Lost in all the discussion about the ‘Harbaugh Bowl’ tomorrow night, is the fact that two qualities teams will take the field in what could be a Super Bowl preview. The Ravens road losses in Tennessee, Jacksonville, and Seattle have many Nationally (and some locally) questioning just what type of team Baltimore is.
If you go position group by position group, I think Baltimore matches-up well with anyone in regards to overall talent. I believe the Ravens will cap off Turkey Day, by beating San Francisco and reminding a National audience that they are one of the true elite teams in the league.
Here are 10 Things to watch with San Francisco:
1) The 49ers have outscored their opponents 256-145. Their Defense is ranked 8th overall (1st against the Run, and 23rd against the Pass). Their Offense is ranked 20th (27th Passing, 6th Rushing).
2) San Francisco arrives in Baltimore, winners of 8 games in a row. In recent years there has been lots of talk about teams from the West Coast coming East. The Niners are 4-0 on the Road, with each of those road wins coming East of the Mississippi. SF is 2-0 vs. the AFC North (Cincinnati, and Cleveland).
3) Former #1 pick overall Alex Smith is having his best year in the league, having thrown for 13 TD’s against just 4 picks. He is completing 62.4% of his passes. His QB rating is 93.9%, while his ESPN QBR is 49.2%. After being sacked 11 times in the first three weeks, Smith has been sacked just 10 games in the 7 games since.
4) Smith might be a bit of a caretaker, but he is surrounded by plenty of skill position talent. Frank Gore is averaging 87 yards per game, and 4.6 yards per carry. He has gone over 100 yards 5x times this year. Gore has dealt with an ankle injury for large portions of the year. Two weeks ago he twisted his knee and had to leave the Giants game. He rebounded for 24 carries and 88 yards Sunday. After 52 catches two years ago, and 46 grabs last year; he has just 15 catches this year.
5) The Ravens have not allowed a TD to an opposing TE all season, but get the difficult match-up of former Terrapin Vernon Davis tomorrow. Davis has had just one 100 yard game on the year, but has caught TD’s in each of the last two SF games. After averaging 16.3 yards per grab last year, he is only averaging 11.4 ypc in 2011.
6) Just like Lee Evans is attempting to work back into the lineup here in Baltimore, Braylon Edwards is trying to get move involved with San Francisco. Edwards missed Weeks 3-6 with injury, and came back after the Week 7 bye. He was held without a catch against Arizona, but had 9 in the previous 3 games. With the Jets last year, Edwards averaged 17.1 yards per catch, and an impressive 5.7 yards after the catch. Opposite the 6’3 214 lb Edwards is the Niners 2009 1st round pick (10th overall) Michael Crabtree. Crabtree is coming off of his best game of the year, 7 catches for 120 yards. In four other games, Crabtree has caught at-least 5 passes. Despite that, Sunday was his only game above 80 yards and he is averaging just 12 yards per catch. 2010 6th rounder Kyle Williams has just 9 catches on the year, but 5 of them came on Sunday. In 2007, Ted Ginn Jr. was a 1st rounder with the Dolphins. In ’09 Ginn had 38 catches (454 yards), and also was a major weapon in the KR game. With the Niners, he appears to be a non-weapon as a receiver, and is utilized mostly via Special Teams (28.2 yards per Kickoff Return, 11.4 yards per Punt Return). The Ravens have to limit the field position Ginn provides, and make the Niners drive the field.
7) Joe Staley starts at LT. The ’07 1st round pick was considered by Baltimore. Next to Staley at LG is Mike Iupati. At 6’5, 330 lbs, Iupati has massive size for a Guard. At RT is Anthony Davis. Both Iupati, and Davis were 1st round selections of the Niners in 2010.
8) Former Bengal Justin Smith has 5 sacks at RDT. The best 49ers pass rusher is their 2011 1st rounder Aldon Smith. The Rookie has 8 sacks on on the year.
9) The Niners Defense is led by their excellent MLB’s. Navorro Bowman (a MD native) has 95 tackles in his 2nd year in the league. Next to him is Patrick Willis. Drafted in ’07, Willis is a 3x All-Pro. This year he has 85 tackles, 4 forced fumbles, 1 interception, and 2 sacks. Former Raven Tavares Gooden provides depth.
10) Two former 1st rounders are in the Secondary with CB Carlos Rogers (Redskins selected him 9th overall in ’05), and SS Donte Whitner (Buffalo selected him 8th overall in ’06). Opposite of Rogers is Tarell Brown, who is in his 5th year out of Texas. Former Terp (and Towson Tiger) Madieu Williams is a reserve Safety.
Owner
Chris Stoner founded Baltimore Sports and Life in 2009. He has appeared as a radio guest with 1090 WBAL, 105.7 The Fan, CBS 1300, Q1370, WOYK 1350, WKAV 1400, and WNST 1570. He has also been interviewed by The Baltimore Sun, Baltimore Business Journal, and PressBox (TV). As Owner, his responsibilities include serving as the Managing Editor, Publicist, & Sales Director.