It’s a matchup of disappointing teams that are both dealing with some key injuries as the Ravens head to Oakland to take on the Raiders. The Ravens last won in “The Black Hole” in Week 17 of the 2009 season, losing in their only other game there in the John Harbaugh era back in 2015.
Let’s take a look at this week’s stats, quotes, and more,c/o Casa Mia’s White Marsh.
KNOW THY ENEMY
SERIES HISTORY
QUOTES OF THE WEEK
S Eric Weddle on the Ravens’ Mindset Going Forward:
“It’s a long season. No one’s pressing the panic button. We’re just not playing well enough to win in all three phases. That’s the bottom line, so we’ll get back to work, look at our mistakes, get a great game plan and get ready to go out there again, because no one’s going to feel sorry for us. This league is ruthless. If you’re down, they’re going to keep you down, and they want to stomp you out. We’ll fight, and guys are getting better. We believe in this team. The belief is there, we just all need to get a little bit better. If everyone gets a little bit better, we’ll start faster and be able to win these games.”
Pittsburgh head coach Mike Tomlin on what sets OLB Terrell Suggs apart from other defenders:
“I think it’s his football intelligence. His physical talents are what they are, and they are well-documented. He is athletic. He is powerful. But his awareness, his feel for the game is displayed statistically in the number of passes that he bats and the fact that he is always not just playing for a sack, but that he is a ball-aware guy; he is a sack-fumble guy. I think his football intelligence is on display in just about every element of his game. He is a very aware player. He makes plays because of that. He has very good hands and eyes.”
LB C.J. Mosley on coming off two tough losses:
“As a leadership and as a team, we’ve got to see what our weaknesses are. We’ve got to correct it quickly. Even though it seems like the season is over, we’re 2-2, and it’s only Week 4, and we’ve got another AFC opponent this week, a great team in Oakland. It’s going to be a tough road game. We’ve got to look at it, correct the mistakes and get ready to play.”
WR Mike Wallace on the offense finding a way to click:
“It’s always frustrating when you can’t score points. With the talent that we have on offense, it’s crazy. We have so many players and so many weapons – we’re just not making plays. We just have to find a way. A quarter of the season is gone, and our offense just hasn’t found ways to make plays. I know that we will. I’m more than confident that we will. We’ve got to find a way to do it. We’ve got to get it going.”
RB Alex Collins on whether the three-man RB rotation allows him to get into a rhythm:
“Definitely. It doesn’t get me out of a rhythm. We’re all fresh, and we all get to ground and pound at the same time. And it gives us an opportunity to be the fresh guy out there. That’s what we do in practice, and we just carry it over into the game.”
GETTING TO KNOW YOU ~ Q&A with Ronnie Stanley
Can you talk about your involvement with Baltimore Animal Rescue and Care Shelter (BARCS)?
“It advocates ‘adopt, don’t shop.’ The organization raises awareness of overpopulation and abusive relationships that a lot of people have with their pets and animals, in general.”
You adopted your dog, right?
“Yes, two of them. One’s a pit bull, and one’s a pit bull/mastiff puppy. I just got the puppy this year, and he’s a lot. Their names are Rico and Lola.”
This summer you connected with former Raven and Hall of Famer Jonathan Ogden. What was that like?
“It was really cool. He’s from my home state, so when I went home, we hung out. He worked out with me a little bit. I went out golfing with him and his son. He’s been a great mentor and has guided me along the way.”
Did Ogden give you advice for 2017?
“He said to keep improving. He was very happy with what I was doing. He was just telling me to keep trying to improve and to keep doing what I’m doing.”
Do you golf often?
“I don’t, but I want to. I was excited when Jonathan Ogden asked me to go golfing because I want to learn [how to play]. I want to learn from someone who knows how to play, and I know he knows how to play. He actually taught me how to hit the ball. So, that was cool.”
What’s the difference between Year 1 and Year 2?
“In Year 2, I definitely feel more comfortable, just understanding my teammates and who everyone is, their personalities. It’s allowed me to be myself.”
What advice would you give to other young players that you might have learned in your rookie year?
“Be a good rookie. When I say that, I mean don’t talk much; just do what you’re told. It’ll come along from there. You’ll get more freedoms as you perform. You do your job first, and the other fun stuff will happen later.”
Describe O-line coach Joe D’Alessandris in one word.
“Upbeat.”
If you could play any other position other than your own, what would it be?
“Defensive end. That’s a fun position. You make sacks, and even if you don’t make a sack, you don’t really get in trouble.”
What has been the toughest stadium to play in?
“From college, it was at Michigan. That was brutal. There were over 100,000 people there. It’s a big stadium, and [Michigan] oversold the game because it was [Notre Dame’s] last game playing there. There’s a huge rivalry between us, and it was a night game. I couldn’t hear anything.”
HEY, YOU LOOK FAMILIAR ~ Key Connections
Raiders G Kelechi Osemele signed with Oakland during the 2016 offseason after spending four years (2012-15) with the Ravens. (He was drafted by Baltimore in the second round.)
Ravens G/C Tony Bergstrom (2012 & 2015) and T Austin Howard (2014-16) both played on the Raiders’ O-line. Howard appeared in 40 games (39 starts) in his three years in Oakland.
Raiders head coach Jack Del Rio guided the Ravens’ LBs from 1999- 2001, while cornerbacks coach Rod Woodson played four seasons (1998-2001) in Charm City. Both earned Super Bowl rings with the Ravens in 2000.
Ravens linebackers coach Don Martindale worked with Oakland’s LBs from 2004-08.
The late Al Davis, former Raiders owner and GM, worked as a scout for the Baltimore Colts in 1954.
LAUGH OF THE WEEK AT EXPENSE OF RAVENS’ OPPONENT
Yeah, I dunno. I think this section is going on hiatus until the Ravens aren’t themselves laugh/cry-inducing.
