53 replies to this topic

[bnickle]

If they have two first round picks after trading Richardson, they'll probably trade up to whatever it takes to get the top QB

Yeah, forgot they have two picks.

[Mike in STL]

Just a couple of random thoughts that I noted during the game, and didn't get around to on the show.

 

Joe Flacco was visually agitated. Something we don't see. His patience is wearing thin. 

 

This team isn't good enough to just give away points. Gave away 3 points vs. GB, lost by 3. Gave away 3 points @ PIT, lost by 3. Doss' muffed punt gave away an easy touchdown. Lost by that six points. 

 

Pierce is bad. Injured, who knows? But I'm tired of seeing Ray Rice for a series, then Pierce for a series. I know this is what they started last year, but Pierce was better last year. Ray Rice is getting paid a lot of money, and if you take the O-Line out of it, he's the better RB. Rice should be getting more touches, or at least be on the field more often. Allow him to get in a rhythm. 

 

What else can the Ravens do? Hand flacco the controls? Tried that today, didn't work. Run it out of the shotgun? Didn't work. This line can't stop a five man rush, much less six and seven. They aren't utilizing the TEs in the passing game (Dickson and Clark had one catch each). So you know what? Have five down lineman, a TE, Leach. Rice, Torrey, and Marlon. On every play. Power I. Sure passing downs, you can take Leach out for Jacoby in the slot. Otherwise, this line cant stop anyone when you spread out your offense. Cleveland wasn't scared to blitz seven even when the Ravens went empty set. They just had to bring back Leach. Use him!! They should have minimum six, but I'd like to see seven blockers on every play. Flacco is going to get hurt if they don't do something to protect him. And if that means running 75% of the time just to keep Flacco from getting destroyed like he did today, even at 2.0 YPC, so be it. At this point, just don't get Joe hurt. We sort of take his durability for granted. The last thing we need is a severe injury that carries over into 2014.

 

Long shot that the Ravens were going to pull the miracle on that last drive. But what was Rice thinking on his last catch. He had caught the ball with about four seconds. Has to know to either get out of bounds or look for someone to pitch to and get the laterals going. Again, long shot, but the last thing RIce should have done is dive into two defenders. So he does just that, ending the game, not even trying. Heads not in the game. Can't stress enough that those plays hardly ever work, but you have to try, cause once in a blue moon they do.

[NewMarketSean]

I see a team with no identity, no rudder, and no desire.

 

I think it's a combination of the SB hangover, injuries and some bad decisions during the offseason that are coming back to haunt us.

 

Boldin, Pitta nor anyone else would make this a much better team but it needs to be said. Ozzie had a terrible offseason and Harbaugh got rid of the guys he didnt want and now we've got a soulless team.

 

Like Mike just said, don't get Flacco hurt for a 6-10 season, at best.

[You Play to Win the Game]

I just don't get the Ozzie criticism. Given the necessity of extending Flacco, and the moves that required him to make, how could anyone say this? 

 

Huff and Spears were heralded moves at the time. They didn't work out, that's not Ozzie's fault, especially given his track record. 

 

 

The biggest fault this team has, is the line. This defense is better than last year's. The offensive line has wrecked our offense. He went out and traded for a better LT when McKinnie slouched off again. KO is hurt, Gradkowski is awful, he got Shipley in here as insurance, and apparently he sucks too. 

 

To me, the line falls on Harbaugh, by proxy, because of his allowing Castillo to completely derail the line.

[Mackus]

Bad results from Ozzie, not bad decisions, IMO.  Big difference.  He's gotta take the hit for the way things have turned out personnel-wise, but I don't think there is any need to question the decision-making process.  Everything was perfectly sound, and the thing about Ozzie is he's really good at changing his plan when things don't break the way he expected.  He's not stubborn.

[NewMarketSean]

Well there were no additions made to the receiving corps. In fact, we immediately lost on Boldin and then Pitta got hurt which forced us to go dumpster diving.

 

Brown has been a pleasant surprise, but all teams need to do is double Torrey and the offense is cooked.

 

I know no one could have expected this kind of performance from the OL and the offense in general but the seeds were planted for this over the offseason.

[Mackus]

The receivers are not really a problem with Brown emerging and even Doss playing fairly well, and wouldn't have been even a major concern if Pitta was healthy, which obviously isn't something they could have foreseen.

[JordanKough]

Joe Flacco was visually agitated. Something we don't see. His patience is wearing thin. 

 

I totally agree with this.  I know he had a couple of bad throws and his accuracy in the first quarter was poor, but I do think the wind was more of a factor than we heard from the announcers.  The Jones pass was clearly knocked down by the wind.  That throw usually goes at least 15 yards deeper.  The receivers just aren't that sharp, and the play calls aren't playing to their strengths.

 

Have five down lineman, a TE, Leach. Rice, Torrey, and Marlon. On every play. Power I. Sure passing downs, you can take Leach out for Jacoby in the slot. Otherwise, this line cant stop anyone when you spread out your offense. Cleveland wasn't scared to blitz seven even when the Ravens went empty set. They just had to bring back Leach. Use him!! They should have minimum six, but I'd like to see seven blockers on every play. Flacco is going to get hurt if they don't do something to protect him. 

 

I'm a full advocate for this.  Go back to the power running game.  Utilize play action.  Put a ton of blockers in the pocket to keep Joe up right and hope that you can keep your pocket intact long enough to spring Smith or Jones deep.  If Clark/Dickson are going to be awful, why send them out on routes?  Keep them in as blockers.  Then split out Rice, but have Leach/insert TE here on the right or left side of the line.

 

I also think we can keep running the spread, but we need to install quick passing plays into the playbook.  Right now they just don't exist.  I don't know if Joe is ignoring them or what.  But it's awful to watch right now.

[JordanKough]

The receivers are not really a problem with Brown emerging and even Doss playing fairly well, and wouldn't have been even a major concern if Pitta was healthy, which obviously isn't something they could have foreseen.

 

These receivers when in man to man coverage never win.  Never.  

 

Jones can only win on a go route 30+ yards down field.  Smith is constantly triple teamed.  Brown doesn't get good separation in man coverage.  He's good in space and against zones.  Doss seems to win crossing routes but still not consistent either.

 

It all equals a QB who only likes to throw to guys who are wide open...and doesn't trust his WRs.  

[Mackus]

These receivers when in man to man coverage never win.  Never.  

 

Jones can only win on a go route 30+ yards down field.  Smith is constantly triple teamed.  Brown doesn't get good separation in man coverage.  He's good in space and against zones.  Doss seems to win crossing routes but still not consistent either.

 

It all equals a QB who only likes to throw to guys who are wide open...and doesn't trust his WRs.  

 

Right, but those receivers plus Boldin never would win in man-to-man either.  Or at least not ever be open, Boldin still catches some when he's blanketed.

 

I think the thought that the Boldin trade is significantly hampering this team is flawed.  He's missed a bit, but we wouldn't have a better record if he was still on the team (and that's without considering who we couldn't have afforded if we kept the extra $6M in cap space he would've cost).  We've gotten good enough performance from the guys who have replaced him. 

 

The offensive line trumps every other unit in terms of what's decimating this team.  If we were getting the line play that we had late last season, we'd be multiple games better, IMO.

[bnickle]

Bad results from Ozzie, not bad decisions, IMO.  Big difference.  He's gotta take the hit for the way things have turned out personnel-wise, but I don't think there is any need to question the decision-making process.  Everything was perfectly sound, and the thing about Ozzie is he's really good at changing his plan when things don't break the way he expected.  He's not stubborn.

Agreed. Its fair to criticize the poor results but the decision making was fine. As you say, Ozzie isn't stubborn. I have confidence he and the FO will do what they feel is necessary to put a contender back on the field next year.

 

 

My concern is  with the coaching staff. Unlike the FO, I have much less confidence.

[JordanKough]

Right, but those receivers plus Boldin never would win in man-to-man either.  Or at least not ever be open, Boldin still catches some when he's blanketed.

 

But Joe trusted him.  He doesn't trust these guys.  See, the Buffalo game.

 

This is why I think Pitta can/will matter.  Joe trusts him to catch the ball and be where he's supposed to be.  With Torrey, Joe gets two options that can be worked together.  That's important.

[SportsGuy]

Jeff Zrebiec ‏@jeffzrebiecsun 55s

Not only have #Ravens not had lead in last three games, but they've trailed for 160 of the 180 minutes of play.

[bnickle]

Jeff Zrebiec ‏@jeffzrebiecsun 55s

Not only have #Ravens not had lead in last three games, but they've trailed for 160 of the 180 minutes of play.

I guess for one last time in the thread it needs to be said. We aren't a good football team.

 

 

Consider that 2 of those 3 games were against a 2-6 Steelers team and a 4-5 Browns team. Granted, both divisional road games but still.