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http://www.sportsline.com/nfl/story/10936462

Ravens QBs unable to create separation after two preseason games
Aug. 17, 2008
CBSSports.com wire reports





BALTIMORE -- Every time Troy Smith or Kyle Boller gets the opportunity to move ahead in the Baltimore Ravens' quarterback competition, he takes one step back.

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Neither player has distinguished himself after two games, and things got particularly ugly Saturday night in a 23-15 preseason loss to the Minnesota Vikings.

Given the chance to start after playing a relief role in the opener against New England, Smith went 3-for-5 for 25 yards and an interception -- a dismal 33.3 quarterback rating. At least he ran for 35 yards and guided the Ravens on their lone scoring drive of the night, although that 73-yard march was really the product of a 42-yard run by rookie Ray Rice.

Entering in the second half, Boller completed eight of 12 passes for a paltry 40 yards and threw an interception. He has three turnovers in two games, helping negate the huge edge in experience he holds over Smith, now in his second season since winning the Heisman Trophy at Ohio State.

About the only thing Smith and Boller have done over the past two weeks is eliminate top draft pick Joe Flacco from the competition.

"As a trio we have so much to learn and so far to go," Smith said. "It's only the second exhibition game. But because of the work we're putting into it, it seems like eight games."

Maybe after eight games, the quarterbacks will have settled into a comfort zone with offensive coordinator Cam Cameron's complex attack. Perhaps by then, the Ravens will have starting running back Willis McGahee back, and the ankle injuries to tackles Jared Gaither and Adam Terry will have healed.

Right now, though, the Ravens are struggling. And the problem begins at quarterback.

"I think they had some good moments and some not so good moments," coach John Harbaugh said. "There were some opportunities to learn in a game like this."

Smith wasn't sharp, but he didn't do anything to hurt the Ravens until late in the second quarter, when his final pass of the night was intercepted by Darren Sharper to set up a field goal that gave the Vikings a 20-7 halftime lead.

"The pick at the end of the half was totally my fault," Smith said. "The inside read was there. I'm not going to say I was getting greedy, I was just trying to give a guy a chance to make a play. I should have gone elsewhere."

Flacco went 10-for-15 for 74 yards over the final two series. It was a vast improvement over his 0-for-3, one-fumble performance against New England.

But he was operating against a prevent defense filled with third-string players. The rookie also had an interception wiped out by a penalty.

"I thought I did a pretty good job and felt more comfortable," Flacco said. "I was a little bit more in the flow of the game tonight. Got out there and got to do a two-minute drill."

His numbers were better than those of Boller and Smith, yet he's out of the running to be the starter in the regular season opener on Sept. 7 against Cincinnati. That pretty much sums up the competition.

AP NEWS
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I'm not liking Ray Rice on the Ravens. I saw too much of him here (being that most of my family are Rutgers alum). I'm affraid he might be the real deal.

I love to read articles like this.

The Ravens will be in the basement of the AFC North this year, and I have a feeling they are going to stay there for awhile.

All good things must come to an end Mr. Oz ... LOL...

Let's hope. I'm not one to make predictions anymore as this is the NFL where anything could happen on any given Sunday...

I remember last year when we had a QB battle in the preseason and DA looked horrible.

You just never know...

Maybe they can get Romeo to toss a coin for them!

Well, I guess in a way it's to be expected that the QB's down there are stuggleing. I mean, new coach, new OC, new Offensive system and basically, two pretty young QB's to go with Boller who wasn't exactly a standout to begin with.

I think it's gotta be natural for them all to struggle some.

Wow. Even I would have separated myself from Kyle Boller by now.

Well the Browns were in a similar situation last year... yet ONE QB turned it around...

One difference though... Anderson had more help offensively with the line, RB, and his WR's/TE's....

This must be the "feel good" article of the week!

I don't feel all that good about it,, as HotB pointed out, last year in camp, none of our QB's seperated themselves either,, and look how that turned out,, But yeah, we did have some much better weapons around DA than Baltimore appears to be able to field.

The real irony in all this is that D.A. came from the Ravens practice squad just 2 years ago. Must feel good to know the answer was in your own back yard and you lost him to a division rival. Sure the Browns have more offensive talent around Anderson, but he's still better than what Baltimore has. Serves them right, that team still owes Cleveland alot more for taking our team.

My sentiments exactly. I have been "silent" when it comes to who will win the division this year, however I am inclined to say that the Browns are the team to beat this season (division champs). With this being said, I do want to share an article that I read that should catch many of you REAL NFL fans attention....This is usually the step when teams are rebuilding and rely on faith outside of league peer pressure and the cries of it's fans. It worked in Tampa didn't it (Rays)...

http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/8456922/Harbaugh's-first-job-was-to-heal-Ravens'-rift

Both Reed and Suggs returned back to practice today along with the other starters who were hurt in camp....

as much as i loathe the ratbirds, i really would take great joy in seeing Troy do well. i'd like to blame his poor performance on lack of protection, but, whatever.