Next up: Denver Broncos

[ellicottraven]

I love the positive thoughts and optimistic enthusiasm. Personally, I'm trying to keep my own expectations low. After watching Petyon take us apart through 10+ years in the regular season, I'll believe in his demise when I see it. 

 

Along with that, we just have a lot of question marks in critical areas. We had 2 major losses from last year: Ngata and Smith. Neither of the players that were supposed to fill their roles will be on the field. Denver's a tough place to go on the road and play and it is an even tougher place to start your season. While our secondary most certainly should be better this year, the starting group didn't have a very inspiring pre-season. Webb's health is a concern and I feel like with these new pieces (Lewis and Arrington), it will take some time for the secondary to gel as a complete unit. 

 

Can we win this thing? Absolutely. But at this point, I'm choosing to be pleasantly surprised if it goes that way and will not be totally dejected if we lose (unless of course we look weak in the process). 

Not worried so much about Torrey as I'm about missing Ngata, Jernigan and McPhee. This is where they can exploit us through their run game. That is my only concern frankly. If they can establish even a semblance of a run game, it'll make it easy for Peyton to exploit our secondary with short passes.

[ellicottraven]

 I will be watching -

 

1. Kamar - can he produce at #2 against a very good Corner

2. Jimmy - is he still in form, how will he play with his new contract, Will he finally make the probowl?

3. Kendrick Lewis - Stop gap or good player??

4. Offensive Playcaling and scheme - Marc Trestman has managed to be a bit hush hush on his tweaks to the offense.

5. Webb - for a lot of reasons.

I'll only be watching the middle of our D and see if they can punch through with their run game.

[PoeDinkum]

I love the positive thoughts and optimistic enthusiasm. Personally, I'm trying to keep my own expectations low. After watching Petyon take us apart through 10+ years in the regular season, I'll believe in his demise when I see it. 

 

Along with that, we just have a lot of question marks in critical areas. We had 2 major losses from last year: Ngata and Smith. Neither of the players that were supposed to fill their roles will be on the field. Denver's a tough place to go on the road and play and it is an even tougher place to start your season. While our secondary most certainly should be better this year, the starting group didn't have a very inspiring pre-season. Webb's health is a concern and I feel like with these new pieces (Lewis and Arrington), it will take some time for the secondary to gel as a complete unit. 

 

Can we win this thing? Absolutely. But at this point, I'm choosing to be pleasantly surprised if it goes that way and will not be totally dejected if we lose (unless of course we look weak in the process). 

G-R-E-A-T post! Love to see analysis and a conclusion that doesn't give in to either extremes (read "sky falls" at 4-12 to undefeated and a SB victory). Is it gametime yet?

[Raven'evermore]

 To be honest, with all of the question marks concerning the game; the biggest one to me is how bias will the officiating be? 

[Cillmatic]

To be honest, with all of the question marks concerning the game; the biggest one to me is how bias will the officiating be?

Hopefully the refs will be Ravens fans, otherwise we're not gonna win.

[Moderator 3]

Other game discussion here:

http://boards.baltimoreravens.com/topic/64969-week-one-discussion-other-teams/