Ravens Week

[emoney_33]

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.

Yeah you are probably right, I suppose it's mainly Peyton Hillis' big game that is skewing the overall 4.2 YPC they've given up.

 

[Tucker in M & T Sec. 527]

Ravens Season ticket holder here. New member. Attended the Oct. reg season game and Wild Card game ( OUCH - sorry bout that:bricks last year w/ my brother-in-law & his crew out of Easthampton MA. Good times: tailgating in the Club parking lot on the Rt. 1 side, not a bad seat in the Upper Level, knowledgeable welcoming home team fans, etc. Was a little cold in Jan last year

Sunday is gonna be a big test for the Ravens as the Pats always are. Less worried about our secondary than I was in training camp. Fabian Washington had his best game as a Raven yesterday v. Denver (though he's had some awful ones in 3 yrs), He and Ladarius Webb (watch out for this kid!) have both come back from ACL injuries last year, as has Welker (w/o whom you guys are a different team). Looks like sports medicine has figured out what to do in these cases. Those 2 guys mentioned are our speed cover CBs w/ Foxworth out for the year; sure am glad they don't have to cover Moss deep! They'll be mismatched against Hernandez, though. Chris Carr has also stepped up this season @ CB, playing well on the outside despite having been a scrappy slot nickle back for most of his time w/ us. Josh Wilson (ex-Seattle) also saw his 1st extensive action @ CB vs. Denver.

We LOVE Ed Reed, he'll be back after our bye (wk 8), but his greatest value at this stage in his carrer is in film study and QB-ing the D. He does his damage jumping routes, anticipating qb's decisions and getting in their heads. Which is a win some [big], lose some deal. The secondary is more disciplined if less exciting w/o him. the remaining safeties (Zbikowski & Landry) are harder hitters than Reed at this point, who noticeably arm tackled last year (favoring a nerve impinged neck, we think). The 3rd (Nakamura) is used as a nickle/dime back. We also carry Ken Hamlin (ex-Dallas). Our safeties looked bad in Cover 2 vs. Denver (that's how they scored their 2 passing TDs). Shhhh, Don't tell Brady. But the key to our secondary is getting good pressure on the QB. We gave [a possibly washed up?] Carson Palmer all day for the 3rd straight meeting, even gave Batch (Pitts.), Wallace (Clev.), & Orton too much time. Since Fat Rex left and Greg Mattison became DC, we've tried to get pass rush primarily from our DL and not "organized chaos" blitz packages. Hope we bring it on Tom Brady - that helped him lose interest last Jan.

On offense, Ricey had his best 2010 game vs. Denver last week (no surprise). He dinged his knee wk 3, but it's better now. Our OL was forced to rearrange the 1st week of Sept., thanks to the self-styled "injury hold-out" of one Drew Rosenhaus-represented, big-potential, big-d***head, piece of poop named Jared Gaither (the guy who left on the back board last Oct. btw) who sulked & developed mysterious back, foot, and [lost] weight problems when moved we moved Oher (of "Blindside" fame) to LT and Gaither to RT. Did he not see the movie? Oher is an LT - Michael Lewis' and Sandra Bullock's call, not Harbaugh's Pulled the same sh** at Univ. Maryland before flunking out after soph. year and entering supplemental draft. Anyone interested in 300+ lbs. of manure for fall fertilizing please inquire Sunday at the Ravens' bench. Priced to go.

If this somewhat patch-work OL holds (and we're hoping it does vs. your rebuilding D) and gives Flacco time, we may have an old fashioned shootout on Sunday. Flacco is figuring out how to use the embarrassment of riches he has never before had. Looking forward to a good game played by the players, not the refs. Look for my blue Sienna mini-van w. Ravens (and Pats) flags, just over the service road between ther Club lot & the shopping center. Mention this post for a complimentary Natty Boh beer and/or shot of Maryland rye whiskey. Aloha Go Ravens!

 

[Patspsycho]

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 bet that we are going to see more bunch, stacks and trips with a wide variety of weaves coming out of the stems on hot reads (technically you'd call those pick plays). They ran two of those for Welker last week where he got significant gains.

 

[reflexblue]

The base 3-4, two gap alignment was originally engineered this way by Chuck Fairbanks to stop the run first. That said, I do expect some run blitzes by the safeties and some stacking the box.

On offense, I am concerned about how the right side of the line will be in protection. SeaBass did not distinguish himself in Miami.

I think Seabass was/is hurt. It was good that the bye came when it did, hopefully it helped him heal up enough.

 

[NYCPatsFan]

Ravens Season ticket holder here. New member. Attended the Oct. reg season game and Wild Card game ( OUCH - sorry bout that:bricks last year w/ my brother-in-law & his crew out of Easthampton MA. Good times: tailgating in the Club parking lot on the Rt. 1 side, not a bad seat in the Upper Level, knowledgeable welcoming home team fans, etc. Was a little cold in Jan last year

Sunday is gonna be a big test for the Ravens as the Pats always are. .....

Flacco is figuring out how to use the embarrassment of riches he has never before had. Looking forward to a good game played by the players, not the refs. Look for my blue Sienna mini-van w. Ravens (and Pats) flags, just over the service road between ther Club lot & the shopping center. Mention this post for a complimentary Natty Boh beer and/or shot of Maryland rye whiskey. Aloha Go Ravens!

Welcome! And thanks for the nice round of intro's to the players.

Hope you have a great time at the game and please pray that the result is different than the last time you were here.

 

[Patspsycho]

I think Seabass was/is hurt. It was good that the bye came when it did, hopefully it helped him heal up enough.

He wasn't hurt, just had a lot of trouble with the small, speedy Wake.

 

[reflexblue]

He wasn't hurt, just had a lot of trouble with the small, speedy Wake.

I thought he got hurt in the Buffalo game, he came off and was replaced for a couple of series. While i don't think it was serious, maybe it was enough to slow him down a tad. Then again maybe i'm wrong and he wasn't hurt at all, but he had no problem last year with Freeny whose a speed rusher. Although he was playing LT in that game.

 

[convertedpatsfan]

Ravens Season ticket holder here. New member. Attended the Oct. reg season game and Wild Card game ( OUCH - sorry bout that:bricks last year w/ my brother-in-law & his crew out of Easthampton MA. Good times: tailgating in the Club parking lot on the Rt. 1 side, not a bad seat in the Upper Level, knowledgeable welcoming home team fans, etc. Was a little cold in Jan last year

Sunday is gonna be a big test for the Ravens as the Pats always are. Less worried about our secondary than I was in training camp. Fabian Washington had his best game as a Raven yesterday v. Denver (though he's had some awful ones in 3 yrs), He and Ladarius Webb (watch out for this kid!) have both come back from ACL injuries last year, as has Welker (w/o whom you guys are a different team). Looks like sports medicine has figured out what to do in these cases. Those 2 guys mentioned are our speed cover CBs w/ Foxworth out for the year; sure am glad they don't have to cover Moss deep! They'll be mismatched against Hernandez, though. Chris Carr has also stepped up this season @ CB, playing well on the outside despite having been a scrappy slot nickle back for most of his time w/ us. Josh Wilson (ex-Seattle) also saw his 1st extensive action @ CB vs. Denver.

We LOVE Ed Reed, he'll be back after our bye (wk 8), but his greatest value at this stage in his carrer is in film study and QB-ing the D. He does his damage jumping routes, anticipating qb's decisions and getting in their heads. Which is a win some [big], lose some deal. The secondary is more disciplined if less exciting w/o him. the remaining safeties (Zbikowski & Landry) are harder hitters than Reed at this point, who noticeably arm tackled last year (favoring a nerve impinged neck, we think). The 3rd (Nakamura) is used as a nickle/dime back. We also carry Ken Hamlin (ex-Dallas). Our safeties looked bad in Cover 2 vs. Denver (that's how they scored their 2 passing TDs). Shhhh, Don't tell Brady. But the key to our secondary is getting good pressure on the QB. We gave [a possibly washed up?] Carson Palmer all day for the 3rd straight meeting, even gave Batch (Pitts.), Wallace (Clev.), & Orton too much time. Since Fat Rex left and Greg Mattison became DC, we've tried to get pass rush primarily from our DL and not "organized chaos" blitz packages. Hope we bring it on Tom Brady - that helped him lose interest last Jan.

On offense, Ricey had his best 2010 game vs. Denver last week (no surprise). He dinged his knee wk 3, but it's better now. Our OL was forced to rearrange the 1st week of Sept., thanks to the self-styled "injury hold-out" of one Drew Rosenhaus-represented, big-potential, big-d***head, piece of poop named Jared Gaither (the guy who left on the back board last Oct. btw) who sulked & developed mysterious back, foot, and [lost] weight problems when moved we moved Oher (of "Blindside" fame) to LT and Gaither to RT. Did he not see the movie? Oher is an LT - Michael Lewis' and Sandra Bullock's call, not Harbaugh's Pulled the same sh** at Univ. Maryland before flunking out after soph. year and entering supplemental draft. Anyone interested in 300+ lbs. of manure for fall fertilizing please inquire Sunday at the Ravens' bench. Priced to go.

If this somewhat patch-work OL holds (and we're hoping it does vs. your rebuilding D) and gives Flacco time, we may have an old fashioned shootout on Sunday. Flacco is figuring out how to use the embarrassment of riches he has never before had. Looking forward to a good game played by the players, not the refs. Look for my blue Sienna mini-van w. Ravens (and Pats) flags, just over the service road between ther Club lot & the shopping center. Mention this post for a complimentary Natty Boh beer and/or shot of Maryland rye whiskey. Aloha Go Ravens!

Thanks for the post. All I've seen of the Ravens this season was that week 1 game against the Jets, and nobody on either side of the ball looked good.

I've heard conflicting reports about your front seven's ability to stop the run. Not as good as past years, but still pretty good. Do you think they can be run on? And what's the deal with Mount Cody? Hasn't been playing much.

Heap looks revitalized. How do ****son and Pitta look? We've had a bit of trouble covering tight ends, with McGowan on IR.

Boldin looked good in week 1, but seems a bit inconsistent. Is that due to the QB or is he still adjusting? And any observations on Hoosh? Obviously our young secondary, especially our CBs, are a concern.

 

[Kontradiction]

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.

I'm not surprised by it. Charlie Strong ran an aggressive one-gapping 4-3 at Florida when Spikes was there. It's what he knows. Coming into this defense for him is like teaching a car salesman that's spent the last four years or so aggressively pursuing potential customers the minute they came into the parking lot to now sit back and let the customers come to him.

 

[Patspsycho]

I'm not surprised by it. Charlie Strong ran an aggressive one-gapping 4-3 at Florida when Spikes was there. It's what he knows. Coming into this defense for him is like teaching a car salesman that's spent the last four years or so aggressively pursuing potential customers the minute they came into the parking lot to now sit back and let the customers come to him.

That's a great way to put it. I can only wonder how he must be dealing with that urge and temptation, right now. Perhaps BB will give him the initiative to one-gap every now and then.

 

[PowerRunRevival]

Ravens Season ticket holder here. New member. Attended the Oct. reg season game and Wild Card game ( OUCH - sorry bout that:bricks last year w/ my brother-in-law & his crew out of Easthampton MA. Good times: tailgating in the Club parking lot on the Rt. 1 side, not a bad seat in the Upper Level, knowledgeable welcoming home team fans, etc. Was a little cold in Jan last year

Sunday is gonna be a big test for the Ravens as the Pats always are. Less worried about our secondary than I was in training camp. Fabian Washington had his best game as a Raven yesterday v. Denver (though he's had some awful ones in 3 yrs), He and Ladarius Webb (watch out for this kid!) have both come back from ACL injuries last year, as has Welker (w/o whom you guys are a different team). Looks like sports medicine has figured out what to do in these cases. Those 2 guys mentioned are our speed cover CBs w/ Foxworth out for the year; sure am glad they don't have to cover Moss deep! They'll be mismatched against Hernandez, though. Chris Carr has also stepped up this season @ CB, playing well on the outside despite having been a scrappy slot nickle back for most of his time w/ us. Josh Wilson (ex-Seattle) also saw his 1st extensive action @ CB vs. Denver.

We LOVE Ed Reed, he'll be back after our bye (wk 8), but his greatest value at this stage in his carrer is in film study and QB-ing the D. He does his damage jumping routes, anticipating qb's decisions and getting in their heads. Which is a win some [big], lose some deal. The secondary is more disciplined if less exciting w/o him. the remaining safeties (Zbikowski & Landry) are harder hitters than Reed at this point, who noticeably arm tackled last year (favoring a nerve impinged neck, we think). The 3rd (Nakamura) is used as a nickle/dime back. We also carry Ken Hamlin (ex-Dallas). Our safeties looked bad in Cover 2 vs. Denver (that's how they scored their 2 passing TDs). Shhhh, Don't tell Brady. But the key to our secondary is getting good pressure on the QB. We gave [a possibly washed up?] Carson Palmer all day for the 3rd straight meeting, even gave Batch (Pitts.), Wallace (Clev.), & Orton too much time. Since Fat Rex left and Greg Mattison became DC, we've tried to get pass rush primarily from our DL and not "organized chaos" blitz packages. Hope we bring it on Tom Brady - that helped him lose interest last Jan.

On offense, Ricey had his best 2010 game vs. Denver last week (no surprise). He dinged his knee wk 3, but it's better now. Our OL was forced to rearrange the 1st week of Sept., thanks to the self-styled "injury hold-out" of one Drew Rosenhaus-represented, big-potential, big-d***head, piece of poop named Jared Gaither (the guy who left on the back board last Oct. btw) who sulked & developed mysterious back, foot, and [lost] weight problems when moved we moved Oher (of "Blindside" fame) to LT and Gaither to RT. Did he not see the movie? Oher is an LT - Michael Lewis' and Sandra Bullock's call, not Harbaugh's Pulled the same sh** at Univ. Maryland before flunking out after soph. year and entering supplemental draft. Anyone interested in 300+ lbs. of manure for fall fertilizing please inquire Sunday at the Ravens' bench. Priced to go.

If this somewhat patch-work OL holds (and we're hoping it does vs. your rebuilding D) and gives Flacco time, we may have an old fashioned shootout on Sunday. Flacco is figuring out how to use the embarrassment of riches he has never before had. Looking forward to a good game played by the players, not the refs. Look for my blue Sienna mini-van w. Ravens (and Pats) flags, just over the service road between ther Club lot & the shopping center. Mention this post for a complimentary Natty Boh beer and/or shot of Maryland rye whiskey. Aloha Go Ravens!

Thanks for the scouting report. If you were coaching the Pats how would you attack the Ravens? Would you pack it in the box to stop Rice and make Flacco beat you? Would you come with constant pressure or sit back and make him fit it into a small window? On offense would you try to run on the Ravens given the success other teams have had or do you believe that to be an aberration (I haven't watched the Ravens play other than against the Jets so I only have the numbers to go on).

 

[Tucker in M & T Sec. 527]

Thanks for the scouting report. If you were coaching the Pats how would you attack the Ravens?

I'd probably send someone down to Owings Mills to videotape their defensive signals. Rimshot!! Sorry boys - you gotta carry that weight a long time.

Seriously, make Flacco beat you. Which also means make our OL beat your pass rush. Flacco has never had so much to pay attention to as the Ravens' passer. For 2 years it was Mason on a curl/sideline slant or dump off to Rice (w/ a possibly Heap over the middle when he could be spared from max protection blocking) and that was it! He's got much more complicated progressions to go through now, and Cam Cameron (OC) hasn't been letting him learn at his own pace. He's in sync w/ Boldin (OMG is Boldin the real deal or what!!) and still has the Linus blanket of Mason. TJ Housh only got here the first week of Sept. so they are still learning each other, despite the gamewinner in Pitts. (did you hear? we beat Pitts. in Pitts.! ). Screens and outlets have been going more to FB Le'Ron McClain so far this year - not sure why. We'll run to keep Brady off the field if you let us - so you gotta stop that anyway and force us to the air.

 

[Tucker in M & T Sec. 527]

Thanks for the post. All I've seen of the Ravens this season was that week 1 game against the Jets, and nobody on either side of the ball looked good.

I've heard conflicting reports about your front seven's ability to stop the run. Not as good as past years, but still pretty good. Do you think they can be run on? And what's the deal with Mount Cody? Hasn't been playing much.

Heap looks revitalized. How do ****son and Pitta look? We've had a bit of trouble covering tight ends, with McGowan on IR.

Boldin looked good in week 1, but seems a bit inconsistent. Is that due to the QB or is he still adjusting? And any observations on Hoosh? Obviously our young secondary, especially our CBs, are a concern.

Run on us? Ngata chance! Peyton Hillis made us look soft wk 3 v. Cleveland cause we had a speed roster active (extra LBs, DBs, & ST) to contain Joshua Cribbs (and did so). Had 2 less DT active and our DL rotation got a little gassed. Won't happen again. Fans are puzzled at the use of Cody: he had a slight knee tear in preseason that may be still healing. He's only been active weeks 4 & 5 and played some in both w/o much distinction. Might still be a little wet behind ears vs. NFL blocking. You'll see him at least a little.
Heap is healthy (for Heap), but the revitalization you see is mostly not needing to use him every passing down as a stay-in blocker. As you point out , he has real help at TE for the first time in Harbaugh's tenure. Though both show promise, ****son is ahead of Pitta on the depth chart. Be warned, ****son is a WR in a TE body - even more so than your Hernandez, but he blocked terribly v. Denver. No, Boldin doesn't catch them all, but he catches ones nobody could have the past 2 years. TJ Hoosh got here late but is in the mix - won the Pitts. game for us. He has moaned about the # of passes he's seen (as advertised).

Yeah, your young secondary & LBs will have their hands full. We've gone from "double team Mason" to "can't cover us all at once" since last season.

 

[Strange Bru]

I'd probably send someone down to Owings Mills to videotape their defensive signals. Rimshot!! Sorry boys - you gotta carry that weight a long time.

Seriously, make Flacco beat you. Which also means make our OL beat your pass rush. Flacco has never had so much to pay attention to as the Ravens' passer. For 2 years it was Mason on a curl/sideline slant or dump off to Rice (w/ a possibly Heap over the middle when he could be spared from max protection blocking) and that was it! He's got much more complicated progressions to go through now, and Cam Cameron (OC) hasn't been letting him learn at his own pace. He's in sync w/ Boldin (OMG is Boldin the real deal or what!!) and still has the Linus blanket of Mason. TJ Housh only got here the first week of Sept. so they are still learning each other, despite the gamewinner in Pitts. (did you hear? we beat Pitts. in Pitts.! ). Screens and outlets have been going more to FB Le'Ron McClain so far this year - not sure why. We'll run to keep Brady off the field if you let us - so you gotta stop that anyway and force us to the air.

Just to add to this:

I think John Harbaugh and company might have tried to pull a Belichick last week. The Ravens got ahead of the Broncos by 17 points and then it seemed the Ravens struggled most of the rest of the game. But after the Broncos scored the Ravens answered right back. I think the O play calling was held in check to keep more plays reserved for this weeks match up. Basically the less you allow BB to see from game film the less he has to prepare for the next game with you.

I could be totally wrong, but that is my $0.02.

 

[PATRIOTSFANINPA]

I would prefer the title of this thread to be 'RAVENS WEAK' but I can't fathom it.

 

[mgcolby]

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.

Denver can't run the ball at all. They are terrible on the ground. And Shonne Green couldn't hold onto the ball in week 1 to go along with Slausson being eaten alive by Ngata.

Cleveland had no problem running the ball, and I think we can be successful running the ball out of 12 personnel. Especially if Brady hits a few passes out of it early. If that works early then we can hit them with 13 personnel which is going to be tough for any defense to cover against us. Gronk and Crumpler in tight with Hernandez split out on one play, then all 3 tight on another and finally you can go with a 4 "WR" set out of it with Gronk and/or Hernandez split out. The great part is we can run or pass out of that all day long.

This offense is going to be fun to watch and it is all because of the TE's and the young TE's quick growth.

 

[Patspsycho]

Denver can't run the ball at all. They are terrible on the ground. And Shonne Green couldn't hold onto the ball in week 1 to go along with Slausson getting eaten alive by Ngata.

Cleveland had no problem running the ball, and I think we can be successful running the ball out of 12 personnel. Especially if Brady hits a few passes out of it early. If that works early then we can hit them with 13 personnel which is going to be tough for any defense to cover against us. Gronk and Crumpler in tight with Hernandez split out on one play, then all 3 tight on another and finally you can go with a 4 "WR" set out of it with Gronk and/or Hernandez split out. The great part is we can run or pass out of that all day long.

This offense is going to be fun to watch and it is all because of the TE's and the young TE's quick growth.

When our 13 is on the field, it's more of a 12 because Hern splits out wide.

 

[mgcolby]

When our 13 is on the field, it's more of a 12 because Hern splits out wide.

I figured someone would mention that. Which is why I think 13 is going to be the toughest grouping for opposing defenses. If they go big we split Hern out and if they go light we bring him in and run.

It really is a pick your poison.

 

[CheeseMonkeys]

I am not afraid of the Ravens. Joe Flacco isn't even anything special. Obviously it's the run game we will have to worry about. I think as long as BJGE doesn't get stuffed at the line on every play we wil have some ball control and we will score points. I see this game being a higher scoring game unless our D looks good, and I honestly think they are getting better. This is a win for the Pats.

 

[mgcolby]

Run on us? Ngata chance! Peyton Hillis made us look soft wk 3 v. Cleveland cause we had a speed roster active (extra LBs, DBs, & ST) to contain Joshua Cribbs (and did so). Had 2 less DT active and our DL rotation got a little gassed. Won't happen again. Fans are puzzled at the use of Cody: he had a slight knee tear in preseason that may be still healing. He's only been active weeks 4 & 5 and played some in both w/o much distinction. Might still be a little wet behind ears vs. NFL blocking. You'll see him at least a little.
Heap is healthy (for Heap), but the revitalization you see is mostly not needing to use him every passing down as a stay-in blocker. As you point out , he has real help at TE for the first time in Harbaugh's tenure. Though both show promise, ****son is ahead of Pitta on the depth chart. Be warned, ****son is a WR in a TE body - even more so than your Hernandez, but he blocked terribly v. Denver. No, Boldin doesn't catch them all, but he catches ones nobody could have the past 2 years. TJ Hoosh got here late but is in the mix - won the Pitts. game for us. He has moaned about the # of passes he's seen (as advertised).

Yeah, your young secondary & LBs will have their hands full. We've gone from "double team Mason" to "can't cover us all at once" since last season.

Ngata scares me a bit. I think this will be Connolly's first big challenge, especially if Baltimore uses him this week the same way they did against the Jets. He was head up with Slausson in a 2 tech and just abused him. If I was Baltimore I would do the same thing with Connolly early and often until he proves he can handle him.