Reality: 10 NFL Teams average 30 carries or more per game. None have a losing record.
Perception: The Ravens are average 26.8 carries through 5 games, with a 4.7 yards per carry average. That is a significant improvement from a year ago, not only in execution, but also in play calling. They average 26.4 carries per game last year, but there were a number of games during which they went away from the run, much to the dismay of most fans.
The Ravens are a team that needs to stick with the run. Their offensive line has opened up good holes so far this year, and the backs have done a nice job getting positive gains. They need to rely heavily on the run game to be successful this year.
Reality: The Baltimore Ravens are in need of secondary help.
Perception: After placing Asa Jackson on Injured Reserve, the struggling Ravens secondary needed some reinforcements. To help with some of that depth, the Ravens signed Dominique Franks, who signed with the team this summer, but was released during the preseason.
The Ravens also will get some much-needed help when Will Hill comes off suspension after this week. Hill graded out as the third-best safety in the league last year, by Pro Football Focus, so he should provide a boost.
Reality: Steve Smith Sr. seems to have signed off Twitter.
Perception: After last Sunday’s game, Smith tweeted:
If you want to know what’s going with me follow @SteveSmithFDN and check out what we are doing. it’s been real! Deuces done with tweeter!
— Steve Smith Sr (@89SteveSmith) October 6, 2014
That was after the Colts game where Smith had just 5 catches for 34 years and that included two big drops. I am a huge fan of Smith, but it seems that for a guy who talks a whole lot, he wasn’t fond of the smack talk that he was getting online and decided to take a break and get off Twitter.
If you can’t take it, don’t dish it.
Reality: The NFL is considering a uniform change.
Perception: According to Sarah Ellison of BaltimoreRavens.com.
“This report coming out of owners meetings should create a bit of buzz.
Odd agenda item at NFL meetings: Proposal to require Nike-designed alternate uniforms for Thurs night games starting in ’16.
— Dan Graziano (@DanGrazianoESPN) October 7, 2014 Uni Watch followed up with Graziano to get more details, and he told the website that he didn’t know who made the proposal, but that one owner told him that it was expected to pass. He said Nike would design all the uniforms, with some feedback from teams.”
I think teams have too many jerseys currently. I mean, the Ravens have all purple, purple and black, purple and white, all white, all black, black and white… that’s six variations on their uniform and I’m probably missing a couple. But if you are talking just jerseys, they still have three (white, purple, black). And now they want another Thursday night alternative jersey?
Call me old fashioned, but I like three jerseys, max… a home, away, and alternate.
Any more than that is just a money grab.
