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The Baltimore Ravens are going to have a big problem in this game in a particular area. Let’s get into that, and other matters, in this edition of Website Whispers . . .
I think the Baltimore Ravens are in big trouble at two spots on their offensive line in this match-up.
There is no way around it.
The Jets’ defensive line is obviously playing on a very high level.
And the Ravens line has been a problem all year.
Joe Flacco has been sacked 33 times this year through 10 games.
To put that in perspective, last year he was sacked 35 times for the entire season. In 2011, he was sacked just 31 times.
Here is where the big problems could occur for Baltimore on Sunday, at center with Gino Gradkowski, and left guard A.Q. Shipley.
They are both undersized overachievers.
Gradkowski is under 6-3, and weighs just 300 pounds. Shipley is 6-1, 304.
These are the kind of offensive lineman Mo Wilkerson, Damon Harrison and Sheldon Richardson have for lunch.
Guys like New Orleans center Brian De La Puente and New England’s guard Dan Connolly and center Ryan Wendell.
Shipley is a backup type. The kind of guy who can back up at both guard and center, like Rob Turner. You like this kind of guy as the swing backup, but you don’t necessarily want him to start long-term.
Shipley is starting because the Ravens lost starting left guard Kelechi Osemele to a herniated disc early this season. He had surgery and was put on IR.
Gino Gradkowski is a first-year starter, the brother of quarterback Bruce Gradkowski, replacing long-time starting center Matt Birk.
“He lacks ideal bulk and length, and his athletic ability and play strength rate as just average,” said one personnel evaluator on Gradkowski.
Keep an eye on Gradkowski and Shipley on Sunday. I think both are in a heap of trouble . . .
The Baltimore Ravens are starting a rookie free safety Matt Elam.
I asked Rex Ryan for his take on the player, and he gave a hint at a weakness that can be exploited.
“The kid’s a hitter, there’s no question,” Ryan said. “I think he’s a little better moving forward than he is going back, so playing against the run and underneath coverage I think is his strength.”
So Ryan clearly consider him a box safety who the Jets can beat in pass coverage, especially down the field.
You just get the sense the Jets have big plans for their tight ends this week – Jeff Cumberland, Kellen Winslow and Zach Sudfeld . . .
The Jets aren’t flying to Baltimore. They are taking a train from Newark to Baltimore. It takes just two hours . . .
Rex Ryan said Geno Smith had a great week of practice.
That is fine and dandy, but we used to hear this all the time about Mark Sanchez.
But there is no tackling, no sacks – very little contact.
It’s more like touch football.
While practice is very important, you have to take practice raves with a grain of salt.
What is going Smith going to do with Haloti Ngata, Elvis Dumervil and Terrell Suggs coming after him.
That is an entirely different story than how he performed in practice . . .
I think one of the most important players in this game for the Jets is going to be Josh Cribbs.
First of all, I think there is going to be a heavy dose of Wildcat this week to take some pressure off Geno Smith.
And it’s going to be very cold and windy, so there likely won’t be a lot of touch backs, so Cribbs will have a few chances to return kicks.
It’s just a matter of time before he breaks one. The Jets put in extra work this week on “The Wedge.”
And Cribbs has returned so many kicks against coach Jerry Rosberg’s Baltimore special team’s, as a member of the Cleveland Browns, so he has a great feel for what the Ravens like to do.
Cribbs very well could be a key player in this game.
November 22, 2013
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