher, Ben Grubbs, and Oniel Cousins battling minor ailments.  In addition to the injuries on the line, Mark Clayton (hamstring) will miss at least two or three preseason games, and it looks doubtful that Terrell Suggs (heel) will play against Washington. Despite the injury problems, the Ravens are undoubtedly ready to hit another team after only matching up against each other for two weeks—yesterday’s fight proved this. With the first preseason game just days away, I’m here to answer your questions or respond to your comments about the Ravens. Just leave your questions in the comments section below, and I’ll be back later tonight to answer them.

Live from Brawl-minster: Ravens get chippy in heat, Harbs cancels p.m. practice

Luke Jones

1:47 p.m. — As fans continue to wonder about the status of Terrell Suggs and Samari Rolle, Harbaugh is not providing much clarity on either player. “No, nothing really new on that.  They’re both just rehabbing, and that’s where we’re at.” Suggs injured his heel on Sunday, and Rolle is the only player remaining on the physically unable to perform list. 1:41 p.m. — Harbaugh did not seem upset nor surprised with the morning practice skirmish.  He simply reiterated his preference for the battles in between the whistles. “We’ve had a lot of scuffles before the whistle gets blown, I can tell you that,” Harbaugh said.  “Those are the scuffles we’re most interested in.  The other ones are irrelevant.  We don’t mind them.  We don’t want them.  We don’t not want them.  We don’t care about them.  The ones before the whistle gets blown—those are the ones that matter.  Our guys have had plenty of those.” Here are Harbaugh’s comments on the Michael Oher calf situation: “It doesn’t look serious.  He pinched it, as Bill [Tessendorf] put [the injury report] in there.  It may be a little bit of a calf sprain.  It will be a rehab issue for a

Live From Westminster: Cousins carted off field in AM practice

Luke Jones

6:39 p.m. –The Ravens will hold two practices tomorrow, a morning session at 8:45 a.m. and an afternoon workout at 2:45 p.m.  Both practices are expected to be full-squad. Just a quick note to anyone planning to head out to Westminster on Monday to watch the Ravens in action.  The morning practice will be closed to the public.  The afternoon practice scheduled for 2:45 p.m. will be open for fans to attend. 3:24 p.m. — Despite the defense thoroughly dominating this morning, there were a few highlights for the offense.  Flacco threw a long touchdown pass to Mason during a 7-on-7 drill, beating Frank Walker in coverage. Justin Harper also made another spectacular one-handed catch.  Harper must still prove he can hold onto the ball when getting hit, but he certainly has shown an ability to stretch the field.  He continues to share time at the No. 3 receiver spot with Kelley Washington with Mark Clayton sidelined with a hamstring injury. 3:17 p.m. — The special teams practice lasted about an hour, as the team focused on kick return and punt team alignments. Chris Carr, Lardarius Webb, Ray Rice, and Jayson Foster worked on returning kicks.  Punt returners included Carr,

Live from Snoop-minster: Pics & vids of Snoop Dogg in the hizzouse at Ravens camp here!

Luke Jones

7:46 p.m. — Practice will get underway at 8:45 a.m. on Friday morning.  The team will have a special teams practice at 2 p.m. with special teams coordinator/assistant head coach Jerry Rosburg running the show. Harbaugh will be attending the memorial service of former Eagles defensive coordinator Jim Johnson.  The two men coached together in Philadelphia for a decade before Harbaugh became the head coach of the Ravens in 2008. 5:28 p.m. — Happy birthday to Frank Walker.  In honor of his 28th birthday, he was allowed to break the team huddle at the end of the afternoon practice. How did he celebrate?  Walker worked on his conditioning by running laps around the field after practice. 5:19 p.m. — Just when we thought Marcus Smith’s weight fluctuation problem was settled, the wide receiver did not practice this afternoon, though he was running on his own out on the field. With Smith having problems staying on the practice field and Clayton sidelined for the next few weeks, Kelley Washington and Justin Harper will both get looks at the No. 3 position.  Washington is a little more polished while running his routes, but Harper continues to stretch the field unlike any other

Getting down to 53: An early projection

Luke Jones

We’re a week and a half into training camp, so I thought I would give my VERY early look at the 53-man roster.  Keep in mind, injuries are bound to occur and will change the makeup of the roster considerably. The first preseason game will take place against the Washington Redskins next Thursday night, but here’s my roster projections based on my early observations in Westminster. I’ve listed the number of players I predict the Ravens to keep at each position in parentheses. This list does not include the practice squad of eight players the Ravens could keep in addition to the 53-man roster. And, remember, I’m not John Harbaugh, nor will I ever claim to be. QUARTERBACKS (3) LOCK: Joe Flacco, Troy Smith, John Beck BUBBLE: None LONG SHOT: None Skinny: Though Smith and Beck will continue to battle for the No. 2 job, there are no other quarterbacks currently in camp to even compete. RUNNING BACKS (4) LOCK: Ray Rice, Willis McGahee, Le’Ron McClain BUBBLE: Cedric Peerman, Jason Cook LONGSHOT: Jalen Parmele, Matt Lawrence Skinny: It will most likely come down to special teams in determining whether Peerman and Cook find their way on the roster. Cook would

Live from Westminster: Fabian Washington sits out, 'Over 30 Club' gets morning off

Luke Jones

7:23 p.m. — The Ravens have signed a defensive tackle to the 80-man roster.  Nader Abdallah was out on the field during the afternoon special teams practice, wearing No. 61. Abdallah is a rookie out of Ohio State and is 6-4 and 292 pounds. 5:09 p.m. — Another player slowed by injury is special teams ace Brendon Ayanbadejo.  The linebacker has battled a toe injury but is now walking around without a protective boot.  He has not tested the toe in cleats, so it’s anyone’s guess when he’ll return to the field. Ayanbadejo said the toe is very sensitive, and he will take it slow in getting back. 5:05 p.m. — The Ravens will hold practices at 8:45 a.m. and 2:45 p.m.  Both workouts will include the full squad and are open to the public at McDaniel College. 5:03 p.m. — Harbaugh will not be present for Friday afternoon’s practice as he attends the memorial service for former Eagles defensive coordinator Jim Johnson. The two men coached for a decade together in Philadelphia, and Harbaugh has referred to Johnson as a “football dad” to him. Special teams coach Jerry Rosburg will run practice in Harbaugh’s place. 3:42 p.m. — Punter

Live from Westminster: Adam Terry done for the season

Luke Jones

5:09 p.m. — Here’s a question for you: what would the Ravens do if long snapper Matt Katula went down in the middle of a game? We saw our answer after practice this afternoon.  Defensive tackle Haloti Ngata practiced field goal snaps while running back Willis McGahee was long snapping for punting situations.  Both players looked capable, but let’s hope neither has to be called into duty. While the average fan has no idea who Katula is, he has certainly been an excellent long snapper since joining the Ravens in 2005. 5:00 p.m. — Another rookie to keep an eye on is defensive end Will VanDeSteeg.  At 6-4 and 256 pounds, VanDeSteeg has good size and has received a few reps with the starting defense since Terrell Suggs is currently out with a strained heel.  Paul Kruger has been taking Suggs’ place in the starting lineup. He’s just another example of the fine work Eric DeCosta and the scouting staff do every season.  While there’s no guarantee that guys like VanDeSteeg or Dannell Ellerbe will make the team, they are more than capable of coming in and competing—exactly what you want during training camp. 4:55 p.m. — With Oniel Cousins

Live from Westminster: Suggs, Clayton do not practice

Luke Jones

4:51 p.m. — One player I haven’t discussed too much is tight end Todd Heap.  The veteran has looked good out there with no lingering effects from the back injury apparent.  He looks quick getting in and out of his cuts and is hoping to once again become a major factor in the passing game. “Todd has done a really good job in the offseason getting himself ready,” coach John Harbaugh said.  “He looks like he’s getting himself ready to have a really good season.  He’ll be the first to tell you that he’s got a lot of work to do betwen now and then, but he’s done well.” 4:45 p.m. — Dannell Ellerbe is a player to keep an eye on if you’re going to make your way out to Westminster.  An undrafted rookie inside linebacker out of Georgia, Ellerbe was considered a mid-round draft prospect before battling knee issues in 2008.  Ellerbe was 2nd team All-SEC in 2007. He has been so impressive that he received a few reps with some of the defensive starters at the end of practice this morning.  While he clearly won’t challenge Ray Lewis or Tavares Gooden for a starting spot, he could

Training Camp Q&A

Luke Jones

The Ravens are one week into training camp, and we’ve had plenty to talk about, ranging from the Michael Oher signing to the return of Derrick Mason. Mason was out on the field practicing this morning and even caught a touchdown pass from Joe Flacco, earning the cheers from the fans in Westminster. I wanted to give you, the WNST.net audience, an opportunity to ask some questions.  I’ve covered a plethora of topics throughout the first week in our hourly training camp reports and in “Live from Westminster” right here on WNST.net, but if you have a question about a particular player or Ravens-related subject, now’s your chance. Just leave it in the comments section, and I’ll be back tonight to answer your questions.

Live from Westminster: Derrick Mason ends retirement, returns to Ravens

Luke Jones

8:39 p.m. — I had to chuckle when I came across this on JOCKlife, the site that broke the news about Mason retiring on July 13. While Baltimore will undoubtedly welcome back Mason with open arms, the way this “retirement” was initiated will leave a black mark on Mason’s great career. 8:00 p.m. — Earlier I had said the Ravens would need to make a roster move in order to place Mason back on the active 80-man roster, but they will not have to do this since they were at 79 players on the roster. Sunday’s practices will take place at 8:45 a.m. and 2:45 p.m.  Derrick Mason is expected to be on the field and practicing Sunday morning.  He will talk to the media after the morning session. 2:29 p.m. — The Ravens will take Mason off the reserve-did not report list and place him back on the active roster.  The Ravens placed Mason on the list in order to gain the roster spot on the 80-man limit. We’ll let you know what that move is as soon as we find out. 2:16 p.m. — There will be no press conference today, but Mason will speak to the media

Live from Westminster: Yanda practices, Reed wearing red jersey (no contact)

Luke Jones

7:09 p.m. — The Ravens will practice on Saturday at 8:45 a.m. and 2:45 p.m.  Both practices are open to the public. 5:45 p.m. — Domonique Foxworth had a nice play in the afternoon, breaking up a pass intended for Demetrius Williams. Foxworth signed a huge contract to come to Baltimore, so the expectations are high for the fifth-year player. 5:40 p.m. — Defensive linemen Trevor Pryce and Will Johnson and receiver Marcus Smith did not practice this afternoon.  Pryce had his foot stepped on in the morning and was even carted off the field, but he should be back to practice as early as tomorrow.  Johnson has a right leg issue, and Smith sat out with cramps. 5:25 p.m. — Despite the rain delay, the Ravens did make it outside to the lower field for practice this afternoon.  Several hundred people hung around to watch the workout despite the terrible storm that came through Westminster in the 2 o’clock hour. There were two major highlights in the afternoon.  The first was Dawan Landry swiping a Troy Smith pass and returning it for a touchdown.  He looks to be 100 percent healthy and has not shied away from contact in

Oher relieved to sign deal, ready to focus on football

Luke Jones

Michael Oher’s long journey to football success is well-chronicled in a best-selling book and an upcoming movie, but he needed to wait just a few extra days to officially realize his dream. Oher officially signed a five-year contract on Thursday, ending a brief holdout.  The deal is worth up to $13.8 million and includes $7.8 million in guaranteed money.  With the contract now behind him, the projected starting right tackle is ready to focus on the game. “I’m pleased to be here today, and I’m still excited,” Oher said.  “I’m very excited that the Ravens decided to pick me. I feel like I have to give it my all, and I’m glad we came to an agreement.” General manager Ozzie Newsome described the negotiations as difficult, pointing to the team’s early start date for training camp and the lack of first-round picks that had signed contracts.  He credited vice president of football administration Pat Moriarty and Oher’s agent Jimmy Sexton for their creativity in working out a contract that would work for both sides. In describing why Oher was such an attractive player to the Ravens, Newsome talked about his work ethic and the responsibility he feels for his teammates. 

Live from Westminster: McGahee and Grubbs off PUP list, Kelley Washington on

Luke Jones

7:39 p.m. — The Ravens’ official site reports that Willis McGahee and Ben Grubbs have been removed from the PUP list, but wide receiver Kelley Washington was added to the list.  There was no word on the reason why Washington was placed on the list. The Ravens also signed wide receiver Thomas White out of Baylor.  White has good size at 6-2 and 205 pounds.  You can read his college bio here. 6:35 p.m. — The press conference was spiced up by a surprise appearance by Terrell Suggs.  The Pro Bowler complimented Oher on his first practice as a Raven and even asked him about the upcoming season.  Great stuff from T-Sizzle! 6:18 p.m. — The press conference has concluded, and Michael Oher expressed relief at having the contract signed and being able to focus on football.  The entire press conference will be up in the WNST audio vault if you’d like to hear from the Ravens’ new right tackle directly. Ravens general manager did most of the talking, but Oher expressed enthusiasm for being a Baltimore Raven. Here are just a few notes from the press conference: – Ozzie Newsome called it a tough negotiation, citing how very few

Live from Westminster: Oher signs, Mason placed on reserve/did not report list

Luke Jones

11:54 p.m. — As I’ve discussed earlier—both in the blog and on the training camp reports—the delay in Oher’s signing was likely based on the slotting system that exists for signing draft picks. With the 21st pick (Cleveland’s Alex Mack) and the 28th pick (Buffalo’s Eric Wood) signing contracts already, it gave some basic parameters for the Oher deal to get done.  Oher is only the sixth first-round pick to sign a contract. We’re still waiting to hear the official terms. 11:02 p.m. —  John Harbaugh’s statement to the Ravens’ official site about the signing of Michael Oher: “We knew Michael wanted to be here.  He said that many times.  Ozzie [Newsome] wanted him to be here, and his agent [Jimmy Sexton] wanted him to be here too.  The agent wanted to make sure he did the right thing by Michael, and we wanted that.” 10:48 p.m. — With the signing of their first-round pick, the Ravens have become one of the first teams in the NFL to sign all of their 2009 draft picks.  Others to sign all of their picks include Chicago, the New York Jets, and Pittsburgh. 10:01 p.m. — The Ravens just announced that they’ve signed

Ravens kick off 2009 Training Camp

Luke Jones

The Baltimore Ravens completed their first workouts on Tuesday with rookies, quarterbacks, and selected veterans participating.  The morning and afternoon workouts each lasted an hour and 15 minutes due to a smaller roster needing a smaller number of reps. “Guys worked hard; it was crisp,” coach John Harbaugh said.  “But it will be a lot sharper on Thursday and Friday.” The Ravens announced 11 players would be placed on the active PUP (physically unable to perform) list to start training camp.  The players are Lamar Divens, Davon Drew, Yamon Figurs, Ben Grubbs, Willis McGahee, Jason Phillips, Joe Reitz, Samari Rolle, Lou Saucedo, Adam Terry, and Marshal Yanda. These players still count against the 80-man training camp roster but may come off the list at any time to practice.  Once a player practices, he is no longer eligible for the more commonly-known reserve PUP list that is used in the regular season and requires a player to miss the first six weeks of the season. “We’ll continue to put these guys through a physical, who have had injuries in the past,” Harbaugh said.  “We’re going to make sure that certain situations react positively to the work before we put them on

Live from Westminster: Ravens put 11 on "active" PUP to start camp

Luke Jones

7:23 p.m. — The Ravens have waived former Terps receiver Isaiah Williams. 6:44 p.m. — Defensive back Derrick Martin made the defensive play of the afternoon, picking off a pass from John Beck during 7-on-7 drills. Only two offensive linemen practiced today, Robby Felix and Bryan Mattison (the defensive coordinator’s son).  Offensive line coach John Matsko really worked the two linemen hard. Newly-signed Jayson Foster jumped right in, snagging a pass after signing with the team today.  Foster’s signing was such a secret that many of the assistant coaches had to ask his name on the field.  He wore No. 18 today—with no name on the back. Though Marshal Yanda is sporting a bulky brace on his knee, he was moving around fairly well on the sideline today.  He wasn’t as active as Ben Grubbs or Adam Terry in his running, but it was good seeing him moving around after the horrific knee injury he suffered in Indianapolis last season. 6:23 p.m. — The afternoon practice was pretty uneventful and similar to the morning workout.  It lasted about an hour and 15 minutes, though rookies stuck around for a little longer to work with special teams coach Jerry Rosburg. The

Harbaugh kicks off his second training camp with questions at receiver

Luke Jones

Less than 24 hours after newly-signed receiver Drew Bennett abruptly announced his retirement, Ravens head coach John Harbaugh was disappointed but reiterated the Ravens would move on with the players they already have. Bennett retired after an arthritic condition caused his knee to swell up after working out and signing a contract with the Ravens on Friday.  The eight-year veteran spent most of his career with the Tennessee Titans but spent his final two seasons in St. Louis with the Rams.  Bennett is the second Ravens wide receiver to retire in the last two weeks, though Derrick Mason’s absence clearly has a much bigger impact on the offense. “I think that’s why you put guys through a workout at this stage; it’s to find out how they recover the next day and what not,” said Harbaugh.  “[Bennett’s] knees just didn’t calm down…And it is time for him to move on.  He didn’t feel like he could get through a practice, let alone a season at this level.” Harbaugh reiterated the Ravens would be adding a wide receiver but did not mention any specific name, saying it could be a veteran or younger player.  The Ravens have signed receiver Biren Ealy

Live from Westminster: Ravens waive Sypniewski & sign WR Biren Ealy

Luke Jones

8:32 p.m. – Ealy’s dismissal from the New Orleans Saints stems from an arrest back in May.  You can read about it here. 5:57 p.m. – If you’re on the WNST text service, you just learned the Ravens have signed wide receiver Biren Ealy.  Having only one career catch, I’m not sure Ealy would be the signing to “replace” Drew Bennett, but he is another warm body here in Westminster. Ealy played his college football at Houston and played four games with the Tennessee Titans in 2007. 5:42 p.m. – Willis McGahee just walked into the lobby of the Best Western, joining veterans Samari Rolle, Adam Terry, and Antwan Barnes among the select veterans reporting today. McGahee looks to be in good shape, but we’ll get our first look at the former Hurricane tomorrow morning on the field. He was second behind Ray Rice on the depth chart during OTAs, as he was recovering from offseason knee surgery. As I type this, I just saw Kellly Gregg walk through the door. 5:14 p.m. – Lardarius Webb is really excited to get going and says that the sore hamstring that plagued him during OTAs is now 100 percent. He mentioned how

Training Camp Preview: Five Burning Questions

Luke Jones

With the eve of training camp upon us, the Baltimore Ravens—and their fans—have extremely high expectations entering 2009 after coming ever so close to the Super Bowl last season, falling to the rival Pittsburgh Steelers in the AFC Championship. As with any offseason, the Ravens have undergone a number of changes to the roster and coaching staff.  These changes leave behind questions that must be addressed if the Ravens are to build upon last season’s 11-5 record. Here are five burning questions to ponder as rookies, quarterbacks, and select veterans report to McDaniel College on Monday with the rest of the roster arriving on Wednesday. 1.  Will Derrick Mason show up in Westminster? It’s been almost two weeks since Mason announced his retirement, and the Ravens are still trying to figure it all out.  Most believe the “retirement” is driven by money, as Mason made it clear he was seeking a new deal earlier in the offseason.  His contract will expire following the season. The tragic murder of former teammate Steve McNair has also impacted the 35-year-old receiver and further complicates what would otherwise be viewed as a disguised holdout. Mason is recovering from offseason shoulder surgery and may not

One draft pick to go: 2nd-round pick Kruger inks four-year deal

Luke Jones

With rookies scheduled to report to McDaniel College for the start of training camp on Monday, the Ravens today reached an agreement with second-round selection (57th overall) Paul Kruger. The defensive end-linebacker from Utah will receive a four-year deal, leaving only first-round pick Michael Oher unsigned from the Ravens’ 2009 draft class. Kruger becomes only the ninth player of 32 second-round picks to reach an agreement. The Ravens continue to work on a deal for their rookie right tackle Oher, selected 23rd overall, but the pace at which first-round picks are signing is likely slowing the process.  Only four of 32 first-rounders have signed, but newly-signed Cleveland center Alex Mack (21st overall) likely provides some parameters for Pat Moriarty to reach an agreement. In addition to Mack, Detroit quarterback Matt Stafford (first overall), Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez (fifth overall), and Pittsburgh defensive end Ziggy Hood (32nd overall) are the only other first-round selections to sign contracts.

Training Camp Q&A

Luke Jones

It’s hard to believe we’re entering the final week of training camp at Westminster!  It’s been an interesting summer, ranging

Training Camp Q&A

Luke Jones

We’ve officially reached the dog days of training camp in Westminster, but the Ravens will play their first preseason game

Training Camp Q&A

Luke Jones

The Ravens are one week into training camp, and we’ve had plenty to talk about, ranging from the Michael Oher

Ravens kick off 2009 Training Camp

Luke Jones

The Baltimore Ravens completed their first workouts on Tuesday with rookies, quarterbacks, and selected veterans participating.  The morning and afternoon

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