Baltimore Ravens vs Washington Redskins: Position by Position Grades

Running Back

Aug 23, 2014; Baltimore, MD, USA; Baltimore Ravens running back Bernard Pierce (30) carries the ball as Washington Redskins linebacker Keenan Robinson (52) tackles in the first quarter at M&T Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Amber Searls-USA TODAY Sports

For the first time this preseason, the running game did not look particularly good. Late in the first quarter, there was a bad scare for Ravens fans when Redskins hard-hitting safety Brandon Meriweather hit Bernard Pierce for a loss off five yards. Pierce was evaluated in the locker room, and it was revealed that he may have suffered a concussion. Pierce finished the game rushing four times for -3 yards.

The rookie Lorenzo Taliaferro, who has looked very impressive in the 2014 preseason so far, did not look good against Washington. He carried the ball 11 times for 25 yards (2.3 yards-per-carry), and his longest run of the night was five yards.

Perhaps looking most impressive was fourth-string running back Justin Forsett, who rushed the ball seven times for 30 yards. With both Ray Rice and Bernard Pierce potentially missing the first two weeks, Forsett will see an increased number of snaps.

The other Ravens’ rusher on the night was Tyrod Taylor, who ran five times for 35 yards. His longest run came in the third quarter, when he started off a scoring drive with a 26-yard scramble.

Grade – C-