Game of the day: Jets at Ravens
By STEVE MERRIL - I'm successful because I stay one step ahead of the books
New York Jets at Baltimore Ravens (-3, 32.5)
Weather and line movement
Weather will not be a factor tonight. The forecast is calling for 71 degrees and clear skies with just a 20 percent chance of showers and a wind of only 4 mph.
The Ravens opened as a 3-point favorite earlier this week and the oddsmakers have been reluctant to move off the key number. The early action has come in on the underdog Jets and the line has now shifted to Baltimore -3 +100 and New York +3 -120. Surprisingly, the moneyline for the straight-up winner has actually risen with Baltimore going from Pick -145 to -155.
The over/under line (32.5) has held steady all week and remains unchanged as of Monday morning.
Sanchez to start
Rookie Mark Sanchez will make his first start tonight for the Jets after a solid showing in his debut last week. Sanchez completed three of four passes for 88 yards versus the Rams last week, including a 48-yard gain on his first play in relief of Kellen Clemens.
New York head coach Rex Ryan commented, "I think he (Sanchez) earned the reps with the [starters]. It might have been done on paper that way in pencil, but he had to earn it. The guy had to earn his reps, and I think he’s done that. Without question, he’s done that."
While the starting quarterback position is still undecided, Sanchez has reportedly looked strong in camp this week and might be named the full-time starter if he performs well tonight, especially against a Baltimore defense that ranked second in the NFL last season in total defense and shutout the Redskins 23-0 last week.
Ryan, who was the Raves defensive coordinator, knows this Baltimore defense well.
"If you do anything against that bunch, you could move it against anybody," Ryan said. "It would count more than moving it against St. Louis. No disrespect to St. Louis, but they ain’t the Ravens and they’re not Pittsburgh."
Injuries
Sanchez and Clemens will not have their full starting offensive line protecting them. Left guard Alan Faneca had surgery on a broken middle finger on his left hand last week and will be out tonight. Offensive tackle Damien Woody is doubtful with a concussion and center Nick Mangold is questionable with a knee injury. None of them played against the Rams last week.
Because of the offensive line injuries, the Jets might limit the playing time of Sanchez and Clemens tonight, which means extra minutes for Erik Ainge. But Ryan has indicated that he would like to determine the starting quarterback position before next Saturday’s dress rehearsal game against the Giants.
Ravens’ gameplan
Baltimore head coach John Harbaugh said the starters will play into the second quarter and perhaps the complete first half tonight versus the Jets. Harbaugh indicated that some starters such as Ray Lewis, Trevor Pryce, and Ed Reed would be on snap count.
“We’ll do it individually like we always do,” Harbaugh said.
Backup quarterback John Beck is out for the season with a shoulder injury, which leaves Troy Smith and Cleo Lemon to follow starter Joe Flacco tonight.
Extra motivation
Don't kid yourself into thinking this preseason game is like any other for the Jets head coach. Ryan told the New York Post last week that he'd love to beat his old team.
"Of course I feel extra about this game," Ryan said. "I'm not going to deny that. And I guarantee you they do, too. I was there for 10 years."
He was just as honest when the Post reporter asked if he wants to prove something to the Ravens.
"The fact that I got passed over for the head coaching job down there, does that mean anything? I think it does."
Ryan was under consideration for Baltimore's head coach after Brian Billick was fired.
"I always thought it was BS; I always thought I was the right man for the job," Ryan said.
By STEVE MERRIL - I'm successful because I stay one step ahead of the books
New York Jets at Baltimore Ravens (-3, 32.5)
Weather and line movement
Weather will not be a factor tonight. The forecast is calling for 71 degrees and clear skies with just a 20 percent chance of showers and a wind of only 4 mph.
The Ravens opened as a 3-point favorite earlier this week and the oddsmakers have been reluctant to move off the key number. The early action has come in on the underdog Jets and the line has now shifted to Baltimore -3 +100 and New York +3 -120. Surprisingly, the moneyline for the straight-up winner has actually risen with Baltimore going from Pick -145 to -155.
The over/under line (32.5) has held steady all week and remains unchanged as of Monday morning.
Sanchez to start
Rookie Mark Sanchez will make his first start tonight for the Jets after a solid showing in his debut last week. Sanchez completed three of four passes for 88 yards versus the Rams last week, including a 48-yard gain on his first play in relief of Kellen Clemens.
New York head coach Rex Ryan commented, "I think he (Sanchez) earned the reps with the [starters]. It might have been done on paper that way in pencil, but he had to earn it. The guy had to earn his reps, and I think he’s done that. Without question, he’s done that."
While the starting quarterback position is still undecided, Sanchez has reportedly looked strong in camp this week and might be named the full-time starter if he performs well tonight, especially against a Baltimore defense that ranked second in the NFL last season in total defense and shutout the Redskins 23-0 last week.
Ryan, who was the Raves defensive coordinator, knows this Baltimore defense well.
"If you do anything against that bunch, you could move it against anybody," Ryan said. "It would count more than moving it against St. Louis. No disrespect to St. Louis, but they ain’t the Ravens and they’re not Pittsburgh."
Injuries
Sanchez and Clemens will not have their full starting offensive line protecting them. Left guard Alan Faneca had surgery on a broken middle finger on his left hand last week and will be out tonight. Offensive tackle Damien Woody is doubtful with a concussion and center Nick Mangold is questionable with a knee injury. None of them played against the Rams last week.
Because of the offensive line injuries, the Jets might limit the playing time of Sanchez and Clemens tonight, which means extra minutes for Erik Ainge. But Ryan has indicated that he would like to determine the starting quarterback position before next Saturday’s dress rehearsal game against the Giants.
Ravens’ gameplan
Baltimore head coach John Harbaugh said the starters will play into the second quarter and perhaps the complete first half tonight versus the Jets. Harbaugh indicated that some starters such as Ray Lewis, Trevor Pryce, and Ed Reed would be on snap count.
“We’ll do it individually like we always do,” Harbaugh said.
Backup quarterback John Beck is out for the season with a shoulder injury, which leaves Troy Smith and Cleo Lemon to follow starter Joe Flacco tonight.
Extra motivation
Don't kid yourself into thinking this preseason game is like any other for the Jets head coach. Ryan told the New York Post last week that he'd love to beat his old team.
"Of course I feel extra about this game," Ryan said. "I'm not going to deny that. And I guarantee you they do, too. I was there for 10 years."
He was just as honest when the Post reporter asked if he wants to prove something to the Ravens.
"The fact that I got passed over for the head coaching job down there, does that mean anything? I think it does."
Ryan was under consideration for Baltimore's head coach after Brian Billick was fired.
"I always thought it was BS; I always thought I was the right man for the job," Ryan said.
