Ravens Game strategy/strengths/weaknesses - Lets discuss

Am I the only one who prefers to see woodhead only make quick guest appearances? Ridley is just my go to guy when it comes to the run, woodhead is without a doubt the better threat in the passing game but rushing woody up the middle really grinds my gears. I love the guy but it doesn't seem effective to my naked eye.

Bostonlove said:

Am I the only one who prefers to see woodhead only make quick guest appearances? Ridley is just my go to guy when it comes to the run, woodhead is without a doubt the better threat in the passing game but rushing woody up the middle really grinds my gears. I love the guy but it doesn't seem effective to my naked eye.

Click to expand...

In the NASCAR offense though he has the most positional versatility (delayed handoffs, quick hitters, screens, crossing routes) and the deepest understanding of where to line up and especially what blitzer to pick up and how to impede his progress.

We will be better off, though, the sooner such largely mental and technique aspects of the role are mastered by others who are harder for the defense to catch.

Palm Beach Pats Fan said:

In the NASCAR offense though he has the most positional versatility (delayed handoffs, quick hitters, screens, crossing routes) and the deepest understanding of where to line up and especially what blitzer to pick up and how to impede his progress.

We will be better off, though, the sooner such largely mental and technique aspects of the role are mastered by others who are harder for the defense to catch.

Click to expand...

It changes game to game.. Ridley plays great in some games but disappears in others. Vs. the 49ers, Woodhead was the best choice because the 49ers defense had never seen or experienced playing against such a small shifty back and had a difficult time containing him.

I believe that for the Ravens, Vereen would be the best choice because he would flex out without warning and draw out the line or stretch the backfield which the Ravens do not like as they prefer to remain compact and go big on big instead of chasing players all over the field.

JackBauer said:

Solder and Mankins were both beasts against Houston.

Somehow, despite that, we still weren't able to run behind the latter.

Click to expand...

True, I think this week should be different. I think it was 'mccolby' who posted stats on the Ravens run defense between the tackles, looks like that's where they can be exploited.

Another random thought that came to me this morning, Flacco's had success on our defense but this will be the best Patriots D he's ever faced. In fact the 2nd best one may not have been near as good or deep.

Something to consider: last week the Ravens played a boom or bust offense. In other words, they went for the big plays, rather than the traditional long drives.

Baltimore had just one red zone touchdown - and that was after a Denver turnover on their half of the field. The Ravens had no sustained drives that started on their side of the field and resulted in scores. The touchdowns were as follows:

59 yard pass to Torrey Smith
39 yard INT return for TD by Corey Graham
32 yard pass to Torrey Smith
1 yard run by Ray Rice (after Kruger fumble recovery in Denver territory)
70 yard pass to Jacoby Jones

And the game winning field goal was set up by Corey Graham's INT at the Denver 45.

jmt57 said:

Something to consider: last week the Ravens played a boom or bust offense. In other words, they went for the big plays, rather than the traditional long drives.

Baltimore had just one red zone touchdown - and that was after a Denver turnover on their half of the field. The Ravens had no sustained drives that started on their side of the field and resulted in scores. The touchdowns were as follows:

59 yard pass to Torrey Smith
39 yard INT return for TD by Corey Graham
32 yard pass to Torrey Smith
1 yard run by Ray Rice (after Kruger fumble recovery in Denver territory)
70 yard pass to Jacoby Jones

And the game winning field goal was set up by Corey Graham's INT at the Denver 45.

Click to expand...

Good points. The more I think about it the more I think about it I think man under cover 2 over the top and make Flacco beat you by moving the chains. I don't think he can do it.

And a side note if I hear one more person talk about how good a game Graham had I think I will puke. He was the recipient of a tip ball that happened to come down where he was standing, and Peyton threw a ball that he should not have thrown. Other than that he was beat all day long by Stokley. Oh sorry forgot his knock down, where Stokley beat him and Manning threw it behind Stokley where Graham was trailing.

The Pats neeed to abuse him with whoever they put him on, hopefully they put him on Welker.

Be ready for the run blitz. Did a poor job of that in September as the Pats RBs multiple times run right into A-gap blitzes from Pollard, Reed and Ray-Ray. Brady needs to check out of runs when they start to sneak up to the line.

Be prepared to stay no-huddle (not hurry-up) and force the Ravens to choose between base/nickel and stay with it. If they go light (as they did against the Broncos) then stay dedicated to the run game. Get a couple of solid runs in a row and then go play action. (Note to JMcD: Hurrying to the line and calling the same running play only works a max of 2x in a row...the 3rd time is a guaranteed loss of 3 yds and messed up down and distance).

The defensive game plan is pretty obvious and has been recounted many times in this thread. Shade Smith/Jones deep (particularly on the right side) and always account for Rice. Don't need to sack Flacco (sacco?) but need to make the clock in his head speed up a bit. He doesn't diagnose coverages quickly so speeding him up will result in incompletions and turnovers.

When facing 3rd down and 5-13 yds to go, Flacco will look for Boldin as his primary target. Either shade Boldin in these situations to take him away...or bait Flacco into throwing into coverage. On 3rd and longer distances, he will look for the home run or to Pitta down the seam. If the Pats can get them into these situations, it will be a long day for the Ravens.

Best way to do that? Run blitz on first down. If play-action and the RB is blocking, crash the pocket (Rice is a below-average blocker). If the RB releases, break off the run blitz, pop the RB and follow him into coverage.

jmt57 said:

Something to consider: last week the Ravens played a boom or bust offense. In other words, they went for the big plays, rather than the traditional long drives.

Baltimore had just one red zone touchdown - and that was after a Denver turnover on their half of the field. The Ravens had no sustained drives that started on their side of the field and resulted in scores. The touchdowns were as follows:

59 yard pass to Torrey Smith
39 yard INT return for TD by Corey Graham
32 yard pass to Torrey Smith
1 yard run by Ray Rice (after Kruger fumble recovery in Denver territory)
70 yard pass to Jacoby Jones

And the game winning field goal was set up by Corey Graham's INT at the Denver 45.

Click to expand...

Question is, did they do it out of strategy or necessity? The other drives were not pretty to put it lightly, when they tried to run the ball and get first downs they couldn't string together an actual "drive". To me it's just the Ravens going to their bread and butter when all else fails.

No huddle offense, play action,RIDDley ,Vereen, Bolden, Woodhead short passes to Welker Loyd and hernandez and dont forget screens to Woodhead , Vereen ,Welker against an old defense equals patriots victory ..Reed , Lewis etc coming off tough cold long game...maybe Im wrong but I think they will be out of gas by end of 3rd quarter

Someone help me - if the patriots are in their base package and the Ravens motion Rice out of the backfield would a LB pick him up or a safety?

Does it depend on the D being in single high safety or not? Or is that referring to a sub package (using a safety as a CB or subbing him out for a CB)?

mgcolby said:

Good points. The more I think about it the more I think about it I think man under cover 2 over the top and make Flacco beat you by moving the chains. I don't think he can do it.

Click to expand...

I think if Flacco has to go on a extended drive he will eventually screw up.

Flacco will be looking for the homerun and the onus is on him to put points up vs this Pats offense. So, try to take away his big plays and get Baltimore in the Redzone where there is less room to navigate.

Limit their big play strikes. In week 3, they had FIVE different receivers with receptions of over 20 yards. WIth Mccourty moved to safety, the Pats are much better at defending the big play. Make the Ravens dink and dunk their way down the field. If they win that way, then so be it.

Pats OL just needs to give TB time to throw. Win the turnover battle and I really like our chances.

Vereen's hands with 2 opposable thumbs >> Woodhead's hands with 1.

FWIW, Matt Light and Kevin Faulk will be honorary captains for Sunday's game.


It Is What It Is » Matt Light on D&C: ‘I’m going into full fan mode right now’

“I’m going into full fan mode right now, something I’ve never been,” Light said. “Literally, throughout the regular season I think had the same mentality that a lot of those guys do. It was like, ‘OK, we’re in the grind. It’s week in, week out. There’s no daylight at the end of the tunnel. You’ve got your head down, you’re going to work each and every day and nothing’s good. It doesn’t matter if you win every single game and you blow them out by 30, you’re terrible, you’ve got to keep working.


“At this point you realize as a player that you’ve done something, you have an opportunity to do something really special. When it’s as close as it is right now, this is the reason you play the game 100 percent.”

Click to expand...

Gronk officially placed on IR, opening up a roster spot.