Ravens’ Janarion Grant will have a golden opportunity against the Rams

Ravens’ Janarion Grant will have a golden opportunity against the Rams Heading into training camp http://www.ravenscheapshops.com/cheap-authentic-tavon-young-jersey , the Baltimore Ravens knew one of the most contested battles would be at returner as Michael Campanaro signed with the Tennessee Titans in the offseason. Campanaro was a dynamic returner, but his biggest weakness was his durability. Throughout his entire career in Baltimore, he struggled to stay on the field up until last season. During training camp last year, undrafted free agent Tim White exploded onto the scene. He was giving Campanaro a run for his money, but he suffered a season-ending thumb injury, which led to Camanaro safely securing the team’s starting returner job.With Campanaro gone, White was considered the favorite to win the job this season, but undrafted free agent Janarion Grant has shocked the masses with his return abilities this year. The Ravens will host the Los Angeles Rams in Week one of the preseason on Thursday night. Unlike the Hall of Fame Game, the bubble players will get fewer chances against the Rams as some of Baltimore’s starters will play close to a quarter. However, Grant will get a golden opportunity to make a statement on Thursday night. With White likely sitting out, Grant will get an extended look as a returner. Thus far, the returner competition has been a tightly contested battle between White and Grant. Although White is winning as of right now, the tide could change after this game. Grant was a well-accomplished returner at Rutgers, but he failed to make much of an impact as a receiver. In college, he recorded eight total return touchdowns, while he only posted 99 receptions for 1,062 yards and two touchdowns in 46 career games. Grant also added 344 rushing yards for four touchdowns as well.During training camp, he has displayed how agile and elusive of a returner he can be. With Tim White missing the entire week of practice, Grant’s reps as a returner have increased. The only memorable negative play he had this week was when he taunted a Rams player after a successful return. In the Hall of Fame Game, Grant only returned two kickoffs for 25 yards, while he also returned one punt for a negative yard. He made a critical mistake on that punt return, in which he attempted to cut back and switch fields. The Ravens have a 14-year streak of an undrafted free agent making the roster http://www.ravensfootballauthentics.com/sam-koch-jersey-authentic , and many are questioning if that streak will be snapped this season due to Baltimore’s depth along the roster. However, Grant could be the player to keep the streak alive. With most of the attention on early-round busts like Kamalei Correa, Breshad Perriman and Bronson Kaufusi, Grant could quietly steal the show and start his climb to the 53-man roster. John Harbaugh has seen Joe Flacco play in more than 170 games for the Ravens, including 15 in the postseason with an MVP effort in the Super Bowl.Though Baltimore's coach is hard-pressed to remember them all, Harbaugh ranks Flacco's performance against Denver on Sunday among the best.Flacco went 25 for 40 for 277 yards with one touchdown and no interceptions in Baltimore's 27-14 victory . He's put up better numbers during his 11-year career, but this outing stood out because of the fashion in which Flacco zipped the ball short, long and in between."He's had a lot of good throwing days, right? But definitely ... it's in the top category," Harbaugh said Monday. "That's what you'd like to see Joe do. I just think it's a combination of a lot of things, including confidence in the guys that he's throwing to."Harbaugh became Baltimore's head coach in 2008, the same year Flacco entered the NFL. The pair has gone through a lot together, most recently three straight seasons without a playoff appearance.The Ravens (2-1) hope an improved offense will turn things around.It's been a long time since Flacco has had so many capable receivers to choose from. Offseason acquisitions Willie Snead, Michael Crabtree and John Brown have been excellent, and Mark Andrews got into the mix Sunday with 59 yards receiving, a Ravens record for a rookie tight end."I'm really pleased with all those guys. They're playing really well and they've made big plays," Harbaugh said.With Flacco leading the way, the Ravens went 8 for 16 on third down against a team that stopped 17 of 22 attempts in its first two games."All the receivers have a good chemistry with Joe," Brown said. "It's all about trust, starting with practice and talking with him to see if we're seeing the same thing. That plays a big part of it."The Ravens have long been known for their defense, and that unit has played well. But, at least for now http://www.ravensfootballauthentics.com/james-hurst-jersey-authentic , the offense is doing its part, too.After Denver bolted to a 7-0 lead, Baltimore went the distance on a soothing touchdown drive."That was the tone setter for us as a team, to have them answer for us and really get us back to even," safety Eric Weddle said. "And, once we settled down, shoot, defense played lights out."As did the offense 鈥?again. The Ravens are averaging 32 points per game, and Flacco has completed 82 of 129 passes for 889 yards and six TDs with just two interceptions.Most impressive of all is Baltimore's performance in the red zone: 12 trips, 12 touchdowns, including 3 for 3 against Denver."We've had a good mix. I think we've probably thrown the ball in six times and run the ball in six times," Flacco said. "If you can do both of those things, especially when you get down tight inside the 5-yard line, that helps a lot. We've got good playmakers, and we put a lot of pressure on the defense with the guys that we have out there."Give credit to the receivers, along with the running back tandem of Alex Collins and Javorius Allen, but Harbaugh knows the real reason why Baltimore has been unstoppable inside the 20."It probably starts with Joe," Harbaugh said. "I think Joe has done a great job making plays, making throws, trusting his guys and also extending some plays. That's been big."The Ravens escaped the Denver game without any serious injuries, and Harbaugh hopes middle linebacker C.J. Mosley (knee) can return for an AFC North showdown Sunday night with the Pittsburgh Steelers.