It was a beautiful night for late August to take in a football game, as the Ravens hosted their neighbors to the south, the Washington Redskins. The Ravens would drop this game 31-13, falling to 1-2 on the preseason in this, the all important third preseason game with the most action from your number ones.

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Before we get to who shined and who didn’t, here is a list of guys who were inactive for the contest.

WR Michael Campanaro
WR Breshad Perriman
CB Lardarius Webb
G Kelechi Osemele
OT Eugene Monroe
TE Maxx Williams
LB Steven Means
CB Tramain Jacobs
RB Lorenzo Taliaferro
OT Darryl Baldwin
OT De’Ondre Wesley
TE Dennis Pitta
TE Allen Reisner
S Matt Elam
DE Brent Urban

     Studs

Steve Smith – Hooked up with Joe Flacco for a 63 yard TD where he added 47 yards after the catch. Flacco went to Smith early and often on the night, four catches on four targets. No doubt he will be Joe’s favorite target. No doubt with the young receivers around him, that Smith will get himself open more often as a 15-year veteran should. Smith created some fireworks with some jawing back and forth over the course the night, that culminated with an ejection after he got Kamar Aiken’s back after he was pile driven on his head by LB Keenan Robinson. He made four catches for 95 yards and the TD before heading to the showers.

Joe Flacco – He was on point with a large percentage of his throws. He finished the night 8 for 13 for 137 yards and a touchdown. Night and day from a week ago.

Daryl Smith – He was showing up in run defense which isn’t his forte. Also saw him getting blitz pressure, some good open field tackles, and even chased down a RB from behind a screen pass. The veteran looking in mid-season form.

Terrell Suggs – Showing off the athleticism, leaping to intercept a Kirk Cousins pass out to the flat, setting up the Ravens with great field position. Great job setting the edge in the run game too.

Crockett Gillmore – He trucked over about four guys on his way to the endzone, unfortunately it was called back after offsetting penalties (Which have been a big problem for two straight weeks now). But the announcers made a good point. Flag or not, what he did was on tape, and it made a statement.

Arthur Brown – He is making plays on special teams early in the game. He made the tackle on the first kick return by the Redskins. Also came inches away from blocking a punt in the 2nd quarter. Coach Harbaugh, an avid special teams fan, went out of his way to find him and give him praise as he came off the field from that one. On a punt late in the second half, he was the first Raven in the area of the tackle, as the returner slipped to the turf.

     Duds

Nick Boyle – Committed offensive pass interference in the red zone putting the Ravens in a hole, settled for a FG after a draw play on 3rd and 12. He was pretty much absent the rest of the game. Could have really showed up with Maxx Williams sitting this contest out, but we never heard his name called.

Buck Allen – Three games in and he has yet to show us anything in the running game. Even in the fourth quarter against third and fourth stringers. Terrence McGee showed really well in the Philly game, and McGee got a chance to run the ball with the first team after a few uninspiring Allen totes. The icing on the cake was a fumble at the goal line heading into the half that cost the Ravens a shot at the lead. I was worried that the vaunted USC O-line made Allen look better than he was coming out of college. So far that is the case as he is struggling with holes that close quicker at the pro level. With Lorenzo Taliaferro sidelined and questionable for week 1, Allen will need to show us something next week. 

Asa Jackson – I counted two missed tackles on the night, and a couple times his receiver got open against him. I also counted two other times where he was run over or stiff armed leading to extra yards. He did display blanket like coverage to breakup a play in the endzone on the Redskins opening drive of the second half. But the praise was short lived as he was beat on the very next play, allowing a wide open score. He has not shown up well at the CB spot, but at one point he may have won the kick return job after he brought one back 103 yards, being caught at the two yard line, setting up his team with a shot a score and the lead heading into the half. How can he have done that and be a “dud” you might ask? Because he screwed up a punt return later in the game. He called fair catch, then let the ball hit the ground turning a 35 yard punt into a 58 yarder after the friendly Redskins bounce. After a penalty he got another shot, and this time didn’t bother calling fair catch and got lit up leading to a fumble and Washington ball. they would kick a FG after the turnover. 

Tray Walker – He was over aggressive at times, whiffing on a tackle that led to 20 more yards of green for the receiver in one on one coverage. I was on his heels at times getting faked out instead of making a play. Out of position on a TD that he allowed his man to score as was taken out of the play right from the start. Not a good night for the rookie. 

Coach Harbaugh – He challenges a play where a Washington receiver may have dropped the ball, but it was upheld as a catch. Later, he didn’t put up much of a fight when the Ravens faced a delay of game after it was quite clear that the play clock hadn’t been reset. The delay of game came after a clear first down that was very poorly spotted as a 4th and 1. Tucker then had to attempt a 46 yard field goal, which he would miss, rather than challenge an easy one and keep the drive going. Good thing this wasn’t a regular season game. He loves to leave easy points off the board at times. Just like the always controversial going for the 4th and goal, a play that Allen would cough the ball up, instead of taking the sure three points, and a halftime lead. The defense allowed a TD on the ensuing drive making it an eight point game, rather than a five point game if you take the easy points. Seen that be the difference too many times. Glad it’s not the regular season.

The end of half defense – This is something that has plagued the Ravens seemingly all the time. The Redskins engineered a scoring drive late in the first half as the defense just couldn’t stop the run, or the pass. Tray Walker whiffed on a one and one scenario leading to a catch and run down inside the five yard line, setting up and easy score. The defense would allow TDs on four straight drives, 31 unanswered points for Washington. 

Second and third string O-Line – These guys did Matt Schaub no favors as he was ducking and running, and forced into INTs and fumbles all night. It’s shallow depth after the guys like Ryan Jensen and John Urschel as the immediate backups. The guys after them needed to really step up as depth could be issue with Eugene Monroe, Kelechi Osemele being out. Rookie Robert Myers got pancaked by a linebacker, which is never good, because he is the one that’s supposed to be doing the pancaking. Jah Reid had a rough night as well, allowing a sack and being flagged a couple times. 

The preseason wraps up next Thursday in Atlanta.

Mike Randall
Mike Randall

Ravens Analyst

Mike was born on the Eastern Shore, raised in Finksburg, and currently resides in Parkville. In 2009, Mike graduated from the Broadcasting Institute of Maryland. Mike became a Baltimore City Fire Fighter in late 2010. Mike has appeared as a guest on Q1370, and FOX45. Now a Sr. Ravens Analyst for BSL, he can be reached at [email protected].

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