The Jets' visit to Baltimore on Monday stands to be one of the preseason's most interesting games (oxymoron? Yes), namely because of former Ravens defensive coordinator and current New York head coach Rex Ryan's return to face his former team.
Beyond Ryan's homecoming, a subplot worth watching centers around Ravens backup quarterback Troy Smith.
Ever since Joe Flacco took control of Baltimore's QB position last season, Smith's been the subject of lots of idle trade speculation -- the rumors cranked up this offseason, too, as the Ravens searched for some wide receiver help. And while the Ravens have never outwardly expressed a desire to deal Smith, there's a chance that Smith's reaching the end of the line in Baltimore.
With Fantasy Football season ready to kick in high gear, FanHouse is here to preview each and every team -- one per day until we've done them all.
Meet the... Team with the most rushing attempts in the NFL last season. With a rookie quarterback and a newly installed ball-control offense, the Ravens ran the ball 592 times in 2008. The team's 11 wins and two playoff victories give proof that the system works. Confidence in second-year quarterback Joe Flacco will be greater in 2009, so you can expect this offense to continue to run the ball at every defense they meet; just maybe not 58% of the time.
The name of the game in Baltimore will still be defense, however, even without defensive coordinator Rex Ryan and linebacker Bart Scott, who both left town to join the New York Jets. New defensive coordinator Greg Mattison should have this unit among the top five defenses in football with an extremely tough and disciplined approach and key additions like Domonique Foxworth in the secondary.
Ask anyone who played with or coached Steve McNair, and you'll always hear him described as an incredibly hard worker, a tough-as-nails quarterback and a devoted teammate. In the wake of a terrible tragedy where McNair was found shot to death, those who knew McNair are left saddened and in shock. Just take a look at some of the reactions to the 36-year-old's death.
Not all that long ago, the Dolphins took a shot on John Beck as their starting quarterback. The 40th-overall pick in the 2007 draft out of BYU, Beck entered the Miami lineup after the team's 0-9 start to 2007. Beck lost four straight, committing eight turnovers and throwing exactly zero touchdown passes in that stretch.
And just like that, Beck's initial chance to be a No. 1 guy in the NFL ended. His career in Miami ended as well earlier this offseason, and now Beck will try to latch on with Baltimore after reportedly agreeing to a one-year deal with the Ravens this weekend.
The plan was for Joe Flacco to spend his rookie season -- the first part of it, anyway -- on the sidelines. The Ravens' 2008 first-round pick came to Baltimore by way of Delaware, a Division I-AA school. And while he had the physical tools -- size, elusiveness, arguably the strongest arm in the league -- there's a huge difference between pummeling Monmouth on Saturdays and trying to slow down the Steelers on Monday night.
But training camp injuries to Kyle Boller and Troy Smith forced Flacco onto the field. In 2003, Brian Billick named then-rookie Boller the starter, and five years later, he was fighting for a roster spot (and Billick was out of a job).
And why shouldn't Terrell Suggs have an opinion on the Ravens' quarterback situation. He's the unofficial spokesman for the team, recently regaling us with bounty-rific tales of maiming opposing players (except, well, Suggs apparently doesn't know what "bounty" means).
Now we learn that Suggs proclaimed Troy Smith the "better man for the [quarterback] job," before later suggesting that the former Heisman Trophy winner should share time with rookie incumbent Joe Flacco.
In a recent interview with an Atlanta radio station, linebacker Terrell Suggs said twice that Troy Smith should be the Ravens' starting quarterback over Joe Flacco.
"Right now, I think [Flacco is] all right," Suggs told 2 Live Stews, a nationally syndicated radio show that is not aired in Baltimore. "But like I said, in the end, Troy should be the starter [because he's] the better man for the job."
Suggs added: "[Flacco] started out hot ... We played two teams who were in the bottom of the league in defense [Cleveland and Cincinnati]. So, everybody was going all crazy about him."
I can't disagree with that last point, but Flacco also isn't my teammate, and I didn't make those thoughts known on the radio. A day later, Suggs clarified his remarks, something he's been doing a lot lately:
Each week in the NFL, there are players that impress and players that distress. One week a certain quarterback might toss four touchdowns and run around with his finger in the air while the next he's laying on his back, holding his facemask as the other team returns one of his three interceptions for the game-winning score. With that in mind, here's Studs and Duds. Here's Week 6 at a glance, where we point out the horses destined for the Kentucky Derby and jeer those headed to the glue factory.
Studs
Drew Brees, QB NO (26-30, 320 yards, three touchdowns) -- Brees is slowly become the elite of the elite at his position, carding his fifth game in six weeks with at least 320 passing yards. The Purdue graduate is basically picking apart opposing defenses week in and week out and is on pace to eclipse Dan Marino's single season passing yardage record set in 1984. After the game, new head coach Tom Cable of Oakland said, "You have to use him as a model if you are the Oakland Raiders." Now 3-3, Brees and the Saints will face an exposed Panthers defense next week and then host a Chargers secondary that gave up 350 yards to Jay Cutler in Week 2. Needless to say, don't expect his numbers to drop.
Nobody really knew what to expect from the rookie quarterback coming into the 2008 season but I'm pretty sure this wasn't really the highest vote-getter of possibilities.
Joe Flacco, leading the Ravens to a respectable record of 2-2, was named the starter for the rest season by head coach John Harbaugh yesterday. Flacco has done exactly what the Ravens have needed from a quarterback the last few years, being consistent, not trying to play out of his ability and avoiding the big mistakes.
Obviously this news isn't the best for second year quarterback Troy Smith who was next in line to take the starting position for the Ravens before all hell broke loose with his immune system. Smith suffered a severe case of tonsillitis and had a blood clot in his neck that caused him to lose 20 pounds before the season started and stick the former Heisman Trophy winner on the bench. Now, with Flacco being the man, Smith will have to accept the role as backup quarterback for another season.
"That'll be [Smith's] role this year - possibly into a role where he can contribute playing quarterback for us down the road," Harbaugh said.
The Ravens have obviously played over their heads this season. A 2-0 start with a hurricane bye week to boot has this Baltimore team we all thought would finish last in the AFC North on the top of their division, an awkward position considering the circumstances.
They were playing without their top two quarterbacks, the star running back was struggling with estranged injuries and the defense was aging faster than Blink-182. That is why, when facing what appears to be the cream of the crop in the AFC, no matter their injury struggles, you don't sit on the ball with 1:30 left in the 4th quarter with a chance to beat the defending division champions. You don't. You just don't.
What you need to do is give Joe Flacco a chance. The guy looks as awkward as a virgin in a strip club behind center, dumping off five yard check downs all night long against a Steelers defense with nothing but intensity and a little nastiness. The rookie quarterback from Delaware with nothing to hang his hat on needed a rack and this was the chance to give it to him. Win or lose, you're telling Flacco he is the quarterback you're putting your trust in and no matter if Troy Smith comes back in a week or two, this is your man right now. Running the ball in hopes of something positive happening in overtime isn't professional football and it definitely isn't taking advantage of what food is being served in front of you.
With attention spans dwindling, we forego full game-by-game previews to give you the essentials you need to know about every contest this glorious NFL weekend. Click here to go back in time.
The 1s
Cleveland at Cincinnati: So here are a few fun facts heading into the showdown of Team Zeros. Carson Palmer has more fumbles in three games (2) than touchdown passes (1). If you added up both Derek Anderson and Palmer's quarterback ratings, the number would still fall behind Philip Rivers, Kurt Warner and Jay Cutler, and would be just three points ahead of J.T. O'Sullivan and Tony Romo. Anderson's five interceptions are tied for the most in the league. Needless to say, this might not be the game you DVR in hopes of showing your son the proper way to play quarterback.
Pick: Cincinnati
Houston at Jacksonville: Is it fair to say that Houston is slowly taking the place of Arizona as "the team everyone picks as their preseason sleeper to the point that they're over-hyped and fall flat on their face?" The Texans limp in with the third worst quarterback in the league statistically and the third worst defense, going up against a Jacksonville team that just claimed their first victory in one of those "win or send all the ticket holders a free iPhone" games against the Colts. If there was ever a time for Maurice Jones-Drew and Fred Jones to make some magic happen, it is at home against Houston who is giving up 170.5 yards a game on the ground. You know what they call what I just did? Blogger research. It's tough to come by so enjoy the smell.
The Jets' visit to Baltimore on Monday stands to be one of the preseason's most interesting games (oxymoron? Yes), namely because of former Ravens defensive coordinator and current New York head coach Rex Ryan's return to face his former team.
With Fantasy Football season ready to kick in high gear, FanHouse is here to preview each and every team -- one per day until we've done them all.
Not all that long ago, the Dolphins took a shot on 
The plan was for 
And why shouldn't 
Each week in the NFL, there are players that impress and players that distress. One week a certain quarterback might toss four touchdowns and run around with his finger in the air while the next he's laying on his back, holding his facemask as the other team returns one of his three interceptions for the game-winning score. With that in mind, here's 
Nobody really knew what to expect from the rookie quarterback coming into the 2008 season but I'm pretty sure this wasn't really the highest vote-getter of possibilities.
With attention spans dwindling, we forego full game-by-game previews to give you the essentials you need to know about every contest this glorious NFL weekend. 
