FILMSTUDY: Individual Offensive Grades and Notes v. Jacksonville

(Game Rating/Cumulative Preseason Rating)

Allen (0/-3):  I only noticed him in for 1 snap offensively and he did not have a touch.  He was in on kick coverage.  I assume this means he is no longer part of the RB competition.

Bajema (0/0):  He has the 3rd TE position secure.  On Friday he was targeted 5 times with 3 catches. 

Balasavage (0/-4):  No longer part of the discussion. 

Berry (+1/+2):  Berry had a solid game as a receiver versus the Lions, catching all 6 passes thrown his way for 59 yards.  He ran well versus the Jags, totaling 40 yards on 7 carries.  He became the first player not named Tyrod to lead the team in rushing this preseason.

Boren (0/-2):  Justin had a reduced snap count for game 3 with 4 series at RG and 1 at LG.  He has yet to play a snap at center this year.

Doss (0/0):  Doss ran the same 4-yard out pattern (once to the right and twice to the left) on all 3 of his targets and caught each.  Flacco and he seem to have the timing down on that play and it’s a great way to pick up 3rd and 3 if the other team doesn’t know it’s coming.

Gradkowski (0/0):  He played 4 series at center and the last at RG.  He had a good block on Pendleton to lead Pierce on a 5-yard run (Q3, 1:11).  He also made a nice level 2 block on Jones on Berry’s 11-yard run right (Q4, 9:06).

Harewood (0/0):  He was limited to 3 late series, 2 at RT, 1 at LT.  I suppose he could still be the 4th tackle if Reid goes to IR.  Otherwise, I think his days are numbered.

Jones, Jacoby (-1/-1):  JJ’s 2012 season will be a function of his hands, not his legs.  He represents a quandary for the Ravens in that he is a 3rd receiver who has suspect hands.  Versus the Lions he dropped an easy conversion of a 3rd and 6, 18 yards downfield (Q1, 12:43).  On Friday, it appeared he got a case of alligator arms on Flacco’s long sideline heave when Landry approached (Q1, 5:56).  That’s a ball Jones might not have caught, but he seemed to give up on it.  I think he still has value as a player to spell a tired receiver (or challenge a tired corner) on 1st or 2nd down, but the Ravens have a spate of better possession receivers  (Rice, Boldin, Pitta, Doss) for 3rd down.  On the plus side, Jones looked good in the return game versus the Jags.  Jones carries a cap cost of 1.6 million this season and 4.9 million next season.  Barring further disasters or upside surprises he’s probably too cheap to cut this season and too expensive not to cut next year.

McKinnie (-2/-1):  He failed to pick up the stunting Knightly (Q1, 7:44) who would sack Flacco for a loss of 8.  On the 2nd sack, Knighton beat Birk for the initial pressure, but McKinnie held Branch then released him for a sack/forced fumble (Q2, 0:30)

Osemele (+1/+2):  He played 8 series, all at LG.  If the Ravens weren’t planning to start him there, I don’t see why he wouldn’t be giving him some more balanced time as a swingman.  He was assigned to pull or switch sides in pass blocking on a number of plays and looked comfortable doing so.  Despite the holding call, he’s playing the best of any Ravens lineman now.  He’ll start somewhere on opening night, it’s just a matter of where.

Painter (0/+1):  No notes this time.

Pierce (+2/+2):  With the exception of the big negative play, he regularly gets good personal-effort yardage once he’s in a bad spot.  He’s been a solid, balanced player these last 2 games. 

Rainey (+1/+3):  He’s accumulated some highlights, but the play I liked best Friday was his wheel route (Q2, 13:16).  Good receiving backs need to be able to get behind the defense occasionally to keep them honest.

Streeter (0/0):  Versus the Lions he dropped Painter’s best throw of the night down the left sideline (Q4, 1:55) which would have put the Ravens inside the 10.  He was also the target on the interception 2 plays later.  On Friday he wasn’t targeted until the final series then caught both balls thrown to him including a 33-yard TD on a slant (Q4, 0:57)

Taylor (0/-2):  Taylor regained some accuracy with improved weather on Friday, but he threw a pick 6.  I’m sure the Ravens will find a way to use him, but they’ll need to hit the waiver wire if Flacco goes down.  Perhaps Painter will have “the understanding” this season. 

Thompson, Deonte (0/+3):    He’s now had 2 terrific kickoff returns and Asa Jackson looks like a solid choice for punts.  I think the Ravens have a viable plan if JJ goes down.

Williams, Bobby (0/-1):  Williams looked more mobile in game 3, which is good news.  Given all indications, he’ll start the year on the bench with Osemele and Yanda at the 2 guard spots.  I think they would reshuffle to have him start if either guard or either tackle is injured or has a period of ineffectiveness.