3122 replies to this topic

[PrimeTime]

With you on the zone coverage issues. Queen doesn't get enough depth on his drops and he doesn't seem to have any feel for a receiver in his area. Bynes just doesn't have the speed anymore but his insticts netted him that interception in zone coverage.

If only we could take Bynes' brain and put it in Queen's body we'd have a hell of a middle linebacker.

I did like Wink's defense for the most part. Certainly, having a pair of corners like Humphrey and Peters lent itself perfectly to that system. I will say there were times where I thought Wink was too aggressive. Especially when injuries hit and we didn't have the horses to play consistent man coverage on the outside, he still would look to bring 6 or 7.

[Biggsy]

With you on the zone coverage issues. Queen doesn't get enough depth on his drops and he doesn't seem to have any feel for a receiver in his area. Bynes just doesn't have the speed anymore but his insticts netted him that interception in zone coverage.

If only we could take Bynes' brain and put it in Queen's body we'd have a hell of a middle linebacker.

I did like Wink's defense for the most part. Certainly, having a pair of corners like Humphrey and Peters lent itself perfectly to that system. I will say there were times where I thought Wink was too aggressive. Especially when injuries hit and we didn't have the horses to play consistent man coverage on the outside, he still would look to bring 6 or 7.

Wink's issues were that be was too predictable, and he left the middle of the field wide open. Teams figured out what his blitz tendencies were, and just threw behind the blitz.

[hallas]

That's a multi-faceted discussion. If Hamilton is replacing Queen, he IS the ILB. Obviously the responsibilities are different. A safety, especially in a deep half, deep quarter or a deep third, is keeping everything in front of him. An ILB, depending on the zone responsibility of the defensive call, has to get enough depth to cover the gap between himself and the safeties, but also close enough to the LOS to cover a late leak from a TE or RB that initially stays in to block.

Personally, I hate zone coverage. Especially if you have a team that doesn't have a good pass rushing front 4. The longer a QB has, the more the gaps get stretched.

I love systems like Belichick's and Wink's. Blitz heavy with press man. If you have the CB's to do it, their isn't a better system IMO. Belichick has proven it for 2 decades now. Whenever he's had good press CB's, he has top defenses.

But in a system like Macdonald's, one where he seemingly leans on predominantly zone coverages. The ILB is one of the most important players to the scheme. I would argue that the ILB has the hardest coverage responsibilities in a zone scheme. It's more than just athleticism. You have to be a student of the game. You have to know what the other team likes to do, and what their tendencies are. You have to have a high football IQ, and good instincts. Queen has none of those things. I'm not sure Hamilton is the answer. But Hamilton can work through traffic, he has good instincts. He has a high football IQ. And he has good enough coverage skills. He got beat twice in Miami, once because he bit on a deep crosser where Waddle was running wide open in the middle of the field, and left the deep middle open for Hill. And the other was clearly a miscommunication. He hasn't been outright, consistently beaten to this point.

But I think all of this is a pipe dream. I feel like it's similar to the suggestion last season of giving Duvernay some snaps at RB, ala Deebo in SF. It's a great idea to at least try, but the Ravens will never do it.

I think Hamilton will end up being a line-up-everywhere safety like Mathieu or James. As it is he lines up in the box or on the line about 25% of his defensive snaps.

I don't understand why the Ravens are absolutely hell bent on keeping Queen on the field. He's in the 3rd year of his rookie deal and sometimes your picks just don't work out. He's a late first rounder, not some blue chip cant-miss prospect. Queen's had far more egregious days at the office than Hamilton vs Miami, yet it's Hamilton who gets snaps punitively taken away, while it took a year and a half for the Ravens to reduce Queen's snaps. Queen should have had his snap count reduced after the KC game last year when he let CEH (I think) truck him and got beat on like 9 passes in the flat in his coverage area.

[Biggsy]

I think Hamilton will end up being a line-up-everywhere safety like Mathieu or James. As it is he lines up in the box or on the line about 25% of his defensive snaps.

I don't understand why the Ravens are absolutely hell bent on keeping Queen on the field. He's in the 3rd year of his rookie deal and sometimes your picks just don't work out. He's a late first rounder, not some blue chip cant-miss prospect. Queen's had far more egregious days at the office than Hamilton vs Miami, yet it's Hamilton who gets snaps punitively taken away, while it took a year and a half for the Ravens to reduce Queen's snaps. Queen should have had his snap count reduced after the KC game last year when he let CEH (I think) truck him and got beat on like 9 passes in the flat in his coverage area.

I honestly don't think Hamiltons snaps were reduced because of the mistakes. I think it was because of the defensive packages we were using against NE.

Although, everyone knows Harbaughs disdain for rookies. So it's possible he was in the doghouse.

[hallas]

I honestly don't think Hamiltons snaps were reduced because of the mistakes. I think it was because of the defensive packages we were using against NE.

Although, everyone knows Harbaughs disdain for rookies. So it's possible he was in the doghouse.

I don't understand how Harbaugh/MacDonald can watch a gimpy Stephens and JAD do a turnstile impression on every play and keep Hamilton on the sideline. JAD and Pepe are rookies too and they outsnapped Hamilton.

They let Queen play through every mistake imaginable as a rookie too.

[jamesdean]

I don't understand how Harbaugh/MacDonald can watch a gimpy Stephens and JAD do a turnstile impression on every play and keep Hamilton on the sideline. JAD and Pepe are rookies too and they outsnapped Hamilton.

They let Queen play through every mistake imaginable as a rookie too.

What's going on with Ben Cleveland?  They keep writing about all these OL mixes and matches and his name is never mentioned.  I guess he's officially in Shawshank. 

[TwentyThirtyFive]

What's going on with Ben Cleveland? They keep writing about all these OL mixes and matches and his name is never mentioned. I guess he's officially in Shawshank.

Powers is a really good pass blocker. Apparently.

[makoman]

What's going on with Ben Cleveland? They keep writing about all these OL mixes and matches and his name is never mentioned. I guess he's officially in Shawshank.

My understanding is Powers has been a good pass blocker and bad run blocker. They might be fine with that at the moment, having one phase be adequate, with LT being such an unknown. Cleveland would probably be the opposite and I’d think had more upside but would add uncertainty.

[PrimeTime]

Wink's issues were that be was too predictable, and he left the middle of the field wide open. Teams figured out what his blitz tendencies were, and just threw behind the blitz.

It also didn't help when, despite the blitz pressure, we didn't even sniff the QB. Thus leaving the secondary vulnerable.

[Biggsy]

It also didn't help when, despite the blitz pressure, we didn't even sniff the QB. Thus leaving the secondary vulnerable.

That was part of the problem with him being predictable. After a while, teams knew who was coming, and where they were coming from. Wink never evolved.

[Mike B]

Stanley listed as questionable.

[PrimeTime]

Stanley listed as questionable.

I think he's active tomorrow.

[Mike B]

I think he's active tomorrow.

They brought Sharpe up from the PS so I am not sure.

[Mike B]

Kevon Seymour is back off the IR and is signed to the 53.

[Mike B]

JPP says he is playing tomorrow.

[Bmore Irish]

They brought Sharpe up from the PS so I am not sure.

Let's hope that has more to do with Mekari's availability than Stanley's.

[jamesdean]

With the wet conditions, I doubt Stanley plays.  I know at some point he has to test the ankle in less than ideal weather but I just don't think it's this week.  I hope I'm wrong. 

[Mike in STL]

With the wet conditions, I doubt Stanley plays.  I know at some point he has to test the ankle in less than ideal weather but I just don't think it's this week.  I hope I'm wrong. 

Harbaugh said that won't be a factor, but who knows if thats just coach speak.

[makoman]

Harbaugh said Bowser and Gus could return to practice this week. Both would be extremely helpful.

[TwentyThirtyFive]

Something seriously up with Stanley. I cant be the only one who doesnt expect him to suit up or look anything like his old self if he does return. Really hope Im wrong. If he is just an avg LT thats huge