By: DR RAM
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Rams vs. the Ravens in week 3.

Coaching - In three full seasons for John Harbaugh as head coach of the Ravens, Baltimore has earned the playoffs in each (marking a franchise first for three consecutive postseason berths). “Coach Harbs” has helped guide the Ravens to 32 regular season wins during this span, tied (New Orleans) for fifth most in the NFL. Harbaugh has also compiled a 4-3 playoff record and is the first coach in NFL history to win a playoff game in each of his first three seasons. Impressively, the Ravens’ top three records for fewest turnovers in a season have all occurred during Harbaugh’s tenure. In 2010, the Ravens set a franchise single-season record for fewest turnovers (20), breaking the previous mark of 21 from 2008. Baltimore also threw a franchise-low 10 INTs in 2010. Offensive coordinator, Cam Cameron, is among the most respected and highly regarded coordinators in the NFL, is in his fourth season leading the Ravens’ offense. He has guided a unit that has made significant improvements during the John Harbaugh Era (2008-10). Over that span, the Ravens have rushed for 133.5 yards per game and scored 53 rushing TDs, both fifth most in the NFL. In addition, Baltimore, which set a team record with only 22 turnovers in 2010, has committed only 63 turnovers, tied for the NFL’s third-fewest, since 2008. Defensive coordinator, Chuck Pagano, who spent three seasons as the Ravens’ secondary coach, was named defensive coordinator in January, 2011. Pagano, Baltimore’s fifth defensive coordinator in team history, leads a veteran group that finished 2010 as the NFL’s 10th-ranked unit. The vaunted defense has finished as the NFL’s No. 3 scoring defense (fewest points allowed) each of the past three seasons (2008-10). Baltimore has given up a league-low total of 16.1 points per game and permitted only 80 TDs (tied with Pit. for NFL best) in the last three years.
DR’s rating – B

Offense – The Ravens’ offense has experienced success during the Harbaugh Era. In 2010, QB Joe Flacco became the franchise’s all-time leading passer, finishing with career highs in passing yards (3,622) and TDs (25). Baltimore also ranked 16th in NFL scoring, averaging 22.3 points per game. In 2009, the Ravens were the NFL’s ninth best in scoring (24.4 ppg), up from 24th in 2007, also setting franchise records for most total TDs (47) and most rushing TDs (22). Among other notable stats in 2009, Baltimore produced the top three offensive total yards games in team history. In his first season in Baltimore (2008), Cameron built a creative offense that ranked fourth in the NFL in rushing (148.5 ypg), first in time of possession (33:10) and 11th in points per game (24.1 ppg). Cameron brought his unique offensive mind to Baltimore after one year as the Miami Dolphins’ head coach. DR’s rating – C +

Quarterback - The team’s 2008 first-round draft pick, QB Joe Flacco, became Baltimore’s all-time leading passer in 2010 (878 of 1,416 for 10,206 yards, 60 TDs and an 87.9 rating). Among starting NFL QBs, Flacco is second (Peyton Manning, 38) with 36 wins (including playoffs) since 2008. He is the arm of this body, and a very strong arm he is. Flacco posses a rocket arm and a super quick release, he can and will make every throw on the field. Joe, also has pretty good touch on the ball, when needed. The doc was impressed watching him throw the ball, he is a natural thrower of the ball, it comes out effortless. 2011 SEASON HIGHLIGHTS: Started his 50th-career game and went 15-of-32 for 197 yards, 1 TD and 2 INTs in game 2 at Ten. (9/18) Completed 17 of 29 passes for 224 yards, 3 TDs and no INTs for a 117.6 QB rating in the 35-7 victory in the season opener vs. Pit. (9/11)…Led the Ravens on 6 scoring drives (4 TDs and 2 FGs) against the Steelers. Flacco doesn’t posses the best footwork, but he is pretty mobile in the pocket with great awareness. He’s above average at the play fake, and can roll out left or right. DR’s rating – B +

Offensive line - Andy Moeller was promoted to offensive line coach in January, 2011. He spent his first three seasons as the team’s assistant offensive line coach. Injuries in 2010 reshuffled the O-line, but it still protected QB Joe Flacco, who set career highs, including a single season team record for passer rating (93.6). In 2009, the Ravens set a team record with 22 rushing TDs and also tallied Baltimore’s three best offensive total yards games. In 2008, Baltimore was the NFL’s fourth-ranked rushing team (148.5). The Titans were getting pressure with a 3 and 4 man rush. Ray Rice doesn’t need but a crack and Yanda, Grubbs (questionable) and Birk (probable) provide that, they are the meat of the team and every one of them can get downfield and run. Bryant McKinnie was a great acquisition for the Ravens. He is massive and durable, but not very athletic. He uses his bulk to get between the tackler and the ball carrier. He doesn’t appear to be in very good shape and doesn’t like to block backside, downfield, and doesn’t like to get dirty. He went to the Pro-Bowl in 2009. Micheal Oher is getting better, and his technique is improving. DR’s rating – C +

Tight ends - Ed Dickson and Dennis Pitta are both pass catching move type TE’s. They don’t line up on the line very often, and are not real involved in the run game. Dickson had 5 catches and 1 TD against Pittsburgh. DR’s rating – C -

Running backs – Ray Rice and Vonta Leach, both Pro-Bowler’s. Leach is a better receiver than you’d think and he’s a load, but he makes his money blocking for Ray Rice. Rice is off to a good start to the season and is just as dangerous as a pass catcher as a runner. He runs low to the ground and is extremely quick, fast and powerful. He needs very little space to get a big gain. Last week he took a screen pass, juked a few guys, and ran one guy over. Ray Rice is the heart of this team, and while he beats, they are in the game. DR’s rating – A

Wide receiver - Anquan Boldin, Lee Evans, and Torrey Smith. Anquan, clearly the hands of the team is a perennial Pro-Bowler, who does everything well in the passing game. He is physical, has great hands, is tough as nails, and runs crisp routes. Lee Evans will be out for this game, and that really hurts them, because there is very little experience behind him. Torrey Smith will get some PT, and he is very fast, but needs to learn to run routes in the NFL. He comes into this game with zero catches. DR’s rating – C -

DR’s Offensive Scouting Keys: Joe will throw a couple passes that make absolutely no sense every game, the Rams need to take advantage of those throws. Look to strip the ball from behind, Joe will drop the ball too low when passing the ball, it can be knocked out of his hand. Get Oher and McKinnie moving by running stunts and blitzes. McKinnie doesn’t like to move. Speed rush both of them. The offensive line is pretty dinged up, and they need to give the Rams a heavy dose of Ray Rice. Stay close to Ray Rice on screens and flares, he is the favorite of Joe Flacco, and he will be the primary and the outlet on many passing plays. Both tight ends line up from the wing, slot, and wide, and the doc recommends accounting for them this week. Ravens run a lot of shotgun, but are very effective out of play action. When they run the ball, they still like to spread it out, then run in-between the tackles, I don’t see them going outside very often.

Defense – New defensive coordinator Chuck Pagano inherited a talented experienced group of players. Everyone knows about this defense, and they are very good, if not great. But…they are very weak in the secondary and the Titan’s exploited that.DR’s rating – B+

Defensive line - (92)Haloti Ngata and (62)Terrence Cody are the back, legs, and butt of this team. These two guys are massive. Ngata, a 2-time Pro-Bowler, disrupts everything with his bull rush. He is a powerful dude, and a pretty good pass rusher. Cody’s job is to keep Ray Lewis clean, and he does that by eating space. (97)Aurthur Jones rotates in and is no slouch; he plays hard and is very agile for his size. He backs up Redding and Cody, so he sees a lot of PT. (91)Brandon McKinney is a veteran, another massive guy that provides quality depth. DR’s rating – B+

Defensive ends – (55)Terell Suggs, another Pro-Bowler, been there 4 times. He is a beast and their 3-4 rush linebacker. He can beat you any ways, has many moves. Saffold and Smith will have to be at the top of their games. Their 5-technique guy is (93)Cory Redding and he has compiled over 360 tackles in his 9 year career. He is stout at the point of attack. Aurthur Jones get time a DE and is a solid player. Don’t be surprised to see (90)Pernell McPhee, the Raven’s 5th round draft pick, they are pretty high on him. DR’s rating – A

Linebackers - (52) Ray Lewis provides the brains and lungs so that this team can think and breathe. Another perennial Pro-Bowler, Ray is the unquestionable leader of the team. (53)Jameel McClain had 91 tackles as his first season as a starter for the Ravens. He flashes sideline to sideline all game long. He is a very good tackler, who wraps you up. (95)Jarret Johnson is the team’s Sam backer, he is very versatile, experienced and has good size. He will line up on the line a rush the passer occasionally. DR’s rating – B

Cornerbacks - Finally, no Pro-Bowlers and a perceived weakness. This is the Ravens achilles heel. Very similar situation to what we saw last week, except Brian Rolle played a lot of nickel corner for Giants, which I predicted. (21)Lardarius Webb is a very good tackler and likes to step up in run support. He had 9 tackles last week. He will probably pick up kickoff duties as well as punt duties with D. Reed being out. He struggles in pass coverage and in a straight line will get beat and ran away from. (29)Cary Williams and (24)Domonique Foxworth are the other corners. Foxworth likes to press, but you can run right by him. Williams will play up on you, but sometimes let you run free with no bump. He is good in run support, also. Kenny Britt burned him badly. Sometimes these guys just give you a huge cushion; they play a lot of man coverage. They will need safety help.
DR’s rating – D+ No depth.

Safeties - Back to the Pro-Bowlers (7-times), Ed Reed is a gem, and still playing at a high level. He is the eyes of the team, and he excels at all phases of the game. He has seen it all and done it all, but he looked worn out and frustrated last week. He has very little help in the secondary. Tom Zbikowski is the SS, and he is a solid tackler and run support guy, but he struggles in coverage. He is a very straight-line player and when he is forced to cover, he has a hard time changing directions. DR’s rating – B-

DR’s Defensive Scouting Keys – Matt Hasselback absolutely picked them apart last week. They are stout in the middle, like the Giants, but their linebackers are better as a whole. The middle is still open on this team, because they are over-aggressive on play action and their linebackers don’t drop very deep into coverage, if they drop at all. They also fall for misdirection plays and will lose contain on the backside. The Ravens will give you a lot of looks on the front, 3-man, 4-man, and 5-man fronts. They blitz a lot, but mostly with their linebackers, but still account for their safeties on passing downs, Zbikowski will blitz. Corners give up too much cushion and still get beat, and they peek into the backfield too much, double moves will kill them.

DR’s Prescription to beat the Eagles – On offense - Spread it out and attack their corners and Zbikowski. Take your shots deep with Danario, Sims-Walker and Gibson. I don’t think they can run with any of these guys. Even with a big cushion they allow you to run by them. Stay away from Ed Reed. We have to try to establish a running game, so that the play action will work. Get the ball out fast and be decisive in your reads. A quick tempo works well against them, catch them with all that beef on the field and wear them out with the “no huddle”. No more silly mistakes and penalties, we need to move past that. Execute in the red zone, implement a fade pass, give Gibson a shot in the slot, and minimize Salas in the passing game. Run misdirection and screen plays. Cutback on the stretch play, they tend to be too aggressive and lose contain.

On defense – Contain and stay close to Ray Rice, he will get 25 or more touches in this game. Cover Boldin with our best corner, Bradley Fletcher, to minimize his impact in the game. Put pressure on Joe Flacco, whatever it takes as long as you don’t forget about Rice. I think Sims and Quinn can both speed rush and get pressure. Chris Long can and will beat Oher. Flacco makes silly throws and mistakes when pressured, win the turnover game and capitalize. Don’t let the tight ends beat you.

DR’s prognosis for winning: Fair to good if the Rams play relatively mistake free football.