1812 replies to this topic

[hallas]

Mitchell back this soon is absolutely wild to me. Super curious to see how he looks.

I honestly thought no shot this week.

But now I'm wondering. He's like more than a month early at this point.

[BaltBird 24]

Guess we'll see how much speed and explosion he has in the tank out the gate. Took Dobbins a while even once he returned to get it back.

[cprenegade]

Mitchell and Diante could make an already potent offense even better. Big play threats all over the field. And Diante eats up single man coverage. Guess EDC figures F it, if we score a TD every possession, defense only needs to get lucky once.

 

If so, that's a hail mary pass in itself.  How many times has a team been able to outscore a team with a good defense when it counts?  San Diego with AIr Coryell in the 80's couldn't do it.  Jim Kelly's K-gun got stuffed in 4 superbowls.  Although they did also have a good defense.  The greatest show on turf got collared by New England.  When it comes playoff time usually those teams that score on every possession don't fare well.  The Ravens in 2019 might be a good example as well.  

 

If the defense isn't fixed by January, it's unlikely the offense will be able to overcome that weakness.  

[Mackus]

If the defense isn't fixed by January, it's unlikely the offense will be able to overcome that weakness.

It's always unlikely that any team wins with a really bad unit. Think everyone agrees that the defense can't be playing like a bottom 5 defense in the postseason.

As awful as last Sunday was, I remain optimistic that the defense will be solid eventually. I think it was trending up, and while I don't think the injuries can excuse what happened, missing two corners going into the game and two interior lineman going down in the first quarter is a big loss. I'm worried that eventually will be longer than I want it to take, but I still think there is too much talent on the roster to not be at least decent eventually.

[TwentyThirtyFive]

Long way to go but only 2 men have finished a season with a passer rating of 120+. Rodgers twice and Peyton once. Lamar is currently at 120.7

[Ravens2006]

Until proven otherwise, or they just manage to make it a moot point in a playoff game by dominating start to finish... I think no matter how many explosive pieces they line up... if they get in to a pass 75-80% of the snaps mode... that O line will have to hold up against an opponent that knows the pass is coming.  THAT, to me, is where things go south.  Lamar is awesome.  The offense is rolling.  But it can fall apart quickly with a couple sacks, a fumble, a rushed throw in to traffic, whatever.  Things that are more likely to happen as soon as the backfield is empty for several plays in a row and the opposing DC knows that Team Harbs has transitioned to "Air Coryell" mode.

 

There was a play (probably more than one) yesterday where the Broncos had 10 guys basically in or near the hashes and all of them within 5 yards of the LOS at the snap. Henry still managed to gain like 13 yards I think? More than a couple at least. That's where they will break through in January if they continue to keep that mindset and execute.

[Biggsy]

Soooo Saints just fired Dennis Allen... his defenses prior to becoming the head coach were top 10 units, and he's a former secondary coach.... just sayin'

[bmore_ken]

Soooo Saints just fired Dennis Allen... his defenses prior to becoming the head coach were top 10 units, and he's a former secondary coach.... just sayin'

I guess it's just me, but I think a mid season coaching change is a bad look. 

[hallas]

I guess it's just me, but I think a mid season coaching change is a bad look. 

 

He could always come on as a consultant and see if Orr can learn quickly from him on the job.

[Biggsy]

I guess it's just me, but I think a mid season coaching change is a bad look.

As bad as going from the best defense by far, to the last passing defense, bottom half overall, and the worst at giving up big plays ?

[BaltBird 24]

I guess it's just me, but I think a mid season coaching change is a bad look.

It kinda worked the last time we won the Super Bowl?

[TwentyThirtyFive]

It kinda worked the last time we won the Super Bowl?

Im pretty sure ken called for Monken to be fired after Week 2. Makes his current comment even more of a head scratcher

[Mackus]

Im pretty sure ken called for Monken to be fired after Week 2. Makes his current comment even more of a head scratcher

Week 2 is more like the beginning of the season. Much less uncouth than making a change in the middle of the season.

[PrimeTime]

It kinda worked the last time we won the Super Bowl?

 

That was an internal move with no changing of the system, just a fresh set of eyes calling plays. We've already brought in one outside hire during the season, no way we bring in a second one.

[jamesdean]

Let's face it- unless Orr and the defense consistently show up for the rest of the season, Lamar & Co. are just going to have to outscore everyone.  They've shown they can do that and more.  Getting a healthy Mitchell back only reinforces what they've developed.  If the defense can hold teams under 30 points, the Ravens are going to win most of them, if not all of them.  I don't think that's an unreasonable expectation.  

[Mackus]

Let's face it- unless Orr and the defense consistently show up for the rest of the season, Lamar & Co. are just going to have to outscore everyone.  They've shown they can do that and more.  Getting a healthy Mitchell back only reinforces what they've developed.  If the defense can hold teams under 30 points, the Ravens are going to win most of them, if not all of them.  I don't think that's an unreasonable expectation.  

 

It's definitely nice that Lamar and the offense consistently give us a great chance to win even as the defense is struggling.  But I don't think the defense is doomed to be a bad unit all year.  Think it'll be another struggle this week, as Cincy is a big challenge, even if Higgins is out again, though being a Thursday makes it a little easier.  Keeping Cincy under 30 is a good goal, they do that and I am very confident in a Ravens win.

[Slidemaster]

Considering the way the offense looks every time the playoffs roll around, a defense this bad is a fatal flaw in any attempt to win a championship. Unless it improves, there's no realistic chance it's going to happen.

[BaltBird 24]

Oh boy.

[BSLMikeLowe]

Do we get a respite after today like we will with all the election ads?

[PrimeTime]

From Aaron Schatz on Twitter, "Lamar Jackson is now at 1114 passing DYAR* with Jayden Daniels second at 676.

The gap between them is larger than the gap between No. 2 Daniels and No. 16 Jordan Love (288 DYAR).

This doesn't even include Jackson's rushing value.

*Defense-adjusted Yards Above Replacement"

Lamar is head and shoulders above everyone else playing American Football.