Now I feel better- Ricky W pulls out the "Pats are soft" card

[ctpatsfan77]

Agreed. BB himself told the team in the meeting the night before the SB against the Eagles about philly's plans for a victory parade.

IIRC, didn't he actually read the whole route out loud?

 

[robbomango]

Far out Ricky...

 

[mgcolby]

Nothing is more annoying than that one. The Raiders tried it in the regular season.

Not that anyone should need any motivation, but someone please tell Mankins, Gronk, Wilfork, et. al that they are soft and will wilt after being smashed in the mouth.

Ricky has lost too many brain cells to the weed.

PFT link: Ricky Williams says Ravens just need to hit the Patriots in the mouth | ProFootballTalk

original story: Ricky Williams, Evans probe Patriots mystique - baltimoresun.com

Someone should be checking packages sent to his house that weigh 2.5 pounds as well.

 

[BaltimorePatsFan]

Ricky Williams has a soft voice.

 

[Ivan]

It motivates a lot of fans though

I think it does more to rile up fans than anything else and i think Belichik ignores most of it and wouldn't use something like Ryan's comments because they are irrelevant to this game. I do however think that he will take specific items and use them as a meme and motivational tools for specific games, e.g.. the "Parade Routes" and the Eagles thinking it was in the bag for them, even if they really didn't, and I think in this case the "Patriots are soft" meme may well be something Belichik trots out because the Ravens have not only said it but they also believe it and I have heard alot of talk from Patriot players about how tough and physical this game is going to be, so that seems to be a focus for this week, as it should be.

I really feel that after Sunday the idea that the Patriots are soft is going to be put to rest for a long time as the Patriots are going to win the physical battles up front because they have the best OL they have had in a long time and the Ravens defense is not as good as those they have faced in recent years. Scarnecchia is going to have this OL ready to play and Brady is as prepared to deal with their schemes as any QB the Ravens have ever faced.

I also believe the Ravens OL is their weak spot and the Patriots front seven is going to play much better against them than many expect. There's a reason that Flacco has 10 fumbles this year and it wasn't because he likes to run with ball. The Ravens OL does not do a good job of maintaining a pocket and Flacco doesn't pull the trigger fast enough. Like Koppen, Birk is a great technician but Wilfork is a big man for him to handle, and McKinney is on his last legs and is no longer the beast he used to be in Minnesota. I expect good pressure from NE this Sunday and that Flacco will make some bad decisions and big mistakes because of it.

 

[Ring 6]

I think it does more to rile up fans than anything else and i think Belichik ignores most of it and wouldn't use something like Ryan's comments because they are irrelevant to this game. I do however think that he will take specific items and use them as a meme and motivational tools for specific games, e.g.. the "Parade Routes" and the Eagles thinking it was in the bag for them, even if they really didn't, and I think in this case the "Patriots are soft" meme may well be something Belichik trots out because the Ravens have not only said it but they also believe it and I have heard alot of talk from Patriot players about how tough and physical this game is going to be, so that seems to be a focus for this week, as it should be.

Sure you use whatever you can to build fire and anger in your players and that helps them get in the right frame of mind to play, but once you get out on the field and get the first hit, none of that stuff matters, IMO.

I really feel that after Sunday the idea that the Patriots are soft is going to be put to rest for a long time as the Patriots are going to win the physical battles up front because they have the best OL they have had in a long time and the Ravens defense is not as good as those they have faced in recent years. Scarnecchia is going to have this OL ready to play and Brady is as prepared to deal with their schemes as any QB the Ravens have ever faced.

If you pass you are considered soft. That won't change. And really, who cares.

I also believe the Ravens OL is their weak spot and the Patriots front seven is going to play much better against them than many expect. There's a reason that Flacco has 10 fumbles this year and it wasn't because he likes to run with ball. The Ravens OL does not do a good job of maintaining a pocket and Flacco doesn't pull the trigger fast enough. Like Koppen, Birk is a great technician but Wilfork is a big man for him to handle, and McKinney is on his last legs and is no longer the beast he used to be in Minnesota. I expect good pressure from NE this Sunday and that Flacco will make some bad decisions and big mistakes because of it.

They are a good run blocking line, and yes, they have many shortcomings in protecting the QB. Given that the Pat D has put pressure on the QB in the last month or 2 better than they have in a long time, that bodes well. You can argue it was due to facing weaker OLs, but that doesn't matter because the Raven OL fits that mold too.

 

[NgataTroublemaker]

He didn't call you guys soft at all. He basically compared you to bullies, and gave the cliched strategy on how to deal with bullies. He insinuated that you are so good that people get intimidated and you have won part of the battle before it begins. Then he went with the how-to-deal-with-bully cliche.

I am surprised someone actually got Ricky to talk.

 

[Ivan]

He didn't call you guys soft at all. He basically compared you to bullies, and gave the cliched strategy on how to deal with bullies. He insinuated that you are so good that people get intimidated and you have won part of the battle before it begins. Then he went with the how-to-deal-with-bully cliche.

I am surprised someone actually got Ricky to talk.

I agree completely, but it doesn't actually have to be true or meaningful to be used as bulletin board material. I do think the Ravens know the Patriots are good but also believe they can beat them up and that the Patriots know they feel this way because they said so in 2009 and then kicked them hard. I don't think that will happen Sunday but i do think the idea is hanging out there.

 

[Ivan]

Sure you use whatever you can to build fire and anger in your players and that helps them get in the right frame of mind to play, but once you get out on the field and get the first hit, none of that stuff matters, IMO.


If you pass you are considered soft. That won't change. And really, who cares.

Most of it I think is meaningless but the "soft" perception is something that can be played out on the field and it could affect play if the players buy into an idea they have to show the other team how tough they really are.

I agree that high powered passing teams will always have a soft tag but there's also some truth in there because run blocking is where you dish out the hits on offense and pass blocking all day is taking them.

 

[NgataTroublemaker]

I agree completely, but it doesn't actually have to be true or meaningful to be used as bulletin board material. I do think the Ravens know the Patriots are good but also believe they can beat them up and that the Patriots know they feel this way because they said so in 2009 and then kicked them hard. I don't think that will happen Sunday but i do think the idea is hanging out there.

I think the Ravens are doing their best to convince themselves they have a chance to win. Or rather that they have a good chance. It seems a little forced, but then again it is the kind of thing that happens in sports when a big underdog is gearing up to play an important game.

I am just hoping for a close game, because I see no way the Ravens win any other way, but the Pats could end the game by halftime.

 

[Ivan]

I think the Ravens are doing their best to convince themselves they have a chance to win. Or rather that they have a good chance. It seems a little forced, but then again it is the kind of thing that happens in sports when a big underdog is gearing up to play an important game.

I am just hoping for a close game, because I see no way the Ravens win any other way, but the Pats could end the game by halftime.

I can't remember the ravens ever being so quiet before a big game. When Rickey Williams is the go to guy for smack then things are really out of whack.

 

[TheComeback]

Listen, you are 60 minutes from the superbowl. If you need bulletin board motivation from the 2nd string RB to get you fired up for this game, they you shouldn't be on the field. If ANYTHING the Ravens have said prior to the game....or Borges.... or Marshall Faulk ...... or ANYONE is needed to motivate you, then you should be playing in this game.

YOU ARE ONE GAME AWAY FROM THE FREAKIN' SUPERBOWL. That should be all the motivation you need for this game.

Who said anyone "needed" it?

 

[TheComeback]

Way to pull a Rodney here. Williams didn't call them soft, but you twisted the words nicely. Someone like Branch is probably doing the same thing in the locker room.

Read between the lines. He's saying they haven't been challenged by anyone this year, which couldn't be further from the truth.

Either way, he's in for a rude awakening. I don't think the Patriots' confidence will be shaken in this game, and that's exactly what he says is going to happen. IMO, that's calling them soft.

 

[JerseyDevil26]

Soft? I'd like to see how "soft" he thinks we are after Shaun Ellis lights him up.

 

[Deus Irae]

Read between the lines. He's saying they haven't been challenged by anyone this year, which couldn't be further from the truth.

Either way, he's in for a rude awakening. I don't think the Patriots' confidence will be shaken in this game, and that's exactly what he says is going to happen. IMO, that's calling them soft.

No, he's not saying that.

 

[RodThePat]

Oh, so the dude who basically gave up on being a professional athlete to do nothing but smoke pot all day is insinuating the Patriots are soft? Hm...interesting.

 

[Ivan]

Oh, so the dude who basically gave up on being a professional athlete to do nothing but smoke pot all day is insinuating the Patriots are soft? Hm...interesting.

Hmmmmmnnnn, smoke the kush all day or play for the Dolphins.

I'll take door #1.

 

[TheComeback]

No, he's not saying that.

That's exactly what he said.

 

[Keep Up With The Joneses]

We as Pats fans are so used to just going about our business, not talking to reporters, and getting it done on the field. It's been this way for so long we take exception to the fact that other teams don't work this way.

While I never think it's wise to challenge a football team's manhood before the game, the Ravens thrive on pounding, punishing, and intimidation. For them to speak up is just a part of who they are. I don't fault them for it, and apparently Harbaugh doesn't either.

That said, I am looking forward to the Pats shutting them up tomorrow and showing them how things should be done.

 

[RodThePat]

Hmmmmmnnnn, smoke the kush all day or play for the Dolphins.

I'll take door #1.

Okay, so he was smart. Still soft, though.