Baltimore Ravens vs. Dallas Cowboys: Position by Position Grades

Running Back

Aug 16, 2014; Arlington, TX, USA; Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice (27) heads into the locker room in the second quarter against the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports

Ray Rice had his best run of the preseason in this game – an 18-yard sprint in the second quarter. He finished the game with 21 yards on just two carries before leaving the game with a shoulder injury. However, his X-rays came back negative and he told reporters not to be nervous.

Bernard Pierce had the longest run out of any Ravens running back so far this preseason. He scrambled for 30 yards on the second play of the second half. He finished the day rushing seven times for 55 yards which comes out to an average of 7.9 yards-per-carry. If he keeps that up, he will be on his way.

Although rookie Lorenzo Taliaferro totaled just a few more rushing yards than Pierce (59) on over twice as many carries (16), he posed the ability to grind out hard-earned yards as he did in week one. I don’t know about you, but I am really excited about what this rookie can accomplish this year. He has been my favorite player of the preseason so far.

Fourth-string running back Justin Forsett carried the ball twice for ten yards, and Tyrod Taylor rushed twice for six yards.

Grade – A-