This is it. Especially for Ravens on the bubble like LB Sergio Kindle, safety Omar Brown and rookie RB sensation Bobby Rainey…It’s the Ravens vs. the Rams at 7:00 PM EST on Thursday night, August 30, 2012…
Flacco will be sitting this contest out to protect against injury, as will just about all of the Ravens’ starters. Baltimore opens its regular-season schedule with a Monday night matchup against fellow AFC North member Cincinnati on Sept. 10.
Huge opportunity for rookie RB Bobby Rainey to showcase his stuff Thursday night…Rainey has had a sensational training camp so far. Even if he is cut by the Ravens, I believe some NFL team will be calling on him shortly thereafter.
New Ravens kicker Justin Tucker will be handling all K duties against the Rams. The undrafted rookie from Texas beat out veteran Billy Cundiff in one of the Ravens’ most notable camp competitions. Cundiff was released by the club on Sunday and signed with Washington two days later.
The Rams may take a slightly different approach to their finale after their regulars didn’t fare well in Saturday’s tilt at Dallas. The Cowboys jumped out to a 20-6 halftime lead in that meeting before holding on for a 20-19 victory.
St. Louis had problems on both sides of the ball in the loss, with quarterback Sam Bradford making good on just 6-of-17 attempts for 64 yards and the defense permitting 342 total yards — including 281 through the air — in the first half. One bright spot for the Rams was rookie running back Daryl Richardson, a seventh-round draft choice who rushed for a game-high 51 yards on 10 carries.
While Bradford may get in some work on Thursday to sharpen up for St. Louis’ Week 1 game at Detroit, candidates to be inactive include right guard Harvey Dahl (illness) and defensive linemen Darell Scott (knee) and Eugene Sims (ankle). The Rams also made a headline-grabbing move during the week, trading former No. 2 overall pick Jason Smith to the New York Jets on Monday for Wayne Hunter in a swap of disappointing offensive tackles. Smith had lost a battle with free-agent pickup Barry Richardson to earn a starting nod at right tackle.
St. Louis will have an opportunity to avenge a 37-7 shellacking by the Ravens at the Edward Jones Dome during Week 3 of last year’s regular season, a game in which Torrey Smith piled up 152 receiving yards and hauled in three Flacco touchdown passes. Baltimore amassed a franchise-record 553 total yards that afternoon.
The Rams have prevailed in each of the two previous preseason clashes between the teams, posting a 27-21 home win in 2010 and a 24-10 decision in Baltimore in 2008.
Of course none of that history means anything to the Ravens or the Rams who are trying to make their teams NOW…It’s time for the bubble players and backups to win jobs. The fourth and final preseason game is typically reserved for the second- and third-team players, giving them nearly a full game to show what they’ve got with extended reps.
Rookie sixth-round wide receiver Tommy Streeter is trying to snag one of the final roster spots, but may be out due to a reported foot injury. Streeter scored a 33-yard touchdown on one of his two receptions last week against the Jaguars. But he hasn’t practiced since. The Baltimore Sun reports that Streeter has a strained foot. That opens the door to fellow wideouts on the bubble, Logan Payne and rookie Deonte Thompson.
Outside linebacker Sergio Kindle has returned to practice without his non-contact red jersey, and hopes that means a return to the game too. Kindle suffered a shoulder stinger in the second preseason game on Aug. 17 and missed last week’s contest against Jacksonville. Kindle is not a lock to make the 53-man roster, according to Harbaugh, and would benefit from making a lasting impression against the Rams.
Safety Sean Considine got “dinged” in the second preseason game against Detroit, then suffered a second, more serious concussion last week versus Jacksonville. He hasn’t practiced at all this week. That leaves the door open for the other three safeties on the roster: rookies Christian Thompson, Omar Brown and Chyl Quarles. They will be handling the defensive and special teams duties. Thompson, a fourth-round pick, has made seven total tackles and forced one fumble in the three preseason games. Brown has recovered all three of the team’s forced fumbles and has an interception.
Pro Bowl right guard Marshall Yanda hasn’t practiced since last Monday when linebacker Chavis Williams rolled into his leg. Harbaugh and Offensive Coordinator Cam Cameron eased concerns of any serious injury, saying Yanda could have played in last week’s preseason game and will “absolutely” be ready by the regular-season opener.However, they might simply opt to give the veteran more time to heal and rest— given that the starters won’t get much, or any, time at all Thursday.
There will be an ultimate bubble battle for 3rd-team Tight End—backup Billy Bajema and rookie free agent Matt Balasavage will each play a half. Meet you in St. Louis…
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