A look at where the Ravens had success against the defense

[Ian]

This is from another blog entry, but I figured I'd share them for anyone interested from a defensive standpoint. These are the charts from the Ravens game based on what their offense did:

You'll see in the chart above that Baltimore worked the middle and right side against the Patriots secondary, targeting the short right part of the field a staggering 17 times, and also had a fair amount of success throwing the ball down the field.

Going deep against New England they completed 60% of their passes to the deep left and middle part of the field, while finishing just 2-of-6 to the right - which was Devin McCourty's side of the field.

Here's a look at the running game:

You'll see in the above diagram that the Ravens had success running behind left guard, which is where they ran the most Sunday night. They carried the football 12 times for 55 yards and a touchdown.

Again, just thought I'd pass this along. For those wondering the directions are based on how they're officially scored by the league on the stat sheets.

 

[Kontradiction]

If these numbers are true, the claim that Flacco was picking on McCourty in the passing game would seem to be true. I don't think it hurt that McCourty was going up against Torrey Smith, but the numbers would indicate that this is where the Ravens did the majority of their damage.

 

[everlong]

If these numbers are true, the claim that Flacco was picking on McCourty in the passing game would seem to be true. I don't think it hurt that McCourty was going up against Torrey Smith, but the numbers would indicate that this is where the Ravens did the majority of their damage.

It doesn't factor in the penalties. I don't agree he was picking on McCorty I'm just saying.

 

[Ian]

It doesn't factor in the penalties. I don't agree he was picking on McCorty I'm just saying.

I verified all the play directions after the game so those are accurate, but those numbers - as everlong said - don't include penalties based on how they're officially scored. So the pass interference penalties aren't part of that.

I'm adding a page for penalties in the coming days, so you'll be able to track penalties for each player over the course of the season and that will update each time I add the data into the database.

 

[Kontradiction]

It doesn't factor in the penalties. I don't agree he was picking on McCorty I'm just saying.

Penalties are a whole different topic. This topic is about the raw data in regards to where Flacco's passes were going and how much success he was having throwing to different areas of the field. The penalties are irrelevant in this case.*

*Sorry if you were agreeing and I just misunderstood your post.

 

[everlong]

Penalties are a whole different topic. This topic is about the raw data in regards to where Flacco's passes were going and how much success he was having throwing to different areas of the field. The penalties are irrelevant in this case.*

*Sorry if you were agreeing and I just misunderstood your post.

I don't think they are irrelevant because they show intent and if not for interference perhaps the numbers would be greater to that side of the field.

 

[everlong]

I verified all the play directions after the game so those are accurate, but those numbers - as everlong said - don't include penalties based on how they're officially scored. So the pass interference penalties aren't part of that.

I'm adding a page for penalties in the coming days, so you'll be able to track penalties for each player over the course of the season and that will update each time I add the data into the database.

That's awesome, thanks for the hard work.

 

[Kontradiction]

I don't think they are irrelevant because they show intent and if not for interference perhaps the numbers would be greater to that side of the field.

The data is centered around where the Ravens had success against the defense. Not where the defense committed penalties that otherwise could have been unforced by the Ravens. In that regard, the penalty data isn't relevant to the topic.

 

[everlong]

The data is centered around where the Ravens had success against the defense. Not where the defense committed penalties that otherwise could have been unforced by the Ravens. In that regard, the penalty data isn't relevant to the topic.

We agree to disagree. A throw in that direction shows intent. A penalty in that direction is success, IMO, thus it's very relevant to the topic.

 

[Ring 6]

If these numbers are true, the claim that Flacco was picking on McCourty in the passing game would seem to be true. I don't think it hurt that McCourty was going up against Torrey Smith, but the numbers would indicate that this is where the Ravens did the majority of their damage.

A) SHORT right is not McCourty
B) Smith was not 'going up against' McCourty. Most of his catches were on someone else.

 

[Kontradiction]

We agree to disagree. A throw in that direction shows intent. A penalty in that direction is success, IMO, thus it's very relevant to the topic.

A throw in that direction shows intent to go after McCourty. But the Ravens don't have any control whether a PI is committed by him or if a phantom flag is thrown. This chart just simply states that it's where the Ravens had success against us. It would be a whole other topic to chart where the Ravens had success against us and adjust for penalties. But, as far as this chart goes, the penalties aren't relevant. So yeah, we'll have to agree to disagree.

Regardless, though, McCourty is targeted more than Arrington. It would be nice to incorporate that data with how many times he was matched up with Torrey Smith.

 

[Rob0729]

If these numbers are true, the claim that Flacco was picking on McCourty in the passing game would seem to be true. I don't think it hurt that McCourty was going up against Torrey Smith, but the numbers would indicate that this is where the Ravens did the majority of their damage.

Huh?!? Maybe I am wrong, but for this particular exercise, McCourty is on the right side of the field and only thrown on 6 times (completing two). He is is the right side being the LCB. The Ravens had more success the other direction.

 

[Rob0729]

So if you count the two penalties on McCourty, the Ravens targeted his side of the field 8 times. Based on Ian's info:

• Flacco completed twice, one for TD which should have been offensive pass interference especially if Edelman's PI was called that way which was far less blatant
• Flacco missed his target/broken up four times with two could have been intercepted (one should have) because McCourty had better positon on the ball than the defender.
• Two penalties on McCourty. One was complete BS and was in fact good defensive coverage. The other was the right call and very inopportune and a blown coverage.

Assuming Ian's data is correct (which none of us have reason not to believe otherwise), I don't get where the McCourty haters are saying that he was horrible all night and should be benched. Based on this info, it supports the theory that other than a small handful of plays he had a solid night.

BTW, thanks Ian. Solid work.

 

[Kontradiction]

A) SHORT right is not McCourty
B) Smith was not 'going up against' McCourty. Most of his catches were on someone else.

A) I was specifically talking about deep right in my first post.

B) Where is the data? I haven't been able to find it, personally.

 

[Rob0729]

A throw in that direction shows intent to go after McCourty. But the Ravens don't have any control whether a PI is committed by him or if a phantom flag is thrown. This chart just simply states that it's where the Ravens had success against us. It would be a whole other topic to chart where the Ravens had success against us and adjust for penalties. But, as far as this chart goes, the penalties aren't relevant. So yeah, we'll have to agree to disagree.

Regardless, though, McCourty is targeted more than Arrington. It would be nice to incorporate that data with how many times he was matched up with Torrey Smith.

He targeted the deep left side (Arrington's side) 5 times and McCourty's side 6 times which was the right side. I don't know how you can make a definitive conclusion based on an one attempt differential.

I do agree that McCourty was targeted more just because Arrington was benched for a stretch of the game for Moore and Dowling while McCourty played the entire game.

 

[Ring 6]

So if you count the two penalties on McCourt, the Ravens targeted his side of the field 8 times. Based on Ian's info:

• Flacco completed twice, one for TD which should have been offensive pass interference especially if Edelman's PI was called that way which was far less blatant
• Flacco missed his target/broken up four times with two could have been intercepted (one should have) because McCourty had better positon on the ball than the defender.
• Two penalties on McCourty. One was complete BS and was in fact good defensive coverage. The other was the right call and very inopportune and a blown coverage.

Assuming Ian's data is correct (which none of us have reason not to believe otherwise), I don't get where the McCourty haters are saying that he was horrible all night and should be benched. Based on this info, it supports the theory that other than a small handful of plays he had a solid night.

BTW, thanks Ian. Solid work.

Its not that easy though. We didn't play every snap in cover 2.
I remember at least 1 incomplete throw to the ofensive deep left where McCourty had man coverage. Take that away and deep offensive left allowed 3/4 for 87 yards and a TD.
All of the numbers are skewed because not all happened in the zone each player would be assigned in a vanilla package.

 

[Ian]

So if you count the two penalties on McCourty, the Ravens targeted his side of the field 8 times. Based on Ian's info:

• Flacco completed twice, one for TD which should have been offensive pass interference especially if Edelman's PI was called that way which was far less blatant
• Flacco missed his target/broken up four times with two could have been intercepted (one should have) because McCourty had better positon on the ball than the defender.
• Two penalties on McCourty. One was complete BS and was in fact good defensive coverage. The other was the right call and very inopportune and a blown coverage.

Assuming Ian's data is correct (which none of us have reason not to believe otherwise), I don't get where the McCourty haters are saying that he was horrible all night and should be benched. Based on this info, it supports the theory that other than a small handful of plays he had a solid night.

BTW, thanks Ian. Solid work.

Thanks. I'm actually going to do an expanded piece tonight breaking down who was in coverage on each play (I started it last night and I'm about half-way through it) which should hopefully explain it better and allow us to make a better evaluation. I get home around 6 tonight so I should be able to finish it sometime thereafter. I should also have it broken down by down, distance, etc. so hopefully it will make for some interesting discussion.

 

[Rob0729]

A) SHORT right is not McCourty
B) Smith was not 'going up against' McCourty. Most of his catches were on someone else.

Most of the short right attempts (or at least a large number of them) were to Ray Rice in the flat. So those are clearly not McCourty.

Smith spent a lot of time going up against the other CBs especially when Arrington was put out of the game.

 

[Rob0729]

Its not that easy though. We didn't play every snap in cover 2.
I remember at least 1 incomplete throw to the ofensive deep left where McCourty had man coverage. Take that away and deep offensive left allowed 3/4 for 87 yards and a TD.
All of the numbers are skewed because not all happened in the zone each player would be assigned in a vanilla package.

You are right about that, but even so, my overall point is still supported that the numbers do not show that McCourty was horrible all night as some of his critics suggest.

 

[Kontradiction]

He targeted the deep left side (Arrington's side) 5 times and McCourty's side 6 times which was the right side. I don't know how you can make a definitive conclusion based on an one attempt differential.

I do agree that McCourty was targeted more just because Arrington was benched for a stretch of the game for Moore and Dowling while McCourty played the entire game.

Aye. I forgot to take that into account when I was looking at the target numbers.