Ravens Week

[Patspsycho]

Side note, and speaking of getting off blocks, Spikes has already mastered that. Seriously. Watch him in the next game. I got a nice view of him in Miami and he's already a pro in that area. Every time Miami would put a lineman on him, that lineman was on the ground within a second. Spikes just needs to improve in coverage, hone in his instincts (which won't take that long since they're already pretty good), and improve in coverage, and we have our SILB for well into the future.

The only knock I have on Spikes is his hunger to be a playmaker with a one-gapping mentality. He is in a different system and needs to evolve into a two-gapping playmaker. I don't blame him for jumping the gun, after all he is a playmaker- but he has to find a way to let the game come to him instead of trying to go to it- and this is why he has those problems with play actions because our system isn't build to compensate for the holes he leaves behind when shooting gaps, however unintentionally.

 

[BradyFTW!]

This was one thing that I was most impressed about at the game. Mayo was coming off of blocks like nobody's business. As a matter of fact, I wouldn't hesitate for a second to say that he was unblockable in that game. And I've been harder than most on his ability to shed blocks. If he can do that consistently, he won't be stopped. We'll see. This weekend's game brings up a huge test for him. He was taken out of the game rather easily in the Wild Card game last season, and I'd imagine that that left a bad taste in his mouth.

Side note, and speaking of getting off blocks, Spikes has already mastered that. Seriously. Watch him in the next game. I got a nice view of him in Miami and he's already a pro in that area. Every time Miami would put a lineman on him, that lineman was on the ground within a second. Spikes just needs to improve in coverage, hone in his instincts (which won't take that long since they're already pretty good), and improve in coverage, and we have our SILB for well into the future.

Good to talk football again.

The point re: Mayo was my #1 takeaway from re-watching the Dolphins game too. It was seriously a sight to behold.

 

[ALP]

Only our sub D is terrible against the PA because the linebackers keep getting sucked in. This was a problem in the 24 nickel because DBs were in cover 0. I expect to see us in our base for a great deal of the game.

We saw quite a bit of improvements in the Miami game. Mayo has finally got the hang of two-gapping and is shedding blocks like he never has- this is why he got a high of 16 tackles. I think we will see a lot less of G. Warren because he is a liability against the run- and more of Brace, who I saw shed a double team to kill a run play, in the 4th quarter.

Like shirtsleeve says, expect a lot more under center snaps from Brady, so no worries on having to "protect him" for the Ravens game.

I predicted a big win in Miami and I predicted it wouldn't even be close, and I mentioned elsewhere that this would be a cornerstone victory, and a massive psychological victory, because it'd come on Monday Night Football.

I'm going to predict that we run the table on the next four games. First, we will see a psychologically different D, and one that is confident and more self-trusting, and far more self-corrected (since we're doing a lot of self-scouting during the bye). Two, We are going to come out with a fundamentally different offense (after the bye) that we will get away with for the next 2-3 games, because that is the reasonable amount of time before opposing DC's have enough tape to break those games down down to the point where they can start to find flaws. Fourth game is in Cleveland and I think we can handle that one.

dude, your pumping me up WAY too early into the week

 

[patsfaninpa]

This was one thing that I was most impressed about at the game. Mayo was coming off of blocks like nobody's business. As a matter of fact, I wouldn't hesitate for a second to say that he was unblockable in that game. And I've been harder than most on his ability to shed blocks. If he can do that consistently, he won't be stopped. We'll see. This weekend's game brings up a huge test for him. He was taken out of the game rather easily in the Wild Card game last season, and I'd imagine that that left a bad taste in his mouth.

Side note, and speaking of getting off blocks, Spikes has already mastered that. Seriously. Watch him in the next game. I got a nice view of him in Miami and he's already a pro in that area. Every time Miami would put a lineman on him, that lineman was on the ground within a second. Spikes just needs to improve in coverage, hone in his instincts (which won't take that long since they're already pretty good), and improve in coverage, and we have our SILB for well into the future.

Good to talk football again.

The Dynamic Duo. We are starting to piece together a pretty good defense. I like what I've seen from Chung and McCourty in the secondary. No surprise that Chung mentioned he worked harder studying the playbook and hard work considered a big part of McCourty's make-up going into the draft. Not sure what to make of Ron Brace and Darius Butler. Not writing them off. There's a long list of young cb's who have struggled early in their NFL career and developed into good players. Need Meriweather to get with the program now. Return to health next year for Ty Warren and Leigh Bodden. Let's draft a pass-rushing olb and a 3-4 de. The mad scientist might have something to work with next year.

 

[PatsFanSince74]

Immediately after the Dolphins' game and before the Moss trade, I had the Ravens game in my mind as a tough, three to seven point Patriots' win, given that we're at home after a bye and adding in just a bit of a "revenge factor" after January's embarrassing loss.

Assuming that Brady is starting on Sunday and in the spirit of "In BB I trust," I'm not moving off that prediction. But, I must admit that I will be watching anxiously.

 

[KoolAid]

Immediately after the Dolphins' game and before the Moss trade, I had the Ravens game in my mind as a tough, three to seven point Patriots' win, given that we're at home after a bye and adding in just a bit of a "revenge factor" after January's embarrassing loss.

Assuming that Brady is starting on Sunday and in the spirit of "In BB I trust," I'm not moving off that prediction. But, I must admit that I will be watching anxiously.

You have to admit, the Ravens are a good first test to try out the Moss-less offense. If they move the ball well and score points on the birds, I will be optimistic.

In a weird way it seems like it would be very tough to game plan against the Pats w/o Moss. I hope Brady gets to take a few shots deep to Tate to keep them honest. I hope SeaBass and Light have their big-boy pants on also!

 

[PowerRunRevival]

I expect more screens, draws and creative plays in the first week without Moss. The Ravens this year have not been that good against the run so I think we will see a decent amount of the Law firm. I am extremely interested in seeing what the offense looks like without Moss.

I think that the Patriots load up the box and force Flacco to beat them. If we can stop the run we win.

Does anyone know if Ed Reed will be back for the game against us?

 

[PatsFanSince74]

You have to admit, the Ravens are a good first test to try out the Moss-less offense. If they move the ball well and score points on the birds, I will be optimistic.

In a weird way it seems like it would be very tough to game plan against the Pats w/o Moss. I hope Brady gets to take a few shots deep to Tate to keep them honest. I hope SeaBass and Light have their big-boy pants on also!

Good point in your second paragraph. I expect BB to come up with a couple of wrinkles in the Offense to get the Ravens off their game plan in the beginning. If it settles down to eight in the box and the Ravens daring the Pats to run or throw across the middle, it could be a long afternoon.

 

[PatsDeb]

So, in keeping with this thread, how do you think the Pats come out in this game on offense? Do you think they should defer receiving until the 2nd half if they win the toss (I am not asking if they WILL defer receiving, because they always do). I bet it will be five wide, but maybe with the TEs all on the field, so that they can go right to the passing game and show everyone they are not afraid.

They may even do something maddening like throw deep to Tate on the first play.

What say you?

 

[TheComeback]

Only our sub D is terrible against the PA because the linebackers keep getting sucked in. This was a problem in the 24 nickel because DBs were in cover 0. I expect to see us in our base for a great deal of the game.

We saw quite a bit of improvements in the Miami game. Mayo has finally got the hang of two-gapping and is shedding blocks like he never has- this is why he got a high of 16 tackles. I think we will see a lot less of G. Warren because he is a liability against the run- and more of Brace, who I saw shed a double team to kill a run play, in the 4th quarter.

The other thing I've noticed about Mayo is how much smarter he's gotten as a player--lining up the defense and making adjustments when QBs audible. A couple of times this year I've seen a QB try to make a call, only to see Mayo counter with his own call, giving the QB a kind of "wtf?" look on his face. Especially seem to remember that happening in the Saints game in preseason.

I don't think other teams realize how smart this guy is, and the more experience he gets, the smarter he'll be. This year he really seems to be getting it when it comes to running an NFL defense.

 

[PatsDeb]

I expect more screens, draws and creative plays in the first week without Moss. The Ravens this year have not been that good against the run so I think we will see a decent amount of the Law firm. I am extremely interested in seeing what the offense looks like without Moss.

I think that the Patriots load up the box and force Flacco to beat them. If we can stop the run we win.

Does anyone know if Ed Reed will be back for the game against us?

I think Reed is out indefinitely, so no, he will not be playing (which is good for us).

 

[Dutchmaster617]

I want to see Price getting looks out there and we should utilize Woody in the passing game, those two should make it easy for Tom out there, he has done it time and time again against BAL/PIT before Moss.

 

[RelocatedPatFan]

So, in keeping with this thread, how do you think the Pats come out in this game on offense? Do you think they should defer receiving until the 2nd half if they win the toss (I am not asking if they WILL defer receiving, because they always do). I bet it will be five wide, but maybe with the TEs all on the field, so that they can go right to the passing game and show everyone they are not afraid.

They may even do something maddening like throw deep to Tate on the first play.

What say you?

I'd say the Ravens will probably review footage from before 2007 on how we might come out and play the game. So, I would recommend we stick to the original game plan (thinking they are working the short to intyermediate passing game) and once that's established, go for the pump fake and try the long ball out (maybe by the 3rd/4th series).

And it might throw the Ravens off if we didn't defer, but I know what you mean. Sometimes, it seems like we would be best served by leading with the offense.

 

[convertedpatsfan]

I think Reed is out indefinitely, so no, he will not be playing (which is good for us).

I think we actually lucked out because the Ravens placed Reed on the PUP list, so he cannot play until week 7. Reports indicate he recovered a lot quicker than anticipated, and even lobbied the NFLPA to try and get the mandatory PUP stint reduced so he could play. He may be healthy enough to play against us, but due to the PUP, cannot.

 

[PatsDeb]

I think we actually lucked out because the Ravens placed Reed on the PUP list, so he cannot play until week 7. Reports indicate he recovered a lot quicker than anticipated, and even lobbied the NFLPA to try and get the mandatory PUP stint reduced so he could play. He may be healthy enough to play against us, but due to the PUP, cannot.

Awesome. I didn't know he was ready to come back. Thank you PUP!

 

[emoney_33]

I expect more screens, draws and creative plays in the first week without Moss. The Ravens this year have not been that good against the run so I think we will see a decent amount of the Law firm. I am extremely interested in seeing what the offense looks like without Moss.

I think that the Patriots load up the box and force Flacco to beat them. If we can stop the run we win.

Does anyone know if Ed Reed will be back for the game against us?

Shows I haven't paid great attention to the Ravens this year, if their run defense is slacking this year I expect a nice balanced gameplan and hopefully LawFirm keeps picking up those tough yards

 

[emoney_33]

The other thing I've noticed about Mayo is how much smarter he's gotten as a player--lining up the defense and making adjustments when QBs audible. A couple of times this year I've seen a QB try to make a call, only to see Mayo counter with his own call, giving the QB a kind of "wtf?" look on his face. Especially seem to remember that happening in the Saints game in preseason.

I don't think other teams realize how smart this guy is, and the more experience he gets, the smarter he'll be. This year he really seems to be getting it when it comes to running an NFL defense.

You guys are really making it difficult to temper my high hopes for Mayo

 

[PatsDeb]

Shows I haven't paid great attention to the Ravens this year, if their run defense is slacking this year I expect a nice balanced gameplan and hopefully LawFirm keeps picking up those tough yards

I'm not sure their run D is lacking. Didn't Denver only get about 50 yds on the ground yesterday (of course, we know part of that is Denver's personnel ) and the Jets couldn't do anything against them on the ground in Week 1. I would still say the Lawfirm is going to have a tough time against them, unless our passing game really gets going early so that they have to put more DBs in.

 

[kkpat]

Only our sub D is terrible against the PA because the linebackers keep getting sucked in. This was a problem in the 24 nickel because DBs were in cover 0. I expect to see us in our base for a great deal of the game.

We saw quite a bit of improvements in the Miami game. Mayo has finally got the hang of two-gapping and is shedding blocks like he never has- this is why he got a high of 16 tackles. I think we will see a lot less of G. Warren because he is a liability against the run- and more of Brace, who I saw shed a double team to kill a run play, in the 4th quarter.

Like shirtsleeve says, expect a lot more under center snaps from Brady, so no worries on having to "protect him" for the Ravens game.

I predicted a big win in Miami and I predicted it wouldn't even be close, and I mentioned elsewhere that this would be a cornerstone victory, and a massive psychological victory, because it'd come on Monday Night Football.

I'm going to predict that we run the table on the next four games. First, we will see a psychologically different D, and one that is confident and more self-trusting, and far more self-corrected (since we're doing a lot of self-scouting during the bye). Two, We are going to come out with a fundamentally different offense (after the bye) that we will get away with for the next 2-3 games, because that is the reasonable amount of time before opposing DC's have enough tape to break those games down down to the point where they can start to find flaws. Fourth game is in Cleveland and I think we can handle that one.

Keeping my fingers crossed and hoping you are 100% right.

Watched Colts-Chiefs game. They were able to contain the Manning to 19 (only 1 TD) in the dome.

Wondering if Crennel as DC would have helped this young defense

 

[PatsDeb]

Keeping my fingers crossed and hoping you are 100% right.

Watched Colts-Chiefs game. They were able to contain the Manning to 19 (only 1 TD) in the dome.

Wondering if Crennel as DC would have helped this young defense

I'm positive RAC would have helped us. I was sitting there yesterday thinking, "Wow, it wasn't necessarily the Pats who had Manning's number in 2001-2004, it was RAC."