Aug 7, 2014; Baltimore, MD, USA; San Francisco 49ers tight end Vance McDonald (89) gets tackled by Baltimore Ravens cornerback Chykie Brown (23) in the first quarter at M&T Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Evan Habeeb-USA TODAY Sports
While Thursday night’s performance against the 49ers was pretty excellent overall, there is always room for improvement. The Ravens first live action under the lights against an opposing team exposed some players who aren’t living up to expectations. Some of them we have known about through minicamp and training camp, and their names come as no surprise. Others may have simply had a bad game, which happens even to the best of them.
A couple of these guys may be on the fringe of losing a roster spot or starting job. While it’s important to remember that it’s really early in the season, some players don’t have the benefit of being a high roster pick or being on scholarship with a coaching staff. Eventually, poor play will lead to the unemployment line. After all, this is the NFL, not some 9-5 job at a cushy company that your father runs. Here are 3 Ravens players who need to step up, or they may face that harsh reality sooner rather than later.