Keys to Sunday's Ravens game

[PATSNUTme]

Here is how I view how the Patriots can win this Sunday.

On offense: Start off spreading the field using quick passes and misdirection plays. When Tom is goes under center no more than a 3 to 5 step drop and get rid of the ball quickly. Mix in some runs, screens, and draws. Have long drives to tire the Ravens D and keep their O off the field.

Get a lead so they have to start throwing the ball more.

On defense: Play either a 4 man line or a big nickle. Get 8 up to stop the run and let Flacco try to beat us with his arm. Limit the Raven running game to under 100 yards.

Agree? Disagree? What else or what should we do different than what I mentioned?

 

[RayClay]

Re: Keys to Sundays Ravens Game.

Here is how I view how the Patriots can win this Sunday.

On offense: Start off spreading the field using quick passes and misdirection plays. When Tom is goes under center no more than a 3 to 5 step drop and get rid of the ball quickly. Mix in some runs, screens, and draws. Have long drives to tire the Ravens D and keep their O off the field.

Get a lead so they have to start throwing the ball more.

On defense: Play either a 4 man line or a big nickle. Get 8 up to stop the run and let Flacco try to beat us with his arm. Limit the Raven running game to under 100 yards.

Agree? Disagree? What else or what should we do different than what I mentioned?

I agree we should limit their running game to under 100 yards.

 

[Nunchucks]

Re: Keys to Sundays Ravens Game.

The Browns ran all over the Ravens, I think that the Patriots need to learn from that game and take the same approach, with a mix of spread offense as well.

The Patriots won't be able to stop Rice, they have really been kinda bad in stopping the run all year, so I expect this game to be high scoring, that puts the pressure on the offense to win the game. Lets hope they can pull it together.

 

[bakes781]

Re: Keys to Sundays Ravens Game.

Normally I would agree the offensive gameplan should be short & intermediate passes, but you know w/o Randy the Ravens will be looking for that. So instead I would attempt to open up the field with these young guys. Ed Reed is not out there to ball hawk so why not? We should definitely attempt some misdirection plays at them so we don't have Ray Lewis dancing all day. Run Tate on an end around or a reverse with Hernandez. Then we air it out down the middle. Wind is going to be an issue so we can't go too deep, but keeping the Ravens from being able to pound Rice/McGahee all day is imperative. So we need to get ahead early.

 

[The Brandon Five]

Re: Keys to Sundays Ravens Game.

The Browns ran all over the Ravens, I think that the Patriots need to learn from that game and take the same approach, with a mix of spread offense as well.

The key to that will be what the Active roster looks like for the Ravens on Sunday. To quote a Ravens fan from the "Ravens Week" thread:

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.

 

[JSn]

Re: Keys to Sundays Ravens Game.

Shut down that running game and put Flacco on his arse as often as humanly possible. In my eyes, that oughta do it.

Our ST play is going have them spooked a bit too, making them over-cautious. I think they might make mistakes there to our benefit.

I agree about using 3 downs to get firsts as often as possible. Get the Defense gassed and then start spreading them out.

 

[Dscola]

Re: Keys to Sundays Ravens Game.

Shut down that running game and put Flacco on his arse as often as humanly possible. In my eyes, that oughta do it.

Our ST play is going have them spooked a bit too, making them over-cautious. I think they might make mistakes there to our benefit.

I agree about using 3 downs to get firsts as often as possible. Get the Defense gassed and then start spreading them out.

I see a lot of folks thinking that the key to rattling Flacco is to blitz. Couldn't be further from the truth. Flacco has a 91.4 qb rating with 5 tds when blitzed.

A better stategy would be to play coverage and rush 3 or 4 to make him scan the field: an obvious weakness for him so far in his career. The problem with that stategy is that you then open up the running lanes.

I also think that the Pats need to catch the Ravens D off guard with draws and quick hitting running plays as they did in the first meeting last game. It kept the Ravens playing back on their heels

 

[Patspsycho]

Re: Keys to Sundays Ravens Game.

Normally I would agree the offensive gameplan should be short & intermediate passes, but you know w/o Randy the Ravens will be looking for that. So instead I would attempt to open up the field with these young guys. Ed Reed is not out there to ball hawk so why not? We should definitely attempt some misdirection plays at them so we don't have Ray Lewis dancing all day. Run Tate on an end around or a reverse with Hernandez. Then we air it out down the middle. Wind is going to be an issue so we can't go too deep, but keeping the Ravens from being able to pound Rice/McGahee all day is imperative. So we need to get ahead early.

Great post.

I mentioned last week- I think Brady will throw the long bomb on the first drive, possibly the first play. It is the perfect play to catch the D by surprise.

 

[JSn]

Re: Keys to Sundays Ravens Game.

I see a lot of folks thinking that the key to rattling Flacco is to blitz. Couldn't be further from the truth. Flacco has a 91.4 qb rating with 5 tds when blitzed.

A better stategy would be to play coverage and rush 3 or 4 to make him scan the field: an obvious weakness for him so far in his career. The problem with that stategy is that you then open up the running lanes.

I agree. I'm not saying we need to knock Flacco down by blitzing, but by making the fourth rusher a total mystery.

 

[The Dynasty]

Re: Keys to Sundays Ravens Game.

I am looking for a game plan that is very similar to last Monday Night versus the Dolphins. A more of a ball control type of offense and play calling. A mix of runs and short passes to set up 3rd and short and then using Welker, Hernandez and Branch to pick up first downs and quick slants/come backs, etc. I do think there will be a little more passing on first and second down this week because of the Ravens run defense. It is a lot better than the Dolphins.

Defensively I think BB calls his defense based on the opposing teams QB. Younger and inexperienced QBs he likes to put pressure on them with his blitz calls and force them into bad throws. Then the better more inexperienced QBs it seems like he sits back and tries to confuse them with his coverages. I would expect this week the defense to try and confuse Flacco with coverages and force them him into poor throws. The main concern for the defense though is containing the Ravens run game.

 

[TriplecHamp]

Re: Keys to Sundays Ravens Game.

Get the lead early and keep it. Do not let the ravens have a lead heading into the 4th quarter.

 

[Patspsycho]

Re: Keys to Sundays Ravens Game.

Here is how I view how the Patriots can win this Sunday.

On offense: Start off spreading the field using quick passes and misdirection plays. When Tom is goes under center no more than a 3 to 5 step drop and get rid of the ball quickly. Mix in some runs, screens, and draws. Have long drives to tire the Ravens D and keep their O off the field.

Get a lead so they have to start throwing the ball more.

On defense: Play either a 4 man line or a big nickle. Get 8 up to stop the run and let Flacco try to beat us with his arm. Limit the Raven running game to under 100 yards.

Agree? Disagree? What else or what should we do different than what I mentioned?

It's pretty much a given that we'll be in base for most of the game. They're probably going to go with what worked for them last time, which is to run the ball down our throat.

 

[102 Pat]

Re: Keys to Sundays Ravens Game.

Lots of no-huddle as that always seems to work well for Brady, plus since there's some mystery to the Ravens as to how the beardless offence will be, the no-huddle could help keep them guessing.

 

[mitsudriver]

Re: Keys to Sundays Ravens Game.

This game is gonna come down to our offense executing. People talk about how our defense was torn up during the playoff game last year but look at the scoring drives for the Ravens in that game:

1 play - 83 yards touchdown.
5 plays - 17 yards touchdown.
6 plays - 25 yards touchdown.
4 plays - 0 yards field goal.
6 plays - 18 yards field goal.
12 plays - 52 yards touchdown.

Their offense had to move the ball an average of 32 yards each scoring drive. Defense did give up a lot of points but look at the positions they were put in. Offense needs to NOT TURN THE BALL OVER and I think we'll be fine.

 

[SVN]

Re: Keys to Sundays Ravens Game.

Here is how I view how the Patriots can win this Sunday.

On offense: Start off spreading the field using quick passes and misdirection plays. When Tom is goes under center no more than a 3 to 5 step drop and get rid of the ball quickly. Mix in some runs, screens, and draws. Have long drives to tire the Ravens D and keep their O off the field.

Get a lead so they have to start throwing the ball more.

On defense: Play either a 4 man line or a big nickle. Get 8 up to stop the run and let Flacco try to beat us with his arm. Limit the Raven running game to under 100 yards.

Agree? Disagree? What else or what should we do different than what I mentioned?

protect brady. i think thats the biggest thing iam concerned about.it seems obvious vs any team but this line has had trouble with powerful rushers and suggs and ngata scare the heck of out me.

 

[SVN]

Re: Keys to Sundays Ravens Game.

It's pretty much a given that we'll be in base for most of the game. They're probably going to go with what worked for them last time, which is to run the ball down our throat.

dont count on it. cam cameroon has a habit sometimes of outsmarting himself. they ran last time because it was sucessful and also because flacco was injured.The first game last season they threw a lot. So i wont be surprised they come out throwing to test our secondary like the bengals did in the opener.

 

[SVN]

Re: Keys to Sundays Ravens Game.

Great post.

I mentioned last week- I think Brady will throw the long bomb on the first drive, possibly the first play. It is the perfect play to catch the D by surprise.

this is where we miss charlie weis. he always had this playcalling to keep the offense unpredictable like the tendency to go deep to the EZ almost always if they get an interception or turnover . i think i saw this in the chiefs game also last week vs the colts jsut like the AFC championship game vs the steelers. BOB has his own learning curve we have to go through.

 

[ctpatsfan77]

Re: Keys to Sundays Ravens Game.

this is where we miss charlie weis. he always had this playcalling to keep the offense unpredictable like the tendency to go deep to the EZ almost always if they get an interception or turnover . i think i saw this in the chiefs game also last week vs the colts jsut like the AFC championship game vs the steelers. BOB has his own learning curve we have to go through.

On the flip side, the passing game won't go Moss - ? like it did against the Ratbirds in January.

 

[SVN]

Re: Keys to Sundays Ravens Game.

On the flip side, the passing game won't go Moss - ? like it did against the Ratbirds in January.

i think they missed welker more than anyone.edelman did his thing but the pressure on brady was too much from suggs and co. matt light better bring his best game

 

[PATSNUTme]

Re: Keys to Sundays Ravens Game.

I forgot. Score 1 more point than the Ravens.