For now, I'll attribute the breakdowns to not having played together in game situations. It's going to be a work in progress. I figured it would take at least 4 games before they started to jell for all 4 quarters. I hope I'm wrong and it's sooner than that but without playing any games in the preseason, it's probably going to be tough sledding for a while.

 

I might be overthinking it, but I wonder how the sudden loss of D'Alessandris has affected the group, both from an emotional and coaching standpoint.

For now, I'll attribute the breakdowns to not having played together in game situations. It's going to be a work in progress. I figured it would take at least 4 games before they started to jell for all 4 quarters. I hope I'm wrong and it's sooner than that but without playing any games in the preseason, it's probably going to be tough sledding for a while.

Remember, game 1 is essentially preseason for non-rookies.

I might be overthinking it, but I wonder how the sudden loss of D'Alessandris has affected the group, both from an emotional and coaching standpoint.

I suppose it's possible but I think it's just a lack a game snaps more than anything.  If the same issues are rearing their ugly heads a month from now, they've got problems to address. 

I suppose it's possible but I think it's just a lack a game snaps more than anything.  If the same issues are rearing their ugly heads a month from now, they've got problems to address. 

Yep definitely need to clean that up. Henry should be getting 20 rushes a game. Can't get to that if the O line is allowing him to get hammered every time he touches the ball. 

Henry was brought in, among much fanfare, to be the missing piece to grind opponents down and keep opposing QBs off the field. He did that (albeit with unexceptional play) on the first drive.

...and then he got 7 more touches in the next 50+ minutes of play.

Either he sucks, or his utilization does, but the Ravens are proving they're not really a running team. They're a Lamar Jackson team that will cheerfully abandon the running game unless it's coming from the QB position. Why get Henry if you're going to use him that way?

I know I know, they were behind. So? Why did they get behind? Why did they stop going to Henry when they were tied? Is a single score deficit so panic-inducing that they can't trust their purported workhorse back to move chains and keep Mahomes off the field?

Whatever. It doesn't make any sense but I guess it doesn't matter either way. New team, new personnel, new coaches, same exact Ravens.

I was just driving home and had 105.7 on.  Listening to Ken Weinman and Jason La Canfora... 

There was your mistake.

Wow, that's kind of lame. At least the way Roquon pulled the jersey.

Yeah, the rule sucks if it is written the Mackus describes it. I believe him, because the NFL has pretty much overreacted to everything. I mean, the new kickoff rule is the most ridiculous thing I have seen in years.

There was your mistake.

I lost track of time and thought it was still Vinnie and Haynie, who I do like.  As soon as I hit the station, they were in mid-rant about the OL. 

I was just driving home and had 105.7 on.  Listening to Ken Weinman and Jason La Canfora, you would have thought the OL was one of the worst in history.  Absolutely trashing it.  La Canfora stopped just short of saying Ronnie Stanley should have retired.  He's that bad.  I haven't seen the recording of the game but was it really that horrible?  You never know with these radio experts. 

Stanley was fine once they stopped calling him for illegal formation out of nowhere.  They moved Chris Jones to the right side to take advantage of the mismatch and Jones absolutely abused whoever we put at RT.  Fa'alele, Rosengarten, and Mekari all looked like hot garbage.

Stanley was fine once they stopped calling him for illegal formation out of nowhere. They moved Chris Jones to the right side to take advantage of the mismatch and Jones absolutely abused whoever we put at RT. Fa'alele, Rosengarten, and Mekari all looked like hot garbage.

The right side in general is going to be a real issue. Vorhees will probably hold up fine beside Stanley and Linderbaum but cover your eyes on the right side.

I think they need to roll with Mekari and Rosengarten on the right. Falele just ain't it. Mekari has generally been fine wherever we've asked him to play - no reason to think he can't settle into RG.

I stopped listening to those two morons completely after Jason's knob job PR sham interviews with John Angelos last year. Got himself a MASN gig out of it. All you need to know about that dude's professional credibility.

DeCosta and company didn't give him enough scoops as NFL Insider and he spends all his energy bashing them instead.

Haynie is the only worthwhile voice on that station. Knowledgeable, honest, and objective.