Play in the 4th preseason game is inversely proportional to a player’s chance to make the roster and particularly the 45. 

As in years past, I have graded the players from +3 to -3 to gauge how I expect their respective performances on Thursday to impact the 2011 Ravens. The second number you see is their cumulative total for the preseason.  I didn’t waste time rating starters, players who have no place on the team, or anyone for whom I don’t think I have any data for a judgment.  The players here are new to the team, rookies, on the cusp of making the team, have new responsibilities in 2011, in positional battles, or have other questions for this season.

Allen (0/+1):  After a step forward as a pass blocker in the third preseason game, I think he didn’t look nearly as good vs. the Falcons.  His pass-blocking highlights were his cut block on Edwards (Q1, 11:08) and stunt pickup of Nicholas (Q1, 4:39).  On the other side of the ledger, he failed to pick up Adkins on his QH (Q2, 12:26), and may have had responsibility to pick up either Peterson (Q2, 5:07) or Jerry (Q2, 1:10), each of whom knocked down Cantwell.  He made the most of his 1 carry, steamrolling Moore for a gain of 11 (Q1, 10:34).  On 2 separate occasions (Q1, 4:04 and Q2, 9:47) he caught a screen pass, but was unable to beat a single defender for a big gain.  He remains a hell of a physical specimen and he can work to make himself a good pass blocker.

Boren (-1/0):  He took a step backwards, including a contribution to the QH that would lead to Taylor’s departure (Q1, 4:39) when he was beaten inside by Biermann.  His run blocks were also a mixed bag with his highlight from my notes a level 2 block on Nicholas (Q1, 5:14).  I can’t quite tell if he was trying to pull (Q1, 3:21) when he gave significant ground through the backfield on Parmele’s run for no gain.

Brown (+1/+1):  He displayed exactly the ball skills Gorrer did not.  I suspect he has made the team.

Foxworth (0/-3):  He played briefly and was not picked on.  Those are steps forward.  He can’t realistically be traded, but he might still be either restructured or released.

Gooden (0/-1):  I’ve barely noticed him on the field this preseason.  I don’t think he’ll make the team, but I’ve certainly been wrong before.

Hall (+1/+1):  His results versus the run were mixed.  He was pancaked on Rodgers run up the middle for 9 (Q2, 4:18), but his presence in the backfield allowed Phillips to take down Johnson for no gain on his run left (Q3, 7:46).  As a pass rusher, he played a part in Bynes untouched sack by drawing the attention of Svitek while Phillips took the inside shoulder of Johnson, leaving an enormous opening that Josh raced through for his 2nd sack (Q3, 2:36).  He also swam by Johnson for a QH (Q4, 2:51).  I think someone is going to want this guy enough to make their 53, but I don’t know if that’s the Ravens. 

Harewood (-2/-2):  He made some decent run blocks on Thursday night (Q1, 3:21, for example), but he had a very difficult night as a pass blocker.  He was beaten outside for a sack by Biermann (Q1, 11:08) and surrendered a QH to Biermann on Taylor’s interception (Q1, 9:52).  He’s not a viable backup LT option for 2011.

Jones, Arthur (0/+2):  Jones beat Jackson outside for a pressure (Q2, 14:11), which is the only note I made regarding his play.

Kindle (0/+1):  He had some snaps Thursday, but did not make my notes.  I saw he was set up to rush the punter from the outside left.

Kruger (+1/+5):  Despite the highlight-reel miss in space, Kruger turned in another fine performance.  He beat Blalock inside for a sack/fumble (Q1, 12:33), Used his motor to beat Svitek outside for a slow-developing QH (Q1, 7:50), and should have shared another sack with McPhee (Q1, 6:28) when he beat Baker inside (the sack was miscredited to Pollard who simply piled on).  I’m very excited to see the combination of inside and outside pass rush moves.  He was a close 2nd to McPhee for the team’s preseason MVP.

Levoir (0/0):  DNP.  He’ll make the team and I’d have to guess he’ll be the first backup at LT if McKinnie is hurt at any point, particularly if Oher is successful on the right side.

Mattison (0/0):  He continued to pile up snaps Thursday.  He had a level 2 pancake on Parmele’s run up the middle (Q2, 13:06) and executed 2 blocks on another 7-yard run by Parmele (Q2, 2:30).  He didn’t have any significant pass-blocking mistakes that I noted, but he was blown up by Jerry (Q2, 2:00) on Parmele’s 1-yard run.

McAdoo (+1/+1):  It was good to see him on the field and creating some pressure.  He beat Valdez outside for a QH, (Q4, 11:47) and had the late sack/FF recovered by Phillips (Q4, 2:36) that led to the Ravens’ final score.  By having a +1 for McAdoo I’m indicating there is at least some chance I think he’ll help the 2011 Ravens.  A contribution I might envision would be a late-season activation in the wake of injuries where he takes an Edgar Jones role as a special teamer that can also provide some situational pressure.

McPhee (+1/+6):  Astoundingly, he had his 3rd sack/fumble of the preseason reversed by challenge (Q2, 14:06), but it was not his only highlight.  He blew up Rodgers’ run right for a gain of just 1 by standing up Svitek (Q1, 9:45), worked off Svitek to tackle Rodgers for a gain of just 2 (Q1, 7:10), beat center Hawley to his right for what should have been half an A-gap sack (Q1, 6:28, mis-credited to Pollard), took down Snelling for a gain of 2 after negotiating blocks from Svitek and Kelly (Q1, 1:37), beat Reynolds outside for a pressure (Q1, 0:52), beat Jackson outside for a pressure (Q2, 14:11), and maintained decent containment on Wilson with Burgess on the rollout left (Q2, 7:10).  The only time I noted him truly blown off the ball (Q1, 2:14) came on Snelling’s 7-yard run right.  He was the team’s best player this preseason and I can’t recall another series of exhibition games this dominating by any Raven.

Reid (-1/-2):  Reid had a little better night in pass protection than Harewood, but he was beaten outside by Edwards for part of the QH that would sideline Taylor (Q1, 4:39).  It will be interesting to see who the Ravens will decide is the better prospect going forward, but Reid has the edge with 1 less year in the league.  Either could help with jumbo formations and perhaps blocking on FG/XP, but I don’t see a use for either on special teams otherwise. 

Silva (0/0):  Zbikowski got the start with Pollard.  While Silva will face a significant amount of film-room abuse for being pancaked by Redman (Q2, 14:43), I don’t think it impacted his status.  He’ll likely be offered a slot on the practice squad. 

Smith, Jimmy (0/0):  We saw some of Smith’s physical style on Thursday.  He hammered Weems on a 3-yard pass to keep him short of a first down (Q2, 6:04), and made 3 successive run tackles of Smith (including a horse collar tackle) on Atlanta’s 97-yard scoring drive in the third quarter.  His coverage highlight was his PD that became an interception by Phillips (Q2, 3:46). 

Smith, Torrey (0/-3):  Smith caught 2 of the 3 balls thrown to him, but the catches were a WR screen and a 9-yard slant.  The incomplete was a PD on another WR screen.  He’s not getting the deep opportunities for which he was drafted. 

Taylor (-2/0):  This was a serious injury for the Ravens.  I can’t recall seeing anyone come back in a sling who had a simple bruise.  If it was a precautionary move and the sling was a ruse, I tip my cap to the Ravens’ brass.  In a world were bruise means sprain means separation, I would guess the coaches won’t say anything at all about the injury and he’ll be ready when he’s ready.  Given that it is his non-throwing shoulder, we can hope there are no long-term implications.

Webb (0/+1):  He didn’t have a long night, but he had good coverage on Julio Jones and drew an offensive pass interference penalty from the Falcons’ number one pick.

Williams, LaQuan (0/+3):  Another long punt return was offset by the failure to make a fair catch.  He made his first special teams tackle.

My final 53 projection:

I’ve labeled the players I expect to be most frequently inactive with an *.  There are 12 among the 53.  For the non-starters, I’ve also made a guess as to how those players might be used.

QB (3):  Flacco, Acquired Vet (pocket passer, clipboard), Taylor* (slash/wildcat packages).  Taylor will be inactive early due to injury and for other weeks where the slash packages aren’t thought to be critical.

RB (4):  Rice, Williams (relief/wildcat), Allen* (relief and short yardage).  Parmele is cut in a move for youth.  Berry may get a PS invite.

FB (1):  Leach

WR (6):  Boldin, Evans, T. Smith, Doss*, Reed (kick returns, gunner/jammer), L Williams* (punt returns, punt/kick coverage).  Torrey Smith is a player that might see significant inactivity (yet not be cut) should he be ineffective.  Having 6 receivers who can all contribute offensively is a big advantage to wear down a defense when coming from behind.  Marcus Smith is cut in a move that has more to do with the developmental opportunity for L Williams than cap. Smith could receive a one week reprieve due to Reed's one week suspension.

TE (3):  Dickson, Pitta, Wilson*.  Dickson is the only speed threat and after the Redskins game, dare I say he is also the best blocker of the group?

OL (9):  McKinnie, Grubbs, Birk, Yanda, Oher, Levoir (primary LT backup), Mattison* (alternate C starter, inside backup), Boren* (primary guard backup), Reid* (jumbo formations, developmental).  This leaves Harewood either cut or on IR.  He is also eligible for the PS and might be safe now.

DL (6):  Ngata, Cody, Jones, McPhee, McKinney, Redding.  These are all players that would be active and get rotational time.  There isn’t room on the 53 for a frequently-inactive DL like Divens or Hall.  Hall will be sent to the PS and probably signed from there.  If the coaches love Hall, they’ll cut either Redding for cap purposes or an OL (perhaps Boren to the PS) to make room.  Having 6 DL when you plan to have all 6 active is dangerous, since all active DLs get snaps in a typical game. 

CB (6):  J. Smith, C Williams, Webb (nickel), Carr, Foxworth* (backup), Brown* (backup).  The situation at corner is now the team’s biggest mystery.  The range of possibilities include everything from a healthy return of Carr and Foxworth, either of who may start to an outright release of Foxworth with Carr reduced to special teams and a backup role only at CB.  Brown is probably the last of the 53 and I thought the Ravens would include him simply because there are too many injury concerns and special teams needs to stick with 5.

S (4):  Reed, Pollard, Nakamura (dime), Zibby (quarter and special teams).  The selections are easy, but it’s possible Pagano will be creative and remove Pollard in some passing situations.  I also think we could see a lot of 7 DB alignments given Pagano’s origins and the way he seems to like to blitz the secondary.

Specialists (3):  Koch, Cundiff, Cox (or another healthy LS)