Week 1 ... Ravens news

Each week, I'll start a thread for news regarding the team we're playing that week so we can keep it all in one place. It makes more sense to have it here rather than in the NFL forum.
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Lee Evans practices, prepares to play against Pittsburgh

Posted by Mike Florio on September 5, 2011

In an effort to finally overcome the Steelers in the AFC North, the Baltimore Ravens made a deal for receiver Lee Evans. And as the Ravens prepare to play the Steelers in Week One, Evans has been in a walking boot.

Aaron Wilson of the Carroll County Times reports that Evans is now out of the boot. Evans also practiced on Monday, and he is expected to play on Sunday.

“We were doing precautionary things,” Evans said. “You have to stay on top of things. It was good to be out there today.

“Yeah, it [was] good to come out here and run on it and see where it’s at. We’ll see how it reacts in the next couple of days.”

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/09/05/lee-evans-practices-prepares-to-play-against-pittsburgh/

Ravens' offensive line cramming for opening test

By Aaron Wilson, Times Staff Writer Carroll County Times

OWINGS MILLS - Haunted in the past by the Pittsburgh Steelers' aggressive defense repeatedly smashing into quarterback Joe Flacco, the Baltimore Ravens are facing a more arduous task than usual this week.

Following an offseason erased by the NFL lockout and a chaotic preseason where the starting offensive line didn't play a single snap together in a game, the Ravens' revamped line is cramming in timing and chemistry this week. The Steelers and their vaunted pass rush are the Ravens' first challenge as they open the season Sunday at M&T Bank Stadium.

"It's not an ideal situation for us, that's for sure," said six-time Pro Bowl center Matt Birk. "That's the world we live in right now. We'll work hard all week and study film and be as ready as we can on Sunday.

http://www.carrollcountytimes.com/sports/ravens/ravens-offensive-line-cramming-for-opening-test/article_a6eca640-d83e-11e0-aca8-001cc4c03286.html

Eisenberg: Steelers Game Not Armageddon

It is tempting to label the Ravens' season-opening game against the Pittsburgh Steelers as "The Sum of All Fears" or "El Gran Juego" or, however you want to put it, a contest of such massive importance that all adjectives in multiple languages fail.

And it is a big one, no doubt.

Losing at home to the team they're trying to knock off in the AFC North would be a terrible way for the Ravens to start a season, reaffirming sobering myths about their relationship with their nemeses.

By the same token, beating the defending AFC champions would put them ahead in the standings and vault them into their season with palpable buoyancy.

But while there's no doubt this opener is an eye-catching big game, I'm not buying the notion that it is potentially a make-or-break event.

Sorry, there's no such thing in the NFL this early, while summer still burns on.

http://www.baltimoreravens.com/News/Articles/2011/09/Eisenberg_-_Steelers_Game_Not_Armageddon.aspx
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It's good that he's trying to mentally prepare himself for the loss on Sunday. That'll take some of the sting out of the ass whuppin' they're about to receive.

Dulac just tweeted Pouncey is iffy for Sunday with that ankle

supytalpeht wrote:

Dulac just tweeted Pouncey is iffy for Sunday with that ankle

With Legursky starting at guard, Trai Essex is the backup center.

If Pouncey is out, do they move Legursky to center and move someone else to guard?

Meanwhile, we're busy bringing in wide receiver prospects.

Ravens keep cool when discussing Steelers

By Dejan Kovacevic, PITTSBURGH TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Wednesday, September 7, 2011

OWINGS MILLS, Md. — All over the Baltimore area, from bars to convenience stores to barber shops, one can find the same photograph, purchased and posted by fans, of Ray Lewis towering over a prone Ben Roethlisberger. Lewis is on one knee looking casual about his conquest, his breath visible in the cold.

And, on most of those, you can find Lewis` autograph.

He couldn`t help but hold back a smile when asked about it before the Ravens` practice this afternoon.
"It`s one play out of 100, but I know what it means," the 12-time Pro Bowl linebacker said. "I know what it means for Baltimore people, and I know what it means for Pittsburgh people. You never like to see Ben in that position with me over top of him."

Lewis` eyes widened.

"It`s a good picture. Good pic. But that`s what the rivalry is. You hit or be hit. Our rivalry hasn`t change."

Except for this: The Ravens were just gushing with positivity at their first major media availability leading up to the seismic season opener Sunday at M&T Bank Stadium. There was no trash-talk, no revisiting old grudges, nothing but civility.

"We respect them as a team, what they`ve built," running back Ray Rice said. "We know what it`s going to be, just old-fashioned smash-mouth football, but there`s respect there."

Read more: Ravens keep cool when discussing Steelers - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/sports/steelers/s_755507.html#ixzz1XJPvCaNm