The Silver Lining...

[Oviedo]

The Ravens are not as bad as their record. They could easily had beaten the Bumgals. They will be coming to the "Burgh" ticked off and wanting to make a statement.

IMO we will have to play better defense than we had against the Rams to stop Flacco who has shown the ability to pick apart our defense. Tuitt and Heyward are going to have to strong in the pass rush. I'd also get some inside blitzes from Timmons. Need to make Flacco antzy.

[RuthlessBurgher]

In his one game back from suspension, Le'Veon Bell already has more catches in 1 game (7) than any Raven wideout not named Steve Smith (Kamar Aiken and Marlon Brown with 6 each) in 3 games. Breshad Perriman is still hurt, and Maxx Williams hasn't been able to beat out something named Crockett Gillmore for the starting TE gig. Justin Forsett's YPC has dropped from 5.4 last year to 3.2 this year. Flacco has thrown as many INTs as TDs (4 of each). Focus on stopping the ancient Steve Smith and see if someone else is able to beat you.

[Eddie Spaghetti]

Crockett Gilmore is actually a pretty good TE

Their TEs worry me a lot more than their WRs

[RuthlessBurgher]

Their TEs worry me a lot more than their WRs

I find that to be true in general. In the opener, Gronk had 3 TDs and Chandler 1 TD. If Vernon Davis and Lance Kendricks could hold onto passes that fell right through their hands, the complexion of those 2 games may have been altered significantly. After Steve Smith, I'd be much more concerned about Gillmore and Williams than Aiken and Brown.

[Ernie]

They are rolling into our town on Thursday...we are not rolling into theirs...

My mistake. I guess that changes everything. Pencil us in for the W

[Ernie]

That was the story last Sunday, when there was no way Baltimore would lose at home to a division rival and drop to 0-3. Cincy let them back in that game and they still found a way to lose.

The 2015 Ravens are a lot like the 2013 Steelers. Too many good players missing from a Super Bowl three years removed.

I hope you are right...and Baltimore is 0-4 after Thursday night.

[winwithd]

Crockett Gilmore is actually a pretty good TE

Their TEs worry me a lot more than their WRs

It's looking like crockett won't play on thursday. We'll get to see more Maxx williams. Anyone know if shazier is going to play? He hasn't been practicing. I only saw the 4th q vs rams and did not notice boykin. Did he play much? Who is going to cover smith? I would like to see boykin out theRe on him. I think he gives us the best chance to slow him down.

[Ghost]

It's looking like crockett won't play on thursday. We'll get to see more Maxx williams. Anyone know if shazier is going to play? He hasn't been practicing. I only saw the 4th q vs rams and did not notice boykin. Did he play much? Who is going to cover smith? I would like to see boykin out theRe on him. I think he gives us the best chance to slow him down.

Shazier has been listed as day to day. Tomlin said (Monday) he had weakness in the shoulder and won't play until the strength in the joint returns.

McCullers is day to day as well with a knee injury. Spaeth broke his hand but is supposed to dress with a cast and Harrison injured his thumb but is not looking to miss any time.

[WindyCitySteel]

The Ravens are not as bad as their record. They could easily had beaten the Bumgals. They will be coming to the "Burgh" ticked off and wanting to make a statement.

They were ticked off and wanting to make a statement after losing in Denver. Doubly ticked off and wanting to make a statement after losing to Oakland.

I guess they're triply ticked off now!

IMO we will have to play better defense than we had against the Rams to stop Flacco who has shown the ability to pick apart our defense.

The key will be not letting Torrey Smith get deep or letting Boldin body our smallish DBs, in essence boxing them out. Then they have the double TE threat of Daniels and Pitta to worry about, and we can't cover tight ends. Finally, we have to worry about Rice leaking out of the backfied.

Oh...wait. All of those guys are gone. Along with Suggs and Ngata. Nevermind.

They stink.

[WindyCitySteel]

Monroe is still probably not back from concussion, Gilmore is likely out with a calf, and Perriman re-injured his knee Sunday and probably won't play. Three more offensive players the Ravens can sorely afford to lose.

I think our defense shines again this week.

And in case you're still bullish on the Ravens, check out what their fans are saying.

[url]http://www.scout.com/nfl/ravens/forums/1666-ybr/14133278-season-is-not-over-if-we-beat-vick-thursday-night[/url]

[RuthlessBurgher]

Spaeth broke his hand but is supposed to dress

I don't understand this. I know Spaeth is 95% blocker and only 5% receiver, but having a cast on a broken hand brings that receiving threat down to absolute zero. If that's the case why not just use Villenueva as your blocking TE (he would actually give you more of a receiving threat than Spaeth at this point because he was a WR at West Point one year, catching 34 passes for 522 yards and 5 TD's, which comparable to Spaeth's best year in college: 47-564-4 and better than every other year: 26-333-4, 24-298-4, and 12-98-0) and activate Jesse James and deactivate Spaeth. Just my thoughts...

[ikestops85]

I don't understand this. I know Spaeth is 95% blocker and only 5% receiver, but having a cast on a broken hand brings that receiving threat down to absolute zero. If that's the case why not just use Villenueva as your blocking TE (he would actually give you more of a receiving threat than Spaeth at this point because he was a WR at West Point one year, catching 34 passes for 522 yards and 5 TD's, which comparable to Spaeth's best year in college: 47-564-4 and better than every other year: 26-333-4, 24-298-4, and 12-98-0) and activate Jesse James and deactivate Spaeth. Just my thoughts...

My guess is they haven't worked Villenueva at the TE position. I do like your idea though.

[Ghost]

I don't understand this. I know Spaeth is 95% blocker and only 5% receiver, but having a cast on a broken hand brings that receiving threat down to absolute zero. If that's the case why not just use Villenueva as your blocking TE (he would actually give you more of a receiving threat than Spaeth at this point because he was a WR at West Point one year, catching 34 passes for 522 yards and 5 TD's, which comparable to Spaeth's best year in college: 47-564-4 and better than every other year: 26-333-4, 24-298-4, and 12-98-0) and activate Jesse James and deactivate Spaeth. Just my thoughts...

Not disagreeing but Spaeth has not been targeted even a single time through three games and was only in for 14 offensive plays against the Rams. Maybe outside of blocking they feel he's such an insignificant part of the offensive game plan that letting him play w/ a cast is no big deal. May believe that with Vick they will need all the blocking help they can get.

[Oviedo]

Not disagreeing but Spaeth has not been targeted even a single time through three games and was only in for 14 offensive plays against the Rams. Maybe outside of blocking they feel he's such an insignificant part of the offensive game plan that letting him play w/ a cast is no big deal. May believe that with Vick they will need all the blocking help they can get.
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I think you are righton the money. I think for the next couple of weeks they want to keep the rush off of Vick until he gets use to real bullets again. Spaeth is a good blocker and understands picking up blitzes. James probably isn't ready for that.

Another potential option is to use both Johnson and Nix more at FB for extra blocking.

[Ghost]

Just did a quick poke around the web and found Spaeth did not practice Tuesday. That would typically indicate not dressing for a Thursday game. My original post was from Monday from what Tomlin had said. Maybe they won't dress him?