ivanvamp

From (Jim Caldwell's elevation to Ravens offensive coordinator paying off in big way - NFL - Don Banks - SI.com)

"If you haven't noticed, John Harbaugh's Ravens are in the AFC Championship game for the third time in five years because Caldwell's resurgent offense is getting the job done in uncharacteristically explosive fashion. Caldwell's work has been masterful so far, and if Baltimore is able to upset host New England Sunday night and earn its first Super Bowl berth in 12 years, it'll likely be because the Ravens offense was able to match the powerful Patriots offense point for point.

The facts speak for themselves and underline the effect Caldwell has had, at least since his mulligan-like first game as Baltimore's play-caller, a 34-17 home loss to Denver in Week 15, just six days after he took over for the dismissed Cameron. In the past three games in which Baltimore's starters have played the whole way (not counting a meaningless Week 17 loss at Cincinnati), here's what the Ravens have produced:

-- In Week 16 at home against the Giants, the Ravens rolled up 533 yards of offense in the 33-14 division-title-clinching win, the third-most in franchise history. Baltimore ran for a season-high 225 yards against New York, with Ray Rice and rookie Bernard Pierce both topping 100 yards.

-- In the first round of the playoffs against the Colts, Baltimore hung up a franchise-playoff-record 439 yards of offense in the 24-9 win, with quarterback Joe Flacco throwing for 282 yards and two touchdowns on just 12 completions (23.5 average), and the Pierce-led ground game contributing 170 yards.

-- And in Saturday's epic 38-35 upset of the top-seeded Broncos in Denver, the Ravens again set a franchise playoff record with 479 yards of offense, gouging a Broncos defense that during the regular season had ranked second in yards allowed and fourth in points surrendered. The dagger, of course, was that 70-yard game-tying strike from Flacco to receiver Jacoby Jones with 31 seconds remaining in regulation. Flacco wound up with 331 yards passing and touchdown passes of 32, 59 and 70 yards, and Rice added 131 yards and a touchdown on the ground."

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Ok let's look at these numbers, which on the face of it are very impressive. First, the Giants were TERRIBLE down the stretch. In weeks 14, 15, and 16, they allowed:

- 27, 34, and 33 points (94 points = 31.3 per game)
- 487, 394, and 533 yards (1414 yds = 471.3 per game)

Not saying that 533 yards isn't impressive because it is. But they did it against a Giants' defense that was going through one of the worst stretches I can ever remember it having.

Against Indy, the Ravens played well, putting up 439 yards. That's pretty good. But (a) the Colts' defense is also pretty bad (ranked #21 in points allowed and #26 in yards allowed), and (b) compare that 439 number to the Patriots. Know how many times this year the Pats have put up 439 yards or more? 9, in 17 games. More than half the time the Patriots put up 439+ yards. In fact, this season, the Patriots have *averaged* 430 yards a game, just 9 fewer than what the Ravens put up in this one big performance.

Moreover, in those massive 439 yards, they only got 24 points. Yards are well and good, but if they're that explosive, they should have put up more than 24 points.

Finally, what about the Denver game? Well, they had 479 yards, with Flacco having 331 passing. But that 70-yard TD at the end of regulation should have been an interception for Denver. The safety had all day to size it up. But at a minimum it should have been incomplete. Let's say he knocks it down - something pretty much would have happened 99 out of 100 other times that ball is thrown (if not intercepted, but let's give Flacco the benefit of the doubt). Here's what Baltimore's offense did from that play forward, not counting any penalties:

105 yards passing
one sack for -7 yards
10 rushes for 37 yards

So counting the sack, that's 135 yards gained from that 70-yard gift through the end of the game (more than one full OT period later). 479 minus 135 equals 344 yards, which is what they had gained prior to that 70-yard gift.

Now, 344 isn't a terrible performance. It's not bad. But it's nothing to write home about. For comparison's sake, the Patriots failed to produce 344 yards just *ONE* time this season, in the 23-16 win over Miami in week 13.

And without that 70-yard gift, the Ravens offense would have scored just 21 points. Remember, they got a defensive TD, that 70-yard gift, and then a FG in overtime which never would have happened without that 70-yard gift.

So 344 yards and 21 points - well, again, it's not terrible, against a pretty good defense on the road. But nobody would be writing articles about how explosive the Ravens are. The entire perspective changes (along with the numbers, which create the perspective in the first place) thanks to that 70-yard heave to end regulation that never, ever, ever should have happened.

I think Baltimore's offense can be dangerous, and NE will need to play well this weekend. But goodness, this article makes it look like they're the second coming of........the Patriots.

blackglass3

The Ravens long game offense is A. Chuck it deep after Torrey Smith burns the CB, B. Chuck it deep and hope Boldin makes an incredible grab, C. Chuck it deep and hope for a DPI.

C is the one that worries me the most.

ForThoseAboutToRock

Agreed. Those yards don't count for Flacco padding his stats, either. Maybe if he completed those balls instead of getting the DPI's, we'd all believe the top elite amazing QB hype we hear so frequently.

PatsSox363804

I like how they didnt point out that his completion percentage in those 2 playoff games is a whopping 52.6%

RodThePat

His YPA is very good, he hasn't turned the ball over and he has thrown 5 TDs. Completion percentage is an absolutely overrated stat, especially in an offense that's predicated on running the ball and making big plays over the top.

PATSYLICIOUS

I'm not impressed with Caldwell at all. If you examine their scoring drives in the Denver game, they came off a turnover or a long chuck. The rest of the time their offense looked inept and out of sync. If anything they are scoring in spite of Caldwell.

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BSR

Its not overrated it just needs to be put into context. In the case of Flacco it might be less important than YPA simply because of the type of offense he runs, but it does speak to efficiency and his ability to match the Patriots "point for point" as the article maintains. The Ravens offense at its heart is still a running based offense that is boom or bust in the passing game. I wouldn't say that Flacco is a chuck it up and see what happens, as evidenced by his low turnovers, but they are still lower percentage throws.

JR4

Maybe overrated but it seems the best QBs have a completion percentage of over 60%. Even with a running game the the QB is throwing enough times
to make his completion percentage a significant factor.

If Pats take away the deep ball and make Flacco throw a ton of short passes
will completion percentage be significant then?

PatsSox363804

Of course, the point was that all he is doing is lobbing those passes over the top. Stop those and dont turn it over and we win, no question. All of Baltimores points in the last game were either on bombs to smith/jones (21 points) or off turnovers (17)

Palm Beach Pats Fan

You can say that the 70 yarder was a gift,

but you can also say that some of the many times that Champ Bailey was burned and the throw just missed by a foot were bad breaks too.

They took the chances they often take-- it's part of their offense-- and succeeded at some of them.

We have to respect the deep throws, unfortunately, which makes it imperative that our front 7 contain Ray Rice without a lot of safety run support.

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