Does Anyone Really Think This Team Is Ready For Week 1?

[MagicianCamille]

Steelers by 3 is always a safe bet when we go against them. Sigh.

[SecretAgentMan]

Look, Marcus Gilbert is the rookie in Pitsburgh that will be starting. Him vs. Suggs, Suggs wins. He might have 4 sacks on Big Ben, Ngata could have two, Big Ben is going to get beat up if Gilbert is staring.

[Pitts200]

You[quote name='Mr. Irrelevant' timestamp='1314994328' post='774693']
Look, Marcus Gilbert is the rookie in Pitsburgh that will be starting. Him vs. Suggs, Suggs wins. He might have 4 sacks on Big Ben, Ngata could have two, Big Ben is going to get beat up if Gilbert is staring.
[/quote]

Not going to deny that you guys are going to get to Ben, but you guys need to stop bringing that up as a positive, lol. Not saying I want Ben to get sacked 6 times a game but it isn't a huge determining factor in the game because he's been dealing with that his entire career.

Better to take 3 extra sacks per game than to throw a duck and get an interception.

[Corvus]

I am worried as hell about McKinnie, even if Harrison is a little out of shape himself. I'm almost tempted to say (and mean it) that I would eat a terrible towel if McKinnie makes it through 4 quarters. I'm hoping for our team's sake he proves me wrong but I just can't see him having a good game, which probably means our offense may have a bad game...here's hoping I'm wrong.

[ravensdfan]

[quote name='Pitts200' timestamp='1314994916' post='774702']
You

Not going to deny that you guys are going to get to Ben, but you guys need to stop bringing that up as a positive, lol. Not saying I want Ben to get sacked 6 times a game but it isn't a huge determining factor in the game because he's been dealing with that his entire career.

Better to take 3 extra sacks per game than to throw a duck and get an interception.
[/quote]

If he's getting sacked he's not completing passes to Brown, Wallace or Ward. It IS a positive.

[Ravensfan23]

To be honest I'm not worried one bit. Before the lockout I actually said this would be the game the Ravens broke out and actually dominated the Steelers from start to finish.

Now of course that was before the lost of Mase, Heap, and others, but I actually think we have improved from those guys.

Both the Ravens and Steelers have battled each other with lesser talent then either team has right now.

We have had offenses that couldn't muster up 120 yards vs the Steelers and we still either beat them or made it a game.

So I have no doubt that the game will be close, and the only thing that prevents me from having the same thoughts of pure dominance in Week 1, is that we are stilling gelling as a offense and defense.

Although the oline will be playing it's first game together, only one guy is "NEW". The other 4 have played together for 2 full seasons, so they pretty much know each other.

Harrison isn't 100% and Big B isn't really in football shape, so those 2 guys going at each other all game will probably be a stallmate, which would actually be a win for the Ravens, because Grubbs or a RB could help Big B with Harrison.

It's always tough to run against the Steelers, but I'd take Rice, Ricky and Leach against any defense in the NFL.

Cam and the offense worked on a lot of bunch formations and quick passes this preseason. I expect that to be a big part of our game plan on the 11th.

Suck that defense up and take full advantage of your opportunities to go deep with Evans, Dickson, Reed, and Smith.

[scrock]

I think the coaches will get us ready, our OL is going to be good with Oher back at RT, a position he dominated as a rookie, I think McKinnie is going to get in shape and be able to lock down the blindside, that means Joe will have time to make his reads and pick apart the Steelers suspect secondary....and on defense our pass rush will be hounding Ben all day long..as long as our secondary can keep a lid on those big plays Ben like to do when he's scrambling away from the pressure we should be fine

We always play the Steelers close..but last year we had nice leads in each game..but blew two of them, I think we jump on em early and finish them off and shut up all the media.....THANK GOD

[Gordo52]

If Joe plays well and puts up 2TDs and no INTs I think we definetly win this. The steelers offense looks really good. Yeah there line might be bad but Ben is hard to get down. They have a bunch of talented WRs. And they have a good run game. Theyre defense speaks for themselves. One of the if not best defense in the nfl. It might be getting older but so is Ray and Reed on our team and we all know how important they are and how good they can still play. I think we improved alot this offseason. The only position we downgraded at is TE. But if Joes gonna be an elite QB he will do good with Dickson and Pitta. The steelers have never played us with these key additions we made. So we dont know how it will be. It all rest in Joes hands. We proved we could beat them in playoffs last year. We just couldnt capitalize or maintain. That game shoulda been ours. Joe has more expierence now and more targets. He should only improve but we cannot choke and we cannot let up the big play. We have to MAKE the big play. I think were even with the steelers. Offense on a scale 1-10 about 7 or 8. Defense steelers 10 Ravens 8. But I do think we have better specials teams with Cundiff and Koch. Theyre gonna be in their 20 alot against our defense at home. Which I think will decide week 1 with a Ravens victory. 20-10 victory.

[gabefergy]

I'm a little bit worried now that we dont have Reed for KRs and #3 WR, but I think we will still be ok as long as Evans is healthy.

[K-Dog]

reality is, we are as ready as we are going to be and so are the steelers. We have the exact same amount of time to prepare as they do.

No matter what its going to be a tough game for both sides. Team with the fewest mistakes takes the win. Just like always.

[rob321]

[quote name='ratedr' timestamp='1314981499' post='774385']
I've gone on the record saying I think we'll win in [b]week 9[/b], and I still strongly believe that. But I honestly don't think we'll be ready for week 1. McKinnie said it himself, the OL will need 3-4 weeks to gel. Flacco still isn't completely in sync with his receivers, either. I think Jimmy Smith will end up being the best CB out of the 2011 draft, but it's asking a lot for him to be ready for Ben/Hines/Wallace and company from the start. I, frankly, don't expect him to be.

On the flip side, the Steelers didn't really lose anyone in terms of personnel, and their offense is looking better than ever. I don't think their D is as imposing as it once was, but that's just a matter of them being, say, the 3rd best defense instead of 2nd.

I'm already bracing myself, because I think the first few weeks of the season are going to be relatively disappointing.

I'd like to hear other opinions.
[/quote]
defenceivly were ready oline where in trouble unless they put leach in as the blocking back for passing plays

[CapoRocky]

Normally, home field advantage is good for 3 points in the sports book. Last year, we went against the trend by beating them away, then losing to them at home. Our luck ran out in the playoffs again, but we surely could have won that game if we played error free in the second half. I'm pretty confident that we would have carried that momentum over the Jets to the Super Bowl. Whether we could have beaten the Packers is anyone's guess. I have been predicting that this game will come down to a field goal. Advantage Cundiff. Ravens 17, Steelers 14.

[Ravens549]

No!

[Sunday QB]

No are you a steelers fan?

[True]

It's going to come down to the wire as usual. One team will make that big play to win it. My guess/hope: Joe Flacco to Lee Evans.

[wayne]

I'm sure most teams fans are asking this same question, we'll be aight win or lose but I would much rather us win game 1 at the house. If we lose, logic and understanding will quickly come into play and the next weeks win would ease the hurt of week 1's loss. Pitts does look more game ready and righfully so, they have literally the same players with the same systems in place with a solid blueprint to top it off. We have proving over the last 3 years that we are right there and I honestly think if we were to swap situations with them as far as the Steelers having a 3 year QB and with us having a vet like Big Ben , no way all these games would be close like they are......... but that's just my opinion.

[JO_75]

I think we'll be ready to go in Week 1, I'm not concerned. I know our offensive line needs time to gel but there is no better time to learn how to gel than during a game and our new look offensive line will be tested against the Steelers defense, that's a guarantee.

Last year, the Ravens probably gave me some gray hairs(even though I'm only 21 lol) with all the close games they had last year, so I'm just going into this season expecting close games and games to be won in the 4th, including Week 1.

[hawkprey]

Even last year we could beat them. All we have to do is not blow it this time. I don't understand how their team could have gotten any better since last year.

[Free Agent]

The fact that we looked pretty good at finishing games during the preseason gives me hope. That was one of my major concerns for the Ravens, particularly for Flacco and the offense. I think if the offense plays up to its potential, and the defense does what it did so well during the preseason, we take down the Steelers.

[neoi78]

we wont beat them game 1..though it wont be a blowout either way .. aka look at the past history of winning by a field goal.

their team is "fresh" and our team is still trying to firing on all cylinders. we will beat them in the second divisional game though, because they will beat more beat down thru course of season, and our youngsters will be starting to fire on all cylinders by this time. this is how i feel

[Natty Boh]

The Ravens will be as ready as they are going to be. And I hope I'm wrong but I don't see the prepareness they will need to beat the Steelers in Week 1.

[Ravenfanatic22]

Im pretty concenered about the offensive line, i thought they would have at least have done 2 series thursday night together. determining who the 3rd wide receiver is another thing, week 1 is gonna be a little sloppy around the league because teams still are not in sync with everything due to the lockout. no matter what its gonna be a heck of a game it always is when it comes down to the ravens and steelers..

[darklight1216]

Bryant McKinnie said during his interview in Atlanta that it would probably take 3 or 4 games for the offensive line gel. I'm going to have to say that the team probably isn't ready for such a hard test yet.

[ravensdfan]

Wow. I completely disagree with all this negativity. I think what we've done this off season was exactly the things we needed to do in order to beat the Steelers. They are no better than last season. In no fashion have they fixed any of their issues. Their O line is still weak, their secondary is still below par only being saved by their aggressive pass rush. Harrison is not 100% and in pre-season their pass rush was not so fantastic.

We needed bigger more physical CBs to slow down their speedy receivers off the line. We got that.
We needed to get Suggs some help with that pressure on Ben. We got that.
We needed more powerful blocking to get anything on the ground. We got that.
We needed that deep threat to spread them out. We got that.
We needed more speed so Flacco didn't have to hold the ball as long. We got that.

I don't see this as the usual low scoring contest. Our CBs are young. Theirs just aren't that great.
Harrison isn't at 100% and ours (again lol) are young. (except Suggs, who always has good games vs the Steelers)

This will be close, as usual, but the Ravens win this. Higher scoring than in the past though.

Edit: Just a note on our O line. Oher moving back to RT. Monster there. McKinnie at LT (Reed and Ray making sure he is in shape) Yanda and Birk back. There just isn't THAT much gellin' to do on OL. Everyone just needs to do their job. I think we are set.

[Gtown Purple]

I think we have concerns but so do all teams. Everyone has had the same 4 weeks to prepare. I expect some sloppy play the first few weeks from many teams.

With that said, I think our ace in the hole is pressure on defense. Pagano is going to call an aggressive slate and if guys like kruger and mcphee chip in with the usual suspects I think we can keep the score low and also set the offense up on the short field and few times.

[CapoRocky]

The offensive line looks much better with the addition of veterans such as McKinnie and Gurode. Still, we will be in for a dogfight (sorry Vick). I see a key sack setting up Cundiff's 48 yard FG with less than a minute left to seal the victory.

[IMissMattStover]

I dont know how strong our wide reciever corps will be, but Flacco's throwing has me very excited to see week 1. His accuracy and confidence have greatly improved.

[H8R]

Bunch of loser mentality in here.... Glad some of you guys aren't on the field. The Ravens are a good team and may even be a great team at the end of the year. All of this negativity is gross. The Ravens aren't a team full pc push overs, they'll be ready to play. No questions about it, they'll be ready.

[colljb9]

The one thing i have to add to this is last year we had many of the same concerns...and correct me if i'm wrong but we went 12-4 last year i believe? What do we do this offseason?
- Flacco continues his progression as seen in the preseason, when given just a little bit of time he makes big time throws
- We go out and sign the best blocking fullback in the nfl as well as improve our offensive line with moving Oher back to RT and signing Mckinnie as well as some other players
-We improve our pass rush internally and through the draft
-We improve our secondary
-We got younger and faster on both sides of the ball

There is no way any of this negativity should be said until its week 6 and we're 0-5. Until that point, which will 99.999% never happen, i see no reason to panic as the only thing the Ravens have done this offseason is improve. Pittsburgh stayed relatively the same except for the fact they're getting a little older. Its going to be a close, hardfought game as every single ravens-steelers game is...but to me the ravens finally added that extra piece to replace Pittsburgh atop the division. Remember, the steelers were not the reason we didnt go deeper into the playoffs last year...We lost to the bengals in week 2 when we could have gone 13-3 and played one of the worst halfs of football i've ever seen in my life against the steelers in the playoffs. With smarter plays, more playmakers, and overall more talent we will beat the steelers 17-14 in week 1

[Doctor Who?]

[quote name='True' timestamp='1315023160' post='775160']
It's going to come down to the wire as usual. One team will make that big play to win it. My guess/hope: Joe Flacco to Lee Evans.
[/quote]

That big play will probably be Troy running and jumping over the line and forcing flacco to fumble