Mike Preston's report after the Ravens' 24-23 defeat against the Saints



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Strategist: Joe Flacco seemed to improve as the game progressed. He has always found receivers in the middle, showing patience and waiting for the pieces to develop. There were times when Flacco could have tucked in the ball and run to throw it instead of just throwing the ball out of his pocket. Flacco would get fewer passes at the line of scrimmage if it went back into the pocket or stepped aside to avoid rushing. His receivers have lost a lot of passes. Grade: A-

Running backs: Ravens do not have a star back, but they have enough strong players to make the ground game more effective. The problem is that the Ravens can score points for a 9 or 10 yard run, but then have several consecutive attempts for which they do not win any. Alex Collins runs hard and tries hard, but he kills too much, No. 3 running back Gus Edwards is the downhill runner that the Ravens prefer, but he's not going to break long runs. This is a medium group at best. Grade: C

Offensive line: It was a motley crew because the Ravens had not left guard Alex Lewis and right tackle James Hurst. Right tackle Orlando Brown Jr., a rookie, had a solid match for the run-off, but struggled to protect his passes. The Ravens tried to help him with different sledge protections and let Flacco drop the ball earlier. Reinforcement Bradley Bozeman, also a rookie, had a decent performance and played as well as Lewis this season. Grade: C +

Receivers: Flacco worked in the middle of the field with John Brown and Willie Snead IV, and the Ravens also had a strong outdoor match from Michael Crabtree. Brown had a 56-yard reception at the end of the first half to help put in a touchdown and also grabbed a touchdown pass at the last minute. The Ravens also used their receivers well in sweeping jets, which became big winners in the running. Mark Andrews started the season in slow motion, but has become a formidable weapon for Flacco in the last two games. But in times of crisis, the Ravens have lost too many passes. It can not happen. Grade: C

Defensive line: The Ravens were sometimes dominant at the front and got good penetration when the Saints were forced to run after the ball when they did not have the wind behind them. Brandon Williams and Michael Pierce were penetrated, as were Chris Wormley and Brent Urban. The problems occurred when the saints opened the offense, especially towards the end of the third and fourth quarters. The Ravens have not been under a lot of pressure on quarterback Drew Brees. Grade: C +

linebacker: Terrell Suggs did not stop growing and had an outstanding match. The Ravens also suffered some pressure from Za'Darius Smith. Second-year linebacker Tim Williams, a designated forward, played some games in defense of the race. Linebacker C.J. Mosley made several big tackles that ended what could have been a big win for the Saints. Grade: B +

Secondary: There was speculation that the Ravens could manage without starting cornerback Marlon Humphrey, but the Saints attacked Jimmy Smith several times, and he wounded the Ravens. Brees relentlessly attacked the Ravens and did not retreat, even when the Saints took the lead in the fourth quarter. Grade: C +

Special teams: Justin Tucker scored a shot on goal and Sam Koch played his usual reliable game. The Ravens won the field match as far as possible, but they needed a big game on a deflated or kicked return and did not get one. Tucker missed the extra points attempt that could have equaled the mark. It was heartbreaking. Grade: C

Framing: In the past, when the Ravens played a good game, they rebounded with a failure, but they were tough, competitive and ready to face the Saints. Offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg had two bad decisions, but allowed the Saints to lose their balance using a good mix of passes and passes. Don "Wink" Martindale had the same success in defense and he kept up the pressure on Brees, but there were times when the Ravens just did not play. Despite the loss of two starters on the offensive line and half a corner leaving due to an injury, the Ravens played well. Grade: B +

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