Previewing the Baltimore Ravens' Week 4 Preseason Game vs. Rams

The Baltimore Ravens have their final preseason contest of the year on Thursday when they travel to St. Louis to take on the Rams. 

This game is the last chance on-the-bubble players will have to state a case as to why they're worth a spot on the 53-man roster, which will be announced on Friday. As such, those marginal players are what your attention should be paid to most closely.

Here are the three things to watch in Baltimore's final preseason game.

Running Back Battle

It's no surprise that the Ravens are hoping third-round draft pick Bernard Pierce will ultimately be named the backup to starter Ray Rice. What is surprising, however, is how undrafted rookie Bobby Rainey has appeared to leapfrog the other two backs on the roster, Damien Berry and Anthony Allen.

Rainey has gone from a long shot to make the team when he was brought on months ago to just a few short days away from bumping either Berry or Allen off of the active roster. As such, expect those two to work harder than ever in order to turn their coaches' eyes and hang on for one more year.

It looks as though Berry has the edge over Allen, at least through the first three preseason games. He's rushed 17 times for 70 yards and caught seven passes for 71 yards. Allen, on the other hand, has just six rushes in the preseason, worth seven yards and has caught one 12-yard pass.

Rainey's rushing numbers aren't as good as Berry's, with 46 total yards on his 17 carries, but he's shined as a receiver, with 10 receptions for 121 yards and two scores.

If the Ravens want insurance at running back, Berry seems to be ideal (and if not, he's at least eligible for the practice squad); if they want a third-down pass-catching and short-yardage back, Rainey has certainly proved himself useful in that area. But Allen has failed to stand out in either duty, and another underwhelming performance on Thursday could easily cost him his job.

Sergio Kindle's Last Stand?

Ravens head coach John Harbaugh said last week that linebacker Sergio Kindle is not a lock to make the 53-man roster, which is enough to make one wonder just how in trouble he is. 

Kindle's impact in the preseason has been marginal, with just four total tackles in two of the past three games. Though the Ravens need depth at outside linebacker, he's been outplayed by rookie Courtney Upshaw and veteran Albert McClellan, and it may only be the latter's recent arrest that allows Kindle to stay on the roster, should he face a suspension.

Kindle, a 2010 Ravens draft pick, suffered a skull fracture in July of that year, which cost him his entire rookie season. Hopes were high that he'd rebound from the injury and time away from the field in 2011, but he was active for only two games and recorded not a single tackle.

Yes, the Ravens plan to outfit Kindle with a special helmet that includes a microphone in his earpiece so that he can hear play calls better (he's experiencing hearing loss related to that 2010 injury), which makes it seem that they have plans to keep him on the team.

But his disappointing preseason combined with the fact that other outside backers have performed better puts Kindle squarely on the bubble. With starters getting limited playing time—no more than a series or maybe two—Kindle should get an extended chance to save his job.

Omar Brown

Undrafted safety Omar Brown wasn't considered to be anything special when the Ravens picked him up in the spring, but he's made a name for himself in the preseason, being one of the biggest standouts in their stacked secondary.

In three games, Brown has three fumble recoveries, seven tackles, an interception and has recovered an onside kick. That's certainly enough to get him noticed, and a final, stellar performance against the Rams on Thursday could easily earn him a roster spot.

There are other reasons why Brown could make the roster—namely the two concussions suffered in consecutive weeks by fellow safety Sean Considine. He hasn't been practicing, and if he doesn't get clearance soon, he could be waived or sent to injured reserve, opening a spot for Brown.

With legitimate cornerback abilities as well as special teams skills, Brown has been a surprise for the Ravens thus far. If his hot streak continues through Thursday's game, he should not only make the roster, but be the front-runner to emerge as Ed Reed's ultimate successor in the years ahead.

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