The Ravens are set to take on the St. Louis Rams this weekend at the Edward Jones Dome. BR.com takes a look at three key matchups heading into the third preseason game.
Ravens RT Adam Terry vs. Rams LDE Leonard Little
Little, who is currently ninth among active NFL players in career sacks (75.0), seems to be recovering nicely from a surgically repaired toe that landed him on Injured Reserve in 2007. In St. Louis' game last week, Little recorded a sack on his first series, taking down San Diego Chargers quarterback Billy Volek on third-and-goal at the Rams' 2. Then, he nearly notched a second one on his next series. Terry is battling through a sprained ankle that limited him throughout the majority of training camp. He finally rejoined the team this week and is expected to see his first preseason action against the sack-master.
Ravens LBs Bart Scott and Ray Lewis vs. Rams RB Antonio Pittman
The second-year running back out of Ohio State will start in place of Steven Jackson, who will not play after ending a 27-day holdout this week. Pittman has seen success in Jackson's role, rushing for 85 yards on 15 carries – a 5.9-yard average. When Pittman is running with the first team, Scott and Lewis will be the ones chasing him down. The linebacking duo combined for a whopping 225 tackles last season, and both are 100 percent healthy entering the 2008 campaign. Lewis may come out earlier than Scott, however, with Nick Greisen subbing in at middle linebacker.
Ravens OLB Terrell Suggs vs. Rams LT Orlando Pace
Pace is known as one of the more dominant left tackles in the game when healthy, but he's been banged up lately. In 2007, he played in only one game before suffering a torn rotator cuff and labrum in his right shoulder that shelved him for the season. Now, Pace claims he suffered a setback last week against the Chargers "making a tackle on an interception." If Pace can't go, look for backup Adam Goldberg to step in and face Suggs. "Sizzle" finally returned to practice Monday after holding out all of training camp and immediately brought energy to the Ravens' pass rush. Suggs has been hungry to get on the field, and he'll bring that enthusiasm on whoever is protecting Rams quarterback Marc Bulger's blind side.
