E-mail
Print
Another week, another challenge for the Ravens' special teams.
Five days removed from tangling with the San Diego Chargers' Darren Sproles, the unit is preparing to meet the equally dangerous Joshua Cribbs, who will lead the Cleveland Browns into M&T Bank Stadium on Sunday.
Cribbs, who ranks fourth in the NFL in punt-return average and has already returned a punt for a touchdown this season, has been particularly effective against the Ravens. When the Ravens won, 37-27, on Nov. 2, Cribbs racked up 237 kickoff return yards and one score, which ranked second in franchise history behind his 245-yard performance Nov. 17, 2007.
"Cribbs has been a bad sight for the Ravens for more than just a few years," coach John Harbaugh said. "He's probably the best return guy in the league in a lot of ways. ... He's a beast. He's really hard to tackle. We've got a lot of respect for him, and we've just got to tackle him."
An undrafted rookie in 2005, Cribbs has started the past two games at wide receiver, but he is most dangerous as a returner, where his size (6 feet 1 and 215 pounds) and speed make him a difficult target to tackle.
"He gets free in so many different ways," Ravens assistant head coach and special teams coordinator Jerry Rosburg said. "He can run past guys, make people miss and run over people in the open field. He's just got a lot of skills, and that's why he is what he is."
Trying to limit Cribbs' opportunities might put the onus on kicker Steve Hauschka to send kickoffs into the end zone and punter Sam Koch to force Cribbs - who is tied with Eric Metcalf as the Browns' all-time leader in return touchdowns with seven - toward the sideline.
"You just have to do a great job of containing him and attacking the whole field," Rosburg said. "We've made a big point in our coverage all week long of trying to make sure that he doesn't get out in the open field."
Although Washington was unavailable for comment, defensive coordinator Greg Mattison expects Washington to play Sunday, saying, "I believe he will be" ready.
Linebacker Jarret Johnson (shoulder) participated in a few individual drills, but he wore black sweat pants and was listed as having officially missed practice for the second straight day.
Johnson was tight-lipped about the injury Thursday during the open locker room period at the team's training facility in Owings Mills. When asked whether the injury would affect his availability for Sunday, Johnson replied, "I don't think so."
Offensive tackle Jared Gaither ( flu) was absent for the second consecutive day, and without Gaither, the first offensive line featured rookie Michael Oher at left tackle and Marshal Yanda at right tackle. But offensive coordinator Cam Cameron said Gaither should be able to play.
"He's preparing," Cameron said. "Even though he's come down with this flu bug or whatever it is, he'll be ready to play."
Defensive tackle Justin Bannan (knee) was limited for a second straight day, while tight end L.J. Smith (pulled left hamstring) and safety Tom Zbikowski practiced fully.
"He's a great player," Birk said. "He combines power and quickness, and that's rare in a big guy like that to be so explosive. That's why he's been a good player for so long in this league. He's just a big, powerful guy. All you can do is get in there and try to battle."
Five days removed from tangling with the San Diego Chargers' Darren Sproles, the unit is preparing to meet the equally dangerous Joshua Cribbs, who will lead the Cleveland Browns into M&T Bank Stadium on Sunday.
Cribbs, who ranks fourth in the NFL in punt-return average and has already returned a punt for a touchdown this season, has been particularly effective against the Ravens. When the Ravens won, 37-27, on Nov. 2, Cribbs racked up 237 kickoff return yards and one score, which ranked second in franchise history behind his 245-yard performance Nov. 17, 2007.
"Cribbs has been a bad sight for the Ravens for more than just a few years," coach John Harbaugh said. "He's probably the best return guy in the league in a lot of ways. ... He's a beast. He's really hard to tackle. We've got a lot of respect for him, and we've just got to tackle him."
An undrafted rookie in 2005, Cribbs has started the past two games at wide receiver, but he is most dangerous as a returner, where his size (6 feet 1 and 215 pounds) and speed make him a difficult target to tackle.
"He gets free in so many different ways," Ravens assistant head coach and special teams coordinator Jerry Rosburg said. "He can run past guys, make people miss and run over people in the open field. He's just got a lot of skills, and that's why he is what he is."
Trying to limit Cribbs' opportunities might put the onus on kicker Steve Hauschka to send kickoffs into the end zone and punter Sam Koch to force Cribbs - who is tied with Eric Metcalf as the Browns' all-time leader in return touchdowns with seven - toward the sideline.
"You just have to do a great job of containing him and attacking the whole field," Rosburg said. "We've made a big point in our coverage all week long of trying to make sure that he doesn't get out in the open field."
Injury updates
Fabian Washington, who did not practice Wednesday because of a concussion suffered during Sunday's 31-26 victory over the Chargers, was upgraded to full participation Thursday.Although Washington was unavailable for comment, defensive coordinator Greg Mattison expects Washington to play Sunday, saying, "I believe he will be" ready.
Linebacker Jarret Johnson (shoulder) participated in a few individual drills, but he wore black sweat pants and was listed as having officially missed practice for the second straight day.
Johnson was tight-lipped about the injury Thursday during the open locker room period at the team's training facility in Owings Mills. When asked whether the injury would affect his availability for Sunday, Johnson replied, "I don't think so."
Offensive tackle Jared Gaither ( flu) was absent for the second consecutive day, and without Gaither, the first offensive line featured rookie Michael Oher at left tackle and Marshal Yanda at right tackle. But offensive coordinator Cam Cameron said Gaither should be able to play.
"He's preparing," Cameron said. "Even though he's come down with this flu bug or whatever it is, he'll be ready to play."
Defensive tackle Justin Bannan (knee) was limited for a second straight day, while tight end L.J. Smith (pulled left hamstring) and safety Tom Zbikowski practiced fully.
I remember you
Center Matt Birk gets a chance Sunday to reacquaint himself with Cleveland nose tackle Shaun Rogers. Birk and Rogers battled each other on numerous occasions when Birk played for the Minnesota Vikings and Rogers for the Detroit Lions."He's a great player," Birk said. "He combines power and quickness, and that's rare in a big guy like that to be so explosive. That's why he's been a good player for so long in this league. He's just a big, powerful guy. All you can do is get in there and try to battle."
Digg
Twitter
Facebook
StumbleUpon
Kickers get paid a lot of money to make sure returners don't return. Few earn their salary. Kick the ball into the EZ and out-of-bounds and problem solved. If our kickers aren't good enough to do that, get some who are.
ARMYRECON (09/25/2009, 5:33 AM )