Ravens Clip Colts, 20-19

The Baltimore Ravens improved to 3-0 this preseason with a 20-19 win in Indianapolis over the Colts. RSR writers react to what we saw here:

Carey Stevenson

— *Stands on soap box* Give Anthony Levine all the snaps!

— Tim Williams‘ first step >>>

— Really like the way Kenneth Dixon finishes runs.

— I really hope the team isn’t forced to sign a low upside player because they can’t trust any punt returner currently on the roster.

— RG3 remains super steady.

— Wink is gonna be fun.

Brandon Portney

The first team defense was again impressive, this time against one of the better QBs in the league, though Andrew Luck is still working his way back from injury. They again displayed tight coverage, got the the QB and forced takeaways.

And how about the young second year guys in Tim Williams and Tyus Bowser both with a sack!? Yes, a Bowser sighting… I know!

Offensively, both Joe Flacco and RGIII were once again solid as can be, while Lamar Jackson looked really bad throwing the ball. He needs a year, but we knew that so no need to panic.

I thought Kenneth Dixon looked good tonight. All this talk about his not making the team is overreaction.

I remain beyond skeptical about the special teams. Not worried about Justin Tucker. But I remain wholly unimpressed with the return game. I miss Jacoby Jones.

Vasilios Nikolaou

– Joe looks good, best he’s looked in a while.

– No Alex Collins tonight shows me there’s no real RB competition in camp.

– John Brown is the real deal, and he’s not over 30!

– Anthony Levine and Tavon Young shined tonight in coverage.

– Anthony Averett showed what the Ravens had wanted from him when he was taken in the 2018 draft.

– DeShon Elliot has a nose for the ball and a quicker reaction time than most security companies. I’m excited to see how he continues to develop.

– Lamar Jackson looked shaky to start, how much of that can be blamed on the porous offensive line I cannot say, but he regained form soon after with accurate throws and his patented scrambling ability.

– Tim Williams and Tyus Bowser are quietly stacking good practices and games. If both are impactful this season, it will be a huge boon to a defense that has lacked an elite rush for many years.

– Za’Darius Smith is an absolute wrecking ball. Enough said.

Derek Arnold

The Ravens’ heretofore quiet (in a good way!) preseason suddenly got loud and annoying before the game, as this fun news dropped:

The Ravens are bracing for a potential suspension of CB Jimmy Smith for a violation of the NFL's personal conduct policy, sources told the @TheAthleticBAL https://t.co/HaqliXZZoS

— Jeff Zrebiec (@jeffzrebiec) August 20, 2018

More details here on RSR shortly, I’m sure, but for now….just, ugh.

On the bright side, only Ronnie Stanley appeared to get banged up to any significant degree tonight. While he is obviously a monumentally important player for the team’s prospects in 2018, he walked into the locker room himself, and later returned with his knee wrapped. I think we can breathe a sigh of relief on this one, this time.

With that out of the way, let’s talk turkey. Flacco seemed to lock into “check-down” mode for a bit there, but rebounded nicely to finish 7-for-9 for 79 (8.8 yrd/att) yards with a good long completion between the corner and safety in a Cover 2 to Michael Crabtree, and a vintage touchdown strike under the goalposts. John Brown made the kind of catch on that we’re used to Ravens WRs dropping or being unable to get their feet down on. His toe drag was a thing of beauty. Good to see Kenneth Dixon put together some nice film. Buck Allen has no designs on giving up his spot, so Ken still has some work in front of him.

Does anybody want the return job? Tim White and Jenarion Grant both put the ball on the ground on punt returns, though the latter at least picked up some nice yards here and there. At this rate, the Ravens may be calling up Devin Hester again. I’m kidding! I hope…

I realize Lamar Jackson is playing with twos and threes, but he’s also playing AGAINST twos and threes. He started pretty terribly, so it was great to see him connect with Chris Moore on a designed rollout for a short touchdown. Despite the wishes of the national media (and boy, did we get our does of that nonsense with this game on ESPN tonight), the LJ8 era isn’t on the near horizon. Indeed, RG3 is looking more and more likely to make this roster, if you ask me (which you didn’t). Catch the ball, Jordan Lasley.

Anthony Averett made three nice plays in a row on the goalline. Great stuff if what we fear about Jimmy comes to fruition. Tavon Young reminded us what he can do on the Colts’ very first third down opportunity, breaking up a pass to force the punt. Tim Williams, Michael Pierce, Za’Darius Smith, the ageless Terrell Suggs and others all made their presence known in the backfield at one time or another. Anthony Levine (red zone INT) remains a key part of this defense, so let’s hope Wink makes plenty of use of him as the Dime, as Dean Pees FINALLY started to do regularly last season.

TWO more of these things? Seriously?

Chad Racine

Lamar Jackson will be the starting quarterback……. in 2022….for the Cleveland Browns. Too harsh? I’m joking of course but, that first half was ugly. Can the national media finally put the nail in the coffin on the quarterback controversy? Jackson is a looooong way off from threatening Flacco. He did make up for it with the touchdown to the continuously impressive Chris Moore.

Speaking of impressive receivers, John Brown is doing nothing to slow down the hype train. Get on board now if you haven’t already. He could be the Ravens’ poor man’s Antonio Brown. No I didn’t say he was Antonio Brown but, he could be the number one receiver that is much more than just a deep threat.

Kenny Young will earn the starting job next to Mosley. He’s already looked good in coverage and is the perfect complement. This defense should be a lot of fun to watch this year.

Todd Karpovich

— Joe Flacco continued his solid preseason form and finished with a quarterback rating of 137.0. Flacco is primed for one of the best seasons of his career if he can stay healthy.

— John Brown is showing he can be an effective weapon on offense and is fearless going after the ball. He was a shrewd pickup by Ozzie Newsome.

— The first-team defense looked solid and Don “Wink” Martindale has them playing fast.

— Tim White loosened his grasp as the top returner with a careless fumble. Janarion Grant didn’t help his cause with a fumble. 

— Linebacker Tim Williams had another solid game because the Ravens are using him effectively — turning him loose and letting him attack the quarterback. Tyus Bowser also looked sharp. 

— John Harbaugh needs to be careful with his key players and this short turnaround for Saturday’s game. 

More knee-jerk reactions as they roll in…