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As we sit here at the half, the Ravens have a 13-10 lead over the visiting Dolphins.
Here are a few quick-hit notes on the first 30 minutes of play:
- It's been a big day for rookie David Reed. With the Ravens still searching for a spark from their return unit, they went with Reed as their kickoff returner in the first half, marking the first time this year that Reed had been sent back to return kicks. The fifth-round pick averaged 22 yards on his two returns, the first of which he muffed. He also got his first reps on offense, when the Ravens went with a four wide receiver formation.
- Interestingly enough, after Dolphins running back Ronnie Brown ripped the Ravens' defense for 45 rushing yards on Miami's first drive of the game, he only got one carry on their next three possessions. The Dolphins opted to go with more three and four-wide sets and throw the ball around in the second quarter.
- The Ravens have been able to move the ball well between the 20's, but once they've gotten inside the red zone, their offense has hit a brick wall. Baltimore is 0-for-3 in red zone efficiency so far today.
- The tackling has been atrocious so far today, especially on Miami's side. The Dolphins are taking poor angles to the ball and aren't wrapping up in the open field. Ray Rice and Willis McGahee have given the Dolphins fits so far.
- Joe Flacco is spreading the ball around nicely, distributing his eight completions to six different receivers. T.J. Houshmandzadeh has one of those catches, so he might be happy for the next day or so.
- I wrote earlier in the week about Cameron Wake, and suggested that the Ravens pay close attention to the Dolphins' outside linebacker. Whatever amount of attention they're paying him so far needs to get ratcheted up a bit. Wake has two sacks already, giving him 8.5 on the season, and he has been in Flacco's grill all afternoon. I bet we'll see the Ravens' backs chipping Wake and giving tackles Marshal Yanda and Michael Oher a bit of a hand with the second-year linebacker in the second half.
