Ravens Run

Joe Flacco says that he doesn't hear much of the criticism. He abstains from reading about the Ravens in the local papers. He mostly ignores watching all the NFL pundits on television and he certainly doesn't listen to talk radio, where his merits as a quarterback are tediously debated on an hourly basis. But when word got back to Flacco that he was taking the brunt of the blame for last January's playoff loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers, the normally stoic Raven seethed. "There's a lot of disappointment when you lose a playoff game.

As the Ravens lined up for a third-down play that could have sealed a victory over the Cleveland Browns, they did so without Marshal Yanda, their right guard and perhaps their most punishing run blocker. On third-and-3 with 2:32 remaining in the fourth quarter, running back Ray Rice ran off left end and was gobbled up by a pair of Browns 2 yards short of the first-down marker. The Ravens secured a win, 20-14, when Browns defensive tackle Phil Taylor jumped offside before the ensuing play.

For about 15 seconds last Sunday night, everything seemingly clicked. On the Ravens' first offensive play from scrimmage, running back Ray Rice took a handoff from Joe Flacco, found space on the left side behind tackle Bryant McKinnie and guard Ben Grubbs, and sprinted past the Pittsburgh Steelers' defense for what appeared to be a 76-yard touchdown run. Heinz Field went silent until a yellow flag was spotted near the Ravens' 34-yard line....

The Ravens put a lot of time and effort into upgrading their passing game during the offseason by changing personnel and scheme, but one upgrade they didn't make continues to hurt them. The Ravens haven't improved their play at offensive tackle, and until they do, they'll struggle passing the football. In fact, the Ravens are where they were in head coach John Harbaugh's rookie year, when they lost to Pittsburgh in the AFC championship game. Back then, the Ravens didn't have a sophisticated passing game because their tackles couldn't block Pittsburgh's outside linebackers, James Harrison and LaMarr Woodley.

The Ravens have been unkind to opposing running backs this season. The Ravens have allowed an average of 76.6 yards per game thus far, which ranks third in the league. Only the Dallas Cowboys (69.6) and the San Francisco 49ers (74.7) have been tougher against the run. “We play completely as a unit,” 12-time Pro Bowl inside linebacker Ray Lewis said Thursday. “We have a certain way that we play defense to where wherever the play breaks down, we don't believe in being blocked one-on-one.

St. Louis Rams star running back Steven Jackson wasn't ruled out of Monday's game against the New York Giants until about two hours before kickoff, when his on-field workout didn't produce the necessary comfort level for the player or his team. A decision on whether Jackson (quadriceps injury) will play Sunday could again be made late, but don't expect the Ravens to be sitting around and fretting over whether they'll have to tackle Jackson or his backups, Cadillac Williams and Jerious Norwood.

When the Ravens agreed to a three-year contract with fullback Vonta Leach on Sunday, it was an indication of the team's offensive plans. It was a statement. The Ravens want to return to old-school football, where they grind a team with their defense and pound it into submission with a strong running game. Few players like collisions the way Leach does. He's the Ravens' new crash test dummy. "Fullbacks are like dinosaurs," running backs coach Wilbert Montgomery said.

Miami cornerback DeMarcus Van Dyke posted the third-fastest time at the NFL scouting combine since 2000. Van Dyke, who met with the Ravens during the combine, ran the 40-yard dash Tuesday in 4.28 seconds. Over the past 12 combines, only East Carolina running back Chris Johnson (4.24 in 2008) and Houston cornerback Stanford Routt (4.27 in 2005) were faster. "Everybody here is fast," Van Dyke said during the combine, "but you have to be faster to stand out in the DB group. " At 6 feet, 168 pounds, Van Dyke was rated the 23rd-best cornerback prospect by Pro Football Weekly.

Ray Rice is zeroing in on a remarkable feat for a running back. He has yet to fumble this year with one game left in the regular season. He has yet to put the ball on the ground despite touching the ball 350 times this season (287 carries and 63 receptions). When asked about the streak, Rice said, "Where is the wood at? I'm going to go find me some wood to knock on. " Rice's run is more unbelievable when looking around the league. There are 13 running backs who have carried the ball more than 220 times this season, and Rice is the only one who hasn't fumbled.