The Ravens new explosive offense

[Brady_to_Moss]

ahhh the luck of the hail mary

 

[MossWelkowski]

Explosive offense??? It's the same exact offense as last year...

 

[i82much]

ahhh the luck of the hail mary

Ya know, luck is a funny thing. Everybody here wants to talk about how lucky the Jones pass was. Nobody wants to say Sterling Moore's play last year or the missed chip shot FG was lucky, or that Denver was lucky to score two special teams TD's.

Truth is, sometimes guys make very unlikely plays. It happens to every team. Ascribing the Ravens success to "luck" and the Patriots success to "skill" is just something to make you feel good before game day.

 

[Deus Irae]

Ya know, luck is a funny thing. Everybody here wants to talk about how lucky the Jones pass was. Nobody wants to say Sterling Moore's play last year or the missed chip shot FG was lucky, or that Denver was lucky to score two special teams TD's.

Truth is, sometimes guys make very unlikely plays. It happens to every team. Ascribing the Ravens success to "luck" and the Patriots success to "skill" is just something to make you feel good before game day.

On the touchdown pass that bailed out the Ravens, the Broncos' safety has already admitted that he screwed up by going for the INT instead of just doing his job. That's not the same as the Moore play (Moore did what he's taught to do in cases where he's beaten) or the FG kick (the kicker did what he's trained to do, but he just missed it). You're trying to set up a false equivalency where proper/improper execution is the same as a failure to put one's self in position to execute.

As for the ST issue, many of us have talked about that in various threads, both regarding the Ravens game and regarding the Patriots game.

 

[RayVNLewis]

Ravens VS Patriots.

History shows a very close game... no matter where played.

Ravens set and then broke a playoff offensive production record.. their defense is no longer all-world.

Patriots Offense is the Patriots Offense... been there done that.

The Key is if the Ravens pass-rush which has been very good of late can bother Brady enough to compensate for their overall defensive 'drop off' which is not as bad as claimed.. it depends on what stats you believe are relevant.. seasonal or last half.. last half including playoffs show the Ravens as a Top 10 defense and their Pass Rush as Top 5.

That will probably be enough with their improved Offense. A solid 450 yds/game Unit.

 

[Nunchucks]

I think it is fairly obvious that the deep pass is not just attributed to luck. However, there is a tried and true method to stop it, which is to put a safety over the top. In those cases, there is a high chance of the pass being incomplete or intercepted.

Now, the large and speedy Raven WRs might make a play on the ball even with a safety over the top.

But, lets not put Smith in the same breadth as hall of fame WR Randy Moss.

 

[Nunchucks]

No, the Patriots offense is not the "Patriots offense" of past years. This time the Patriots have a serious running game, which can take advantage of a Ravens defense that has been gashed by the run all year. The Patriots have not used a hurry up like the one they have used this year.

This Patriots offense is quite a different beast than past years.

 

[Deus Irae]

Ravens VS Patriots.

History shows a very close game... no matter where played.

Ravens set and then broke a playoff offensive production record.. their defense is no longer all-world.

Patriots Offense is the Patriots Offense... been there done that.

The Key is if the Ravens pass-rush which has been very good of late can bother Brady enough to compensate for their overall defensive 'drop off' which is not as bad as claimed.. it depends on what stats you believe are relevant.. seasonal or last half.. last half including playoffs show the Ravens as a Top 10 defense and their Pass Rush as Top 5.

That will probably be enough with their improved Offense. A solid 450 yds/game Unit.

Here's the question for Ravens fans. Given Belichick's history, it should be what this game is going to come down to:

Assuming the Patriots adjust to shut down the deep ball, can Flacco consistently take his team up and down the field?

 

[i82much]

On the touchdown pass that bailed out the Ravens, the Broncos' safety has already admitted that he screwed up by going for the INT instead of just doing his job. That's not the same as the Moore play (Moore did what he's taught to do in cases where he's beaten) or the FG kick (the kicker did what he's trained to do, but he just missed it). You're trying to set up a false equivalency where proper/improper execution is the same as a failure to put one's self in position to execute.

Split hairs much?

 

[Deus Irae]

Split hairs much?

I don't look at it that way. Then again, I'm not the one pretending a missed field goal by a kicker who season was bad enough to get him fired is luck. From 2009-2012, Cundiff has gone 31 for 42 on kicks from 30-39 yards, so you're talking about a guy who's making less than 75% of his kicks from that range in recent seasons.

It'd be a different story if we were talking about a Janikowski miss from inside of 40.

 

[Rob0729]

While it's true that Caldwell got too reliant on run-run-pass at the end of the game, that was not the case for most of the game, or the Colts or Giants games.

As for play calling, a few things are different. One, he's moved Flacco around in the pocket more. Two, we have been more aggressive on first and second down - that regressed in the two OT periods in Denver, but it's clear the offense has some new life with Caldwell as the OC.

Three - most importantly- Bryant McKinnie. If anyone is responsible for Flacco's improved play, that's the guy right there.

You can call it luck all you want, I guess. Whatever makes you feel good.

When did I ever say it is luck? I did say that Flacco throws some horrible deep ball passes that the WRs have to make great plays on to make the play. That isn't luck. It takes a lot of athletic ability for Smith and Boldin to catch some of the passes Flacco throws.

As for McKinnie, he defenitly has helped, but the one thing the Pats have which neither the Colts nor the Broncos have is an inside pass rush.

 

[i82much]

When did I ever say it is luck? I did say that Flacco throws some horrible deep ball passes that the WRs have to make great plays on to make the play. That isn't luck. It takes a lot of athletic ability for Smith and Boldin to catch some of the passes Flacco throws.

As for McKinnie, he defenitly has helped, but the one thing the Pats have which neither the Colts nor the Broncos have is an inside pass rush.

Ok - sorry, I took your comments the wrong way. A few other posters had suggested the Ravens were just lucky.

I do think if you watched more Ravens games you'd come to the conclusion that they have decided to intentionally underthrow some balls and let the receivers make a play. Really, it's happened quite a bit, and more of late. Back shoulder throws are one example.

Inside pash rush - good point. Birk isn't what he used to be, and even at his peak Wilfork would have been a handful. KO and Yanda are solid help, though. Jah Reid going down improved 3 different positions on the O line - left guard, left tackle, and right tackle.

Still - Wilfork, to me, is our biggest concern on offense. Very few defensive players can take over a game, Wilfork is one of them.

Hey, sounds like you might be a realistic person to talk to, thanks!

 

[RayVNLewis]

No, the Patriots offense is not the "Patriots offense" of past years. This time the Patriots have a serious running game, which can take advantage of a Ravens defense that has been gashed by the run all year. The Patriots have not used a hurry up like the one they have used this year.

This Patriots offense is quite a different beast than past years.

What is so serious about the Patriots running game this year ??

 

[Nunchucks]

What is so serious about the Patriots running game this year ??

Their commitment to the running game, its much more explosive and effective than in previous years. No team ever feared Benny.

 

[RayVNLewis]

Here's the question for Ravens fans. Given Belichick's history, it should be what this game is going to come down to:

Assuming the Patriots adjust to shut down the deep ball, can Flacco consistently take his team up and down the field?

Ravens are averaging 180+ yards rushing per game the last 6 games.. Caldwell is using more of the middle of the field now.. we have the Tight-Ends and a strong possession type receiver to do it.. don't see what about the Patriots Defense matches up that well in this category..

Unless they can generate a lot of pressure with only their front 4.. Flacco is more than capable once he is comfortable in the pocket to play the intermediate game.. Ray Rice, Boldin, Pitta, ****son are good targets.

 

[RayVNLewis]

Their commitment to the running game, its much more explosive and effective than in previous years. No team ever feared Benny.

What is the YPC of this new running force ?

 

[mayoclinic]

Denver gave up completions of 59 and 70 yards to the Ravens and a 32 yard run to Ray Rice. The Ravens had a 43 yard run against Indy and receptions of 47 and 50 yards.

In contrast, over the last 8 games the Pats have given up 1 completion over 50 yards (53 yards against Jacksonville) and 2 over 40 (a 47 yard TD pass to TY Hilton and Indy when the game was already a blowout). The longest offensive rushing play the Pats have given up all season has been 23 yards

The ratings of the opposing QBs in those 8 games:

- Andrew Luck: 63.3 (27/50, 324 yards, 2 TD, 3 INTs including 2 pick-6's)
- Mark Sanchez:94.8 (24/36, 301 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT)
- Ryan Tannehill: 66.2 (13/29, 186 yards, 0 TD, 0 INT)
- Matt Schaub: 68.8 (19/32, 232 yards, 0 TD, 1 INT)
- Colin Kaepernick:108.5 (14/25, 221 yards, 4 TD, 1 INT)
- Chad Henne: 59.9 (29/51, 348 yards, 1 TD, 3 INT)
- Ryan Tannehill: 65.8 (20/35, 235 yards, 0 TD, 1 iNT)
- Matt Schaub: 90.6 (34/51, 343 yards, 2 TD, 1 INT)

One other thing to note. Though Baltimore has produced some huge big plays in the past 2 games, they haven't been good at moving the chains. They were 4-10 on 3rd down against Indy and produced only 18 1st downs, and they were 7-17 against Denver with only 21 first downs in 5+ quarters of football. That's not particularly impressive. They are a big play offense, not a move the chains offense, and they are going up against a defense that has excelled over the past 8 games at limited the big play and at getting off the field on 3rd down (33% opponent conversion rate over that period). So it will be interesting to see how things play out on Sunday.

 

[Nunchucks]

What is the YPC of this new running force ?

32.7 attempts per game, 4.2 average.

 

[patfanken]

Ravens are averaging 180+ yards rushing per game the last 6 games.. Caldwell is using more of the middle of the field now.. we have the Tight-Ends and a strong possession type receiver to do it.. don't see what about the Patriots Defense matches up that well in this category..

Unless they can generate a lot of pressure with only their front 4.. Flacco is more than capable once he is comfortable in the pocket to play the intermediate game.. Ray Rice, Boldin, Pitta, ****son are good targets.

please explain Flacco's sub 60% completion rate in the last 2 games, and his inability to execute any sustained drives.

From this casual observer the "new and explosive" Ravens offense is just giving the ball to Ray Rice, and then have Flacco throw up a bunch of prayers and hope that his receivers or the refs bail him out. No question its worked so far, but that is NOT a sustainable offensive plan for the long haul, and won't win you this game coming up.

 

[Dscola]

Here's the question for Ravens fans. Given Belichick's history, it should be what this game is going to come down to:

Assuming the Patriots adjust to shut down the deep ball, can Flacco consistently take his team up and down the field?

The Ravens still have a very good possesion receiver in Anquan, 2 very good tight ends, and Ray Rice as pass catchers. It's not like they just line up and chuck it deep every play. If it's there, they'll go for it. If not, settle for a shorter play.