KidNme

Weather it's the Steelers or the Browns, we tend to keep them close no matter who we play. I have little doubt that we'll play better after having the Bye and with the extra week to game plan, we should be able to throw in a few wrinkles that get the Squeelrs off balance, for the 1st half. It's the 2nd half we tend to suck at. Both teams are rested so no real advantage there. My man cave will be split between Steeler fans and Ravens fans this weekend so although I do expect a close game, we need to pull it out or I'll be hearing it for at least the rest of the season. The players may be able to forget the "last game" but us fans have to live with it forever! :-)
LET's GO RAVENS!!!

  16 hours ago, gr2522 said:

Joe's mechanics have been off lately so I hope this "little thing" was corrected over the bye. But what is going to cure the frightened look on Joe's face which have caused him to throw away the ball? Oh, I forgot, the return of a healthy o-line.

Throwing the O line under the bus because Joe can't get it done won't work! Other QBs are getting the same pressure and producing! This Is The NFL!

I'd like to see our coaches have a pass rusher with long nerf arms on, coming at Joe from the sides during practices. Not to hit him (OK, maybe a smack upside the head once or twice would make me feel better!) but to get joe better at pocket awareness and how to roll out or step up into the pocket. He needs to stand tall as long as he can and throw off his front foot but he always seems to be ready to run or flop as soon as he feels there MAY BE pressure coming soon. This is football and getting tackled is part of the game however, the QB is the best protected player on the field, just ask Lady Brady.

I've thought for the last several years that we should be going for 1st downs, eating up the clock then start going for 6pts once we get just inside the 25. Trying to throw passes in the 8-10yd range is not Joe's forte' and punching it in from the 5 isn't working either.

I'd really like to see us keep the good ones like Brandon! I know money is always an issue but I really like BW and think he's perfect for our team. We can't keep letting our best players go, citing "can't pay him". I agree with PurpleRain, we have to do better with who we let go and who we keep. Team loyalty is out the window these days and I believe that has to change otherwise, we'll always be relying on our young, unproven 3rd to 5th round prospects dictate who we are. If Flacco wants protection, let him pay for it! An incentive based pay for everyone would do a world of wonders for our team I think.

It's funny how Hester needs more than just pre game warmups to catch a ball but Flacco can go all week without practicing then miss pre game warmups all together in last weeks game. Lots of gum flapping going on at BR.com. It's like a Mcdonalds commercial where you see this nice juicy burger on TV but what you get from the drive thru is something that's dry and looks like it was sat on. SMH

It could be the play calling however, the O line has to block well and open holes then have our 2ndary blocking down field in order for the RB to get any yards as well. I definitely think our position coaches are suspect here.
The good thing is, we do have some talent on this team. If we can coach better and expect nothing but the best from our players, we'll do better. While the season isn't over by any means, I do not believe we'll go very far, even if we do make the playoffs. We should probably use the rest of this season to get our young guys up to snuff. We have a huge mess with the cap situation and paying folks who aren't even on the team and that's going to hurt us for a couple more years still but we can build a foundation now that we'll benefit from next year. Perriman should be the number one receiver with Kamar at #2 and Wallace #3.
Webb should be keeping the bench warm until his contract is up IMHO. Tavon young should be the #1 CB, Smith #2 (We need more young corners but they're expensive!). Same with our O line. Stanley, Lewis, Hurst. Yanda because he's on his way to retirement next year most likely so play Urshel and Ducasse on 1st and 2nd downs, and so on. Rest the vets and coach the crap out of the rookies until they can hold their own. If they prove they can't, bring up some PS players and do the same until you have a complete list of positions needing to be filled THEN, draft for positions in this next draft and forgo the "BPA" philosophy for a year or two. Might not work out the way I think it would but at least it's a plan for our future. One good thing about this year, I don't think other teams will be sniping our players and coaches after the season is over like used to happen every year! :-)

It's funny that SSS is trying to look mean in his penguin costume! (or is he just mad because he wanted the bear costume and Kamar took it!)
:-)

The CBA has gone too far in the other direction, our draft choices haven't been any good since we drafted Lewis and Ogden and our coaching staff is seriously lacking in teaching fundamentals. If the FO was afraid of saying the "Rebuilding" word before, they're not going to be able to avoid it now.
We definitely need to come out of the Bye with Mallett and a lot of the rookies so we can start evaluating who stays and who goes. Who would be afraid of Flacco if he was on the opposing team? We've been spending a lot of time dressing up pigs lately.

This will be another real nail biter of a game this week. We always let a team who's doing poorly at something, do well at it against us. I can't imagine how the players are feeling right now. If you think they were expected to play well before, just think what losing this game would mean. Talk about "must win".
If we were to lose this game somehow, we'll have 9 more guys on the injury list just from severely hurt feelings! :-)

  1 hour ago, KidNme said:

You say you get upset (@Respect the raven), is there a reason? The fact that you don't voice it on the forum doesn't make you more of a fan.
This isn't a Purple kool-aid only forum, its a fan forum and everyone has an opinion and is allowed to voice it. If they're on here making statements, they're most likely a fan, otherwise, they probably wouldn't bother. I'm a fan and have been since the Colts played here and have thousands of dollars of memorabilia on my Purple and gold wall with a 15' ravens logo I painted myself. I've worked concessions at both stadiums, go to many of the fund raisers and I've also mowed a 50' "Go Ravens" in my back yard from training camp till first frost for the last 10 years. I also own about a dozen jerseys. If people are upset, that's their right to mention how they see it. More times than not, the masses predict future moves on this team anyway so "Fans" of all types have valid points too, even if they don't agree with you. Stick to statements about the team. "Constructive criticism is fine....but the downright fan bashing doesn't sit well with me!!"
Saying so doesn't make you "More of a fan" than the rest of us.

Wow ....did I strike a cord or something??!! I am not fan bashing!!  Just like you said...everyone has their own opinions. Mine is, "it doesn't sit well with me" when a "fan" bashes someone on the team. It's my right to say so, like it's your right to say what you say. Thanks for letting me know what a true fan is.....   

You're welcome.

You say you get upset (@Respect the raven), is there a reason? The fact that you don't voice it on the forum doesn't make you more of a fan.
This isn't a Purple kool-aid only forum, its a fan forum and everyone has an opinion and is allowed to voice it. If they're on here making statements, they're most likely a fan, otherwise, they probably wouldn't bother. I'm a fan and have been since the Colts played here and have thousands of dollars of memorabilia on my Purple and gold wall with a 15' ravens logo I painted myself. I've worked concessions at both stadiums, go to many of the fund raisers and I've also mowed a 50' "Go Ravens" in my back yard from training camp till first frost for the last 10 years. I also own about a dozen jerseys. If people are upset, that's their right to mention how they see it. More times than not, the masses predict future moves on this team anyway so "Fans" of all types have valid points too, even if they don't agree with you. Stick to statements about the team. "Constructive criticism is fine....but the downright fan bashing doesn't sit well with me!!"
Saying so doesn't make you "More of a fan" than the rest of us.

Harbaugh keeps saying that those players who aren't stepping up, they'll be replaced. With who? There's no one out there that's going to magically fix our woes. Should Mallett get the nod now? Suggs gets called for off sides every game, I imagine he has to be one of the guys he's talking about too and who do you replace him with? Webb played one good game and the rest, he hasn't been seen. Jimmy Smith was finally having a good game but then got hurt. I don't see anyone who is going to do any better but I also guess the Practice squad couldn't do much worse. How about Keanu Reeves and his replacement players :-)

I think with the way we've been playing and how close all of our games are, would dictate going for the 3pts. Being aggressive is fine but being smart is better.
Take the points, especially when our O line is so banged up. At the very least, a couple play action plays would have given us more chance at success. Juice did whiff on a block and that's why I really hate the diving at the knees type of blocking. You can't block if you're on the ground and blocking like that means you're definitely going to be on the ground.

I think it's finally showing that coaching is a big issue. Not just Harbaugh on his own but our Lines coach, DB coaches, ST coaches. Whenever we develop a decent coach (or player for that matter), someone else takes them away. We also need to light a fire under Flacco's butt. No one should have that much job security, especially our franchise QB. Right now, I'd take a 10mil a year QB and spread the other 10mil to players who can play. Bargain hunting is taking its toll on our team.

Well coached teams are well disciplined. And well disciplined teams do not commit a large number of penalties. Well coached and well disciplined teams are not self-destructive.

But really, penalties is just one of the chronic issues on this team that make us better at finding ways to lose than we are at finding ways to win.

Bandwagon fans are not defined by the fact that we criticize our favorite team. A bandwagon fan is one who abandons the team when they are playing badly; then return to cheer them on when they start playing well again.

In my opinion, being a fan does not mean living in a fantasy world and believing that our team is better than it is. And it does not mean to discredit critics as fair weather followers and ignore the reality. When patterns develop that contribute to losing, like drive-killing penalties and red zone anxiety disorder, a true, frustrated fan will criticize his/her team because we care.

I second that Picke. I love my team and when they do poorly, we also take the criticism. You also have to realize that many times, our fans get it right. Remember how many times when we fans are on the same page with an issue, then it gets changed. Trestman comes to mind most recently.

I think Marty called a pretty good game but Harbs should have taken the points instead of "being aggressive". You would think he learned his lesson last week.
Joe needs to practice more or have a seat. His job needs to be in question, regardless of his "Franchise" status.
Webby needs to cover on that last Giants TD. His play was pitiful for a "safety". Lavine showed more heart and speed than Web, trying to run Beckum down.
Way too many penalties across the board and Suggs got his usual off sides again. That's 5 games in a row now he gets called for that one!!!!!! Everyone has to clean it up big time! The only reason we don't have more holes in our feet is because we ran out of bullets.
Too many holes to right this ship. We'll be lucky to go 8-8.

Ya, Joe stunk it up on that last drive and Webby didn't do crap as a safety on the Giants last TD. What a joke! Waiting to hear the excuses.

Onwauser is going to have to grow up really quick! I'm not sure how close the PS plays to the playbook but I hope it's close enough that he doesn't get lost. He has a mean streak and we sure could use that, especially on ST.

We absolutely need a pass rush Sunday. We'll need it for the rest of the year too so they better figure it out. Without it, our corners are going to get smoked often.
I also see Joe change the play at the line at times but I wonder how much control he actually has. After 9 years, you'd think he could call the plays he sees fit. It is his team after all and he did call out Trestman so it appears he knows better. He gets paid enough and he's the one guy that has job security, regardless of how he's doing. I say, put it on his back and see what happens.

It may not be pretty but I say let all the new young guys play. Perriman, Tavon, Correa, Z Smith and Judon should all get a ton of reps Sunday. Put it on their backs and let's see what happens. I don't see a down side.
Doom is done, period and Yanda is nearing the end as well. This is a young mans game for sure!

This wasn't all on Trestman. The payers shoulder much of the responsibility as well as the coaches. It's a team game and we win and lose as a team. We got rid of our OC but we still have player issues. Too many penalties, Joe's having a hard time ignoring someone coming at him and that's costing him a second or two to get rid of the ball. I'll admit that seeing a 350lb bulldozer coming to smash me would make me cringe too but this is his job and he needs to be smarter with the ball. Move out of the pocket, away from the pressure and if nothings there, toss it away! I know he can do it because he does it sometimes, just not every time.
Our WR's also need to focus on catching the ball and where the 1st down marker is. Anything after the catch is a bonus but you have to make the catch first. Everyone must do there jobs. If you're having issues, you should be on the practice field and in the classroom longer, not playing Playstation. Our players have the best tools available to them and they need to use them.
Now, lets go show NY who we are!
GO RAVENS!

Whatever Eli hasn't been able to do so far this year, we'll most likely help him do it Sunday. We just have a knack of doing that with teams. Right now, we're a hot mess. Our stats don't look too bad however you have to remember, most of those stats came from the 1st 3 games against horrible teams. We stayed with Oakland for a bit because we "thought we could" but then played worst against Washington. Confidence is not just weak with the fans, the players are feeling it too I think. We'll see Sunday. I'll be perched in front of the big screen from beginning to end as I always am, hoping we pull it out. I feel sorry for Marty though. As soon as he heard he was going to be OC, I bet he started looking at what his house is worth on the market. Gotta be a tough life for a OC in Baltimore!

It's just going to be a rough season for us. I'm expecting the worst and hoping for the best but I'm definitely keeping my enthusiasm down or I'll have a stroke!
Already thinking of draft pick position. Marty is going to have to be REAL inventive to cover all these holes!

When the team starts failing, the injury list grows.
I don't know if Marty can inject some enthusiasm into our team but it's looking like some may not be buying it. I know I'm on the fence. We're signing cast offs and bringing up PS players that we originally deemed not as good as the guys who made the 53 roster. Doesn't sound very positive to me but I guess we'll see what Marty has up his sleeve. Definitely a trial of fire for him. Must be keeping him up at night!

Way to go Justin! Good luck!