If this was only the beginning, then the fans of Baltimore are in for a treat this upcoming season of football.
New offensive coordinator Gary Kubiak is off to great start trying to make his mark in Charm City. Joe Flacco produced an 80-yard touchdown drive in his only series, and the Ravens offense alone finished with 386 yards winning 23-3 over the San Francisco 49ers last Thursday.
The Harbaugh brothers can’t seem to get enough of each other. Last Thursday, was the third time in three tries Ravens head coach John Harbaugh got the best of his little brother, Jim Harbaugh, head coach of the 49ers. Baltimore defeated the 49ers on Thanksgiving 2011 and in the Super Bowl ending the 2012 season.
“We’ve got some work to do,” Jim Harbaugh said. “Especially on defense. That’s probably our biggest concern coming out right now. We got pushed around a little bit.”
Colin Kaepernick moved the 49ers 66 yards for a field goal during his series. He completed his only pass, 17 yards to tight end Vance McDonald. Backup quarterback Blaine Gabbert for the 49ers went 3 for 11 for 20 yards and an interception. Running back Frank Gore did not play, however rookie Carlos Hyde started in his place gaining 39 yards on five carries.
“The biggest thing for us was we were trying to get points on the board, regardless of how we get there,” said Kaepernick.
Joe Flacco looked extremely comfortable in Kubiak’s West Coast offense, going 4 for 5 for 52 yards during a 10-play scoring drive.
“Ten plays in a new offense, that doesn’t happen very often,” wide receiver Steve Smith said. “We were high tempo, high paced, so that went well.”
In last Thursday’s night game, four different receivers caught passes from Flacco. Dennis Pitta for 14 yards, Jacoby Jones for 12, Kyle Juszczyk for 17 and Smith for 9.
“You expect to go out there and have a good drive,” Flacco said. “You envision good things happening. You have a good idea of what plays you’re going to run. If kind of went on schedule.”
Ray Rice ran three times for 17 yards after receiving a warm ovation from the home crowd during pregame introductions. Rice has been suspended for the first two games of the regular season after being arrested for domestic violence in February. Bernard Pierce will most likely start in Rice’s place during that suspension time. Pierce ran for 37 yards, including a 2-yard touchdown run to end Baltimore’s opening drive.
“Our technique and assignments were sharp,” said John Harbaugh. “It was good, fundamentally sound football.”
The Ravens next game will be on the 16th as they will take on the Dallas Cowboys.
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