38 replies to this topic

[BSLChrisStoner]

RSR: The Ravens Brain Drain is Real

https://russellstree...-a-brain-drain/

[NewMarketSean]

Kinda reminds me of the 2006 Colts. They had Manning in his prime but that defense was very suspect. However they got things in order late in the season and won the SB. There's time to fix what's broke on defense but it needs to happen fast because there's a lot to fix.

[85Knight]

It feels like this is the pivotal point in the season. Either they go to Pittsburgh and shake off the demons and take control of the division race or the struggles continue and we fade into just a wildcard contender. I know there are plenty of games left but I think psychologically this game might define the rest of the season. Lose this game and I think there will be some serious soul searching.

[makoman]

Kinda reminds me of the 2006 Colts. They had Manning in his prime but that defense was very suspect. However they got things in order late in the season and won the SB. There's time to fix what's broke on defense but it needs to happen fast because there's a lot to fix.

They had an All Pro safety who was hurt all year and came back for the playoffs. We don't have that guy, unless Marcus Williams does a complete 180.

[Mackus]

It feels like this is the pivotal point in the season. Either they go to Pittsburgh and shake off the demons and take control of the division race or the struggles continue and we fade into just a wildcard contender. I know there are plenty of games left but I think psychologically this game might define the rest of the season. Lose this game and I think there will be some serious soul searching.

Lose this game and everyone in the building will still think they can win the Super Bowl. Bewildering to me that a challenging road game against a high quality divisional opponent is somehow a must-win game for team psyche.

[jamesdean]

I think it would be a huge mistake to make more out of this game than it is.  The schedule is just too daunting over the next several weeks to be emotionally demoralized if they lose to the Steelers.  They'll do what they need to do and that's move on from a loss quickly.  What I want to see Sunday is this defense finally contain the opposition's passing attack.  Maybe even grab a couple of picks.  Enough is enough of this nonsense. 

[Mackus]

I think I'll need to see more than just one good week to start believing the defense, especially secondary, has turned the corner. But man one good week sure would be a good start.

They don't even need to be good is the most encouraging part. Just be a little below average and we're in such good shape.

[makoman]

They could have been demoralized losing to the Browns last year, dropping to just a half game up on two teams, and reeled off 6 wins. They could have been demoralized losing to the Browns this year and came out and destroyed the Broncos. I don't think this is a thing to worry about.

[Ravens2006]

Kinda reminds me of the 2006 Colts. They had Manning in his prime but that defense was very suspect. However they got things in order late in the season and won the SB. There's time to fix what's broke on defense but it needs to happen fast because there's a lot to fix.

 

They couldn't have stopped a practice squad RB from dropping 100+ on them during the regular season that year.  They found a run defense in January, then maybe the easiest SB opponent matchup of the last 20 years (that Bears team would have lost by 14+ to probably every team that made the AFC playoffs that year).

 

Just hope against hope the Ravens can find something come January.  It happens.

[TwentyThirtyFive]

Its a combo of bad coaching and poor play from the players on defense. Im not sure why they chose Orr over Weaver or Wilson. Or an outsider. I said in the offseason that losing MacDonald and replacing him with Orr was my biggest concern. Its proven to be more concerning than I ever imagined. I genuinely sense Orr will be gone or demoted after this season. 

[85Knight]

Lose this game and everyone in the building will still think they can win the Super Bowl. Bewildering to me that a challenging road game against a high quality divisional opponent is somehow a must-win game for team psyche.

Strictly my opinion. Not dependent upon how the team might feel. That's exactly why I started it with "it feels like." The team's feelings win or lose is an entirely different conversation.

[cprenegade]

Even if the Ravens lose this game, it's not the end of the world.  It isn't even the end of winning the division.  Pittsburgh would have a 1/12 game lead.  But their remaining schedule is pretty tough.  Starting Sunday, they have all 6 of their division games in the last 8 weeks.  And the two out of division games are @Philly, and home to KC.  Neither are easy.  The Browns loss is a problem for the Ravens, but they also swept Cincinnati.  The Ravens schedule isn't much easier, with games against the Chargers, Philly, and Houston along with the Steelers and Browns again.  They should have a gimme against the Giants.  Bottom line is they would need to pick up 2 on the Steelers and probably beat them in Baltimore.  That seems doable given the Pittsburgh schedule.  

 

The real problem is that all of the teams left on the Ravens schedule outside of Cleveland and the Giants could light up their secondary.  And I don't hold out much hope that it can be fixed. Maybe after the first 3-4 games but it's gone 10 games now and has not shown any sign of getting better.  I have a hard time believing all these players are experiencing drop off seasons at once so I think it is more in the coaching.   Either way unless there is a significant change made somewhere i don't see how it gets better.   

[Mackus]

I don't think it would be a bad loss at all to fall at Pittsburgh. Style counts for confidence, so if they get boatraced or do something stupid at the end or the secondary gives up 400 yards, all those things will impact how I see the rest of the year. But unless something fishy happens it wouldn't be a bad loss.

I'd actually go pretty far in the other direction and say winning this game would be a really great win. At least on par with beating Buffalo. It would counter, though not erase, one of the two awful losses.

[TwentyThirtyFive]

Obv a big game but I aint stressing it if we lose. The biggest deal for me going forward is staying as healthy as possible and making the D as good as it can be. I dont have faith the D will be good but get to the point where its complimentary enough to win games in January.

[Mackus]

I dont have faith the D will be good but get to the point where its complimentary enough to win games in January.

It's pretty crazy how low the bar is for the defense to allow the team to be championship caliber and equally crazy that we're not confident the defense can meet it.

[Ravens2006]

No game is the end of the world. Unless it costs them a playoff spot altogether. They're not getting the 1 seed at this point being 3 back of KC and 4 really with tie-breaker. Only a Mahomes season-ending injury like THIS week could even crack the door on that possibility.

 

Get to the playoffs, hopefully win the division and get a home game to start it, and go in as healthy as possible. Get hot for a few weeks and anything can happen.

 

Orr was and has been one of John's pet projects for years now. Weaver was a better, more prepared option from inside the building but for whatever reason John preferred Orr. Orr PLAYED for John while Weaver did not. I suspect that factors in a little. He has to live with the consequences. The results on the field, Pees in-season addition, and players either calling out Orr in meetings or walking out of media to avoid saying anything... all hard to argue that Orr isn't problem #1 with a defense that was basically #1 last year.

 

Always remember though, the 2000 Ravens went 5 games without a TD and virtually nobody outside of the team facilities really thought they could win the Lomardi. The 2012 Ravens lost 3 in a row and 4 out of 5 to close the season. After the Broncos basically skull-dragged them around M&T Bank Stadium in week 15 you couldn't find a fan forum thread anywhere that wasn't full of "Flacco sucks and this team is going nowhere fast" takes.

[TwentyThirtyFive]

Weaver was not good to say the least in his 1 yr as Hou DC. He might be better than Orr but is completely uninspiring.

[makoman]

Weaver was not good to say the least in his 1 yr as Hou DC. He might be better than Orr but is completely uninspiring.

Yeah I was going to say, I don't think anyone was really clamoring for Weaver to get the job. Wilson seems like the big whiff so far.

[makoman]

I will say though that it was probably good to have Weaver on staff, as someone who had done it before. No one knew if Macdonald would be successful, nice to have more people in the room that know the basics of what they're doing, just in case, when you're hiring a 35 year old coordinator. The building just lacks experience today, other than a semi retired Pees who wasn't even there to start the year. Going into the year with such a green defensive staff was a bad idea.

 

This is another reason why having a head coach that was a coordinator can be helpful, it's just more experience if needed.

[BaltBird 24]

And not like there's been a ton, but Pees is probably the worst DC the organization has ever had aside from Orr. Not exactly a lot of confidence in him coming in as an "advisor" and making a difference.