Baltimore Ravens Preseason Game: What To Expect Vs The Carolina Panthers
The Baltimore Ravens kick off pre season action in their home stadium against the Carolina Panthers.
A good crowd is expected on Thursday night, awaiting to see the new look of the 2010 Ravens.
Having seen players go down with injuries in training camp, it will be interesting to see who earns any playing time in the first game of the year.
This is an opportunity for the hidden gems of the Ravens organization to make themselves worthy of a roster spot in 2010.
1. Don't Expect the Starters To Play More Than a Quarter
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This shouldn't come to a surprise to most, but the starters will not see much playing time on Thursday.
In fact, head coach John Harbaugh said the starters will see a maximum of one quarter.
You can expect the offense ( Flacco, Rice, Boldin) to see about a full quarter of playing time.
On the defensive side, starters such as Ray Lewis and Terrell Suggs may not see a full quarter of action.
Offensive lineman Jared Gaither, Matt Birk, and receiver Derrick Mason my not even play, as they returned to practice this week from different injuries.
2. Watch The Ravens Secondary, Who Will Be the Focus Of the Preseason
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The secondary has been the talk of the training camp, and will continue to be the talk of the pre-season.
The absence of Domonique Foxworth ( out for season) and Lardarius Weeb and Ed Reed ( PUP List) means new comers and veterans from last years team will have to be ready to step up.
Tom Zbikowski has emerged confidence in Ravens camp, replacing Ed Reed in the secondary and leading a close position battle with Ken Hamlin.
Travis Fisher and KJ Gerard are both expected to take on bigger roles this season. While many see Gerard as another upcoming gem like Lardarius Webb, Travis Fisher could benefit from being around a more talented defense.
The Carolina Panthers have a solid group of receivers, led by Pro-Bowler Steve Smith. It will be a good, early test for a secondary that has benefited practicing from an elite offense.
3. Keep an Eye On Young Stars Dennis Pitta, Ed Dickson, and Eron Riley
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The new look offense of the Ravens continues to produce young stars, and 2010 is no different.
Rookie tight ends Dennis Pitta and Ed Dickson opened eyes in training camp. Both bring a different skill set to the offense, and are battling for the second spot on the depth chart.
Receiver Eron Riley is living up to the high hopes Ravens fans expected him to fulfil last season. He is battling for a roster spot with a few other veteran wide receivers, and can really improve his case with a solid pre-season.
I can see the three of these guys getting 2-3 quarters of playing time against Carolina, whose defense is near the middle of the pack in the league.
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Stay Tuned For More Ravens Coverage Within the Next Few Weeks
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Be on the lookout for more Ravens coverage within the next few weeks, especially with speculation beginning to rise about another acquisition at corner back. Also, be on the look out for updates on the kicking battle, and the emergence of new young talent on the defensive side.
Matt Miselis is a Baltimore Ravens/NFL Featured Columnist for BleacherReport.com.
Follow me on twitter: http://twitter.com/MattMiselis
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