Burgundy & Gold Blog: Ravens Show Work Is Still In Progress

By Mark F. Gray

If there is one thing to be learned from last week’s rout at the hands of the Baltimore Ravens it is that the Burgundy & Gold are far from the juggernaut they looked like against the Buffalo Bills. However, the Ravens are not 20 points better than their first team either.

So just who is the 2010 edition of the Burgundy & Gold? Its obvious they are still a work in progress.

Baltimore is a legitimate Super Bowl contender and is one of the top 10, if not top handful, of teams in the NFL. They are the model of consistency having drafted prudently which gives them depth to deal with the myriad of injuries that have plagued them during this preseason. It was clear last Friday that both team’s first units were about even. However, the reserves are where the Ravens are better because their front office has been for the last decade.

After a week where many thought that Mike Shanahan’s program had brought the glory back it was clear that he and son Kyle were in experimental mode. There was no offensive game plan but they made it a point to push the ball down the field. The Ravens secondary at the time appeared to be the perfect laboratory minus their hall of fame safety Ed Reed and neither starting cornerback who are all recovering from injuries.

As is the case with most scientific trials Baltimore’s defensive backfield was a gracious host yielding 356 yards passing. However, Washington’s offense resembled those of the Gibbs and Zorn era as they marched up and down the field but could not score touchdowns. Donovan McNabb completed 11 of 26 passes but also threw his first interception. It was clear he was forcing the ball downfield as the coaching staff wanted to evaluate their receivers.

Unlike the Bills game McNabb didn’t look for the check down passes underneath coverage that ultimately loosens up the secondary. You can bet a lump crab cake dinner that McNabb won’t throw 26 passes in the first half anytime this year. If they throw 45 times in a game like they did against the Ravens then chances are better than good they will lose.

There are still more questions than answers heading into the third and most meaningful of these “fake” games this week against the New York Jets especially on offense. The best receiver in camp is rookie Anthony Armstrong but it remains to be seen if Shanahan and company have enough confidence to throw him to the wolves on opening night. Devin Thomas continues to show flashes but the team needs him to become Motel 6 where the light stays on always.

Clinton Portis appears to be fully established as the starter at tailback but Larry Johnson and Willie Parker are now officially on the bubble. Johnson was apparently so distraught over his eight carry four yard performance that he was spotted at a downtown night establishment becoming acquainted with shots of Patron Saturday night.

This Albert Haynesworth saga continues to linger like a bad policy from a previous administration. Shanahan represents President Obama and hope while Fat Albert continues to filibuster in great Eric Cantor fashion. This is a team that needs Henry Kissinger to broker a peace settlement so the team so they can move ahead.

No matter how they try to keep under the NFL’s radar this week’s game at the Jets puts them on Hard Knocks next week. It will be interesting to see if they deliver more than they take.