Baltimore Ravens vs. 49ers: Position-by-Position Grades

Aug 7, 2014; Baltimore, MD, USA; Baltimore Ravens running back Lorenzo Taliaferro (34) runs with the ball in the third quarter against the San Francisco 49ers at M&T Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Evan Habeeb-USA TODAY Sports

Running Back

This position is the one that got Ravens fans most hyped-up about the preseason opener. After a terrible showing on the ground in 2013 in which the team ranked 31st in rushing, the ground game demonstrated several signs of improvement Thursday night.

Ray Rice showed that he has erased all of his off-field issues and has gotten his quickness back. He rushed three times – one going for five yards and the other two going for six. He re-gained the cut-back move that made him so great in the first five years of his career, which Ravens fans are exuberant to see.

Rookie Lorenzo Taliaferro looked fantastic out there, using his big 6-foot, 226-pound body to pile up 71 yards on 13 carries (5.5 yards-per-carry).

Third-year back Bernard Pierce didn’t look as impressive, but still rushed ten times for 37 yards and had the only rushing touchdown of the game.

Newly-acquired Justin Forsett also had some nice runs, totaling seven rushes for 29 yards.

Grade – A