It was a solid win, but with only two more chances to get better–including next week’s usually-crucial third preseason game v. Buffalo at home–the Ravens will have to exercise all possible options in every facet of the game.
Usually, football teams don’t like to show their hand in preseason. For the Ravens, that’s especially true. Thursday night’s game at Hard Rock Stadium against the Miami Dolphins marked just the tenth time in 85 lifetime preseason games they were facing a squad they would play during that year’s regular campaign.
Courtesy: Baltimore Ravesn
But two things the Dolphins and the rest of the league already knew was that the Ravens feature great special teams and defensive play. Baltimore used both to spur themselves to a 31-7 win. Going back to last season, it was Baltimore’s sixth straight preseason win.
The game was also the Ravens’ 14th lifetime August game against AFC opposition–further proof that they are loath to take on teams against which they could be fighting for conference postseason berths.
The Dolphins won a lot of close games last season, losing only to the Ravens down the stretch. But they, like Baltimore, have had to deal with a multitude of injuries this summer, including a season-ending knee ailment suffered by starting quarterback Ryan Tannehill.
What could have tipped the scales in this game was a sketchy playing surface and hot, humid conditions — 87 degrees at kickoff with a 98-degree heat index — that led to much slipping and sliding by both teams. The problematic surface and usual preseason sloppiness did not make for artistic football.
The Ravens, in fact, fumbled twice in the first quarter, but offensive linemen Matt Skura and Austin Howard managed to pounce on the ball to keep the possessions alive.
With the preseason only half over, the Ravens’ offensive starters were supposed to play just short of a full quarter. But Baltimore (2-0) got outgained by Miami, 61-38, and rushed for just seven yards over the first 15 minutes.
Courtesy: Baltimore Beatdown
Once again, quarterback Ryan Mallett (13-for-22, 113 yards, touchdown, two interceptions) didn’t stretch the field that much in one half of action. His first long pass down the field, intended for rookie Quincy Adeboyejo, was picked off near midfield.
Meanwhile, the Dolphins’ much-ballyhooed acquisition, Jay Cutler, completed just three of six passes for 24 yards. Miami (1-1) ran through its top three quarterbacks in the first quarter and tried to keep the Ravens off-balance with either short or no-huddles and a slippery field.
Despite wrapping up the night by allowing 120 yards — including just 17 in the second half — the Ravens’ defense seemed to bend a bit, incurring several first-half penalties. Miami seemed more well-equipped on offense with more of its skill-position players available than Washington had last week.
Third-string Miami quarterback David Fales took advantage early in the second quarter, driving against Ravens reserves for a seven-play, 56-yard touchdown possession that culminated with Senorise Perry’s 11-yard touchdown run for the game’s first points.
Trailing for the first time this preseason, the Ravens’ first-string offense — tasked with playing more than expected — started to get traction, partially due to the inclusion of undrafted rookie defensive end Patrick Ricard at fullback.
It was not a new tactic. Ricard had been performing such duties in training camp. But when the drive stalled, kicker Justin Tucker’s 52-yard field goal put the Ravens on the board with 7:56 to go before halftime.
Courtesy: Baltimore Ravens
Tucker then got some measure of revenge. He recovered Perry’s fumbled kickoff at the Dolphins’ 24. But the penalty-prone Ravens — who committed just six last week, as opposed to eight before halftime in this game — were held to a 27-yard field goal and trailed, 7-6.
The Ravens’ top-flight special teams continued to make their presence felt as Chris Matthews blocked a punt and recovered it at the Dolphins’ 4.
Three plays later a fine Mallett play-action fake resulted in a one-yard scoring pass to newly-signed tight end Larry Donnell. It was a 13-7 lead with just under three minutes to go before halftime. Donnell would catch a two-point conversion later in the game.
Still, though, the Ravens had to field a patchwork offensive line. Only center Ryan Jensen was in the same position as last week — and the unit’s performance can only be labeled spotty at best.
The reserves made their mark with tight end Maxx Williams, coming off knee surgery, rumbling 40 yards after a catch and setting up third-string quarterback Josh Woodrum’s 14-yard third-quarter touchdown run. Tucker would add a 41-yard field goal.
“It feels good to finally feel like I can run again and finally make a play,” said Williams, a former second-round pick. “It was a confidence boost.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UzmnNiBmqVo
Woodrum (8-for-10, 110 yards, touchdown, 112.5 rating), who posted a perfect passer rating against Washington (158.3), would direct another scoring drive that led to his second rushing score of the night, a one-yard plunge as the fourth quarter began.
But with only two more chances to get better–including next week’s usually-crucial third preseason game at home against Buffalo (Saturday, Aug. 26; 7 p.m.; WBAL-TV, WIYY-FM)–the Ravens will have to exercise all possible options in every facet of the game.
And they will be present for all to see, like it or not.
____________________
Joe Platania, a Baltimore native, was the 1998 Maryland Sportscaster of the Year, a 2010 Maryland Sportswriter of the Year finalist, and has covered the Ravens throughout their entire history. He has spent 38 years in Baltimore sports media.
