Sam Koch News

Ravens kicker Steve Hauschka knows his NFL job is hanging by a thread after he missed two crucial kicks during the past three weeks, including a potential game-winner Oct.

On who the backup long snapper is if Matt Katula can't go on Sunday: "You looked at the depth chart and couldn't find one? Well, that's curious." On if he would consider the special teams play in the Broncos game the best overall since he's coached the Ravens: "I don't know.

Summers were anything but vacations for Haloti Ngata . Before he became a burly 6-foot-4, 345-pound defensive tackle for the Ravens who would emerge as one of the top run-stuffers in the NFL , Ngata was a teenager at the mercy of his father, Solomone, who owned a construction business.

The Ravens could be the Tennessee Titans or the Washington Redskins . But in retrospect after six games, the Ravens are right near reasonable projections unless you're drinking the purple Kool-Aid. The Cincinnati Bengals game at home got away from them, and it's an uphill climb to get to the postseason, but what did you expect playing the San Diego ...

Think the Ravens are going to give up on Steve Hauschka after missing one kick? Not going to happen.

When Steve Hauschka 's game-winning field goal attempt flew wide yesterday at the Metrodome, the Ravens had to settle for moral victories.

As drama goes, it will be hard for the Patriots and the Ravens to top their last meeting, on Dec.

Sam Koch led the NFL with 18 punts inside the 10 a year ago. In three games this season, the Ravens punter already has placed three kicks inside the 5, thanks to heads-up play by Lardarius Webb, Kelley Washington, Demetrius Williams and former Raven Prescott Burgess.

Lost in the poor quarterback play and the question of who should start this Sunday for the Cleveland Browns, is how ineffective the defense has been since the first half of the season opener against Minnesota.

As much as the Ravens played exceptionally on offense and defense in their 38-24 win over the Kansas City Chiefs, their special teams performance may have been the exception.

Football players are people, too, and several Ravens were stunned after learning that the front lawn of a home belonging to Buffalo Bills cornerback Leodis McKelvin was vandalized after the Billsa season-opening loss to the New England Patriots on Monday night.

Joe Flacco kept hustling to the line of scrimmage, sizing up the Kansas City Chiefs' defense before launching another spiral downfield.

When was the last time the Ravens had a punt blocked? When Sam Koch's punt was blocked midway through the second quarter against the Chiefs, leading to a recovery in the end zone and a Kansas City touchdown, it was the first time the Ravens had had a punt blocked since Nov.

Jon McGraw just didnt want the ball to bounce out of the end zone. He wanted a touchdown, and goodness knows, the Chiefs needed it.

One after another, the punts shanked to the right sideline where Thomas Jones caught a few wayward wobblers and some of his Jets teammates playfully wrapped him up.

This Aug. 4, 2009 file photo shows Baltimore Ravens kicker Steve Hauschka during the NFL football team's training camp, in Westminster, Md.

Multiple reports have said that Ravens receiver Marcus Smith will be placed on Injured Reserve with a torn anterior cruciate ligament that he suffered in Thursday nighta s preseason-opening win over the Washington Redskins.

The battle for the Ravens' next kicker is far, far, far from over, but kicker Graham Gano took advantage of a scheduled rest for Steve Hauschka on Monday morning.

Donta, Glen Burnie: Is it time to bench Jamal Lewis ? It seems like no matter who's behind him , everyone seems to do a little better running the ball.

The first kicking battle in Ravens' history won't be settled anytime soon. As much as Steve Hauschka and Graham Gano are competing against each other, they are also still learning how to be a kicker in this league.