Ravens Week Discussion

[TruthSeeker]

Not sure that's a rational assessment. Our OL has yet to prove it can handle pressure up the middle particularly when combined with well disguised blitzing. Bill stated on Monday that Baltimore's front 7 is the best we will face and better talent wise than the JETS who needed Rex's exotic blitz schemes to create sufficient pressure. Baltimore can bring it with or without the blitz. The OL performed much better on Sunday against the kind of pressure they are accustomed to dealing with...a lighter front rushing only 3 or 4 and a lone outside threat speed rusher. On the bright side their secondary is their weaker link although Ed Reed is something of an equalizer to put it mildly. Moss should be able to get open deep if Brady can remain upright long enough. If they can connect early it will force Reed deep and give Brady the underneath stuff with lots of weapons (slot, TE, RB) to hit. The other key for us will be red zone performance. If we continue to stall it will be a long freakin' afternoon.

When two elite teams meet the battle is usually won or lost in the trenches. I think it will be tough sledding for either team on the ground. We have a deeper overall secondary but absent an effective pass rush they will also be tested. Flacco is more mobile than Ryan and mobile QB's can give us fits.

ST will be anpther key and we need better returns as well as better coverage. I hope Welker and Maroney are both active for that reason alone. We need to limit penalties as we did Sunday and continue to limit turnovers. If we win that battle it will be huge.

This team played us tough in 2007 when Brady and this offense were in perfect synch and their QB was a raw rookie running a limited playbook. They've lost a DC and LB since while we lost a year of Brady in this offense as well as our OC, and while we've added weapons on paper they have yet to show they can perform/execute as a unit consistently while Flacco and the Ravens have clearly shown they now at least have an offense beyond on the ground.

If we can meet this challenge early in the season I think we hit the bye at 6-1 and just get better as the days get shorter because historically, barring injury, that is what Belichick teams do. In fact it's what the iron of this conference has pretty consistently done over the last several seasons (NE, Indy, Pittsburgh). Baltimore and the NYJ are off to mid season form starts, but their HC/organizations don't have a track record of maintaining or improving on that form down the stretch or into the second season...

Nice post.

 

[Baltimorefan06]

Bfan, What do you do with the Ravens?

Honestly, don't treat me like I take personal pride in what a team does as if it reflects my own efforts.

Do any of my posts indicate that?

 

[52decleetzu]

Honestly, don't treat me like I take personal pride in what a team does as if it reflects my own efforts.

Do any of my posts indicate that?

Some people do not like the fact you use "we" when referring to the team.

Nothing more than that who cares.

Here is a bunch of links for you guys.........

Ravens to opposing defenses: Take offense -- baltimoresun.com

Ravens secondary gets down to business -- baltimoresun.com

Carroll County Times: Westminster, Maryland

Carroll County Times: Westminster, Maryland

Carroll County Times: Westminster, Maryland

 

[H8R]

One point inwhich isn't being brought up is the fact that Sanchez had plenty of time to throw the ball and he did fairly well of driving down the field when needed. The Pats, have not really had much of a pass rush (not even looking at sacks, but QB hurries) How does this come into play against Baltimore? Well, the Ravens have a BETTER offense , better QB, better O line, better running backs and probably equal WR's. You think we wont move the ball better then the Jets? I'm pretty certain we will. Lets not forget that it took a FUMBLE and a stroke of luck to win that game over Buffalo... WITH TRENT EDWARDS AS THE QB. I think the Ravens are a notch above the Bills and the Jets. . Don't dog us for giving up 26 to the Chargers, the Bills put up 24 in YOUR house.


We have both had 2 easy games and one hard game IMO. Now, Wild Card teams will be seperated from the division winners and this may determine HFA!

 

[mayoclinic]

One point inwhich isn't being brought up is the fact that Sanchez had plenty of time to throw the ball and he did fairly well of driving down the field when needed. The Pats, have not really had much of a pass rush (not even looking at sacks, but QB hurries) How does this come into play against Baltimore? Well, the Ravens have a BETTER offense , better QB, better O line, better running backs and probably equal WR's. You think we wont move the ball better then the Jets? I'm pretty certain we will. Lets not forget that it took a FUMBLE and a stroke of luck to win that game over Buffalo... WITH TRENT EDWARDS AS THE QB. I think the Ravens are a notch above the Bills and the Jets. .
We have both had 2 easy games and one hard game IMO. Now, Wild Card teams will be seperated from the division winners and this may determine HFA!

I wouldn't call Atlanta an "easy game". They were undefeated when we faced them, were a playoff team last year, and were favored by many. KC (without Cassel) and Cleveland are both bottom 10 teams.

 

[H8R]

I wouldn't call Atlanta an "easy game". They were undefeated when we faced them, were a playoff team last year, and were favored by many. KC (without Cassel) and Cleveland are both bottom 10 teams.

Atlanta was a product of a weak schedule last year, they were bounced hard in the first round. I do agree that Cleve. and KC are junk. You have to play the teams that are on the schedule though, right? The underlying fact though is, last year means nothing. How is last year working out for the Titans or Cards or Dolphins? Not soo well. Either way the batlle will be fought in the trenches, and the team with the least amount of mistakes will win!

 

[patsfaninpittsburgh]

One point inwhich isn't being brought up is the fact that Sanchez had plenty of time to throw the ball and he did fairly well of driving down the field when needed. The Pats, have not really had much of a pass rush (not even looking at sacks, but QB hurries) How does this come into play against Baltimore? Well, the Ravens have a BETTER offense , better QB, better O line, better running backs and probably equal WR's. You think we wont move the ball better then the Jets? I'm pretty certain we will. Lets not forget that it took a FUMBLE and a stroke of luck to win that game over Buffalo... WITH TRENT EDWARDS AS THE QB. I think the Ravens are a notch above the Bills and the Jets. . Don't dog us for giving up 26 to the Chargers, the Bills put up 24 in YOUR house.


We have both had 2 easy games and one hard game IMO. Now, Wild Card teams will be seperated from the division winners and this may determine HFA!

The problem with your thesis is that the Ravens are not a notch above the Falcons.

The Bills/Jets/Falcons all score 17 or less with around 250 yards offense. By NFL standards, that's hardly "moving the ball". The Bills were also mightily helped with two bogus roughing the passer calls.

An example of a defense getting run over was week two in San Diego.

 

[JSn]

Reiss just posted (on Twitter) the practice squad players of the week. That means, the guys who did the best job on the scout team prepping the first team for the opponent.

That's got me thinking... any bets on P. Burgess winning such a title next week?

 

[52decleetzu]

The problem with your thesis is that the Ravens are not a notch above the Falcons.

The Bills/Jets/Falcons all score 17 or less with around 250 yards offense. By NFL standards, that's hardly "moving the ball". The Bills were also mightily helped with two bogus roughing the passer calls.

An example of a defense getting run over was week two in San Diego.

Your right we are not a notch above, we are WAY above the Falcons right now. It is not even close as a matter of fact.

Atlanta was a product of a weak schedule last year, they were bounced hard in the first round. I do agree that Cleve. and KC are junk. You have to play the teams that are on the schedule though, right? The underlying fact though is, last year means nothing. How is last year working out for the Titans or Cards or Dolphins? Not soo well. Either way the batlle will be fought in the trenches, and the team with the least amount of mistakes will win!

I crunch some numbers ever week and purely by stats Atlanta ranked 21st, right behind the 0-3 Titans. They are highly overrated, at least at this point in the season.

Right now they are just not that good on either side of the ball, 20th and 21st respectively on offense and defense.

 

[patsfaninpittsburgh]

Your right we are not a notch above, we are WAY above the Falcons right now. It is not even close as a matter of fact.




I crunch some numbers ever week and purely by stats Atlanta ranked 21st, right behind the 0-3 Titans. They are highly overrated, at least at this point in the season.

Right now they are just not that good on either side of the ball, 20th and 21st respectively on offense and defense.

As they say, stats are for idiots. Your "stats" are helped just a wee little when you play Cleveland/ Kansas City in two of your first three games.

Also, no you are not "way higher" than Atlanta.

 

[RabbidRvnFan]

The problem with your thesis is that the Ravens are not a notch above the Falcons.

The Bills/Jets/Falcons all score 17 or less with around 250 yards offense. By NFL standards, that's hardly "moving the ball". The Bills were also mightily helped with two bogus roughing the passer calls.

An example of a defense getting run over was week two in San Diego.

While I'll admit the SD was not a great game defensive wise, a lot of it was the result of being outmanned at the CB spot, River literally chucked the ball down the field and their huge WR's just out-muscled the DB's. The defense came through went it counted the most keeping them out of the endzone 3 times.

 

[52decleetzu]

As they say, stats are for idiots. Your "stats" are helped just a wee little when you play Cleveland/ Kansas City in two of your first three games.

Also, no you are not "way higher" than Atlanta.

We are better at almost every position, some by a mile. Throw the stats out the window if you like.

So yes, we are.

You will see that on Sunday.

 

[Deus Irae]

We are better at almost every position, some by a mile.

So yes, we are.

You will see that on Sunday.

Not necessarily. Styles make fights, and they also make a big difference on the football field.

 

[BionicPatriot]

While I'll admit the SD was not a great game defensive wise, a lot of it was the result of being outmanned at the CB spot, River literally chucked the ball down the field and their huge WR's just out-muscled the DB's. The defense came through went it counted the most keeping them out of the endzone 3 times.

Sounds like a match made in heaven for Moss.

 

[52decleetzu]

Not necessarily. Styles make fights, and they also make a big difference on the football field.

And talent wins football games.

And we have way more than Atlanta.

Atlanta had a nice little run last year, but they are nowhere near what the Ravens have been building over the last few years. Our QB was just the cherry on top, while their QB was one of the first pieces in the puzzle to building a championship team.

Scheme is important only up to a point, you need good players to win games.

We have MANY more of those than Atlanta right now, if anyone wants me to go down the list I will be more than happy to.

The game is won in the trenches, and Atlanta is deficient there on both sides of the ball especially with the loss of Jerry at DT. Our offensive and defensive lines make theirs look like a college team. That is a fact.

 

[jmt57]

Patriots: Ravens a real test by Glen Farley of the MetroWest Daily News

Granted, two of their victories have been against the true have-nots in the NFL today - a woeful Kansas City team and a Cleveland Browns team that sure looks determined to make a run at the Detroit Lions' 0-16 finish of a year ago - but the Ravens also boast a quality win at San Diego in their only road trip thus far.

If you think these are Ray Lewis' Ravens, well, they still are, but they're no longer those Baltimore teams of yesteryear that won by having their quarterbacks simply manage the game.

Thanks for the memories, Trent Dilfer.

You can say farewell to the likes of Tony Banks, Jeff Blake, Chris Redman, Anthony Wright and Kyle Boller as well.

Averaging 34.3 points per game, the Ravens rank second in the NFL, behind only the Saints, who at 40 points per game are on pace to erase the name of the 2007 Patriots from the league's record book. Averaging 430.3 yards in total offense per game, the Ravens are again second in the league only to the Saints.

With Ray Rice and Willis McGahee sharing the load, the Ravens are averaging 156.7 yards per game on the ground, fourth best in the league.

With Joe Flacco throwing the ball (a career-high 342 yards in Sunday's 34-3 rout of the Browns), the Ravens are averaging 273.7 yards per game through the air, fifth best in the league.

Defensively, the Ravens are yielding 17.7 PPG, just one point per game more than the Patriots. Surrendering 282.7 yards per game, the Ravens rank eighth in the league in team defense.

Patriots D-brief Jet loss for help by Ian Rapoport of the Boston Herald

“If Ed Reed is not one of the best football playing dudes out there,” Light said, “I don’t know who is.”

As for Lewis, he’s getting on in years, but coaches see little dropoff.

“Ray plays with such passion and such energy,” Patriots director of player personnel Nick Caserio said. “He’s around the ball a lot. He runs well. He’s instinctive. He makes a lot of plays.”

Belichick said scheme is the basis for preparation because “you want to know what the other team is doing.” But it’s the players who jump out on film.

“They have (talent) everywhere,” Belichick said. “That’s what really makes them a good defensive football team. In the end whoever’s up there on the line of scrimmage, you have to block them, and whatever pass patterns you’re running, they’re going to have somebody cover them. In the running game, you’re going to have to block them and find some holes to run in.”

 

[weswelker#83]

Brendon Ayanbadjo named AFC Defensive Player of the Week.
Against the Cleveland Browns, Ayanbadejo recorded six tackles, one of which for a loss, a sack, and an interception.

 

[bostonia3333]

The Pats look better on paper, but that's why they play the game. This game will probably go overtime--the teams have been mirror images of each other this year both offensively and defensively. Home field advantage is not an issue in this game because Pats fans are generally on the quieter side.

The Ravens defense isn't the unit it once was, but they cannot be ignored and experience is on their side. The Pats defensively aren't intimidating as a unit, but they have gotten the job done against 3 pretty good opponents. Pats can stop the run well(88yds per gm given up), the Ravens are impenetrable against the run(51 yds per gm given up). I think the Ravens will make the mistake of not committing to the run against the Pats and become a bit pass happy. As usual, the Pats will throw 40 plus times knowing the Ravens are giving up a miniscule 3 yds per rush---this game will become all about the quarterback play. The Ravens defense looks a bit softer against the pass than before---I have no doubt the Pats will move the chains against the Ravens D. To compare the Ravens D with the Jets D is a bit foolish, because the Jets are spectacular against the pass and are close to tops in the NFL statistically in that category. The Jets have a guy to shutdown Moss, which the Ravens clearly don't have. But will the Pats make the most out of their red zone opportunities? Hard to say yes to that. The Ravens pass defense has been surprisingly suspect this year. They are giving up 7.7 yds per pass, which is tied with the Pats, so to think this team will shut down Brady and co is wishful thinking. But the Pats won't stop Flacco either, who has been lights out this year. What I think the Ravens will lack this year and in this game is red zone efficiency--they will chew up lots of yards, but when space is limited inside the red zone area, they simply don't have the receiving core to be elite. I could be wrong, but that's my hunch. The Pats have the red zone personnel to be successful, but they've been HORRIBLE this year so far--that's why this game is going to be extremely close.

So all in all, your gonna have a game with both qbs having lots of time to throw, lots of underneath completions, little running games on both sides, and no turnovers because these aren't ball-hawking defenses. This has the potential of being a shootout game in the 30s depending on weather. But I think both teams are gonna be inefficient with red zone opportunities. So the first OT game of the year for the Pats goes to the home team:


Pats 23
Ravens 20

OT

 

[patsfaninpittsburgh]

While I'll admit the SD was not a great game defensive wise, a lot of it was the result of being outmanned at the CB spot, River literally chucked the ball down the field and their huge WR's just out-muscled the DB's. The defense came through went it counted the most keeping them out of the endzone 3 times.

Any team that goes cross country and earns a victory has earned a "quality" victory. That what makes week 4 matchups so tough. Every aspect of the game can have a "yeah but...."

However, I would say our win against Atlanta, your win in San Diego along with Saints over Philly/ Giants over Cowboys are the four impressive victories so far this season.

I really wish this game was played later in the season. This would give both teams time to gel and we could see where we stand. it's nice that the league scheduled the two Steelers games late this year.

 

[Deus Irae]

And talent wins football games.

And we have way more than Atlanta.

Atlanta had a nice little run last year, but they are nowhere near what the Ravens have been building over the last few years. Our QB was just the cherry on top, while their QB was one of the first pieces in the puzzle to building a championship team.

Scheme is important only up to a point, you need good players to win games.

We have MANY more of those than Atlanta right now, if anyone wants me to go down the list I will be more than happy to.

The game is won in the trenches, and Atlanta is deficient there on both sides of the ball especially with the loss of Jerry at DT. Our offensive and defensive lines make theirs look like a college team. That is a fact.

New England had more talent than the Giants in 2007. That didn't win the Super Bowl. Buffalo had more talent than the Giants on the day Scott Norwood became a human punchline. That didn't win the Super Bowl.

Pittsburgh has lost to Chicago and the Bengals.
New Orleans crushed the Eagles
Detroit beat Washington
The Jets beat the Patriots

It's not just talent. Timing matters (injuries, bye weeks, etc...), and styles matter as well.