21 replies to this topic

[BSLChrisStoner]

The Baltimore Ravens pulled to within 1 game of .500 overall, beating the New York Jets 19-3 at M&T Bank Stadium. Baltimore will now prepare to face the Pittsburgh Steelers Thanksgiving Night, also at home.
 

What did we see?

1) Coming into today, the Jets were the 6th seed in AFC Playoffs with their 5-5 record. Baltimore was 9th (Miami and Oakland were 7th and 8th). A loss vs. NY would have ended any remaining post-season aspirations for the Ravens. With the head-to-head win vs. NY, Baltimore's focus turns to beating Pittsburgh Thanksgiving Night and getting to .500. Should the Ravens close out this 3 game home-stand (the 3rd game being vs. Minnesota 12/8) with 3 wins; the Ravens should be decent position to return to the Playoffs going into the remaining 3 weeks of the season. Today was a possible elimination game for the Ravens, and they responded to that challenge.

 

2) Yes, Geno Smith was horrible; but Baltimore's defense deserves some credit for the Jets offensive ineffectiveness as well. Sad looking numbers (1st downs, 3rd down conversions, and total yards) across the board for the Jets. Daryl Smith with another impressive game at LB for the Ravens. (Also, kudos to Graham for his 2 picks.)

 

3) No issue from me about the using Taylor under center at times. I like that wrinkle. I was surprised by the amount of plays he got (especially the multiple red zone opportunities), and was further surprised by the insistence of having Flacco split wide on those plays. With Flacco not moving at all, wouldn't another WR make more sense? At-least another WR would provide a decoy.

 

4) The Jets took a 3-0 lead on their 2nd possession, working down the field with use of the Wildcat. Good job from the Ravens to limit New York to a FG attempt after the Jets reached 1st and Goal.

 

5) Baltimore answered NY's initial FG with a good looking drive of their own. Starting from the Baltimore 25, Flacco delivered a bullet to Jones for 17 yards. That was followed Taylor gaining 17 yards on the ground, and Flacco and Dickson connecting for 15 yards. Overall the Ravens went 63 yards over 11 plays, and tied the game at 3 on a Tucker FG. The Ravens had to settle for the FG attempt, when their 3rd and 9 play from the Jets 12 yard went incomplete with a strong hit from Reed on Jones in the end zone.

 

6) Beautiful throw-and-catch from Flacco to Smith to begin the 2nd Quarter. Later on that drive, Dickson would prevent a Flacco interception, as he turned into a defender. With the Jets bringing a full blitz on a 3rd down, Flacco was under immense pressure. Somehow he was able to find Clark for 12 yards setting up 1st and Goal. Ultimately the Ravens would again have to settle for a FG. Tucker would hit, giving Baltimore the 6-3 lead.

 

7) Later in the 2nd, Suggs recovered a Jets fumble, allowing the Baltimore offense to take over in the Red Zone. Unfortunately the Ravens would give the ball immediately back to NY with Flacco being picked off. It was a spot throw from Flacco, with miscommunication between him and his receivers - Smith, and Brown.

 

8) Coming back from the 2 minute warning, Tucker knocked through his 3rd FG as the Ravens lead was extended to 6 (9-3). Dickson gained 40 yards on the series, with the highlight being a 27 yard grab with a lot of yards after the catch. He was helped by a nice block from Brown. It was a 3rd time that the Ravens had to settle for a FG attempt, and including the Flacco interception; the 4th time Baltimore did not come away with a TD in the Red Zone.

 

9) A strong punt from Koch put the Jets in bad field position early in the 2nd half. The Ravens defense forced a 3 and out and got the ball at the NY 33. The offense could do nothing with the ball, but Tucker bailed the Ravens out again - nailing his 4th attempt of the game, this time from 53 yards out.

 

10) Beautiful block from Upshaw on Jones' 37 yard PR in the 3rd Quarter.

 

11) The game was effectively ended, when Flacco and Jones connected on their 66 yard TD at the end of the 3rd Quarter. With the xp, Baltimore went up 19-3.

 

12) Should Pitta be back in the next week or two, Dickson figures to be used less. It also seems likely he will not be back next year. Still, he had one of his better days today.

 

13) In addition to his big TD catch, Jones had a few other catches.  He also made a difference in the return game (both PR's, and KR's).

 

14) The Jets run defense is better than the Bears run defense, and the Ravens rushing offense again showed to be limited today.

[DJ MC]

This was a fast game.

[BaltBird 24]

Beat Pittsburgh Thanksgiving night.

[Mike in STL]

I think the coaches had a good pulse of this game, feeling like they could roll the dice with giving Taylor some shots with the option plays. Knowng the Jets wouldn't bury them if they made a mistake. I'm not a fan of it because it was predictable. Taylor on the field, the ball was going in his direction. By the 2nd half, the Jets D zeroed in on it. Would have been the perfect time to use Taylor as a decoy on a reverse to Torrey or something. I was a fan of it though because now the Steelers have to worry about something else in the Ravens arsenal on a short week. Timing is everything in play calling. I'm fine with doing some more of this as long as the timing is right and it isn't predictable, or taking too long to to develop with their bad O-Line.

[BSLChrisStoner]

Flacco on Taylor, "It was fun for a little bit... that was about it. I don't want to be lining up at Z, or X... I want to be behind Center."

[Cisc-O's]

Flacco on Taylor, "It was fun for a little bit... that was about it. I don't want to be lining up at Z, or X... I want to be behind Center."

People are going to make a big deal out of that quote but its just an example of Joe wanting the ball in his hands.

[SportsGuy]

People are going to make a big deal out of that quote but its just an example of Joe wanting the ball in his hands.

Zrebiec said he wasn't whining or anything like that...said he answered it honestly.

I'm sure they asked him how he felt and that was his answer....see nothing wrong with that.

[BSLChrisStoner]

People are going to make a big deal out of that quote but its just an example of Joe wanting the ball in his hands.

There's nothing wrong with his comment, nor is it a big deal... Obviously Joe has plenty of reasons to be confident with his position with the team. I do think there some was some frustration from Joe there though.

[You Play to Win the Game]

Not a big deal, but wish he wouldn't have been as forth coming. Now, when those guys are out there in that package again, they'll have the added pressure to make an impression since Joe isn't a fan of it anyway.

[SportsGuy]

When Joe signed a 120 million dollar deal, he felt that wouldn't happen I am sure.

How many of the top QBs get taken out of the game?

Joe could easily take that as a lack of respect.

[You Play to Win the Game]

When Joe signed a 120 million dollar deal, he felt that wouldn't happen I am sure.

How many of the top QBs get taken out of the game?

Joe could easily take that as a lack of respect.

You can buy a lot of Kleenex for $120M.

[SportsGuy]

@jeffzrebiecsun: Made a mistake on that Rex Ryan versus Ravens stat. It's 0-3 and outscored 63-29.

[PrimeTime]

When Joe signed a 120 million dollar deal, he felt that wouldn't happen I am sure.


How many of the top QBs get taken out of the game?


Joe could easily take that as a lack of respect.

The Steelers used the Wildcat to spark they're struggling offense.

I like Flacco's honesty and I'm glad he's a little pissed off. The offense needs something because we can't line up 11 on 11 and run the ball, so the trickery is kind of needed.

If Flacco can use this as fuel, so be it. Of course we still need to block better, run routes correctly and catch passes that hit us in the hands; obviously none of those are on Joe.

[NewMarketSean]

I'd have no problem using Taylor more in a read-option offense.

 

Of course you don't want him to throw the ball that much but I wouldn't be opposed to it.

 

I know you want the offense to completely go through your $100 million dollar QB but the offense can't move the ball on the ground and I feel like Taylor has some skills that could help in that area.

 

You aren't going to beat the Steelers with trickery though...at some point you really do need to run the ball well to beat teams like the Steelers and make the playoffs.

 

But desperate times call for desperate measures.

[bnickle]

The fact that Harbaugh resorted to gimmicks tells you all you need to know about this offense. I actually didn't have a problem showing some read/option and wildcat looks. It was worth a try.

 

Here is the thing though. I remember after '08 when Troy Smith came in and ran some gimmicky stuff that Harbaugh said that we were very unlikely to do it in '09 because good offenses don't have to resort to that type of stuff. I'm paraphrasing a bit, but that was certainly the point he was making. He we are 4 years later running it. It's an admission by the coaching staff that the offense is trash, despite not coming out and saying that directly.

 

 

 

BTW....I really don't know how much we can put on Caldwell. Obviously, the lack of a quality Oline or running game isn't his fault. He's made some changes in the route running and formations that have helped the passing offense a little bit. Still, I feel look he could have done more and we could be better. I think he's an average OC at best.

[BSLChrisStoner]

The fact that Harbaugh resorted to gimmicks tells you all you need to know about this offense. I actually didn't have a problem showing some read/option and wildcat looks. It was worth a try.

 

Here is the thing though. I remember after '08 when Troy Smith came in and ran some gimmicky stuff that Harbaugh said that we were very unlikely to do it in '09 because good offenses don't have to resort to that type of stuff. I'm paraphrasing a bit, but that was certainly the point he was making. He we are 4 years later running it. It's an admission by the coaching staff that the offense is trash, despite not coming out and saying that directly.

 

 

 

BTW....I really don't know how much we can put on Caldwell. Obviously, the lack of a quality Oline or running game isn't his fault. He's made some changes in the route running. formations that have helped the passing offense a little bit. Still, I feel look he could have done more and we could be better. I think he's an average OC at best.

I think his point yesterday was that the Ravens could not run against the Jets (and their #1 rushing defense), so they needed this to give them another look.

I think we might see the Ravens continue to use it, but I don't know that we see them use it as much as they did yesterday again.

 

[bnickle]

I think his point yesterday was that the Ravens could not run against the Jets (and their #1 rushing defense), so they needed this to give them another look.

I think we might see the Ravens continue to use it, but I don't know that we see them use it as much as they did yesterday again.

 

Point still remains. Haven't done it in recent years when facing top run stopping teams. Like I said, I really didn't have a problem trying it. I also agree it's something we're not going to do as much over the remaining games. Still, it tells you the lack of belief and the desperation the coaching staff feels.

[PrimeTime]

The fact that Harbaugh resorted to gimmicks tells you all you need to know about this offense. I actually didn't have a problem showing some read/option and wildcat looks. It was worth a try.
 
Here is the thing though. I remember after '08 when Troy Smith came in and ran some gimmicky stuff that Harbaugh said that we were very unlikely to do it in '09 because good offenses don't have to resort to that type of stuff. I'm paraphrasing a bit, but that was certainly the point he was making. He we are 4 years later running it. It's an admission by the coaching staff that the offense is trash, despite not coming out and saying that directly.
 
 
 
BTW....I really don't know how much we can put on Caldwell. Obviously, the lack of a quality Oline or running game isn't his fault. He's made some changes in the route running and formations that have helped the passing offense a little bit. Still, I feel look he could have done more and we could be better. I think he's an average OC at best.

You have to wonder how much of this mess is on the Castillo hire. The offense was pretty damn good under Caldwell last year and against some good defenses.

However, now that we are so 1 dimensional and we don't exactly have the personnel to be 1 dimensional, the results are kind of exactly what you'd expect.

Even though we weren't effective in running the ball yesterday, we had enough attempts that play action could actually be a part of the passing game. We may just have to keep slamming our head into that proverbial brick wall.

[Mike in STL]

I'm fine with pulling this gimmick stuff once in a while. But it can't be predictable. Running the ball in some fashion everytimr Taylor comes is will get picked up real quick. Having Taylor throw the ball could be detrimental. Let Flacco figure it out. I've always been a proponent of run to set up the pass. But also playing to your strengths. The strength of this offense is the passing game. Let Joe just sling it around. Put it on him.

[BSLMattJergensen]

People are going to make a big deal out of that quote but its just an example of Joe wanting the ball in his hands.

 

He'd also hate to get blasted by a defender while he's just standing there essentially doing nothing. He gets hit enough behind center.