The third pre-season game was supposed to be Troy Smith’s second chance to start and try to win the quarterback job. Instead Troy Smith stayed at his hotel room for last Saturday night’s game because of a “viral illness”. Kyle Boller dressed for the game but did not see any playing time because his shoulder in his throwing arm was sore. So that meant that Joe Flacco got his first career NFL start and Flacco would play the whole game. He looked a little shaky in the first half and he mostly choose to run. As the game went on he got more comfortable and started throwing more. Flacco went 18 of 37 for 157 yards and 1 TD. Flacco had his first NFL touchdown when he threw a 15-yard pass to Derrick Mason to finish the first drive of the second half where he went 4 of 4 for 61 yards. Derrick Mason also had a solid performance being Flacco’s number one target. Mason had 6 catches for 85 yards and 1 TD.

Safety Tom Zbikowski had a great game. Zbikowski the rookie out of Notre Dame got a punt block in the first half.  He got his fingertips on the ball when the Rams were punting from their own end zone. The ball ended up on the Rams 20-yard line and the Ravens later scored on a 22-yard field goal. Zbikowski also had an interception in the 3^rd quarter that he ran up the field for 22-yards.

FB Le’ron McClain also had a big game blocking for Ray Rice but also rushing the ball himself. He had 8 carries for 41 yards. McClain saw time at running back in college but new offensive coordinator Cam Cameron wants to see McClain and Lorenzo Neal in the backfield at the same time. He wants to see the two big man in the game together getting those tough short yards. This situation will happen sometime this upcoming regular season and if it is successful the Ravens will start using it more often.

The Ravens ended up losing the game 24-10 but this game was a great test to see how the Ravens quarterback of the future Joe Flacco does when he starts for the Ravens. Some more players that missed the action were S Ed Reed, CB Chris McAlister, RB Willis McGahee, T Adam Terry, TE Todd Heap, DT Dwan Edwards, QB Troy Smith, DT Haloti Ngata and NT Kelly Gregg. Also projected starting LT Jared Gathier returned to the field on Monday after being out for a month with a sprained ankle.

The Ravens next game is set for Thursday against the Atlanta Falcons. Coach John Harbaugh thinks Troy Smith will be recovered and ready to start Thursday against the Falcons.

 Ty

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