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Ravens' rookie receivers trying to grow on the fly

OWINGS MILLS, Md. — The cliches and jargon has been tossed around since the Ravens began training camp after releasing veterans Derrick Mason and Todd Heap in late July. The passing game will be a work in progress, but the talent is there, they said. The Ravens acquired veteran Lee Evans halfway through the preseason to provide a vertical threat and add experience to a very young group of receivers led by veteran Anquan Boldin. Evans, however, has been stricken with a left ankle injury since the third preseason game and hasn’t played since Week 2. In his absence, Baltimore’s rookie receivers have collected just 11 receptions in five games, good for only 40.4 percent of quarterback Joe Flacco’s 89 completions this season. Ravens wideouts accounted for 50.9 percent of Flacco’s completions last year when Mason, Boldin, and T.J. Houshmandzadeh occupied the top three spots on the depth chart. Despite the light production from the rookie group of Torrey Smith, LaQuan Williams, and Tandon Doss, the coaching staff still claims they’re seeing development through the first five regular-season games, even if it hasn’t translated on the field. “Just tremendous growth,” offensive coordinator Cam Cameron said. “Again, we get to see

Jimmy Smith a full participant on Ravens' Friday injury report

OWINGS MILLS, Md. — The likelihood of Ravens cornerback Jimmy Smith returning to action on Monday continues to grow after the rookie was listed as a full participant on Friday’s injury report. Linebacker Jarret Johnson was also a full participant after missing Thursday’s practice with a back ailment. However, the news wasn’t all good as safety Tom Zbikowski did not practice as he continues to deal with concussion-like symptoms, joining receiver Lee Evans and guard Ben Grubbs as non-participants on Friday. Former Ravens safety Dawan Landry appeared on Jacksonville’s injury report for the first time on Friday and is dealing with a thigh injury. BALTIMORE OUT – LB Dannell Ellerbe (thigh), RB Anthony Allen (thigh) DID NOT PARTICIPATE – G Ben Grubbs (toe), WR Lee Evans (ankle), S Tom Zbikowski (head) LIMITED – CB Chris Carr (thigh) FULL PARTICIPATION – CB Jimmy Smith (ankle), LB Jarret Johnson (back) JACKSONVILLE DID NOT PARTICIPATE – T Eben Britton (back), S Courtney Greene (hamsting) LIMITED – G Jason Spitz (quad), S Dawan Landry (thigh) FULL PARTICIPATION – DT Tyson Alualu (knee), CB Derek Cox (groin), RB Greg Jones (non-injury related), RB Maurice Jones-Drew (non-injury related), DE Aaron Kampman (non-injury related), CB Rashean Mathis

Live from Owings Mills: Zbikowski joins Evans, Grubbs as absentees on Friday

OWINGS MILLS, Md. — Offensive starters Lee Evans and Ben Grubbs were missing from the practice field for the second straight day on Friday, making it very unlikely either will return to action against the Jacksonville Jaguars on Monday night. In fact, neither was even present for the Ravens’ morning walk-through, an indication the team is not even planning for the possibility of Evans or Grubbs to return to the lineup. Grubbs has not played since Week 1 after suffering a right toe injury while Evans has been sidelined since the Week 2 loss in Tennessee with a left ankle injury. Both players returned to the practice field early last week before having setbacks. Safety Tom Zbikowski joined Evans and Grubbs as a non-participant after he worked on a limited basis on Thursday. The four-year veteran has still not been cleared for contact since sustaining a concussion against the New York Jets on Oct. 2. Cornerbacks Jimmy Smith and Chris Carr were practicing for the second consecutive day after working on a limited basis on Thursday. While it’s still a mystery whether either plays against Jacksonville, the Ravens appear to be getting healthier in the secondary than they’ve been since

Pagano says rookie CB Smith "starting over" after injury layoff

OWINGS MILLS, Md. — The return of cornerback Jimmy Smith to the practice field on Thursday was a welcome sight for the Ravens after selecting the rookie with the 27th overall pick in April’s draft. However, those expecting Smith to step right into the lineup and replace Lardarius Webb or Cary Williams as one of the starting cornerbacks might be setting unrealistic expectations. After injuring his left ankle early in the first quarter against Pittsburgh in the regular-season opener on Sept. 11, the progress Smith had made during the preseason in adjusting to the speed of the game has been stunted after a five-week layoff. Smith appeared on his way to earning a starting position in the secondary early in the season before he was injured covering a kickoff in the first quarter against the Steelers. “It’ll be tough again,” defensive coordinator Chuck Pagano. “It’s like starting all over again with him. Throw him out there and see where he’s at and see how he continues to progress throughout the weekend and see Monday night where he’s at. He’ll be OK. He’ll do a good job.” Smith practiced on a limited basis on Thursday, and conventional wisdom says the Ravens

Morning Reaction Picks and Comment – Week 7

Here are this weekend’s picks as Drew Forrester and Luke Jones will pick every NFL game as well as local college football contests. As a special treat, we will pick our respective high schools’ games. Drew Forrester is 60-30 after finishing 9-4 last week while Luke Jones is 61-29 after a 10-3 record in Week 6. Official standings are only kept based on the NFL picks. Ravens at Jaguars: Baltimore 30-10 (Drew), Baltimore 24-10 (Luke) Seahawks at Browns: Cleveland 24-21 (Drew), Cleveland 21-17 (Luke) Falcons at Lions: Detroit 28-17 (Drew), Atlanta 31-27 (Luke) Texans at Titans: Tennessee 24-20 (Drew), Tennessee 27-20 (Luke) Broncos at Dolphins: Denver 17-16 (Drew), Denver 13-10 (Luke) Chargers at Jets: San Diego 29-23 (Drew), New York 24-20 (Luke) Bears at Buccaneers: Chicago 20-17 (Drew), Tampa Bay 21-14 (Luke) Redskins at Panthers: Carolina 24-23 (Drew), Washington 21-20 (Luke) Chiefs at Raiders: Kansas City 23-20 OT (Drew), Oakland 21-14 (Luke) Steelers at Cardinals: Pittsburgh 27-23 (Drew), Pittsburgh 17-13 (Luke) Rams at Cowboys: Dallas 34-20 (Drew), Dallas 27-16 (Luke) Packers at Vikings: Green Bay 33-21 (Drew), Green Bay 31-13 (Luke) Colts at Saints: New Orleans 34-17 (Drew), New Orleans 31-14 (Luke) Maryland at Florida State: Seminoles 34-27 (Drew), Seminoles

Ravens rule out Ellerbe, Allen on Thursday's injury report

OWINGS MILLS, Md. — On the same day cornerbacks Jimmy Smith and Chris Carr returned to the practice field after long layoffs, the Ravens have already ruled out two others for their Monday night game in Jacksonville. Linebacker Dannell Ellerbe and running back Anthony Allen both have thigh injuries and were declared out on Thursday after both were listed as probable on last week’s injury report against the Texans. Ellerbe injured his opposite leg against Houston while it is unknown what exactly happened to Allen, as the the Ravens did not report any new injuries following Sunday’s game. Wide receiver Lee Evans and left guard Ben Grubbs did not participate in Thursday’s practice, and it appears more likely that each player will be missing from action again. Grubbs has missed four straight games while Evans has not played since Week 2 against the Tennessee Titans. Linebacker Jarret Johnson (back) did not practice on Thursday, but the injury is not expected to be serious as the veteran was present on the field during the workout and appeared to be moving around without much limitation. Jacksonville saw two players miss practice on Thursday, offensive lineman Eben Britton and reserve safety Courtney Greene,

Small stature, giant impact: Ravens' Rice, Jaguars' Jones-Drew drive respective offenses

OWINGS MILLS, Md. — The two shortest players on the field at EverBank Field in Jacksonville will have the biggest impact when the Ravens face the Jacksonville Jaguars in a primetime meeting on Monday night. It’s the same story every week for the 5-foot-8 Ray Rice and Jacksonville’s 5-foot-7 Maurice Jones-Drew as they’re each the most dynamic player on their respective offenses. Rice is responsible for 38.1 percent of Baltimore’s offensive production while Jones-Drew accounts for 41.4 percent of Jacksonville’s total yardage. Both will be opposed by defenses familiar with going against a small-statured back every day in practice, but Jones-Drew will deal with the third-ranked rush defense while the 1-5 Jaguars only offer the 19th-best unit when it comes to stopping the run. “They are facing our defense — a great defense,” Rice said. “We get to face them. Regardless of their record, they have a great defense, we all know. You sort of have a little battle — myself vs. Jones-Drew. Let’s see who comes out as the better running back that day. It’s just a nice game, nice Monday Night Football game. It doesn’t matter what anybody’s record is, [on] Monday Night Football, a lot of great

Live from Owings Mills: J. Smith, Carr return to practice

OWINGS MILLS, Md. — For the first time since injuring his left ankle on kickoff coverage early in the season opener against Pittsburgh, rookie cornerback Jimmy Smith returned to the practice field on Thursday in what amounts to a very good sign for the Ravens secondary. Moving around quickly and hitting a blocking sled without any visible limitation, Baltimore’s first-round draft pick appears close to returning to action after suffering a high ankle sprain against the Steelers and missing the last four games. While it’s far from a sure thing that Smith would return to action this Monday night against Jacksonville, the talented 6-foot-2 cornerback moving around so well on the practice field is a welcome sign, especially with a rematch with the Steelers in Pittsburgh only two weeks away. Smith was joined by fellow cornerback Chris Carr in returning to the practice field after the veteran has missed the last two games with the same injured left hamstring that’s limited him since the middle of August. Carr had returned to action against the St. Louis Rams before experiencing a setback in a practice leading up to the game against the Jets and has been out ever since. Tom Zbikowski

Rookie quarterback Gabbert in Ravens' defensive crosshairs

OWINGS MILLS, Md. — Not only will Jacksonville quarterback Blaine Gabbert find himself in the national spotlight of Monday night for the first time, but the vaunted Ravens defense will be staring at him across the line of scrimmage. It’s the scariest of propositions for a rookie quarterback, comparable to being thrown into the lion’s den in ancient times. And while Ravens defensive players weren’t exactly giving away bulletin board material on Wednesday, they have to be licking their chops going against Gabbert and the 32nd-ranked passing offense in the NFL. The Jaguars have scored just 72 points in six games this season, losing five straight after a season-opening win over Tennessee in which current backup Luke McCown received the start. Gabbert has started the Jaguars’ last four games, throwing four touchdowns and two interceptions while completing only 48.8 percent of his passes after Jacksonville selected the former Missouri quarterback with the 10th overall pick in April’s draft. However, the Ravens say they won’t deviate from their usual game plan just because a rookie is under center. “It’s not going to be any different for us [in terms of] preparation week-to-week,” safety Ed Reed said. “Yes, there can be some

Ravens re-sign LB Burgess, part ways with OL LeVoir

With linebacker and special teams contributor Dannell Ellerbe continuing to battle injuries, the Ravens have re-signed special teams standout Prescott Burgess. The team also announced offensive lineman Mark LeVoir has been waived to clear room on the 53-man roster. Burgess was cut at the conclusion of the preseason before the Ravens re-signed him after placing cornerback Domonique Foxworth on injured reserve on Sept. 28. The veteran linebacker was then cut during the bye week when the Ravens signed cornerback and return specialist Bryan McCann on Oct. 4. Ellerbe was inactive for the Ravens’ Week 4 victory over the New York Jets before returning to action against Houston on Sunday. Coach John Harbaugh did not report any new injuries or give an update on Ellerbe following Sunday’s game or during his Monday press conference in Owings Mills. LeVoir was inactive against the Texans on Sunday and fell out of favor when he struggled playing in place of injured guard Ben Grubbs against the Tennessee Titans in Week 2. LeVoir was inactive the following week against St. Louis and may have only been active against the Jets in Week 4 because the Ravens’ seven inactive players were all missing the game due

Morning Reaction Tuesday Top 7 Ravens for Week 6

Below are our Top 7 Ravens players in the 29-14 victory over the Houston Texans 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 To hear the full explanation for our respective picks, click right HERE. Luke Jones’ Top 7 … 7) Terrence Cody 6) Billy Cundiff 5) Ray Lewis 4) Joe Flacco 3) Ray Rice 2) Haloti Ngata 1) Anquan Boldin Drew Forrester’s Top 7 … 7) Bernard Pollard 6) Haloti Ngata 5) Billy Cundiff 4) Joe Flacco 3) Ray Lewis 2) Anquan Boldin 1) Ray Rice SEASON TO DATE: Luke Jones: 1. Ray Rice (24 points) 2. Haloti Ngata (23 points) 3. Terrell Suggs (16 points) 4. Joe Flacco (15 points) 5. Ed Reed (8 points) 5. Anquan Boldin (8 points) 7. David Reed (6 points) 7. Torrey Smith (6 points) 7.Terrence Cody (6 points) 7. Ray Lewis (6 points) 11. Bryant McKinnie (5 points) 11. Lardarius Webb (5 points) 11. Billy Cundiff (5 points) 13. Cory

Harbaugh sidestepping brother's controversy, Ravens' Monday night snubs

OWINGS MILLS, Md. — In the aftermath of the Ravens’ 29-14 win over Houston on Sunday evening, coach John Harbaugh was asked whether he had heard about the altercation involving his younger brother following the 49ers’ big road win over Jim Schwartz and the Detroit Lions earlier in the day. Harbaugh only spoke in general terms on Sunday since the incident occurred as Baltimore’s 4:05 game with Houston was getting underway. [youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KzgLzVxFdQc[/youtube] A day later, the Ravens coach was asked whether he had spoken to Jim Harbaugh about the incident to get his view of what transpired. Predictably, Harbaugh would not reveal specific details of what he talked about with his brother but gave a clear indication who he was supporting — to no one’s surprise. “I think I know who was right, but whoever was right or wrong, I know whose side I’m on,” said Harbaugh, drawing laughs from the media. “I’m definitely taking sides — the same side I’ve always taken.” The younger Harbaugh has been criticized for the handshake and slap on the back he offered Schwartz following San Francisco’s impressive 25-19 win. Schwartz took issue with Harbaugh’s decorum in celebrating the Week 6 victory as the

Ravens wear out Texans early, run them over late

BALTIMORE — In his post-game comments following the Ravens’ 29-14 win over the Houston Texans, coach John Harbaugh offered a mission statement of what his football team tries to do to the opponent every week. And it certainly applied on Sunday despite an uneven performance by the offense in the second and third quarters. “What you want to do is to wear people out early, and then you want to run them over late,” coach John Harbaugh said. “That’s kind of the philosophy that we have.” The Ravens started fast against the Texans with a 16-play, 97-yard touchdown drive that shaved 8:47 off the clock in the first quarter before Joe Flacco bulled into the end zone from the 1 to give Baltimore a 7-0 lead. It was the first touchdown allowed by Houston in the first quarter all season. However, despite 310 total yards through the game’s first three quarters, the Ravens entered the final 15 minutes only leading by two as the offense continued to sputter inside the 35, settling for three Billy Cundiff field goals after the touchdown on their opening drive. That changed in the fourth quarter as the Ravens began running over the Texans just

Ravens-Texans: Five predictions for Sunday

The Week 5 bye was supposed to take care of their injury woes, but the Ravens will again be without a minimum of four key contributors as Lee Evans, Chris Carr, Tom Zbikowski, and Jimmy Smith have been ruled out and Ben Grubbs’ status (listed as questionable ) remains very much in doubt against Houston on Sunday. Of course, the 3-2 Texans won’t feel any pity for Baltimore as they come to M&T Bank Stadium for the teams’ fifth all-time meeting. With defensive standout Mario Williams gone for the year after tearing a pectoral muscle last Sunday, the Texans have already ruled out star receiver Andre Johnson and an astonishing 20 other players are listed on the injury report for Sunday (19 of them probable, however). With the Texans already facing an uphill battle by playing in Baltimore for the first time since 2005, the loss of Williams and Johnson sucks the starch out of what looked to be a prime AFC matchup and one of the Ravens’ bigger challenges on the schedule entering the season. Here’s what to expect when Gary Kubiak’s Texans try to win their first ever game against the Ravens … 1. Fullback Vonta Leach had

Ravens injury report: Evans, three others ruled out against Texans

OWINGS MILLS, Md. — Despite optimism that the bye week would return a fully-healthy roster, the Ravens know they will already be without four players for Sunday’s game against Houston. Wide receiver Lee Evans, safety Tom Zbikowski, and cornerbacks Chris Carr and Jimmy Smith were ruled out in Friday’s injury report. Evans will now miss his third straight game as he continues to deal with a left ankle injury. Optimism existed when the veteran wideout return to the practice field earlier in the week, but Evans did not practice on Thursday and Friday. “He’s going to need some practice,” Harbaugh said. “It’s been very disappointing. No one’s been more surprised than us. But, [we’ll] just wait and see if the doctors can figure it out. He has to keep working on it.” Zbikowski is still dealing with symptoms stemming from a concussion he suffered against the Jets on Oct. 2 and did not practice on Thursday or Friday after doing some individual work on Wednesday. Carr and Smith were expected to miss Sunday’s game as neither partook in practice all week. Starting left guard Ben Grubbs is listed as questionable for Sunday and has not played since the regular-season opener

Reed holding together battered, youthful Ravens secondary

OWINGS MILLS, Md. — The Ravens entered the 2011 season with greater depth at cornerback than at any point in recent memory. Then, they began dropping like flies. Jimmy Smith and Chris Carr went down in the regular-season opener, neither one of them currently healthy a month later. Domonique Foxworth was placed on injured reserve after his surgically-repaired knee would not cooperate in getting the former starter back on the field. As a result, Cary Williams and Lardarius Webb — and the four career starts between them entering 2011 — have held down the starting cornerback positions through the quarter pole of the season. And, surprisingly, the Ravens are tied for eighth in pass defense. Much credit goes to an improved Baltimore pass rush and a more aggressive approach from new defensive coordinator Chuck Pagano, but the Ravens can also be thankful for their future Hall of Fame safety and the leadership he’s provided in an otherwise youthful secondary. A chronic nerve impingement in his neck and shoulder and a hip injury have severely hampered Ed Reed over the last three seasons, but the All-Pro playmaker appears healthier this season after participating in most training camp practices — Reed missed

Live from Owings Mills: Evans essentially ruled out, Grubbs game-time decision

(Updated: 1:45 p.m.) OWINGS MILLS, Md. — Friday’s practice looked very similar to Thursday as the Ravens failed to receive any encouraging signs from wide receiver Lee Evans or left guard Ben Grubbs in terms of practice participation. Coach John Harbaugh essentially ruled out Evans for Sunday, citing his need to get back to practicing in order to play in games. “I don’t see him playing in a game right now.” Harbaugh also revealed to the media following Friday’s practice that Grubbs’ injured right toe was stepped on during practice earlier in the week, which has slowed his progress. He will be a game-time decision, according to the head coach. Evans (left ankle) was absent from the portion of practice open to the media after missing Thursday’s practice. Despite practicing earlier in the week, it’s appearing more likely the 30-year-old wideout will miss his third straight game. Grubbs (right toe) was seen walking on the Ravens’ indoor practice field as media exited, but he was not carrying a helmet or taped up. The offensive lineman was listed as limited on Thursday despite not wearing a helmet or appearing to take part in any drills during the open portion of practice.

Cameron with a vertical vision for Ravens passing game

OWINGS MILLS, Md. — With the Ravens enjoying their bye last week, offensive coordinator Cam Cameron spent time evaluating every aspect of the offense through four weeks of the season. His verdict was predictable, saying the Ravens aren’t really doing anything consistently great on the offensive side of the football, but he did make an interesting observation regarding opposing defenses. Despite Lee Evans playing only two games and the Ravens relying on rookie Torrey Smith as a starting receiver opposite Anquan Boldin, Cameron believes opposing defenses are respecting the potential of the Baltimore passing game despite only being ranked 18th in the NFL. “What I do really like is the fact [that] I sense that people feel like they better back up,” Cameron said. “And I think that fits our style as a team. We want to be a vertical passing team — that’s the first thing we talk about — and secondly, a high (completion) percentage team” Of course, potential is one thing and production is another as Joe Flacco’s 49.3 percent completion percentage must improve if the Ravens are to consistently move the chains and register enough points every week. Evans’ health will also play a major factor

Evans trending in wrong direction in Ravens' Thursday injury report

OWINGS MILLS, Md. — A day after it looked like veteran wide receiver Lee Evans was on the right track to making his return to the field against the Houston Texans on Sunday, he found himself back in a familiar position. Not participating in practice. Evans, along with safety Tom Zbikowski, did not practice on Thursday after being listed as limited participants a day earlier. Left guard Ben Grubbs was listed as limited for the second straight day, but the offensive lineman was not doing much during the portion of practice open to media and did not appear to have his helmet with him on the field. Zbikowski is still dealing with symptoms from a concussion sustained against the New York Jets on Oct. 2 and has not been cleared for contact. The four other players listed as limited on Wednesday’s report participated fully on Thursday, including safety Haruki Nakamura, who missed the Jets game with a torn PCL in his knee, and return specialist David Reed, who has not played since sustaining a shoulder injury against the Tennessee Titans in Week 2. Houston Texans quarterback Matt Schaub participated in Thursday’s practice on a limited basis after sitting out Wednesday

Live from Owings Mills: Grubbs, Evans sidelined again after one-day return to practice

OWINGS MILLS, Md. — If Wednesday’s injury report was an encouraging shot in the arm as the banged-up Ravens officially turned their sights toward the Houston Texans, Thursday might feel like a swift kick to the gut. After returning to practice on a limited basis a day earlier, wide receiver Lee Evans (ankle) and left guard Ben Grubbs (toe) were not practicing during the portion of practice open to the media on Thursday, point the needle in the wrong direction in terms of their status for Sunday. Grubbs was on the field without a helmet as he watched his fellow offensive linemen participate in positional drills while Evans was not present during the first 30 minutes of practice. Safety Tom Zbikowski (concussion) was also missing during the open portion of the workout after practicing on a limited basis on Wednesday. The fourth-year safety had not been cleared of contact as of Wednesday and experienced concussion-related symptoms during the bye week. Evans, Grubbs, and Zbikowski joined cornerbacks Chris Carr (hamstring) and Jimmy Smith (ankle) as the five players not participating during the open portion of Wednesday’s workout. For the second straight day, Smith was on the field in street clothes, but

With Ravens fans snickering at Mason, has Boldin received a free pass in Baltimore?

After Derrick Mason’s abrupt departure from the New York Jets on Tuesday night, many fans have offered their zingers and potshots at the former Ravens receiver, whose poor production and crumbling relationship with the Jets coaching staff led to him being traded to the Houston Texans for a seventh-round pick. While I couldn’t resist making a snide comment or two about the whole situation, I’m mystified at the amount of disdain hurled toward the Ravens’ all-time leading receiver who caught 29 touchdowns in his six seasons in Baltimore. Yes, he could be a cranky diva — not unlike most productive wide receivers, mind you — but far too many are discrediting his work. The reliability he provided for a rookie quarterback named Joe Flacco, who was thrown into the starting lineup out of necessity in 2008, turned a potentially disastrous situation into one of the most enjoyable seasons the Ravens have ever had and sparked a promising career of a franchise quarterback. Yes, it was time for Mason and the team to part ways, especially with the 37-year-old’s high salary-cap number in 2011, as many expected his production to be absorbed by veteran Anquan Boldin in his second season with

Ravens still hurting at cornerback in Wednesday's injury report

OWINGS MILLS, Md. — Looking at their most favorable injury report in several weeks, the Ravens still must feel uneasy about their cornerback situation as the Houston Texans comes to Baltimore on Sunday. Jimmy Smith and Chris Carr did not practice while six other previously-injured players returned to practice in a limited fashion on the first official practice since the bye week. Smith will not play on Sunday as he was seen walking back and forth across the width of the side field on Wednesday in a level of activity not indicative of a player whose return is imminent. Carr, on the other hand, would not reveal any specifics of the setback he suffered late in the week leading up to the Jets game on Oct. 2, only saying he wouldn’t return to action until he was 100 percent. The veteran cornerback had labeled himself at roughly 90 percent when he returned to play against the St. Louis Rams in Week 3. Carr has dealt with the same left hamstring injury since the middle of August despite several different attempts to return to the field. With key offensive starters Lee Evans and Ben Grubbs practicing on a limited basis, a

Ravens aiming for fast start, strong finish to erase memory of last year's nail-biter with Texans

OWINGS MILLS, Md. — Only a Josh Wilson interception return for a touchdown saved the Ravens from an absolute nightmare against the Houston Texans last season. Having squandered a 28-7 second-half lead as they were held to just four first downs after halftime, the Ravens survived as much as they won a 34-28 overtime thriller in Houston last December. With that uncomfortable memory fresh in their minds, nobody in Baltimore is taking the Texans lightly, even after they lost two of their best players in outside linebacker Mario Williams and wide receiver Andre Johnson. “The one thing I tell the guys about Houston is that they never quit,” safety Ed Reed said. “They have a playbook — I’ve always said they have a great playbook — and they have plays to get them up and down that football field. You’ve just got to play 60 minutes against them. They do not quit.” The Texans relied on a 393-yard passing performance by quarterback Matt Schaub, who completed two touchdown passes to Johnson, including the game-tying score with 21 seconds remaining in regulation. Schaub was 24 for 41 in the second half after completely just 7 of 21 passes in the first

Live from Owings Mills: Six injured Ravens return to practice

OWINGS MILLS, Md. — After John Harbaugh’s Monday press conference cast doubt on the status of the eight injured Ravens players entering the bye week, Wednesday afternoon’s practice might lift spirits as six of the wounded returned to the practice field. The most notable returns were wide receiver Lee Evans (ankle) and left guard Ben Grubbs (toe), but the two offensive starters were joined by safeties Tom Zbikowski (concussion) and Haruki Nakamura (knee), return specialist David Reed (shoulder), and linebacker Dannell Ellerbe (hamstring) as participants during the portion of practice open to the media. Cornerbacks Jimmy Smith (ankle) and Chris Carr (hamstring) were not practicing during the open portion. However, Smith was dressed in street clothes and only walking across the width of the side field. It wasn’t a level of activity indicative of a player close to returning to the field. Carr was not present and indicated in the locker room that he would only return to the field at 100 percent after experiencing a setback on the Thursday leading up to the Jets game. Evans and Grubbs had reportedly practiced on Monday — a workout closed to the media — and were dressed in full gear for Wednesday’s

Ravens to see Derrick Mason for second straight game

Several Ravens defensive players reveled in the opportunity to hit former teammate Derrick Mason when the New York Jets came to M&T Bank Stadium two Sundays ago. They’ll apparently get another opportunity this week as the Houston Texans have traded a conditional draft pick to the New York Jets for the 37-year-old wide receiver, according to John McClain of the Houston Chronicle. The compensation will reportedly be a seventh-round pick, per Rich Cimini of ESPNNewYork.com. Needing help at the receiver position after losing dynamic playmaker Andre Johnson against the Steelers two weeks ago, the Texans will hope Mason has something left in the tank after he played five unproductive games with the Jets. It was apparent Mason’s relationship with the New York coaching staff was crumbling after he was benched in the first half of the Jets’ loss to the Patriots on Sunday amid reports of Mason complaining about his role in the offense. Mason had just 13 catches for 115 yards in five games for the Jets and was supplanted by Jeremy Kerley as the Jets’ No. 3 receiver on Sunday.

Ravens offense in familiar position trying to find itself

It’s that time of year again. Just as the foliage changes colors, the Ravens once again find themselves searching for their true identity on the offensive side of the football. At 3-1 and sitting in first place in the AFC North after the Week 5 bye, it’s not as if the Ravens haven’t had their share of offensive success through the first quarter of the season. A balanced attack via the air and ground in a 35-7 stomping of Pittsburgh and a franchise-record 553-yard assault in St. Louis certainly support that notion. Maintaining that success from week to week and, at times, quarter to quarter has been the problem. It’s a dilemma coach John Harbaugh, offensive coordinator, Cam Cameron, and the Ravens are trying to solve as they currently rank 9th in rushing and 18th in passing in the NFL. “We talked about it with our team [Monday], you know, what’s our identity?” Harbaugh said. “Well, our identity is a lot of things, but I think first and foremost, we’re going to attack people. And what does that mean? It means you attack people running the ball, you attack people throwing short, intermediate and deep. You attack people in pass

Morning Reaction Tuesday Top 7 Surprises of NFL season

With the Ravens enjoying their bye in Week 5, we step away from our weekly ritual of selecting our Tuesday Top 7 Ravens, instead offering our biggest surprises — good and bad — through the first five weeks of the 2011 season. If you missed the full breakdown of our lists on The Morning Reaction, click HERE for Drew’s Top 7 bad surprises and HERE for my Top 7 good surprises of the 2011 NFL season. Luke Jones’ Top 7 Good Surprises… 7) Cincinnati Bengals 6) Strong quarterback play (six players entered Week 5 on pace to throw for over 5,000 yards) 5) San Francisco 49ers 4) Wes Welker 3) Buffalo Bills 2) Detroit Lions 1) Cam Newton Drew Forrester’s Top 7 Bad Surprises… 7) Tampa Bay Buccaneers 6) NFC East mediocrity 5) Miami Dolphins 4) Tony Romo 3) Philadelphia Eagles 2) Donovan McNabb 1) St. Louis Rams

Injured players continue to heal with Ravens' bye week history

With eight players shelved with injuries as the Ravens entered their Week 5 bye, the early-season respite was viewed as the perfect elixir to build upon a 3-1 start and an early lead in the AFC North. However, after coach John Harbaugh expressed optimism last week that the Ravens would have their full regiment of players available against the Houston Texans on Sunday, the early post-bye prognosis had mixed results following Monday’s practice. The week’s first official injury report will not be released until Wednesday afternoon, but the biggest headline was the revelation that rookie cornerback Jimmy Smith would likely miss his fourth straight game while recovering from a high ankle sprain. The status of others, including starting left guard Ben Grubbs (toe) and starting wide receiver Lee Evans (ankle), remains in question. Grubbs and Evans reportedly practiced on Monday, but both players must wait to see how their bodies respond after long layoffs. Grubbs practiced on a limited basis on the Thursday prior to the Jets game in his only work since the Ravens’ season-opening win over Pittsburgh. Evans has not practiced or played since the Week 2 loss to the Titans. “I haven’t really gotten anything definitive,” said

Ravens cornerback Jimmy Smith unlikely to play Sunday

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

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

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?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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