Coach John Harbaugh met with the media for the his weekly day-after conference, and he confirmed that he would like to keep both Matt Stover and Steven Hauschka active on the team's 45-man roster on gamedays for the remainder of the season.
Stover is the third-most accurate kicker in NFL history and has bounced back from a 1-for-3 start to a 12-for-16 mark this season. But Stover, 40, is just 2-of-6 from beyond 40 yards, and Hauschka, a rookie from North Carolina State, converted a 54-yarder in the Ravens' 41-13 victory over the Houston Texans yesterday.
Harbaugh said the team will try to accentuate Stover's and Hauschka's strengths.
"If it's in Matt's pre-game range, Matt will kick it," Harbaugh said. "If it becomes out of Matt's range, we'll have to make the determination that you always make on a long field goal. Is the risk worth the reward? Is the three points worth the potential field position that we're going to lose if we miss it, and really, what are the chances of making it? It may be within a kicker's range, but [with] long field goals, the chances of making it drop dramatically because the geometry changes. Plus, you've got wind affecting it up top a little more. So it'll just have to be a gut decision."
Other notes:
*Harbaugh said it's unclear whether wide receiver Derrick Mason will be able to play Sunday against the New York Giants due to a dislocated left shoulder. "It's too early to say," Harbaugh said. "I'm hopeful. I would say we expect him to play, you you can't say for sure."
Harbaugh also was noncommittal about offensive tackle Willie Anderson, whose string of five consecutive starts at right tackle is in jeopardy because of an injured left ankle. "He's going to fight like crazy to get back," Harbaugh said. "I know we say that about all of our guys, but there's a chance he will back."
Finally, Harbaugh did not have an update on strong safety Dawan Landry, who has missed the last seven games due to a spinal cord concussion and could be a candidate for injured reserve. "We'll have to wait and see," Harbaugh said.
*Harbaugh said he was pleased that the team has not incurred a personal foul for unsportsmanlike conduct or unnecessary roughness since Oct. 19 when linebacker Antwan Barnes was flagged for taunting against the Miami Dolphins.
"The personal foul penalties have evaporated," Harbaugh said. "Not to say that couldn't come up and happen again at any time, but I think our guys have been stronger in those situations and have not allowed that to happen and have not put themselves in situations to cost the team 15 yards. I'm proud of that, and I think they are, too."
*Harbaugh reiterated that Willis McGahee, Le'Ron McClain and Ray Rice will continue to contribute to the NFL's third-ranked rushing game. "We've got three really good running backs, and they're all going to play," he said. "How we do it is kind of a game plan thing."
